Infinite Crisis HC *Spoilers would you believe!*

[Paul Newell]

Well I picked this up yesterday and it was very interesting to see what changes were made. A couple of extra pages were added, quite a bit of dialogue was changed and some redrawing occured.

Anyone else pick it up? I'll be interested in seeing what you think.

As for the changes, well, (Glancing through quickly), we have:

Issue 1:

When Diana lunges at Mongul with her sword and Superman stops her, the dialogue is added to as Wonder Woman admits she was going to "pin him to the floor".
The two page spread of the trinity arguing has dispersed through it images of Uncle Sam getting the crap beaten out of him by the Society, then shot by Deathstroke.Issue 3:

The "Purple Death Ray" line has been removed!
When Batman asks about Nightwing, the line now reads, "You said this Earth corrupts everything. Is the Dick Grayson of my Earth a corrupted version of yours?"Issue 5:

A two page spread is added of the heroes within the church. Lots of cameo's added.Issue 7:

The 2 page spread of the villain fight has the inks finished and is fully coloured.
Bane, as he's breaking Judomaster's back, now says, "I finally know who I am. I am Bane. I break people."
A couple more bits of dialogue are added to this page and the Special effect is taken out so you know see, clearly, Solomon Grundy and the Bloodpack being fried by Superboy.
When Wildcat sees the Earth-2 Superman for the first time, his dialogue is changed from "I think I remember him." to "It looks like Superman."
Captain Atom's dialogue is changed to "Where's the Earth...That other Earth...?"
A page is added in of Deathstroke fighting Batman, Nightwing and Robin and Batman takes Deathstroke out.
When the two Superman grab Superboy Prime, the following dialogue is added after "Now Superman!", "For Tomorrow!"
A page is added showing more of the villain war and Dr. Mid-nite pronouncing Nightwing alive.
When Batman points the gun at Alex, the "Chak" sound effect is taken out.
The two page spread of the heroes, at the end, is totally redrawn by George Perez with twice the amount of heroes. Looks fantastic!The end of the book has a discussion with the creative team which has lots of little tidbits I'll go into later, but also ahs some extra art, unpublished stuff and otherwise, including:

An unused panel showing Pantha's head flying through the air past Robotman and Argent.
Unused artwork for the Earth-2 Wonder Woman sequence.
The original versions of the Villain War two page spread and Batman cocking the gun.If I find anything else, I'll add it later.

[Shadi]

The two page spread of the heroes, at the end, is totally redrawn by George Perez with twice the amount of heroes. Looks fantastic!

Oooh! Any possibility of a scan?

[Michael P]

An unused panel showing Pantha's head flying through the air past Robotman and Argent.
Nice. Thank God good taste prevailed at least once.

[Babylon23]

Man, that's a lot of changes. I wasn't planning on picking this up, but some of those changes sound interesting enough to convince me that it might be worth my money, especially the Perez page.

Does the discussion at the end explain why these changes were made?

[Josh S]

[LIST]
The 2 page spread of the villain fight has the inks finished and is fully coloured.


I didn't read IC, so pardon me if this is a ridiculous question. Is the spread in the regular issue an incomplete piece? If so, how in the world did they explain that to people?

[Joe Acro]

Within in the issue, the panel faded into the background, with characters either having incomplete outlines or not even being colored (well, except the backdrop color of red). I don't think that was explained within the issue itself.

[hitokiri_]

I didn't read IC,


i respect you and all but, :mad:

[Sean Walsh]

Dammit.

After buying all 7 issues, getting #1 signed by Perez, and then buying all the Jim Lee covers on eBay...

I want this too.

Dammit.

[Jack Zodiac]

None of that sounds worthwhile enough for me to dish out even more money on a hardcover version of issues I already own. :( Shame, though, because the Perez redux of the climactic battle would be incredible looking.

[Paul Newell]

Oooh! Any possibility of a scan?
Just this once. :)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/paulnewell/Infinite%20Crisis/icspread.jpg

[Paul Newell]

I didn't read IC, so pardon me if this is a ridiculous question. Is the spread in the regular issue an incomplete piece? If so, how in the world did they explain that to people?
Apparently the inks weren't finished in time.

[Paul Newell]

Man, that's a lot of changes. I wasn't planning on picking this up, but some of those changes sound interesting enough to convince me that it might be worth my money, especially the Perez page.

Does the discussion at the end explain why these changes were made?
I'll skim through now...BTW, interesting tidbit, Alex Luthor's orb was the one belonging to the "Anti-Harbinger", Dark Angel.

The only thing I can really find is the mention that they removed the "Chak" sound effect because people found it confusing, which you'll note was a concern with a lot of the other things that were changed, so I'm guessing that's the reason why.

They also mention that the two extra pages were added to Issue 7 so that the double page spreads would fall correctly.

[Shadi]

Just this once. :)

Thank you!

[Josh S]

Apparently the inks weren't finished in time.

That's what I figured. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but given I didn't buy it, I don't think my opinion matters much.

Who is that monkey on Garrick?

[Bloody Thumb]

Some of those changes make sense and i can understand, but a few seem rather pointless.


I like Fates floating helmet in the new layout page.

[Paul Newell]

That's what I figured. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but given I didn't buy it, I don't think my opinion matters much.

Who is that monkey on Garrick?
Detective Chimp.

[Bloody Thumb]

Who is that monkey on Garrick?


Detective Chimp. re: Day of Vengence and Shadowpact


Edit: Never mind, beaten to the answer.

[Young Avenger]

Who is that monkey on Garrick?

Detective Chimp

[Josh S]

Ah. I didn't recognize him without his hat. I thought he was some space-travelin monkey given his outfit.

[Paul Newell]

Some of those changes make sense and i can understand, but a few seem rather pointless.


I like Fates floating helmet in the new layout page.
Which ones do you think are pointless? There were a couple I felt the same way about, I'm interested in seeing if they were the same.

[Paul Newell]

Some of those changes make sense and i can understand, but a few seem rather pointless.


I like Fates floating helmet in the new layout page.
When you mentioned the Helmet I had another look for Ralph Dibny...He's there! As Elongated Man!

[Sean Walsh]

I'll keep skimming thru, but..........


I don't see Shilo.

[Jack Zodiac]

Somebody told me that every single member of the Seven Soldiers was in that issue, but I never did bother to look for each of them (I mean, c'mon, what the hell would Frankenstein be doing there?), but if it's true that he isn't, and he's the one member of the team who bites it by the end of the series, that'd suck. His was one of the better minis.

[thik_3rd]

that redrawn perez page you posted is the exact same layout he used for the cover to jla/avengers 3

[Josh S]

Somebody told me that every single member of the Seven Soldiers was in that issue, but I never did bother to look for each of them (I mean, c'mon, what the hell would Frankenstein be doing there?), but if it's true that he isn't, and he's the one member of the team who bites it by the end of the series, that'd suck. His was one of the better minis.


???

Isn't that Frankenstein under Black Adam?

[Will.S]

Sounds like alot of improvements and added cool stuff, thanks Paul now I'm VERY interested in this but I'm always leery that they'll come out with an eventual ABSOLUTE edition so I'm dreading having to double dip.

[marshal99]

No wonder Garrick is a former shadow of his old self , he has a monkey on his back. ;)

[Peter M.]

Who exactly is the guy with the green lantern ring between Isis and Red Tornado?

[marshal99]

Who exactly is the guy with the green lantern ring between Isis and Red Tornado?

Alan Scott ? I don't see him elsewhere ?

[mswood]

Its interesting the villian two page that go so much grief when it was originaly released, yet Perez's three pages of the Mystic's summoning of the Spectre didn't seem to generate any anger.

And I actually thought Perez reproduced from pencils added a certain edgyness that his pencil and inks (especially his own) doesn't uasually have.

And I so am going to have to buy the damn thing for Perez's new 2 page spread.

And while the spread is layout like JLA/Avengers #3, it is also similar to the original layout in Infinite Crisis 7.

[Babylon23]

Alan Scott ? I don't see him elsewhere ?

Well, he's not wearing his usual costume, but it could be Alan in his Checkmate uniform.

[marshal99]

And while the spread is layout like JLA/Avengers #3, it is also similar to the original layout in Infinite Crisis 7.


Perez have been doing this type of spreads since the 80s.

[Paul Newell]

Somebody told me that every single member of the Seven Soldiers was in that issue, but I never did bother to look for each of them (I mean, c'mon, what the hell would Frankenstein be doing there?), but if it's true that he isn't, and he's the one member of the team who bites it by the end of the series, that'd suck. His was one of the better minis.
Frankenstein is there, as someone said, under Black Adam...But you also see him during the Villain war fighting The General and someone else I don't recognise.

You do see Mr. Miracle in issue 6, I think, but he isn't present in either of the final splash pages.

[Paul Newell]

Sounds like alot of improvements and added cool stuff, thanks Paul now I'm VERY interested in this but I'm always leery that they'll come out with an eventual ABSOLUTE edition so I'm dreading having to double dip.
They probably will, but my bet will be that it'll be a tenth anniversary type thing.

[mswood]

Yeah, but style wise its far closer to JLA/Avengers then any of his other group team shots.

His JLA/JSA is a posed standing shot.

His Imageposter isn't close to his layout.

His large Avengers Anniversary shot is similar but still not quite the same (and with the wasp being used as border really helps set it off.

His Avengers #1, is directional and not head on.

His X-Men shot is more locked down with a lot less motion.

And of course he has done other large cast shots, but usually not two page spreads and that changes the layout. ANd with this layout unlike the others (except JLA?Avengers 3) he creates a mirror image with certain types of characters.

ets have speedsters equally placed, ect, ect.

All his who's who don't feature the same type of layout.

His early Avengers work, JLA, work, his titans work, his wonder Women work, lack the number of characters to work with (even his various two page spreads of TItans don't really fit).

None of his Crisis work is similar in layout. Nor is any of his work for malibu.

Nor do I recall any of his Legion group shots being similar in layout.

[Paul Newell]

Well, he's not wearing his usual costume, but it could be Alan in his Checkmate uniform.
It's harder to see due to the size restriction, but that's who it is. It's a pity Photobucket wouldn't allow a bigger pic as you can't really see the details on the new Metal Men either.

[Peter M.]

Am I the only one who thinks that Perez draws the best Power Girl?

And is that her cat next to Aquaman?

[Paul Newell]

Am I the only one who thinks that Perez draws the best Power Girl?

And is that her cat next to Aquaman?
I thought so at first, but could it be Teekl?

[marshal99]

Yeah, but style wise its far closer to JLA/Avengers then any of his other group team shots.

His JLA/JSA is a posed standing shot.

His Imageposter isn't close to his layout.

His large Avengers Anniversary shot is similar but still not quite the same (and with the wasp being used as border really helps set it off.

His Avengers #1, is directional and not head on.

His X-Men shot is more locked down with a lot less motion.

And of course he has done other large cast shots, but usually not two page spreads and that changes the layout. ANd with this layout unlike the others (except JLA?Avengers 3) he creates a mirror image with certain types of characters.

ets have speedsters equally placed, ect, ect.

All his who's who don't feature the same type of layout.

His early Avengers work, JLA, work, his titans work, his wonder Women work, lack the number of characters to work with (even his various two page spreads of TItans don't really fit).

None of his Crisis work is similar in layout. Nor is any of his work for malibu.

Nor do I recall any of his Legion group shots being similar in layout.

I remember a DC presents spread that is very similiar , though perhaps not as many heroes as the current one.
Sorry for the poor image but the website it came from is no more.
http://mud.mm-a4.yimg.com/image/1103428392

He also did one 2 page spread from the Ultraforce/Avengers crossover that is very similiar.
And of course , he did the avengers spread cover that is similiar.
http://www.dynamicforces.com/images/avengersperez.jpg

Heck , Perez also did the cartoon teen titans go similiarly
http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Perez/TitansGo_t.jpg

Point is , when DC or Marvel always want to do these huge group spreads , they will turn to Perez or Jimenez , who is inspired by Perez , to do them. Nobody else can do them better.

[choisez]

Another thing I noticed was when Superboy is fighting Superboy Prime, they changed:

"Come on, you Mother--"

to:

"Come On--!"

There are also lots of subtle color changes and tweaks throughout the new HC too.

-Eddy

[Paul Newell]

Another thing I noticed was when Superboy is fighting Superboy Prime, they changed:

"Come on, you Mother--"

to:

"Come On--!"

There are also lots of subtle color changes and tweaks throughout the new HC too.

-Eddy
That's right...You can actually see Breach on the tower now....Stuff like that.

[choisez]

Or when Superboy Prime returns from the Speed Force, the background of multiple Earths are more random with SFX now, instead of just repeating the earlier shot of them in two rows.

-Eddy

[Paul Newell]

Or when Superboy Prime returns from the Speed Force, the background of multiple Earths are more random with SFX now, instead of just repeating the earlier shot of them in two rows.

-Eddy
Well spotted. I didn't even notice that. :)

[Ontir]

OK, so... they're now ret-con-ing a mini-series that's a device which allowed them to ret-con the line of books?

I think it's all gotten out of hand.

[Agentum]

This is all bull i think.

Trying to edit their misstakes later to make the story diffrent.

I woudn't buy it in my life.

[UniqueFrequency]

wow they have changes? now i might just be tempted to get it!!

[PretenderNX01]

OK, so... they're now ret-con-ing a mini-series that's a device which allowed them to ret-con the line of books?

I think it's all gotten out of hand.

I guess Superboy Prime's been busy pounding away at current continuity in his little green cell.

But without any company, I guess thats what one does all alone. ;)

[marshal99]

Am I the only one who thinks that Perez draws the best Power Girl?

And is that her cat next to Aquaman?

Sure looks like it , that isn't another mangy yellow cat in the current DCU unless they are going to re-introduce streaky. :D
Leave it to Perez to draw Power Girl's cat in. :)

[Bloody Thumb]

Which ones do you think are pointless? There were a couple I felt the same way about, I'm interested in seeing if they were the same.


Purple Death Ray line jumps right to mind. I don't remember the line exactly but it seems an odd removal. Really most of the Dialouge changes seem off to me. I can understand the improved art and what not, but the story went out all ready. I just don't see the point of adding images into the story and padding it out.

[Paul Newell]

Purple Death Ray line jumps right to mind. I don't remember the line exactly but it seems an odd removal. Really most of the Dialouge changes seem off to me. I can understand the improved art and what not, but the story went out all ready. I just don't see the point of adding images into the story and padding it out.
Well the reason for the extra pages is understandable. At least the ones added into the final issue. It kept the two page spreads on facing pages. The one in the church not so much...Though thinking about it there is no actual establishing shot of the heroes in the church....Only panels where they establish the church itself, but not actually who's in there.

I liked the Purple Death Ray line, but I remember a lot of people deriding, it at the time, as hokey.

The one that I think doesn't translate too well is Wonder Woman saying she was going to pin Mongol while he's on the ground. I could understand it if the art showed her stabbing down, but she's slicing instead. The one thing I noticed about a lot of the changes is that it makes certain scenes less ambiguous. A lot of them were major debate points when the series came out.

Was Wonder Woman going to kill Mongol or not? What did Kal-L mean about Nightwing when he said he wasn't a better man than the Earth-2 Dick Grayson? Did Batman press the trigger? Stuff like that.

[Jeff F]

I didn't see Mr. Miracle or Renee Montoya in the spread:(

Renee I'm not too sad about. For me it was either her or Ralph.

I really liked the Mr. Miracle series! Somebody needs to point these two out for me!

[Sean Walsh]

You do see Mr. Miracle in issue 6, I think, but he isn't present in either of the final splash pages.

And yet he's in 52 #1... :confused:

(Without a cape so I don't think it's Scott Free either...)

[Sean Walsh]

I have to admit: I giggled a bit when I saw that Lady Quark and Breach made the cover (back cover, but still) of the hardcover...

(Along with either Nightshade or Black Alice, I forget...)

[mswood]

marshal99

I am not denying that Perez is a go to guy for Large cast or single group shots.

But I was stating the specific layout of this is mirro's JLA/Avengers.

From Line of sight, to forward motion, to mirroring of characters.

In your examples.

DC Presents. Line of forward motion is going left.

Avengers #1, vol 3 line of motion is to the right, very little mirror of characters Thor's lightning and Living lightning, and Scarlet Witch and Crystal are it. Also has dead space for title.

Titans go. Line of sight is higher up (thus the v-shaped running characters. No real mirror of characters.

In Ultraforce Avengers #1 The two page spread (Which by the way illistrates why I love Perez doing his own inks, which this isn't its a muddy mess). Featrues a different form of forward motion. Notice how everyone seems to be generally with both shoulders to the viewer heading forward in attack.

While in this 2 page spread and JLA/Avengers #3, the further you are away from the center the more your body goes into profile to the point that the end characters are almost completely in profile.

[marshal99]

Sadly , i'm certainly not that specific when i gauge spreads like that , i'm just saying that perez has been doing stuffs like that for ages is all. :)

I am not denying that Perez is a go to gay for Large cast or single group shots.
(BTW , i don't think that Perez is the go to gay. I don't think his sexual orientation runs that way. ;) )

[brundlefly]

Bane, as he's breaking Judomaster's back, now says, "I finally know who I am. I am Bane. I break people."


WTF?? The "breaking the Bat" thing in KNIGHTFALL was a specific fixation that was explained in the VENGEANCE OF BANE one-shot, it was about what the Batman identity represented to him. Bane doesn't walk around breaking everyone's backs like it's his trademark pro-wrestling finishing move or something. "I finally know who I am, I break people..." Feh, please. What a completely unnecessary and out-of-character add-in. And it does nothing towards explaining what Bane's even doing there in the first place. The sad thing is I'm sure that's exactly what they think they're doing by inserting this bit of dialogue. "See? We explained it; he breaks people. That's why he's there." :rolleyes:

[Sean Walsh]

(BTW , i don't think that Perez is the go to gay. I don't think his sexual orientation runs that way. ;) )

Plus I'm pretty sure his wife would be rather horrified if he was...

[Damo]

WTF?? The "breaking the Bat" thing in KNIGHTFALL was a specific fixation that was explained in the VENGEANCE OF BANE one-shot, it was about what the Batman identity represented to him. Bane doesn't walk around breaking everyone's backs like it's his trademark pro-wrestling finishing move or something. "I finally know who I am, I break people..." Feh, please. What a completely unnecessary and out-of-character add-in. And it does nothing towards explaining what Bane's even doing there in the first place. The sad thing is I'm sure that's exactly what they think they're doing by inserting this bit of dialogue. "See? We explained it; he breaks people. That's why he's there." :rolleyes:


THANK you. That scene was bull, and the line makes it worse. He breaks people? Well gee that explains everything!

JSA Classified has an explanation that works, even if it's not great, and while not outright contradicting it, this certainly goes against the spirit of it.

I'm pretty digusted that a shot of Pantha's head flying through the air was even considered, even if they did cut it out in the end.

[Bruce Wayne Jr.]

Wasn't Bane having his own identity crisis regarding his father in his last few appearances? I figured this new line of dialogue referred to that.

Here's Bane, from completely out of nowhere (which many fans took note of), and now back in his element. He has asserted himself.

[brundlefly]

Wasn't Bane having his own identity crisis regarding his father in his last few appearances? I figured this new line of dialogue referred to that.

Here's Bane, from completely out of nowhere (which many fans took note of), and now back in his element. He has asserted himself.

His 'father quest' was resolved at the end of the storyline (King Snake was revealed as Bane's biological pop, Bane took bullets to save Batman, then got a dip in the Lazarus Pit and came out very calm and at peace instead of full of rage). He kind of quietly retired from villainy, his quest more or less fulfilled, and on pretty civil terms with Bruce. Which is why him popping up with a nonsensical line about "I am Bane, I break people," like it was his full-time occupation, didn't make any sense. In JSA CLASSIFIED, Bedard wrung some logic out of Bane's appearance in IC (I won't spoil it for people who haven't read the issue yet), but the inserted line of dialogue in the new IC hardcover almost goes out its way to contradict his explanation, making me wonder who's bright idea it was to put it in there, as it serves no logical purpose.

[Hush Little Batman]

His 'father quest' was resolved at the end of the storyline (King Snake was revealed as Bane's biological pop, Bane took bullets to save Batman, then got a dip in the Lazarus Pit and came out very calm and at peace instead of full of rage). He kind of quietly retired from villainy, his quest more or less fulfilled, and on pretty civil terms with Bruce. Which is why him popping up with a nonsensical line about "I am Bane, I break people," like it was his full-time occupation, didn't make any sense. In JSA CLASSIFIED, Bedard wrung some logic out of Bane's appearance in IC (I won't spoil it for people who haven't read the issue yet), but the inserted line of dialogue in the new IC hardcover almost goes out its way to contradict his explanation, making me wonder who's bright idea it was to put it in there, as it serves no logical purpose.

Please spoil JSA: Classified for me as there's no way for me to read that issue.

[brundlefly]

Please spoil JSA: Classified for me as there's no way for me to read that issue.

Sure thing, HLB.


Long story short, Bane returns to Santa Prisca and discovers that a crime cartel there is utilizing a new form of the Venom drug. He confronts the leaders, but gets taken down by their Venom-enhanced goons. They forcibly reimplant the Venom tubes into his skull while he's out and readdict him to their new version of Venom, which has an unwelcome side effect: there is no detox; you stop taking it and you die. With the cartel as his only source of the drug that he needs in order to stay alive, Bane is now their unwilling pawn/enforcer. In the JSA CLASSIFIED issue, he is trying to get out from under the cartel's thumb, which is where both Hourmen (Rex and Rick Tyler) come into play when Bane shows up at the Tyler house on a mission from the cartel. Bedard also has a neat cliffhanger linking the creation of the Venom drug to Rex's original Miraclo pills. Anyway, this could explain Bane's role in the big IC Metropolis fight (the cartel was in league with the Society and sent him to Metropolis as their enforcer; whether he wanted to fight the heroes or not, he had no choice). But the IC retcon-dialogue makes it seem as though he's there of his own free will simply because he likes to "break people," which would contradict Bedard's story. Personally, I'll stick with the JSA CLASSIFIED explanation and just view the IC retcon-dialogue as an unfortunate misprint.

[hitokiri_]

marshal99

I am not denying that Perez is a go to guy for Large cast or single group shots.

But I was stating the specific layout of this is mirro's JLA/Avengers.

From Line of sight, to forward motion, to mirroring of characters.

In your examples.

DC Presents. Line of forward motion is going left.

Avengers #1, vol 3 line of motion is to the right, very little mirror of characters Thor's lightning and Living lightning, and Scarlet Witch and Crystal are it. Also has dead space for title.

Titans go. Line of sight is higher up (thus the v-shaped running characters. No real mirror of characters.

In Ultraforce Avengers #1 The two page spread (Which by the way illistrates why I love Perez doing his own inks, which this isn't its a muddy mess). Featrues a different form of forward motion. Notice how everyone seems to be generally with both shoulders to the viewer heading forward in attack.

While in this 2 page spread and JLA/Avengers #3, the further you are away from the center the more your body goes into profile to the point that the end characters are almost completely in profile.


yeah, that really looked like the jla/avengers ish 3.

[trickster]

Another thing I noticed was when Superboy is fighting Superboy Prime, they changed:

"Come on, you Mother--"

to:

"Come On--!"

-Eddy
Was this really necessary. Comic Book dialogues are cheesy enough as it is.

[Hush Little Batman]

Sure thing, HLB.


Thank you for explaining it, Brundlefly. That sounds like an interesting story - almost as if it were inspired by the relationship between the Founders and Jem'Hadar on ST:DS9.

[brundlefly]

Thank you for explaining it, Brundlefly. That sounds like an interesting story - almost as if it were inspired by the relationship between the Founders and Jem'Hadar on ST:DS9.

It was really good; Bedard has a good handle on Bane and the Tylers and I like McDaniel's art. You should check it out if have the opportunity, although from your earlier post it sounds as though you will not.

[Hush Little Batman]

It was really good; Bedard has a good handle on Bane and the Tylers and I like McDaniel's art. You should check it out if have the opportunity, although from your earlier post it sounds as though you will not.

If I could, I'd buy a lot of different titles, but with the cost of comics (and life), I only purchase the "have to have" storylines.

[brundlefly]

If I could, I'd buy a lot of different titles, but with the cost of comics (and life), I only purchase the "have to have" storylines.

I totally understand that reasoning. Economics tends to dictate how many titles I can regularly pick up, too. Luckily, the JSA CLASSIFIED Bane/Hourman story is only two issues and I can then jump back off after that if the next storyline doesn't hold any interest for me.

[Paul Newell]

Sadly , i'm certainly not that specific when i gauge spreads like that , i'm just saying that perez has been doing stuffs like that for ages is all. :)

(BTW , i don't think that Perez is the go to gay. I don't think his sexual orientation runs that way. ;) )
And I can't give any specifics off the top of my head either, But Perez must have done something similar in the past as Phil Jiminez uses the same sort of layouts and criteria for the poster pages he did in JLA Secret Files #1 as well as Legion of Super-Heroes Secret Files #1. Both of those appeared around 1996/7, so that form of layout must have been established at that point....Unless Perez copied from Jiminez.

[Paul Newell]

OK, so... they're now ret-con-ing a mini-series that's a device which allowed them to ret-con the line of books?

I think it's all gotten out of hand.
It's not so strange. I know Jeff Smith revised Bone at least twice to get to the version that appears in the one volume edition.

[aeastwic]

So this is basically a "directors cut" of IC? I actually like that they did this. They mention in the back that they ran out of time and didn't get some of the art the way they wanted to. Also, clarifying what they meant from things that confused fans is, IMO, a nice touch.

[Kid Kyoto]

So this is basically a "directors cut" of IC? I actually like that they did this. They mention in the back that they ran out of time and didn't get some of the art the way they wanted to. Also, clarifying what they meant from things that confused fans is, IMO, a nice touch.

and serves as a nice example of why more and more people are waiting for the trades. If they can't finish a major comic on deadline and publish it unready... then why should I buy the monthlies?

Not that I do anymore.

Except All Star Superman of course.

[mswood]

Paul Newell

I think the design just fits a logical flow with the large number of cast.

There have been very few spreads with that many characters.

I can think of only a few The entire gathering of heroes on the moniters ship (which doesn't fir this design at all).

The large poster of all teh Legion of Superheroes characters and Villians in teh Great Darkness trade, which isn't of this design.

Various large scale shots of the GL Corps.

The secret file shots of JLA and JSA.

Really even the larger Avengers works like the Anniversary POster and the cover to issue , doesn't have anywhere near the shear volume of characters int eh same size.

SO those covers (and a few others that Perez has done can afford to give the more head on full body shot. Which also works well with far smaller crowds (all most all his two page Titans shots are of this type to his shot of the JLA in JLA 200.

Having the characters actually moving in an arc actually does a better job of showing motion.

And several various covers do this there is an JLA 217 features the much smaller cast spread over this arch design.

JLA Index #2, features an arch design (though just an upper one with characters.

Several various artist have done shots of the Green Lantern Corps in a starbust type design over the decades.

And really this is a similar design except for that instead of in space, it feaures only half of a sphere so that there is a ground surface.

I don't think Perez took the idea from Phil, I just think its a logical progression in design.

Plus Perez doesn't really follow other artists work. Usually the most he will ask for his current character designs.

Really teh basic level of design is quite similar to JLA 217 (and thats decades ago). But its progress with both having to reshape the format for a double page spread, and it uses a lot of mirroring character work. Hard to do with the JLA shot of 11 characters.

But when you start getting a cast of 50-200 you get a lot of dupllicate characters or ability types.

[Paul Newell]

Oh I know. But its well known that Phil Jiminez pays tribute a great deal to Perez in his art and the posters he did in those two secret files issues are exactly the same type of layouts as the JLA/Avengers spread, as well as the new final page. So either its a big coincidence or the pages from the Secret Files were inspired by an existing layout

I'll try and get some scans to show you what I mean, though.

[Bioevil087]

Ok I have started reading DC after IC and I was wondering which to get the hardcover or the soft? I want to get the one that will explain things better.

[Paul Newell]

Ok I have started reading DC after IC and I was wondering which to get the hardcover or the soft? I want to get the one that will explain things better.
Well if you want to read it now, get the hardcover...If you don't mind waiting, then the softcover is for you. :)

[Bioevil087]

Well if you want to read it now, get the hardcover...If you don't mind waiting, then the softcover is for you. :)
I'd be happy to get the hardcover to start off my collection but is this new version any better than the original comics or the soft cover would be?

[curefreak]

I dont know what this says about me but the most memorable part of the whole series was when all the super hero's were at church and the guardian angel was holding proceedings (ive never even heard of this guy before but now im a fan of his wich is weird cause im agnostic)and i really loved the moment when Detective Chimp was describing why Blue Devil was on fire,
and said that dannys a good catholic boy but hes still a demon and demons arent allowed in church even good ones !(paraphrasing of course)
second most memorable moment was Blue Beetle getting his head blown off :eek:
third would most likely be Wonder Woman snapping maxwell lords neck.

[Paul Newell]

Here's the shot Jimenez did for the Secret Files:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/paulnewell/Infinite%20Crisis/jla.jpg

Now the JLA/Avengers spread:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/paulnewell/Infinite%20Crisis/jlaavengers.jpg

And finally Infinite Crisis:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/paulnewell/Infinite%20Crisis/icspread.jpg

Can you honestly tell me there's no similarity between any of these drawings? And, really, the IC Spread probably has no more characters than the JLA picture.

[Paul Newell]

I'd be happy to get the hardcover to start off my collection but is this new version any better than the original comics or the soft cover would be?
The hardcover has, as been mentioned, had some changes from the originals which explain points a bit better that were confusing in the original issues...Plus it has extra pages and some finished art. Presumably the softcover will be the same content as the HC, but won't be released for another 12 months probably.

[StrikeForce Albert]

I want a post of the spals page of the Metropolis fight. It looks great

[scratchie]

When Batman asks about Nightwing, the line now reads, "You said this Earth corrupts everything. Is the Dick Grayson of my Earth a corrupted version of yours?"

When Batman points the gun at Alex, the "Chak" sound effect is taken out.
It's interesting to see that they're clearly responding to fan confusion on these incidents. Yet, it's kind of disturbing that they never anticipated any confusion from the beginning. These are basically two of the most important events in the storyline, but I think most readers were baffled by them when the issues first came out. Were they really that rushed? Was the book's editor completely asleep at the switch? It seems like, at this point in the game, DC (and, of course, Marvel) should have some idea of how long it will take to, you know, write, draw and publish a comic book.

[Paul Newell]

It's interesting to see that they're clearly responding to fan confusion on these incidents. Yet, it's kind of disturbing that they never anticipated any confusion from the beginning. These are basically two of the most important events in the storyline, but I think most readers were baffled by them when the issues first came out. Were they really that rushed? Was the book's editor completely asleep at the switch? It seems like, at this point in the game, DC (and, of course, Marvel) should have some idea of how long it will take to, you know, write, draw and publish a comic book.
Going from my own experiences, when I do a job and you're constantly revising or putting in your own ideas, things can seem clear as day to yourself just what the motivation is, especially when it's been discussed with others in the process and they see your point of view. But when someone views the work with clear eyes and without that foreknowledge and is confused, then that can be surprising. You just don't realise, especially when its so clear in your mind because you've gone over the work over and over again, that others view it differently.

I think it was more that than a case of being rushed.

[scratchie]

Well, it does give us a reason to buy IC in book form, although I'll probably wait for the paperback.

[The Shadow]

None of that sounds worthwhile enough for me to dish out even more money on a hardcover version of issues I already own. :( Shame, though, because the Perez redux of the climactic battle would be incredible looking.
Same here.

I'm kinda pissed that they sold me an incomplete work. Not very professional.

[Bruce Wayne Jr.]

In the JSA CLASSIFIED issue, he is trying to get out from under the cartel's thumb, which is where both Hourmen (Rex and Rick Tyler) come into play when Bane shows up at the Tyler house on a mission from the cartel. Bedard also has a neat cliffhanger linking the creation of the Venom drug to Rex's original Miraclo pills. Anyway, this could explain Bane's role in the big IC Metropolis fight (the cartel was in league with the Society and sent him to Metropolis as their enforcer; whether he wanted to fight the heroes or not, he had no choice). But the IC retcon-dialogue makes it seem as though he's there of his own free will simply because he likes to "break people," which would contradict Bedard's story. Personally, I'll stick with the JSA CLASSIFIED explanation and just view the IC retcon-dialogue as an unfortunate misprint.


I honestly don't see how the CLASSIFIED book contradicts the new dialogue in the HC. Bane didn't say "the only reason I'm here is because I like to break people." Nothing about this new word bubble states why he's there, only what he's doing.



Back to enjoying my purchase...

[brundlefly]

I honestly don't see how the CLASSIFIED book contradicts the new dialogue in the HC. Bane didn't say "the only reason I'm here is because I like to break people." Nothing about this new word bubble states why he's there, only what he's doing.


The inserted full dialogue ("I finally know who I am. I am Bane. I break people") seems to insinuate that Bane was suffering some form of identity crisis and has "finally" resolved it by deciding to come to this fight, presumably of his own free will, and "break people." Bane was never suffering from a 'who am I" identity crisis that he "finally" got over; he was trying to find his biological father. If he were at the Metropolis fight against his will, I don't see him spouting off about "finally knowing who he is," as the dialogue simply doesn't apply to his situation at the time. Along with almost contadicting Bedard's reasoning for Bane being there, it's also just a bad line of dialogue all on it's own. Why not have Prometheus, who did actually seem to be suffering from an identity crisis in GOTHAM KNIGHTS, say "I finally know who I am. I am Prometheus. I kill heroes." or something equally as Saturday-morning-cartoon silly as Bane's line?

[Bruce Wayne Jr.]

I understand you didn't like the line, but I still don't see how both appearances contradict each other.

So he's working for someone... He can't take a moment to mention his purpose? On a subtextual level, isn't that what Bane was created for in the first place (breaking Batman; dominance)? He was a plot device to begin with, and the creators felt the need to make that clear in this, an exploration of the dark Post-Crisis universe of the last 20-odd years.

[brundlefly]

So he's working for someone... He can't take a moment to mention his purpose?

Why would he? And why that line? Something more like "I take no pleasure in this, but I do what I must to survive" is more in line with his purpose for being there. And why not just have every character there yell out their name and supposed purpose? It would make about as much sense. "I am Green Arrow. I shoot arrows." "I am Doctor Psycho. I control minds." What is this, roll call?


On a subtextual level, isn't that what Bane was created for in the first place (breaking Batman; dominance)? He was a plot device to begin with, and the creators felt the need to make that clear in this, an exploration of the dark Post-Crisis universe of the last 20-odd years.

I guess it depends on your take on the character. Whoever inserted the line sees Bane as a fixed-in-time, backbreaking Knightfall plot device and as such didn't take character growth or continuity into account (or just didn't know anything about him besides "Hey, he's the guy who broke Batman's back."). I've enjoyed Bane's character arc since Knightfall (kicking the Venom addiction, teaming up with Ras al Ghul and Talia against Batman, putting aside his differences with Bruce to find his biological father, reformation from villainy after his quest ended) and was annoyed to see whoever stuck that line in ignore it all because he only knows him as "the guy who breaks people's backs."

[StrikeForce Albert]

Same here.

I'm kinda pissed that they sold me an incomplete work. Not very professional.

I get more pissed when I invest time in a mini-series just for it to hit delay hell and screw up an entire line worth of books.

[Kid Kyoto]

Same here.

I'm kinda pissed that they sold me an incomplete work. Not very professional.

Again, a good reason to pass on the monthlies and wait for trades. ;)

[StrikeForce Albert]

Again, a good reason to pass on the monthlies and wait for trades. ;)


again, without good monthly sales there would be no TPB

[blackphoenix]

LOVE that new layout, it looks a lot better than what saw print in the comic. This is a question that haunts me: when you have every issue of a series and then a trade comes out with new pages and other extras, what do you do? Buy the entire series all over again? It wasn't that goode to buy again, IMHO.

[Jack Tango]

Images Clipped to Save Bandwith. I'm nice.

Can you honestly tell me there's no similarity between any of these drawings? And, really, the IC Spread probably has no more characters than the JLA picture.

There's absolutely a similarity...

They're all large group shots with the characters running out from a centralized horizon point in the centre of the page. Of course they'll look slimilar to one another. They'll all from (essentially) the same angle, and all feature colourful heroes in action poses.

And let's be honest, had he used any other angle for the image, you wouldn't have gotten nearly as impressive a shot.

[Kid Kyoto]

again, without good monthly sales there would be no TPB

Novels used to be serialized in newspapers and magazines and then collected later. Novels survived the end of serialization, why wouldn't comics?

[Justin D.]

Same here.

I'm kinda pissed that they sold me an incomplete work. Not very professional.

Bah. This is essentially Infinite Crisis: Special Edition. If movies can come to DVD with deleted scenes, improved audio, corrected lighting and editing, and commentary, why can't comics? In fact, whether you like IC or not, I'd think this should seem like a cool idea. I'd like to see more trades have more in them other than just a reprinting of the comics. I want script or at least script excerpts, commentary, sketches, and whatever else.

Darwyn Cooke said he had many more pages of New Frontier that were unpublished. If they appear in the Absolute edition, there's no way in hell I'm going to complain about it being incomplete work when it first came out.

[Hush Little Batman]

Bah. This is essentially Infinite Crisis: Special Edition. If movies can come to DVD with deleted scenes, improved audio, corrected lighting and editing, and commentary, why can't comics? In fact, whether you like IC or not, I'd think this should seem like a cool idea. I'd like to see more trades have more in them other than just a reprinting of the comics. I want script or at least script excerpts, commentary, sketches, and whatever else.

Darwyn Cooke said he had many more pages of New Frontier that were unpublished. If they appear in the Absolute edition, there's no way in hell I'm going to complain about it being incomplete work when it first came out.

Extra pages, artwork or scripts being thrown in as a "trade-bonus" is different than redrawing panels or rewritting parts of the story because it was unfinished to begin with. I think what The Shadow means by "incomplete work" is that as released, the individual issues of IC were rushed to meet a deadline and certain elements weren't as polished as they should've been. Now, months later, DC has gone back and fixed some of the things they probably knew weren't up to snuff when they originally released it and while I'm not saying that DC shouldn't have done it, I can understand how some fans may think the company deliberatly put out a shabby product simply to meet a schedule. I don't know the exact cover prices of the issues (though I know they're between $2.50-$3.50), bear in mind that it was more expensive to collect IC #1-7 then it would've been to attend a movie theater in a major market ($10-11).

[Paul Newell]

Darwyn Cooke said he had many more pages of New Frontier that were unpublished. If they appear in the Absolute edition, there's no way in hell I'm going to complain about it being incomplete work when it first came out.
Which is exactly what's happening. And it's 64 extra pages we're talking about here.

[Paul Newell]

Extra pages, artwork or scripts being thrown in as a "trade-bonus" is different than redrawing panels or rewritting parts of the story because it was unfinished to begin with. I think what The Shadow means by "incomplete work" is that as released, the individual issues of IC were rushed to meet a deadline and certain elements weren't as polished as they should've been. Now, months later, DC has gone back and fixed some of the things they probably knew weren't up to snuff when they originally released it and while I'm not saying that DC shouldn't have done it, I can understand how some fans may think the company deliberatly put out a shabby product simply to meet a schedule. I don't know the exact cover prices of the issues (though I know they're between $2.50-$3.50), bear in mind that it was more expensive to collect IC #1-7 then it would've been to attend a movie theater in a major market ($10-11).
Of the changes, the only ones you could call incomplete would finishing the villain war spread. That was the only rushed element....Possibly the final page spread was as well, but that was still finished. Everything else is really just refining the original product.

[Paul Dee]

I don't think this has been asked yet so I will - I presume the typo on page 4 of #7 has been corrected.

[Paul Newell]

Sure has...Though I had never noticed it in the original issue and actually missed it several times, whilst scaning the page, to see what you were talking about. :)

[Trademark]

Here's the shot Jimenez did for the Secret Files:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/paulnewell/Infinite%20Crisis/jla.jpg

Now the JLA/Avengers spread:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/paulnewell/Infinite%20Crisis/jlaavengers.jpg

And finally Infinite Crisis:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/paulnewell/Infinite%20Crisis/icspread.jpg

Can you honestly tell me there's no similarity between any of these drawings? And, really, the IC Spread probably has no more characters than the JLA picture.


The best part is that Power Girl's cat shows up in all three of pictures.

[d newton]

Novels used to be serialized in newspapers and magazines and then collected later. Novels survived the end of serialization, why wouldn't comics?
I assume you're referring to comic strips here which are very different from comic books!

[marshal99]

The best part is that Power Girl's cat shows up in all three of pictures.

Wahahaha , i didn't really notice that but you're right. Would love to see more of that one eye cat in the JSA. That cat is a legend. :D

[Sean Walsh]

Of the changes, the only ones you could call incomplete would finishing the villain war spread. That was the only rushed element....

Y'know, I never thought that was incomplete. Considering the sheer violence, I thought the red coloring and sketchiness of the (bloody) chaos of the scene was quite convenient and fitting.

[Paul Newell]

Y'know, I never thought that was incomplete. Considering the sheer violence, I thought the red coloring and sketchiness of the (bloody) chaos of the scene was quite convenient and fitting.
I thought so as well....A real firey smokey haze. The new version looks chaotic and makes the scene look violent, but, to me, the original gave off more of a look of the violence causing destruction and damage to the surrounds.

[scratchie]

Novels used to be serialized in newspapers and magazines and then collected later. Novels survived the end of serialization, why wouldn't comics?I assume you're referring to comic strips here which are very different from comic books!Last I checked, comic books were also serialized. What's your point?

[XPac]

It is kinda interesting how IC and CW shows 2 different philosophies on doing business.

IC sent a product that was somewhat rushed, with the philosophy that they would just fix it in later in the hardbound. CW opted to delay the books.

I wonder which mindset will get more complaints from readers in the longterm. For me personally, it works either way since I usually just wait for the trades for cross over events.

[Kid Kyoto]

The best part is that Power Girl's cat shows up in all three of pictures.

you evil man, you made me look for it.

you're paying my eye doctor bills y'know.

[Kid Kyoto]

It is kinda interesting how IC and CW shows 2 different philosophies on doing business.

IC sent a product that was somewhat rushed, with the philosophy that they would just fix it in later in the hardbound. CW opted to delay the books.

I wonder which mindset will get more complaints from readers in the longterm. For me personally, it works either way since I usually just wait for the trades for cross over events.

what's scarier is the two big publishers simply cannot put out these big events on time.

[StrikeForce Albert]

what's scarier is the two big publishers simply cannot put out these big events on time.

agreed, though IC hit the leser of 2 evils when it came to delays, there was no reason for either one to ever be delayed. Though how MARVEL handled it was inexcusable.

[XPac]

agreed, though IC hit the leser of 2 evils when it came to delays, there was no reason for either one to ever be delayed. Though how MARVEL handled it was inexcusable.

I wouldn't exactly agree that either approach is inexcusable. Both are valid arguements.

DC wanted to get the product out on time. And it gave greater incentive to buy the hard bound version.

Marvel wanted it out "right" the first time even if it meant a delay. And with the delays came extra stories that would not have occured had the delays not happened.

As I said, it'll be interesting to see which formula in the long run receives greater criticism from the fanbase.

[Ian J.N.]

I did a quick comparison of all the dialogue bubbles and this is what I came up with. Feel free to make corrections/additions.

Issue 1

Old
Wonder Woman: "What did you think I was going to do?"

New
Wonder Woman: "What did you think I was going to do? Kill him? I was going to pin him to the floor."


Old
Wonder Woman: "Look at what's going on across the globe, Bruce. Do you really believe humanity's going to rise above it themselves?"

Batman: "You've lost faith."

Wonder Woman: "The world is not as black and white as you and Kal see it."

Batman: "Diana... you should've stayed in paradise."

Wonder Woman: "And you should stop judging everyone but yourself."


New:
-- The same, but printed a panel below.



Issue 3

Old
<sound effect>: "Kraa Kooom"

New
-- no sound effect


Old
Mera: "We need to get everyone someplace dry."

Aquaman (I assume): "Where would that be, Mera?

(Unknown): "They've reported over sixty category five storms across the world. Three on the U.S. coast alone."


New:
Mera: "We need to get everyone someplace dry."

Aquaman (I assume): "Where would that be, Mera? They've reported over sixty category five storms across the world. Three on the U.S. coast alone."


Old
Amazon dudette: "We already have. The purple death ray has been completed."

New
Amazon dudette: "We already have."


Old
<sound effect>: "Kraa Kooom" (yes, a different one)

New
-- no sound effect


Old
Batman: "And what about Dick Grayson?"

E-2 Superman: "Yes?

Batman: "Is he a better man on your earth than he is on mine?"

E-2 Superman: "No."

New
Batman: "And what about Dick Grayson?"

E-2 Superman: "Yes?"

Batman: "You said this earth corrupts everything. Is the Dick Grayson of my earth a corrupted version of yours?"

E-2 Superman: "No."


Old
Lex: "What? Who are you?"

New
Lex: "What? Who are you?"

Alex: "My hologram..."



Issue 4

Old
Autopsy dude: "Poor vic had a wife, two kids... things like this happen, the world goes crazy, makes you wonder if there's a god."

New
Autopsy dude: "Chris Allen had a wife, two kids... things like this happen, the world goes crazy, makes you wonder if there's a god."



Issue 5

Old
"God works in mysterious ways."

New
"God works in mysterious ways." (on next page with 2-page hero spread)


Old
Kal-L: "I can't be another survivor of a dead world. Not without you."

Lois: "With all your powers, with everything you saw and did... ...you still never..."

Kal-L: "It can't end this way."

New
Kal-L: "I can't be another survivor of a dead world. Not without you."

Lois: "I see the truth now, Clark. A truth even Alexander didn't see... ...there's something else out there... ...out there...

Kal-L: "It can't end this way.


Old
Earth-Two Wonder Woman: "But now that I've left Olympus, the gods' blessings are fading. Soon I'll no longer exist."

New
Earth-Two Wonder Woman: "But now that I've left Olympus, the god's blessings to keep me here are fading. I'm being pulled... somewhere." (sic)



Issue 6

Old
Psycho Pirate: "I can feel them. Phantom beings from the fabric of Earth-One, pulled from their restful peace, reborn in pain and given essence-- --then destroyed. Billions at a time."

Alex: "I planted this garden, Psycho Pirate. I have every right to tend to it."

New
Psycho Pirate: "I can feel phantom beings pulled from the fabrics of the multiverse, recreated and destroyed. For some reason Earth-Two remains vacant. Why when billions of other beings appear across the Multiverse like gosts.Reborn... ...then destroyed."

Alex: "The anomalies of Earth-Two are not my concern. Finding the perfect Earth is."



Issue 7

Old
Crimson Avenger: "I thought Phantom Stranger and the other sepllcasters were bringin' in the Spectre to help." (sic)

Dude with puppy dog on his jacket: "Help? I heard he killed three of them and left."

Gypsy: "Black Adam's on our side now?"

Zatanna: "I think he's on his own side, Gypsy."


New
Bane: "I finally know who I am. I am Bane. I break people."

Crimson Avenger: "I thought Phantom Stranger and the other spellcasters were bringin' in the Spectre to help."

Dude with puppy dog on his jacket: "Help? I heard he killed three of them and left."

Shining Knight: "Good night, jester!"

Gypsy: "Black Adam's on our side now?"

Zatanna: "I think he's on his own side, Gypsy."

Solomon Grundy: "RRRARRR--"


Old
Alex: "This isn't Earth-One, Superboy. It never really was. And now this 'unified' world, this New Earth, has been altered again."

New
Alex: "This isn't Earth-One, Superboy. In fact, it never was. I miscalculated. I tried to divide a New Earth. Instead, I only altered its history."


Old
Wildcat: "Who is that?"

Power Girl: "Who do you think, Wildcat?"

Wildcat: "I think I remember. That's him."

Power Girl: "Yep. He's our Superm--"

New
Wildcat: "Who is that?"

Power Girl: "Who do you think, Wildcat?"

Wildcat: "It looks like Superman."

Power Girl: "Yep, he's out Superm--"


Old
Captain Atom: "W-What? Where am I?"

New
Captain Atom: "Where's the Earth... that other Earth?"


Old
-- nothing

New
Batman: "You joined a society of villains. You killed Phantom Lady. You destroyed Bludhaven. Why do it, Deathstroke?"

Deathstroke: "Because they're paying me, Batman."

Batman: "No, it's something else. You've abandoned your code of honor. Why?"

Nightwing: "Because his family abandoned him. He lost his sons. His daughter."

Deathstroke: "Because of you. It's always been because of you."

Robin: "You need to take some responsibility, Slade."

Batman: "We all do."


Old
Kal-L: "Now, Superman!"

Power Girl: "Kal!"

New
Kal-L: "Now, Superman!"

Power Girl: "Kal!"

Kal-L (I assume): "For tomorrow!"


Old
-- nothing

New
Dr. Psycho: "Aiie!!"

Killer Croc: "Look what we got here, Robin and Nightwing. Fresh meat."

Beast Boy: "Not with the Titans around."

Flash: "Later, guys."

Robin: "Dr. Mid-nite? Is Nightwing--?"

Dr. Mid-night: "He'll be all right. I give you my word."


Old
<sound effect>: "Chak"

New
-- no sound effect


Old
Batman: "Did he--?"

Wonder Woman: "I don't know."

Superboy-Prime: "Where do you think you're going? Where?!"

New
Batman: "Did he--?"

Wonder Woman: "I don't know."

(unspecified): "He's going to be fine."

Superboy-Prime: "Where are you taking me? Where?!"


Old
Power Girl: "Let me down now, John."

New
-- nothing


Old
Kal-L: "It's not going to end. It's never going to end... for us... ...Lois."

New
Kal-L: "It's not going to end. It's never going to end... for us... ...one day you'll see... ...they're still out there... ...Lois."

[Ian J.N.]

Given some of the above revisions (especially that last one), does anyone think a new Multiverse is coming? There's also this bit to consider:
Geoff: We always knew we were going to do something with New Earths. They're important to [weekly follow-up series] "52." Big revelations here.
Note the plural...

[Erebus]

Wha? Purple Death Ray was awesome. Just say it: Purple Death Ray! The very sound of it makes me tingle.

[XPac]

Funny how they are already mildly retconning their big retcon. I wonder if that's a bad sign.

[curefreak]

Funny how they are already mildly retconning their big retcon. I wonder if that's a bad sign.
thats par for the course in dc land its practically company policy by now = retcon everything so many times that noone can complain about continunity cause there will be none !

[trickster]

So what size is this? I bought a localized version of Wolverine Enemy of the state and it's 17 cm wide and 25,5 tall. I suppose this is the standard format? Is the HC bigger?

[Paul Newell]

So what size is this? I bought a localized version of Wolverine Enemy of the state and it's 17 cm wide and 25,5 tall. I suppose this is the standard format? Is the HC bigger?
That's the size and I'm pretty sure it's regular.

It's the Absolute Ediions that are bigger.

[trickster]

That's the size and I'm pretty sure it's regular.

It's the Absolute Ediions that are bigger.

Damn, the scans make them seem bigger. So how big is oversized?

[Paul Newell]

32.5cm x just under 22cm.

Well, from what I can tell from measuring my Kingdom Come HC. :)

[Kid Kyoto]

I did a quick comparison of all the dialogue bubbles and this is what I came up with. Feel free to make corrections/additions.



Thanks for the hard work constant.

[XPac]

thats par for the course in dc land its practically company policy by now = retcon everything so many times that noone can complain about continunity cause there will be none !

Hmmm... I'm starting to wonder if we'll get any additional retcons between the hardcover coming out and the paper back trade.

Different dialogue... the return of the purple death ray... heck, maybe for fun they'll just draw in Anti-Monitor walking around in the background or something.

[curefreak]

Hmmm... I'm starting to wonder if we'll get any additional retcons between the hardcover coming out and the paper back trade.

Different dialogue... the return of the purple death ray... heck, maybe for fun they'll just draw in Anti-Monitor walking around in the background or something.
i feel like a newb but im curious what the difference is in hardcover and paperback.

[XPac]

i feel like a newb but im curious what the difference is in hardcover and paperback.

The hardcover has a... well, it has a hard cover. Sort of like a school text book or something.

The most significant difference is that the paper trades are often cheaper. Though having the hard bound ones are kinda cool too.

Though for all I know, they might not even bother printing a paperback trade.

[davros42]

You guys are missing the most important additions!

Ambush Bug now appears to be just barely visible in the Battle in Metropolis... Look close way in the back, in just about the center of page.. A bald green head with antena!

Also in the back row of the new "D List Heroes and Doom Patrol goes to church" page, on the left hand side with his head just cut off... Is that Samurai from Superfriends??

For the record, I'll miss the truly awesome Purple Death Ray and I don't like the new closing spread. Too cluttered. The old one left out some heroes and all, but it really highlighted the new heroes and the new looks of old heroes, it served as a perfect tease for 52 and One Year Later.

[Hush Little Batman]

Does anyone have a pic of what the original closing spread looked like?

[Lonewolf36]

Here is the original. Anyone got the updated 2 page spread of the Metropolis battle from the HC gonna be a couple weeks till i can pic up the book. Thanks Paul for the updated spread!!
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i212/angelicknight36/icspreadorig.jpg

[All-Star KASE]

You guys left out the most important change made in Infinite Crisis:

Tempest has a son again!:D

[diana_fan]

I did a quick comparison of all the dialogue bubbles and this is what I came up with. Feel free to make corrections/additions.

Issue 1

Old
Wonder Woman: "What did you think I was going to do?"

New
Wonder Woman: "What did you think I was going to do? Kill him? I was going to pin him to the floor."


Great work, Constant. I won't be getting my copy for a week-and-a-half, because for some reason Amazon is delayed on it. Oh well.

I just wanted to comment on this change. It seems dumbed-down to me. It was clear, in the original, that Diana was not going to kill Mongul. That's why she said what she said. It was also much better dialogue. Adding the last part is just insulting, AFAIC.

Anyhow, I still look forward to the HC. IC deserves to be a HC on my shelf.

[Buried Alien]

One other change I don't think anybody has caught yet:

Kal-L's dying words...he has a few more things to say in the hardcover than in the original issue # 7. Kal-L now says, "They're still out there..."

Who is this "they" that are still "out there?" The other forgotten Earth-Two heroes? And where exactly is "out there?" Heaven?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Hush Little Batman]

Here is the original.

Thanks a bunch, Lonewolf. :)

After looking at both spreads, I gotta say I prefer the original over the new one. I'll agree that the new version by Perez is better drawn, but for the amount of characters on the page, the layout he used makes it all come across very cluttered, in an almost "Where's Waldo" type manner. The original had a better layout and the spacing between each character allows my eyes to "breathe" so to speak so I can take in everything.

In addition, I think the original background worked better with its red & yellow sunrise/sunset feel (giving off the impression that the heroes all sprung out from it), as opposed to the new one's extremely bland off-yellow color and no discernable center point.

Finally, the original presented Bats, Supes and Wondy standing together and looking out over everyone - as if they're the caretakers of the DCU. It goes really well with the last line - ("I'd say things are in good hands"). The new spread has each of them standing separately and looking away, not only from the heroes, but more importantly, from each other. Because of that, the Trinity comes off looking like they've grown apart and I thought that by the end of IC, they were supposed to have grown closer? Interesting.

Is it possible for anyone to scan the "villains-fight" splash page I've heard so much about - the one that was supposedly unfinished in the mini, but completed for the HC? I'd like to see a comparison of that art to see for myself which one is more effective.

[XPac]

This sort of reminds me of how they re-editied and tweaked the Star Wars movies. Part of me thinks the improvements are better... and part of me is a bit bothered by it.

[LtMarvel]

I prefer DC's solution to this type of deadline problem over Marvel Comics' solution.

Marvel sneezed and the lcs caught a cold...Whoever was in charge of deadlines and made the decisions to cut was really on the ball!

[StrikeForce Albert]

As I said, it'll be interesting to see which formula in the long run receives greater criticism from the fanbase.

long run? Just depends I guesse. DC Fanboys will defend IC, MARVEL Zombies will defend Civil War. No different than how they defend those terrible crossovers from the 90's. Only difference is that these crossovers are nowhere near as terrible and IQ killing as those were.

[curefreak]

long run? Just depends I guesse. DC Fanboys will defend IC, MARVEL Zombies will defend Civil War. No different than how they defend those terrible crossovers from the 90's. Only difference is that these crossovers are nowhere near as terrible and IQ killing as those were.
personally i think civil war will have a longer term affect than infinity crises.

[StrikeForce Albert]

personally i think civil war will have a longer term affect than infinity crises.

I really doubt that. But it's an opinion

[Hush Little Batman]

personally i think civil war will have a longer term affect than infinity crises.

Is Infinity Crises the sequel to Inifinte Gauntlet? :p

[jade_nova]

Just this once. :)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/paulnewell/Infinite%20Crisis/icspread.jpg

Hasn't Perez used this same type of picture before? The positions of some of the characters are quite familar.

[Buried Alien]

I'm definitely glad that the Batman/Nightwing/Robin vs. Deathstroke fight was expanded. I'd always wondered how a fight between the unified three Gotham Knights and Deathstroke would go down, and it disappointed me in the original issue # 7 of INFINITE CRISIS that the fight was resolved off-panel. Even in the hardcover, the fight was a bit too short; I believe that Batman, Nightwing, and Robin together could probably subdue Deathstroke, but it wouldn't be as easy as it seemed in the hardcover collection of INFINITE CRISIS.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Kid Kyoto]

The book mentions an IC companion, is it out yet? Anything important in it?

[Paul Newell]

The book mentions an IC companion, is it out yet? Anything important in it?
It's out this month and contains the IC Specials.

[The Joker]

I'm definitely glad that the Batman/Nightwing/Robin vs. Deathstroke fight was expanded. I'd always wondered how a fight between the unified three Gothan Knights and Deathstroke would go down, and it disappointed me in the original issue # 7 of INFINITE CRISIS that the fight was resolved off-panel. Even in the hardcover, the fight was a bit too short; I believe that Batman, Nightwing, and Robin together could probably subdue Deathstroke, but it wouldn't be as easy as it seemed in the hardcover collection of INFINITE CRISIS.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Thats true.

Because upon reading IC #7, I too thought that Deathstroke seemed to go down a little bit too quick, as well as easier than it really should have been played out in the book. Good to see the extra stuff detailing the battle a bit more than what we originally were given.

[Ian J.N.]

One other change I don't think anybody has caught yet:

Kal-L's dying words...he has a few more things to say in the hardcover than in the original issue # 7. Kal-L now says, "They're still out there..."

Who is this "they" that are still "out there?" The other forgotten Earth-Two heroes? And where exactly is "out there?" Heaven?
Kal-L's dying words mirror Lois' new line: "I see the truth now, Clark. A truth even Alexander didn't see... there's something else out there..." Not sure to what they're referring. Could be they're talking spiritually, or metatextually, but regardless, I really like the change. I think it gives closure to Clark's longing for his old world.

[XPac]

long run? Just depends I guesse. DC Fanboys will defend IC, MARVEL Zombies will defend Civil War. No different than how they defend those terrible crossovers from the 90's. Only difference is that these crossovers are nowhere near as terrible and IQ killing as those were.

90's cross-vers were pretty horrible... it really makes you appreciate some of the stuff we have now. Yeah, fans still complain about a lot of things with recent cross-overs (and there's nothing wrong with that), but I don't think anyone can question that the quality and scope of stuff like IC and CW blow away a lot of the crap of the 90's.

[Accroître]

Did anybody order the HC from Amazon.com? Now that it is out, my amazon account is telling me that they will not ship until the 16th? Why pre-order if it going to be this late?

[We R. Venom]

I'm definitely glad that the Batman/Nightwing/Robin vs. Deathstroke fight was expanded. I'd always wondered how a fight between the unified three Gothan Knights and Deathstroke would go down, and it disappointed me in the original issue # 7 of INFINITE CRISIS that the fight was resolved off-panel. Even in the hardcover, the fight was a bit too short; I believe that Batman, Nightwing, and Robin together could probably subdue Deathstroke, but it wouldn't be as easy as it seemed in the hardcover collection of INFINITE CRISIS.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

This was one of the only things that satisfied me in the entire IC. I was truly looking forward to seeing it. Im glad to see that it has been done a little better now.

[scratchie]

Does this book have a real, sewn binding, or one of those cheap-ass glued bindings that Marvel uses on their hardcovers?

A sewn binding would make it worth buying this over the paperback, since the double-page spreads would lie open flat.

[Mulett]

Kal-L's dying words mirror Lois' new line: "I see the truth now, Clark. A truth even Alexander didn't see... there's something else out there..." Not sure to what they're referring. Could be they're talking spiritually, or metatextually, but regardless, I really like the change. I think it gives closure to Clark's longing for his old world.

Justice League of America #0 had one scene - from a possible future - where

Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman are talking about a new parallel earth that has just been discovered.

So possibly that is what Kal-L and earth-2 Lois could see. And possibly that is where

all the billions of earth-2 inhabitants are, since they were not on earth-2 when it re-appeared, unlike all the other parallel earths, which re-appeared complete with all their populations.

[Ian J.N.]

For completeness' sake, here's a dialogue change I missed:

Old
Earth-Two Wonder Woman: "But now that I've left Olympus, the gods' blessings are fading. Soon I'll no longer exist."

New
Earth-Two Wonder Woman: "But now that I've left Olympus, the god's blessings to keep me here are fading. I'm being pulled... somewhere." (sic)

...

Overall, I'm very impressed with the changes they made for the hardcover, but it's too bad they omitted the chapter titles. Issue 3, for example, has Spectre putting the smack down on Atlantis, the Olympian gods removing Themyscira, and Earth-2 Superman offering Batman a chance to start over. The title--"Divine Intervention"--ties it all together.

Here are the titles. I encourage all you hardcover owners to insert them via Post-It notes! :)

Issue 1: DC Comics Proudly Presents: Infinite Crisis
Issue 2: The Survivors
Issue 3: Divine Intervention
Issue 4: Homecoming
Issue 5: Faith
Issue 6: Touchdown
Issue 7: Finale

[Babylon23]

Man, some of these changes really do hint at the return of Earth-2. As a huge E2 fan, I'd love to see that occur.

Of course, Kal-L could also be referring to the Monitors that recently appeared in Brave New World and Nightwing.

[Mulett]

There's also some interesting stuff going on in Green Lantern at the moment. The Guardian's have been referring to 'the path' that is hidden in Sector 3601, which is a mysterious part of space where the Manhunters exist.

There is a suggestion that Superboy Prime or the Cyborg Superman may have discovered The Path.

The Guardians obviously have a secret. It may be completely un-related, but the inclusion of Superboy Prime makes me think it is linked to the Crisis.

Perhaps The Guardians rescued one of the parallel earths, possibly earth-2 - perhaps earth-2 and its entire universe. Perhaps the reason earth-2 appeared empty in Infinite Crisis is that the Guardians - without Alex Luthor knowing it - whisked the real earth-2 away the moment it was re-created and replaced it with a duplicate. But they didn't have the power to re-create all the inhabitants.

I'm just making this up as I go along to be honest - I guess I want earth-2 back a little too much!

[LordEd1976]

Also in the back row of the new "D List Heroes and Doom Patrol goes to church" page, on the left hand side with his head just cut off... Is that Samurai from Superfriends?.

Looks like it. So I guess this means Samurai is now a member of the mainstream DCU.

Other people seen in that 2page spread that I recognize:
Chief from Doom Patrol
Judomaster
Protector
Sparx
Captain Marvel Jr
Halo
the DNAngels
Agent Liberty
Bork. Sapphire, and Skyrocket from Power Company
Freak, Fever, and Kid Slick from the Robotman Doom Patrol
Raven
Red Star
Beast Boy
the Psyba-Rats
Loose Cannon
Blue Devil (already starting to smoke)
Odd Man
Empress
Robotman. Negative Man, Elasti-Girl and two more members of the Bryne Doom Patrol
Detective Chimp
Joto
Argent (crying)
Question
Manhattan Guardian
Hal Jordan
John Stewart
Huntress
Arsenal
Terra
Metamorpho
Green Arrow
Black Canary
Mary Marvel
Stargirl
Stretch and Microwave Mom from Hero Hotline
Mongrel, Nightblade, and Geist from the Bloodpack
Angel and the Ape
Thunder & Lightning
Dr Mid-nite
Gypsy
John Henry Irons and Natasha
Thunder
Black Lightning
Technocrat
Traci 13
Geo-Force

[Count Vertigo]

Does anyone have any thoughts on that green lantern found on the beach by the 2 kids? I've seen the woman holding that item before (she was seen somewhere in the series) but I can't remember where. Elseworlds? Kingdom Come?

[tk421atpost]

Does anyone have any thoughts on that green lantern found on the beach by the 2 kids? I've seen the woman holding that item before (she was seen somewhere in the series) but I can't remember where. Elseworlds? Kingdom Come?

That's the lantern from the Green Lantern issues put out during the two Tangent Comics events from about ten years ago.

[scratchie]

I'm reposting this since it may have been lost in the shuffle when it got merged into this thread:

Does this book have a real, sewn binding, or one of those cheap-ass glued bindings that Marvel uses on their hardcovers?

A sewn binding would make it worth buying this over the paperback, since the double-page spreads would lie open flat.

Thanks in advance!

[Sean Walsh]

Hey, looking at a panel in the original #7 (where we now know Spellbinder was killed along with the Madmen and Trigger Twins), I noticed they spelled spellcasters wrong. ("sepllcasters").

Is that fixed in the new HC?

[Ian J.N.]

I'm reposting this since it may have been lost in the shuffle when it got merged into this thread:
Sorry to say, it appears to be glue.

[Ian J.N.]

Hey, looking at a panel in the original #7 (where we now know Spellbinder was killed along with the Madmen and Trigger Twins), I noticed they spelled spellcasters wrong. ("sepllcasters").

Is that fixed in the new HC?
Yup, the typo's been corrected. (Ironically though, they screwed up the apostrophe in E2 WW's revised dialogue.)

[scratchie]

Sorry to say, it appears to be glue.Feh. Oh well, thanks for the update. I'll save my money and get the paperback. Looking at my HC copy of Identity Crisis, that appears to be glue as well, although my HC copy of Willworld is, thankfully, sewn properly. It's really depressing, and indicative of how little esteem comic book companies have for their fans (and their artists) that they would release sub-standard hardcovers like this.

[PaulTiberius]

Well, looks like someone beat me to it. I was going to chronicle the changes on my blog. Thanks to the original poster, though for his work!!

[hondobrode]

Like a fool who couldn't contain himself, I bought all the Infinite Crisis issues as they rolled out, though not all the crossover issues. Those days are gone :p

I thought I picked up some references here and there on various boards that DC has added and maybe even modified (?) some of Infinite Crisis with their collected version. Can anyone help me clarify this ?

I knew there would probably be some extras, and certainly some nice packaging, but didn't think DC would snub us loyal fans who actually bought the issues by putting more story, and certainly not anything relevent previously not disclosed, in the collected version.

help ?

[LordEd1976]

There was a thread earlier that detailed all the changes and new stuff thats in the IC trade.

[Lonewolf36]

Andrew Dowdell is the author of this article.


What I realized, upon reading the recently-released collected edition of DC’s mini-series, was that there are a great number of additions, subtractions, and changes to the story. Lines of dialogue altered, artwork tweaked, whole pages added, and a really cool surprise at the end of the story. In short, enough reason for me to break out my issues of Who’s Who and my magnifying glass and get all nit-picky.

The changes to Infinite Crisis (henceforth referred to as IC) can be divided into three categories. There are the minor alterations to art of lines of dialogue, things that do not affect the story much, but only subtly add to it. Then there are some new pages added to the story, or a two-paged spread that has been “finished” for the collected addition, that add to the scope of the tale. And, finally, there are several instances in which the dialogue has been completely reworked, so that the impact and implication of the scenes and the story overall have been changed. These, oddly enough, were the hardest to spot, and ultimately made me look at IC in a completely new way.

So, without further ado…


PAGE 34

Panel 3

WONDER WOMAN: What did you think I was going to do?

Changed to…

WONDER WOMAN: What did you think I was going to do? Kill him? I was going to pin him to the floor.


PAGES 36-37

Images of Uncle Sam battling Dr. Light, the Cheetah, and Deathstroke the Terminator are overlayed on the page.


PAGE 61

Panels 1, 4 & 5

Alexander Luthor’s Worldview displays and consoles are changed from green to red. In Panel 5, he is seen spying on the “real” Lex Luthor.


PAGE 66

Panels 3, 5, 7 & 8

Addition of red “blood” to Batman’s injuries.


PAGE 79

Panel 1

The sound effect “ZZZATTT” is deleted.

Panel 2

AMAZON: We already have. The Purple Death Ray has been completed.

Changed to…

AMAZON: We already have.


PAGE 87

Panels 1 & 2

The color of the building changes from blue to violet. Red speed effects for Superman have been added.


PAGE 88

Panel 8

The sound effect “KRA-KOOOM” is deleted.


PAGE 93

Panel 9

WONDER WOMAN: Go.

Changed to…

WONDER WOMAN: Go, sisters.


PAGE 97

Panel 7

BATMAN: Is he a better man on your Earth than he is on mine?

Changed to…

BATMAN: You said this Earth corrupts everything. Is the Dick Grayson of my Earth a corrupted version of yours?


PAGE 99

Panel 2

Lex Luthor’s speed effects changed from blue to purple.

In the new version, there are images in the crystals that Luthor crashes into.

Panel 6

Line added…

ALEX: My hologram…


PAGE 109

Panel 2

Breach colored correctly.


PAGE 112

Panel 9

Addition of lightning effects around Power Girl and Alexander Luthor.


PAGE 113

Panel 6

Addition of red and blue speed effects, representing Superman.


PAGE 119

Panel 8

SUPERBOY: Come on, you mother-

Changed to…

SUPERBOY: Come on --!


PAGE 120

Panel 1

Addition of the image of Superman of Earth-2 on the Batcomputer screen.


PAGE 125

Panel 5

No actual changes here, but there is an alternate image for this panel on page 257 of the collected edition.


PAGE 133

Panel 1

CAPTION: SPACE SECTOR 2814

Changed to…

CAPTION: SPACE SECTOR: 2862

[Lonewolf36]

PAGE 139

Panel 5

ZAURIAL CAPTION: God works in mysterious ways…

Moved to Page 141.


PAGES 140 & 141

New pages, depicting a gathering of heroes at the memorial service. Most of the lesser-known characters depicted here are former Titans, New Bloods, or members of Hero Hotline. Starting from the top left corner, and moving back and forth across the pages, we have…

Judomaster, Samurai, the Chief, Elasti-Girl, Mento, Blue Devil, Vixen, Bronze Tiger, Captain Marvel, Jr, Halo, Sparx, Lionheart (legs only), Question, Huntress, Loose Cannon, Odd Man, Anima, Grace, Protector, Hackington, Razorsharp, Ballistic (lower torso and legs only), Stretch, Angel & the Ape, Geist, Mongrel, Nightblade, Dinky the Debil Bat (I kid you not), Microwaveabelle/Microwave Mom, Lian Harper, Technocrat, Arsenal, Terra, geo-Force, Nightmaster, Skyrocket, Bork, Freak, Detective Chimp, Cherub, Epiphany, Agent Liberty, Red Star, Beast Boy, Raven, Grunt, Nudge, Harlequin/Joker’s Daughter, Argent, Joto, Empress, Fever, Negative Man, Jamm, Robotman, Robin, Sapphire, Manhattan Guardian, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Green Lantern (John Stewart), Katana, Metamorpho, Thunder, Black Lightning, Steel (John Henry Irons), Steel (Natasha Irons), Gypsy, Traci 13, Mary Marvel, Stargirl, Dr. Midnite, Thunder & Lightning.


Whew. And if you think I am joking about that Dinky the Devil Bat guy, you have another thing coming. I never joke about Hero Hotline…


PAGE 149

Panel 5

LOIS: With all your powers, with everything that you saw and did…you still never…

Changed to…

LOIS: I see the truth now, Clark. A truth Alexander didn’t see…there’s something else out there…out there…


PAGE 152

Panel 11

The “glowing” effect around Diana Prince has been toned down.


PAGE 155

Panel 4

Alexander Luthor’s Worldview displays are tinted red.


PAGE 156

Panel 4

WONDER WOMAN (Earth-2): But now that I’ve left Olympus, the gods’ blessings are fading. Soon I’ll no longer exist.

Changed to…

WONDER WOMAN (Earth-2): But now that I’ve left Olympus, the gods’ blessings to keep me here are fading. I’m being pulled…somewhere.


PAGE 172

The background image of the multiple Earths is changed, with them appearing less organized and more chaotic.


PAGE 176

Panel 4

The Scarab’s glyphs are added to the Blue Beetle’s Point of view, to better reflect how he “sees” things.

Panel 6

The sound effect “KZZAT” removed.


PAGE 182

Panels 6 & 7

PSYCHO PIRATE: I can feel them. Phantom beings from the fabric of Earth-One and Earth-Two, pulled from their restful peace, reborn in pain and given essence – then destroyed. Billions at a time.

ALEX: I planted this garden, Psycho-Pirate. I have every right to tend to it.

Changed to…

PSYCHO PIRATE: I can feel phantom beings pulled from the fabrics of the multiverse, recreated and destroyed. For some reason Earth-Two remains vacant. Why when billions of other beings appear across the multiverse like ghosts, reborn…then destroyed.

ALEX: The anomalies of Earth-Two are not my concern. Finding them perfect Earth is.


PAGES 212-213

These aren’t new pages, but in the original version of IC #7, the background characters were not inked or colored. For the collected edition, these pages have been finished. Starting at the top left corner, and moving back and forth across the two pages, we have…

Amazo, Breach, Giganta, Elasti-Girl, Beast Boy, Per Degaton, Firefly, Lady Quark, Stargirl, Black Adam, Bizarro, Plastic Man, Thunderbolt, Steel II, Plasmus, Harley Quinn, Black manta, Technocrat, Joto, Solomon Grundy, Terra, Agent Liberty, Zatanna, Gearhead, Atomic Skull, Gentleman Ghost, Bulleteer, the Spectrumonster, Zebra Man, Cyborgirl, Steel III, Professor Haley, Planet Master, Stretch, Looker, Fastball, Striker Z, Halo, Northwind, Flamebird, Dinky the Devil Bat, Metamorpho, Tarpit, Taylor, Grace, the Key, Odd Man, Onomatopoeia, Tally Man, Electrocutioner, Mr. Freeze, Manhattan Guardian, Phobia, Invisible Destroyer, Murmur, Iron Cross, Robotman, Floronic Man, Shrapnel, Mad Hatter, Katana, Brutale, Dr. Sivana, Aquaman, Starro thing, Detective Chimp, Headhunter, Professor Ivo, Negative Man, Manhunter, Klarion, Teekl, Provoke, Hardhat, Mr. Zsasz and Shimmer.

Also Ambush Bug and Mister Who are both on the 2 pg spread though not listed by the author.


PAGE 214

Panel 1

Line added…

BANE: I finally know what I am. I am Bane. I break people.

Panel 4

Line added…

SHINIG KNIGHT: Good night, jester!

Panel 6

Line added…

SOLOMON GRUNDY: RRRARRR—

Panel 7

Sound effect “VZZZZZZZ” removed.


PAGE 215

Panel 4

ALEX: This isn’t Earth-One, Superboy. It never really was. And now this unified world, this “New Earth,” has been altered again. There are changes within its history.

Changed to…

ALEX: This isn’t Earth-One, Superboy. In fact, it never was. I miscalculated. I tried to divide a new Earth. Instead I only altered its history.


PAGE 218

Panel 7

WILDCAT: I think I remember. That’s him.

Changed to…

WILDCAT: It looks like Superman.


PAGE 222

Panel 4

Sound effect “CHOOMM” removed.


PAGE 223

A new page, depicting Batman, Robin and Nightwing in battle against Deathstroke the Terminator.


PAGE 229

Panel 8

Line added…

SUPERMAN: For tomorrow!


PAGE 230

A new page, depicting more of the battle in Metropolis. Also important for showing that Nightwing is, in fact, alive.


PAGE 231

Panel 11

Sound effect “CHAK” removed.


PAGE 232

Panel 17

Line added…

DR. MID-NITE (off-panel): He’s going to be fine.

Line removed…

SUPERBOY-PRIME: Where do you think we’re going?


PAGE 233

Panel 1

Line added…

SUPERBOY-PRIME: Where are you taking me?


PAGE 240

Panels 7 & 8

Lines added…

SUPERMAN of EARTH-2: …one day, you’ll see…they’re still out there…


PAGE 244

Panel 2

Dick Grayson now has a cast on his right arm.


PAGES 246 & 247

Okay, the two-page spread of the heroes of the DC Universe by Joe Bennett in IC #7 was good. Not great, but good.

This one, by George Pérez, isn’t great. It’s absolutely fantastic. Bennett’s depicted 85 heroes…the new one showcases 116. And the one thing that Pérez does, better than any other artist, is that he not only can draw an army of characters racing towards you, but he also grounds them in the same plane. They interact. Fly together, race one another, climb on one another’s bodies. It’s not just a flat piece of artwork. Rather, it’s a true snapshot of these characters.

And, so, once more, with feeling…


Top left corner of Page 246, downward:

Wonder Woman I, the Chief, Dr. Will Magnus, Question, S.T.R.I.P.E., Oracle [a little iffy on this one, but I can’t figure out who else it can be…], Vixen, Black Canary II, Stargirl, Ion, Huntress, OMAC, Gypsy, Captain Marvel II/Shazam [not sure what his name actually is right now…], Detective Chimp, Flash I, Elongated Man, Phantom Lady III, Aquaman II and Teekl.


Bottom, middle of Page 246, upward:

Green Arrow I, Tin, Sand, Doll Man III, Negative Man, Hawkman I, Thunder II, Starfire, Blue Beetle III, Enchantress, Wildcat I, Kid Devil, Nightwing I, Mary Marvel, Shining Knight II, Katana and Lady Blackhawk.


Top right corner of Page 246, downward:

Batman I, Zatanna, Blue Devil, Nightmaster, Isis, Ragman, Raven, Red Tornado II, Green Lantern I [wearing his Checkmate outfit], Martian Manhunter, Ray III, Marvel, Black Lightning, Spectre III, Gold, Elasti-Girl, Lobo, Green Lantern III, Black Adam, Frankenstein and the Human Bomb II.


Bottom left corner of Page 247, upward:

Bumblebee, Hourman II, Mr. Terrific II, Robotman II, Animal Man, Metamorpho, Mercury, Dr. Light II, Green Lantern II, Catman, Starman VIII, Supergirl III, Phantom Stranger, Bulleteer, Firehawk and Robin III.


Top, middle of Page 247, downward:

Black Condor III, Hawkgirl II, Guy Gardner, Nightshade, Jakeem Thunder, Thunderbolt, Monolith, Captain Atom, Manhunter IV, Klarion, Captain Boomerang II, Dr. Mid-Nite II, Uncle Sam, Platinum, Power Girl, Beast Boy, Dr. Fate [helmet only], Manhattan Guardian, Plastic Man, Lady Shiva, Grace, Creeper and Lead.


Bottom right corner of Page 247, upward:

Flash V, Speedy II, Iron, Atom IV, Ravager, Copper [I have no idea if this Metal Man is named Copper…he looks like a “Copper”, and I feel the need to call it something…], Catwoman II [I assume it is Holly, although it can very well be Selina…], Skeets, Fire, Cyborg, Booster Gold, Troia, Adam Strange, Sasha Bordeaux, Wonder Girl II, Batwoman, Firestorm II, Steel II, Steel III and Superman.

[Kieralinn]

Is that supposed to be Barbara Gordan? I never saw her in that red batgirl suit before?

[Paul Newell]

PSYCHO PIRATE: I can feel phantom beings pulled from the fabrics of the multiverse, recreated and destroyed. For some reason Earth-Two remains vacant. Why when billions of other beings appear across the multiverse like ghosts, reborn…then destroyed.

ALEX: The anomalies of Earth-Two are not my concern. Finding them perfect Earth is.

Y'know, thinking about this anomaly, I think I might have the answer. When Alex recreates Earth-2 he didn't use Kal-L as a "conduit" for recreating the Earth's of the Multiverse. The planet was only populated by those existing heroes that were na