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Posted on Nov 15, 2005 - 07:36 PM by Admin |
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Not only was it an excuse for me to reference one of my favorite songs from the 80s, it was quite possibly the biggest DC Universe event since Crisis On Infinite Earths...and one of the biggest events until the current Infinite Crisis. It was the time-changing event known as Zero Hour: Crisis In Time. The Comic Fanatic.Com's resident DCU Professor Jeff Hall is back with an extensive look back at this big event...which may come back into play in the current Infinite Crisis! Read on for Jeff's look back at Zero Hour: Crisis In Time!
Written by Jeff Hall -
Up until this past year, Crisis On Infinite Earths was the most influential mini-series in the history of DC…followed closely by Zero Hour. Word has come out now that there will be some mention of Zero Hour in Infinite Crisis (although not HyperTime – a term associated with Zero Hour).
Where Crisis On Infinite Earths dealt with problems with “space”, Zero Hour dealt with “time”. Zero Hour was a 5 issue miniseries. The first issue was #4. From there it counted down…. 3-2-1-0. As a result of this miniseries, many of the regular series were given a #0 issue to retell something about that book.
Here is a summary of Zero Hour.
Issue 4 opens with The Time Trapper, a foe of the Legion of Super-Heroes, under attack. The Time Trapper lives at the End of Time, where he rules supreme. However, The Time Trapper is destroyed by a mysterious figure within 2 pages.
Next scene: Metron of the New Gods is seeking help from Darkseid. Darkseid does not believe Metron. After all, Darkseid believes he would have detected any major disturbances.
Next scene: Gotham City: The Joker is running from Batman when he is stopped by…Batgirl. Batman and Robin drop in. They know something is wrong because Batgirl/Barbara Gordon had been shot by the Joker and crippled earlier. The Joker escapes, while his concentration is on Batgirl.
Next scene: Vanishing Point – home of the guardians of the Linear Men – outside the timestream. Matthew is monitoring the 71st century, when all of a sudden it disappears. Every subsequent era is gone, as well. Waverider is there also. You may remember Waverider from the Armageddon mini-series.
Waverider arrives in the 64th century, where the Flash is battling Abra Kadabra. The entropy rider is now visible. Flash (Wally West) attempts to take care of the problem. Once again, Flash dies.
Meanwhile, Batman has gone to visit Superman in Metropolis to talk to him about the Batgirl appearance.
In 5700 A.D. Waverider fails to save a young version of the Hal Jordan Green Lantern and also loses one of his colleagues. His colleague manages to tell Waverider to check the Chronoscope about a Crisis before he dies. Waverider escapes.
On Earth, Hawkman is battling Vandal Savage. All of a sudden, we see a number of possible Hawkmans, talking as if they were the same.
Superman is talking to Kyle Rayner/Green Lantern, while Metron is attempting to enlist the help of the Spectre. The Spectre essentially tells Metron to get lost.
Vanishing Point: Waverider reads about the Crisis On Infinite Earths….which only the Linear Men now seem to be aware of.
The JSA arrive where Hawkman has Vandal Savage. The supposedly immortal Vandal is suddenly destroyed. The Alan Scott Green Lantern has arrived and is suddenly appearing much younger. Waverider arrives, holding the costume of the Flash – Wally West. Flash (Jay Garrick) is in shock.
This issue ends with a reveal of Extant.
Issue 3 opens with Jay Garrick holding Wally West’s Flash costume. Jay is upset that the young guys keep dying, while they keep living. The Justice Society is there along with Waverider. Hawkman reminds them that Superman has asked them to meet with the other heroes. They seek answers and Dr Fate takes them to Vanishing Point. Hawkman, Hawkwoman and Waverider either do not join them or are prevented from joining them.
While speaking with Metron, Superman sees Impulse, who is tackling dinosaurs and goes down to offer help. Superman calls him “kid” – he has not met Superman before. Impulese smiles and says, “Call me Kid Flash and get your big ‘S’ handed to you! The name’s Impulse.”
Rokk Krinn, Cosmic Boy of the Legion of Super-Heroes, is being held by the Time Trapper. He walks into the room and removes his hood. This is the first time we have ever seen his face – and we find out he is the future version of….Rokk Krinn.
As the heroes are gathering, we see that Power Girl is going through some mystical pregnancy. Heroes are gathered from the All Star Squadron through the Legion of Super-Heroes.
The Justice Society arrives at Vanishing Point, and they are immediately attacked by Extant, hit with a chronal wave.
The Hawks and Waverider don’t make it because all of the different possible Hawk-beings are keeping them from the others…another blast of cosmic energy and all – including Hawkgirl – merge into one being.
Vril Dox of L.E.G.I.O.N. notices the shrinking universe and decides to investigate. Highfather of the New Gods also notices the problems in the universe and is afraid.
As the gathered heroes talk, they wonder if this is the real Batgirl, the real Donna Troy, and why does Maxima’s outfit keep changing?
Waverider and the new Hawkman join the other heroes. This is where the heroes first learn of Wally West’s sacrifice.
Back at Vanishing Point the battle rages on. Extant kills the Golden Age Atom. Doctor Fate, Sandman and Wildcat are attacked. They had been younger than their actual years for so long. That youth is now taken away.
Back with the heroes, Waverider realizes who must be part of the problem and takes leave.
Vanishing Point: The battle with Extant still rages on…Hourman dies. Waverider arrives at Vanishing Point. Alan Scott’s Green Lantern ring loses its power. Extant removes his mask and Waverider sees his own face staring back at him….So ends issue 3.
Issue 2 opens
Extant is talking to Waverider – he states, “I combined the powers of Monarch (remember Armageddon 2000?), Hawk & Dove, and ultimately you.” A very powerless JSA is standing nearby.
Back in New York City, timelines are blending. There are heroes such as Captain Atom, Superman, Donna Troy (a Darkstar by this time), Lightning Lad and Geo-Force (where on earth has he been lately?). As the heroes temporarily fix the problem in New York, the JSA appear there. All but the Golden Age Green Lantern have aged. Some are how dead. Dr Fate was ripped apart. Kent and Inza Nelson were left powerless. This Starman permanently retires. This Green Lantern gives his ring to Kyle Rayner. Jay Garrick steps aside (temporarily) as Flash. This version of the Justice Society is permanently gone.
New Earth – The 30th Century: (The Legion Timeline before Zero Hour - the Earth had blown up and the cities that had escaped joined together to form New Earth.) As the 30th century is about to disappear, the heroes come for battle. Here the Team Titans are compelled by Extant to fight the heroes. (The Team Titans appeared some time before this in New Titans Annual #7. They were from an alternate future ruled by Lord Chaos. The Team Titans are sent back to kill Donna Troy before she can give birth to Lord Chaos. The most interesting member was Terra. Terra was to infiltrate the New Teen Titans. This wasn’t going to work since the original Terra was a traitor, but Lord Chaos didn’t know that as the Titans never told anyone. It turned out that it was Monarch who was involved with the Team Titans. But that’s another story. The only three Team Titans to survive Zero Hour are Mirage, Terra and Deathwing. They were revealed to be from “our” timeline.)
Meanwhile – Dr Mist who is long lived dies in front of his leymen.
Back in New York City, the doctor comes out to the waiting room and informs us that JSA members Wildcat and Sandman have survived. Dr. Mid-Nite did not. Also – Power Girl is in labor with her mystical baby.
The battle also rages in the distant past. Kyle Rayner is attacked and drops Alan Scott’s Green Lantern ring. Extant (before he looks like Waverider and still looks like Hank Hall) finds Waverider and kills him. A mysterious hand picks up the forgotten power ring.
In the far future, the heroes stop the future century from being destroyed.
Guy Gardner has changed into the hero Warrior.
After the heroes leave, a mysterious figure re-opens the rift.
Multiple entropy fissures begin opening. Steel is killed by one. Extant is confused, as he did not cause this. That mysterious figure appears and attacks Extant.
Back in the thirtieth century, the Legion of Super-Heroes die with dignity under the protection of the Time Trapper, instead of from the wrath of the mysterious stranger. That stranger then appears and cuts the Time Trapper in two. At this point, he states that all time travelers are dead except for a couple of Linear Men who don’t have the power to stop him.
Back in New York City, Impulse suddenly disappears as his century is destroyed. He is quickly followed by Booster Gold. As the current century itself is mostly destroyed now, many heroes along with Metron go to Vanishing Point.
Extant finds the Leymen and destroys them.
At Vanishing Point, an entropy fissure opens and Batman is destroyed. The Atom tries to shrink and enter into Extant’s body. However, Extant is now composed of pure chronal energy. The Atom reverts to a time when he’s about 18 years of age. The mysterious stranger appears and attacks Superman. The heroes recognize him – after all, they would recognize their former friend, Hal Jordan, now calling himself Parallax. He says he’s going to start everything over and make it better. Entropy overtakes everything. All is gone except for those that were already outside of reality.
Issue Zero begins at this point. Parallax explains his plans and answers questions, claiming everyone will win. The battle begins. Batgirl, Alpha Centurion and Triumph wonder which side to take. They are afraid they might not exist if Parallax is defeated. (As it turns out, they were right.) The Spectre arrives and attacks. Waverider (another one) has a plan. Donna Troy, Captain Atom, Superman and the Ray channel their energies into Waverider. He focuses the energy and feeds it to Damage. Damage releases the energy flow as the heroes distract Parallax and the Spectre attacks again. The heroes succeed. Everything goes white again.
Time is reborn. The heroes outside of time find the right moment and enter the timeline again. Some things have changed. The Time Trapper appears to be a woman. The Legion of Super-Heroes is completely changed. Other changes were yet to be learned.
Rumor has it that perhaps there will be another Batgirl or a Batwoman coming out of Infinite Crisis - perhaps she will be related to the Batgirl from Zero Hour. We shall see.
**************************
Jeff Hall is a 40 year old Comic Fanatic, who has been collecting comics since graduating high school in 1983. Jeff's best friend George got him started in this hobby...and Jeff swears that one day he will make George pay for it! Overall, Jeff tends to be partial to the DC Universe. As such, Jeff has a vast knowledge of all corners and aspects of the DCU. To finance his comic book stash, Jeff works in Customer Service for Life Insurance. When he's not working or delving into the latest offering from DC, Jeff enjoys movies and genealogy.
If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to visit Jeff at The Comic Fanatic.Com Forum.
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