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Under-Appreciated Heroes/Villains: In The Debate Over “Identity Crisis,” #WeStandWithZatanna And Team Flash

In 'Identity Crisis' (2004) #2, Zatanna lobotomizes Doctor Light.
 
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UNDER-APPRECIATED HEROES/VILLAINS

In 'Identity Crisis' (2004) #2, Zatanna lobotomizes Doctor Light.
In ‘Identity Crisis’ (2004) #2, Zatanna lobotomizes Doctor Light. AP Photo/DC Comics
Official Name

Identity Crisis.

Universe

New Earth.

Heroes

Justice League of America.

Villains

Jean Loring, Doctor Light, Deathstroke, Captain Boomerang, Merlyn, The Calculator.

Creators

Brad Meltzer, Rags Morales, Michael Bair, Alex Sinclair, Ken Lopez, Mike Carlin, Valerie D’Orazio.

IN REDEMPTION

#WESTANDWITHZATANNA AND VICTIMS OF RAPE

In “Identity Crisis,” the JLA is faced with an ethical question. Indeed, the rape and the murder mystery of Sue Dibny drove deep wounds within the superhero community. Without a doubt, the Elongated Man’s wife was beloved. Regularly, she visited the Justice League atop the Watchtower.

Because of Sue Dibny’s rape, the Justice League faced a daunting ethical problem. In addition, Doctor Light was a threat to the League and their loved ones. In order to stop the psychopath, it was going to require drastic measures. But, the JLA members who responded to Sue’s signal and took down Doctor Light were split.

In 'Identity Crisis' (2004) #2, the JLA tackles Doctor Light.
In ‘Identity Crisis’ (2004) #2, the JLA tackles Doctor Light. AP Photo/DC Comics.

ZATANNA’S MINDWIPE THOUGH JUSTIFIED, WAS EXTREME

Divided, the JLA put the mindwipe to a vote. On one side, Green Lantern, Green Arrow and Black Canary voted against the mindwipe. On the other side, Zatanna, Hawkman and Atom voted for the mindwipe. Decisively, Flash (Barry Allen) broke the tie in favor. Without a doubt, a watershed moment in DC history that led to a breach of trust. When Zatanna lobotomized Doctor Light, Batman also arrived on the Watchtower. To prevent opposition from the Dark Knight, Zatanna also mindwiped him.

Later, during “Identity Crisis,” Batman recovered his memory of the event. Because of the breach of trust, this led to Batman creating Brother Eye to spy on the metahuman population. As Superboy-Prime argued, the heroes stopped behaving like heroes. The consequences were the Omac Project and the “Infinite Crisis.” In retaliation for Superman’s mind-control, Wonder Woman killed Maxwell Lord in cold blood.

In 'Identity Crisis' (2004) #2, Zatanna lobotomizes Doctor Light.
In ‘Identity Crisis’ (2004) #2, Zatanna lobotomizes Doctor Light. AP Photo/DC Comics

FOR ZATANNA: SUPERMAN ONCE LOBOTOMIZED MANCHESTER BLACK

In 'Action Comics' (2001) #775, Superman lobotomized Manchester Black with telescopic, x-ray and heat vision.
In ‘Action Comics’ (2001) #775, Superman lobotomized Manchester Black with telescopic, x-ray and heat vision. AP Photo/DC Comics.

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AGAINST ZATANNA: THE JLA SHOULD HAVE INCAPACITATED DOCTOR LIGHT’S POWERS

Given its intrusive nature, mindwipe is highly traumatic. Definitely, the mindwiped may end up worse off morally and personality-wise. In Batman’s case, this may explain the dark path he set upon after recovering his memory of the incident. For Doctor Light, it set him on a path to revenge. To this end, to destroy the JLA and the Teen Titans.

Later, Doctor Light accepted membership into the Secret Society of Supervillains. Certainly, it was a darker DC Universe. For its part, the JLA should have followed Green Lantern’s advice. Instead, Zatanna should have incapacitated Doctor Light’s use of his super powers. Also, to protect Sue, Doctor Light should have been sent under solitary confinement at a maximum security prison.

In 'Identity Crisis' (2004) #2, Elongated Man comforts Sue Dibny.
In ‘Identity Crisis’ (2004) #2, Elongated Man comforts Sue Dibny. AP Photo/DC Comics.

VISIT THE CYBORG APPRECIATION PAGE.


SOURCES

Identity Crisis Vol 1 2 in DC Database.
Identity Crisis in DC Database.
Action Comics Vol 1 775 in DC Database.

6 thoughts on “Under-Appreciated Heroes/Villains: In The Debate Over “Identity Crisis,” #WeStandWithZatanna And Team Flash

  1. […] UNDER-APPRECIATED HEROES/VILLAINS: In The Debate Over “Identity Crisis,” #WeStandWithZatanna And… […]

  2. Not sure anyone mentioned this, but Superman did NOT give Black an actual lobotomy. It was a bluff to deescalate the moment, but Superman actually just gave Black a focused concussion that momentarily blocked his powers.

  3. […] Trigon departed, Zatanna revealed Raven’s manipulation: the JLA rejected her membership when Zatanna sensed the evil in Raven. Furthermore, Raven used her emotion powers to manipulate Kid Flash into […]

  4. […] DC Earth, few couples have had as rocky a relationship as Green Arrow and Black Canary. In Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters (1987), Ollie asks Dinah to marry him. To begin, Oliver and […]

  5. […] 3: Match-Up #8, Dormammu is challenged by Random Team 8. Random Team 8 has Zatanna, Cyclops, Doomsday, Solomon Grundy and […]

  6. […] Zatanna and Scarlet Witch are amped by Chaos Magic. Effectively, they are Cosmic Beings with powers of […]

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