Final Crisis

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Final Crisis

Cover art of the Final Crisis hardcover
Art by J.G. Jones.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule Monthly
Format Limited series
Genre Superhero
Crossover
Publication date July, 2008 – March, 2009
Number of issues 7
Main character(s) DC Multiverse
Creative team
Writer(s) Grant Morrison
Artist(s) J. G. Jones (1-6)
Marco Rudy (5-6)
Penciller(s) Carlos Pacheco (4-6)
Doug Mahnke (6-7)
Inker(s) Jesus Merino (4-6)
Christian Alamy (6-7)
Tom Nguyen (7)
Drew Gerasi (7)
Norm Rapmund (7)
Rodney Ramos (7)
Walden Wong (7)
Doug Mahnke (7)
Letterer(s) Rob Leigh (1-4)
Travis Lanham (5, 7)
Rob Clark (6)
Colorist(s) Alex Sinclair
Pete Pantazis (6-7)
Tony Aviña (7)
Creator(s) Grant Morrison
J. G. Jones
Editor(s) Eddie Berganza
Adam Schlagman
Collected editions
Hardcover ISBN 1-4012-2281-1

Final Crisis is a seven-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics in 2008 and written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy,[1] and Marco Rudy later joined the series' creative team.[2] It directly follows DC Universe #0 after the conclusion of the 51-issue Countdown to Final Crisis weekly limited series.[3]

Promotion about the limited series describes its story as "the day evil won". The series deals with alien villain Darkseid's plot to overthrow reality, and the subsequent death and corruption of various DC characters and their universe. In Spring 2008 Morrison explained his conception of the series:

“ I wanted to do the biggest crossover there’s ever been... it’s got nods to everything, going back to "Flash of Two Worlds" and the first 'Crisis on Earth-1', 'Earth-2', all that stuff. So there’s little elements of all that, but... everything I’m doing right now is about people dying, or the apocalypse, so it’s kind of dark, and the 'Final Crisis' thing is just pushing that as far as it can possibly go. And it’s taking a lot of trends that I see in comics and pushing them to the max to see, 'do we really want it to be like this'?"[4] ”

Contents

[edit] Publication history

The origin of the story goes back to 2003 when Morrison returned to DC and came up with the idea for another crisis: "I pitched a huge crossover event called Hypercrisis, which didn’t happen for various reasons. Some of Hypercrisis went into Seven Soldiers, some went into All Star Superman, some went into 52 and some of it found a home in Final Crisis."[5] According to Grant Morrison, work finally began on Final Crisis #1 in early 2006, with the intention of the series being a thematic and literal sequel to Seven Soldiers and 52, two projects that Morrison was heavily involved in at the time.[6]

References to Infinite Crisis as the "middle Crisis"[7] gave readers the impression there would be at least one additional major follow-up to the original Crisis on Infinite Earths. A May 2007 teaser poster confirmed this speculation with the tagline: "Heroes die. Legends live forever."

The artwork met with delays, and Morrison had no intention of having them continue into Final Crisis, as DC Comics had hoped.[clarification needed] To keep the release on schedule, Countdown wrapped with issue #1 and its planned final issue (#0) was revamped as a 50 cent one-shot special called "DC Universe" #0. Besides hyping upcoming storylines such as "Batman R.I.P." and "The Blackest Night," the issue was narrated by Barry Allen and featured Libra leading a group of super-villains in prayer for the "god of evil", Darkseid. The result is, as described by Morrison, that "we’re watching him fall back through the present, into the past of Seven Soldiers where he finally comes to rest in the body of 'Boss Dark Side’, the gangster from that story."[6]

To help readers identify events pertinent to Final Crisis and other major DCU events in the coming months, a "Sightings" cover banner appears on various DC comics as "signposts, marking important storybeats and moments throughout the DC Universe."[8] The first such headers appeared on Justice League of America (vol. 2) #21 and Action Comics #866, respectively (the JLA issue featured Libra's return and his recruiting of the Human Flame).

The original intent was for Jones to pencil the whole series. Due to delays, however, Carlos Pacheco drew issues #4-6 with Jones, and issue 7 was drawn entirely by Doug Mahnke. Jones said that “Any problems completing the series are my own. I love Doug Mahnke’s art, and he would have probably been a better choice to draw this series in the first place.”[9]

In addition to the core limited series the larger storyline includes a number of tie-ins, comprising one-shots and limited series.

The one-shots comprise "Requiem,"[10] "Resist,"[11] "Secret Files" and "Submit". Also "Rage of the Red Lanterns" is the start of a storyline of the same name, that picks up on events in "Green Lantern: Secret Origin" and continues in Green Lantern #36-38. It starts as a tie-in because, according to writer Geoff Johns, "events in Final Crisis have motivated the Guardians to proceed further with their attempted containment of the light".[12]

The limited series comprise Superman Beyond (a two issue mini-series also written by Grant Morrison), Legion of 3 Worlds (a five-issue limited series focusing on the different incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes[13]), Revelations (a five-issue limited series[14]), and Rogues' Revenge (a three-issue mini-series focused on the Flash Rogues[15]).

[edit] Plot

Final Crisis opens with a series of scenes depicting events across the DC Universe. Metron of the New Gods is shown at the dawn of human civilization giving Anthro the gift of fire. The story returns to the DC Universe's present day, where private detective Dan Turpin is shown discovering the dying Orion, and the superheroes are brought into the plot as they investigate the murder. Meanwhile, the villain Libra builds a supervillain army and kills the Martian Manhunter to prove his power. In the series' second issue, Green Lantern John Stewart is brutally attacked and Hal Jordan is framed for the attack and Orion's deicide.[16]

The superheroes slowly become aware of a plot by Darkseid and the other evil New Gods of Apokolips to conquer and enslave humanity. In Final Crisis #2, Batman is captured, while in Final Crisis #3, Superman is forced to leave Earth in an attempt to save the life of Lois Lane. Mary Marvel, who is possessed by Desaad, infects Wonder Woman with the morticoccus the god Bacterium designed to strip Earth's heroes of their powers.[16][17] Also in the second issue, Barry Allen, the second Flash, returns from the dead, and attempts to prevent Orion's murder.[16] The Evil Gods' forces deliver the final blow to humanity when they release the Anti-Life Equation on modern means of digital communication, from TV and radio to the Internet, turning nearly half of humanity into mindless slaves of Darkseid.[17]

Teaser poster for Final Crisis

Barry Allen reunites with his wife, Iris West, and kisses her, freeing her from the Anti-Life Equation. Throughout the world, various superheroes are shown resisting the Anti-Life Equation, which culminates in an attack on Darkseid's forces in Blüdhaven, which occurs in Final Crisis #5. Also in this issue, Nix Uotan- a Monitor who was sentenced to live life on Earth as a human - with the help of what looks like Sam Simeon, is shown to remember his past and is awakened as a powerful new being.[18]

In Final Crisis #6, the Flashes attempt to stop Darkseid before his presence on Earth destroys all of reality.[19] Within Darkseid's bunker, Batman escapes and confronts Darkseid. He states that he will "make a once in a lifetime exception" to his "no firearms" rule and shoots Darkseid using the bullet that killed Orion. As Darkseid is shot, he fires the Omega Sanction from his eyes and apparently kills Batman.[19] Doctor Sivana helps disable the Justifiers so that Lex Luthor can kill Libra. Superman returns to Earth from the 31st century, where he was given access to the reality-altering Miracle Machine by Brainiac 5. In a fit of desperate rage, Superman attacks Darkseid's bunker, finding Batman's charred corpse within.

Barry Allen and Wally West, still pursued by the Black Racer, arrive to witness Superman's clash with Darkseid. Darkseid's followers unleash Omega Beams on the two Flashes, who outrace the beams and cause them to hit Darkseid. The Black Racer reaches Darkseid as he lays dying from Radion poisoning and removes his essence/soul from Dan Turpin's body. The Female Furies clash with Libra's army of mind-controlled superhumans, who are now under Luthor's control. Wonder Woman is freed and binds Darkseid's body with her lasso, freeing the rest of humanity from Darkseid's control. But Darkseid's essence continues to drag the multiverse down into him, with only a few buildings of Earth-0/New Earth not being drawn into Darkseid who is now a black hole. Time and space begin to unwind as Darkseid's essence dies.

As reality breaks down around him and the universe slowly dies, Superman, with the help of the rest of the superheroes and humanity left alive, completes construction of a copy of the Miracle Machine. Darkseid's essence attempts to claim the Miracle Machine in a last ditch effort to defeat Superman. However, Superman sang a note at a frequency that countered Darkseid's own vibrational frequency, shattering his essence. At this point Mandrakk the Dark Monitor arrives to consume Superman who is the last and greatest Protector of Life and at his weakest. He taunts Superman, saying he has nothing to start the Miracle Machine with, so Superman should come to Mandrakk and embrace the death of everything. Superman counters this, and uses the solar energy in his body to power the Miracle Machine, in order to restore the Multiverse to its proper form. Then, the army of alternate Supermen from across the Multiverse appear, led by the Captain Marvel of Earth-5 and gathered by the Question. Nix Uotan arrives and in turn, summons the Zoo Crew (restoring their original forms and powers in the process), as well as the Army of Heaven, the Green Lantern Corps, and the Super Young Team, who had been on Earth-51 (referring to them as the the Forever People of the 5th World). Together the heroes confront the Dark Monitor and the battle ends when the Green Lantern Corps stake Mandrakk with a spear created by their rings' energy. Supermen and the Green Lanterns drag Earth from the black hole that is Darkseid. Nix Uotan puts the reborn New Gods on Earth-51 with bits and pieces from other versions of Earth. He restores the time lines and errors. Nix Uotan then forces the other Monitors to stop interfering with the multiverse, leading to their nonexistence, due to Superman's wish on the Miracle Machine for a "happy ending." In the end, Nix is reborn on the restored New Earth/Earth-0 as the sole bridge that connects the unlimited Monitor Intelligence of the Overvoid and the repaired multiverse.

In the distant past, Anthro dies of old age after bringing fire to the people of earth. Bruce Wayne, still in his Batman garb, lays his utility belt upon Anthro's body, and starts drawing a bat on the cave wall.[20]

[edit] Morrison on Final Crisis

Grant Morrison has made several statements on the narrative and thematic content of Final Crisis. Metron's appearance in Final Crisis #1 touches on themes raised in Morrison's Seven Soldiers meta-series, with the origin of Aurakles,[21] which posited "the idea of the New Gods having altered human history for their own purposes."[6] This also draws on ideas Morrison put forward in his run on JLA[22] "that Earth was destined to become the cradle of a new race of 'Fifth World super-divinities."[6]

Morrison commented on the death of the New God Orion by saying "Knowing how cosmic and epic it was going to get, I wanted to start the story at street level, with the discovery of the body of a god in the trash,"[6] He also stated, in relation to the death of the Martian Manhunter, that he "wanted to open with a nasty, execution-style death of a superhero as a way of demonstrating how far behind us the Silver Age is."[6]

Morrison notes that Batman's use of the gun in Final Crisis #6 is symbolic as “the root of the Batman mythos is the gun and the bullet that created Batman. So, Batman himself is finally standing there to complete that big mythical circle and to have the image of Batman up against the actual personification of evil and now he's got the gun and he's got the bullet. It seemed to me to work."[23]

[edit] Relationship to other Crises

At the 2008 New York Comic Con, DC Executive Editor Dan DiDio described how Final Crisis was connected with other "Crisis" stories:[citation needed]

It is the third "Crisis" of a trilogy show[ing] different stages in the development of the DC Multiverse:

  • Crisis on Infinite Earths: "death of the multiverse"
  • Infinite Crisis: "rebuilding of the multiverse"
  • Final Crisis: "final saga of the multiverse"

It is also the third in a trilogy that comprises "an exploration of our heroes":

  • Identity Crisis: "personal threat"
  • Infinite Crisis: "putting the greatest odds against the heroes"
  • Final Crisis: "the day that evil won"

[edit] Format

The first issue of Final Crisis went on sale May 28, 2008.[24] Final Crisis was seven oversized issues released over nine months starting in May 2008. Although there were other projects alongside Final Crisis, the story did not crossover with any ongoing series.[25]

[edit] Tie-ins

Several one-shots and mini-series have been and will be released that tie-in with Final Crisis:[26] three series run in parallel to the main main one and the one-shot, "DC Universe: Last Will and Testament," was planned to fit in the 'break' between Final Crisis #3 and #4.[27]

Morrison, who wrote one of the "final" Batman stories in "Batman R.I.P.," stated, "First it's R.I.P., and we'll see how that winds up for Batman. Then the two-parter mentioned (Batman #682-683) goes through Batman's whole career, in a big summing up of everything that also ties directly into Final Crisis. And Final Crisis is where we see the final fate of Batman."[28]

[edit] Reading order

Morrison has provided a reading order for the main series and tie-ins written by him:"[5]

  • Final Crisis #1-3
  • Superman Beyond #1-2
  • Submit
  • Final Crisis #4–5
  • Batman #682–683
  • Final Crisis #6–7

[edit] Aftermath

Promotional art for Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance.

In a move Dan DiDio described as "inspirationally tied to Final Crisis," in early 2009 the villains will take over the main DC Universe titles and some will be featured in "Faces of Evil," a series of one-shots, all designed to examine the question "What happens when evil wins?"[31]

Four Final Crisis Aftermath six-issue limited series were announced at New York Comic Con 2009:[32][33]

The Flash: Rebirth will address Barry Allen's return in Final Crisis.

Battle for the Cowl dealt with the immediate aftermath of the death of Batman and his successor.

[edit] Collected editions

The series will be collected into a single volume:

  • Final Crisis (collects Final Crisis #1-7, "Final Crisis Superman Beyond 3D" #1-2, and "Final Crisis: Submit", 352 pages, hardcover, June 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2281-1)[40]

DC originally solicited the hardcover collection containing only issues #1-7 of the main "Final Crisis" series. However, they changed their plans as announced at MegaCon 2009 to also include the Grant Morrison-penned "Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3D" #1-2 and "Final Crisis: Submit".[41]

In addition the main tie-ins are being collected as follows:

  • Final Crisis Companion (collects "Final Crisis #1 Director's Cut", "Final Crisis: Requiem", "Final Crisis: Resist", and "Final Crisis Secret Files", 200 pages, softcover, Titan, July 2009, ISBN 1-84856-315-9, DC, June 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2274-9)
  • Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds (168 pages, hardcover, August 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2324-9)
  • Final Crisis: Revelations (168 pages, hardcover, August 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2322-2)
  • Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge (144 pages, hardcover, July 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2333-8)
  • Green Lantern: Rage of the Red Lanterns (collects "Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns" and Green Lantern#26-28 and #36-38, 176 pages, hardcover, July 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2301-X)

As are the Final Crisis Aftermath mini-series:

[edit] Sales

Sales estimates for May 2008 put Final Crisis #1 in second place to the second issue of Secret Invasion, with estimated sales of 159,036.[42]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Carlos Pacheco Joins JG Jones on Final Crisis, Newsarama, June 16, 2008
  2. ^ Review of Final Crisis #5, comiXtreme, December 13, 2008
  3. ^ SDCC '07: DC's 'Countdown...To The End?' PANEL, Newsarama, July 26, 2007
  4. ^ Grant Morrison interview from PulpSecret on YouTube
  5. ^ a b Grant Morrison: Final Crisis Exit Interview, Part 1, Newsarama, January 28, 2009
  6. ^ a b c d e f Grant Morrison on Final Crisis #1, Newsarama, June 9, 2008
  7. ^ Justice League of America #9: "The Lightning Saga, Chapter Three", July 2007.
  8. ^ "DC Nation" #110
  9. ^ Renaud, Jeffrey (2008-10-21). "J.G. Jones Apologizes For Unfinished Final Crisis Work". Comic Book Resources. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18513. Retrieved on 2008-10-21. 
  10. ^ a b Remembering the Martian: Tomasi on FC: Requiem, Newsarama, July 9, 2008
  11. ^ a b Resistance Leaders: Rucka, Trautmann on Final Crisis Special, Newsarama, October 29, 2008
  12. ^ a b Geoff Johns on Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns, Newsarama, October 27, 2008
  13. ^ a b INFINITE GEOFF JOHNS II: Action Comics, Comic Book Resources, April 2, 2008
  14. ^ a b Rucka Reveals Final Crisis: Revelations, Comic Book Resources, June 5, 2008
  15. ^ a b Back With A Flash: Johns & Kolins Talk lash: Rogue's Revenge, Newsarama, January 11, 2008
  16. ^ a b c Final Crisis #2
  17. ^ a b Final Crisis #3
  18. ^ Final Crisis #5
  19. ^ a b Final Crisis #6
  20. ^ Final Crisis #7
  21. ^ Seven Soldiers of Victory #1 (December 2006)
  22. ^ JLA #15 (February 1998)
  23. ^ Mahadeo, Kevin (2009-01-14). "Grant Morrison Kills The Batman". Wizard. http://www.wizarduniverse.com/011409batmandead.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-16. 
  24. ^ DC Comics' solicitation for Final Crisis #1
  25. ^ Phillips, Dan (2008-02-11). "Dan DiDio on DC's Future". IGN. http://comics.ign.com/articles/851/851191p1.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-16. 
  26. ^ Final Crisis: Secrets and Truths with Geoff Johns, Newsarama, May 9, 2008
  27. ^ a b Meltzer Bridges Final Crisis with “Last Will and Testament”, Comic Book Resources, June 4, 2008
  28. ^ Phillips, Dan (2008-08-26). "Killing Batman And The DC Universe". IGN. 6. http://comics.ign.com/articles/902/902992p6.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  29. ^ NYCC '08: DC's Final FINAL CRISIS PANEL, Newsarama, April 20, 2008
  30. ^ Drawing the Rage: Shane Davis Talks Red Lanterns, Newsarama, October 20, 2008
  31. ^ January Sees 'Faces of Evil' at DC - Dan DiDio Spills, Newsarama, September 18, 2008
  32. ^ NYCC '09 - DC Universe Panel, Newsarama, February 7 2009
  33. ^ Ian Sattler on the Final Crisis: Aftermath Titles, Newsarama, February 11, 2009
  34. ^ Behind the Page - Matthew Sturges, 2, Newsarama, February 10, 2009
  35. ^ The Most Powerful? Matt Sturges on The Human Flame and Run!, Newsarama, February 16, 2009
  36. ^ On the “Run!” with Matthew Sturges, Comic Book Resources, March 10, 2009
  37. ^ Joe Casey “Dances” with Super Young Team in "Final Crisis Aftermath", Comic Book Resources, March 5, 2009
  38. ^ Getting Away from Electric City: Ivan Brandon on Escape, Newsarama, March 13, 2009
  39. ^ Ink to Paper: Eric Wallace on Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink, Newsarama, March 4, 2009
  40. ^ Final Crisis details at DC
  41. ^ Mega Con '09: DC Nation Panel - Final Crisis HC Details, Newsarama, February 28, 2009
  42. ^ Sales Estimates for May, 2008, Comic Book Resources, June 17, 2008

[edit] References

[edit] External links

v • d • e
DC Comics Crisis Anthology
Crisis on Infinite Earths • Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! • Identity Crisis • Infinite Crisis • Final Crisis
Crisis on Infinite Earths Aftermath
Zero Hour Build-up
Zero Hour Aftermath
Infinite Crisis Build-up
Infinite Crisis Aftermath
Final Crisis Build-up
Final Crisis Tie-ins
Final Crisis Aftermath
Related articles
v • d • e
Grant Morrison bibliography
2000 AD
DC Comics
Marvel Comics
Vertigo
Early work
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