Well, Earth 2 World’s End keeps barreling on, continuity and logic be damned. I’ll get in to that later. This intro, normally reserved for a critique, questioning, or praising of Daniel Wilson’s story, will instead go to the artwork. Yes, the artwork. I’m stunned to hear myself say it, but we have a new art team. And they’re better than the old one! Some names have stayed while others have gone on to other projects, but the overall quality of work from this issue and the last has been a fresh breath of air. Also, those sick covers!
So allow me to welcome the newly-designed art team of Tyler Kirkham, Jack Herbert, Vicente Cifuentes, Jorge Jimenez, Robson Rocha, Guillermo Ortego, Stephen Segovia, and Jason Paz – now known as “Kirkham et al.” So how have Kirkham et al been doing? Pretty well, actually. I have been loving the intensity in the Chicago pages that follow the Grayson storyline. The Avatars/Furies story has all the vibrancy and electricity that one could hope for. Flash and Hawkgirl are being drawn like humans, so that’s improved. Even the Wonder squad, which has been consistently the least interesting story line to follow for me, is revamped and full of wonderfully drawn action again. Perhaps this is just some placebo to hold me over for a few issues – where any change is good change – but I like it.
The Parliament of Earth: The Parliament of Elements is gathered together, when we see that the Avatar of Red has not shown. Meanwhile, the Avatars and Furies battle over Russia, with Alan’s feelings getting the better of him when Sam is seized by Huntress, now known as Famine. Her powers are a little…odd. Where the last Famine caused people to shrivel up and die, she is “famine of the soul” whatever that means.
Chicago: Dick Grayson is staring down the tidal wave surging towards him in the distance, when fellow apocalypse-survivor Ted Grant appears to help. Ted “convinces” Dick to come with him.
Geneva Firepit: The Wonder squad confronts Desaad, who unleashes a brainwashed Avatar of the Red, who he had somehow managed to capture. When this happened, why it did, or how Desaad even knew that this person was the Red is never explained. But that feeds into my complaint that things just happen in this book, and that people just show up whenever they’re needed or it’s convenient for the story. Also, the Avatar of the Red looks so damn cool.
(Anyone Getting That “Diablo” Vibe?)
Apokolips: Terry Sloan and Commander Khan are duking it out in the ship rigged with explosives, when Khan manages to push Sloan out the hatch a-la Airforce One. Sloan gives chase with his rocket boots, and Khan aims to pilot the ship straight at Darkseid.
World Army Underground Base: Commander Sato has come up with a way to harbor the hundreds of thousands of refugees that pour in through the World’s Army checkpoints every hour. Flash, Hawkgirl, Accountability, and Steel (What?! Where has he been?! And where is Doctor Fate?!) help clear a path to transport the refugees by train to a place called Project Beyond. Commander Sato unleashes her secret weapon. (See Spoilers)
Alright, so let’s keep count of all the insane things that happened this issue.
Huntress just showed up over Siberia, after flying away from deep underground in Geneva. I’m no physicist, but flying at supersonic speeds from Geneva to Siberia would still take a couple of hours. There is no way the Avatars and Furies were fighting for that long. If they were, then they might as well have a picnic and call it a truce, because then they are invincible.
Then Steel just showed up, out of nowhere. He was last seen in a hospital bed, no? And then before that was way back in Issue #13 of Earth 2.
Desaad just happened to have the one of the five most important beings on the planet in his possession, brainwashed, and knew who that person was before any of this happened. Alan was chosen as Green Lantern because the Earth needed him. That was less than a year ago, way less actually. And at that time DESAAD WAS ON EARTH-PRIME. How did he capture, contain, brainwash, and manipulate someone as powerful as an Avatar in that amount of time?! Come on, Wilson.
- It would seem that The Atom bites the dust creating a new shelter for the refugees. Other than this plot point being completely ridiculous, it was a tear-jerking scene.
- Revealing Wildcat as the Avatar of the Red would have been cooler is Desaad didn’t say her entire name. I think those who are reading the comics can get the reference to which Wonder she is. Hearing someone like Desaad say her whole name like that was weird, because it was so uncharacteristic for someone so dramatic.
Favorite Quote: “But I thought of a way to make enough room.” – Major Sato
Recommended If…
- You are a fan of those covers. (I am)
- You’ve been waiting for some plot-lines to come together.
- You want to find out who the Avatar of the Red is.
Overall: The improved artwork and the gradually-coalescing story have improved this issue over the last, and the final touching moment actually made me sad. There are, however, still the insane and unbelievably coincidental plot points. These massive plot holes keep the score down. This book has a way to go until it has consistently good scores.
SCORE: 4/10
