Review: Earth 2 Vol. 3- Battle Cry

Quick Summary

Pros: The worldbuilding and mystery presented here is incredibly interesting. The second half gives the volume a solid level of action and fun. A twist at the end leaves things on a great cliffhanger. The artwork continues to look beautiful.

Cons: The storytelling here is more exposition driven than ever before, which not everyone will enjoy.

Overall: This is another successful installment in the history of Earth 2. Here, readers get more opportunities to discover the inner workings of this unique world, while also constantly uncovering mysteries at every turn. This is then paired with a heaping dose of action to make a very entertaining read. Though the narration style might not appeal to everyone, those who have enjoyed this series thus far are likely to continue their enjoyment here.

Story

Earth 2 Vol. 3: Battle Cry, by James Robinson, is an interesting change of pace for the series that will appeal to some readers but not everyone. Instead of being a straightforward superhero tale, Battle Cry reads more like a wartime documentary. This feeling is primarily driven by the narration, which is filled with exposition and has a journalistic flair to it. The volume still retains positive qualities from previous entries in the series, such as tantalizing mysteries and great worldbuilding, but it is viewed through a slightly different lens. I, personally, enjoyed this small change-up but would understand why some may not like it quite so much.

(spoilers start here)

The primary source of conflict, throughout the volume, is the rising threat level that Steppenwolf presents and the World Army’s response to this threat. About half of the book is dedicated to showing how our heroes are preparing for this war and explaining what problems could potentially arise. This leads to a satisfying level of suspense throughout the beginning of the book. We are constantly reminded that war is on the horizon and that the stakes have never been bigger, making this portion of the book feel very tense.

This portion of the book also sees the return of this series’ two most consistent features, mystery and worldbuilding. Here, readers are introduced to even more characters, each with an origin and backstory ripe for exploration. Some of these newcomers, Batman in particular, also bring mystery to the forefront by simply existing. I really enjoy the fact that I ended this volume feeling as if I learned a lot about Earth 2 while still feeling as if there is plenty more that I do not know.

When the exposition concludes, the war begins and the bulk of the book’s action takes place. Readers get to see superheroes fight supervillains in battles that range from fun and thrilling to dark and brutal. The level of action here more than makes up for an introduction heavy on exposition. This is every bit the war that readers were expecting and feels even more significant due to the solid level of buildup that occurs beforehand.

Finally, just when readers believe that the book has no more surprises, Steppenwolf is killed by his immediate subordinate. While this would be a major twist on its own, Robinson decides to double the shock factor by revealing the subordinate to be Superman in disguise. It is a devilish twist that works well with the current story and opens tons of doors in the future. I finished this volume dying to discover the secret to this mystery and see how this new revelation will affect the future of Earth 2.

(spoilers end here)

Art

Once again, Nicola Scott provides the bulk of the artwork in this series and, once again, her work does not disappoint. Characters and locations have a great level of detail that make them feel as real as ever before. Specifically, this detail helps a lot when the heroes enter the battlefield. When this happens, the art style allows readers to further connect with the people who are being beaten or killed. Scott’s style allows the book to be scenic and beautiful or dark and brutal, which is just what this collection needs.

Continuity

Earth 2 Vol. 3: Battle Cry continues the story from Earth 2 Vol. 2: The Tower of Fate (Review).

The story here continues in Earth 2 Vol. 4: The Dark Age.

This volume also makes a reference to another comic book, detailed below:

• Dessad’s presence at the end of this collection seems to allude to his role at the end of Worlds’ Finest Vol. 2: Hunt and Be Hunted.