Ok, initial reactions here. I’ve read the issue quickly (or at least, as quickly as I could) over lunch.
As I mentioned last week, following Superman Beyond #2, I was really worried about the implications for Final Crisis. And in some regards, I think I was definitely right. Superman Beyond is required reading for Final Crisis. No two ways about it. Stuff happens towards the end that’ll make zero sense if you haven’t read it. Grant Morrison admits its an essential part of the story during yesterday’s Newsarama interview, and to be honest, I’m quite annoyed DC aren’t including it in the hardcover (from April’s solicits). Frankly, I’d have bought the hardcover of this story, but the fact that its missing vital issues makes it worthless to me. Release the whole thing or don’t bother I’d say. Especially when you’re talking about having to spend the best part of £20 on a story that’s incomplete. I’m willing to pay more if it means getting the complete tale.
Anyway, the issue came out yesterday, and reading the initial reaction, I was pretty concerned that this series had been blown in the final issue. However, aside from the above issue of Mandraak and Superman Beyond, I have to say I enjoyed it.
Which is not to say, its not without its problems. The storytelling is very disjointed, in a way I’m sure is meant to reflect the collapse of time caused by Darkseid’s death. That makes some things hard to follow, and I’m still trying to piece together a timeline of what actually happened (specifically everyone being evacuated to Earth-51 versus the lone survivors on the Watchtower/Fortress hybrid – although I’m assuming the events on the Watchtower must preceed the evacuation).
The Monitor scenes I find a bit confusing as well. I’m not really sure what they added to the story at all, other than setting up the character of the exiled Monitor. Although their role is more carefully looked at in Superman Beyond, so taking that series as part of the whole maybe it’ll make more sense.
Talking of the Monitors, to be honest, was Mandraak really needed here? This issue could’ve comfortably skipped that whole plot and been about the heroes trying to save the universe from the singularity resultant from Darkseid’s fall. That whole aspect could’ve been jettisoned I feel and the story wouldn’t have lost anything (and gained the advantage of being more self-contained with the 7 issues).
All of which sounds very negative, but I do think there’s a good, epic story here, although its going to need careful re-reading, and I really think I’m going to dig out all the issues (and Submit and Superman Beyond) and read the whole thing back-to-back in the order Grant Morrison intended (barring the Batman issues, as I didn’t buy them).
Has this been a successful event? I’ve enjoyed the main mini-series, although the tie-ins generally had little to do with the events of Final Crisis, and that caused a loss of momentum for me, which Secret Invasion had (even though the main series was much less enjoyable). I think generally, Final Crisis hasn’t been viewed that well, seen as confusing and inpenetrable to non-hardcore DC readers which really hasn’t done it any favours, although I’m unsure how true that is.
I’m looking forward to passing the complete series off to my Marvel-reading friend, who reads very little DC, and seeing what he makes of it.
If you’re measuring success in terms of sales, then there’s no doubt Marvel cleaned up with Secret Invasion, so it’ll be interesting to see what Blackest Night brings to the table. Zombies are an easier sell than this story about evil Gods and the breakdown of the multiverse, so maybe the general readership (at least the online one) will go for it more.
Final Crisis has been an attempt to do something a bit different for the big event. To write a story more meangingful than the usual “aliens turn up. Heroes pound them into the dirt” summer event. And for that, you’ve really got to applaud DC. I’ve enjoyed it, and at the end of the day, since I’m buying the comics for myself, that’s what really matters.