raul grau
Jul 23, 2005, 04:24 pm
Crossover: Day of Vengeance
Published in: Day of Vengeance & Various monthly DC titles, June 2005-November 2005
Writer: Bill Willingham
Penciler: Justiniano (Day of Vengeance #1-2, 4), Ron Wagner (Day of Vengeance #3)
Major Characters Involved: <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=34752" target="_blank">Spectre</a>, Ragman, Enchantress, <a href="http://comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33628" target="_blank">Detective Chimp</a>, Captain Marvel, <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33363" target="_blank">Eclipso</a>, Jean Loring, <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=29088" target="_blank">Blue Devil</a>, Nightshade, Nightmaster, Black Alice
Plot: The Spectre seeks to destroy all magic, and a small group of heroes stand in his way.
Reading Order:
Part 1 - Day of Vengeance #1 - Jean Loring becomes host to Eclipso. Rory Regan (Ragman) rescues the Enchantress. The remaining mystical heroes gather at the Oblivion Bar. Detective Chimp and the Enchantress announce their intention to strike back against the Spectre.
Part 2 - Day of Vengeance #2 - Enchantress taps into the mind of Jean Loring, and learns of the recent chaos committed by the Spectre. The Enchantress asks Ragman to stop her if her evil side reemerges. The gathered heroes track the Spectre to Budapest.
Part 3 - Day of Vengeance #3 - The heroes battle Eclipso, while Billy Batson (Captain Marvel) faces the Spectre. Detective Chimp and Nightshade visit the home of Lori Zechlin. Blue Devil skewers Eclipso with his trident. The Enchantress channels the magical energy from thousands of volunteers into Captain Marvel.
Part 4 - Day of Vengeance #4 - Detective Chimp recounts his origin. The Enchantress severs the connection to Captain Marvel, and assaults her teammates. The Spectre defeats Marvel, frees Eclipso, and the pair flee. Blue Devil knocks Enchantress unconscious. Detective Chimp and Nightshade arrive with Lori Zechlin (Black Alice).
Part 5 - Day of Vengeance #5
Part 6 - Day of Vengeance #6
Related Issues:
Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 - Ted Kord (Blue Beetle) visits the Rock of Eternity, and speaks to the wizard Shazam about the attack on Booster Gold. Shazam shows Beetle a vision of the near future. Beetle is teleported away, though he accidentally leaves the Scarab behind.
JSA #73 - Albert Rothstein (Atom-Smasher) attempts to reconcile with the Justice Society of America. Jean Loring (Eclipso) assaults (Crimson Avenger). Black Adam recruits Atom-Smasher to help defend Kahndaq. Billy Batson (Captain Marvel) gathers Carter Hall (Hawkman) and the Justice Society of America to confront Eclipso and the Spectre.
JSA #74 - The Justice Society arrives in Kahndaq, and joins the fight against the Spectre. The vision powers of Power Girl return and overwhelm her sight. The Spectre traps Jakeem Thunder and Johnny Thunder within the Thunderbolt pen.
JSA #75 - Black Adam snaps the neck of Jean Loring (Eclipso), but she recovers quickly. Atom-Smasher grows to the size of Spectre, attacking him directly. Rothstein offers himself up to save the people of Kahndaq, and the Spectre accepts, delivering a mortal blow, then departing. Atom-Smasher dies, but Black Adam manages to resuscitate him, and the Justice Society take custody of the ailing Rothstein.
Notes:
Day of Vengeance is thematically similar to the 1999 crossover Day of Judgment, in which the Spectre, briefly without a human host to provide moral guidance, fell under the sway of Demon. A gathering of magical heroes, dubbed the Sentinels of Magic, worked to curtail the Spectre and bond him to another host. The Sentinels of Magic included Ragman, Enchantress (killed in Day of Judgment #4, but later resurrected in JLA: Black Baptism #4), and Blue Devil (resurrected into his current form in Day of Judgment #4, after dying in Starman (2nd series) #38).
Included in the vision during Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 are the Spectre, Captain Marvel (Billy Batson), Eclipso (Jean Loring), Demon, and Lex Luthor. Of those five, Demon and Lex Luthor have yet to play an active role in Day of Vengeance.
In the Lightning Strikes crossover (Action Comics #826, Adventures of Superman #639, and Superman (2nd series) #216), Eclipso brought Superman into battle with Captain Marvel. At the end of Superman (2nd series) #216, a black diamond (the conduit through which Eclipso manifests) appears in the cell of Jean Loring, leading into Day of Vengeance #1.
Jean Loring is the former wife of Ray Palmer (Atom). In Identity Crisis #7, she was placed in Arkham Asylum, after her role in the Identity Crisis murders was revealed.
In Day of Vengeance #1, Enchantress identifies John Ravenhair as the visible corpse in the Forest of Mist. Ravenhair first appeared in the Fury of Firestorm #1 as a high school teacher, with young Ronnie Raymond (Firestorm) among his students. He was transformed into the Black Bison upon inheriting a magical pendant from his great-grandfather, the original Black Bison.
Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) merged with the Spectre in Day of Judgment #5, becoming his first human host after Jim Corrigan, who departed the mortal world in Spectre (3rd series) #62. Jordan separated himself from the Spectre in Green Lantern: Rebirth #4, and reclaimed the identity of Green Lantern.
Jim Rook entered a New York City shop called Oblivion, Inc, and found himself transported to the other-dimensional world of Myrra, where he defended the Myrran people as Nightmaster. In Primal Force #8, Jim was reintroduced as the owner of Oblivion, Inc, an occult book store. Now, in Day of Vengeance #1, he is shown to be the operator of an inter-dimensional bar, appropriately named Oblivion.
Among the heroes gathered at the Oblivion Bar in Day of Vengeance #1 who refuse to take direct action against the Spectre are Arion, Animal Man, Vixen, Black Orchid, Deadman, Jason Blood, Doctor Occult, and Jennifer Morgan. Buddy Baker (Animal Man) makes reference to the Red, which is a cosmic field linking all animals together. Arion is the former Lord of Atlantis, hence why he is concerned by Nightshade's story.
The conversation between Shazam and Billy Batson (Captain Marvel) at the end of Day of Vengeance #1 is shown in greater detail in JSA #73. Marvel immediately recruits Hawkman and the Justice Society of America, placing JSA #74-75 before the battle in Budapest shown in Day of Vengeance #2.
The Black Vengeance storyline (JSA #73-75) is a sequel to the Black Reign crossover (JSA #56-58 and Hawkman (4th series) #23-25). In Black Reign, Black Adam led a takeover of Kahndaq, and included Albert Rothstein (Atom-Smasher) and Alex Montez (Eclipso) among his forces. Alex Montez was the cousin of Yolanda Montez (Wildcat), who was killed by Eclipso in Eclipso #13. Seeking vengeance for her murder, Alex injected himself with the black diamonds, and safely contained the power of Eclipso within his body, as revealed in the Princes of Darkness storyline (JSA #45-51). In JSA #58, the binding tattoos were broken, and Alex lost control over Eclipso, murdering Soseh Mykros (Nemesis), his lover. Alex committed suicide moments later.
Eclipso reveals in JSA #73 that he despises Black Adam for harnessing his power in the form of Alex Montez during Black Reign, and allowing him to remain trapped within a human body. The entire attack on Kahndaq by the Spectre is merely a means for Eclipso to punish Black Adam.
JSA #73 reveals that the voice speaking to Shazam in Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 was that of the evil sorcerer Mordu. In JSA #51, Hector Hall (Doctor Fate) trapped Mordu within the Rock of Eternity.
The battle between the Spectre and Hector Hall (Doctor Fate) is briefly shown in Day of Vengeance #2, but receives greater detail in JSA #74. That fight took place two days before the events of Black Vengeance and the conflict with Blackbriar Thorn in Day of Vengeance #1.
Lyta Hall (Fury) is shown reading a book called Endless Dreams in JSA #74. In Sandman (2nd series) #69, her son, Daniel Hall, became the new Dream of the Endless.
In JSA #75, Eclipso reveals that the evil mage Wotan has already fallen to the Spectre. Wotan was a regular foe of Doctor Fate in the pages of More Fun Comics during the Golden Age.
When the Spectre calls Atom-Smasher a murderer in JSA #75, the faces of those killed by Rothstein bubble forth from his chin, including Asim Muhunnad (murdered in JSA #56) and Extant (JSA #15).
The Bewitched Club, a fashionable, San Francisco gathering place for mystics, was revealed to have been destroyed by the Spectre in Day of Vengeance #2. In Books of Magic #2, the membership of the Club turned against young Tim Hunter, before John Constantine intervened.
In Day of Vengeance #3, Detective Chimp suggests that the gathered heroes adopt 'The Trenchcoat Brigade' as their team name. The actual Trenchcoat Brigade are John Constantine, Doctor Occult, Mister E, and the Phantom Stranger, and first banded together in Books of Magic #1. Constantine suggested the name based on their similar accruetrements.
Nightshade defends her heroism in Day of Vengeance #3 by commenting that she volunteered for the 'suicide mission' of stopping the Spectre. She was a regular member of the Suicide Squad during its first series, volunteering for her first suicide mission in Suicide Squad #1.
Lori Zechlin (Black Alice) first appeared in Birds of Prey (2nd series) #76. She harnesses magic, but her power allows her to mimic the abilities of other magical-based entities.
In Day of Vengeance #4, the faces of several heroes and villains sharing their power with Captain Marvel are shown, including most of the characters found at the Oblivion Bar in Day of Vengeance #1, as well as Sentinel, Felix Faust, Zatanna, Black Adam, CM3, Mary Marvel, and Tempest.
Nightmaster, Ragman, Enchantress, Detective Chimp, Blue Devil, and Nightshade adopt 'Shadowpact' as their team name in Day of Vengeance #4.
Published in: Day of Vengeance & Various monthly DC titles, June 2005-November 2005
Writer: Bill Willingham
Penciler: Justiniano (Day of Vengeance #1-2, 4), Ron Wagner (Day of Vengeance #3)
Major Characters Involved: <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=34752" target="_blank">Spectre</a>, Ragman, Enchantress, <a href="http://comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33628" target="_blank">Detective Chimp</a>, Captain Marvel, <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33363" target="_blank">Eclipso</a>, Jean Loring, <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=29088" target="_blank">Blue Devil</a>, Nightshade, Nightmaster, Black Alice
Plot: The Spectre seeks to destroy all magic, and a small group of heroes stand in his way.
Reading Order:
Part 1 - Day of Vengeance #1 - Jean Loring becomes host to Eclipso. Rory Regan (Ragman) rescues the Enchantress. The remaining mystical heroes gather at the Oblivion Bar. Detective Chimp and the Enchantress announce their intention to strike back against the Spectre.
Part 2 - Day of Vengeance #2 - Enchantress taps into the mind of Jean Loring, and learns of the recent chaos committed by the Spectre. The Enchantress asks Ragman to stop her if her evil side reemerges. The gathered heroes track the Spectre to Budapest.
Part 3 - Day of Vengeance #3 - The heroes battle Eclipso, while Billy Batson (Captain Marvel) faces the Spectre. Detective Chimp and Nightshade visit the home of Lori Zechlin. Blue Devil skewers Eclipso with his trident. The Enchantress channels the magical energy from thousands of volunteers into Captain Marvel.
Part 4 - Day of Vengeance #4 - Detective Chimp recounts his origin. The Enchantress severs the connection to Captain Marvel, and assaults her teammates. The Spectre defeats Marvel, frees Eclipso, and the pair flee. Blue Devil knocks Enchantress unconscious. Detective Chimp and Nightshade arrive with Lori Zechlin (Black Alice).
Part 5 - Day of Vengeance #5
Part 6 - Day of Vengeance #6
Related Issues:
Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 - Ted Kord (Blue Beetle) visits the Rock of Eternity, and speaks to the wizard Shazam about the attack on Booster Gold. Shazam shows Beetle a vision of the near future. Beetle is teleported away, though he accidentally leaves the Scarab behind.
JSA #73 - Albert Rothstein (Atom-Smasher) attempts to reconcile with the Justice Society of America. Jean Loring (Eclipso) assaults (Crimson Avenger). Black Adam recruits Atom-Smasher to help defend Kahndaq. Billy Batson (Captain Marvel) gathers Carter Hall (Hawkman) and the Justice Society of America to confront Eclipso and the Spectre.
JSA #74 - The Justice Society arrives in Kahndaq, and joins the fight against the Spectre. The vision powers of Power Girl return and overwhelm her sight. The Spectre traps Jakeem Thunder and Johnny Thunder within the Thunderbolt pen.
JSA #75 - Black Adam snaps the neck of Jean Loring (Eclipso), but she recovers quickly. Atom-Smasher grows to the size of Spectre, attacking him directly. Rothstein offers himself up to save the people of Kahndaq, and the Spectre accepts, delivering a mortal blow, then departing. Atom-Smasher dies, but Black Adam manages to resuscitate him, and the Justice Society take custody of the ailing Rothstein.
Notes:
Day of Vengeance is thematically similar to the 1999 crossover Day of Judgment, in which the Spectre, briefly without a human host to provide moral guidance, fell under the sway of Demon. A gathering of magical heroes, dubbed the Sentinels of Magic, worked to curtail the Spectre and bond him to another host. The Sentinels of Magic included Ragman, Enchantress (killed in Day of Judgment #4, but later resurrected in JLA: Black Baptism #4), and Blue Devil (resurrected into his current form in Day of Judgment #4, after dying in Starman (2nd series) #38).
Included in the vision during Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 are the Spectre, Captain Marvel (Billy Batson), Eclipso (Jean Loring), Demon, and Lex Luthor. Of those five, Demon and Lex Luthor have yet to play an active role in Day of Vengeance.
In the Lightning Strikes crossover (Action Comics #826, Adventures of Superman #639, and Superman (2nd series) #216), Eclipso brought Superman into battle with Captain Marvel. At the end of Superman (2nd series) #216, a black diamond (the conduit through which Eclipso manifests) appears in the cell of Jean Loring, leading into Day of Vengeance #1.
Jean Loring is the former wife of Ray Palmer (Atom). In Identity Crisis #7, she was placed in Arkham Asylum, after her role in the Identity Crisis murders was revealed.
In Day of Vengeance #1, Enchantress identifies John Ravenhair as the visible corpse in the Forest of Mist. Ravenhair first appeared in the Fury of Firestorm #1 as a high school teacher, with young Ronnie Raymond (Firestorm) among his students. He was transformed into the Black Bison upon inheriting a magical pendant from his great-grandfather, the original Black Bison.
Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) merged with the Spectre in Day of Judgment #5, becoming his first human host after Jim Corrigan, who departed the mortal world in Spectre (3rd series) #62. Jordan separated himself from the Spectre in Green Lantern: Rebirth #4, and reclaimed the identity of Green Lantern.
Jim Rook entered a New York City shop called Oblivion, Inc, and found himself transported to the other-dimensional world of Myrra, where he defended the Myrran people as Nightmaster. In Primal Force #8, Jim was reintroduced as the owner of Oblivion, Inc, an occult book store. Now, in Day of Vengeance #1, he is shown to be the operator of an inter-dimensional bar, appropriately named Oblivion.
Among the heroes gathered at the Oblivion Bar in Day of Vengeance #1 who refuse to take direct action against the Spectre are Arion, Animal Man, Vixen, Black Orchid, Deadman, Jason Blood, Doctor Occult, and Jennifer Morgan. Buddy Baker (Animal Man) makes reference to the Red, which is a cosmic field linking all animals together. Arion is the former Lord of Atlantis, hence why he is concerned by Nightshade's story.
The conversation between Shazam and Billy Batson (Captain Marvel) at the end of Day of Vengeance #1 is shown in greater detail in JSA #73. Marvel immediately recruits Hawkman and the Justice Society of America, placing JSA #74-75 before the battle in Budapest shown in Day of Vengeance #2.
The Black Vengeance storyline (JSA #73-75) is a sequel to the Black Reign crossover (JSA #56-58 and Hawkman (4th series) #23-25). In Black Reign, Black Adam led a takeover of Kahndaq, and included Albert Rothstein (Atom-Smasher) and Alex Montez (Eclipso) among his forces. Alex Montez was the cousin of Yolanda Montez (Wildcat), who was killed by Eclipso in Eclipso #13. Seeking vengeance for her murder, Alex injected himself with the black diamonds, and safely contained the power of Eclipso within his body, as revealed in the Princes of Darkness storyline (JSA #45-51). In JSA #58, the binding tattoos were broken, and Alex lost control over Eclipso, murdering Soseh Mykros (Nemesis), his lover. Alex committed suicide moments later.
Eclipso reveals in JSA #73 that he despises Black Adam for harnessing his power in the form of Alex Montez during Black Reign, and allowing him to remain trapped within a human body. The entire attack on Kahndaq by the Spectre is merely a means for Eclipso to punish Black Adam.
JSA #73 reveals that the voice speaking to Shazam in Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 was that of the evil sorcerer Mordu. In JSA #51, Hector Hall (Doctor Fate) trapped Mordu within the Rock of Eternity.
The battle between the Spectre and Hector Hall (Doctor Fate) is briefly shown in Day of Vengeance #2, but receives greater detail in JSA #74. That fight took place two days before the events of Black Vengeance and the conflict with Blackbriar Thorn in Day of Vengeance #1.
Lyta Hall (Fury) is shown reading a book called Endless Dreams in JSA #74. In Sandman (2nd series) #69, her son, Daniel Hall, became the new Dream of the Endless.
In JSA #75, Eclipso reveals that the evil mage Wotan has already fallen to the Spectre. Wotan was a regular foe of Doctor Fate in the pages of More Fun Comics during the Golden Age.
When the Spectre calls Atom-Smasher a murderer in JSA #75, the faces of those killed by Rothstein bubble forth from his chin, including Asim Muhunnad (murdered in JSA #56) and Extant (JSA #15).
The Bewitched Club, a fashionable, San Francisco gathering place for mystics, was revealed to have been destroyed by the Spectre in Day of Vengeance #2. In Books of Magic #2, the membership of the Club turned against young Tim Hunter, before John Constantine intervened.
In Day of Vengeance #3, Detective Chimp suggests that the gathered heroes adopt 'The Trenchcoat Brigade' as their team name. The actual Trenchcoat Brigade are John Constantine, Doctor Occult, Mister E, and the Phantom Stranger, and first banded together in Books of Magic #1. Constantine suggested the name based on their similar accruetrements.
Nightshade defends her heroism in Day of Vengeance #3 by commenting that she volunteered for the 'suicide mission' of stopping the Spectre. She was a regular member of the Suicide Squad during its first series, volunteering for her first suicide mission in Suicide Squad #1.
Lori Zechlin (Black Alice) first appeared in Birds of Prey (2nd series) #76. She harnesses magic, but her power allows her to mimic the abilities of other magical-based entities.
In Day of Vengeance #4, the faces of several heroes and villains sharing their power with Captain Marvel are shown, including most of the characters found at the Oblivion Bar in Day of Vengeance #1, as well as Sentinel, Felix Faust, Zatanna, Black Adam, CM3, Mary Marvel, and Tempest.
Nightmaster, Ragman, Enchantress, Detective Chimp, Blue Devil, and Nightshade adopt 'Shadowpact' as their team name in Day of Vengeance #4.