Written by Roy Thomas & Dann Thomas.
Art by Todd McFarlane; Ron Harris; Tony DeZuniga; Dick Giordano; Arne Starr; David Cody Weiss; & Carl Gafford.
Cover Art by Denys Cowan; Dick Giordano; & Anthony Tollin.
SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics in March 1986, Infinity, Inc.’s last Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover is entitled “Back From The Future!”
Expanding upon a brief scene early in Crisis on Infinite Earths # 7, this story opens with Power Girl confiding in Helena Wayne’s Huntress. She worries that their aging Superman’s dangerous mission in the anti-matter universe may leave her as Earth-Two’s sole Kryptonian. Similarly, Brainwave Jr., Northwind, Obsidian, and Alan Scott’s new wife, Harlequin, worry about their Green Lantern’s fate (as he is on the same Crisis mission as daughter Jade and Earth-Two’s Superman).
Nuklon contemplates searching his missing mother in Florida. Fury and Silver Scarab argue over withdrawing the team’s previously imposed truce with Mr. Bones and his Helix Crew.
On Hollywood Boulevard, the Star-Spangled Kid (Sylvester “Syl” Pemberton) and private detective Jonni Thunder plummet from a dissipated Crisis-powered cyclone in proximity to Jonni’s office. They are unaware that another Crisis cyclone traveler: the criminal Knodar (resembling a poor man’s Riddler) is now in the vicinity. Due to some Crisis time-warping shenanigans, a 1930’s mobster gang wreaks trigger-happy havoc in traffic. Syl’s broken cosmic belt forces him to intervene without super-powers. With an outnumbered Syl being pummeled, Jonni must make an impromptu horseback rescue.
As a fugitive from the 25th Century, Knodar fancies himself an old school thief who commits crimes out of sheer glee. Using his metal-altering weapon to commit homicide, Knodar recruits the time-lost mobsters as his own gang. Taking Jonni & Syl as their hostages, Knodar opts to use Syl’s movie studio complex as the gang’s hideout. Escaping their captors, the flirting duo will need some unexpected help to take down Knodar and his dim-witted cronies.
Amusingly, even a movie poster depicting his old nemesis, Alan Scott’s Green Lantern, is enough to rattle Knodar. To this futuristic criminal’s annoyance, Syl earlier baits him by repeating Scott’s dismissal of Knodar as just a ‘minor conquest.’
Notes: Oddly, unlike her father, Jade’s absence isn’t acknowledged by her twin brother (Obsidian), boyfriend (Brainwave Jr.) or new stepmother (Harlequin). As for Jonni Thunder, readers are reminded of her recent debut mini-series entitled Jonni Thunder aka Thunderbolt.
Infinity, Inc. # 24 is available digitally. It has subsequently been collected into Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion – Deluxe Edition, Volume 2 for both hardcover and digital formats.
REVIEW:
It’s an instance where some fun writing and appealing visuals (i.e. the cover image) are the difference in an average issue. Surpassing a flimsy premise, husband-and-wife writers Roy & Dann Thomas, along with artist Todd McFarlane, make Infinity, Inc. # 24 a treat to read. Aside from the eye-rolling sight of Syl, Jonni, and Knodar surviving intact their mid-air drop out of the sky, this issue’s kid-friendly entertainment value remains worthwhile.
Infinity, Inc. # 24 is by no means a must-have, but it is a welcome find in the bargain bin.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Dick Giordano’s monthly “Meanwhile …” column appears on the front inside cover. Briefly carrying over to a second page, Roy Thomas answers fan letters at the issue’s end.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
