ComicPageOfTheWeekend: The Time Machines vault

Can you guess 'em all??

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Star Trek/Legion © DC Comics

CBR Rann–Thanagar War

 

Time for some more Mystery in Space!!

Rann–Thanagar War was a direct sequel to Planet Heist.
It was one of the stories DC released as part of the hype to build up yet another event called Infinite Crisis (alongside Villains United, OMAC Project and Day of Vengeance).

I usually tend to avoid big epic crossovers and mega-events (if they're not Green Lantern related or assigned to way too many authors to be properly coordinated)...but being the first, and only Adam Strange centric one, this was a must read for scifi comics fans.

At least..that's what I thought.
Surely a mini-event following a mini-series, both leading into another bigger event cannot be that bad...can it?

Comic title: Rann–Thanagar War
Art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Joe Bennett and Marc Campos
Story by Dave Gibbons

Published by DC Comics
From 2005-06
Lineup Adam Strange, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Countdown
Format: Trade paperback, collects the 6-issue miniseries.

Promoted as part of the Countdown to Infinite Crisis, Rann–Thanagar War is a sort of a reimagining of of an old interplanetary conflict between DC Comics' interstellar heroes, originally depicted in World's Finest Comics in the 70s.

The idea to have this big epic space war between various stars-based DC proprieties' been around for ages since the original Crisis, but it took until 2005 to see it finally take shape properly.

Without dealing with this "Infinite Crisis" mentioned above, per say, Rann–Thanagar War is actually a continuation of the story from Adam Strange: Planet Heist, crossing over with on-going stories from Green Lantern and Green Lanterns Corps.

A Man of Two Worlds joins forces with two immortal Egyptians/Aliens Hawkmen!

After dealing with Thanagarian rogues who tried to bring in an all-out war and the end of the universe as we know it, Adam Strange is now facing yet another cataclysmic event of cosmic proportions!
Our space adventurer his now trying to save two planets from the brink of a war.
His adopted planet Rann was teleported into Thanagar's star system.
But now the system is getting unstable... Thanagar is getting lured into its own sun and will be crash landing soon!

After helping out the surviving Thanagarians into its principal city Ranagar, the Rannian forces and populations start getting ideas about these intruders. After all aren't they the reason their homeworld's been transported into this place to begin with? And vice-versa.
Tension arise amongst these two races, blaming one another for their current condition...

Strange goes to Earth to bring in Hawkman and Hawkgirl, two Earth heroes used to Thanagarian technology and civilization. But once he comes back.. he seems to arrive a bit too late to prevent a war...

Meanwhile, Green Lanterns Kyle Rayner and Kilowog are sent on a covert mission to this very same planet. Ordered by the Guardians to check out the location because of rumors regarding a dangerous incoming menace.
They are however asked not to interfere in politics, as GLs shouldn't, this would mean having the Corps taking sides in other planets' internal conflicts.

The war begins... is it too late?
Soon, the Thanagarian heroine Hawkwoman joins in, as does Tamaraneans and the cruel Blackfire (sister of Teen Titans' Starfire). Various other planets are drawn into the conflict one by one.
Alliances are forged, other allies join our heroes. Blackfire tries to take this occasion to seize power.

It's an actual Star Wars of epic proportions that quickly overtakes most of DC's finest science fiction heroes, featuring Adam Strange, the Green Lantern Corps, the Hawks, the Omega Men, the L.E.G.I.O.N. and even Captain Comet!

Rann–Thanagar War is a pretty fun story.
It last for only 6 chapters, but lots of things happen in these few pages.
The art is quite gorgeous all over the book, including various talents and shining stars from DC's creative team.

It's a story about an elusive peace threatened by two very different populations from different worlds.
There is various quickly thrown around subplots which served as basis for other books later on (more on that below).

Religious fanatics aspiring for power are trying to overthrown these worlds at war.
Blackfire betrays various groups to gain more power herself.
Tigorr and the Omega Men come back to help Adam Strange, whether they planned for it or not.

Finally a common enemy emerges from the ruins, Onimar Synn., the Sin Eater. A "deity" that used to plague Thanagar long ago. Now back with the intention to take over the planet, feeding off the souls of the people and building an army of undead at the same time.
Captain Comet joins in as well to defeat this god, who has the ability to manipulate Nth Metal (a metal native from Thanagar) alongside various other dangerous powers...

Overall, it's a fun crazy colorful book that goes all over the place.

The story, written by one of my all-time favorite authors, Dave Gibbons (cult classic Green Lantern writer and Watchmen artist) is fun enough. I love his work.
But I really think, had DC let this be a self-contained story, this could have been much better in the end. (like an absolute must read experience)

But the book was then followed by an event, and various titles were sprang off from this mini.
Including a L.E.G.I.O.N. title, various related spin-offs concerning specific characters (such as Adam Strange and some others) and other tie-ins (another Rann-Thanagar War later on).

But if you like scifi comics, Adam Strange comics or other space-based DC characters? This is as good as it gets.
Ignoring the sequels this story ended up being a lead into, it is a big epic crossover featuring tons of fan favorite and obscure character from all over the cosmos.
Including DC's greatest space champions from across the universe Adam Strange, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Green Lantern, the Omega Men, L.E.G.I.O.N. and the Darkstars!

If all this sounds good to you, despite the unresolved subplots, grab a copy, sit down and enjoy the show~

I give it:

  2.5 / 3 Plastic-trophies!

CBR Adam Strange: Planet Heist

 

And we're back with Adam Strange!

Such a seriously underused but fun and original character!

You saw him in his first modern, if more serious, mini-series:
- Adam Strange: Man of Two Worlds
And kicking ass in pure pulp retro fashion in:
- DC Comics Presents: Mystery in Space
Finally, in the 2000s, DC gave him his long overdue modern re-interpretation, an all-new story and sequel of sorts to Man of Two Worlds!

Comic title: Adam Strange: Planet Heist
Art by Pascal Ferry
Story by Andy Diggle

Published by DC Comics
From 2005
Lineup Adam Strange
Format: Trade paperback, collects the 8-issue miniseries epic.

Every now and then, people at DC try to bring Adam Strange back from the drawers.
Sadly, not much is done with such a great character.
Why is that? I mean really?
The character is bright, simple, iconic. The concept is fantastic.

You see,
Adam Strange's sort of like DC Comics' very own Indiana Jones.
Strange is an average guy.
Originally an archeologist (why does all these sort of cool stuff keep happening to these guys??), he was suddenly hit by a Zeta beam one day, which transported him away to the very strange planet Rann...

Adam Strange's just your average Joe. Only he's having the worst day of his life.

On Rann, Strange discovered himself to be a true hero at heart. Equipped with a laser gun and a jet pack, Adam Strange proved himself several times to be quite a reliable savior to the distant planet.
After various uncontrollable travels back and forth, Adam finally settled there and married Alanna, the daughter of the chief scientist, Sardath,  who whisked him away originally.
They had a child, Aleea.

After one quick line-throwaway to the previous series, Adam was finally ready to leave Earth once and for all.
Adam was just about to join his wife and daughter on his adopted homeworld forever with his all-new perfected Zeta beam when suddenly... his transport never came!

He finds himself trapped on Earth...
What has happened to his world? And more important, is his family okay?

Planet Heist is exactly what fans of Adam Strange wished for years.

One massive epic science-fiction story, setting up Adam's place in the larger DCU (where the anterior Man of Two Worlds was clearly isolated from everything and self-contained).

It is simply that, a big scifi epic, bringing Strange into all sorts of places, across all corners of the DC universe.

Adam Strange is quickly confronted with intergalactic bounty hunters, then goes on to explore Rann's solar system, which brings him against Thanagarians, and specially in the clutches of wing commander and fanatic Sh'ri Valkyr. Later on, Strange runs into Tigorr and his Omega Men who decide to help him out find what really happened to Rann and the Polaris star system.
In the end, Strange finds himself a man on the run. Darkstars (sort of unofficial Green Lantern Corps), the Legion...every body wants to arrest Strange for a crime he didn't commit...

It's big.
It goes into all sorts of directions.
The story all fans of Adam Strange always dreamed of!

Andy Diggle depicts one heckuva adventure for Adam Strange.

It quickly mentions previous plot left unresolved.
Alanna originally "died" giving birth to Aleea... Which was later expanded upon in the pages of the JLA (in a little story arc, starting issue #20). Alanna turned out to actually be alive, with a big baddie planning his revenge on our heroes...
In the end, Alanna was reunited with husband and daughter.

The artwork is gorgeous. Easily one of the best I've seen in a while. Fitting for this big colorful space adventure.
Blasters look great, jet packs almost come to life in mention, alien creatures are exotic and strange.

My only complaint (more on that, below!) is that the threat of this evil "Starbreaker" kinda comes cheap and ends abruptly in the end, with this story leading into another one...

Overall, it's a fantastic read!
Fun, gorgeous. This Mystery In Space is one Strange Adventure for sure!
(both of these classic Adam Strange comics names could have been just as good titles and more fitting over Planet Heist)

It's a great revival of the space adventure genre in the DCU.
It reinvigorated Adam Strange.
It also redesigns his costume. Good bye good ol' classic red jumpsuit...and hello modern techno-hitech futuristic red jumpsuit. Purists will hate it, newcomers will love it.
I personally think the book would have been just a good with the old retro pulp outfit.

It works great as an introduction to the large space-aspect of the DC Universe.

My only problem, but it is a tiny one in the end, is that it all leads up to...
THE RANN-THANAGAR WAR!!

Spoiler:

In the end, Rann was safe and sound.Sardath only Zeta beamed it away in some dead universe to hid temporary.


Starbreaker is defeated.
But when Rann was moved back to the normal DCU, its coordinates got changed...transporting the planet back into Thanagar's system. A new terrible problem arise, Thanagar got pushed closer to its sun destryoing most of the planet's surface...which resulted in the Rann-Thanagar War!!

Anyway, in itself, it still a pretty good read and an excellent tale for science fiction fans, Adam Strange fans and readers in the search of something different from your usual "urban spandex wearing crime-fighting supermen".

I give it:

  3 / 3 Plastic-trophies!

DC News! DC Nation's Amethyst + Chibi Titans preview

And here's some sneak peaks at two of DC Nation's upcoming cartoon shorts!
First, here's for Amethyst:



She's a Legion (of Superheroes) character, and it seems she's gonna have a little cartoony short at some point.

And here's another sneak peak, for Chibi Titans.

For the video teaser, follow this link (cannot be embed).

It's nice to have some more of the Teen Titans cartoon in one form or another, for the fans of the show - though I would have preferred the actual tiny Titans animated personally :P

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: Revenge of Young Darkseid!

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Elseworlds 80-Page Giant © DC Comics

Deleted Scenes - DC Reboot: Part VIII: What might had been...

DC Reboot: part I

DC Reboot: part II

DC Reboot:: part III

DC Reboot: part IV

DC Reboot: part V
DC Reboot part VI

DC Reboot VII

Enough with the actual reboot/relaunch/revampe/whateva of the DCUniverse!
Let's check out some of the designs sketched by Jim Lee that might had been...

Some differences might not be that evident... But others on the other hand...
Funny enough, I find some of these concept arts much better than the actual costumes we'll get in September.
So let's check 'em out:

They even redesigned Jonah Hex and the DC old west universe? I mean, really??
At least with Jonah Hex serial style it won't be that apparent and most artists will skip Jim Lee's suggestions...

O...kay... Animal Man doesn't have a "costume" anymore but this strange look? (3rd pic)
Why didn't they pick the above revamps of this costume?

Nope...still not a fan.
And this above look was too much Stephanie Brown anyway...way to disappoint more fans in one costume.

BOP Black Canary in a new costume closer to the original one (unlike the final version)...Okay...

Katana in her all-new tenth billion variant costume.

'nuff said!

Okay, I like how it looks here, the drawing itself, despite the useless new details added to his classic look.

Aaaah!! Green Arrow all Smallville-ified!!! °___°
The horror! The ugly douche beard! Ahhh!!

This one screams EXTREME!!!90s!!!WOLVERINES!!!

I, Vampire!! Turned all emo/Twilight...
Blah :(

[ Not fan enough of the Legion to add smart comment here]

This trio is so...random.
Anyway, kinda like and hate those.
Jason Todd's official DC's Deadpool now. (have you seen the covers? The mask moves and smiles and stuff...)
Roy Harper looks great!
Starfire's sluttier now...but I love the magma hair in this pic!!

Haaaa!!! Deadshot!! Not you too!!
Harley?! What did they do to you? They replaced you by your evil slutty twin, right?? Right??

Superboy finally gets a costume after a decade of casual superhero-ying.
Supergirl doesn't have Peter Parker skills to make costumes..she even missed a whole spot at knees level.

Okay~
Beside, we can't have a good look at Superman's complete costume here.
The collar.....aah!!

Is that Wally West? Bart Allen? Anyway the above picture could have a good costume if colors were reversed (Red on the top, Yellow bellow). Not a fan of his mohawk on the second one though~

Much better! Much classier! Love those two iterations of Wonder Girl's costume here.
The above one has a sort of Greek/Mythic vibe to it, though not really superhero-ysh. The second one is great and does look Wonder Girly enough. Why did they end up making her into a thief/gypsy take on a Donna Troy-fancharacter??


And that is all~
Source: DC's blog The Source