Rating: 
Summary: Through a Glass Darkly
Review: I've never been a fan of Grant Morrison's work on the JLA, but this book is an exception. While the basic idea is nothing new, a group of heroes encountering their evil counterparts from a parallel world, and discovering their best efforts backfire on a "reverse" version of their world; I've seldom seen it done so well. The wonder of the book is (1) in the details: the predatory nature of the Crime Syndicate of Amerika; Ultra (evil Super-) Man's low cunning and brutal stupidity; Super (Wonder-) Woman's absolute disdain for almost everyone around her; and her absolute inability to understand the motivations of the JLA; and Nite Owl's (Batman) relationship with his father Thomas(?) Wayne; and (2) Frank Quitely's art, which is shown at it's best here, colore by Laura Depuy (who won accolades for her work on the Authority - see, The Authority: Relentless trade paperback listing). Frank Quitely's line quality and drawing style (reminescent of Geof Darrow's work on Frank Miller's "Hard Boiled") really shines here. (He currently pencils "The Authority", taking over where Bryan Hitch left off.)
Rating: 
Summary: Good and evil
Review: In an attempt to get help for his wicked world, Lex Luthor escapes his world into an opposite world to find super beings, who worked for the good of the people, to help break the hold of villainy on his world. The rift between the two worlds creates chaos, so all the heroes and anti-heroes must return to their own worlds.A bit of disbelief suspension is always good, but I feel that this particular graphic novel never tries to explain the two worlds. In one, good triumphs over evil, whereas evil holds sway in the other. Human hearts appear on different sides of the body depending on which world you are. This leads the reader to believe that the worlds are like mirror images. This doesn't quite hold true since the Martian Manhunter and Aquaman don't have counterparts. Although they don't choose to go to the other world, the writers never quite explain why. In reading the story, I feel that the writers had some great ideas for this, but simply ran out of room. The overall effect is that something important got left out. I would recommend giving this one a skip.
Rating:
Summary: Morrison and Quietly Give You The Business
Review: In'JLA: Earth 2' we see a pair of creators firing on all cylinders. Grant Morrison's highly divisive run on the monthly JLA book was hampered by marginal art and an at times suffocating overabundance of characters. Here, he hones it down to the basics: DC's 'Big Seven', and proves what can be done with these characters. The story thumbs its nose at the monolithic changes made to the DC Comics universe by the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' and 'Zero Hour' series, which streamlined all the many worlds down into one universe. What fun is super hero/science fiction, Morrison asks, if you can't go to other dimensions? He does what the genre does best: mindbending, impossible scenarios and fantastic action. It was refreshing, in a dark sort of way, to see actual death and destruction in a DC Comic, which usually feature countless 'injuries'. Frank Quietly's art, as per usual, is astounding. The fine details he invests in virtually every panel reward rereading. His attention to technological detail and architecture are in evidence throughout this book. It's enough to make you wish he could keep to a monthly schedule, or abandon them altogether and stick to larger graphic novels. Pay attention to the many sight gags that populate the alternate universe, especially the Crime Syndicate's headquarters, for an extra treat. Morrison and Quietly have crafted a highly entertaining story. It's not high-minded. It's not deeply moving. It doesn't aspire to be. It's designed to impress you, and it hits the mark.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor treatment of a cliche idea...
Review: It's a pity that a story like this has to go so badly. The "what if the good guys were bad" plotline used to be a fun "Jekyl and Hyde" exploration of man's good and bad sides, now it's little more than a cliche idea with no soul. Morrison clearly hacks out a medicore story (although I'm not really impressed with his writing at all) since it's not marketed to the "mature readers" bracket, and therefore the darker and kinkier references hit with about the same effect as having someone saying "poopie." In another writer's hands and unbound from the censors, this could've been a deep, disturbing, even haunting view of things with social commentary, instead, it's just one more failed attempt at coulda, shoulda, woulda...
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite artwork and interesting storytelling......
Review: JLA Earth 2 is a graphic novel depicting an evil version of earth and its heroes. There are negative duplicates of the JLA that call themselves the Crime Syndicate of America (hey at least they're patriotic crooks!)
This novel is an adaption/reworking of a Gardner Fox JLA story from the 60s with a few twists and turns not encountered in the original comic books (courtesy of Grant Morrison).
Frank Quitely's artwork is exquisite in that he captures facial expressions and angles normally not seen in American comic books.
A good read but I wish it had a little more action and battles between the CSA and JLA.
Rating: 
Summary: Review of Earth 2
Review: Morrison/Quitely make their debut in the JLA one shot Earth 2. In short, Alexander Luthor comes to Earth seeking the help of the Justice League to aid in overthrowing the despotic and corrupt Crime Syndicate of America who rule the Earth with an iron fist. Morrison, who reshaped the JLA when it was relaunched in Sept. 1996, brings his unique writing style on the old idea of parallel earths. The characterization of the Crime Syndicate is very good and the reader, about midway through, feels contempt and disgust for the Crime Syndicate. Between the adulterous Superwoman and Owlman having a torrid love affair to Johnny Quick's drug addiction which gives him super speed, there is something for everybody in Earth 2. I do admit that the reader can get easily confused understanding the events that lead up to the ending and reading it a second time wouldn't hurt although it is not as vague as JLA: Rock of Ages. Overall, Earth 2 is worth the price of admission.
Rating:
Summary: Non-Comic book-Reader's persepctive
Review: Okay, I just sort of bought this on an impulse. I've always been kinda intrigued, yet daunted, by comic books, but this seemed like a pretty much self contained plot that wouldn't confuse me a lot. Plus, I've always been drawn to the concept of alternate universes. I have read a couple other graphic novels, so I was expecting this thing to be longer for one thing. It wasn't bad, but I felt it definately could've used more fleshing out. Now I find out that this actually is sort of an update of an old story, so I guess it would've helped to have had some insider knowledge after all. I kept having questions, like, "How does Alexander Luthor have super powers? Wait, is Superwoman really Lois Lane or is she just this world's Wonder Woman in a different persona? How could Clark Kent have originally been human?" I would've liked them to have spent more time focusing on these characters. On a picky note, the way Superman was drawn looked weird. "Earth 2" was an interesting little story, but not really worth the money I shelled out for it. Hey, that Superwoman sure was hot though.
Rating:
Summary: A '60's concept revisited for a new millennium
Review: The concept of parallel worlds is in no ways new to speculative literature. Indeed, DC Comics introduced this idea in the famous "Flash of Two Worlds" story decades ago, but then came the equally renown (infamous?) "Crisis on Infinite Earths" in the mid-eighties and DC's parallel worlds mess was cleaned up, more or less. But now it's back; this time lightly veiled as an "anti-matter universe". This, the first hardcover JLA graphic novel, is an enjoyable tale for longtime DC fanboys and will cause little problem for those less familiar with the JLA and its also decades-long history. The villains here will look familiar, being the anti-matter universe (where everything is the opposite of the regular universe) counterparts of the JLA's "big guns": Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern as reflected in Ultraman; Owlman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, and Power Ring. Grant Morrison with his usual mastery portrays the antithetical characters with wit and a bit more maturity than would be expected in a monthly four-color comic. Superwoman, apparently more of a dominatrix, is supposedly involved with Ultraman, but has Owlman as well on the side. Johnny Quick seems to have some sort of drug addiction which evinces itself in truly bizarre ways as it passes through his Speed Force. Power Ring, depicted with a very spiffy costume and spiky haircut, seems a tad schizophrenic and somewhat controlled by, rather than controlling his magic ring. Alexander Luthor, a hero in the antimatter universe, is also portrayed superbly with essentially the same personality as his "Earth 2" (his phrase for the DC Universe best known and home to Superman and the JLA), but neatly converted from villainy to heroism. Amazon has a great price for this sure-to-be a collector's item. Again, a fun read for fanboys and first-timers alike.
Rating:
Summary: A '60's concept revisited for a new millennium
Review: The concept of parallel worlds is in no ways new to speculative literature. Indeed, DC Comics introduced this idea in the famous "Flash of Two Worlds" story decades ago, but then came the equally renown (infamous?) "Crisis on Infinite Earths" in the mid-eighties and DC's parallel worlds mess was cleaned up, more or less. But now it's back; this time lightly veiled as an "anti-matter universe". This, the first hardcover JLA graphic novel, is an enjoyable tale for longtime DC fanboys and will cause little problem for those less familiar with the JLA and its also decades-long history. The villains here will look familiar, being the anti-matter universe (where everything is the opposite of the regular universe) counterparts of the JLA's "big guns": Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern as reflected in Ultraman; Owlman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, and Power Ring. Grant Morrison with his usual mastery portrays the antithetical characters with wit and a bit more maturity than would be expected in a monthly four-color comic. Superwoman, apparently more of a dominatrix, is supposedly involved with Ultraman, but has Owlman as well on the side. Johnny Quick seems to have some sort of drug addiction which evinces itself in truly bizarre ways as it passes through his Speed Force. Power Ring, depicted with a very spiffy costume and spiky haircut, seems a tad schizophrenic and somewhat controlled by, rather than controlling his magic ring. Alexander Luthor, a hero in the antimatter universe, is also portrayed superbly with essentially the same personality as his "Earth 2" (his phrase for the DC Universe best known and home to Superman and the JLA), but neatly converted from villainy to heroism. Amazon has a great price for this sure-to-be a collector's item. Again, a fun read for fanboys and first-timers alike.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty cool book and who doesn't love alternate worlds?
Review: The premise is a simple one that folks might remember if you've been alive during the 60s (I wasn't) or if you've seen the Superfriends cartoons as a kid (which I did). I remember how cool I thought it was in that Superfriends episode when Supes ended up in the anti-matter universe and the cops were blasting him with Kryptonite rays and all heroes were villains, while the bad Supes was beating the [stuff] out of the Superfriends. Supes promised to come back and help that world, but it never happened. Until now that is. In this graphic novel, Luthor is a good guy fighting the successful Crime Syndicate of America comprised of counterparts of Supes, Bats, Wondy, Flash, and GL. The world is run by dictators, crimebosses, and third world nuclear powers and Benedict Arnold is on American currency! The concept is made more complicated then the Mirror Mirror Star Trek episode, but I don't want to give away any of the plot or story. It's a quick read and entertaining as hell. Nothing that you expect happens and that might annoy some people, but I like to be surprised. Morrison is one of those writers who you either get and applaud or want to send exploding mail bombs to. His JLA are like demigods, which works for me and reminds me of Supes in Dark Knight. The story features some unusual characterizations which I think are kind of cool and more realistic such as the fact that the anti-matter Wonder Woman ...is two-timing the anti-matter Supes by doing the wild thing with Owl Man (or anti-Bats). I'd be willing to bet somebody else's paycheck that Morrison wants to write the real WW this way, but can't because the heroes have to be perfect model citizens. Sheesh. Anyway, I like what he's done with this story and I've been digging Morrison's work since the Animalman days. Keep 'em comin'!
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