Earth 2 #1

May 6, 2012, 2012

Title: The Price of Victory

On Earth 2, a different trinity of heroes fights… but what happens if they fall?

Writer: James Robinson
Pencils: Nicola Scott
Inks: Trevor Scott
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Dezi Sienty
Cover Art: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & Rod Reis
Editor: Pat McCallum
Publisher: DC Comics

The Multiverse is back with this new title, the first book set in a world outside of the universe of the New 52. Five years ago, the Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman of another universe fought fiercely to save their world from an invasion by Steppenwolf and his Parademons. The world survived, but at an incredible price.

This issue is a lot of set-up, but it’s the most action-packed set-up you could possibly ask for. It’s clear that the classic DC trinity, although they’re in center stage here, will not be the stars of this title. Their appearance, in fact, is mostly here to set up the return of some other classic characters, albeit in new forms. It works nicely for that. This is the sort of all-out war you probably couldn’t get away with on “New Earth” (or whatever they’re calling the universe of the New 52 these days). Plenty of devastation, plenty of death, too much to deal with in 50 or so titles linked together in a single, current continuity. But as this book takes place on an alternate universe, and there are no other books set there (Worlds’ Finest is a spin-off, but that’s not quite the same thing) James Robinson could theoretically have a pretty free hand to go nuts, make major changes, and drastically alter the world as the story dictates. He’s done it before, but in things like The Golden Age. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he does with a book like this on an ongoing basis.

I’ve been a fan of Nicola Scott for some time now, but with Trevor Scott and Alex Sinclair joining her on the art for this book, we’re seeing some of the greatest work she’s ever done. The battle scenes here are incredible, and she gives us depictions of DC’s three biggest guns that look very familiar, but just different enough that we accept them as alternate versions of the characters.

This first issue was great, even if it felt more like a “zero” issue. It doesn’t really matter that much what the number is, though. It’s a fine way to start, and I can’t wait to see where this newer universe is going to take us.

Rating: 9/10

Secret Six (2008 Series) #3

November 8, 2008

Quick Rating: Great
Title: A Run of Misfortune (Unhinged Part Three)

As the Six transport Tarantula, the truth about the card is revealed!

Writer: Gail Simone
Pencils: Nicola Scott
Inks: Doug Hazelwood
Colors: Jason Wright
Letters: Travis Lanham
Editor: Nachie Castro
Publisher: DC Comics

As Catman rejoins the team, they make plans to transport the Tarantula and retrieve the mysterious card in her possession. The card is more popular than they’d anticipated, though. Even as they race to get the card for their mysterious employer, half of the villains in the DC Universe are queuing up to snag it for their own. We also get a few flashbacks with Catman and the Tarantula that help to set the stage and the characters themselves.

Gail Simone again proves what makes her one of my favorite writers working in comics today. When we get to the reveal about what the card actually is, we get a moment that is really funny, but at the same time, makes it completely clear why this could well be one of the most valuable items in the world, something worth committing any number of atrocities to get your hands on.

The danger in any ongoing series starring villains is that it’s hard to make them protagonists without eventually turning them into watered-down heroes. (This was the fate that plagued Venom and Sabertooth in their ongoing comics, and the Thunderbolts only survived because turning into heroes was part of the plot.) We’re only three issues in, of course, but I’m really feeling good about Simone not falling into that trap. The Six (still technically five, but I’ve got a couple of hunches about who number six will be) are each very distinct, very individual personalities. Each of them has their own motivations and reasons for doing what they do, and none of them are coming across as compromised in this series. She has created characters that can be bad and likable at the same time, and that’s no mean feat.

Nicola Scott, as I’ve mentioned before, keeps proving her chops on this series with great character designs and high action. I recently heard that she was the one who got to pick Hazelwood and Wright to round out the art team, and she couldn’t have chosen better. This is one of the best-looking comics on the shelves.

Another great issue of a great series.

Rating: 9/10

Secret Six (2008 Series) #2

October 25, 2008

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Unhinged Part Two: The Way of the Traitor

Catman versus Batman! And the team strikes Alcatraz!

Writer: Gail Simone
Pencils: Nicola Scott
Inks: Doug Hazlewood
Colors: Jason Wright
Letters: Travis Lanham
Editor: Nachie Castro
Cover Art: Nicola Scott
Publisher: DC Comics

In Gotham City, Batman traces down Catman to talk to him about the Secret Six’s latest caper (to say nothing of their newest member, Bane). The rest of the team, meanwhile, begins their assault on Alcatraz Island (which, in the DCU, is evidently a metahuman lock-up instead of a tourist attraction) to break out the Tarantula. Only problem is, the Tarantula seems to agree with Batman – taking her out of prison would be tantamount to a death sentence.

Not that the Secret Six really care. They’ve just got a job to do.

It’s incredible how these characters can be so compelling and still so basically amoral at the same time. Although they’re all, technically, “villains,” none of them are written in a stereotypically “evil,” mustache-twirling fashion. They’re more rounded than that, and far more interesting. They’re in it for the money, right and wrong be damned. The confrontation between Batman and Catman is a blast, really helping to solidify Catman as a legitimate threat for this crew. As for the antagonist – man, Simone has created one of the most all-fired creepy bad guys in the DC Universe, and we don’t even know who he is yet!

Did I mention Nicola Scott? You know what there is to say about Nicola Scott? Her artwork is awesome, that’s what there is to say about Nicola Scott. Clean, classic lines, strong characters, dynamic action sequences – she’s got a look that is right up there with George Perez in terms of combining complexity, clarity, and quality.

Issue two? Just as much fun to read as issue one. I’ve got a good hunch about issue three, too.

Rating: 8/10

Secret Six (2008 Series) #1

September 9, 2008

Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: At the Point of Puncture (Unhinged Part One)

The Secret Six seeks to fill its roster.

Writer: Gail Simone
Pencils: Nicola Scott
Inks: Doug Hazlewood
Colors: Jason Wright
Letters: Swand S.
Editor: Nachie Castro
Cover Art: Nicola Scott
Publisher: DC Comics

It is not an exaggeration to say that a lot of people have been waiting for this book since Villains United. With that book, and with the follow-up Secret Six miniseries, Gail Simone took a bunch of second-rate supervillains and made them some of the most exciting characters in the DC Universe. C’mon, show of hands, four years ago how many people would have been excited about a comic where one of the main characters was Catman?

So anyway, to kick off the ongoing series, the Secret Six are down a member. Catman and Deadshot are off on a supply run, where they ponder the meaning of their little team, while Ragdoll and the new fifth member attempt to snap Scandal out of the daze she’s been in since the death of her girlfriend, the New God Knockout. And say what you will, the plan they come up with is something that the Justice League would never have come up with. The team has a new job – head out to San Francisco to find would-be superhero who’s caused some trouble in the past for the Batman family. Catman gets a phone call, however, that leads him to believe things aren’t on the up-and-up.

Simone has given these characters real depth. Not a one of them is the two-dimensional crook they were when she picked up on them. She does a magnificent job this issue of explaining their goals, their hopes, their desires, and their personalities as a whole.

Joining her on the series is her former Birds of Prey collaborator Nicola Scott, whose work here is even better than it was on that title. She has a richness and detail that just wasn’t there before. Oh, she was always good. Now she’s great. Doug Hazlewood and Jason Wright’s inks and colors are a perfect compliment for her linework. I’ve never seen it look this good.

I couldn’t wait for this book from the moment it was announced, and the first issue didn’t disappoint in the slightest. Absolutely a great issue.

Rating: 10/10