Earth 2 #23 Review

All blows up.

Things take a strange turn and Taylor continues to explore a world where very few seem to be safe from death.

Nicola Scott is back in top form as she weaves moments of lull and chaos expertly.

SPOILERS FOLLOW……………………

Last issue, Dark Superman recognized Lois despite her Red Tornado outfit. Letting Val go, Dark Superman seems to be in a quandary.

When one of the Parademons attacks Lois though, Clark disintegrates the entire group and leaves the area with Lois in tow.

Val refuses to fight, leaving him and Kendra vulnerable to the Parademon attack, but Green Lantern Alan Scott arrives there, dispelling the siege.

Elsewhere, we see where Lois and Dark Superman have gone – the Kent farm to meet the elderly Kents, his Earth parents.

Lois and Jimmy had made some preparations in case such a situation arose – he hacked her sensors so that he could track her and manage to view and hear her surroundings.

From that, they come to know that Kal-El has announced a secondary attack on the cave. Batman initiates Protocol Azreal while preparations are made for their departure to the human resistance refuge – Themyscira.

The Parademons attack with their Warhounds as Connor is seemingly fatally wounded. As Batman and the rest leave with the cave counting down, Kendra is asked to stay behind by Alan. We see the place explode.

There are nice character moments here. Val’s sharp reaction at Batman’s notion that ‘Lois was a distraction’, Martha Kent admitting that Kal, even as gone as he is, is still taking care of his ma and pa and Dr Fate admitting that Connor is not ‘in the future’ moments before he is wounded and left to die.

While it’s nice to see Dark Superman isn’t as lost as he seemed, it creates some creepy moments at the Kent farm.

SPOILERS END…………………….

With some high octane action intersped by moments of reflection, and expertly drawn by Scott, this issue presents a high point in a stellar arc.

Tom is taking things all the way instead of just teasing and swerving and that makes some interesting plotlines.

So, I give it 9.5 out of 10

+ Nice character moments

+Great artwork

+Brilliant juggling of chaos and peace

+Tom is taking risks and it’s paying off