It’s another new week and another edition of the Pull List coming at you. This week features a fresh start for some classic heroes with Earth 2 #1 from DC and The Spider #1 from Dynamite Comics.
Earth 2 #1
Earth 2 comes off as a great premise for a classic “What if…” story. From the very opening panels you know this is going to be an epic tale, because in this universe winning always comes at a cost. Set in a world that is being invaded by the war planet Apokalips, the big three – Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman – are in the fight for their lives. In a nice twist, writer James Robinson chooses to tell the tale like it already happened, adding some foreshadowing for future adventures in the process.
The artwork by Nicola and Trevor Scott is really stunning. This is a fight these battling heroes may not be able to walk away from, and as a result they have never looked so desperate. Keep in mind that this comic is rated “T” for teen and there is some content which may be a little shocking for some readers, but it’s impactful, damn straight it is.
The book does a great job of introducing what will be the future of this universe and series, with a very interesting take on the character of Robin which will lead into the new World’s Finest title. After reading this issue consider my curiosity piqued. We’re looking forward to to seeing how this new universe will unfold.
The Spider #1
The Spider #1 is modern take on one of the earliest styles of comic book stories: the pulp noir vigilante tale. The original Spider debuted in 1933 and ran until 1942 with 118 issues in all. The masked man in this tale is Richard Wentworth, a decorated war veteran who returns home only to find that more justice needs to be handed out. Writer David Liss does a great job capturing the feel of a pulp fiction universe with a nice modern edge to it.
What makes this issue interesting for a #1 is that it’s not an origin story. You get the impression that the Spider has been very busy and is already wanted by the local police as a vigilante. The character comes off with the style of The Shadow and the attitude of Rorschach from Watchmen. This opening story does a great job setting up this world and some insight into motivations of the masked Spider.
The artwork by Colton Worley works well to set the mood and really conveys the harshness and brutality of the world the Spider lives in. Keep in mind this is a mature title so there is a fair share of blood and guts contained within the panels.
Overall it’s a good start to the series, leaving readers with a good cliffhanger ending to keep them interested in the next issue. It’s great to see that pulp fiction still has place in a world dominated by brightly clad super heroes.
