Another classic JLA villain is reinterpreted here, as we meet Wotan, basically recreated as a male Elphaba (Wicked, anyone?), who takes Jay Garrick’s mother hostage in order to force Jay (The Flash) and Khalid Ben-Hassin (the new Doctor Fate) to enter the “Tower of Fate” in order to reclaim the powers of Nabu, the original Doctor Fate. Khalid was blessed with these magical abilities, but cast them away to where no one could ever find them. And these two may not stand a chance against the Tower’s magical defenses. We also get asides featuring Khalid and Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders)’s origins and of Green Lantern seeking justice for the death of his beloved Sam, who finally gets a last name this issue… Zhao if it matters.
This book’s strength is that it’s a complete reboot. It’s not the Golden Age Earth 2, it’s just something completely new, with a nod to the old. Character’s races have changed. Green Lantern’s sexuality changed. Everything is fresh. Accepting that makes this book MUCH more fun. I’m actually enjoying the left-field reinterpretations of these iconic characters. This issue was mainly set up for this new storyline, but overall, it wasn’t bad at all.
I’d buy ANYTHING that Nicola Scott illustrated, and she doesn’t disappoint here. I love the M.C. Escher-esque Tower of Fate sequences. Green Lantern’s scene is rendered in a nice parallel manner. While everything is well-executed, at the very least, her work is simply pretty! Jay Garrick may out-hot Nightwing as the prettiest male in comics under her pencil.
This book wasn’t perfect from the beginning. It’s still not. But it’s perfectly enjoyable and very easy on the eyes.
EARTH 2 #10
Written by James Robinson
Pencils by Nicola Scott
Cover by Nicola Scott, Trevor Scott and Alex Sinclair
