Earth 2: World's End #18

Run

Story by Daniel H. Wilson
Written by Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson and Cullen Bunn
Breakdowns by Scott McDaniel
Art by Eddy Barrows & Eber Ferreira, R.B. Silva & Walden Wong, Eduardo Pansica & Marc Deering, Jorge Jimenez, and Tyler Kirkham
Colors by Andrew Dalhouse
Lettering by Corey Breen
Cover by Guilem March & Tomeu Morey
Associate Editor Rickey Purdin
Editor Mike Cotton
Group Editor Eddie Berganza
Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
By special arrangement with the Jerry Siegel family.
Batman created by Bob Kane.

This cover is a symbolic representation of something that really doesn't happen in this issue. So what we have here is Earth 2's Green Lantern, Alan Scott, who is the avatar of the green, just as Swamp Thing is on Earth 1. And since Earth 2 is being attacked by Apokolips, I guess Alan Scott is feeling the Earth's pain, as well. Or something like that. Like I said, nothing like this really happens in this issue.

The Earth 1 Flash in The New 52, Barry Allen, has never had an occasion to cross paths with the people of Earth 2 and their Flash, Jay Garrick. And that's really sad, when you consider that it was the original Barry Allen back in the '60s who was the first character to cross over to Earth 2. But anyway, what I'm saying is that I haven't read any New 52 Earth 2 stories, but I do know the basics ... I think. In any case, this won't be a very in-depth review because the Flash — our Flash — only appears on a computer screen in one panel.

So there's a whole lot going on, but we're only going to focus on the story of Batman (Thomas Wayne) and his granddaughter Huntress (Helena Wayne). The two of them have apparently survived some big battle and are rescued by the world army. While they regroup at an outpost in France, Batman is contacted by Jimmy Olsen, who claims to have plans to evacuate the planet to another dimension.

But, more importantly to the plot, Jimmy says he found a note left by Helena's late father, Bruce, directing her to get in touch with Oliver Queen. So Batman and Huntress prepare to go on one more adventure while everyone else tries to stop Darkseid from turning Earth into a second Apokolips.

The Good:

I suppose this could be an exciting, epic story if I knew anything that was going on. But coming in right in the middle like this, kind of leaves me saying, "So what?" I don't care what happens to this Batman — my Batman is perfectly fine. And so on and so on.

The Bad:

Little to no Flash. I have no idea why he's with Hawkman on this computer screen. The only time I could think of this happening was during Trinity War. So I'm not sure if this image Earth 2 Jimmy Olsen has found is an image from the past, future, or an entirely different Earth altogether. I found an interview with Daniel H. Wilson where he was asked specifically about this very panel, and he basically said it had nothing to do with the story and was only an easter egg thrown in by the artist. And since this is the only Earth 2 issue to feature the Earth 1 Flash (and Hawkman), I have to assume that their inclusion was actually accidental.

Too many cooks in the kitchen. Twenty different people worked on this issue, which is almost one person per page. That's not exactly how it broke down, but every few pages, the story did shift dramatically in tone and art. I hate issues where the art is done by committee. It really devalues the art, treating it as a secondary afterthought. But art in comic books is every bit as essential to the story. And when it's a hodgepodge like this, it really weakens the overall product. I know this was a weekly series, but I imagine there's got to be a better way to present the story.

Final score: 3 out of 10

Next time: Hey, this is a Flash blog; why don't we review an issue of the Flash? OK, let's do it with The Flash Annual #3.