Posted on: January 6th, 2010 Nerdwatch: DC’s IDENTITY CRISIS

Comic book heroes, specifically our primary color clad caped and coweled first-tier characters, are known and celebrated for battling larger-than-life villains and monsters that are as aesthetically over the top as they are in theory. Every once in a while though, a publisher takes a moment to give us a dark and gritty real-life villain. Tony Stark battled alcoholism. Peter Parker was sexually molested. And while these serious stories involving mainstream properties are effective and justifiable, none have quite managed to not only change the status quo of the established continuity, but to change the way we perceive multiple characters and their inter-personal relationships. None except DC’s Infinite Crisis.

I often cite Watchmen and Preacher as being my favorite comic book stories of all time, but truth be told I find myself revisiting and recommending Identity Crisis, a seven-issue mini, many times a year. It’s with that sentiment I place Identity Crisis as the finest superhero tragedy ever written. It makes Avengers: Disassembled look like Family Circus.

WARNING: Mild SPOILERS follow.

The plot of Identity Crisis starts simple and before you know it escalates out of control turning friends and teammates against one another, and leaving everyone – even the man of steel – at their most vulnerable. When Sue Dibny, wife of long-time JLA member Ralph Dibny (aka The Elongated Man), is found horribly murdered, the heroes of the DC universe come out of the woodwork to solve the crime. The string of terror doesn’t end however, as more superhero family members become targets as well. As members of the Justice League begin to sift through the facts upon suspicion of Dr. Light, they discover a cover-up plot that tests their very morals within the organization.

It was June of 2004 when Identity Crisis began to rock the foundations of the DC Universe. At the time writer Brad Meltzer was more recognized as a crime novelist than a comic scribe, with exception to a short Green Arrow run in ‘02/’03. What Meltzer brought to the table with Identity Crisis, is a truly engaging crime mystery wrapped in emotion and intrigue. The book is often heartbreaking and always epic in its big reveals and action scenes. Identity Crisis is devastating at times but never makes us uncomfortable and always keeps us entertained. This book just works on every level.

Meltzer also gets the DC universe, and its characters. He writes everything convincingly, in a way we’ve never quite seen with a DC title. He understands how to make us feel for each hero; we worry when they worry, we lash out when they lash out, and goddammit we cry when they cry, which is often. Nothing in Identity Crisis just happens; everything is very calculated and affecting. There are some serious subjects tackled here folks, from rape to murder to the responsibilities and morals that come with policing the world from a seemingly untouchable position.

While the book has its obvious highlights, the literally jaw-dropping death and funeral of Sue Dibny and one of the greatest comic book fights put to page where Deathstroke systematically takes out the entire Justice League, Meltzer truly defined himself as the one who made Ralph Dibny, the Elongated Man, an unforgettable character. While Dibny has only grown in popularity since Identity Crisis – he had a main story arc in the 52 series – Identity Crisis put flesh on the bones of the all-too-often overlooked character. While Ralph fits in perfectly with the likes of The Flash and Green Lantern, it is his indelible grasp of love and humanity that makes him entire relatable. It makes it that much harder to watch him suffer and mourn; this hurt is projected to all characters in this book who endure the same, making the plight of the costumed vigilante that much more real.

I speak of Identity Crisis as if it were depressing and gloomy, and while it is certainly mature in that matter, it packs in that superhero quality you’ve grown to expect and love. Identity Crisis manages to combine both of these tones and what’s left is a massive revelation that starts a chain of events that would define DC for many years, as well as potentially change the way we see certain characters.

In regards to the books visuals, simply the pencils are gorgeous. Rags Morales (Hawkman, Nightwing) brings a certain human contrast to the characters and their poses that works wonderfully with Meltzer’s story. Much like the story, Morales’ art is solid and lean but a little sharp and gritty at the same time. His attention to detail is immaculate. A nod has to be given to Alex Sinclair’s colors in the book, which feature the right amount of primary pop with a subtle wash of backgrounds bringing the cities to life. The collected trade also includes all seven covers by the late Michael Turner.

I think I’ve officially gone on record as saying that this book is amazing. Go now and purchase Identity Crisis.

2 Responses to “Nerdwatch: DC’s IDENTITY CRISIS”

1. Tommo Says:
   January 6th, 2010 at 10:35 am

   Great write up on a fabulous book. May just have to dig this out of the collection and read it again.

2. Adam Says:
   January 7th, 2010 at 4:32 pm

   This really is a fantastic story. I really need to read this again too. Except my copy is on the other side of the world.

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