EARTH 2 #19

[ BASHING A BARGAIN ] 

Hey, pal! Do you see the cover image provided? It's a shame, isn't it? It's a damn shame how those pesky parademons reacted to the news that Gal Gadot is going to play the new Wonder Woman? Still. It could've been a lot worse I suppose. They could have also heard what Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott were going to do with this comic book, Published by DC Comics, in February, 2014.

To QUOTE Stephen Hawking: 'If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans'.

THE STORY:

On a purely simplistic level this third part of 'The Dark Age' is a tale of two halves. In one half we get to see 'Team Batman' penetrating the Arkham World Army Base, and meeting a nice new alien chap called 'Val'. Whilst in the other half we get to see 'Team Superman' kicking the living sh*t out of anyone who's isn't an Apokoliptian parademon.  

THE GOOD:

Overall I'd say this issue of 'Earth 2' was a pretty decent read. Tom Taylor's simple story-line and Nicola Scott's great artwork flowed very well together I thought. Plus I did get a kick out of Batman's interaction with Red-Lois, Somber-Val, plus the rest of the cast too.

Also, another stand out for me would have to be how Superman used the Washington Monument to smash up the White House, as well as the way in which Bedlam plans to use the 'Two Terrific's' to further his own ends.

Oh! And before I forget, it was nice to see Hawkgirl pop up in this issue, huh? Cause I honestly forgot all about her during these last couple of installments.

THE BAD:

I suppose the only problem I had with this tale would be how it never really did that much to push the general plot-line further along its intended path. I mean, the only thing it did was introduce us to that alien guy called Val, show Superman destroying the White House, and set up whatever is going to happen next issue when 'Team Terrific' and 'Team Batman' eventually butt heads. Apart from that though -- nah -- that's about it really.

THE MUSIC:

If you click on the following video clip, you'll see is an animated alien singing the Gloria Gaynor classic, 'I Will Survive'. Now the main reasons why I've compared this specific song to this specific story-line, is because they're both about surviving alienation, whilst pursing the pursuit of happiness. Got that? Good. Can you please explain it to me now, folks? Ha!

THE COMPARISON:

In the film, 'The Silence of the Lambs', there were a couple of scenes shot in and around Hannibal Lecter's grubby yet tidy jail cell. And that's what I'm going to compare to this comic book to, folks. Hannibal Lecter's jail cell. Parts of the narrative were relatively tidy, especially those sections involving 'Team Batman'. Parts of the narrative were relatively grubby, especially those sections involving 'Team Superman'. And parts of it were rather self-contained, mainly those sections involving Val in his jail cell.

THE CONCLUSION:

OK. So I just might be guessing here, folks. But could this Val chap actually be the hero called Valor! You know, as in the one time Legionnaire, Lar Gand, plus the one time Kryptonian, Mon-El.

Well, it does make some sort of sense if you think about it for a moment or two. Particularly when you factor in his invulnerability to Kryptonite plus his aloof yet compliant nature!

Also, something else that got me to thinking whilst reading this issue, was how come Batman managed to contact Hawkgirl at the end of it? Do the two of them know each other? And if so, how? Come to think of it, how does Batman also know Mera and Lois? Could he be another hero perhaps? Another hero that's been updated for the New 52 age!

Hmmm. Nuff said. For now.