Earth 2 #29 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Bennett and Johnson tell exactly the sort of story that we should be seeing in "Earth 2" right now.  With the action shifting to the weekly series, "Earth 2" provides the authors the opportunity to tell the type of stories that they don't have the space to tell in "Earth 2:  World's End."

First, we get to spend more time with Barbara and Dick.  I've been really interested in them since they first appeared in the weekly series, and I'm glad the authors gave us a chance to explore them more as characters.  You get a better sense of their bond here (including their relationship with their son), and it's pretty great to witness the likely birth of Nightwing as Dick saves Barbara from a parademon.

But, we also get some space to examine the impact that the appearance in Earth's space of Apokolips has on ordinary people.  It was already clear that the refugee camps had become places that lacked any hope.  But, Gomorrah takes that despair on step farther, with its residents embracing the lack of hope that comes with Earth seeming coming to an end around them.  It's probably hard to argue, as meteors fall from the sky, that the Devil hasn't won his war with God, and the authors treat the Gomorrans with care.  Sure, they're sacrificing Barbara to a parademon, but the authors make you understand how everyone found themselves in such a dire situation in the first place.  Most of these sorts of events rarely have the space to explore the impact that the extraordinary circumstances have on ordinary people, so, again, I really applaud the authors for finding a way to tell that story.

It's pretty clear from the way that this issue ends, with Dick noting that the words of comfort that he says to Babs don't ring true to him, that the tragedy that's been lurking in the background is coming soon.  But, I'm glad that we got to spend some time with the Graysons here before that happens.

*** (three of five stars)