Justice League America #108

Justice League America #108
"One Hand in Darkness"
Cover Date: February 1996
Writer: Gerard Jones
Artist: Chuck Wojtkiewicz (Pencils), Drew Geraci, Rick Rankin (Inkers)

Previously...

Let's see, Power Girl had an immaculate conception and gave birth to super sort of super-baby with uncertain parentage, Metamorpho was depressed about further mutations, Blue Devil made a deal with the devil that went awry, as they often do, and Obsidian was about to go on a date. Amazingly, all four of these subplots would be ignored within twelve months of the publication of this issue.

Plot

The first line of this issue is, "You've waged a long war to prevent this moment, Scarabus. But in the end you've only provided the spark that made possible....the birth of EQUINOX!" Outstanding!

Anyway, it turns out that big E is actually the grown-up version of Power Girl's son, whose father is evidently some combination of Atlantean Mages and Scarabus, though it's never made clear exactly how that works. Equinox is here to end the war between the Lords of Order and Chaos, and thus bring about "cosmic peace." Scarabus declines Equinox's offer to join him in forging this new era, and they start fighting. Power Girl is also there, but spend the entire issue sprawled on the ground asking what happened to her baby.

Interestingly enough, none of the other Justice Leaguers really do much in this issue. Nuklon is looking for some sort of exotic food so that he can trade it to Yaz, who is some sort of sentient blue Pterodactyl, for...you know what, does it really matter? It's a talking Pterodactyl! I feel like this is either the best or worst character ever created and should be the star of this comic.

And he's got a fucking vest! How did he never get a solo title?

Obsidian has a date with a woman, and it doesn't got well, probably because he had been slated to come as gay for years except no one had the guts to pull the trigger on it. Eventually it got sorted out in the Andreyenko version of Manhunter, and then Obsidian got purged with the rest of the JSA in the new 52.

Oh, and the Blue Devil is still moping about the consequences of making a deal with the devil that ended up getting his long-time love interest killed. I don't know, it's not very interesting, not even when a dominatrix pops in:

Back in the main story, Equinox gets his ass kicked by Scarabus until the Justice League finally shows up for what amounts to be a cameo appearance in their own book. Equinox uses their distraction to walk away from the battle and contemplate the nature of the universe. No, really.

"For I am Equinox, and no bastardized Eastern Philosophy is beyond my power!"

Equinox has now reached the proper state of enlightenment and just kind of erase Scarabus from existence, or as Jones puts it, "With a power that is beyond violence," Neat. And then he explains that Power Girl's destiny is now fulfilled and she can live her life freely, after which point he fades out of existence. Power Girl is understandably confused by this turn of events. So, uh, I guess that means cosmic peace for all?

Back at Justice League headquarters, Obsidian is worried that his date didin't go well, but the woman calls him back and wants to see him again, ensuring that Obsidian's presumptive heterosexuality shall survive for at least one more issue!

In related vein, Nuklon's gift does not please Yaz, but Ice (that would be the 2nd version of that character, for those keeping track) comes by to cheer him up, and inadvertently flirt with Nuklon. This will not go well, since this version of Ice is exactly two issues away from coming out as a lesbian. The End!

Commentary

Let's be honest, this run of Justice League may have been the worst ever, but it did have its high points like...

The Greatest Cliffhanger in DC Comics history!

The mind-boggling origin of Mariachi Man!

And other goooooooood times!


Damage Stars: There aren't enough stars in the universe....