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Well just this past weekend I paid a visit. to one of my favorite comic shops in the area. They've got a huge back issue section including lots of $1 bins. From the $1 bins I found #1 (4 issue mini-series) of
Justice League: The Rise Rise of Arsenal (2010). As you can see this is some hardcore stuff!
The issue opens up with a flash back sequence that opens up with Roy on the JLA satellite talking to his daughter
Lian in Star City. Right after wards he's ambushed by a villain I'm not familiar with named
Prometheus. Roy manages to get the upper hand on this guy but becomes over confident and opens himself up to a counter attack by Prometheus who utilizes all sorts of deadly weaponry built into his armor. The issue continues with Roy waking up at Star Labs and to the bad news that Prometheus had gotten the drop on the rest of the League and used the Satellite's weapons to destroy Star City and then managed to escape. Needless to say Roy is torn apart on so many levels and the rest of the League have no idea how to ease Roy's pain as he struggles with the loss of his daughter, his arm and the a reoccurring addiction. Most of you are familiar enough with the Roy Harper character to pretty much imagine how the rest of this issue plays out. It'll make you feel better about your life. Anyways, this issue was some powerful stuff and I'd love to find 3-4 as well.
Although I didn't find
The Spector #15 vol.3 (1994) in the $1 dollar bin I only paid a little bit over the original cover price for it so that was still cool. Written by
John Ostrander the issue featured a story in which the Israeli meta human team The Hayoth had been assigned to protect a palestinian terrorist turned politician (Kemal Saad) who had become the voice of moderation for peace talks in Cairo Egypt. The Hayoth had some misgivings about their assignment but never the less intended on carrying out thier duty as professionals. However, The Specter has chosen Saad to be "judged" for his past crimes which brings The Specter into conflict with The Hayoth. To further complicate matters matter
Eclispo turns up in the hopes of assassinating Saad and pinning it on The Hayoth as a means to ferment further conflict in the Middle East. An all around solid story that successfully weaves real life history and politics into the old DC Universe.
The Hayoth were created by
John Ostrander, his late wife
Kim Yale and
Geof Isherwood. They first appeared in
Suicide Squad #45 and were reoccurring characters in the title till nearly the end of the series. Aside from The Specter #15 and the multiple Suicide Squad appearances the only other title from the old DCU The Hayoth appeared in that I am aware of was as a cameo in
Checkmate #24 Vol.2 (1998). The Hayoth were temporarily deputized by Checkmate in operation
Grassbeater which was a global sting operation against various
Kobra terror cells. For those of you who have some familiarity with Biblical history and text may find it very interesting where the name Hayoth comes from as well as all the code names of it's members:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayoth
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Very nice history lesson there Shlomo:)
ReplyDeleteYou'd think they'd be primed to come back, but that's only if another influential writer wants to use them. Hint, hint Glass.
As for for poor Mr.Harper.......
I know I bitch about the reboot endlessly, but considering what a clusterfuck Roy's life was pre-reboot, Roy really needed a clean start, and that's what this reboot's given him. Now how long it takes things to go south again is totally up to the writers and editorial.
Personally, I'd just ape the storyline from the YJ show, and make that in-continuity you know?
i hear ya on YJ! i don't even know what's going on with Harper in the reboot has he even showed up yet in the new DCU?
DeleteYou're so right!
DeleteIf there was a character that needed a rubber passed over his life, it was Roy. Red Hood and the Outlaws is actualy a book I'm liking so far. Although it's focus has been more on Starfire and Jason Todd. I expect soon they will develop the new Roy's character.
Oh don't worry. In any story arc, in any reality, the one thing you can depend on...Roy Harper's life will be an endless line of Crap, followed by despair, a brief moment of blissful joy...oh yay! He's going to be happy, finally! But wait...nope. He's not. It's all crap again. That's what we love about Roy. No matter what, your life is guaranteed to be better than his.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds just about right. The roller coaster of despair is his.
DeleteLOL! Yeah. That keeps selling books.
DeleteRoy, having break fast,then lunch then going to the cinema and then dinner and a date and being blissfully satisfied for the rest of his life could make us glad for him, but also pretty bored soon.
Prometheus is one of the best rouges out, but sadly like all Grant Morrison creations no other writer seems to get them and both Cry For Justice and Rise of Arsenal showed that.
ReplyDeletePoor Roy. I love my Titans but as the team imprinted on the base of the DC bogs, they sure get shat on a lot.
Not as much as JSA though. With them out of the picture DC52 doesnt even have the awesomeness that is The Spectre, Dr Fate or Hourman. I mean.... grrrr. Just grrrr.
Like all things, the JSA's favor in the eyes of editorial changes based upon whoever's running the show. Back during Crisis, the same notion to get rid of the JSA was prevalent, and they were but in limbo at the time. It wouldn't be until about 7 or 8 years later until they were brought back, except Dr.Fate and The Spectre stayed behind the whole time, which is weird, but then this is DC we're talking about.
ReplyDeleteAnd now with these Earth-2 versions, he JSA's been sorta given a new lease, so we'll see how long these run lasts. If Robinson can stay as good and focused as he was on Starman, then this incarnation of the JSA's in good hands.
And yeah, I agree w/ you on Prometheus Dan. He was jobbed out horribly in those last two minis. Either keep him limbo, or bring him back strong. Not this weak shit.
@Shlomo, where you been bro? Harper's been starring in The Outlaws now for, what, a year? He's got his original arms and legs, so no worries there. But I'd prefer the YJ version anyhow.
One episode and he'd be hooked.
DeleteThe Hayoth is Suicide Squad greatness. It should be a must that they become recurring in the DCU as well as the Great Ten.
Is it just me or does Judith remind you of Curare from Batman beyond?
i'm a bit embarrassed to admit it but i'm not familiar with that Batman Beyond character. but i can tell you what else i'd like to see would be a Marvel/DC cross over with Sabra and The Hayoth. as for Roy Harper i think i speak for all of us when i say we're all on that roller coaster of despair from time to time. i'm usually on it when i'm not talking with you guys.
DeleteAwwwww. I'm getting misty now. That's so sweet. You guys always put a little shiny in my day too.
DeleteI love coming here ^____^
DeleteI was actually pretty bummed before starting to read your comments.
I'm smilling now!
Well I guess thats one way to get a show an audience! I don't even know whatvit screens on here. We will get Arrow though so I'm hopin thats cool.
ReplyDeleteTalkin with ya picks us all up too mr. 'Nuff said :-)
I'm very curious about Arrow.
Deletehey Aliera darling have you been checking your email in the last week or so? i picked up a trade paper back of the Identity Crisis series that featured the original Boomerang getting himself killed before his Brightest Day resurrection. do you have all that?
DeleteI haven't checked,sorry!
ReplyDeleteThat is a very interesting issue. And beautifully writen. I loved Identity crisis. I went in mourning then,if you can believe.
It was so stupid.I was newly wed and was so sad because of Boomerang passing!And I could'n say my husband, "it's because that guy died in comics" ^____^
For you to see how much I like him and how glad I was for his return.
that's one of the funniest things i've ever heard. if i was your husband i think i'd be feeling like Captain Boomerang was the "other man".
DeleteYou see? LOL!
ReplyDeleteNow he takes every geek thing of mine at face value,but then,I was just being awesome!
Now he doesn't bate an eyelash on anything Ior our kidsmight say...It's the wonder of genetics!