The second wave of DC's "New 52" starts this week with the release of Earth 2, a surprisingly awesome first issue that teases some intriguing new plots for the series to come, and presents a wonderful new alternate universe for fans to experience. I don't want to jinx it, but it seems like Earth 2 may be writer James Robinson's return to comics glory.
Opening with a new take on the recent parademon attack from the recently wrapped opening Justice League story, the heroes of Earth 2 find themselves locked in battle with Darkseid's forces. After years of battle, and realizing that they must end it somehow, the Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman of Earth 2 come up with one final plan of attack to save their world. Leading the charge, the heroes put up a valiant fight, but ultimately meet their end, as both Superman and Wonder Woman fall to the sheer size of the army they face, and Batman sacrifices himself to finally defeat the parademons. Add to the fact that Supergirl and Huntress (who in this universe is Batman's daughter) chase an unknown enemy into a boom tube (a plot point that is resolved in their own series- World's Finest, which is also out today), and the world of Earth 2 is suddenly without heroes.
Or is it? Shortly after this awesome opening battle, we are introduced to both Alan Scott and Jay Garrick, the golden age Green Lantern and Flash as we know them. Here on Earth 2 however, they are both young men (well, Scott's older) who have yet to realize the power that they will both possess. Scott is a successful media mogul, and Garrick is, well, a loser. We're introduced to them at the tail end of the issue, but it doesn't matter, I'm hooked 100% and will gladly pick up the next issue. Writer James Robinson is on fire with this script, and artist Nicola Scott has created one of the best action scenes of the year with his depiction of the DC's big three's last stand. While I have a vague passing knowledge of the golden age characters that this book is referencing, it had no impact on my enjoyment of this issue. As I said before, I'm in. 100%.
Ed Brubaker needs to write every issue of Avengers vs. X-Men. This third issue is bar-none, the best of the three that have been released, and is leaps and bounds better than Jason Aaron's stab at the story last issue. The action finally moves from Utopia, and after an awesome deception by the X-Men, the Avengers are left scrambling trying to catch up with them in the search for Hope.
But that's not what makes this issue great. As you can tell from the cover, Captain America and Wolverine throw down, and before you say "Wolverine switches sides ALREADY?" let me say this: it's not what you think, and the reason why the two come to blows makes complete sense. Brubaker has proven already that he should be the man to pen the rest of this series, but alas, I know that this wish will not come true. This is the issue that makes up for the last one. Awesome, awesome stuff here, and I hope the other writers in the room took notes from Ed for the remainder of this series.
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