Convergence #8 is an issue of the series Convergence (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 2015. It was published on May 27, 2015.
Synopsis for "Last Stand"
With Deimos hastily killed by Parallax, all of the power he absorbed from the Time Masters is returning to the core of the planet on which he stood - and it could soon cause the planet to shatter the Multiverse. Parallax tries to suggest a way to fix it, but Deimos traps him, warning that he will not allow Hal Jordan to start a second Zero Hour event. Despite the loss of the Time Masters, Telos promises the assembled survivors that he can sense the coming of heroes who might be able to help them.
Soon, Booster Gold, Goldstar, and Waverider arrive, admitting that they wanted to be present to face the end of time, if that is indeed what this is. Waverider explains that while the three of them cannot hope to absorb this temporal energy, the one being who could is Brainiac. Before anyone can prevent him from unleashing the entity who imprisoned them in the first place, he has done it, and they instinctively attack. He is too powerful, though, and so Superman demands to know what Brainiac intends to do once he's destroyed them all. He would be destroyed as well. Brainiac responds that he had wanted to be the most intelligent being in the Multiverse. He has since become something else - a being who can feel loss. He now mourns the loss of the planet Colu. Telos begs for his longtime master to help, before the planet consumes them.
Brainiac explains that he was once Brainiac of the planet Colu, who sought to collect knowledge. When he observed the Flashpoint and survived it, though, he sought to become something more. He travelled to the edge of The Source and beyond it, looking into the Multiverse to witness its history - its inhabitants, its creators, its readers. He reached back through the Multiverse - through time - hoping to evolve as the Monitors had. His plan was thwarted, somewhat, when Superboy Prime shattered the walls of reality, and then he was lost in a tear in reality created by a monster. Finally, he re-emerged in a new reality, transformed into the creature he is now, body lost to the cancerous growths caused by exposure to the Multiverse. After all that, Brainiac wishes to be what he was, and begs for help. Angrily Dick Grayson wonders why they should help him, but Telos reminds Dick to maintain his compassion. Maybe the end is what it took for Brainiac to see his mistakes.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the dimensional wall, Supergirl has been helping to ensure that all of those who had been watching the planet encroaching on reality were returned to their homes. Superman welcomes her back, and warns that they need hope now, that whoever is fighting the good fight on that planet wins.
Brainiac begins raising the domed cities up from the surface of the planet, explaining that he is now taking back power over the planet from Telos, and he will then absorb the temporal energy at its core, and use it to send the people of the cities back to their homes in the hopes of resetting the Multiverse.
Unfortunately, not everyone has a home to go back to. Brainiac offers the Earth 2 survivors the chance to choose a universe to go back to, but they want their home. Brainiac ignores their complaints, suddenly jolting with the realization that something is blocking him from sending everyone home. The answer is the first Crisis. Its power is too strong to be changed. The Multiverse must collapse into one universe. He warns that those who died in that Crisis must return to play their parts, but The Flash and Supergirl have already accepted their fates. They must ensure that the Multiverse is restored. Brainiac warns, though, that many of those on the planet will be returning to meet their deaths as their universes collapse. Superman and Parallax wonder why can't they just go back with Barry and Kara to help fight the Anti-Monitor, and perhaps save their friends' lives. Superman, Parallax and Lois insist on going alongside Barry and Kara, and so Brainiac agrees, warning that they must prevent the collapse of the Multiverse, and reset all things so that they are as they were before he took them from their worlds.
Once they have gone, it is only an instant before Telos knows that they have succeeded. Each of the many worlds has evolved, and each of the many worlds still exists. All except one. The survivors of Earth 2 remain on the planet's surface, as Brainiac begins to fade away. He warns that the planet must be cleansed of all that transpired there, and begins wiping away its surface with heavy winds and sandstorms, uncaring that the Earth 2 survivors will die, so long as he remembers them.
Fortunately, Green Lantern manages to protect everyone with his power, and with Brainiac's departure, The Green can return. Alan uses his power to bring it out again, covering the planet's surface with lush greenery. To their surprise, The Flash discovers that the planet's vibrational frequency matches that of their universe. They're home - really home.
Telos appears in the skies and explains that when Brainiac abandoned them, his memories were returned, and he now knows where his family might be. He notes that Alan should be able to locate his family as well, now that he knows where he is. Grinning, Alan says good-bye, and explains to the others that he has already heard a distress signal from off-planet. Their people are out there, looking for them.
Meanwhile, Superman and Supergirl, having watched for a sign that the people on the planet had saved themselves, are a little taken aback when the whole thing just disappears from their universe. Superman suspects, though, that they'll see it again.
On the Earth 2 convoys, Dick Grayson's son looks out the window and sees the Green Lantern's signal, and alerts the others to the news that they have a new home to go to; a world to rebuild.
Appearing in "Last Stand"
Featured Characters:
- Brainiac (Futures End) (Flashback and main story) (Origin)
- The Flash/Barry Allen (Earth-One)
- Dick Grayson (Earth 2)
- Lois Lane (Pre-Flashpoint)
- Parallax/Hal Jordan (Pre-Zero Hour)
- Supergirl (Earth-One) (Flashback and main story)
- Superman (Pre-Flashpoint) (Also in a vision)
- "Telos" (Also in a vision)
- Wonders of the World (Earth 2) (Also in a vision)
- The Flash (Jason Garrick) (Also in a vision)
- Green Lantern (Alan Scott) (Also in a vision)
- Superman (Val Zod) (Also in a vision)
- Yolanda Montez (Earth 2)
Supporting Characters:
- Blue Beetle (Earth-Four) (Also in a vision)
- Booster Gold (Post-Flashpoint)
- Captain Atom (Earth-Four) (Also in a vision)
- Doctor Fate/Kent Nelson (Earth-Two) (Also in a vision)
- Earth-One characters
- Elongated Man
- Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)
- Green Lantern (John Stewart)
- Martian Manhunter
- Nightwing
- Superman (Flashback and main story)
- Swamp Thing
- The Flash/Jay Garrick (Earth-Two) (Revealed to be alive)
- Goldstar/Michelle Carter (Pre-Flashpoint)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Pre-Zero Hour Legion's Future)
- Plastic Man (Earth-Two) (Also in a vision)
- Pre-Flashpoint characters
- Bat-Family
- Harley Quinn
- Titans
- Arsenal
- Beast Boy
- Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) (Flashback and main story)
- Raven
- Starfire
- Wonder Woman (Also in a vision)
- The Question (Earth-Four) (Also in a vision)
- Superboy/Kon-El (Pre-Zero Hour) (Also in a vision)
- Supergirl (Post-Flashpoint)
- Superman (Post-Flashpoint) (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision)
- Waverider/Michael Carter (Pre-Flashpoint)
Antagonists:
- The Anti-Monitor (Pre-Crisis) (Flashback only)
- Brainiac (Earth-One) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Brainiac (Post-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Brainiac (Pre-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Mister Mind (Pre-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Superboy-Prime (Earth-Prime) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
Other Characters:
- Atomic Knights (Earth-86) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Atomic Knights of Justice (Earth 17) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Cpt. Adam Strange
- Batman (Bruce Wayne)
- Green Lantern
- Martian Manhunter
- Wonder Woman
- Bizarro (Earth-One) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Bizarro Batman (Earth-One) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Bizarro Yellow Lantern (Earth-One) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Crime Syndicate (Earth 3) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Crime Syndicate of America (Earth-Three) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 2 characters
- Batman (Thomas Wayne) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Doctor Fate (Khalid Ben-Hassin) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Hawkgirl (Kendra Munoz-Saunders) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- John Grayson (Also in a vision)
- Power Girl (Kara Zor-L) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Red Tornado (Lois Lane) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 10 characters
- Freedom Fighters (In a vision) (Cameo)
- New Reichsmen (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 11 characters
- Aquawoman (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Batwoman (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Superwoman (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 16 characters
- Arrowette (Cissie King-Hawke) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Batman (Damian Wayne) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Bloodwynd (In a vision) (Cameo)
- The Flash (Wally West) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Superman (Chris Kent) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 51 characters
- biOMAC (Ben Boxer) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Kamandi (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Tuftan (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth-494 characters
- Admiral Cobblepot (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Laughing Man (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Leatherwing (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth-1098 characters
- Earth-AD characters
- Ben Boxer (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Kamandi (In a vision) (Cameo)
- OMAC (Buddy Blank) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Tuftan (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Freedom Fighters (Earth-X) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Green Lantern/Bruce Wayne (Earth-32) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Hawkman/Katar Hol (Pre-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Hercules (Earth-86) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Judomaster (Earth-Four) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Justice Riders (Earth 18) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Justice Riders (Earth-18)
- Diana Prince (Resurrected)
- John Jones (Resurrected)
- Katar Johnson (Resurrected)
- Kid Flash (Also in a vision) (Cameo)
- Justice Fleet (Earth 31) (Unnamed) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Admiral El
- Leatherwing
- Felina
- Justice Society of America (Earth-Two) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Justice Titans (Earth 32) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Aquaflash
- Bat-Lantern
- Super-Martian
- The Monitor (Pre-Crisis) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Nightshade (Earth-Four) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Pax Americana (Earth 4) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Post-Flashpoint characters
- Catwoman (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Green Arrow (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Justice League (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision)
- Aquaman (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Batman (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision)
- Cyborg (In a vision) (Cameo)
- The Flash (Barry Allen) (Flashback and main story)
- Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Wonder Woman (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision)
- Pandora (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Pre-Flashpoint characters
- Bloodwynd (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Impulse (Bart Allen) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Miss Martian (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Dr. Shay Veritas (Post-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Ultra Comics (Earth 33) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Unjustice League of Unamerica (Earth 29) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Zoo Crew (Earth 26) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- American Eagle
- Captain Carrot
- Fastback
- Pig-Iron
- Rubberduck
- Yankee Poodle
- Zoo Crew (Earth-C) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Deimos (Pre-Flashpoint) (Deceased) (Mentioned only)
- Red Lantern Corps (Post-Flashpoint) (Mentioned only)
- Telos' family (Mentioned only)
- Time Masters (Pre-Flashpoint) (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Hypertime
- Futures End
- Colu (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Timestream
- Futures End
- Post-Flashpoint Multiverse (Flashback and main story)
- Orrery of Worlds
- Earth 0 (Also in a vision)
- Earth 2
- Blood Moon/Earth 2 (Displaced) (First appearance as Earth 2)
- Earth (Destroyed) (Mentioned only)
- Earth 3 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 4 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 10 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 11 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 16 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 17 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 18 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 26 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 29 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Htrae (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 31 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 32 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 33 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 51 (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Speed Force (Flashback and main story) (Behind the scenes)
- Orrery of Worlds
- Pre-Crisis Multiverse (In a vision)
- Antimatter Universe (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Earth-One
- Colu (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Pre-Flashpoint Multiverse
Items:
- Alan Scott's Ring
- The Anti-Monitor's Armor (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Batsuits
- Bracelets of Submission
- Green Lantern Ring
- Helmet of Fate (Cameo)
- Hermes' Helmet (Cameo)
- Lasso of Truth (Cameo)
- Question's Mask (Cameo)
- Rosetta Stone of Time (Unnamed) (Behind the scenes)
- "Ultra Comics #1"
- Wonder Woman's Tiaras
Concepts:
- Crises
- Crisis on Infinite Earths/"The First Crisis" (In a vision)
- Death of Barry Allen (In a vision)
- Death of Supergirl (Flashback only) (Also in a vision)
- The Flashpoint (Mentioned only)
- Infinite Crisis (Flashback only)
- Zero Hour (Mentioned only)
- Crisis on Infinite Earths/"The First Crisis" (In a vision)
- Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum
- The Green
- Magic
- Time Travel
Notes
- Some of the characters' stories are continued in other series:
- New Earth Superman, Lois and baby Jonathan's adventures continue in Superman: Lois and Clark (Volume 1);
- Telos' story continues in Telos (Volume 1);
- Parallax's story continues in Telos #5;
- The restored Earth 2's story continues in Earth 2: Society (Volume 1);
- Prime Earth Superman's story continues in the Darkseid War storyline which chronologically takes place after the Convergence.
- It has never been explained how Superman, Supergirl, The Flash and Parallax actually managed to defeat the Anti-Monitor during the the First Crisis.
- Series writer Jeff King stated that "In Convergence #8 we reference The Multiversity and show you some of the Post-Convergence worlds that make up the reconstituted DC Multiverse. In many ways, the number of Worlds is now infinite. There may even be more than one Multiverse.". Later he states that "Post-Convergence, every character that ever existed, in either Continuity or Canon, is now available to us as storytellers.".
- King additionally confirmed that the concept of the infinite Multiverse being restored was an idea by Grant Morrison from a conversation with Dan DiDio regarding Multiversity.[1]
- King's statement implies that, as of the Convergence, there are, at least, five DC Multiverses: the original Pre-Crisis Multiverse, the "Hypertime Multiverse", 52's Pre-Flashpoint Multiverse, The New 52's Post-Flashpoint Multiverse and the "evolved" Pre-Crisis DC Multiverse that is born due to the heroes preventing the First Crisis.
- Years later, in the aftermath of the destruction and rebirth of the Multiverse in the last Metal War, this will be revealed to be true as all these multiverses (and other DC Multiverses) are incorporated into a little "omniverse" known as Infinite Frontier.
- The original Pre-Crisis Multiverse's status is eventually revealed in Infinite Frontier #6.
Trivia
- Futures End Brainiac will eventually return in Action Comics #1064.
See Also