Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Identity Crisis #3 **SPOILERS**

I think a lot boils down to how one personally feels about the nature of rape. For instance, many people had differing opinions about Marvel using 9/11 as a springboard for stories - DC felt like they couldn't even touch upon it realistically within the context of superhero comics.

I think the nature of the crime, if it affects you a certain way will just bring you out of the story and no amount of hand-wringing by super-powered men in tights is going to seem worth the depiction of such a despicable crime. I stated this in the thread about #2, but I think it does undermine the basic suspension of disbelief about superhero comics, especially in a shared continuous universe like the DCU.

Meltzer thought that the silver age was too simplistic and wanted to throw a more realistic light on the events depicted therein, but I think superhero comics in general are ultimately too whimsical to be able to handle a very personal subject like rape in any realisitic fashion especially within the larger context of the DCU. In the context of the DCU, tons of more horrible things happen than rape (but largely falls under the context of "fantasy violence" that the reader is less likely to identify with). Rape is (I'm assuming) just about as common there as it is here. Cops break the law all the time, but are they justified? If they did it in the pursuit of a rapist, you might understand, but they'd still be wrong (and fired). Heroes are meant to be made of sterner moral fiber, otherwise they're just thugs with powers. If they were so shaken by this, how are we supposed to believe they're ok with letting the Joker do what he does *all the time* and not lobotomizing him?? Or doing what Superman did with Manchester Black and forcing supercriminals to be stripped of their powers? It makes them heroes with feet of clay, imo.

I hate this series. I want more.

I'm so torn about it, I'm surprised at myself. I read it first thing every time it comes out, and both love and hate it.

Jean Loring getting killed is sad, but predictable. I don't like seeing another girlfriend/wife getting killed at all. But it's obvious that both she and Firestorm are going to die.

I really don't want Firestorm to die, but I have a feeling he will. I'm also curious as to whether Jack Drake will be killed.

SLK-that was a great call on Batman being in the panel. I have no idea what it means yet, but I don't think it's just Dr. Light remembering things wrong. Batman must have been there, and I want to know why this was left out (every theory so far is interesting).

Deathstroke vs. the JLA was AWESOME. Ollie was especially good, at getting Deathstroke angry and then taking a beating to distract him.

It's very tough to see rape in comics. I'm torn on the issue. I don't want it in my JLA stories, but I don't want to push it away in the closet and ignore the issue.

I do know that I want Hawkman to crush Dr. Light's skull with his mace. One new strand from this story is 'will Dr. Light rape again?', something that is truly scary.

Hey Cobie do you think maybe Ronnie Raymond is the killer?

Wow, I hope not. I hadn't even thought of something like that.

What makes you think that, Icey?

And I wonder what the scene with Captain Boomerang was all about. How is that connected?

I've been having this crazy thought that the killer might be Carol Ferris in either her Star Sapphire or Predator identities.

I'm probably wrong but I'm gonna throw the theory out now just in case I'm right and then I can say "I told you all so!"

Well he could change the molecular structure of the building and enter without setting off the security system, he would also be trusted by Sue and Jean. I just think maybe he could possibly be the killer

It's more likely to be him, or someone like him, than a villain.

Shock is playing a big part in this, and there's no way having the killer be one of the usual bad guys would pack a punch.

One of the scariest theories going around on the DC board is that Sue was never actually raped, that it was all a big cover up for Ralph because Sue was having an affair with Dr. Light or even the Flash. Such theories should be absolutely perposterous, but in light of the shock value of the series so far, I'm a bit concerned.

Good Grief (for lack of what I want to say)! Theories such as that are preposterous! Now I'm concerned myself!

The biggest assurance I have that these theories aren't true is the fact the explanation for such a scenario would be difficult to complete in the remaining issues, especially at the pace Meltzer is giong.

At this pace, I fear any explanation is going to appear rushed.

I have a question, because I haven't read any of the books thus far: The League (may have) brainwashed Dr. Light so that he wouldn't be a rapist thereafter, but the didn't just delete his criminal tendencies entirely? Was there a reason given? Were they not able to go that far or was there some other explanation? That seems pretty dumb on the part of the League. If you've already made that unethical leap, why not go whole way with it?

Well no explanation has come up yet. But Zatanna did mention that she had never done anything like that before. Maybe that was the intent, but she couldn't quite get the results she wanted.