Category Archives: 90s DC

90s Comics, 90s DC, Uncategorized

Character Eradication (part 1 of 3)

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And you thought Spider-Man went through some radical changes over in Marvel! But in the case of Spidey, it’s usually only his costume that’s altered. With the Eradicator, he has been completely revamped so many times, even a superfan like me can hardly keep track. (That’s saying alot. I’ve been obsessed with this character since 1993!) He’s been: A small computer-like device, a deadly vigilante with Superman’s DNA, been possessed by a human mind, and even transformed into a titanic armored form of the Fortress of Solitude itself! See what I mean? DC has absolutely no idea which direction they want to go with this character! Anyway, I thought it was high time that someone wrote an article dedicated to the only Eradicator comic series where he’s the star. To finally give him the respect that he deserves. Enjoy my look back at “Eradicator” #1 of 3, Unspokenites!

Energy crackled from the Eradicator’s eyes as power blasted from his clenched fists. The strange city lies in ruins. The buildings were smoking husks. He heard a deafening voice commanding him in his head. It wanted him to annihilate the beings close to him that were different. It wanted him to kill! As a human-looking crowd urged him onwards, he denied these mental commands with a roar! He wouldn’t hurt these creatures! Peering again at the aliens’ frightened faces, they suddenly transformed into the faces of his human side’s wife and children! He then felt himself restrained by powerful arms. He was commanded by a strong voice to stop all of this! Opening his eyes, the Eradicator saw Superman holding him down! They were in a crater in the middle of a large street in the city of Metropolis! Had he done all of this? Was he alone responsible for this destruction? (Superman has to have one of those parent-like voices that, when he yells at you, you instantly feel guilty. Even if you didn’t do anything really terrible. If it was my brother and I, we would have definitely warranted the stern “daddy voice” Yup. We were bad boys. Hehehehe!)

The Eradicator admitted to Superman that he’d been having realistic visions that were confusing him and forcing him to act out violently. Superman replied that with his power, something had to be done. It was time they sought outside help. Soon, the Eradicator rested inside of a large tube as a scientist looked over readings from her computer. He and Superman had gone to the scientific research facility known as ST.A.R. Labs. As the female scientist studied the readouts, the Eradicator grew agitated. The mind that now possessed this powerful body had been a human scientist that worked here in life after all. She looked to the Man of Steel and replied to his concerned look that though the Eradicator was way more advanced tha she was used to studying, she could see a type of flaw in his sophisticated DNA. But before she could continue, Superman was suddenly called away to help with an emergency in New Jersey. (Isn’t that the way? Something’s wrong with you and the doctor talks to everyone in the room but you. Rude much? Of course, I’m a hypochondriac and they’re probably sick of explaining to me how my splinter isn’t going to poison my blood.)

As the Eradicator awaited further tests upon his being, he thought back. He was once a scientist named David Connor. After the Eradicator had been seemingly fatally wounded in the battle against the Cyborg Superman, his complex body was delivered to him for further examination. Connor became obsessed with discovering just how the Kryptonian killing machine ticked. After all, throwing himself into his work took his mind off of his failing marriage and the cancer slowly killing him. That was before the accident. A power surge caused a large explosion in the lab and David’s mind was somehow combined with the powerful body of the Eradicator! His sickly corpse was left behind, forcing others to assume that David Connor was dead. As the new Eradicator, he became an anti-hero. Heroic, but lethal all at the same time. He finally felt right. Like this was his fate. But now it seemed as if something was wrong with his new body as well. (Are we all caught up now, kiddies? Good. Don’t feel too bad about Doctor Connor. He had two sons that he let believe he was dead so he could be a superhero with no attachments. Yep. A total ass…..Damn, he was cool!)

The scientist that had been examining him told Connor that they had somewhat isolated his problem within the core of his body. With a few months of research, she was confident that her and her colleagues could cure him. This angered David. Months?! He expressed his outrage verbally, but was stopped short when another attack hit his mind! He was in chains. A man stood over him, yelling at him about the purity of Krypton and how he and these other alien beings deserved their fate! The man then fired a device at the creatures, disintegrating them completely! David cried out in outrage, and energy flowed through his body! As he powered up on this alien world, he was in actuality doing so in the lab on Earth! The scientists fled for their very lives! But the Eradicator saw none of this. To him, he was facing a sadistic killer in front of him! (Oh yeah. Me thinks the Eradicator needs some of the fantastic pills that I take for delusions. At least he’d be too sleepy to freak out and accidentally hurt people. I know it helps me when I feel the need to power up with godlike energy in anger. Hmmm. Maybe I should up my dosage…..)

The man spoke about how the Eradicator had forced his hand in executing these beings! He went on about the purity of Krypton, and how alien filth must be eradicated from their world! So said Kem-L! Where did David hear that name before? Where? And then he awoke from this vision. The rubble of the once state-of-the-art facility was everywhere! Through a steel door, he could hear frightened humans whisper as they hid from his rampage. The Eradicator tore it from its hinges. He asked if they were unharmed. Terrified, they emerged and brushed themselves off. The female scientist from earlier spoke of this only being a setback. She’d still help him. With a faraway look in his crimson eyes, he denied her. He knew where he’d get the help he needed. Blasting a hole in the ceiling, he flew off. (Whew! I’d have to change my shorts after that encounter! What? Accidents happen to the best of us. God, I feel old beyond my years.)

As he rocketed through the air, Connor pondered just how he would go about destroying himself. He weighed his very limited options. Perhaps he could merely leave this world behind. Yes. That was the answer. But first, there were those he’d like to say his goodbyes to. Onward he flew, with renewed purpose. He touched down in Kansas. Smallville to be more specific. The Eradicator approached an old tree that he remembered. In the bark, initials were carved inside of a heart: “CK + LL”. That seemed right. His first love, Lana Lang. The light from a flashlight from behind broke his concentration. It was her. Lana. But she seemed confused when he turned and she saw his face. There was no recognition in her eyes. He spoke to her of his love for her and how much he missed her. But she only grew more confused. Wait. This was wrong. He quickly apologized to her and flew away. Lana stood in the cold air, fear in her eyes. (What’s with Superman and the initials: “LL”? What’s his fascination with that letter in general? Lana Lang, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor. Wait! That’s who the Eradicator went there to see! His first love was Lex Luthor! I’m a genius!)

The Eradicator flew through the air at unbelievable speed! He let loose with a blood-curdling cry as he flew through a mountain that was in his path! As this was going on, someone far away stood, looking at this scene on a screen with a smile. Meanwhile, in the Bronx, David Connor’s two boys watched a violent television show while their mother scolded them. There was a sudden knock on the door. The boys ran to the visitor after their mother opened the door. They exclaimed in joy to see this man as he handed them a bag of fried foods to snack on. (I’d instantly love this guy too if he handed me over a bag of fried snacks! So, I’m cheap. Sue me.) The mother, Maria, looked on with a pleased smile. But at that moment, another person looked upon this scene from across the rooftops. He looked on in jealous rage! How dare they look to this other man in such a manner? How dare they show him such affection?! The Eradicator narrowed his red eyes and moved with lightning speed. He burst through the wall to his children and soon-to-be ex-wife’s new home! Hovering with his arms crossed, he stared at all of them with contempt as they cowered there in the rubble!

The man then does the unthinkable. He actually moves to attack the Eradicator! But as he does so, he yells in outrage about how this monster before him murdered David and he won’t let him hurt his sister and nephews! The Eradicator is stunned. This man is Maria’s brother? David doesn’t remember him at all. Shouldn’t he? Before he can think about his actions, he fires his heat vision to protect himself. He doesn’t hurt anyone, but Maria immediately moves in to protect her children. Connor speaks then about their failed marriage in anger. This not only confuses the woman, but angers her enough to slap the Eradicator! He’s not David! David is dead! The smallest of the two boys runs to him then, clutching his leg. Is he really his father? David begins to answer that yes he is, but he stops himself. Instead he doubles over, clutching his head! (Someone call a Kryptonian exorcist! We’ve gotta live one here!) An inner voice pushes him to kill! He denies it with every fiber of his being! The voice then whispers for him to come home. David whispers one word in response, yes.

Smashing through the small apartment wall, he flies like a man possessed. He flies away from all of his confusion, all of his pain. His youngest child asks his mother if that really was his father. She doesn’t answer. He finally come crashing down in what appears to be the arctic. The voice continues to push him onward. He will find peace soon. This was never his world. Reject it. Come home. The Eradicator accepts the voice at last. And as he does so, a door of light opens near him. The voice beckons to him. As he steps in, the pain leaves him. He looks up to a new, female voice. A woman stands there with strange beasts as her companions. She smiles as she welcomes him home…..home to Krypton!

To be continued…..

Dedicated to my brother, Eric James Miller. Although we’ve been through some hard times, you’ll always be my first best friend. I love you.

90s Comics, 90s DC, DC Comics, Uncategorized

Green with Madness (part 3 of 3)

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Well, here we are, Unspokenites! The thrilling end to the “Emerald Twilight” saga. This article’s events take place in “Green Lantern” #50 and boy, was this one a page-turner! When we last left our “hero”, Hal Jordan had completely lost his mind! Now, all that seems to be standing in his way of achieving ultimate power, is the most evil being to ever work their way through the ranks of the Green Lantern Corps…..Sinestro! You know that it’s really hit the fan if the Guardians have called upon him to be their last line of defense! But enough of the recap. Sit back, relax, and let me take you back in time to 1994…..

The Earth’s Green Lantern looked at his sworn enemy standing defiantly across from him on the near-barren landscape. They’d battled many, many times over the years, but this time he wasn’t going to be the hero at the end of the story. He exclaimed to Sinestro that this would be their final fight. Sinestro smirked and concurred. Hal followed with roaring that he would kill his enemy this time. Sinestro merely scoffed. Hal Jordan has always been a big boy scout after all. The superhero doesn’t murder the supervillain. That was just a fact. That’s when Hal blasted Sinestro with a large burst of power, knocking the alien flying. After he recovered, he wiped the blood from his lips and grinned. (That’s right, Sinestro, tickle the homicidal bear on its tushie. Run, you fool! He’s gone friggin’ nuts!)

Sinestro stood and said that yes, Hal could obviously defeat him with the amount of power literally at his fingertips right now. But then he’d never know who was really better, would he? He’d always wonder. Hal then let all of the rings he’d acquired on his rampage drop to the rocky ground save one. (He fell for that?! For all of his might, and Hal still gets miffed if he’s called a wussy?!) Both Green Lanterns then mustered all of their inner strength and unleashed a mighty, green bast at one another at the same time! While the Guardians looked on at a somewhat safe distance, the two champions clashed below them! One would create an energy construct and the other would find a way to trump it with their own. Over and over again this would happen. Until finally, Hal drew first blood by opening up Sinestro underneath his ribcage! Both hurled themselves at the other then, creating a mighty crashing noise not unlike the loudest of thunderclaps! And still, the Guardians passively looked on.

As the dust settled, both men rose. Forgetting their powerful rings, they began to fight hand to hand. Punches and kicks were brutally delivered one after another until, bleeding profusely, Sinestro found himself in a headlock. Hal said to his longtime foe that he should have done this a long time ago. And before Sinestro could finish a witty retort, there was a quick snap of his neck! He fell lifeless to the ground! (Daaaaaamn! I might have to have a moment here. I’m utterly shocked! Aren’t you? Who wears a white cape after labor day? Geez!) Hal turned and walked towards the large Central Batterey. But before he could fully reach it, a large hand from behind grabbed him and pulled him back! It was Kilowog! He wasn’t defeated so easily after all! He only said, “No.” He followed that one word up with a big fist to the jaw that sent Hal sailing!

Kilowog continues his assault while he tries his best to talk some sense into his once-friend. Had Hal ever thought about how the Green Lanterns that he had depowered would survive in deep space without their rings to feed them an artificial atmosphere to breathe in? What if they were in mid-combat? Hal had no answer. In fact, he fell silent completely. Kilowog stopped attacking long enough to let his words sink in. It didn’t work. The fight lasted only a bit longer before Hal caught the alien’s oversized fist and blasted Kilowog with so much force, his blackened corpse was all that remained! (Umm. Now hear me out. You know how Kilowog somewhat looks like a pig? Do you…..um……think he smells like bacon at this moment? Oh, now I’m the monster?!) Hal then dropped to his knees and a single tear trailed down his bloody face. He then stood after a long moment and let his remaining ring fall to the ground. Hal Jordan began climbing the steps to the Central Battery.

He stopped a few steps up after hearing a small voice speak from behind him. It was the Guardians. They spoke of how he was no longer worthy of the power. How much of a disappointment he was. And now, he would be punished. These words enraged the ex-Green Lantern. Punished? By whom? All he wanted was to bring everything back. Why couldn’t they allow this one act? He turned and finished his walk, entering the core of the enormous battery itself! The Guardians turned to one of their own, Ganthet. There was only one hope left to the universe now. As they concentrated, they began to actually become green energy themselves! They then all combined as one and entered Ganthet’s small form! When this act was finished, the battery exploded! And out stepped what was no longer Hal Jordan. What emerged now was power and darkness personified. He looked down and spied his old ring upon the ground. With a look of disgust, he stomped it to pieces with his mighty heel. (Dark and menacing much? Come on! It’s only a comic book story. Only nerds take this stuff seriously…..I retract my statement.)

Ganthet crawled from underneath the corpses of his dead brethren. He picked up the broken ring and concentrated. The ring reformed! Then, using the very last of his energy, he sailed off into the night sky. Meanwhile, on Earth, young Kyle Rayner exited a nightclub to get some air. There was a sudden flash of green light! He looked towards its source and the weakened Guardian handed him the ring before vanishing completely. Curious, Kyle place the ring on his finger. The uniform of the Green Lantern Corps appeared over his body! It seemed that a legend was in the making.

The end and a new beginning.

Dedicated to Tim Osborn. Brothers 4-Life!

90s Comics, 90s DC, DC Comics, Uncategorized

Green with Madness (part 2 of 3)

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We’ve all had one of those moments in our lives where we just want to snap and go on a rampage. Something has angered us so much that we’d love to deal out some of the pain we’ve felt back to the world. Hal Jordan of the Green Lantern Corps has just had that moment. Only he isn’t going to take a breath and calm down. He’s truly snapped beyond repair. Witness the fall of a hero as I recount the events of “Green Lantern” #49…..

Hal used his stolen energy to propel himself through outer space. His ultimate destination was the planet Oa, home of the Green Lantern Corps central battery! As he approached, the Guardians sent Green Lantern after Green Lantern to attempt to stop him. But Hal wasn’t regarded as the best for nothing. One after another, they would fall like bowling pins, and Hal would add to his growing power by taking the fallen hero’s ring! A Green Lantern’s ring was powered by the wearer’s will after all, and right now, Hal’s will was at the strongest it had ever been! (Damn! Somebody needs to tell Hal that if all he wanted was bling, all he needed to do was stop at any rapper’s mansion and he’d have more rings than he could ever need! Flavor Flav!)

The Lanterns would all try to reason with him while they gave the fight their all, but their pleas would always fall upon deaf ears and Hal would continue onward after he defeated them. He would be the Guardians’ puppet no longer. He would take all of the power that they had and bring back all that he had lost. Meanwhile on Oa, the Guardians looked down upon all of the cosmos. In particular, they watched as their once greatest champion advanced upon them with hate-filled eyes. They commented that even he was no threat. They were unconcerned. One of their number however, Ganthet, remained unconvinced. The next to fall was a close friend of Hal’s in the Corps. It seemed as though no-one meant anything more to him now than another obstacle to overcome in his mission! (And I though Guardians were ancient and therefore intelligent beings! You don’t mess with an angry human! We’ll nearly kill each other on Black Fridays! And that’s just over the newest video game console!)

Next, he was blindsided by a newer and somewhat unorthodox Green Lantern by the name of Jack T. Chance. Jack followed up his sneak attack by pulling out a large gun and aiming at the once-hero! But, within mere moments, Jack also floated, beaten and ringless, in the cold emptiness of space! (Wow! Even Lobo didn’t stand a chance! Wait. What? Jack T. Chance? You mean DC ripped off their own character? Weird. That’s like Marvel having more than one Spider-Man. Lol! They did what and how many times?!) More and more heroes of the Corps fell as Hal Jordan gained more and more power! That is until he was struck from behind by the warrior woman, Boodikka! Hal had inducted her into the mighty Green Lantern Corps himself. Boodikka did her best. Failure wasn’t an option for her. She even stated that her ring was as one with her as her own hand. That’s why Hal created a blade construct and lopped it off before he took her ring as well!

The Guardians were growing uneasy. Anyone could tell that fear was creeping into their proud yet arrogant demeanor. They were confident that their failsafe plan would save them. Ganthet once again spoke out against this plan, but even in the end, even he had to admit that there was no other way. (Those poor little Smurfs. First the constant threat of Gargamel trying to eat them all of the time, and now this!) The next to stand in Hal’s way was the mighty Kilowog, a close friend of his and a trainer for the Corps. He would definitely be no pushover. Hal and Kilowog had their words but instead of surrender, Hal chose to fight. The two titans clashed with furious power and experienced accuracy. But in the end, even a legendary fighter like Kilowog stood no chance. He fell like all of the rest.

Hal Jordan approached the enormous Central Batterey upon Oa at last. The Guardians materialized in energy form, pleading that he surrender himself. Hal laughed maniacally. He’d come too far to be stopped now. It was all or nothing. The Guardians said that he had given them no choice then. That’s when a cloaked figure emerged from green energy of the Central Batterey itself. Hal looked on in utter shock as the being pulled back his hood. Sinestro, the “fallen one” of the Green Lantern Corps stood revealed and ready to defend the cosmos that he had so often threatened himself!

To be concluded…..

Dedicated to my daughter, Jade Leigh Miller, who’s turning 21 and to my son, James Christian Miller, who will be turning 20. I love you both.