Review: JLA: Earth 2

JLA: Earth 2 by Grant Morrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating 4 out of 5 | Grade: B+; Beyond Good & Evil lies, the Multiverse

Premise

An unexpected visit from an Earth-2 version of Alexander Luthor (who is good) prompts the Justice League of our reality to travel to the parallel antimatter version of their earth, where morality if reversed.



Good is bad, and Bad is Good. Luthor, the only superhero of this reality, is fighting a losing battle against the Crime Syndicate, filled with the evil counterparts of the Leaguers. This includes Ultraman (Superman), Superwoman (Wonder Woman), Owlman (Batman), Power Ring (Green Lantern) & Johny Quick (The Flash).

Being the paragons of justice that they're the League is unwilling to let the billions of people in the antimatter reality suffer due to their overpowered overlords. Setting off to face off their evil mirrors, some would reaffirm their vow towards doing good, others would be forced to look at a black mirror of what happens in one bad day.

Thoughts

It was the Brilliant DC animated TV movie Crisis on Two Earths which them prompted me to dig into the comic lore behind that story. And suffice to say, I was not disappointed.

Although I still do consider the animated movie superior to the comic in some regards, in others I appreciate the darker more sardonic tone that the comic presents.

One of the key differences is how, the animated version treats the battle between the League & the Syndicate as just another confrontation between Good & Evil, with the players now changing sides. But Grant Morrison's version, showcases the heroes who are suited for their respective realities.

The Leaguers were born and brought up in a reality where people are generally good. Clark Kent,
Bruce Wayne, Diana Prince the rest, benefitted from growing up with paragons to look up to; be it loving and moral parents or guardians to guide their moral compass.

By contrast, the Syndicate rule over a reality, which fosters the worse in people. Where the environment and upbringing is geared towards the vices, and a person growing up good and honest is the uncommon outlier.

Which means that, what the League are fighting against are not just their evil versions, but also the fabric of reality itself.

One complaint that I have in this regard is how, both the comics and movie explore the ramification of this antimatter world in snippets. But in the comic, which is all to short, we are not given enough time to process and understand the reality of the Syndicate & the antimatter world, with its predilection to evil.

There is one portion in particular, regarding the confrontation between Owlman and Commissioner Wayne, which is hinted but then cut short. It is implied that Owlman is Thomas Wayne Jr, brother to a late Bruce Wayne and son to the murdered Martha Wayne. One who blames his father for the loss of his family and is willing to destroy the city that he so cherishes in a lifelong quest for vengeance.

When he then flees to the matter world, with the intention of confronting and torturing the Thomas Wayne of this reality, he realizes to his horror that his father is already dead, and that he himself never came to be.



This complex dynamic is something to have been explored further but was not.

Similar is the case of the 'good' Alexander Luthor. In Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman, Vol. 1, Superman accuses Luthor. He calls out Luthor for his ego, and argues that, if Luthor really wanted, with his genius intellect, he could've solved cancer, world hunter, and made the world a better place. But instead, he chooses to use his considerable faculties and resources to one up the man of steel.

The antimatter version of Luthor, seems to have been the iteration who personified Superman's ideals. One who uses his potential to help people and tries to be the change he wants to become.

But he is unreasonable outnumbered, outmatched and alone, against this Superpowered beings of the Syndicate. We get a brief glimpse of what sort of man this Luthor is, for the brief period that he takes over the persona of the criminal Luthor, and in those moments, proves to be a better boss to his employees, and a better person all round.



Yet his desire for good is thwarted by the inadequacies of his reality. Which forces him to jump worlds and ask help from the League. And the story ends, not with the victory for the good guys; but rather the return to status quo, with Luthor once again forced to confront the syndicate on his own. With all the obstacles arrayed against him, you can't help cheer for the guy.



Although I do have to say, Crisis of two earths, the movie handled the confrontation between the Syndicate & League much better. That work had an overall deeper world building, more details regarding the twisted versions of heroes in the antimatter reality. Not to mention, had one of the best climaxes for these sorts of movies, with the clash of Owlman & Batman, not only using brains & brawn, but also morality & philosophy. The nihilistic 'God is dead' version of Owlman portrayed in the film is to this day, one of the most bone chilling renditions of an evil counterpart for the caped crusader.

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Art

Now, I've seen most people complain about the art. As to how stocky, rigid and caveman like it appears. No arguments there. What points the art gets for coloring, lines, lighting and general atmosphere, is lost on the uncanny proportions of the characters, which seem to differ from page to page.

But to be fair, despite not being that aesthetically pleasing, never do we feel broken out of immersion when reading. The art serves the story well, and maintains its pace, without being too jarring. Plus, there are some pages which are genuinely well drawn, such as the pages which show the contrasting structures of the League's and Syndicate's moon bases.



I would definitely recommend it as a well written, entertaining Else worlds story for the Justice League.



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