JLA Earth-2 by Grant Morrison

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: DC Comics (August 30, 2013)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 144 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Morrison really perplexes me how he can write such great stories, then throw something absolutely bizarre at you the next time out. Talk about hot and cold. This guy should trademark the term as a description for his writing style. Thankfully, JLA Earth-2 was Morrison at his best.

Here Alexander Luthor discovers a way to travel from his anti-matter earth to the matter earth of the JLA; his desire to beg the JLA for help in stopping the evil rule of the Crime Syndicate. As those familiar with DC already know, the Crime Syndicate (Ultraman, Superwoman, Owlman, Johnny Quick, and Power Ring) come from Earth-2 (at least at the time of this DC continuity), are the evil counterparts of the JLA, and rule their world with iron fists. Luthor is the only “good guy” on this earth.

From this beginning, Morrison crafts an interesting story about the clash of the JLA and the Syndicate, mixing in a few twists and turns that really dash our heroes hopes and plans. The fights aren’t all that much, but the characterization is better than I expected from such a short story. And while Frank Quitely isn’t my favorite artists, I thought the artwork was well done and helped convey the story in a fast paced manner.

All in all, I really liked this one, but it would have been better if it would have focused a bit more on the Crime Syndicate and less on the familiar JLA characters. Not that I don’t love Bats, Supes, and the rest, but it would have been good to see how the bad guys rolled and why.

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