DC dropped this into the email box earlier today … I’m guessing it has something to do with World War III:
Update: I asked our resident DC historian Tom Bondurant if he had any thoughts or comments on the image:
If it’s World War 3, then certainly the multiverse looks to be bleeding into the main DC universe — but if it’s WW3, then why are Superman and Wonder Woman there?
Just a few quick comments, if I’m not too far behind the news cycle:
– The half-destroyed Statue of Liberty brings to mind a few DC-related images: the cover of Kamandi #1, Earth-4 during Crisis on Infinite Earths’ Villain War, and the beginning of Sam Hamm’s Watchmen script (where our heroes accidentally destroy it as part of a botched rescue mission).
– Newsarama Forum posters pointed out that Superboy is not among the four Crisis-related corpses, but I bet that’s just DC being cautious in light of the litigation over his rights.
– Many characters are, or have, “alternate” versions. Mr. Miracle is Scott Free, but he could just as well have been Shilo Norman. Kyle wears a new Ion costume, and some folks think his energy-aura is yellow. Donna wears her second Wonder Girl outfit. Red Robin is from an alternate timeline, and I suspect that “Batman” is the Elseworlds’ Leatherwing, and “Flash” is Barry Allen. Also, this is Mary Marvel’s second costume — her original, of course, was red.
– If it’s Dick Grayson in the Red Robin suit, then just about everyone that the Monitors are supposed to visit — Dick, Donna, Kyle, and Kara Zor-El — is represented. I’d say Supergirl’s death (again) is why Superman is crying (again), but I reeeeally doubt DC would kill her off so soon after Eddie Berganza’s impassioned plea.
– Many of the characters represent a few different dimensions/timelines/parallel Earths: Barda and Scott from the Fourth World, Kyle from Earth-8, Donna, Green Arrow, and Flash from Earth-1, Red Robin and Leatherwing from Elseworlds, Black Canary and Jade from Earth-2, the Question and Blue Beetle from Earth-4, and Mary Marvel from Earth-S.
– Some posters believe some or all of the figures were PhotoShopped into the image. I don’t know one way or the other, but the shadows on Mary Marvel don’t seem to match the shadows on Leatherwing or Flash.
–The quote about the great destruction is from the Book of Jeremiah. That’s also from the Newsarama forums.
– Yeah, why *does* Superman always end up with the emo?
Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for now. I think it’s some post-52, post-WW3 thing.
January 25th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Well, whatever this pic is for. Once again, here we have Superman, yes, SUPERMAN, the one hero in the group shot crumbling under the weight of the situation. Why is this? Why is…SUPERMAN always the character portrayed as the ONLY hero so very devestated? The ONE hero always shedding the tear(s)?
Did I mention that he is SUPERMAN? Shouldn’t he be the one leading by example? Not that any of the other characters in the pick look all chipper or anything. But compared to Superman, they look downright giddy.
Excuse the rant.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
very funny! the kitschy Superman pose barely keeping himself from falling face-forward into Wonder Womans ample chest area (but! still paying attention on posing his legs for maximum effect) is a good match for most of the others’ must-stare-vacantly pose.
Still, I’m curious why Batman picked the funky sheik costume and who killed Blue Beetle .. again.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
And the reappearance of Twist-Top Max!
Looking like an action figure somebody dropped.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
More importantly: What ghould dug up the dearly departed and why haven’t they decomposed?
January 25th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Yeah, Superman IS crying like a punk. This is a confusing pic (I assume intentionally), but I’m not sure it’s as interesting as it is just awkward.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
“Battle cry” should never mean weeping. Weak! Man up, Superman.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Superman’s gotta pull it together man. Even Mary Marvel isn’t as sad as Superman. Mary. Freaking. Marvel. Grow a pair Clark…
January 25th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I can’t look at Superman now without the song “‘Cause you had a bad day” getting stuck in my head.
January 25th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
The problem is that Superman just cares too much.
January 25th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Here’s a question: why is everyone “trusting” this image? When it comes to teaser images lately, DC has a reputation for alterations. Remember those covers for the first couple of issues of the new Justice League of America series? The initial releases of those images proved to be different from the final versions.
January 25th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
This really does seem photoshopped or otherwise manipulated, because none of the groups of characters are interacting with each other, and most of them don’t look as if they’re entirely fitting into the background image. (Barda & Mr. Miracle in particular.)
But hey, I could just be x-tra suspicious.
January 25th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
I miss Donna’s awesome starry Wonder Woman costume already and I’ve only seen one B+W picture of it.
January 25th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Kyle, Donna, Barda, and Mr. Miracle definitely look photoshopped. I’d bet that they’re all going to be replaced with surprise characters.
January 25th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
I’m guessing the photo is supposed to entice but it just makes me want to stay away from DC titles. Too messy and confusing.
January 25th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
DC needs to give Superman his Golden Age personality. That Superman was a tough SOB.
January 26th, 2007 at 12:34 am
Wait, isn’t this a ripoff of one of the Sopranos DVD covers?
January 26th, 2007 at 1:01 am
Where’s the therapist if it’s a Sopranos ripoff?
And Bondurant’s knowledge scares me.
Finally, Superman cries because no matter where he goes, in every group shot, he has to sit near “broken neck” guy.
January 26th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I think its supposed to be like the Soprano’s ads just before a new season starts.
It reminds me very much of the HBO poster where the mob family is standing in a row boat surrounded by the bodies of people Tony’s killed…
January 26th, 2007 at 9:40 am
It reminds me of old colorforms. I’m going to move Blue Beetle’s dead body over here…
January 26th, 2007 at 9:45 am
The reason why Superman is always crying because it’s a juxaposition/contrast to his invulernability and incredible powers. It’s suppose to “humanize” him.
Of course, it’s been overdone.
January 26th, 2007 at 10:20 am
You will believe a man can cry.
Also, an investigation into the reflection on Barda’s chest:
http://tinyurl.com/276mfs
January 26th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
…Bondurant’s knowledge scares me.
Yeah, I get that a lot.
January 26th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
What’s Eddie Berganza’s impassioned plea?