“Heroes in Crisis”
Welcome to the column where I talk about something I want to talk about.
This week I had absolutely no idea what to talk about but then something happened.
DC Comics announced something I had waiting for a long time.
I am referring to the HEROES IN CRISIS, a 7 Issue limited Series by writer Tom King and artist Clay Mann.
It is set in a place called Sanctuary where heroes can go for psychological and mental help. Dealing with violence on a daily basis cannot be easy right? It takes a toll both mentally and physically.
That is what DC is aiming to achieve with this series. We have seen references to it in the Batman titles where Poison Ivy was supposed to have been sent there and Booster Gold was also being considered.
It was also referenced recently in Deathstroke.
There are also the numerous teen heroes who are dealing with trauma and other problems.
The cover to Heroes in Crisis #1 has most of the DC universe and somebody like the adult Wally West who hasn’t been present in any books after Flash War ends. It could mean Barry Allen sends him to Sanctuary to get help with trying to lose his friends, life, lost wife and lost family. That would be a way for DC to go.
Even since Tom King announced it, I have been waiting for some development on this front and I am really excited to finally get into this. This also establishes the trinity – Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman – as the official leaders of the DC Universe as they are the ones who deal with all matters relating to Sanctuary.
The below are some of the details about the concept and the series and the first page of the series.
The official description reads as follows:
- “Heroes in Crisis is not a tale of universes colliding and dying. Instead this is a story centering on the humans and superhumans under the mask; this is about what allows them to get up and fight when it appears they can’t ever get up and fight again. When it’s too much, and it’s often too much, heroes go to Sanctuary — created by Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman — to find a moment of safety before returning to a universe of violence. Heroes in Crisis is also about what happens when Sanctuary fails, resulting in catastrophic consequences for the DCU.”
But later some more details surfaced.
- “There’s a new kind of crisis facing the heroes of the DC Universe, ripped from the real world headlines by C.I.A.-operative-turned-comics-writer Tom King: How does a superhero handle PTSD? Welcome to Sanctuary, an ultra-secret hospital for superheroes who’ve been traumatized by crime-fighting and cosmic combat,” reads the description. “But something goes inexplicably wrong when many patients wind up dead, with two well known operators as the prime suspects: Harley Quinn and Booster Gold! It’s up to the DC Trinity of Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman to investigate – but can they get the job done in the face of overwhelming opposition?“
In addition, there is a “Heroes In Crisis: A Sanctuary Fact Sheet” credited to King. It reads in full:
- – Sanctuary is a safe place for superheroes to explore the trauma of their violent lives and deal with the other effects of the fight. They come, they rest, they confess, and they move on.
– Sanctuary was built five years ago when Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman realized that emerging superheroes would sometimes need help dealing with the worst parts of the job.
– To the outside world, Sanctuary appears to be a small, isolated ranch in rural Nebraska. But under the illusion, the ranch is, in reality a sophisticated, futuristic compound based on Kryptonian technology.
– Sanctuary is manned solely by robots and holograms. The only real people at Sanctuary are heroes.
– Sanctuary provides the therapy the heroes of the DC Universe need.
– The typical stay at Sanctuary ranges from a few days to a few weeks, and, on rare occasions, even longer.
– Sanctuary is a secret. The general public doesn’t know of its existence.
– To protect the privacy of the heroes, the Trinity discourages them from talking about Sanctuary, though it is an open secret that many heroes have visited the facility.
– Only three people know who goes to Sanctuary: Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. No records of the visits are kept.
– Batman sees Sanctuary as a necessity. Wonder Woman sees it as a kindness. Superman sees it as good.
– And now, everyone who was at Sanctuary is dead.
– Learn more about Sanctuary in Heroes in Crisis #1!
In addition to the primary cover by Mann, Heroes In Crisis #1 will have a 1:50 variant by J.G. Jones, a 1:100 variant by Mark Brooks, a 1:200 variant by Francesco Mattina, as well as a blank cover variant. The 32-page first issue will retail for $3.99 and go on sale Sept. 26, 2018.
I believe this is a wonderful idea and something that could be really great if well utilized and I am certain King and Mann will do that.
