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)

UPCOMING REVIEWS (SEP. 5-11)

Action Comics #0
(Morrison, Oliver)
- Grant Morrison takes us back in time! to give us a story about a boy who steals Superman's cape. There's got to be some connection to the overall Morrison story, so it'll be interesting to see how a carefree-sounding story might incorporate more complex elements.

Earth 2 #0
(Robinson, Giorello)
- Since Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman died in the opening pages of Earth 2 #1, this month's 'Issue Zero' will focus on their heroic adventures before the invasion of Apokolips. Plus, more connections will probably be made between E2 and World's Finest.

Green Lantern #0

(Johns, Mahnke)

- It's about damn time we get an introduction to BAZ! the newest member of the soon-to-maybe-be-extinct Green Lantern Corps. He's looking bad-ass, and probably won't get any training, which is a great set-up to the epic "Rise of the Third Army" starting next month. And maybe we'll get some insight into the fates of Hal Jordan and Sinestro.

Hawkeye #2
(Fraction, Aya)
- My review of Hawkeye #1 last month for PopMatters.com examined how Matt Fraction aimed to make Clint Barton more akin to the 1970s embodiment of Green Arrow, a hero who fought for the common man and the underscored in our society. Let's see if Fraction can keep it up.

The Phantom Stranger #0

(Didio, Anderson)

- After a fantastic and tragically cut short run on O.M.A.C., - not to mention a three-part "Challengers of the Unknown" arc on DC Universe Presents - Dan Didio returns to writing with The Phantom Stranger straight out of the pages of The New 52 #1, the 'Free Comic Book Day' issue that introduced us to the Trinity of Sin. If past work is any indication, Didio's take on the Stranger will be campy and awesome.

World's Finest #0
(Levitz, Maguire)
- After a less-than-stellar first arc, Paul Levitz takes us back to Earth 2 to a time when Karen was Supergirl, and Helena was Robin. They were two of the eight 'wonders' of Earth 2 before the Apokolips invasion destroyed everything. Just like Earth 2 #0, it's likely more will be revealed about the nature of the multiverse and how the two Earth's connect.

4-Sentence Reviews
- Animal Man #0
- Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #3 of 4
- Dial H #0
- The First X-Men #2 of 5

WORLD'S FINEST #4

STORY: Paul Levitz
ART: George Perez, Kevin Maguire, and Scott Koblish

I really, really wanted to like World's Finest. In fact, for the first three issues, I gave the series a whole lot of leeway due to it's grand scale and ambitious storyline that could have been great. Unfortunately, Paul Levitz squanders any good will he had with this finale to "Rebirth", which carps around endlessly resulting in no real conclusion to an already struggling arc. What's most upsetting is why this series has been tripping up so much: Levitz has been focusing so much on developing Karen Star and Helena Wayne, that he completely lost the plot in constant flashback sequences and "witty" banter between these two friends. It's not often I criticize a writer for penning too much character development, but in the case of World's Finest #4, four months of neglecting the plot comes to affront with painful results.

Since the first issue, the villain Hakkou has been terrorizing various scientific locations around the world, including Karen Star's dimensional transporter and one of Michael Holt's labs. It's been assumed since his debut that Hakkou was a parademon, stranded on New Earth just like Power Girl and Huntress, after the war with Apokolips on Earth 2. As the final issue of "Rebirth", it would only make sense that Hakkou's origins would be locked down, or at least an explanation would be given for his radioactivity-absorbing powers. Apparently, Paul Levitz feels otherwise, instead opting to give no answers and no explanations. Huntress and Power Girl are still locked in a showdown with Hakkou in Tokyo Bay. Still. Maybe I'm being too harsh, but a four-issue arc shouldn't spend two of those issues focused on one fight. And a pretty lazy, uninteresting one at that.

Seriously, nothing seems to be resolved this month. Every issue of World's Finest thus far have included flashback sequences drawn by Kevin Maguire, jumping back a few months at a time to give more insight to the few years since their arrival on New Earth. Again, one would expect these time-jumps to be leading up to something, or at least to the current day, but one would be disappointed, yet again. If they don't have a connection to the story, what is their purpose? Unfortunately, even though Kevin Maguire's artwork is far superior to Perez's dated style, he's relegated to side-story, something I hope DC will change in the near future when Perez will inevitably move onto another series to make look like everyone has plastic surgery and awful 80s hairstyles.

Because Earth 2 has been so strong, I want to believe that World's Finest will get better. Though, it may take some time to recuperate from this big letdown.

GRADE

C-

UPCOMING REVIEWS (AUG 1-7)

Action Comics #12
(Morrison, Bryant)
- With Grant Morrison's announcement that he'll be leaving AC after issue 16, we now know that his sprawling, revamped origin for good old Superman actually will have a conclusion! This month, Morrison continues his tale of "The Forgotten Superman" as well as another back-up - this time featuring Perry White - that will again add more depth to Superman's world.

Animal Man #12

(Lemire, Pugh)

- Now that Buddy Baker and Alex Holland are finally teamed up, it's time to dive into the realm of the Rot. Unfortunately, this "Rotworld: Prologue" will mostly be a recap of the last year's events in both Animal Man and Swamp Thing.

Avengers vs. X-Men #9 of 12
(Someone, Kubert)
- As we enter Act III of Avengers vs. X-Men, the Phoenix Five's weakness has been revealed and Namor is down for the count! How will the the Scarlet Witch use her newfound ability to excise the Phoenix to turn the tides for the Avengers? I know this is completely out of left field, but as a Young Avengers fan, I want to see some Patriot, Wiccan, Hulkling, Stature, Speed, and Hawkeye II! Hey, a guy can dream.

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #2 of 4

(Straczynski, Kubert)

- Last month, Nite Owl saw the first meeting of the group that would become the Watchmen, including the first team-up between Nite Owl and Rorschach. This month continues Dan Dreiberg's journey to prove to himself that he's worthy of the Nite Owl mantle.

Earth 2 #4
(Robinson, Scott)
- Now that we've been properly introduced, it's time to see Earth 2 Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl in action! Also, the Atom of Earth 2 makes his debut, along with more insight to the Grey and this universe's Solomon Grundy. James Robinson has stated that he intends to build up this world before putting the JSA together, and he's doing a fantastic job so far.

Justice League International #12

(Jurgens, Lopresti)

- It's the "Funeral of Rocket Red" as the team deals with the fallout of their adventures thus far. Seeing as this is the last 'official' issue in the run - not counting the Annual issue later this month - Dan Jurgens will be pulling out all the punches to send out this fantastic series in style.

Swamp Thing #12
(Snyder, Paquette)
- All DC has released for press info is that this issue "continues from Animal Man #12" which is just a recap. Hopefully, we'll get to see some actual action happen here. If both issues turn out to be a recap, a single review will be written for both Animal Man and Swamp Thing.

4-Sentence Reviews
- Dial H #4
- First X-Men #1 of 5
- Hawkeye #1
- World's Finest #4

4-SENTENCE REVIEWS (JULY 4-10)

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1 of 6
(Wein, Lee)

Being a mixed bag of results thus far, Before Watchmen brings the origins of the most evil Watchman this week with a pretty comprehensive childhood flashback and the history of Ozymandias' supreme martial arts skills. Len Wein does an apt job navigating the life of Ozy, but the actual dialogue tends to sound stiff and flat. On top of that, Wein shoves a lot of plot into this one issue, which seems a bit overkill considering he's got six issues to flesh out the character. Overall, Ozymandias #1 isn't a bad read - in fact it's pretty engaging - there's just a feeling that there isn't much emotion in these characters, and that may prove to be a problem if Wein plans on attempting to make us connect with Ozy on a deeper level.

GRADE: B-

Detective Comics #11

(Daniel, Ferreira, Pansica)

Tony S. Daniel has really been letting Detective Comics slip since he ended the "Penguin" storyline and was somewhat pushed into making his title a part of "Night of the Owls". It seems as if Daniel is floundering, unsure of what direction to take the Dark Knight, resulting in a bunch of issues that feel disjointed, fractured, and (most of all) uninteresting. Mr. Toxic's introduction into the 'New 52' seemed like it would promise some fun panels, but instead we get an issue's worth of rhetoric pertaining to cloning and the way Mr. Toxic could be taking advantage of that technology. By the end of the issue, there are more questions than answers, which is just frustrating.

GRADE: C-

Dial H #3
(Mieville, Santoloucco)

To describe Dial H as confusing would be to only scratch the surface of China Mieville and Mateus Santolouco's thrilling mystery surrounding the enigmatic nature of the dials that turn people into super-powered beings. While the narrative-proper might be dodging and weaving a bit too much for the casual reader, the adventures of Nelson as he delves deeper into the conspiracy surrounding these weird dials just keeps you hooked - even when Nelson is at his most pathetic, I found myself strangely rooting for him. This is a testament to Mieville's use of specific diction and syntax to convey certain ideas, a hard feat for any type of writer. In the end, Dial H is still one of the best books you can pick up each month, not only for it's exciting narrative, but also for the distinct artwork and it's space in DC's 'New 52' universe.

GRADE: B-

Red Lanterns #11

(Milligan, Sepulveda)

This month, Peter Milligan takes us down the path to the end of the Red Lanterns, an endgame he's been working toward since the beginning of the series last September. Atrocitus' power is severely weakened, mutiny threatens his Corps from multiple directions, and now he's got a rather strong Abysmus to deal with before he can even begin to start making the Red Lanterns a forced to be reckoned with once again. It's hard to keep focused on this particular story when DC's already announced that October's issue 13 will be a crossover with the other Green Lantern-related titles for "Rise of the Third Army", signaling that the Rage Team isn't going anywhere anytime soon. While Red Lanterns isn't one of the best titles DC currently offers, it also isn't one of the worst.

GRADE: A-

World's Finest #3
(Levitz, Maguire, Perez, Cheetham)

Keeping with the theme of the first two issues in "Rebirth", Paul Levitz and George Perez bring readers another issue of World's Finest that not only reveals more about Karen and Helena's working relationship, but also gives more insight into their years since arriving from Earth 2. While the stalker-ish Hakkou is obviously a parademon from Earth 2 forced to become more intelligent to survive on Earth Prime, Power Girl and Huntress still have no idea who they're fighting, which is kind of annoying, especially seeing as Huntress is the daughter of Earth 2's Batman. The past sequence pages start making connections between the girls' operations and their effects on the DCnU, like Karen's relationship with Michael Holt. While enjoyable, World's Finest suffers from a lesser version of Earth 2's problem, which stems from having a large chunk of history to squeeze in between the current-day narrative.

GRADE: C+

(THE WEEK) JULY 4-10, 2012 [update]

Action Comics #11
(Morrison, Morales)
- "The Death of Clark Kent" continues with the revelation of Superman's new alter-ego! And the back-up story by Sholly Fisch answers the question, "where did all those 'S' t-shirts come from?"

Animal Man #11
(Lemire, Pugh)
- The war between against the Rot was supposed to start last month, but it was more of a prelude than anything. Hopefully, this conclusion of "Extinction Is Forever" will bring about the actual warring!

Avengers vs. X-Men #7 of 12
(Fraction, Coipel)
- Matt Fraction picks up where Jonathan Hickman left us last month, with "No More Avengers!"

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1 of 4
(Wein, Lee)
- I'm actually extra-excited for this series, as Ozy' was the villain of Moore's original Watchmen - it will be interesting to see how his past is framed.


Dial H #3
(Mieville, Santolouco)
- Nelson's situation gets a little bit better when he gains an ally! Check out one of the best series going on right now!

Earth 2 #3
(Robinson, Scott)
- Last month's thrilling cliffhanger started the cogs turning for the revamped origins of Earth 2 Green Lantern!

Justice League International #11
(Jurgens, Lopresti)
- As JLI winds down, "Breakdown" comes to a conclusion with some deaths, apparently! Let's see how DC plans on dismantling one of the best teams of the 'New 52'... :(

4-Sentence Reviews

The Cape: 1969 #1
(Hill, Ciaramella)
- Last years fantastic The Cape series surprised everyone with it's dark take on the concept of gaining powers and deciding how to use them. Now, Joe Hill takes us back in time to the Cape's origins in the thick of the Vietnam War!

Detective Comics #11
(Daniels, Benes)
- Tony Daniels announced his stepping fown from Detective Comics after issue 12, so I'll be interested to see how he handles Hypnotic and the connection to Wayne Industries before his run ends!

Powers: FBI #1
(Bendis)
- I've always been intrigued by Powers, but never took the plunge into the ongoing series. Now that it's getting a reboot at the federal level, I'd like to give it a shot and see how I like it. Who knows - maybe it'll inspire me to read the first three volumes!

Red Lanterns #11
(Milligan, Sepulveda)
- I have really covered Red Lanterns before - mostly because I cover every other GL title - but things are starting to move a little more, and I want to take a look at how things will unfold as "Rise of the Third Army" gets closer and closer.

World's Finest #3
(Levitz, Perez)
- Paul Levitz brings us a big more history from Huntress and Power Girls' last five years on Earth Prime, along with their hunt for the mysterious assassin who came through the boom tube all those years ago!

(THE WEEK) MAY 2-8, 2012 [update]

COMIC COVERAGE

Action Comics #8
(Morrison, Ha)
Grant Morrison takes us on a WILD ride through 3 different tales of alternate-universe Supermen, including President Superman! AWESOME!

Avengers vs. X-Men #3 of 12
(Aaron, Bendis, Brubaker, Fraction, Hickman, Romita Jr.)
Marvel's premier summer event continues into the third issue of the main series! After the fallout in issue 2, what will come of the conflict between Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the the world's mutant population?


Batwing #9
(Winick, To)
"Night of the Owls" continues! Special issue coverage! Batwing fights for his life against the Talons in Gotham!

Dial H #1
(Mieville, Santolouco)
Internationally renowned author China Mieville reboots the classic Dial H for Hero concept for the 21st century! Part of DC's 'New 52' Second Wave!

Earth Two #1
(Robinson, Scott)
The Justice Society comes to the 'New 52'! Follow the stories from an Earth parallel to our own! Part of DC's 'New 52' Second Wave!

Justice League International #9
(Jurgens, Lopresti)
The JLI must face O.M.A.C.! Includes a special crossover with this month's Firestorm: The Nuclear Men.

Teen Titans Annual #1
(Johns, Benes, et. al )
DC's first 'New 52' Annual issue! "The Culling" finally begins - it's the Titans and Superboy vs. Legion Lost!

World's Finest #1
(Levitz, Perez)
Follow the adventures of Power Girl and Huntress - both from Earth 2! - as part of DC's 'New 52' Second Wave! Why are these two heroes stuck on our Earth?


OTHER COVERAGE


DC Nation for May 5
- Young Justice Season 2, Episode 2 - "Earthlings"
- Green Lantern: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 10 - "Regime Change"

(NEWS) COMING SOON [update]

Hello Readers!

About a week ago, I outlined some of the new additions coming to "The Endless Reel" in the coming months. In last week, I've launched both the (DC NATION) segment of the site, and reviewed Avengers Vs. X-Men #0. Of course, next month Marvel's main event between Earth's mightiest heroes and the the protectors of all mutantkind starts it's bi-weekly run!

Starting in May, DC's second wave of 'New 52' titles launches. Previously, I announced that "The Endless Reel" would be covering both Dial H and Earth Two. At the time, I didn't want to overload myself with content to cover. As this site continued to grow, I realized that more content is better. In the spirit of jumping in head first, I've decided to add a few more titles to the lineup. Along with the already announced Dial H and Earth Two, I'll also be covering Grant Morrison's experimental series, Batman, Incorporated; and the adventures of Huntress and Power Girl in World's Finest.

 I'd like to add a third new title from the upcoming second wave, but I'm having trouble deciding between two books. I'm split between The Ravagers, a spin-off from Teen Titans and Superboy featuring Deathstroke's daughter, Rose Wilson, and G.I. Combat, the replacement series for Men of War which re-imagines classic DC military stories for the modern age.

I want the readers to decide which title for "The Endless Reel" to cover.

In the comments section, leave your decision for which of these two series I should cover when they launch in May. I'll tally up the results and make a final decision.

Until next time,
- Jay

Analysis: The Second Wave of the New 52

Analysis




The Second Wave of the New 52

Recently, DC announced the cancellation of six titles from Septembers relaunch called the 'new 52.' The six titles include the Rob Liefield-penciled Hawk and Dove, as well as Men of War (Brandon, Derrenick), Mister Terrific (Wallace, Gugliotta), Static Shock (Bernadin, McDaniel), Blackhawks (Costa, Lashley), and O.M.A.C., penned by DC co-publisher Dan DiDio. DC cited low sales as reason for their cancellation. While this may have been true for the excellent O.M.A.C. and Men of War, critics have lamented titles such as Hawk and Dove and Blackhawks for poor writing and directionless storytelling.

DC followed up news of the cancellations with the announcement of six new titles to fill the empty slots that will new known as the 'Second Wave' of New 52 titles. They are as follows. I've added some commentary, but take it with a grain of salt until you read them when they launch and judge for yourself.



Batman Incorporated (Volume 2)
Written by Grant Morrison
Pencilled by Chris Bunham

Honestly, did we really need a second run of Batman, Inc? Was anyone but Grant Morrison clamoring to do this? At this point, I'm sure Morrison has DC by the balls and is pretty much allowed to do whatever he wants, despite how weird it gets (anyone remember Seven Soliders back in 2004?) I tried to read Batwing back in September, but was sorely disappointed, so I'm not too hot on Batman Incorporated.




Earth 2
Written by James Robinson
Pencilled by Nicola Scott

On the flip side, Earth 2 is the book fans have been clamoring for since the Justice Society of America went away back before Flashpoint screwed everything up for everyone ever. Instead of mucking up it's own established history of superheroes only appearing 5-10 years ago, DC has opted to give readers the Justice Society once more, but will keep them on their native Earth 2 in the multiverse...which now seems to exist again. Some might argue that this title calls into question if Infinite Crisis ever happened, while others will keep their mouths shut and be happy to have a Justice Society title once again.


World's Finest
Written by Paul Levitz
Pencilled by George Perez and Kevin Maguire

Another puzzling choice, but for different reasons than Batman Incorporated. Powerl Girl and Huntress will be the focus of World's Finest, starring as citizens of Earth 2 trapped in our universe trying to find a way back home. I understand the desire to introduce more characters into the revamped universe, and I think World's Finest is an excellent way to do that. Honestly, I just wonder why Power Girl and Huntress specifically? I understand they're both from Earth 2, but in this revamped world, they could have paired almost any character with Power Girl and made it work because why not! I'll remain optimistically skeptical until I read the first issue.


Dial H
Written by China Mieville
Pencilled by Mateus Santoluoco

A re-imagining of Dial H for Hero, this new series by novelist China Mieville sounds awesome! The concept revolves around a mysterious dial that grants normal people superpowers for a short time by entering H-E-R-O on the dial. Not too dissimilar to Resurrection Man, an already fantastic series, Dial H has the potential to be a great showcase of heroes and powers.


G.I. Combat
Written by J.T. Krul (main issue), Jimmy Palmiotti (back-ups), and Jon Arcudi (back-ups)
Pencilled by Ariel Olivetti (main issue), Justin Grey (back-ups), and Scott Kolins (back-ups)

As you can see from the list of authors and artists, G.I. Combat is going to be a more collaborative effort. While DC cancelled Men of War and Blackhawks, it's two military-themed books, this new series will be reinterpreting classic DC military tales for the modern age, including the first primary arc about the War that Time Forgot. Back-up tales featuring the Unknown Soldier and the Haunted Tank are on schedule with more to come!


The Ravagers
Written by Howard Mackie
Pencilled by Ian Churchill

Loosely spun-off from events in Superboy and Teen Titans, this new series from Howard Mackie will tell the tale of four super-powered teenagers on the run from N.O.W.H.E.R.E., a sinister organization trying to turn them into super-villains. My assumption is that Rose Wilson, daughter of Deathstroke, will be among the group, seeing as her moniker was Ravager before the 'new 52' relaunch and she's been heavily featured in Superboy since it debuted.