Writer: Dave Gibbons
Artists: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, & Joe Bennett (p), Marc Campos, Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, & Jack Jadson (i)
Publisher: DC/Titan Books
The planet Rann was transported into orbit around Polaris, Thanagar’s sun. Thanagar’s orbit was destabilized and its atmosphere caught fire. Survivors were evacuated to Rann. Tensions between the two races have exploded into a war fueled by the Thanagarian Cult of the Seven Devils. Other planets and systems have taken sides in the conflict leading to a universe-wide conflict. All this death makes the Cult stronger, enabling them to resurrect their leader-Onimar Synn, eater of souls.
Out of all the “Infinite Crisis” mini-series, this one was the most fun. This is a straight-up widescreen sci-fi blockbuster. The story is simple enough to let the heroes blast away at the villains. This story literally has everything-talking animal people, zombies, sacrifice, lost love, tough chicks, burly men, death, evil gods, betrayal, and Killowog. ‘Rann-Thanagar’ is about soldiers trying to save their people when neither side wants peace.
I will always think of Dave Gibbons as an artist first and a writer second. He’s that damn good of an artist. And he’s no slough on the keyboard either. Gibbons keeps the action moving at high speed, but never, (okay, rarely), looses the reader. Everyone is written in character. As a ‘Starman’ fan, it was great seeing Prince Gavyn again defending his Throneworld. Kyle Rayner also shows why he deserves the ring. (Always liked that guy.)
The art is so dense and detailed, it gets difficult to follow the action. The coloring is most to blame. People and land are colored in similar shades of brown. This makes it difficult to see exactly where characters are. The fact that most panels have three or more people in them doesn’t help either. There are times when the art threatens to collapse under its own weight.
The ending that ties this into ‘Infinite Crisis’ has nothing to do with anything that happens in the story. Ignoring that, we get a great stand-alone tale about the intergalactic equivalent of WWI. Combine it with the recent ‘Adam Strange’ mini-series and you get 2/3 of a solid trilogy. However this war ends, I’m hoping fans will be able to enjoy it separate from the ‘Infinite Crisis’.
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