Earth 2 #20 Review

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Apokolips, Barry Kitson, Batman, Darkseid, DC Comcs, Dr Fate, Earth 2, Earth 2 #20, Hawkgirl, Oclair Albert, Parademons, Red Tornado, Robson Rocha, Superman

Earth 2 #20

Review by Paul Bowler

(Contains Spoilers)

Superman’s plans for Earth 2 take a sinister turn as the forces of Apokolips invade the world. In the skies outside Gotham the Parademons are closing in on Hawkgirl as she carries Batman, Major Sato, and Aquawoman. Fortunately Aquawoman is able to help deal with the Parademons. As the Queen of the Sea returns to her people, Batman, Hawkgirl and Major Sato meet the others back at the Batcave, where the new ally they rescued from Arkham could well help them defeat Superman and alter the course of the war with Apokolips.

Ever since Tom Taylor took over Earth 2 in November the series taken a number of twists and turns, with Superman returning from the dead as the herald of Darkseid, war has engulfed this alternative world once more. Earth 2 #19 also introduced us to a new Kryptonian, a being that Terry Sloan had secretly hidden in the subbasement of Arkham. The identity of the new Batman was finally revealed in the pages of Earth 2 Annual #2; now in Earth 2 #20 we pick up the action as Hawkgirl returns to help Batman and his new allies escape.

Its was great to see Hawkgirl swoop into to airlift Batman and the others away from Arkham at the end of Earth 2 #19, I was beginning to think she’d been sidelined completely, so I’m happy to see that’s not the case. Tom Taylor keeps piling on the action as we witness them struggling to avoid being shot out of the sky by the Parademons. I also really like the way Aquawoman used her powers to help them all escape, it provided a magnificent opening to the issue, and although I was sorry to see her depart I’m sure the Queen of the Sea will be ready to answer Batman’s call when the time comes.

Batman finds that Hawkgirl has brought Dr Fate and Red Arrow to the Batcave as well, and Red Tornado has also arrived with Val and Jimmy Olsen. It will be interesting to see exactly how, or if, Dr Fate’s ramblings will be related to Alan Scottt’s return. Of course, they could point to something else entirely, so we should pay close attention to Khalid’s words – they may not be quite so incoherent as we think.

Now that we know Thomas Wayne is the new Batman, having survived being attacked by Joe Chill, we also saw how Bruce discovered his father had survived but decided to cut him out of his life completely. Thomas Wayne assumed the identity of the Batman after Bruce Wayne’s death, in order to honour the memory of his son. However, at 65 years of age, Thomas had to resort to using Miraclo, a drug he stole from Rex Mason (not Rex Tyler incidentally) which gives enhanced strength but only last for one hour at a time. The inclusion of Metamorpho’s identity, along with the Miraclo drug referencing the Tyler connection and Hourman, is most intriguing, and I’m sure Taylor will address the whole Rex Mason / Rex Tyler quandary in time. The new Batman has admitted he is addicted to this drug. Perhaps most shocking though, was the way he killed the Joker in his stasis chamber. It is clear this new Batman is a very complex character, however with hindsight; it is perhaps understandable now why Thomas Wayne would execute the man who caused such pain and suffering to his family.

We also get to learn more about Val, the young Kryptonian, who Terry Sloan kept hidden in Arkham’s subbasement, sealed away from the world and the sunlight that would charge his Kryptonian superpowers. Val has never left his room at Arkham, so he is very apprehensive of his new surroundings, but luckily Lois Lane, her mind now existing inside the andriod body of the Red Tornado, is able to get through to him. I really enjoyed this scene between Val and Red Tornado; where Lois explains what she is going through in order to help Val overcome his fear of the outside world.

Superman goes on the rampage again in Earth 2 #20, instructing the Parademons to destroy every place of worship around the globe, to show the people of Earth 2 that there is now only one God, and his name is Darkseid! The Dark Age pt 4 features pencils by Barry Kitson and Robson Rocha, as well as inks by Kitson and Oclair Albert, with Color by Peter Pantazis, and together they strike a seamless balance between the early action sequences and character driven moments, while showing the terrifying wrath of Darkseid’s herald.

Tom Taylor brings a lot of plot threads together in Earth 2 #20, time is given over to some significant character development, especially for Val and Lois (Red Tornado), and I thought the final scenes were particularly moving, especially in the light of all the havoc and destruction Superman is causing around the world. After several frenetic, action packed issues, and Batman’s origin over in the Earth 2 Annual #2, Earth 2 #20 is another excellent issue, one that brings a ray of hope into the lives the new wonders during their world’s darkest hour.

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Earth 2 Annual #2 Review

Tags

Batman, DC Comcs, Earth 2, Earth 2 Annual #2, Earth 2 Batman, Robson Rocha, Scott Hanna, The New 52, Tom Taylor

Earth 2 Annual #2

Review by Paul Bowler

After months of speculation and rumours, the origin of the new Batman of Earth 2 is finally revealed. It is a tale that follows the original Batman’s investigation into a series of brutal murders, where each of the victims skulls have been crushed by someone with enhanced strength. Batman visits crime boss Frankie Francavilla to find the connection between the victims, and learns Francavilla also knew Thomas Wayne. Having discovers the truth behind his parents murder Batman tracks down the man killing Francavilla’s men, a man destined to become the New Batman of Earth 2 and claim the mantel of the Bat as his own…

Ever since the new Batman first appeared in the Earth 2 Annual #1, the speculation about his identity has continued to build month after month, with each issue he subsequently appeared in teasing us with even more hints and clues about who he might be. Now as the forces of Apokolips begin their invasion, the identity of this mysterious character is finally revealed in this months eagerly waited Earth 2 Annual #2. Since Tom Taylor took over writing Earth 2 expectations for this issue have been high, so I’m happy to say that Taylor has really surpassed himself with this issue.

Taylor sets the tone perfectly from the outset, as the gunshot rings out on that fateful night in Crime Alley, before we rejoin the story in 1994 as the original Earth 2’s Batman examines a corpse in the Gotham morgue. I like how Batman’s investigation ties directly into the man who killed his parents, Joe Chill, which in turn then leads the Dark Knight to Frankie Francavilla and the discovery of the events leading up to the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne.

I like the banter that Taylor writes between Alfred and Batman as he prepares to break into Francavilla’s mansion, where we learn Batman has just spent the last two years training with the League of Shadows. After the Dark Knight has gotten Francavilla to talk, his story about Thomas Wayne proves an enlightening one, as we discover how Wayne became drawn into crime lord’s circle of friends and met Martha for the first time. However, when Thomas marries Martha and Bruce is born, Wayne’s friendship with Francavilla turns sour, and Thomas quickly finds that Frankie Francavilla is not a man you can simply walk away from…

Frankie finishes his story as the killer attacks the mansion and begins shooting the guards. Batman rushes to confront the balaclava clad intruder, but soon finds he is no match for the killers enhanced strength.  Even though he is injured, Batman stands his ground, telling the assailant that Francavilla will answer for his crimes. The Batman’s words seem to get through to the intruder, who suddenly breaks off the attack and escapes into the night.

Earth 2 Annual #2 looks amazing. Robson Rocha’s pencils and Scott Hannah’s inks perfectly convey the dark, brooding atmosphere surrounding the new Batman’s origin. The flashback sequences are really good, especially the opening in Crime Alley, which has very a surreal and nightmarish quality to it.  Its very clever how the scenes involving Thomas Wayne are intercut with Francavilla as he talks to  Batman, while Peter Pantazi’s colors also helps enhance the different time periods, ensuring the narrative never  once feels stilted, or forced.

It’s also good to see the original Batman in action again, as we only really got to see him for one issue before he sacrificed himself to save the world. We get to see Batman searching for clues at the morgue, he frightens the living daylights out of Francavilla in the mansion, and the fights between Batman and the masked killer are also really fast and brutal. Taylor keeps us on the back foot, right up until the very end, until Batman follows the killer to the place where their lives will converge in the most startling discovery of all.

Cometh the hour, the time comes for the new Batman reveal his true identity to his allies. The origin of this character, while steeped in the legacy of the Bat, also splices other aspects from the Golden Age to deliver an unexpected dose of nostalgia in a way few could have predicted. However, now this Batman’s allies know his strength, as well as weaknesses, we are left wondering if they will ever be able to trust him in quite the same way again?

I really enjoyed the Earth 2 Annual #2; in fact, the story was so good I wanted to read it again immediately. Tom Taylor has crafted a brilliant origin for Earth 2’s new Batman, it’s been a long, agonising wait, but it’s sure as hell been worth it!

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