PRELUDE TO INFINITE CRISIS
If you’re like me and have just re-entered the DC Universe after a protracted absence, Prelude to Infinite Crisis may be exactly what the doctor ordered. It’s doubtful this title will ever become a collector’s item, seeing as it is merely a reprint of key moments in the DC Universe over the last few years. But if you are reading Countdown to Infinite Crisis or any of the mini-series it has spawned (Villains United, Day of Vengeance, The OMAC Project, and The Rann-Thanagar War) and don’t know what the heck is going on, this book serves as a welcome guide to the characters and events that have created today’s tenuous situation.
Packed into Prelude’s whopping 96 pages are three full-length stories from pivotal, sold-out issues (Superman Secret Files 2004, Flash #219, and Wonder Woman #214), select pages from over two-dozen other comics, and a running commentary that contextualizes and connects each excerpt. Prelude begins with the disturbance at the heart of the universe that lead the Spectre—generally a force of order—to team up with Eclipso, the universe’s agent of retribution and vengeance. It then recounts key moments in the lives of Donna Troy, Superman, Lex Luthor, Batman, the Flash, Adam Strange, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Black Adam, and countless other famous and not-so-famous DC heroes and villains. Although readers may not have realized it at the time, every incident recounted in Prelude planted a sinister seed, one that would eventually blossom into a cataclysm of universal proportions. You can trace the development of each seed through Countdown as well as the four spin-off series mentioned above. However, the ultimate outcome of each event will only be answered in full when Infinite Crisis—DC’s premiere publishing event of 2005—is launched this fall.
Thematically, the entire crisis hinges on the issue of choices. As the opening commentary of Prelude states, “Consequences of past actions will forever change the shape of the world.” It turns out some of DC’s heroes have made some bad choices indeed—not least of which was the decision of the “Secret Pact” within the Justice League (Green Arrow, Green Lantern, the Flash, Black Canary, Hawkman, the Atom, and Zatanna) to lobotomize Dr. Light for raping Sue Dibny. Other heroes, such as Superman and Wonder Woman, have acted in good conscience but have nonetheless exacerbated the very forces of antagonism they sought to defeat. Collectively, DC’s heroes are discovering that even though their actions may have silenced the voices of evil for a time, a day of reckoning will come. They are also learning that the fine line separating the good guys from the bad guys is becoming increasingly blurred. Even though they call themselves “super,” the title of “hero” is neither assured nor, in some cases, deserved. This fact has not gone unnoticed by DC’s villains, who have decided enough is enough. It is time to form a strategic alliance, to defeat the “plague” of heroes once and for all.
While the consequences of our choices are not nearly as immediate or pronounced as those of DC’s heroes and villains, the outcomes of our decisions are no less significant or universal. In some cases, we are like the members of the Secret Pact—knowingly committing evil while continuing to masquerade as the “good guys,” as heroes, even. In other cases, we are like Superman: well intentioned but often serving to destabilize the world rather than helping to restore it, all because we have not bothered to consider the full impact of our decisions. Whether we commit wrong intentionally or unintentionally, sooner or later we will all have to face up to the consequences of our choices. And on that day, we won’t be able to hide behind titles like “hero” either. The true heroes will be identified through their deeds, not mere words, and the choice as to which title we receive—hero or villain—will be completely out of our hands.
The good news is, rather than serve as a prelude to crisis, our choices can lead to peace, fulfillment, and transformation instead. Even though the blurry line that separates hero from villain runs straight down the center of our souls, we can all refrain from crossing over to the "Dark Side." Here’s how:
1) Say “No!” to secret sin: We’ve all got them: bad habits, addictions, hateful thoughts, fears, dirty little secrets hiding out in the closets of our lives. We may think we have them under control, but such things are like a cancer silently eating away at our being. If they aren’t stopped, sooner or later they will leap out of the closet and take over completely, unleashing forces of antagonism we never knew existed. In my experience, turning away from such closet-dwellers (which are often so darn appealing) is impossible on my own. Only with the help of Jesus can I find the strength to choose what is good. If it feels like your closet is about to burst, I encourage you to ask Jesus for help as well.
2) Consider the consequences of your actions: On our rapidly shrinking planet, if we are not careful, even our best intentioned choices can have an adverse effect on someone, somewhere in the world. Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure that the ripple effect of our lives is positive, not negative. When things like pollution or deforestation reach a point where life in a particular region is no longer sustainable, for example, it will do no good to say, “I didn’t know.” I encourage you to reflect on the full consequences of your lifestyle and consider whether you are having a positive impact on the world or if you are unintentionally contributing to a truly global crisis.
3) Never take the title of “hero” for granted: As Rachel Dawes says to Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins, “It’s not who you are underneath but what you do that defines you.” Character is defined by action—by choices—not mere words. Even though we may think of ourselves as one of the good guys (or girls)—and even though we may have taken on a title, such as “Christian,” that affirms our inner belief—ultimately, our character is defined moment by moment, day by day as we slug it out in the trenches of everyday life. Don’t hide behind fancy words and titles. If you truly want to be known as a hero, let your actions do the talking.
Packed into Prelude’s whopping 96 pages are three full-length stories from pivotal, sold-out issues (Superman Secret Files 2004, Flash #219, and Wonder Woman #214), select pages from over two-dozen other comics, and a running commentary that contextualizes and connects each excerpt. Prelude begins with the disturbance at the heart of the universe that lead the Spectre—generally a force of order—to team up with Eclipso, the universe’s agent of retribution and vengeance. It then recounts key moments in the lives of Donna Troy, Superman, Lex Luthor, Batman, the Flash, Adam Strange, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Black Adam, and countless other famous and not-so-famous DC heroes and villains. Although readers may not have realized it at the time, every incident recounted in Prelude planted a sinister seed, one that would eventually blossom into a cataclysm of universal proportions. You can trace the development of each seed through Countdown as well as the four spin-off series mentioned above. However, the ultimate outcome of each event will only be answered in full when Infinite Crisis—DC’s premiere publishing event of 2005—is launched this fall.
Thematically, the entire crisis hinges on the issue of choices. As the opening commentary of Prelude states, “Consequences of past actions will forever change the shape of the world.” It turns out some of DC’s heroes have made some bad choices indeed—not least of which was the decision of the “Secret Pact” within the Justice League (Green Arrow, Green Lantern, the Flash, Black Canary, Hawkman, the Atom, and Zatanna) to lobotomize Dr. Light for raping Sue Dibny. Other heroes, such as Superman and Wonder Woman, have acted in good conscience but have nonetheless exacerbated the very forces of antagonism they sought to defeat. Collectively, DC’s heroes are discovering that even though their actions may have silenced the voices of evil for a time, a day of reckoning will come. They are also learning that the fine line separating the good guys from the bad guys is becoming increasingly blurred. Even though they call themselves “super,” the title of “hero” is neither assured nor, in some cases, deserved. This fact has not gone unnoticed by DC’s villains, who have decided enough is enough. It is time to form a strategic alliance, to defeat the “plague” of heroes once and for all.
While the consequences of our choices are not nearly as immediate or pronounced as those of DC’s heroes and villains, the outcomes of our decisions are no less significant or universal. In some cases, we are like the members of the Secret Pact—knowingly committing evil while continuing to masquerade as the “good guys,” as heroes, even. In other cases, we are like Superman: well intentioned but often serving to destabilize the world rather than helping to restore it, all because we have not bothered to consider the full impact of our decisions. Whether we commit wrong intentionally or unintentionally, sooner or later we will all have to face up to the consequences of our choices. And on that day, we won’t be able to hide behind titles like “hero” either. The true heroes will be identified through their deeds, not mere words, and the choice as to which title we receive—hero or villain—will be completely out of our hands.
The good news is, rather than serve as a prelude to crisis, our choices can lead to peace, fulfillment, and transformation instead. Even though the blurry line that separates hero from villain runs straight down the center of our souls, we can all refrain from crossing over to the "Dark Side." Here’s how:
1) Say “No!” to secret sin: We’ve all got them: bad habits, addictions, hateful thoughts, fears, dirty little secrets hiding out in the closets of our lives. We may think we have them under control, but such things are like a cancer silently eating away at our being. If they aren’t stopped, sooner or later they will leap out of the closet and take over completely, unleashing forces of antagonism we never knew existed. In my experience, turning away from such closet-dwellers (which are often so darn appealing) is impossible on my own. Only with the help of Jesus can I find the strength to choose what is good. If it feels like your closet is about to burst, I encourage you to ask Jesus for help as well.
2) Consider the consequences of your actions: On our rapidly shrinking planet, if we are not careful, even our best intentioned choices can have an adverse effect on someone, somewhere in the world. Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure that the ripple effect of our lives is positive, not negative. When things like pollution or deforestation reach a point where life in a particular region is no longer sustainable, for example, it will do no good to say, “I didn’t know.” I encourage you to reflect on the full consequences of your lifestyle and consider whether you are having a positive impact on the world or if you are unintentionally contributing to a truly global crisis.
3) Never take the title of “hero” for granted: As Rachel Dawes says to Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins, “It’s not who you are underneath but what you do that defines you.” Character is defined by action—by choices—not mere words. Even though we may think of ourselves as one of the good guys (or girls)—and even though we may have taken on a title, such as “Christian,” that affirms our inner belief—ultimately, our character is defined moment by moment, day by day as we slug it out in the trenches of everyday life. Don’t hide behind fancy words and titles. If you truly want to be known as a hero, let your actions do the talking.