G33K
by Chris Eng
October 20, 2005

Infinite Crisis
(DC Comics)
$5.50 monthly

“I’m beginning to see it. This is what the world does to legends. It corrupts them.”

While that line was spoken by one of the characters in the first issue of DC’s universe-shaking miniseries Infinite Crisis, the criticism could have as easily come from writer Geoff Johns, aimed at the comic’s detractors—of which the title has many.

Infinite Crisis has its roots firmly planted in last year’s Identity Crisis—a harsh and brutal series dealing with topics as sober as rape, murder, and the ethics of forcible mind-wiping on both heroes and villains, but one which managed to convey the reality of the situation: if Superman and Batman existed, their families and friends would be at risk. From that base, Infinite Crisis has raised the ante even further, trying to postulate what the worst day in the DCU would be like.

The schism in the fan community comes from asking whether or not the DC heroes should be subjected to those kinds of trials. “They’re heroes—practically gods,” the nay-sayers cry, “and they are meant to reflect a better image of us.” And while this is certainly a valid point (Alex Ross’s recent collection of DC art was entitled Mythology, after all), it fails to address another: we asked for it.

More, we clamoured for it. We demanded they give us brutally realistic versions of our idols. In the past twenty years (which saw the release of Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns in 1985 and Watchmen in 1986) we have repeatedly rewarded deconstructions of our heroes with higher and higher sales. So, if it’s disconcerting to see Superman in a conversation with Wonder Woman debating the morality of cold-blooded murder, then it needs to be acknowledged that our world—the comic fans’ world—did this to them. Corrupted them.

Not Johns. Not Dan DiDio. Us.

And I, for one, don’t have a problem with that. Because, first of all, everything happens cyclically (if you think the recent events in the DCU are too depressing, wait a couple of years: I bet you dollars to donuts we see a revival of the DCU’s heroic roots; hell, we’re already starting to see it—have you read Green Lantern lately?), and second, it’s an amazing story. It’s engrossing, intriguing, shocking and, above all, well-written. I don’t always demand that my favourite characters remain static—change is good—but I do demand that their stories be well-crafted. DC has delivered that in spades, and frankly—considering the spotty quality of the comic industry’s releases on any given week—that is something worth celebrating… even on the DCU’s worst day.

NEWS:

* Time Magazine has announced their Top 100 English-Language Novels From 1923 to the Present. G33ks, get ready to lose your collective shit. The list contains: Snow Crash; The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe; The Lord of the Rings; Naked Lunch; Neuromancer; A Clockwork Orange; Slaughterhouse-Five; and, oh yes—Watchmen. Sweeeeeet.
* William Goldman has started working on a musical version of his classic, The Princess Bride. If that means that there’s going to be an operatic performance of the line, “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya—you killed my father; prepare to die,” I am so there on opening night.
* James “Scotty” Doohan’s are being taken care of in, really, the only appropriate way: they will be launched into space. In accordance with his last wishes, he will be sent off in a container filled with stories and testimonials from fans world-wide. That’s so cool; I’m getting a little misty. See, Shatner—this is what you get when people like you.
* And in other news, Windows turns 20 this month. Hold on a sec’; that rings a bell. Let me grab my copy of Revelations off the bookshelf. “I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake.” Right. October 8th, India—check. “The sun became black as sackcloth…” Solar eclipse, October 3rd—check. “And the whole moon became as blood.” Not yet. So, two down, one to go in the continuing quest to prove that Microsoft hearkens the world’s impending doom.

JUST RELEASED:

It’s a slow week for comics—buy a copy of She-Hulk 2 #1 and Justice #2. Also, pick up some of those Emily the Strange air fresheners in case you start to smell like “dweeb.” (It’s awful when g33ks devolve and lose their grip on hygiene.) If you’re feeling old-school, you’re in luck: both the Adventures of Superman: The Complete First Season (with George Reeves) and Batman: The Complete 1943 Movie Serial Collection are out this week on DVD. So is the Big Lebowski: Widescreen Collector's Edition. If you’re feelin’ swanky, you can acquire the Age of Empires III Collector’s Edition for your PC, and if you’re feelin’ retro and goofy, Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt is out for the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube.