The mystery continues with the massacre at Sanctuary! The strange part is that it was stressed that the deaths in Sanctuary will have an impact on the DC Universe. In Superman, he’s teaming up with General Zod, Batman is working with The Penguin, and Wonder Woman is partnering with Ares. So, it really doesn’t feel like this series has any bearing on the larger DC Universe. I understand that it gets troublesome with dozens of cross-overs, but Heroes in Crisis seems to be in its own timeline. Crisis in Infinite Earths, Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, and Final Crisis all seemed to have impact with other titles and heroes. They should clarify that this takes place five months later than the current titles or something. This issue has a cover by Clay Mann with Batman holding up the gold Sanctuary mask, blood is splattered on it, and Batman regards his own reflection. The nine issue series is written by Tom King with art by Clay Mann with first and last pages and also art by Lee Weeks. Weeks has drawn issues of Batman and also the Superman: Lois & Clark limited series. His art doesn’t have the cinematic scope of Mann’s pencils, but does have the camera lens of Tomeu Morey’s colors.
We have the interviews of Lagoon Boy, The Flash (Wally West), and Booster Gold. The heroes introduce themselves, boast, and then explain how long they’ve been at Sanctuary. Then, we get a splash page of Lagoon Boy cut down by a blast in the woods. I always expect the title, “Master of the Lagoon”, and credits to run at that point, but it is saved at the end of the issue. The Flash is in a bed talking to his son, Jai, introduced in Flash #225 (2005). He lost his powers along with his sister, Iris. It seems like Jai has died and Wally is trying to reassure himself talking to his son. He puts on the Sanctuary mask. Next, we have the Sanctuary house with an elderly couple, like the Kents, and a red-haired woman. They are not identified, but the woman reminds me of Jenet Klyburn, a scientist and ally to Superman. They greet Booster Gold floating in to Sanctuary. Lagoon Boy is on the ground, picks himself up, and calls for another blast. A computer voice asks Wally West what he wants and he calls for his backyard. This forms instantly like the Holodeck in Star Trek. Then, he calls for his wife, Linda, and children. He has to work through their possible deaths?
Booster Gold is wearing his Sanctuary robe and unsure about the mask. The farmer is showing him around Sanctuary, Booster has on his mask, and to his room. He mentions the Chamber, the Chamber Sessions, and that the mask can be worn in public areas for anonymity. We finally get how Sanctuary worked. Lagoon Boy is again on the ground, bleeding, and he is haunted by the sounds of his former team mates in the Teen Titans, Power Boy and Little Barda, screaming. They were heroes from Apokolips and the incident was in Titans East Special #1 (2008). Lagoon Boy feels remorse over not being able to help them. We get Flash’s memory, Captain Cold has his cold gun pointed at Jai and Iris in costume with their father, and his children tell him they love him. A final memory and a chance to say goodbye? We get a splash page of Booster Gold in anguish, he asks the computer if it is made from Kryptonian crystals. It explains that Batman built it using Superman’s technology and “Wonder Woman’s compassion.” The computer mentions that the Holodeck is to reflect on the situation. Lagoon Boy explains that he is taking the painful blasts so he won’t hesitate in fear again. It ends with another blast that disturbs the birds in the forest. We get Wally tucking in Iris at night. She asks how he got his powers and doesn’t think it makes sense that lightning gave him powers. Booster Gold is sitting across from his duplicate formed by the computer. He is angry that the computer seems to be judging him.
This leads me to some theories. One, the killer is some group or villain that somehow got to Sanctuary, not probable with Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Two, it is the patients themselves that killed each other or themselves, goaded by the computer?, a sober part of Post-Traumatic Disorder? The one I’m tending towards is Three, the computer decided that it can’t help the patients and came to the conclusion it was best to eliminate them with the blasts. Unusual, the computer asks if Booster Gold is losing his hair, an attempt to chip away at his confidence? Lagoon Boy has had enough and the blast stops in mid-air Kylo Ren-style. He says he will return, he hopes to somehow laugh, and then we get the emergency message. Connected to Lagoon Boy not finishing his treatment? A splash page of the Flash racing out of the door with other Sanctuary members in robes. Booster Gold socks his counterpart as the emergency alarm sounds. The computer double attacks Booster Gold and he realizes that there is an emergency. It could also be Booster Gold pushing the computer that sparks the incident. Lagoon Boy stands over the dead bodies of Hot Spot, Red Devil, and Gunfire. Some metal blade cuts through Lagoon Boy. He falls and laughs. Then, we get Flash holding the body of Roy Harper known as Arsenal. He holds the body close and says he didn’t want to die alone. Harley Quinn knocks Flash out with her over-sized hammer. Booster Gold walks up and admits that it is his first day at Sanctuary. Then, we get the interviews of several members of Sanctuary including Commander Steel, Gunfire, Red Devil, and Poison Ivy explaining how long they’ve been at Sanctuary. Is it the computer seeing the increasing numbers and little progress as a way to eliminate the patients? This series is still intriguing and I get more of a sense of the clues in this mystery.
Three Pieces of Peach Pie out of Five!
#HeroesinCrisis, #LeeWeeks, #LagoonBoy, #Flash
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