Justice League of America #135 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

It's the 14th annual meeting of Earth One's Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America from Earth Two. This time around, a third Earth is in danger: Earth-S!

A prehistoric ruler named King Kull has declared war on humanity. The last of his race of protohumans, Kull has vowed to hunt mankind to extinction just as the human race did to his people. In order to do this, Kull attacks the Rock of Eternity and has trapped Captain Marvel's elders and Mary Marvel's patron goddesses, along with the epic wizard, Shazam! 

Just prior to his enslavement, Shazam mentally ordered the super-speedy Mercury to recruit a number of heroes from Earths One, Two and S to stop Kull's plans. After gathering a grand total of 18 heroes, Mercury sends them off to various locations throughout the multiverse. First stop- the Atlantis of Earth Two where women are the dominant gender. Exiled Queen Clea has recruited IBAC, the Penguin and Blockbuster to assemble a device that when attuned to similar technology on Earth's One and S, will result in the end of humankind. 

The 'Crisis on Earth-S' storyline would continue through issue #137 which culminates in one of the very first meetings between Captain Marvel and Superman. This 3-parter is very heavy in Shazam family lore. IBAC is the anthesis of Captain Marvel. He's a milksop delivery man who turns into a fascist brute when he says 'I Back.' King Kull is another villain from Shazam's past. However, if you don't know of the character's background then you will find much of this opening chapter to be rather silly. 

Our story begins with King Kull flying a spaceship to the Rock of Eternity. Now if you're like me, you are wondering what is a prehistoric sovereign doing with a UFO? Turns out that Kull somehow entered a state of suspended animation only to wake up millions of years in the future; our present. With his genius level intellect and membership in the Monster Society of Evil, King Kull has been able to develop a number of gadgets and devices of mass destruction in his quest to eliminate mankind. 

If I had prior knowledge of King Kull, I probably would have been able to suspend my disbelief. Thankfully, the DC Wiki filled in my gaps. Since I don't own issues #136 and 137 yet, it might be a little while before my collection gaps are lessened. 

With rosters of the JLA/JSA and Shazam's Squadron of Justice on both the cover and front page of this issue, I more than meet the challenge of reading a book 'With a Map, Family Tree or Roster in the front/front page'.

Completing this review completes Task #32 (With a Map, Roster or Family Tree in the front/front page) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Wonder Woman: Earth One, Volume 1

   Grant Morrison (Batman and Robin) ushers Diana into the Earth One universe in this graphic novel from 2016. 

    When the Amazon Princess of Themyscira discovers a man who has crashed on the shores of her home, it awakens a desire to visit the world of men. Her hope is to be a harbinger of peace between her homeland and the outside world. But what Diana witnesses chills her to the very core. Angered by her daughter's rebellious nature, Queen Hippolyta orders some of her best warriors to bring Diana back to Themyscira to be judged. Can what the American media has dubbed the 'Wonder Woman' win her freedom with the testimony of her new friends Steve Trevor and Etta Candy or will her sins be found punishable by death?

     This is the third Earth One introductory volume I have read. Superman's story along with Batman were interesting retools of the characters to appeal to a new generation of readers. The whole Earth One project has been like Marvel's Ultimate line, only on a much smaller scale. However, Wonder Woman's story doesn't seem that different from what's already been established for the last 75 years. 

    Yes- Diana's World War II ties have been erased. Yes, Etta Candy is a hip sorority sister whose libido would give Captain Jack Harkness a run for his money. And yes, the technology of Themyscira is more streamlined than based on ancient Greek and Roman myths. But the elements that Grant Morrison tries to use to make this version of Wonder Woman more shocking and daring, such as lesbianism, women's lib, and sexual dominance, aren't new to the Wonder Woman mythos. 

   What I am trying to say is that I feel like I've read this story before: every time Wonder Woman is rebooted like in 1968-69, 1986-87, and 2014.

     Now there was one element to this Earth One volume that was completely new and edgy AND it worked really well too: the art. Swamp Thing's Yanick Paquette does an amazing job with provocative new designs of Diana, Themyscira, and even Etta. Another element I loved were the unique panels he would render of chains, flowers, and gilded statues to evoke the atmosphere of each scene. It ranks up there with Mark Buckingham's mise en place for every page of Fables. I loved it. 

    A good story that I don't think goes far enough to create a new mythos of a pop culture legend. If I am going to read a story that is suppose to re-invent a timeless character for a 21st century audience, it needs to actually change the character. It doesn't happen with Wonder Woman: Earth One. I'm not sure if the master of DC reboots, Grant Morrison either tried too hard or didn't try enough. I know one thing Morrison's attempt to modernize Diana of Themyscira did do: it validated the old adage: "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

    Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Batman: Earth One, Volume 2

   It's the next chapter in the life of the Earth One Batman. Falsely accused of the murder of Mayor Cobblepot, the vigilante of Gotham must continue to work in the shadows. Meanwhile, Jim Gordon has gone straight and is now in the process of drying out his partner Harvey Bullock, whose idealism has been damaged after the tragic events that unfolded in Book One. A thorn in both parties side is District Attorney Harvey Dent who doesn't believe that Batman nor Gordon are on the level and makes it his duty to have Gotham free from their influence.
     All the while, a new player is operating behind the scenes. He's targeted the elite of Gotham who have been straying from the straight and narrow path of righteousness. Convinced that their wicked deeds should be punishable by death, this mystery man has got a unique way to mete out justice: trap the guilty, make them suffer, and then give them a chance to save themselves with the correct answer of a riddle...
     I really enjoyed this chapter. To me, the Earth One books are what the New 52! should have been. (I know that this series has it's haters, but this really is like the Ultimate Universe for DC Comics and is unfairly rebuked.) Batman and many of the characters in this story look familiar but there are subtle differences that aren't for the sake of being edgy or trendy but to make the established archetype a little more interesting. I wish I could present you with a case in point but any further info will ruin the great surprises cooked up by DC wunderkind
Geoff Johns (Green Lantern.)
    With fantastic art by Gary Frank (Action Comics), this a nearly flawless alternate look at 'Ultimate' Batman.

    Worth Consuming

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars
    

Batman: Earth One, Volume 1

   Convinced that there's a massive cover-up behind the death of his parents, Bruce Wayne becomes a costumed vigilante in hopes of bringing down the corrupt Mayor Cobblepot. Welcome to the world of Batman: Earth One. Here Detective Jim Gordon has been so beaten down following the murder of his wife, that he's a shell of the cop he once was. Harvey Bullock is a Hollywood cop newly transferred to Gotham in hopes of solving the Wayne murders and restarting his TV career, and a sadistic killer called the birthday boy is kidnapping young girls in hopes of reliving his first kill.

   Written by Geoff Johns, if this isn't the blueprint to the FOX TV show, Gotham, I'll eat my hat! Johns is DC's chief creative officer for its TV programming and there is just so much of Gotham in Earth One just as there is oodles of Earth One in Gotham. I love Gotham, it's an amazing show and I am in love with Batman: Earth One.

   Now here's where things get tricky for me. I've read volume one of Superman: Earth One, now I've read this volume as well- but what do either have to do with the New 52! universe? In the New 52!, there's an Earth 2, which houses most of the Justice Society heroes. Thus, I'm assuming that the red underwear-less Superman and the Jim Gordon Batman operate on Earth 1! Is there a difference between Earth 1 and Earth One besides spelling? 

   This kind of multiverse overlap is perhaps my biggest problem with the New 52! DC. It doesn't keep me from enjoying these stories but it does detract from my understanding of them. Perhaps the Earth One books are set aside much like the Ultimate universe was apart from the Marvel-616 one? But eventually, they both crossed over... So who really knows!

   Regardless, with excellent writing by Johns and killer art by Gary Frank, I am on board with this new take at the Dark Knight.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.