Earth 2 #11: "When Fate Calls..."

While I've picked up the odd Batman & Robin & Action Comics issues among the New 52, the only books I've kept up with are World's Finest: Huntress & Powergirl and Earth 2, the former I've lost interest in. I dropped Justice League after issue #6, but picked up the first couple issues of  Justice League of America, Katana, and even the first issue of Vibe. I'll have to see how those go, but it's only Earth 2 I've stuck with so far. Nicola & Trevor Scott make some great art together, and I have to admit that when writer James Robinson killed off the Trinity in the first issue, I was convinced this was going to a different place. I've enjoyed the selection and re-imagining of the characters. I'm unsure if it will be remembered as pivotal or groundbreaking, but it's entertained me. 

In issue #10, Wotan sent Khalid Ben-Hassin into the impenetrable Tower of Fate to fetch the helm of Nabu, where the reluctant hero hid it to escape the madness it brought through the ancient Egyptian spirit. Jay's captive mother is all the reason he needs to accompany Khalid through the tower, where the two split up to distract the great beast guarding it, and find the helmet for Wotan. The scorcerer gives Ms. Garrick some backstory on his multiple lives spent battling Nabu, whom Wotan holds a centuries-spanning grudge against.

 Steppenwolf  sends Fury to capture the escaped Mr. Miracle in Gotham City, while he plans for the future of the world from the recently overthrown capital of Dherain...

It was a good issue, though the foldout cover claimed to call Mr. Miracle to the stage, which never really happened. Steppenwolf called Fury forth to find the son of the Highfather of New Genesis, and we get a beautiful full page illustration of he and Big Barda, but that's it. It's as though they tried to squeeze his name onto the marquee. Some of the numerous pages with the guardian beast chasing Flash and Khalid through the Tower of Fate could have been sacrificed for a little more Mr. Miracle in my opinion. After Khalid acquiesces to Nabu's desire to regain essence through him as Dr. Fate, we are given the hero we've been waiting for in the last few issues. Wotan and Dr. Fate will clash in issue #12, I guarantee, and we'll likely see Fury face Scott Free and his own former Fury, Big Barda, in Gotham.

More Later- Make It FUN!

DCUC Haul No.2

I went back to BAM! again on Monday to catch the end of the Memorial Day sale and accidentally bought eight more DCUCs that were going for $6.69 each. I decided that even though I bought eight of these on Sunday, it was too good a deal to pass up getting a few more  :D

*Wave 9 Mantis

This is the classic variant of Mantis, whom I knew nothing of- I bought it because of the unusual cape design, attached to his appendages like some kind of flying squirrel. It's one of the ugliest DCUCs I've ever seen (aside from the variant Mantis that looks like a John Deere endorsed villain), and the sheer oddity of it's appearance appeals to me. The late, great Jack Kirby created some of the ugliest characters of comicdom, I swear! All the ridges & lines throughout the costume and giant ugly mask are a dead giveaway...

*Wave 8 Parademon (red Variant)

While on the subject of ugly villains created by Jack Kirby, this DCUC was the reason I went back on Monday. Another oddity among this line of action figures. Parademons are, of course, Darkseid's swarming troops on Apokolips... this one reminds me of Man-Bat & the Wicked Witch of the West's flying monkeys a little too  :D  What a FUN TOY!

*Wave 7 Big Barda

Another Jack Kirby Character I picked up was Mr. Miracle's wife, Big Barda- both orphans from Apokolips. They released a variant without the big, crazy helmet, but who wants that?  ...Without the helmet it loses it Kirby-ness.

*Wave 10 Beast Boy

Now I've been on the lookout for one of these at a decent price for awhile! I didn't see him on Sunday when I picked up my first batch, so I'm glad I went back. He's the only DCUC I have with the small/young buck, which some people didn't like, and his costume is styled after the Teen Titans cartoon, which I think is cool. The eagle's claws don't wrap around his arm very well- getting a picture was a real trick. The eagle isn't Gar's pet: Beast Boy is a changeling, able to turn into any animal he wants.

*Wave 10 Power Girl & Wave 2 Firestorm (Firestorm II variant)

They had a regular Firestorm at BAM! as well, but I liked the variant a lot better. Such a cool figure! The atomic gauntlets are made of a rubbery plastic that slips off & on easily- cool idea. And Power Girl... who does not love Kara? Does she look mildly similar to Cameron Diaz in this sculpt, or is it just me.

 

*Wave 4 Cyborg & 2009 MattyCollector Exclusive Adam Strange

This is a modernized stylization of Adam Strange, but he's still a great action figure! Love it! This Cyborg two accessory arms that can be changed out at the left wrist- the variant has the sonic gun accessory arm which is a lot cooler, but he's a unique DCUC nonetheless. A couple of really space age characters I'm having fun with on the desk... a Silver Age classic & a Bronze Age Teen Titan.

 

*See the DC Universe Classics checklist at DCClassics.Com! 

More Later- Keep It FUN!