The HTF Comics Thread

In Emerald Twilight, Hal Jordan (mad with grief over the destruction of Coast City in the Reign of the Supermen series) transformed from the Green Lantern of Earth into a super villain named Parallax.

In Zero Hour, he attempted to destroy and recreate the DC Universe.

In Final Night, Jordan sacrificed his life in order to re-ignite Earth’s sun.

In Day of Judgment, his soul, languishing in purgatory, was chosen as the newest host for God’s “Spirit of Vengeance,” The Spectre.

The six-issue Green Lantern: Rebirth showcases the absolution of Jordan for his crimes in order to pave the way for his return as a Green Lantern. It also explains lingering questions about his character (like, dati, nagtaka ako kung bakit bigla na lang naging grey yung hair niya sa temples ala Reed Richards), as well as reveal the decades-long mystery of why the Green Lantern power rings were unable to affect anything yellow in color.

“O! Sinong mananalo? Si Mightor o Herculoids?”

“Si Superman o si Thor?”

“Si Hulk o si Superman?”

“Si Quicksilver o si Flash?”

“Si Submariner o si Aquaman?”

“Si Scooby Doo o si Muttley?”

“Si Betty o si Veronica?”

Pwera yung dalawang huli; nagpapatawa lang ako. Pero, let’s face it. I don’t suppose na I was the only one who got into arguments of this kind with playmates, classmates and cousins. Minsan, nauuwi pa nga sa asaran, suntukan, iyakan at sumbungan.

I never thought I’d see the day na magkakatotoo yung three of the above when 1996 gave us the DC VS MARVEL limited series. When I read about it sa Wizard, I was really excited.

Kaso, nung natapos ko na yung series, parang gusto kong idemanda ang DC at Marvel sa kasong panghoholdap. Punyemas, in my own honest opinion, harang yung story. Readers were forced to swallow yet another phenomena; this time, it’s about cosmic amalgamation ek-ek. Yung tipong “Nangyari, e. Ano’ng magagawa mo?”

The match-ups themselves were a put-down. Duh? I mean… why should Robin and Jubilee fight it out when they’re better off as a loveteam? At bakit isinali pa si Elektra? Haler?

The artwork wasn’t impressive either.

And the battle itself? Ang nagustuhan ko lang e yung Lobo vs Wolverine kasi parehong tarantado yung dalawang yun, e. mwehehehe…

Comes now --- ten years later --- what, probably, is Marvel’s biggest crossover event yet. Sure, the bottom line is that it’s still a battle among superheroes. Pero Civil War gives the readers a chance to immerse themselves in familiar situations surrounding the plot before making a judgment. It is more involving, more realistic, more down to earth.

Two sides were presented at talaga namang mahirap mag-fence sit. I agree with Iron Man’s position (not because he’s one of my childhood heroes) regarding responsibility. Someone has to take responsibility, ano? Onga naman. Is everything really over after the bad guys get thrown in jail? Pano na yung mga namatay at nasaktan? Pano na yung mga damaged properties?

On the other end of the stick, tama rin yung katwiran ni Captain America. A metahuman never asked to be one in the first place. He or she has an extra-ordinary ability and he or she chooses to use it for the better benefit of mere mortals like us free of any charge at hindi parang si Mang Jose. The reason for the mask is not just to conceal a metahuman’s real identity but also to protect his or her loved ones as in the case of Peter Parker (whose dilemma as illustrated in the plot was really splendid).

Civil War exposes a lot of the human factor. Of making crucial divisions based on personal convictions and not merely because the system tells you so.

So whose side are you on?

Matagal ko nang na-dl ito pero kalian ko pa lang inumpisahang basahin. Nangangalahati pa lang ako.

And it has, so far, been a very exciting read. The best I’ve read since DC’s Kingdom Come in ’96 (forget the prequel and sequel; lalo lang gumulo, e).