Earth 2: World's End #1 - A Review

If you've been reading Earth 2, then this first chapter of Earth 2: World's End will offer some welcome information about the history behind the Earth/Apokolips War that kicked off the start of the series.  And if you haven't been reading Earth 2, may the gods of all the pantheons have mercy upon you should you attempt to muddle your way through this book.  This book isn't entirely incomprehensible to new readers, but for every point of The Story So Far it explains, another two go untouched.


Case In Point: The book does a great job of explaining the back-stories of Supergirl and Robin (Now Power Girl and Huntress) and depicting their journey to Earth One and back. But the issue does nothing to explain the story of the new Superman, Val-Zod, or the importance of Jimmy "Accountable" Olsen.  This is doubly vexing since this book unloads a major bombshell that isn't easily understood unless you already know about Jimmy Olsen's superpower in this reality.

That's the damnable paradox of this issue.  It is meant to be bringing new readers up to speed with the story of Earth 2 so far but it is so incredibly piece-meal as to what information it chooses to offer up that it is completely useless as an entry point for new readers. This is doubly unfortunate because there are a number of highly touching scenes in this issue once you get past all the history.  My favorite is Power Girl's reunion with her mother, Lois Lane.  Well, the Red Tornado body housing Lois Lane's personality... but why quibble? It is still a touching scene.


I have little to say about the art on this book.  With eight artists working together, there is very little consistency or visual continuity, but that's been a problem with most of DC Comics' weekly titles.  The nicest thing I can say is that there isn't any artwork that is glaringly awful but I still think these books would benefit from having one artist each week rather than a team working on three or four pages every issue.

Aquaman #20 - A Review

When Geoff Johns first introduced the idea of The Others during his second big Aquaman storyline, I wished that more time had been spent developing the team and showing their adventures.  Made up of a variety of unique characters whose only common bond was possession of a magical Atlantean artifact. The Others represented something I feel that The New 52 was largely lacking - history, diversity and something we hadn't seen before.  Guest Writer John Ostrander takes a closer look at these characters while introducing a new team member in this interlude issue, which shows the surviving Others taking on a mission that Aquaman can't, due to all the things that currently have him busy in Death Of A King.


Those familiar with Ostrander's work on Suicide Squad will find much to enjoy with his script here.  Like The Suicide Squad, The Others are made up of people who do not always get along with one another but are professional enough to put aside their disagreements for the common good - one way or the other.  Ostrander also deserves some credit for further diversifying the team, introducing a new Native America hero, who avoids being stereotypical despite her mystic origin.  Ostrander also reveals something of Ya'wara (the only jungle-princess character I can think of in modern comics who isn't a blonde-haired Caucasian) and her romantic preferences that further sets the character apart from the common cliche.


Sadly, the art fails to live up to the script.  Manuel Garcia's pencils are competent enough and his figures are crisp and clear in places.  The problem lies with the inkers, of which there are four.  Anyone who doubts the power of an inker to make or break a comic would do well to take a look at this issue and take note of how the inking in this book is far from uniform.  The inking is too thick in some places, too thin in others and just right in a rare few moments.  I applaud DC Comics efforts to give work to as many artists as possible but it would be nice if this book had a single inker or greater effort was made to ensure a more consistent look. 

Batman #18 - A Review

There have been rumors buzzing about the Internet in the wake of Batman #18 - rumors that Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV would create a new female Robin to replace Damian Wayne.  Having read this issue, I can see why some people might have this idea as the plot once again focuses upon the character of Harper Row - the emancipated minor and electronics prodigy introduced back in Batman #12.

For my part, I don't believe it and hope it isn't the case for three reasons.  The cynic in me dreads the eventual fate of any teenage girl introduced into the Bat Family (Whither Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown?).  The historian in me fears that Damian Wayne's death might be cheapened if he is so quickly and easily replaced at a time when Death in Comics is already so cheap and the ease of replacing one Robin with another is already a punchline.  Finally, the fanboy in me thinks Harper Row is far too unique and interesting a character to saddle with the title of Robin.


Thankfully, Snyder and Tynion's script - while showing us how awesome Harper is as she seeks to help Batman - seems to hang a lampshade on the idea of Harper being adopted into the Bat Family in the wake of recent events.  And while Bruce's state of mind and many of the events here do mirror the circumstances in the early 90s which led to Tim Drake becoming Robin, Harper wants something different for herself than to become just another mask.  So, as before, she finds a way to help Batman that has little to do with throwing punches and instead gives him what he needs to continue his work. 


Greg Capullo takes a break from the artwork this month, replaced by two equally able artists.  Part One of this story is illustrated by the legendary Andy Kubert, with inks by Sandra Hope.  The second chapter is penciled and inked by long-time Daredevil artist Alex Maleev.  Both are good art teams but I must confess to having a preference to Maleev's style as it seems a better fit for the world of Gotham City.  Regardless of preference, this is still a beautiful, well-written comic and a fine one to read on the odd-chance you have yet to start reading Batman on a regular basis.

World's Finest #6 - A Review

World's Finest is one of my favorite books.  Month after month, I can always count on it to give me several excellent and exciting action scenes, some amazing illustrations and leave me laughing at least once.  Such are the wonders of this book that it can make even the horribly annoying Damien Wayen tolerable, though I suspect that's because his visual depiction, as drawn by artist Kevin Maguire, puts me in the mind of a tween version of Namor The Sub-Mariner.


The main focus of this issue is upon Huntress - Batman's daughter on the alternate world of Earth Two - having it out with Damien Wayne, the current Robin of Earth One.  The former has been stealing from Bruce Wayne to finance her activities in this strange new world.  The later is intent on stopping her, little caring about any connection they might have despite some curiosity about her mixing the fighting styles of Catwoman and his father.

The other half of the issue, focusing upon Power Girl, follows Karen Starr - the more fun-loving and wild of our two protagonists - as she continues to work toward finding a way back to their home world.  This section is a lot more fun than the extended fight scene between Huntress and Robin, though the later bits of it do hint at something deadly serious to be coming soon.  Paul Levitz balances both storylines perfectly.


This book has the single greatest art team of any book on the market right now.  I don't know now long DC Comics can allow not one but two great artists of the caliber of Kevin Maguire and George Perez to work together on one title but hopefully it will be for many years yet.  Both artists have crisp, clear, classic superheroic styles but are different and definitive enough for their sections to be distinct and enjoyable on their own merits.  I can't recommend this book enough.