Final Crisis Aftermath: Run!

Final Crisis (Collected Editions)

by Lilah Sturges, Freddie E. Williams II (Illustrator)

The Human Flame is a dead man. Literally just waking up after the events of FINAL CRISIS, he realizes all the heroes in the DC Universe target him as the lowlife who taped the murder of the Martian Manhunter with his cell phone. On top of that, all the villains in the world want to kill him for selling them out to Libra. He's powerless and penniless, and his only chance for survival is to run! This collection of the 6-issue miniseries examines the underbelly of the DC Universe and what happens when the wrong choices catch up with you. Nothing can prepare you for this chase from writer Matthew Sturges (BLUE BEETLE, JACK OF FABLES) and artist Freddie E. Williams II (ROBIN)!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Superheroes

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Lilah Sturges is an American writer of comics and fantasy novels. She is best known for co-writing with Bill Willingham the Eisner-award-nominated Jack of Fables, and other comics published by Vertigo Comics / DC Comics.

Reviews

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is, I suppose, something to be said for a writer willing to take an unusual concept all the way. In this case, telling a story from the perspective of a villain, and keeping him a villain throughout. The problem here is that the Human Flame is so completely unbearable that it's not really any fun to read his thoughts. Finishing was really more of a relief than anything else.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable companion piece to the Final Crisis mini-series which focused on The Human Flame who was responsible for the murder of the Martian Manhunter. It was really about a man who refused to take responsibility for the choices he has made in life and the consequences as a result of his choices.

I enjoyed the book and plan on reading it again soon.

[Gavin · Rating 1 out of 5]

OK this was just a ridiculous waste of time and ink and more. It's all about the Human Flame and how he's running from members of the JLA who are coming for him due to his part in the murder of the Martian Manhunter. John Stewart Green Lantern, Firestorm and Red Tornado are the three chasing him, as things go from mildly offbeat to downright ridiculous far too quickly. I think maybe if this book was meant to be a joke, then OK, because it has all these pathetic bad guys as well as some jokes about immortality. However, I just don't think Final Crisis was about all that, so this is kind of an insult to readers. This is my fault for reading it, where I kept asking myself why I didn't just put it down...don't waste your time unless you're a completist, reading the whole of Final Crisis and it's Aftermath (hence why I did).

[zxvasdf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kudos to Sturges for creating an immensely unlikable character and Williams for bringing him to life beautifully.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This is a really hard review to write - the book truly has a feel all of its own. But if you've read even one of the Fables series, you have a good idea of this book is like. All I can say is for sure is - this is one excellent graphic novel!

We're given the story of a vile, petty, hairy(!), braggart troll known as the human torch. Really, he just has a flabby suit with some flame canisters that shoot his trademark 'nipple flames." With any other writer, that could be stupid or worth a convulsive chuckle. In the hands of the artist and writer of this comic, it really does all fit in the profile. The main character *is* that pathetic. And don't get me started about the villain known as the human condiment and his tongue in cheek exclamations.

At first, the main character is so repugnant that I thought there was no way I could slog through such a despicable story. He leaves a trail of injury (for good people) and death (for the other characters just as hapless as he is) in his single minded drive to save his own skin. And let's just say he isn't exactly a visionary or strategist with how he is going to accomplish that feat.

As he runs, he encounters many different types of characters, including several small 'villains' from the DC universe. I'm not versed at all in the DC universe but I had no problem following the story and certainly got a feel for each of those 'pathetic losers'. And you have to appreciate that the guy really has no clue how pathetic he is as he looks down upon the other villain sidekicks (Bimbo Sidekick: "And the best part is, when he dies, he promised me everything he owns!" Torch: "Is that so? So what you're saying is that when the IMMORTAL guy dies, you get everything. Is that right?" Bimbo sidekick as she splays bullets out of the car: "What's immortal mean again?").

The writing zings throughout the entire comic and I found myself greatly enjoying a comic I thought I would loathe. All characters are well written and fascinating. The story comes to a satisfying conclusion and it is a story that can be reread to get more out of it.

Absolutely highly recommend this book. It is very adult and rewards with intelligent writing, excellent graphics, and the most pathetic loser of an antihero; one the writer doesn't insult our intelligence to try to get us to like. You'll root for him to get his comeuppance as much as the heroes. And laugh along the way.

[Ubalstecha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volumes tells the tale of what happened to the human flame after the end of the Final Crisis. It is the tale of a completely unlikeable man, who never takes responsibility for his actions. He stumbles through his escape, eventually falling in with Immortus and his band of psychopaths. And while it is hard to have any sympathy for the main character, the ending is satisfying.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun bit of deconstructed satire. The Human Flame is a great loser's character, and the band of losers that he joins is absolutely hilarious. The last couple of issues let the book down a bit because they run straight in the face of the book's main feature (which is to say, the Human Flame becomes competent), but until then it's a hilarious roller coaster.

[Ryan Haupt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite collaboration of Sturges and Williams yet. The art kills it and the book is bombastic and a lot of fun. Prior knowledge of Final Crisis not even really required. I worry that Matt Sturges may actually be like Mike Miller and we should all be very very worried.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Human Flame is on the run after taking a photo of Martian Manhunter being killed. He's a bit of a loser who has a complex and is obsessed with power. This is an intriguing take on villains, and the character really goes through a journey. A good read.

[Geoff Sebesta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring. They made the main character thoroughly despicable though, it gets a point for that.

[Koen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just enjoyable enough this one...

[John Yelverton · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was absolutely awful and quite frankly, painful to read.

[Alex Sarll]

"It wasn't my fault...is it even murder if you kill a Martian? What's that, like Martiancide?"
It's never the Human Flame's fault. He's one of those reprehensible shits whose sense of entitlement is matched only by his thoughtless cruelty and bone-deep mediocrity. In 2009, he felt like a bit of a thin character; now his brethren are running the world, it all seems painfully prescient. As the name suggests, this picks up from Grant Morrison's Final Crisis, with heroes and villains alike out to get the ghastly prick who unwittingly kicked off that particular doomsday - a situation to which he responds with the expected mix of treachery, whining and power-grabs. Initially, it's quite funny to watch such a wholly unsympathetic character always take the worst possible decision, all the while justifying to himself how he had no other choice...but by the end it's become quite grim watching the way that, whatever upgrades he may trick, luck or bully his way into, he can never run away from his own fundamental Z-list quality.

Fans of The Lego Batman Movie may also like to know that there's a strong supporting role for the Condiment King. Whose puns mustard be seen to be believed.