Trinity #23

In the lead: Commander Hall supervises all the disturbances around the world from the JSI HQ in NYC. Ragman’s dealing with a feline Catwoman in Gotham while Green Arrow’s in Star City…just where he’s always been? Also, Black Adam’s mysteriously shown up in Washington D.C. and taking his frustration out on Ares’ invading minions, while Tomorrow Woman is defeating the Ultra-Humanite in Metropolis. Brainwave reads Firestorm’s mind and sees a world where the Trinity existed, but Hall still doesn’t believe it. Gangbuster and Tarot split up outside of the JSI HQ; Gangbuster is going to deliver Khufu’s scroll to Hall while Tarot has business in Opal City. And while the JSI is distracted by all these changes in the timeline, Enigma and Morgaine Le Fay have conquered most of Europe.

In the back-up: Jon Stewart is in deep space trying to gain control over the Void Hound that he’s been infected with since the start of the series, but ends up accidentally opening a wormhole to Earth. As Kanjar Ro flees Earth to regroup, it’s revealed exactly when he replaced Despero (issue #4). But he didn’t finish off Despero, who’s formed an army and is headed to Earth to take revenge on Ro. GL, Ro and Despero all converge on the wormhole, as Krona looks on: “This is…interesting.”

My take: Boy, Busiek & Co. sure managed to squeeze a lot into this issue. Pretty much every existing plot thread got a bit of play this week. I’m especially glad to see the real Despero back in the picture, as it’ll probably throw a wrench into just about everyone’s works.

There is a “League” in this timeline, although what it is exactly still remains a mystery. Commander Hall and the JSI seem to consider the League bad guys, although the Flash makes it seem like it might serve a different purpose. Namely, “saving lives, without asking your precious, jackbooted Society for permission!” I’m glad to see a little bit of vindication for the Flash, who Lois Lane called a “cheap pretender” back in issue #18. If there’s a League of underground heroes, it looks like Tarot and Firestorm might have a little more help than earlier expected.

Things to keep an eye on: So what happens when Despero eventually makes it to Earth and inevitably meets up with the other two members of the bad Trinity? Can Morgaine Le Fay then complete the spell she cast and turn the three of them into true gods? Or will Despero feel betrayed by the other two and try to take them down?

And who is Tarot going to see in Opal City? Opal is the hometown of Starman, but perhaps she’s going to see one of the city’s other residents? Who better to help solve a mystery when Batman isn’t around than the Elongated Man?