The Pulse wants to know whodunnit or, more specifically, who readers think is the mastermind behind the Identity Crisis crime spree. Some theories, like this one from Jack Norris (named after one of my favorite Defenders supporting characters, perhaps?) comes with a heaping helping of snark:
“My guess is Capt. Boomerang’s never before heard of son. The motivation?, To shock readers and sell comics. And to make long time readers feel like they’ve been reading about a bunch of jerks for all these years.”
Some posters can’t even be bothered to guess, but they still have plenty to say. Take Steve Bunche:
“Rather than giving a toss about the killer’s identity, I’m much more concerned about what this series means for the tone of the DCU. The Justice League are not the Authority and I think this story sets a distasteful precedent; there is a place for violent fascism and sensationalistic content in comics but it truly saddens me to see it coming from the company that one could previously count on for comic book heroes that you’d like for your kids to read about.”
All I can say is, thank heavens there’s a place for violent fascism and sensationalistic content in comics. How else would Mark Millar pay his gambling debts?
But are readers able to make reasonable guesses at who the killer is? sdelmonte doesn’t think so:
“I think that Meltzer has simply not done enough to make it possible to guess. Whatever strengths this comic has – and there are many – one big flaw so far is that there are no real clues as far as I can tell. Everything is a red herring. 5/7th of the way home, and I see nothing that seems to be of any real use… I am concerned that Meltzer, who like many of his peers in the suspense novel industry, is less interested in the mystery than in the effects of the mystery. As a result, he might leave us with an ending as contrived and dimwitted as that in ‘Hush.'”
It’s not all disapproval, though. Take EvilRick:
“While a lot of other series are filled with hype, but not much else, every issue of this series makes me more excited about the next. My wife told me I was literally talking about Identity Crisis # 5 in my sleep last night, so I know I’m going crazy, but the first thing any customer asks when they walk in my store is ‘When is the next issue out?'”
Maybe The Pulse should have asked which innocuous supporting character was going to be offed next.