Worst Moment of 2008
Jim Doom says: The Wasp is dead, Ultimatum #2
There were two striking contrasts in how Marvel chose to treat the death of Janet Van Dyne. In the regular universe, it involved a world of heroes mourning and several issues devoted to reflection.
In the Ultimate Universe, it involved the Blob chewing on dead Janet’s intestines and saying “Tastes like chicken!”
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Jeph Loeb.
Honorable Mention: Martian Manhunter’s Funeral, Final Crisis #2
As I said at the time, “You know that life and death have lost their dramatic impact when the eulogy at the funeral talks about hoping for his resurrection. We know it happens all the time in comics. Let’s not have the characters shrugging off their friend’s death because the editors might want to relaunch his series in a few years.”
Doom DeLuise says: “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you to death!” Countdown to Final Crisis #13
Countdown was a lot of things, but well-written and entertaining are definitely not two of those things. It’s incredibly hard to nail down a specific moment, though, to showcase its complete worthlessness. Yet, I think I’ve pinpointed it.
During the big fight between Supermanboy Prime and Monarch, Prime gets his panties in a bunch and screams, “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you to death!” Groans were had by all.
I mean, sure, in the same issue, Batman from Earth-51 got his head punched through by a Superman’s fist and an entire UNIVERSE was blown up and destroyed (don’t worry, it came back, eventually, but, whoops, it was destroyed again). So, as you can see, even in that ONE issue, we had many moments rivaling for some sort of recognition on a worst-of list.
Honorable Mention: Every other moment in the pages of Countdown
I mean, because, really.
Fin Fang Doom says: Morgaine Le Fey casts her spell, banishing the Trinity from existence, Trinity #17
Not that the moment itself was terrible (well, it still wasn’t great), but the banishment of the Trinity signaled a steep decline in the quality of the series of the same name. Tarot and Hawkman and unlimited dimensional riffs have not made for a very interesting second third to the series.
And our picks for Worst Moment in years past:
2007:
Fin Fang Doom: Spider-Man’s Deal with Mephisto
Doom DeLuise: Black Adam Giving his Powers to Mary Marvel
Jim Doom: The Decapitation of Sabretooth2006:
Doominator: Fill-in Issues of Detective Comics
Fin Fang Doom: Dick (Grayson) Sucking
Doom DeLuise: Dick Sucking