Customer Reviews

Jla: Earth 2

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The concept of parallel worlds is in no ways new to speculative literature. Indeed, DC Comics introduced this idea in the famous "Flash of Two Worlds" story decades ago, but then came the equally renown (infamous?) "Crisis on Infinite Earths" in the mid-eighties and DC's parallel worlds mess was cleaned up, more or less. But now it's back; this time lightly veiled as an "anti-matter universe". This, the first hardcover JLA graphic novel, is an enjoyable tale for longtime DC fanboys and will cause little problem for those less familiar with the JLA and its also decades-long history. The villains here will look familiar, being the anti-matter universe (where everything is the opposite of the regular universe) counterparts of the JLA's "big guns": Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern as reflected in Ultraman; Owlman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, and Power Ring. Grant Morrison with his usual mastery portrays the antithetical characters with wit and a bit more maturity than would be expected in a monthly four-color comic. Superwoman, apparently more of a dominatrix, is supposedly involved with Ultraman, but has Owlman as well on the side. Johnny Quick seems to have some sort of drug addiction which evinces itself in truly bizarre ways as it passes through his Speed Force. Power Ring, depicted with a very spiffy costume and spiky haircut, seems a tad schizophrenic and somewhat controlled by, rather than controlling his magic ring. Alexander Luthor, a hero in the antimatter universe, is also portrayed superbly with essentially the same personality as his "Earth 2" (his phrase for the DC Universe best known and home to Superman and the JLA), but neatly converted from villainy to heroism. Amazon has a great price for this sure-to-be a collector's item. Again, a fun read for fanboys and first-timers alike.

There's no denying that this long story is spectacularly drawn (the artwork recalls the clean, beautiful lines of the French artist Moebius), and there's also no denying that Grant Morrison can tell a story very effectively and intelligently. But I for one am sick to death of seeing the old DC stories of the Sixties retold with these morbid sadistic spins put on them: to some extent, the "dark mirroring" of the Justice League by the Crime Syndicate seems a comment on Morrison's own "dark mirroring" of the classic Garnder Fox/Mike Sekowsky _Justice League_ stories that inspired this work, "Crisis on Earth-Three" and "The Most Dangerous Earth of All." Must we have to see, time and time again, these sadistic versions of old JLA foes set in contrast to the innocence of the old stories. I feel like Morrison and Alan Moore just keep re-echoing the same old tired points they made earlier before: that there was a darkness hiding behind the sunniness of the comics of the Sixties, that life is really bitter, etc. Let's see something new for once, and also something less fashionably dark.

I like Morrison's run on the regular JLA title but I was never crazy about it. I thought that the writers that followed him generally did a better job than him. But this side project is one of the best JLA stories of recent years.
It pits the JLA against their opposites form a universe where evil supervillains have the upper hand over the heroes. It introduces important characters who have since made interesting appearances in the regular Superman series.
I also love the art which has a realistic carnoony feel to it, if you know what I mean.

When it comes to Grant Morrison, he's the Alan Moore of the modern age. He breathed new life into the X-Men for Marvel, as well as Animal Man and Doom Patrol for DC/Vertigo, and of course, JLA for DC. Earth 2 finds Morrison once again writing DC's superteam as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter get their world rocked when Alexander Luthor makes a visit. On his alternate world, he's the only hero, and the JLA's evil alter-egos, the Crime Syndicate of Amerika, have total control. In response to Luthor's pleas, Supes, Bats, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern plan to overthrow the evil empire, but as they soon find out, things aren't so easily done in this alternate world. Morrison has taken the classic pre-Crisis Earth 2 world and used it brilliantly here, making Ultraman, Owlman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, and Power Ring some of the most evil and coloful villains you'll ever see. Morrison's longtime partner in crime Frank Quitely provides his usual superb art here, so longtime Morrison fans know what to expect here. All in all, Earth 2 is one of, if not the, best JLA yarns you'll ever check out, and it's easily one of Morrison's best superhero stories.

In'JLA: Earth 2' we see a pair of creators firing on all cylinders. Grant Morrison's highly divisive run on the monthly JLA book was hampered by marginal art and an at times suffocating overabundance of characters. Here, he hones it down to the basics: DC's 'Big Seven', and proves what can be done with these characters.

The story thumbs its nose at the monolithic changes made to the DC Comics universe by the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' and 'Zero Hour' series, which streamlined all the many worlds down into one universe. What fun is super hero/science fiction, Morrison asks, if you can't go to other dimensions? He does what the genre does best: mindbending, impossible scenarios and fantastic action. It was refreshing, in a dark sort of way, to see actual death and destruction in a DC Comic, which usually feature countless 'injuries'.

Frank Quietly's art, as per usual, is astounding. The fine details he invests in virtually every panel reward rereading. His attention to technological detail and architecture are in evidence throughout this book. It's enough to make you wish he could keep to a monthly schedule, or abandon them altogether and stick to larger graphic novels. Pay attention to the many sight gags that populate the alternate universe, especially the Crime Syndicate's headquarters, for an extra treat.

Morrison and Quietly have crafted a highly entertaining story. It's not high-minded. It's not deeply moving. It doesn't aspire to be. It's designed to impress you, and it hits the mark.

Not to sound corny, but when Frank Quietly and Grant Morrison work together they almost always produce something both weird and magical. Say what you will about Grant Morrison and his writing style, let's face it..he's either your cup of tea or not; however when he gets his hands on the JLA and DCU characters a great sense of love for the source material comes through. This is especially true when he writes Superman, Wonder Woman, and especially Batman.

Equally important to this piece is Frank Quietly's art work. Like Morrison, people seem to either love him or hate him. Personally, I appreciate his unique style of cartooning. While this graphic novel is not quite as sharp as his magnum opus, All-Star Superman, Quietly's work always seems to choke me up at some point. Evocative is a great word for the work he does.

Without going into details, I really enjoyed the story overall. It is a fun Justice League story told in under a 100 pages. If anything on the negative side, I felt the ending was a little anti-climatic. Still, I wish there were more short JLA graphic novels like this. If you want a quick, fun, and accessible super hero romp this is your book.

Length:: 3:35 Mins

The premise is a simple one that folks might remember if you've been alive during the 60s (I wasn't) or if you've seen the Superfriends cartoons as a kid (which I did). I remember how cool I thought it was in that Superfriends episode when Supes ended up in the anti-matter universe and the cops were blasting him with Kryptonite rays and all heroes were villains, while the bad Supes was beating the [stuff] out of the Superfriends. Supes promised to come back and help that world, but it never happened. Until now that is. In this graphic novel, Luthor is a good guy fighting the successful Crime Syndicate of America comprised of counterparts of Supes, Bats, Wondy, Flash, and GL. The world is run by dictators, crimebosses, and third world nuclear powers and Benedict Arnold is on American currency! The concept is made more complicated then the Mirror Mirror Star Trek episode, but I don't want to give away any of the plot or story. It's a quick read and entertaining as hell. Nothing that you expect happens and that might annoy some people, but I like to be surprised. Morrison is one of those writers who you either get and applaud or want to send exploding mail bombs to. His JLA are like demigods, which works for me and reminds me of Supes in Dark Knight. The story features some unusual characterizations which I think are kind of cool and more realistic such as the fact that the anti-matter Wonder Woman ...is two-timing the anti-matter Supes by doing the wild thing with Owl Man (or anti-Bats). I'd be willing to bet somebody else's paycheck that Morrison wants to write the real WW this way, but can't because the heroes have to be perfect model citizens. Sheesh. Anyway, I like what he's done with this story and I've been digging Morrison's work since the Animalman days. Keep 'em comin'!

This book is quite frankly the single best work i've ever seen from Frank Quitely. A story about explosions,and sex,and drug abuse, and masochism, and overthrowing the government's of the world to make Earth a better place...hold on... is this the Authority i'm reviewing...no... it's still JLA, albiet a strikingly different JLA. Grant Morrison's story is from the beginning what appears to be a late 90's throwback to late 50's- to-early-60's-style "Wheee! I just discovered the joys of mind altering suubstances" comics, where reality was as subjective on paper as it was in a mental patient's head. Whereelse do you get to see an evil Batman, a drug-addicted Flash, a dominatrix-superpowered Lois Lane, and a masochist anarchist,evil totalitarian Superman with Jack Hawksmoors haircut)? Well...the Authority... but if you want it told from the actual JLA's viewpoint... be warned. Bad is Good, and Big Brother is watching you with laser vision.

This is a great, entertaining story by Grant Morrison, beautifully illustrated by master Frank Quitely. Morrison adeptly sets up a nice sense of foreboding and tension with the instigating action sequence that serves to introduce the familiar heroes, and their evil counterparts, and maintains this atmosphere as a buildup to an expected confrontation ensues. The story explores the issues of what happens when people of great power interfere in a foreign society, in part through Morrison's explanation of why the JLA can never bring their brand of justice to Earth 2, and succeeds in surprising us with a climactic twist. Frank Quitely's art is simply amazing, as his hatching style brings a down-to-earth sense of realistic sketchiness to the material. Admittedly, one area that gets short-changed is his treatment of the female main characters. He manages the dubious feat of making Wonder Woman look unattractive, and his renderings of Superwoman show that his understanding of the proportions of the female body was not at its best here. Nonetheless, overall readers who follow his work can see that he has since improved in this regard in his subsequent work. Overall his art is dead-on, and his style unique among the pantheon of American comic book artists. One area in which the book falters story-wise (though it may again be attributable to Quitely) is in the confusing decision to give a mustache and glasses to two high-ranking members of Earth 2's Gotham police force, which may cause the reader to understand that they are Commissioner Jim Gordon, despite the fact that one is just an unnamed cop, and another is Thomas Wayne. When we finally meet Gordon, he too has a mustache, but is fat, short, and balding, a design decision that jarringly required me to go back and make sure that I understood who everyone was. In general though, the book is solid entertainment in terms of the writing and the art, and I recommend to anyone wanting to sit back and have an entertaining read.