Dan Abnett’s Earth 2: Society continues to be enjoyable. There’s a certain error that’s plagued the latter iteration of this series that Abnett cleverly fixes in Earth 2: Society Vol. 3: A Whole New World; as well, the epic, rather self-contained, six-issues-and-done of this book reminds of its spiritual predecessor, Geoff Johns' JSA. The next volume is the last volume proper, though if its anything like this one, I’d have happily kept reading.
[Review contains spoilers]
There’s enough going on in Whole New World that I’m hesitant to say this is Earth 2 Batman Dick Grayson’s book, but he’s largely the character most changed in these pages. I do wonder if Abnett devoted the Earth 2: Society annual to him with recognition that both other Earth 2 annuals were Batman-centric. Though to some extent I thought Abnett offered a better argument in the annual for why Dick ought not be this world’s Batman than that he should (Earth 2 Batmen have a tendency to die), the resolution of course is that he embraces the mantle. There’s a hint of Batman Beyond here and the suggestion of a new Dynamic Duo, all of which makes this a fun alt-Earth Batman piece.
