As a seasoned comic book enthusiast with over three decades under my belt, I must say that this anniversary one-shot of “Zero Hour” has truly impressed me. It’s not often we see such an intricate blend of artistic styles coming together so seamlessly, reminding us of the good old days when each issue felt like a fresh piece of art from a new artist.
The 30th-Anniversary Special of “Zero Hour” marks the latest standalone comic from DC, revisiting some iconic stories of the ’90s. Renowned writers Dan Jurgens (“The Death of Superman”) and Ron Marz (“Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight”) collaborate on this special issue, bringing back artists who were part of DC in the early ’90s, many of whom still maintain their original skillset. The story revolves around Kyle Rayner, leading him into a dimension created by Parallax after his defeat in “Zero Hour”. As intended by Parallax, this dimension is where Coast City was preserved and Parallax could reign over Earth.
Conversely, this current state, or “Zero Hour,” bears a fuzzy resemblance to the 1990s DC Universe. In this world, Superman remains deceased and Batman/Bruce Wayne is confined to a wheelchair. The appearance and characteristics of Earth’s guardians have significantly evolved, and they are all grappling with the grim truth that their universe is on the brink of extinction.
If you’ve read “Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time,” you’ll find this new story quite straightforward. Why delve into a special anniversary issue without first checking out the original? It wouldn’t hurt to refresh your memory on that tale before jumping into this one. Jurgens and Marz create a narrative similar to “Zero Hour,” where there was a multitude of events happening, but the characters themselves weren’t fully aware of the reasons behind it all. In keeping with this theme, the true essence of the book’s reality and the core conflict aren’t disclosed until roughly two-thirds into the story.
During the creation of Zero Hour, Jurgens was responsible for both writing and illustrating the comic, a task that also included five books published that month. To assist with this issue, he brought in Ron Marz, proving to be a wise decision. Given that a significant portion of this narrative unfolds in an alternate reality where characters’ personalities and goals deviate from what readers are accustomed to, it’s reassuring to have Kyle, our primary perspective character, so clearly defined.
The matter at hand is primarily devoid of humorous references to the ’90s or the DC multiverse as one might anticipate. It lacks any self-referential commentary on the initial occurrence; instead, it presents a straightforward progression, expanding upon an idea that many readers pondered back then: what if Hal Jordan had managed to establish his “ideal” DC Universe?
As a dedicated fan, I must say that the Zero Hour 30th-Anniversary Special feels less like a tribute to Zero Hour itself and more like an ode to DC during the era when Zero Hour was initially published. By the time the events of Zero Hour unfolded, Batman and Superman had returned from the aftermath of Doomsday! and Knightfall respectively. However, given that the Death of Superman and Breaking of the Bat were defining moments of ’90s lore, this universe is one where those events never occurred. But it’s not just about the ’90s; Parallax has ensured that there’s no Green Lantern Corps in existence here too.
This sequence seems ripe for investigation, yet it’s regrettable as it appears that delving into its past could compromise the subject matter or risk over-extending Parallax’s timeline and becoming too repetitive.
Similar to last year’s commemoration of the 30th anniversary of “The Reign of the Supermen!“, this issue skillfully incorporates its various artists in a manner that flows logically, generally achieving success. Many art teams have a style that harmonizes well; if you weren’t familiar with Paul Pelletier and Dan Jurgens’s art, for instance, you could transition smoothly between the two without feeling a sudden, disruptive change in artistic style. The same is true for Darryl Banks and Jerry Ordway, or Tom Grummett and any of the previously mentioned artists.
In this comic, two artists, Kelley Jones and Howard Porter, create distinct styles for different segments of the story. Jones portrays a Batman-less Gotham, while Porter handles the major battle scenes. However, the arrangement might not be ideal because Porter’s unique style clashes with what came before and after in this continuous scene, causing a noticeable shift. While Porter’s artwork is excellent, as usual, it creates a jarring effect due to its differences.
Darryl Banks, Kelley Jones, Tom Grummett, Norm Rapmund, Jerry Ordway, Paul Pelletier, Howard Porter, Dan Jurgens, and Brett Breeding are responsible for the artwork in this issue, while Alex Sinclair handles the colors and Troy Peteri takes care of the lettering. In addition to these primary artists, various others contribute period-relevant pinups. These include Denys Cowan and Chris Sotomayor, Jon Bogdanove and Alex Sinclair, Tony Harris, Rick Leonardi and Matt Herms, Chris Sprouse, Karl Story, and Guy Major, as well as Nicola Scott and Annett Kwok.
1. Throughout the artwork, clear labels make it easy to notice any creative shifts, and the pin-ups are engaging; for instance, there’s a Starman pinup by Tony Harris, which is not only aesthetically pleasing but also captivating due to its rarity as it features Jack Knight, who also appears in the story itself. Jon Bogdanove, known for adapting styles, contributed a variant cover for the issue showcasing multiple different interpretations of Hal Jordan throughout the years, and his pinup depicts a wheelchair-bound Bruce Wayne visiting Superman’s grave with precise linework. Interestingly, the pin-ups are not only relevant to the story but also reflect the general aesthetic of ’90s DC, indicating that great care was taken in every aspect of this project.
One intriguing observation from the anniversary one-shots of Death of Superman, Reign of the Supermen!, and Zero Hour is that they aren’t merely cash grabs, producing a mediocre narrative with inexpensive talent. Instead, these projects appear to have been carefully created, as evidenced by the involvement of Jurgens himself (who has contributed to all three) or DC editorial who invest such detail and thought into them. Similar to Zero Hour, this one-shot can be disorienting at times due to its frequent shifts, but upon closer inspection, it proves to be a well-crafted piece that rewards readers on subsequent reads.
Published by DC
On August 28, 2024
Written by Dan Jurgens & Ron Marz
Artwork created by Darryl Banks, Kelley Jones, Tom Grummett, Norm Rapmund, Jerry Ordway, Paul Pelletier, Howard Porter, Dan Jurgens, and Brett Breeding.
Colors by Alex Sinclair
Letters by Troy Peteri
Cover by Dan Jurgens (plus lots of variants)
Read More
- DOP PREDICTION. DOP cryptocurrency
- Top gainers and losers
- JASMY PREDICTION. JASMY cryptocurrency
- OXT PREDICTION. OXT cryptocurrency
- AMP PREDICTION. AMP cryptocurrency
- BADGER PREDICTION. BADGER cryptocurrency
- DYDX PREDICTION. DYDX cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- RARE PREDICTION. RARE cryptocurrency
- SUN PREDICTION. SUN cryptocurrency
2024-08-28 19:40