Earth 2 is in crisis and new heroes have risen to serve as the world’s protectors (during THE GATHERING). But it seems the world is still not free from the threat of Darkseid, despite the sacrifice made by Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman. Darkseid’s right-hand man, Steppenwolf, is still trapped on Earth and has made Wonder Woman’s daughter, Fury, his champion. Doctor Fate has joined the ranks of the heroes. But even his impressive magical abilities won’t be enough to stop the new threat looming on the horizon. The world needs a new Batman and Superman…
Meanwhile, on Earth 0 (aka Prime Earth), Power Girl and Huntress have finally found a way to return to Earth 2…
SCROLL DOWN to the bottom for the KEY COLLECTED EDITIONS for this event!
Crossover: The Dark Age runs through the Earth-2 series, then weaves through two Earth 2 Annuals; strictly-speaking, ‘The Dark Age’ is a four-part story in Earth 2 #17-20, but the entire saga is non-stop from Earth 2 Annual #1 onwards.
Related Events: Power Girl and Huntress’ jump from Prime Earth to Earth 2 coincides with specific events that take place during The Dark Age.
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
First appearances: All debut appearances refer to the Earth 2 version of each given character, unless otherwise stated; these notes may contain spoilers.
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- THE GATHERING – The rise of the new heroes of Earth 2
- FIRST CONTACT – Power Girl and Huntress find a way home
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- ✔ Earth 2 Annual #1
- ✔ Earth 2 #13-20
- ✔ Earth 2 Annual #2
- ✔ Earth 2 #21-24
- Worlds’ Finest #25 (tie-in)
- ✔ Earth 2 #25
- Worlds’ Finest #26 (tie-in)
- ✔ Earth 2 #26
| Must Read | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Earth 2 Annual #1 Al Pratt recalls how he became the Atom on his way to a mission in Phnom Penh to capture war criminal Henri Roy. He gets unexpected help from a new Batman. Later, the Batman battles Mister Icicle in Spain while on the trail of the Apokoliptian assassin Kanto. In China, Hawkgirl hunts the remnants of Darkseid’s forces on Earth. Elsewhere, the World Army assign Captain Steel to explore the Fire Pit in Rio de Janeiro. In what’s left of Gotham City, Mister Miracle and Big Barda’s search for the new Batman is interrupted by Wonder Woman’s daughter… Fury! 1st appearance: Batman/Thomas Wayne, Captain Steel/Henry Heywood Jr |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #13 Captain Steel heads into the Fire Pit. Hawkgirl’s investigation in into Sam Zhao’s murder draws the attention of humans using Apokoliptian tech, riding Apokorats. The new Batman briefly assists her, advises her to follow Kanto’s trail, then disappears. Later, Captain Steel emerges from the Fire Pit torn to pieces, warning everyone to seal the pit and protect Earth from a woman called the Red Lantern… |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #14 As the new Wonders of the World, the Green Lantern, the Flash and Doctor Fate enter Dherain ahead of the World Army. The Atom, the Sandmen and Red Arrow show up and, while trying to come to a compromise, both groups are opposed by Steppenwolf’s Hunger Dogs. Mister Terrific accompanies the rest of the World Army to Dherain… 1st appearance: Bedlam, Beguiler, Brutaal, Jason ‘Stormy’ Foster, Red Arrow/Connor Hawke |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #15 The Hunger Dogs make short work of the gathered superhumans, but (aside from a few Sandmen) allow them to live. Hawkgirl seeks out Hazard in Casablanca, but finds herself his prisoner. In Gotham, Mister Miracle encourages Big Barda to locate Batman, while he faces Fury. Except the robotic Red Tornado arrives, intent on apprehending them both! 1st appearance: Hazard, Melody |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #16 The World Army falls before the might of Steppenwolf and his Hunger Dogs. It seems only Commander Amar Khan and Mister Terrific have survived. Elsewhere, Doctor Fate teleports the Wonders to the centre of Dherain to search for survivors. Green Lantern confronts Steppenwolf, but is savagely beaten to death by him and his imposing minion, Brutaal. When Steppenwolf announces his victory over Earth for himself, Brutaal cleaves him in two and dissolves his own armour to reveal… Superman? New identity: Brutaal as Superman |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #17 General Sam Lane uploads Lois Lane’s consciousness into the Red Tornado in the hope she can end Superman’s murderous rampage. The dark Man of Steel quickly defeats Doctor Fate – the one man with the power to stop him – and destroys the World Army’s Arkham Command. The new Batman breaks into the lower levels to free a prisoner who may be the world’s last hope… 1st appearance: Robert Crane, Joker New identity: Lois Lane as Red Tornado |
| Must Read | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #18 Superman catches the Flash and corners Terry Sloan and Mister Terrific. Parademons fly out from the fire pits all across the world. Exhibiting superhuman abilities and saddened by references to Bruce Wayne, the new Batman gets past Red Tornado and Sonia Sato and releases Aquawoman and hacktivist Jimmy Olsen from stasis. Batman shoots the Joker in his stasis tube before his party depart… 1st appearance: ‘Aquawoman’/Marella, James Olsen |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #19 Superman sends the Washington Monument crashing into the White House and announces the coming of Darkseid. Jimmy Olsen alerts the others to an alien hidden in the lowest level of Arkham Command. They find a young man who reacts to Batman’s Kryptonite. When they reach the surface, they find Parademons slaughtering humans. They’re taken to safety by Hawkgirl and Red Tornado. 1st appearance: Val-Zod |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #20 Aquawoman departs for Atlantis. Batman, Hawkgirl, Red Arrow, Red Tornado and the others reconvene at the Batcave. Spending his whole life in Sloan’s cell has made Val-Zod agoraphobic. Red Tornado convinces Val to allow the Sun to unlock his Kryptonian powers… |
| ✔ | Earth 2 Annual #2 Long ago, young surgeon Thomas Wayne supplied the Falcone Family with drugs until his son was born. Thirty-five years ago, Wayne broke away from Frankie Falcone when his son was born. So, Falcone sent thugs to beat Wayne before hiring Joe Chill to kill him. Twenty years ago, someone murdered Joe Chill and started killing Falcone’s other thugs. Batman investigated and confronted the masked killer who shot Batman before realising he’s shot his own son. Thomas Wayne saved Bruce’s life, but Bruce had learned the truth about how father and disowned him. Thomas began using Miraclo to give himself superhuman abilities. Now Bruce is dead and Thomas Wayne relays his story about how he became the Batman. |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #21 Two weeks later, the troops of the last of the World Army’s outposts are fleeing through the Sandman’s portal in Moscow when Superman arrives. He tears off the giant-sized Atom’s arm and beats him with it. The surviving World Army members regroup in Amazonia. Meanwhile, government leaders, royalty and the world’s wealthy prepare to evacuate Earth via ‘Project Beyond’ – a giant ark headed for space. Superman rips the ark open, allowing the rich to spill from it to their deaths. Jimmy Olsen makes contact with Commander Khan and Aquawoman. Bedlam probes Terry Sloan’s mind and learns he’s hiding a Kryptonian… |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #22 The Earth restores Green Lantern to life. The mind-controlled Mister Terrific, Mister Miracle and Terry Sloan work on a portal big enough to transport Earth to Apokolips. Red Tornado and Hawkgirl defend Val-Zod from the Superman and his cadre of Parademons when he come to Gotham, looking for him. Red Tornado stops Superman from killing Val-Zod by revealing she’s Lois Lane… |
| Must Read | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #23 Superman kills the Parademons who attack Red Tornado and flies off with her to his parents at the Kent Farm. Green Lantern arrives and wipes out the remaining Parademons, saving Hawkgirl and Val-Zod. Superman sends Parademons and a Warhound after Batman. Green Lantern and Hawkgirl stay in the Batcave, while Batman and the others escape via the Sandman’s portal… |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #24 Green Lantern & Hawkgirl follow the last surviving Parademons back to Washington. Hawkgirl frees the Flash. In Amazonia, Batman berates Val-Zod for his pacifism. Val reveals the ‘Superman’ costume beneath his clothes… |
| Worlds’ Finest #25 (tie-in) On Prime Earth, Power Girl & Huntress prepare to return home to Earth 2. DeSaad materialises in the last Starr Industries lab and tries to grab Dr Tanya Spears, sensing power in her. Power Girl & Huntress come to her aid. Tanya opens the portal to Earth 2 and the two heroes jump through – followed by DeSaad – leaving Tanya behind them… | |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #25 Val-Zod was taken in by the House of El before he was sent to Earth. Now, the Beguiler and her Parademons pursue Green Lantern, Hawkgirl & Flash across the ocean. Aquawoman comes to their aid. The Flash runs Beguiler to Infinity. In Kansas, Superman kills his father for speaking out against Darkseid. Sloan activates the portal intended to transport Earth. Val-Zod repairs Doctor Fate’s helmet after it shows him a vision. Green Lantern holds the Earth to stop it going through the Boom Tube. Superman’s attempt to kill him is interrupted by Val-Zod… New identity: Val-Zod as Superman |
| Worlds’ Finest #26 (tie-in) On Prime Earth, Tanya Spears discovers she now has superhuman strength and invulnerability. Karen Starr’s lawyers reveal Tanya has been legally left with the Power Girl identity. On Earth 2, DeSaad searches for a way to return to Apokolips. Huntress immediately regrets making the jump when she sees the state of the world. Huntress & Power Girl fight a horde of Parademons and head off to find Superman… New identity: Tanya Spears (Earth 0) as Power Girl | |
| ✔ | Earth 2 #26 The Wonders take on Darkseid’s forces. Aquawoman breaks Bedlam’s hold over Sloan, Mister Miracle and Mister Terrific who shut down the Boom Tube. Superman begins to crumble while fighting Val-Zod. Red Tornado turns Superman – now revealed to be a Bizarro Superman clone – to ash. Bedlam recovers, taking Terrific and Sloan to Puerto Rico, reuniting with Big Barda and Fury. Now, Darkseid is coming… |
| Must Reads | Issues & Fallout | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Earth 2: World’s End #1 (2014) Darkseid’s forces on Apokolips make their move against Earth. Worlds’ Finest #27 (2014) Red Tornado makes a record of the origins of the original Superman and Batman of Earth 2, as well as the impact as the origins of the new Batman. Earth 2: World’s End #6-7 (2014) Sam Zhao’s essence returns as the Avatar of the White. Earth 2: World’s End #13-15 (2015) Captain Steel returns to aid the heroes evacuate cities hit by Darkseid’s forces; the ‘Red Lantern’ (Yolanda Montez, the Avatar of the Red) is captured by DeSaad and used to power a Fire Pit; the original Superman sacrifices himself to help Yolanda escape. Worlds’ Finest #31-32 (2015) Red Tornado recalls Darkseid’s attack on Earth that led to the death of Lois Lane; Sam Lane’s efforts to keep Lois’ memories preserved are revealed. Earth 2: World’s End #18 (2015) The reason for the existence of the Fire Pits on Earth 2 and Darkseid’s plans to merge the planet with Apokolips are revealed. Earth 2: World’s End #25-26 (2015) Darkseid is defeated by the Wonders of the World, but Earth 2 is destroyed. | WORLD’S END |
| ✔ | Convergence #3 (2015) Batman sacrifices himself by detonating a bomb which kills a number of the Batman’s villains from New Earth, allowing Dick Grayson of Earth 2 to escape. Convergence #8 (2015) Brainiac’s Blood Moon becomes the new Earth 2. | CONVERGENCE |
| Teen Titans #5-6 (2015) On Prime Earth, Tanya Spears officially takes on the codename Power Girl and joins the Teen Titans. | ||
| Superman #47 (2016) Mister Terrific is revealed to have returned to Prime Earth. | ||
| Sixpack/Dogwelder: Hard-Travelin’ Heroz #1 (2016) A new Power Girl (Kara Zor-L) emerges on Prime Earth, also hailing from an alternate reality. | ||
| ✔ | Earth 2: Society #1-7 (2015-2016) The survivors of Earth 2 form a new society on the new Earth 2; Dick Grayson becomes the new Batman; James Olsen becomes Doctor Impossible, kills Terry Sloan and tries to terraform the planet. | |
| Earth 2: Society #14-15 (2016) Captain Steel is seriously wounded in battle with the Ultra-Humanite’s agent, Scalpel; Steel dies from his injuries. | ||
| Superman #14-16 (2017) Val-Zod meets other incarnations of Superman from across the multiverse when they’re all captured by the cosmic entity Prophecy. | ||
| ✔ | Earth 2: Society #22 (2017) Huntress picks up her father’s mantle, becoming the new Batman. | |
| Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #1-2 (2023) Val-Zod is one of the multiversal Supermen targeted for death by Ultraman of Earth 3. | DAWN OF DC |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Earth 2 vol.3: Battle Cry | Earth 2 #13-16 Earth 2 #15.1: Desaad Earth 2 Annual #1 |
| Earth 2 vol.4: The Dark Age | Earth 2 #17-20 Earth 2 Annual #2 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Earth 2 vol.5: The Kryptonian | Earth 2 #21-26 Earth 2 – Futures End #1 |
| Worlds’ Finest vol.5: Homeward Bound | Worlds’ Finest #22-26 Worlds’ Finest – Futures End #1 |
Reading Order ©OmniverseComicsGuide 2023
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