Earth 2 #15: Bulding to a Big Bang

After fifteen issues, Earth 2 is starting to settle into its own. No longer focused on being a “different” Earth, writer James Robinson shifts the story to the battle between Steppenwolf’s dogs of war and the newly formed hero team. Green Lantern, Doctor Fate and The Flash have pursued the villain Steppenwolf to his remote island, only to be confronted by the World Police, a group who remain nervous about unchecked superheroes. Just as these two forces were about to settle up, Steppenwolf’s dogs of war attacked.

Issue #15 opens with a knocked out Flash. What happened? Who could catch the fastest teenager alive off guard? Apparently, the dogs could – the same group who beat the hell out of the gigantic Atom, who slapped down Green Lantern and threw Doctor Fate’s magic back in his face. With three powerful heroes and the complete World Police, the ease by which Steppenwolf’s dogs mopped the floor with them is bad news for the world at large.

Meanwhile, Hawkgirl is still trying to discover the connection between Green Lantern’s deceased lover and Apokolipstech. Her search leads her to Casablanca, chasing a ghost named Darcy Twain. Once inside the casino that Twain supposedly owns, the mystery of the ghost is revealed, and Hawkgirl is captured. Think the adventure us over? Oh no. The issue ends with the continuing battle between Barda, Mr. Miracle and Steppenwolf’s other minion, the Amazon Fury, who is the late Wonder Woman’s daughter. All of these elements seem to be speeding towards each other and, hopefully, the collision comes before James Robinson walks away from the series.

Nicola Scott’s art continues to work in perfect harmony with Robinson’s words. Scott’s work is very heavy. Her lines are thick, the inks over them deep, and even the detail work has a certain gravitas to it. The shading is also key; it gives each hero a certain level of definition and power. Flash is lean, Green Lantern bulky, Steppenwolf’s main dog huge and overpowering. Add to all of this how she uses huge panels to allow plenty of room for the action, and you get another visceral shot in the arm from Nicola Scott.

(4 Story, 4 Art)

Iann Robinson started his career early writing for Sound Views magazine and spreading all the way to Japan Warp. In 1996 he created the wildly popular cable access show Monkey Butt Sex. In the four years it was on Robinson interviewed dozens of bands ranging from Sick Of It All to The Melvins as well as cementing his name in the underground music world. From Monkey Butt Sex, Robinson began MBS Productions, directing small budget videos for Hedpe, H20, Napalm Death, Sick Of It All, Warzone, and others. This led to the next big phase of Robinson’s career, MTV. In 2000 Iann Robinson became an on air news reporter and quickly attracted both bands and fans with his honest and often brutal opinions. After MTV Robinson began writing for Crave Online as well as starting his own small press comic shop Isolation Disorder Comics. Robinson also produced and starred in the on-line pop culture show Dude, That’s Awesome.