u/Jet-Let4606

Luffy: 46

Zoro: 48

Nami: 47

Ussop: 46

Sanji: 48

Chopper: 44

Robin: 57

Franky: 63

Brook: 117

Jinbe: 73

Vivi: 45

"Sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic."

We have known this Clover that the Ancient Kingdom had advanced technology. We learned in Egghead that Vegapunk's technological advancement came from reverse engineering technology from the era.

In 1178 we see Sommers trying to retrieve a metallic looking heart:

https://preview.redd.it/lqqffx0mrg8h1.png?width=1335&format=png&auto=webp&s=70e9c38f8af3bb05a7865e29cb5e2e8b3a1ee95c

In 1179 the heart is described as a 'steel heart' and Sommer's freaks out when Zoro suggests destroying it:

https://preview.redd.it/7jl78cborg8h1.png?width=1314&format=png&auto=webp&s=ea86f8a3aaed4e9371dc028cf659c1107fd6521a

In 1179 when Imu descends their body has a circuit like mark across their arm and their left eye is hidden:

https://preview.redd.it/ey3vxeo9sg8h1.png?width=909&format=png&auto=webp&s=9b42cf738a79cf62552d0b96ad6d6940de62ae4f

In 1180 we see Imu flicking bombs from the palm of their hand and from their staff:

https://preview.redd.it/56whcwezrg8h1.png?width=1189&format=png&auto=webp&s=0d364a65cfebfc94d9363f51b8a267eb1ceb2f72

In 1181 we see Imu grow big and summon a sword from staff basically the black flames allows Imu to do pretty anything and they also claim that power dwells in all things:

https://preview.redd.it/drdqhbagsg8h1.png?width=920&format=png&auto=webp&s=18bba870de4eea3cce18fad35c7f1c567377782f

We know from the mural in Elbaf that in the first world humans were forced to harvest what looked like an energy source:

https://preview.redd.it/385yjz81tg8h1.png?width=2200&format=png&auto=webp&s=efec4b09f9a3d6871dd36a7d7cee3fff2a820164

What if the runes, staff and all these things aren't magic but highly advanced technology masquerading as magic? What if part of Imu's goal is to keep the energy source for themselves?

Why is it that despite all the talk of an advanced AK, we have seen very little in the way of actual advanced technology?

Let me know what you think.

Talkville podcast hosted by Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville's Lex Luthor) and Tom Welling (Smallville's Clark Kent) with guest appearancr by Serinda Swan who played Zatanna on Smallville.

For arguments sake, lets say all the teams are at their peak. Peak being whatever you consider to be their peak.

The main difference between the teams are the generations. The JSA are the old guys, JLA are the adults, Titans are the young adolscents and Young Justice / Teen Titans. Otherwise they're all the same super team of superheroes who faces a mix of alien, magic or man made threats. There was a time when the JSA dealt with more magic threats (King of Tears, Mordru, Black Adam) while the JLA dealt with more sci fi threats (Starro, Despeto, White Martians) while the Titans and YJ dealt with a combination of both.

YJ was more comedic and sitcom oriented with some drama. Titans is more soap opetatic. The JL are more like a co workers who are there to get shit done. The JSA had its balance of drama and collegues. The JSA and Titans + YJ are also more like family with shades of gray morality whilst the JLA mostly gets together to fight a common foe.

But the differences between the teams are still not quite as stark as say the differences between the Fantastic Four, Avengers and the X-Men.

How would you differentiate the teams or would you prefer DC to introduce new teams or build up lesser known ones like the Outsiders?

Let me preface by saying that I think big chunks of the Void Century would probably be revealed before the SH's reach Laugh Tale. Only on Laugh Tale will all the pieces finally come together and we get the entire story. This was foreshadowed when Oden said they learned everything once they reached Laugh Tale.

Still, that begs one question, when the SH's reach Laugh Tale;

- Will Oda reveal the op treasure first then fade to a flashback revealing its context?

- Or will he do a flashback to the Void Century setting up multiple red herrings within the flashback then confirm the treasure at the end?

Which do you prefer? And what do you think is the direction Oda will take?

Although best remembered as the co-creator of the Punisher and for his long stint on Spider-Man which saw major storylines like 'Death of Gwen Stacey', Gerry Conway also had a long stint on the first volume of Justice League of America Vol 1.

He wrote the issue where Zatanna joined the League after winning a fan poll even giving her a new costume in the form of the red/black cape with the pony tail. He introduced Sindella, Hidden City and the term Homo Magi. He wrote Zatanna going from a young magician eager to prove herself and a perfectionist who held herself to high standards to a powerful, confident magician who also served as a mentor to other younger heroes in the Detroit era.

Under Conways pen Zatanna became ao powerful that story arcs would be resolved by the League standing back and letting Zatanna cast her spell. He later depowered her to just manipulating 4 elements but she still continued to be useful and still did way more than manipulate the elements.

He also oversaw her ditch black suit and red/black cape outfit to the George Perez designed outfit with the kimono sleeves and head dress. It was meant to symbolize her leaving her mother and fathers shadows and coming into her own. He also wrote her romance with Barry Allen.

Gerry was set to write a 4 issue Zatanna mini series in the 80's that morphed into the 64 page 1987 Zatanna Special which saw Zatanna exploring Homo Magi side and reconnecting with the Hidden Ones. It would also be the final appearance of Allura until her return in "Zatanna & The Ripper" web toon and later in main canon in Jamal Campbell's 2025 Zatanna mini series.

Unfortunately, 64 pages felt too few for all the story ideas that Conway had. Supposedly some of the pages never made it to the final product. Still the story was very ambitious and some of the ideas in the story made its way into stories like 1993's Zatanna Come Together mini series.

Zatanna meeting the ghosts of her parents and finding closure and peace while searching for the true meaning of magic and its purpose has been a common story beat since.

When Intalked to Gerry online about the Special he mentioned not liking the editors he worked with on the Special..

Over on JLoA, Conway was writing a story where Zatanna was kidnapped by a cult leader named Adam while searching for a missing roommate. This story was set before the Special and also shows Zatanna dealing with her father's death in the middle of life threatening circumstances. Unfortunately, the climax of the story was written by JM DeMattis and while I love the reality bending fight, I always wondered if thats what Gerry had planned. The actual ending of the story though was controversial.

Sadly he didn't write Zatanna much after that. Like a JL Special in a story thats a throwback to the JL Detroit era. But not much after that.

Gerry's name doesn't come up much when discussing Zatanna but imo, his name should be up there with Dini. Anyone who is a fan of Zatanna or a writer doing research should look into his work with the character

Thankfully, it looks like Jamal Campbell is picking up where Conway left things; he has brought back Allura and Sindella in his 2025 mini and also references the Hidden City. Previews of his ongoing also indicates he plans to continue exploring the fantasy side of the character.

RIP Gerry Conway and thanks for all the amazing stories.