posted
Now I'm thinking this is why Ambush Bug got squashed, Giffen thought of this first.
Still, the joke's getting a bit stale for me. The character was too seriously used for me to let loose of that I suppose. If this was satire, like the subs legion special I suppose it would "work" for me. Ehh, I suppose I have to honestly admit, I did get a couple chuckles out of last month's issue.
[ December 07, 2009, 08:35 PM: Message edited by: Blockade Boy ]
From: East Toledo | Registered: Jul 2003
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Click Here For A SpoilerSo, last issue, Prime was ambushed by Black Lanterns, and now...
The "Flame War" starts off with the Lanterns doing their usual "you killed me" act, but all Prime cares about is flying to a certain building, crashing through a certain window, and completely scaring the shit out of Dan Didio and the entire editing staff at DC Comics. He's mad at them, mad at making him into a joke, mad at them for twisting his lives and the lives of everyone in the DCU, exploiting them, twisting them, ruining them for their own sick pleasure, without realizing that it's all happening somewhere. Prime stops in the offices of Eddie and Adam, when Alex and the other Lanterns corner him. They inform him that all Prime has done so far is prove everyone right about their perception of his person.
Alex warps them out of there, back to Prime's basement. Because it's there where his "kryptonite" is. He calls comics as a place where people find hope and inspiration, a sense of community, but all Prime finds is a sense of ownership, but he can't control them. He can't control what happens in life, and it's the same as he can't control what happens in those books. And that's what makes him mad. The things he can't control. Like love. Like Laurie.
As Alex goes on, Prime decides that if he can't beat the Black Lanterns, he'll JOIN them. He grabs a black ring in the air, and puts it on. It beckons "Clark Kent of Earth Prime - DIE!". But it doesn't kill him.
"What do you fight for? A delusional demand for respect. WILLPOWER."
"Who do you feel sympathy for? You regret what you did to Laurie. COMPASSION."
"What do you want? Everyone to love you. AVARICE."
"What are you afraid of? The ones you once admired. FEAR."
"What do you hate? Yourself. For what you have become."
And suddenly, Prime takes on the appearance of the Red Lantern as he's overcome with all the memories of his acts. Maiming Risk twice, shattering Dirk's head, fighting Sodam Yat, everything. And Prime says that he hates Alex, he hates that all he wanted, all Prime really wanted, was to fit in. He never wanted to be better than everyone else. He just wanted to matter, to be heard. But Alex never listened.
"What do you love?"
"LAURIE! I LOVE LAURIE!"
The Lanterns are destroyed in a surge of violet, and everything is singed, burned, broken. Prime says he never wanted to kill people, how all people do is use him like a puppet, forcing him to hurt people. Armorless, alone, afraid, Clark cries and wonders why he can't stop being like that. Why he can't make his own decisions. He hates himself. Why is it he can never have a happy ending?
A light turns on upstairs, and Laurie walks down, wearing a cast. She holds Clark, telling him that "they" sent her to tell him that they'll stop using him, knowing what they did was wrong and that they'll leave him alone. Everything's alright. Clark certainly hopes so...
and Laurie's ring can verify that.
-------------------- I want to be hated by lies - Bring Back Lian Harper
Click Here For A SpoilerConner is flying with Krypto in the skies over Smallville. It's late and Conner's beat from flying all over the world, when suddenly, Krypto senses something and flies off.
Conner follows after him, and the two land at the Smallville clinic. The place has been broken into and vandalized. The words "DOCTOR MALPRACTICE" spray painted on the window, and who should walk out but Lori, holding a baseball bat. She doesn't exactly feign innocence, but she's not proud. She claims she's leaving a note for people to now.
As Conner flies off with Lori in his arms, Lori explains the other times she "visited" the doctor. She's poured sugar in his gas tank and t-p'ed his house. Before she goes on, the two almost have moment, but Conner explains he has a girlfriend. But Lori still has that look in her eye, touched because no one's ever helped her before. Her dad is long gone, and her mom is...
Conner flies Lori to a home in need of repair. Her mom, obscured in shadow, is watching from her bedroom window. She's sick, she doesn't sleep or talk much, but she does paint. A lot. She was in an accident during her childhood, Lori explains, that left her in a wheelchair. But her medical insurance refused to cover her medication, and Dr. Greer refused to help, which is why Lori's been vandalizing his life. Conner asks why she doesn't spend that time trying to help her mom. It is Smallville, after all. All anyone has to do is ask when they need help. Except Dr. Greer, apparently.
A knock at the door arrives, but Conner is confused as to why he can't tell who's on the other side of the door, when he starts convulsing in pain as Lori opens it. There stands Lex Luthor, holding a big ol' chunk of green-K, completely surprised to find Superboy there.
Lori's surprised to see her uncle.
-------------------- I want to be hated by lies - Bring Back Lian Harper
posted
I was surprised that the Threeboot Legion didn't go back to the 21st Century to help Prime with the Black Lanterns. But, I guess it's a good thing they didn't because I would've hated to see any more dead Legionnairs.
posted
So Lori's mother is Lena Luthor? Also that means Connor got some cousin-lovin, another thing on his 'what superman does' checklist ticked.
Also, I totally forgot about the Legion connection in Adventure. It seems odd they would notice it and then sit back and relax. Who wants to bet they are hunting for this comic right now?
-------------------- 'You don't need a victory to prove to me you're tops' - Supergirl to Brainiac 5 (Adventure Comics 375)
benevolentbrainiac.webs.com
From: England | Registered: Feb 2009
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I haven't been reading comics in awhile, so I was unaware that Superboy Prime had become a "nuanced" character meant to represent fans who rail about comics they can't control. I guess I'm one of the disaffected fans, although, instead of continuing to rail, I've simply moved on.
The article makes an excellent point that the meta-commentary Superboy Prime is supposed to represent has had the effect of narrowing comics' audience instead of broadening it. This narrowing isn't due strictly to Superboy Prime, but to DC and Marvel in general, who seem to be creating comics for fanboys (yes, even those who rail against their efforts) and not new readers. According to the article, the message of Superboy Prime to comics fans is "Don't rail against things you can't control. Just enjoy the ride."
For those of you still enjoying the ride, more power to you.
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by The Man From Cargg: I read the comic in the store... first one I didn't purchase... no Legion... no purchase.
Same with me. Just read the spoilers here, did not preorder the issue though due to "no Legion", and am happy about it.
Yes, the issue sounds like fun with DiDio getting pounded and stuff, but I don't think it's worth my 4$ just for a little laugh. The only argument DC is understanding is sales. If Legion fans do buy Adventure with the Legion, but don't do so without, that's a way to show them that we're out there.
From: Bamberg, Germany | Registered: Feb 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Para-Dox: ... Also that means Connor got some cousin-lovin, another thing on his 'what superman does' checklist ticked.
LOL - hilarious, and true!
-------------------- "My dance card was getting fuller than a contestant's at a Jandan shurg-off." - Exnihil, The Lost Klordny
From: Frederick, MD | Registered: Aug 2003
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quote:Originally posted by He Who Wanders: I haven't been reading comics in awhile, so I was unaware that Superboy Prime had become a "nuanced" character meant to represent fans who rail about comics they can't control.
Mark Waid used the same technique when he 'brought back' Reflecto in his reboot version in response generally to the series complaints but specifically to the protest of the kill off of Dream Girl.
Like most of the series writing, the bastardizing of a potentially useful reimagining of Reflecto for this purpose came across to me as trite and insignificant.
-------------------- "My dance card was getting fuller than a contestant's at a Jandan shurg-off." - Exnihil, The Lost Klordny
From: Frederick, MD | Registered: Aug 2003
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