I read "Earth 2" #32 before I read "Earth 2: World's End" #22, but it's honestly hard to say which one you should read first. For example, Kara and Val are fighting Apokolips' satellites in issue #32, and we see them give up that fight in issue #22 so that they can take on Apokolips directly; as such, it appears that issue #32 precedes issue #22. However, Helena and Thomas recover the escape ships from Brainwave in issue #22 that we later see Helena and Ollie repairing in issue #32. So, does issue #22 precede issue #32? It's honestly just par for the course when the authors of this event try to integrate the main title with the weekly title.
Issue #32 itself is remarkably straight-forward, particularly given how complicated the plot of the overarching "World's End" story is at this point. The remaining team members regroup at Atom's Haven and realize that the Earth is doomed. After Captain Steel gives an inspiring speech about the importance of hope, Sato takes charge and sends out teams to tackle their three greatest challenges: Batman and Steel man the gun batteries to protect Haven, Helena and Oliver repair the escape ships (as I mentioned above), and Kara, Kendra, Khalid, and Val try to stop an enormous drill plunging toward the Earth. The authors definitely convey the sense that we're at the endgame at this point.
In effect, issue #32 is really about Kendra and Khalid. Kendra reminds Khalid that he saved their lives on the day that they got their powers, pushing him to fight off Nabu's corruption and use his powers to destroy the drill. However, Khalid's victory is short-lived, since Nabu seems to be asserting himself at the end of the issue. Issue #22 seems to pick up this thread, with Kara and Val fighting off other satellites before Sato sends them to Apokolips to buy her time to launch the evacuation. (At this stage, though, Sato doesn't seem to have the rescue ships that Brainwave hijacked. Again, it implies that issue #32 came second. But, in issue #32, she thought that Alan Scott was dead, despite Kara and Val encountering him here, implying that issue #22 came second. Whatever.) Also, Red Tornado appears seemingly from nowhere, since, as far as I'm aware, she wasn't part of the fight in issue #32.) They encounter a fading shield, created by the Green Lantern, but he collapses, announcing that he couldn't hold it any longer.
Issue #22 also develops three other sub-plots. Dick finally finds his son, but he, like everyone else, is under the influence of Brainwave. Brainwave reveals that his plan is to evacuate everyone to an Earth where he leads the refugees, and I'm honestly so tired of this sub-plot that I can't even be bothered to nit-pick it. Suffice it to say, Helena and Thomas arrive to kick ass. In the aftermath, Dick's kid YET AGAIN gets lost. Elsewhere, Jimmy Olsen is revealed to be a New God in his fight with Kalibak and Terry Sloan shows that Apokolips actually destroyed another universe's version of his ship, since he had them stashed throughout the multiverse. (One highlight of this issue was Kalibak and his old-timey expressions. "Pathetic mortals!" "Insolent whelp!" At least he added some inadvertent levity to the enterprise.)
We've got four issues left in "Earth 2: World's End" and I don't see a solicitation for "Earth 2" #33. But, the authors still have a lot out there to be resolved. I'm guessing that it's going to be a rush to the door.
** (two of five stars)
Showing posts with label Earth 2 (2012). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Earth 2 (2012). Show all posts
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Earth 2 #31 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Instead of the stand-alone tales that we've had for the last few issues, where the authors have been telling us the back stories of some of the newer players in the series, Wilson, Bennett, and Johnson tell two stories from the margins of the events taking place in "Earth 2: World's End." Unfortunately, they do little to amplify our understanding of the ongoing events.
First, the Dr. Fate tale is so rushed that it makes little sense. Nabu sends himself and Khalid to Apokalips, to raid the Hall of Lore, where Darkseid keeps his treasures. However, Nabu is tricked into leaving Khalid for some sort of chained Apokoliptan sorcerer. At least, I think it was a trick. One minute, he seems to be a prisoner of the keeper of the Hall of Lore; the next minute, he appears to have colluded with the keeper to scam Nabu. It's all unclear. Then, despite the fact that said sorcerer is so powerful that he can dominate Nabu, Khalid casts a simple spell that severs his head, killing him and freeing Nabu. I guess he wasn't so fearsome in the first place? Finally, instead of stealing some of the treasures that might help in the fight against Apokolips, as I thought was the plan, Dr. Fate just destroys the Hall of Lore because he's mad? Maybe? Man, this story did not make sense.
Second, we have Marella in Atlantis doing...something. She fights off some zombie Atlanteans, and she declares war on the surface world...I think. This part was...you guess it...really unclear. First, before I dive into the story, I was confused by the portrayal of her warriors: they aren't humanoid (as Marella is), but appear more like Mer-Man from "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe." I'm not sure if they're a different race than Marella or if their genetic structure was altered by the Fury with the same spell that rose the dead Atlanteans, but I definitely felt like I was missing something. Second, in terms of the story, I get why she's mad; we learn that the firepits are burning off Earth 2's water. But, I don't get how fighting with the surface world while Apokolips is invading is going to help. Does she really think that Darkseid would just let her keep the oceans? Also, her plan seems to be to steal all the moisture in the Earth's atmosphere to replenish the oceans, but is that enough? Does that process happen naturally through the water cycle? And, again, none of it will matter if Darkseid destroys the planet for raw materials for Apokolips. Shouldn't she be taking the fight to him, save the planet, and then worry about the oceans? First things first, Marella.
In other words, oy. I would've rathered a look at what Dick Grayson is doing than the two half-assed stories that we get here.
* (one of five stars)
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Earth 2 #30 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Bennett and Johnson again do a solid job of using this series to delve into the background of some of this event's otherwise faceless background characters, as they initially did with the Furies in issue #28. I was particularly surprised by how well they handled the White (Sam's) and the Red's (Yolanda's) stories.
You can feel Sam's heartbreak in just the six pages that we see him, since he's dealing with the aftermath of his death and, more profoundly, his loss of Alan. Bennett and Johnson also indirectly address some mysteries about Sam. We're told that his soul is of unmatched purity, answering a long ago question (from issue #13) of whether he was engaged in shady weapons dealings with Apokolips' forces. (Likely no.) I'm not sure if we'll ever pick up that story, so the revelation that Terry Sloan likely killed him for leaking information about the Boom Tubes to Jimmy Olsen is probably going to be the final word on his death. Moreover, the authors confirm that Sam, in theory, doesn't remember who he is; his utterance of Alan's name in "Earth 2: World's End" #8 implies that his love for Alan is sufficiently strong to keep him connected to Alan despite his role as the Avatar. It actually helps amplify the impact of the sequence here, because Sam is true to his word that he'll always remember Alan. By the end of these six pages, we have Sam as a full-fledged character for the first time since this series began, and I'm a happy camper for it.
Similarly, Yolanda goes from a faceless brute to a real person, accepting a blood curse in place of her primo hermano. I definitely found myself wanting to know more, like why Yolanda and her cousin have essentially been left to their own devices. Yolanda exposits that she thought that their university's work/study program would be the answer to their problems, but we don't learn why we have those problems in the first place. It's also unclear why she feels so compelled to protect him. My guess is that these two questions have the same answer, and I would love to see that story explored more. Again, it's impressive that the authors got us to feel that way about her in just seven pages.
Unfortunately, the story about the Avatar of the Blue made little sense to me, feeling just like a jumble of words and images. But, they can't all be winners. If you're enjoying "Earth 2: World's End," this issue is a solid contribution. If not, well, you probably should just skip reading this series for a few months.
*** (three of five stars)
You can feel Sam's heartbreak in just the six pages that we see him, since he's dealing with the aftermath of his death and, more profoundly, his loss of Alan. Bennett and Johnson also indirectly address some mysteries about Sam. We're told that his soul is of unmatched purity, answering a long ago question (from issue #13) of whether he was engaged in shady weapons dealings with Apokolips' forces. (Likely no.) I'm not sure if we'll ever pick up that story, so the revelation that Terry Sloan likely killed him for leaking information about the Boom Tubes to Jimmy Olsen is probably going to be the final word on his death. Moreover, the authors confirm that Sam, in theory, doesn't remember who he is; his utterance of Alan's name in "Earth 2: World's End" #8 implies that his love for Alan is sufficiently strong to keep him connected to Alan despite his role as the Avatar. It actually helps amplify the impact of the sequence here, because Sam is true to his word that he'll always remember Alan. By the end of these six pages, we have Sam as a full-fledged character for the first time since this series began, and I'm a happy camper for it.
Similarly, Yolanda goes from a faceless brute to a real person, accepting a blood curse in place of her primo hermano. I definitely found myself wanting to know more, like why Yolanda and her cousin have essentially been left to their own devices. Yolanda exposits that she thought that their university's work/study program would be the answer to their problems, but we don't learn why we have those problems in the first place. It's also unclear why she feels so compelled to protect him. My guess is that these two questions have the same answer, and I would love to see that story explored more. Again, it's impressive that the authors got us to feel that way about her in just seven pages.
Unfortunately, the story about the Avatar of the Blue made little sense to me, feeling just like a jumble of words and images. But, they can't all be winners. If you're enjoying "Earth 2: World's End," this issue is a solid contribution. If not, well, you probably should just skip reading this series for a few months.
*** (three of five stars)
Sunday, January 11, 2015
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)
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Earth 2 #28 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Taylor and Bennett use this issue to give us the background of the Furies of Apokolips, and it's really a wise move on their part.
Issue #27 was the first of this series to happen after the launch of "Earth 2: World's End," and it was poorly coordinated with the weekly series. By focusing on an origin story (or, more accurately, four origin stories), the authors side-step the coordination problem entirely with this issue. We're only going to have another three or four issues of the main series while the weekly series runs, so it seems like a good idea for the authors to stick with using this series to delve into the background of some of the new characters or even looking into the Apokolips side of the house. That allows the weekly series to focus on the heroes. That sucks for readers not getting the weekly series, but it seems to be the only viable option if we're not going to have a continuity nightmare.
The good news for the monthly readers is that the issue itself is also a pretty solid one. The Furies aren't just caricatures of super-villains, as I find most of the Apokolips characters to be. Taylor and Bennett use the limited space that they have to give us some real insight into their motivations. Doing so ups the ante, since, under the Chekov's gun theory, it seems unlikely that the authors would take the time to give us their origin stories (particularly since two of the four Furies are pretty sympathetic characters) if it wasn't going to be important later. (Given that War appears to be this Universe's Starfire, I'd keep my eye on her.)
Issue #27 was the first of this series to happen after the launch of "Earth 2: World's End," and it was poorly coordinated with the weekly series. By focusing on an origin story (or, more accurately, four origin stories), the authors side-step the coordination problem entirely with this issue. We're only going to have another three or four issues of the main series while the weekly series runs, so it seems like a good idea for the authors to stick with using this series to delve into the background of some of the new characters or even looking into the Apokolips side of the house. That allows the weekly series to focus on the heroes. That sucks for readers not getting the weekly series, but it seems to be the only viable option if we're not going to have a continuity nightmare.
The good news for the monthly readers is that the issue itself is also a pretty solid one. The Furies aren't just caricatures of super-villains, as I find most of the Apokolips characters to be. Taylor and Bennett use the limited space that they have to give us some real insight into their motivations. Doing so ups the ante, since, under the Chekov's gun theory, it seems unlikely that the authors would take the time to give us their origin stories (particularly since two of the four Furies are pretty sympathetic characters) if it wasn't going to be important later. (Given that War appears to be this Universe's Starfire, I'd keep my eye on her.)
*** (three of five stars)
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Earth 2 #27 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Bennett and Taylor at least try to make this issue match the events of "Earth 2: World's End" #1, in the sense that Helena, Kara, Lois, Thomas, and Val all find themselves at CERN outside Geneva. I appreciate the effort, since "Batman Eternal" doesn't seem to have anything to do with any of the ongoing Bat-family books.
The problem is that the two issues have entirely different endings. At the end of "Earth 2: World's End" #1, the five heroes plus Green Lantern face K'Li, Fury of Apocalypse. At the end of this issue, the characters had just defeated a zombie scourge infecting CERN (more on that in a minute). This issue specifically says that it happens after "Earth 2: World's End #1," but that makes no sense, unless we learn that they defeated K'Li between issues #1 and #2 and then the events of this issue happen. In fact, it makes more sense the opposite way, that the fought off the zombie scourge in this issue and then found themselves facing K'Li. If this series isn't going to descend into "Batman Eternal" levels of chaos, they're going to need to keep the continuity a lot tighter.
Beyond that problem, this issue is silly and not in a good way. Zombies have essentially overrun CERN; I assume that Bedlam released them in part to cover his escape with Mister Miracle, Mr. Terrific, and Terry Sloan. It's the resolution of this problem that's ridiculous, with Kara and Val flying around the collider to themselves collide, so that the energy released by said collision could somehow burn off the virus infecting the zombies. That doesn't seem to make sense on a basic level, but whatever. I guess that I'll go with it.
The main point of this issue is to throw together Kara and Val and Helena and Thomas. We learn that Kara and Val knew each other on Krypton, sharing a bond because they were both orphans, and Helena and Thomas' reunion is as tense as you'd expect it to be. If you can look past the fact that they all already met in "Earth 2: World's End" #1, then this issue does a decent job of exploring those relationships more than we saw in that issue. (I'm not sure that I buy Helena so quickly warming to her grandfather, though, particularly, as she said, since she already has family in the form of Kara.)
Anyway, I'm willing to give everyone a few issues to find their footing in this new publishing situation. I really enjoyed "Earth 2: World's End" #1, and I'm hoping that it doesn't somehow overshadow this series. I wouldn't want to see a scenario like we saw with "Batman R.I.P."/"Final Crisis," where the main title actually wound up not telling the real story, but a facsimile of it. Fingers crossed.
** (two of five stars)
The problem is that the two issues have entirely different endings. At the end of "Earth 2: World's End" #1, the five heroes plus Green Lantern face K'Li, Fury of Apocalypse. At the end of this issue, the characters had just defeated a zombie scourge infecting CERN (more on that in a minute). This issue specifically says that it happens after "Earth 2: World's End #1," but that makes no sense, unless we learn that they defeated K'Li between issues #1 and #2 and then the events of this issue happen. In fact, it makes more sense the opposite way, that the fought off the zombie scourge in this issue and then found themselves facing K'Li. If this series isn't going to descend into "Batman Eternal" levels of chaos, they're going to need to keep the continuity a lot tighter.
Beyond that problem, this issue is silly and not in a good way. Zombies have essentially overrun CERN; I assume that Bedlam released them in part to cover his escape with Mister Miracle, Mr. Terrific, and Terry Sloan. It's the resolution of this problem that's ridiculous, with Kara and Val flying around the collider to themselves collide, so that the energy released by said collision could somehow burn off the virus infecting the zombies. That doesn't seem to make sense on a basic level, but whatever. I guess that I'll go with it.
The main point of this issue is to throw together Kara and Val and Helena and Thomas. We learn that Kara and Val knew each other on Krypton, sharing a bond because they were both orphans, and Helena and Thomas' reunion is as tense as you'd expect it to be. If you can look past the fact that they all already met in "Earth 2: World's End" #1, then this issue does a decent job of exploring those relationships more than we saw in that issue. (I'm not sure that I buy Helena so quickly warming to her grandfather, though, particularly, as she said, since she already has family in the form of Kara.)
Anyway, I'm willing to give everyone a few issues to find their footing in this new publishing situation. I really enjoyed "Earth 2: World's End" #1, and I'm hoping that it doesn't somehow overshadow this series. I wouldn't want to see a scenario like we saw with "Batman R.I.P."/"Final Crisis," where the main title actually wound up not telling the real story, but a facsimile of it. Fingers crossed.
** (two of five stars)
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Earth 2 #26 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
First, I have no idea why Power Girl appears on the cover of this issue since, as far as I'm aware, she's not even on Earth-2. Paging pet peeve #2. Even odder, the solicitations say that she arrives to "turn the tide." Did Taylor change something at the last minute, or did the advertising department just not take the time to read the issue?
Turning to matters at hand, Taylor wraps up this long-running story quickly, but somehow it all works. The heroes realize that the easiest way to win isn't to take on Apokolips' army, but to break Bedlam's control over Mister Miracle, Mister Terrific, and Terry Sloan, allowing them to close the Boom Tube. It's a solid plan, and the heroes implement it efficiently: Batman et al. create a hole in the army so that Flash can zoom Marella into the complex to deal with Bedlam. (They're helped, hilariously, by Superman smashing Val to the ground in front of the complex, creating a shock wave that knocks away all the combatants.) Flash does his job, and Marella gives Bedlam a stroke via water on the brain. (Clever.) Mister Terrific and Sloan shut down the Boom Tube, and Green Lantern -- no longer having to hold Earth in place -- manages to take out the remainder of Apokolips' army. Sure, it's a little convenient, but I'm willing to concede that Taylor could've spent an issue or two showing us the heroes fighting the remnants of the army with the same result. As such, no harm, no foul.
Honestly, I didn't think it possible to wrap up such a complex story in one issue, but damn if Taylor doesn't manage it. Moreover, he doesn't let it just devolve into a soulless drive to an end point. We get some real emotion and humor throughout the issue, mostly thanks to Lois. She opens the issue comforting Martha in the wake of her life imploding around her and ends it destroying "Superman." Moreover, she's got perfect comedic timing when she tells "Superman" that she's just stalling just as Val zooms into view and tackles him into the ground. By taking the time to give us these scenes, Taylor gives us a more meaningful ending that I'd expect in such an action-packed issue.
The only unanswered question, to me, is the faux-Superman's true nature. He appears briefly like Bizarro, but all we really learn is that he somehow starts to break into pieces. (It's Lois that finishes his dissolution.) Maybe it's because Bedlam was holding him together and the stroke meant that he lost his focus? It would be nice to get an answer to this one, but I have faith that Taylor will get us there.
In the end, we get the moment that we've been waiting to see pretty much from the start of this series, namely a fully assembled Justice Society: Val, Hawkgirl, Marella, Flash, Green Lantern, Sandman, Batman, and Red Tornado, with Khan and his deputy in the background. It's a great moment, made all the better by the reminder in the Epilogue that Bedlam is still out there trying to claim Earth to save a dying Apokolips. In that way, Taylor reminds us that the Society's work isn't done; it's just starting. It took 26 issues to get there, but Taylor makes you glad that you waited. Great stuff.
**** (four of five stars)
Turning to matters at hand, Taylor wraps up this long-running story quickly, but somehow it all works. The heroes realize that the easiest way to win isn't to take on Apokolips' army, but to break Bedlam's control over Mister Miracle, Mister Terrific, and Terry Sloan, allowing them to close the Boom Tube. It's a solid plan, and the heroes implement it efficiently: Batman et al. create a hole in the army so that Flash can zoom Marella into the complex to deal with Bedlam. (They're helped, hilariously, by Superman smashing Val to the ground in front of the complex, creating a shock wave that knocks away all the combatants.) Flash does his job, and Marella gives Bedlam a stroke via water on the brain. (Clever.) Mister Terrific and Sloan shut down the Boom Tube, and Green Lantern -- no longer having to hold Earth in place -- manages to take out the remainder of Apokolips' army. Sure, it's a little convenient, but I'm willing to concede that Taylor could've spent an issue or two showing us the heroes fighting the remnants of the army with the same result. As such, no harm, no foul.
Honestly, I didn't think it possible to wrap up such a complex story in one issue, but damn if Taylor doesn't manage it. Moreover, he doesn't let it just devolve into a soulless drive to an end point. We get some real emotion and humor throughout the issue, mostly thanks to Lois. She opens the issue comforting Martha in the wake of her life imploding around her and ends it destroying "Superman." Moreover, she's got perfect comedic timing when she tells "Superman" that she's just stalling just as Val zooms into view and tackles him into the ground. By taking the time to give us these scenes, Taylor gives us a more meaningful ending that I'd expect in such an action-packed issue.
The only unanswered question, to me, is the faux-Superman's true nature. He appears briefly like Bizarro, but all we really learn is that he somehow starts to break into pieces. (It's Lois that finishes his dissolution.) Maybe it's because Bedlam was holding him together and the stroke meant that he lost his focus? It would be nice to get an answer to this one, but I have faith that Taylor will get us there.
In the end, we get the moment that we've been waiting to see pretty much from the start of this series, namely a fully assembled Justice Society: Val, Hawkgirl, Marella, Flash, Green Lantern, Sandman, Batman, and Red Tornado, with Khan and his deputy in the background. It's a great moment, made all the better by the reminder in the Epilogue that Bedlam is still out there trying to claim Earth to save a dying Apokolips. In that way, Taylor reminds us that the Society's work isn't done; it's just starting. It took 26 issues to get there, but Taylor makes you glad that you waited. Great stuff.
**** (four of five stars)
Monday, July 21, 2014
Earth 2 #25 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
The beauty of this series is how remarkably layered that it is. Over the last few years, comics have become obsessed with chasing new readers, pushing authors to tell stories that required no knowledge of a character or its history. Thankfully, both Robinson and Taylor reject this school of thought. "Earth 2" is telling a story that started all the way in issue #1, and each successive issue has built on the previous one, leading to this moment. It's a joy to read.
In the issue at hand, a lot happens at once. Jonathan ruins Clark's attempt to have a family meal by no longer staying silent on his son returning as a "mass-murdering zealot with a dead robot wife." Clark kills him, leading Lois to conclude that it's not really Clark. Taylor makes you really wonder what Lois is going to do now that she's decided that she's no longer dealing with her husband. To complicate matters, though, Clark's emotional profession of love to Lois certainly feels real. Relationships, man. Meanwhile, GL's gambit worked, and Atlantis manages to take out the parademons. Moreover, Flash is pushed to his limits, enabling him to run to infinity and push Beguiler into it. I liked this moment the best, I have to say. Jay has been underused in recent issues, and I'm glad to see him in the game again. He had been replaced by Jimmy Olsen for a while, but Taylor makes sure that his return is unique, accomplishing something that only he can do and allowing him to grow in the process.
But, as usual, every success that the team manages to achieve is met with a challenge. Sloan figures out the way to activate the portal to bring Earth into Apokolips' orbit. So, congratulations on winning the battle against the parademons and the Beguiler, folks; unfortunately, you may have just lost the war. GL tries to hold Earth in place, but Clark arrives to stop him. Once again, another hero is forced to test himself in this issue, as Val finally confronts Kal. It's pretty clear that he's going to be the last Superman standing at the end of next issue, but it'll be interesting to see how we get there.
Looking at this issue as a whole, Taylor is just really a marvel at the scripting. It was always Robinson's weakness, but Taylor finally gives us a combination of excellent dialogue and ambitious plotting that this series needed. You can almost hear Lois growl, "You're not Clark," like the heroine in a horror movie, and Jay's diatribe at Beguiler feels organic and not expository. They turn these moments from convenient plot development into real emotional conclusions. When you add in hints of future plots -- like the mysterious fourth Kryptonian that Clark's parents sent to Earth and Dr. Fate's comment about "worlds end" alluding to the upcoming "Earth 2: World's End" series -- it's just great stuff from start to finish.
***** (five of five stars)
In the issue at hand, a lot happens at once. Jonathan ruins Clark's attempt to have a family meal by no longer staying silent on his son returning as a "mass-murdering zealot with a dead robot wife." Clark kills him, leading Lois to conclude that it's not really Clark. Taylor makes you really wonder what Lois is going to do now that she's decided that she's no longer dealing with her husband. To complicate matters, though, Clark's emotional profession of love to Lois certainly feels real. Relationships, man. Meanwhile, GL's gambit worked, and Atlantis manages to take out the parademons. Moreover, Flash is pushed to his limits, enabling him to run to infinity and push Beguiler into it. I liked this moment the best, I have to say. Jay has been underused in recent issues, and I'm glad to see him in the game again. He had been replaced by Jimmy Olsen for a while, but Taylor makes sure that his return is unique, accomplishing something that only he can do and allowing him to grow in the process.
But, as usual, every success that the team manages to achieve is met with a challenge. Sloan figures out the way to activate the portal to bring Earth into Apokolips' orbit. So, congratulations on winning the battle against the parademons and the Beguiler, folks; unfortunately, you may have just lost the war. GL tries to hold Earth in place, but Clark arrives to stop him. Once again, another hero is forced to test himself in this issue, as Val finally confronts Kal. It's pretty clear that he's going to be the last Superman standing at the end of next issue, but it'll be interesting to see how we get there.
Looking at this issue as a whole, Taylor is just really a marvel at the scripting. It was always Robinson's weakness, but Taylor finally gives us a combination of excellent dialogue and ambitious plotting that this series needed. You can almost hear Lois growl, "You're not Clark," like the heroine in a horror movie, and Jay's diatribe at Beguiler feels organic and not expository. They turn these moments from convenient plot development into real emotional conclusions. When you add in hints of future plots -- like the mysterious fourth Kryptonian that Clark's parents sent to Earth and Dr. Fate's comment about "worlds end" alluding to the upcoming "Earth 2: World's End" series -- it's just great stuff from start to finish.
***** (five of five stars)
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Earth 2 #24 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Man, I hope Red Arrow isn't dead, because I liked him. He added a certain good-natured crankiness that this series is missing, with all its earnest do-gooders and depressing anti-heroes.
Along those lines, Taylor also does a great job of using this issue to knit together the two separate teams, with Jimmy and Hawkgirl reminding Batman and Green Lantern (respectively) of the fact that they can't succeed on their own. Reminding the two team's leaders of the importance of teamwork as the two teams merge is well timed, and I'm glad that Taylor took the time to do it. These aren't guys who work with others easily, and any cooperation that they'd show over the next issues would feel fake without Jimmy and Kendra's exhortations here. Now, we'll have a fully assembled Justice League - Batman, Dr. Fate, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Val - in Themyscira ready to rumble with the para-demons. I can't wait.
**** (four of five stars)
If he is dead (and stays dead), I'm glad to say that Taylor uses his death to move this story to the next level. When Batman blames it on Val's pacifism, Jimmy takes him to town, noting that he (a doctor) was also unable to save Connor and telling him that his negativity was unnecessary in already dark times. It was a great speech, made all the better by the implication that Jimmy has essentially appointed himself Batman's Robin. Moreover, even if Batman's words were careless, they started Val thinking about his role as a hero in a world that could really use one. Jimmy stressed to Batman that they needed to get Val into the game in a way that makes him comfortable, and he starts that process by getting Val to reveal the uniform that he's been hiding under his hoodie. Moreover, the Themyscira-based team is getting itself together just in time for Green Lantern and Hawkgirl to lead the para-demons their way. Next issue should be epic!
Along those lines, Taylor also does a great job of using this issue to knit together the two separate teams, with Jimmy and Hawkgirl reminding Batman and Green Lantern (respectively) of the fact that they can't succeed on their own. Reminding the two team's leaders of the importance of teamwork as the two teams merge is well timed, and I'm glad that Taylor took the time to do it. These aren't guys who work with others easily, and any cooperation that they'd show over the next issues would feel fake without Jimmy and Kendra's exhortations here. Now, we'll have a fully assembled Justice League - Batman, Dr. Fate, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Val - in Themyscira ready to rumble with the para-demons. I can't wait.
**** (four of five stars)
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Earth 2 #23 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Damn, Taylor is really turning up the heat.
This issue basically takes the "team" a few steps backyard after it managed at least to hold its position over the last few issues. Although Alan returns in a pretty awesomely dramatic way, saving Hawkgirl and Red Arrow from parademons, the team is forced to flee the Batcave for Themyscria when Superman sends Darkseid's forces its way. In fact, by the end of the issue, we don't even have a team. ("Don't split the party!") We have Batman leading a crazed Dr. Fate, a scared Val, and a possibly dead Red Arrow on one side (with support from Sandman and Sato), and Green Lantern convincing Hawkgirl to stay by his side on the other one. Both Batman and Green Lantern claim to have plans, but we're not privy to them yet. Plus, Taylor is creating a vibe of overconfidence when it comes to the two of them, so it seems like their plans aren't likely to work when revealed. It doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence that they're going to be able to come together to defeat Darkseid.
In the meantime, Clark brings Lois to visit his oddly nonchalant parents in Smallville. This entire interlude is intentionally bizarre, leaving it still unclear whether we're dealing with the real Clark or, for that matter, the real Kents. Curiouser and curiouser.
Overall, Taylor continues to really get the pace right on this series. After Robinson's break-neck, world-building race, Taylor's more cautious pace is welcome, even if he's still hardly giving the heroes time to rest before the next calamity. We still have a lot of questions on the table -- like how Superman is still alive, for example -- but we seem to be getting there. In the meantime, I actually feel like we're starting to get to know the characters, something that Robinson was forced to abandon at times to advance the plot. You could just feel Batman and Green Lantern's instant dislike of one another. Great stuff.
*** (three of five stars)
This issue basically takes the "team" a few steps backyard after it managed at least to hold its position over the last few issues. Although Alan returns in a pretty awesomely dramatic way, saving Hawkgirl and Red Arrow from parademons, the team is forced to flee the Batcave for Themyscria when Superman sends Darkseid's forces its way. In fact, by the end of the issue, we don't even have a team. ("Don't split the party!") We have Batman leading a crazed Dr. Fate, a scared Val, and a possibly dead Red Arrow on one side (with support from Sandman and Sato), and Green Lantern convincing Hawkgirl to stay by his side on the other one. Both Batman and Green Lantern claim to have plans, but we're not privy to them yet. Plus, Taylor is creating a vibe of overconfidence when it comes to the two of them, so it seems like their plans aren't likely to work when revealed. It doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence that they're going to be able to come together to defeat Darkseid.
In the meantime, Clark brings Lois to visit his oddly nonchalant parents in Smallville. This entire interlude is intentionally bizarre, leaving it still unclear whether we're dealing with the real Clark or, for that matter, the real Kents. Curiouser and curiouser.
Overall, Taylor continues to really get the pace right on this series. After Robinson's break-neck, world-building race, Taylor's more cautious pace is welcome, even if he's still hardly giving the heroes time to rest before the next calamity. We still have a lot of questions on the table -- like how Superman is still alive, for example -- but we seem to be getting there. In the meantime, I actually feel like we're starting to get to know the characters, something that Robinson was forced to abandon at times to advance the plot. You could just feel Batman and Green Lantern's instant dislike of one another. Great stuff.
*** (three of five stars)
Monday, May 5, 2014
Earth 2 #22 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
The heroes actually seem finally to have some things go in their favor here, with Earth resurrecting Alan Scott and Superman encountering Lois (causing his red eyes to fade portentously to blue ones in shock). Although I expected the former development, I'm surprised by the second one. It was pretty much an open question whether this Superman was Clark, but Taylor seems to be confirming that it is with this scene. Lois will clearly fulfill Dr. Fate's description of her as the "resurrected hope" if Clark does manage to shake off Darkseid's programming due to Lois reminding him of who he is. We'll still need to know how Clark survived his "death" in the first issue, since it seems like he exploded under the assault of a horde of parademons. But, you know, details. After all, even if Clark does join the heroes' side, they still have to stop Darkseid from transporting Earth into Apokolips' orbit, which doesn't seem like a small task. I've mentioned in several reviews of other series that I'm worried authors will rush stories that have the potential to be awesome. I'm glad to say Taylor isn't doing that here. Every issue is well pace and moving along the plot without skipping details or moments of characterization, such as Jimmy Olsen insisting that he's not a child or Lois admitting to Val that she hasn't even had a chance to process the fact that she's now a cyborg. But, we now seem to have had our post-battle pause, full of reflection and planning, so I'm excited to see Round #3 between the heroes of Darkseid's forces (particularly with a furious Alan Scott in the fray).
*** (three of five stars)
*** (three of five stars)
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Earth 2 #21 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
I know! A non-Spidey issue! Can you believe it?
Taylor uses this issue as a way to regroup after the events of the last few issues, with each side trying to get a bead on the other.
Taylor uses this issue as a way to regroup after the events of the last few issues, with each side trying to get a bead on the other.
I thought Taylor did a great job in reminding us that this Batman isn't our Batman through Lois mentioning that our Batman was a tactical genius and imply that this Batman may not be. In highlighting that, Taylor reminds us just how hopeless of a situation the team is facing. If that weren't enough, though, Superman cutting off the Atom's arm and smacking him with it -- a moment that Scott really sells for all its ridiculousness, showing the arrogance of Superman in the process -- reminds us just how steep of a challenge they face, even if they had the hope that the full tactical genius of Batman would give them. Underlining both the hopelessness and the challenge, Taylor has the top 1% try to flee in a space ark. Though Superman makes them pay for their lack of faith in the world that made them, Taylor reminds us just how much trauma this world has suffered, since the ark was built after Darkseid's last destructive trip across Earth. In other words, the heroes have a lot of reason to panic.
By the end of the issue, Taylor has prepared us for the next phase of the conflict. Sato getting in touch with Khan (and Khan getting in touch with Atlantis from his secret base in Amazonia) seems to offer hope...until Bedlam reads Sloan's mind and discovers the existence of the Kryptonian. It's a constant back and forth, hope and challenge: every time you think that the inhabitants of Earth 2 might be able to win, Superman and his allies seem poised to snatch that victory from them. It's why this series is so exciting; each development has been carefully established before it comes to fruition. Dan Slott could take lessons from Taylor in how to focus on tactics to create suspense.
*** (three of five stars)
Monday, March 3, 2014
Earth 2 #20 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Man, Taylor packs in a lot here.
With the revelation that Hawkgirl saved Dr. Fate and Red Arrow from the parademons and brought them to the Batcave, I realized that Taylor was slyly constructing a Justice League to take the place of the Justice Society that we never really got to see in action for long in this series. Gone are Atom, Flash, and Green Lantern; here are Batman, Red Arrow, and Red Tornado. (Dr. Fate and Hawkgirl round out both teams.) This change was more or less confirmed when I realized that Taylor is also setting up the Kryptonian to become Earth 2's Superman. Lois is pretty emphatic that the Superman currently destroying the world isn't Clark and I'm inclined to believe her. Even if it is Clark, it seems unlikely that he's ever going to be able to take up the mantle of Earth's greatest superhero again, given the havoc that he's wrecked. Presumably, it'll be Val's confrontation with Clark that transfers the crown. When it happens, this alternate version of the Justice League will be complete, with Red Tornado possibly taking the role of Wonder Woman in the core trinity that makes it the League and not the Society. I'm not 100% sure that Taylor is going this route, but, if he is, the anticipation doesn't do anything to reduce the awesomeness of it.
There are moments where I have to remind myself to pause and really appreciate the art or script in a comic book. This issue has both moments. In terms of the art, it's when Rocha destroys all the houses of worship in the world, since Superman insist that Darkseid is the only god. As the heroes regroup in the Batcave, these pages remind us that Superman's destruction of Earth continues apace. Similarly, I had to take my time reading Lois' speech to Val. Taylor does such a beautiful job capturing Lois' voice, making you really believe that she's in there. The tragedies that she's suffered in the last few days -- dying, awakening as a robot, seeing her husband destroy the world, holding her father as he died -- seem insurmountable. But, that's exactly when you believe that she's Lois, because she's not going to sit in a corner with her arms around her knees, something that she concedes to Val sounds really nice at that stage. I complain that comic-book authors often tell and don't show, but Taylor reminds us exactly why showing is so important here. You can tell us that it's Lois, but it's only when Lois acts like Lois that we believe it.
**** (four of five stars)
With the revelation that Hawkgirl saved Dr. Fate and Red Arrow from the parademons and brought them to the Batcave, I realized that Taylor was slyly constructing a Justice League to take the place of the Justice Society that we never really got to see in action for long in this series. Gone are Atom, Flash, and Green Lantern; here are Batman, Red Arrow, and Red Tornado. (Dr. Fate and Hawkgirl round out both teams.) This change was more or less confirmed when I realized that Taylor is also setting up the Kryptonian to become Earth 2's Superman. Lois is pretty emphatic that the Superman currently destroying the world isn't Clark and I'm inclined to believe her. Even if it is Clark, it seems unlikely that he's ever going to be able to take up the mantle of Earth's greatest superhero again, given the havoc that he's wrecked. Presumably, it'll be Val's confrontation with Clark that transfers the crown. When it happens, this alternate version of the Justice League will be complete, with Red Tornado possibly taking the role of Wonder Woman in the core trinity that makes it the League and not the Society. I'm not 100% sure that Taylor is going this route, but, if he is, the anticipation doesn't do anything to reduce the awesomeness of it.
There are moments where I have to remind myself to pause and really appreciate the art or script in a comic book. This issue has both moments. In terms of the art, it's when Rocha destroys all the houses of worship in the world, since Superman insist that Darkseid is the only god. As the heroes regroup in the Batcave, these pages remind us that Superman's destruction of Earth continues apace. Similarly, I had to take my time reading Lois' speech to Val. Taylor does such a beautiful job capturing Lois' voice, making you really believe that she's in there. The tragedies that she's suffered in the last few days -- dying, awakening as a robot, seeing her husband destroy the world, holding her father as he died -- seem insurmountable. But, that's exactly when you believe that she's Lois, because she's not going to sit in a corner with her arms around her knees, something that she concedes to Val sounds really nice at that stage. I complain that comic-book authors often tell and don't show, but Taylor reminds us exactly why showing is so important here. You can tell us that it's Lois, but it's only when Lois acts like Lois that we believe it.
**** (four of five stars)
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Earth 2 Annual #2 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Holy crap, this issue is amazing.
Taylor really takes full advantage of the ability to re-create Bruce Wayne's history here. In so doing, he does a marvelous job capturing the tragedy of Thomas Wayne, taking us on a step-by-step tour of his downward spiral. He saves the life of a Mafia scion and becomes part of his inner circle because he enjoys the parties that come with membership. To keep those parties going, he uses his access to pharmaceuticals to supply the drugs. When Martha tries to get him to leave behind that lifestyle, Frankie (the scion) won't let him stop supplying the drugs. When Thomas tries to do so anyway, Frankie has him killed. He survives, but he can't live a life with Bruce, not only because of the threat that Frankie poses to them but because he's an addict. He leaves Gotham and eventually kicks opium, but then becomes addicted to revenge, bringing Bruce into his life once again. But, Bruce rejects him so he's forced to observe his life from the shadows. In the end, he tries to right his wrongs by taking up his son's legacy. It's not a happy story, but it's a compelling one. Taylor presents it in a way that flows organically, with each revelation peeling away layers until the core is revealed.
That said, I'm not totally sure why Thomas abandons Bruce. Taylor uses Bruce to cast doubt on his story that he did it for Bruce's safety, with Bruce saying that it was because he was an addict (first to opium, then to revenge). But, Thomas was an addict before they were attacked and probably thought that he was a fit father. Was he just relieved to no longer be responsible, as a doctor and as a father? To simply embrace the addiction? I'd buy that, but Taylor actually doesn't make that argument here. It's probably the only reason that I didn't give this issue five stars.
Finally, I loved that Bruce was actually wrong about Frankie's assailant, since he couldn't even see the possibility of his father surviving the attack, assuming it to be Alfred's father (his former bodyguard/chauffeur) instead. Taylor uses that lack of imagination, if you will, to show just how stunned (and devastated) Bruce was by Thomas' return.
**** (four of five stars)
Taylor really takes full advantage of the ability to re-create Bruce Wayne's history here. In so doing, he does a marvelous job capturing the tragedy of Thomas Wayne, taking us on a step-by-step tour of his downward spiral. He saves the life of a Mafia scion and becomes part of his inner circle because he enjoys the parties that come with membership. To keep those parties going, he uses his access to pharmaceuticals to supply the drugs. When Martha tries to get him to leave behind that lifestyle, Frankie (the scion) won't let him stop supplying the drugs. When Thomas tries to do so anyway, Frankie has him killed. He survives, but he can't live a life with Bruce, not only because of the threat that Frankie poses to them but because he's an addict. He leaves Gotham and eventually kicks opium, but then becomes addicted to revenge, bringing Bruce into his life once again. But, Bruce rejects him so he's forced to observe his life from the shadows. In the end, he tries to right his wrongs by taking up his son's legacy. It's not a happy story, but it's a compelling one. Taylor presents it in a way that flows organically, with each revelation peeling away layers until the core is revealed.
That said, I'm not totally sure why Thomas abandons Bruce. Taylor uses Bruce to cast doubt on his story that he did it for Bruce's safety, with Bruce saying that it was because he was an addict (first to opium, then to revenge). But, Thomas was an addict before they were attacked and probably thought that he was a fit father. Was he just relieved to no longer be responsible, as a doctor and as a father? To simply embrace the addiction? I'd buy that, but Taylor actually doesn't make that argument here. It's probably the only reason that I didn't give this issue five stars.
Finally, I loved that Bruce was actually wrong about Frankie's assailant, since he couldn't even see the possibility of his father surviving the attack, assuming it to be Alfred's father (his former bodyguard/chauffeur) instead. Taylor uses that lack of imagination, if you will, to show just how stunned (and devastated) Bruce was by Thomas' return.
**** (four of five stars)
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Earth 2 #19 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
OK, Taylor has officially put to rest any lingering concern that I had about Robinson leaving this series. This issue is great, from start to finish. He infuses it with a great sense of tension, solving several mysteries and raising new ones. Awesome stuff.
First, he still does a marvelous job in making sure to spend some time on characterization, despite juggling so many different plots at the same time. I loved Red Arrow telling Dr. Fate to ramble some prophetic words that could actually help him and Batman and Lois' testy exchange over their identities. (I'm not sure if Batman just doesn't recognize Red Tornado as Lois or if he doesn't know who Lois is. If it's the latter, than the mystery surrounding his identity gets curioser and curioser.) I also loved Batman and Lois blindfolding Jimmy so that he wouldn't be haunted by images of the parademon slaughter as a result of his photographic memory. It's a rare moment of kindness amidst the chaos and it reminds you who the good guys are. (Frankly, it's also something that I'm not entirely sure Bruce would've taken the time to do, so it's another way that Taylor creates a separate identity for this Batman.)
Taylor and Scott also do a great job of expressing the majesty of the various players here. Marella is spectacularly imperial as she takes the full brunt of the World Army's blast and then threatens the soldiers. Superman is equally imposing as he smashes the Washington Monument into the White House, making you realize why people would surrender all hope for fear of him. Similarly, the idea that Bedlam now has Terry Sloan and Michael Holt at his disposal really makes you wonder how the heroes are going to win.
Along those lines, this issue seems to bring to a close the "Empire Strikes Back" phase of this story arc. Batman, Hawkgirl, Marella, and Red Tornado (with Jimmy Olsen, Major Soto, and the mysterious Kryptonian in tow) seem to be heading to the Batcave to re-group. Meanwhile, Red Arrow and Dr. Fate are stranded fighting parademons while Flash, Michael Holt, and Terry Sloan are all prisoners of Apokolips. Not a good scene. Presumably, we have nowhere to go but up.
As I said in last issue, I'm glad that Taylor has decided to embrace the war with Apokolips, pushing aside other stories that Robinson left untold so that he can give this one the attention that it deserves. After all, we have a number of questions left unanswered. Who's the "angel in the slaughter" that Red Arrow seems to encounter here? Where is Darkseid? Why does he (or, at least, his minions) want to bring Earth into Apokolips space? How did Superman get corrupted? Why was Sloan hiding the mysterious Kryptonian? They're all intriguing questions and I continue to be excited about getting them answered.
**** (four of five stars)
First, he still does a marvelous job in making sure to spend some time on characterization, despite juggling so many different plots at the same time. I loved Red Arrow telling Dr. Fate to ramble some prophetic words that could actually help him and Batman and Lois' testy exchange over their identities. (I'm not sure if Batman just doesn't recognize Red Tornado as Lois or if he doesn't know who Lois is. If it's the latter, than the mystery surrounding his identity gets curioser and curioser.) I also loved Batman and Lois blindfolding Jimmy so that he wouldn't be haunted by images of the parademon slaughter as a result of his photographic memory. It's a rare moment of kindness amidst the chaos and it reminds you who the good guys are. (Frankly, it's also something that I'm not entirely sure Bruce would've taken the time to do, so it's another way that Taylor creates a separate identity for this Batman.)
Taylor and Scott also do a great job of expressing the majesty of the various players here. Marella is spectacularly imperial as she takes the full brunt of the World Army's blast and then threatens the soldiers. Superman is equally imposing as he smashes the Washington Monument into the White House, making you realize why people would surrender all hope for fear of him. Similarly, the idea that Bedlam now has Terry Sloan and Michael Holt at his disposal really makes you wonder how the heroes are going to win.
Along those lines, this issue seems to bring to a close the "Empire Strikes Back" phase of this story arc. Batman, Hawkgirl, Marella, and Red Tornado (with Jimmy Olsen, Major Soto, and the mysterious Kryptonian in tow) seem to be heading to the Batcave to re-group. Meanwhile, Red Arrow and Dr. Fate are stranded fighting parademons while Flash, Michael Holt, and Terry Sloan are all prisoners of Apokolips. Not a good scene. Presumably, we have nowhere to go but up.
As I said in last issue, I'm glad that Taylor has decided to embrace the war with Apokolips, pushing aside other stories that Robinson left untold so that he can give this one the attention that it deserves. After all, we have a number of questions left unanswered. Who's the "angel in the slaughter" that Red Arrow seems to encounter here? Where is Darkseid? Why does he (or, at least, his minions) want to bring Earth into Apokolips space? How did Superman get corrupted? Why was Sloan hiding the mysterious Kryptonian? They're all intriguing questions and I continue to be excited about getting them answered.
**** (four of five stars)
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Earth 2 #18 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Wow. Honestly, Tom Taylor is recapturing some of the magic that we lost as Robinson rushed to wrap up some plots before he left the series. In a way, we're seeing the fight with Darkseid that we missed the first time, since this series started with the end of the last fight with him. At this stage, the mysteries left unsolved -- like what Sam's connection to weapons dealers was or where Kanto, the Assassin of Apokolips, is -- no longer feel as urgent. We need to get through the Darkseid invasion and then we'll worry about the rest.
But, it doesn't mean that we're left mystery-less just focusing on the fight with Darkseid. After all, we still don't know who Batman is. This Batman says that he should've been there when the other Batman died, giving the impression that he's Earth-2's Robin (be it Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, or Damian Wayne). But, when Lois calls him "Bruce," he doesn't seem to recognize the name, calling into question whether he really has any connection to the original Batman. Moreover, he tells Major Sato that the original Batman thought highly of her, something that she reveals may have been a bluff when she declares that she never met the original Batman. So, we still don't know who he is or what motivates him. (All that said, shooting the Joker through the head certainly implies the sort of personal grudge that a Robin would have.)
We also don't know what inspired Superman's heel turn. We do discover that Darkseid may have had the capacity to re-invade Earth this entire time, though I'm not really sure where that leaves us vis-Ã -vis "Earth 2" #15.1. Desaad seemed unable to open a Boom Tube in that issue, though we did learn that someone called the Tunneler (who presumably can open Tubes) was connected to Michael Holt and Superman does activate the gates in this issue when he locks down Holt. But, how all those plots fit together exactly is still a mystery. Moreover, it's still unclear where the Atom, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl are, not to mention Big Barda and Mr. Miracle.
But, it's not all mysteries. We do also get some meaningful action here. Flash proves himself the hero of the bunch when he hurls a rock at Superman's head to buy the World Army time to evacuate its headquarters. Their race teases out their characters, with Flash displaying a naive hope when he tells Superman that he had a poster of him on his wall and Superman a callous humor when he breaks Flash's ankle and tells him that it's always nice to meet a fan. Moreover, we're reminded that everything is on the table here in a way that it's not in the mainstream titles. When I saw Khan with a pole through his gut, I worried that he'd wind up dead, something that wouldn't happen to a major character in the DCnU without me knowing about it beforehand. Taylor seems to get the excitement that comes with that, perhaps even better than Robinson did. In that way, you wonder if Flash's broken ankle might end his superhero career. I doubt it, but, just the fact that it could happen reminds you of the stakes that this title is able to raise.
It's really anyone's guess where we go from here. But, it's a relief to be focused on a narrower set of questions that directly connect to the plot at hand while at the same time reading an author no longer in a rush to tell a story. It's nice to be excited about this series again and see Robinson's great work be respected.
**** (four of five stars)
But, it doesn't mean that we're left mystery-less just focusing on the fight with Darkseid. After all, we still don't know who Batman is. This Batman says that he should've been there when the other Batman died, giving the impression that he's Earth-2's Robin (be it Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, or Damian Wayne). But, when Lois calls him "Bruce," he doesn't seem to recognize the name, calling into question whether he really has any connection to the original Batman. Moreover, he tells Major Sato that the original Batman thought highly of her, something that she reveals may have been a bluff when she declares that she never met the original Batman. So, we still don't know who he is or what motivates him. (All that said, shooting the Joker through the head certainly implies the sort of personal grudge that a Robin would have.)
We also don't know what inspired Superman's heel turn. We do discover that Darkseid may have had the capacity to re-invade Earth this entire time, though I'm not really sure where that leaves us vis-Ã -vis "Earth 2" #15.1. Desaad seemed unable to open a Boom Tube in that issue, though we did learn that someone called the Tunneler (who presumably can open Tubes) was connected to Michael Holt and Superman does activate the gates in this issue when he locks down Holt. But, how all those plots fit together exactly is still a mystery. Moreover, it's still unclear where the Atom, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl are, not to mention Big Barda and Mr. Miracle.
But, it's not all mysteries. We do also get some meaningful action here. Flash proves himself the hero of the bunch when he hurls a rock at Superman's head to buy the World Army time to evacuate its headquarters. Their race teases out their characters, with Flash displaying a naive hope when he tells Superman that he had a poster of him on his wall and Superman a callous humor when he breaks Flash's ankle and tells him that it's always nice to meet a fan. Moreover, we're reminded that everything is on the table here in a way that it's not in the mainstream titles. When I saw Khan with a pole through his gut, I worried that he'd wind up dead, something that wouldn't happen to a major character in the DCnU without me knowing about it beforehand. Taylor seems to get the excitement that comes with that, perhaps even better than Robinson did. In that way, you wonder if Flash's broken ankle might end his superhero career. I doubt it, but, just the fact that it could happen reminds you of the stakes that this title is able to raise.
It's really anyone's guess where we go from here. But, it's a relief to be focused on a narrower set of questions that directly connect to the plot at hand while at the same time reading an author no longer in a rush to tell a story. It's nice to be excited about this series again and see Robinson's great work be respected.
**** (four of five stars)
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Earth 2 #17 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Needless to say, I was pretty nervous about this issue. Although Robinson wasn't the strongest scripter and his plots have been overly crowded in recent issues, he succeeded in creating such a compelling and vivid world that it was hard to see anyone else writing this series. However, I'm glad to say that I'm a little less worried after reading this issue.
First, Taylor wisely decides to put everyone in the same place so that we can actually have a clearer sense of the status quo. Robinson has been moving so many different pieces on the crowded board over the last few issues that it was almost impossible to remember what each character was doing the last time that you saw her or him. By bringing virtually everyone to the same place, Taylor makes it a lot easier to follow the story, since everyone is now more or less involved in the same plot. Sure, characters like Terry Sloan or Mr. Terrific may only have a line or two, but you at least know where they are and to what they're referring without having to go through back issues. As simple as that seems, it's an improvement over recent issues.
Looking at the plot itself, Taylor does a great job of conveying the panic that the Wonders feel in the wake of their routing at Superman's hands in Dherain. I thought that he made the wise decision to send Dr. Fate against Superman one-on-one, since it narrows the field of combatants. Again, it's a lot easier to follow the action when it's just two characters whaling on each other rather than several whaling on several others in different locations. Plus, it makes sense for it to be Dr. Fate, since magic does seem logically to be the one thing that might stop Superman and the one thing that he has that no one else has. When he fails to stop Superman, it helps add to the sense of panic, since the Wonders seem to have exhausted all possibilities. (Enter Batman, and the criminals and madmen.)
Taylor also gets in some good moments of characterization, something that this series did well at the start but lost in the shuffle over the last few issues. Jay saving Khalid and then volunteering to distract Superman while everyone else figures out a plan reminds us what a stand-up guy he is. Moreover, the revelation that the Red Tornado is Lois Lane was shocking, but Taylor totally sold it, even though the reasons for her becoming a robot remain shrouded in mystery. He uses General Lane's clear love for his daughter to make us buy the fact that he wouldn't done everything that he could to save her, making the details of how her consciousness was transferred to a robot less important.
However, he does make us realize how many mysteries we still have left on the table, now that we've added yet another significant one. We have no idea how Lois died and how Clark handled that. It also raises the possibility that Superman has come to the World Army's base to get her, though Taylor doesn't confirm that. We also still don't know what Batman is doing; for that matter, we still don't know who he is. If Superman is somehow still alive, is this Batman the original Batman? Probably not, but Taylor is playing his cards close to his vest. That said, it's exciting to have Batman finally emerge from the shadows and take a central role in the drama. Robinson did a great job not rushing the moment, making it all the better when it comes in this issue.
So, clearly, it's a good start to this next era. Taylor has to ignore some other sub-plots, like Hawkgirl's investigation into Sam's death and Big Barda and Mr. Miracle doing something out there somewhere. But, he seems set to bring some of the various other sub-plots to some sort of conclusion all at once, so hopefully we'll be able to clear the decks a bit before we add those mysteries to the pile. All in all, it's a strong steady opening to a series in need of a somewhat less frenetic pace.
**** (four of five stars)
First, Taylor wisely decides to put everyone in the same place so that we can actually have a clearer sense of the status quo. Robinson has been moving so many different pieces on the crowded board over the last few issues that it was almost impossible to remember what each character was doing the last time that you saw her or him. By bringing virtually everyone to the same place, Taylor makes it a lot easier to follow the story, since everyone is now more or less involved in the same plot. Sure, characters like Terry Sloan or Mr. Terrific may only have a line or two, but you at least know where they are and to what they're referring without having to go through back issues. As simple as that seems, it's an improvement over recent issues.
Looking at the plot itself, Taylor does a great job of conveying the panic that the Wonders feel in the wake of their routing at Superman's hands in Dherain. I thought that he made the wise decision to send Dr. Fate against Superman one-on-one, since it narrows the field of combatants. Again, it's a lot easier to follow the action when it's just two characters whaling on each other rather than several whaling on several others in different locations. Plus, it makes sense for it to be Dr. Fate, since magic does seem logically to be the one thing that might stop Superman and the one thing that he has that no one else has. When he fails to stop Superman, it helps add to the sense of panic, since the Wonders seem to have exhausted all possibilities. (Enter Batman, and the criminals and madmen.)
Taylor also gets in some good moments of characterization, something that this series did well at the start but lost in the shuffle over the last few issues. Jay saving Khalid and then volunteering to distract Superman while everyone else figures out a plan reminds us what a stand-up guy he is. Moreover, the revelation that the Red Tornado is Lois Lane was shocking, but Taylor totally sold it, even though the reasons for her becoming a robot remain shrouded in mystery. He uses General Lane's clear love for his daughter to make us buy the fact that he wouldn't done everything that he could to save her, making the details of how her consciousness was transferred to a robot less important.
However, he does make us realize how many mysteries we still have left on the table, now that we've added yet another significant one. We have no idea how Lois died and how Clark handled that. It also raises the possibility that Superman has come to the World Army's base to get her, though Taylor doesn't confirm that. We also still don't know what Batman is doing; for that matter, we still don't know who he is. If Superman is somehow still alive, is this Batman the original Batman? Probably not, but Taylor is playing his cards close to his vest. That said, it's exciting to have Batman finally emerge from the shadows and take a central role in the drama. Robinson did a great job not rushing the moment, making it all the better when it comes in this issue.
So, clearly, it's a good start to this next era. Taylor has to ignore some other sub-plots, like Hawkgirl's investigation into Sam's death and Big Barda and Mr. Miracle doing something out there somewhere. But, he seems set to bring some of the various other sub-plots to some sort of conclusion all at once, so hopefully we'll be able to clear the decks a bit before we add those mysteries to the pile. All in all, it's a strong steady opening to a series in need of a somewhat less frenetic pace.
**** (four of five stars)
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Earth 2 #16 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Well, I sure didn't see that coming!
The revelation that Brutaal was Superman was awesome, really. Robinson had gone to significant lengths to establishing just how powerful Steppenwolf is, with him and his three "dogs of war" eliminating hundreds of thousands of soldiers of the World Army seemingly in a matter of minutes. To have Brutaal unexpectedly cleave Steppenwolf in two as he pronounces his victory over the world was shocking, to say the least.
As I was reading Steppenwolf's speech, I found myself trying to remember how Steppenwolf killed Superman in issue #1. I remembered that Superman engaged Steppenwolf after he killed Wonder Woman, but I couldn't quite remember how he died. A few pages later, when Robinson revealed that Superman was still alive, I did some Googling and remembered that Superman actually exploded under attack from parademons. It, obviously, raises some question as how he could still be alive (if he is, in fact, Superman). Did Desaad somehow get his hands on Superman's remains, resurrect him, and program him to take down Steppenwolf? (Desaad didn't seem so pleased with Steppenwolf in issue #15.1) If Desaad is manipulating him, will Superman power Desaad's Boom Tube to re-establish the connection with Apokolips? If Desaad wasn't involved in his resurrection, how was he resurrected? Moreover, if it wasn't Desaad manipulating him, how did Superman suddenly come under the sway of Darkseid after he was resurrected? Although I'm excited about the possibilities, we're going to need really good answers to these questions so that this revelation doesn't feel like a convenient stunt.
Beyond the Brutaal/Superman revelation, this issue is important because we see the Justice Society in action essentially for the first time. Although it's missing Hawkgirl, it's pretty much every other Wonder that we've seen so far. I thought Robinson made a good call bringing them together not to fight Steppenwolf, but to save the survivors of his onslaught. One of the divisions between the two sides of Wonders throughout this series has been Atom's belief that only heroes affiliated with the World Army should be fighting and Green Lantern's belief that the Wonders should exist independent from such political manipulation. By removing this hierarchy question from the equation and turning the Wonders' alliance into a rescue mission, Robinson brings the team together in a way that feels organic, reminding us that they're all heroes seeking to make the world a better place. Moreover, with the World Army decimated, sanction is clearly going to be less of an issue than survival. My guess is that the team is here to stay, operating in the absence of the World Army to protect Earth (though I expect Atom and Green Lantern not exactly to agree on who's leading it).
After 19 issues (including #0, #15.1, and #15.2), my only complaint with where we are now is that we've had too much of a good thing. Although Brutaal's reveal was powerful, it would've been more powerful had I any memory of seeing him before this issue. The only henchman of Steppenwolf I remember is Fury, who I last remember seeing in pursuit of Big Barda and Mister Miracle, though I can't quite remember where we left them. This reveal would've been more powerful if we would've had time to see Brutaal as Steppenwolf's trusted lieutenant, making his betrayal all the more profound (like Xorn -- before the ret-con -- in Morrison's run on "New X-Men"). But, Robinson has been juggling so many characters that he's barely had time to focus on the Wonders, let alone the villains.
Most of my early issues of this series are at my folks' house, but I'm tempted to have them send them to me so that I can read the whole saga from start to finish. Robinson leaves us here with the real sense of the first part of "Earth 2's" story complete: the Justice Society is born, the real villain is revealed, and the situation is indeed dire. I would've loved to have seen him tell the next chapter but I have to thank him for delivering the one that he did. This series remains the best part, despite its flaws, of the reboot and it's all because of him.
New-ish Comics!: The "Villains Month" Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Earth 2 #15.1/Desaad #1: Occasionally, I have a problem reading the DCnU, given my lack of historical knowledge of DC comics in general. I only really started reading DC in earnest in 2010; before then, I was an occasional reader of the Bat-books. So, although I'm familiar enough with the Bat-family's history to be intrigued (and occasionally outraged) by the "fresh take" that the DCnU has brought, I'm often left baffled in other books when a detailed knowledge of the character's history is required to understand what the author is doing (particularly when I'm supposed to be intrigued by how it differs from the character's DCU analogue). This issue is a case in point. I'm not really sure who Desaad is, making it difficult to follow (or care about) this issue. At the very least, his goal is pretty clear, seeking someone named the Tunneler to help him return to Apokolips. I failed to understand two things, though. First, he seems to discover how to create Boom Tubes on Earth 2, since he uses one to approach the artist with whom he seems to be obsessed. As such, why can't he use it to go to Apokolips? It's possible that he doesn't have enough power, but Levitz doesn't make that clear. Second, the Tunneler has something to do with Michael Holt, given that Desaad sends his agents to Holt Industries to acquire him/it. We haven't really seen boo of Holt since he appeared and just as quickly disappeared under the manipulation of Terry Sloane, so, honestly, Holt's connection to the Tunneler is probably the least mysterious thing about him. But, we learn that the Tunneler has been taken from him and it's unclear if Desaad knows where he is by the end of the issue. Moreover, I'm not really sure how anything depicted here relates to the events currently happening in "Earth 2." Basically, this issue is essentially what I expected Villains Month to be, which isn't a compliment.
Batman #23.2/Riddler #1: Honestly, I've never been a huge fan of Riddler. Snyder gives us a textbook Riddler story here, with him using an elaborate scheme to exact revenge against someone who wronged him years earlier. But, I can't say that I care. (Maybe I'm just over the Riddler given that I'm playing "Batman: Arkham Origins" and his character is as annoying as ever in it.)
Earth 2 #15.2/Solomon Grundy #1: Kindt does a good job of explaining how Solomon Grundy got his rage, if you will, showing him as a poor abattoir worker (and newly minted father) whose cruel boss pays his wife for sex. His wife is driven over the edge after their most recent encounter and kills herself, causing Solomon to go on a murder spree. The part that I don't get - and that Kindt probably could've explained - is how Grundy gets his powers. The events that I just described happened in 1898. After Grundy kills himself, he falls into the river next to the abattoir and something...happens, turning him into the zombie that he normally is. But, Kindt doesn't explain what happened. Instead, we burn a few pages of Grundy searching for "the green man" in the present, with no explanation of why he's motivated to find him. Although Kindt hits the right emotional notes to describe the tragedy of Grundy (as Kubert did with the "Batman #23.1/Joker #1" issue), I'm still kind of shocked that he didn't explain Grundy's supernatural origin or obsession with the Green Lantern. We know that the latter comes from some sort of Green/Grey dichotomy from his previous conflict with Green Lantern, but Kindt could've helped flesh out that concept here. Again, it's another missed opportunity.
Batman #23.3/Penguin #1: Whereas "Batman" #23.1 and "Earth 2" #15.2 deal with the origins of some of the DCnU super-villains, Tieri sticks to a similar script as Snyder in "Batman" #23.2, showing how the Penguin is taking advantage of the absence of Batman. I honestly expected more stories like this one from "Villains Month" and the fact that I enjoyed this one so much probably reflects that. I particularly liked how Tieri embraced the Penguin's status quo, showing him as reassembling his power base after the assault on his criminal empire by Emperor Penguin in "Detective Comics" (making me wonder why it wasn't part of that title's "Villains Month" issues). Penguin is particularly bold here, murdering three illusionists trying to fleece him at his casino and engineering the fall of the Governor of the state where Gotham is located, who also just happens to be an old friend from boarding school who used to protect him from bullies. Whereas we've seen attempts to make Joker and Solomon Grundy into sympathetic characters with these "Villains Month" issues, Tieri does no such thing here, showing the Penguin as the brutal, remorseless killer that he is. I can't say that it's a necessary read, but it's probably the "Villains Month" issue that does its job the best for me so far.
Batman #23.4/Bane #1: "Villains Month" authors so far have focused either on origin stories (Joker, Solomon Grundy) or showing how the super-villains are taking advantage of the disappearance of the superheroes to push their agendas (Riddler, Penguin). (I'm not really sure what the Desaad issue was, so we'll just ignore that one for now.) Tomasi seemingly couldn't make up his mind, so we get both here. Bane spends time in Santa Prisca so that we can get lectured by pretty much everyone about his origin and philosophy, but, after he leaves via ship to Gotham City, we learn that he plans on building his own army from freed Blackgate prisoners to take over Gotham. Something that's always bothered me about Bane but didn't become clear until this issue is that I've never understood why he cares about Gotham. Tomasi makes it clear that he wasn't like most super-villains, who come to Gotham to tangle with Batman. Bane wanted Gotham itself, but why would a kid from a Caribbean country care about Gotham? Tomasi never really explains it, making both his origin story and the present story fall flat.
Batman/Superman #3.1: Similar to my problem with "Earth 2" #15.1 and #15.2, this issue had less of an impact to me in part because I'm not sure what I'm seeing here. Whereas I've been an intermittent reader of the various Bat-books for years, my knowledge of Superman is pretty much limited to "Doomsday" and "Funeral for a Friend." In those series, Doomsday was simply a mute alien bent on destruction. Here, he's the same, though he's wrecking Krypton rather than Metropolis. But, similar to my complaint about the Solomon Grundy edition of "Earth 2," Pak stops short of giving us a full origin. Just like we never discovered how Grundy got his powers, we never learn here how Doomsday eventually made it to Earth (or from where he came). Instead, Pak diverts attention to Zod (who, we learn in this issue, made his career in defending Krypton from Doomsday), who's apparently speaking to a young Supergirl from the Negative Zone. It seems an unnecessary diversion, given the questions about Doomsday that remain on the table and the fact that we don't really learn much interesting about Zod or Supergirl here.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
New Comics! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
By last count, I'm 30 issues in the hole; I'm also expecting another two shipments full of issues this week. As such, I'm going to do some old-school reviews for a while so I can be a little less untimely than I
currently am.
All-New X-Men #15: I actually love what Bendis does here.
When I first saw the cover, I rolled my eyes. After all, who wasn't in love with Jean, at this point? But, Bendis really sells it. Jean's response to her
accidental discovery that Hank was in love with her was to realize that a path
was open to her that she previously hadn't considered. Based on her
response to their kiss, she seems to like where it leads. Bendis turns the entire history of the X-Men on its head here, imaging a future where Scott and Jean never married, where Cable and Rachel were never born, where any number of aspects of our current reality wouldn't look the way that they do. It's the best type of time-travel story and I applaud Bendis for pulling off something that, quite honestly, he's failed to do in other titles. Turning to the art, I wouldn't
want Lopez to be on this title full-time, but his cartoonish pencils really worked
for this issue, playing up the teen angst at the heart of it. (Speaking
of said angst, I loved Bobby being thrilled to discover that he finally gets
some and disturbed to learn that it's with his professor.)
Detective Comics #23: I seriously appreciate that Layman hasn't reduced this Wrath arc to the clichéd mystery over his real identity. Whenever a
new villain appears, authors tend to push our willful suspension of disbelief
to the brink, spending an inordinate amount of time trying to pretend that the new supporting character to appear in
the main character's life isn't also the new super-villain. (Paging Lincoln Marsh.) Layman
hasn't gone to that much effort to conceal that Caldwell is Wrath (and drops the ruse entirely here), wisely placing his focus on the more interesting question of why Caldwell became a cop-killer. Initially, he
seemed to be doing it to beef up the sales of his body armor, but, given that he
turned said body armor against the cops in this issue, he seems to be playing a much deeper
game. Also, the revelation in the back-up story that Caldwell was
responsible for weaponizing the Man-Bat serum was great. Layman really
does an amazing job making connections between plots and sub-plots, even if the
events related to each plot didn't happen in his book. It's what makes reading this title such a rich experience.
Earth 2 #15: [Sigh.] This series used to be so damn
good, but Robinson is clearly just running out the clock here. He jumps
from group to group so quickly that you hardly have time to try to remember
where the character was the last time you left him/her. Moreover, when you do remember, you're confused. For example, last
we left Kendra, she was fighting Apokorats at Sam's grave site. Suddenly, in this issue, she's in Morocco chasing down a casino owner, Darcy Twain. Does he have
some connection to Kanto, the "Assassin of Apokolips," who Batman told
her to find in her last appearance? Who knows? (Also, I'm increasingly convinced that Batman is Sam, though why he needs Kendra to
fight his fights for him is beyond me.) I get that events can happen
off-panel, but this revelation just feel random, like I missed an issue.
If the Kendra sub-plot was the only one that left me feeling that way, I could handle it.
But, given that the whole issue did, it also left me waiting for Robinson to
leave, something I never thought I'd find myself saying.
Superior Foes of Spider-Man #2: Spencer continues to display his amazing
sense of dialogue here. Beyond just the
witty banter (the team's Sinister Six conversation was hilarious), he really manages
to give everyone a distinct voice, something that comes from a firm grasp of
their motivations. Beetle is biding
her time until she’s made enough of a name for herself that she can set up her
own shop, Speed Demon just enjoys the super-villain life, Overdrive is still a
bit overwhelmed, and, as we see here, Shocker is aloof after he discovers the
secret behind the Superior Foes. (Of
course, Boomerang’s lawyer, Partridge, takes the cake in this category, with
every word that he utters conveying his sleaziness.)
My only complaint, at this point, is that I have trouble believing that
Boomerang would get paroled, particularly after violating his parole in the first place. After all,
as he acknowledges here, he is a murderer.
(At the very least, he killed Jackpot’s husband in “Amazing Spider-Man
Presents: Jackpot” #2, though a Google search implies that he might've been exonerated of that crime.) It’s not like we’re supposed to believe that
Partridge is that good of a
lawyer that he could make the board forget about all that. But, I feel like Spencer is
doing here what Fraction is doing with Barney Barton in "Hawkeye," taking years of
conflicting depictions of Boomerang and trying to present a more coherent
portrait. (Remember when he told Shocker that he had a responsibility to vote in “Amazing Spider-Man” #584? Not exactly the type of guy who’d kill
someone’s husband in cold blood, is it?)
As such, I’m willing to cut Spencer a break, particularly in these first
few issues, as he sets about the process of establishing that portrait, particularly since it's such an enjoyable one. Moreover, it’s a pretty small complaint,
given how tightly scripted and generally fun this issue is. After all, the fact that we're going on a "Goonies"-esque journey for the mythical head of Silvio Silvermane makes me almost giggle with glee.
Superior Spider-Man #15:
OK, Slott anticipated the complaint that we haven’t seen hide nor hair
of Spidey’s supporting cast in the last few issues, given the tour of said cast
that we got in this issue. However,
instead of remedying my concerns, he just made them worse. It’s becoming obvious that Slott has written
himself into the same corner that the “Clone Saga” writers did, struggling to
find a way to maintain the involvement of Spidey’s strong supporting cast
without stretching the readers’ willful suspension of disbelief by denying them the realization that something is amiss. Although those writers were able to keep
Ben Reilly under wraps through an assumed identity and a dye job, Slott isn’t
so lucky, since Peter is, in theory, still Peter. He’s forced to insert an arbitrary distance
between Spidey and his supporting cast, left only with the one character that
he invented for this larger story (Anna Maria) to use to show Peter outside his
costume. Unfortunately, it also denies
this title what makes Spider-Man special, namely, Peter Parker’s struggle to
balance his private life with his greater responsibility. (I’m in the process
of reading issue #200-#300 of “Amazing Spider-Man” and those stories are all
about Peter Parker, not Spider-Man.) By
ignoring that aspect of Peter’s life completely, Slott has turned this book
into the worst aspects of “Batman.” I’m
not saying it’s not well written, but I am saying that, increasing, it’s a
travesty to call it “Spider-Man.” I guess Otto isn't so superior after all.
X-Factor #260: Man, this issue is grim. David keeps it light, mostly thanks to Lorna's pretty funny drunken banter. But, when you take a moment, you realize that you're actually witnessing Lorna hitting rock bottom. She has no idea where the other members of X-Factor are and she's indulging impulses best left to super-villains, like destroying private property and risking innocent lives. The fact that it's Pietro, of all people, who tries to stop her from doing herself and other people harm shows just how far she's fallen.
Infinity #1: Meh. Under different circumstances, I could write paragraphs and paragraphs about this one. But, at the end of the day, it was a slightly more coherent version of Hickman's usually boring and obscure stories. Thanos gets a tribute from one planet that he previously destroyed, though we have yet to learn its significance, and wants something that Black Bolt currently possesses. Hickman seems to be setting up some big revelation about the secret history of the Inhumans, but I can't say that I care all that much.
X-Factor #260: Man, this issue is grim. David keeps it light, mostly thanks to Lorna's pretty funny drunken banter. But, when you take a moment, you realize that you're actually witnessing Lorna hitting rock bottom. She has no idea where the other members of X-Factor are and she's indulging impulses best left to super-villains, like destroying private property and risking innocent lives. The fact that it's Pietro, of all people, who tries to stop her from doing herself and other people harm shows just how far she's fallen.
Infinity #1: Meh. Under different circumstances, I could write paragraphs and paragraphs about this one. But, at the end of the day, it was a slightly more coherent version of Hickman's usually boring and obscure stories. Thanos gets a tribute from one planet that he previously destroyed, though we have yet to learn its significance, and wants something that Black Bolt currently possesses. Hickman seems to be setting up some big revelation about the secret history of the Inhumans, but I can't say that I care all that much.
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