Salvation Run

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Salvation Run
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule Monthly
Format Mini-series
Publication date Nov 2007 –
Number of issues 7
Main character(s) Joker
Lex Luthor
Vandal Savage
Desaad
Creative team
Writer(s) Bill Willingham
Matthew Sturges
Artist(s) Sean Chen
Walden Wong
Joe Bennett
Belardino Brabo

Salvation Run is a seven-part 2007-2008 DC Comics mini-series which will tie in to the company's major event series Final Crisis in 2008.

Contents

[edit] Premise

The premise of the miniseries, which is based on a pitch by George R. R. Martin, is that the majority of the DC Universe's supervillains -- both major ones (such as Lex Luthor, Catwoman and the Joker) and newer or more obscure ones (such as Scandal and Crazy Quilt) -- have been captured by the Suicide Squad and imprisoned on a distant planet. The story features the villains splitting into alliances and trying to find a way to escape their prison, or choose to rule the planet "Salvation" on which they have landed. Bill Willingham started as writer but had to hand the project over to Sturges after only three issues (of seven proposed) because of illness.[1] The first issue was released in November 2007.

Major characters in the mini-series include Superman's archenemy Lex Luthor, Batman's nemesis Joker, and the Flash's "Rogues" (Heat Wave, Captain Cold, Weather Wizard, Abra Kadabra and Mirror Master) and other morally ambiguous heroes such as Vandal Savage's daughter Scandal and Batman's sometimes lover Catwoman. Tie-ins to the series have occurred in Countdown (which details Piper and Trickster's continual evasion of capture), Outsiders, Checkmate, Catwoman and Justice League of America.

A compilated paperback version of this mini-series will be released on September 17, 2008.

[edit] Plot

Following the events of Black Adam's rampage in World War III, the Amazonian attack on the United States, the murder of the Flash, and the Injustice League's attack upon the wedding of Green Arrow and Black Canary, a Checkmate-sponsored secret program is put in place to combat the growing metahuman threat. Headed by Amanda Waller, the purpose of the program is to capture the supervillains of the world, often by using Waller's Suicide Squad, and permanently exile them to the distant planet Salvation via Boom Tube—including the Suicide Squad members once they are no longer needed (examples being Bane and Deadshot). The planet chosen was Cygnus 4019: a planet that was supposed to be peaceful,[2] however it turned out to be a "training planet" for the New Gods of Apokolips,[2] with Desaad watching the goings on.[3]

Having arrived on the planet first, the Flash's Rogues are the first to find out that the planet is seemingly designed to kill any visitors. The planet is inhabited by numerous hazardous species which constantly attack. One species, however, Abra Kadabra realizes is intelligent and is able to decipher the pygmies language enough to learn of the "Safe Zone", a "miles long district where all of the dangers have been disarmed by Gods from the stars," and the Rogues set out to find it.[3] During their journey they hear a second Boom Tube arrive and decide to go back. For a short time they attempt to assert their leadership over the second group by virtue of their experience, only to have The Joker, then Lex Luthor start jockeying for the position.[4]

As Luthor begins working with Doctor Sivana, Professor Ivo, and General Immortus on a means of escaping Salvation, Joker and Gorilla Grodd take exception to his leadership style, begin a battle, and eventually form a splinter group. During the confusion Blockbuster slips into the forest where it's revealed that he's actually the shapeshifting Justice League of America member Martian Manhunter in disguise and he's making progress reports to Batman.[5]

When Monsieur Mallah and Brain arrive at "Camp Joker," Mallah gets into an argument with Grodd which escalates into a fight with Grodd killing both Brain and Mallah. Joker then arrives at the cliff face where the fight took place and takes advantage of Grodd's exhausted state and knocks him off the cliff. Around the same time a third group of survivors led by Vandal Savage discover the "Safe Zone" and intend to make it paradise while the other camps destroy themselves or each other.[6] Savage's plan is to build an all-new, perfect society, using the women in his group to bear his perfect children.

Joker leads his group on a night time raid on "Camp Luthor" in search of supplies. During the raid Catwoman is discovered sneaking around in trees, bringing suspicion upon herself as a "good guy" spy. To prove her innocence and shift the heat she outs "Blockbuster" as Martian Manhunter, having seen him change earlier, resulting in the rest of the villains quickly turning their attention to him and bringing him down. Upon the discovery of the villains on this planet, Desaad plans to have his soldiers exterminate every known villain there.[2]

One week later, Heat Wave is shown holding Martian Manhunter in a fiery cage. Captain Cold, Hyena, and Killer Croc talk about what to do with Martian Manhunter. When Killer Croc suggests to eat him, Captain Cold and Heat Wave object to this. Lex Luthor tells them not to lay a finger on Martian Manhunter. Later, Thunder and Lightning arrive to give food to Martian Manhunter. When they offered to help Martian Manhunter, Bane attacks. Despite being shocked by Lightning, Bane defeats both of them as Lex Luthor arrives. Lex Luthor and Joker finally engage each other in a fight. Just when Joker gains the upper hand over Lex Luthor, their battle is interrupted by the arrival of the Parademons where one of them kills Hyena.[7]

[edit] Inmates

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Villains placed on the planet include:

   

[edit] Camps

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Each of the villains have split into different camps. Here are the camps below.

Camp Joker

  

Camp Luthor

  

Camp Savage

[edit] Casualties

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The following are those who have died in this storyline in order of issue:

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ EXCLUSIVE: Willingham Explains "Salvation Run" Departure, Comic Book Resources, January 28, 2008
  2. ^ a b c d Salvation Run #5
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Salvation Run #1
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Salvation Run #2
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Salvation Run #3
  6. ^ a b c d e Salvation Run #4
  7. ^ a b Salvation Run #6
  8. ^ a b Checkmate (vol. 2) #19

[edit] References

[edit] External links


v • d • e
DC Comics Crisis Anthology
Crisis on Infinite Earths • Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! • Identity Crisis • Infinite Crisis • Final Crisis
Zero Hour Build-up
Zero Hour Aftermath
Infinite Crisis Build-up
Infinite Crisis Aftermath
Final Crisis Build-up
Related