Issue Review: Earth 2 #1

Earth 2, a parallel world to the mainstream DC universe, made it's "New 52" debut this week.  Similar to Marvel's Ultimate universe, Earth 2 is a zone unrestricted to the main storyline canon.  Basically it uses the same characters to tell completely different stories, explore different relationships, and break rules you could never break in the normal DC world.  And this new run begins with a BANG. (slight spoilers)

The storyline of E2 drops "the big 3" plop in the middle of earth-shattering catastrophe, right off the go.  Most of the story is told inside of the characters' heads, revealing the characters' pasts, personalities, and motivations as the each fight off the alien hordes.  Typical to character, Supers and WW do the fighting while Batman does ninja-genius Batman things.  This is as enjoyable as ever (lots!).

Ever so slowly, you begin to notice the differences between this world and the world of the normal DC.  Circling overhead in a batjet is a black-ponytailed young woman in a Robin costume.  This is Helena Wayne, the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, the Catwoman.  In main DC storyline, this is Helena Bertinelli, the Huntress, a Gotham City vigilante who often butts heads with the Dark Knight.  Down in the fray, WW has an encounter with Vulcan, Roman messenger of the gods, rather than the Greek pantheon usually associated with the Amazon Warrior.

Anyhow, I don't want to give too much away, and single issues are only so long, so I'll just say, E2 #1 does a great job of introducing the characters, and seriously, I GOTTA know what happens with Robin and Supergirl.  Just sayin'.