Story:

"The Fall of Modora" (10-pages)

Credits

Character Appearances

Featuring

Guest Stars

  • Lady Sonar (first appearance; defender of Modora, anti-matter duplicate of Sonar)

Other Characters

  • Justice Underground (first appearance in flashback) - General Grodd (“renedage freedom fighter from the militaristic ape nation”), Q-Ranger (“quantum powered dynamo”, Major Force doppelganger), Sir Solomon Grundy (“blasted to life out of the white cliffs of dover during aeriel bombardment”), Star Sapphire (“knight-errant from the otherside of the Galaxy”), and The Quizmaster (“Edward Nigma, the smartest man alive”)

Cameoes

  • H.I.V.E (“Heirarchy for International Virtuous Empowerment”, anti-matter heroes, mentioned in passing)
  • Missile Men (anti-matter heroes, mentioned in passing)
  • Power Ring I (seen in flashback; looks like the pre-Crisis Power Ring; clearly a different character than the present day Power Ring)
  • Zazzala, The Insect Queen (anti-matter heroes, mentioned in passing)

Groups and Henchmen

  • The free citizens of Modora

Story Details

Locations

  • Modora, Anti-Matter Earth
  • Ultraman’s Fortress

Continuity

Mordora is between the Wladavia and Kjiewicz rivers. The Crime Syndicate used to be opposed by a group called the Justice Underground. The anti-matter Luthor is currently emprisioned.

Comments

On the DC JLA Message Board Busiek has noted that he has been in contract with Grant Morrison about the Crime Syndicate and had received developmental notes about Morrison’s JLA: Earth 2 (2000) hardcover. When asked who created the Justice UndergroundBusiek replied that, “The JU are all mine and Ron [Garney]’s. Except Sir Solomon Grundy, who was suggested by Richard Howell and fleshed out by me.” Howell is thanked in the issues credits.

One flashback panel shows an earlier form of the Crime Syndicate defeating the Justice Underground. The Syndicate are shown wearing their costumes halfway between their pre-Crisis costumes and their current costumes. Kurt Busiek confirmed on the DC Message Boards that the older Power Ring seen in flashback in this story is the same as the “Harrolds” character mentioned by the John Stewart doppelganger in JLA #109 (Feb 2005). For a time Busiek was going to be the ongoing JLA writer, but he had to standdown due to health reasons. In another message board post he noted that had he stayed the Justice Underground’s Star Sapphire would have eventually joined his Justice League.

This story happens one year ago and is a prequel to a sequel to JLA/AVENGERS. The disaster that Johnny Quick witnesses is the eradication of the Anti-Matter Earth in#1 ().

In the DC Universe Modora is the home country of the super villain Sonar - think of a poor man’s version of Latveria.

Synopsis

One year ago in the Anti-Matter Universe: the Crime Syndicate finally managesto penetrate the defences of the tiny Eastern European nation of Modora - lastrefuge of freedom on their dark world. They take joy in slaughteringthose who had sought to escape their rule. The only real opposition presentedto them is by Lady Sonar,last surviving member of the Justice Underground (aresistance group formed by heroic doppelgangers of familiar DC villains). Shecatapults Johnny Quick out of reality by disrupting his vibrations, but therest of the Syndicate easily kill her. The Syndicate finally realiseswhat they’ve done - they’ve finally conquered their entire world! However, their victory is short lived as Quick suddenly reappears with a warning that he’s been to their future - and it doesn’t exist!

Review

This is the best of the stories in this issue because it actually has a focusand contributes something to a larger narrative. This is Kurt Busiek’s firstLeague story since it was announced that he was taking over the main JLA title.The results are promising and he creates a nice twist on the mainstream DCUniverse that shows his expert comics knowledge. I liked the concept ofModora being the last country to hold out - it reminds in of a certain villageof Gauls. However I am undecided on the art, I like Garney’s composition andstorytelling, but I would have liked to see him paired with a slightly strongerinker (i.e. someone who will tighten and embellish his pencils more - I guess Ijust prefer the slicker look).

Profile Pages: The Justice League Elite has a nice pin-up and is actually interesting becauseit’s written by Kelly. The JLA Satellite Era page is an obvious sub to IdentityCrisis and isn’t really needed. The Red King page is a standard Secret Filesplug for a future project, it’s pencilled by Dan Jurgens so I assume this isfrom the JLA project he was meant to do for the rotating creative teams era. EdMcGuinness does a nice Ultramarine Corps pinup.

(7/10)