Writer Mark Waid has been leaning into that warm nostalgic feel of the DC Universe since this book hit the stands. He has been looking into the dusty corners of continuity and giving us updated looks at classic themes and characters. As I said, this time it is our heroes playing a baseball game to save the world. Shades of DC Super Stars #10 !
What is truly awesome about this is the lineup that Waid gives us. Outside Superman and Batman, the roster is mostly C-listers. How great that the hero of the game is Elasti-Girl !! It is this sort of fun deep dive into the Who's Who of the universe that has made this book consistently great.
Bruno Frenda is on art and he is a new name for me. His style is in synch with the setting of Hell for sure. He shows us the heroes in a battered and tattered state. He also shows some depth here given the large cast of characters he has to draw. Too fun.
Biayla and Qurac are suddenly about to go to war. The heroes are trying to intervene to stop the war.
Before our World's Finest pair can mobilize, they are brought to Hell by Neron. It is time for a baseball game.
Yes, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash are on the field. But also Bumble Bee, Black Lightning, Blue Beetle, Barda, Iron, Zatanna, GI Robot, Freedom Beast. It is a fun, interesting roster. I mean, I would probably have other heroes join the athletic game of baseball.
I do think Beetle is probably agile enough to play the hot corner. Black Lightning, a decathalete, as pitcher is great. Batman calling the game as catcher is fantastic.
I giggled at this page and lingered over it for a while. This is why Waid is great for this book.
It is Neron who has set this up. Denizens of Hell are 'praying' evil thoughts and that has created the Qurac/Biayla conflict. If the heroes win a baseball game, he'll stop it. If they lose, the war goes on and will eventually engulf the world.
It is an interesting idea that demon thoughts can impact the world this way.
But more importantly, I wondered what Neron is getting out of this deal. Why would he want the war to end. Hmmm ....
More on this later.
But can I say there is a Mora-esque feel to the art. Love that Rita!
Even better is the idea that Etrigan, both Demon and hero will be the impartial umpire.
That makes perfect sense.
And yes, as a Boston fan, the Yankees/Red Sox is still alive and well and fervent even if we historically kicked their a$$e$ in 2004, the ulitmate nullifier.
Superman unfortunately meets Steet Wensler, a baseball hero of his when he was a kid.
Wensler is in Hell for a variety of sins. So stuck there and acting as third base ump.
A crooked guy in Gotham?? Shocking.
Love Superman's stern look. Disappointed.
It is a dirty game with spike high slides, and beanballs. Poor Blue Beetle gets a fastball to the earflap!
As a fan of Pedro Martinez, I understand the utlity of some old fashioned chin music. But poor Ted.
And you can see as the game progresses, things are getting rougher. Shirts are torn, fishnets shredded, and exhaustion setting in.
Tell me what you think about this though. Batman knows the demons are cheating and therefore the heroes need to cheat too. Anything to win. (Even though he knows Superman will never cheat.)
And we see it actually go down. Lightning shocks a demon. GI Robot guns one down. Wonder Woman literally disarms one.
And then, perhaps my favorite moment.
The heroes are batting in the bottom of the ninth (interesting they are the home team while playing in Hell), are down one run, and have two men on with two out.
Up to the plate comes an embiggened Rita Farr. And she is confident. When the catcher asks what her strike zone is, she tells him not to worry about it. Meaning nothing is getting past her.
YASSSSS !
I love Elasti-Girl.
Kudos to Waid for writing this moment and Frenda crushing it. Love that first panel looking up at her!
She comes through. And it must be a deep hit if Black Lightning can score all the way from first. (I mean, he is an olympic level athlete.)
Neron says Flash never touched third base meaning the winning runs don't count.
An appeal goes to damned Wensler who initially plans to cave to Neron's wishes.
But then Batman asks Wensler to think about how he wants to be remembered, as leading the world into war or doing the right thing.
He calls it as he saw it. Flash touched third. Heroes win. And Wensler gets extra pain.
But that is what heroic sacrifice is all about.
I wonder if Wensler is based on a player Waid loves?
Remember way back when I wondered what Neron would gain from even playing this game. Well, turns out he says he won't return the heroes back to Earth. They're stuck in Hell.
Batman turns the tables. If 'prayers' in Hell can impact reality, what will happen when Heroes start forcing their thoughts and prayers into the fabric of Hell. Nicely done Batman. For sure the heroes would dominate and change things in a way Neron wouldn't want.
Nothing better than outthinking the devil!
Just like that the conflict on Earth dissipates. The heroes won all around.
What an absolute blast of an issue! So much fun. Love the cast. Love the art.
And perfect for this title where Waid slips a done-in-one story between arcs.
Overall grade: A
1 comment:
‘ It is a dirty game with spike high slides, and beanballs. Poor Blue Beetle gets a fastball to the earflap! As a fan of Pedro Martinez, I understand the utlity of some old fashioned chin music.’
Where’s Google Translate when you need it!
Fun review, seeing the less famous heroes was terrific. My theory on Bats asking the goodies to cheat was that this was Neron’s plan all along, and they’d pay for that. But, nope.
Turns out this is artist Bruno’s first DC work. He fits right in.
Post a Comment