Shogun of Steel (2002) Part 2/2

[mithen]

The tiny JLA continue to fight against Zunou, but their efforts are hampered by Hoshi refusing to use lethal force, much to Hana's disgust.  This leads to an eventual explosion between the two:

Comments

[theclexfactor]

I think the traitor was supposed to be Lex actually. But yes I agree that this story is one I searched for after hearing about it and love it to this day.

[mithen]

The JLA are so quirky here! GA who only carries a single arrow in combat, or Hawkman who's not only constantly draped in feathers but also actual birds, lol.

Any guesses on who the overweight guy is? I always thought maybe Plastic Man...but he never shows any powers beyond being a bit of a clown, lol. I really liked Green Arrow in this version! One shot, but only the one that counts.

I wish Hana hadn't been killed off though, but she did go out fighting and protecting.

I'm always really ambiguous about her death. It's unnecessary...but it's heroic...but throwing yourself in front of someone else is a very traditionally feminine death...but it's also very in-character for Bruce, I think! I KNOW he'd take a bullet for anyone he cared about. I really need to write an AU AU take where she lives. :)

[mithen]

My instant reaction is that she got fridged, then I also realized she certainly wasn't a passive character here, she died an honorable and heroic death. And like you said, it's exactly what Bruce himself would've done in a heartbeat.

Yeah, it's not technically a fridging because she does die heroically and actively (and I admit I'm kind of hoping Bruce comes charging in to take that bullet for Dick at some point!). It is mostly in the service of the plot and to give Hoshi a reason to get angry enough to destroy Zunou, though, so it gets pretty close. I can see being frustrated with it, although I don't think it's as gratuitous as some examples.