SPOILERS - Earth 2 Annual # 2

There's a lot to take in from this year's Earth 2 Annual with regards to the identity of the new Batman. For starters, it's Thomas Wayne behind the mask.

The book begins with Earth 2 Batman solving the mystery surrounding the death of Joe Chill, the man who gunned down his parents in Crime Row. Batman tracks down the mastermind but gets trumped by a masked man. He tracks said mystery man and has a confrontation with him. The man is revealed to be...

In this issue we find out that the Earth 2 version of Thomas Wayne had a criminal side job which ultimately led to the murder which orphaned Bruce Wayne and created Batman. Wayne survived and became a recluse...

He also tells Earth 2 Red Tornado aka Lois Lane and Hawkgirl that he's been shadowing Bruce ever since that time. He was present during the wedding of Bruce and Selina Kyle, the birth of Helena (who becomes the New 52 Huntress) and many more.

The issue was written by Tom Taylor with pencils by Robson Rocha.

Do you like how this plot point played out? Honestly, NO.

The Identity of the New Earth 2 Batman is...

apparently someone very familiar to comic book readers as his name's been active within the Batman mythos for decades...

Apparently the man under the Batman's cowl is none other than Thomas Wayne. Comicbook.com broke the news after DC Comics made an 'allegedly' spoilery announcement on their Twitter account promoting the upcoming DC Collectibles' Earth 2 wave of action figures.

Looking at this post's header page, I seem to be in agreement with this spoiler/rumor. This Batman looks furious, he's got red eyes, which has become a trademark for the Thomas Wayne Sr. version of the Batman from Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert's FLASHPOINT book. 

Plus he's also fond of using what seems to be wrist-based 'guns' or launchers. Of course, we really have to take this news bit with a grain of salt as the mystery is still being unveiled in the pages of Earth 2.

Could it be that the Flashpoint version of Thomas Wayne has been 'ported to the Earth 2 Universe after the cataclysmic events of FLASHPOINT??

Source

Superman/Batman # 4 Review

Reviewing Superman/ Batman # 4 by Greg Pak and Jae Lee

I was surprised that I actually liked this issue given that my Jae Lee taste went down for the past few issues. 

Not going to beat around the bush here, so the strongest part of this issue falls around the end. In some weird way we get to understand the motivations behind Darkseid's attack on Justice League's first story arc plus the start of "Earth 2" and goes down further to what's currently happening to that book. 

Pak scores a home run with an OK ending for the two pairs of Supermen and Batmen. In some way, it's like a fitting start to the careers of the New 52 version of the World's Finest and at the same time, a way for us to peer into the world of the 'Wonders' from Earth 2 which we were seriously deprived in Earth 2.

I like the tease for the ending and the possible return of the villain too. Plus that scene revisiting the kid from issue # 1 was a good call. A really good bookended story arc. 

I'd say this issue's one of the strongest issues that's been produced for the title. Can't wait for what Greg Pak, Jae Lee and the rest of the creative team will be revealing next. 

Verdict: B+

Happy Filipino Freedom Day Here's the Pinoy Captain Steel from DC Comics' Earth 2

James Robinson did a wonderful thing for the classic JSA character Captain Steel for DC Comics' EARTH 2. He made CAPTAIN STEEL as pinoy as tapsilog and balut.

I really was supposed to do this but you need to read this book for yourself, so instead, here's a scan or two of this new version of Captain Steel. 

This new 52 version of the Golden Age hero still looks the part but has a lot of alterations with regards to his origins. The tl;dr version is that he's Filipino and is sickly and his father created a process to turn his whole skeletal system into solid steel. 

Before the process could be handed over to the world government, the lab was attacked by Steppenwolf's parademons. Henry Jr. kills the parademons while dear old dad blows his brains out to save the formula thus making Jr. the only person with that specific power set; sounds familiar?

I'm really curious as to how Captain Steel will play in the formation of Earth 2's Justice Society of America. Too bad they don't have Stargirl, Power Girl and Huntress though. 

Also, this is the only other time that I'm actually happy to read 'Steel' stories. The last time I was looking forward to this character was back in the early chapters of Geoff Johns' Justice Society book. And that was Henry Jr's nephew Nathan Heywood as well. 

And that version was cool because he used to knock out Nazis sent by Vandal Savage. Oh and after Johns' departure, he was left unused and unloved. 

Great job again James Robinson.

Power Girl Returns to Her Classic Costume

Fans of the 'classic' Power Girl costume should be jumping for joy with the announcement of the imminent return of the 'boob window' costume coming from the World's Finest # 12 solicit.

WORLDS' FINEST #12
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by KEVIN MAGUIRE and GERALDO BORGES
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale MAY 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
As Power Girl returns to her classic look, DeSaad wreaks havoc on her tech empire—and PG and Huntress find themselves hunted by the talented torturer from Apokolips.

Earth 2 # 8 Spoilers - Meet Fury

Wonder Woman did not just leave a heroic legacy in DC Comics' Earth 2. She actually left behind her daughter who was later raised by the maniacal Steppenwolf as his ward. That's all revealed in Earth 2 # 8 by James Robinson and Yildiray Cinar.

Here's a variant cover for the same issue...

Now we go to the main event...

Is DC Screwing Around with The Green Lantern Franchise?

Is it just me or is DC Comics screwing most if not all that is hallowed in their Green Lantern franchise/brand?

Methinks that the shit hit the fan for Green Lantern after that awesome flop GL movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.

Would have made more sense if the story wasn't so horrible.

Then writer Geoff Johns decides to go and do some retcons and at the same time make changes on the mythos and the whole status quo with War of the Green Lanterns.

Comparing The New 52 Jay Garrick with the Pre-Reboot Garrick

This is the new Jay Garrick The Flash for James Robinson's "Earth Two".

This on the other hand is what Jay Garrick looked like in the pre-reboot DC universe, even during the so-called GOLDEN AGE...

See the difference?

Here are some of the things that I want to blog about regarding the new costume:


I loved the old Jay Garrick/ Golden Age Flash because of his very old-school appeal. You've got a blue leggings and red boots with a red shirt with an inverted lightning logo. It's simplistic without trying to be one.

The new one just plain looks like its been dumped in a pool of fashion gurus and rinsed with some consumerism coupled with a little bit of elements from the pre-rebooted Jay.

One of the things about the redesign that made me heave was the design for the helmet. I firmly believe, as a comic fan, that if you are to do redesigns on a costume, you should still retain the "THING" that makes the costume iconic.

So What if Earth 2 Alan Scott is the Gay DC Character

Rumor has it that Earth 2 Green Lantern Alan Scott will be the gay, prominent DC character that is set to debut soon.

Bleedingcool is insisting that the gay superhero is actually the speculated homosexual character.

So my question is whether or not its a bad idea for something like this to happen or if this is a good idea? In my opinion, (and assuming that its really Scott that gets "outed") this wouldn't change anything. I mean I've read Earth 2 # 1 by James Robinson and Nicola Scott.


It was a great ride and though it ended in tragedy, there is a glimmer of hope for the people who live in this Earth. By the end of Earth 2 # 1 we get to meet the wealthy Alan Scott as well as Jay Garrick. DC has made sure of its promise of providing an all new take on the character and sexuality might just be included for the big guy.

DC Teases Earth 2 Superman Done by Jim Lee

DC Comics once again teases a new image for the upcoming "Earth 2" book which is once again done by Jim Lee. 

While Superman's Earth 2 costume shares a lot of similarities with the Earth 1 Superman costume with changes done on the hand area and the boots. 

 I've also shared the other teaser images for Earth 2 featuring Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin and Supergirl.

Earth 2 will be released April 2012 and will be written by James Robinson and Nicola Scott.

Ivan Reis and Joe Prado do the Variant Cover for Earth 2 # 1

Here's a quick look at Ivan Reis and Joe Prado's variant cover for Earth 2 # 1 which will be written by James Robinson and art by Nicola Scott.

The cover is a re-envisioning of sorts for what has transpired in the current story arc for Justice League minus of course the other characters and retaining only the DC big three which are Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. 

So this is going to look like a great looking book together with Batman Inc. which will be again written by Grant Morrison and his old posse.