With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[Prince Charon]

I did not see that coming. Nice reference to Question's iconic speech to Luthor from JLU. Wonder how the JL 12 will handle it. They should tell them what happened, if only so that their Question would hear it. I would love to see an omake of the JL 12 talking about OL and how the war concluded, and Question's observations of it.

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So would I, really. I'm not likely to try to write it, but I hope someone else will.

 

[Twilight666]

Do we really have to go back over how stupid Paul's plan is?

Because numerous people have explained it already.

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You do realise everyone else's plan boils down to 'nuclear war today or tomorrow', right?
Even the Syndicate wanted to stay and fight to the end, and the only reason they did not is because Blue convinced the new Management not to...

Today's post even mentioned that despite everything the Syndicate still had the capability to retaliate and burn the world (and obviously so did Wilson)

The only other alternative is the mass execution of every Syndicate member while also making sure the world doesn't burn... after which he would have to make sure Wilson actually follows through with his promises and stops... good luck with that!!!

Frankly, yes, Paul's plan will allow the Syndicate to rebuild and maybe in a year we will be back... but that is in a year from now!
Right now the world isn't ending and every side has a year to try to make sure it stays that way.. and if not Paul can just come back!

On a side note, it's really amusing that you believe the criminal psychopath mind controller named "Answer".

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Well the 12th level intellect believed him so obviously he is right

 

[Lazurman]

On a side note, it's really amusing that you believe the criminal psychopath mind controller named "Answer".

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Annnd here we are again. What's the source backing up that claim? Cuz to me, Answer didn't come across as a criminal psychopath. Just a helpful spirit who temporarily possessed the body of someone already unconscious to state to Luthor's face the blindingly fucking obvious.

 

[Ngamer11]

So would I, really. I'm not likely to try to write it, but I hope someone else will.

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I think I might give it a shot. I'd like to at least wait until the last part before I do it.

You do realise everyone else's plan boils down to 'nuclear war today or tomorrow', right?
Even the Syndicate wanted to stay and fight to the end, and the only reason they did not is because Blue convinced the new Management not to...

Today's post even mentioned that despite everything the Syndicate still had the capability to retaliate and burn the world (and obviously so did Wilson)

The only other alternative is the mass execution of every Syndicate member while also making sure the world doesn't burn... after which he would have to make sure Wilson actually follows through with his promises and stops... good luck with that!!!

Frankly, yes, Paul's plan will allow the Syndicate to rebuild and maybe in a year we will be back... but that is in a year from now!
Right now the world isn't ending and every side has a year to try to make sure it stays that way.. and if not Paul can just come back!

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Mr Zoat said that it was only America that was in such a bad state. I'm sure other countries aren't as terrible as America due to having less Syndicate members there.

 

[Gantradies]

I think I might give it a shot. I'd like to at least wait until the last part before I do it.


Mr Zoat said that it was only America that was in such a bad state. I'm sure other countries aren't as terrible as America due to having less Syndicate members there.

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To be fair, when you've got an entire nation cheerfully nuking itself into a cinder, you're gonna have a pretty large splash-radius - at the very least, Canada and South/Central America would be in trouble, and depending on how..... sociopathically enthusiastic the combatants are, especially if the contamination spread through ocean water....

 

[Mquz]

Annnd here we are again. What's the source backing up that claim? Cuz to me, Answer didn't come across as a criminal psychopath. Just a helpful spirit who temporarily possessed the body of someone already unconscious to state to Luthor's face the blindingly fucking obvious.

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It was referenced in like one line in the chapter that the Answer is a wanted criminal. Also, the Question is a hero, so she is a villain. The thing is, there's nothing to show she's a psychopath, and she could be wanted for something less major - like, say, conspiracy against the United States.

 

[AidanMorgan]

Anyway, to answer your question, I think the Answer is the answer to every conspiracy theory, the Truth That is Out There.

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Ngl, that sounds like some Exalted shit right there. I like it.

 

[RichardWhereat]

Do we really have to go back over how stupid Paul's plan is?

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If you're saying it's terrible, it must be good.

 

[Buggy123]

Do we really have to go back over how stupid Paul's plan is?

Because numerous people have explained it already.

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Why yes, yes I would like to hear about the issues you've found. You know, the issues that flew over >12th level intellect Luthor's head. The issues which one of the smartest people on Earth -12 managed to overlook, despite dedicating years of effort to the situation. Those issue, yes, please tell me all about them.

On a side note, it's really amusing that you believe the criminal psychopath mind controller named "Answer".

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>12th level intellect Luthor believes what the Answer is saying. And you spoke quite fondly of Luthor not too long ago:

And Luthor has a higher then 12th level intellect.

Which means he's smarter then the people who built Paul's power rings by a not insignificant margin.

On top of which, he could very well have access to Crime World Earth's version of Brainiac. Who spanks Lanterns for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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So, why is one of the smartest people in the universe suddenly so mistaken? Wouldn't he realize who and what the Answer is? Wouldn't he have thought of all these issues, carefully weighed them, and come to a conclusion? He's the vice president, and Slade's administration is knees-deep in this situation, so he's had plenty of time and reason to think about it.

It's not like we have better information than him; we have a first person perspective of someone who's been in this universe for all of 6 hours, compared to the vice president of one of the largest countries in the world.
And we're certainly not smarter than him, unless anyone here likes to build schizotech in their sleep and never mentioned it.

Tell us, what is this issue that we've somehow come up with, that one of the smartest people on Earth -12 didn't? How could we have thought of so many issues that such a brilliant person completely overlooked?

 

[Mr Zoat]

So would I, really. I'm not likely to try to write it, but I hope someone else will.

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That's quitter talk.

Also, I'd like a source on Lex Luthor -14 being a 12th level intellect, because I'm fairly confident that it didn't come from me. The last number I heard for Lex was 9th, and that was from Red Son. He won in Red Son.

 

[Rebu]

Damn I fucking hate Paul with a passion. Seriously this guy is like the embodiment of every smug liberal trope but is going to be right and win no matter what due to author fiat. How fucking disgusting.

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Except, of course, for the many, many times he's been very, very wrong. Or the times he's lost. Heck, even in this situation, brute force isn't really going to help, because it's a people issue.

And IIRC, he's not really liberal.

 

[Buggy123]

That's quitter talk.

Also, I'd like a source on Lex Luthor -14 being a 12th level intellect, because I'm fairly confident that it didn't come from me. The last number I heard for Lex was 9th, and that was from Red Son. He won in Red Son.

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Lex Luthor #.... something, is >12th as per this famous scene.

Lex Luthor #-14 is >12th as per Vaermina.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Lex Luthor #.... something, is >12th as per this famous scene.

Lex Luthor #-14 is >12th as per Vaermina.

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Lex Luthor claims to be overqualified in that scene. We never get independent verification.

 

[Baladar]

That's quitter talk.

Also, I'd like a source on Lex Luthor -14 being a 12th level intellect, because I'm fairly confident that it didn't come from me. The last number I heard for Lex was 9th, and that was from Red Son. He won in Red Son.

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From the gist of things, that's likely something Vaer pulled out of no where and people are throwing it back in his face because he doesn't like that Paul is helping bad people.

I enjoyed how this one went down. Paul has no real interest in either side getting the win they wanted (which he could have done if he really wanted to), so he opted for something he would have wanted overall, which is deescalation and returning of legal norms for most people.

So in a way, he's putting things back into the normal status quo like the writers do in comic books.

Anyway, I don't suppose you can give us more info on Answer? Are they some spirit or mage that tells people the Truth, with disregard for the consequences?

 

[Mr Zoat]

Anyway, I don't suppose you can give us more info on Answer? Are they some spirit or mage that tells people the Truth, with disregard for the consequences?

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What makes you think there's anything else to say? The Answer features in two segments, one of which you've seen. The Answer really likes subtle, behind the scenes action and is disdainful of open brutality.

 

[thebishop8]

We've had interludes from Red Paul, Indigo Paul, and Anti-Green Paul in the last few episodes. If the chapter in the middle of this episode didn't count, we're probably getting an interlude of Blue Paul at the end of this episode, unless Zoat decided not to do the obvious.

 

[Steelplaza]

5
"There is no more data to be gained, no more questions to be asked. Your path and that of the President are now irreconcilable. So you have a simple choice: mutually destructive escalation or a cautious disengagement. I already know the Answer… But I think it may be best if you say it."

Luthor shakes his head, a very subtle motion as he tries to deny the reality.

"I know how you work. I know what you'll do."

"I'm a well known criminal. Your administration's reputation will survive my actions. And Slade Wilson's legacy will remain intact."

"I…" Luthor closes his eyes and bows his head. "I agree."

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So did Luthor just agree to let the Answer assassinate President Wilson? Because I'm having a hard time reading that any other way.

 

[Gantradies]

What makes you think there's anything else to say? The Answer features in two segments, one of which you've seen. The Answer really likes subtle, behind the scenes action and is disdainful of open brutality.

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Well, obviously- open violence is never the Answer, After all~

 

[Ej190]

Well, obviously- open violence is never the Answer, After all~

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That was bad and you should feel bad.

 

[Siskulous]

Maybe JLAU Darkseid is just a tad weaksauce.

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Compared to the comics pretty much everything in JLAU is pretty weaksauce. The entire JLAU seems to have a lower baseline power level than the comics. Darkseid of the comics is a literal god and when you're interacting with him you're really interacting with his avatar. Darkseid of the JLAU is roughly the same power level as their nerfed Superman unless he's on Apocalypse.

Hell, unless I'm getting universes mixed up he got his ass kicked by Supergirl within her first month on Earth. (Not that Supergirl is by any means weak, but she was very untrained and very unused to her powers at the time.)

Paul will snap and use his limit move.

"That's IT! CAKETIME!"

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He is NEVER going to live that down.

The Answer shakes her head. "Mister Vice President. I am a living conspiracy fact.

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.....Is that supposed to be the evil counterpart to The Question or to Deadman? I mean....that's Deadman's power, but the personality is more like an evil-ish Question.

 

[Mr Zoat]

So did Luthor just agree to let the Answer assassinate President Wilson? Because I'm having a hard time reading that any other way.

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Technically, no. But yes.

Hell, unless I'm getting universes mixed up he got his ass kicked by Supergirl within her first month on Earth. (Not that Supergirl is by any means weak, but she was very untrained and very unused to her powers at the time.)

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Kara foiled one of his schemes, but I only remember her fighting Furies.

 

[DrThoth]

.....Is that supposed to be the evil counterpart to The Question or to Deadman? I mean....that's Deadman's power, but the personality is more like an evil-ish Question.

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It looks more like the Question, given the blank-mask aspect of the possession and the names. Earth-16 Question demonstrated supernatural abilities, albeit psychometry rather than possession, in his appearance, so it's not much of a stretch that the Answer can do something in the same vein.

It looks like things are coming to an end soon, which I think seems a bit rushed; Renegade had a two-parter for his parallel-universe shenanigans so I can't help but feel Paragon should have the same, and there's a lot of mileage left in exploring the Syndicate-Earth setting given the complicated dynamics involved.
While Talon's actions make sense, they seem really abrupt in the narrative since I think there's no prior set-up for that at all.
I do still understand people being apathetic towards alternate-universe events since they can often be very skippable with no impact on the primary storyline, especially with the mess that this particular reality is in.

Will Paragon take the Star Sapphire back? It's a bit irritating to see Dame Ferris attack the person who rescued and newly empowered her like this, though it's understandable in the situation.

 

[Legend of Ruina]

I mean we all know how well the Question assassinating Luthor went in the original continuity. I suspect his opposite isn't likely to do much better against Slade.

 

[PDV]

I mean we all know how well the Question assassinating Luthor went in the original continuity. I suspect his opposite isn't likely to do much better against Slade.

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Slade Wilson is not nearly as smart or capable as Luthor, and I doubt Answer will let him talk.

 

[WorstMirari]

finally caught back up! this has been a dope arc

 

[PDV]

Lex Luthor claims to be overqualified in that scene. We never get independent verification.

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We do get empirical verification that he is at least a class-12 intellect, since he survived the thing only class-12 intellects and up can survive. He may not be overqualified, but if he was underqualified he'd be dead or worse.

 

[inglorius]

Mr Zoat said that it was only America that was in such a bad state. I'm sure other countries aren't as terrible as America due to having less Americans there.

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It's kinda ironic that ultimately people lives were saved by the villains who decided to involve OL in their little incident. Did they got hit with a Common Sense beam from a bleed rift or something?
I'm a bit dissapointed by lack of Best Snake time, but these dickheads were not worty of it presense, after all.

 

[Mr Zoat]

We do get empirical verification that he is at least a class-12 intellect, since he survived the thing only class-12 intellects and up can survive. He may not be overqualified, but if he was underqualified he'd be dead or worse.

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I don't know about 'surviving'. He reappears briefly, then disappears with Darkseid.

 

[Maxx Crowley]

I should have been more specific, since Kirby, who invented the New Gods completely intended to kill him off in Hunger Dogs.

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And before that, he conceived them as Thor villains and wanted to have Ragnarok. Hence why Highfather looks like an off branded Odin.

But Marvel Said no, so The King took his ball to DC.....who then said no as well.

As much as I respect and enjoy Kirby, Marvel Thor is my second favorite character only behind the Hulk, so I am glad he wasn't permanently killed off before I was even born.

...Though that would have saved me from being chastised for completely ignoring Lady thor, or Whor as she quickly became known as.

Amazing, gay boy don't care about new incredibly shilled female character (She's better with the hammer then Thor ever was! Yeah, okay Marvel. Still can't figure out how to get characters over after 60 years?) who replaced his favorite?

And their bullshit cost me Kid Loki. That one actually bothered me.

 

[Baladar]

I don't know about 'surviving'. He reappears briefly, then disappears with Darkseid.

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I think Lex from Universe 12 was merged with Brainiac for a while, so he might have had a boost from that. I don't know if that sort of merger happened with the Justice Underground Lex though.

A quick google search is uncertain about 12's fate. Some argue he merged with the equation/source and others argue that he and Darkseid vanished into universes unknown. IMHO Timm likely had a plot he wanted to run, but he was kicked off of CN and DC in general.