RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Comic Books Identity Crisis #6 Discussion (Spoilers Inside)

The Scarlet Witch did it!

SPOILER SPACE, DAMMIT!!!

Seriously, though... I'd love to see the new Boomerang (if they call him 'Boomer', I think I might just hurl) go up against Robin as the two would undoubtedly have a vendetta against one another, seeing as how their fathers killed one another. This would give the Bat-writers (hopefully not Winnick) something to work with, though I'd rather see either Robin's own creative team (or maybe even the Titans) tackle something like that. Personally, I'd like to see Robin have a new superpowered nemesis rather than the Flash (though, he should take on the Flash too... just for the sake of fairness).

To quote Kappei Yamaguchi: Baka, baka, baka.

How about Baby Boomer(ang)?

I'd be surprised if Ray was responsible. The reveal is too early.

It's Jean.

1)She has access to Rays inventions, including his shrinking belt.

2) With all the mention of the black market, this could have been a demonstration on the usefulness of Rays inventions for criminal use.

3) She was the second person to be attacked. what better way of keeping yourself off the suspect list than faking your own murder attempt? Think about it, how did she get to the phone and call Ray when the killer jumped behind the door and blindfolded and gagged her as soon as she went inside? It was done to make the heros feel sympathetic and keep them off her back.

4) Batman sounds more concerned for Rays safety than capturing him. Why call him and tell him to stay right where he is if he is indeed the murderer? Batman has to know Ray would try and escape if he was warned early.

Very good. I approve.

Talk at Newsarama has some strong theories in support of Jean as the killer. She has motivation (wanting super-heroes to do things differently concerning loved ones), she has the 'tool' (Ray's belt), and the time frame fits (she probably did it while 'waiting' for Ray to show up). Interesting shtuff. Though she'd have to have figured out how to start a fire on a sub-atomic level for Sue to be torched. Course that may not be the case.

I wonder if there's more to Batman not wanting J'onn in his head.

In issue one the person is standing over Sue's body while they light her on fire. So the person is not subatomic when they set Sue on fire.

I just don't read it quite that way. Batman was always dark, at least he's been retconned dark, so I don't really buy the interpretation that Zee's mindwipe suddenly turned him dark. His whole MO is the dark and mysterious thing, straight from the origin, right? His whole mindset comes from trauma and darkness, Always has, always should.

It would be funnier if the mindwipe turned him into the goofy, 50's 'old chum' Batman!

I don't think the mindwipe made him "dark" since obviously he always was dark. I think what a lot of people think is that, on a subconscious level, the mindwipe made him feel dissent for teams. That's why he went from team-friendly to loner.

Perxaclty.

It's also why he made plans to take on the other superheroes if they ever crossed the line.

Talk at Millarworld also identifies Jean as the killer, mostly because it would be hard to call for the Atom on a phone while blindfolded and strangling.

TEEN TITANS #21


Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza

Part 1 of the 3-part "Lights Out," an IDENTITY CRISIS follow-up story! Doctor Light has forced the Titans' hand and staged a publicized battle with the young heroes to take back his reputation. But as the Titans fall, help arrives in the form of two young heroes. Get ready for the debut of the new Hawk and Dove!

DC Universe | 32pg. | Color | $2.50 US

On Sale February 16, 2005

OUTSIDERS #21



Written by Judd Winick; Art by Carlos D'Anda; Cover by Doug Mahnke

A shocking IDENTITY CRISIS follow-up guest-starring Batman and featuring guest art by Carlos D'Anda (ACTION COMICS)! Nightwing and Batman have a confrontation that could change the future of the team! Meanwhile, Arsenal has his own secret meeting with Batman that threatens to splinter the team forever!

DC Universe | 32pg. | Color | $2.50 US

On Sale February 23, 2005


http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?dat=20050201&s=31

I'm personally not happy with Elongated Man's very existence as a comic book character, let alone the concept that he would usurp Batman's role as DC continuity's pre-eminent detective.

I'm not alone! Thank you, Dave. My life now makes sense again.

Well, Batman solves everything. At least let Ralph be the one to figure out who killd his wife. Throw him a frickin' bone!

From everything we've seen of him in the last few issues, I could walk into his house and steal everything he owned right from under his mystery-twitchin' nose and he'd still be in no condition to do anything about it...

"Throw him a bone"? If Wanted's the Killer every made it to the DCU, you'd want him to jam a grenade down Elongated Man's throat and leap out of the way while he exploded into a million quivering wobbly pieces of jello.

Such is my distaste for the character.

I used to not like him either. Dumb powers, dumb origin. Then James Robinson used him in Starman, and actually got me to like Ralph.

Ralph-lover!

Lover of Ralph!

You do know "Dibny" is a German name, don't you?

Every character is capable of being used well, of course, but there are some more deserved of being used well than others.

I never thought much of him, then a few years ago I bought up the JLE stuff and really came to like him and Sue.

I've just read the new Starman trade which brought him into the series. Weird to read them now.

I knew of E-man but not of Sue's existence. I'm thinking I may have to pick up some JLE stuff. Maybe Formerly Known as the Justice League. Was it any good?

Yes. That was the comic that got me to like Elongated Man and Sue.

The Justice League Europe run was the original Ralph/Sue combo series for our generation. FKATJL was hilarious in its own right, but, there's more JLE material than a six-issue mini. That's my suggestion for the Sue/Ralph duo.

Also, didn't Meltzer say that in this series, Ralph would be at the forefront of the investigation? I rememeber the hype in all of these interviews that Ralph would take center-stage for this story. Well, where the hell is he?

Another nod for the it's Jean theory. Look at issue #3, page 29, panel 6. Specifically, the hands tying Jean's gag. Now, the way the hands are drawn suggests that if there is someone gagging Jean (as opposed to Jean tying it herself), then the hands appear to be in a rather awkward position.

My roommate just pointed out that anyone tying a gag from behind would put his/her hands in a similar position. If she were tying her own gag, chances are more likely that she'd have the palms of her hands facing toward her... unless she's trying to throw off the artist and the readers.

The other thing I think is key is Jean's hands during her hanging. They're not tied or anything. Now, the killer would've had to blindfold, gag, and then string Jean up all while her hands were free. One would assumed she would try to hit or claw at her assailant; yet when we see Ray save her in issue four, there's not a scratch on him that I can see.

Yes... but where would she put the gloves that the killer was seen wearing?

Do you think Jean attempted to hang herself? The positioning of the hands at the end of issue 3 indicate otherwise.

Me, I just think her hands are lovely. I wonder what kind of moisturizer she uses.

Pearl Cream

She'll need a shitload of it now to get over that suntan.

I think we should try to start some Sue Dibney jokes. They don't need to be good ones

Q: What does "DIBNEY" stand for?
A: "Died Incinerated in Badly Narrated and Expensive Yearly event".

Q: What does Sue Dibney and Carson from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy have in common?
A: Both have taken it in the face from flamers.

Q: What's black and blocks up your shower drain?
A: Sue Dibney's corpse.

Just as there is no "I" in "team", there is no "E" in Dibny...

Go on then, ruin my joke.

Q: What is the difference betwen Sue Dibny and a golfball?

A: While both have been injected with rubber, golf balls don't burn very well.