Battle for Bludhaven #1-2 - Atop the Fourth Wall

Welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall, where bad comics burn. In this episode, Linkara looks at the first two issues of an awful DC miniseries!
atopthefourthwall.com
Originally uploaded June 18th, 2012.
ORIGINAL INFO: Some battles are fought over things that matter. This one is fought because lots of people are stupid.
RUMINATIONS: As the years go by, Battle for Bludhaven’s existence continues to baffle me. I still don’t entirely get what the POINT of it all was. Setting up a new series, maybe, but it wasn’t exactly one that people were clamoring for. As a contrast, Booster Gold’s popularity was on the rise thanks to the maxi-series 52, so when that series was concluded, they launched his own ongoing that reflected the mood that had been set in 52 and it was pretty damn successful. But this? This is reviving a bunch of goofy villain concepts from the 70s and 80s that barely anyone remembered and trying to modernize them in one way or another in order to… create Kamandi? It’s just so bizarre, nonsensical, and above all else: unnecessary.
Over in the storyline, I should point out that I am a sucker for meetings. No, seriously: I love it when characters are in a meeting together and trying to hash out a solution to a problem. It gives characters a chance to show their own intelligence, to deal with plot holes that the audience could think of, or just let them expound upon the problem in new ways. I imagine for others it might get boring, but I can’t get enough of ‘em - hence this meeting between the characters to try to think of some new ideas to figure out the magic conundrum.
Of course, the solution presented here creates its own set of problems - namely Cloak #1 from Suburban Knights. See, as was pointed out in the 200th episode… he’s not really supposed to be a separate character from the Last Angry Geek. However, what had happened was that I had put together the Channel Awesome Holiday video in 2011, which included LAG changing into various outfits from his shows and included Cloak #1, which lead me to believe he was supposed to be a different character, so I wrote him that way. It gets us where we need to be, though - Linkara’s search for magic users.

[@edwardramos4591]

Firebrand is the type of guy who would actually go to Area 51, not knowing that the people he heard talking about going to Area 51 were most likely joking.

[@kovulover]

Firebrand would have totally been the Area 51 Naruto Runner if he'd been there

[@sguinn91]

@@kovulover You try to make a satirical joke or a parody, He's probably the type that's gonna let it go to his head and think it's real instead of a funny joke.

[@Kolbatsu]

But BlüdHaven is over there. Over there can take care itself.

[@Pinkanator]

Kolbatsu I recognise that reference, but fuck m, I can't remember where...

[@Hitman-cn6zz]

paul duncan Form Superman #701

[@SacridFire]

paul duncan It's a double reference to the line from Superman #701, as well as Linkara's bashing of the "OVER THERE can take care of itself" mentality posed in the book.

[@drakkenmensch]

Bludhaven: When you feel like Gotham had things too good for too long.

[@kevindedios7372]

"I am not sympathetic to stupid people!" Hehe that statement needs to make a comeback on your show.

[@Naruto85RasenShurike]

He should have a used it at some point during the MARVILLE reviews as Al, Mickey, and Lucy (as well as Bill Jemmas) redefine the definition of being stupid!

[@KidSnivy69]

Maybe it will come up in Trouble, or last issue of All-Star Bat man and Robin

[@Naruto85RasenShurike]

KidSnivy69 Speaking of ASBAR, I wonder if he'll end up burning it at the end of the video. Me personally though... I don't hate ASBAR like he does as I see it as one of those "so bad it's good comics" if you know what I mean. I just love laughing at how out of character Batman is written in that book (especially whenever he does an "evil laugh") and how much of a psychopath he is! Still, the artwork by Jim Lee alone is worth buying it in my opinion, and it is definitely one that someone could get a lot of laughs from in terms of how horribly written it is (kinda like watching Tommy Wiesu in THE ROOM)!

[@KidSnivy69]

Naruto85RasenShuriken I agree. Yes it's story is utter shit, (and I'll never forget Frank Miller for that scene with the Joker in issue 8.) You can not help but laugh at the sheer ineptitude of the writer.

[@Naruto85RasenShurike]

KidSnivy69 Am I the only one who actually liked the cover of the Joker with the dragon tattoo on his back?

[@azuretiger-kfpmarketingstr6018]

As a recent Casandra Cain convert, this took out her supporting cast too, right at the end of her characters run as Batgirl. It was pretty sad. I think you can have government superheroes operate in costume, just take a practical approach to it and avoid overly gaudy and on the nose aesthetics like Lady Liberty here. Patriotic styles could be good when responding to disasters, letting people know "we're here to help", but balance that with with stealth and tactical outfits for different mission styles.

[@Yellow13Firestorm]

so like Black Widow, Black Panther or of course Captian America. All from the MCU of course.

[@MicrowavedAlastair5390]

Ignoring mismanagement of disaster funds for Katrina, there's a pretty good reason that a lot of people couldn't go back home. The locations are underwater or no longer exist in the case of some islands. Someone wasn't doing their research. Also, Firebrand is an idiot. Charging into disaster areas is a great way to become the proud recipient of a Darwin Award. This comic also doesn't realize that chemical cleanup can take decades. Or that relocation efforts are a nightmare situation from the depths of Hell itself.

[@larrychilders6599]

Sad that most of this statement applies to Maria

[@TheLyokoWarriors]

25:29 Batman: "I'm riding a magical, flying pony. HELL YEAH!"

[@thomasedwardharrison2879]

I died laughing at that thing

[@lorddrayvon1426]

It's funny. Not only did he eventually review My Little Pony comics but the images used were of the Power Ponies which spoofed the Power Rangers.

[@thegoodmudkip3652]

Batman riding Fluttershy is the thing I never knew I always wanted

[@papabearlives9995]

I laughed so hard at that . I had to stop and watch it again.

[@eugenideddis]

"Firebrand yells a lot ranting about the government" Reminds me of a Batman Beyond villain who was occasionally fought in the intro of an episode, and mocked as being incompetent. "Atomic Knights" Oh, I remember them from an episode of Batman Beyond... man I'm relating a lot of stuff back to that show today.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Mad Stan was the Batman Beyond villain you're thinking of except Mad Stan was actually a fan that gave Batman II a real challenge.

[@Babylauncher3000]

"I am not sympathetic to stupid people" That's the last decade of my adult life summed up in a single sentence.

[@andreworders7305]

That's not hard to fix, just try being a stupid person

[@shis1988]

Here from 2022. I've learned that the last couple of years.

[@TLSoulDude]

Hey, Firebrand, Alex Jones called. He says you're a little on the nutty side.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Firebrand: You dude I'm your father. Search ur feelingz cuz its true. Join me in overthrowing the man! Alex Jones: Woah!

[@matthewjones2095]

@@RenaldyCalixte tucker carlson would love him tho

[@ztyran]

This comic's problem is a case of sloppy writing. The story could work if the writers gave a bit more thought to it. For example the internment camp could be due to a massive check for both new metas as well as undiscovered diseases caused by the disaster. All this story needed was a little thought and effort.

[@vwin9112]

Zarus Tyran also, force of July/freedoms ring are a bunch of jerks , Yael Reider was a much better freedom hero than those jerks, she took down skinshifters. VIVA LA WOLF BY WOLF #wolfbywolf #bloodforblood Awesome series.

[@juliagoodwin9510]

"I am not sympathetic to stupid people!" Words to live by! I want that to be on a bumper sticker at the very least! Also that bit with the Justice League and the Mane Six always cracks me up!

[@grade12a9]

"a city worse than gotham in everyway" then who the fuck would want to live in that living hell.

[@alucardyoici]

being a resident of a living hell is still better than a hobo of a slightly less shitty city

[@chaosinc.382]

I ask the same thing about Gotham.

[@Trevin_Taylor]

Grade 12A lots of people live in Jersey, it's our most populous state.

[@panthor109thabest7]

Chaos inc. Wayne offers great benefits and healthcare housing must be cheap too.

[@shis1988]

Cheap rent?

[@hypno-scream5652]

Killing of Dick Grayson unceremoniously is a stupid idea... On an unrelated note, you should look into The Injustice comics.

[@zakai-kaz]

Literally fell down and broke his neck

[@shis1988]

@@zakai-kaz still better than totalitarian Superman frying his head... Shazam was ahead of the curve.

[@tylerleach1833]

yeah, well I'm glad Dick Grayson was never killed both unceremoniously AND off screen in a major movie franchise or anything...on an unrelated note, anyone watched Linkara's reviews of Zack Snyder's DC movies?

[@silence_dais]

Yeah but The Injustice Comics actually get really good after the set up because the writers didn't have to worry about keeping in continuity with the main universe.

[@hypno-scream5652]

@@silence_dais From what I heard, Injustice Batman looks like a complete fool in the comics. Granted, he was a fool in the games too, but still.

[@benjaythewhite]

Firebrand hears voices in his head, They council him, they understand him They talk to him. Headcanon: Firebrand is actually Randy Orton and is waiting to RKO Father Time from outta nowhere.

[@dnmstarsi]

Blazing Rune I'll take that or Issak Crowe as a mutant zombie.

[@Tareltonlives]

+Blazing Rune .....that makes more sense than this comic

[@Rabbitlord108]

Nah. I Still think he's hearing the voice of Uncle Sam (The one who perished during Infinite Crisis to be specific)

[@Chrisy45054]

25:30 And there's also the fact that Wonder Woman's bracelets can deflect bullets, lasers and any kind of weapon projectiles.

[@eliburry-schnepp6012]

Just got to the part in Batgirl where Bludhaven is destroyed... it hurts like hell, and pisses me off. They killed a couple of very interesting supporting characters in the explosion from the Batgirl series as well as Nightwing ones.

[@TevyaSmolka]

One thing I am happy about is that bludhaven is back baby thank you D.C. Rebirth and nightwing

[@ChristianNeihart]

14:30 to quote the immortal Jon Stewart, "Learning curves are for pussies."

[@foxman105]

24:55 The meta of that just blew my mind. Lauren Faust. The person behind MLP, FIM created a series of shorts for DC "Super Best Friends Forever" (I don't think you'd like the shorts Linkara, but I'd really like you to know, they exist. You can find them on youtube) Also voice actors from the MLP FIM show, worked on the Super Best Friends project. This comic was first released 4 years before current gen MLP even started. I don't know why but I find it extremely amusing, that DC ridiculed something that later metaphorically happened.

[@mitchfletcher2386]

And now DC Super Best Friends is making a comeback as a full-fledged TV series!!

[@wolfclaw719]

The Juctice league and ponies montage... it was ike a glimpse into the future... not so much for the comics but its symbolic of Linkara's current abode

[@Tareltonlives]

The JLA-MLP crossover montage remains the greatest thing to come out of this comic

[@christopherthibeault7502]

What I get out of Battle For Bludhaven is a scathing parody of No Man's Land, the epic Bat Clan cross-over that pretty much went through unconstitutional loopholes to create "Escape From New York", comic style. It was the crowning achievement of Dennis O'Neil's stint as a Bat editor, a career that went from the mid-eighties to the late nineties. He was still writing Azrael throughout this and the character actually contributed a great deal in the comic book version (he got snubbed in the novelization). Now, what we gather out of Bludhaven, it is essentially a Gotham sister city full of crime from the top to the bottom. If Gotham went through a disaster and survived, could Bludhaven do it? When it came time to kill Nightwing, they had to kill off the city he moved to, just so they wouldn't have us questioning the location of the mouse thereafter. Yet, since they didn't, they thought once and blew his city up anyway, which is a terrible idea since it pulls him back to Gotham or the Titans, limiting the number of stories we could tell. This story essentially rehashes No Man's Land, with a dirty bomb of chemical horror substituting for an out-of-nowhere/League-of-Assassins-scheme earthquake, a bunch of Atomic Knights substituting for Azrael (as in, great concept, deliberately terrible execution to frustrate readers of the classics), the Force of July being branded as Freedom's Ring despite the overt political baggage being tossed around, the involvement of a Dennis O'Neil look-alike named Father Time, a character who eerily resembles both Starman's The Mist and Clone Saga's Judas Traveller (and that is no accident after you look at a picture of Dennis O'Neil), who recruits the man whose misogynistic machinations perpetuated the Women in Refrigerators meme, and no sign of Nightwing, since No Man's Land's argument was that Batman was hanging out with the Justice League too often to ever bother returning home and rectifying the plot with his mere presence. Also, they introduce a character named Firebrand, whose paranoiac ramblings somehow inspire desperate people into rioting and brinkmanship against the government, all in a calculated effort to make it and its richer supporters into mustache-twirling sociopaths. This is a low point in DC history, a mockery of politics on all sides where the reality subtext of the Katrina fiasco has no place! Its multiple crisscrossing agendas raptly demonstrate exactly why these sequel sagas suck. Here, No Man's Land went from eighty-plus issues from various books strewn all over the place to six parts--not even long enough for a maxi series. The horrible Batgirl: Year One is longer than this thing, yet probably reads faster and is more enjoyable overall. I just gave praise to yet another scheme on part of DC to make "Year One" books bad because Frank Miller betrayed us all with DK2 or something. The problem with this book is that is a vacuum-suctioned compression of too much information ala Warrior, where any remaining space disallows screaming. Hopefully, the DC editors will realize that rehashing/harping upon one man's contributions to the company, while perhaps deserving, is no longer compelling after the thirteenth writer thinks it clever to try scripting another blase parallel. The only way to escape the influence of hated works or authors is simply to ignore them entirely. They eventually did this with Countdown upon discovering how bad it was, so there is a light at the tunnel's end. Then again, the New 52 was the freight train coming our way.

[@Taxrenn93]

Father Time looks like a discount Judas Traveler...and Judas Traveler is discount Traveler.

[@Rabbitlord108]

Also looks like Geralt from The Witcher.

[@aaa1e2r3]

Is it just me or does Father Time look like Judas Traveller?

[@thecomicnation1085]

Now that you mention it, yeah, he does

[@therexdragonblade6821]

Athavan Rajasingham My thoughts exactly.

[@islamroks11]

Athavan Rajasingham LOOKS LIKE? Probably IS Judas Traveller.

[@popman1997]

Athavan Rajasingham yeah he does. Surprised Linkara didn't bring it up

[@islamroks11]

popman1997 Actually, he does in the next BFB episode.

[@Bauglir100]

"There are several reasons why Special Forces don't dress up like superheroes!" The cast of Mortal Kombat would beg to differ.

[@ttgb2990]

You mean “kast”...? I’ll see myself out...

[@davidspring4003]

All actual cops, as far as I can tell, dress like actual cops.

[@skyblade7438]

Even then, at leas they're not dressed like the Statue of Liberty.

[@skyslasher2297]

I always saw the SF characters designs in MK as a healthy medium between superhero and military especially in the modern games

[@Rabbitlord108]

Funny. Since Warner Bros now owns the Mortal Kombat IP.

[@blixer8384]

HELL *L.O.V.M.U.F.F.I.N.* IS A BETTER ACRONYM THEN S.H.A.D.E!!!

[@thatonea-hole]

*YUP!!* AND THEIR AGENTS ARE ANIMALS!!!!!!

[@dnmstarsi]

The various Kids Next Door acronyms are better than S.H.A.D.E.!

[@jeremyusreevu237]

No, you're thinking of O.W.C.A.

[@heatherdowden5275]

That my friend is O.W.C.A the Organization Without a Cool Acronym

[@davidspring4003]

@@thatonea-hole LOVEMUFFIN is tbe evil organization Doof started.

[@omechron]

I remember when people rioting to force their way into an area that will kill them seemed unrealistic. Good times.

[@RaphBlade7]

The Justice League riding MLP is adorable, especially when you consider it is basically a combination of Linkara & Vega's interests (JLA representing LINKARA's fondness for DC superheroes & Vega's fondness for MLP)!

[@ChiefMedicPururu]

Lol, this was before Viga even entered in. Funny in hindsight.

[@9-bitfox]

Linkara: Father time looks like some one but I have no idea who Fox: JUDAS TRAVELER

[@berpipo]

...who is that? "reads the clone saga again" ...who am i?

[@9-bitfox]

Fox: Someone who now remembers Judas Traveler lol

[@carlrood4457]

Aaahhhh!!!

[@9-bitfox]

Fox: AAAAHHHHH!!!!

[@cm9231]

@@9-bitfox AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH We are referencing the screaming cowboy meme right? Because otherwise I feel like a dope lol

[@RowdyRodimus]

Father Time=Judas Traveler from The Clone Saga

[@Zcumgod]

That was bugging me so hard.

[@qu4dq0r3]

yeah he has some resemblence there, but honestly i'd go with a moustached Maximilian Pegasus ... or more extreme and non comic related with Shalashaska ...aka Revolver Ocelot as seen in MGS2 and MGS4 where he filled a similar role but instead of his american heritage he was russian there ... but that is MGS storytelling ... (or should i say Kojima storytelling ) and also no shortage of hilarious plotpoints like overiding a character based on the powers of nanaomachines which transformed Revolver Ocelot into Liquid Ocelot after Ocelot replaced his lost arm with an arm of Liquid Snake, who was hinted of wearing some nanites in him ... Video Games are weird :D

[@ALIEN-DUDE]

@@qu4dq0r3 I'm never played a metal gear solid game so what you just said hurt my little brain 🤣🤔🤤😵

[@Marelfan]

27:43 Get it there shady!

[@A-Oh-Trey]

25:12 1. I totally want that drawing. 2. I'd be totally down for that crossover happening.

[@Reemus4]

The Entire Justice League riding Magic Ponies... They knew. And its still so funny

[@joholloway8818]

"I AM NOT SYMPATHETIC TO STUPID PEOPLE!" now THAT'S a mantra I can get behind! I want that on a bumper sticker AND a shirt.

[@ellnats]

screw bumper sticker, give me a T-shirt with that on it

[@dutchah91]

A wall, a poorly handled crisis, refugee camps... Wow, this has aged like milk. Even the rant at how stupid the facility is when they know about the radiation feels quaint.

[@ShroudedWolf51]

Ah, yes. That FiM crossover made me smile. Thanks n_n

[@ellnats]

raise your hand if you knew he'd go to MLP when they said magic ponies

[@maneoj46]

***** I didn't expect the joke, but damn it was funny

[@popman1997]

***** I saw that coming a mile away

[@Pinkanator]

***** Martian Manhunter seems to be quite the oddball in fan art, doesn't he?

[@Quutsipop]

***** ... AND IT WAS EPIC!

[@ellnats]

thax

[@lauralowe7834]

Oh, Devientart. You never fail to disappoint. Confuse, sometimes disgust and/or terrify. But not never disappoint.

[@LordVanOskuro]

25:12 What's even more funny is that mlp does exist in the dc universe according to legends of tomorrow. And IDW did crossover with dc for a bit.

[@DetectorCliche]

I'm surprised you didn't use the "I'm the government" clip.

[@AT4W]

Hadn't started using it yet, sadly.

[@ollien3598]

"I am NOT SYMPATHETIC TO STUPID PEOPLE!" I have used this so many times since watching this episode.

[@kameronhall4448]

Actually george perez refused to write the death of someone elses character so he offered his own favorite character to die in his place and georges favorite character that he created was connor kent aka Superboy prime

[@RabblesTheBinx]

Er... Superboy Prime isn't Connor Kent, he's the Clark Kent of Earth Prime (not to be confused with Prime Earth). Connor was just called Superboy.

[@joshuaingobo1559]

The second Superboy after Clark Kent.

[@brothersmakingmovies]

the magic ponies part...I can't stop laughing...

[@MyMagnificentOctopus]

Father Time looks kind of like some of the animated versions of Deathstroke, with longer hair and two eyes, but otherwise that was who I thought it was when I first saw him.

[@ystin]

I still believe to this day father time was supposed to be an red herring to who uncle sam was...he looks so much like an evil uncle sam originally it can't be anything else

[@Metrion77]

The magical fun parade of lollipops and rainbows? MFPLR? Greetings, wonder woman. You now find at the mercy of the MFPLR! Mu... Muff-Puller? ... ... Fuck it, we're calling ourselves Biologically-Augmented Demons, Devils, and the Infernally Enhanced. You mean... Yes... We're the baddies.

[@dannyfenlon2476]

Metrion77 how long did it take to write that acronym

[@Metrion77]

10 seconds longer than it took the writers to think up the acronym SHADE. You know, 11 seconds.

[@TheGrayMysterious]

I will say one thing, I _love_ Lady Liberty's costume. Something about it just looks cool to me.

[@darkhero352]

In the context of the story is sounds like Firebrand is kind of right. The government kind of jack booted their way into Bludhaven and took shit over.

[@Midire]

8:45: I'm fairly certain that anyone (who is not Superman or wearing ceramic armors as face mask) gets taken down by bullet to the face. Otherwise I agree with everything.

[@Nintendon85]

Insert Donald Trump "We need to build a wall" joke here.

[@azurai3934]

I was gonna make a comment about that but I'll settle for upvoting this comment.

[@zoeybedenbaugh835]

This might be the only comic on this show to become better with age. 2006? Batshit crazy government decisions, commentary fails because of inability to compare the things. 2019? Between Puerto Rico and the Wall, I guess DC called it.

[@joelgordon7814]

Tabula Rasa it wasn’t funny the first time.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Insert Bernie Sanders fight the power joke here in reference to Firebrand.

[@ellnats]

and I thought dc predicted his presidency with lex luthor

[@jojothebard6687]

THE BATTLE FOR BLUDHAVEN! THE STORY WITH TOO MANY TEAMS!

[@battlion507]

And funny enough (or not) are running around looking for stuff, just like Countdown to Final Crisis, which leads to Kamandi at Earth's end and canonized the elseworlds, Superman At Earth's End. Way to go DC.

[@blixer8384]

Joseph Mayes and they're all asking "Should we do something?" "We should do something."

[@battlion507]

Should we do something? -Robin

[@jojothebard6687]

Tony Davis We should do something!

[@vwin9112]

Let the lesser teams fight it out...anchorman style.(even though it wasn’t like that)

[@juliagoodwin3461]

That My Little Pony bit was inspired. Kudos.

[@SpeedyEric1]

5:42- "Wow. Southland Tales is so deep." 11:19- Make Bludhaven Great Again.

[@LadyBern]

I have this casting onto my TV across the room while I work on things on my computer. I heard "Astronaut Fetus" and my fingers paused as my head just oh so slowly turned in disbelief that I just heard "Astronaut Fetus". I paused and just sat here for a moment with my head in my hand because of 'Astronaut Fetus'. I started again until the car insurance joke. I had to stop.

[@Tareltonlives]

"Oh, he's a made for TV hippie!"-Michael J Nelson

[@TheZipperDragon]

I remember looking forward to each weeks AT4W, & content from a few other creators like Spoony & Phelan high school & watching them on my lunch period each day. One of the few things I could look forward to in those years.

[@KingNanoA]

I always thought the "Linkara's turning pure evil" thing was a bit forced, here especially. I thought Linkaras anger at 90s kid for emptying the BFG was understandable, even if his exact reaction (the threat and grit teeth) was a bit too much.

[@Darklordjadow1]

You just know that Firebrand would be an anti-masker during COVID-19

[@rodimusrider8798]

Linkara's car insurance face cracks me up XD

[@ChaosServant-ll7pr]

Ya know, DC can be summed up with a line from Epic Rap Battles of History. "My readers fall in love with every character I've written then I kill em. And they're like 'No! He didn't!' "

[@kevincorey5316]

ChaosServant 12345 How it should work is summed up in the response to that line. "We all know the world is full of chance and anarchy, so yes it's true to life for characters to die randomly, but, news flash, the genre's call Fantasy. It's meant to be unrealistic, you myopic manatee!"

[@ChaosServant-ll7pr]

Kevin Corey True.

[@mikethegrunty5968]

26:54 for a split second I thought that was the new 52 beast boy. I don't care the reasoning, making him red was stupid

[@KidSnivy69]

I agree

[@thecomicnation1085]

I also agree

[@mikethegrunty5968]

Thanks. I'm here till thursday

[@islamroks11]

Mike White Ditto.

[@VicEntity]

Was there a reasoning?

[@craigkuhlman6869]

Title card is a TF2 reference. Yay

[@Delta4280]

Hopefully he reviews a TF2 comic at some point

[@craigkuhlman6869]

Delta4280 There are a bunch he can pick from, and he'd have an excuse to use his Sniper costume

[@shademeadows2424]

Father time is... an older Maximillion Pegasus?

[@ninjagregshow9423]

No, he's not nearly campy enough

[@RaphBlade7]

Linkara should totally review an Atomic Knights comic! I'm thinking maybe their first comic appearance for Secret Origins Month!? It would be nice to have him spotlight some more obscure but awesome comic book characters (and would also go wonderfully with his view of Superheroes being modern day knight errants, as the Atomic Knights are basically superheroes who happen to be knight errants).

[@RaphBlade7]

I also think the appearance of the Atomic Knights in this comic is a nice callback to an awesome concept (I have to say I agree with Linkara that their premise sounds awesome and worth a look. Not to mention if he hasn't read them by now, then reading them for a review would be a great excuse for him to start, with maybe it becoming the next US-1). Too bad DC was too stupid to recognize a great chance to bring back such an imaginative concept. *Smart Person employed by DC wants to bring back the Atomic Knights* [DC:] "Great Idea! We'll murder them during Battle for Bludhavem, to show how modern serious superheros that comment on real world events are way more awesome than some old silly anachronistic nuclear powered knights!" [Smart Person:] "Kill them?!? Silly?!? Dude they ride mutant dalmatians!" *DC uses lit dollar bill to light a cigar* [DC:] "So? Will just kill them off too!" *DC comics, still acts like the only things it has ever printed are DKR and Watchmen*

[@RaphBlade7]

*Smart Guy manages to stop DC from killing off the Atomic Knights, as DC instead moves on to commit MASS GENOCIDE in COUNTDOWN with the help of their unhappy comics fan analog, SUPER-B-TCHY PRIME!* [Smart Guy:] *sigh* "Thankfully they were distracted by the prospect of GENOCIDE in COUNTDOWN! Though I FEAR their insatiable BLOOD LUST KNOWS NO BOUNDS!" *sees all the killing in COUNTDOWN* [Smart Guy:] *expletive* "I HATE it when I'm right!"

[@changvasejarik62]

I actually read the atomic knights comics to see if they were worthy of the hype and praise and yes they are. Also Atlantis in dc gets another backstory about its destruction. I’m sure one of these days the destruction of Atlantis will be caused by Donna Troy and hawkman with how much of a continuity nightmare the three are.

[@joshravenway6875]

I used to only watch the videos of comics I was interested in, bit now I have to watch every video because the story line that happens after the credits is just so dang good :0

[@TeryJones]

24:56 - Dear Primus, the people who wrote this knew Bronies would become a thing!

[@TeryJones]

@jbiehlable Probably, but not in quite the capacity as now.

[@alexricky87]

Building wall commentary...sounds familiar

[@hockeynewfoundland]

Battle for Bludhaven actually predicted the future.

[@aneasteregg8171]

That thumbnail makes me want to see Linkara review the TF2 comics.

[@Anicomicgeek]

_DC Comics Presents_ had already started the bringing of the Atomic Knights into DC canon in the 1980s with Gardner Grayle appearing in issue 57 and later joining the Outsiders. This just brought the rest of them in.

[@homuraakemi103]

The stuff about walls is just hilarious now...

[@wynautwarrior2161]

I'm just wondering why the city wasn't just destroyed, walled off to protect from radiation, and everyone just went on with their lives?

[@xgray2012]

We will get to that..in issue 6 of this god-awful series.

[@leeiif]

Or the Justice League riding magic po... ha ha ha, I can't even type that without laughing.

[@Kingpin1880]

* repeatedly returns to 25:00 * Not sure I'll be able to get enough of that.

[@MrGBH]

Watching this 6 years later, and Firebrand is depressingly realistic

[@HarbingerOfBattle]

I see both Linkara and Joe Friday's point. I entertain no delusion that our modern generation is the only one that's felt shortchanged by government/society, or that it has reached some kind of unappreciated state of moral perfection. I do however wish to ask if that means we just have to sit back and do nothing to change it.

[@RaphBlade7]

Knowing the US government in the DC Universe, I wouldn't be surprised if their soldiers are equipped with Kryptonite Bullets supplied to the military by Lex Luthor when he was president & the military decided to keep a stockpile ever since as a way to fight evil Kryptonians like Zod, as well as Superman, Superboy, and Supergirl should they ever go rogue!

[@rorylumley4727]

section 8 offered to help but insisting on getting drunk and welding dogs didn't help

[@dominickfinch5693]

That singing was majestic!

[@CodecrafterArtemis]

Major Force makes me want to make a pink, white and brown character and call them Captain Neapolitan.

[@Sonichero151]

................... Well there's Neo from RWBY.....

[@vwin9112]

Artemiy Solopov or Yael shooting major force on the balls then running him over with a motorcycle, then Talion shakes him, godiva(Dora Leigh) chokes him out and Seifer putting a nice Magika stone down his throat.

[@AlexTheOilersFan]

Seriously your face at the bit when you read "or the entire justice league riding magic ponies" just cracked me up.

[@SammEater]

A major thing that made me drop Big Two comics is how stories you are really invested in are suddenly derailed by being forced into a bad crossover event. So you have to wait for months for the original plot to continue, if that is even possible.

[@TheSpiralCurse]

I think farther time looks like that Judas Traveler guy

[@RaphBlade7]

I'm wondering about that minor hiccup this story causes in Countdown. Though I'm not surprised that happened, as I'm sure nobody would have given any thought to whether some was consistent with freckin' Countdown of all things.

[@Sonichero151]

The title card got a chuckle out of me. Being a big TF2 Fan and all.... And the Web Comic for the series has been fucking fantastic with how hilarious things are.

[@Kid_Spitfire]

To me Father Time looks like Death Stroke with long hair and both eyes.

[@GlitchanBlack]

I feel like you should have shown Kyle Rayner saying "Oh god…" after finding Alex stuffed in his fridge at 33:23. XD

[@silverthorn9759]

25 minutes in goes into some bizarrely awesome territory

[@noahmagana137]

10 years of the battle of bludhaven review

[@sananaryon4061]

Cloak cameo, that's awesome. Weird that you make more Suburban Knights references than NC, the actual writer and director of that movie

[@Gat720Dua]

I wonder how long it took you to find JL, MLP crossover pics.

[@RunyaEithelNar]

Gat the Man He asked for them on his twitter :P

[@Gat720Dua]

RunyaEithelNar So less than a minute.

[@carlrood4457]

I think Father Time was supposed to look like Uncle Sam of The Freedom Fighters (DC's team of Quality Comics heroes). He also looks a bit like Travis Morgan (aka Warlord).

[@xgray2012]

@24:55-25:30 😅😂🤣 My god, what were these writers smoking on when they wrote that line in the panel?!

[@accidentalmadness1708]

"We should do something" "we need to do something " are the monitors undercover or something

[@Fluffkitscripts]

“🎶I’m the government, I’m the government, I’m stupid and evil beyond all reason but I also somehow manage to do things without them immediately capsizing thanks to my staggering incompetence and corruption!🎶”

[@Dreigonix]

So... Andy Franklin is Killer Queen? Yep, this comic is a Jojo reference.

[@RaphBlade7]

Based upon Father Time'a appearance, I'd say the person he resembles is Judas Traveler from the Spider-Man Clone Saga! Figures as they are both dumb villain concepts!

[@steampunckairship]

I may be misinterpreting the story line here but I thought that the magic gun was just angry with him for being such a jerk the last few months leading up to this. It feared he was going dark side so it disabled his magic. That was my theory.

[@Tareltonlives]

I feel like you can edit in that "qanon shaman" lunatic into any one of these panels and he'd fit right in

[@clarktooncrossing3975]

Wait, were you reading Darkwing Duck? I love those comics!

[@RandomVideos66]

Now I want to see a Justice League/My little pony crossover.