Kate Kane Is In The Building
Last night, the second episode of the CW’s annual “Arrowverse” Crossover, “Elseworlds” aired and brought with it the highly anticipated introduction of Ruby Rose’s Batwoman. “Elseworlds” began December 9th with “The Flash” and will conclude tonight on “Supergirl”, but it was “Arrow’s” episode last night that has everyone talking. According to Variety, although Batwoman was not as present as we had expected, this was with good reason for as Caroline Dries, who is developing a âBatwomanâ series for the network shared, âWe realized the best way to do that would be if our guys just went to Gotham, she helped out with their story, and she shooed them away.â
In case you missed the episode last night, The Hollywood Reporter shared some plot details surrounding Ruby Rose’s Batwoman debut, outlining the meeting point between the four superheroes. After a mysterious book causes “The Flash” (Barry) and “Arrow” (Oliver) to swap powers in Part 1, Part 2 finds “Supergirl” (Kara) joining them on a journey to Gotham in attempt to decipher their misfortunes. Unfortunately, a dangerous mugging encounter landed the heroes in jail, where Kate Kane i.e. Batwoman saves the day and bails them out. The episode continues on to reveal some interesting Batwoman details with which the network will ideally build upon in the character’s future solo series debut. “Elseworlds” concludes tonight but in the meantime, let’s take a look at three of the interesting, thought-provoking and downright insane stories from DC Comicsâ Elseworlds imprint!
#3: âSuperman: Red Sonâ (2003)
What would the world be like if baby Kal-El landed in Soviet-controlled Ukraine instead of Kansas? Mark Millarâs âRed Sonâ answers that question. A deeply philosophical examination of the Cold War, âRed Sonâ tells the story of a Superman who fights for Stalin, socialism and the expansion of the Warsaw Pact. Opposing him is Dr. Lex Luthor, Americaâs champion who spends decades creating machines and monsters to overthrow Supermanâs ever-expanding control of Earth. With a supporting cast of darker, Cold War versions of Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, âRed Sonâ blurs the lines between heroes and villains in murky shades of gray.
#2: âKingdom Comeâ (1996)
Another story which distorts the division between good and evil, Alex Ross and Mark Waidâs âKingdom Comeâ offers a grim view of a potential future for the DC universe. After the American public embraces the more violent methods of new heroes like Magog, Superman and many of his contemporaries retire from crime-fighting. But after a Magog-led attack on the Parasite devastates the Midwest, the Man of Steel and his old allies reunite to reign in the young antiheroes. The subsequent conflict creates three factions which engage in a battle of truly Biblical proportions with Earthâs future at stake. A powerful story about the limits and responsibilities of superheroes, âKingdom Comeâ is a quintessential Elseworlds tale.
#1: âSuperman & Batman: Worldâs Funnestâ (2000)
When we said âcraziestâ we werenât kidding. While âKingdom Comeâ and âRed Sonâ are often cited as the best stories to come out of the Elseworld imprint, âWorldâs Funniestâ is, by far, the most bizarre. After a heated argument between Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk, Batman and Superman are accidentally killed by their biggest fans. What ensues is an interdimensional battle of disastrous and hilarious proportions as Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk destroy entire eras of DC Comics history. As the Fifth Dimensional impsâ conflict rages across the Multiverse, each and every incarnation of DCâs Earths and its heroes are ridiculed in suitably comedic fashion. Bolstered by the contributions of Brian Bolland, Frank Miller, Alex Ross and many more, âWorldâs Funnestâ displays the worst excesses of fandom for all to see.
Will you be watching the “Elseworlds” finale tonight or re-visiting some of these incredible DC comics stories?! Leave a comment below!
And make sure to check out the full video below to find out more about all of the Top 10 Craziest DC Elseworlds Stories: