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Overanalyzing Anime
Blog Owner & Lead Writer
For as long as I can remember, comic books have always been very intricately intertwined. For example, I recently bought Volume’s 1 and 2 of the 2015 Invincible Iron Man series – the one that takes place after the events of Secret Wars – and it was filled with a plethora of different cameos; from Jane Foster’s Thor, to “facial hair bro” Doctor Strange, to my personal favorite – the King of Latveria himself, Doctor Doom. Cameos in comic books are no strange occurrence – in fact, you’re more than likely going to see, at the very least, a reference to heroes from other comics within the annals of any given comic book.
And, don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. I, for one, enjoy those little moments, as they often take me by surprise - in a good way. But, there are times when I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if these cameos didn’t occur. What if there was only one superhero in the world? If Tony Stark was the only person saving the world? Or if Midgard was only under the protection of Thor? What if these heroes were always left to save the world on their own – without the help of a collective or ensemble of other heroes? While Marvel may not have answers to this question – DC seems to.
Welcome to Earth(s) One.
Now, don’t let the picture above fool you - these characters have never met in the Earth One series and, from what the future has in store, it doesn’t seem as though they ever will. The idea of this has me very excited. I know that might sound strange coming from me - especially due to the fact that in my last post I spoke at length about how exciting crossovers are regarding the MCU and the DCEU. While I stand by that argument in regard to television and films, I believe that, in comics, having one superhero inhabit a given universe is actually a very interesting idea.
Let’s take Superman for example. When I first read Superman: Earth One, it was refreshing to see Superman regarded as a serious aberration to what was considered normal on Earth. How his presence on Earth alarmed and affected people; how the news cycles were filled with discussions on what his motives might be; how the nations of the world wanted to know how to protect themselves from him, if ever he were to go rogue. I enjoyed seeing him try to come to terms with the idea of being a hero; about, to what extent, he should insert himself into the struggles of man; about who he is was, not only as Superman, but also as Clark Kent. It’s not as though it does much that’s entirely “brand new,” but there are certain changes that make the series stand out as something truly unique; certain liberties taken with villains, and love interests, as well as the man of steel himself.
Having it take place in it’s own universe serves to benefit the narrative because, in the “normal” universe, having a character like Superman amidst droves of other heroes serves to make him less unique. Yes, he’s still often regarded as the most “super” of them all, but with other beings whose powers range from magic to literal God-hood, he can fall to the wayside and seem less fantastic than he truly is. That’s not the case with Earth One. Superman is the hero in this world, and it serves to make him truly “Super” in every regard because if the world faces imminent destruction, there is no League to call on - there’s just him.
Same goes for Batman. I’ll be honest in saying that I don’t own any Batman comics aside from Earth One. It’s not that I haven’t read any before, it’s just that the idea of the Batman seems ridiculous to me - his level of intelligence and ability to “prepare for anything,” seems highly exaggerated, to the point of absolute nonsense. And yet, here I am making it seem like a flying alien is just so normal, right? No, but in a world of super-powered beings, I don’t think Batman makes any sense. He’s literally just a guy in a bat-suit. That, and I honestly believe his psychosis is so severe that he should probably be locked up in Arkham with the rest of his rogues. But, I digress.
What I enjoy about Batman: Earth One is that it serves to humanize the character. He’s not some overly skilled detective - Jim Gordon actually makes a comment about how bad he is at it. Nor is his physical ability anywhere near the super-human level it seems to be in certain comics. There’s actually an instance during the very first pages of the first volume wherein he’s chasing a criminal across the rooftops of Gotham. During the chase, Batman ends up falling off the side of a building due to his grappling hook malfunctioning.
It’s awesome to see The Dark Knight as someone who makes simple mistakes; someone who doesn’t have all the answers; someone who isn’t able to figure his way out of any conundrum simply because he has enough, “prep time.” The Batman in this universe is far more interesting because you know that he isn’t able to call another League member if things really go awry - and within the pages of Earth One, there are definitely instances where it really hits the fan.
Perhaps the most unique story in the Earth One series would be the retelling of Wonder Woman’s origin. For as long as I can remember, Wonder Woman was always set in the past - usually during the events of World War I. However, this story revamps her tale and - just like the other heroes - sets it in modern times. This, along with other “controversial” changes, make it the most unique of all the Earth One stories by far, and in turn, serves to make it one of the most interesting.
Also, as someone who doesn’t necessarily care for the all-out-brawling aspect of some superhero comics, it was nice to see that the story did not include an abundance of unnecessary fighting. It could have definitely chosen to go that route in order to appease readers who might have wanted to see more of the “warrior” and less of the “Amazonian” heritage. I, for one, enjoyed the story because it did not go through the same process as with the Superman and Batman Earth One comics when it came to fighting.
So, to wrap this one up, I feel that reading these comics - as well as the Earth One Teen Titans - is definitely worthwhile, because they really do serve as a fresh of breathe air from the “norm.” They offer unique stories that focus on singular characters - or in the case of Teen Titans, that specific group of heroes - and serves to make them feel truly unique on their specific Earth. While a possible team-up may be in their future, no such comic has been mentioned as of yet - and I truly hope that one never does come about. I feel it’s best to leave these heroes in their own distinctive worlds, as opposed to having them converge into each other. I am, however, excited for what the future may bring in terms of other heroes getting their own Earth One title.
If you agree with my thoughts, or disagree, feel free to let me know! Also, if you’ve yet to read Earth One, then definitely check one (or all) of them out - they’re worth the read! And be sure to check out more DC articles - as well as some of my other works - on my DIRECTORY, HERE.
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