DCU : The Original Universe

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 2:41 pm

A Death in the Family is three excellent issues, followed by that goofy U.N. Joker-guest starring Superman-nothing gets resolved 4th issue.

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Wed Aug 27, 2003 8:37 pm

618. The inevitable letdown. Deep down I knew they woudln't bring Jason back, but it was a thrill just the same. Oh well.

Who is Hush? Tommy Elliot? Tommy Elliot? or maybe it's Tommy Elliot. I'm sorry ,you don't have all them wanky flashbacks at the beginning of the story and not have them pay off at the end. I will break down and get both covers next month.

I also read that Michael Turner is doing the art for the second arc of SuperBat. It focuses on Wonder Woman. Hotcha! A Turner drawn Diana. Nummy!

anarky · Post by **anarky** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 12:04 pm

Worst comic ever!

I'm not referring only to the fact it wasn't Jason Todd. Overall, I found this to be pretty poorly written and a tremendous letdown. Gorgeous Jim Lee art and a horrendous script? When did Image take over Batman? I plan to track down Jeff Loeb and kick him repeatedly in his (tiny little weeny) nuts until he starts crying like the wuss he is, calls every Batman fan to apologize, and provides them with a replacement #418 signed by Jim Lee.

First, no biggie that Jason wasn't Jason. But for Batman to figure it out that quickly and the entire dealio to be dealt with in half an issue is anticlimactic. Every time the subject's come up, Batman goes nuts. It was way out of character for him to figure it out so quickly. And the real hush went through a lot of trouble to set this up, and it sucks more for him than for the readers.

And Clayface. . . . Must I remind Mr "I make that Saracini guy at Dreamwave look good" Loeb that Clayface is DEAD? Bring back a dead character, only to find out he's actually being impersonated by a dead character? Real good, moron. How friggin' retarded can you get?

The all-time clencher, though: they killed Harold! They fucking killed Harold!! Harold is no more! He has ceased to be!! First he's out of character, selling out the Bat. Then he gets a crummy death scene. What next, is Hush going to run over Ace?

Rest in peace, Harold. Like Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, Clayface, and all the other great characters DC has needlessly killed, you will live on in our hearts.

I'd toss out all 11 chapters of Hush, but I'm just about out of toilet paper.

[ss][ninja][se][arrr] Three ninjas and a pirate agree: this is worse than the stupid polar bear story arc in GIJoe Frontline!

anarky · Post by **anarky** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 12:11 pm

Yeah, it's definitely Tommy. That one soul in two bodies line popped up before, and all the references to games would cinch it.

But who the hell is this guy? How did he know who Batman is? Working alone, he brought down Batman, screwed with his brain, set up a failed scheme to think Jason was back, manipulated most of Batman's foes, convinced Harold to plant spy devices in the cave, etc, etc, etc.

Come on! This little pussy manipulated R'as al Ghul? R'as al Fucking Ghul? Give me a damn break.

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 4:30 pm

Whoa...Guy Gardner is dead? That bites...

I think there's more than one Clayface and not all of them are dead, but I could be wrong. Didn't two of them even have a little baby clayface at one point?

I agree about needlessly killing Harold. But I haven't read Bat titles in almost a decade. When was the last time Harold showed up? I thought Jean-Paul kicked him and Robin out way back in Knightfall etc.

anarky · Post by **anarky** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 4:46 pm

Shortly after the earthquake, Harold escaped the ruins of Wayne Manor with Ace. I think this is the first he's popped up since then.

The official Clayface scorecard (out of numerical order to make it easier):

Clayface #2: Found some sort of enchanted clay while diving and gained the abilities to mimick others. Killed in the Crisis, and "dehydrated" by Claface 1 when he formed the "Mudpack" and tried to steal their powers. Was nothing more than a little clay statue at this point.

Clayface #3: A deformed genius who took a blood transfusion from Clayface #2 hoping to gain his powers so he could show his face. It backfired, giving him the power to melt flesh, but forcing him to wear a containment suit. Regained his sanity (to an extent) after the Mudpack fiasco and tries to live a quiet life with his wife. . .

. . . Clayface #4 (AKA Clay Lady): Some sort of second rate Outsiders villain with powers similar to Clayface #2. Longed to leave the life of crime with someone who would love her for who she truly was. Met and married (though presumably not legally) Clayface #3, currently living with him raising. . .

. . . Clayface #5: Seems to have some shapeshifting abilities, but he's a little tyke and probably not even old enough to speak yet.

Which brings us to the first, (Golden Age) Clayface #1, actor Basil Karlo. A master of disguise, he assembled the surviving Clayfaces in the awesome Mudpack crossover (the issues of 'Tec just preceding Anarky's debut, natch). Drugged and took blood samples from Clayfaces #3 and #4 to steal both their powers. "Melting" powers accidentally backfired, sending him on a one-way trip into the Earth. Escaped during Knightquest or No Man's Land (I think the latter, since I believe the quake freed him) and caused trouble for Poison Ivy in the park. He's the likely culprit (especially with his acting background), though he now has quartz affixed all over his body as a result of his being buried for so long, has shapeshifting abilities probably not well-tuned enough to pull off mimicking Jason, and lacks the sanity to pull it off (especially without using his other powers to try to fry Batman).

If there's a Clayface #6, I'm unaware of him.

anarky · Post by **anarky** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 4:46 pm

And didn't the convo at SSG say that Guy became a demon or some dumb shit and then died?

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 5:14 pm

I remember he became an "ancient living weapon" and had his own series for awhile where he was this retarded bare chested, tatooed geeky version of Guy Gardner, but I didn't know he shuffled off the mortal coil ( of course, after that horrific book, it would have been a mercy killing...)

Guy Gardner: Green Lantern is the only way to go with Guy. And give him back his old costume since it's the coolest super hero costume ever, with the turtleneck and the big honkin' lapels. I can see Guy being a pain in Kyle's asshole (tee hee, it works!!) just like he was with Hal...

Post by **vynsane** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 9:51 am

i enjoyed 618, not as much as i was hoping, but apparently a lot more than you guys!

i didn't find if rushed at all how fast bats figured out it wasn't jason. i mean, he is the world's greatest detective.

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:33 pm

I liked it okay. i was just bummed it wasn't Jason...even though I knew it wasn't going to be Jason. Having Jason come back as a new Batman uber villain is infinitely more interesting than having Clayface POSE as Jason coming back as a new Batman uber villain.

Hmmm..I wonder if Jason Todd is related to Tommy Elliot and...(SMACK)

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:40 pm

Is anyone going to pick up Greg Rucka's new Wonder Woman run? I might give it a shot.

I have 88-103 from before. I think it was the Deodato run where Wonder Woman got replaced by (?) and Mike was drawing hot Amazons all over the place. Then Byrne came on with 100 and I gave him a try, but didn't like so I dropped it.

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 11:51 am

Picked up Outsiders #3 to see what all the hullabaloo was about. It was okay. I don't think I'll keep on it though. It's not as good as Teen Titans. By that way, Black Lightning is now the Secretary of Education?? Oh those wacky DC comics...

anarky · Post by **anarky** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 11:58 am

Okay, in the incomprehensible world of DCU politics, why in hell would President Luthor appoint any superheroes to any positions?

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 2:56 pm

I dunno. He's all chummy with them. Like they overlook the fact that he used to be Superman's arch villain or something. I don't read enough DC to know what the scoop is.

Post by **vynsane** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 1:01 am

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by anarky
 Okay, in the incomprehensible world of DCU politics, why in hell would President Luthor appoint any superheroes to any positions?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

meh - dumbest. plotline. ever.