Earth Two: the Sideways Earth

Huntress #1 (2011)

DC Comics' mini-series Flashpoint has apparently undone Crisis on Infinite Earths.  Along with a lot of other 1980s revivals in the New 52, DC has announced that they're bringing back Earth Two, along with a new Justice Society of America monthly series set on this alternate Earth.  They've also hinted that there's a connection between this new JSA series, the new Huntress mini-series, the Mister Terrific ongoing series, and the latest Birds of Prey series.  Does this mean that the all of these series are currently taking place on Earth Two and we just don't know it?  It's quite possible.  Have there been any crossovers with these series and other series in the New 52?  Not that I've seen. 

Infinity Inc. #1 (1984)

While some (or most) may scoff at this idea, I'm kind of digging it.  Why?  With Earth Two, it opens the door for  reviving Infinity Inc. and the Young All-Stars (two of my favorite 1980s series).  It would also allow DC to compete with Marvel's successful "Ultimate" universe and its myriad of titles.  

The downside to an Earth Two Huntress?  I guess that would mean that the romance between Huntress and Catman would never happen.  But she would (hopefully) be the daughter of Batman and Catwoman again, and that would be pretty cool.   

Young All-Stars #1 (1987)

But the biggest mystery for me is...what's the connection with Birds of Prey?  Does that mean that the current Birds of Prey series doesn't take place on Earth One or New Earth or whatever it's called now? 

As for the new Huntress #1, it was just okay.  I've always liked Huntress as a character, but have never felt that anyone's ever done anything spectacular story-wise with her.  She's always felt like more of a supporting/team player than a headliner.  So maybe there's a place for her (again) in a new Infinity, Inc.

Birds of Prey: the team that never was?

Third time's the charm?  After reading DC Comics' newest Birds of Prey #1 (volume three), I'm not so sure.  Was there never a Birds of Prey team before in the new DC Universe?  Apparently not.  And this time, they're made up of a bunch of bad-ass chicks.  Think Secret Six with only women.

In this first issue, we meet Black Canary and a new character by the name of Starling.  They're both on the run from the law.  Black Canary killed someone?  Hmmm...a mystery to be discovered.  And the tattooed Starling sounds like she's just a crazy bitch.  

Black Canary is trying to form a new team called the Birds of Prey.  She enlists Starling and pays a visit to Barbara Gordon, the old/new Batgirl.  At least they still have some sort of a past in the new DCU.  Dinah tries to enlist Babs, but Babs shoots her down, suggesting Katana (from the previous Outsiders) instead.  Black Canary isn't too keen on that suggestion (another mystery), but she must eventually invite her since Katana appears on the cover (although never in the issue itself).  Poison Ivy also appears on the cover, but never in the book (she doesn't even get a mention like Katana does).   I guess after the cancellation of her Gotham City Sirens, Harley Quinn going to the new Suicide Squad, and Catwoman getting her own series, DC wanted to give Poison Ivy some prevalence in a new series, too. 

I'm not totally sold on this newest incarnation of Birds of Prey, but I'll stick around a few issues to see if I like it any better.  I may just end up flying the coop.

The Catman Scratcheth

Being that this blog is named after him, it's only fitting that I plug his appearance in an upcoming comic/storyline.  Catman will be appearing in Birds of Prey #11, as he and Huntress attempt to go out on their first date.  

See?  That's what's been missing from the ongoing Secret Six series:  Catman's sexual prowess.  After all, he bedded the deadly Cheshire and she bore a son from that union. (Although she also did the same with Speedy/Red Arrow/Arsenal and they had a daughter, so maybe she's just a slut.)  And then later, he hooked up with Huntress.  Now let's hope this becomes an ongoing relationship/fling/no strings attached affair.  Comic book characters need to have personal lives, too, you know...

Happy Valentine's Day, Catman and Huntress.  I hope you survive the experience.

Facade of Evil

What's a good example of a marketing gimmick? DC Comics' Faces of Evil. I was excited about this "event" when I read about it coming. I thought it was a great idea to have each comic in the DC Universe focus on one of its more prominent villains and truly give us "The DCU from the villains' point of view." I've read several of the issues on the checklist and...I'm not impressed with the gimmick. And what a "gimmick" it is. Let me give you the definition of "gimmick" from Wikipedia:

"In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature. In marketing, product gimmicks are sometimes considered mere novelties, and not really that relevant to the product's functioning, sometimes even earning negative connotations."

Faces of Evil is a gimmick. It's not relevant and earned a negative connotation in my (comic) book. Why, you ask? The premise promised stories told from the point of the view of the villain. They weren't. The covers featured villains against a black background. One would think that the issue would actually contain that villain for more than a panel or two. They didn't.

Wonder Woman #28 - features The Cheetah baring her claws. The Cheetah doesn't show up until the END of the comic and even then is in only about two panels. The rest of the comic shows Wonder Woman getting dolled up in warrior armor, enlisting her white gorilla friends and the former and current Wonder Girls, and going off to do battle with the green faceless creature that beat her up in the previous issue. How is that a Faces of Evil comic, you ask? I don't know. You tell me.

Green Lantern #37 - features an angry Red Lantern by the name of Laira on its cover. The issue turns out to be mainly about the battle with Atrocitus, the supposed head of the Red Lanterns. And, no, the story isn't told from his viewpoint either. (And don't even get me started about this new rainbow of Lanterns out there in the universe. Or the fact that the Green Lantern Corps can't stay in their own comic and have to bleed over into Green Lantern as well. Green Lantern = singular. Green Lantern Corps = plural.)

Batman #685 - features Catwoman holding a giant (and presumably stolen) diamond. Now, I LOVE Catwoman as a character. However, didn't DC just cancel her comic? And now they're making her the main focus of this Batman issue? Her own series could have been extended a couple of issues for this storyline and given a lesser known Batman villain (who's never had his/her own comic) a little spotlight.

Birds of Prey #126 - features the --yawn-- villainous Calculator. Sadly, this BOP comic really was about the Calculator in its penultimate issue. Readers already clamor that they're tired of seeing the Calculator in Birds of Prey, so what does DC do? They devote an entire issue to him. Right before they end the series. Way to go out with a whimper. Maybe this comic should have read "Feces of Evil" instead.

Faces of Evil? Concept = A+. Follow-through? D-.