Earth 2 #13 Review

(w) James Robinson
(p) Yildiray Cinar
(i) Rob Hunter

James Robinson gave himself a big task with Earth 2. I phrase it like this because Robinson was the one with the concept from the beginning and he's written every issue so far. It's quite obvious the man has epic plans for this series. It's a true shame he'll be leaving the series after issue 16. But that's another rant altogether.

Earth 2 #13 introduces Captain Steel, a character most modern readers probably don't know. And that's okay, because Robinson gives us such a fantastically comprehensive look at Hank Heywood and what he means to the ongoing narrative. What's most interesting about him, though, is not his powers or his origin story (though both are fun), but rather his personality. 


** SPOILERS AHEAD **


Steel is less man than metal after his father saved his life from a degenerative bone disorder by injecting him with living metals that rebuilt most of what was dying inside his body. It's nice to focus on all the amazing things Captain Steel can do now that he's not restricted by conventional human weaknesses, but the real change in Heywood was psychological. And it all comes down to a single panel.

Unlike the rest of the wonders featured in Earth 2 so far, Captain Steel is a "lone ranger" of sorts. Though he's associated with the World Army and he follows commands to a tee, it's not because he wants to. He doesn't have the passion or the sense of duty that any of the other wonders possess. The living metal that saved his life also striped him of whatever emotional ability he once had. Now, he's just a husk of a man who does what he does "because what else is there? But I do not care." It's an extremely powerful sentence that shows a different side to the concept of a superhero. Captain Steel is still just as heroic, brave, and just as the other wonders, but his motivations are nonexistent, which is fascinating when you think how that basically never happens in modern comic books.

I am very sad that James Robinson is leaving Earth 2 because we're now getting to the point in the series where all the various bits and pieces we've been getting over the past year will finally start coming together. He's taking old ideas and totally revamping them in a way that even the rest of the 'New 52' can't top.

GRADE

9/10

Earth 2 Annual #1 Review

(w) James Robinson
(p) Cafu and Julius Gopez
(i) Cafu and Cam Smith

What should have been a knock out of the park for James Robinson turned out to be a rather wishy-washy issue with very little connecting the various elements. Earth 2 Annual #1 was advertised in a big way because it would include the first appearance from Earth 2's brand-new Batman. And that's pretty much the only element of the issue promoted. Which is unfortunate because the new Batman bit was easily the weakest part of the issue. 

I like that Robinson has the freedom to do almost whatever he wants on this title (which makes his recent departure announcement all the more frustrating), and creating a whole new Batman is interesting for this world. What I don't like is how little we know. We get to see the new Bats in the field. We see him helping other wonders from the shadows. We ever get some of his thoughts. But that's it. There's nothing explaining his motives, who he is, how he became to agile and strong, where he got a Batman suit and what his expectations are for being a masked vigilante. I wouldn't have a problem with all of these unanswered questions if the new Bats wasn't plastered on the cover like it's all about him.

The World Army aspect of Earth 2 hasn't been focused on much, simply because Robinson was playing with Green Lantern, Flash, and Hawkgirl. Earth 2 Annual #1 goes more in-depth with the WA's going-ons, and even introduces a brand new wonder that's sure to be part of the Justice Society whenever that gets around to forming.

The real problem with Earth 2 Annual #1 is how disjointed it feels. Yes, it's supposed to act as an "interlude" in between arcs here, but the drastic shift of focus from the pre-JSA to the wonders employed by the World Army is too abrupt with absolutely no transition. Usually, this isn't a big problem. Here, though, since Robinson is building the entire world, he's got to make the world more cohesive. Right now, we have a lot of different elements that may or may not fit together.

I like Earth 2 Annual #1. It's a fun read. Regular readers of the series will appreciate how much James Robinson is pouring into Earth 2 from all angles. That being said, it's really only for regular readers.

GRADE

7/10

Earth 2 #12

(w) James Robinson     (a) Nicola and Trevor Scott


** MILD SPOILERS AHEAD **


I really like Earth 2. It's a refreshing change of pace from the normal 'New 52', and James Robinson's uncanny character development has made this title one of the best DC publishes each month. Earth 2 isn't solely about the Justice Society, which gives Robinson the freedom to play around with his own , separate pocket of the multiverse. This series is about an alternate version of history where superheroes didn't become the norm, like on Earth 1 (the main 'New 52' universe).

For all it's good, Robinson's been dropping the ball, as of late, in terms of pacing. While the first seven issues moved at a deliberate and meaningful pace, these most recent ones felt overly decompressed. Then, with this month's Earth 2 #12, Robinson has gone the opposite direction and packed as much story as he could into this conclusion issue. I'm not saying this wasn't a good issue because it was a great issue. It's just that it was preceded by three mediocre issues. In a way, previous shortcomings now really highlight all the good things about Earth 2 #12.

Robinson's handling of the multiple plot lines in Earth 2 #12 show that he's got specific directions for each character; Green Lantern is still trying to uncover the mystery behind his fiance's death, and gets Hawkgirl to help out, a pairing I wouldn't have pegged a few months ago. Fortunately, Robinson's excellent interpersonal dialogue makes their working relationship feel more than just organic: it feels like it needed to happen.

Keeping Jay Garrick's mom around was a good decision. Having one element that's more grounded and relatable is arguably essential to superhero comics, yet the technique is employed far less than it should be. Superman has Lois Lane, Batman has Alfred, even Green Lantern Hal Jordan had Carol Ferris before she became a Star Sapphire. The point is, Mrs. Garrick gives these new superheroes perspective they may not have had yet.

One of the best aspects of Earth 2 is the how easy James Robinson makes creating a world look. This isn't just a team book -- this title is about an entire separate universe. The changes and differences between the main DCnU and Earth 2 are important because they are there and the moer Robinson shows us, the better this series becomes.

GRADE

8/10

Earth 2 #11

(w) James Robinson     (a) Nicola Scott

** SPOILERS AHEAD **

April is DC's "WTF" month, which means each and every 'New 52' title gets a gatefold cover that reveals a shocking new twist and/or revelation. Some of these moments feel more natural than others. Earth 2 #11 features a gatefold cover with Mister Miracle of the New Gods, a character fans have been clamoring for in any universe since the relaunch. Unfortunately, Mister Miracle's appearance isn't really part of the story...at all.

This gimmick aside, Earth 2 #11 is another solid issue from James Robinson. This month, he spends the time to move around all the pieces he put into play last issue. The evil Wotan is still the real villain here, reluctant Khalid and his relationship with the spirit of Nabu is the real focal point of this story. Khalid has to get past his own insecurities to accept the destiny he's faced with. It's the conversation with Flash that knocks some sense into Khalid and shows him that even someone with no training, no understanding, and no experience can still stand up and face his enemies.

Like many obstacles in our life, Khalid's struggle to accept his destiny is only as difficult as he makes. The helm of Nabu has power undefined, so it's understandable if that scares Khalid a bit. The change in Earth 2 #11 has to do with the new Dr. Fate understanding that it's his own choice whether he let's Nabu's power corrupt him or give him the strength to conquer any evil. Pre-'New 52', Dr. Fate was a character more or less at war with his own weapon of choice. In this current incarnation, Khalid doesn't subconsciously battle Nabu's influence so much as he must work to stave off the insanity that potentially arises from extended exposure to such chaotic magical forces.

It's fun to see Mister Miracle and Big Barda show up for that one panel, and in the grand scheme of things, these two were bound to be introduced sooner or later. I bring this up again because DC's mandate to make every April cover some shocking revelation just doesn't work for every title, Earth 2 being one of them. It very much feels like Robinson was forced into jamming the New Gods connections into Earth 2 #11 that could have easily been in the next issue.

GRADE

8/10

Review: Earth 2 #9

(w) James Robinson  (p) Nicola Scott  (i) Trevor Scott

Before the series even began, James Robinson was giving interviews in which he explained how Earth 2 would be work as a series. He went into detail about how this wasn't just a Justice Society of America book, rather, that it was more about building a whole new world without the restrictions of the main DCnU. And so far, Earth 2 has been amazing -- Robinson is introducing new ideas, characters, and situations at a deliberate pace to make sure all the right narrative beats get hit. Plus, Doctor Fate!

Earth 2 #9 brings readers back to the 'main' story of the series after veering off for a month to focus on Steppenwolf and his protege, the Amazonian Fury. Alan Scott took off at the end of Earth 2 #7, so he gets no panel time this month. I know that sounds harsh, but Alan got the most character development throughout the first six issues of the series, so it's about time Robinson gave the same treatment Flash and Hawkgirl. Doctor Fate is the connecting element this month, as he starts the issue with Kendra Saunders (Hawkgirl) and ends it by assisting Jay Garrick (Flash) in escaping from the clutches of the World Army. The new Fate is Khalid Ben-Hassin, a reluctant recipient of powers who loses his grip on reality when he's forced to channel the spirit of Nabu and become Doctor Fate. Khalid's situation is unique in that using his powers causes a direct adverse reaction: temporary insanity. And while this is a good idea, Robinson doesn't go far enough in explaining what that's like and how it feels -- he could have easily thrown in some metaphors or symbolism to push the concept across all the better.

Nicola and Trevor Scott's artwork gets better every issue. Early on, they had difficulty producing real emotional nuance, but in recent months, the facial expressions have been better, and the body language has improved, as well. Khalid's reluctance to almost everything he does this issue is conveyed perfectly because that facial expression barely changes from panel to panel. 

The opening pages of Earth 2 #9 reveal that this new story arc is called "The Tower of Fate", implying we'll be getting at least three issues to flesh out Khalid's new gig as the hand of destiny. James Robinson is building up his version of the Justice Society very slowly, though he's mentioned that the team proper won't be together until the title's second year, which is approaching rather quickly. It will be interesting to see how Robinson puts all the pieces together in coming months, especially since a little over half of the classic roster of the JSA works for the World Army and is actively hunting the rest of the new Wonders.

GRADE

8/10

REVIEW: EARTH 2 #6

(w) James Robinson
(p) Nicola Scott
(i) Trevor Scott

Earth 2 #6 completes the first arc from James Robinson, as well as cements the series as one of my favorites from DC's 'New 52'. It's taken seven months (counting September's "Issue Zero"), but we finally get to see the conclusion of "The Gathering", as the TPB will be named upon it's release, and it's pretty awesome. Robinson has been doing a lot of heavy lifting in this premier arc -- introducing a whole new parallel Earth, re-imagining fan favorite characters for a modern age, and crafting a story that unites both of these ideas into a cohesive narrative that's better than a lot of the 'Earth 1' titles.

This issue is titled "End Times" for good reason. Of course, we have the main problem going down in Washington D.C. with Grundy -- avatar of death -- laying waste to the four new wonders -- Green Lantern Alan Scott, Flash Jay Garrick, Hawkgirl Kendra Saunders, and Atom Al Pratt -- while simultaneously sapping the life-force from the ground and destroying every major city around the globe. Over at the World Army headquarters, past turncoat Terry Sloan (see Earth 2 #0, true believers!) has been given executive power to deal with the Grundy situation, so he's launched nuclear warheads at the Capital. Add to that Green Lantern's astral journey into the Grey, leaving his body vulnerable to attack, and all in all, it's a bad time for everyone but Grundy.

At the end of Earth 2 #5, Alan Scott had entered the void of the Grey and was immediately taken psychological prisoner by a construct of his dead fiance, Sam, who died at the end of Earth 2 #1. While Alan's resistance to the Grey's influence might seem rushed and/or lacking, the speed at which he comes to his senses says a lot more about Alan Scott as a character than it does about the narrative flow -- the sequence isn't quick because Robinson didn't write it well, it moves fast because Alan Scott is a smart man who has the added power of the Green at his literal fingertips. It's the same reason "You honestly thought my sadness at my lover's death would be the opiate of my defeat?" doesn't sound so awkward because it's coming from an intelligent man who -- as evidenced by this sequence, amongst many others -- carefully chooses his words before speaking.

Grundy's defeat is really of little concern because we always knew the new wonders would have to walk away victorious. Of course, we technically know this about any given villain in any given arc of any given comic book, but there are different kinds of defeat when it comes to massive, Earth-threatening enemies such as these. Some, in the case of Angel in Rick Remender's Uncanny X-Force, lead to bigger consequences, while others, such as Grundy's defeat here, aren't meant to alter much else. The Grey is all but nullified, and the world is being healed by Green Lantern's light. Things pretty much go back to normal aside from the fact that there's a new avatar of the Green, a man endowed with the speed of Mercury, and a girl with hawk wings just out and about.

Flash attempts to solidify their team relationship before Alan Scott abruptly puts an end to that nonsense. You see, Green Lantern is bigger and badder than any of those other mutha's, so why would he hang around with them? He doesn't. Alan leaves Flash and Hawkgirl in the dust to figure out what their next move is. It's a gangsta move.

Seriously, though, Earth 2 #6 is one of the best issues of the series to date. While that's not a huge catalog of issues with which to compare, it's still an a success. In interviews, Robinson has stated that the series is titled purposefully so that he would be free to build his second Earth without being forced to focus exclusively on the forming Justice Society. Sure, most of it will be about them, but the potential for world-building is huge. Earth 2 #6 points to how much Robinson is committed to those ideals going forward. It's a fantastic issue.

GRADE

8.5/10

LEAGUES BEYOND, VOL. 1 (OCT 3-9, 2012)

It's 'Leagues Beyond', where we take a look at the Justice League-related titles offered each week by DC Comics as part of their 'New 52'. Along with the flagship Justice League, 'Leagues Beyond' will cover titles such as The Flash, Earth 2, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman.

Earth 2 #5
(W) James Robinson
(P) Nicola Scott
(I) Trevor Scott

World's Finest #5
(W) Paul Levitz
(P) George Perez, Jerry Ordway, and Wes Craig
(I) Scott Koblish, Jerry Ordway, Serge LaPointe

It's fitting that the first entry of 'Leagues Beyond' not be about the Justice League proper at all. The two titles released this week, Earth 2 #5 and World's Finest #5, are lumped in with Justice League family titles because they really have nowhere else to go. If DC were to add more grouping categories, these two would basically have their own Earth 2 family. Of course, James Robinson's Earth 2 looks at that dimension directly, currently following the formation of the Justice Society, while Paul Levitz's World's Finest finds Power Girl (Supergirl) and Huntress (Robin) stranded on Earth 1, better known as the 'New 52' universe. This month, Earth 2 #5 starts down the dramatic road towards the conclusion of it's first arc, while World's Finest #5 starts a new arc (maybe?) that feels directionless.

----------

Since it debuted, Earth 2 has been one of my consistently favorite titles from DC. James Robinson has really taken the time to make this parallel universe something special and different, with a whole new set of rules. It's genius because Robinson doesn't have to follow any of the DCnU continuity or current going-ons unless he wants to. Sure, there's going to be the inevitable crossover, but that's years down the road. For now, the 'new wonders' of Earth 2 band together for the first time this month to take on Grundy, the harbinger of death...literally.

There's really no other way to put it: Earth 2 is just awesome. Everyone wanted the Justice Society to come back, and James Robinson is doing so in such an astounding way. This issue introduces the "Sandmen", a covert infiltration squad used for high-level extractions and the such by the World Army, with a mention of the team leader, Wesley Dodds! It's like getting a special present each time I open up a new issue. 

The fight with Grundy takes a turn for the worse when the Atom - a.k.a. Al Pratt - gets overrun by the Grey, speeding up the death of all plant life on Earth and thereby the end of humanity (no plants = no oxygen). The entire scene is a tool to put Earth 2 in context, as well. The news reporters following the battle continue call these heroes 'wonders', a term I find fascinating considering the more mystical approach to superpowers Robinson is taking with Earth 2. Also, in last months "Issue Zero", we were introduced to Earth 2's Mister Terrific, Terry Sloan, a man who betrayed the Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in an effort to explore the multiverse. Speed up to the present, and he's been hired by the planet's leaders to advise the World Army in the Grundy crisis. Finally, we get to see just how these new wonders work together. Even under these most stressful of conditions, Robinson finds ways to explore relationships in a way that advances the story without sacrificing quality.

The first arc of Earth 2 comes to a close next month as the Justice Society hopefully manages to take down Grundy. Otherwise, this is going to be a very short-lived series.

STORY: A
ART: B+

--------

"Rebirth", the first arc of World's Finest, was a big letdown. The entire story revolved around Power Girl and Huntress investigating a villain called Hakkou who the girls believed came from Earth 2. In the end, Karen and Helena manage to kill the radioactive behemoth, but that's about it - no explanations as to his origin, no revelations about Earth 2, no character development to been truly perceived. Unfortunately, this trend continues with World's Finest #5, an issue that I can't discern as to whether it's a stand-alone issue or the start of a new arc. I really thought the two-story system would be finished now that "Rebirth" is over, but Levitz seems intent on making his issues as fractured as possible, meaning that the present-day story barely gets any attention, and therefore not much substance. 


This month, Karen is trying to replicate Hakkou's energy signature, but doesn't have the necessary equipment. She decides to take a trip to the CERN under Switzerland to see an experiment take place that could lead to information on different universes. And because she's there, some robot assassin thing comes after her through a wormhole...I guess. It really feels like Levitz is just phoning it in with these random villains and Power Girl's clothes repeatedly being torn to shreds.

Huntress' story is similarly lazy, as Helena attends a 'Take Back the Night' rally at which a psychopathic misogynist is trying to murder women with a sniper rifle. Huntress jumps into action and stops him before he hurts anyone. That's it. The sequence is supposed to show that, unlike Karen, Helena cares for the people of this world and has a desire to be a part of it, as there doesn't seem to be a way back to their Earth. Instead, it's just preachy and boring.

STORY: C
ART: C (Not a fan of George Perez's work - it always looks sloppy and dated to me)

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #0

STORY: Keith Giffen, Dan Didio, James Robinson, Rob Liefeld, and Tony Bedard
ART: Keith Giffen, Dan Didio, Scott Koblish, Tom Derenick, Marat Mychaels,

In true form, DC Universe Presents #0 offers an anthology of stories within an issue of an anthology series. Last May, DC cancelled six series to make way for the "Second Wave" of 'New 52' titles that included Earth 2, Dial H, World's Finest, Batman Incorporated, G.I. Combat, and The Ravagers. Some of these cancellations actually made sense - when a series didn't look to be going in any concrete direction - but some were canned purely for fiscal reasons. Either way, many of these titles gained a fan base, and DC wanted to do the cool thing and feature these characters left in the proverbial rearview mirror. With December solicitations out, the recently cancelled Captain Atom is featured in The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men, meaning DC seems intent on keeping these characters around, even if they don't have their own solo ongoing.

The first story is O.M.A.C., written and illustrated by former series regulars Keith Giffen and Dan Didio. I absolutely loved the adventures of Kevin Kho and Brother Eye - each issue was an homage to quirky, sci-fi books from the 60s and 70s that were about action and supernatural boogeymen. While this prequel story - "Origins Matter After Cancelation" - doesn't feature Kevin or his O.M.A.C. persona, Giffen and Didio take us back to when Brother Eye worked for Maxwell Lord and Checkmate. Mostly, Brother Eye gives Max an expository dump about how the satellite came to be and why. Of course, Max knows all of this, and info overloads normally make me cringe, this is Giffen and Didio's style for O.M.A.C., especially since this is only a short story intended to give more backstory that offers foreshadowing to future events. In that regard, it succeeds in spades.

Second at bat is James Robinson and Tom Derenick's Mister Terrific prequel. In essence, this short story reads just like the MT series - full of scientific jargon, quantum mechanics, and a willingness to let those two amazing elements do the heavy lifting. Especially in this story, wherein Michael Holt basically learns everything about his life by jumping through an uncalibrated portal technically linked to the Ninth Dimension. Robinson is careful to remind readers that this is one of many possible outcomes, leaving the door open for Michael's future to deviate from the visions of latter days. Of course, Mister Terrific can't be running around knowing his entire life's path, and Michael's memory is purged once he steps out of the malfunctioning portal door. I wish there was more about Michael Holt as a person and less foreshadowing for the future that only really served to clue in us readers. But for what it is, this tale does the trick.

I've never liked Rob Liefeld. Even in the 90s, I couldn't stand his artwork or his writing. It's one of the reasons I stuck to DC mostly during that era, and it's the reason I never got beyond the first issue of Hawk and Dove last September. Hawk and Dove is an example of a series cancelled because it was bad, plain and simple. The characters weren't engaging, the stories weren't interesting, and the artwork was classic Liefeld, which meant over-exaggerated everything. Liefeld smartly abjures the pencilling duties for this origins story, but it just makes his uninspired narrative all the more obvious. "Balance of Power" focuses on an argument between the celestial gods of Peace and War (how DC justifies their existence against the Greek gods in Wonder Woman is anyones guess) over the newest avatar of Peace, Dawn Granger. Similar to how Scott Lobdell info dumps on a regular basis in the pages of Teen Titans, Liefeld uses this debate between the gods as a means to give a character history. It's so damn boring! And it really doesn't even matter because I can't imagine DC is planning on reintroducing Hawk and Dove to any other book any time soon.

Next up is "Mother Machine", the origins story of the title's namesake, and prequel tale to Blackhawks, a series that could have been DC's equivalent of S.H.I.E.L.D. if they had handled it better. Unfortunately, there's not much to talk about concerning this story - beyond revealing that the Blackhawks participated in the battle against Apokolips' armies, this is all about Mother Machine coming to be. Everything makes a bit more sense now, as it's obvious Mother Machine came from an Apokoliptan Mother Box. The ending tagline says we'll see more of Mother Machine in the future, which could spell the return of Darkseid.

The final story about Deadman comes from Tony Bedard and Scott McDaniel, both of whom do a fantastic job telling the tale of Boston Brand's first mission of possession. In a cruel twist of fate, the goddess Rama sends Boston to save the soul of the man who murdered him. Of course, Boston rejects his task until he's forced back into the situation and winds up saving the day anyway. It's a telling moment for Brand, the moment he recognizes that his actions have consequences, not only for his own well-being, but also for those he's charged with helping. Deadman doesn't get enough page time in Justice League Dark, though I supposed I should be thankful he's a recurring character at all. Bedard's "Instant Karma" reminds one of why the first five issues of DC Universe Presents are still the best.

As a whole, DC Universe Presents #0 is a good read. As individual stories, the tales about O.M.A.C., Mister Terrific, and Deadman are considerably better than those about the Blackhawks and Hawk and Dove. Read them all, or just read the ones you want. It's kind of up to you when it comes to an anthology format such as this. I only read one issue of the "Challengers of the Unknown" arc because it just wasn't my cup of tea. But I jumped right back in with "Savage", then regrettably "Kid Flash". DC Universe Presents #0 is definitely worth the buy, if only for the fact that you get five stories from five different creative teams at a whopping 48 pages.

GRADE

B-

EARTH 2 #0

STORY: James Robinson
ART: Tomas Giorello

"Zero Month" is the DC's design to give readers a bit more history to the characters this company revamped just one year ago. The idea is to bring us stories from before issue number one; a simple premise that already doesn't hold true to some titles (like Green Lantern, Green Lantern: New Guardians, etc.) Of course, there are titles that are taking full advantage of this chance and going all-out origin (like The Phantom Stranger and Stormwatch). Then there are titles like Earth 2, which are simply telling select tales - not really making (apparent) connections to the present day, but also not giving a full history lesson.

In James Robinson's Earth 2 #0, we're introduced to Terry Sloan, a.k.a. "Mr. 8", the eighth 'wonder' who protects Earth after Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Robin, Catwoman, and an unnamed seventh (who actually becomes my most persistent question throughout the new mysteries this issue brings up). It's not exactly clear what Sloan's abilities are, exactly. Does he have powers, or is he just a high-tech badass? I read the issue as the latter, assuming he was just a government-sanctioned ally of the 'Trinity'.

I was a bit disappointed with Earth 2 #0. I was expecting a bit more insight into Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, while instead I got a mission that doesn't really give any insight into any of them except that there are multiple ways Kryptonite can be manipulated to have varied effects on Superman. Other than that, this issue is solely about Sloan's still-shrouded-in-mystery endgame.

Of course, that process starts in E2 #0 - set six years in the past - as the Trinity and Sloan infiltrate an Apokoliptan mind-control broadcasting machine. In a nod to Darkseid's pre-'New 52' inclinations, the mind-control is based on a psychological implosion achieved through the ant-life equation. After arriving at the core of the machine, Sloan deceives the Trinity, uses synthesized opal Kryptonite to drive Superman insane, and starts rambling about those under the anti-life equation's control are "...beyond salvation. So I will destroy them." Even after a bomb blast care of Batman, Sloan gets up - albeit with hundreds of shards of glass sticking out of him - and activates a chain reaction that detonates the four anti-life machines around the globe. In a stunning panel by Tomas Giorello, the massive explosions shoot out from the Earth's surface as our planet begins to resemble Apokolips - a chilling notion if there ever was one.

A few more tidbits are revealed about Earth 2 in general, as well this issue. As I mentioned earlier, Kryptonite is much more maleable in this dimension, perhaps due to Robinson's claim that Earth 2 is rooted more in the mystical and supernatural than it's New Earth counterpart. We also learn that the war with Apokolips has been raging for a long, long time, and that the 'wonders' of Earth 2 are more like a task force than a god-like collective entity. Granted, they're up against an army that would put the range of heroes in the main DC continuity to shame, as well.

A big revelation in Earth 2 #0 is the existence of an extensive multiverse! It's interesting that DC would green light this idea, as the pre-'New 52' continuity was marred by decades of multi-dimensional history and crossover, and one of the major points of the relaunch was to consolidate these infinite universes. It's hard to get excited for a multiverse again. Really, it is. Introducing Earth 2 was a fantastic idea because it would not only bring back the Justice Society, but also provide an easy and straightforward approach to multiple dimensions, while mirroring ideas pioneered in the 1960s and 70s that culminated in Crisis on Infinite Earths in the mid-80s. While it was implied that the former level of chaotic transdimensional shuffling wouldn't be a problem this time around, Terry Sloan escapes to the "Ninth Dimension", meaning that there are a possible nine different universes now open to writers, technically. It's frustrating and unnecessary.

The 'New 52' is still young, and this new continuity needs time to come into it's own as an established universe with diverse, interesting, developed characters in a rich, vibrant world. Robinson's venture in Earth 2 is fantastic, but the introduction of a new multiverse is really, really annoying.

GRADE

C+

EARTH 2 #4

STORY: James Robinson
ART: Nicola and Trevor Scott

Months before it's debut, James Robinson explained how Earth 2 wasn't just going to be a Justice Society book, how it's title was deliberate in how he wanted to create a whole new world, not just another team series. With fans bursting at the seams for 'New 52' versions of their favorite JSA team members, Robinson could have simply taken the easy route and put the Justice Society together in a similar fashion to how Geoff Johns did so over on Justice League. In that case, Johns needed to quickly establish the team in order to keep up with this new universe's continuity. Luckily, Robinson has a bit more breathing room which allows him to move Earth 2 at a more deliberate pace.

Earth 2 #4 is the first major 'wonders' encounter since Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman sacrificed themselves to defeat an Apokolyptan invasion five years prior (see Earth 2 #1). Solomon Grundy - Earth 2's avatar of the Grey, a facsimile of the Rot over in Animal Man and Swamp Thing -  is rampaging through Washington D.C. and killing everything in his path while demanding to face the Jade Knight. As this Earth's avatar of the Green, Alan Scott feels Grundy's power, knowing it's something he must face. Similarly, Hawkgirl's heightened senses show her that the decay suddenly upon her and Jay Garrick at the end of last issue is coming from America (they're in Poland, remember?) By issue's middle, Hawkgirl and Flash are facing off against Grundy, who seems none too pleased that Green Lantern hasn't shown up.

Many, many critics feel that Green Lantern and Solomon Grundy's connections to the Green and the Rot Grey are too similar to the Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder's work with these concepts over in the regular old DCU. In their perspective, Robinson is retreading ground and Lemire and Snyder are covering amply. What these journalists fail to see is how important the Red/Green/Rot connections are to each world. As it stands, DC is looking to make this 'New 52' universe inarguably cohesive, a task it stands to accomplish if it can keep writers reigned in when it comes to rewriting history or resurrecting characters, as well as making sure that the events in one book can affect those in another. So while Earth 2 is technically set in another universe, it's the closest parallel dimension to 'New Earth', which allows for the high possibility that they share common elements. The best part is that Robinson is taking already amazing story elements and twisting them just enough to make Earth 2 unique.

Also, AL PRATT!

Yes, the Atom (Smasher) makes his hardened military 'New 52' debut. While little is actually revealed in the way of expository explanation, a glimpse into the recent past shows a young Pratt unable to control his powers being taken in by the government. Flash back to Al Pratt the human weapon. After the Apokolyps invasion and the end of the Age of Wonders, the world's governments created an international army to make sure Earth would be ready if any alien threat were to come after the planet again. One of these countermeasures apparently includes recruiting Wonders. By the time Pratt is air-dropped into the hot zone, Green Lantern is putting the smack down on the regenerative Grundy who is more amused by Scott's actions than threatened.

While I'm a fan of James Robinson's Earth 2 thus far, it was definitely time for a flashy battle to showcase the characters he'd been building up for three issues so far. And yes, it's a little far-fetched that two characters simply 'felt' the evil of Grundy and therefore were able to find him, but the means of getting to a massive fight in Washington D.C. between Solomon Grundy and Green Lantern, Flash, Hawkgirl, and the Atom are completely justifiable. Plus, a few panels near the end hint at Hawkgirl's (Kendra's?!?!?) connection to Al Pratt and the agency he works for. Earth 2 just gets better and better each month! Even my complaints about Nicola and Trevor Scott's art last issue have been resolved - the lines are cleaner, the faces are bust better, and the that first panel where Alan uppercuts Grundy is astounding.

Robinson recently promised Wildcat coming soon to the pages of Earth 2, along with Doctor Fate and a slew of others. In such a unique position, Robinson is doing everything he can to make the heroes of Earth 2 just as epic and amazing as their New Earth counterparts. In most ways, he's succeeding (I'm looking at you, Hal Jordan).

GRADE

A

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #11

STORY: James Robinson
ART: Bernard Chang

While the spotlight remains on his work over on Earth 2, James Robinson has assembled a fantastic trilogy of issues that focuses on Vandal Savage, one of DC's most brilliant and deadly villains. Mirroring the structure of Silence of the Lambs - not unlike many contemporary thriller stories involving serial killers - Robinson introduces Savage's daughter and hard-ass, Kassidy Sage, as a detective trying to take down a murderer imitating a killing spree her own father went on years earlier. While the narrative structure might be familiar, Robinson's style gives the relationship between Savage and Kass a thick tension that never really lets up.

In this final issue of the arc, the killer is revealed to be Steven Ward, the son of the detective to tracked down and arrested Vandal Savage all those years ago. Adam Ward was celebrated as a criminal justice mastermind, able to decrypt Savage's ancient methods and inhuman motives. For reasons unexplained - because it really isn't that important, Ward became physically deformed after Savage murders his father, developing bleach white skin and grotesque bird-like talons where hands should be. He blames Savage not only for the murder of his father, but also for the string of murders Ward himself was "forced" to commit in order to orchestrate Savage's leave from his prison cell. Ward's belief in his righteous cause blinds him to the truth of his situation - he's become a homicidal maniac.

Robinson's characterization of Kassidy Sage is nothing short of devoted. At the beginning of this arc, the reader is introduced to a strong female character that was suddenly faced with a situation that could have shattered her confidence and made her question her own morality. Instead, Robinson gives Kass an unyielding personality with stoicism that never breaks. Kassidy Sage is who Jodi Foster wishes she had been. It doesn't take a genius to see how popular forensic criminal science has become over the past decade (CSI, Cold Case, Law & Order, NCIS, etc.), and Robinson takes advantage of this fad, presenting traditional DC characters in a more familiar and attention-grabbing role that's sure to win over a few crime procedural fans.

DC Universe Presents exists to give lesser-known characters a bigger spotlight. And though Vandal Savage is hardly "lesser known", beyond this arc, he's only featured in the pages of Demon Knights, a title set centuries in the past. Robinson's fun romp into the arena of psychological thriller is just fun. It's not too original, hardly unique in it's narrative structure, and Savage is presented as a stereotypically remorseless killer (who believes he's been) gifted with immortality. Really, it comes down to Robinson's handling of each character and the relationships between them that really sell "Savage" as an excellent part of DC's 'New 52' universe.

GRADE

B+

EARTH 2 #3

STORY: James Robinson
ART: Nicola and Trevor Scott

Whoa. That was honestly my first reaction at the end of Earth 2 #3. While the first two issues dealt mostly in grander exposition while dipping into character introductions, this month has James Robinson pulling out all the stops to reveal more about how Earth 2 operates, how it's similar and different from the main DC universe, and to give more character development, no matter how corny it gets.

If I have any complaints about Earth 2 thus far, it would have to be the stiff dialogue. I'm still on the fence deciding if Robinson is intentionally putting a cheeky spin on the writing to mirror the style of the original 1940s comics more closely, or if he's just stumbling in these early issues that are so chock-full of plot to bring readers up to speed that it's proving difficult to pen more in-depth narrative. More than likely, it's a bit of both - Robinson has built up Earth 2 into this crazy awesome big new world that has so much to explore that he wants to give readers as much as he can, which is not a bad thing. The only reason it flops a little is due to it's quick pace. It's a common misstep that mars a lot of good ideas in the very early stages: writers rushing through an origin to get to bigger and more in-depth arcs. That's all well and good for these creators who have their characters planned and rounded out in their heads, but it can be frustrating for readers who want to see a more realistic approach to how a person comes to grips with gaining unwieldy power.

Let's start off with the Flash and Hawkgirl. That's right - Hawkgirl makes her official debut as a messenger for the new superhero still learning how to control his super speed. Throughout their conversation, Hawkgirl (we don't yet know what her real name is, she makes an effort to point out) drops hints about future events; Dr. Fate is explicitly brought up, she mentions that Jay needs to be better trained, and that she had a somewhat unusual past year - a point I'm hoping Robinson will revisit in the future. This meeting is pretty light on actual plot development, focusing more on broader ideas that will be playing a role in the future of the series. While there's nothing wrong with that technique, this whole section feels very dry and set-up.

The rest of the issue is dedicated to the origins of Earth 2's Green Lantern, an undertaking that probably should have been stretched out over a few issues, but nonetheless gets the job done and gives Alan Scott something to think about for the future. As Alan wakes up, he is confronted by a talking green light that begins spouting nonsense about the guardian of Earth and the such. Alan takes the logical route at first - believing the head trauma is causing him to hallucinate - but very quickly has an about-face and accepts the unknown. Alan Scott has traditionally been a very straight-laced character, so it's a little odd to see Robinson apparently throw out the old and give us a totally new Alan Scott that seems to have the psychological strength of a seasoned CIA agent.

The third main point Robinson brings to Earth 2 is the idea that Green Lantern's power comes from the energy of the Earth, similar to Swamp Thing. The connection is made even more explicit with the introduction of the Grey, Earth 2's equivalent of the Rot that's currently plaguing both Swampy and Animal Man in the main DCnU. This revelation is an excellent example of how dedicated DC has become to creating a shared world, even crossing into other universes.

Nicola and Trevor Scott's art this week is a bit mixed. The Flash/Hawkgirl panels are fantastic, while the Green Lantern pages look like Alan is wearing Hollywood makeup and talking to a green screen, which I don't even know how they could pull off. Overall, I'm still very invested in Earth 2. Green Lantern, Flash, and Hawkgirl are enough to entice me to keep reading, and the promise of the Atom and more of Earth 2's (Solomon?) Grundy is too much to resist. Robinson gets a 'pass' this month on the character dialogue simply because the first two issues were so good, this may just be a hiccup.

GRADE

C+

(COMIC) DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #10

STORY: James Robinson
ART: Bernard Chang

DC Universe Presents is a great series. While I didn't find "Challengers of the Unknown" particularly engaging, both "Deadman" and now "Savage" have been fantastic arcs that are highlighting less popular characters while simultaneously adding bricks to the 'New 52' universe and how it operates. And though Vandal Savage has been a mainstay in Demon Knights - a title I highly recommend - there's not a whole lot of character development for him in a time period where Savage was little more than a barbarian. "Savage" is giving readers a better look into the immortal man, who he was throughout the ages, and how his actions in the past have repercussions in the current day.

James Robinson has employed the 'Hannibal Lecter' approach to this story; Kassidy Sage, Savage's daughter and police office, has come to her father seeking help involving a serial killer mimicking Savage's murders years, decades, and centuries before. While Kass doesn't believe her father's to be trusted (or that he's immortal), she does believe that he can be useful in the case. It's a pretty common hypocrisy when police work with criminals like this - the law doesn't actually trust the criminal, so they only listen selectively, to what they believe actually makes sense. But hey, I'm no police officer.

While normally I find father-daughter conflicts uninteresting, the dynamic between Kassidy and Savage is fantastic. Robinson is really taking his time when it comes to their relationship, which is hard to do with only three issues in the "Savage" arc. Nonetheless, Savage is well written as a cold-blooded killer than just so happens to care for his family - centuries of life experience have shown Savage that some things are more important than others, and while he likes to mess around with Kass' head, he really does love his daughter and wants the best for her. It's not out of the ordinary, just out of character for Savage who, before the 'New 52' relaunch, was much more vicious. I mean, Scandal Savage was a super-villain from her first appearance!

I've mentioned before, in other reviews, how much I appreciate a dose of realism in comic books. That's not to say I prefer realism over innovation, just that including small bits of realism to ground a story can have immense effect on the overall appeal of the narrative. Seeing civilians tweeting and sharing pictures of an alien invader makes for a much more relatable setting than people using old cell phones and reading newspapers on the street. "Savage" only really employs 'sci-fi' or 'fantastical' elements with the villain, some white-skinned, red-cloaked mystery man who uses his own pattern of killing against Kass' squad to use them in his sacrifice, much like Savage did all those years ago.

After employing his own methods to the crime scene, Savage leads Kass and her team to the killer's location. Kass immediately has her father removed from the scene and taken back to the transport. On the way, Savage realizes he was wrong and that the killer was after the police, not the original victim. Though he tries to reason with his escorts, the officers don't believe Savage and don't radio back to Kass with the new information. One by one, Kass' squad is picked off while Savage attacks his escorts while on a plane mid-flight, then jumps back into the woods to save his daughter. The entire scene is excellently written by Robinson, and the artwork by Bernard Chang really drives the emotion. Chang's cuts between Kass' team and Savage are perfect and the violence is neither too gory or underdeveloped.

This second part of "Savage" would be hard to read as a stand-alone issue, seeing as elements from DC Universe Presents #9 come into play throughout the issue, and the ramifications of this month's events will be concluded next month. Then again, I guess the same could be said about most any comic book series, but in this case, it would be like watching The Godfather, Part II without having seen The Godfather or knowing anything about it. I'm sure it would be enjoyable, but you wouldn't have a frame of reference for these characters or their motivations.

GRADE

B+

(COMIC) EARTH 2 #1

STORY: James Robinson
ART: Nicola Scott and Trevor Scott


Here it is! The first review from "The Endless Reel" covering DC's 'New 52: Second Wave'! I wanted to start things off with James Robinson and Nicola Scott's Earth 2 #1. Fans have been clamoring for the Justice Society since DC the 'New 52' relaunch came with no mention of the heroes of yesteryear (except for Mister Terrific). Obviously, DC has answered those fans with a series built around not only the Justice Society, but about an entire parallel universe.

Earth 2 #1 kicks things off spectacularly with a brief history of the Apokolips War - a conflict similar to the one faced by the Justice League of the 'primary' Earth, except the Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman from Earth 2 sacrifice themselves to end the war and save the planet. The first five pages alone depict the three pillars of DC against an unending army of Parademons. It's actually quite incredible that Robinson is able to make Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman all likable and emotional investment-worthy within the span of 20 pages. It's sad that these three main characters won't be around going forward, but it means we get to see that much more of Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, and the the rest of the JSA.

Earth 2 also sets up another Second Wave series being debuted this week, World's Finest, starring Power Girl and Huntress, a.k.a. Supergirl and Robin of Earth 2. Batman's task involved infecting Apokolyptian technology with a virus from within one of their communication spires. After the virus caused all the alien technology to start malfunctioning, Supergirl and Robin take off after Steppenwolf (the leader of Apokolips, as far as we know) through an unstable boom tube.

The final pages of the issue are dedicated to giving readers a bit of the retooled backstories for both Alan Scott, who is the owner and CEO of G.B.C. Media, and Jay Garrick, a recent college graduate with no plans for the future and a girlfriend who dumps him for a better life. Already, it's quite obvious that the Justice Society is going to be a parallel to the Justice League instead of their forefathers.

GRADE:

A