This issue was definitely NOT what I thought it was going to be. I'm not complaining, but Giffen and Dematteis (with absurdly good artwork from Howard Porter who took what would be a career ending loss and somehow managed to become BETTER) have created something fairly alien to typical Big 5 concepts.

In the future, with the world nearly destroyed by 'the Five' not to be confused with the Big 5.. but not yet exactly defined, researchers at Cadmus have basically recreated Superman, Wonderwoman, Bruce Wayne, The Flash, and Hal Jordan. The woman who originally introduced the concept is on the run FROM Cadmus. The other two that carried it out are.. I don't make this up, The Wonder Twins; Teri and Terry.

Problem is, these are basically just clones, and not very good ones. Superman lacks his Kent background and is a conceited jerk. Barry lacks his friction field so needs a force field generator to keep himself from vaporizing. For some reason the Green Lanterns are one of the most reviled groups in the universe, and there's no rings around so Hal has to use some sort of Cadmus designed cloak. Wonder Woman is a total Amazonian brute. Wayne seems pretty much there but again lacks his upbringing and only despises Superman as much as Superman despises him.

They aren't getting along too well, and it looks like if they can't get along the mysterious 'Five' will have it's way with Earth. Or maybe they already did, the world is a big mess. And it is '3000', sounds like a lot of worlds are in the same outhouse.

It'll be interesting to see where this story goes. If it can hold enough to be a long running series remains to be seen.