Final Crisis #1 (OF 7)

Oscillating between the very domestic/earthly concerns (Turpin. Anthro) and the truly cosmic and far reaching affairs (The Monitors. GL Corps), Final Crisis is off to a fantastic start with a structure that is exceptional and appropriate. Grant Morrison, as ever, is obviously working on a more complex than a simple summer brawl and fanboy fodder. A typical summer event is usually a crossover where everyones favorite heroes show up to battle a threat more powerful than each of them individually. The is obviously greater work going on in this story already, as the opening pages treat us to the introduction of "knowledge" (presumably the capacity for inspiration or innovation) to the human race, and detective Turpin's pessimistic observations of the self-destructive ramifications of this gift. Further into the book, we are introduced to Libra who, instead of simply rallying a bunch of villains together under the premise of world domination, waxes philosophical about why the "good guys" always seem to win in the first place.

There is no pandering to fanboyism, or any artificial hooks. The Martian Manhunter's death is brilliantly executed. How was he captured in the first place? I have no idea, I could care less. But as far as we are able to tell, he mercilessly and unceremoniously executed; no drawn out fight or huge splash pages lend the incident any affective excess, which is so over-played in superhero fiction that it wouldn't have been really effective if they tried anyway. So yes, J'onn is killed (supposedly, we didn't see his heart stop or anything of course) in order to cement threat that Libra represents, and its up to the reader to decide: what is more important, the story or the character? Many will howl and moan, claiming the character, wishing for if not J'onns survival, at least a "good" bad-ass death. But I'm in the camp that believes such devotion to a singular character isn't what creates interesting fiction to read.

Even as a reader knee deep in DC, I have less foreknowledge jumping into this story that one might think. I've never read Seven Soldiers (although I mean to), I've never met detective Turpin, I know next to nothing about Kirby's Fourth World, have never met Metron before, and I don't know who the heroes are that Dr. Light and Mirror Master beat down, but I read through these things and accept them as a matter of fact. I think most people can too, if they allow themselves.

If you are a reader than is dependent on characters or concepts that you "care" about, or expecting to read about bad-ass people doing bad-ass things, this book isn't for you. No, the issue doesn't contain any sort of hook that demands the readers attention for the next issue ( a la all the silver-age versions of the characters emerging from a crashed spaceship), its not that kind of story. But it is a meaty issue, with lots to chew on. Final Crisis is shaping up to be a really interesting event, and a far more mature story to boot.