Guardian Special (New Krypton #3)

[Seraku]

http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=23763

[CBikle]

Looks good. I liked the interaction between Guardian and that thing in the glass cage.

The dialogue with the two Cadmus guards seemed a little forced though.

[Joe Acro]

...Tellus?

That seems out of left field.

[Sean Walsh]

...I take it reading the Jimmy Olsen Special would help clear up some of the "Hrm"s I had while reading this one....?

Otherwise, interesting read.

[CYOTI]

I guess James Robinson really wants a female Guardian. He was setting up the lady in his OYL Batman story and of course we are now introduced to a girl who was created from Manhunter and Guardian.

[Ghost Shark]

I guess James Robinson really wants a female Guardian. He was setting up the lady in his OYL Batman story and of course we are now introduced to a girl who was created from Manhunter and Guardian.

Guardhunter?

Mandian?


And yeah, Tellus took me by surprise too. Was there any mention of him in Johns' JSA or Superman Legion stories? I don't recall.

[Joe Acro]

And yeah, Tellus took me by surprise too. Was there any mention of him in Johns' JSA or Superman Legion stories? I don't recall.
I don't recall for sure, but he might've been one of the members considered "missing" at the start of the Legion of Three Worlds.

[We R. Venom]

I have just started reading Superman(monthly) and I love the New Krypton arc. It is what brung me to start reading Superman after all. I do have some other trades and such. But anyway I loved the first two issues of New Krypton. but this third issue I must admit I have no clue what was going on. guess I have some catching up to do. I thought the issues would flow, but with this one shot I was konda lost. I'm sure itll pick up again.

[Rix]

Oops, just left the comic shop and missed this one! Thought I only had to worry about Supes, Action and Supergirl from here on out!

[Desaad]

I have just started reading Superman(monthly) and I love the New Krypton arc. It is what brung me to start reading Superman after all. I do have some other trades and such. But anyway I loved the first two issues of New Krypton. but this third issue I must admit I have no clue what was going on. guess I have some catching up to do. I thought the issues would flow, but with this one shot I was konda lost. I'm sure itll pick up again.

Be sure to pick up the Jimmy Olsen one shot that came out 3 weeks back or so. It's required reading for this special and absolutely plays into the first issue of New Krypton and will probably all play in more down the line.

This one shot makes perfect sense - and is really excellent - but only if you read the Jimmy Olsen one shot (written by Robinson, with a few different artists).

[We R. Venom]

Be sure to pick up the Jimmy Olsen one shot that came out 3 weeks back or so. It's required reading for this special and absolutely plays into the first issue of New Krypton and will probably all play in more down the line.

This one shot makes perfect sense - and is really excellent - but only if you read the Jimmy Olsen one shot (written by Robinson, with a few different artists).

Son of a Bitch. The lady at the shop told me to get it and I just starred at it and said i'd get it later. Didn't think it'd be important.

[CBikle]

I liked this issue, especially Harper's concerns about whether or not he has a soul.

Also interesting how they tied Cadmus to the Paul Kirk Manhunter.

[Binker]

By Nathaniel Ruff (also known as Binker, Binker2 and Nate on many forums)

ADVENTURE COMICS SPECIAL FEATURING THE GUARDIAN

Written by James Robinson
Art by Pere Perez
Cover by Aaron Lopresti
Variant Cover by Victor Ibánéz
Edited by Matt Idelson

PLOT:
At last! The true origin of the Guardian of Metropolis is revealed! Following directly on from last month's SUPERMAN'S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN SPECIAL #1, we learn the fantastic and sometimes terrible past of one of DC's most mysterious heroes. How did the first clone of the Golden Age Guardian come into existence at the hands of the Cadmus Project? We'll also introduce a mysterious young girl the Guardian has sworn to protect – even at the expense of the Cadmus Project, and, if need be, his very life!

REVIEW:
The pacing from part 2 of "New Krypton" would crush any concerns readers might have from Robinson's writing after his "Atlas" arc. Not that his arc was bad, it was the first two issues that had the concerned feeling. With the introduction of new character, Thara Ak Var, whom might be Superwoman, three developments and one big threat at the end, that issue had nothing wrong with it. But before we continue on, we must resume Jimmy Olsen's side of things with a special one-shot on the Guardian! Let's take a look.

I want people to know that, despite the triangle with the "3" on it, indicating that this is part 3 of "New Krypton", this is NOT the actual part 3 to this storyline. Where we left off from "Superman" #681 will continue in the next issue of "Action Comics", schedule for the next week from this review. What this one-shot is about is basically a continuation to the one-shot "Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen", which was seen by me as dull, non-exciting, and above all a disappointment. However, the fact that this is the second one-shot special on Jimmy Olsen shows that when Johns, Robinson, and Gates said they had plans for the character, they weren't lying. But basically, let me dive into the one-shot itself.

Continuing Jimmy Olsen's adventure; the story in this issue focuses on one of the characters from this event that has been in mystery because of it: the Guardian. First of all, the number of pages was shorter than the "Jimmy Olsen" one-shot, and secondly, because of the shorter page count, or probably because like "Atlas" the next part(s) are better than the first, I felt that "the Guardian" one-shot was better. Diving right into Jim Harper, or the clone of Jim Harper's, life gets us ready by the issue's end for his role in "New Krypton". But his life, as he tells to Jimmy Olsen, is sad from when he finds outs who and what he is. A clone among other clones of the same man, and not feeling like his own, that will be enough to get someone like this guy depressed. He does have a daughter, who happened to be a female clone, and it is up in the air if a big of a role for the Guardian will be applied for her. Doubtful, unless she and him will be considered pretty much as one. But with Johns, Robinson, and Gates together, you wouldn't know what to expect. And after this, same thing applies.

Overall, and okay, this one-shot was better than the "Jimmy Olsen" one-shot. Whether or not you would consider these two one-shots much like Robinson's "Atlas" where the first part wasn't that much good, but then the next one(s) were improvements, is basically up in the air. I think these two were like that, and I'm going to stick by that. Now, with the one-shots done, time to resume with the Superman books. Next up is "Action Comics" #871 where we will face Doomsday, more on New Krypton and the world at large, and from the solicits, the new Nightwing and Flamebird. Next week seems so close, yet far away.

RATING: Yay

Next Issue: In "Action" #871, while the world believes the New Kryptonians will be like Superman, an army builds and who are the new Nightwing and Flamebird?

[Sandy Hausler]

Looks good. I liked the interaction between Guardian and that thing in the glass cage.

The dialogue with the two Cadmus guards seemed a little forced though.

Just curious. All the Grant Morrison characters, including Guardian, have been discarded, right? The only two I cared for was Bulleteer and Frankenstein, so if that version of the Guardian is gone, I don't really care, but it is kind of odd since they made such a big thing of the series and it seemed to go on forever.

Sandy Hausler

[Magneto Rocks]

Now this was quite an interesting read. It hearkens back to a bizarre mix of 90s-era Superman (I'm not a fan....) and 70s Kirby Jimmy Olsen (I'm a HUGE fan!) so I did appreciate some of it. I love that someone is trying to modernise Olsen and those old tales, even if Morrison's doing it better. This gives me hope that Robinson is still a strong writer- it's just the character of Superman he cannot write.

[Mat001]

Just curious. All the Grant Morrison characters, including Guardian, have been discarded, right? The only two I cared for was Bulleteer and Frankenstein, so if that version of the Guardian is gone, I don't really care, but it is kind of odd since they made such a big thing of the series and it seemed to go on forever.

Sandy Hausler

No, all of "Seven Soldiers" still happened. It's the foundation for "Final Crisis". The Manhatten Guardian is still around and his part will be dealt with in the future.

[Sandy Hausler]

No, all of "Seven Soldiers" still happened. It's the foundation for "Final Crisis". The Manhatten Guardian is still around and his part will be dealt with in the future.

Oy!

Sandy Hausler

[CBikle]

Oy!

Sandy Hausler

Fortunately, the Manhattan Guardian is a NYC hero, so at least you don't have the two of them running around Metropolis.

Also, it helps that the Manhattan Guardian doesn't have any connection with Cadmus (his employers bought the rights to the "Guardian" persona from Cadmus though).

[Sean Walsh]

Fortunately, the Manhattan Guardian is a NYC hero, so at least you don't have the two of them running around Metropolis.

Also, it helps that the Manhattan Guardian doesn't have any connection with Cadmus (his employers bought the rights to the "Guardian" persona from Cadmus though).

There was a line in this special, though, about how there were other Guardians running around out there. So if DC decides to "discontinue" the adventures of the Manhattan Guardian, they can just say "Oh, he was one of Jim Harper's altered clones."

And yes, I realize MG's black. But Cadmus is wacky and headed up by a horned version of Roger from American Dad; I presume anything's possible with them...

[CBikle]

There was a line in this special, though, about how there were other Guardians running around out there. So if DC decides to "discontinue" the adventures of the Manhattan Guardian, they can just say "Oh, he was one of Jim Harper's altered clones."


I suppose, but the Manhattan Guardian was basically a disgraced ex-cop with good training. I don't see how making him a clone fixes anything ?

[Will.S]

Why was this New Krypton #3?

This book didn't even follow up to the cliffhanger in Superman so why advertise it as such?

[md62]

Why was this New Krypton #3?

This book didn't even follow up to the cliffhanger in Superman so why advertise it as such?

I'm guessing from the last page that The Guardian has a more expanded role later on in this series plus I think Adventure Comics will spin off from New Krypton with The Guardian & Jimmy Olsen being the main focus.

[Spiffy]

I'm guessing from the last page that The Guardian has a more expanded role later on in this series plus I think Adventure Comics will spin off from New Krypton with The Guardian & Jimmy Olsen being the main focus.
This is the part of New Krypton that's boring me to tears, so I hope not. Or if it is, they'd better amp it up a bit.

[Mat001]

What happened is that the Jimmy Olsen one-shot was getting too big. So Idelson and Didio allowed Robinson to split the story in two-parts. At the start of the issue is a footnote telling us that this takes place before Jimmy returned to Metropolis.

[HEROHOUSE]

both these Jimmy O specials have been top notch. Robinson is great at making obscure characters interesting....

[Sean Walsh]

This is the part of New Krypton that's boring me to tears, so I hope not. Or if it is, they'd better amp it up a bit.

I liked this; in fact, I forgot all about New Krypton as I was reading this.

It was a nice mix of the 90's Cadmus weirdness and the 70's Jimmy Olsen wackiness.

[Jack Tango]

Just curious. All the Grant Morrison characters, including Guardian, have been discarded, right? The only two I cared for was Bulleteer and Frankenstein, so if that version of the Guardian is gone, I don't really care, but it is kind of odd since they made such a big thing of the series and it seemed to go on forever.

Sandy Hausler

No, they still exist until otherwise contradicted. For example, Morrison's Guardian was in Manhattan, and seemed to simply take up the name (while the regular Guardian was M.I.A.).

Klarion is still around somewhere, Shining Knight hasn't been seen, Zatana's always around, and Mr. Miracle is in Final Crisis.

[Mat001]

Along with Frakenstein, who was in issue three. The Bulleteer was last seen in the pages of "52".

[AdamYJ]

Wow. I just remember the Guardian as being this guy who always seemed to be in Metropolis helping Superman during the '90s. And as a guy who worked at Cadmus (and got cloned by them) when Superboy was there. Guess there's darker stuff going on with that.

[rick]

...Tellus?

That seems out of left field.


That actually surprised the heck out of me.

I mean talk about characters popping up out of the blue.

Still, it got my attetion and pretty much made certain that I'll be following the story as it goes on.

[Mat001]

Wow. I just remember the Guardian as being this guy who always seemed to be in Metropolis helping Superman during the '90s. And as a guy who worked at Cadmus (and got cloned by them) when Superboy was there. Guess there's darker stuff going on with that.

Well, Clark's never fully trusted Cadmus. And there was always potential that Cadmus had more going on that went beyond what Dabny Donovan ever did. Much less what Paul Westfield attempted.

[AdamYJ]

Well, Clark's never fully trusted Cadmus. And there was always potential that Cadmus had more going on that went beyond what Dabny Donovan ever did. Much less what Paul Westfield attempted.

Okay.

By the way, who's Dabny Donovan again?

Oh, and before I forget, who's Tellus? Some sort of Legionnaire?

:confused:

[rick]

Okay.

By the way, who's Dabny Donovan again?

Oh, and before I forget, who's Tellus? Some sort of Legionnaire?

:confused:

Dabny Donovan is a Kirby created mad scientist who keeps getting killed, but keeps on turning up alive a few years later.

And yes, Tellus is a kick-ass late Levitz/Giffin era Legionnaire.

[Blueferret]

So... was the line about the Science Police coming to get him a way to tell readers who Tellus was if they mentioned the flight ring or is the Legion going to be involved with Adventure when it launches?

[Mat001]

Okay.

By the way, who's Dabny Donovan again?

Oh, and before I forget, who's Tellus? Some sort of Legionnaire?

:confused:

Donovan was one of the leading geneticist at Cadmus, but the man was insane. He was responsible for the creation of the DNAliens such as Dubbliex (sp). When it was discovered that he was completely insane, Cadmus attempted to stop him at which point he faked his death with a clone. Over the years, he caused trouble for Cadmus, Superman and Lex Luthor.

[SeritoNiN]

I didn't care for the Jimmy Olsen special a few weeks back, the diaogue was just everywhere, very unfocused, so I bought this because it had "new krypton" on the cover but expected it to be rather boring, I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself feeling it was a good little story.