Publisher: DC Comics Creative Team: · James Robinson · Nicola Scott Grade: A+

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Earth has been beseiged by Darkseid's parademons. Standing firm for humanity against ever mounting odds is the united force of Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman.

No, you're not re-reading Justice League #1. Welcome to Earth Two, an alternate world among DC Comics' "The New 52." The opening time is five years ago, and the trinity is... well, they're not a team you want to get attached to very strongly if you're looking forward to following the adventures of an alternate Justice League. And if you're an old school fan of the Justice Society, you're not going to find them here either. Yet.

While the story opens with slam-bang superhero action, it cools -- necessarily -- about midway through, as we move into present day events and meet, for the first time, Alan Scott and Jay Garrick. These younger, soon-to-be superheroes never fought Hitler, never came together under President Roosevelt. They have completely different personalities from their historical analogs, and are going to follow completely different roads on their way to their fated origins.

And it's just darned fun. I've admittedly been having some trouble accepting a lot of the changes in The New 52, reconciling the new history and such. But Earth Two excites me, as it's what I would have hoped for many of the other titles: a completely new and fresh start. It's also a sine qua non launchpad for the simul-released title this week, World's Finest, which follows the exploits of Earth TWo's Supergirl and Robin -- now operating on the main DC Earth as Power Girl and Huntress!

James Robinson is one of those writers who I find uneven. When he's off, it's hard to follow. But when he's on, nobody can touch him. And in Earth Two, he's definitely on and firing on all cylinders. Nicola Scott's artwork is absolutely sublime and superbly detailed. With an interesting story and high production values, Earth Two just made this comics fan's monthly pull list, and it should make yours as well.