Earth 2 Annual #1 Review

Tags

Batman, Cafu, Cam Smith, Captain Steel, Commnader Khan, DC Comics, Earth 2, Gotham City, James Robinson, Julis Gopez, Major Sonia Sato, Mr Miracle, Pete Pantazis, Steppenwolf, The Atom, The New 52

Earth 2 Annual #1

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

The new Batman of Earth 2 finally makes his debut in this months Earth 2 annual #1, while the World Army gears up to confront the return of Steppenwolf from his stronghold in Dherain. James Robinson draws together many ongoing plot threads, setting the stage for the next challenge the New Wonders of Earth 2 must face.

Following a lead that takes him to Cambodia, the Atom goes undercover in Phnom Penh to find a war criminal, Henri Roy, who runs a lucrative black market operation dealing in high-tech weaponry and cybernetic enhancements. The Atom allows himself to be captured so he can get to Henri Rory, unaware that a new Batman is watching from the shadows. As soon as Captain Pratt turns into the Atom he is attacked by the bodyguards, and then Henri Roy himself, after he dons a battle suit.

The Atom manages to defeat and capture Henri Roy, with some unexpected help from Batman, before meeting up with Major Sonia Sato. It turns out that the war criminals son, Henri Roy Jr, was the one who told them where his father was. He decides to join the World Army, in an attempt to make up for what his father has done, and to find an explanation for the terrible headaches that he used to suffer from. Major Sato then informs the Atom that Steppenwolf is now the ruler of Dherain.

After a short interlude on the Sentinel (The World Army Central Intelligence Hub) where Commander Khan sends Captain Steel to investigate one of the fire pits caused by Sloan in Rio, we rejoin the Batman as he fights Mr Icicle in Colmenar Viejo, Spain. The new Batman of Earth 2 is hunting a being known as Kanto, the Assassin of Apokolips, who helped enhance humans like Mr Icicle during the Apokolips War. Batman has learned that Kanto is calling in his markers to those he empowered, intending to uses them in some new plan he is devising. After dealing with Mr Icicle and questioning him, Batman decides its time for him to find out more about Hawkgirl.

Over in the ruins of Gotham City, where the world once reeled from the fiery wrath of the Agonists, mutated monsters now roam this desolate place. It is here that Mr Miracle and Barda have been since they escaped from Steppenwolf. They are searching for the mysterious new Batman and the cave he reportedly dwells in. Mr Miracle is worried that the time Barda has spent hunting mutants could have revealed their location to the World Army, he want to move on, but before they can act Barda is suddenly attacked by Fury.

Earth 2 annual #1 is another great instalment of Earth 2 by James Robinson. As well as introducing the new Batman, the spotlight initially falls on the Atom and his secret mission to Phnom Penh. We get a much greater insight into the character of Captain Pratt, as he recalls events leading up to the nuclear explosion that created him, as well as having to come to terms with being the only survivor from his platoon and his new found powers.

The artwork for Earth 2 annual #1 is shared by Cafu and Julis Gopez, with Cafu and Cam Smith on inks, and Pete Pantazis on colours. Their work on this first Earth 2 annual is excellent, especially during the scenes where Captain Pratt reflects on the past, and the moment where he becomes the giant sized Atom and pursues Henri Roy’s robotic suit across the rooftops.

It was also good to see many of the supporting characters again, including Commander Khan and Major Sato, as well as introducing Captain Steel and the new subplot involving the fire pits. We also get to see Mr Miracle and Barda exploring the ruins of Gotham City, before they are attacked by Fury who has been sent by Steppenwolf to find them.

The hype surrounding the new Batman has helped build expectations for Earth 2 annual #1, and the cover by Andy Kubert and Brad Anderson is really striking. While most of the plot is actually centred around the Atom and his mission, when the new Batman does appear, it’s done with incredible style. He swoops in to take out the reinforcements attacking the Atom, before sneaking back into the shadows, where he listens in on the news that Steppenwolf has announced his presence in Dherian. We then follow Batman as he searches for information about Kanto, the Assassin of Apokolips, and fights one of the augmented humans he created in the war, Mr Icicle.

The identity of the new Batman remains a mystery for now, his search for Kanto will no doubt bring him into contact with the rest of the New Wonders of Earth 2 soon enough, and I look forward to seeing how his story develops in the main series. Sadly writer James Robinson has announced that he is leaving Earth 2 as of issue #16, and will no longer be working for DC Comics. This news came as something of a shock to fans of the series, and his successor will certainly have a lot to live up to. Despite the news of Robinson’s departure, Earth 2 annual #1 is still an exciting issue, full of intense action and it sets up terrific a closing scene that will be continued next week in Earth 2 #13.

The Fury of Firestorm #20 Review

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Black Bison, Dan Jurgens, DC Comics, Firestorm, General Eiling, Hi-Fi, Hyena, Jason Rusch, Karl Kesel, Killer Frost, Multiplex, Ray McCarthy, Ronnie Raymond, The Fury of Firestorm The Nuclear Man, The New 52, Travis Lanham, Typhoon Plastique

The Fury of Firestorm the Nuclear Man #20

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

Firestorm Farewell

The final issue of The Fury of Firestorm the Nuclear Man begins with General Eiling monitoring events near the warehouse in Pittsburgh, where Firestorm had been beaten to within an inch of his life by Multiplex, Hyena, Killer Frost, Black Bison, Typhoon, and Plastique. As he prepares to issue more orders to his special operative in Pittsburgh, the General receives a very special visitor, and its someone who wont take no for an answer.

With Firestorm unconscious Jason’s dad and Tonya have to drag him to the safety of an alley, but Hyena suddenly leaps from the shadows and attacks them. Fortunately for Al and Tonya the General’s operative, Major Force, is on hand to deal with Hyena and give Firestorm enough time to recover from the explosion. After a few quick introductions Firestorm and Major Force are attacked by Killer Frost and Black Bison.

With Firestorm unconscious Jason’s dad and Tonya have to help him

Major Force holds off Killer Frost and Black Bison while Firestorm leaves to rescue Ronnie’s mother, who is still being held captive by Plastique at the dockside. Typhoon attempts to stop Firestorm by engulfing him with a tidal wave, but Firestorm makes the water boil and defeats him. As Firestorm rushes to save Ronnie’s mother, Al sneaks up on Plastique and knocks her out to rescue Joanne.

With everyone safe, Firestorm rushes to help Major Force, who has been knocked out and frozen in ice. Firestorm smashes the ice and frees Major Force, who takes out Black Bison while Firestorm uses his transmutation powers to trap Killer Frost in the concrete pavement. He then faces Multiplex who threatens Firestorm’s family before fading away, warning him not to try and follow him.

Major Force arrives and renders Firestorm unconscious with a Neural Shock so he can take him to General Eiling at the military base. Firestorm recovers as the General’s guests arrive, Superman and Professor Stein, who are here to stop the militaries plans for Firestorm. It seems that Professor Stein faked his own death to escape his enemies, now he has returned to help Firestorm by contacting Superman and the Justice League.

Danger strikes when Hyena suddenly leaps from the shadows and attacks!

Superman is pleased to meet Firestorm, as they fly away he asks if Firestorm would like to join the Justice League, and Firestorm is happy to accept Superman’s invitation to meet with the rest of the Justice League, and a new era for Firestorm the Nuclear Man begins…

This incredible final issue brings Dan Jurgen’s brilliant run on Firestorm to an end. With a story featuring nearly every member of Firestorm’s rogues gallery, we really get a sense of how well Ronnie and Jason work together now, and see just how vital a role their parents, Al and Joanne, and Tonya have to play in helping him. There are some wonderful scenes after Joanne is rescued by Al, where Ronnie and Jason have to assure both of them that he is ok, and that he has to return to help Major Force to deal with Multiplex and his allies.

Dan Jurgens art for Firestorm #20 is as spectacular as ever, the intense action is inked by Norman Rapmund, along with Hi-Fi’s vivid colours, and lettering provided by Travis Lanham, each explosive set-piece is perfectly intercut with some great personal moments between Firestorm and his parents. Every one of Firestorm’s enemies also gets showcased in Firestorm #20, with their unique powers and abilities being creatively used. It’s also interesting to see how quickly Ronnie and Jason are now able to formulate strategies against each individual threat, tailoring their abilities, and using their unique shared conspicuousness to outwit their enemies.

The General receives a very special visitor who wont take no for an answer!

There is a fantastic scene where Superman takes out Major Force with just a flick of his finger that really puts General Eiling in his place. It was a real surprise to see Professor Stein return as well, having faked his own death to escape from his enemies. With this final issue Dan Jurgens has really excelled himself, by brining Professor Stein back into the fold; it offers a wealth of potential for the future. As we watch Firestorm and Superman fly away into the distance, this great moment is tinged with sadness, but I am really pleased that the series has ended on such a positive note.

Firestorm returned in September 2011 as part of The New 52 reboot of the DC Universe, it was co-written by Gail Simone and Ethan Van Sciver, with art by Yildiray Cinar. The immense power of Firestorm was divided between physics student Jason Rusch, who acquired the ability to transmute matter, while the football team’s quarterback Ronnie Raymond was able to throw flaming bolts of nuclear energy. After Simone and Sciver left the title Joe Harris took over, resolving the ongoing storylines involving Rogue Firestorms, before the Zero issue of Firestorm brought Harris and Cinar’s run to an end as Firestorm became a fused entity again.

This final issue brings Dan Jurgen’s brilliant run on Firestorm to an end

The Fury of Firestorm The Nuclear Man took an entirely new direction when Dan Jurgens took over as the new writer / artist for the series, recapturing the essence of fun and adventure that was welcomed by fans of Firestorm as it brought the series closer to the original premise created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgron during the 70’s. As Firestorm continued to learn about his powers, with Ronnie providing the brawn and Jason advising him from within their shared conspicuousness, Dan Jurgens also had the chance to develop the supporting cast.  Dan Jurgens assembled a great team to work with him on Firestorm: with inks by Ray McCarthy and Karl Kesel, Hi-Fi’s colours, and lettering by Travis Lanham, the explosive action set-pieces that graced the pages of Firestorm were perfectly complemented by Ronnie and Jason’s everyday lives as high school students.

The news that Firestorm was going to be cancelled came as something of a shock. Although sales were not still not as good as was hoped, Firestorm still had a very loyal fan base that had supported the title since it debuted at part of The New 52. Fortunately we have Dan Jurgens and his team to thank for taking Firestorm in a new direction, thereby raising the characters profile in the New 52 DCU, with Captain Atom and the Teen Titans guest staring in his own title while Firestorm went on to appear in the Throne of Atlantis crossover event as a reserve member of the Justice League.

To mark the final issue of Firestorm many fans have taken part in an event organised by The Firestrom Fan Website (After the idea was suggested by Keith G. Baker and Hector Negrete), where fans  changed their social media avatars to say goodbye to Firestorm’s ongoing series and show their support across various social media platforms. Those participating used a brilliant drawing of Firestorm provided by Luke Dabb , which summed up how many fans felt about the cancellation, using it as their avatar on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Printrest, and Blogs along with hash tags and comments including #FirestormFarewell in their tweets and messages.  By changing their Social Media avatars in this way fans wanted to show how much Firestorm means to them, and to celebrate the fantastic work done by everyone who has been involved on the title to ensure that Firestorm ends on a high.

Fans changed their social media avatars to say goodbye to Firestorm with this brilliant drawing of Firestorm by Luke Dabb. to show their support for Firestorm

The flame may have flickered slightly, but it will never die. It’s been brilliant to see Firestorm appearing in so many comics over the last few months, and I’m really looking forward to seeing even more of Firestorm’s adventures with the Justice League. I’ve had tremendous fun reviewing Firestorm and sincerely believe that he will have his own title again one day. You can also keep up to date with all things Firestorm over at Firestrom Fan , and enjoy the Fire and Water Podcast made by Firestrom Fan and Aquaman Shrine, it’s a brilliant podcast and I urge all of you all to go and give it a listen and check out their twitter pages and websites. Finally I’d just like to thank all the readers of Sci-Fi Jubilee who have also enjoyed reading Firestorm with me and shared my reviews, be sure to support Firestorm over in Justice League #20 as well, cheers everyone!

Doctor Who The Name of the Doctor : Review

Tags

Alex Kingston, Clara, Doctor Who, Dr Simeon, Dr Who Season 7, Great Intelligence, Jenna-Louise Coleman, Jenny, Madame Vastra, Matt Smith, Richard E Grant, River Song, Saul Metzstein, Steven Moffat, Strax, TARDIS, The Doctor, The Name of the Doctor, Trenzalore, Whispermen

The Name of the Doctor

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

He is revered and feared in equal measure, this Time Lord who has worn so many faces, gathering friends and enemies after centuries of adventures that have shaped the destiny of the universe. From the majestic splendour of Gallifrey, to a junkyard in 76 Totter‘s Lane, the Doctor’s exploits have touched countless lives and planets. When the Time Lords perished in the Time War the Doctor endured the torment of the carnage he had witnessed, he came back from the edge of destruction, finding hope with new companions and even greater adventures.

But like any time-traveller ever journey the Doctor takes has caused ripples throughout time and space. These gaping wounds in the fabric of the cosmos now threaten to undermine everything that the Doctor stands for. The mystery of the impossible girl, Clara Oswald, has somehow become linked with paradox upon paradox to filter back through every moment of the Doctor’s life. All paths now lead to Trenzalore, the one place that the Doctor should never visit, where legend foretells of the fall of the eleventh.

Someone is kidnapping the Doctor’s friends to bring him to Trenzalore. The impossible girl may hold the key to his salvation, but with his past, present, and future selves in danger, Clara will need the help of Professor River Song if she is to save the Doctor from the Whispermen and the old adversary who has returned to witness the Doctor’s downfall. The end is nigh, this is the Doctor’s darkest hour, and his greatest secret will be revealed at last…

Matt Smith’s Doctor faces his greatest challenge yet as the enigma of Clara Oswald begins to unravel in this incredible season finale. Jenna-Louise Coleman is as outstanding as ever as new companion Clara Oswald, the impossible girl, who keeps bumping into the Doctor across numerous time zones. The Name of the Doctor finally reveals that Clara is the girl who was born to save him, meeting him throughout all his incarnations, reaching right back to the very moment where the legacy of Doctor Who began on Gallifrey itself.

The eleventh Doctor has never faced a threat quite like what he must confront in The Name of the Doctor.  From the moment the Doctor is bound for Trenzalore the bleak tone of this episode turns jet black as the Time Lord faces the threat of the Great Intelligence and the Whispermen. Nothing really comes close to what Steven Moffat has orchestrated here, it provides one of Matt Smith’s most defining moment as this eleventh incarnation makes his stand at Trenzalore.

Several familiar faces also return for the season finale to help the Doctor in his hour of need. The Paternoster Row gang are back: Silurian warrior Madam Vastra (Neve McIntosh), her companion Jenny (Catrin Stewart) and their Sontaran butler Strax (Dan Starky) are drawn together for a psychic conference call with River Song and Clara also in attendance – but they receive some unexpected visitors. The vivacious Professor River Song (Alex Kingston) returns with a dire warning, her involvement brings her story full circle at last; her fate having becomes inexorably linked with he fall of the eleventh and Clara’s ultimate destiny.

The entity behind the insidious plot to destroy the Doctor is the Great Intelligence, played once again by Richard E Grant, with his incorporeal from assuming the physical manifestation of Doctor Simeon. Having suffered a crippling defeat in The Snowmen (2012), the Great Intelligence returned in The Bells of St John (2013) to feast on the minds of people it absorbed through the Wi-Fi networks. When the Doctor found the base in the Shard, the Great Intelligence ordered his servant Miss Kislet (Celia Imrie) to sacrifice herself to prevent it being discovered. Now the grand design orchestrated by the Great Intelligence is revealed, to discover the name of the Doctor and use it to destroy him.

The Great Intelligence also has some new allies to do his bidding, the terrifying Whispermen. Clad in black, wearing top hats, these featureless creatures with their rotten teeth are like ghoulish undertakers. Their powers are hauntingly effective, stalking their victims with rhyming chants, before their heart-stopping touch transports people to Trenzalore. The Whispermen are in fact just another extension of the Great Intelligence, faceless pawns in his grand design. Richard E Grant makes a superb foil for Matt Smith’s eleventh Doctor, their epic showdown brings together many of Steven Moffat’s long running storylines, leading to one of the most emotional acts of self sacrifice ever seen in Doctor Who’s 50 year history.

The Name of the Doctor is like a love letter to the series past. With the assured direction of Saul Metzstein (The Snowmen, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, A Town Called Mercy, The Crimson Horror), the finale of Season Seven heralds a voyage through the life of the Doctor quite unlike anything we have ever experienced before. Steven Moffat has crafted a momentous epic which manages to encompass every era of the show. Each incarnation of the Doctor makes their presence felt in The Name of the Doctor as the barriers of time are swept aside by the events unfolding at Trenzalore.

After the Whispermen capture Vastra, Jenny, and Strax, the Doctor resolves to rescue them from Trenzalore, the place where his body is buried on a planet in the future. He forces the TARDIS to land on the desolate planet, which turns out to be a huge graveyard where the Doctor’s final resting place dominates the horizon. This gigantic tomb is a future version of the Doctor’s own TARDIS, now a dying shell with its internal dimensions leaking; the Police Box exterior has grown into a huge monolith that towers over everything.

Professor River Song is waiting for them by her own gravestone, but only Clara can see her. She explains how she kept the line to the conference call open so she could help. This version of River is like an echo that should have faded long ago; she says that the Doctor cannot see her, so it is up to Clara to help him. Using the hidden entrance concealed beneath River’s grave, the Doctor and Clara enter the TARDIS tomb, braving the warped interior, where Clara begins to remember what the Doctor told her in Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS.

On reaching the tomb the Doctor and Clara are reunited with Vastra, Jenny, and Strax. Together they make a valiant stand against Doctor Simeon but the Whispermen overpower them as the Great Intelligence demands that the Doctor speaks his name to open the tomb. River steps in and opens the tomb to reveal the console room, overgrown with vines, the central console now just a gleaming wound of energy caused by the Doctor’s adventures. The Great Intelligence enters the energy beam and begins to rewrite the Doctor’s lives, undoing all his victories.

Clara instinctively knows there is only one way to save the Doctor. She steps into the scar in time and becomes splintered across the Doctor’s time line, encountering his previous incarnations, becoming the paradox that will ultimately provides the Doctor’s salvation. After a touching farewell to River Song, where the Doctor reveals that he could always see her, he steps back across time to save Clara from oblivion, but one last incarnation of the Doctor is waiting in the shadows…

The Name of the Doctor offers some tantalising glimpses from the past as Clara encounters the Doctor’s previous incarnations in her attempt to save the Doctor. These sequences are superbly shot, with  Jenna-Louise Coleman being superimposed with images of the classic Doctor’s, it’s a technological and nostalgic marvel, spliced with snippets of dialogue, that helps complete this spellbinding adventure as the Doctor’s best kept secret threatens to bring all of creation to its knees. There is a sublime moment where the impossible girl meets the first Doctor on Gallifrey, where she advises him on which TARDIS to take, that is wonderful to behold.

Alex Kingston gives a lovely understated performance as River Song; her final scenes with the Doctor were incredibly moving. The Paternoster Row gang are placed in mortal danger when the Whispermen hijack their conference call. There is a real sense of creeping dread as the Whispermen attack, which quickly turns to horror when Jenny realises she’s just been murdered. After she is revived by Strax on Trenzalore, the damage inflicted to the Doctor’s timeline by the Great Intelligence causes Jenny to fade away and Strax to turn on Vastra. Neve McIntosh is brilliant as Vastra, her Silurian make up conveys every moment of heartbreak as she watches her comrades being altered by the paradoxes. Catrin Stewart is also really good as Jenny, and Dan Starky continues to impress as Strax. Here’s hoping these characters get a spin off series of their own.

The cliff-hanger ending to The Name of the Doctor, where John Hurt is revealed as another incarnation of Doctor, is sure to send rippled thought the cosmos as Steven Moffat sets the scene for the 50^th Anniversary Special. This fantastic revelation will no doubt play a significant role in the Anniversary Special and may have far reaching implications for the future.

John Hurt is a brilliant actor and I’m sure he will make a fantastic Doctor. Ironically for an episode all about the Doctor’s greatest secret it is the identity of John Hurt’s incarnation of the Doctor that holds the key. He could be any version of the Doctor, past, present, or future. Perhaps he is a dark shadow lurking at the end of the Doctor’s lifespan, like the Valeyard was, or even an older version of the 8^th Doctor from the Time War that was responsible for the demise of the Time Lords.

The Name of the Doctor provides a rousing climax to the Seventh Season of Doctor Who. Overall I think it’s been a terrific season. While it was sad to say goodbye to Amy and Rory, I’ve really enjoyed the mystery of the impossible girl, Clara Oswald, and have been impressed by diverse array of episodes and themes present in the second half of this season. I’m looking forward to the 50^th Anniversary in November, where this story will continue, and to the eighth season and beyond.

Star Trek Into Darkness Film Review

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Benedict Cumberbatch, Captain Kirk, Chris Pine, JJ Abrams, John Harrison, Spock, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, USS Enterprise, Zachary Quinto

Star Trek Into Darkness

Review by Paul Bowler

After rebooting the floundering Star Trek franchise in 2009, JJ Abrams boldly inventive revamp was a box office smash. With its all new cast of young officers and just the right balance of action and adventure, Abrams crafted an entirely new version of Star Trek, while remaining true to the legacy of the original series and its iconic characters. For the sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness, director JJ Abrams returns along with the principle cast in a film bursting with eye popping special effects and spectacular actions sequences.

When their mission to stop a volcano erupting on a distant planet causes Captain James T Kirk (Chris Pine) to disobey regulations, Kirk ends up being stripped of his command. Forced to serve under his old mentor, Rear Admiral Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood), it looks like there is no way back for Kirk this time. But when Starfleet is left reeling from a terrorist attacks on London and San Francisco, by John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), Kirk is reinstated by Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller).

Kirk is soon back on the Enterprise, along with first officer Spock (Zachary Quinto), communications officer Uhura (Zoe Saldana), navigator Pavel Chekov (Anton Yelchin), chief medical officer Dr Leonard McCoy (Karl Urban), chief engineer Montgomer Scott (Simon Pegg), helmsman Sulu (John Cho), and newcomer Dr Carol Marcus (Alice Eve).

Captain Kirk and his crew set out to track down the mysterious Harrison deep inside Klingon territory, with orders to deal with the threat. But when they discover who Harrison really is the crew of the Enterprise must face their greatest challenge yet, outgunned and facing impossible odds, they must succeed at any cost.

With its great ensemble cast and exciting plot, Star Trek Into Darkness is a resounding success on all levels. The friendship between the hot headed Captain Kirk and the logical half human Spock is really put to the test in Star Trek Into Darkness, as they face a crisis of confidence, with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto both giving terrific performances. Spock’s relationship with Uhura also brings an added dimension to the character, while Kirk sets his sights on new Science Officer Dr Carol Marcus.

Karl Urban plays a crucial role as Dr Leonard “Bones” McCoy, John Cho’s helmsman Sulu gets right in the thick of the action, along with Anton Yelchn’s Chekov, and Simon Pegg is on brilliant form chief engineer Scotty.

Benedict Cuumberbatch is fantastic as John Harrison, exuding a palpable menace in every scene; he poses a far more credible threat to Kirk and the Enterprise than Eric Bana’s aggrieved Romulan from the first film. As Starfleet reels from the wrath of Harrison’s attacks, the stage is set for some epic confrontations between Kirk and his deadly adversary, and fans will savour every moment as Harrison’s back story gradually unfolds.

The trio of writers on Star Trek Into Darkness are headed by Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman, who wrote the first film, and co author of Prometheus and the television series Lost, Damon Lindelof. The plot of this highly anticipated sequel is full of references to old Star Trek episodes and characters, and the nostalgic tone sits perfectly within the warp core of this rebooted franchise. Star Trek Into Darkness is directed with copious amounts of lens by flare by JJ Abrams that gleams across all the brilliantly orchestrated set-pieces: featuring exotic alien planets, a thrilling jump into an erupting volcano, phaser fights, a stunning jetpack ride, and with plenty of jaw dropping action for the USS Enterprise to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Star Trek Into Darkness takes this reinvigorated franchise to even greater heights. Filled with spellbinding action, great character moments, humour, and plenty of nods to the past for fans, Star Trek Into Darkness will leave you eagerly awaiting next voyage of the Starship Enterprise as her crew set out to boldly go once more.

The Walking Dead #110 Review

Tags

Charlie Adlard, Dwight, Ezekiel, Hilltop, Image Comics, Jesus, Michonne, Negan, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, Shiva, The Kingdom, The Savoirs, The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead #110

Review by Paul Bowler

Jesus arrives back at the Hilltop community in a bid to recruit people for the imminent battle with Negan and the Savours. Their leader, Gregory, is weary of the plan, but Maggie and guardsman Kal are the first to pledge their allegiance. As support begins to grow Jesus discovers that Kal has left the Hilltop. Fearing that Kal is going to betray them all, Jesus goes after him before he can reach the Saviors camp and reveal their plans.

The Walking Dead #110 sees Jesus in a desperate race against time to stop Kal from talking to the Saviors. Fortunately for everyone Jesus manages to catch up with Kal at the crossroads just as the Saviors arrive. He stops him talking to them, managing to defuse the situation, but takes a beating from one of Negan’s men in the process for wasting their time.

After addressing some of Eugene’s concerns about using the ammunition he’s making in the war against the Savoirs, the time has come for Rick to introduce his friends to Ezekiel. Rick gathers a small team together, including Carl, Michonne, and Andrea, to visit the Kingdom. The initial meeting between Ezekiel and Michonne ends with Shiva the tiger snarling angrily at her. A clash of swords with Ezekiel seems to break the ice between them, and later after dinner, the would be samurai and king seem to have a lot more in common than either of them first realized.

The Walking Dead #110 is another character driven  piece by Robert Kirkman. I really like how Kirkman has taken time to develop so many new characters, especially King Ezekiel. The scenes between Ezekiel and Michonne are the real highlight this issues. In some ways they are like polar opposites of one another, later we learn how the ruler of the Kingdom was a zookeeper and discover how he saved Shiva the tiger. This touching story adds a further layer to Ezekiel’s character, we see him in a very different light, and as a consequence of this we also see another side to Michonne. Ezekiel’s observation, that the world they now inhabit has forced them both to assume roles that neither of them are really comfortable with, is a moment which lets us see behind the facade of both characters.

The art by Charlie Adlard is as good as ever. With the cast seeming to grow every issue, I think its great how Charlie Adlard continues to make every character stand out; each one is clearly distinguishable from the other – even the minor players. While some might bemoan the lack of Walkers over the last few issues, I think it’s a good idea to get to know the ensemble cast. I’m sure the war with Negan and Saviors will lead to much bloodshed, with no quarter given and none taken as Rick and his new alliance strikes back as Negan.

The Walking Dead #110 may be comparatively light on action but Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard continue to keep us on the edge of our seats as the tension builds. Its issues like this that makes The Walking Dead such an engrossing book to read, you really get to care about the characters, and the ever-present threat of the Walkers is always lurking in the background. Now that the stage is set, the success of Rick’s alliance with Ezekiel now depends on Dwight’s loyalty to their cause. The stakes have never been higher for Rick and his friends, soon the war will begin, and only the strongest will survive.

Doctor Who Nightmare In Silver : Review

Tags

Clara, Cybermen, Doctor Who, Dr Who, Dr Who Season 7, Hedgewick’s World, Jason Watkins, Jenna-Louise Coleman, Matt Smith, Neil Gaiman, Nightmare In Silver, Stephen Woolfenden, Tamzin Outhwaite, The Doctor, Warwick Davis

Nightmare in Silver

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

Now that Artie (Kassius Carey) and Angie (Eve De-Leon Allen) know about Clara’s time travelling adventures, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) talks the Doctor (Matt Smith) into taking them all on a day out. The Doctor decides to take them all to Hedgewick’s World, one of the most spectacular theme parks in the universe, a quarter of a million years in the future. He has a golden ticket that will get them all in for free; it also gives them free ice cream, and will allow them to get to the front of all the lines for the best rides.

The TARDIS arrives in the middle of a ride that resembles the surface of the moon, but it turns out that the theme park has been closed for some time. They discover that the facility is now being used as a training camp by the military to discipline their troops. The Doctor and his companions meet a small team of soldiers, led by Captain Alice Ferrn (Tamzin Outhwaite), who is also here for disobeying orders. An old showman called Mr Webley (Jason Watkins) and his henchman Porridge (Warwick Davis) have also made their home here, having arrived in their spaceship after the park closed, and they run a small museum that has seen better days. The Doctor learns that the park was closed down some time ago after people started disappearing from the rides and attractions.

Only a small collection of wonders from cross the galaxy now remain on display in Mr Weebley‘s World. One of the exhibits, the 699^th wonder of the universe, is a Cyberman, a race who were defeated by humanity over a thousand years ago in the last Cyber War. As the Doctor ponders the fate of his old enemy, now reduced to little more than a fairground attraction playing chess, he is unaware that strange insect-like creatures are monitoring their every move.

It would seem that Hedgewick’s World is not as deserted as it appears. When Mr Weebley and the children are infected by the Cybermites, the Doctor tries to rescue them, only to be infected by the tiny robots as well. The Cyber Planner attempts to take over the Doctor’s mind, forcing the Doctor into a deadly game of chess to save Artie and Angie. They manage to get away and join Clara and the soldiers at a castle in the middle of the park. Clara and the soldiers must protect the Doctor while the chess games plays out, but a new race of super intelligent Cybermen are emerging from their tombs and attack the castle. The Doctor manages to defeat the Cyber Planner, freeing himself of its influence, but if they are to escape Porridge will have to make the most difficult choice of all or the Cyber Race will spread throughout the galaxy once more.

Nightmare in Silver has been one of the most eagerly anticipated episodes this season. Written by best selling author Neil Gaiman, writer of the critically acclaimed sixth season story The Doctor’s Wife (2011), Nightmare in Silver also marks the long awaited return of the Cybermen. Having been asked by show runner Steven Moffat to make the Cybermen scary again, Neil Gaiman has crafted a wonderfully creepy story that is sure to become another fan favourite. Nightmare in Silver features many references to classic Cybermen stories from the 60’s, particularly the Moonbase (1967) and the Tomb of the Cybermen (1967). The design elements from those stories also feature strongly, especially on the Cyber Ship, and the history of the Cyber Race permeates every aspect of the story – detailing the legacy of the Cybermen and some of their weaknesses.

After their last appearance in Closing Time (2011), the Cybermen have been given a sleek new look for Nightmare in Silver, which also incorporates many design elements from the past. One aspect that is strikingly effective is the way their faces seem better proportioned now, which makes them look more like their 60’s counterparts. Their armoured forms are now far more agile than the clunky modern version that has remained virtually unchanged since they appeared in Rise of the Cybermen & the Age of Steel (2006). The Cybermen now have weapons built into their arms, a bright glowing chest plate, they possess the ability to move incredibly fast, their limbs are detachable, and they have also developed a horrific new way to upgrade their victims. A new variation of the Cybermats also features in this episode, the insect-like Cybermites, which assist in the Cybermen’s new upgrading process.

Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman continue to impress as the Doctor and Clara face the threat of the Cybermen. The Doctor puts his complete faith in her in A Nightmare in Silver, entrusting her to look after the children, as well as leaving her in charge of a squad of soldiers as the Cyber Invasion begins. Matt Smith gives a stunning performance as the Doctor, even playing opposite himself for the bulk of the episode as he confronts the full horror of Cyber Conversion in his attempt to save everyone from the Cybermen.

Nightmare in Silver also features a superb guest cast. Jason Watkins is great fun as the world weary Mr Webley, who foolishly tries to bargain with the Cybermen. Tamzin Outhwaite is also really good as Captain Fern, who has to make a fighting force out of her undisciplined troops if they are to fight off the Cybermen’s attack, and Warwick Davis is great as Webley’s affable henchman, Porridge, a man with a secret past who just wants to leave the planet. Kassius Carey and Angie Eve De-Leon Allen are also very good as Artie and Angie.

This action packed story is directed by Stephen Woolfenden, who really captures the epic scale of Neil Gaiman’s brilliant script, and its great to see the Cyberemen back in force again in Doctor Who. There are some obvious comparisons between Neil Gaiman’s new Cybermen and the Borg from Star Trek, particularly their hive mind, and the way they try to assimilate the Doctor into  their Cyberriad. Matt Smith is brilliant as he portrays the conflict within him, and this is undoubtedly one of his best performances yet, even though it does mirror Captain Picard’s transformation into Locutus in Star Trek The Next Generation. Nightmare in Silver is a brilliant episode, full of exciting set-pieces, and there is even a stunning homage to the Doctor’s past incarnations as the Cyber Planer vies from control of the Time Lords mind. The new Cybermen look amazing and I hope we get to see them again soon.

Batman #20 Review

Tags

Alex Maleey, Basil Karlo, Batman, Clayface, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Greg Capullo, James Tynion IV, Lucius Fox, Scott Snyder, The New 52

Batman #20

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

 

Clayface has returned to Gotham City, embarking on a lucrative crime spree,  using his powers to blackmail and terrorise his wealthy victims. While investigating the death of Brain Wayde, the architect developing the Gotham Initiative, Batman discovers that Wayde was murdered by Clayface. It seems that the magical properties of the clay that turned Basil Karlo into Clayface has mutated Karlo’s DNA. Clayface can now actually become the people he mimics, but his own DNA is gradually being corrupted by the clay. Bruce Wayne arranges to meet Lucius Fox at Wayne Enterprises, to order a protective suit for Batman, but he is shocked when Lucius transforms into Clayface and attack him.

Cornered by Clayface in the Wayne Enterprises R & D Lab, Bruce Wayne is powerless to stop Clayface ransacking the armoury. Bruce tries to use a squad of Bat-Bots to defend himself, but Clayface mimics Wayne’s voice and deactivates the robots. Clayface reveals how he killed Brian Wayde before capturing Bruce and throwing him into a crusher with Lucius.

After using a prototype Batman suit to escape from the crusher, Bruce leaves Fox to recover while he goes after Clayface. Having used Bruce Wayne’s identity to rob a bank, Clayface flees the scene on a motorbike, using tendrils of clay to cover his escape back to Wayne Enterprises. Once inside he is attacked by Batman in his new armoured suit. Batman uses a barrage of chemicals and solvents against Clayface, even a massive electrical charge, but Clayface is too powerful and overpowers him. Commissioner Gordon and the Police arrive just as Clayface is about to rip open Batman’s faceplate, and reveal the Dark Knights secret identity…

Batman #20 follows on from last issues brilliant cliff-hanger with Bruce Wayne in mortal danger as Clayface attacks him in the armoury at Wayne Enterprises. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have done a superb job of realising the full potential of Clayface; the way his powers have mutated makes him a deadly adversary. What is even more chilling is how Basil Karlo is losing himself in the identities of the people he duplicates.

There are some terrific scenes of carnage in the R & D Lab, brilliant rendered by Greg Capullo’s art, with inks by Danny Miki and colours by FCO Plascencia. The raw power and strength of Clayface is terrifying to behold, as he tosses a Batmobile around like a toy. What is really disgusting though is how he swallows Bruce Wayne whole, drawing him into his body, before disgorging him later to dispose of him with Lucius in the compactor. As the walls of the compactor begin to close in on them, Bruce and Lucius search through the mangled pieces of equipment, where they find a prototype Bat-Suit amongst the discarded junk. Bruce puts on the red-winged Bat-Suit and uses it to get them out of the crusher. I never thought I’d ever see anything like a Star Wars Trash Compactor scene in a Batman comic, but this was fantastic. It was pure genius on Scott Snyder’s part to make the prototype Bat-Suit a clear homage to the animated Batman Beyond series, particularly when Lucius says how the armour is faulty and would take at least twenty years to fund and perfect.

Scott Snyder ensures that Batman #20 dovetails nicely into the flash forward – where Bruce Wayne robbed a bank and shot Gordon – that opened the previous issue. The action never lets up for a moment as Clayface returns to Wayne Enterprises, where Batman confronts him wearing his new Bat-Suit with heavy epidermal protection. Batman uses every chemically based strategy in his arsenal against Clayface, but nothing seems to have much effect. Clayface begins to morph horrifically during the fight, taunting Batman with disembodied faces from his Rogues Gallery.

It’s very clever how Batman manages to trap Clayface in a panic chamber, using his own mutated DNA against him, to create the perfect cage for the shape shifting villain. Batman also manages to prevent his secret identity being revealed, although it does stretch credibility a little to think how close everyone is to knowing Bruce’s secret without even realizing it. This minor quibble aside, Batman #20 still manages to provide a highly emotional climax.

After Clayface unwittingly taunts Batman from inside the panic chamber, he transforms into Damien Wayne, little knowing what a profound affect his distorted observations will have on the Dark Knight.

Later in the Bat-Cave as Bruce discusses the case with Alfred, he admits how deeply Damien’s death has affected him, but that he is not losing himself in his grief like he did when Jason died. Alfred offers to sit with Bruce a while and they view the playback of Damien’s last mission with Batman against the Reaper using VR goggles. This poignant conclusion to a Requiem for Robin is all the more remarkable as it says so much by saying so little.

The back up story by James Tynion IV and Alex Maleey sees Batman and Superman facing dark supernatural forces summoned by two teenagers in an old apartment block. Superman does his best to hold back the Will O’ The Wisp, but its magic weakens him. Batman approaches the spirit of Becca, who helped summon the demonic creature. With her help Batman finds a scrap of paper they used to summon the creature. Batman translates the Gallic writing and sends the creature back to its own dimension. Becca’s spirit gives Superman some sound advice, before slowly fading away. Ghost Lights has been a great supernatural adventure for Superman and Batman, and it also manages to address some of the issues Batman has over Damian’s death.

Batman #20 is another thoroughly entertaining issue from Snyder and Capullo, and it leaves us eagerly awaiting the start of Zero Year next month.

Doctor Who The Crimson Horror : Review

Tags

Catrin Stewart, Dan Starky, Diana Rigg, Doctor Who, Dr Who, Jenna-Louise Coleman, Jenny, Madame Vastra, Mark Gatiss, Matt Smith, Mrs Gillyflower, Neve McIntosh, Rachel Starling, Saul Metzstein, Strax, Sweetvill, The Crimson Horror, Yorkshire

The Crimson Horror

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

The Crimson Horror sees the Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) teaming up with their old friends Madam Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Jenny (Catrin Stewart), and Strax (Dan Starky) to investigate Sweetvill in Yorkshire, 1890. It seems like an idyllic place, this enclosed factory community with its happy workforce, but ghastly secrets are concealed here and no one ever leaves. People have come to Sweetvill to work in the factory, where they are offered absolution from their sins, and protection against the imminent apocalypse foretold at The End of Days.

While the streets may be spotlessly clean and the people beautiful, dead bodies covered in red wax are being washed up in the river, and a terrifying secret is brewing behind the doors of the Sweetville Mill run by Mrs Gillyflower (Dame Diana Rigg), along with her blind daughter Ada (Rachel Starling), and their mysterious business partner Mr Sweet. When the Doctor and Clara go missing at the mill Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax are informed of the strange goings on at Sweetvill. They set out to investigate, with Jenny infiltrating the shadowy building, where she finds the Doctor locked in a room.

After being captured by Mrs Gillyflower, the Doctor was lowered into the steaming vat that houses the Crimson Horror, but because the Doctor is an alien the process fails. Instead of disposing of his body in the river, Ada took pity on him, and locked him away to keep him for herself. When Jenny finds the Doctor his skin is red and he can hardly move. She helps him reverse the process and rescue Clara, just as Vastra and Strax arrive to fend off Mrs Gillyflower’s henchmen.

It transpires that Vastra knows of the Crimson Horror, she informs the Doctor that it is really the venom of a prehistoric parasite which once affected her own race, the Silurians. The parasite is really Mr Sweet, a slug-like creature that has bonded itself symbiotically to Mrs Gillyflower’s body. She has been milking its venom so she can launch it from a rocket inside the mills chimney stack. The Doctor and his friends must stop Mrs Gillyflower from launching the rocket, or the entire world will be poisoned by the Crimson Horror.

Fortunately the Doctor and Clara are able to save Ada from being shot by her mother, while Vastra and Jenny remove the venom from the rocket before Mrs Gillyflower can launch it. A well timed shot from Strax’s gun sends Mrs Gillyflower tumbling to her doom. The parasite detaches itself and tries to crawl away, but Ada finds it, and swiftly kills the creature. The Doctor and Clara say their goodbyes and he takes Clara back home, where he departs for now, but it would seem that the two children Clara is a nanny to have found out about her time travelling adventures…

This story by Mark Gatiss features the welcome return of Madame Vastra, Jenny, and the Sontaran Strax. These characters became fan favourites after they banded together to help The Doctor and Rory rescue Amy Pond from Madame Kovarian’s base on Demon’s Run  in A Good Man Goes To War (2011), and they returned to help the Doctor and Clara (The Governess) fight the Great Intelligence in the 2012 Christmas Special: The Snowmen. It’s great to see the Silurian Detective Madame Vastra and her loyal companion Jenny solving mysteries again, while Strax is as hilarious as ever and together they make a brilliant team as they explore the Sweetvill Mill.

The Crimson Horror is a comparatively Doctor-Lite episode, with the Time Lord and Clara not really featuring much until the midway point of the story. Instead we discover what is happening in Sweetvill as Vastra, Jenny and Strax carry out their own investigation as they attempt to rescue the Doctor and Clara from the mill. Neve McLntosh gives a sublime performance as the Silurian detective, Catrin Stewart plays a pivotal role in the action as Jenny, and Dan Starkey is absolutely hilarious as Strax. The banter between Vastra, Jenny and Strax is really good, with the Sontaran getting all the best lines. This trio of characters work brilliantly together, at times this episode almost feels like a pilot for their own spin-off series.

Indeed, if the onscreen camaraderie between Vastra and her friends in The Crimson Horror is anything to go by, then as spin-off featuring Vastra, Jenny, and Strax solving mysteries and fighting strange alien menaces in Victorian England would be an absolute delight.

Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman are really settling into their roles now. The relationship between the Doctor and Clara is really starting to evolve into something very special, they seem to share a unique bond, and this episode really highlights just what a good team they make. With the Doctor wearing a new variation of his costume, sporting a bowler hat, and with Clara dressed in a Victorian outfit reminiscent of the one she wore as the Governess in The Snowmen, their initial role in the story is told mainly through a series of grainy old film-style flashbacks. There is also a nice reference back to one of the Doctor’s pervious companions, Tegan (Janet Fielding), who travelled with the 5^th Doctor (Peter Davison), when the 11^th Doctor talks about Tegan and says to Clara: “Brave heart Clara.” It’s these nice little touches that have really made the second half of the season so special.

The Crimson Horror also has some fantastic guest stars, with Diana Rigg and her daughter Rachel Stirling appearing on screen together here for the first time ever. Incidentally they play mother and daughter as well in The Crimson Horror, with Diana Rigg as the wickedly evil Mrs Gillyflower, the owner of Sweetvill Mill, and Rachel Stirling as Ada, her poor daughter – who was blinded by her mothers cruel experiments. Mark Gatiss’ wonderful script really plays to their strengths, they have some fantastic scenes together, particularly when the truth about Mr Sweet is revealed, and it’s a joy to see Matt Smith and Diana Rigg working together in this episode.

After his fabulous work on The Snowmen, director Saul Metzstein returns to bring the same distinctive gothic atmosphere to The Crimson Horror as he did with the 2012 Christmas Special, having also directed Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and A Town Called Mercy for first half of the seventh season. The attention to the period detail is as impeccable as we have come to expect, as are the costumes, and the blood red venom being created in the mill is a really sinister concept. I like how the deadly wax-like venom turns people into Mrs Gillyflower’s slaves, it’s quite horrific to see the Doctor infected as well, although the parasite creature is strangely cute for something so disgusting.

This episode also marks something of a landmark for Doctor Who, as it is the 100^th episode to be shown since it returned to our screens in 2005. So far Mark Gatiss has written six stories for Doctor Who, and I think his contributions to Season Seven have been some of his best episodes so far. The Crimson Hand is a good old fashioned mystery, with the Doctor’s images captured uncannily in a dead man’s eye, a laboratory full of bubbling test tubes, some brilliant action for the Paternoster Row gang, and a thoroughly macabre sense of fun with plenty of horror clichés thrown in for good measure. The scene with the young street urchin called Thomas Thomas, who gave Strax some very precise directions to the mill, was a really neat twist on Sat Nav by Mark Gatiss. There are some nice references back to The Snowmen as well, especially as the Doctor tries to explain how Clara is still alive to  Vastra and Jenny, and a funny  closing scene where Clara realises that the children she looks after have found out that her secret “boyfriend” is really a time traveller.

The Crimson Horror is another great episode by Mark Gatiss, it’s full of dark humour and cheeky double entendres, and it’s great to see the Doctor working with Vastra, Jenny and Strax again. The plot involving Mrs Gillyflower and her bonneted assistants as they ensnare their unwitting workforce in their scheme is really chilling, transforming them into her mindless puppets, so she can launch a rocket full of the red venom and infect the entire world with the Crimson Horror. The period setting is a bizarre amalgamation of steam punk and fantasy, with some foreboding gothic undertones, that work together with the terrific ensemble cast to make The Crimson Horror one of the most entertaining – if slightly silly – stories of the seventh season.

Earth 2 Issue #12 Review

Tags

Alan Scott, DC Comics, Doctor Fate, Earth 2, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, James Robinson, Jay Garrick, Kendra, Khalid, Nabu, Nicola Scott, The Flash, The New 52, The Tower of Fate, Trevor Scott, Wotan

Earth 2 Issue #12

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

Earth 2 #12 sees the war of magic between Doctor Fate and Wotan spilling out from the Realm of Nabu and back to Earth, where the battle continues to rage in the skies over Boston as Flash and Green Lantern team up to help. The World Army have mobilised their aerial teams to contain the conflict, but Green Lantern and The Flash stop them from interfering, giving Khalid Ben Hussain the chance he needs to adapt to his new powers as Doctor Fate. With the spirit of Nabu to guide him, Doctor Fate takes the fight to Wotan, using the ancient powers of the Gods at his command to confront Wotan in a duel of hexes and spells.

James Robinson delivers another first class issue of Earth 2, opening with the incredible aerial battle between Doctor Fate and Wotan, before utilizing a flashback to show what happened just after Doctor Fate saved the Flash from the Great Beast inside The Tower of Fate at the end of the last issue. Here we are treated to some great scenes between the Flash and Doctor Fate, where Khalid thanks Jay for inspiring him to become a hero, even though Khalid knows that sharing his consciousness with Nabu could cost him his sanity. Doctor Fate also helps Jay Garrick draw on the power within his own subconscious to repair his shredded costume, which gives James Robinson a chance to introduce a slight redesign of Flash’s costume.

Wotan is waiting outside the Tower of Fate for them with his hostage, Jay’s mother, and is completely unprepared for Doctor Fate’s attack. The spirit of Nabu urges Khalid not to be rash or proud, calling on him to be his chosen champion, and evoke the power of the Gods to open a portal back to Earth where his powers will be stronger than Wotan’s. As the battle crossed back over to Earth 2, the Flash carries his mother and races back through the portal as well.

Over in Macau, in China, Green Lantern is investigating the murder of his lover, Sam, and has asked Hawkgirl to help him. Following up on a lead from Mob Boss Eddie Kai Lung, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl examine a container at the docks, only to discover that it is full of rotting Parademon corpses from the Apokolips War.

The mystical green energy within Alan Scott suddenly tells him that he must return to America, so he leaves Kendra to continue the investigation alone. Despite her protests, Green Lantern says he has no choice but to go where the green energy commands, he asks Hawkgirl to continue the investigation alone while he returns to the states, where he arrives in in time to help the Flash keep the World Army forces at bay while Doctor Fate battles against Wotan. Khalid uses his knowledge of the Gods of Old to great effect as Doctor Fate, combining the transformation powers of Set with the metal working energies of Ptah to ensnare Wotan, before attacking the Dark Mage with the fiery power of the Goddess Menhit and banishing him to the another dimension with the wrath of Horus, God of War.

The New Wonders of Earth 2 regroup at GBC’s company headquarters, Alan Scott’s home in New York City, where he suggests they use his company to create some positive publicity so they will be accepted by the public. However, as Jay’s mother points out, Alan Scott still has his secret identity, its not so easy for her and Jay as people know who they are, and recent events have left them both wanted fugitives by the government. While they decide what to do, Alan offers them the guest quarters below his apartment, but Doctor Fate has a vision as tells them to switch on the television. The breaking news report details how Steppenwolf has been seen in Dherain, where he now rules, and that the World Army has just declared war on the country.

To say that Earth 2 #12 is epic is something of an understatement, as writer James Robinson ramps up the action, with the battle between Doctor Fate and Wotan returning to Earth where they duel with magic above the city. Nicola Scott’s stunning artwork captures every aspect of this thrilling confrontation in incredible detail, along with Trevor Scott’s impeccable inks, and the rich colours of Barbara Ciardo and Peter Pantazis. Its fascinating to see how Doctor Fate’s powers work, the duality of his shared existence with the spirit of Nabu is perfectly portrayed, and each of the Egyptian God’s spells he calls upon offer a limitless wealth of potential for the character. I also like how Nicola Scott puts so much detail into Fate’s costume, particularly the reflections and symbols on the Helm of Fate. The origin of Doctor Fate has been one of the most exciting storylines so far in Earth 2, writer James Robinson has remained entirely faithful to the character, and this spectacular issue showcases many of Doctor Fate‘s mystical abilities.

I really like how we also get to learn more about what has happened on Earth 2 over the last five years in this issue. We already knew how The First Wonders of Earth 2, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman lost their lives during the final battle of the Apokolips War. This issue details the aftermath of that conflict in more detail: we hear of fire pits and Parademon Interment Camps, Cyborg Dead Zones, plagues, and perhaps most intriguingly the Living Thunderbolt is mentioned – which could possibly hint towards the existence of another classic golden age character Johnny Thunder and the genie-like Thunderbolt. It’s also interesting to note that the television reporters name is shown as Lee Travis, which is coincidentally the name of The Crimson Avenger, another classic character from the golden age of comics. Whether the mentioning of these two characters are just a nice continuity reference for fans, or an indication of things to come, remains to be seen. But it is this attention to detail by James Robinson that makes Earth 2 such an enjoyable title.

The subplot involving Hawkgirl and Green Lantern uncovering the container full of Parademon corpses poses some intriguing questions, and I’m sure Hawkgirl will soon find a connection between this shocking discovery and the  identity of  who was responsible for  Sam’s murder. Earth 2 #12 successfully brings several long running plot strands together that have been developing ever since the first issue.

It’s also good to see Green Lantern stepping up to work as part of a team, something he has been reluctant to do up until this point. The World Army now stands on the brink of war with Steppenwolf; we still have the imminent debut of Captain Steel and this alternative Earth’s new Batman to look forward to, and Hawkgirl’s investigation of Sam’s murder. Earth 2 #12 remains one of the best team books around, the art is fantastic, and James Robinson has done a terrific job of reinventing these classic Golden age characters.