#distinguished competition

And then Jim Lee does Gambit in 2026. Dayum!

Okay, it's time for lil ol' me to destroy the DC Universe again with my out-there ideas to tick off mainstream fans. Just further evidence as to why mainstream comics should never, ever hire me, as my first order of business is (as usual) to sideline all the top-selling books and characters. How's that for being brave and bold? (Or shortsighted and stupid?)

This time, it's DC: Hell's Inferno

It's up to the magically protected forces of Primal Force (the standing Leymen), Shadowpact, The Sentinels of Magic, Justice League Dark to work together to save the world when the Gates of Hell are opened and the forces of darkness loosed upon the earth.

For two months, there will be no core mainstream books published, just the following:

Hell's Inferno Canto 1 -- In which the foundations of our tale is laid. Down in Hades, Etrigan and Neron issue a challenge to each other as to which is able to wreak the most havoc on Earth. Step one is to sideline all the non-supernatural or magical heroes with a sleeping sickness. Step two is to take their respective armies and go forth and let fly the hellhounds of war.

Primal Force: Suicide Pact -- This small task force has the hardest job of all, infiltrate Hades to rally forces that hate both Neron and Etrigan and set them into action against them, somehow keeping them from becoming the new lords of Earth. (4 bi-weekly issues)

Shadowpact: Four Seasons -- All the members of Shadowpact ever must journey through the seasons of sorcery (transformed countries at the mercy of Neron's forces, snow, rain, desert, unmitigated plant growth) to find the four keys to unlock a prophesied secret weapon to defeat both Etrigan and Neron in one fell swoop. (4 bi-weekly issues)

Justice League Dark: Darque Fates -- Zatanna and her team must gather all the remaining magic users not already aligned, both villain and hero, and build an army to take the fight directly to Etrigan's forces. But what dark power resides within the body of the Secret, and will it be friend or foe? (4 bi-weekly issues)

Sentinels of Magic: Fallen Comrades -- When the sleeping heroes begin to rise and resist the magic heroes as members of a third army of Hell, it's up to the elder Green Lantern and his team to defeat his former allies without harming them AND discover who is behind their resurrections and defeat the newcomer. (4 bi-weekly issues)

Faust: Protector of the Island -- Felix Faust and his son are trapped in the UK with Dr. Thirteen and must escape with their intel about the 4 keys so the allies heroes have even a chance to defeat Etrigan's and Neron's armies. (one-shot)

Trinity of Sin: At the Cross -- While all the fighting is going on, Phantom Stranger, The Question, and Pandora mysteriously are ported to the Holy City and the Hill of the Skull for an otherworldly battle against principalities unseen that may hold the key to victory. (2 monthly issues)

Spectres: Dead Man's Hand -- The Spectre is suddenly a trinity in and of himself, the divine essence of judgment divided between 3 former carriers of the title, Crispus Allen, Hal Jordan, and Jim Morrigan, who must work together to battle spiritual beings in the higher realm lest they two enter the fray they have been drawn to on Earth. (2 monthly issues)

Red, Green, Rot, Machine -- Animal Man, Swamp Thing, Abby Arcane, and the Machine Queen were mysteriously protected from the initial attack by the greater forces of the red, green, and rot. Now they must journey into the underworld to discover what/who really triggered the challenge between Etrigan and Neron. (one-shot)

Nightforce: Throwing S.H.A.D.E. -- Finding evidence that S.H.A.D.E. had a role to play in the outbreak of sleeping heroes, Baron Winters and his team confront Frankenstein and the other Agents of S.H.A.D.E., but neither seems willing to stop and talk things over as a magical artifact is bringing out the worst in both teams. (one-shot)

Shazam: Nightmare Affair -- A nearly dead Black Adam (Shazadam?) lands in a heap at Billy Batson's front door. Now, Billy, Mary, Freddy, and Adam must fight nightmare's made real that are targeting those connected to the Rock of Eternity. (one-shot)