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Title: Wasteland (Rock Of Ages Part 4)
Writer: Grant Morrison
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FEATURE CHARACTERS
Aquaman, Flash III, Green Lantern V.
VILLAINS
Darkseid (the future version)
Grandmother Box (Granny Goodness combined with Mother Box)
Swarmtroopers (the future equivalent of Parademons)
Desaad (defeated and replaced by Batman)
Deep Six (defeated by Aquaman in opening pages)
Glorious Godfrey (announces Darkseid's arrival on Earth)
Metron (the future version that was broken by Darkseid)
GUEST APPEARANCES
Amazo (the reprogrammed former enemy of the JLA)
Argent (member of the Jurgen's Teen Titans)
Atom (Ray Palmer, now back to his correct age)
Batman (having beaten Desaad)
Green Arrow (the future version of Connor, looking more like his father all the time)
Orion (seen briefly as Darkseid's ship lands)
Wonder Woman (the future version is a battle hardened warrior)
COMMENTS
The dark future represented here seems a lot like the Age of Apocalypse storyline from the X-MEN.
Here we see the possible future where Darkseid conquered the Earth. Notice the fixation with the letter Omega, Darkseid's main power is the Omega Energy a counterpart to the Alpha Energy that Scott Free renounced when he renounced his Godhood. The elements of the New Gods are all here but subtly changed. The hands covering the eyes, ears and mouth relate to the three monkeys: hear no evil, see on evil and speak no evil!
The superhero resistance is here as well. Green Arrow and Ray Palmer are middle aged while Azteka is a continuation of the Aztek line as explained he his own book. The JLA Bunker was the meeting place for the JLA that Aquaman led in the 1980's here we see him leading a team from their again. Artifacts displayed belong to: Superman's and Robin's chest emblems, Starman's cosmic rod, Dr Fate Helm, Steel's Hammer, Mister Miracles Cloak and Captain Marvel's armbands.
A lot is made of computer technology in this issue the Atom is modemed into Desaad's compound, Granny Goodness was uploaded into Mother Box and Desaad was downloaded into a software cube.
SYNOPSIS
Aquaman, the Flash and Green Lantern find them selves fifteen years in the future as hyperlight "ghosts" they are pulled to their current bodies and merge with them. Aquaman discovers himself in combat with the Deep Six, marine agent of Darkseid before making his way to the remains of Metropolis to meet the future Wonder Woman. Together they find Kyle who has found that the body of his future self is actually a Swarmtrooper, a mind controlled zombie that serves as Darkseid's Earthly troops. The situation soon become apparent, fifteen years ago Darkseid conquered Earth because the Philosopher's Stone was destroyed by the League in their victory over Lex Luthor. Aquaman quickly rounds up a version of the League including Wally who they find at the Keystone ghetto, his like to the Speed Force snapped.
The three heroes from our time decide that they must try and travel back into the past to prevent this dark future ever happening to this end they require Apokolips time technology. They infiltrate and attack the compound of Desaad only to find it empty, deserted and lifeless. Eventually they find the Batman. Desaad had been torturing him for fifteen years but two months ago Batman won out in the battle of wills, since then he has been posing as Desaad in communications with Darkseid. Together they decide that the technology that will return the heroes to the past is the Mobius Chair of Metron. Batman reveals that they will get their chance because Metron and Darkseid have just arrived on Earth to finish what they started fifteen years ago.
QUOTE
"That's J'onn's harness, hard to kill a shape shifter when you get tired to torturing him... Desaad put him in a particle accelerator. Smashed every atom in his body, one by one. The energy lit Las Vegas for a year." - Batman on the dead of the Martian Manhunter.
ALAN KISTLER'S ANNOTATIONS
Page 1 - It seems it's now Aquaman's turn to be narrator.
Page 4 - This vision of Metropolis is especially meant to be disturbing. After all, Superman's town is a shining city of hope.
Page 5 - By this time, Darkseid has learned the Anti-Life Equation and that info is being constantly fed to his Swarmtroopers, mindless cyborgs created from the bodies of those conquered. Notice the poster "Darkseid Is." This is meant to symbolise Darkseid's teaching to his people. It essentially conveys the message, "You don't need choice, question or reason. All you need to know is Darkseid is whom you always serve. Darkseid is the end-all and be-all of your reality. All you need to know is that Darkseid is."
Page 6 - Panel 2: This "rogue Swarmtrooper" will come up again on Page 8.
Panel 3: The reason Aquaman's surprised to see Diana is because, by the time he and the others made Metron's time-jump, Wonder Woman had just been pronounced dead. Also, notice that Diana has taken to wearing clawed gloves and spiked boots. She has given up her role as diplomatic teacher of peace is and now merely a warrior.
Page 9 - Notice that even Wally's coffee mug shows Darkseid.
Page 10-11 - The JLA Detroit Bunker is an old base that hasn't been used since before the LEGENDS Saga. We see here from left to right:
- Wonder Woman - looking more like an Olympian warrior, which is fitting.
- Argent - A current member of the new Teen Titans. She manipulates plasma energy.
- Green Lantern - Kyle has had better days.
- Wally West - No longer connected to the Speed Force.
- Amazo - An android villain who could copy the powers of various JLA members. He has apparently reformed in this dark future.
- Aquaman - A little snow on the roof but it's still Orin.
- Azteka - Successor to the original Aztek.
- The Atom II - Ray Palmer, once again a grown man.
- Green Arrow II - Connor looks much like his father. As the story goes on, we see that he begins to act much like Ollie as well.
Notice that most of the heroes have blood stains on their costumes. We also see an altar to various dead heroes. Superman's emblem is draped overtop. From left to right we see the blood-stained and damaged paraphernalia of:
- Steel II - The (slightly bent) hammer of John Henry Irons.
- Dr. Fate - The helm of Nabu has what looks like a bullet hole.
- Robin III - The remains of Tim Drake's vest.
- Captain. Marvel - The bracelets worn by "Earth's Mightiest Mortal."
- Mr. Miracle - The cape worn by Scott Free of New Genesis.
- Starman V - The top of Jack Knight's Cosmic Rod.
Note the telling of Superman's death. There have been many versions and renditions for Superman's death in alternate futures and realities, but the tragedy of this one truly touches me.
Page 12 - Panel 1: The years have not been kind to New Genesis.
Panel 5: Desaad? Apparently the sadist has taken on a more sombre, darker and introspective twist to his personality. And yet, the moment I saw this panel and read his question on Panel 4, I immediately felt that there was more to this than meets the eye.
Page 13 - Not only has Metron converted to Darkseid's force, but Granny Goodness has downright changed! Remember her kids? She's the one who runs the "orphanage" on Apokolips. Now she has transferred her mind into the amalgamated form of the New Genesis Mother Boxes to become the new Grandmother Box. Her prophecy here will soon be fulfilled.
Page 14 - Panel 4: Notice Green Arrow's hood and robe make him look like he's wearing his father's hooded costume. And Aquaman now looks even more like Capt. Hook.
Page 18 - I loooove this!! Batman once again proves himself to the ultimate human! The fact that he was able to survive eight years in Desaad's chamber (four of which were in the Psychofuge) is a seemingly superhuman task, but to defeat Desaad and escape puts the perfect icing on that tasty cake! However, we see on the next page that Batman did not endure this torment unscathed. Also notice how he hesitates sometimes in his speech. Obviously a side effect that the torture's had on his body. Not only that, but observant eyes will notice that on his left hand two finger have been cut off. However, despite his injuries and Wonder Woman's protests, the Dark Knight continues, refusing to surrender to defeat.
Page 20 - Panel 2: Green Arrow is right to be frightened. After all, only the most evil of horrors can make the Batman shudder. Note that the new costume is very much like the one from Michael Keaton's run on the Batman movies.
Page 21 - Panel 3: We see Orion, stripped of his Godhood.
Panel 5: That announcer is Glorious Godfrey, the Apokolipsian who started the anti-hero campaigns during the LEGENDS Saga.
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