Spoilt!

Hiatus

2009-03-05T23:36:00.002-05:00

Note of explanation

Comicspoilers.net has always been an all-volunteer effort. At its peak, there were five or six volunteers submitting summaries of issues. As inevitable burnout occurred, or other responsibilities usurped our time, the volunteers decreased. We tried to recruit new volunteers, but without success.

Approximately 2 years ago I turned over the reins of the site to Kyle, and since then he has performed a yeoman's job keeping the site active with new summaries, though other activities are now keeping him too busy.

The site isn't disappearing. The archives will remain. The contact info on the right still works. If there is interest from prior or new volunteers to rejuvenate the site, let us know. Otherwise, when time allows us, we will do what we can, but that might not be soon.

John Shandon
- Former Editor Comicspoilers.net
- Tech guy

Trinity #31

2009-01-03T20:29:00.003-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Rita has been captured by the evil Trinity and, under their control, is revealing the locations of temportal rifts. This gives them the first opportunity to send agents in to close up the rift. Whoever can seal the rift can gain the power from it.

A temporal rift has appeared in London, England and the evil Trinity has sent Reverse Flash, Polaris and Lady Shiva to close it up. The heroes attempt to stop them but are unsuccessful. This adds to the power the evil Trinity already had from controlling Europe.

Charity O'Dare is trying to convince Hawkman that she can help him. She is connected to Rita so can see the readings that Rita is making for Morgaine. This enables her to get an early glimpse of the next rift appearing in Brazil. Hawkman is able to send Green Arrow, Tomorrow Woman and Flash to close this one and gain the power from it.

The villains have called on Lord Khyber to join their side and he agrees to aid them.

Hawkman realizes the war between he and Morgaine and assembles the Justice Arcana to find and seal all temporal rifts.

On the world created from the cosmic egg, the friends of the Trinity continue to hear that world's history. When the Trinity first appeared they were thought of as gods. They created forms for themselves so they could be with the people of this world. Batman, known as Atmahn on this world, became the Night Judge, and lived in the shadows. One night a family of performers was attacked and the parents were killed, leaving only the son alive. Atmahn gave a gift to the son, making him Rabat of the Golden Wing. He had the powers to stop other criminals on his world. In retaliation, those who rejected order became the Laughing Chaos and one night captured Rabat and beat him to death. Donna Troy and Dick Grayson realize this is the tale of Jason Todd and his death at the hands of the Joker.

Trinity #30

2008-12-28T15:55:00.003-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

While on the pilgrimage the friends of the Trinity learn the history of the world they have landed on. It is the world created by the Cosmic Egg. These people were ordered by their god, Krona, to do nothing but experiment and gain knowledge which he absorbed. This included endless wars. This continued for years until Krona escaped from the Egg. This left the people with no purpose until the arrival of the Trinity who helped them develop.

Brainiac is brought to meet the other villains after his escape from Alcatraz. Brainiac reveals Prometheus to actually be Space Ranger in disguise. Space Ranger manages to escape but is able to plant the Atom un-noticed into the villain's group. This enables the Atom to transmit images back to the JSI through Brainwave. All of the villains are led to Morgaine and Enigma where Morgaine tells them that the villains can become the Major Arcana (the tarot card symbols) and recreate the world together. Watching all this via Brainwave, Hawkman realizes that the scroll he wrote a long time ago was instructing him to build his own arcana. He's been assembling one made up of heroes without realizing until now what it was for. Later, when alone, Hawkman is frustrated because he can't see the whole picture. Charity appears and offers her help.

Trinity #29

2008-12-28T15:41:00.002-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The friends of the Trinity stop a battle between two factions of the purple-skinned people. They are first thought to be gods because they resemble the Trinity, who the people think of as gods. The tribes invite the friends to accompany them on their pilgrimage to pay tribute to the gods.

Rita is reading her tarot cards and 'sees' that the friends have gone far away to try and restore the world to its normal state. The Dreambound and other villains have begun an attack on Opal City to retrieve Rita for the Dark Trinity. Charity does a reading for Rita and sees death in her future.

The Justice League has been sent to Alcatraz to stop the Dark Trinity's agents from releasing its only prisoner. Before they can succeed they, and all available heroes, are transported to Metropolis to save the city. T.V.M. is opening more temporal rifts which are destroying the city. This allows the prisoner in Alcatraz, Brainiac, to escape.

Tomorrow Woman, who was sliced into different temporal parts by T.V.M., senses she is part of the temporal problems and is able to pull herself together and restore Metropolis to normal. This causes rifts to appear in other cities across the world.

To save Opal City, Rita voluntarily surrenders herself to the Dreambound.

Secret Invasion #7

2008-12-28T07:36:00.002-05:00

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Marvel, $3.99

The battle royale is ongoing in the park. The Mega Skrulls are taking the fight to Earth’s heroes and villains. We see glimpses of Mr. Fantastic, Thor, Spider-Man, Ares, Iron Man and Captain America all engaged in the fight and yelling out orders. The Skrull Empress Spider-Woman directs Skrull Yellowjacket that the target is Reed Richards. The Wasp attacks Skrull Yellowjacket who uses his power to turn to Giant Man. He tells her he was going to save Wasp for last and as he is speaking, he gets punched in the face by Stature. In the midst of the confusion, it looks like Bullseye is targeting Spider-Man, but we see that it is Skrull Yellowjacket who was the real target. He is shot in the eye and collapses in his huge form on the ground.

Iron Man has to leave the battlefield due to his malfunctioning armor. Ares and Thor continue to bring the fight to the Skrulls. Reed Richards is confronted by one then many Skrull copies of his wife Sue. Nick Fury and the commandos move in to help him as Wolverine confronts the Skrull Empress. She uses Spider-Woman’s electrical power on his eye after he sinks his claws into her shoulder. Spider-Man advises Iron Fist that the war must not be so bad as Uatu the Watcher has not appeared to see it. Of course, Uatu appears in the very next panel! Luke Cage is seen in his own skirmish with the Skrulls as Iron Man desperately tries to raise anyone from SHIELD on his armor radio.

Jessica Jones watches the battle on TV from Avengers Tower and makes a decision to help. She asks Jarvis (not knowing he is a Skrull) to take care of her and Luke’s baby Danielle, even if they don’t come back. He accepts and she leaps out the window to join the fray. Iron Man lands back at Avengers Tower. A figure is seen rocketing into the park and it is Noh-Varr (Marvel Boy). He yells out to the invading Skrulls that “this fight is over.” The troops are energized at his appearance and increase their efforts. Jessica joins the fight next to Luke. Lady Hawkeye is injured and Ronin (the former Hawkeye) picks up her quiver and arrows. He uses them effortlessly to take out 4 Skrulls then turns his sights on the Skrull Empress Spider-Woman. While she is still battling with Wolverine, Ronin shoots an arrow through her head. Skrull Yellowjacket knows what happened to her somehow, states “Then this is how it must be. He loves us. He loves us all,” and activates something in the Wasp. A flashback shows how he gave her a new growth formula that could increase her size from Wasp to Giant Woman instantly. In the present, we see her growing and her eyes glowing as she knows something is wrong with her. Skrull Jarvis tells baby Danielle that the reason the people of Earth have to submit is because the Skrulls came willing to die. They will kill themselves if they have to in order to make the words of their prophet come true! The last page shows a gigantic Wasp (with Uatu in the background) emitting some sort of black energy that is engulfing everyone on the battlefield.

Submitted by Mike. Thanks Mike!

Final Crisis #5

2008-12-15T19:39:00.003-05:00

Writer: Grant Morrison
DC, $3.99

Hal Jordan has been put on trial on OA for the murder of Orion. The Alpha Lantern Kraken has accused him. Kyle and Guy arrive in Hal's defense with the revelation that the Alpha Lantern has been taken over my Darkseid's agent, Granny Goodness and has accused Hal to remove him from Earth. Granny tries to take the central power battery but is stopped by Hal. He leaves to save Earth with a group of Green Lanterns.

Renee Montoya has been brought to Checkmate headquarters where she sees they are building super-soldiers. Amanda Waller tells Montoya that they have an offer for her to be part of their operation.

Darkseid has fully taken over Dan Turpin's body and gained consciousness. He sends his Female Furies out to eliminate all opposition.

Also at Checkmate HQ, Mister Miracle has survived being shot by a nervous Checkmate pawn. He and the Super Young Team have gone there to offer their help. He tells them the Fifth World is coming and everyone must choose sides. He and the Super Young Team have painted a pattern on their faces which he urges everyone to do as some sort of protection. The Checkmate shields begin to break down as they try to create a distraction for the heroes attacking Bludhaven.

In Bludhaven, Frankenstein is leading a group of heroes in an attack on Darkseid. Mary Marvel is on the side of evil and is able to take on Supergirl, Captain Marvel and Black Adam.

The Monitor of Earth-51 has been thrown in a prison by Darkseid's agents with other people who can't be converted to his side by the anti-life equation. There are two others in his cell, including Metron who is in a wheelchair and working on a Rubik's Cube. The other cell-mate is telling the Monitor that the quickest number of moves to solve a Cube is 18. Metron is able to do it in 17 and then there is a 'ping' noise like a Motherbox would make. There is then a blast of power which kills the guards and awakens some sort of power in the Monitor

Calculator is about to be hanged by Libra for betraying the villains to the heroes by revealing Darkseid's location. Calculator maintains his innocence with Luthor looking on with a guilty expression.

Darkseid has reached full power and the world begins a descent into hell as he controls 3 billion people on Earth.

Trinity #28

2008-12-14T09:11:00.005-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Dick Grayson, Nemesis, Alfred, Donna Troy, Lois Lane and this reality's Supergirl (collectively 'The Friends') have gathered in a cave in Happy Harbor. This cave seems to be important to their lost friends - it is the original headquarters of the Justice League. They perform a seance and are able to bring up their memories of the Trinity and some of their personalities have started to change to what they used to be like.

When they exit the cave they see that Happy Harbor has dramatically changed. It is now a medieval village and populated by purple-skinned creatures. These creatures are guided by three judgelords - Nightlord, Sunlord and Truthlord - who represent the different views of the Trinity. The Friends also see huge stone statues of the Trinity.

The Dreambound has gone to a JSI facility where they experimented on metas with energy powers and released all the prisoners. The Dreambound escape with the prisoners they were sent to get leaving members of the JSI to try and recapture the other freed prisoners. They are quickly overwhelmed and call for backup but all other operatives are busy with the changing realities on Earth. Hawkman has assembled Dr. Magnus, T.O. Morrow, Luthor, Sivana and John Irons to figure out what is going on with the different realities appearing on Earth. Luthor has figured out that as these different realities appear, someone is draining the energy that is created from them.

Three energy metas that the Dreambound freed have attacked Metropolis where Tomorrow Woman is located. She tries to stop them and the Dreambound when T.V.M. uses his reality-altering powers on her. He dismembers her body into segments, revealing some parts of her as flesh and other parts as mechanical.

Trinity #27

2008-12-07T15:51:00.003-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The various Earth timelines and alternate realities continue to overlap as the JSI tries to help the population. A specialized group of the JSI, the Heywood Corps, is called in to assist. These are young people who volunteered to the JSI and had parts of themselves replaced with machines.

Watching all of this is Carter Hall who questions everything he has done to achieve this world. Gangbuster suggests to Carter that he become Hawkman again and lead by example.

Konvikt has found Morgaine and Enigma. Morgaine offers him a chance to recreate reality has he wants. The innocent that he killed could be kept alive or still dead so he can make amends. Or he could change his past so his loved one would still be alive. Konvikt agrees to join them and this new Trinity begins looking for an army to fight for them.

Rita is able to partially recreate an image of the Trinity that is needed to return the world to normal. The world would normally heal itself and replace the Trinity but Morgaine and Enigma are preventing this with their spell.

In this new reality the Dreambound are being held at a JSI facility. One member, T.V.M., finally remembers his past as a member of the Dreambound and proceeds to free the others. They regain their lost member, Sun-Chained-In-Ink, by finding the Tattooed Man and activating his tattoos to turn him into Sun. Morgaine appears before them and summons them to her along with other criminals being held at this JSI prison.

Trinity #26

2008-12-03T17:52:00.003-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

People across the world begin seeing multiple Earths in the sky and different timelines begin overlapping on Earth. In Opal City, Tarot has been taken in by Charity O'Dare. Tarot shows Charity a vision of a woman in prehistoric times who 'feels' the world around here. When this woman is killed by her husband, her power is passed on to a different woman and this continues through the ages. The last woman to have this power was Sindella, the mother of Zatanna. The power has now passed on to Tarot - she has a connection to the worldsoul, the living spirit of the Earth. Tarot now realizes that if the world is not fixed and returned to its correct state she will die and the world will follow.

Morgaine and Enigma agree to seek out Konvikt as a replacement for Despero. He had earlier appeared as an image to Morgaine before they worked their spell.

Konvikt has gone to make amends for the innocent who was killed in his fight with authorities. He is shocked to find out that this person is still alive; in this alternate reality he was never killed. This greatly angers Konvikt who doesn't know how to restore his honour when the person he killed is still alive. He remembers back to his home planet when he was framed for the murder of the woman he loved. His people took away his ability to speak while he was under arrest. While he was being transported to a prison planet, the ship was hit by the energy wave created when Krona escaped from the cosmic egg. He and his lawyer, Graak, got out in an escape pod and landed on Earth without him ever getting back his ability to speak.

Morgaine appears before Konvikt and offers him a chance to change the world and erase his guilt. Konvikt begins to think he could return the world to a state where the person he killed is still dead and he can offer himself to the family in service to restore his honour.

Morgaine believes Konvikt will join them and, without the cosmic egg to power their spell, she is turning to the souls of the women who were in the past connected to the worldsoul.

Trinity #25

2008-11-26T20:29:00.003-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The JSI is lead by Flash to the Justice League's hideout. He tries to convince his team-mates that the JSI needs their help. The JSI is stunned to learn that the League is led by Barry Allen, a former member of the JSI. He was injured in a battle with Felix Faust which left him in a wheelchair. He came to realize the JSI was creating a police state and formed the League to stop them.

Enigma convinces Morgaine to calm down and stop destroying Europe. She agrees they should try and complete their spell to attain ultimate power.

Rita arrives in Opal City on a bus when she has a spell that causes her to see the bus terminal as first a train station and then an airport. She is rescued by Charity, another tarot card reader who says her cards told her to come to the bus terminal to meet Rita. She is also shocked to see the bus terminal has become an airport. Rita's power seems to explode as the bus terminal continues to change - train station, old west saloon, prehistoric land and future city with alien creatures.

Alfred Pennyworth has gathered together Lois Lane, Tom (Nemesis) Tresser, and Richie Grayson. He tells them that the world should be different and they should be better people in that world. Instead of a reporting sensationalist news Lois is a respected reporter and married to the world's greatest hero. Instead of being a vigilante, Tresser is a legendary spy and in love with a great warrior. And instead of a gangster, Grayson is the protegee of the world's greatest detective. The three agree something sounds right about Alfred's story. As he is speaking he uses a high frequency whistle to summon the JSI member, Interceptor. He is able to use kryptonite to stop her and tells her that her real name is Kara Zor-El and she is from an alien world. The four are convinced to help Alfred. He tells them there is a sixth member of their group they require. The scene shifts to a librarian in Virginia with a name plate on her desk reading Donna Troy.

Trinity #24

2008-11-22T09:31:00.005-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Two heroes from the JSI, Olympian and Lionheart, break through the barrier Morgaine has erected around France. The pair are quickly turned to stone when they pass through the barrier. Inside, Enigma has tired of Morgaine's killing off the land with her transforming of it but she refuses to stop. This leads to a fight between the two while Enigma tries to convince Morgaine that they should find Tarot and the real Despero and finish their spell correctly.

Back at JSI HQ they have captured the Flash, suspecting his Justice League of being involved in Europe's problems. Jose, aka Gangbuster, is let in to deliver the scroll to Carter Hall given to him by Alfred Pennyworth. Carter, Jay Garrick and Alan Scott go into a private room to read the scroll and a flash of light comes from the room. Carter exits the room having the appearance of his ancestor, Khufu, before reverting back to Carter Hall. The three of them all appear younger with more energy. The scroll has told them that Firestorm is telling the truth and the world is not as it should be. Carter tries to get Flash to help them in restoring the world to its proper way but he is still distrustful of them.

Alfred Pennyworth has arrived in the U.S. and has gone to see Lois Lane, offering her the biggest story the world has ever seen.

In space, Krona is observing the meeting between John Stewart, Kanjar Ro and the army of Despero. He senses the power within John and teleports him away to examine him further. Kanjar Ro convinces Despero to cease their fight and join forces to claim back the power of the cosmic egg. Kanjar Ro has found the Crime Syndicate held prisoner where Superman left them. He offers them to Despero to help in their fight.

Trinity #23

2008-11-12T18:38:00.003-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The Justice Society International is taking stock of the current crisis points in the world. One team is assessing the damage resulting from the fight with Morgaine. Another team is offering their assistance to Tomorrow Woman in Metropolis but she refuses their help, telling them it is her city to defend. The JSI is shocked since Metropolis isn't normally her home base. Another team is tracking Green Arrow, who is now in Star City and claims to have been there for years, even though he was recently operating out of Gotham.

Black Adam is in Washington D.C. battling warriors of Ares. He doesn't know why he felt compelled to travel there from Egypt.

Brainwave is reading the minds of the Firestorm personas and learning of the way Earth was before the change.

Jose and Rita have arrived in New York at JSI headquarters. Jose is going to deliver Alfred Pennyworth's scroll to Hawkman while Rita is following the message of tarot cards and travelling to Opal City.

When Tomorrow Woman has defeated the Ultra-Humanite's robots she returns to her civilian identity of Clara Kendall anchoring the GBS news. The JSI is again shocked since Tomorrow Woman never had a secret identity.

Morgaine has appeared in Europe and has transformed Paris into a vision of hell.

John Stewart has headed into space to deal with the parasite that has infected him. To entice him to head back to Earth the parasite uses the Green Lantern's power to open a wormhole in space.

Kanjar Ro is also in space to escape from Morgaine and Enigma after ruining their plans by impersonating Despero. He is hoping to find Despero to try and get the power that he was denied. He sees the wormhole Stewart created and heads into it to take a shortcut. Despero has assembled his warriors to go to Earth and get revenge on Kanjar Ro. He finds the same wormhole and enters it with his fleet of ships. Watching the whole thing is Krona.

Trinity #22

2008-11-05T20:15:00.002-05:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Alfred has boarded a ship for New York after giving the Egyptian scroll he found to Tarot.

Back in time, in Egypt, Prince Khufu, the ancestor of Hawkman, is dealing with a rebellion among his people. A religion based on different gods is trying to take over his country, a religion that has been banned. His mystic seer, Nabu, is aware of the fading of their current gods and the growing power of these dark gods. Khufu has a vision of the future and his descendants and realizes he must put his vision down on paper so it can be saved and help the future. In his vision he saw the wiping out of the Trinity by Morgane, Enigma and Despero. He places his writings in a scroll case made from the Nth metal of a Thanagarian ship he had found years ago that had crashed in Egypt. As the rebels storm his palace he throws the scroll case which floats away, encased in the Nth metal. This is the scroll case that Alfred gave to Rita to give to Hawkman.

Back in the present, Morgane, Enigma and Kanjar Ro have been found and attacked by the Global Police. The Justice Society International are mobilizing troops to help them.

In Gotham, Green Arrow and Speedy are being confronted by Ragman and his partner, Tatters. Ragman is tired of Green Arrow only protecting the rich and is announcing he will now be protecting Gotham. As they talk Green Arrow and Speedy fade out of existence and Ragman and Tatters act as if they have always been the heroes of Gotham.

Meanwhile the heroine Tomorrow Woman is stopping an escape attempt by the female half of Firestorm at JSI headquarters. The other people there are shocked because at the same time a different Tomorrow Woman is in Metropolis fighting the Ultra-Humanite. As they watch the monitor the Tomorrow Woman they know disappears.

Final Crisis #4

2008-11-02T13:18:00.005-05:00

Writer: Grant Morrison
DC, $3.99

Most of the world's population has been taken over by Darkseid after exposure to the anti-life equation through all electronics. The super-heroes have created pockets of resistance in various places such as JLA headquarters. The only form of communication is left is the Daily Planet which is being published out of Superman's Fortress of Solitude. The heroes had sent a strike force into Bludhaven made of Checkmate agents but it has been defeated.

Inside Bludhaven the New Gods of Apokolips have taken on new bodies and are turning Dan Turpin so that he can be taken over by Darkseid.

The Ray tells the heroes about a secret internet that criminals were using that Darkseid doesn't know about. He powers this internet allowing communication between the JLA hq and the other Watchtowers like Checkmate hq, Fortress of Solitude, Gorilla City and the Great Wall of China. The heroes decide to make a final strike at Bludhaven at dawn. The resistance at JLA hq is forced to evacuate when Darkseid's soldiers break through their shields (using Black Lightning who has been corruped by the anti-life equation). They use The Ray's power to escape through their teleporters but Green Arrow stays behind to destroy the teleporters after their escape so the rest can't be followed. He ends up as one of Darkseid's soldiers.

Barry Allen and Wally West are reunited but are soon attacked by the new Female Furies (Wonder Woman, Catwoman and Batwoman). They escape and Barry is reunited with Iris.

At Checkmate HQ, Mister Miracle arrives with Super Young Team to help but is shot accidentally after crashing into their building.

Dan Turpin finally falls and Darkseid has arrived.

Trinity #21

2008-10-27T19:52:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The three villains are facing resistance in their assumption of the powers of the Trinity. Enigma recalls his orgins on the anti-matter Earth where he was one of the few crimefighters on the world of criminals. He assembled a team of heroes called the Justice Underground and ended up taking on the Crime Syndicate. It was Ultraman who burned half of Enigma's face and killed his family in revenge. He has joined Morgaine in the hopes of changing his world.

Morgaine remembers her time in Camelot when she and her sisters were daughters of the Queen. They lost their positions of power when the King's son, Arthur, was discovered. This caused Morgaine to turn to dark magic.

Despero's memories are of the origins of Kanjar Ro. It turns out Kanjar has been impersonating Despero and this is why Morgaine's spell is not completely working; the necessary trinity has not been assembled. As the three crash to Earth they are discovered by the Global Police who move in to capture them.

Green Lantern John Stewart discovers why his powers have been acting up. In the past he had absorbed a computerized Void Hound on Qward that is now trying to break free from him. On this new Earth John hides his position as Green Lantern from everyone but his family since Lanterns are banned from Earth. While at work his powers malfunction because of the Void Hound and he is forced to reveal that he is a Green Lantern. Firestorm finds him and tries to help him by restoring his memories of the real Earth. John is forced to leave Earth until he can rid himself of the Void Hound and says goodbye to his family. Before Firestorm can follow him he is separated into his two personas, Jason and Gehenna. He was forcibly separated by the Justice Society International who have tracked him down.

Trinity #20

2008-10-18T14:55:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The people of Metropolis are walking past a statue of Tomahawk but are temporarily seeing Superman, not remembering who he is. Firestorm has been hiding from the authorities. He remembers the old world but doesn't know why things have changed. He breaks into a library to read old microfilm. It tells about the JSA who operated in World War II. When McCarthy started his communist hunts in the 50's the JSA chose to unmask in this new reality. In our reality they chose to retire. In this new world they began to operate out of costume and started a movement that attracted more and more volunteers. Since they were no longer in costumes any future super-heroes were viewed with suspicion and hunted by the police. Eventually there were no independent heroes, all of them either in hiding or working with the JSA.

While Firestorm is reading this history he is found by the authorities who employ giant Amazo robots to apprehend him. He is able to escape and decides to find John Stewart in this new reality since he still needs to deal with the escaped Krona.

Krona travels to a world belonging to the Controllers. There he uses them to build a machine that he can use to talk to the universe. He believes the universe is a living being that can be communicated with. The Controllers think he is insane but help build a machine that they hope will capture Krona instead so they can analyze his powers. The machine fails and in retailiation he destroys the Controllers and their world. Amidst the destruction he finds what he believes is the soul of the planet he destroyed, thanking him for its release from the Controllers. He comes to the conclusion that if the universe has its own intelligence then so too will the planets. He leaves to find other planets that he can use as soldiers against the universe.

Trinity #19

2008-10-13T12:45:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Rita and Jose have escaped from Castle Branek and run into Alfred Pennyworth in the French Alps. Alfred is formerly in her Majesty's Secret Service and is now an archaeologist. He shows them a cave he has discovered with images on the walls representing the Trinity, who no longer exist in this new reality.

In exhange for all the help Alfred has given the pair, Rita offers to do a card reading for him. The cards reveal images of Alfred as a servant in a cavern and as a father figure. She asks if the name Batman means anything to him but it only does as its definition as an army officer's orderly.

When Rita and Jose decide it is time to leave Alfred and return to America, Alfred gives them a scroll that belonged to Khufu. He wants them to give it to the head of the Justice Society International, presumably Hawkman. After they leave, Alfred has the name Bruce on his mind.

Back in the U.S. a pregnant woman named Desiree is married to a heavy-drinking, verbally abusive husband. She keeps drawing images of Wonder Woman and has memories of seeing her speak in Washington but can't explain where these images are coming from since Wonder Woman doesn't exist. She runs into Julia Kapatelis one day who is impressed with her drawings and offers her a possible job at the Smithsonian where Julia works.

One day while walking home, past the J.S.I. Metahuman Courts Building (JLA's Hall of Justice in the old reality), Desiree sees the villain Mammoth fighting with police. Firestorm, who was in space when Earth changed and remembers the old reality, shows up to stop Mammoth but the police don't know who Firestorm is. Desiree recognizes the things Firestorm is talking about - like the JLA and the Hall of Justice - and tries to protect Firestorm from the police. When she gets home late, because of Mammoth, her husband is furious and burns all of her drawings.

Trinity #18

2008-10-08T21:33:00.002-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Krona has escaped from the cosmic egg and has left to explore the universe.

With the success of Morgaine's spell the world has changed. Gone are Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Lois Lane is now a hard-nosed reporter hosting a TV news show. Heroes have banded together as the Justice Society International and are trying to safeguard the world. Green Lanterns aren't allowed on Earth. Many of the heroes have changed appearances or roles.

One ordinary person in Gotham, Charlie Melvin, is having remembrances of different heroes that don't exist - the Trinity - but doesn't know where these visions are coming from. Green Arrow and Speedy are now the protectors of Gotham with Ragman and his sidekick Tatters working in the shadows at night. Charlie keeps having flashbacks to Batman and Robin protecting Gotham.

Secret Invasion #6

2008-10-01T19:38:00.001-04:00

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Marvel, $3.99

Marvel Boy meets Skrull Captain Marvel in the opener of this issue. Skrull Captain Marvel walks away from the wreckage of a Skrull ship that he has caused to crash on Earth, but it leaves him mortally wounded. Before he dies, he warns Marvel Boy the Skrulls will do anything to anyone and have no honor like the Earthlings or Kree and asks him to act to stop them.

The next section shows the Skrulls issuing another announcement across the Earth. The message is that the invasion has been completed and that they come in peace to make life on Earth better. This is intercut over scenes of the X-Men fighting in San Francisco, Medusa crying in pain in Attilan on the moon, the Black Panther facing down the enemy in Wakanda, Shanna the She-Devil in the Savage Land, and Sabra being blasted by Skrulls in Israel.

The scene cuts to Camp Hammond which the Skrulls have adopted for their Earth Invasion Head Command. Skrull officers are reporting to Skrull Henry Pym about the status of SHIELD, SWORD, Thunderbolts Mountain, the Baxter Building, and Starktech. They discuss the breakdown of the Skrull Captain Marvel and lament that they have not heard anything from the Savage Land defensive. They debate wiping the Savage Land from existence when their Empress reappears. She informs the others that the Savage Land heroes were beaten but not defeated and are now being led by Reed Richards. This instills some dread as he has beaten them before, but then it is hinted at that the Wasp (who is with the heroes) will help the Skrulls to win the day.

The Avengers and Reed Richards are shown flying back to NYC in a Skrull ship. Iron Man is still trying to fix his armor and blaming himself. Wolverine and Iron Fist consider the ramifications of the Skrull Spider-Woman - how long she was playing them, where is the real Jessica Drew, and who else did the Skrulls get to? Luke Cage tries to rally the troops about how much the Skrulls have thrown at them and they’re still alive. Wasp asks how much damage could the Skrulls have done to New York City and then we see a double page spread of the incredible damage to New York City - which is being watched by hovering Skrull ships.

On the ground in front of Dr. Strange’s home, a group of people decide to welcome the Skrulls to Earth because they’ve embraced the change. They mock the police and advance toward some Mega Skrulls. The Skrulls don’t understand (or don’t care) and one of them flames on. The police fire upon the Skrulls in an effort to protect the people, which only antagonizes the Skrulls further. Nick Fury and the Secret Warriors, the Young Avengers, and what’s left of the Initiative come on the scene and take out some Skrulls. At this point, the Hood and his syndicate of criminals join the fight. The combatants see lightning in the distance and move toward it. The Skrulls see it too emanating from the park. It is the call to war from Thor, God of Thunder. Thor meets Bucky Barnes the new Captain America who has also responded to the scene.

At the park, Skrull Empress Spider-Woman and her army have accepted the challenge. The Thunderbolts join the Avengers and the Earth side of the fight. SE Spider-Woman tells the Earth army that their hate and judgment are their own and despite everything they have done to the Skrull empire, “he” loves them. Spidey asks who he is and gets told “God.” Nick Fury replies that his god (Thor) has a hammer. Iron Man cries out “Avengers Assemble” and the battle is on!

Submitted by Mike. Thanks Mike!

Trinity #17

2008-09-29T19:48:00.002-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The villains are celebrating as Morgaine completes her spell that seems to erase the Trinity from the universe and transfers power to her, Enigma and Despero. The cosmic egg and Castle Branek explode as waves of light and power emanate from the castle and over the world.

Konvikt is being held in prison on charges of murder. Three soldiers were killed during his battle with the JLA but what disturbs Konvikt is that a civilian was also killed.

Graak approaches the prison and is able to transfer power to Konvikt so that he can break his power restraints and escape the prison. Konvikt picks up Graak and leaps far away from the prison. Konvikt has a high sense of honour and wants to make amends for the innocent that died.

Konvikt reflects on his past when he was a young worker on his home planet. He saved the life of a very rich man named Jaggar Ton from assassins and was rewarded by being taken in by the man and raised to be his bodyguard. Konvikt fell in love with Jaggar Ton's daughter but something happened that resulted in the daughter's death. Konvikt was punished for the crime.

The power waves that Morgaine's spell released over the world have caused changes to Earth. Villains are causing destruction and have become more violent. Lois Lane is now hosting a show on GBS TV and has become more aggressive.

Trinity #16

2008-09-25T20:46:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Various heroes are fighting demons and soldiers of Enigma and Despero outside Castle Branek while inside the Trinity battle Morgaine, Despero and Enigma. To throw off the villains the Trinity battle a villain that isn't their natural opponent. During the fight the heroes realize Enigma is the Riddler of the anti-matter Earth. They can't figure why he isn't a hero if he is supposed to be the opposite of their Earth's Riddler.

Firestorm is checking on the cosmic egg readouts and decides to take a personal look in space. Out there he realizes the egg, containing Krona, has disappeared.

Back at Castle Branek, Despero displays more agility than he should have and is able to evade Batman. They realize too late it isn't really Despero and the imposter is able to leave a tattoo on the back of Batman's neck. This completes the villains' spell.

Elsewhere in the castle, Tarot is being held captive and guarded by Morgaine's demons. Her power is continuing to work as she sees the world falling apart. Hawkman and Gangbuster reach her location in the castle and free her. While Gangbuster gets Tarot out of the castle, Hawkman continues further in to find the Trinity. Just as he is getting closer to them, time begins to fracture around them as Hawkman sees his past lives falling away. Just as Gangbuster and Tarot escape the castle it explodes.

Trinity #15

2008-09-14T12:01:00.004-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The JLA are going through all the evidence they have collected about the brands on Superman and Wonder Woman and the artifacts stolen. The Trinity's personalities are continuing to influence each other. Batman makes the connection that the Howlers that attacked them are from the Carpathians and the Eternity Book that talks about their brandings belonged to Merlin - who is supposed to be resting at Castle Branek in the Carpathians. Also the gargoyle that attacked Riddler was from Castle Branek.

Morgaine, Enigma and Despero have begun the spell to eliminate the Trinity and make themselves the rulers of the universe, operating out of Castle Branek. They are interrupted by the Trinity themselves and a battle ensues. Other members of the JLA along with the Titans, Outsiders and JSA are with them to deal with the Howlers and other demons.

Gangbuster's priority is to get into the castle to find his friend Rita, a.k.a Tarot. He is aided by Hawkman who has brought some magical weapons to help. Inside they are met by a three-headed monster they must get by.

Trinity #14

2008-09-08T19:28:00.004-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Despero and Morgane have sent their troops to the Anti-Earth at Enigma's urging to stop the JLA. The troops find the entire world at war as, with the defeat of the CSA, everyone is staking a claim to territory. The JLA is unsure of how to deal with this new situation.

On the CSA's orbiting satellite, Ray Palmer is unable to reverse their Cosmic Balance Inverter to send everyone home but keep the CSA trapped on the Anti-Earth. John Stewart's recent problems with his ring allow him to solve their problem by becoming one with the machine and discover how it works. He sends this information to Ray who is able to describe the needed changes to Firestorm who creates a new machine.

Back on the Anti-Earth's surface the JLA is telling the Trinity to go home and solve their personality problems while the rest of them take care of the population. Before they can do anything, Enigma appears in the CSA's satellite and activates Firestorm's machine which sends everyone back to their proper Earth. As the heroes begin to fade out, one of Morgane's soldiers catches Superman on the forehead, leaving a symbol burned into his skin. Back on Earth-0, Despero's troops begin hailing Superman as their master before self-destructing.

Elsewhere on Earth, Sun-Chained-in-Ink continues to leak sun as a result of Hawkman cutting him. The heroes are helpless to stop him because he also exerts tremendous gravity like a sun. Metamorpho wraps the villain up while Geo-Force uses his gravity powers to lift them into space. Supergirl is able to throw Sun-Chained-in-Ink far enough away before he explodes. While the heroes deal with him, T.V.M. escapes with the skull of Maxwell Lord. This completes the set of artifacts needed by Morgane for her spell. Hawkman leaves, feeling responsible for the villains succeeding. Before anyone else can go after him, they are all called to the Justice League Hall.

Trinity #13

2008-09-03T19:13:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Aboard the Crime Syndicate satellite, John Stewart has lost control of his power ring but the security dogs that had attacked them have stopped. The latter is because of the Atom who has successfully hacked into their security system. The CSA has a device that will send people back to their home dimension. The JLA is hoping to reverse the machine so they can confine the CSA to their own world. Ray Palmer is working on the machine from back on Earth-0. Firestorm privately questions John about his power problems. John admits he knows what is causing it but will deal with it alone.

Superman, influenced by Wonder Woman's warrior nature and Batman's anger, has attacked the CSA on his own. Letting go like he has allows him to defeat them in quick time. This has been watched by Enigma who is distressed by the defeat of the CSA. He encourages Despero and Morgaine to send troops to the Anti-Earth. They wonder aloud why since previously he had told them to stay away from the Anti-Earth. Enigma leaves before they can question him further, transporting back to his satellite above the Anti-Earth, seen for the first time. He tells the satellite to head for the CSA space HQ.

Superman has tied Ultraman, Owl and Superwoman to a device meant for the JLA. They have been tied using Superwoman's magic lasso which lowers inhibitions. Under the lasso's power, Ultraman tells them the device would have sent them to the interdimensional void. Superman activates the device sending the three Crime Syndicate members to the void instead. Wonder Woman and Batman are confused and angry with Superman concerning his decision.

When word gets out that the CSA has been defeated, people all over the world begin rioting since the entire Anti-Earth is inherently evil.

Back on regular Earth, Oracle has various heroes staking out locations of Wonder Woman's enemies since this is the last of the nine pieces needed for the villians' spell. Hawkman believes they will find them at Maxwell Lord's gravesite since the death is powerful in magic spells. He is right and the Dreambound arrive and try to take Lord's coffin. Hawkman and Gangbuster fight them off until members of the Titans, Outsiders and JSA show up to help. During the fight Sun-Chained-In-Ink is cut open with Hawkman's blade. He begins to heat up and glow telling everyone that the sun within him is breaking free.

Trinity #12

2008-08-22T19:40:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Superman had flown off alone after the Crime Syndicate. At their home, the Syndicate offers to release all the workers from Superman's Earth with no fight but keep the workers from all other worlds. Superman refuses this offer and starts to take on the entire Syndicate. He has begun to take on characteristics of Batman and Wonder Woman, making him more aggressive.

As part of a JLA plan, Firestorm, Red Tornado and Green Lantern have broken into the CSA orbiting headquarters. They are quickly attacked by robotic guard dogs. While fighting off the dogs, Green Lantern has some sort of attack, losing control of his powers and firing blasts everywhere. These blasts blow a hole in the satellite.

Superman is losing to the CSA when the JLA arrives to back him up and a battle begins.

Observing all this is Despero, Morgaine and Enigma. Despero and Morgaine are intriqued by this anti-matter Earth inhabited totally by criminals and talk of making it their base. Enigma is vehemently against this idea, ordering them to leave this particular Earth untouched.

The Riddler has taken on the case of finding out who is ordering the thefts of the mystical artifacts. He has been hired by an unnamed client. He begins an investigation, interviewing the Penguin first. The Penguin acts as if Riddler should know more about the robberies. When he talks with Mr. Freeze, they are under the impression that they were hired by Riddler. To check out the mystical angle he talks with Madame Zodiac. While in her home a stone gargoyle she owns comes to life and attacks Riddler, accusing him of betraying his mistress. The gargoyle was formerly located at Castle Branek, where Morgaine, Despero and Enigma are working.

All of Riddler's investigations reveal that that the criminal is known to the Gotham underworld (who he is hiring); is creating an elaborate puzzle by only stealing certain artifacts; and is very clever. This leads him to the conclusion that he is the criminal though he knows he isn't. He sends these findings to the person who hired him - Dick Grayson. Riddler vows to prove himself innocent of these crimes but is getting out of Gotham in the meantime.

At Castle Branek, Morgaine senses one of her watchdogs (the gargoyle) having an connection with Enigma in America but when she checks with Enigma he has been in the castle all day.

Secret Invasion #5

2008-08-18T21:03:00.002-04:00

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Marvel, $3.99

The book opens with Norman Osborn reasoning with Captain Marvel after the attack on Thunderbolts Mountain (from issue 1). Osborn confirms that Captain Marvel thought he was the original Kree warrior Mar-Vell and relates to him by letting him know that there were times that he has been confused about his own identity. Captain Marvel flies away quickly, leaving Osborn to rally the Thunderbolts because “we’re at war.”

Meanwhile, in a secret underground lair, Stature awakes to find herself in the company of Patriot, Hawkeye, Vision, plus Nick F ury and his new Commandos. They all gather around television screens where in various guises (Stephen Colbert, Paris Hilton, Mr. Fantastic, Magneto, the Pope, McCain and Obama, Tom Cruise, Tony Stark, Oprah, Dr. Doom, Namor, Simon Cowell, Chris Rock, Simon Cowell, and more), the people of Earth are being told of the new world order. The Skrulls have come to Earth to save us from war, disease, indifference, poverty, hardship, greed and more. They order the people to conform and assimilate to save themselves and state the Earth is now part of the Skrull Empire. As in issue 1, they declare “he loves you so much.”

Back on the Skrull ship in low Earth orbit, Agent Brand is questioned by the 2 Skrull agents who found her. They want her to tell them why she has taken that shape and to identify herself. She bluffs and responds back in the Skrull language that she is part of the Queen’s delegation and gra bs the larger Skrull’s weapon telling him not to point it at a superior officer. Agent Brand opens fire on them and crashes through a window where she begins to unleash hell on the Skrulls that are torturing Reed Richards. After trying to trick them into abandoning ship, she blows out an air lock instead and sucks the remaining Skrulls out into space. She releases Reed who then attacks her and demands to have his children and wife returned. When she doesn’t change, he believes she is human. Reed uses the Skrull technology to assess the situation on Earth, decrying how they should have killed him while they had the chance but they needed his brain.

On the SHIELD Helicarrier, Maria Hill and Jarvis are still facing each other down. She tells him that when everything is over, she’s going to make a t-shirt. He reminds her that the heroes are defeated, the word has been spread of the Skrull invasion, a nd that they are now on a Skrull world. Maria tells him of how months ago, she was told about the life model decoys that SHIELD makes and advised to use it. Having heard enough, Jarvis orders her executed. After the shots are fired, we see that Maria Hill was an LMD all along and the damaged robot says that the t-shirt will say “Nick Fury was right.” The Skrulls look up to see the real Maria Hill targeting them and then shooting all of them. She voice activates the Helicarrier self-destruct sequence and flies away as it blows up behind her.

Agent Brand wakes up on the Skrull ship with a scream. Reed apologizes for choking her and tells her he did a genetic test to assure himself she was not a Skrull. Their ship comes under fire and he orders her to fly the ship out of there. They hear a large sound which turns out to be the Skrull Captain Marvel ripping through the armada. Reed wants to go to New York to save his family, but Agent Brand tells him they have to make a stop along the way to give them a better chance.

In the Savage Land, Tony Stark is sick and vomiting while being protected by Black Widow and Wolverine. Spider-Man comes in along with Ka-Zar and his wife. They are all soon joined by Luke Cage, Ronin (Hawkeye), Mockingbird, Thor, Iron Fist, Echo, Wonder Man, Ms. Marvel, Emma Frost, Invisible Woman, and Jessica Jones. Luke states again that everyone on the Skrull ship must be a Skrull, but Ronin objects to that because of the test his wife Mockingbird passed (in issue 2). They start to bicker again when Thor seems to summon lightning. The lightning flash actually comes from a device that Mr. Fantastic just used to show who the Skrulls are – Emma Frost, Invisible Woman, Ms. Marvel, Jessica Jones, Wonder Man, Thor, and Mockingbird. Ronin sees that his wife is a Skrull and takes a gun from Black Widow to shoot her himself. Skrull Invisible Woman does not even know that she and Reed have children and Reed chokes the life out of her. The rest of the heroes swiftly take care of the rest of the Skrulls. Black Widow tells Tony not to have any more doubts about being human. Agent Brand tells the heroes that NYC is under Skrull control and they should come with her if they want to fight. The other heroes learn from Echo that Spider-Woman is also a Skrull. Ronin ends the issue by declaring that the war will not be over until every last Skrull dies…

Submitted by Mike. Thanks a lot, Mike!

Trinity #11

2008-08-16T19:02:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The Dreambound are in an ancient cave digging up the same clay that Wonder Woman was created from.

On the Earth of the Crime Syndicate, Superman agrees that he and the JLA will negotiate with them because they have Jimmy Olsen as a hostage. The Crime Syndicate releases Jimmy and agrees to meet later. Once their gone, Superman reveals this is not the Jimmy Olsen they know but the one of the CSA's Earth. He had weapons on him that would have been used to put the JLA in stasis if Superman hadn't noticed the deception.

The Trinity is starting to act very odd, each one taking on characteristics of the other two - Superman taking on Wonder Woman's aggressiveness, Batman acting less controlled.

The JLA makes plans to deal with the CSA while trying to help many of the people kidnapped by the CSA to help rebuild their world. While they make their plans Superman has gone on his own to fight the CSA.

Back on the regular Earth, the Outsiders are guarding one mystical artifact while Hawkman and Gangbuster watch another, hoping to catch the thieves. The thieves attack where Hawkman and Gangbuster are but, instead of trying to take the artifact, they steal the space plane that Superman saved in his first public appearance. Gangbuster manages to send a Nth metal-laced shield after them through their escape portal that Hawkman can track.

Final Crisis #3

2008-08-16T15:29:00.008-04:00

Writer: Grant Morrison
DC, $3.99

Frankenstein's Monster and agents of S.H.A.D.E. are breaking into the Dark Side Club. Inside they find the owner, dead and mummified, and the Question. The Question escapes. A phantom hand appears and begins writing on the wall, the letters disappearing as they are written. It writes out 'Know evil'.

Nearby the Supergirl of Germany has crashed on a street. Renee Montoya (the Question) is there and tries to help. She is picked up by S.H.A.D.E. agents. S.H.A.D.E. and Checkmate have plans for Renee.

The Monitor who has been banished to Earth and turned into a regular human has been fired from his fast food job because he is spooking the customers. He knows something is going on but can't figure out what.

The Flash Jay Garrick is at Wally West's house recapping what has just happened to him to Wally's wife and Barry Allen's widow, Iris. He saw Barry appear, chasing a bullet through time. The three Flashes tried to stop the bullet but it succeeded in killing Orion. Jay had to stop but the other two continued chasing the Black Racer. Iris is shocked to find out Barry is still alive.

The Human Flame is with Libra in a hideout in a swamp (looks like the Legion of Doom HQ from the Superfriends cartoon). The Human Flame is putting on a new costume given to him by Libra. The helmet is playing the anti-life equation, turning the Human Flame into Libra's slave. Luthor arrives and Libra threatens him, offering him a choice. He can either become like the Human Flame, a slave, or renounce science and work for the master of evil willingly.

Superman has not been seen since the explosion at the Daily Planet. Clark Kent has been at the hospital at the bedside of Lois since she was severely injured in the explosion. One of the Monitors appears in the hospital room, offering Superman a chance to save Lois but it involves leaving Earth.

Hal Jordan has been arrested by the Alpha Lanterns for the murder of Orion and the attack on John Stewart. The heroes don't think he did it but he can't remember where he was during the crimes. Hal agrees to go to OA to sort things out. The heroes are worried about Darkseid and the other evil gods being involved and they won't have the New Gods to help them. Green Lantern Alan Scott recommends instituting Article X, the draft used to assemble the All-Star Squadron in World War II. The call goes out and a large gathering of heroes assembles at JLA HQ.

Shilo Norman and Sonny Sumo are at the airport as Shilo prepares to leave Japan. They are attacked by Darkseid's soldiers but are rescued by the Super Young Team.

Wonder Woman has gone to Bludhaven because of reports that someone has taken it over. She is escorted by the Atomic Knights. Inside Bludhaven they find dead S.H.A.D.E. agents, killed by Mary Marvel who has been altered by Darkseid. Mary succeeds in taking down Wonder Woman by infecting her with the Anti-Life Equation.

An agent of Darkseid's has released the Anti-Life Equation over the internet and email with unknown results.

Barry Allen and Wally West have finally come to a stop a few weeks into the future. The city looks abandoned and destroyed. They are found by a transformed Wonder Woman and other super-humans, now working for Darkseid and hunting superheroes.

Secret Invasion #4

2008-08-14T21:14:00.003-04:00

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Marvel, $3.99

The issue opens with a voice-over talking about the Invasion over scenes of various people and places. Mr. Fantastic is shown being stretched to his limit as prisoner on a Skrull ship. We see the Skrull armada in space over Earth, Agent Brand and other SHIELD operatives in force fields floating in outer space, the Sentry flying over the Earth and crying, and Ms. Marvel flying into an assault by the extra-super powered MegaSkrulls in New York City. The voice talks about how the Invasion is already over and man has already lost – they just don’t know it yet!

Ms. Marvel flies into Time Square where Nick Fury is battling with the other heroes and his commandos – Stonewall, Hellfire, Druid, Yo Yo, Phobos, and Quake. She joins in with them and the voice-over states that there is no way for the humans to win because they won’t know who to trust in this war. As if to demonstrate the point, Nick Fury fires his gun at Ms. Marvel before he and the commandos leave (under the assumption that she’s a Skrull). The last few panels show Ms. Marvel perilously surrounded by the MegaSkrulls and Skrull Yellowjacket before the scene fades to black.

The voice-over continues in the Savage Land where we can see the Skrull queen Spider Woman still trying to convince Tony Stark that he is a brainwashed Skrull warrior. Unbeknownst to her, the Black Widow is spying on them and has heard the entire conversation. The Widow is snuck up on by the Beast and Phoenix and she blasts both of them without hesitation. Each of them revert to Skrull form when they die. We also see a panel of Wonder Man battling his doppelganger. In the melee, Spider Woman disappears. The Widow secures Tony and shots him with adrenaline to get him back to coherence. She tells him to ignore Spider Woman’s head games because he is not a Skrull. If he was, why would they have drugged him? She posits that they want to do to him what he did to them. When she asks who he wants to kill, her or them, and he responds “them,” the Widow says they should go with that feeling and worry about the rest later. Wolverine comes into the Citadel and the Widow shoots him until he gives her their previously agreed upon code phrase “carrot sticks.” The Widow asks Tony where Ms. Marvel is and he replies that he sent her to New York. He states they need Reed Richards. She asks “where is he?”

After the question, the scene shifts to outer space where we see Agent Brand in her force field outside of a Skrull ship. She kicks her way in and gets into a control room with many view screens. She can see what is happening on Earth and Mr. Fantastic being tortured. A Skrull and what looks to be a Skrull child come up behind Agent Brand and get the drop on her. We leave with her staring into the face of a gun.

Skrull Jarvis is seen again on the SHIELD helicarrier in the Bermuda Triangle. Maria Hill asks him how long he’s been a Skrull agent and he states that they arranged for her to get the leadership position at SHIELD for a reason. He again tells her to have SHIELD surrender and do it publicly. In return, she will be allowed to live and participate in the “transition.” She tells him he is on her ship and he adds she is not seeing the gravity of the situation and demands her surrender.

The next scene shows Brooklyn and the headquarters of The Hood. He tells his criminal comrades that they are going to join the fight as “no more Earth is bad for business.” The location shifts to Central Park West after that where confusion reigns among the populace as the MegaSkrulls are chasing them down. All of a sudden, a bolt of lightning comes and fries one of the MegaSkrulls. The crowd looks up and sees the silhouette of Thor. Looking from a distance away through binoculars appears to be Captain America, ready to join the fight…

Submitted by Mike. Thanks very much!

Trinity #10

2008-08-09T16:53:00.004-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Something is happening at S.T.A.R. Labs that draws the attention of Lois Lane. A strange glow is emanating from inside the building from the genetics lab where they are investigating Lex Luthor's Everyman project. Inside the lab is Sun-Chained-in-Ink, another of the Dreambound created by Enigma. He steals from the lab a sample of Luthor's blood. When Lois is later interviewing a guard to get information her notepad goes missing.

At Justice League headquarters the JLA is investigating the robot ship that Superman defeated in Morocco. It turns out to be the Metal Marauders, the Anti-Earth version of the Metal Men. The object Superman found there is a dimensional stabilizer. Red Tornado is trying to make it work so the JLA can travel to the Anti-Earth and rescue the people that have been kidnapped. Superman wants to travel there and bring a final defeat to the Crime Syndicate but Batman tells him their only mission right now is to rescue people.

On the Anti-Matter Earth, people have been kidnapped to help in the repair of that world since its near-destruction after the attack by Qwardians. The JLA successfully travel there but quickly draw the attention of the Crime Syndicate. They have captured Jimmy Olsen to use as a bargaining chip.

Back on Earth, Nightwing and Robin are fighting a talking female gorilla from Gorilla City. She is another of the Dreambound. She escapes after their fight with a piece of concrete from a Gotham City street. After talking with Oracle they discover a link between the stolen items - all have a connection to Batman. Nightwing next goes to see Jason Blood to get his help. He explains these items could be used to create a battery to contain some kind of energy. Enigma and Morgane have been gathering items representing the friends, foes and foundation of each of the Trinity. So far they have stolen Commissioner Gordon's pipe, Joker's laugh, concrete from the spot where Bruce Wayne's parents were killed, Lois Lane's notepad, a sample of Luthor's blood and Etta Candy's security badge.

Trinity #9

2008-07-31T19:15:00.004-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC $2.99

The mall Diana Prince and Etta Candy were walking through experiences an explosion and Diana (as Wonder Woman) and Etta rescue as many people as they can. Someone new calling himself Swashbuckler who is super-fast arrives on the scene and claims responsibility for the explosion. He steals a kiss from Etta before leaving.

Bruce Wayne has been attacked by three wolves and quickly runs, changing into Batman away from the guests at his mansion. He then turns back to take on the creatures. Superman shows up to help Batman with the wolves. Batman is short and curt with Superman and has him take the wolves to the Bat-cave. There Nightwing discovers the wolves are Howlers, creatures that Batman and Robin have previously faced though Batman never made the connection. After seeing the disc they tried to mark Batman with they are able to trace their origin to Arthurian times through Merlin's Eternity book. Superman privately worries about Batman's growing rage and his inability to remember the Howlers. He himself has felt off-kilter recently.

Diana and Etta are called in by their boss, Sarge Steel, to the Department of Metahuman Affairs. He is telling them about the recent disappearances around the world of large groups of people. When Diana's partner, Tresser, questions why they should be involved, Sarge shows them film footage of the Crime Syndicate being involved in the German abduction. This prompts Wonder Woman to call Batman and Superman and show them the footage.

Swashbuckler turns over Etta Candy's security clearance badge to Morgaine Le Fey. He had stolen it from Etta when he kissed her.

Later, Oracle is keeping in touch with Nightwing, Robin and Huntress who are tracking Gotham villains and possible destinations of the stolen artifacts. Nightwing encounters Swashbuckler who is fast enough to take off Nightwing's mask with a kind-of light saber. When he tries to leave with it, Nightwing activates his mask's self-destruct function and Swashbuckler is forced to leave without it.

At Arkham Asylum, Swashbuckler has broken in with an accomplice. While Swashbuckler occupies the guards his partner, the Trans-Volitional Man, floats through the wall of the Joker's cell and steals the Joker's laugh.

Swashbuckler and Trans-Volitional Man both seem to be two of the people created by the energy from the Cosmic Egg.

Trinity #8

2008-07-28T19:48:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Morgaine Le Fey and Enigma have travelled to the moon recently conquered by Despero. They have asked him to join their group and become a trinity to take over the Trinity, becoming lords of creation. They have discovered that Earth is the keystone of the universe and the trinity is the keystone of Earth. Despero shows them what he found on the moon, the cosmic egg. Morgaine reveals she has kidnapped Rita (Tarot) and is using her to find out information about the whole universe. Enigma uses technology to release energy from the cosmic egg and create foot soldiers from four people dreaming.

Bruce Wayne is hosting a fundraiser for a senator at Wayne Manor. Hiding out in the batcave he is in contact with Oracle, trying to find out who has hired Gotham's criminals to steal mystic artifacts. Alfred convinces him he should make an appearance at his own party. After he returns to the party the wolf creatures seen before attack him with the intent of branding him like they did Wonder Woman.

Superman is in the Middle East fighting a robot. He was there investigating the disappearance of a hill tribe. Lois, who is there with him, tells him about other mass disappearances around the world.

Wonder Woman is shopping with Etta Candy, getting her opinion about what the public thinks about the Trinity.

Trinity #7

2008-07-26T13:54:00.004-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Superman is in space checking the pocket solar system that entered Metropolis recently. The system has disappeared leaving only an energy similar to that found in Washington and Gotham where Wonder Woman and Batman encountered odd things as well. Superman identifies the energy as primal or creation energy.

When he is back at JLA headquarters he gets Green Lantern to check on the cosmic egg since it displays similar energy. The system shows everything is fine. The rest of the JLA is trying to identify the wolf that attacked Wonder Woman and identify the symbol that is on Wonder Woman's back. The symbol has changed for a third time.

Hawkman shows up with Gangbuster and Gangbuster relays his story about Tarot and the wolf-monster that kidnapped her. Hawkman tells them about the many mystical objects stolen from museums, all crimes committed by Gotham criminals. Batman quickly calls Nightwing and tells him to mobilize the Titans, Outsiders and Oracle to find out who's employing all the Gotham villains. Hawkman recognizes the symbols on Wonder Woman's back as Egyptian tarot symbols.

In space, Despero has conquered a moon and found something there. Morgaine Le Fey and Enigma appear and offer to make Despero a Lord of Creation if he will help them.

Firestorm talks to Green Lantern to find out the story of Krona and the cosmic egg. Krona was banished by the Guardians after trying to discover the creation of the universe. He was deprived of physical form and left to wander the universe forever, being immortal. He discovered that each universe had a spirit that he tried to conquer but he was stopped by the JLA and trapped in the cosmic egg. At some time the egg will hatch a new universe and Krona will see the creation of a universe. In space we see that the detection equipment that monitors the cosmic egg is broken and the egg has disappeared.

Trinity #6

2008-07-13T06:50:00.004-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Tarot is still seeing the Trinity in her cards. She finds she is able to use her cards to connect to things in the universe. Using this power she is able to see the origins of the Trinity and their roles. Gangbuster is attacked by a pack of monsters (like the one that left the scar on Wonder Woman). They overpower him and leave with Rita (Tarot).

Wonder Woman's burn mark is being checked out by Batman at JLA headquarters. While looking at it, the scar changes shape. Wonder Woman realizes something is going on that affects the three of them. They begin discussing the different ways they form a trinity.

In St. Roch, Hawkman is stopping Nocturna from stealing a mystical artifact called the Sceptre of Khaf-Re. He wonders if she is also after the Medallion of Khaf-Re, its companion piece. He travels to the museum where it is stored to find its robbery in progress. Chasing the robbers is Gangbuster. These robbers have a connection with the gang that is involved in Rita's kidnapping and he is after information to find her. Hawkman finds Killer Moth a short distance from the museum; apparently he was the contact for the robbers.

Gangbuster demands that Hawkman let him join him on this case so he can try and find Rita. Hawkman listens to Gangbuster's whole story and then opens a transporter doorway to JLA headquarters, taking Gangbuster with him.

Trinity #5

2008-07-11T19:35:00.004-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

With the rest of the JLA down, Superman is starting to gain the upper hand on Konvikt. When he receives a call from Batman needing him, Wonder Woman takes over the fight with Konvikt. Superman races to the spaceship that Batman found and the two interrogate the small alien, Graak, that landed with Konvikt. Batman has determined that because there is no stardrive there must be bio-suspension abilities on the ship. With this information, Superman is able to create a weapon using the gas that was used to place Konvikt in suspended animation. This knocks him unconscious and the DEO picks him up for transport to the Slab.

Batman finds the alien that burned the image onto Wonder Woman's shoulder. Morgaine, watching from afar, is shocked because she sent the creature but had him mystically shielded. She destroys the creature but not before he tells the Trinity that they will be breaking soon.

Tarot is continuing to read her cards but this time the images are changing to pictures of the Trinity. Jose is guarding her at the local community center to protect her from the gang looking for her. She wants to leave and he agrees she can continue her tarot card reading for people but picks the local diner, a public place. While there they are attacked by three super-powered villains - Blindside, Throttle and Whiteout. Jose sneaks away and changes into his Gangbuster costume and is able to defeat the trio. He and Tarot (Rita) run from the diner.

Final Crisis #2

2008-06-29T17:47:00.004-04:00

Writer: Grant Morrison
DC, $3.99

In Japan the new generation of heroes spends more time hanging out in bars and being seen then they do fighting villains and giant monsters. In one of these bars, Super Sumo, an old ally of the New Gods, is challenged by one of these new heroes. The new hero is easily beaten by Super Sumo. Super Sumo is approached by Shilo Norman, Mister Miracle, who wants Super Sumo's help in forming a team. Norman tells him there was a cosmic war and evil won and that evil is now on Earth.

The Monitor judged in the last issue by the other Monitors has been sentenced to live out life as a mortal. He is now a young man working in a fast food resturant. with dreams of the multiverse. He is searching for a magic word to take him back home.

Dan Turpin is beating on the Mad Hatter, trying to get information about a prototype he made of a mind-control hat that was used on the missing children. Mad Hatter gives up the city name Bludhaven. Turpin is worried about the violent man he's becoming.

A funeral is conducted for the Martian Manhunter on Mars with many heroes in attendance.

Libra is meeting with villains from the Secret Society hoping for their support after his demonstration of power in killing Martian Manhunter. Luthor is still hesitant not believing Libra can hurt Superman. Libra accepts this challenge.

Back in JLA HQ, the heroes are analysing the body of Orion, hoping for clues to his killer. An Alpha Lantern, Kraken, arrives with Green Lantern Hal Jordan telling all of them that she is in charge of this investigation, under orders of the Guardians of the Universe.

Green Lantern John Stewart is at the scene of Orion's murder with another Lantern looking for clues. John finds what looks like a bullet but it's been buried in the concrete for fifty years. John is suddenly attacked by someone with a Lantern ring.

While sleeping at home, Hal Jordan is arrested by Alpha Lanterns for the murder of Orion and the attempted murder of John Stewart.

The next day Batman is at JLA HQ with Alpha Lantern Kraken when she appears to be taken over mentally. She attacks Batman and then opens up a boom tube to take Batman to Granny. She has been taken over by a god.

Dan Turpin arrives in Bludhaven and is found by a Reverend Good who leads him under the city. Good tells Turpin they are the gods of Apokolips taking human form to bring about the final crisis of man. Hundreds of people are being held prisoner, to become slaves in the firepits. Turpin is lead into a laboratory where Batman is being held captive and other New Gods are there in human form, including the Alpha Lantern Kraken. Turpin begins to feel someone taking over his mind.

Superman is back at the Daily Planet as Clark Kent. He sees Jimmy Olsen leaving their office and realizes he just saw him in the office. The Olsen leaving is actually Clayface and as he leaves the Daily Planet building blows up.

The two Flashes, Jay Garrick and Wally West, track a seismic pulse to the location of J'onn's murder, where Libra met with the Secret Society. It's the same place where Jay first met Barry Allen. Wally is talking about the bullet that John Stewart found and theorizes about a bullet fired backwards through time, killing Orion and then landing and burying itself fifty years past. While they are talking there are vibrations in the air and the Flash Barry Allen appears chasing the bullet and himself being chased by the Black Racer.

Trinity #4

2008-06-28T11:20:00.006-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

The Justice League continues to fight Konvikt while also saving bystanders. Morgaine and Enigma watch the battle from afar, assessing the heroes. In the midst of battle, a hair-covered arm reaches out from behind trees and places a branding on Wonder Woman, leaving an omega symbol on her back. Batman leaves the battle and finds Konvikt's spaceship, hoping to find something to defeat the monster. Unknown to Batman, Graak (the small creature with Konvikt) has followed him into the ship.

Tarot is using her tarot cards and is able to sense events around the world. She falls asleep and in her dreams sees Despero leading other aliens in an attack on a world. Despero finds Kanjar Ro also trying to take over the planet. Despero succeeds in taking over the planet and interrogates Kanjar's soldiers, trying to get information about an interspatial gateway. He is able to open the gateway, wanting to travel to a place he has seen in his dreams.

The mafia group who controls the gang that died while chasing Tarot have hired some super-powered help to find Tarot and bring her back to them.

Trinity #3

2008-06-21T16:49:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Konvikt has defeated Green Lantern. The rest of the Justice League shows up to stop him but are losing as well. Then the Trinity step in. Morgaine and Enigma are impressed that the other heroes all defer to the Trinity. Superman steps up to Konvikt and, with one punch, Konvikt knocks him out.

In Los Angeles, a tarot card reader, who the neighbourhood people call Tarot, has begun having much success with her readings. She isn't sure why her readings have become so much better. She recently did a reading for a gang member which resulted in him pulling off a successful robbery. She refuses to help him again since she didn't know the previous reading would result in a robbery. She runs from the gang and is chased into an alley. A man in the neighbourhood, Jose (the former Gangbuster?), follows them into the alley to help Tarot but finds all the gang members dead with blood everywhere. Tarot has no idea what happened as she was hiding behind some boxes.

Trinity #2

2008-06-13T17:55:00.002-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99

Superman is saving people in Metropolis from falling buildings. The buildings have been hit by an expanding sun and planets. Superman is able to push the sun into space and its planets follow it.

Batman has found himself in an alternate Gotham that seems like Victorian times. He is able to return to his own reality by force of will and denying the existence of the reality he found himself in.

Wonder Woman is facing robots. Superman arrives to lend a hand but she calls him off, wanting to destroy them on her own. The pair decide to contact Batman, thinking these attacks have something to do with their recent dreams.

Morgaine and Enigma, who sent these menaces, are impressed with the heroes' abilities.

Green Lantern John Stewart is drawn by his ring to an object entering Earth's atmosphere. The object turns out to be Konvikt. A panicked police officer shoots at Konvikt when he lands which sets him into a rage. Green Lantern tries to stop Konvikt but is beaten by him. Lantern's ring sends out an alert that reaches Batman in the Batcave just as Wonder Woman and Superman contact him.

Secret Invasion #3

2008-06-09T20:23:00.002-04:00

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Marvel, $3.99

The first scene is the SHIELD Helicarrier floating in the Bermuda Triangle. Maria Hill is struggling to assess the damage and casualties when Skrull Jarvis, the mole acting as the Avengers butler, appears on the top deck. He asks for SHIELD’s full and total surrender.

The next scene is set at Thunderbolts Mountain where Skrull (and Manchurian Candidate) Captain Marvel knocks Venom over the mountains and looks like he is going to finish off the rest of Thunderbolts. He cannot kill them though and Norman Osborn takes advantage of his moment of weakness to ask him to stop and talk about the situation.

We next see Camp Hammond where the Initiative trainees are meeting with Gauntlet and Taskmaster. They talk about how there is no communication with SHIELD, Tony Stark, the Avengers, or anyone else. Gauntlet assures the trainees that it is not a drill when Skrull Yellowjacket appears to tell them it is time to act and go to New York.

In the subsequent pages, the Young Avengers are shown in Times Square attempting to fend off the Skrulls from the end of issue 2. The Vision cannot contact anyone to assist them in their fight and he realizes how dire the situation is for them. Hulking (who is half Skrull) identifies himself as being the son of Princess Anelle and asks them to stop fighting. This seems to anger the invaders more and they train all their weaponry on him. A Skrull with the power of Giant Man knocks Wiccan into next week! The Young Avengers Hawkeye is relieved somewhat when the Initiative finally show up and join the battle.

In the Savage Land, we observe Spider Woman approaching the Mutate Citadel. She sees Echo and zaps her with a bolt of bio-electricity. Echo tells her she’s not a Skrull and Spider Woman ominously replies "I know" and continues to attack her. Skrull Spider Woman either hurts or kills Echo. She continues inside the Citadel where Tony Stark is unsuccessfully trying to fix his armor. She greets Tony and tells him that his work on Earth is finished and that he will go down as one of the Skrull’s greatest warriors. She claims to be the queen and kisses him. He shouts that he is not a Skrull and she insists that he is, but that he is unaware of it. Why else would he have turned the heroes against each other and set himself up to be the most important in their world? She refers to him as "Kr’Ali" and he is left wondering the truth about the situation.

The action shifts back to Times Square where the Young Avengers and Initiative continue the fight. Stature is thrown off of a building. The fighting Skrulls get a directive from a leader and release their powers en masse which devastates the collected heroes. It is broadcast on TV for the entire world to see. The Vision tells the Skrulls that others will come to stop them and they blow a bolt of energy through his head. Proton is killed execution style and Annex is vaporized down to his viscous fluids. The last image in the book is Nick Fury with a team of 6 that he identifies as his commandos saying "Let’s turn this thing around!"

Submitted by Mike. Thanks Mike!

Secret Invasion #2

2008-06-09T20:16:00.005-04:00

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Marvel, $3.99

The issue opens with the New Avengers in the Savage Land face to face with their doppelgangers and/or former friends who crashed in the Skrull ship. As the assorted parties banter, Ares implores the NA all to leave because it is a trap. No one listens and the battle ensues. The NA Ms. Marvel flies off with Iron Man whose armor is still infected with the alien virus. The possibly Skrull Vision matches up with The Sentry, teases that he (The Vision) is really The Void, and that The Sentry is the cause of what is happening. The Sentry flies off upset and the Vision seems to smirk. Ronin (also known as Hawkeye) gets the drop on possibly Skrull Hawkeye and steals his bow, arrow, and quiver. Ronin uses it to attack Skrull Beast and Skrull Emma Frost, but Skrull Captain America knocks his intended arrow away with his shield. Ronin then wonders if it’s not the real Cap.

A T-Rex rushes into the battlefield and scatters all the players, sending them scrambling for their lives. Ms. Marvel drops Iron Man into the Mutate Citadel so he can attempt to rebuild his armor. He orders her to return to the mainland, find out what has happened, and gather the Initiative. The next scene is the aftermath of the T-Rex attack where Luke Cage and Wolverine talk about what is happening and find a squished Skrull Spider-Man. We also see Mockingbird near a now dead Skrull Hawkeye. As Wolverine goes to challenge her, he is shot with an arrow in his shoulder by Ronin. Ronin tests Mockingbird (his thought to be deceased wife) about the date October 12th. She responds that it was the day they would have had a child together years ago except that she had a miscarriage. Since they were the only 2 who knew that information, he believes she is who she claims and kisses her. Mockingbird feels it is the true Captain America with them because he got them all back to Earth.

The last scene in the issue takes place in Manhattan where the Young Avengers are helplessly observing the Baxter Building collapse in on itself. Further trouble arrives in the form of a Skrull ship. From out of the ship pours a plethora of Super Skrull warriors whose combination outfits indicate that they have replicated the powers of the Earth’s most powerful heroes and villains…and they ain’t here for tea!

Submitted by Mike. Thanks Mike!

Trinity #1

2008-06-09T19:48:00.003-04:00

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
DC, $2.99 US/CAN

A disembodied entity in space is screaming to be let out.

Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent and Diana Prince meet in Keystone City to discuss similar dreams the three have been having. Clark sees space with a mad being warping space and time. Diana dreams of an angry god trying to break free from a mystic force. Bruce sees a criminal in jail but trying to escape. While the three are talking Clark hears a report of a robbery but Flash and his two kids are there to stop it. The trio later talk with Flash but he hasn't had any similar dream and neither have any other JLA members that Batman contacted.

The three part ways but agree to stay in touch. On their respective trips home each hears a voice saying 'let me out'. Batman's plane begins filling up with smoke; Wonder Woman is attacked; Superman comes across a building exploding.

Elsewhere, Morgaine Le Fey is in Castle Branek when someone with a half-armored face and a power staff appears. These two have also been having dreams but these dreams are of power they could capture. The powers of the man, who Morgaine calls Enigma, sense energy around the Trinity. Morgaine's magic also senses something around the Trinity. Morgaine is able to use this energy to see their future which leads to a woman reading tarot cards in Los Angeles. Another glimpse into the future shows Green Arrow and Speedy as the protectors of Gotham being met by Ragman and a young sidekick. This future feels less certain to Morgaine. Another future event shows Morgaine and Enigma meeting with someone named Konvikt while another reveals giant stone statues of the Trinity.

Morgaine and Enigma realize they will need a third person to offset the Trinity. While Enigma matches Batman with technology and Morgaine matches Wonder Woman with magic and being created by ancient gods they need an alien to match with Superman. Their combined powers reveal Despero as the third. The two agree to work together to gain the power they have been dreaming about. As they leave Morgaine's castle a new vision appears that they don't see - the space entity tearing apart the Earth.

Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1

2008-06-02T00:22:00.005-04:00

Writer: Joss Whedon
Marvel Comics, $4.99
"Gone"

Spider-Man is swinging through the skies of New York when he is surprised by Storm, Nightcrawler, and Iceman. They take him to The Peak, S.W.O.R.D.'s orbiting base, with the aid of the Sentinel that destroyed Genosha (from issue 12). There, the world's superheroes have joined the various X-Men teams, though without Professor X.

As Kitty hurtles to Earth trapped in the Breakworld's missile, Colossus faces off with Aghanne in the reactor field. She had created the "prophecy," manipulating events all along to bring him to this place to destroy the Breakworld. Weary of a civilization dedicated to war and violence, she needs Colossus' unique metal structure to destroy the reactor and the planet — and she uses her years of fighting experience to try to force him to do it.

Brand fights off Breakworld soldiers, revealing that it's not her given name — as she activates her powers, burning them with her glowing blue hands.

On The Peak, Dr. Strange tries to halt the missile, but is felled by its magical protections. Reed Richards has a plan to stop it.

Powerlord Kruun is overcome by S.W.O.R.D. soldiers, enraging Ord. Aghanne gains the advantage over Peter, swearing to use his arms herself.

Rescued by Beast and his team, Brand is bandaged up, having barely been hurt by the blast she took. Confronted by Beast, she confesses her attraction to him.

Colossus is being forced to the reactor, converting to human to prevent Aghanne from using him to destroy it. Ord bursts in, distracting Aghanne, and allowing Colossus to destroy her protective suit. Ord, also exposed, dies, having saved his world.

Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four's plan works — they're able to send the missile into the Negative Zone.

Sentry single-handedly punches the missile off course. Iron Man deflects it. Spider-Man catches it in his webbing … and realizes something's wrong.

Emma, in psychic contact with Kitty, reveals that they have no way of stopping it.

Spider-Man punches Storm to awaken her from the trance she's in, where she stopped the missile. All the heroes are in an unconscious state, dreaming of saving Earth.

Colossus emerges from the reactor to confront Kruun. Saying that if Earth is destroyed, he will rule the Breakworld. He grabs Kruun's hand, as Wolverine cuts the Powerlord's arm off. Brand asks him the missile's weakness.

Cyclops relays to Storm that it's possible that the missile could be knocked off-course by something large enough. Emma warns Kitty to phase out, but she is unable as the Sentinel flies itself into the missile. It does nothing.

As the missile enters the atmosphere, Kitty concentrates. As the heroes watch, astonished, Kitty phases the missile harmlessly through the Earth with Professor X's help.

Some time later, at the mansion, Cyclops tells Peter that the finest minds believe Kitty has bonded with the missile. Brand convinces Beast to join her at S.W.O.R.D. to be her second-in-command, revealing that she is half-alien.

Each of the X-Men deal with the loss in their own way. Emma weeps, Wolverine fights, and Colossus remembers Kitty, looking skyward.

The missile flies on through space.

Final Crisis #1

2008-06-01T15:24:00.005-04:00

Writer: Grant Morrison
DC, $3.99 US/CAN

The New God, Metron, is in prehistoric times and gives fire to Anthro. Anthro is able to use the fire to break up warring cavemen, Vandal Savage among them.

Dan Turpin of Metropolis S.C.U. is investigating the disappearance of six children when he finds New God Orion in a dumpster on the waterfront. Orion briefly regains consciousness, telling Dan 'they did not die', before passing out. This is observed by the Black Racer. Dan later meets with the Question who gives him a lead on his missing children case - a card to the Dark Side Club.

Weather is behaving strangely in New York when John Stewart receives a call from the Guardians to respond to a '1011' - death of a god. He and Hal Jordan find the body of Orion as the Guardians send Alpha Lanterns to help investigate.

Mirror Master and Dr. Light have teamed up to retrieve Metron's chair which Libra has sent them to get. It has turned up in a dump. Libra is meeting with members of the Secret Society and is asking for their help in a experiment. In exchange he offers them their heart's desire. To prove his worth, Libra has had Martian Manhunter captured and, to fulfill the Human Flame's desire, he kills the Manhunter.

Dan Turpin finds the Dark Side Club and inside meets a man who has kidnapped many children and turned them over to 'Granny'. Dan sees the children in the club. They have been taken over by the Anti-Life Equation. The man talks about wearing out the body he's in.

The Justice League meets to discuss the death of Orion and the possibility of evil gods being on Earth.

The Monitors are meeting to serve judgement on the Monitor of Earth-51 whose Earth was destroyed. His punishment is death. The Monitors have begun developing individual personalities and as one mourns the death of a Monitor, another plots against the others.

Anthro appears to be transported to the time of Kamandi. Kamandi is there demanding Anthro turn over the weapon given to him by Metron which can be used against gods.

Checkmate #26

2008-05-28T21:38:00.006-04:00

Writer: Bruce Jones
DC, $2.99 US/CAN

A soldier in the Iraqi desert is nearly killed when a bomb goes off. He is rescued by a helicopter with the Checkmate logo on it. He is taken to Checkmate headquarters where his history is checked out. His name is Adam Sharp and his only family is his mother and a girlfriend. Sharp's family is told Adam was killed in action.

Sharp is operated on by Checkmate doctors who use experimental treatments to regrow nerves in his body. One experimental fluid is accidentally spilled into the soldier's body. The doctors end up using 320 different species in their gene-splicing on the soldier. He is left with no memory of his past as Adam Sharp. In test battles against animals, Adam is able to duplicate the animal's appearance and abilities but with greater strength and ferocity. The doctors believe they have created a new weapon and he is introduced to the Black King as Chimera.

In Venezuela, a man is hunting in the jungle when he is attacked by a monster he calls Canaima. He escapes but is left disfigured. In Antarctica a monster the natives call Akhlat escapes from the ice and attacks their sled dogs while the natives run. These two incidents are noticed by Checkmate. Later a giant monster appears in China called Qi Yu by the Chinese.

Sharp's girlfriend, Chloe Roberts, has a dream about Adam in which he tells her he's not dead, only different. She wakes up believing he is still alive.

Booster Gold #9

2008-05-18T21:42:00.003-04:00

Writers: Geoff Johns & Jeff Katz
DC, $2.99 US/CAN

Booster has travelled back in time with the past, present and future Blue Beetles and successfully save Ted Kord from death at the hands of Max Lord. However, when they return to the present they find that history has changed and Max Lord has succeeded in his plans to control the OMAC's and eliminate much of the super-human population. Max also has Superman under his mental control. Booster and Beetle decide to reunite the Justice League International and stop Max.

Rip Hunter, in the time stream with Skeets and Booster's ancestor Daniel, is tracking down the villains who were trying to change history by eliminating heroes in the past.

Booster and Beetle succeed in finding or freeing many former members of JLI and attack Max in Checkmate headquarters. Batman wants to regain control of Brother Eye but Booster convinces him that it can no longer be controlled and the only option is to destroy it. They succeed in their mission. Dr. Light kills Max Lord, getting revenge on him for killing her children.

Booster feels responsible for so many people having been killed because of what he did, changing history by saving Blue Beetle. Before he can figure out how to fix things, the villains from the time stream show up - Ultra-Humanite, Per Degaton, Despero, the future Blue Beetle and Booster's father, collectively known as the Time Stealers.

Legion of Super-Heroes #41

2008-05-16T19:46:00.002-04:00

Writer: Jim Shooter
DC, $2.99 US/CAN

Princess Projectra hits a tourist trying to get her autograph and picture. She is calmed down by Timber Wolf and Saturn Girl who convince her to allow the tourists to take a picture to avoid Projectra getting arrested. She later gets arrested anyway when she attacks an officer.

Lightning Lad, Legion leader, is continuing to have trouble with the United Planets. They have placed the Legion on a strict budget and are charging them for everything.

Brainiac 5 is furious that the Legion has been banned from the autopsy of an alien that attacked innocents recently. He convinces Invisible Kid to break into the autopsy room with a camera so Brainiac can see the autopsy.

A child is meeting with the CEO of a large company who is in trouble. He offers the CEO a Legion flight ring for cash. The child later returns the ring to the Legion infirmary where Star Boy is recovering from injuries.

The alien regains life during the autopsy but is stopped by Invisible Kid. Invisible Kid is then captured by a group of heroes the United Planets had guarding the autopsy room. This results in a call to Lightning Lad about a Legionnaire breaking into the autopsy. The government restricts the Legion to Earth.

Ultra Boy receives a call that aliens are attacking his home planet but the Legion is unable to go and help.

Saturn Girl has a secret meeting with her mother, a member of the government. Her mother tells her that the Legion has many enemies in the current government and she is unable to continue helping them.

Later that evening, Lightning Lad receives a call from the government giving them permission to go to Rimbor, Ultra Boy's planet, to stop the alien invaders.

Countdown to Final Crisis #1

2008-04-25T15:57:00.003-04:00

Writer: Paul Dini
DC, $2.99 US/CAN

Jimmy Olsen has an incredible story to tell based on the past year's adventures but realizes no one would believe it. His developing relationship with Forager has soured already.

Ray Palmer has returned home but isn't sure what to do with his life now. Donna Troy shows up at his home. She too doesn't know how to deal with everything they have been through.

Pied Piper has ended up in Gotham and vows to fight on the good side from now on. Jason Todd is also in Gotham and decides to work on his own now.

Solomon the Monitor finds the Source Wall is still standing, thus ensuring the safety of the Multiverse.

Kyle Rayner also shows up at Ray Palmer's house wondering what to do about the Monitors and who will watch them.

Mary Marvel visits Black Adam and he is not impressed with her childish attitude. He leaves her.

Buddy Blank and his grandson are re-visited by Brother Eye who turns Buddy into a new OMAC so the pair can venture out into their world.

Forager and Jimmy Olsen also go to Ray's house where a Monitor shows up, asking them to watch the Monitors. The group goes to the Monitors' satellite and tells them all they are now watching the Monitors and will be guarding the borders of the Multiverse.

Countdown to Final Crisis #2

2008-04-20T11:03:00.003-04:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Sean McKeever
DC, $2.99 US/CAN

As Jimmy Olsen, as a turtle-man, takes on Darkseid, other heroes help evacuate civilians and deal with the damage.

Ray Palmer, who is inside Jimmy's head, successfully finds the device that Darkseid was going to use to take the power of the New Gods he was storing inside Jimmy. Atom reappears with the device and destroys it in front of Darkseid. This drives Darkseid mad but before he can take revenge on Palmer a boom tube appears and out of it comes Orion.

Orion and Darkseid begin their prophesied final battle which results in the death of Darkseid.

Countdown to Final Crisis #3

2008-04-12T19:38:00.002-04:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Sean McKeever
DC, $2.99 US/CAN

Green Lantern and Donna Troy are trying to explain to the JLA everything that has happened to them recently and why they need to find Jimmy Olsen, who was taken by Mary Marvel.

Mary has taken Jimmy to Darkseid as payment for her renewed powers. Darkseid wants Jimmy so he can reclaim the New Gods' powers that Darkseid has been containing inside Jimmy. Before he can take them Superman arrives to stop him. Other heroes arrive and Mary Marvel fights them while Superman fights Darkseid.

Darkseid uses his omega beam to hit Jimmy and activate a power inside him which turns him into kryptonite. This takes down Superman. Ray Palmer hid himself inside Jimmy's head and is now trying to find someway to remove the barriers that prevent Jimmy from accessing the New God powers when he wants. He finds something that Darkseid put there and removes it from Jimmy's brain. Jimmy is able to change back from kryptonite and transforms himself into a giant turtle man, ready to fight Darkseid.

Secret Invasion #1

2008-04-12T19:13:00.002-04:00

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Marvel, $3.99

The issue opens with a mysterious passage from The Book of Wonders (A Skrull book?) that reads "A wave of destruction. Nothingness. And out of nothingness will you outstretch your hand and take in that which needs you. Only then will the doors to the heavens open for you and your brothers."

In a two page spread stating "Years Ago…," several Skrulls come and report to their Queen that the Skrull Throneworld was destroyed and the armada in ruins. She realizes the scripture was correct and tells her returning followers what the next step will be.

Present day - Iron Man meets with Reed Richards and Henry Pym to discuss that Electra was a Skrull and that they need to find out more because he feels it’s the beginning of something big.

The scene shifts to outer space and The Peak - which is headquarters of SWORD – Sentient World Observation and Response Department. Dum Dum Dugan is visiting as Agent Brand gets a report of a Skrull ship about to enter Earth’s atmosphere and crash into the Savage Land. She reports this news to Tony Stark. Tony, Reed, and Henry are trying to figure out why the Elektra Skrull was undetectable when he gets the call about the crashed ship in the Savage Land. He goes to investigate it and calls Spider-Woman to gather the Mighty Avengers. She in turn calls Luke Cage of the New Avengers to let him know of the crash and its location. After getting dropped off by Cloak, Luke and the NA steal Tony’s quinjet and head to the Savage Land themselves.

The NA and MA meet at the Savage Land by the crashed Skrull ship. Much to the chagrin of the MA, Luke Cage starts to open the ship which sets off a chain reaction. Jarvis and Dum Dum Dugan are revealed to be Skrull agents and utter the phrase "He loves you" before they act. Dugan causes an explosion on The Peak and Jarvis infects Tony with an alien virus that causes him to have a seizure and the SHIELD helicarrier to topple over a major city. The virus also causes chaos at the Stark Enterprises main plant in Flushing Queens, the Westchester facility, and the launch facility on Long Island. The virus also shuts down the security at The Raft and The Cube (maximum security installations where many of the world’s deadliest super-villains are housed). Marvel Boy uses the riot at The Cube as an opportunity to leave. We also see a break-in on Thunderbolts Mountain by the original Captain Marvel.

Back in Manhattan, a mysterious male on a tour of the Baxter Building reveals himself to be a Skrull by morphing into Susan Richards, The Invisible Woman. She easily gets into Reed’s laboratory and breaches the Negative Zone while also adding "He loves you." The upper floors of the Baxter Building appear to implode and/or get partially sucked into the Negative Zone.

Both sets of Avengers are debating what to do about Tony when the Skrull ship opens. They are shocked when younger versions (judging by their costumes) of themselves and some other of their fellow super-heroes emerge. Emma Frost, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Thor, the Beast, Wonder Man, Susan Richards, Jean Grey, Iron Man, The Scarlet Witch, the Vision, Mockingbird, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Wolverine, and Jessica Jones in her costumed identity. Needless to say, the MA and NA are left in a stunned silence.

Agent Brand can be seen sending out a distress signal from the space and the wreckage of The Peak when she spots a Skrull armada bearing down on Earth. Back in Stark Laboratory, Reed announces to Henry that he has figured out the secret of the Skrull cloaking ability and Henry stating he already knew the secret – He is also a Skrull agent! Henry holds up an advanced ray gun and shoots Reed point blank leaving his stretched form sprayed all over the room. The issue ends with Henry transforming back to his Skrull self telling Reed "He even loves you."

Submitted by Mike. Thanks Mike!

Action Comics #863

2008-04-12T18:35:00.007-04:00

Writer: Geoff Johns
DC, $2.99

Superman and Earthman are floating in space; the only thing protecting Superman from the vacuum of space is his Legion flight ring. The Legion of Substitute Heroes finish beating up the Justice League, so that they can help fight Earthman. Meanwhile a fleet of battleships from the United Planets approach earth.

Earthman decides to fly Superman back to earth to Legion headquarters to make his victory all the more glorious. The two plummet into earth's atmosphere. While that's going on Colossal Boy frees his wife Yera as Braniac 5 frees Sunboy from the machine he's trapped in. Superman and Earthman continue to fall. Earthman crushes Superman's Legion flight ring and drops him onto new Metropolis.

Braniac 5 deduces that the only thing that will wake up Colossal Boy is a kiss from a pretty girl. Year morphs into a brunette and reluctantly kisses him which causes the sun to explode into yellow. Superman is plummeting to earth. Just before he hits the ground his powers kick in and he hovers above it. Superman frees a group of aliens imprisoned in a police car, and then he fights with Earthman. Earthman uses the powers he's stolen from the Legion against Superman. Superman gets help from the Legion. With their combined powers they easily take down Earthman. After some celebration, the Legion stares down the United Planets armada and calls off the war.

Superman returns to his own time, with a promise that the Legion will not let him forget them. A teenage Clark Kent is reminiscing on an adventure with classic era Legionnaires. The Legionnaires leave to their own time and leave behind an L burned into a tree trunk. A grown up Superman returns to the tree and stares off into the sunset.

Submitted by Stephen Escudero. Thanks Stephen!

Countdown to Final Crisis #4

2008-04-05T18:56:00.004-04:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Sean McKeever
DC, $2.99 US, CAN

The travelling heroes have returned to their proper Earth. Holly and Harley leave to return to Gotham and Firestorm returns home. Jason Todd is sick of them and leaves the group. The rest suggest taking Jimmy Olsen to JLA headquarters to get him checked out. He is carrying the souls and powers of the deceased New Gods. Mary Marvel leaves, telling them she is going to Paradise Island to see what happened after she left.

Mary actually goes home, tired of dealing with everyone else's problems. Waiting for her at home is Darkseid. He has a small ball which contains the rest of her power. Apparently the gods did not return her to her full strength. He entices her with a return to full power in exchange for a favor.

When the heroes reach JLA headquarters they find Mary Marvel waiting for them, back in her black costume. She fights the heroes and kidnaps Jimmy Olsen, her favor to Darkseid. Forager vows to get Jimmy back.

Countdown to Final Crisis #5

2008-04-05T18:34:00.002-04:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Adam Beechen
DC, $2.99 US/CAN

Buddy Blank and Una make their way to Buddy's apartment to rescue his daughter and grandson. Along the way they see many dead people and others who are turning into animals. There are also many animals adopting human characteristics. At the apartment they find his grandson and he is fine but the dog tries to kill them. Una is attacked by rats and they make their way to the roof to try and escape them. There they find Buddy's daughter who is turning animalistic and attacks Buddy. Una jumps into save him and Una and the daughter are covered in the rats. Una tells Buddy to take her Legion ring. As the daughter and Una die from the rat attack, Buddy flies away with his grandson.

Buddy travels to the Command D bunker where he had previously worked on the Brother Eye project. It has its own generator and he is able to use the Brother Eye surveillance cameras in space to watch the destruction of the world. A nuclear war is started on Earth and Buddy and his grandson wait it out in the bunker. The grandson will become the last boy on Earth.

The heroes who traveled to this world from Apokolips and have been inoculated from the Morticoccus virus are unable to do anything to save this world so they use Jimmy Olsen's power to create a boom tube and leave this Earth.

Checklist

2008-03-30T10:29:00.003-04:00

Spoilt’s Checklist for April 2008

If a title is in bold, either a summary has already been written for it or someone has already volunteered to write one. If you would like to write a summary for any other title, please let us know.

DC

ACTION COMICS #863
ACTION COMICS #864
ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #11
ALL-NEW ATOM #22
BATMAN #675
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #6
BIRDS OF PREY #117
BLUE BEETLE #26
BOOSTER GOLD #8
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #12
CATWOMAN #78
CHECKMATE #25
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #4
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #3
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #2
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #1
COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #7
DC SPECIAL: RAVEN #2
DC UNIVERSE: ZERO
DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #8
DETECTIVE COMICS #843
FLASH #239
GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #7
GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #7
GREEN LANTERN #30
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #23
INFINITY INC. #8
JSA CLASSIFIED #37
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #20
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #14
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #41
NIGHTWING #143
ROBIN #173
SALVATION RUN #6
SHADOWPACT #24
SIMON DARK #7
SUICIDE SQUAD: RAISE THE FLAG #8
SUPERGIRL #28
SUPERMAN #675
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #47
TANGENT: SUPERMAN'S REIGN #2
TEEN TITANS #58
TITANS #1
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #12
UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #8
WONDER WOMAN #19

Marvel

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #555
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #556
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #557
ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #6
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #11
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #12
BLACK PANTHER #36
CABLE #2
CAPTAIN AMERICA #37
CAPTAIN MARVEL #5
CLANDESTINE #3
DAREDEVIL: BLOOD OF THE TARANTULA #1
FANTASTIC FOUR #556
GHOST RIDER #22
HULK #3
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #14
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #116
IRON MAN #28
LAST DEFENDERS #2
MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #8
MIGHTY AVENGERS #12
MOON KNIGHT #17
MS. MARVEL #26
NEW AVENGERS #40
NEW WARRIORS #11
NOVA #12
THE ORDER #10
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #18
SECRET INVASION #1
SHE-HULK #28
THOR #8
THUNDERBOLTS #120
THE TWELVE #4
UNCANNY X-MEN #497
WOLVERINE #64
WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH: WARBOUND #5
X-FACTOR #30
X-FORCE #3
X-MEN: DIVIDED WE STAND BOOK 1 #1
X-MEN: LEGACY #210
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #3
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #4
YOUNG X-MEN #1

Countdown to Final Crisis #6

2008-03-20T13:40:00.003-04:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Adam Beechen
DC, $2.99 US/CAN

Even though Karate Kid has died the virus is still growing inside him. The heroes have remained at Cadmus Labs as their scientists try and stop the virus. Buddy Blank, a Cadmus employee, has been assigned to look after the heroes while they are at the labs. He spends a lot of time comforting Una who is devastated over the loss of Karate Kid.

When the scientists begin to open up Karate Kid the virus escapes and grows instantly. Green Lantern is able to contain the virus but they can't be sure they got it all. Later studies reveal the virus is airborne and is spreading. People in Gotham begin showing signs of the disease, turning wild. It also is affecting animals, making them more savage while giving them human qualities. Some heroes are given inoculations from Atom's blood but there isn't enough for the whole world. The virus begins to spread to Europe.

Scientists, realizing there is no hope, begin to leave Cadmus to be with their families. Buddy Black decides to do so and Una asks to go with him since Karate Kid is dead.

The Green Lantern Hal Jordan of this Earth travels into space to find help from other planets. He is unaware he is carrying the virus and thus spreading it across the galaxy.

Countdown to Final Crisis #7

2008-03-20T13:12:00.004-04:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Adam Beechen
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

With the heroes transported to Earth by Solomon the Monitor, Holly and Harley have lost their powers given to them by the gods. They get on a bus to return to Gotham. Jason has also left the group. The other heroes take the dying Karate Kid to the Hall of Justice to get the JLA's help. Atom finds his access code does not work and Superman shows up wondering who is trying to break into the Hall. He doesn't recognize Ray, Donna or Kyle. Other heroes arrive and they also don't recognize anyone. Before they can be captured Atom activates the JLA teleport system and sends them all away for safety. Firestorm tells them that he had earlier looked for his house but it doesn't exist. This makes them think they have landed on a different Earth.

Firestorm suggests trying the Cadmus Labs for equipment to help Karate Kid. The group goes there and finds Jimmy Olsen and Forager. Before entering the lab, Ray thinks they should gather everyone so Kyle finds and brings back Holly and Harley from Gotham. Entering the lab they fight their way past guards before finding Dubbilex, the director of Cadmus. He reads their thoughts to learn about the Morticoccus virus. He checks on Karate Kid to find him already dead.

Countdown to Final Crisis #8

2008-03-16T10:54:00.003-04:00

Writers: Paul Dini, Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Solomon the Monitor and Darkseid appear to have finished their game of chess with Darkseid declaring himself the winner. It was Solomon that turned Captain Atom into Monarch as part of his plan to make himself the sole Monitor. Darkseid is not afraid of the Fourth World ending because he plans on being the sole ruler in the Fifth World. The Monitor wants Karate Kid's disease to kill all the superhumans. Atom observes this conversation between the two men but is then pulled back by Firestorm to where all the heroes on Apokolips have gathered.

The heroes are debating on how to save Karate Kid or if they should try to save him. If they take him back to Earth he could infect everybody. Jimmy Olsen means to stay on Apokolips and confront Darkseid because he has all the souls of the dead New Gods contained inside him. Donna Troy tries to talk him out of it, thinking it is suicidal for Jimmy to take on Darkseid. Solomon appears and tells Jimmy that Darkseid placed all the New God powers inside him so he could take them later for himself. He thought Jimmy was a safe person to contain them because he has the protection of Superman.

While the heroes debate what to do with Karate Kid, Solomon transports all of them to Earth as his final move against Darkseid. He leaves it to fate to decide if humanity is destroyed by Karate Kid's virus.

Countdown to Final Crisis #9

2008-03-08T16:44:00.005-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini, Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Piper is fighting with Desaad when they are interrupted by the OMAC that was Una. This OMAC is carrying Karate Kid. Desaad wants Piper to play his flute. It was Desaad who has been mentally beating down Piper and leading him to Apokolips because Piper contains the anti-life equation that Desaad wants. The OMAC blasts Desaad and knocks out Piper. OMAC leaves with Karate Kid and Piper. All of this is observed by Red Robin.

Solomon and Darkseid continue their chess game. Darkseid is prepared to give up Apokolips because he believes the Fourth World is dying anyways. He is preparing for the Fifth World.

The Challengers, Mary Marvel, Holly and Harley are looking for Red Robin, hoping he has found a way off Apokolips. Desaad sees them and follows.

The OMAC delivers Karate Kid to Brother Eye who does an analysis of him. Eye discovers Karate Kid is carrying the Morticoccus virus. The OMAC discovers Red Robin watching them and in their fight Firestorm is freed from the prison Brother Eye had him in. The other heroes arrive and take up the fight with the OMAC. Atom frees Karate Kid but not before Brother Eye is able to take the virus for his own use against humanity. Brother Eye transports everyone out of its central core to the outside where they are surrounded by OMACs.

Desaad reaches Piper and again demands he plays his flute so he can get the anti-life equation. Instead Piper plays his flute to kill Desaad and attempt to destroy Brother Eye and Apokolips. Brother Eye is able to escape but Apokolips begins to break apart with the heroes still there.

Checklist

2008-03-05T19:50:00.003-05:00

Spoilt’s Checklist for March 2008

If a title is in bold, either a summary has already been written for it or someone has already volunteered to write one. If you would like to write a summary for any other title, please let us know.

DC

ACTION COMICS #863
ALL-NEW ATOM #21
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #5
BIRDS OF PREY #116
BLUE BEETLE #25
BOOSTER GOLD #7
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #11
CATWOMAN #77
CHECKMATE #24
COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #5
COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #6
COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #7
COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #8
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #8
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #7
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #6
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #5
COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #6
DC SPECIAL: RAVEN #1
DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #7
DETECTIVE COMICS #842
FLASH #238
GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #6
GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #6
GREEN LANTERN #28
GREEN LANTERN #29
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #22
INFINITY INC. #7
JLA: CLASSIFIED #54
JLA: CLASSIFIED #36
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #19
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #40
NIGHTWING #142
ROBIN #172
SALVATION RUN #5
SHADOWPACT #23
SIMON DARK #6
SUICIDE SQUAD: RAISE THE FLAG #7
SUPERGIRL #27
SUPERMAN #674
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #2
TANGENT: SUPERMAN'S REIGN #1
TEEN TITANS #57
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #12
UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #7
WONDER WOMAN #18

Marvel

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #552
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #553
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #554
ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #5
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #10
BLACK PANTHER #35
CABLE #1
CAPTAIN AMERICA #36
CAPTAIN MARVEL #4
CLANDESTINE #2
DAREDEVIL #106
FANTASTIC FOUR #555
GHOST RIDER #21
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #13
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #115
IRON MAN #27
LAST DEFENDERS #1
MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #7
MIGHTY AVENGERS #10
MIGHTY AVENGERS #11
MOON KNIGHT #16
MS. MARVEL #25
NEW AVENGERS #39
NEW WARRIORS #10
NOVA #11
THE ORDER #9
PENANCE: RELENTLESS #5
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #17
SHE-HULK #27
THOR #7
THUNDERBOLTS #119
THE TWELVE #3
UNCANNY X-MEN #496
WOLVERINE #63
WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH: DAMAGE CONTROL #3
WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH: WARBOUND #4
X-FACTOR #29
X-FORCE #2
X-MEN: LEGACY #209
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #3

Countdown to Final Crisis #10

2008-02-24T14:55:00.003-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini, Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Mary Marvel has tracked the voices in her head that she believes to be gods to a locked door. Holly uses a big gun to break down the door only to find a flaming lock behind the door. The voices tell Mary to say her magic word which she does, calling down the lightning of Shazam. The lightning transforms Mary into Mary Marvel and frees the Greek gods that had been captured by Darkseid. As a reward they allow Mary to retain her powers and they also grant powers to Holly and Harley.

Green Lantern, Ray Palmer and Donna Troy see the lightning in the distance and recognize it as the magic lightning. Thinking it is Captain Marvel they decide to investigate.

Karate Kid is fighting off Una who has been turned into an OMAC while at the same time trying to reach her to talk her into turning back to normal. Red Robin finds them and pulls Karate Kid away, convinced there is no helping Una. When Karate Kid won't let Red Robin destroy her, he leaves them. Karate Kid is knocked unconscious by the OMAC and taken away for investigation when he can't be turned into an OMAC.

Mary Marvel, Harley and Holly track down Granny Goodness and attack her. Granny uses her soldiers to slow them down and tries to escape. However, the mysterious person who has been killing the New Gods finds Granny and destroys her. Then Green Lantern and his group find Mary and her group.

Pied Piper has been transported to Apokolips and has been found by Desaad. Desaad is able to release Piper from his handcuff because it was designed by Desaad himself. Desaad is trying to convince the distraught Piper to use his flute to channel the anti-life equation and take over Apokolips. Before Piper can start Brother Eye stops them by taking over the entire planet itself.

Booster Gold #6

2008-02-17T12:51:00.004-05:00

Writers: Geoff Johns & Jeff Katz
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN
'52 Pick-Up', pt.6

The Blue Beetles of the past, present and future have come to Booster Gold to enlist his help in saving Ted Kord and prevent his death in the past. Rip Hunter tries to stop them because he believes one cannot change the past. The future Blue Beetle has technology that will enable them to change the past. Booster goes into the past with the Beetles.

Booster's ancestor, Dan Carter, is still meeting with his future wife when he admits he is not Booster Gold. Their meeting is interrupted by Rip Hunter who wants Dan to assume the role of Booster or Supernova and help him stop Booster.

Booster Gold and the Blue Beetles stop Max Lord from killing Ted Kord. Booster is shot instead but is only grazed by the bullet. They all escape back into the time bubble but first the future Beetle send's Max's computer files to Batman so history will proceed as normal. Back in the time bubble, the future Beetle tells them all that in order to preserve history the world must think Ted is still dead. Ted and Booster Gold will both now operate outside of normal time.

Countdown to Final Crisis #11

2008-02-16T16:37:00.004-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini, Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Apokolips has been invaded by Brother Eye and his army of OMACs. Karate Kid and Una have been transported to Apokolips along with Brother Eye. The Challengers are on Apokolips as well but don't know if it has a connection to the Great Disaster that Ray Palmer is trying to prevent. Red Robin wanders from the group and discovers Brother Eye is on Apokolips. He figures that could mean there is a way for him to get home.

Pied Piper has been transported to Apokolips through a boom tube. He is prepared to let the counter on the handcuffs run down and kill him when he is stopped by an unseen person.

Granny Goodness sends the Female Furies to kill Holly, Harley and Mary. The three girls manage to hold their own and escape the Furies. Mary hears a voice in her head that she calls the voice of the gods that leads them in a particular direction.

Jimmy Olsen and Forager stop at the Habitat outside Metropolis to get backup before returning to Apokolips.

Karate Kid and Una are running from the OMACs when Una is infected by the virus and turned into an OMAC.

Countdown to Final Crisis #12

2008-02-09T15:11:00.001-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini, Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

The Challengers have arrived on Apokolips but don't know what to do now that they are there.

Jimmy Olsen gets out of his shower and sees a message written in the steam on the mirror - 'To Apokolips'.

Mary Marvel is working as a slave on Paradise Island to gather information for Holly, Harley and Queen Hippolyta. She has heared about a ceremony to honour the next generation of Furies. That night, at the ceremony, Athena (really Granny Goodness) is introducing 4 new Female Furies when Mary interrupts the ceremony, accusing all of the women of being brainswashed by Granny. She is attacked by the Furies but is saved by Harley and Holly. Hippolyta appears to challenge Granny and succeeds in forcing Granny to reveal her true identity. Granny then escapes in a boom tube with Harley, Holly and Mary Marvel following.

Piper is lost in the desert. He has cut off Trickster's hand to make his movements easier. A boom tube appears behind him.

In Bludhaven Brother Eye has uploaded the data from the city and the Atomic Knights and discovered the existence of Apokolips. It creates a boom tube to go there and decides to kill everyone left in Bludhaven except Buddy Blank, his creator, and his grandson.

Astonishing X-Men #24

2008-02-08T00:18:00.000-05:00

Astonishing X-Men #23
Writer: Joss Whedon
Marvel Comics, $2.99
"Unstoppable" Part 6 of 6

The X-Men, Brand's SWORD team, and Aghanne's army have taken control of Kruun's fortress. Cyclops issues his orders: SWORD will attempt to hold off the Breakworld's army; Brand, Beast, Kitty, Armor, and Wolverine will try to prevent the Retaliator missile from firing at the Earth; and Cyclops, Emma, Danger, and Aghanne will take Colossus and the captured Kruun to the reactor in his throne room.

Beast confides in Cyclops that he knows Brand is hiding something big, and thinks she's behind the "prophecy." Emma pulls Danger aside and reassigns it to the mission to stop the missile. She promises to keep her word: "help us save the world...and I'll give you Charles Xavier."

As Cyclops tries fruitlessly to convince Kruun to stop the missile in exchange for sparing Breakworld, Ord fights his way through SWORD.

In the ship approaching the missile, Danger discovers the base broadcasting a signature that it translates as "Rasputin."

Kruun is trying to negotiate with Aghanne as Ord bursts into the reactor room. He attacks Aghanne, sending her plummeting to a lower level. Colossus enters the energy field, where he only needs to drop the core into the power source below to start a chain reaction that will destroy the Breakworld. Ord and Cyclops fight.

The team assaulting the missile base presses forward — and Brand takes a blast to save Beast, telling him to "save the damn world already" with her dying breath. In the missile control room Danger discovers that the "Rasputin" is Illyana, in reference to the magic protection around the missile. Kitty decides to phase directly into the missile.

In the reactor field, Colossus pauses as an armored figure appears. He realizes that it must end with him ripping out the core, just as it was planned by Aghanne, who now stands next to him.

Kruun is freed and Ord gets the better of Cyclops. The Retaliator cannot be stopped and will fire in seconds.

Kitty phases through the missile, looking for electronics to disrupt, but it is featureless and lacks controls. It launches with Kitty trapped inside as Beast realizes what it is — with no thrusters, no guidance system, and no engine, it's a bullet headed straight for the Earth.

Countdown to Final Crisis #13

2008-02-03T19:41:00.000-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Tony Bedard
DC, $2.99 US, 3.65 CAN

As the Monitors battle Monarch's army on Earth-51, Superman-Prime fights Monarch. Monarch releases some of his power which is the equilvalent of an atomic bomb. Superman-Prime is able to survive this.

Donna Troy sees a message on a wall telling her to go to Apokolips written in flaming letters. She is the only one to see this message.

The Monitor Solomon takes down Forerunner on the Monitors' satellite. Darkseid is on the satellite and talks to the Monitor about a game they were playing and can continue to play.

The Batman of Earth-51 spies a Joker with other criminals and attacks them. Batman is killed by Ultraman. Donna, Green Lantern, Ray Palmer and Red Robin decide to follow the message Donna saw and go to Apokolips. The Earth-51 Monitor provides them a portal to travel there. Before leaving Earth, Red Robin (Jason Todd) kills the Joker.

Superman-Prime and Monarch continue their fight and Superman rips apart Monarch's suit which lets loose his total power. The quantum energy destroys Earth-51 and that entire universe. Only the Monitors were able to escape in time.

Checklist

2008-02-01T13:24:00.000-05:00

Spoilt’s Checklist for February 2008

If a title is in bold, either a summary has already been written for it or someone has already volunteered to write one. If you would like to write a summary for any other title, please let us know.

DC

ACTION COMICS #862
ALL-NEW ATOM #20
BATMAN #674
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #4
BIRDS OF PREY #115
BLUE BEETLE #24
BOOSTER GOLD #0
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #10
CATWOMAN #76
CHECKMATE #23
COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #5
COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #7
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #12
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #11
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #10
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #9
COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #6
CRIME BIBLE: THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #5
DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #6
DETECTIVE COMICS #841
FLASH #237
GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #5
GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #5
GREEN LANTERN #28
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #21
INFINITY INC. #6
JLA: CLASSIFIED #52
JLA: CLASSIFIED #53
JSA CLASSIFIED #35
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #18
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #12
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #13
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #39
METAL MEN #6
NIGHTWING #141
ROBIN #171
SALVATION RUN #4
SHADOWPACT #22
SIMON DARK #5
SUICIDE SQUAD: RAISE THE FLAG #6
SUPERGIRL #26
SUPERMAN #673
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #46
TEEN TITANS #56
UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #6
WONDER GIRL #6
WONDER WOMAN #17

Marvel

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #549
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #550
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #551
ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #4
BLACK PANTHER #34
BLACK PANTHER ANNUAL #1
CABLE & DEADPOOL #50
CAPTAIN AMERICA #35
CAPTAIN MARVEL #3
CLANDESTINE #1
DAREDEVIL #105
FANTASTIC FOUR #554
GHOST RIDER #20
HULK #2
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #114
IRON MAN #26
MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #6
MIGHTY AVENGERS #9
MOON KNIGHT #15
MS. MARVEL #24
NEW AVENGERS #38
NEW WARRIORS #9
NOVA ANNUAL #1
THE ORDER #8
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #16
RUNAWAYS #29
SHE-HULK #26
THOR #6
THUNDERBOLTS: INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT #1
THE TWELVE #2
UNCANNY X-MEN #495
WOLVERINE #62
WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH: DAMAGE CONTROL #2
WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH: WARBOUND #3
X-FACTOR #28
X-FORCE #1
X-MEN: LEGACY #208
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #2

Shadowpact #21

2008-01-27T19:09:00.000-05:00

Writer: Matthew Sturges
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Nightmaster, Ragman and Nightshade are trapped in the Nightshade dimension. They have found the city of Arcady where Jim Rook first became Nightmaster. They are being chased by the Unbound, zombie-like creatures. They escape into the sewers with some children. The children take them to an old, deaf man named Marrin who tells them what happened to Arcady. Five years ago, refugees showed up asking for sanctuary which was given. The refugees, the Unbound, began preaching their philosophy of no laws or restrictions. Their way involved black magic which turned people into animals. Listening to the Unbound is what turned a person so Marrin gouged out his eardrums. Children were immune to their spells. The Unbound have constructed a beam they are using to try and pierce the barrier between the Nightshade dimension and Earth. The barrier is resisting and this is why Nightshade can't teleport back to Earth.

At the Oblivion Bar, Enchantress has been able to finally locate the missing Shadowpact members and traced their location to the Nightshade dimension. Enchantress, Detective Chimp, Zauriel and Warlock's Daughter travel to a place in Arizona where the barrier between Earth and the Nightshade dimension is thin. Enchantress casts a spell to pierce the dimension which helps the Unbound's beam to break through to Earth.

Justice League of America #17

2008-01-26T18:24:00.001-05:00

Writers: Alan Burnett & Dwayne McDuffie
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Black Lightning stops a group of villains, members of the Cadre, from hijacking a plane. When he asks the pilot where they wanted to go, he tells Lightning they wanted to go anywhere, as if they were running away from someone.

Red Arrow is delivering clothes to a former villain, Mr. Twister, he found recently. Mr. Twister isn't in his apartment but Batman is. Batman is investigating the apartment which shows signs of a struggle.

A group of villains is hiding out and afraid of being taken away like many other villains have been. They are found by the Suicide Squad but manage to escape.

At JLA headquarters the members are talking to Amanda Waller to find out if she is taking super-villains and where she might be taking them. She refuses to answer their questions. The villains who escaped the Suicide Squad break into JLA headquarters and ask the JLA for sanctuary.

In the training room of the JLA, Vixen is practicing with Red Arrow's bow and arrow and is able to hit a target from far away by tapping into his abilities. She is still unable to use any other animal's ability besides humans. To test her powers, Red Arrow calls Green Lantern to the training room. Vixen is able to duplicate his ring and powers which stuns all of them.

Teen Titans #55

2008-01-25T22:23:00.000-05:00

Writer: Sean McKeever
DC Comics, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Supergirl is flying away after a fight with Wonder Girl. Robin finds Wonder Girl on the roof as Supergirl is leaving and asks what happened. When Wonder Girl doesn't answer, Robin asks her if she would like to talk about it over dinner. Wonder Girl agrees.

Ravager and Blue Beetle are walking together inside. Kid Devil sees them together and isn't happy about it. While he's walking away, he hears people talking inside Miss Martian's room. He goes inside and finds just Miss Martian there. They talk for a few minutes when Miss Martian rudely tells him she has better things to do and Kid Devil leaves. After he's gone, Miss Martian starts hearing voices in her head again, then has a vision of her future self as a white martian.

Robin and Wonder Girl are having dinner. She's telling Robin that she told Supergirl the only reason she and her were friends was because Supergirl reminded her of Superboy. Wonder Girl also asked Supergirl to leave the team because she needs to get over Superboy. Wonder Girl is about to tell Robin something else when an armored car outside explodes and is being robbed. They change into costume and go to help.

Back on Titan's Island, Kid Devil is meditating when Ravager comes in and shows off some new weapons she took from Robin's bag. Ravager gets a text message from Blue Beetle and leaves. Kid Devil is so mad he burns a hole in the wall.

The next day, the Titans are having a meeting. Robin tells the rest of the team that Supergirl is off the team.

Later that night, Wonder Girl finds Robin in his room. Robin asks her where she was all day and Wonder Girl tells him to come sit on the bed with her. She tells Robin that she misses Superboy but she realizes that she has to get over him. She tells Robin that to get over him, she can't have anyone be in his place for now and breaks up with Robin. Robin tells her she's being selfish and Wonder Girl flies out the window.

In the distance, Dreadbolt and another person in the shadows are watching.

Countdown to Final Crisis #14

2008-01-25T12:21:00.000-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Tony Bedard
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Solomon the Monitor stops Superman-Prime from killing him by showing him the 'perfect' Earth, Earth-51, and what is being done to it by Monarch and the Monitors. Superman-Prime leaves him to go to this Earth. Forerunner then turns to Solomon with the intent to kill him.

Donna Troy impersonates the Wonder Girl she defeated by putting on her costume and returning to Belthera. Once allowed entry to her hive she is able to defeat her. Belthera's soldiers all bow down to Donna as their new leader. Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and Ray Palmer use Lantern's ring to find Donna.

Batman of Earth-51 has given Jason Todd a costume he meant for his Jason Todd before he was killed. He now calls Jason Todd Red Robin. They join the fight in Gotham.

The Monitor of Earth-51 is furious with the other Monitors for what has happened to his Earth and vows to kill Solomon when this threat is ended.

The fight in Gotham between the Monitors and Monarch's soldiers is going badly for the Monitors until Donna shows up with her new soldiers to help.

Monarch is watching all this and decides to take an active hand to end the battle. Before he can leave his ship Superman-Prime arrives to confront him.

X-Men #207

2008-01-24T01:01:00.000-05:00

Writer: Mike Carey
Marvel Comics, $2.99 US, $3.05 CAN

Cable, now with the baby, is standing off between Bishop and Predator X. Bishop opens fire and Cable ducks out of the way, catching Predator X in the crossfire. Predator X attacks Bishop. Cable escapes.

The X-Men and Marauders continue their battle. Cyclops sends X-Force to take out Predator X. Following Cyclops' instructions, Emma sends the New X-Men against the Marauders. X-Force attacks Predator X and find out his skin can heal itself.

Cyclops confronts Cable about the baby and orders him to hand over the baby. Professor X tells Cable that he should hand over the baby.

Rogue awake from her coma to find Mystique and Gambit in the room. She's furious when she finds out that Mystique tried to sacrifice the baby to save her.

The X-Men with the help of the New X-Men manage to take the rest of the Marauders out. Professor X convinces Cable to hand over the baby to Cyclops so he can decide the baby's fate.

Rogue decides the only way to stop Mystique is to kill her. Rogue removes her glove and touches Mystique.

X-Force still haven't managed to hurt Predator X. Wolverine jumps at Predator X and it swallows him whole. After a few seconds, Wolverine's claws rip through Predator X from the inside and kills it.

While Cyclops is holding the baby, he has a flashback of when he decided to let Cable go to the future so he could be saved.

While Rogue was touching Mystique she realized that her mind was clear of everyone she ever absorbed. She absorbed Mystique's memories but stopped before she died. Rogue leaves and tells Gambit not to follow her.

Cyclops tells Cable to take the baby to the future. He believes the baby should have the chance to live free. Just as Cable disappears into the future, Bishop opens fire in an attempt to stop him. Cable is already gone and Professor X takes a shot in the head. Cyclops blasts Bishop down.

Professor X dies and Cyclops disbands the X-Men as Cable arrives in the future with the baby.

Checkmate #22

2008-01-20T19:17:00.000-05:00

Writers: Greg Rucka & Eric Trautmann
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN
'La Vie En Sang' pt.2

Jo Tautin, "Mademoiselle Marie", is in Bialya to rescue the daughter of a diplomat. She has got a guide to lead her into the mountains to the kidnappers' hideout but the guide has turned on her, revealing their presence to the kidnappers. She had heard them coming and was prepared. She manages to kill them all after finding out the girl is being held at a refugee camp.

Back at Checkmate headquarters, Rocket Red is being tested to become the new White Queen's Knight. He passes the tests. Valentina Vostok, the White Queen, has already selected Mr. Baazovi, Bad Samaritan, to be her new bishop.

Jo is firing on the terrorists at the refugee camp and is being captured on film by a reporter. She is filmed killing one of the terrorists with a shot to the head. She finds the girl and kills the men holding her, rescuing the girl.

Later, back at HQ, the UN security general is reprimanding Checkmate for the harsh measures that Jo took in rescuing the girl. Black Queen Sasha Bordeaux compliments Jo on the job she did.

Robin #170

2008-01-18T22:29:00.000-05:00

Writer: Chuck Dixon
DC Comics, $2.99 , $3.65 CAN

Batman and Robin are investigating a crime deal gone wrong. They are talking to Marcel Pincus, one of the men involved, and he is telling his side of the story. He tells them that they were in the middle of exchanging cash when a woman in purple jumped down and took everyone out including him, stealing $100,000 in cash. He tells him she was wearing a violet costume. Batman tells Robin that they aren't going to follow up with this as no lethal force was used but suggests to Robin that he could look into it if he'd like. The description of the thief reminds Robin of Stephanie Brown aka Spoiler.

The next day at school, Tim is lost in thought when a teacher asks him a question. He gets it wrong and the guy behind him answers. Tim recognizes the voice as Martin Ives, an old friend from Gotham Heights. Tim introduces Ives to Zoanna. Zoanna invites Tim to hang out after school but he declines coming up with an excuse.

Robin pays a visit to Marcel Pincus in jail. He inquires about the stolen money. Marcel tells him others have been hit and gives Robin the name of his hand-off spot, a local bowling alley called Pinheads.

Robin is staking out Pinheads. He heads inside and sets up a camera through the ceiling. He doses off while waiting and is awakened by the girl in purple, Violet. She attacks him and they both fall through the ceiling onto the bowling lanes. She sprays Robin with mace and tells him to stay off her turf and gets away while Robin is recovering.

The next day is school, Tim is explaining to Zoanne how he got a black eye. He tells her he got it while skateboarding and fell. They leave for lunch when a blonde girl walks by and Tim thinks of Stephanie once again.

Marcel Pincus is released on bail. He goes back to see his boss but find him dead. The Penguin comes out and tells Marcel that he is going to help him get rid of Batman and Robin.

New X-Men #46

2008-01-18T22:22:00.001-05:00

Writer: Craig Kyle and Chris Yost
Marvel Comics, $2.99 US, $3.05 CAN

3 hours ago on Muir Island, Mystique and Mr. Sinister are discussing Rogue. Sinister tells Mystique there is nothing he can do for her and that she will die. With Sinister's back turned, Mystique grabs Sinister from behind and touches his skin to Rogue. Due to Rogue being infected with the Strain 88 virus, Sinister dies.

In the present, Gambit has returned with the baby. He sees Mr. Sinister's dead body and finally feel frees. They hear Lady Mastermind scream after being stabbed by Wolverine and are alerted to X-Force.

Outside, X-Force faces off again the Marauders. Scalphunter starts off by taking out Wolverine's eye. Riptide attacks Wolfsbane and they both crash through a window into the water outside. While Wolverine is still heeling, Scrambler grabs him causing Wolverine to loose his mutant healing ability. X-23 comes to his rescue by cutting off Scramblers hands and gutting him. Scalphunter takes aim as Hepzibah, but Warpath put a knife into his arm. Mystique pulls the knife from his arm and tells him to hold them off as Sinister needs more time with the baby. Just as that happens, Cyclops and the rest of the X-men and X-Factor crash through the roof. Cyclops tells them to bring him Bishop.

Mystique heads back to Gambit and the baby. She tells Gambit that she needs the baby to save Rogue and touches the baby to Rogue's lips.

At the Xavier Institute, the New X-men are battling Predator X. After knocking Rockslide out of the way, it heads for the Mansion. Surge holds it back and orders everyone into the infirmary with Beast.

Back on Muir Island, Riptide has Wolfsbane by the neck when he drops to the ground. Cable and Professor X are standing behind him. Professor X makes sure Wolfsbane is OK then they decide to split up and look for the baby.

Inside, Mystique has just touched the baby to Rogue and something starts to happen. Gambit pushes Mystique away and grabs the baby away afraid its going to be killed due to the Strain 88 virus. Gambit tells her that Rogue would never be OK with sacrificing a baby to save her. He looks down and sees the baby is still alive. Mystique tells him its all been foretold in Destiny's Diaries. She goes to check on Rogue who is still in a coma. Mystique falls to the ground in disappointment as Rogue was suppose to wake up according to Destiny's Diaries but has not. Professor X walks in and takes the baby from Gambit. Gambit says he will stay by Rogue's side.

At the Mansion, Predator X has made its way to the infirmary. The New X-men remember that X-23 killed on of these creatures before and Pixie transports everyone including Predator X to Muir Island where X-23 is. They land right in the middle of the battle with the Marauders. Right away Predator X eats Vertigo.

Professor X has met up with Cable. He gives Cable the baby and tells him to escape into the future while he goes and helps the X-men. Just as Cable is about to go, Bishop shows up to stop him. Behind him Predator X has also shown up after smelling the baby.

Countdown to Final Crisis #15

2008-01-18T19:07:00.001-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Tony Bedard
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Mary Marvel is taken to Queen Hippolyta by Holly and Harley and asked to join them in taking down the fake Athena.

Kyle Rayner and Ray Palmer run from Monarch's army to plan a counter-attack. Monarch has succeeded in bringing down all of Earth-51's governments. Only the Monitors remain to try and stop him. Ray reveals to Kyle what he has been working on. The Earth-51 Ray had a super immunity system that prevented any disease from affecting him. On a particular case with his Justice League they stopped a sentient and deadly bioweapon that had a similar DNA to Ray's. Knowing about the multiverse, Ray realized this bioweapon could appear on the other Earths. He began working on a transporter so he could share his DNA on other Earths so they could fight their version of the bioweapon. After the Earth-51 Ray died, our Ray continued his work, inoculating people on different Earths.

In the Monitors' satellite Superman Prime is beating the Monitor Solomon to try and force him to help Prime find his Earth. He realizes Solomon isn't fighting back and wants to die. Superman Prime is interrupted by Forerunner.

Earth-51 Batman has checked Jason Todd's DNA and realizes he really is Todd. Jason explains he is from an alternate Earth. Earth-51's Jason Todd was also murdered by the Joker but on this Earth, Batman killed Joker in retaliation. Batman continued to hunt down villains after all the other heroes retired. He shows his trophy case containing the weapons and masks of all the villains he has killed. Batman wants to hide in the Batcave until the war is over between Monarch and the Monitors and then launch a counterstrike. Jason refuses to hide while his friends are fighting and leaves Batman.

In Bludhaven, Brother Eye has taken over the Atomic Knights and Firestorm and constructed a dome over the city. Karate Kid, Una, Buddy Blank and his grandson are trapped in a bunker under the city. Karate Kid worries that Desaad may have left behind New Gods technology that Brother Eye could take over to make a boom tube and go anywhere.

X-Factor #27

2008-01-18T01:40:00.000-05:00

Writer: Peter David
Marvel Comics, $2.99, $3.05 CAN

80 years in the future, Layla Miller and a Jamie Madrox dupe have found Bishop as child in the same detention camp they are in. They try to talk to him but he walks away. They follow him out of sight of the guards. They ask him who is responsible for this future. Bishop tells them that many years ago there were mutants who thought the mutant race was special. That they would lead humans to a great destiny and all live together as one. Then about 80 years ago, almost all the "Destiny Freaks" vanished in "The Great Darkness". Then a mutant messiah came along and everything was great for the mutants until the messiah killed a million humans. Bishop tell them he heard that people tried to kill the messiah when it was born but failed. He tells them he wishes it was him who killed it.

Bishop runs away crying. As Layla and the Jamie dupe stand there, a guard runs towards them yelling about a grenade. Layla hugs the Jamie dupe then throws the grenade at the dupe killing him.

In the present, the Cuckoo's have located Gambit with the help of Cerebra. They signal Emma who is with Cyclops at Forge's Aerie in Texas. They tell her he is on Muir Island. Cyclops tells Bishop and X-Force to head to Muir Island and they will be right behind them.

Siren is by Jamie Madrox's bedside while he is still in a coma. As she prays for Jamie to come back, he wakes up causing Siren to scream. The rest of the X-men and X-Factor at Forge's run to see what happened and find Jamie awake with a "M" tattooed across his face like Bishop. He tells them about Bishop in the future.

Professor X is repairing Cable. He tells Cable that once he's done, Cable needs to explain everything or he's going to shutdown his mind.

Back at Forge's, the others are trying to figure out what's going on with Bishop and Cable. Jamie comes in telling them to forget the baby and that they need to go back and get Layla. Emma tells him to go to sleep telepathically and he falls down. They X-men and X-Factor get read to leave for Muir Island.

Cable is awake and Professor X is asking him what's going on. He tells Professor X that the baby's survival is all that matter and if he really wanted to know everything he could just probe his mind. Professor X agrees to help him save the baby and that he has already located the baby on Muir Island and they are headed there now.

On Muir Island, the Marauders have returned with the baby. Mr. Sinister tells Gambit to bring the baby with him and the others to prepare for the X-men's arrival. Gambit hands over the baby to Mr. Sinister who then shape shifts into Mystique. They enter the room where Rogue is and Gambit finds Mr. Sinister dead on the floor.

At the Xavier Mansion, Dust and Rockslide are headed to put flowers on the graves of the dead. As they arrive at the graves, they find Predator X feeding on the corpses.

X-Force and Bishop have arrived on Muir Island. Bishop says he's not picking up any life readings. Wolverine tells them its a trap as he stabs Lady Mastermind through the stomach. When she falls, the Marauders attack.

The Mighty Avengers #7

2008-01-18T00:42:00.000-05:00

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Marvel Comics, $2.99 US, $3.05 CAN

Spider-Woman has brought the Skrull body of Elektra to Tony Stark. Spider-Woman tells Tony the whole story of how the New Avengers went to Japan to rescue Echo and were confronted by The Hand and when Elektra was killed, she reverted into a Skrull. Tony convinces Spider-Woman to join the Mighty Avengers to help see if any member of the Mighty Avengers is a Skrull. They think her presence might cause a reaction if anyone is a Skrull.

At the newly repaired Avenger's Tower, Tony Stark is officially welcoming the Mighty Avengers as Avengers. They are all having a drink and a laugh at the Ultron battle. After a toast, Tony announces the addition of a new member, Spider-Woman. She's received with a mixed reaction. Ms. Marvel is happy to see her while Black Widow and Wasp don't buy her migration. Ms. Marvel is a little mad that Tony made the decision without her and calls for a vote. Tony reminds her that the Mighty Avengers is a military operation and that she is to follow orders. After a few moments everyone calms down and accepts Spider-Woman as a member of the team.

Wasp announces she has a surprise for Wonder Man. Jarvis leads in 5 guys dressed in superhero costumes. Wasp tells Wonder Man that his costume has to do and they are going to choose a new one.

In outer space, two astronauts are working on a damaged Stark Enterprise satellite when a piece of debris is sent hurling to space right into New York City. The debris opens on impact releasing an alien symbiote causing everyone on the city to turn into Venom's and Carnage's.

At Avenger's Tower, Tony is secretly scanning the Mighty Avengers for any signs of a Skrull when the Sentry's wife interrupts him. She asks Tony to find a way to depower or kill the Sentry before he kills everyone. As she walks away, the call comes in from S.H.E.I.L.D that NYC is being overrun by Venom's. The Mighty Avengers assemble and head out.

Countdown to Final Crisis #16

2008-01-12T16:48:00.000-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Tony Bedard
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

War has erupted on Earth-51 between the Monitors and Monarch's army of soldiers and heroes/villains from other worlds. The Monitor Solomon was called back by the other Monitors to face them after his killing of Bob the Monitor. They leave him in their satellite as they go to join the battle on Earth-51. The Monitor of Earth-51 had been hiding Palmer on his Earth hoping he could prevent the Great Disaster. Solomon apparently wanted Palmer to die to help the Great Disaster to occur. Solomon is confronted on his satellite by Superman-Prime who demands his help in finding something.

The heroes of Earth-51 are easily over-powered by Monarch's army due to their lengthy retirement. The only still-active hero on the Earth is Batman who had warned them to always be prepared.

Wonder Girl and Jason Todd are in Gotham when she is attacked by an alternate version of herself. Their battle takes them away from Todd. He is left to face one of Lord Havok's Extremists. Jason is saved by Batman. Batman takes Jason back to his Batcave and holds him hostage. His Earth's Jason Todd is dead and he doesn't believe this can be Jason Todd. Batman holds a gun to Jason's head and demands the truth.

Queen Belthera, who the Challengers had met earlier, has joined Monarch's army.

Jimmy Olsen has taken Forage back to his apartment where she showers. She tells Jimmy that she has detected the souls of the New Gods inside him.

Green Arrow and Black Canary #4

2008-01-10T21:51:00.000-05:00

Writer: Judd Winick
DC Comics, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Green Arrow is frantic after Conner has been shot. He orders Black Canary to get someone on the radio but all she's getting is dead air. She thinks their radio is being jammed. He tells her to turn the boat around to Themyscira but they are too far out to sea. Black Canary heads towards a port in hopes of getting clear of whatever is jamming the radios. Speedy finds a med kit when Green Arrow screams "Clark".

In Metropolis, Clark Kent hears Green Arrow's scream from inside his office at the Daily Planet. In a matter of minutes Superman flies past the boat grabbing Conner and heads to Mercy Hospital in Miami.

Wonder Woman has shown up to the hospital and is talking to someone from the hospital. She walks into the waiting room to find Green Arrow yelling at Superman because Green Lantern hasn't shown up yet. The rest of the JLA are also there. Green Lantern shows up soon after and Green Arrow tells him to do whatever it takes to save Connor.

Black Lightning mentions to Wonder Woman that a lot of first names have been yelled out in all the tension so she goes to check around to see if anyone could of overheard. In the hallway, she finds Batman who tells her no one heard and that he's setup a perimeter around the building.

Superman has returned from checking the airspace around where Conner was shot and did not find anything. Flash tells him that Aquaman has not found anything in the water either. The JLA leave to go and try to find more clues on to what happened.

Hours past and Green Arrow is feeling guilty about everything that has happened with Conner in the past. He decides he's going to tell Connor the truth that he's always known Conner was his son when he wakes up. Speedy tells Green Arrow that he already knows and has for years.

Green Lantern has finished with surgery. He tells them that the ring did everything it could. Conner is alive, healed and breathing on his own but the bullet that hit him was poisoned with a toxin. He tells Green Arrow that the damage was already done before he could heal him and that Conner is in a coma and brain dead.

Green Arrow runs into the Operating Room and hugs Conner.

Detective Comics #840

2008-01-08T22:08:00.000-05:00

Writer: Paul Dini
DC Comics, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Batman is looking for a man named The Globe after a theft from the British Museum. He's sneaking around his home when The Globe grabs Batman from behind. After a brief struggle, Batman knocks out The Globe during which Ra's Al Ghul was watching from across the room. When Batman asks what he is doing there, Ra's explains he is there to reclaim the globe stolen by The Globe from the British Museum.

Ra's produces the original receipt for the purchase of the globe and Batman hands it over. Ra's reveals that the globe is actually a map of every Lazarus Pit known on Earth. Ra's, who is still bitter about his defeat in Nanda Parbat, has decided to setup shop in Gotham and orders his ninjas to kill Batman.

Batman escapes out into the open to take out the ninjas. After he defeats them, he heads to the Batmobile but suspects its been tampered with. He starts up the Batmobile remotely and it explodes.

Batman, after stealing some clothes from a store, hails a cab and heads back to the Batcave.

Back at the Batcave, Batman knows Ra's won't rest until Batman is dead now. He gathers a syringe and heads back out.

Ra's is mediating in his new Gotham hideout. Batman has snuck in and taken out all of the guards. Batman attacks Ra's and they fight until Batman defeats Ra's and throws him out the window.

Ra's is brought in on a stretcher to Arkham Asylum. Batman, in disguise as a guard, tells the doctor the patients name is Terry Gene Kase and is suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder. Batman hands the doctor the fake paperwork which includes a 24/hr medication order and a prescription that causes zero mobility and slurred speech. The doctor looks over the paperwork and tells him to bring Ra's down into solitary.

Countdown to Final Crisis #17

2008-01-06T12:48:00.001-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini, Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Mary Marvel is battling Eclipso as they fall back to Earth. Mary realizes that Black Adam's power is starting to corrupt her and she grabs hold of Eclipso as she shouts her magic word, Shazam. The two fall to Earth, both turned back to normal. They land in water and Mary washes on the shore of Paradise Island and is met by two female soldiers. Eclipso is nowhere to be seen.

Bob the Monitor is about to kill Ray Palmer on Earth-51. That Earth's Flash, Barry Allen, tries to stop him but is killed by the Monitor. As the other heroes are fighting Monitor, Ray tries to convince Jean to leave that Earth with him because he doesn't want to see her die. He grabs hold of Jean and begins to shrink but she breaks loose, not wanting to leave their friends. The blast from the Monitor meant for Ray hits Jean instead and she is killed. The heroes run from the Monitor but before he can follow them he is surround by the other Monitors. Their leader, Solomon, was working with Bob to find and kill Ray Palmer. Now that he is found, Solomon kills Bob, hoping to absorb him into himself. Solomon would like to return to pre-Crisis times when there was only one Monitor. The process does not work, though. The individual Monitors have each changed too much to merge into one. While the other Monitors argue over what Solomon has done Monarch arrives with his army, prepared to fight the Monitors.

Daredevil #103

2008-01-04T23:05:00.000-05:00

Writer: Ed Brubaker
Marvel, $2.99 US, $3.05 CAN

In Hell's Kitchen, the Wrecking Crew and Mr. Fear's thugs are fighting each other as Daredevil watches from the rooftops. Daredevil is waiting for Ox or another one of the Enforcers to show up so he can track them to Mr. Fear.

At the District Attorney's office, Lily Lucca and Foggy Nelson are meeting with the DA. Lily has decided to change her story about the incident with her and Milla. Lily's perfume causes the DA to accept her new story. As Lily and Foggy are leaving, Lily tells him that she would like to see Matt and Milla. Foggy tells her that would be a bad idea.

Milla Donovan and Matt Murdock are back in their apartment. Milla is trying to cook up some eggs when she picks up a knife. Matt takes it away from her as she struggles. Milla's nurse, Elsa, hears the commotion and takes Milla back to bed where she sedates her. Matt tells Elsa that he needs to go out to do some work.

Daredevil shows up at a garage where two of his informants are. They are both getting ready to leave town when he catches them. He tells them that they are going to stay and be his eyes on the streets or they are going to go back to jail. Daredevil tells them he is looking for Doctor Parker, who's like the Night Nurse for criminals.

Daredevil heads to the address they gave him. Inside he finds Fancy Dan in a hospital bed. Daredevil and Fancy Dan are in a fight when Dr. Parker walks in. Daredevil takes them both out. Daredevil asks Fancy Dan where Ox is and then leaves.

Daredevil finds the warehouse that Ox is suppose to be in. Ox is there with a few dozen other thugs. Daredevil has called in an anonymous tip to the SWAT team. He watches while SWAT storms the warehouse. While in a firefight with SWAT, Ox tries to escape through the back and Daredevil tracks him. As he makes a run for it, Daredevil drives a taxi right into him, knocking him unconscious.

Lily shows up to Matt and Milli's place with flowers. Elsa answers the door.

Ox wakes up wrapped in chains. Daredevil tells him he wants to know where Mr. Fear is while lighting up a blowtorch.

Blue Beetle #22

2008-01-04T14:50:00.000-05:00

Writer: John Rogers

DC Comics, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

After the Blue Beetle saves two scientist from a lava flow by an active volcano, he joins Danni Garrett - the granddaughter of Dan Garrett, the first Blue Beetle – in the Bug. They head toward the mouth of the volcano, unsure of the Bug’s ability to withstand the trip.

In an El Paso Hospital, The Peacemaker is still recovering from his self inflicted wound. A second scarab fused itself to his spine, and he cut it out of his own back, causing nerve and spinal damage. At Jamie’s home, La Dama is looking for Brenda, her niece. Alberto, Jaime’s dad is protecting Brenda from La Dama.

Six miles below sea level, Blue Beetle and Danni find ancient ruins filled with people in stasis cocoons. A warrior calling himself Tovar the Lava King suddenly attacks them, accusing them of being Atlanteans and trying to stop the resurrection of his people. Tovar will not listen to reason, so Blue Beetle’s scarab uses a huge blast to transport the ruins into another dimension.

Jaime now knows the Reach’s plan. The Reach have deployed a phase-shifted chemical, undetectable by anyone except for the Blue Beetle’s scarab. The Reach planned on introducing it slowly, over a hundred years, to make humans more suggestible. The Reach inserted ruins in different places around the world. They are scheduled to detonate a hundred years from now, right when the human race was ready to be taken over.

Tovar is reluctant to believe he is a genetically engineered being, but agrees to help cover their escape as a Reach spacecraft descends on them.

As they leave, Blue Beetle instructs the scarab to send a message to The Reach: “we’re coming.”

Captain America #33

2008-01-03T23:40:00.000-05:00

Writer: Ed Brubaker
Marvel, $2.99 US, $3.05 CAN

The Red Skull is furious that Dr. Faustus has lost the Winter Solider. They decided to move up their plans as Winter Solider is aware of their secrets. Red Skull confirms that Arnim Zola is preparing a body as part of their plans.

The Winter Solider is in S.H.I.E.L.D custody. He's being held in a room and handcuffed to the chair. His bionic arm has been removed. Two S.H.I.E.L.D agents are watching him on a monitor when the Black Widow walks in and relives them of their duty.

S.H.I.E.L.D scientists are working on Winter Soldier's bionic arm in a lab. One of the scientists confirms that the arm is using S.H.I.E.L.D technology. They speculate that either S.H.I.E.L.D had a Russian mole or Winter Solider is working for Nick Fury. While inspecting it further, the bionic arm comes to life, electrocutes one scientist and knocks the other two unconscious as it escapes through a vent.

Falcon is out looking for Dr. Faustus and Sharon Carter. He's talking to Tony Stark when the lights go out on the S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier. Black Widow informs Tony Stark that her video feed is all static after the power outage and goes to check on Winter Solider. She find 6 S.H.I.E.L.D agents down and Winter Solider has escaped. Tony Stark suits up in the Iron Man armor and goes searching for him. Winter Solider, now sporting his bionic arm again, finds Iron Man and attacks him. Iron Man tries to talk to him, but Winter Solider keeps attacking. Winter Solider makes a move and manages to remove Iron Man's helmet exposing Tony Stark's face. He then points a gun right at it while Iron Man is holding his hand jets between Winter Solider's head. During the stalemate Iron Man tells Winter Solider of the note that Captain America left.

Black Widow and a team of S.H.I.E.L.D agents bust in on Tony Starks office ready to take down Winter Solider. Winter Solider is sitting at Tony Stark's desk reading the note Captain America left. Stark dismisses the agents and tells Black Widow to stay. They all decide that the Red Skull is responsible for Captain America's death and to go after him. Winter Soilder tells them that the Red Skull is using Aleksander Lukin's body. Tony is shocked by this and turns on the news which is reporting that Aleksander Lukin has just been killed in a plane crash. Stark then asks Winter Solider to be the new Captain America. He agrees under two conditions: 1) S.H.I.E.L.D removes any brainwashing and implants he may still have and 2) he works on his own. Tony agrees.

Batman #672

2008-01-01T17:17:00.000-05:00

Writer: Grant Morrison
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

The Third Batman has taken over the Gotham Police Department demanding Commissioner Vane. Commissioner Gordon is in his office talking to the Mayor on the phone, when he hears the commotion downstairs. While looking for Vane, the Third Batman has set fire to the GPD. Commissioner Gordon confronts the Third Batman and tells him that Vane no longer works there and he's the new Commissioner.

A show, not unlike The View, is on TV talking about Bruce Wayne and Jezibel Jet's relationship. Alfred asks Bruce if there is any truth to the rumors and Bruce assures him they are just rumors. Alfred then drops off Bruce at a hot air balloon.

Back at Gotham PD, the Third Batman has taken a police officer named Farelli hostage. Gordon drops his gun and walks towards the Third Batman. The Third Batman knocks out Gordon and takes him prisoner demanding Batman or he's going to kill Gordon.

Bruce Wayne and Jezibel Jet are flying over Gotham in a hot air balloon. The two of them are getting ready to basejump when the light from the Bat signal blinds them. They jump from the balloon and pull their shoots. Bruce contacts Alfred and tells him to make an excuse for why he overshot the landing site.

The Third Batman is on the roof of the Gotham PD with Gordon waiting for Batman to arrive. While holding a gun to Gordon's face, a bat-a-rang is thrown into the Third Batman's arm causing him to drop the gun. Batman swings in and knocks the Third Batman to the ground. A fight ensues and the Third Batman pulls out a gun and shoots Batman right in the chest. Gordon gets up and the Third Batman turns around and shoots him in the chest too.

Batman goes into cardiac arrest. As he drops, he writes out "Zur En Arrh" using his finger. As he collapses, Bat-Mite is aware that Batman is in trouble.

Detective Comics #839

2008-01-01T17:06:00.001-05:00

Writer: Paul Dini
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Ra's Al Ghul's soul is starting to transfer into Damian's body. Batman makes a run for him taking out the Men of Death as he works his way to him. Batman reaches Ra's, breaking his arm in half, causing him to let go of Damian and interrupting the transfer. White Ghost attacks Batman trying to save Ra's Al Ghul but is quickly tossed aside by Batman. Batman orders Damian to pick up a sword and to start fighting.

Robin, Nightwing, Talia and Alfred have just arrived in Nanda Parbat. Robin and Nightwing go to help Batman and Damian while Alfred goes off to help the monks. White Ghost has gone to the aid of Ra's offering his body as Ra's new vessel. Ra's agrees.

Batman orders Robin and Nightwing to take out Merlyn and the Men of Death and tells Damian to go with them. Talia stops Damian, telling Batman that he is sending his own son to his death. Batman tells Talia that he would ask no less of Nightwing or Robin, his other "sons". Damian breaks free of Talia and runs after Nightwing and Robin.

Ra's reveals that White Ghost is actually his son Dusan as he transfers his soul into White Ghost's body. The transfer doesn't go perfectly as White Ghost's soul is lost during the transfer into Ra's old body. Ra's Al Ghul has fully returned.

With the lost of his son Dusan, Ra's now wants one of Batman's sons dead in exchange for losing his. Ra's calls all his assassins together and orders them to attack. Damian stays to fight but Talia knocks him out and escapes. Batman and Ra's enter combat with each other while Robin, Nightwing, and Alfred battle ninjas and the Men of Death. As Batman and Ra's attack each other, they are both blown back. The monks of Nanda Parbat have invoked the spirit of Rama Kushna and stopped the battle. They banish Ra's Al Ghul from returning to Nanda Parbat forever and order everyone else out. The ground starts to open up under everyone's feet as Batman, Robin, Nightwing and Alfred flee. Just as they cross the bridge, the gates into Nanda Parbat close.

On the return flight home, Alfred realizes its Christmas and they all join in on a toast.

The Brave and the Bold #9

2008-01-01T16:57:00.000-05:00

Writer: Mark Waid
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

June of the Challengers of the Unknown finds another member, Ace, lying collapsed under a monster created from the pages of the Book of Destiny. She is grabbed by the creature and within its pages she sees different stories taking place.

The first story involves the Metal Men who find a robotic dragon fighting Robby Reed who is using his Dial H for Hero device. The dragon keeps repeating the name Megistus. They are able to defeat the robot after Tin uses the Dial H device to turn himself into a powerful and confident hero. He is convinced to turn himself back to normal by the other Metal Men.

The second story she sees involves a teamup of Blackhawk and the Boy Commandos during World War II. They are given the mission of keeping the Orb of Ra from falling into the hands of the Nazis. Egyptian mummies take possession of the Orb after being revived by Megistus and instructed to find the Orb for him. The Blackhawks and the Boy Commandos are able to trap the mummies and the Orb in a Egyptian pyramid sealing it off so the Nazis won't be able to get it.

The third story June sees is a teamup of Hawkman and the new Atom, Ryan Choi. They are fighting the Warlock of Ys. The Warlock is trying to steal starcharts from a museum seminar for Megistus. Hawkman and Atom are able to stop him.

X-Men #206

2007-12-31T13:57:00.000-05:00

Writer: Mike Carey

Marvel Comics, $2.99 US, $3.05 CAN

Messiah Complex, chapter 9

Eighty years in the future, Layla Miller and a Jaime Madrox duplicate are being processed at a mutant relocation camp. A guard tells Layla that both her kids died during the “Six-Minute War”.

In Alberta Canada, currently, Cyclops’ team of X-Men joins the X-Force. Warpath is grieving over Caliban’s dead body. Wolverine reports to Scott that Cable escaped in their own Blackbird. Iceman cannot locate the stolen Blackbird’s tracking signal, nor can Emma Frost find Cable telepathically. The X-Men do know that Cable has been moving in a south-southeast direction since he left Cooperstown, Alaska.

At the Xavier Institute, Prodigy and the New X-Men are working on Cerebra. The circuits were apparently deep-fried when the mutant infant first registered, but Prodigy believes he can fix it.

Cable and the baby are on I-35 E, in Texas. Cable tells the infant that he needs a chronal slippage regulator. He then hijacks an 18-wheeler, and heads for Dallas.

In the future, a man named Whitman is tattooing Madrox. The ink is a virus that also writes on DNA. As Madrox is left in the camp, other mutants help him, and on them he sees what was tattooed over his own right eye: a large, black M.

In the present, Prodigy is able to fix Cerebra. The Cuckoos are all using the system, and are able to pick up Cable in Dallas, Texas. The X-Men now believe that Cable is going to see Forge.

Cable crashes into Eagle Plaza, Forge’s home. He finds Forge lying on the ground, bloody. As Cable examines him, someone shoots him from behind. The mutant baby is dropped on the ground, with the mutant Bishop aiming his pistol directly at her.

Legion of Super-Heroes #37

2007-12-30T12:07:00.000-05:00

Writer: Jim Shooter
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN
'Evil Adventus' pt.1

Triplicate Girl was sent to a mining station to deal with monstrous creatures that had attacked the station. She was out of her league and Karate Kid went to the station to help her. He takes out the creatures and Phantom Girl arrives to help him get Triplicate Girl back to Earth via their transmatter portal. Karate Kid is furious with their leader, Lightning Lad, for sending Triplicate Girl on a mission she wasn't suited for.

On Earth at the Legion headquarters Lightning Lad is having trouble keeping up with all the duties of being leader. The United Planets has put them on a strict budget and the President is sending pre-approved candidates to the Legion. Karate Kid destroys Lightning Lad's service robot and his communicator before telling him to pay attention to which Legionnaire he is sending on the different missions. Karate Kid then collapses from his fight at the mining station.

Star Boy, Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf and Invisible Kid are on Neptune's moon Triton because word has been received of a potential attack. Triton is a skiing resort and they have to convince the city manager to have all the guests seek shelter. The guests get into protective shelters just before the attack occurs. It is the same creatures that attacked the mining station. The Legionnaires on the mission put up a good fight but are losing to the creatures. They should have had a more powerful Legionnaire with them but Lightning Lad is unable to send backup because the UP has cut off his transmatter service because of the high costs of using it. Timber Wolf is the only one still standing to fight the creatures.

Lightning Lad tries to contact Princess Projectra and have her use her influence with the United Planets to get the transmatter service activated. Unfortunately, Projectra is already meeting with the UP and being told that, because her planet Orando has been destroyed, she no longer enjoys any diplomatic privileges. She must apply to be a regular resident of Earth.

Countdown to Final Crisis #18

2007-12-29T21:43:00.000-05:00

Writers: Paul Dini & Sean McKeever
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

After Jean Loring was placed in Arkham Asylum, Ray Palmer went away by entering the multiverse and looking for a new life. He ended up on Earth-51 which seemed to be a perfect Earth. He found that Earth's Ray Palmer and witnessed him die while working on a device to travel between universes. Our Palmer found out what the other Ray was working on and decided to continue his work. The work involved stopping a catastrophe that could destroy the multiverse.

In taking over the other Ray's life he went on an already-scheduled blind date with Jean Loring and later married her. He joined the JLA as Atom and on that Earth the JLA all retired (except Batman) when crime was eliminated.

Bob the Monitor and the Challengers find Ray on Earth-51 and Ray is forced to reveal to Jean and the other people at his house party that he is not from their Earth. The Challengers think that Ray was working to stop the Great Disaster that they have been told about. Now that the Monitor has found Ray he turns on the heroes and prepares to kill Ray as an anomaly for moving across universes.

Eclipso returns to space hoping that Mary Marvel is distressed enough about being alone that Eclipso can take her powers. Instead Mary is even more angry and able to withstand Eclipso's maximum power. Mary Marvel is threatening to kill Eclipso.

Checklist

2007-12-29T00:44:00.001-05:00

Spoilt’s Checklist for January 2008

If a title is in bold, either a summary has already been written for it or someone has already volunteered to write one. If you would like to write a summary for any other title, please let us know.

DC

52 AFTERMATH: THE FOUR HORSEMEN #6
ACTION COMICS #861
ALL-NEW ATOM #19
BATMAN #673
BIRDS OF PREY #114
BLACK ADAM: THE DARK AGE #6
BLUE BEETLE #23
BOOSTER GOLD #6
CATWOMAN #75
CHECKMATE #22
COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #3
COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #4
COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #6
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #17
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #16
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #15
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #14
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #13
COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #4
COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #5
CRIME BIBLE: THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #4
DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #5
DETECTIVE COMICS #840
FLASH #236
GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #4
GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #4
GREEN LANTERN #27
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #20
INFINITY INC. #5
JLA: CLASSIFIED #50
JLA: CLASSIFIED #51
JSA CLASSIFIED #34
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #17
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #38
METAL MEN #5
NIGHTWING #140
ROBIN #170
SALVATION RUN #3
SHADOWPACT #21
SIMON DARK #4
SUICIDE SQUAD: RAISE THE FLAG #5
SUPERGIRL #25
SUPERMAN #672
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #45
TEEN TITANS #55
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #11
UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #5
WONDER GIRL #5
WONDER WOMAN #16

Marvel

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #546
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #547
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #548
ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #3
ASTONISHING X-MEN #24
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #9
CABLE & DEADPOOL #49
CAPTAIN AMERICA #34
DAREDEVIL #104
FANTASTIC FOUR #553
GHOST RIDER #19
HULK #1
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #12
INCREDIBLE HERC #113
IRON MAN #25
MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #5
MIGHTY AVENGERS #7
MIGHTY AVENGERS #8
MOON KNIGHT #14
MS. MARVEL #23
NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #1
NEW WARRIORS #8
NEW X-MEN #46
NOVA #10
THE ORDER #7
PENANCE: RELENTLESS #4
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #15
SHE-HULK #25
THUNDERBOLTS #118
THE TWELVE #1
UNCANNY X-MEN #494
WOLVERINE #61
WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH: DAMAGE CONTROL #1
WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH: WARBOUND #2
X-FACTOR #27
X-MEN #207
X-MEN: EMPEROR VULCAN #5
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #1

Batman and the Outsiders #3

2007-12-28T01:56:00.001-05:00

Writer: Chuck Dixon
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Batman, Metamorpho, and Katana are with Dr. Langstrom studying the captured OMAC. While discussing what they are going to do with it, Hawkgirl, Black Lighting and Geo-Force from the JLA drop in. They want to take the OMAC from Batman as they do not think he is equipped to handle the threat. Batman warns Hawkgirl to not interfere. Grace and Thunder are back at the penthouse during all this.

The Batman and Hawkgirl are arguing. While they are arguing, the glass case containing the OMAC starts to crack and the OMAC escapes. Black Lightning tries to electrocute the OMAC but the OMAC withstands the attack and tosses him across the room. The OMAC is about to crush Black Lightning when Geo-Force increases the gravity causing the OMAC to crash through the floor. The Outsiders are telling the JLA members to stop attacking as they have a plan prepared in case the OMAC got loose. Hawkgirl doesn't listen and jumps down to attack the OMAC. Batman swings into her, taking her out. Katana and Metamorpho distract the OMAC and Dr. Langstrom hits it with an energy weapon disabling the OMAC permanently.

Hawkgirls tells Batman that they are taking the OMAC with them. Batman tells her to go ahead as the OMAC is no use to him anymore. Hawkgirl ask Geo-Force to carry the OMAC body and he questions the choice to try and interfere with Batman. She walks away telling him to enjoy his new position. Batman tells Geo-Force that he has been transferred to The Outsiders.

Grace and Thunder are talking when Batgirl walks into the kitchen naked, grabs a drink then walk back into her room.

Batman, Dr. Langstrom and Dr. Miandad are looking over the damage caused by the fight with the OMAC. Langstrom is telling Batman that the advances in the OMAC tech is beyond even Brother I's capacity and suggests it may be alien. They enter a secure area where the real OMAC is being contained. We discover that the fight with the other OMAC was staged to keep the JLA off the trail. The decided to give this OMAC a new name, REMAC.

At Wayne Manor, a man and woman show up asking Alfred where they can find Batman.

New Avengers #37

2007-12-27T01:44:00.000-05:00

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Marvel, $2.99 US, $3.05 CAN

Wrecker is in custody and being interrogated by S.H.I.E.L.D about what happened earlier that night. He starts to recall the night's events.

Dr. Strange has casted a spell that has created illusions for all the superheroes in Marvel Universe. The New Avengers and the illusions have descended on The Hood's hideout. Wrecker goes outside and starts to fight the superheroes. While distracted with the illusions, Luke Cage plows a car into Wrecker, crushing him between a wall and the car.

Inside, The Hood orders everyone to run away. The rest of the Wrecking Crew want to stay and help Wrecker. While they are arguing about what to do, Spider-man swings in and starts to fight them. The Hood tells his accountant John to take the money and get away. Just as he turns to run, Iron Fist with more illusions breaks down the door. Madam Mirage figures out all the extra superheroes are just illusions. In an attempt to get away, one of the Wrecking Crew smashes the floor causing everyone to fall. Wolverine is waiting downstairs with more illusions.

Dr. Strange confronts The Hood about the demon that is possessing him while Spider-man, Wolverine, and Ronin fight the rest of The Hood's crew. Dr. Strange is trying to warn The Hood of the danger he is in by using the demon's power demon. He uses the Eye of Agamotto to cause the demon to show itself. The New Avengers attack The Hood in his demon form and he quickly disappears into a green smoke.

The New Avengers take out the rest of The Wrecking Crew, Madame Masque, The Wizard and Chemistro. Getting ready to leave before the cops arrive, they find John the accountant under some rubble holding on to the stolen money. The cops arrive and John walks out with the money in his arms and a note around his neck that says "From your Friendly Neighborhood Avengers".

Back in the present, Maria Hill from S.H.I.E.L.D is grilling Wrecker on who The Hood is. He doesn't tell them anything and they leave frustrated. Out in the hallway, another S.H.I.E.L.D agent tells Maria Hill that none of the prisoners are talking either as they walk away.

The two agents that are guarding Wrecker's cell are shot down by The Hood. He frees Wrecker then they both head to free the others.

Checkmate #21

2007-12-26T10:20:00.001-05:00

Writers: Greg Rucka & Eric Trautmann
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

The daughter of the man leading the relief effort in Bialya is kidnapped by terrorists. They demand that the U.N. leave Bialya or the girl will be killed. The U.N. contacts Checkmate and asks them to free the girl before the 48 hour deadline passes.

Black Queen Sasha Bordeaux and new White Queen Valentina Vostok discuss the mission and decide that Black Queen's Knight Jo Tautin would be best suited for the mission. Tautin is the latest in a series of Mademoiselle Marie's that date back to the 1700's who have fought for France. She was trained by Thierry Desmarais whose daughter was the one kidnapped.

Tautin lands in Bialya and meeets up with Desmarais and his wife and she vows to get their daughter back. She calls on an old informant who takes her into the mountains to the kidnappers' hideout. When they reach the hideout he pulls a gun on her as the kidnappers surround her.

Justice League of America #16

2007-12-25T10:59:00.001-05:00

Writer: Dwayne McDuffie
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Two men have broken into Guy Gardner's self-storage room. Among his possessions they find a box containing a green lantern given to him by Kyle Rayner. The lantern causes one of the men to switch places with Atom from the Tangent universe.

John Stewart is on monitor duty at the Hall of Justice and playing chess with Red Tornado. Red Tornado's programming is being stored on the JLA computer since his body was destroyed while battling the Injustice League. Tornado picks up a call from the New York police about the break-in. They called the JLA when they found out who the storage locker belonged to. The first officer who went into the storage locker disappeared.

The JLA takes out Atom and then contacts Guy about the Lantern. He tells them it has transdimensional powers and Kyle asked him to store it for him. John Stewart is able to activate the lantern to switch Atom and the burglar back to their proper realities.

After the JLA leaves the scene the female Flash from the Tangent universe arrives. She has switched places with the first officer that disappeared.

Shadowpact #20

2007-12-22T11:02:00.001-05:00

Writer: Matthew Sturges
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN
'Black & White' pt.1

Nightmaster, Nightshade and Ragman are trapped in the Nightshade dimension battling the Unbound. Nightmaster receives help from his ghostly father in different ways to use his sword to be a better fighter and they defeat this group of Unbound. They continue travelling to a city they see in the distance. Nightmaster finds the city looks familiar to him. They are stopped from entering the city by kids with weapons who think they are Unbound. The kids let them enter when they realize they aren't Unbound. When one of the kids mentions the name of the city is Arcady Nightmaster realizes where he is. Arcady is the capital city of Myrra where he became Nightmaster. The city looks ravaged by the Unbound zombie-like creatures.

Blue Devil is fighting a legion of sorcerers trying to invade Earth. This is his first mission before the church will perform an exorcism on him. He is about to be defeated when the sorcerers' wild hunt dogs turn on their masters and kill them. The leader of the dogs turns out to be Rex the Wonder Dog. A while back he had magically turned into a wild dog to help Shadowpact. He infiltrated the dogs to find out who had sent them to fight Shadowpact. He came to be the leader of the dogs.

Countdown to Final Crisis #19

2007-12-20T21:31:00.000-05:00

Writer: Paul Dini & Tony Bedard
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Piper is dragging Trickster's dead body through the desert, the two of them still attached by their handcuffs. Piper thinks Trickster is still talking to him. He finds a burro and hypnotizes it with his flute so it can carry Trickster as he continues to walk through the desert. When they stop for the night Piper prepares to cut off Trickster's hand so they can be separated.

The Challengers have arrived on Earth-51 to find Ray Palmer. This Earth seems to be a paradise with no crime or wars and the heroes are retired.

An Amazon-in-training reports to Athena about the missing Holly and Harley. Athena reveals herself as Granny Goodness and prepares to send her Female Furies to find them. Holly and Harley have found a cave that someone is living in. The inhabitant turns out to be Queen Hippolyta. She knows that it is not the real Athena training the women to be Amazons. Granny has sent a warhound to find Holly and Harley. When the warhound tracks them down the three women kill it with Hippolyta's weapons she is storing in the cave. Hippolyta convinces the two women to return to the fake Athena and be her spies inside the training camp.

Forager has instinctively attacked Jimmy Olsen. She went into a walking trance to withstand the pain while she was held captive. Jimmy uses an internal Mother Box he didn't know he had to wake her from her trance. Bernadeth, Desaad's sister, finds them both and Jimmy attacks her before he and Forager escape in a boom tube that Jimmy created (though he doesn't know how he did it). Bernadeth is left behind and is killed by an unseen assailant. Jimmy and Forager escape to Earth. Forager is intrigued by Jimmy's powers as they kiss.

New X-Men #45

2007-12-20T13:54:00.001-05:00

Writer: Craig Kyle, Chris Yost
Marvel Comics, $2.99 US, $3.05 CAN

Messiah CompleX, chapter eight

In Alberta, Canada, Lady Deathstrike and her Reavers are about to kill Cable when the X-Force, a black-ops X-Men team lead by Wolverine, ambushes them.

In the future, Layla Miller and a Madrox duplicate are being led through the mutant relocation camp for processing. Layla notices that they have yet to see another mutant there.

While the X-Force battles the Reavers, Cable gets away. Wolverine goes after him, but Deathstrike stops him. He continues on as X-23 steps in to confront Deathstrike.

Predator X continues to hunt in NewYork, but it diverts its attention to mutants who are much closer than the one it desires.

At the Xavier Institute, Beast has just finished operation on Hellion, who was stabbed in the chest from behind by Lady Deathstrike in Washington, D.C. He also continues to care for Nightcrawler, who was shot during the X-Men’s battle with the Marauders in Antarctica and the rest of the mutants injured by the Sentinel attack on the Institute. Surge is feeling guilty for leading the New X-Men and being defeated in Washington, but Emma Frost reassures her: Surge’s concern for their welfare was the reason she was picked to lead the team.

Cyclops, the rest of the available X-Men, and X-Factor are getting ready to leave. They are heading out to Canada to back up the X-Force and protect the mutant baby.

Deathstrike and X-23’s fight becomes very savage as they cut into each other repeatedly. X-23 slices into Deathstrike’s cybernetic arm, making her unable to move it, and pounces.

Wolsbane becomes disturbed when a reaver reveals that the purifiers know all about her. As Caliban, Wolverine, and Warpath run after Cable, Caliban is shot in the chest protecting Warpath. X-23 is able to defeat Deathstrike by stabbing her in the abdomen, leaving her bloodied on the ground.

Wolverine alone tracks Cable as the Blackbird arrives.

Green Arrow and Black Canary #3

2007-12-17T23:48:00.000-05:00

Writer: Judd Winick
DC, $2.99 US, $3.65 CAN

Black Canary accepts Athena's offer to train her new Amazon warriors, the Furies. Athena tells Black Canary that first she must show fortitude to prove herself as an instructor. Athena tells Black Canary that she must participate in "The Display of Fortitude".

Black Canary is battling Amazon warriors in an arena while Athena and Speedy look on. Speedy is asking Athena how long she will have to do this. Athena replies as long as it takes. Speedy pushes for a more precise answer causing Athena to question if she needed to be somewhere else. Speedy responds says she has no where else to be.

Green Arrow and Connor Hawke are surrounded by Amazons. Connor sets off some smoke bombs as a diversion and they make a run for it. They manage to get away and end up diving off a cliff to escape the Amazons.

Black Canary is still battling Amazon warriors. Speedy attempts to get away and help Connor by telling Athena that she needs to leave to go to the bathroom. Athena says Speedy should stay while Black Canary is in the middle of a fight to her death and calls for a chamber pot to be brought. Speedy tells her she would rather wait then go to the bathroom in a chamber pot.

Green Arrow and Connor are now on a boat. Connor sets off a flare to signal Speedy. Speedy sees the flare and calls for Black Canary. Black Canary leaves her battle and runs towards Athena. She is holding a sword to Athena's neck demanding answers. Athena tells Black Canary that she kidnapped Green Arrow because she know that Black Canary would never agree to train the Furies while she was with Green Arrow. She tells Black Canary that Everyman was suppose to fake his death, causing her to turn her back on men and join Athena. But when Everyman could not consummate the wedding, he panicked and tried to kill her. Black Canary and Speedy leave. Desaad appears from behind a curtain. He asks Athena if Black Canary knows the whole truth. Athena then transforms into Granny Goodness.

Black Canary and Speedy jump off a cliff into the boat that Green Arrow and Connor are in. Green Arrow and Black Canary are all over each other while Connor drives the boat away. 85 miles from Themyscira, Green Arrow is showing off his new costume. He's trying to tell everyone how thankful he is for coming to find him but everyone is making fun of him since he's actually trying to show some emotion. He finally says "Thank You" and makes a toast. Just as they raise their glasses, a shot comes out of nowhere from the sky and shoots Connor right through the heart.