Previously, in the story: Doomsday, assuredly an angsty teenage alien with strange crystals, has begun to ravage the Earth because he wants people to notice him. Superman stopped a giant drill in Metropolis then went on a reality TV series where some punk 90s kid thought Guy Gardner was cooler than him. After blowing up a truck he wanted for Christmas, Doomsday took on the Justice League and basically smacked them around like volleyball before Booster Gold was literally punched away and Superman found him, ready to spin some truth, justice, and 'merica toward Doomsday.
Well, we've finally made it. Not to the end, of course, but to where the story becomes Superman vs. Doomsday, and I kid you not, the rest of the story is essentially one long fight scene of two really big people punching each other. With explosions and maybe the 90s Justice League.
I joke but despite the action, the series does grow in its intensity. Unlike many big stories, this story actually doesn't lose its scale. You could say that this is just the JLA fighting in just a nearby location, but, if you think about it, this is Superman and the JLA fighting for the common people at their doorstep. It keeps it grounded for the reader to remind them that while the League is fighting various forces beyond human comprehension, they are still fighting for the John Smiths and Jane Does of the world. They don't fight because they like to--some do but they aren't the most compelling--they fight to save the common man.
Above all, these two issues show that nothing is more important to these heroes than the safety of the citizens. It's something that is usually lost in superhero books. As much as I rag on Marvel's "Civil War" storyline, it did come in response to an awakening that superheroes can get out of control and hurt the very people they defend. Even "Avengers and X-Men: AXIS," despite that event being the worst event comic in recent years, showed us how the heroes who weren't affected by the Inversion dealt with the citizens. Other events will just forget about them completely.
In fact, much of this crossover has taken place where there are people directly involved. Superman's first battle in Metropolis that we saw was him getting advice from that young man. The Justice League responded to Doomsday after blowing up a truck. He didn't nuke a city or threaten the world. It's the smaller things that become bigger problems as the story develops.
So, how will the League respond having gotten severely beaten by a monster they know little about? Let's find out!
The cover for the first issue is pretty good. Crowded, but good. It shows pretty much the past, present, and future parts of the issue, as well as the house that the big fight takes place in primarily. Doomsday also looks more monstrous than he has in the previous covers, probably to showt hat he has been a monster of a threat. It's just odd that Bloodwynd isn't on the cover, or at least isn't immediately visible.
Also, I just have to say: I love the Superman logo. Even though I don't really read Superman books, it's just so iconic and cool.
Anyway the book starts where it left off. Blue Beetle is critically injured and Doomsday has bolted to go set the DVR for the new Superman: The Animated Series or something. Or, VHS it. Yeah.
Maxima, like the nice person she is, suggests to Ice that she should just leave Blue Beetle for dead, since he will die a warrior's death. See it's stupid things like this that are why you're not prominently featured in current comics. Another thing: as a warrior, you probably would care for your brothers-in-arm to help strengthen your forces and thereby your warrior cause. Sure he would die an honorable death as a hero, but, wouldn't you want more power on your side?
Ice manages to convince her to take Blue Beetle to a hospital while she goes to tail Doomsday on her own, since the rest of the League is out of commission (trust me it doesn't last long). She notices, too, that Doomsday is only going for whatever is front of him that he can destroy, ignoring anything in his peripheral. An interesting concept that really furthers the fact that Doomsday is nothing more than a walking hulk of a weapon.
We cut over to a small home, where a boy is complaining about coming home from school to a nice loving mother. Apparently his father has left them and blames his mother for it, despite her showing negative signs about her. Though, to be honest, I'm not sure if this kid even lives here. He asks if there's anything to eat and the mother says he can help himself. Well no duh, he lives there. How would he not know? Would the food from before just up and vanish?
His mother inquires him about the Superman issue from last time, and he says that the "super weasel" had to bail early. Yep. "Super weasel." The guy who fought against so strong that it nearly ended all existence as people know it. A weasel.
Kid.
Just stop.
Oh, but it gets better. Since he doesn't have any soda in the house, he starts to get a little pissy and tells his mother, and I quote, "Jeez. No wonder Dad left and wants a divorce." To which his mother begins to cry while tending to an ill infant.
So we're just not going to mention this kid again.
Thankfully, the scene is interrupted by Ice being thrown through the window by Doomsday. Oh, great, that's a thing. We also see that Doomsday has wreaked all of this teenage anarchy with one hand behind his back!
Ah, but now, it's time. Booster Gold and Superman arrive on the scene, and Doomsday and Superman have their fated meeting!
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| Doomsday, forever being denied fist bumps. |
Superman bounces back after Booster Gold has his chance to get the snot beaten out of him before the rest of the League arrives, somehow back to 100%, to fight Doomsday, and they partake in an all-out energy assault that should do way more collatoral damage, but we'll excuse it for now.
Meanwhile, Ice works to try and get the family away. Again, small cuts like these show that the heroes aren't so much fighting Doomsday as much as they are holding him off for Ice to get the family out of there so they don't get hurt.
Of course, their powers aren't enough, merely forcing some of Doomsday covering off, so we see more of his grey skin and random diamonds all over his body. He immediately attacks the League, punching away Booster and Superman while forcing the other members to fall back. Maybe he's just too pretty or something, I don't know.
Though I do like that Guy Gardner is just being an idiot again, as he screams with his eyes closed, "Where is he?!"
Behind you, you idiot OPEN YOUR EYES. I would say you don't deserve a Green Lantern ring, but, I mean...
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| Green Lanterns had a rough decade in the 90s... |
While Booster and Guy get tossed around, Fire attempts to aid a fallen Ice and get the family out of the way. Booster and Guy, unfortunately, do a pretty crap job at keeping Doomsday at bay. Guy even puts their lives in danger, by attempting to shoot blindly and hope to hit Doomsday. Did we just forget that there is an innocent family right near you? One blast and blam. Dead.
Bloodwynd almost has the right idea, though. He and Superman go for a double-frontal assault, with Bloodwynd preparing to use a close range attack, but Doomsday wisely knocks that out of the way, right at the house, which catches fire.
With the heroes incapacitated, Doomsday once again escapes and Superman gives chase. The issue ends with that ridiculous 90s kid getting some sort of character development as he cries out for Superman to save them all, Superman struggling to either go back and risk dozens more lives, or continue the pursuit of Doomsday.
The issue ends on a pretty strong note, showing the real moral conflict within Superman as he has to make a pretty significant call. He has seen what Doomsday is capable of and understand that, really, he is the only one with the physical prowess to take on Doomsday. It's not a bad ending for a pretty decent issue overall. The biggest problem I have with it is the horrendous character of the 90s kid. He really detracts from everything and makes me want to just skip over this when there could have been a heartwarming moment that is suddenly ruined by the destruction Doomsday causes.
This cover as significantly less to it. It's actually kind of a lame cover. Superman is giving Doomsday a headbutt. Big deal. If he were giving him a solid punch or if the two were in some sort of collision, that would be truly awesome. But, nope, he's just knocking Doomsday back.
Like every issue in this storyline, we pick up where the previous one left off. The young 90s lad is expositing about the events that just transpired, and we see the various JLA members struggling to get to their feet as the house comes down around them.
Superman, meanwhile, punches Doomsday a lot. He figures, though, that since Doomsday can't fly, it's best to soften the ground beneath him so he has to take more time to get airborne. So, why not put him at the bottom of a lake?
He makes it back just in time, too, as he and Bloodwynd rescue the family. There's also a continuity error about how the kid was in the house last issue but is suddenly outside this issue, but it honestly makes little difference, as they're all saved in the end anyway. Superman, ever the boy scout, has them all ushered to the best hospital around, and Guy Gardner, ever the brawler, makes a special request of Superman to beat Doomsday to a pulp.
The best thing Guy Gardner's said this whole crossover.
Doomsday and Superman re-engage, and from here, the issue becomes seriously action-packed, and it's pretty darn cool. Doomsda attacked a military helicopter and Superman, just before saving the two men in the choppers, throws a freaking missile at Doomsday who takes the hit like it's nothing!
Their fight has also begun to attract military attention, as we see various police officers nearby responding to these threats, worrying if they'll make much of a difference since the League is being rushed to hospitals.
I've gotta say, too, that the tension is really on the rise here, as is the action. Superman and Doomsday aren't quelling their fight, and two little lines from Superman suggest it'll get even larger in terms of destructive scale: "The gloves are off, Doomdsay, I'm tired of treading lightly!", and "Is--it possible that this guy's getting stronger?" Doomsday was also seen to be little more than a weapon, and has shown small signs of development.
Doomsday, if you've paid close attention, has been evolving ever so slightly since he arrived. The first threat he extinguished was a bird (small). Then a deer (bigger, but not by much). Then the truck (much bigger). Then something that posed a slight challenge, or was at least more intricate to take down, the JLA. His continuing evolution is no surprise here. His hits have only gotten stronger. His first shot at Superman was completely ineffective. All shots since then have dealt some damage to him, even if it's only knocking him back some.
Doomsday, much to Superman's despair, manages to wreck yet another building. Maxima suddenly reappears, too, as Superman goes back to fight Doomsday. And just to continue the action, we get a Lois Lane subplot emerge. AWESOME!
Actually, this little subplot does slam the breaks on the story. Just as Maxima shows up and lays a solid hit on Doomsday for the first time, we get this random cut over to Lois Lane. I mean, it does have a purpose in the grand scheme of things, but it's just so random right now. The two bits of information we do gain from it, though, are that Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are sent out to get coverage of this huge battle, and that Doomsday has been tearing a straight path through Ohio and New York State, headed straight for Metropolis. And over in Metropolis...
Yeah, there's Lex Luthor II and Supergirl, aka Linda Danvers aka Matrix, hanging out watching this go on as Lexie Jr. is flirting with her. Yeah, they were apparently a thing back then and I'm just as uncomfortable as you. Their backstories are way too convoluted for me to get in here, this review being long as it is, so I won't bother you with the details. I just thought you should see that this was a thing back then.
Maxima, sick of Doomsday's teenage angst, punches Doomsday through various areas where innocent people might get in the way, with Superman berating her to stop it, as she will hurt innocent people. Ah, and the possibility to make a throwaway reference to Man of Steel is born, but since I liked that movie, I won't, and just say that Superman is right and Maxima is an idiot for just tossing Doomsday through places rather than come up with a coordinated attack with Superman.
Doomsday takes advantage of this, and really pushes the wrong button for Maxima, who decides "I'm Maxima, I'm a crazy warrior lady, and everyone gon' die TODAY!"
So she blows up the (vacant) gas station, all three of them getting caught in the blast. Doomsday gets away, Maxima is critically injured, and the Guardian, a new DC character at the time, makes an appearance on a little motor bike. He wonders if the destruction avoidable--it was, but no thanks to Maxima--and Superman comes to the realization that the entire JLA is down, meaning he is now the only one left to take on Doomsday.
This second issue definitely relied a lot more on its action than previous issues did, but it worked to its advantage. We now know, for certain, that Doomsday is not only a match for Superman, but due to his sheer destructive ability, might even be better than him in every way. Everything he did before was child's play compared to what he's been doing now, and Superman, after having decided to let completely loose, is still on his heels in the fight. The action, thanks to some great artwork, was really great and high-energy, exactly what this miniseries needed to kick-start it into its second act. Doomsday has now ascended beyond the level of an angsty teenager. Now, he's more of an actual villain.
Good job.
Overall, these were two pretty solid issues. The first one raised the tension and kept the heroes on their toes as they struggled to keep the family safe and fight the strongest foe they've come across so far as a team. For Superman, he came to realize that he finally has an equal. It accelerated into action quickly, but in a way that made sense and did not have to sacrifice for story. There was a slam on the brakes over to Lois, but once it jumped right back to the action things were much better. Superman's final line of the second issue also comes off slightly ominous, yet is also pretty sweet.
The fight's just getting started. Get ready.
But for us, it does not continue for a while. Next time, we're going to take a look at a pretty darn disappointing arc of New 52 Green Arrow to get hyped for the return of Arrow Season 4. Sound counter-intuitive? That's because it is. See you then!
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