Secrets Revealed about Pandora in THE NEW 52: FCBD Edition

@ssejllenrad said:

Is it just me or is anybody else thinking Phantom Stranger is Judas?

...Huh, I can see that happening.

It's a book that'll leave some people quessing that's for sure. I don't know how to put the pink spoiler alert thing on here. someone tell me, but til then I'll just type it

SPOILER ALERT -

Whose skull is that? Is that Black Adam and does that mean Shazam will be in the Justicel Leagues universe and not the Justice Society's. Why is Cyborg fighting the league now. What happen to Hal, and Metamorpho is now a girl? Is this the team Trevor was talking about to Green Arrow, and are there more members?

@aztek_the_lost: yeah, I knew that, sadly. Not sure why I said 13, lol.

@ssejllenrad said:

Is it just me or is anybody else thinking Phantom Stranger is Judas?

That would make no sense, since christ dying and coming back was a good thing due to all the sin cleansed and yadda yadda.

@BatBen9135 said:

@The Mighty Monarch:

If you look at the possible origins of the Phantom Stranger, one of them is a man who hated Jesus and took money to flog him. So, Stranger's kind of been tied to Jesus, and I think making him Judas instead is a stronger back story and is a better reason why he was punished so severely.

I think it really comes down to a difference in taste. As a non-comic aside: I liked the original Halloween movie. Part of the appeal was never knowing quite why or how Michael got the way he was. When I went to see the remake, I ended up walking when it became clear that they were specifically saying that him coming from a screwed up home was what made him the way he was. By counterpoint, one of my friends is the exact opposite: she couldn't watch the original because she said not knowing the how and why was too distracting. She's not a huge horror movie fan, but really enjoyed the remake specifically because it had the back story that she felt the original was missing.

@JamDamage: That's not Metamorpho. It's Element Woman, a character introduced in Flashpoint.

@Sammo21:

Judas was paid 30 pieces, not 13. BTW anyone elses Comivine page lagging like mine is. Takes for ever lately, and it's just this page.

That faceless guy was that the Question?

@kagato said:

@Planewalker said:

@Skaddix said:

@Deep_shock said:

Pandora's secret that is that DCnU flops month after month. Over 20 of The New 52 now do cancellations numbers already! DCnU's top books lose thousands of readers month after month. Lots of others do worse than before the reboot! Time to fix this mess and bring back the real DCU!

Well Pre 52 DCU was not doing great. At least DC can now point to dominating Top 10 Sales Lists. What is your solution to DC's sales and lack or retention?

I never read a Dc comic before the new universe except the Red Robin, and now I enjoy at least 10 comics a month so what's the problem. The old stuff was rubbish and the editors knew it. As for cutting books it makes sense... from the sales and marketing point of view. I liked the New world finest issue, and if some weren't canceled this would not see the light of day... Just sayin'

I agree with Planwalker, before the new 52s i used to download the odd comic via Sonys now defunct comic book store but i never really got into any of the DC stuff and for the most part id read Marvel or Image. Since the new 52s i am now collecting 25 of the books a month which is pretty huge for me, the history and legacy of the the existing characters had become so confusing for new readers that outside of graphic novels i had no real way of getting in.

DC have had most of the top 10 comic books tied down since the re-launch, i remember a couple of times where it was only DC books in there so even if some of the older fans are disgruntled, you cant argue with the results. Clearly the universe needed a reboot or it would have kept going the way it was, if the old universe stuff was still doing great numbers there is no way they would have gone ahead with it.

But they do plan on reverting back to normal after a while. It won't be like this forever. I say it will only last 5 years.

@tensor said:

I just want to know who are these gods are,and who is the god with the shazam lighting symbol on his chest

I would guess a Japanese god of lightning, Raijin/Raiden. If so, I'd like it, ESPECIALLY if that Shazam like logo ain't just a coincidence (like the Flash lightning bolt). After all why would the other pantheons allow for Captain Marvel and Black Adam to be so prominent in modern society when say devotees of Shintoism are still pretty dang numerous.

What theyv done to The Question and The Stranger is absolute horsesh!t, why completely change two fan fav characters till they no longer resemble what they used to be instead of just using some original ones? Also they people that keep saying Pandora is and exit strategy are living in denial and need to get a grip 

I hate what they have done to the Question...

@spiderbat87 said:

they people that keep saying Pandora is and exit strategy are living in denial and need to get a grip

Pandora is absolutely an exit strategy. That doesn't preclude her from being an awesome character or them having awesome stories planned for her.

@spiderbat87 said:

they people that keep saying Pandora is and exit strategy are living in denial and need to get a grip

Pandora is absolutely an exit strategy. That doesn't preclude her from being an awesome character or them having awesome stories planned for her.

@spiderbat87 said:

@Mercy_ said:

@spiderbat87 said:

they people that keep saying Pandora is and exit strategy are living in denial and need to get a grip

Pandora is absolutely an exit strategy. That doesn't preclude her from being an awesome character or them having awesome stories planned for her.

You really think that after spending thousands and thousands of dollars on revamping there whole line and all the ad campaigns, DC are just going to go "stuff it, lets just forget all this and go back to square one"

Not necessarily, no. But I also think it would be epically stupid of them to invest that money and not have a way to get out of the DCnU if it turned out to be a huge flop. They're a business first and foremost and I think sometimes fans and readers forget that. If the DCnU had not turned out to be a successful venture for them (I still really don't think we can call it a long-term success until we're at least a year in), then I have absolutely no doubts that they would have either reversed it or done something else.

...I am not sure if I am ok with this new "Question"...

Since when did this issue say one of the three was The Phantom Stranger?

@Deep_shock said:

Pandora's secret that is that DCnU flops month after month. Over 20 of The New 52 now do cancellations numbers already! DCnU's top books lose thousands of readers month after month. Lots of others do worse than before the reboot! Time to fix this mess and bring back the real DCU!

That's going to be an embarrassing moment when DC figures out that the DCnU blows.

Anyway, I prefered it when everyone thought Pandora was the Time Trapper.

@spiderbat87 said:

@Mercy_ said:

@spiderbat87 said:

they people that keep saying Pandora is and exit strategy are living in denial and need to get a grip

Pandora is absolutely an exit strategy. That doesn't preclude her from being an awesome character or them having awesome stories planned for her.

You really think that after spending thousands and thousands of dollars on revamping there whole line and all the ad campaigns, DC are just going to go "stuff it, lets just forget all this and go back to square one"

Not necessarily, no. But I also think it would be epically stupid of them to invest that money and not have a way to get out of the DCnU if it turned out to be a huge flop. They're a business first and foremost and I think sometimes fans and readers forget that. If the DCnU had not turned out to be a successful venture for them (I still really don't think we can call it a long-term success until we're at least a year in), then I have absolutely no doubts that they would have either reversed it or done something else.

Why has DC done this? did they honestly think doing this to The Question would make him cool? his old version was much better than this piece of crap. Question should not have ties to gods or cosmic beings in anyway he's a damn detective for crying out loud. I have a feeling DC will be rebooting again in less than a year too many things are either not making sense or are just plain bad ideas.

@spiderbat87 said:

@Mercy_ s

Not necessarily, no. But I also think it would be epically stupid of them to invest that money and not have a way to get out of the DCnU if it turned out to be a huge flop. They're a business first and foremost and I think sometimes fans and readers forget that. If the DCnU had not turned out to be a successful venture for them (I still really don't think we can call it a long-term success until we're at least a year in), then I have absolutely no doubts that they would have either reversed it or done something else.

It would be extremely stupid for them to just reverse it back to the old DCU, it would be more damaging than just sticking with the current universe even if it was flopping

We do not know that. It all depends on how they do it.

Had they called the New 52 "FU old readers, we are getting rid of 70% of the continuity andrehiring Liefeld", it would not have sold as well.

Similarly, a quasi-return to pre-New 52 DCU would not be called "oops we made a mistake, time for our back-up plan I guess", it would probably be a crisis in time, with the whole of reality in the balance and a need to correct what had been done by Pandora in order to protect the integrity of space-time continuum or something, with the returns of fan-favourites Ted Kord, Donna Troy and Wally West to ensure that people get excited about it.

@tensor said:

I just want to know who are these gods are,and who is the god with the shazam lighting symbol on his chest

Thats Shazam

that part took place in the past so that was a younger Shazam

@spiderbat87 said:

@Mercy_ s

Not necessarily, no. But I also think it would be epically stupid of them to invest that money and not have a way to get out of the DCnU if it turned out to be a huge flop. They're a business first and foremost and I think sometimes fans and readers forget that. If the DCnU had not turned out to be a successful venture for them (I still really don't think we can call it a long-term success until we're at least a year in), then I have absolutely no doubts that they would have either reversed it or done something else.

It would be extremely stupid for them to just reverse it back to the old DCU, it would be more damaging than just sticking with the current universe even if it was flopping

We do not know that. It all depends on how they do it.

Had they called the New 52 "FU old readers, we are getting rid of 70% of the continuity andrehiring Liefeld", it would not have sold as well.

Similarly, a quasi-return to pre-New 52 DCU would not be called "oops we made a mistake, time for our back-up plan I guess", it would probably be a crisis in time, with the whole of reality in the balance and a need to correct what had been done by Pandora in order to protect the integrity of space-time continuum or something, with the returns of fan-favourites Ted Kord, Donna Troy and Wally West to ensure that people get excited about it.

as far as Judas\phantom stranger goes his whole strory wasn't told only parts of it and lets face it even if it was messed up for ghonns  to give him an official back story someone eventually would have done it and as for Pandora shes cool!! and the question was cursed not evil or in ranks with Pandora or Judas\phanto stranger and also someone like trigon ,spectre or nekron need to get involved in this trinity stuff

@spiderbat87 said:

@DarthShap said:

We do not know that. It all depends on how they do it.

Had they called the New 52 "FU old readers, we are getting rid of 70% of the continuity andrehiring Liefeld", it would not have sold as well.

Similarly, a quasi-return to pre-New 52 DCU would not be called "oops we made a mistake, time for our back-up plan I guess", it would probably be a crisis in time, with the whole of reality in the balance and a need to correct what had been done by Pandora in order to protect the integrity of space-time continuum or something, with the returns of fan-favourites Ted Kord, Donna Troy and Wally West to ensure that people get excited about it.

Ted Kord was already dead in the DCU and I would dump every DC book I pick up if this happened

Maybe you would. I am sure most people would not, especially considering that a lot of series would stay relatively untouched, the whole Batverse, Animal Man, Swamp Thing, Aquaman, the whole GLverse etc...

Also, not that many people actually left after Flashpoint. The result would probably be the same here, except DC could get back some of the lost readers.

And I know he was dead. I am just saying that it could be one of the ways used by DC to sell the event.

@sarahsdad: That's exactly my point. There are many myths of greed far older than the Bible that Geoff could use. He could have used a Ancient Greek myth since Pandora is Ancient Greek. ALSO, Judas did not betray Jesus just for the 30 pieces of silver. there was lot more to it.

@The Mighty Monarch And you're right too! The Phantom Stranger should not have any origin at all. When Marvel gave Wolverine a complete backstory some years ago, I thought that ruined the character. there are certain comic character that should be completely blank in their origin.

....I like the Christian Phantom Stranger..

@kagato said:

@Planewalker said:

@Skaddix said:

@Deep_shock said:

Pandora's secret that is that DCnU flops month after month. Over 20 of The New 52 now do cancellations numbers already! DCnU's top books lose thousands of readers month after month. Lots of others do worse than before the reboot! Time to fix this mess and bring back the real DCU!

Well Pre 52 DCU was not doing great. At least DC can now point to dominating Top 10 Sales Lists. What is your solution to DC's sales and lack or retention?

I never read a Dc comic before the new universe except the Red Robin, and now I enjoy at least 10 comics a month so what's the problem. The old stuff was rubbish and the editors knew it. As for cutting books it makes sense... from the sales and marketing point of view. I liked the New world finest issue, and if some weren't canceled this would not see the light of day... Just sayin'

I agree with Planwalker, before the new 52s i used to download the odd comic via Sonys now defunct comic book store but i never really got into any of the DC stuff and for the most part id read Marvel or Image. Since the new 52s i am now collecting 25 of the books a month which is pretty huge for me, the history and legacy of the the existing characters had become so confusing for new readers that outside of graphic novels i had no real way of getting in.

DC have had most of the top 10 comic books tied down since the re-launch, i remember a couple of times where it was only DC books in there so even if some of the older fans are disgruntled, you cant argue with the results. Clearly the universe needed a reboot or it would have kept going the way it was, if the old universe stuff was still doing great numbers there is no way they would have gone ahead with it.

to be honest I only read batman and robin when i heard that dick grayson became robin. That's what hooked me up in comics really. But besides that it was just picking up random trades. Till the new 52 came out I'm now reading a bunch of DC. Sure, there was stuff that didn't need change and would had made the reboot even stronger. But in general is great to see this as I'm picking up stuff that i would never had before. Dc right now has the most variation out of all companies whose tittles share a single universe right now. And yes, I'm reading more dc than marvel now.

So she has Crimson Avanger's guns ? :P

@InnerVenom123 said:

@ssejllenrad said:

Is it just me or is anybody else thinking Phantom Stranger is Judas?

That would make no sense, since christ dying and coming back was a good thing due to all the sin cleansed and yadda yadda.

I can explain this. See the one that threw the coins onto PS's face? Long hair? Beard? Semitic-looking? I think someone's been butthurt over the betrayal.

@spiderbat87 said:

@Mercy_ said:

@spiderbat87 said:

@Mercy_ said:

@spiderbat87 said:

they people that keep saying Pandora is and exit strategy are living in denial and need to get a grip

Pandora is absolutely an exit strategy. That doesn't preclude her from being an awesome character or them having awesome stories planned for her.

You really think that after spending thousands and thousands of dollars on revamping there whole line and all the ad campaigns, DC are just going to go "stuff it, lets just forget all this and go back to square one"

Not necessarily, no. But I also think it would be epically stupid of them to invest that money and not have a way to get out of the DCnU if it turned out to be a huge flop. They're a business first and foremost and I think sometimes fans and readers forget that. If the DCnU had not turned out to be a successful venture for them (I still really don't think we can call it a long-term success until we're at least a year in), then I have absolutely no doubts that they would have either reversed it or done something else.

It would be extremely stupid for them to just reverse it back to the old DCU, it would be more damaging than just sticking with the current universe even if it was flopping

It's called contingency planning.

I just find it strange that the Question's origin is now mystical. I would think that the Spectre would have been a much better choice than Vic. I mean wouldn't that really fit the whole Trinity of Sin idea better?

@The Stegman said:

@sarahsdad:

@TheWitchingHour said:

"The plastic tips at the ends of shoelaces are called aglets....their true purpose is sinister"

" 29...30...31......32 Flavors! I Knew It "

There was a Magic bullet ! It was forged by Illuminati mystics to prevent us from learning the truth!

"Don't be ridiculous...I go through everyone's trash"

Again, just goes back to Pandora being the possible linchpin of the whole New 52 reality. I will say, I'm not exactly wild about The Question now being a mystical being but I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. If anything, this whole Trinity War thing is what interested me the most after reading this issue. Curiouser and curiouser...

Did the issue tell us or leave any clues telling us who this Question is. And can he able to talk or just mumble? I agree that this Question isn't like the old one I love but maybe he'll become more like him. Do we actually know that this guy is mystical or powerful himself. It seems like he'll be doing some sort of investigating later on and because so much time has passed in the book he might soon resemble one of the older Question versions. (I'm hoping he'll have the Ditko versions mindset rather than the O'Neil Zen one.)

This...is stupid. Everything they've done, every decision they've made regarding the reboot has been complete and utter horse shit. The Question is a conspiracy theorist. He is a human. Not part of your magical derp-squad, Johns. The DCnU is the ultimate ass-lancing of comic books. You don't have to be a hardcore DC fanatic to know that this is all a bunch of poorly contrived garbage. Almost everyone is out of character. The storylines are mundane and the writing, overall, is atrocious. So much. There was SO MUCH they could have done with this. They had brilliant characters to work with, and this is what we get? What a bunch of uncreative assclowns.

@Skaddix said:

@Deep_shock said:

Pandora's secret that is that DCnU flops month after month. Over 20 of The New 52 now do cancellations numbers already! DCnU's top books lose thousands of readers month after month. Lots of others do worse than before the reboot! Time to fix this mess and bring back the real DCU!

Well Pre 52 DCU was not doing great. At least DC can now point to dominating Top 10 Sales Lists. What is your solution to DC's sales and lack or retention?

Events. More events.

@TheWitchingHour said:

@The Stegman said:

@sarahsdad:

@TheWitchingHour said:

"The plastic tips at the ends of shoelaces are called aglets....their true purpose is sinister"

" 29...30...31......32 Flavors! I Knew It "

There was a Magic bullet ! It was forged by Illuminati mystics to prevent us from learning the truth!

"Don't be ridiculous...I go through everyone's trash"

"Topically applied fluoride doesn't prevent tooth decay! It does render teeth detectable by spy satellite!"

@JDevil said:

@TheWitchingHour said:

@The Stegman said:

@sarahsdad:

@TheWitchingHour said:

"The plastic tips at the ends of shoelaces are called aglets....their true purpose is sinister"

" 29...30...31......32 Flavors! I Knew It "

There was a Magic bullet ! It was forged by Illuminati mystics to prevent us from learning the truth!

"Don't be ridiculous...I go through everyone's trash"

"Topically applied fluoride doesn't prevent tooth decay! It does render teeth detectable by spy satellite!"

I love all of you.

@The Stegman said:

So many....Questions....

Well said lol :) and perfect choice for the image

@ssejllenrad said:

Is it just me or is anybody else thinking Phantom Stranger is Judas?

It's not just you. I would be surprised if he was Judas, "Forgive me as HE would? then they throw silver coins in his face? That seems right on the money.

I'm more confused/concerned about who Vic is supposed to be. I mean Making the Phantom Stranger into an immortal person from history doesn't stretch much because we never really new where he was from or who he was. But Vic was a normal mortal. This is going to change alot about him.

Particularly since whoever he was wasn't someone very pleasant. Someone, the entire worlds feared... Right now my guess goes to Alexander the great. Maybe Brutus could fit with the sins against authority, but he wasn't really world feared.

@csguterres said:

I would love if The Question were just a conspiracy theorist that starts to investigate a lot of disconnected facts that lead him to find out about the multiverse; because of that, he would end up crossing paths with Huntress (Helena Wayne), and they would start a relationship like in the JLU...

Oh, let me go back to the fanfics, because such good things never happens in the comics...

Actually, Vic and Helena did have a relationship in the comics. Look up Batman/Huntress: Cry For Blood. If you are a fan of the two together, this is a must addition to your graphic novel selection.

Has anyone speculated about who the seven wizards are? The girl looks a lot like Black Alice, the Egyptian woman could be Isis, the black guy, the asian guy, and the indian guy could be Black Vulcan, Samurai, and the Apache Chief? The guy in the golden hood could be El Dorado? That leaves the viking-looking woman. Any ideas?

Please check my mini-review of the FCBD special here:

http://bit.ly/Kcu9pE

Comments and feedback are always welcome!

COOL

This is the issue i want to get for the FCBD but there were people who toke more than one comic (when it was suppose to be one per person) and when i got there there were none left. I ended up taking spider-man season one cause they didn't have avengers #12.1 -.-''

Something tells me the original DC Universe will return, and this new 52 universe will be temporary or distanced as a separate universe like the ultimate marvel universe and the regular marvel universe earth 616.

the new 52 is a great spinoff but he shouldn't have murdered the D.C., wildstorm and vertigo universes to make it.

i can't really get behind this new turn of events cause it's bases on so much tragedy and lose

it's like someone giving you a puppy the day your dog which you had for many years died