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Death of the New Gods

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Death of the New Gods
File:Deathnewgods1.jpg
Cover to Death of the New Gods (2007)
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Formatminiseries
Publication dateOct 2007 –
No. of issues8
Main character(s)New Gods
Superman
Jimmy Olsen
Creative team
Written byJim Starlin
Artist(s)Jim Starlin
Penciller(s)Jim Starlin
Inker(s)Matt Banning
Colorist(s)Jeromy Cox

Death of the New Gods is an eight-issue comic book limited series published in 2007 by DC Comics. It is written and drawn by Jim Starlin.

The series follows the last days of the New Gods as they are stalked by a mysterious killer.

Background

Jim Starlin stated in interview that: "I sort of think of this project as putting an ending to Jack's New Gods' saga. Since Kirby's initial run on the characters others have presented them with mixed results. Looking back I'd say at least half of the past New Gods series have done more harm than good. So for me, Death of the New Gods is half honoring Jack Kirby, half mercy killing."[1]

In the same interview, he stated that: "They started building [the weekly series] Countdown around Death of the New Gods because it was way ahead of everybody else. They started catching up with me, and I'm having to change my ending to adjust to what they're doing in Countdown. Up until now, I've been telling everybody I'm killing them all. One survives. And he was going to have a good death. I had to keep him around until the end."[1]

Plot

The series starts with Darkseid recalling how he first became aware of a growing crisis with the Death of Willie Walker. Walker, who is the corporeal form of the Black Racer, is seen being killed by an unidentified figure who tears out his heart; the same fate that had met all the other New Gods who were killed. Serifan of the Forever People is seen exiting the room after his death. While New Gods are being hunted down across the galaxy, one of Doctor Bedlam's android bodies is found damaged and it is assumed that he had become the victim of the mystery killer who had been responsible for killing numerous other New Gods. Magnar is also found dead with Orion who claims he was killed right before he entered the room, and didn't see anyone exit. The current Highfather, Takion, is stunned to discover that despite his connection to the Source, he cannot sense when New Gods die. This means their souls are not returning to the Source as they should. Elsewhere, Metron, who has been having strange visions, goes to speak to Darkseid who has gathered together his old Elite and is preparing for defensive operations. Metron discovers that Darkseid knows more than he does about what is happening, but whatever it is, the Apokoliptian warlord refuses to tell him. Later after disrupting a robbery, Mister Miracle and Big Barda return to their home. Mister Miracle leaves for a moment and returns to his kitchen to find Barda dead, her heart ripped out.

Orion, Himon, and others discover the full extent of the death toll when on screens shows the New Gods who have been killed and others who are still missing. Forever People are shown to be missing and are prime suspects as Serifan and Beautiful Dreamer are both seen leaving two of the murders. Orion blames Darkseid. Takion asks him to hold off until further information can be revealed. The Justice League comes to investigate Barda's murder. Dr. Mid-Nite performs an autopsy which doesn't reveal how she was killed. Mr. Miracle contemplates using the Anti-Life Equation to bring his wife back, but stops himself. He receives an urgent summons back to New Genesis. Superman and Mr. Miracle bring Barda's body back to New Genesis. Darkseid asks Desaad to investigate this murders by having him examine Justeen who was also murdered. Superman and Mr. Miracle arrive on New Genesis. Orion is insulted by Superman's presence and attacks him. Metron arrives and reveals what the cause of death is of all the New Gods. Darkseid has also come to the same conclusion: their souls have been taken from them. Darkseid wonders if all his theories on the Anti-Life Equation were actually true or not. Barda is given a proper funeral. Mr. Miracle, Superman, and Orion decide to go to Darkseid and get some answers from him. Takion and Himon journey to the Source Wall to discover why Takion hasn't felt the deaths in the Source. There they discover a second wall, which depicts all the assassin's victims.

While searching the Wall for clues, Takion is killed by a mysterious assailant whom he recognizes. Superman, Free and Orion battle Darkseid's shadow demons, and discover that Darkseid has obtained a portion of the Anti-Life Equation, which is still not as strong as Free's full control. Stalemated, Darkseid tells the heroes that he knows what is causing the murders, but that even knowing that he will die, he sees a chance to gain advantage, though he still will not reveal his plot.

Superman, Orion, and Mr. Miracle discover that the Forever People have been murdered as well. Free resurrects the Forever People and demands that they tell him who has killed them. However, they disintegrate before revealing anything, claiming that they have been ordered not to reveal the secret. Superman and Orion discuss a growing fear that Mr. Miracle is losing control of himself, as well as their suspicions that Infinity Man may be the killer. Metron travels back in time to discover the origins of the killer, finding vast celestial energies sent to him from far in the past. The source of the killer's power is revealed to be a glowing ball of light. Meanwhile, Kalibak and Mantis agree to team up to stop Mr. Miracle. Superman talks things over with Himon, who believes that Orion may be the killer. Miracle and Superman disagree, but before he could be questioned further, Orion disappears. They are dismayed to learn that the Mother Boxes are no longer working as well.

In Supertown, Mister Miracle is attacked by Kalibak and Mantis. Superman then engages the two Apokoliptians in a fight that leaves all three unconscious, and when the villains regain consciousness, Orion arrives and opens fire. When he awakens, Miracle tells Superman that Orion is definitely the killer, as Kalibak and Mantis are dead and Orion was the only one there. They track him to a desolate moon, where an enraged Mister Miracle, blaming Orion for Barda's death, is seized by the Anti-Life Equation and turns into his cosmic form, swearing to kill both Superman and Orion.

In the past, Metron speaks to the glowing ball of light, which reveals itself as the Source and the cause of the death of the New Gods. Long ago, the Source was attacked by the Old Gods and split into two, light and dark. The light side recovered and brought about the Death of the Old Gods, and then attempted to recreate existence, but could only manage to make the flawed Fourth World due to it's imperfection. It attempted to reunite with it's darker part but was delayed by the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, which unified alternate realities and created an impenetrable Source Wall. The Source then orchestrated the events of Infinite Crisis , apparently subtly manipulating Alexander Luthor, and later the events of 52 to bring back the Multiverse, and freeing it's dark half which had taken the form of the Anti-Life Entity. The Source thus reveals that it is now using an agent to eliminate the Fourth World in order to bring about the Fifth World, which will be perfect. The Source agrees to Metron's request that he be allowed to witness the end of the Fourth World.

On Apokolips, Darkseid reflects that everyone is making a mistake in not paying attention to what he was doing, and that it would prove catastrophic. As he broods, images from Countdown to Final Crisis are displayed on the screens around him.

After a brief battle, Miracle attempts to use the Anti-Life Equation on Orion to force him to confess. To Miracle's surprise, Orion is not the killer. Instead, Orion sought to engage the killer in single combat to draw him out. Miracle and Superman consent to this plan and use a Boom Tube to observe from a distance. The killer appears and Orion engages him. Orion is killed, but reveals the killer is not the Infinity Man. Miracle decides to bury all that remains of Orion, his helmet, at the Source Wall. When Miracle and Superman arrive at the Source, they discover the second Source Wall and wonder why Himon made no mention of it. Their question may be answered as Himon arrives, presumably revealing himself to be the God-Killer.

Casualties

   

Mini-series lead-in issues

As part of the lead-in to the limited series, a number of New Gods were seen being tracked and killed in a number of other DC titles:

DC's second weekly limited series Countdown ties into the Death of the New Gods limited series in several issues; after a battle in the clouds above Metropolis, Lightray was killed in Countdown #48 by the mysterious God-Killer, with his last words being "Infinite... Infinite...." Sleez was killed in #46 by the God-Killer, who proclaimed "So Begins The End!" as he blew a hole through Sleez; the Deep Six were all slaughtered in Countdown #38. The new Forager investigated the murders at the request of New Genesis, and later visited Earth to recruit Jimmy Olsen to help her after the death of Barda. In Countdown #19, Bernadeth was confronted by the killer. In Countdown #10, Granny Goodness is killed by the God-Killer.

The effects were also felt in other DC titles. In Birds of Prey #109, Knockout was killed, by a figure whose silhouette precisely matches that of the elusive New God, the Infinity Man. In the Outsiders - Five of a Kind: Thunder/Martian Manhunter one shot, Speed Queen of the Female Furies was fleeing from the God-Killer when she met a comatose Grayven, son of Darkseid. She was killed, though he escaped. Later, Grayven was tricked by the Martian Manhunter into returning to Apokolips, where he was killed as well. In Superman/Batman #42, Orion's wife Bekka was killed by the asassin. In the Teen Titans East Special #1 Power Boy is brutally murdered, and Little Barda and the other Titans are attacked as well. It is unknown if their assailant was the one killing the other New Gods, however.

Reception

IGN gave Death of the New Gods #1 a 7.3, which corresponds to "decent."[21]

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b WW Chicago: Floorbuzz, Part 1, Newsarama, August 13, 2007
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Death of the New Gods #2
  3. ^ Superman/Batman #42
  4. ^ Countdown to Final Crisis #19
  5. ^ a b c d e Death of the New Gods #1
  6. ^ Wonder Girl 5
  7. ^ a b c Death of the New Gods #6
  8. ^ Countdown #38
  9. ^ Countdown to Final Crisis #9
  10. ^ 52 Week 17
  11. ^ a b c Death of the New Gods #4
  12. ^ a b Outsiders: Thunder/Martian Manhunter
  13. ^ Countdown to Final Crisis #10
  14. ^ a b Death of the New Gods #5
  15. ^ a b c Death of the New Gods #3
  16. ^ Birds of Prey #109
  17. ^ Countdown #48
  18. ^ a b Titans East Special #1
  19. ^ Countdown to Final Crisis #11
  20. ^ Countdown #46
  21. ^ Death of the New Gods #1 Review
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