I think I would have really enjoyed discovering the Crime Syndicate for the first time in this book. Writer Andy Schmidt and artist Kieran McKeown will launch DC’s new Crime Syndicate mini-series on March 2 to tell the origin of the evil Justice League from Earth-3! The story is not an unusual one for comics. well i don't fuckin know, everything's so confusing these days). I can't get over how disturbing the evil twins of the Justice League are. I mean just the Triad is bad enough. Earth 2 was the home of eight heroes known as the Eight Wonders of the World. These heroes became embroiled in a war with Apokolips when Boom Tubes brought Steppenwolf and his Parademons to attack and conquer. ??? (hide spoiler)]. Colourists On a world that is based off evil is right the Justice league come to fix things. 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. NO matter how much you try to do "right" the right in this universe isn't what works. Frank Quitely Then there are a few moments that feel like cheap laughs for shock value, and I realize that Morrison has certainly grown as a writer (or maybe just didn't like the gig writing for gimmicks). I don't mind illustrated nudity, but this was just so CONTRIVED.] It's so lucid ! I am not talking about the new CW one but rather John Wesley Shipp's Flash from back when. Hell, even Wonder Woman looks like a man in this. and plot twists that seem to game the logic of these "morally flipped" worlds. The fights aren't all that much, but the characterization is better than I expected from such a short story. Though I must admit a bit of confusion as to who Owlman was. This long after publication, I feel like its impact is diluted from shock to fading curiosity. So what are we to make of JLA: Earth 2? Yep that's right. Illustrator: Frank Quitely In an alternate universe the Justice League is evil and Lex Luthor is good. Evil is the predominant value, given free reign. A few other flaws ruined the fun for me, particularly the bizarrely rushed ending and the character artwork -- seriously, why does everyone have a monstrously huge jawline? Nothing has ever seriously threatened the global corruption they proudly enforce, but now a twisted mirror image of the CSA has arrived from the flip side of reality. An excellent mirror universe episode of the JLA. The most redeeming aspects of this otherwise underwhelming book are (a) the twist and (b) the commentary on the predictable role of heroes vs. villains in our comics. While defeated from his accomplishment of directly overthrowing the Crime Syndicate's control of the antimatter Earth, Luthor gains allies to fight the Crime Syndicate as well as inspiration of the other super-powered groups such as the Crime Lodge and Young Offenders to confront the Crime Syndicate directly. Thankfully, this was Morrison at his best. Justice League 1.1. The Crime Syndicate’s history at DC Comics is a long one, going all the way back to Justice League of America #29 in 1964. Earth 2 Alexander Luthor travels to Earth-Prime where he discovers the Justice League are good. Grant Morrison was one of these, though one who was rather unique. A rocket crashes in the countryside and out climbs... Lex Luthor? There, the Syndicate is running things, and Luthor is one of the only heroes standing in their way. _JLA Earth 2_ is the post-Crisis re-introduction of the old Earth-Three Crime Syndicate of America. It's kind of fun if you want to see the dark side of the triad of the Justice League and Lex Luthor as a good guy. There's a reason this was turned into a DC animated movie. fortunately, his more self-indulgent tendencies towards bizarro metaphysics have been somewhat tempered and the narrative is clear and fun. Breaking down yesterday's new Justice League trailer, director Zack Snyder confirmed that there are indeed more Kryptonians on Earth than just Superman, referencing that teaser in Man of … The Justice League attempts to right all of the infinite wrongs in the alternate Earth, while the Crime Syndicate attempts to dominate our planet. The Syndicate were the residents of Earth-3 in DC’s Multiverse. Justice League Vol. Sh I can't get over how disturbing the evil twins of the Justice League are. without Aquaman or Batman in sight - and it’s awesome (even if it’s kinda undermined by a better scene years later in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns where Superman saves a downed plane full of living humans all by himself)! I've listed the reading … All this really serves to prove is that in the case of the DC continuity too much information definitely can be a bad thing. In terms of what did work with the book, I'd have to largely agree with the top reviewers; Quitely illustrated this book beautifully, and the plotline was largely entertaining. When Alexander Luthor escapes from his world, and onto Earth-2, he seeks out the JLA's assistance in taking on the Crime Syndicate of Amerika (an evil version of the JLA). Morrison plays fast and loose with the inversions, with members of the CSA (Crime Syndicate of Amerika—the evil JLA) using expressions like “God Below”, and all the people on the Evil Earth having their hearts on the left side of their bodies. They rain counterfeit money from the sky to crash the economy (again). This shit doesn’t make any sense to me either. I dunno though, just didn't grab me. I haven't kept up with comics for over ten years, but I used to be avid about them. 96 pages left me wanted 96 more, and then 96 more after that. Something similar happens once the League head to Earth 2 without all its members feeling the need to go and a couple stay behind to protect the Earth if things go awry (as they are wont to do). And although its hurried narrative can be, at times disorienting, the art's fantastic, and the story manages to be edgy, fun, and keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Batman had to rescue his girlfriend Julie Madison from the vampires The Mon… Ever. The artwork was good but didn't stand out as being fantastic. It is basically a stand alone story (though Kurt Busiek would trot it back out later), written at a time when DC had dispensed with all of this multi-verse nonsense. There’s so much wrong here, starting with that Wonder Woman crotch shot around page nine. 1: E is for Extinction, We3, and All-Star Superman, Vol. 5: Forever Heroes, and I what I know, I definitely don't like. On New Year's Eve 2003, Brainiac invaded the Earth and seven heroes rose up to stop him. Aquaman 1.2. But. Christ! I always liked Frank Quitely. There is little detailing in anything, close-ups, costumes, backgrounds... it is all just bland and unmemorable. The book is an enjoyable stand alone read. Evil Flash is a heroin addict. Commissioner Wayne (First appearance) Antagonists: 1. WHEN IN EARTH-2... Green Lantern 1.5. There are tons of curious little warping such as this one. It's so lucid ! Loved the storyline, the artworks, the twists and the black humour. Superman becomes Ultraman, a tyrant empowered by Kryptonite JLA: JLA: Earth 2 is Grant Morrison’s take on one of the classic plots of science fiction and superhero stories, the “Mirror Universe”, where good is evil, evil is good, and everything is backwards. Superwoman is a little more developed in this than in Justice League, Vol. The artwork was good but didn't stand out as being fantastic. ABSOLUTE RATING: {3/5 stars} I am not a fan of Quitely, as he f This was not a bad read, but it is far from being one of my favorite DC graphics. That’s unfortunate because this could have been an easy 12 issues of otherworld fantasy. Uncle Sam has summoned the Justice League and Justice Society to his Earth. Also because it’s a relatively short book at under 100 pages, Morrison gets right into it: we’re at Earth 2 in no time, the League get stuck in, the Crime Syndicate are pushed with their backs to the wall, and things barrel along quickly with some twists and turns thrown in. I am also not quite sure how, or for that matter if this book is part of the DC continuity. Most intriguing are the different backgrounds of the five core members of the Crime Syndicate, and seeing what parts of the mirror universe are flipped and how; sadly the story focuses a bit too much on Batman (go figure!) The Justice League swaps places with their anti-matter universe counterparts - evil versions of themselves known collectively as "The Crime Syndicate of Amerika" - and the two groups deal with their inverse places by acting as they only know how. Ultraman Other … This is a pretty straight-forward story by Morrison, in that you can read it - and, most importantly, und I've had this book since 2001, I've lost count of how many times I've read it, and it still blows me away. Five years ago, Geoff Johns began "The Darkseid War," the final arc of his Justice League run that began with the New 52. How are Owls the opposite of Bats? Ultraman is a sleazy, psychopathic, cruel bully. Earth 3 was actually the earth where good was evil, etc… The idea of a universe where evil always wins actually turns out to be a central plot point, and the key to victory on the part of the JLA actually turns out to be exploiting that entire concept. 5: Forever Heroes simultaneously, switching back and forth between issues. The re-vamp of the CSA (Crime Syndicate of Amerika) was extremely well-done (Owlman rocks! 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