Page 1 - Planet Kranaltine: Throneworld of the Crown Imperium and Headquarters of the Superwatch. In Pre-Flashpoint continuity, Kranaltine is ruled by Prince Gavyn, one of the many Starmen.
We first saw this planet back in issue #9 of Season One, and now we are in the midst of Hyperman's Trial for the murder of Lantern Vray. Jordan was ordered to stakeout Earth for the perpetrator, and engaged the Hyperfamily back in Issue #5.
Hyperwoman had previously enlisted Powerlord back in Issue #3, where she acquired the Eterniglass in order to trap Jordan in a time-point so that they could kill him.
The Hyper-family first appeared in a Silver Age Superboy story (Superboy #144): they are a bunch of weirdo reverse Kryptonians who gaslighted silver age Superboy to use him as a guinea pig in their experiments. They escaped from their dying homeworld and settled on Trombus, a planet orbiting a orange sun (which gave them super-powers).
It's revealed in Issue #5 that Hyperman has killed Vray in order to satisfy his sadistic urges as a result of emerald wavelength poisoning.
Page 2 - Trial of Hyperman!
Hal attempts to debunk Hyperman's facade of drugged viciousness while recapping the events of Issue #5.
Sharp returns to the new "painted style" he's been using this season. I, of course, am a huge fan.
Page 3 - "Sentients of the jury..."
The defense brings up Hal's murder of Volgar Zo, the Dhorian planet trader he killed back in Season One #3. If you'll recall, Hal did this in order to be dismissed from the Corps in an ultra-sting infiltration of the Blackstars.
Hyperman looks hilarious to Hal's lack of amusement.
Page 4/5 - We get more info on the Wedding of Hyperboy and Princess Illistra: arranged marriages and trade deals included.
Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, the "Southern Fish", and one of the brightest stars in the sky.
Hyperwoman went AWOL back in Issue #5 after claiming that "something is happening on Throneworld and that she is the only one who can stop it."
Page 6/7 - Hal catches Trilla Tru up to speed on the Ultrawar and his encounter with the New Guardians.
Though Hal rejected his position as the Limbo Lantern, it seems as if the experience inclined him to realize that he needs to stay close to those most important to him. Hal mentions that he has been steered to reunite with a number of his past exes; this was evident in the page back in Issue #7 with the past loves each embodying a light of the emotional spectrum.
- Eve Doremus in #2
- Jill Pearlman in #3
- Olivia Reynolds in #4
- Nurse Olaqua in #6
- Thaal Sinestro in #8 (Anti-Matter universe)
- Carol Ferris in this issue
It definitely feels like this Season is ramping up to something lovely.
Vegan as in the planet/star system Vega, not the diet.
Page 8 - The paneling layout is excellent on this page.
A big criticism of Morrison's run early on was his lack of continuity from Vendetti's Hal n' Pals ending, where Hal and Carol were reunited on the final page. The first issue immediately opened with Hal banging Eve outside during a erotic comet shower.
Page 9 - Wonderful cover recreation (definitely homaging Silver Age shock/twist covers)
Proposing with a Power Ring; always a ladies man eh Hal?
As for two universes, that would be Earth-0 and...
Page 10 - The return of Earth-11!
We last saw Star Sapphire Carol Jordan in Issue #11 of course of Season One. Earth-11 if you'll recall is the so called gender swapped Earth, though we learn later that that isn't all to it. Boom Cube is new (Boom Tube + Transmatter Cube?).
The style shifts on this page are beautiful.
Page 11 - The Golden Destroyer descends on the Multiverse!
Zundernell was revealed earlier this season to belong to the race of Golden Giants who inhabit the artificial toy world, but was abandoned by his people. In Issue #7, we saw him get transported away from imprisonment on UUGO while proclaiming that the Multi-Crisis has begun and the Nomad Empire is returning.
This page presents us with Zundernell in a new form as the cosmic weapon Golden Destroyer. As evident by Carol's dialogue on page 9, it seems like he is attempting to locate her specifically or alternate counterparts in general.
This page presents what looks like Zundernell scanning the Multiverse for possible incursions that could propel the Ultrawar. Sharp's cobalt Bleed returns from last season's issue 10.
Carol gives Vendetti fans their post Hal&Pals epilogue, explaining that he dipped on her after a little while, pretty in character for Jordan if you ask me.
Reminder that this is Hal Ferris of Earth 11.
Page 13 - Male power-fantasy ring AI is very reminiscent of Earth 3's Volthoom Power Ring, except more pathetic than abusive.
Page 14 - "Well, here I am, sports fans!"
Morrison has always been savage with the commentary, not even the nice guys are safe!
Page 15 - Implied that E-11 Hal went across the Multiverse looking for his Sapphire.
Panel layout is great as always.
Page 16 - The Secret History of Earth 11!
Not a gender swapped Earth, but a feminist one! Incel Guardians = Incel Lanterns, with the Star Sapphires as the dominant police force in the universe.
Page 17 - Our real "Wedding of the Trillenium" would have come about if Hal had proceeded with his proposal to Carol.
E-11 Carol explains that if they had kissed, Zundernell would have tracked the resulting "Orgone Flash" and annihilated both of them. Orgone is a pseudoscientific concept variously described as an esoteric energy or hypothetical universal life force; people use it to protect from EMF's or whatnot.
Page 18 - A little iffy on this page.
The debris seems to imply that the Earth 11 Justice Guild built a Lunar Watchtower (similar to Morrison's JLA run) and it was destroyed by the Golden Destroyer.
Page 19 - Marsha Manhunter, that's great.
"All powerful Living Weapon from the Dawn of Time..." We saw a great deal of abandoned Monitor tech left on Earth 15 back in Season One #11, with Zundernell self teaching while marooned. Golden Destroyer could have been among the rest.
With what we've been told, Carol's plan goes a little like this:
- Trick Zundernell into thinking E-0 Carol is E-11 Carol
- Occupy E-0 Carol with E-11 Hal
- Prevent E-0 Hal from engaging with E-0 Carol in order to avoid Orgone Flash
- Bring E-0 Hal to E-11
- Draw Golden Destroyer attention away from E-0 Carol and E-11 Hal by kissing E-0 Hal
Page 20 - Batwoman, Miss Terrific, and a female Green Arrow analogue.
Incel Hal gets dropped in a cross dimensional backhand.
Page 21 - E-0 Sapphire arrives, declaring war on Earth 11!
Miss Terrific confirms that what caused damage to the moon was...
Page 22 - Zundernell, Golden Destroyer!
Zundernell reveals his true motive to capture Star Sapphire, whom he describes as "the heart of all".
Nomad Empire mentioned again, claiming the need to "repossess what was once theirs". Could this be a callback to the Golden Giants from #4; Zundernell enacting their final revenge?
Carol's hubris comes in the form of lack of consideration; Lantern for Lantern, Sapphire for Sapphire.
As the Wedding of Hyperboy and Princess Illistra enthralls the denizens of Kranaltine, the true Union of the Trillenium shocks the Multiverse as Will and Love remain in constant synchrony across endless worlds.
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