Some final thoughts on DC Comics’
“Convergence”
By John Pannozzi
Since DC Comics’
multiverse-changing event Convergence
has now ended, now is the time to talk about the other issues in the series as
well as the tie-ins.
Over the course of
Convergence #3-8, Deimos, an evil
magician from the DC series Warlord,
becomes the new antagonist, and it is revealed that Telos was once a man with a
family of his own before Brainac erased his memory. When Deimos is defeated, because of the power he had
absorbed from a group of time travellers, a temporal imbalance is created and
it threatens to destroy all of reality.
Brainiac then severs Telos’ link to the planet and intends to send
everyone back home to their original universes, but the events of the original Crisis on Infinite Earths prevent
him. Several heroes from other
universes also go back to stop the mulitversal collapse that occurred in the
original Crisis, and they succeed, thus changing the history of the multiverse. The remaining Earth 2 heroes
remain on the planet, which is transformed by Telos into the new version of
their home planet.
In Convergence: Swamp Thing #1-2, the muck
monster forms a somewhat uneasy alliance with a vampire version of Batman to
rid the latter’s Gotham City from a vampiric plague. While this story is not particularly special, it does create
a suitably creepy atmosphere, and boasts the writing of Swamp Thing co-creator
Len Wein.
Convergence: Shazam! #1-2 involves the
classic Captain Marvel and the rest of the Marvel family (no relation to a
certain rival comics publisher) fighting their old foes again. They also team up with the steampunk
version of Batman from Gotham by Gaslight. While this doesn’t rank among the
greatest comics of all time, it evokes nostalgia for the more innocent and
whimsical days of comics’ Golden Age.
Convergence: Batman – Shadow of the Bat
#1-2 involves not only the Caped Crusader, but also Azarael, who had been
Batman’s replacement when his back was broken by Bane in the famous Knightfall storyline. They are forced to fight WetWorks, a
superheroic military unit originally from the WildStorm Universe. The second issue is perhaps the most
interesting, as Batman and Azarael end up fighting WetWorks on a defunct Navy
ship in the WildStorm Universe’s San Diego. The military lingo and tech is quite believable, given
writer Larry Hama’s real-life experience during the Vietnam War. Hama is well known for his work on the G.I. Joe comics, and also edited
Marvel’s more serious war comic The ‘Nam.
The
second issues of the Superman: Man of
Steel and Aquaman tie-ins
continue the heroes’ respective battles against the WildStorm characters Gen 13
and Deathblow respectively. Again,
being a WildStorm fan, seeing the original versions of these characters is a
nice treat even if they aren’t given a whole lot to do.
Convergence: Green Lantern/Parallax #2
continues to follow Kyle Rayner’s attempts to minimize the damage done by a power
corrupt version of Hal Jordan.
While there isn’t much to say about the story, the art by penciller Ron
Wagner and inker Bill Reinhold intrigues me, as its sharp quality is somewhat
reminiscent of the work of Savage Dragon
creator Erik Larsen. Convergence: Speed Force #2 has a
intriguing message of compassion overcoming wickedness. Wally West (the Flash) and his
children, along with the cartoon turtle speedster Fastback take on the despotic
Flashpoint version of Wonder Woman, showing that those motivated by love and
kindness are mightier than the power mad.
Convergence: Nightwing and Oracle #2 has
the titular duo, aided by Black Canary, take on the ruthless Hawkman and
Hawkwoman of the El Inferno world.
As another example of good beating evil, the ending of this issue will
please many fans of this pair of characters. In Convergence: The
Titans #2, Roy Harper manages not only to get back his daughter Lian, but
he and the other Titans also manage to keep the vile and all-powerful
Extremists at bay. This story ends
on a happy note, and succeeds in providing closure for those displeased by
Lian’s prior death.
In
Convergence: Harley Quinn #2, Harley
goes up against both Captain Carrot, and for a brief instance, his fellow Zoo
Crew member Pig-Iron. While not
quite as hilarious as the first issue, the carnival setting provides for some
fittingly cartoonish mayhem. Finally
we have the masterpiece that is Convergence:
Supergirl Matrix #2. It
involves Supergirl and Electropolis’s Lady Quark forming a temporary alliance
to get a hold of Ambush Bug, who has something they need. A chase ensues, as the characters
traverse the multiversal cities making up Telos’ planet. Several unexpected faces show up, and
there is a delightful abundance of playfulness throughout. It manages to be a very enjoyable, and
humorous read.
At
the end of the day, Convergence and
especially its tie-ins are worth reading if you’re a longtime DC fan. Many loose ends and unresolved issues
from past eras and timelines get sorted out, and even if we never see many of these
versions of the DC characters again, Convergence
gives them a fond farewell, and helps to clear the slate for the future.
