Extreme Justice
“The Once and Future Monarch”
Volume 1, Issue 7, August 1995
Released June 13, 1995
Cover Price: $1.75
Guide Price: $2.00 (as of 2020)
Writer: Dan Vado
Penciller: Al Rio
Inker: Ken Branch
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Kevin Cunningham
Assistant Editor: Alisande Morales
Editor: Ruben Diaz
Heroes: Amazing Man II, Blue Beetle II, Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Firestorm V, Maxima
Supporting: Catherine Cobert
Settings: Mount Thunder, DCU, USA, 20th-century; New York, NY, USA, 20th-century
Cover Description: Captain Atom, Maxima, and Blue Beetle find themselves at the mercy of Monarch II. (No Booster Gold.)
Brief Synopsis: The Justice League responds to the arrival of Monarch II in New York City.
Issue Summary: Reveal Potential Spoilers
Booster Gold's role in this story:
Supporting (Booster Gold plays a lesser role)
Costume Worn: MARK IV armored power-suit
Page 1, panel 1
This story starts with a televised CNN report that New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has welcomed an omnipotent alien to help clean up his city. This has some interesting parallels to the relationship between Superman and his adopted hometown of Metropolis, especially since readers of Armageddon 2001 already know that Monarch is, unlike Superman, a tyrant.
Page 5, panel 1
Amazing Man II, Blue Beetle II, Booster Gold, and Firestorm V respond to Captain Atom's alarm in Mount Thunder. Booster is surprised to see Monarch II on the monitor.
Page 7, panel 1
Amazing Man II, Blue Beetle II, Booster Gold, Captain Atom, and Maxima arrive outside Monarch's spaceship to confront Captain Atom's arch-nemesis. Monarch and Captain Atom have been at each other's throats since the two were lost in time following the Armageddon 2001 mini-series. Monarch was recently believed dead following the Zero Hour mini-series.
Page 8, panel 4
Appearance of Catherine Cobert, United Nations representative to Monarch. Catherine and Captain Atom were romantically involved during his days with Justice League Europe. The relationship between Booster and Colbert was somewhat less smooth.
Page 15, panel 2
Following a demonstration of Monarch's healing powers, Booster wonders if Monarch isn't his only hope of recovering his body, critically damaged during the "Judgment Day" storyline. Beetle appears to talk Booster out of considering Monarch's recent benevolent appearing behavior as benign.
Boosterrific Review: Writer Dan Vado works too hard to overcome the back-story of would-be world dictator Monarch in order to deliver a cliched story of self-righteous super heroes versus a formerly malignant villain-turned-benefactor. This book is salvaged from complete irrelevance and obscurity by a surprise ending that will no doubt please devout DC Universe fans.
Boosterrific Rating: Gold Standard.
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