Since the midweek TV clusterfuck is now over, let's take a look at another issue of Earth 2, before tackling another Subspecies sequel, enjoy! Also, I don't talk about covers often, I apologise for that, but this weeks cover...this weeks cover is truly, a thing of beauty. Just look at that, it's so...beautiful. Anyone doing a poster, or shirt or anything with that on? I need it and yes I know this sounds really sarcastic, but for once I'm 100% serious.
The Green Lantern half opens as it means to go on...and by that I mean epically. Picking up after the train explosion, Alan is dragging himself from the wreckage, after taking some pretty heavy damage and losing his boyfriend, Sam, in the explosion. Then a big green bonfire appears and starts talking to him. Considering what has just happened to him...I suppose it isn't that crazy...it's all in his head, right? - Alan thinks so, but nope! After a bit of rehashing of the whole 'there is a great evil coming to Earth or some crap' thing as the bonfire explains its back story and motivations Alan Scott gets his badass on, saying basically 'bring it' to any great evil on the way and thus his transformation into Green Lantern is complete with a truly awesome costume, unlike what the Flash got, and a vast improvement over his original costume. Alan Scott has truly fabulous taste to dream up a costume like that (I couldn't resist, I'm sorry - I do genuinely like the costume). His wedding ring that he was just about to propose with is forged into the conduit for his power (see: fucking awesome) and the scene ends with enough learned to be enjoyed but enough left open for further exploration down the line.
If I was going to have any criticisms of this scene, I would say it lacks a certain amount of emotional impact. I mean the scene is suitably epic and really cool but considering Sam just got blown up, that Alan was just about to propose to him...the scene just didn't seem to have the emotional whack a set up like that would seem to demand. I get that the story needs to keep moving, that an emotional wreck of a Green Lantern didn't turn out so well last time but come on guys...Scott felt so emotionally dead it was kinda scary.I do like that Robinson points out and admits the flaws with his own writing and then makes them plotpoints. When Alan sees the giant green bonfire, he questions the reality of it, knowing it's a little silly just like we, the audience, do. Well...I guess after a god gave a mortal man Flash Gordon's costume last issue, we might not question it so much any more but either way, you get my point. This gave a sense of reality to an otherwise goofy scene. And this continues throughout the issue with Alan asking the same questions we as an audience do, with all that power, why didn't it help during the war? He, and us with him, wonder and then Robinson gives us an answer, inside the issue itself.
Meanwhile we cut back to where the Flash was being held at crossbow point by Hawkgirl. I think Alan and Jay will provide great balance to one another, Alan is grounded and logical and Jay is goofy and silly, I'll look forward to seeing them play off one another later in the series. They have a test fight, of sorts and the Flash gets his ass beat - then everything starts dying around them.And then our comic concludes with a second pretty epic beginning to Green Lantern's first villain, Grundy - ending a great issue on a high note, Earth Two has really hit its stride.
I find myself warming to Nicola Scott's artwork a little more every week, although I still think a large amount of this is down to the excellent inks and colours rather than just her pencils, there is no denying that she captures some truly epic moments, this week.Overall, this is a pretty solid issue...at least where Green Lantern is concerned, I didn't really care much for anything else. About the only thing this issue lacked, is heart.
Pros;
- I'm pretty sure I'm going to love Earth Two Green Lantern, if this issue is anything to go by.
- I love how Robinson admits his own flaws and makes them something of them.
- I'm looking forward to see how Jay and Alan will play off of one another.
- The new villain looks pretty epic.
Cons;
- Considering how violently Alan's boyfriend died just moments before...I really wasn't feeling it from him. I mean I get the fact the plot has to keep moving and Alan needs to be heroic or whatever but he just came across more like a sociopath.
- The Flash/Hawkgirl bits were a bit shit, really.
Think About It!
-Locke
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