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. :)

[ilovetobefree]

The panel with Hana leaving, being so angry and saying she is Komori looks so well.

WOW, Hoshi’s backstory - there is everything!...Krypton, Jor-El, even Brainiac. Even the same names. I wonder - is it the same in all Elseworld stories?

That's one of my favorite panels here--all the tense leashed power in Komori's stance, the intensity of her eyes...
I agree. It looks great!

„In the name of the House of El...“ - Perfect!

Hana’s sacrifice was sad. But those panels with the final battle were wonderfully done!

Part of what I love about it most is that Hana is so clearly still Bruce--brave and snarky and cranky and passionate.
I totally agree!

Elseworlds do have a tendency to indulge in tragic endings
Alas! *sigh* It is what makes me sad, because I so hate sad endings. But the stories are so beautiful!

Thank you very much for sharing this!

[mithen]

WOW, Hoshi’s backstory - there is everything!...Krypton, Jor-El, even Brainiac. Even the same names. I wonder - is it the same in all Elseworld stories?

In Elseworlds, Superman's basic origin usually stays the same--they change where and when he lands and who adopts him, but usually Krypton remains the same. I've seen him land in Africa (and become like Tarzan), in Medieval England, in Victorian England... Bruce's origins usually change more, but usually keep the basics of his parents dying and trying to conquer death/crime because of it.

Alas! *sigh* It is what makes me sad, because I so hate sad endings. But the stories are so beautiful! I know, so many Elseworlds end sadly or bittersweetly. I like best the ones that end well, but I do think Elseworlds stories like this are a chance for writers to write sad stories they can't write in canon, so I think they're valuable for that reason. Plus it keeps the canon more free of lasting death and failure, lol

[ilovetobefree]

In Elseworlds, Superman's basic origin usually stays the same--they change where and when he lands and who adopts him, but usually Krypton remains the same. I've seen him land in Africa (and become like Tarzan), in Medieval England, in Victorian England... Bruce's origins usually change more, but usually keep the basics of his parents dying and trying to conquer death/crime because of it.
Thanks for the explanation. :)

I know, so many Elseworlds end sadly or bittersweetly. I like best the ones that end well, but I do think Elseworlds stories like this are a chance for writers to write sad stories they can't write in canon, so I think they're valuable for that reason. Plus it keeps the canon more free of lasting death and failure, lol. ;)Oh yes, Thinking about it like that - it makes perfectly sense. This is really a good reason - writing sad endings in Elseworlds and avoiding them in canon. True, I was glad for your warning about the sad ending. And it took me a while to prepare myself for it. But the story was so beautiful! In

[starsandsea]

Oh, the kiss is so so pretty, as always. And I love the next page you posted, when they're starting the attack, Hana looks so awesome in it!

Write the AU where Hana survives, Jen! Write it... :P

[ilovetobefree]

Write the AU where Hana survives, Jen! Write it...
I was thinking exactly about the same reading the scans. :)
Hana and Hoshi's story set in feudal Japan with a happy ending - I would really love to read it. :)

[mithen]

I would to! I've seen a couple of people talk about writing it, but...not for a year or so, lol. So maybe it's safe for me to write it now!

[ilovetobefree]

*SQUEEEE!* Great news! :) *dances happily*

[schala_kid]

I never get tired of this Elseworld, especially the art it's so pretty. I didn't like the fact that Hana died but Elseworlds like Marvel's What-ifs usually have sad and dreary endings (although there's the few that don't).

Shogun of Steel and Batman: Holy Terror are IMO probably the two Elseworlds with the saddest S/B moments.

[mithen]

Oh gosh, I'd never read Holy Terror, but I went and looked it up and now I'm not sure I can bear to. :( I'm planning on reading a bunch of Elseworlds over the summer and I might put that on the list, but damn, it sounds sad...

[snake_easing]

Bruce kills Clark (because Clark's rocket killed his parents) and then commits suicide...

WUT.

Not with the... what? Not cool, DC.

[mithen]

I need to go find it again, but yes...Kal's rocket kills Bruce's parents and hideously burns Bruce. Lex takes Kal in and raises him, and in the end Bruce discovers Kryptonite and uses it to kill Kal and maybe Lex? It's very, very dark. I can't even remember the name of it, but I think it's in the same issue with a bunch of other short-story Elseworlds, including the one where everyone is musicians and Lex is the evil record producer who exploits them all...

[snake_easing]

Ha ha! Wow... I like that DC can put light and dark together like that. I like it a lot.