Second Wave Review: Earth Two #1

Earth Two #1 (James Robinson, Nicola Scott, Trevor Scott, Alex Sinclair)

There are few stories in comic books that are as enticing as a good alternate universe tale. This is proven by the fact that stories like Earth Two have been part of the fabric of the industry (particularly DC Comics) for the the vast majority of the medium's history. Though the multiverse isn't what it used to be, it's still felt at both Marvel and DC. Just this week, Ultimate Spider-man #10, Age of Apocalypse #3, Action Comics #9, and Earth Two #1 were released, all dealing with alternate earths. There's just something intriguing about the possibilities of a wholly recognizable but wholly different world.

   
Perhaps the most exciting thing about alternate earth tales is the hint of familiarity in a setting that is drastically different. In fact, if I really examine my ambivalence about Age of Apocalypse, the real problem with it wasn't its quality but rather that I don't know the Marvel Universe well enough to get excited about the cameos and character changes. That's certainly not a problem with Earth Two. Even with the corners of the New 52 somewhat unexplored, the setting and characters of Robinson's new series are familiar enough that anyone engaged in DC history would find it tantalizing. While appearances by the alternate Big Three (Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman) and their relatives (Robin and Supergirl) were exciting, the real joy comes from the return of fan favorite Justice Society stalwarts like Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, and Al Pratt.

   
The brilliance of Earth 2, is that DC editorial is utilizing writer James Robinson in the best way possible. He's a talented superhero writer but his real gift is super-world building. Anyone that has read his amazing Starman run or The Golden Age miniseries knows that Robinson's love for unexplored or rarely seen corners of the DC Universe makes him perfect for books that allow for unhindered exploration. Sadly, when he returned to comic books a few years ago, DC plugged him into high profile gigs that didn't really fit his style. There just wasn't enough room in books like Action Comics and Cry For Justice for world exploration and the big name characters he was given. (Though that didn't stop him from trying!) In contrast, that freedom is what has made his miniseries The Shade so fun. It stars a minor character that can afford to sometimes take a backseat to rarely used Golden Age mystery men or brand new Barcelona-based crime fighters.

   
Therein lies the cleverness of Earth Two. I am not going to spoil it, but issue one sets the stage for Robinson to build an entire world unimpeded. In many ways, Earth Two is somewhat similar to the idea behind Marvel's Ultimate line of comics, but that's not a completely accurate comparison. The concept begins the same but, in the end, the purpose of the book is different. Robinson is not creatively relaunching characters like Clark Kent, Barry Allen, or Hal Jordan but rather a whole new cast of characters. His Big Three may be Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, and Al Pratt but there's no telling what other characters are on the way. After all, Robinson has already shown that he is willing to change one of the oldest origin stories in comics—anything else is fair game.

   
Artistically, Nicola Scott's pencils, Trevor Scott's inks, and Alex Sinclair's colors add a fantastic crispness to Earth Two. Even though this isn't the traditional version of DC's most famous parallel earth, there's something about Scott's art that lends itself to the Golden Age heroes that are being re-imagined. The gigantic battles raging across the globe are perfectly rendered and the brief appearances of certain characters look suitable epic. (Gah! Avoiding spoilers is hard!) The character designs are familiar while still looking different from the their traditional appearance.

   
Overall, Earth Two issue one is a good starting point. Even though I am excited about Robinson's opportunity to develop a whole new universe, I hope he can stay on point and keep potential meandering to a minimum. If he can, Earth Two has the potential to be one of the most consistently creative books in the New 52.