Blackest Night #0 Spoilers!!!!

[Samuraixsithlord]

Barry and Hal meet by Batman's grave and discuss life and death and what it means to be alive again after being dead. They both feel that something big and cosmic is on the way. They discuss the deaths of Batman, Martian Manhunter, and Aquaman. Barry assures Hal that Batman won't be dead for long as "Batman always had a plan". Barry hopes that they all comeback some day.

As Barry and Hal leave the cemetary we're shown Black Hand visiting and digging up the graves of Batman, Ralph Dibney and his wife, as well as Ronnie Raymond.

He recites the Black Lantern Oath while poring power into the remains, while Scar looks on.

"The Blackest Night
Falls from the Sky
The Darkness Grows
as all light dies
We crave your hearts and your demise
by my black hand, the dead shall rise!"

We then get some back ground info on the different lantern corps. Nothing we didn't already know, no info on the Indigo Tribe. We find out that the Orange Lanterns are only avatar's that Larfleeze makes from the remains of creatures he has killed and that the ring aura of the orange lanterns are addictive. Also Larfleeze is the last keeper of the orange light. with the Black Lanterns we see a pic of some dead hands rising out of graves, I can make out Earth 1 Superman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Ralph and Sue, no Batman and a few other's that may be dead titans. The Black Lanterns homeworld is the Dead World of Ryyt.

[fin5]

We didnt get it yet

[bongoes]

I saw it today at my local comic shop. It looked awesome. Especially for a free comic.
Though with Ralph and Sue as ghosts how can they come back to life? I'm confused.:confused:

[Buried Alien]

When is this year's Free Comic Day?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Samuraixsithlord]

free comic day is listed as being May 2, but this was at my comic shop so i got it for free. shipping error i guess

[Kid Kyoto]

I saw it today at my local comic shop. It looked awesome. Especially for a free comic.
Though with Ralph and Sue as ghosts how can they come back to life? I'm confused.:confused:

A wizard did it.

[CMBMOOL]

AW, SNAP!!! :eek:

We're in for it now. Also nice mention by Barry over the Bats always having a back-up plan. :tongue:

[Name Already Taken]

with the Black Lanterns we see a pic of some dead hands rising out of graves, I can make out Earth 1 Superman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Ralph and Sue, no Batman and a few other's that may be dead titans.


It looks like the first mirror master is in that category as well

[Retro315]

A wizard did it.

It's the bodies that are zombified. I'm curious whether or not we'll see ghost Ralph and Sue shaking their heads in horror at their bodies wreaking havoc as Black Lanterns ... or if the "resurrection" will trap their souls to the bodies as if chained, and they'll get dragged around by their zombified corpses.

Same case with Batman - sure, technically he was zapped from one corporeal plane to another one by the Omega Beam, but it left a husk of a corpse of a body.

[Buried Alien]

AW, SNAP!!! :eek:

We're in for it now. Also nice mention by Barry over the Bats always having a back-up plan. :tongue:

Perhaps because they're both sober-minded detectives, Barry Allen and Bruce Wayne have always had a special professional respect for each other. Bruce once remarked that if it were not for his family's tragedy, he might have grown up to be a man like Barry. Barry is the sort of man that Bruce could see himself being in a better world.

I also don't think it was just an accident that before Barry died in COIE, the last person he saw was Batman. Although Marv Wolfman never stated it outright, I think Barry instinctively materialized before Batman (of all people) because he knew that he didn't have much time...that he had to warn the others about the coming Crisis and if anybody could figure out what was going on based on the very limited information the dying Barry could provide, that person had to be the Dark Knight Detective.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Hawkman]

Samurai, could you give me a rundown of the scene featuring Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Atom, please? I've been told it's very brief, but I've read no actual details on it. Is anything said by the characters, or is just used as an indicator that they, along with various others, will be featured in the event somehow?

And thanks for posting the spoilers, by the way.:smile:

[Guicho]

It's one narrow panel no dialogue , of them flying over the cemetery, that is all.
And it's the only panel which cuts away from the main threw story of the issue which is Hal & Barry enter cemetery discus death and exit cemetery-> to Black Hand arrives at cemetery does creepy necromancy.
Making that one panel of the Hawks & the Atom really stand out oddly, but in a good kick-ass way! Cause the one shot of Atom (Palmer) riding on Hawkman's shoulder alone was worth the price!
Well it was free, but you know what I mean.

[Hawkman]

It's one narrow panel no dialogue , of them flying over the cemetery, that is all.
And it's the only panel which cuts away from the main threw story of the issue which is Hal & Barry enter cemetery discus death and exit cemetery-> to Black Hand arrives at cemetery does necromancy. Making that one Hawks & Atom panel really stand out oddly, but in a good way!
Thank you, Guicho! I sure hope it's not a bad omen for the Hawks, though...

[Buried Alien]

As Barry and Hal leave the cemetary we're shown Black Hand visiting and digging up the graves of Batman, Ralph Dibney and his wife, as well as Ronnie Raymond.


It's ironic that just a few years ago, all those people that the Black Hand is digging up were alive while Barry and Hal were the dead ones. Now, Barry and Hal are back among the living, but those others are dead.

What will it take to have everybody alive in the DCU again?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Retro315]

It's ironic that just a few years ago, all those people that the Black Hand is digging up were alive while Barry and Hal were the dead ones. Now, Barry and Hal are back among the living, but those others are dead.

What will it take to have everybody alive in the DCU again?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

... Brightest Day?

[Mac]

Geoff is amazing.


Sidenote: I LOVE where he's taking Barry Allen. Cutting off Hal several times while speaking just keeps his new character building by not stopping...ever. Love it.

Anyway.
The main thing that was amazing about this issue (as a Batman fan) was the line about Tim. For one, it directly implies Tim's the one who doesn't believe Bruce is dead --> Group that with Red Robin solicits = Bam. There's Red Robin for sure. No doubt anymore.
And two;
"You haven't met him yet. He's the current Robin."
"Right..Tim Drake. I like him already."

I don't know why, but I loved these few panels.
Also...possible hint as to who's accompanying Tim on his search for Bruce? Hrm.


Anyway, Red Robin speculation aside- Great prelude to BN. The pages detailing the corps were very needed.

[Raker616]

Yeah i'm going to have to go and track this down when it comes out the second Blackest Night is the event of the year and with Hal and Barry back in the DCU this just gets better and better.

[Spiffy]

Wait. Wasn't a MAJOR plotpoint last year (in Nightwing, I think) made about how the JLA was removing the bodies of dead heroes from public cemeteries and storing them in some secret facility somewhere? What the hell happened to THAT?

Or does the continuity of Nightwing just not count?

[CYOTI]

Have you not noticed that the guy who wrote that story is also doing GLC and was the previous editor for GL?

Guess the most obvious reason for that story flew over your head namely as set up for Blackest Night.

[Mac]

Oh that's a really good point Spiffy.
Though, I thought that was only for a few certain dead heroes- not any deceased super hero/villain. (Though I may be mistaken on this one).

Considering Tomasi is working with Geoff on ironing out everything BN related to make sure all the on-going books coincide with the event, you'd think he may voice in that pivital event as a key plot point to some of these heroes returning as Black Lanterns.


Edit: Ninja'd by CYOTI.

[Hawkman]

Not to be a pessimist, but after reading the spoiler thread for Blackest Night #0 over on Newsarama and how out-of-place the Hawkman and Hawkgirl appearance is, I've come to conclusion that they're going to bite it in #1. Combined with what DiDio told me at Mega Con ("You're really going to hate me after reading [Blackest Night #1]"), I'm thinking DC merely postponed their deaths in Final Crisis for this. I can see them flying over the cemetery, seeing what's going on, confronting Black Hand, getting quickly overwhelmed and killed in the process, and Atom shrinking down and barely escaping to tell everyone else what just happened. It would open the series with an "Oh, crap..." moment, showing what a real threat the Black Lanterns are, serving much the same purpose Martian Manhunter's death served in Final Crisis #1.

It's probably important for me to note, however, that DiDio also assured me that I would be "pleasantly surprised" with where Hawkman eventually wound up, though he was going to be "put through the wringer" before getting there.

Hopefully I'm wrong, though, because even with DiDio's assurances I'd rather not see Hawkman (or Hawkgirl) dead for any length of time.

[Buried Alien]

Not to be a pessimist, but after reading the spoiler thread for Blackest Night #0 over on Newsarama and how out-of-place the Hawkman and Hawkgirl appearance is, I've come to conclusion that they're going to bite it in #1. Combined with what DiDio told me at Mega Con ("You're really going to hate me after reading [Blackest Night #1]"), I'm thinking DC merely postponed their deaths in Final Crisis for this. I can see them flying over the cemetery, seeing what's going on, confronting Black Hand, getting quickly overwhelmed and killed in the process, and Atom shrinking down and barely escaping to tell everyone else what just happened. It would open the series with an "Oh, crap..." moment, showing what a real threat the Black Lanterns are, serving much the same purpose Martian Manhunter's death served in Final Crisis #1.

It's probably important for me to note, however, that DiDio also assured me that I would be "pleasantly surprised" with where Hawkman eventually wound up, though he was going to be "put through the wringer" before getting there.

Hopefully I'm wrong, though, because even with DiDio's assurances I'd rather not see Hawkman (or Hawkgirl) dead for any length of time.

Reincarnation is in the Hawks' literary and literal DNA, so even if their current incarnations are killed off in BLACKEST NIGHT, they'll be back.

The question, however, is whether or not we'll like the next incarnation of the Hawks.

Also, wasn't Hawkman's fate foreshadowed in some comic last year done by the same team that did DEATH OF THE NEW GODS?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[CYOTI]

Reincarnation is in the Hawks' literary and literal DNA, so even if their current incarnations are killed off in BLACKEST NIGHT, they'll be back.

The question, however, is whether or not we'll like the next incarnation of the Hawks.

Also, wasn't Hawkman's fate foreshadowed in some comic last year done by the same team that did DEATH OF THE NEW GODS?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
That story ignored by every other writer and thrown under the bus by Didio himself?

[Buried Alien]

That story ignored by every other writer and thrown under the bus by Didio himself?

It wasn't DEATH OF THE NEW GODS, though, but RANN-THANAGAR HOLY WAR, which was illustrated by the same artist. I don't think the writer was the same.

Hawkman's discussion with the Demiurge in that issue seemed to point the way for the future of the character, but it remains to be seen if that'll be followed up. What I'm hoping is that we'll finally get it straightened out what's really become of Katar Hol.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[CYOTI]

Hawkman's discussion with the Demiurge in that issue seemed to point the way for the future of the character, but it remains to be seen if that'll be followed up. What I'm hoping is that we'll finally get it straightened out what's really become of Katar Hol.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
Thats the story I'm talking about. Didio has pretty much said that it was a bad idea.

[Buried Alien]

Thats the story I'm talking about. Didio has pretty much said that it was a bad idea.

He's been known to change his mind about things, and quite abruptly. As recently as two years ago, Didio was reportedly adamantly against bringing back Barry Allen...and look where we are now.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[CYOTI]

^What? From what I understand they were originally going to bring Barry back during Infinite Crisis!!

[Spiffy]

Have you not noticed that the guy who wrote that story is also doing GLC and was the previous editor for GL?

Guess the most obvious reason for that story flew over your head namely as set up for Blackest Night.
Over my head? How?

The fact that the writer of one story is involved in the second story doesn't mean this is magically not an issue. How's it a "set up" if its ignored?

The Nightwing story established that the superhero community was concerned with the bodies of deceased heroes being taken from public cemeteries and used by supervillians for nefarious purposes. Now we have another story, clearly later in the DC timeline, where hero bodies are still in public cemeteries and... are taken by a supervillian for a nefarious purpose. So its a valid question to ask "why were those bodies even THERE?" Me asking this doesn't translate to "some dumb reader not getting it", unless you, CYOTI, can tell me why those bodies were where they were.

Oh that's a really good point Spiffy.
Though, I thought that was only for a few certain dead heroes- not any deceased super hero/villain. (Though I may be mistaken on this one).
I wish I had that issue of "Wing" handy so I could check. If you do, please go look. I could swear there was some implication that Nightwing instructed the League to make sure ALL the bodies were "protected" since they had no way of knowing which ones would be targeted.

[Buried Alien]

^What? From what I understand they were originally going to bring Barry back during Infinite Crisis!!

And I think it was Didio himself who overruled it, at the time not yet planning to revive Barry in FINAL CRISIS (which was yet to be conceived).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Thok]

The Nightwing story established that the superhero community was concerned with the bodies of deceased heroes being taken from public cemeteries and used by supervillians for nefarious purposes. Now we have another story, clearly later in the DC timeline, where hero bodies are still in public cemeteries and... are taken by a supervillian for a nefarious purpose. So its a valid question to ask "why were those bodies even THERE?" Me asking this doesn't translate to "some dumb reader not getting it", unless you, CYOTI, can tell me why those bodies were where they were.

Were the plans actually implemented in Nightwing, or merely discussed? One might imagine that a certain Final Crisis, along with the events of New Krypton might have distracted the superhero community from the minor details of actually moving the bodies. (Also, the Battle for the Cowl may have distracted Nightwing in particular.)

[HopeLantern]

Hmm...
still nothing on Indigo, and the Indigo Tribe. I guess they are saving her and her corps for the "Tales of the Corps" limited series...I wonder what sort of impact they will make since they are not appearing until after the Blackest Night series begins.

[TCJohnson]

Also, wasn't Hawkman's fate foreshadowed in some comic last year done by the same team that did DEATH OF THE NEW GODS?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Hawkman was killed off in Final Crisis, but Didio changed his mind at the last minute. McDuffie had already written a scene at the Hawk's grave.

[Iron-boy]

Here's something

http://www.thegreenlanterncorps.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=433&d=1240469001

[JurassicParkIsAnAwesomeMovie]

Here's something

http://www.thegreenlanterncorps.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=433&d=1240469001

Can't view, I signed up for the site, but I'm waiting for comformation from the mod.

[Hawkman]

Reincarnation is in the Hawks' literary and literal DNA, so even if their current incarnations are killed off in BLACKEST NIGHT, they'll be back.

The question, however, is whether or not we'll like the next incarnation of the Hawks.
See, here's the thing that gets me with that. The Hawks don't typically reincarnate into an adult body when they're reborn. Carter's return and Kendra's possession were both special circumstances. Normally they're born and age like anyone else.

Now I agree that the reincarnation aspect makes it a bit more convenient to bring them back when compared to someone like Batman, but to assume that they'll instantly be reborn and ready to fight right after their deaths is assuming too much. There's no reason within the context of the universe itself that they would have to ever be brought back if the powers-that-be didn't want them back. Until Dick Grayson is shown using a walker, Hawkman and Hawgirl could easily be written off as playing in a playground somewhere.

Also, wasn't Hawkman's fate foreshadowed in some comic last year done by the same team that did DEATH OF THE NEW GODS?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
Yeah, Jim Starlin's Hawkman Special, but I took that as foreshadowing for his death in Final Crisis, which was of course changed. He was specifically shown burning up in that issue, much the same way he and Kendra last appeared in FC #7. As of Strange Adventures #1, he's no longer a member of Starlin's "Aberrant Six" either, even though his being a part of that group was a big plot point of the Special. I do believe, though, that his death along with the ramifications of it have simply been pushed back to Blackest Night now.

And DiDio didn't throw that issue under the bus. I asked him about it at Mega Con, and he told me quite bluntly that the questions raised in that issue would play a part in Blackest Night #1. Newsarama's DC Universe panel coverage (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/030209-Mega-DCU.html) featured my question, but they got the phrasing wrong. I didn't mention BN at all in my question; rather, I specifically asked about the Hawkman Special and when the implications of it would be addressed.

After the panel, I went up and met with Dan, (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/VanSlanzardeFanel/S6300227-1.jpg) who told me that they sort of "jumped the gun" on releasing that story, but that the questions it raised would be "a big part of Blackest Night #1."

And while he said something similar to me on Saturday, it was at the Sunday Conversation panel, after I gushed publicly about Hawkman, that Dan stated I was "really going to hate [him] after reading Blackest Night #1." However, after meeting with him after that panel, that's when he told me Hawkman would be "put through the wringer," but that he thought I would be "pleasantly surprised" with where he ended up.

All that being said, Dan volunteered before the audience on Sunday that he always preferred the SA "Thanagarian versions," an opinion I told him I agreed with him on. That comment, coupled with his "you're really going to hate me...," "put through the wringer," and "pleasantly surprised" statements has me thinking Carter and Kendra will be killed off at the beginning of Blackest Night to make way for Katar and Shayera's return at its conclusion, or not long thereafter. The details of how that's all carried out, though, as well as how it's all tied in to the questions posed in the Hawkman Special, I've no idea.

And wow did that become a lot longer of a post than I had intended it to be.:biggrin:

[UserIDGoesHere]

It would open the series with an "Oh, crap..." moment, showing what a real threat the Black Lanterns are, serving much the same purpose Martian Manhunter's death served in Final Crisis #1.
I don't think the old "death of recognizable, longstanding hero in issue one of a mega-event" trick works from a storytelling perspective any more. We've seen it too many times. I don't think it fulfills any purpose its supposed to, like establishing the situation as dire, the villain as a real threat, or making you think "oh crap." Now, it just seems hackish to me. This is one cliche I hope Johns avoids.

[Iron-boy]

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6783/indigotribe.jpg
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6783/indigotribe.jpg

[JurassicParkIsAnAwesomeMovie]

Thanks posting the pic Iron-boy...The main Indigo's in the pic were already seen in the prophecy in SCW, I was hoping to see more new ones...I wonder why DC/Johns don't want to reveal too much info about the tribe?

[_OM_]

... Brightest Day?

...The day Dan Didio gets fired?

[Mongul]

Thanks posting the pic Iron-boy...The main Indigo's in the pic were already seen in the prophecy in SCW, I was hoping to see more new ones...I wonder why DC/Johns don't want to reveal too much info about the tribe?

Keeping them a wildcard type group. Maybe we'll be surprised on who they side with.

[Retro315]

Ethan Van Sciver's got an article on Newsarama discussing the symbols for each Corps and the inspiration (which is in most cases more simple than I figured).

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/040923-Ethan-BN.html

Not a ton to go by, but he points you in the right direction in Rebirth where you could find some very, very early hints about the origins of the Emotional Spectrum.

Also, there's some questions about whether or not "Willpower" is an emotion, since technically all these corps use Willpower to create constructs (albeit using the Willpower to channel the energy).

But we know that the further from the center green you get, the less willpower you have. That being said ... I think you can probably interchange the term Willpower with "Courage" if you need to. The Green Lanterns represent courage.

[Joker2503]

From Van Scriver's Newsarama interview:

NRAMA: Let's talk about the symbols you designed. Can you tell us a little about how you designed them?

EVS: Sure. I mean, the one thing they all have in common, I'm sure almost everyone has noticed by now that there is a ring in the center. There is a circle. And that means something. And that something will be addressed in Blackest Night.

NRAMA: There's more of a meaning to it than just that they all wear rings?

ENLARGE IMAGE
EVS: Absolutely. I think that it's safe to say even the idea of wearing a ring comes from somewhere and means something. There's a lot of symbolism in the Green Lantern mythos that just... you know, it's almost religious. I love it. I think it's neat

One thing I've seen several times is "Why do they all wear rings?" Nice to see that this recurring question will be addressed. This about the tenth "Why is it that...?" thing that either Johns or Van Scriver has said will be somehow covered in 'Blackest Night'. Nice to see them either: A) Reading fans' comments online and addressing their concerns, or B) Just being really smart and staying a step ahead.

[JurassicParkIsAnAwesomeMovie]

Keeping them a wildcard type group. Maybe we'll be surprised on who they side with.

Since they represent compassion, maybe they won't be biassed to side with any other corps, or maybe they'll aide any of the corps that need their help at the moment.

[Retro315]

From Van Scriver's Newsarama interview:



One thing I've seen several times is "Why do they all wear rings?" Nice to see that this recurring question will be addressed. This about the tenth "Why is it that...?" thing that either Johns or Van Scriver has said will be somehow covered in 'Blackest Night'. Nice to see them either: A) Reading fans' comments online and addressing their concerns, or B) Just being really smart and staying a step ahead.

It occurs to me that not every species has fingers ... but serpentine and octopus like species can do rings as well ... and we humans give a lot of symbolic crap about rings for every marriage (it's the circle, unbreaking, of whatever ...)

The whole circle can tie into the emotional spectrum ... the color wheel. I'm sure there's even more.

But I'm curious if they'll actually get a little into the original Green Lantern inspiration - the story of Aladdin. Aladdin, as people will recall (although probably not people whose only exposure is the Disney film) ... Aladdin had a magic lamp (Lamp/Lantern) and a magic ring and they granted wishes. (Speaking of ... could Aladdin have been Green Lantern of Sector 2814 at one point in time?)

[HopeLantern]

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6783/indigotribe.jpg
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6783/indigotribe.jpg

Thank you so much for posting this...I feel like these guys are going to be major players once the Blackest Night starts... Thanks again!

[HopeLantern]

Since they represent compassion, maybe they won't be biassed to side with any other corps, or maybe they'll aide any of the corps that need their help at the moment.

In one of the issues detailing the Blackest Night prophecy, it said they were supposed to spread "Goodwill" towards the universe, plus last issue of GL, the Blue Lanterns apparantly need to find them before the War breaks out. My guess is that you're right, they won't take any sides, but they'll heal the wounded, and may be able to "heal" the Red Lanterns from having so much rage, since end of Red Lanterns depicted the Red Aura as being a type of sickness (Hal is healed after Saint Walker places the Blue Ring on him and "anti toxins" replaced the Napalm with new blood and a new heart). The problem is, they will probably heal everyone non discriminanently to where Larfleeze and Atrocitus and Sinestro could get fatally wounded, the war is almost over and bam... healed again and the war starts back up.

I'm also wondering though... if the tribe will be able to heal people from being "dead"? So that by the end of this Aquaman, Kal-L and Martian Manhunter could be resurrected? I guess we'll see, but it's just a thought as Johns stated they were being kept uber secret for a reason...

[zhivago]

I can't wait to see Ronnie Raymond as Black Lantern

[Karl O'Neill]

My LCS is giving this issue out next satuarday!

I want it now!:biggrin:

[bongoes]

(Speaking of ... could Aladdin have been Green Lantern of Sector 2814 at one point in time?)

That would be cool. I've always wanted a history of the Green Lanterns besides the usual, Manhunters massacre then Guardians start GLs and skip up to Hal getting his ring.

Also, I really want to see some humans being brought into the other corps, besides Carol Ferris and Batman(or in his case offered). Why doesn't a red ring seek out someone on Earth

[pariah-1972]

This was good :eek: i wasn't really expecting to be completely on board but there was so many great character moments that it got in my good graces.
I'm hoping they don't spread things too far with this cross-over but i know that's wishfull thinking right now.

[Name Already Taken]

Not trying to cause trouble, but here are some links to images of each corps.

I'll break them down a few pics at a time. Mods please feel free to delete or alter if you feel the need free up post space when or if quoted. Laid out ROYGBIV with the Black Lanterns on the end.



http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7136/1240449783719.jpg

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6034/1240449830754.jpg

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6039/1240449203753v.jpg

http://http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/4325/1240449723237.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7228/1240449401606.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3084/1240449919444.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4690/1240450048044.jpg

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8466/1240450214035.jpg

[Name Already Taken]

Well that didn't work.

:rolleyes:

[Retro315]

I definitely recognize some of those Black Lantern hands ... there's a Mirror Master ... a Terra ... and what could be Trickster, in addition to the ones we already know like Kal-L, Aquaman, and J'onn J'onzz.

[Redrumbin]

Woah thanks man!

[Retro315]

I got to read this early today. I have nothing to add beyond what everyone else has said ... it's nice to get more Hal Jordan/Barry Allen interaction, for sure. Geoff Johns does seem to understand the inherent coolness of just having two super-heroes together, on the same page, not even battling villains!

But really, what I want to add is that the one page dealing with Aquaman - showing him lying dead on the bottom of the sea while thousands upon thousands of marine creatures make a "pilgrimage" style migration ... and the tombstone next to Tom Curry's at the Curry Lighthouse was the best Aquaman's been treated since ... the 70's!

I like Johns' wording for sweeping away the Final Crisis addition of Aquaman, it works efficiently.

But most importantly of all ...

If I recall my Aquaman continuity (and oh, I do ... mwuhahahaha!) ... in the most recent origin, Aquaman returned home from being incarcerated in Atlantis and found the Curry Lighthouse ransacked, and his father (whether you want to go with biological or adopted) was Missing In Action. They had a funeral at sea for Tom Curry with old sailing friends (and probably oceanographers, too), and that was that ... but he simply vanished off the face of the Earth.

So ... even if Aquaman put up a headstone for his Missing/Presumed Dead father ... who put up the headstone for Arthur?

[TeamED209]

Not sure if anyone's said this already but does anyone else think that blackest night might end witht the black corps being defeated by the while ring lanterns which could lead to a mass resurection of dead people in the dcu?....it'd be nice for everyone to be alive again, and this wouln't affect batman since he's not really dead which would lead to tim/redrobins belief that bruce isn't dead?

[Hawkman]

Not sure if anyone's said this already but does anyone else think that blackest night might end witht the black corps being defeated by the while ring lanterns which could lead to a mass resurection of dead people in the dcu?....it'd be nice for everyone to be alive again, and this wouln't affect batman since he's not really dead which would lead to tim/redrobins belief that bruce isn't dead?
I think I remember reading somewhere that DC wasn't going to use Blackest Night as an excuse for mass resurrections. There might be a few after the dust settles; I think Aquaman's a pretty safe bet, for instance. However, I wouldn't count on every Black Lantern getting a new lease on life by the event's end.

[Retro315]

I think I remember reading somewhere that DC wasn't going to use Blackest Night as an excuse for mass resurrections. There might be a few after the dust settles; I think Aquaman's a pretty safe bet, for instance. However, I wouldn't count on every Black Lantern getting a new lease on life by the event's end.

I can't imagine there's really much of a reason or need for Kal-L to come back to life, for instance.

However Aquaman is an obvious resurrection, and I'd say there's a good bet on Martian Manhunter as well (telegraphed by Superman at his funeral "... and pray for a resurrection".

[Redrumbin]

Not sure if anyone's said this already but does anyone else think that blackest night might end witht the black corps being defeated by the while ring lanterns which could lead to a mass resurection of dead people in the dcu?....it'd be nice for everyone to be alive again, and this wouln't affect batman since he's not really dead which would lead to tim/redrobins belief that bruce isn't dead?

I thought so too, but it's unlikely since Red Robin starts in June.

[Name Already Taken]

Not sure if anyone's said this already but does anyone else think that blackest night might end witht the black corps being defeated by the while ring lanterns which could lead to a mass resurection of dead people in the dcu?....it'd be nice for everyone to be alive again, and this wouln't affect batman since he's not really dead which would lead to tim/redrobins belief that bruce isn't dead?

I think it had been discussed as a possible 'reset' for many characters currently dead in the DCU. A few quotes flew around from Johns and they were a definite 'No' on Blackest Night being used as a way for reviving certain people.

I would stay it could happen, but not as likely as hoped for by fans on a wide scale. A few key characters could find some manner in coming back to life (Aqua Man being a strong bet). Looking at John's history in reviving and revitalizing certain characters to their old status (Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, Lost Lanterns, Barry Allen, Bart Allen, etc) it is very likely imo for a select few franchise interests. The recently deceased (like J'onn and Batsy) are out of the question for now, while others like Jade and supporting chars killed off in Infinite Crisis have a slightly higher chance of coming back on a permanent basis.

As far as Batman goes, that will likely be a moot point for now from BN storywise, other than a dead end since Bruce's 'soul' isn't in the DC keystone universe at the time for his body to be of total use as a Black Lantern. My pet theory is that only souls of the departed that still reside in the main DCU plane may be used as successful hosts for a Black power ring.
As a tangent to the whole Red Robin searching for Bruce story, I think that Tim will key in on notes and clues that Bruce had spread out in case of a sudden demise, in the present or whatever 'life' he is meandering through from the Omega Sanction leaving them for someone to find.

Who knows? That is just how I see it going down.

[Retro315]

As far as Batman goes, that will likely be a moot point for now from BN storywise, other than a dead end since Bruce's 'soul' isn't in the DC keystone universe at the time for his body to be of total use as a Black Lantern. My pet theory is that only souls of the departed that still reside in the main DCU plane may be used as successful hosts for a Black power ring.
As a tangent to the whole Red Robin searching for Bruce story, I think that Tim will key in on notes and clues that Bruce had spread out in case of a sudden demise, in the present or whatever 'life' he is meandering through from the Omega Sanction leaving them for someone to find.

"Where in the Multiverse is Bruce Wayne" actually makes for a better detective story idea than I initially thought ... Bruce leaves clues ... Tim deduces them ... could be amazing, actually, if done right. And it fits well that Tim is the one detectiving these clues, while Dick is keeping Gotham from self-destructing by using his more physical skills (and some detective work, sure ... but simpler detective work, he's not "on the level" like Tim).

[Abeja]

"Where in the Multiverse is Bruce Wayne" actually makes for a better detective story idea than I initially thought ... Bruce leaves clues ... Tim deduces them ... could be amazing, actually, if done right. And it fits well that Tim is the one detectiving these clues, while Dick is keeping Gotham from self-destructing by using his more physical skills (and some detective work, sure ... but simpler detective work, he's not "on the level" like Tim).

And have Damien to train at his side. I think it works very well. This way Tim can kinda go out on his own.

[Name Already Taken]

"Where in the Multiverse is Bruce Wayne" actually makes for a better detective story idea than I initially thought ... Bruce leaves clues ... Tim deduces them ... could be amazing, actually, if done right. And it fits well that Tim is the one detectiving these clues, while Dick is keeping Gotham from self-destructing by using his more physical skills (and some detective work, sure ... but simpler detective work, he's not "on the level" like Tim).

The way I'm thinking is somehow Bruce leaves clues through both time and space, wherever he gets stuck at reliving whatever incarnation of his life from the omega sanction. I am not sure how Tim's series will start, but it may be in some mundane form that leads to more far out of the box things. The only reason I have this current theory is all the signs appearing in FC with the Metron symbols appearing to break the Anti-life equation.

Bruce may be lost in time/space and reliving various lives with some recollection of what happened and leaving clues for the future. He could also be leaving clues as to his own whereabouts that other's like Tim pick up and key in on. The last we saw Bruce was on earth 51 with drawings in a cave. Not sure who left them, but such clues may point to where he is in the current timeline for people to find him as a possibilty. The stress of reliving so many subsequent lives and reincarnations with the current definition of the sanction may leave his mind a little scrambled.

Whoever finds him when he does reappear to the rest of the DCU (likely Tim) will have a big responsibility to help him get better while he does give his mind right. But with the past statements from Bruce about Tim's detective capability, it would make for a good story. This is Blackest Night though, so a thread on how Bruce comes back is likely needed in the batman category. I'll leave it be for now until someone starts one there.

[Redrumbin]

"Where in the Multiverse is Bruce Wayne" actually makes for a better detective story idea than I initially thought ... Bruce leaves clues ... Tim deduces them ... could be amazing, actually, if done right. And it fits well that Tim is the one detectiving these clues, while Dick is keeping Gotham from self-destructing by using his more physical skills (and some detective work, sure ... but simpler detective work, he's not "on the level" like Tim).

Sounds right. I truly hope that Red Robin won't destroy Tim as a character.

[Name Already Taken]

And have Damien to train at his side. I think it works very well. This way Tim can kinda go out on his own.

Good speculations for a Batman thread in that forum.

[Retro315]

The way I'm thinking is somehow Bruce leaves clues through both time and space, wherever he gets stuck at reliving whatever incarnation of his life from the omega sanction. I am not sure how Tim's series will start, but it may be in some mundane form that leads to more far out of the box things. The only reason I have this current theory is all the signs appearing in FC with the Metron symbols appearing to break the Anti-life equation.

Bruce may be lost in time/space and reliving various lives with some recollection of what happened and leaving clues for the future. He could also be leaving clues as to his own whereabouts that other's like Tim pick up and key in on. The last we saw Bruce was on earth 51 with drawings in a cave. Not sure who left them, but such clues may point to where he is in the current timeline for people to find him as a possibilty. The stress of reliving so many subsequent lives and reincarnations with the current definition of the sanction may leave his mind a little scrambled.

Whoever finds him when he does reappear to the rest of the DCU (likely Tim) will have a big responsibility to help him get better while he does give his mind right. But with the past statements from Bruce about Tim's detective capability, it would make for a good story. This is Blackest Night though, so a thread on how Bruce comes back is likely needed in the batman category. I'll leave it be for now until someone starts one there.

I got Deja Vu for a second there, then I remembered that Star Trek totally did that already ... the ship was stuck in some sort of time vortex conundrum, where they kept re-living the same Groundhog Day period of time over and over, and getting blown up ... but every single time, Data managed to leave one more piece of clue for those in the next "time cycle" to interpret and eventually they escape the time anomaly.

It's one of the most well-defined episodes of Trek dealing with a Causality Loop and the subsequent Predestination Paradox involved.

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Cause_and_Effect_(episode)

For more on Causality Loops ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causality_loop

I can't imagine a better example of Morrison fodder ...

[Abeja]

Do you think Tim would travel through the multiverse (i hope not Jason Toddx2)or just deep space? I kinda hope he gets a blue ring so he can travel, but that might be too far out there.

[comicstar100]

I'm confused, didn't Aquaman come back in final Crisis? How can he be a black lantern?

[Abeja]

I'm confused, didn't Aquaman come back in final Crisis? How can he be a black lantern?

I heard its a different Aquaman that came back in FC.

[Hawkman]

Both DiDio and Morrison explained in interviews that it was supposed to be an Aquaman from an alternate Earth, but I can't remember who said what where. I believe Morrison's explanation was that he wanted to have Aquaman appear somewhere in the story in an iconic way, and this was the easiest way to accomplish it.

[CYOTI]

It was in the FC Secret Files and Morrison's FC interviews for IGN.

[stillanerd]

The way I'm thinking is somehow Bruce leaves clues through both time and space, wherever he gets stuck at reliving whatever incarnation of his life from the omega sanction. I am not sure how Tim's series will start, but it may be in some mundane form that leads to more far out of the box things. The only reason I have this current theory is all the signs appearing in FC with the Metron symbols appearing to break the Anti-life equation.

Bruce may be lost in time/space and reliving various lives with some recollection of what happened and leaving clues for the future. He could also be leaving clues as to his own whereabouts that other's like Tim pick up and key in on. The last we saw Bruce was on earth 51 with drawings in a cave. Not sure who left them, but such clues may point to where he is in the current timeline for people to find him as a possibilty. The stress of reliving so many subsequent lives and reincarnations with the current definition of the sanction may leave his mind a little scrambled.

Whoever finds him when he does reappear to the rest of the DCU (likely Tim) will have a big responsibility to help him get better while he does give his mind right. But with the past statements from Bruce about Tim's detective capability, it would make for a good story. This is Blackest Night though, so a thread on how Bruce comes back is likely needed in the batman category. I'll leave it be for now until someone starts one there.

That's actually a plausible, well-thought out theory. I also think that if Batman doesn't appear as a Black Lantern, then that would cause some suspicions to be raised as well.

Anyways, looking at the page for the Black Lanterns, the only ones I think I can identify with any degree of certainty are Earth-1 Superman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Mirror Master, Blue Bettle II, Doctor Light, and Terra. The only ones I'm having trouble with are the one that who looks like he's wearing a blue sweater on the far right, the one with the red cuff immediately next to that, the skinny arm wearing red, the one with the torn puffy sleeve (I thought it might be Firestorm at first), and the bare arm on the left. Any ideas?

[Redrumbin]

I heard its a different Aquaman that came back in FC.

I'm so confused.

[ZachSensei]

I would bet money on Aquaman coming back. I hope he gets a good writer on his new ongoing. I would love Geoff Johns or Morrison.

[The Black Guardian]

Man... I want a Rage Cat miniseries.

[Paroxysm]

That aquaman was an alternate world's Aquaman. Martian Manhunter (Maneater is more like it) and Firestorm (the Ron Raymond one) are also going to be "Black Lanterns". It's been hinted that Superboy (Kon-El/Conner Kent) will be a BL as well...