Geoff Johns Gets It

The above panel comes from about midway through Geoff Johns' sprawling "Thy Kingdom Come"/"One World, Under Gog" epic in Justice Society of America (issue 17, to be exact), and it underscores exactly why I find this creator to be one of comics' best.

Geoff Johns just gets it. Whether he's writing Superman or Booster Gold, epic events like Infinite Crisis or single-issue stories in Flash, he gets it. He gets the characters he writes and he understands how their histories contribute to their richness today. He knows the difference between a story that works for Green Lantern and one that works for the Teen Titans.

I'm a Christian and, from the looks of things, Geoff Johns gets me too. I was delighted when I read this short little scene, relatively inconsequential to the events of the Gog story as a whole, because something of its kind feels like a rarity. It zooms in on a sermon being given in a church as the world tries to come to grips with a seeming god dwelling among them. The fact that a Christian church is even being shown at all in this story is remarkable, as mainstream pop culture oft ignores the perspective of faith during its big disaster epics.

Even better, the church is portrayed giving an honest and realistic reaction to Gog's coming. The believers here don't break down into a spiral of existential doubt at the presence of a supernatural occurrence. They instead take comfort in the truths of their faith. Yes, Gog is powerful, the speaker acknowledges. "But he is not our creator."

Before I get too carried away, I'll admit that the scene does still fall into some of the regular trappings of entertainment media's portrayals of the church. First of all, the visuals here are strongly Roman Catholic. For some reason, possibly because their heavy use of iconography makes them easy to portray visually, movies and TV almost always look to Catholicism when they want to include Christianity. Where are all the protestant evangelicals?

Second, a conversation between Dr. Mid-Nite and Mr. Terrific suggests that the promise of an afterlife is that we will be reunited with our deceased loved ones. Though it may seem like a minor gripe to many, this isn't exactly the Biblical emphasis. The real promise of heaven is that we will be face to face with God, and it can be a bit tiresome to continually be fed the world's limited understanding of the concept.

Even so, Geoff Johns' JSA is the prime example of how to respect Christianity within the context of a nondenominational superhero tale. Unless the whole thing was really Alex Ross's doing...

Batmen With Guns

As this blog is still very much in its rookie season, I've obviously still got a lot to learn. But one thing that my trips around the comics blog scene this week have taught me is that you ain't nobody in this business until you've posted either a "The sky is falling!"-style gripe or a "HolycrapObama'sinacomic!"-level rave about Batman and Darkseid's mutual "deaths" in Final Crisis #6.

Be that as it may, there's little chance for this fledgling blog to contribute anything of significance to the debate by posting the same old type of review nearly a week after the issue in question came out. But, as polarized as the two sides have been, both have generally agreed on (or at least glossed over) the answer to following question:

Did Batman really break his vow when he used a gun to kill Darkseid? I say no.

I mean, yeah, Batman did fire a big sci-fi gun right at Darkseid's chest. There's no denying that. And, yes, Batman did vow never to use firearms in his pursuit of justice. Whether or not you still accept Year Two as canon, this aspect of the character can be found throughout the comics' publication history. So while it's clear that the letter of the law was violated here, I think Batman remained entirely within the perimeter of his own moral code when he offed the big bad.

To properly examine the issue, you have to look at what would motivate Batman to take a vow against guns. The obvious answer here is that his parents were murdered with a gun, so Bruce Wayne knows firsthand the pain and destruction that guns can cause. Yet Batman, as driven as he is, doesn't wage his endless nightly crusade against guns themselves. He didn't hone his body to the peak of human perfection to chase after Smith & Wesson or to bring down the NRA. And he willingly works alongside the police who use guns regularly in their line of duty. So it stands to reason that Batman isn't against the GUN so much as he is against MURDER.

Though don't think for a minute that a Dark Knight stalking criminals in the streets of the Gotham night wouldn't be murderous. Even if he used it in self defense. Batman is such a physical match for the majority of those he fights that he could easily kill them with his bare hands if he so desired. Introducing a gun into the mix would make Batman nothing other than an executioner. As long as Batman boasts such physical superiority over his opponent, he could not KILL without committing MURDER.

Finally, Batman seeks JUSTICE. In the world in which he operates, muggers and crime bosses can be brought to trial where they will have to answer for their transgressions. If Batman were not to respect the social order and allow sentencing to occur in its proper place, he would take his city right back down the path of chaos that led to Thomas and Martha Wayne's deaths in the first place.

Darkseid is no common criminal. For most of his comics career he was the feared worst enemy of a superhero team that called itself the New Gods, for crying out loud. He's a monster. Practically Satan himself. Even written by Grant Morrison, Batman would seem to be an underdog when going up against a supernatural adversary such as this, gun or not. And if Darkseid were to be captured and detained, what court could bring him to justice?

When Batman says he's making an "exception" for Darkseid, he's not saying "Darkseid, you're so evil that I'm going to break one of my cardinal rules." He's actually saying, "Darkseid, you're an evil of such magnitude that I haven't even thought up a rule that covers you!"

I refuse to read this so-called final adventure of the Dark Knight in this so-called final crisis as the story of a man who ultimately gives up on his ideals. Instead, it's the tale of a hero who lives up to his quest for justice even to his last breath.

I'm glad Batman shot Darkseid. If I were in alone in a room facing the sinister lord of Apokolips with a gun capable of firing a bullet made of some kind of New Gods Kryptonite, would I shoot him too? Heck yeah, I would. And I hope you'd do the same.

Batman RIP: The Soundtrack

From time to time I enjoy thinking up a track listing of music to serve as a soundtrack for things that wouldn't normally have the privilege of getting a soundtrack--like comics. Not a soundtrack that is meant to score actual scenes from the comic or to be listened to as you read along, but just a playlist of songs that mirror the story in question thematically. And out of this tradition comes my most recent compilation, Batman RIP: Musical Selections Inspired by the Comic Series.

I put this post out there keeping in mind that musical taste is highly subjective, probably more so than in any other of the arts. My preferences lean strongly toward alternative rock from the 90's and 2000's, so that's what you'll find on this list. If that's not your thing, you'll probably hate it. I tried to keep the sound of the whole thing relatively cohesive, but at times I had to sacrifice musical unity for lyrical content that was relevant to the story (and vice versa). All of the music is meant to follow the events of RIP sequentially, but many additionally work to underscore the story as a whole.


1. Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
Learning that the Black Glove seeks to destroy him, Batman tells his hidden foe to bring it on.

2. Dance With Me - Old 97's
In literal terms it evokes Bruce's invitation to the Black Glove's Danse Macabre, but it also represents his whirlwind romance with Jezebel Jet (or at least how it seemed to be).

3. Mosquito Song - Queens of the Stone Age
Joker's theme for the album. The vision he has when looking at the Rorschach blot at the end of Batman #676 is one of the most chillingly awesome Joker scenes I've ever read.

4. Push It - Garbage
Dr. Hurt knows what lies in the deep, dark recesses of the Batman's soul and he knows just how to use it to push the Dark Knight over the edge.

5. Fatal - Pearl Jam
I think it was this song that first inspired me to create the soundtrack. This is the story of Bruce Wayne wandering the streets after losing his memory. If Batman is out of sight...is he really out of mind?

6. Meds - Placebo
Continuing the odyssey of the homeless Bruce Wayne as he starts to remember the hero he once was...albeit in an off-kilter fashion.

7. The Everlasting Gaze - The Smashing Pumpkins
The Batman isn't dead, he's just hiding, prowling the city the only city that could have manufactured him. As for Billy Corgan's anti-God rant? Well, I guess you could pretend that it's Dr. Hurt talking.

8. Rainy Day - Guster
I wouldn't have thought to include this band in the soundtrack if I hadn't randomly hit this track on my mp3 playlist. It's the story of someone who has hidden themselves away preparing for disaster. And now disaster is knocking on the door.

9. Analyse - Thom Yorke
Batman thinks he can use logic and reason to make sense of everything. Joker begs to differ.

10. Dead! - My Chemical Romance
Joker tries to convince Batman that there is no real meaning in life. It's all one big joke!

11. The People That We Love (Speed Kills) - Bush
Probably where I went the most lax on lyrics in favor of dramatic sound. It's the breaking of Batman's heart and spirit that Jezebel Jet had in mind.

12. Sometimes - Ours
What would happen if Bruce Wayne laid down the cowl for good? There's also a hint of Batman's defiance in the face of overwhelming adversity.

13. Invincible - Muse
The tagline says it all as the conclusion of RIP brings the tale full circle. "Batman and Robin will never die!"


So, what do you say? Do you have additions or subtractions for the list? Got any comics soundtracks of your own?

Messianic Superman 2.0

As Geoff Johns' regular tenure on Action Comics comes to a close this week, there seems to be little doubt that the run will be remembered fondly for many years to come. No shortage of contributions to continuity originated in these 20+ issues, many of them successful integrations of elements of Superman movies and TV shows into the comics. General Zod, a back-to-basics scientist Luthor, the retooled Brainiac, and the death of Jonathan Kent are the ones that first come to mind.

But, for me, the most impressive feat accomplished in Action Comics over the past two years has nothing to do with the writer's ability to make the Superman of comics more like the Superman of film. No, the truly remarkable moment came during the "Superman and the Legion of Superheroes" arc, where Mr. Johns actually took the now-cliched Superman-Christ metaphor and gave it a new spin.

Superman as indicative of Jesus Christ. You've heard it before, right? Sent to Earth from the heavens by his father to serve as a savior to mankind while living among them? If it were once considered novel to draw this parallel between the Man of Steel and Son of Man, those days are long gone. Once Hollywood starts appropriating the portrayal of a pop culture icon like Superman as a Christ figure (going back as far as the first movie in 1978), you know the idea has become mainstream. Typing in the terms "Superman as" into Google leads the search engine to suggest that "Jesus" might be the word you mean to use next.

Which is why it came as such as surprise when Geoff Johns delved into Superman-as-Christ territory and gave us something we hadn't seen before. Since the Silver Age, it had been established that the Legion of Superheroes had been inspired to heroism by the historical accounts of Superman. But this story took us to a dark version of that future where the legend of Superman had been twisted. Said to have been born as a human, not of Kryptonian origin, Superman was corrupted into a symbol of xenophobia and hatred by earthlings of the alien races that made up the majority of the Legion.

In our world, the truth of Christ's nature is also often distorted. Many want to view Christ as a pretty good man or an insightful teacher, not the fully incarnate God that the New Testament says him to be. And when the attributes of Christ can be picked and chosen at will, the resultant muddle of a Jesus can be used to stand for all sorts of things--just as the distorted Superman was in the 30th Century.

As far as I know, Geoff Johns isn't a professing Christian. And it seems that his primary intent in the Legion story was to write a message of tolerance and multiculturalism. But it doesn't always take a Christian to tell a hero story that taps into underlying spiritual truth. After all, Siegel and Shuster themselves were Jewish. And it wouldn't come as too much of a shock to learn that Johns has some sort of Christian background, as he has a knack for writing this kind of stuff (the prime example being his and Alex Ross's JSA epic...more on that later!).

The Way, The Truth, and the Anti-Life?

Are the followers of Darkseid in Final Crisis meant to represent the evangelical church?

The notion first occurred to me upon reading the above panel from Final Crisis: Submit, in which Black Lightning gets indignant over the practice of book burning taken up by those brainwashed by the anti-life equation. The use of Darwin's On The Origin of Species to illustrate the scene is by no means neutral or coincidental. It instantly evokes thoughts of the culture war in America and the standpoint of many conservative Christians, who, though generally not physically burning the book, are vocally opposed to its teaching in schools.

If the image had come from a tie-in written by another author, I probably would have dismissed it in terms of its relevance to Final Crisis at large. But the issue was written by Grant Morrison himself, and, assuming that the choice of book shown here wasn't left up to the artist's discretion, it should be seen as consistent with the themes of the series as a whole. This led me to examine the rest of the series, both prior to and following the Submit one-shot, for more of the same. As it turned out, I must have been a bit blind not to notice it before.

Courting Luthor back in Final Crisis #3, Libra asked him to "renounce science" and "swear an oath on the Bible of Crime." Note that the disciple of Darkseid doesn't contrast his religion of evil with some other religion that embraces good but rather with the logic and rationality of science. Throughout the series, those given over to anti-life are instructed to "judge" those who are different. And isn't "being judgmental" one of the stock accusations raised against Christians who openly espouse their ideas of a universal morality? Ironically, though one of the evil gods in the series takes the form of a TV preacher, I actually don't think he works as another critique of conservative evangelicals. He looks and talks too much like Al Sharpton for that.

It's a genuine shame to see Mr. Morrison analogize Christians to the bad guys of Final Crisis. First of all, it isn't a particularly inspired or original approach. But even if it were, too many of the positive themes of the story agree with Christian theology for this villanization to make sense! From the words of Metron on the first page of Final Crisis #1, Morrison has made it clear that the rise of heroism in the DC Universe has been enabled by a higher power. It is not simply a product of the works of man and the philosophies of reason. Superman Beyond highlights Superman not only as the prototypical hero of Earth-1 but portrays the Man of Steel himself as the product of a deeper eternal archetype. As a reader of the Old Testament who recognizes the typology of Christ at work in Moses, David, and Elijah, I can jump on board with that.

Here's hoping that Morrison doesn't view himself as the originator of such themes. At the latest, the Apostle Paul beat him to it by a couple thousand years!

I believe it would have been much more interesting (and consistent with the true nature of good vs. evil) if Darkseid had been portrayed as a corrupter of religion. As he seeks to define the nature of the coming Fifth World with his own perverse version of faith, the heroes rise up to defend the ideals of truth and purity. Imagine if the following encounter occurred in Final Crisis between Libra and one of DC's nominally Christian characters, let's say...the angel Zauriel, a Morrison creation from his JLA days.

[The Justifiers, led by LIBRA with anti-life helmet in hand, close in on the wounded ZAURIEL.]

LIBRA
Submit to anti-life!
Confess that Darkseid is GOD!

ZAURIEL
A god...yes.
But...there is only...
...one God..
...and His name...
...isn't...
Darkseid!

An Introduction to Infinite Kizes

I love superhero comics. And I'm also a Christian. A pretty conservative one, at that.

A lot of my friends like superhero comics as well. And a lot of those same friends are Christians too.

Perhaps it's a coindence. Maybe we're an oddity, like uninvited guests finding their way into the Batcave. Sure, it happens from time to time, but it's not like you see it everyday. After all, most of the people making comics these days don't seem particularly religious, so why would those who read them be? With so many demon-powered superheroes, hyper-violent fight scenes, and skimpily dressed femmes on the stands, you'd think the followers of Christ would be drawn to loftier pursuits.

But comics are also filled with epic battles of good versus evil, champions of righteousness dueling the servants of sin. Comic scribes and (more recently) film directors have latched onto the superhero as a mythological symbol, their adventures an allegory for our spiritual existence. Could it be that superhero fandom and a life of faith are a natural fit, a match made in...well, heaven?

As is prone to be the case with matters of God and culture, the truth most likely lies somewhere between these two possibilities (though my inner fanboy says it more heavily leans toward the latter). At times, comics provide us a perfectly valid analogy for theological truth, though they can just as easily completely fail to do so.

In this blog, I'll be trying my best to navigate the proper path through these ideas. Like I said, I love superheroes, so you won't find me going all Frederic Wertham on them. But, it would be just as foolish for me to automatically spiritualize everything in a cape and utility belt like others have done before time and time again.