DC Comics 2020
Written by Tom Taylor
Pencilled by Trevor Hairsine
Inked by GiGi Baldassini & Stefano Gaudiano
Coloured by Rain Beredo
Lettered by Saida Temofonte
After a corrupted Anti-Life Equation turned billions into monsters-including Earth’s Greatest Heroes-our planet was as good as dead. Years later, a distress call brings Damian Wayne, Jon Kent, and Cassie Sandsmark-the Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman of Earth 2-back to a dead planet...but what will this new Justice League find waiting for them? If life still exists on Earth, who-or what-is lying in wait for these heroes?
Well I am a fan of the heroes who were still on Earth and when we left Unkillables. This one starts off with the perfect scene for me. John Constantine and Zatanna having a conversation at the Oblivion Bar. Tom manages to capture survivor’s guilt with John in a way that is strong and powerful to see. Then there’s the rest of the issue. I really wanted to see more of those heroes currently on Earth in that haven that they created for themselves. The Magical ones and the Villains that lived through Unkillables. That is most assuredly what I want to see more of. Now it seems to me that Jon, Damian and Cassie have had that Soap Opera aging thing going on here so I cannot say how long they’ve been on Earth-2.
The way that this is being told is extremely well done. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is impeccably presented. The character development is great and while I wish we didn’t see some of the Lois/Jon, Dinah/Ollie moments. I appreciate the way they got the message to investigate but, well. The pacing is great and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way shows how well the book is structured as well as how it all works together to create the books ebb & flow.
I will say that my preference for the Dead Planet may influence how I see some moments but in all honesty Tom is writing one hell of a good story here. For those who have not read all of this to date, like myself, seeing some characters and how they’ve changed is interesting and with Dinah I think this progression is utterly amazing.
The interiors here are really strong as well. The linework we see is exquisite and that the pencils and inks look so in sync and come across as they do you’d never really know that three people were involved in bringing this to life. The way the varying weights and techniques are being utilised here to show this attention to detail is stunning. Backgrounds folks backgrounds, we really want to see backgrounds in these panels, in space Krypto and Jon’s reunion with nothing but white, what a let down that is. I wanted to say that the creative utilisation of the page layouts offset that but no, they are however beautifully configured and with the way we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a superb eye for storytelling. The colour work here is phenomenal! I love how we see the various hues and tones within any given colour being utilised in the shading, highlights and shadow work. The effects of powers and abilities are superbly rendered. The shades of colours in the greens and in space, what we see is gorgeous and it really enhances the enjoyment factor.
I know we’ll get to see those still living on this Earth but before we do we have to see how these heroes get to Earth and learn what’s happened. It’s funny though because I thought Wonder Woman was killed but I guess I am mistaken. So yeah this being done the right way, limited runs and spin-offs instead of multiple volumes. Long ago this would’ve made for a perfect Elseworld’s tale. Personally I am enjoying this and I can see and appreciate all the hard work that’s being done in these pages. This is the kind of intense and thrilling storytelling that shows DC's commitment to superb storytelling.
P.S. I got the blank variant so anyone who wants a crack at it, hit me up!