Archive for the ‘Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast’ Category

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DC Comics’ CONVERGENCE #0 hit stands this week. As mentioned in recent episodes of Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast, the “Convergence” event will mark the first significant appearances of the Tangent characters since 2009.

Here’s a look at issues where it’s been solicited the Tangent characters will appear. We’ve talked briefly about each of these on the show, but here are all the solicitations in one place. Keep an ear on future episodes of the show, and we’ll try to track down other appearances of the Tangent characters, if any, throughout the 89 (yes, 89!) “Convergence”-related issues.

Convergence: The Flash #1 Convergence: The Flash #1 variant

CONVERGENCE: THE FLASH #1
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by FEDERICO DALLOCCHIO
Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Trapped in Gotham City, Barry Allen has nowhere to run. He fights on, seeking justice as well as a way to save the city, but he faces a Tangent Universe foe who thinks faster than even The Flash can run!

Convergence: Justice League America #1 Convergence: Justice League America #1 variant

CONVERGENCE: JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA #1
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA
Art and cover by CHRISCROSS
Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! With their heavy hitters sidelined, Elongated Man must lead the much-maligned “Detroit Justice League” against the overwhelming power of the heroes from the Tangent Universe!

Convergence: New Teen Titans #1 Convergence: New Teen Titans #1 variant

CONVERGENCE: NEW TEEN TITANS #1
Written by MARV WOLFMAN
Art by NICOLA SCOTT and MARC DEERING
Cover by NICOLA SCOTT
Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Titans Together! The greatest Titans team of them all takes on the might of the Tangent Universe’s Doom Patrol!

Convergence: The Flash #2 Convergence: The Flash #2 variant

CONVERGENCE: THE FLASH #2
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by FEDERICO DALLOCCHIO
Cover by JONBOY MEYERS
Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Barry Allen lashes out against the heroes of the Tangent Universe as he tries to protect Gotham City from Convergence!
This extra-sized issue includes a sneak peek at what’s coming up in the DC Universe!

Convergence: Justice League America #2 Convergence: Justice League America #2 variant

CONVERGENCE: JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA #2
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA
Art and cover by CHRISCROSS
Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Witness the final stand of the Detroit Justice League as they fight to survive against the Tangent Universe!

Convergence: New Teen Titans #2 Convergence: New Teen Titans #2 variant

CONVERGENCE: NEW TEEN TITANS #2
Written by MARV WOLFMAN
Art by NICOLA SCOTT and MARC DEERING
Cover by NICOLA SCOTT
Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Titans Together – no more, when they face the nmight of the Tangent Doom Patrol! Is this the end of what many consider the greatest Titans team in the history of the Multiverse?

All books are rated T and will have a $3.99 price tag. The #1 issues are 32 pages and scheduled to be released April 22, and wile the the #2s are 40 pages (solicits state the “extra-sized issue includes a sneak peek at what’s coming up in the DC Universe”) and are slated to hit shelves May 20.

In Episode 20 of Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast, Shawn Engel and I will begin our coverage of TANGENT: SUPERMAN’S REIGN, which is a story that sees the Tangent Universe characters clash with their main DC Universe counterparts.

But that series, published in 2008, wasn’t the first reappearance of the Tangent characters after the conclusion of the second wave a decade prior.

About six months after the second wave of Tangent books, DC began publication of THE KINGDOM, a Fifth Week event meant to serve as a sequel to the extremely popular miniseries, KINGDOM COME. The series, written by Mark Waid, also introduced “Hypertime,” a version of the multiple-Earths concept DC had done away with following the publication of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS.

Hypertime served to bring the Tangent Universe into “official” continuity in THE KINGDOM #2 as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and more got their first glimpse at Hypertime and the infinite number of universes contained within in it, which included Tangent.

That universe’s versions of the Joker, the Flash, Batman, Supergirl and Powergirl were seen, with art taken from their respective titles from the first and second Tangent waves.

Tangent characters in THE KINGDOM #2

Unfortunately, the Hypertime concept was rarely used and soon abandoned altogether with no more visits being paid to the Tangent Universe.

The next nod to the Tangent Universe came in 2000 via SUPERMAN AND BATMAN: WORLD’S FUNNEST #1, written by Evan Dorkin. Officially labeled an Elseworlds, the story saw the World’s Finest Fifth-Dimensional Pests, Mr. Mxyzptllk and Bat-Mite, hopping from alternate universe to divergent future to parallel dimension and back again in a cosmos-spanning game of one-upmanship.

As the story builds to its climax, a sequence illustrated by Ty Templeton features a look-in to the Tangent Universe. The one-panel cameo by that universe’s versions of Batman, Green Lantern and Superman marked the first time the Tangent characters had appeared in new artwork — and by creators not involved with the original events — since the second wave’s conclusion.

Tangent characters in SUPERMAN AND BATMAN: WORLD'S FUNNEST (cropped)

And here’s the full page for context.

Tangent characters in SUPERMAN AND BATMAN: WORLD'S FUNNEST

But after that?

Radio silence. For more than five years.

Hypertime quietly faded. Comics trends came and went. Fans of the Tangent Universe might’ve been in crisis mode — and for good reason: It would take a Crisis to bring back the universe.

In 2006’s INFINITE CRISIS, writer Geoff Johns and a slew of artists restored the original Multiverse, albeit temporarily and with some additions — including the Tangent Universe.

It began in issue #5 of the series when Alexander Luthor used the Superman of Earth-Two to facilitate the restoration of the multiverse, and by doing so give us a panel showing us the Supermans from a myriad of Earths, including the Tangent Earth.

Tangent characters in INFINITE CRISIS #5

As issue #6 continued the story, no sooner than its official creation/recreation, we saw the looming demise of the Tangent Earth itself, now given the numerical designate of Earth-97. (The 97 was a meta-textual reference to 1997, the year of publication for first Tangent event.)

Tangent characters in INFINITE CRISIS #5

The Superman, the Flash, the Joker, Manhunter and Pooch, Plastic Man, the Spectre, the Atom, Batman and the Green Lantern are all among the fray, aiding the terrified populace. Of note in this panel is the Green Lantern interacting directly with other people — which she had not done in any of her four appearances to this point.

Immediately after INFINITE CRISIS, DC began publishing 52, a weekly series that ultimately created a new multiverse, similar in many ways to the previous, but with with a limit of their being just 52 worlds.

Published simultaneously with 52, was ION, a series which not only gave us a visit with the characters of the Tangent Universe, but the biggest use of the characters since their independent series of books in 1997 and 1998.

It began in issue #8 of the series, where two boys discovered a familiar — to Tangent fans, anyway — lantern.

Final page of ION #8

What became of the lantern, and how did it effect the boys’ lives? Find out as Shawn and I discuss issues #9 and #10 in Episode 19 of the show where we cover issues that act as a prologue to SUPERMAN’S REIGN.

But with the new Multiverse established at the end of 52, DC began a countdown to their next big event with another weekly series, appropriately titled … COUNTDOWN. The third issue of the reverse-numbered series, #49, began a 12-part backup strip, “The History of the Multiverse,” detailing … well, the history of the Multiverse. (DC wasn’t really burying the lede at this stage.)

Regardless, three installments of this series, which was written and penciled by Dan Jurgens (making his return to the characters born in the event he spearheaded) and inked by Norm Rapmund and Jerry Ordway, made references to the Tangent Universe. These included the Green Lantern and a miscolored Atom in issue #41, while issues #40 and #38 showed us two takes on the Superman, adding him to a myriad of Superman analogues from throughout the Multiverse.

Tangent characters from COUNTDOWN #42
Tangent characters from COUNTDOWN #40
Tangent characters from COUNTDOWN #38

A COUNTDOWN companion series, COUNTDOWN: ARENA, saw characters from several different Multiversal worlds being thrown together for a big ol’ Fighty McFightenstein (copyright 2011 Andrew Leyland of Hey Kids Comics, all rights reserved). Most notably, at least as far as we’re concerned, was that among the gathered characters was Lia Nelson, aka the Flash of the Tangent Universe.

Tangent characters from COUNTDOWN: ARENA #2

The series, by Keith Champagne, Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens, gave the Tangent Earth the new numerical designate of Earth-9. Unlike the previous designate of Earth-97, however, the number 9 seems to hold no significance beyond random assignment. (It is an interesting coincidence, however, that the original Tangent waves each contained nine books.)

Lia’s part in the four-issue series was small, but did provide for some good interactions with her a pair of fellow bearers of the Flash mantle (including Jay Garrick of Earth-2 and the Crime Society’s Johnny Quick of Earth-3) before she was ultimately defeated in the battle of the Flashes.

Tangent characters from COUNTDOWN: ARENA #2
Tangent characters from COUNTDOWN: ARENA #3

While her part in the series was minor, the references to her celebrity status and teenage-girl personality ultimately rang true to the character as she’d been presented in her initial appearances. It also helped raise the character’s profile ahead of her next appearance — and the next use of the Tangent characters — in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #16.

Justice League of America (Vol. 2) #16

And for more on that issue, which is an official opening salvo in SUPERMAN’S REIGN, be sure to listen to Episode 19 of Parallel Lines: A DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast, where Shawn Engel and I will continue to document the stories and lives of everyone’s favorite Tangent Universe characters!

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Welcome to the world of Tangent Comics — where you only know the names. Parallel Lines: A DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast is a bi-weekly, issue-by-issue exploration of DC Comics’ Tangent Universe events, hosted by Shawn Engel and Michael Bradley.

Tangent/JLA #1

“Today … is independence day

Through the course of the past 17 episodes, the heroes of the Tangent Universe have been unveiled. And now … someone is out to kill them all. Meet a very different kind of Justice League in “… And Justice For All” by comic greats Dan Jurgens, Darryl Banks and Norm Rapmund!

DOWNLOAD THE EPISODE directly, or subscribe via iTunes or RSS feed using the links below!

Tangent/JLA backmatter

NEXT TIME: The Reign is coming with a trio of books!

Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe PodcastNever miss an episode: Subscribe via iTunes or the RSS Feed! All feedback is warmly welcomed. Send your thoughts to tangent(at)greatkrypton.com! Share your thoughts on the episode and the stories discussed. Seriously, we want to hear from listeners. You also can connect with us on Facebook to leave feedback and get show-related updates and content!

February 26th, 2015  Posted at   Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast

Welcome to the world of Tangent Comics — where you only know the names. Parallel Lines: A DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast is a bi-weekly, issue-by-issue exploration of DC Comics’ Tangent Universe events, hosted by Shawn Engel and Michael Bradley.

Tangent/Powergirl #1

“I know, Rey … the past always comes back to haunt us.”

The development of a secret Chinese super-weapon, Codename: Powergirl, brings back old demons as the Metal Men are forced back into action. The penultimate chapter in the second Tangent wave brings us more top-flight military action and espionage in “Power Struggle,” courtesy of returning writer Ron Marz and new art team Dusty Abell and Dexter Vines

DOWNLOAD THE EPISODE directly, or subscribe via iTunes or RSS feed using the links below!

Tangent/Powergirl backmatter

NEXT TIME: The end — and a new beginning — with JLA #1!

Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe PodcastNever miss an episode: Subscribe via iTunes or the RSS Feed! All feedback is warmly welcomed. Send your thoughts to tangent(at)greatkrypton.com! Share your thoughts on the episode and the stories discussed. Seriously, we want to hear from listeners. You also can connect with us on Facebook to leave feedback and get show-related updates and content!

February 12th, 2015  Posted at   Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast

Welcome to the world of Tangent Comics — where you only know the names. Parallel Lines: A DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast is a bi-weekly, issue-by-issue exploration of DC Comics’ Tangent Universe events, hosted by Shawn Engel and Michael Bradley.

Tangent/Tales of the Green Lantern #1

Three names. Three lives lost. But which is … or was mine? If indeed any was.”

One of the biggest mysteries from Tangent’s first wave was the Green Lantern. This time, the Emerald Enigma returns to shed light — pun intended because, hey, why not? — on her origin. But of the three stories presented, which is the real deal? Listen in and decided as a whole host of comic book greats bring more TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN!

DOWNLOAD THE EPISODE directly, or subscribe via iTunes or RSS feed using the links below!

Tangent/Tales of the Green Lantern #1 backmatter

NEXT TIME: Girl power with Powergirl!

Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe PodcastNever miss an episode: Subscribe via iTunes or the RSS Feed! All feedback is warmly welcomed. Send your thoughts to tangent(at)greatkrypton.com! Share your thoughts on the episode and the stories discussed. Seriously, we want to hear from listeners. You also can connect with us on Facebook to leave feedback and get show-related updates and content!