In the late 80's, DC Comics redefined their idea of "alternate reality" with the introduction of their Elseworlds line of miniseries and one-shot specials. There've been some great stories that came from that era, mostly involving----who else?----The Batman.
Unfortunately, DC retired the Elseworlds label a ways back for whatever reason. However, corporate sibling Warner Bros. and producer Greg Berlanti decided to take a shot at it in this season's crossover among Supergirl, Arrow, & The Flash.
First off, you have to understand that Elseworlds' reason for being in the first place was so readers would have some out-of-continuity stories to look forward to from time to time in the period that began after the seminal Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985-6) and its follow-up, Legends. Before that, DC would allow its writers to indulge in whimsical flights of fancy & fantasy with "Imaginary Stories", though those had already petered out before the end of the 60's.
In 2018, the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) has already ravaged Earth-90, leaving that world's Flash (John Wesley Shipp) its lone survivor. In the comics, Monitor had a herald, known as Harbinger, who did the advance work for him. Due to copyright issues, that character has to undergo a name change before being used anew. (Valiant Comics has since published series about a team known as Harbinger). Then, there was also Pariah, a woebegone wretch who was a regular Donnie Downer. Arrow consulting producer and UAlbany product Marc Guggenheim wrote a good chunk of the story, and opted to leave Pariah out, too.
Instead, for parts 1 & 2 and a good chunk of part 3, Guggenheim and his fellow writers used films like "Freaky Friday" as an inspiration. While they wanted you to think Monitor was the big bad, he really wasn't, but more like a cosmic Dr. Frankenstein, bestowing the Book of Eternity on a put-upon shrink, Dr. John Deegan (Jeremy Davies, ex-Constantine), known in the comics as Dr. Destiny. Seeing Barry Allen's mind in the body of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), and Queen's mind in the body of Allen (Grant Gustin) was cray-cray all by itself. There are the usual inside jokes that devoted fans of the Arrowverse will get immediately, but the fact that the cast of Legends of Tomorrow was held out of the crossover this year had a specific purpose. What that really was, I cannot say, because I have no clue.
You've seen this teaser by now.
Consider Elseworlds an appetizer, with the main course to follow next year---an adaptation of Crisis on Infinite Earths. By that point, Batwoman (Ruby Rose, Orange is The New Black) will either have her own show on the air, or it'll be held until after the crossover takes place. Consider, too, the events on Flash this season have also begun to build toward the same direction, now that I think of it.
Over the rest of the week, we will offer mid-season reviews, as we did last year, of Flash, Arrow, & Supergirl.
Elseworlds gets a B+.
"but the fact that the cast of Legends of Tomorrow was held out of the crossover this year had a specific purpose. What that really was, I cannot say, because I have no clue."
ReplyDeleteStories get kind of crowded once they are involved.
They had their own insane midseason closer with a similar (redundant?) idea of goofing on alternate identities/reality in a more obviously humorous fashion.
Zari became a cat in the preceding episode.
I love how this show has so much respect for the 1990 Flash series. Not only bringing in John Wesley Shipp as Henry Allen (Barry's dad), but as Jay Garrick on another Earth, and now as the 1990 Flash himself! Plus, Shipp looked awesome back in his old costume!
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed that he wasn't there for very long as the MOnitor poofed him out during the confrontation. I hope we see 1990 Flash again.
@Spuddie: I've heard about what's been going on over on Legends. I'll have to take a look On Demand to catch up.
ReplyDelete@Magicdog: Would next year's crossover be fast enough for you?