DC Comics’ ‘Second Wave’ launches today with four new titles

The last two books are the cream of the crop as DC reintroduces and reinvents its alternate earth concept in the new titles Earth 2 and World's Finest. In "Earth 2" written by James Robinson and illustrated by Nicola Scott, we are quickly introduced to an Earth ravaged by years of war. All superheroes are either dead or missing. We see the world years after the war, as familiar characters beloved by longtime comic book fans – Alan Scott, Al Pratt, and Jay Garrick – are introduced. Will they become the superheroes we once knew? I can’t wait for the issues to come as we will see Earth find new heroes to defend it.

"World’s Finest" by writer Paul Levitz and artists George Perez and Kevin Maguire follows the adventures the "Earth 2" version of Supergirl and a female Robin (daughter of the "Earth 2" version of Bruce Wayne) as they are transported from their Earth to the main DC Comic Earth. (I know, it can get confusing.)  We first see them a few years after they arrived as they adopt new superhero identities while they search for a way home. It looks like we’ll learn, through flashbacks, what adventures they had leading up to the present. Again, this is a great start to catch the reader’s interest. Levitz gives us two real characters that you root for, along with some great banter. George Perez is a comic book legend and he still can deliver some amazing art with clear action scenes and his amazingly detailed backgrounds. I hope these two creators are in it for the long haul because this team of creators is surely "World’s Finest."

And the timing of the launch couldn't be more ideal. This Saturday, May 5, is Free Comic Book Day, an annual celebration that lets you go to your local comic book shop and get free books, some especially created for the event. While most tend to be a sampling, this year’s new offerings from DC Comics promise to turn Free Comic Book Day into a genuine event. Enjoy!

Rich Clabaugh is a Monitor staff artist.

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