Earth 2 #3 Preview / Eventual Discussion **SPOILERS**

[Sacred Knight]

Robinson's dialogue here seems better than it has in my last few ventures into his works. But the weirdness indeed pops up still on occasion. Like the woman who first notices GL helping in the train wreckage. That was cringe-worthy.

Everything else about this book though is completely top-notch, and I'm still very impressed with how this has become one of my most anticipated titles each month where when it was first announced, I was irritated that it was even going to be made.

[Byzantine]

I liked this issue plenty. One neat thing, I thought, was how on Earth-0 the forces of the Green, the Red and the Rot/Black, though world-endingly powerful, are kind of fringe. I mean, they're even fringe in their own dark/magic/mystical corner of the DCU. Guys like Holland or Baker, Superman might check in once in a while, but they're not exactly on JLA speed dial.

So it's interesting to see that the Green becomes Mainstream on Earth-2. THE big gun hero serves the role that Swamp Thing would serve, and it's a cleaner, greener variation. Purer, even. You've got to wonder if the same'll apply to their version of the Red, if like, Wildcat will have cat-man powers or something.

I'd just like to point out the distinction between Solomon Grundy, the Gray, and how we shouldn't automatically assume he's an equivalent to the Rot. The Rot was referred to as the Black early on (and related back to Blackest Night to a degree) and the Gray is historically something different. Living creatures that actually feed on both life and death; fungi and other parasitic members of its family. Solomon Grundy is animated by spores!

Still it's fantastic to see him used as basically a Big Bad reanimated parasitic Swamp Thing-type, a good monster for a gleaming green knight to fight. And Alan Scott's emerald powers being rooted (Ha!) in the Green actually gives a kind of pseudo-rational, clever reason for why his traditional weakness of wood could still be the case.

Hawkgirl's costume is still quite lovely, and probably my favorite here. A complete color change that takes her far away from being equivalent in any way to Earth-0's Hawkman. If he's a secret Thanagarian, she's what? The Egypt-resurrection version of the character history? Got her powers like Jay and Alan got theirs ... just from the Egyptian pantheon instead?

There's a certain logic to the New Gods attacking Earth-2 and Dr. Fate watching as dying Old Gods from all over the Earth give their powers to new heroes to keep the Earth safe.

I was going to come in and say all of this, but you already beat me to the punch. Nailed it.

[jtd]

It may have been said previously, but what they did with this Green Lantern seems to me very much like the version Stan Lee did in Stan Lee's Just Imagine.

...and Grundy controlling plant roots? Bleh. I'm interested in this...but would have loved to have seen a redesign more similar to his old look.

[ronedog22]

Im torn the issue was great and all, but Grundy was a little to thin and verbose. He needs to be born on a monday.

However, maybe if he dies at the end of this arc he comes back a bit bigger and less talky? idk

[Sacred Knight]

I'm not big on the Solomon Grundy knowledge, so just curious, is there any significance to the fact the body was buried underneath the Capitol building?

[D.C. Edmonds]

Grundy's appearance seems appropriate given the previous version's first appearance. Great issue!

[Sk8maven]

Say what?! I assume you're joking since the lawsuit had been over and done with for several years before the Hal Jordan Green Lantern came about.

I DID say "and for some time after", didn't I?

Even before the Flash.

Flash is irrelevant - NO Flash (nor any other speedster) has EVER had a cape. Capes don't work with speedsters.

However, it wasn't over when the original Ghost Rider debuted, with cape, at Magazine Enterprises

The original Ghost Rider was a Western character, not a superhero. That's probably how he got away with it.

or the 1950s Marvel Boy at Timely

who was based on two characters who each had one story published (in 1940 and in 1943) - and both wore capes. Also, his adventures were few and the zine was short-lived (first issue Dec 1950, last issue Dec 1951). He probably wasn't worth suing over.

And Al Pratt kept his cape when he changed costumes while that lawsuit was going on.

I think he got in under the wire. The lawsuit started in 1941 but only went "active" (as in actively pursued in court before a judge) in 1948. (Fawcett won the first round, on a technicality, in 1950. DC promptly appealed, and things dragged on till 1954, by which time the issue was all but moot - superhero stories were out of favor with the public.)

J'onn J'onzz did debut in 1955, with cape, but he spent the first year or so playing detective and keeping his powers on the down-low - and there was no possibility of mistaking him for Superman OR Captain Marvel, because he was SO GREEN.

I don't think another superhero was introduced with cape until Marvel created Dr. Strange (1963) - whose story and power set were well clear of the Battle of the Flying Bricks.

[The Lucky One]

I'm not big on the Solomon Grundy knowledge, so just curious, is there any significance to the fact the body was buried underneath the Capitol building?

It doesn't tie him to the old version in any way, AFAIK. Grundy was Cyrus Gold, a businessman who either was killed by crooks or committed suicide (origins varied) and his body was tossed into Slaughter Swamp outside Gotham. Fifty years later his corpse was reanimated as a hulking plant monster. Actually, for all the talk of him now taking after Swamp Thing, large parts of Swampy's origin recalled Grundy's Golden Age origin story from All-American Comics #61.

But I don't recall him having any particular ties to the Capitol. If you're reeeeally reaching, I think Grundy might've attacked some JSAers in the All-Star Squadron preview insert in Washington D.C. But even that, I'm not sure about.

-D

[Robotman4]

Overall another good issue. I really didn't expect Earth 2 GL to be so similar to Swamp Thing. Having, possibly, Gaia give him his powers is actually pretty cool. E2 GL always had a connection to nature with the Starheart being effected by wood. I gotta agree that the dialogue was kinda strange. Alan seemed to be pretty calm right after finding out Sam was dead. Also, was there some dialogue missing in Hawkgirl and Flash's conversation? "Trust you?" kinda came out of no where.


Solomon Grundy has always been one of my favorite characters and so far I'm really not liking this new version. I prefer the rampaging mindless monster, not this zombie in a dress who controls plants and death.

[Inoshi]

[waves] Hi guys, just wanted to chime in really quickly. I'm new to DC comic universe...yep, the fabled "new" reader who knows nothing about these characters and what/who they were before they rebooted. I decided to jump on to Earth 2 since...well it has origin stories...huzzah, an actual starting point where I don't have to look at wikipedia :) Personally, I am enjoying this book, and am curious to see where is goes. Gathering from what I've seen in discussion...this book seems to be off to a good start. Um just general curiosity since I'm a noob...Earth 2 seems to generally be a team book, and I was wondering if later on some of these characters might get solos/other books (based on how well they do of course). I ask since I have no idea if DC treats Earth 2 as just a book or separate universe that contains several books.

[Robotman4]

For right now it's just a book about this alternate earth. But I wouldn't be surprised to see some spin offs down the road.

[KnightErrantJR]

I've been following this one since Earth 2 is more along the lines of what I was wanting with the new 52, i.e. if you are going to reboot, reboot across the board, from the ground up. Somewhere out there can still be the WWII themed JSA, but this story is about a group we really only know the basics of. So I'm in. For now.

I liked the first issue, was less thrilled with the last issue, and I'm back in full interest mode this time around, with a caveat. I am not sold on the new Grundy, at all. Even if he were the "Grey" and the force of Rot or whatever, I really like the bulkier, much less eloquent Grundy. He could still be a massive force of "anti-Nature" without being able to deliver soliloquies about it.

Still, in for the next issue. Liked the Fate foreshadowing, and Flash and Hawkgirls interaction, and it's interesting that Green Lantern is suppose to be the "Superman Alpha" of this world.

[Inoshi]

For right now it's just a book about this alternate earth. But I wouldn't be surprised to see some spin offs down the road.

Thanks for the info. I know if this keeps my interest I'll totally be on board with adding new DC books to my buy pile.

I've been following this one since Earth 2 is more along the lines of what I was wanting with the new 52, i.e. if you are going to reboot, reboot across the board, from the ground up. Somewhere out there can still be the WWII themed JSA, but this story is about a group we really only know the basics of. So I'm in. For now.

I liked the first issue, was less thrilled with the last issue, and I'm back in full interest mode this time around, with a caveat. I am not sold on the new Grundy, at all. Even if he were the "Grey" and the force of Rot or whatever, I really like the bulkier, much less eloquent Grundy. He could still be a massive force of "anti-Nature" without being able to deliver soliloquies about it.

Still, in for the next issue. Liked the Fate foreshadowing, and Flash and Hawkgirls interaction, and it's interesting that Green Lantern is suppose to be the "Superman Alpha" of this world.

I agree with the reboot part. When I first heard about it I was excited since I could finally get into something other than Marvel. But then I heard they kept some things, changed other things, and in general just deterred me from trying to get a road map to the new DC. Uuuuugh...maybe I'll try again later.

Obviously people are digging this Grey, Rot and Grundy thing...I think I'll be in for a fun ride when I see how these are all connected eventually. I think someone earlier mentioned the feeling of Captain Planet...lol. Don't know how true that is, but I see it from my stand point since I'm just learning, but I reserve the right to chuckle if I see pollution making the bad guys stronger.

[thwhtGuardian]

I'm not big on the Solomon Grundy knowledge, so just curious, is there any significance to the fact the body was buried underneath the Capitol building?

Maybe in this alternate Earth George Washington was actually buried under the Capitol Building as was originally planned? I think that would be an amusing plot point though I doubt it's true.

[Zagreus]

I don't know about a lot of you posters, I liked the art- ESPECIALLY the costume, and I really liked the dialogue as well. Hearing two characters- even if one of them happened to be a big green fireball, TALK in a comic for a change, was a delight. Things and concepts were explained and explored. This is the best Robinson has been in... ever as far as I'm concerned. I was not a huge Starman fan, it was a touch dull and the art was hit and miss, but I'm really digging this so far. I liked both Jay and Alan's origin, even if they were a bit similar. Hopefully the others characters origins will be more diverse. But I do like that this is a more mystical world than Earth Prime (or whatever they are calling the main DC earth). Dr. Fate is set up to appear as well, it seems, Hawkgirl looks cool. So... looking good so far, is my verdict.