Convergence #8

The cover of Convergence #8 (July 2015) shows Hal Jordan as Parallax, Supergirl, Flash, Superman, Lois Lane and baby in a giant hand (yes, they are all the pre-Crisis versions):

The highlights of this issue for me are the double page spreads featuring the alternate Earths in the multiverse that has been restored by the undoing of Crisis on Infinite Earths:

Of course, the planet that Telos was tied to becomes the new Earth 2.

To me this issue seemed rushed and left me a little underwhelmed. It's great to see the multiverse back but how exactly they did it was not shown. I think this event warranted at least two more issues. I have to wonder how many of these alternate Earths we will really see in the future.

Women Wednesday: Power Girl vs Wonder Woman

The only reason to pick up Convergence: Action Comics #2 (July 2015) is for the pre-Crisis Earth 2 Power Girl vs Earth 30 Wonder Woman. The cover is great since it features both women duking it out:

The battle actually began when the Russian Amazon in a jet attacked the Kyptonian beauty. Of course, the latter ripped off one of the wings causing the former to bail out:

Kara takes Diana's boot to the face:

The Russian Amazon takes a right:

But she then uses her lasso for some serious swinging:

Leave it to Earth 2 pre-Crisis Superman to hit the Russian Wonder Woman:

Power Girl is ready for another round but her cousin puts an end to this super catfight:

The trio then heads off to stop Stalin and Lex Luthor from launching missiles in Moscow. They also dispatch some giant G.I. Robots.

Convergence #6

The cover of Convergence #6 (July 2015) features Deimos, Ultraman and Gorilla Grodd along with Flashpoint versions of Aquaman, Wonder Woman and Shazam:

There is so much going on in this issue that I won't even try to cover everything. One of the best scenes includes the young Jay Garrick aka the Flash of Earth 2 meeting Barry Allen aka the Flash. Superman talks Dick Grayson of Earth 2 into trying to get Telos to fight with them against Deimos. He agrees and then they find out that Deimos has gathered his own army. You really need a score card to keep track of who's who in this issue.

Convergence #5

The cover of Convergence #5 (July 2015) features Travis Morgan aka the Warlord battling Deimos:

The story picks up from last issue in the dungeon of Castle Deimos in Skartaris. Deimos tells Telos that he is nothing but a man that Brainiac forced into eternal servitude to save his family and people. Dick Grayson of Earth 2 is the only one who can see that the alien can help them.

On the way to the castle, the Warlord and his wife, Tara, battle lizard men. One impales the Queen of Shamballah with his sword:

Unfortunately, Tara's death is just one of three in this issue. Deimos rips Machiste's heart out a few pages later.

The Superman of Earth 2 grapples with Deimos while the others try to talk Telos into helping them.

The Warlord kills the attacking lizard men and kisses the dying Tara. He tells her that he will return with help or join her soon.

Deimos has the defeated Superman of Earth 2 in his hand while the other superheroes stand around not sure of what to do. He banishes Brainiac moments before the Warlord breaks through the wall riding a triceratops. Unfortunately, Deimos is so full of power that he easily defeats him and turns him to dust.

The castle starts collapsing and all the superheroes except Yolanda make it out. Deimos offers her his hand and a chance to save herself. She accepts and the pair disappear together.

Dick Grayson of Earth 2 finds a batarang in the rubble and then makes the symbol of the bat on his chest. This moment was coming for some time but it was still great to see it.

Deimos and Yolanda appear in Brainiac's former occupation chamber. He tells her that she will be handy to him since she was there during the first Crisis when she was the Earth 2 Wildcat. He tells the trapped cities on the planet that he banished the being that brought them there and he will protect them for a price.

I love and hate this issue for several reasons. I love the cover and interior artwork. I hate the deaths of Tara and Travis Morgan (I can excuse the death of Machiste to some extent). I love the fact that Dick Grayson of Earth 2 is taking up the mantle of the bat. I hate that most the superheroes just stood around while Deimos did his thing.

Convergence: Justice Society of America #1

Convergence: Justice Society of America #1 (June 2015) is a great tribute to the pre-Crisis Earth 2 superhero group consisting of Hawkman, the Flash, Green Lantern and Dr. Fate. The artwork for the cover is okay but not the greatest.

The interior artwork really shines:

The story is also one of the better ones in this big event. The four superheroes are stuck in Metropolis as old men without powers after the dome appears. Jay Garrick aka the Flash visits Kent Nelson aka Dr. Fate in the hospital since he's in a coma. He then visits Carter Hall aka Hawkman and his son, Hector, who is also in Convergence: Infinity Inc. #1., at their rooftop garden. Alan Scott aka Green Lantern calls Jay and tells him to get to the hospital quick. Kent has opened his eyes and then Telos does his speech. The dome disappears and a weapon firing machine attacks the city. The guys thinks it is from Qward the anti matter universe. Kent gets up and tells the rest that they can be superheroes again one last time. Of course, they all accept and regain their youth and powers.m

Convergence: Detective Comics #1

The pre-Crisis Earth 2 Huntress and Robin are on the cover of Convergence: Detective Comics #1 (June, 2015):

The issue actually starts off with Earth 30 Superman doing a fly over a National Superman Day parade in Moscow when the dome comes down. Then it switches to Dick Grayson aka Robin and Helena Wayna aka the Huntress in the batmobile between Gotham City and Metropolis. They arrive just in time for the dome to come down and trapping them inside. The story goes back and forth between the two trapped cities while they deal with life within the domes.

Once the domes disappear, Robin and the Huntress are teleported to Moscow while in the batmobile. They meet the Russian Superman with different attitudes. Robin just wants to talk while the Huntress wants to attack. Superman wants to talk too but things takes a turn for the worse when she tries to flee in the batmobile.

While I love seeing Robin's hybrid costume, the artwork is a bit muddled for me.

Convergence: Action Comics #1

The cover of Convergence: Action Comics #1 (June 2015) features Lex Luthor, Wonder Woman and Superman from Earth 30 (the official home of characters in the Superman: Red Son mini-series) along with Superman, Power Girl and Lois Lane from pre-Crisis Earth 2. The story actually switches back and forth between Moscow and Metropolis.

My favorite part of this issue is Power Girl. She has been shacking up with Andrew for the past year while under the dome. The loss of her superpowers has not been kind to her since she is gaining weight and having health issues that we all have. She flashbacks to her glory days of fighting the likes of the Ultra-Humanite and Solomon Grundy:

I have always been a fan of the pre-Crisis Earth 2 so this is one of my favorite issues in the Convergence event. I wish all of the other issues would have switched back and forth between the two cities that are going to do battle with each other.

Convergence #4

The cover of Convergence #4 (June 2015) features the nu52 Justice Society of Earth 2 facing Deimos and Telos. They realize that they trusted the wrong person a little too late while the latter gets very interested in Dick Grayson at the start.

The best part of the issue for me is the return of Travis Morgan aka the Warlord. He is fighting lizard men with his wife, Tara:

Convergence #3

There is a lot going on in Convergence #3 (June 2015). The cover features Earth 2's Thomas Wayne aka Batman being fighting the villains from Grant Morrison's Batman & Robin series. The only one I recognize is the Riddler.

The issue starts with the surviving superheroes of Earth 2 (Flash, Superman, Green Lantern and Red Avatar) helping Deimos.

Deimos eventually takes them to the inner world of Skartaris

Other events include Telos going to Kandor, where the Kyptonians are protesting. Nightwing and Flamebird arrive only to have the former destroyed. Shakira throws Monarch and Degaton into a statis bubble with other masters of time. From what little she says, it seems that Deimos wants them for himself and she is putting them away so he can't find them. I'm waiting for Travis Morgan aka the Warlord to show up soon.

Thomas Wayne and Dick Grayson fight the mob of villains that ends with the former setting off an explosion which kills him. I kind of had the feeling that he was going to die after reading the last issue. The Joker shows up and shoots Dick Grayson but then Telos snaps the clown's neck. The alien asks Grayson where his friends are. You think the all powerful super being would be able to tell that they are inside the planet since he is supposed to be the planet.

Convergence #2: Bruce Wayne Meets Thomas Wayne

Convergence #2 (June 2015) starts with Dick Grayson trying to get his son, Tommy, aboard one of the ships leaving Earth 2. Unfortunately, the ship explodes during lift off before the action switches to the planet Telos where Dick and the surviving superheroes are being held captive. They escape before splitting up with Grayson and Thomas Wayne aka Batman of Earth 2 going to the nearest Gotham City. They find drone circling the ruin city but make it to the hidden batcave. They meet the nu52 Alfred and Batman.

The best scene in the entire issue is when Bruce Wayne meets Thomas Wayne:

The rest of the Earth 2 crew find a rather familiar character that I didn't really expect to show up but I won't ruin the surprise here.

Convergence #1: Behold Telos

Convergence #1 (June 2015) starts with the surviving superheros of Earth 2 facing off with the traitorous Superman. Yeah, I had to read Earth 2: World's End #26 (June 2015) to find out what the hell was going on here (I did not follow the event at all). Apparently, Darkseid took over Earth 2 but there is a space ship with survivors but the surviving superheroes were teleported to the alien planet known as Telos, who pops up and starts complaining that they showed up without a city.

Behold Telos yapping to the surviving superheroes of Earth 2: Dick Grayson (okay, he's not a superhero in this version but a writer), Alan Scott aka Green Lantern, Val-Zod aka Superman, Yolanda Montez aka Red Avatar of Earth (she's supposed to have died), Jay Garrick aka the Flash, and Thomas Wayne aka Batman. The alien planet actually took the humanoid form last issue and he does a lot of talking again.

This issue felt more like a catch up with the gang from Earth 2. Kind of a disappointment for me really.

Women Wednesday: DC's Women of Zero Month

Thanks to Comics Continuum: DC Comics For September for providing the covers (you can read the summaries of the issues at their site)

I wonder if Batgirl is wearing toeless boots?

Batwoman's rather plant her boot in your face:

Birds of Prey #0 features Black Canary, Batgirl and a tattooed woman:

Is it me or has the size of Catwoman's booty finally caught up with her boobies?

Dial H #0 features the first user of the Dial:

Sword & Sorcery #0 features the return of Amethyst:

Voodoo #0 is the final issue of the series:

I really should be reading more of Wonder Woman since it blends horror and superheroes:

World's Finest #0 featuring Earth 2's Supergirl and Robin aka Power Girl and Huntress:

Women Wednesday: Earth 2 Supergirl

Kevin Maguire designed the Earth 2 Supergirl costume. I think the knee shields on her boots need to be yellow to match her wrist shields and belt buckle but otherwise I like it.

Women Wednesday: Earth 2 Robin

According to DC Universe: The Source's Earth 2 Character Designs - Robin, Kevin Maguire designed Helena Wayne's costume.

Not Your Daddy's Earth 2 Batman

According to DC Universe: The Source's Earth 2 Character Designs - Batman, Bruce may not be the Wayne wearing the cowl and he may have to kill someone to save his own daughter. Speculations is that either Thomas or Damian may be this parallel Earth's Dark Knight.