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| [ I HAVE GREEN IN MY WALLET ] |
To QUOTE Harry
Houdini: 'Can you guess what I'm
going to do next?'.
THE STORY:
I suppose today started out like any other day really. Red
Arrow teased Jimmy Olsen about Doctor Fate's monosyllabic predictions. Batman was
typing away on his big old Bat-computer. And all in all -- yeah -- same-old,
same old!
However, as the day then progressed, something happened to
Lois, Hawkgirl and myself, whilst they were teaching me about my new Kryptonian
powers.
There we were, out in the bright open fresh air, when
suddenly, I can hear Lois call out to me in the distance, saying, 'Look out
Val. Superman and a group of his parademons are about to attack us'.
And they did -- POW! -- May Green Lantern have mercy on our souls!
If I could only use one single word to define this issue of
'Earth 2', that word would have to be 'tease'.
Yeah. I'm not pulling your leg. Simply put, tease is the
perfect adjective to describe this adventure, mainly because it teased us
with so many questions and answers I can't wait to hear more!
For instance, is Val in fact the General Zod of this
reality? What is Batman up to on his Bat-computer? Where the hell does Green
Lantern think he is? What is that machine Bedlam is forcing 'The Misters' to build?
Will Superman come to his senses as soon as he sees Lois? Plus how does Lois go to the can?
OK. So maybe not that last one. But I'm sure you get the
basic gist of what I'm trying to say about this second part of 'The Kryptonian'.
It's a great tale, complemented to the nth degree by Tom's magnificent
characterizations, and Nicola's bold yet expressive visuals.
THE BAD:
After this issue teased me with so many of its
differentiating plot-points, I felt kind of frustrated inside myself, wondering
what the hell was going to happen next, whilst also wondering why it read so
quickly as a self contained story.
Yeah. It was a bit of a quick read. And I would've liked it
to have been more... err... more... if you know what I mean.
THE MUSIC:
Now what would be your first reaction if an evil Superman suddenly showed up at your front
door step? Fight back? Say something stupid?
Or would it be more like this 1966 classic, sung by the Spencer Davis Group,
'Keep on Running'?
Yep. Same here.
The only thing that springs to mind in relation with what I
can compare this comic book to, is a feeling I sometimes get immediately after
I step out of a very hot shower.
Slightly perspired. Slightly fatigued. And totally
fresh.
THE CONCLUSION:
I'm sure you know by now what I felt about this amazing
adventure, folks. It's a great adventure, with a teasing story-line I honesty
want to read more of as soon as possible. But because I can't do that at the
moment, I thought it would be a fun idea if I could suggest to Tom Taylor a
number of ways to enhance this already splendid title.
OK. So here goes nothing...
- Pay homage to a couple of Earth 2 celebrities from the distant past. Like a Brad Pitt styled Errol Flynn for instance. Or a Rita Hayworth styled Angelina Jolie.
- Have Jay Garrick look a bit more like his old self. Ditch the visor and bring back the square jaw-line. Come on. You know you want to.
- Try to reform the JSA again. Give them a HQ and a reason to stay together. Plus make them work as a group, and not as a band of misguided waifs and strays.
- In places satirize the concept of 'Earth 2'. And attempt to poke fun out of other dimensions, and what people over there might be like.
- Don't concentrate all your efforts on Superman and Batman, please allow some of the other superheroes to have some page time as well.
- Ignore everything I've just said because I've just eaten too many eggs and am about to let off a stinker anytime soon.
Sniff-Sniff! Nuff said.
EARTH 2 #22
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
April 15, 2014
Rating:
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
April 15, 2014
Rating:
