Earth 2 #16 Review

The Hunger Dogs of Steppenwolf have left the World Army and the Wonders in tatters. When all is lost, it gets worse.

Poor Tom Taylor.

Yep, that the first thing that came to my mind after reading this book.

Sorry, anymore and I go into Spoiler territory (which I will, later on).

First, I have to say this is a very effective conclusion (cliffhanger?) to the War arc and James Robinson really brings things full circle with his final issue.

The visuals as always are amazing through the narrator boxes of Steppenwolf and a nameless reporter were a bother, it all came together at the end.

Yes, the reveal at the end almost made up for all the headless nature of this arc (as the narrative was all over the place) but it can only do so much.

All I can say is that if you've been following Earth 2, this was a good payoff. And it made complete sense why Tom came in.

SPOILERS follow................................

You want the twist, don't you? Well we were teased that one of the Terrors would be revealed, specifically Brutal.

And Brutal is......................................Superman.

Now you get why Tom was a good choice, don't you? Coming off the widely successful digital comic Injustice: Gods Among Us which portrayed Superman as a dictator and Batman as leader of the rebel forces, this story also leads to a similar situation.Through given he loves Superman, he's really having it rough.

I mean, Earth 2 Superman. Ever since Robinson picked up this book, the unpredictability of it all has been a highlight. There are no rules here.

Coming back to the story, the war is lost.........to the Terrors. Yes, the Wonders have lost and all of them are focused on evacuation - Flash, Atom Smasher, Red Arrow, Sandman and Dr Fate. 

I missed someone, didn't I? Yes, Green Lantern Alan Scott is hellbent on revenge for his lover Sam's death and goes full force against Steppenwolf, but he and the Atom Smasher are no match for the Apocalyptian general and Brutal.

As we finally learn that the second narrator is a reporter, Steppenwolf declares himself the ruler of Earth.

And then he's 'brutally' killed by Brutal, who is revealed to be the Earth 2 Kal-El.

How he did he become Brutal? How is this connected to the Darkseid one-shot? Well, that's up to Tom and maybe Geoff. 

 

This book is for those who have been following Earth 2, no one else. This is not a book you start reading Earth 2 from. But for those who have been faithful, James Robinson's departure is with a bang.

And Tom is ideally placed to deal with the fallout.

So, I give it 8.0 out of 10

+The ending, oh the ending.
+Nicola Scott and the real provide great imagery and art
+Good payoff for the arc

-The narrative is still a problem