The Final Night #2 (November 1996)

Back in April 2022, I took a look at the first issue of the 1996 DC Comics crossover storyline known as The Final Night. I consider this crossover a rather underrated one, and I got very eager to look at the next issue. This is The Final Night #2!

The cover is a Stuart Immonen and Jose Marzan Jr. piece. I think it's really cool, depicting one of those "The End is Near" sign you see on the stereotypical "nutty guy that wanders the city streets" in movies and TV shows in a snow-covered city. Hanging from it are Superman's cape, Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth, and Batman's cape-and-cowl. It really helps give a feeling of hopelessness.  

"Darker Grows the Night"
Writer: Karl Kesel
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Jose Marzan, Jr.
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Editors: Alisande Morales, Dan Thorsland
Executive Editor: Mike Carlin

The story begins with the last image of the Sun as it was covered up by the Sun-Eater in the last issue. 

“Man, this eclipse SUCKS!”

We get a brief recap of the events of the last issue. Jimmy Olsen is reporting for GBS about the "Final Night", when he gets word of a breaking development: Lex Luthor has returned to Metropolis. 

Great, just when things couldn't get any worse. Luthor announces that he plans to help end this crisis and save the world. I mean, it makes sense. Luthor is a narcissist. Playing hero will allow him to bask in the praise of the world, as well as stick it to Superman. Meanwhile, Barbara "Oracle" Gordon is trying to help coordinate superhero responses throughout the world. It's a Herculean task, and Oracle is only one woman. But she's doing her best, goldarn it!

In Gateway City, Big Barda, the Ray, the Guardian, and Captain Marvel Jr. are trying to rescue people from a massive fire. While they work, Wonder Woman helps get some fire trucks over there. A lady asks the Ray if he can get her home to her family. 

Over at the Louvre in Paris, the immortal villain known as Vandal Savage is planning to steal the Mona Lisa. The painting supposedly depicted the Italian noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo. Savage evidently knew back in the 1500s, when Leonardo da Vinci painted her. Savage desired the noblewoman's hand, but she thought he was a vulgar, demanding man. Considering he's a former caveman, that's not surprising. 

Thing is, Vandal Savage is not a man who can handle being told "no". Evidently, he used blackmail to get Leonardo to paint her, as well as to get Lisa to pose for the painting. The comic doesn't elaborate, but it does have me wondering what Savage was babbling about.

Anyway, Batman catches him, and notes that Savage is really frickin' pathetic. 

“You are a sad, strange little man, Savage. And you have my pity.”

Bats is not exactly wrong on that. He is pretty pathetic. Savage isn't too bothered by this crisis, as he has arranged off-world transport. He wants to take the painting as a momento. He couldn't even be bothered to disable the security systems there, as he figured the cops had more important things to worry about. You know, it would have been neat to see Batman teaming up with a French superhero for this scene. I mean, the Constance D'Aramis Crimson Fox was still around back then. 

Savage shoots at Batman, his gun's bullets being teflon-coated and hollow-point. Batman's naturally got body armor, but even he isn't bulletproof, right?

Well, sort of. Yes, he's Batman, but he's also got some help. 

"Seriously, Batman. I need sleep, man!"

Yup, his regular World's Finest team-up buddy, Superman. And it looks like he needs a nap.

Yeah, the Sun getting blocked off is a big problem for the Man of Steel. After all, his powers are fueled by sunlight. Yes, he is essentially a living solar battery, but the thing is, without ol' Mr. Sun to keep his batteries charged, he'll run out of solar power, which means his powers are fading. And of course, Luthor is secretly loving this.

"I, Lex Luthor, do not intend to credit any of you on this."

He's working with some other folks to collect any information they can on the Sun-Eater. Dusk (from last issue) points out that she's seen many worlds try to find ways to combat the Sun-Eater, only to fail. Brainiac 5 of the Legion of Super-Heroes (that's a whole thing) grumbles about her ship not having any of those other attempts recorded. After all, any information from those attempts would have been really helpful. 

Luthor suggests they create a probe to examine the Sun-Eater. And he may have just the thing...

In Opal City, Jay Garrick/Flash I, Libby Lawrence/Liberty Belle I (remember her from my All-Star Squadron #1 review?) and Ted Grant/Wildcat I meet up with Ted Knight, the original Starman. The JSA are suiting up to help out, and they wonder if Ted can get his Starman suit out of mothballs as well. Thing is, Ted has been observing the Sun-Eater crisis through his telescope, hoping to find something to help. The other Golden Age heroes understand and let him stay. So, what does Luthor plan to use as a probe?

"Eat your heart out, John Henry Irons!"

Kyle Rayner, the Green Lantern! Well, not exactly. You see, Saturn Girl of the Legion of Super-Heroes has created a telepathic link-up between Luthor, Brainiac 5, and Rayner? Basically, Luthor and 5 are designing a probe, and Rayner can use his ring's ability to make hard-light constructs to build it. Well, the art makes the probe into a suit around Kyle. The Lantern goes right into the Sun-Eater. He descends over 2000 miles (around 3200 kilometers for you metric folks) into the creature.

There is some good news...and some bad news. Good news, the sun is still there. Bad news, the probe's readings imply that it's not in great shape. And worse...Saturn Girl tries to call Kyle back telepathically, but she can't pick him up.

Elsewhere, Dusk is preparing to leave. She fears the Earth is going to end up like so many others, so she might as well get out while the getting is good.

Black Canary asks if she's ever managed to succeed in saving a world. Dusk answers that she never has. She's managed to save a few people here and there, but never a whole world. The two then spot some angry locals.

"That alien chick stole our beer money!" 

The locals are angry, and they are panicked. They believe Dusk brought the Sun-Eater to Earth. The alien and Black Canary try to fight them off. The two women are skilled hand-to-hand combatants, but the numbers are not in their favor. They get some backup from Nightwing, the Tim Drake Robin, and the Wally West Flash. One of the torchbearers manages to knock Wally upside the head (he's not invulnerable, and he was standing still). Chaos breaks out, and the crowd gets their hands on Dusk. 

Elsewhere, Ray Terrill takes the woman who asked him to take her home to presumably South America. Ray watches the tearful reunion, and he laments that he can't save these people. He refuses to let them die. He takes to the air and unleashes a massive blast of light. He tries to maintain it, but it's impossible for him. As he does this, Dusk is under attack. She screams that humanity deserves the Sun-Eater. However, she would get a savior.

Ferro Lad, of the Legion of Super-Heroes.

I enjoyed this comic, but then again, as I said before, I think this crossover is rather underrated and should be read by more people. One thing I did like about this issue is that it shows the heroes of the DCU at the time doing what they can to save civilians. I especially liked the subplot with the Ray and he civilian woman, as it helps remind readers of why the heroes do what they do. I also liked the scene with Dusk being attacked while Ray tries to give a village light. It's a nice way to show that the heroes are fast approaching their darkest hour. I also think Immonen and Marzan Jr turned in some strong quality artwork.  

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2021 trade paperback The Final Night. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!