View source for Earth-Two

{{short description|Fictional setting in comic books published by DC Comics}}
{{Other uses|Earth-2 (disambiguation)}}
{{fan POV|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox fictional location
| name        = 
| image       = 
| caption     = 
| blank_label = [[:Category:Comics publishing companies|Publisher]]
| blank_data  = [[DC Comics]]
| first       = ''[[The Flash (comic book)|The Flash]]'' #[[Flash of Two Worlds|123]] (September 1961)<br />''[[More Fun Comics|New Fun Comics]]'' #1 (January 31, 1935, [[Retroactive continuity|retroactive]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Mougin|first= Lou|last2=Waid|first2=Mark|title=The Official Crisis on Infinite Earths Index|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|year=1986|page=2}}</ref>
| creator     = [[Gardner Fox]]
| people      = [[Justice Society of America]]<br />[[All-Star Squadron]]<br />[[Infinity, Inc.]]
| races       = [[Human]]s, [[Amazons]], [[Kryptonian]]s, [[Atlantis (DC Comics)|Atlanteans]]
}}
'''Earth-Two''' (also '''Earth 2''') is a setting for stories (a "[[fictional universe]]") appearing in [[American comic books]] published by [[DC Comics]]. First appearing in ''The Flash'' #123 (1961), Earth-Two was created to explain differences between the original [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] and then-current [[Silver Age of Comic Books|Silver Age]] versions of characters such as [[the Flash]], and how the current ([[Earth-One]]) versions could appear in stories alongside earlier versions of the same character concepts. Earth-Two includes DC Golden Age heroes, including the [[Justice Society of America]], whose careers began at the dawn of [[World War II]], concurrently with their first appearances in comics. Earth-Two, along with the four other surviving Earths (Earth-One, [[Earth-Four]], [[List of DC Multiverse worlds#Earth-S|Earth-S]], and [[List of DC Multiverse worlds#Earth-X|Earth-X]]) of the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|DC Multiverse]], were merged into one in the 1985 miniseries ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]''.

==Publication history==
===Introduction ("Flash of Two Worlds")===
[[File:Flash v1 123.jpg|thumb|upright|First appearance of Earth-Two in ''[[The Flash (comic book)|The Flash]]'' #123 (September 1961). Art by [[Carmine Infantino]] and [[Murphy Anderson]].]]
Characters from [[DC Comics]] were originally suggestive of each existing in their own world, as superheroes never encountered each other. This was soon changed with alliances being formed between certain protagonists. Several publications, including ''[[All Star Comics]]'' (publishing tales of the [[Justice Society of America]]), ''[[Leading Comics]]'' and other comic books introduced a "[[shared universe]]" among several characters during the 1940s. By the 1950s, as the popularity of superheroes was waning, comics shifted to horror, westerns and war. Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman were among the few DC continued to publish.

Beginning in the late 1950s, the popularity of superheroes began to grow, and DC introduced more modern versions of its heroes. For example, [[Hawkman]] was an alien policeman instead of a reincarnated Egyptian prince. Older versions of DC characters were assigned to an "alternative reality" Earth that existed within its own fictional "universe" and could communicate with the Earth of the current, revised versions of those characters.

Alternative-reality Earths had been used in DC stories before, but were usually not referred to after that particular story. Most of these alternative Earths were usually so vastly different that no one would confuse that Earth and its history with the so-called real Earth. That would change when the existence of another reliable Earth was established in a story titled "[[Flash of Two Worlds]]"<ref>{{cite comic| writer=[[Gardner Fox|Fox, Gardner]]| penciller=[[Carmine Infantino|Infantino, Carmine]]| inker=[[Joe Giella|Giella, Joe]]| story=Flash of Two Worlds!| title=[[The Flash (comic book)|The Flash]]| issue=#123| date=September 1961}}</ref> in which [[Barry Allen]], the modern Flash later referred to as the Flash of [[Earth-One]] (the setting of the Silver Age stories) first travels to another Earth, accidentally vibrating at just the right speed to appear on Earth-Two, where he meets Jay Garrick, his Earth-Two counterpart. He claims Gardner Fox's dreams were tuned into Earth-Two, explaining their depiction as a fictional world in earlier Barry Allen stories.

===Expanding the concept: revisiting 1940s superheroes===
[[Superman (Earth-Two)|Superman]] was introduced in the 1930s and was the archetype for the modern superhero, and so is depicted in stories set on Earth-Two as the first major reliable costumed superhero on that world, discounting earlier part-time heroes and "mystery men" such as [[Doctor Occult]] (who first appeared in 1935). Most of the following costumed mystery men history is based on the Earth-Two Superman's initial appearance, where these previously independent operating heroes begin to reliably interact. In order to distinguish him from the later primary version of the character, this Superman was called "Kal-L", using the spelling of Superman's Kryptonian name in his early appearances. He was specifically introduced as an Earth-Two character in ''Justice League of America'' #73 (1969).<ref>{{cite comic| writer=[[Dennis O'Neil|O'Neil, Denny]]| penciller=[[Dick Dillin|Dillin, Dick]]| inker=[[Sid Greene|Greene, Sid]]| story=Star Light, Star Bright—Death Star I See Tonight| title=[[Justice League]] of America| issue=#73| date=August 1969}}</ref> Most superheroes from the Golden Age later followed this trend of operating publicly, while wearing distinctive costuming and interacting in a largely shared universe. The primary characters of Superman and [[Batman (Earth-Two)|Batman]] still largely worked independent of team environments.

In the 1970s, as the now annual team up between the [[Justice League of America]] and the [[Justice Society of America]] had proven popular, DC published the then present day adventures of the Justice Society in the revived ''[[All-Star Comics]]'' with issue #58, resuming the numbering from the series' original run. The story continued in ''[[Adventure Comics]]'' #461–466, which featured the death of the Earth-Two Batman in issue #462. ''Mr and Mrs Superman'', a feature in ''[[Superman Family]]'' (1974–1982), featured stories of the adventures of married Superman and [[Lois Lane]] of Earth-Two. These stories were set at a time in which the Superman of Earth-Two was at a similar age to the then-present-day Superman of Earth-One. In the 1980s DC published ''[[All-Star Squadron]],'' which covered the war time history of various superheroes during World War II.

''[[Infinity, Inc.]]'', a group made up of the children and heirs of the Justice Society, was introduced in ''[[All-Star Squadron]]'' #25 (September 1983).<ref>{{cite book|last=Manning|first=Matthew K.|editor-last=Dolan|editor-first=Hannah|chapter=1980s|title=DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2010|location=London, United Kingdom|isbn=978-0-7566-6742-9|page=203|quote=The children of the original Justice Society of America made their smash debut in this issue by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Jerry Ordway...''All-Star Squadron'' #25 marked the first appearances of future cult-favorite heroes Jade, Obsidian, [[Fury (DC Comics)|Fury]],<!--Hippolyta "Lyta" Trevor made her first appearance in ''Wonder Woman'' #300 (February 1983), ''All-Star Squadron'' #25 was her first appearance using the name "Fury"--> [[Brainwave (character)|Brainwave Jr.]], [[Hector Hall|Scarab]], [[Northwind (comics)|Northwind]], and [[Albert Rothstein|Nuklon]].}}</ref> There was an eponymous comics series starring the group,<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 207: "Written by DC's Golden Age guru Roy Thomas and drawn by Jerry Ordway, ''Infinity, Inc.'' was released in DC's new deluxe format on bright Baxter paper."</ref> which ran from March 1984 through June 1988.

===Abandonment: ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''===
''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' (1985–1986) was an effort by DC Comics to clean up their continuity, resulting in the multiple universes combining into one. Since then, a handful of characters originating from Earth-Two have consistently remained part of the merged Earth, including [[Power Girl]], [[Flash (Jay Garrick)|Jay Garrick]], and [[Alan Scott]]. Superman and Lois Lane from Earth-Two (along with [[Superboy-Prime|Superboy]] from [[Earth Prime]], and [[Alexander Luthor Jr.]] from [[Earth-Three]]) were transported into a ghost-like "paradise dimension" tangential to the new universe.

Following the end of the known Multiverse, more alternate realities were discovered. Even though Earth-Three was destroyed in the [[Anti-Monitor]]'s anti-matter wave attacks, a new [[Crime Syndicate]] (called the "Crime Syndicate of Amerika") developed in the antimatter universe of [[Qward]], which was very different in background and power base from the pre-''Crisis'' Earth-Three group, though same in the number of members. After the [[The Kingdom (comics)|Kingdom event]], [[Hypertime]] and divergent realities were revealed, but never supposed to be accessed, as stated in the [[Zero Hour (comics)|Zero Hour]] event. They were later revealed when a directly-parallel Flash ([[Wally West#Walter West|Walter West]] aka the "Dark Flash") entered the mainstream DC Universe and threatened to destroy it. These alternate realities are usually addressed as "Elsewhere" and "Elseworld" stories.

===Reviving the Multiverse: ''Infinite Crisis''===
Kal-L, Lois Lane-Kent, [[Superboy-Prime]], and Alexander Luthor Jr. returned during ''[[Infinite Crisis]]''. Unknown to Kal-L, Luthor's plan was to resurrect the pre-''Crisis'' Multiverse. He wanted to mix and match elements from each reality to create a "perfect world". The fallout of the conflict brought the short-lived return of an Earth-Two copy and the deaths of Kal-L, Lois Lane-Kent and Luthor Jr. of Earth-Two. It is unclear what happened to the aged Diana Trevor, the [[Wonder Woman (Earth-Two)|Earth-Two Wonder Woman]], though she faded from her ghostly existence. Inexplicably, Earth-Two was the only returning world that was devoid of most people, except the Justice Society, Kal-L, and his wife Lois Kent. This world was a copy, new and recently manufactured by Alexander Luthor Jr. of pre-''Crisis'' Earth-Three, instead of resurrected. This copy Earth-Two was recombined with the primary Earth to form the primary DC reality termed as "New Earth".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Johns|first1=Geoff|author1-link=Geoff Johns|last2=Jimenez|first2=Phil|author-link2=Phil Jimenez|title=[[Infinite Crisis]]|year=2006|pages=264|isbn=1-4012-0959-9}}</ref>

====Post-''52'' version====
At the end of the ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'' limited series, the realigned world is called "New Earth". In the final issue of the ''[[52 (comics)|52]]'' weekly series, it is revealed that fifty-two duplicate worlds have been created and all but New Earth have been altered from the original incarnation.<ref>{{cite comic| writer=Johns, Geoff; [[Grant Morrison|Morrison, Grant]]; [[Greg Rucka|Rucka, Greg]]; [[Mark Waid|Waid, Mark]]| penciller=[[Keith Giffen|Giffen, Keith]]; [[Eddy Barrows|Barrows, Eddy]]; [[Chris Batista|Batista, Chris]]; [[Justiniano]]; [[Mike McKone|McKone, Mike]]; [[Pat Olliffe|Olliffe, Patrick]]; [[Darick Robertson|Robertson, Darick]]| inker=[[Drew Geraci|Geraci, Drew]]; Lanning, Andy; [[Rodney Ramos|Ramos, Rodney]]; Robertson, Darick; [[Walden Wong|Wong, Walden]]| story=A Year in the Life| title=[[52 (comics)|52]]| issue=52| date=May 2, 2007}}</ref> The post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 made its first appearance in a single panel of ''52'' Week 52 where it resembled the pre-''Crisis'' Earth-Two, where a newspaper article says that this world's [[Superman (Earth-Two)|Superman]] and [[Power Girl]] are missing. The Flashes of New Earth ([[Flash (Jay Garrick)|Jay Garrick]] and [[Wally West]]) briefly glimpsed this world with [[Robin (Dick Grayson)]] and Huntress in action (during their travel with the [[Cosmic Treadmill]] as shown in ''Justice Society'' (vol. 3) #11) and [[Monarch (comics)|Monarch]] selected Jay Garrick of this Earth (amongst others) in a [[Countdown: Arena|Multiversal arena tournament]]. Based on comments by ''52'' co-writer [[Grant Morrison]], this alternate universe is not the pre-''Crisis'' Earth-Two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=111900|title=The 52 Exit Interviews: Grant Morrison|access-date=May 12, 2007|last=Brady|first=Matt|date=May 8, 2007|website=[[Newsarama]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011142209/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=111900|archive-date=October 11, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

This separation between the pre-''Crisis'' Earth-Two and post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 is formally established in ''Justice Society of America'' (vol. 3) Annual #1 (2008), with a story titled "Earth 2 Chapter One: Golden Age", in which the New Earth Power Girl arrives on post-''Crisis'' Earth-2. Thinking that she has returned home to her long destroyed pre-''Crisis'' Earth-Two. Power Girl crash lands and unconscious, on the closest parallel of the 52 Multiverse, the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2, which appears similar to the pre-''Crisis'' Earth-Two. She is found by the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Huntress, who thinks she is her long-missing best friend, the Power Girl native to this world. In this new reality, the Justice Society of America has merged with Infinity, Inc. and is now known as Justice Society Infinity. Initially, Power Girl believes she has returned home, until the missing post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Power Girl reappears and declares that the other Power Girl is an impostor, and has caused the disappearance of the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Superman. This turn of events results in the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Power Girl and the Justice Society Infinity to go after the New Earth Power Girl.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/237-jerry-ordway-traveling-back-to-dc-s-earth-2.html|title=Jerry Ordway – Traveling Back to DC's Earth 2|first=Vaneta|last=Rogers|date=June 23, 2008|website=Newsarama|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728231334/http://www.newsarama.com/237-jerry-ordway-traveling-back-to-dc-s-earth-2.html|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer=Johns, Geoff|penciller=[[Jerry Ordway|Ordway, Jerry]]|inker=[[Bob Wiacek|Wiacek, Bob]]|story=Earth 2, Chapter One: Golden Age|title=Justice Society of America (vol. 3) Annual|issue=#1|date=September 2008}}</ref>

The Power Girl of New Earth recruits the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Michael Holt, who is a physics professor and father and has never become a costumed hero, to help her return to her source Earth.<ref>{{cite comic| writer=Johns, Geoff; [[Alex Ross|Ross, Alex]]|penciller=[[Dale Eaglesham|Eaglesham, Dale]]; Ordway, Jerry|inker=[[Mick Gray|Gray, Mick]]; [[Kris Justice|Justice, Kris]]; [[Nathan Massengill|Massengill, Nathan]]; Ordway, Jerry|story=One World, under Gog, Part III: War Lords|title=Justice Society of America|volume=3|issue=18|date=October 2008}}</ref> Holt constructs a device similar to the Cosmic Treadmill used by [[Barry Allen]] to open a portal to New Earth.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Johns, Geoff; Ross, Alex|penciller=Eaglesham, Dale; Ordway, Jerry|inker=Massengill, Nathan; Ordway, Jerry|story=One World, Under Gog, Part IV: Out of Place|title=Justice Society of America|volume=3|issue=19|date=November 2008}}</ref> The Power Girl of New Earth returns home, followed by the Justice Society Infinity, who kidnap her and take her back to post-''Crisis'' Earth-2. During the confrontation, [[Alan Scott|Green Lantern]] and [[Jade (comics)|Jade]] are initially confused when they see each other, as the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Jade's father, Alan Scott, is dead, and New Earth's Jade is dead as well. The JSI interrogate Power Girl for information on the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Superman's whereabouts. The post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Power Girl assumes that the Superman the New Earth Power Girl said was dead was the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Superman (rather than Kal-L who was killed by [[Superboy-Prime]]) and that the New Earth Power Girl had killed him. The Justice Society of New Earth arrives to stop her torture. [[Thom Kallor|Starman]] reveals that the re-creation of the Multiverse led to the creation of a Power Girl and Superman native to this new universe, post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 and that the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Superman is still alive. The Power Girl of New Earth then returns home along with her Justice Society but with no apology from her counterpart nor from the post-''Crisis'' Earth-2 Huntress for their actions against her.<ref>{{cite comic| writer=Johns, Geoff; Ross, Alex|penciller=Eaglesham, Dale; Ordway, Jerry|inker=Massengill, Nathan; Wiacek, Bob|story=Earth Bound|title=Justice Society of America|volume=3|issue=20|date=December 2008}}</ref>

===Earth 2 in "The New 52"===
{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| title               = Earth 2
| image               = Earth2 ongoing 01.jpg
| imagesize           = 
| caption             = Cover of ''Earth 2'' #1 (July 2012). <br /> Art by [[Ivan Reis]], Joe Prado and Rod Reis
| schedule            = Monthly
| format              = Ongoing
| genre               = Superhero
| publisher           = [[DC Comics]]
| date                = {{collapsible list|'''''Earth 2'''''<br /> July 2012 – May 2015 <!--use cover date rather than on sale date--> <br />'''''Earth 2: World's End'''''<br />December 2014 – June 2015 <br />'''''Earth 2: Society'''''<br /> August 2015 – March 2017}}
| issues              = {{collapsible list|'''''Earth 2''''': 35 (#1–32 plus issues numbered 0, [[Forever Evil#"Villains Month" titles|15.1, 15.2]] and 2 Annuals)<br />'''''Earth 2: World's End''''': 26 <br />'''''Earth 2: Society''''': 22 (#1–22 and one Annual)}}
| main_char_team      = 
| writers             = {{collapsible list|'''''Earth 2'''''<br />[[James Robinson (writer)|James Robinson]]<br /> [[Tom Taylor (writer)|Tom Taylor]]<br />[[Daniel H. Wilson]]<br />'''''Earth 2: World's End'''''<br />Daniel Wilson<br />[[Marguerite Bennett]]<br />Mike Johnson <br />[[Cullen Bunn]]<br />'''''Earth 2: Society'''''<br />[[Dan Abnett]]}}
| artists             = 
| pencillers          = {{collapsible list|'''''Earth 2'''''<br />[[Nicola Scott]]<br />Andy Smith <br />'''''Earth 2: World's End'''''<br />Jorge Jimenez<br /> [[Eddy Barrows]]<br /> Paolo Siqueira <br />Tyler Kirkham<br />Eduardo Pansica<br />[[Jan Duursema]]<br />Robson Rocha<br />Jack Herbert<br />'''''Earth 2: Society'''''<br />Jorge Jimenez <br />Federico Dallochio<br /> Angel Hernandez <br /> Bruno Redondo <br />Vicente Cifuentes}}
| inkers              = {{collapsible list|'''''Earth 2'''''<br /> Trevor Scott <br /> Ryan Winn <br />'''''Earth 2: World's End'''''<br />Danny Miki<br />Eber Ferreira <br />'''''Earth 2: Society'''''<br />Juan Albarran}}
| colorists           = {{collapsible list|'''''Earth 2'''''<br />Alex Sinclair <br />Pete Pantazis <br /> '''''Earth 2: Society'''''<br />Alejandro Sanchez<br />David Calderon <br />Rex Lokus }}
| editors             = {{collapsible list|'''''Earth 2'''''<br />Mike Cotton <br /> Jeremy Bent <br />'''''Earth 2: Society'''''<br />Jim Chadwick<br /> Rob Levin}}
| creative_team_month = 
| creative_team_year  = 
| creators            = 
| italic title        = no
}}

In September 2011, [[The New 52]] rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, the Earth-2 concept has been revived and is covered in two series; ''[[Worlds' Finest]]'', which focuses on the adventures of the [[Huntress (Helena Wayne)|Huntress]] and [[Power Girl]] on New Earth written by [[Paul Levitz]], and ''Earth 2'',<!-- NOTE: the title of the comic book series is spelled ''Earth 2'' rather than ''Earth-Two'' per the Grand Comics Database--> originally written by [[James Robinson (writer)|James Robinson]] and then by [[Tom Taylor (writer)|Tom Taylor]],<ref>{{gcdb series|id=63327|title=''Earth 2''}}</ref> which features the formation of the Justice Society.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kushins|first=Josh|title=DC Comics in 2012–-Introducing the "Second Wave" of DC Comics The New 52|work=The Source|publisher=DC Comics|date=January 12, 2012|url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/01/12/dc-comics-in-2012-–-introducing-the-“second-wave”-of-dc-comics-the-new-52/|access-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115002335/http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/01/12/dc-comics-in-2012-%E2%80%93-introducing-the-%E2%80%9Csecond-wave%E2%80%9D-of-dc-comics-the-new-52/|archive-date=January 15, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> James Robinson, the original writer of Earth 2, describes the new Earth 2 as a complete reboot of the concept, with superheroes only just now appearing, similar to the "young hero" concept for the New 52 continuity,<ref name="earth2">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/9164-repost-james-robinson-describes-the-new-52-s-earth-2.html|title=James Robinson Describes the New 52's ''Earth 2''|first=Vaneta|last=Rogers|date=March 5, 2012|website=Newsarama|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728231938/http://www.newsarama.com/9164-repost-james-robinson-describes-the-new-52-s-earth-2.html|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and with revamped costume designs.

In ''Earth 2'', [[Superman (Earth-Two)#The New 52 Earth 2|Superman]], [[Batman (Earth-Two)#The New 52|Batman]], [[Wonder Woman (Earth-Two)#The New 52|Wonder Woman]], and [[Catwoman#Earth 2|Catwoman]] seemingly gave their lives in order to repel the [[Apokolips|Apokoliptan]] invasion, leaving behind a world with no heroes.<ref>{{cite comic| writer=[[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller=[[Nicola Scott|Scott, Nicola]]|inker=Scott, Trevor|story=The Price of Victory|title=Earth 2|issue=1|date=July 2012}}</ref> Supergirl and Robin (Helena Wayne) end up stranded in the mainstream universe towards the end of the invasion.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[Paul Levitz|Levitz, Paul]]|penciller=[[George Pérez|Pérez, George]]; [[Kevin Maguire (artist)|Maguire, Kevin]]|inker=Koblish, Scott|story=Rebirth| title=[[Worlds' Finest]]|issue=1|date=July 2012}}</ref> When the Earth-2 [[Solomon Grundy (comics)#Earth 2|Solomon Grundy]] threatens the world, three new heroes team up to defeat him: the [[Flash (Jay Garrick)#Earth 2|Flash]] (Jay Garrick), Hawkgirl ([[Kendra Saunders#Earth 2|Kendra Saunders]]), and [[Alan Scott#Earth 2|Green Lantern]] (Alan Scott).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/green-lantern-relaunched-brave-mighty-gay-070052544.html|title=Green Lantern relaunched as brave, mighty and gay|first=Matt|last=Moore|date=June 1, 2012|website=[[Yahoo! News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116224606/http://news.yahoo.com/green-lantern-relaunched-brave-mighty-gay-070052544.html|archive-date=November 16, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In later issues, [[Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)|Mister Terrific]] (Michael Holt) from the mainstream universe joins the team. Other heroes who have made appearances include [[Doctor Fate#Khalid Ben-Hassin|Dr. Fate]] (Khalid Ben-Hassin), the Atom ([[Atom (Al Pratt)#Earth 2|Al Pratt]], now nuclear-powered), the [[Sandman (Wesley Dodds)#Earth 2|Sandman]] (Wesley Dodds), [[Mister Miracle]], and [[Big Barda]]. In addition, the heroes of the Earth get supported by the [[World Army]]. Villains include Solomon Grundy, a now-villainous [[Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane)#Earth 2|Terry Sloan]], [[Wotan (comics)#Other versions|Wotan]], [[Steppenwolf (comics)|Steppenwolf]] and what was thought to be a surviving, Darkseid-brainwashed Superman, which turned out to be a very powerful but genetically unstable [[Bizarro]]-type clone. Writer James Robinson left the series with issue #16 and [[Tom Taylor (writer)|Tom Taylor]] became the new writer at #17.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=45574|title=James Robinson Exits ''Earth 2,'' Leaves DC Comics|first=Stephen|last=Gerding|date=May 17, 2013|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717072023/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=45574|archive-date=July 17, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=July 28, 2013}}</ref> Other new characters introduced as the series progresses include a female [[Red Tornado (identity)|Red Tornado]] (an android with the consciousness of [[Lois Lane#Red Tornado|Lois Lane]] that was uploaded into it by [[Sam Lane (comics)#Earth 2|Sam Lane]] and [[Robotman (Robert Crane)#Earth 2|Robotman]]), a hyper-intelligent knowledge-assimilator known as Accountable ([[Jimmy Olsen#Earth 2|Jimmy Olsen]]), a new Batman ([[Thomas Wayne#Earth-2|Thomas Wayne]] using Miraclo), a new version of Aquawoman (Marella), and a new Superman ([[Superman (Earth-Two)#Val-Zod|Val-Zod]], a Kryptonian and a childhood friend of Power Girl's who had been imprisoned by Terry Sloan).

Towards the end of the series, Darkseid launches a second invasion of Earth, which is depicted in both ''Earth 2'' and the weekly series ''Earth 2: World's End''. Another weekly series, ''[[The New 52: Futures End]]'', depicts a possible future in which refugees from a destroyed Earth 2 come to Earth 0 and prompt society to fracture. Over the course of the series, several new characters are introduced, such as [[Wildcat (Yolanda Montez)#Earth 2|Yolanda Montez]], an Avatar of the Red who is a counterpart of Alan Scott; a second Red Arrow, an Earth 2 equivalent of [[Green Arrow#Earth 2|Oliver Queen]]; [[Wildcat (Ted Grant)#Earth 2|Ted Grant]], a former boxer; and [[Robin (Earth-Two)#The New 52|Dick Grayson]], a journalist who goes on a mission to find his son after his wife [[Barbara Gordon]] is killed during the invasion. Others change alignment; Wonder Woman and Steppenwolf's daughter [[Fury (DC Comics)#Earth 2|Fury]] sides with Mister Miracle and the other heroes after Big Barda reveals her loyalty to Darkseid. Huntress and Power Girl return to Earth 2 as well to take part in a mad scramble to save the Earth and then later, to save its people along with a computerized record of human culture and life on Earth created by Bruce Wayne. In ''Earth 2: World's End'' #11, it is revealed that [[Highfather (comics)|Highfather]] made a deal with [[Darkseid]] that he would not interfere with Darkseid's plans for conquest so long as Darkseid only preyed upon one Earth of the Multiverse, which was Earth 2, explaining the recurrent tragedies faced by this world in comparison to others. In the end, Darkseid is successful, and the Earth is destroyed, and attempts to take Earth 2's refugees to Earth 0 are prevented by a time traveling [[Tim Drake]] in ''Futures End''. Just as the world ends, several of the Wonders are sent to the planet Telos by [[Brainiac (character)|Brainiac]], where they confront their counterparts from various parallel worlds, both present and extinct, in the ''[[Convergence (comics)|Convergence]]'' miniseries. Over the course of the series, Batman dies and Dick Grayson, inspired by his Batman counterparts from other worlds, takes up the mantle from Thomas Wayne. Ultimately, the planet Telos is terraformed into a new Earth-like planet and sent to the Earth 2 dimension as a new home for its refugees.

The heroes' fraught attempts at forming a new society, rapidly augmented by Terry Sloan's technology, is depicted in the follow-on series ''Earth 2: Society'' (August 2015&nbsp;– March 2017).<ref>{{gcdb series|id=89985|title=''Earth 2: Society''}}</ref> It also debuts versions of [[Hourman (Rick Tyler)#Other versions|Hourman]] and [[Mist (comics)#Other versions|Mist]]. The final arc of the series recreates Earth 2 again making it appear similar to their universe's first Earth through use of an Amazon artifact known as Pandora's Casket by [[Ultra-Humanite#Earth 2|Ultra-Humanite]]. This Earth has had no history of Wonders with Ultra-Humanite controlling the world behind the scenes. Following Ultra-Humanite's defeat, the Wonders becomes the world's new defenders and hopes that this Earth is the Earth they can protect.

At the end of ''[[Doomsday Clock (comics)|Doomsday Clock]]'' #12 (December 2019), [[Doctor Manhattan]] reverses the actions that created the "New 52" universe, restoring Alan Scott and the Justice Society's original full histories as before "Flashpoint", and the original Earth-Two is explained as existing in the multiverse too.

==Characters==
{{Main|List of Earth-Two characters}}

A number of characters, heroes and villains, had counterparts on both Earth-One and Two. Generally speaking, the older Earth-Two versions were phased out or incorporated into their younger, Earth-One versions following ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''. Several others were rebooted almost entirely, with their new versions having nothing in common with the old ones. For instance, [[Jim Corrigan#Jim Corrigan (1940s)|Jim Corrigan of Earth-Two]] was a murdered police detective who served as the human host for the [[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]], while his [[Jim Corrigan#Jim Corrigan (1970s)|Earth-One counterpart]] was a [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]] police officer who often assisted ''[[Daily Planet]]'' cub reporter [[Jimmy Olsen]] and superhero [[Black Lightning]]. Many characters would often travel from one Earth to the other and interact with its natives or even immigrate. For example, Larry Jordan, the first [[Air Wave#Larry Jordan|Air Wave]] and native of Earth-Two, traveled to Earth-One under yet-unexplained circumstances, married [[Air Wave#Helen Jordan|Helen]] (the second Air Wave) and raised a son, [[Air Wave#Harold Jordan|Hal]] (the third Air Wave).<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[Bob Rozakis|Rozakis, Bob]]|penciller=[[Alex Saviuk|Saviuk, Alex]]|inker=Colletta, Vince|story=Whatever Happened to the Original Air Wave?|title=[[DC Comics Presents]]|issue=#40|date=December 1981}}</ref>

==Unique features==
The history of Earth-Two is slightly different from both real world history and the history of other versions of Earth from DC Comics stories. For example in classic Earth-Two stories, by the 1970s, [[Quebec]] is shown to be an independent nation autonomous from [[Canada]].{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} [[South Africa]] abolished [[apartheid]] sooner than in the real world.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} The fictional countries of Dukalia, Luxor, Napkan, Nastonia, Oxnalia, Thornia and others existed on the Axis side in WW2 (though most of these disappeared when the US entered the war). Unlike other DC Comics depictions of Atlantis, the Atlantean countries of Poseidonis and Tritonis were ruled by a queen, not a king (along with its inhabitants displaying surface dweller features and no capacity for underwater survival, as the Atlantis continent had been raised).

In addition, masked crimefighters are introduced decades earlier than in other universes later identified within DC Comics, and these participated in such historic conflicts as World War II. [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] founded both the Justice Society of America and the [[All-Star Squadron]]. Other events taking place decades earlier include the destruction of Krypton and the advent of advanced technology such as interstellar transportation and time travel.

Thousands of years ago, the [[Guardians of the Universe|Guardians of Earth-One's Universe]] expelled the vast majority of [[magic (fantasy)|magic]] from their universe, sending it to Earth-Two. This resulted in a predominance of magic and a weakening of scientific laws within Earth-Two's universe.

==Variants==
Because Earth-Two as presented did not match up with the actual comics of DC's Golden Age, other alternative Earths were used to explain the discrepancies.

'''Earth-Two-A''' (also known as Alternate Earth-Two) was where Clark Kent worked for the ''Daily Planet'' under editor Parry White in the 1940s and 1950s (on regular Earth-Two Kent worked for the ''Daily Star'', his editor was George Taylor, and Perry White was a reporter).<ref>{{cite comic|writer=|penciller=|inker=|story=|title=The Official Crisis on Infinite Earths Index|issue=#1|date=March 1986}}</ref>

'''Earth-Two-B''' (also '''Earth-Forty-Six''') is a world referenced but not described in the ''Crisis on Infinite Earths: Absolute Edition''.

'''Earth-E''' ('''Earth-216''') is the world where the [[Super-Sons]] adventures happened and was used to explain 1950s Batman and Superman stories that didn't fit with either Earth-One or Earth-Two history. Mark Gruenwald assigned it to the 1951–1960 period of those books.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gruenwald|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Gruenwald|title=In Search of the Super-Sons Tangent|journal=Omniverse: The Journal of Fictional Reality|issue=1|publisher=Alternity Enterprises|date=1977}}</ref>

'''New 52 Earth 2''': Following the events of "[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]", the setting was revised, and was now identified as "Earth ''2''" (instead of "Earth Two" or "Earth-Two"). While it still houses a [[Justice Society of America|team of superheroes]], its membership is younger than before. Earth 2 also has a tragic backstory, having been invaded by an alien horde from [[Apokolips]] five years prior to the reboot, ahead of [[Darkseid]]'s attempted invasion of Prime Earth. In the process, this reality's [[Superman of Earth-Two]], [[Batman of Earth-Two]] and [[Wonder Woman of Earth-Two]] all died, while its [[Supergirl]] and post-Flashpoint [[Robin of Earth-Two]] ([[Helena Wayne]]) were swept through a dimensional warp to Prime Earth where they became known as [[Power Girl]] and [[Huntress (Helena Wayne)|Huntress]]. Other notable character differences include a younger version of Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern, who leads the Wonders; Superman is succeeded by Val-Zod, a black-skinned Kryptonian pacifist; Aquawoman (Marella) is the Queen of Atlantis; Terry Sloan, formerly known as Mr. 8, is a universe-hopping villain; and Oliver Queen is the Red Arrow.

The ensuing ''Earth-2'' (2012–2015) and ''Earth-2: World's End'' (2014–2015) stories depict the formation of a new group of heroes ("Wonders") who try and fail to save the Earth from Darkseid's second invasion attempt.

This Earth's Supergirl and Robin were transported to Prime Earth during the war, where they assumed the identities of [[Power Girl]] and the [[Huntress (Helena Wayne)|Huntress]]; they later relocate to Earth-2 in ''Earth-2: World's End''

Following the destruction of Earth-2 by Darkseid, the assembled heroes restart human civilization on a new planet in ''Earth-2: Society'' (2015–2017). They eventually reboot the world's history, resulting in a dieselpunk world where the Ultra-Humanite suppressed the Wonders until the survivors from before the reboot re-emerged.

This Earth is the current Earth 2 of the modern Multiverse, as confirmed in ''Dark Crisis: Big Bang''.

==In other media==
===Television===
* Earth-2 appears in the ''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'' episode "Tempus Anyone?" This version is home to a variant of Clark Kent who never became Superman after his fiancé [[Lana Lang]] convinced him not to publicly use his powers.
* Earth-2, based on the comics' post-''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths|Crisis]]'' [[Earth Three|Earth-3]], appears in ''[[Smallville]]''. This version is home to a variant of [[Clark Kent (Smallville)|Clark Kent]] who was found and raised by [[Lionel Luthor]] and became [[Ultraman (DC Comics)|Ultraman]]. Additionally, this Earth is accessed by a [[Krypton (comics)|Krypton]]ian mirror box.
* Two variations of [[Earth-2 (Arrowverse)|Earth-2]], pre- and post-"[[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis on Infinite Earths]]", appear in media set in the [[Arrowverse]]:
** First appearing in the [[The Flash season 2|second season]] of ''[[The Flash (2014 TV series)|The Flash]]'', the pre-Crisis Earth-2 possesses a combination of contemporary 21st century and 1940s architecture, fashion, and entertainment outlets as well as advanced science and technology compared to [[Earth-1 (Arrowverse)|Earth-1]]. Additionally, similarly to the comics' Earth-3, inhabitants of Earth-2 have opposite personalities and went through opposite circumstances than their Earth-1 doppelgängers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/the-flash-introduces-earth-2s-green-arrow-new-obstacle-for-barry |title="The Flash" Introduces Earth-2's Green Arrow, New Obstacle for Barry |last=Damore |first=Meagan |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=November 10, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2016 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805143247/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/the-flash-introduces-earth-2s-green-arrow-new-obstacle-for-barry |archive-date=August 5, 2016 }}</ref>
** The pre-Crisis Earth-2 appears in the ''[[Arrow (TV series)|Arrow]]'' episode "[[Starling City (Arrow episode)|Starling City]]", in which it is destroyed by the [[Anti-Monitor]].
** The post-Crisis Earth-2 makes a cameo appearance in "Crisis on Infinite Earths", in which the events of ''[[Stargirl (TV series)|Stargirl]]'' take place.

===Film===
* Film executive [[Walter Hamada]] confirmed in August 2020 during [[DC FanDome]] that [[DC Films]] was establishing a new film continuity tentatively named "[[Earth-2 (The Batman)|Earth-2]]" that would co-exist adjunct from the [[DC Extended Universe]] (dubbed as "Earth-1") and their more experimental standalone DC Comics-based projects such as the film ''[[Joker (2019 film)|Joker]]''. This version of Earth-2 serves as the setting for [[Matt Reeves]]' film ''[[The Batman (film)|The Batman]]'' (2022), the spin-off TV series ''[[The Penguin (TV series)|The Penguin]]'', and other television series currently in development, such as a series centered on the [[Gotham City Police Department]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|date=2020-12-27|title=Managing Movie Superheroes Is About to Get a Lot More Complicated|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/27/business/media/dc-superheroes-movies.html|access-date=2021-10-20|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=HBO Max is making a Gotham City police series with the director of 'The Batman'|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/10/hbo-max-is-making-a-gotham-city-police-series-with-the-director-of-the-batman/|access-date=2021-10-20|website=TechCrunch|date=10 July 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=2021-09-13|title='The Batman' Spinoff Series Centered On The Penguin In The Works At HBO Max|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/penguin-spinoff-series-in-the-works-at-hbo-max-1234832409/|access-date=2021-10-20|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Earth-2 appears in ''[[Justice Society: World War II]]''.

===Video games===
* The Earth-2 variants of [[Jay Garrick]], [[Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders)|Kendra Saunders]], and [[Solomon Grundy (character)|Solomon Grundy]] appear as alternate skins for [[Barry Allen]], [[Shiera Sanders Hall]], and Grundy in ''[[Injustice: Gods Among Us]]'' via the ''Earth 2'' [[Downloadable content|DLC]] pack.
* The ''New 52''{{'}}s version of Earth-2 Batman appears as an alternate skin for Batman in ''[[Batman: Arkham Origins]] and [[Batman: Arkham Knight]]'' via DLC.<ref>{{cite web|first=Alexa Ray|last=Corriea|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/7/4597178/batman-arkham-origins-skin-pack-adds-alternate-timeline-costumes|title=''Batman: Arkham Origins'' skin pack adds alternate timeline costumes|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=August 7, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811103539/http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/7/4597178/batman-arkham-origins-skin-pack-adds-alternate-timeline-costumes|archive-date=August 11, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Begley|url=http://batman-news.com/2013/09/26/batman-arkham-origins-season-pass-announced-new-dlc-skins-revealed/|title=''Batman: Arkham Origins'' season pass announced, new DLC and skins revealed|website=Batman-News.com|date=September 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221845/http://batman-news.com/2013/09/26/batman-arkham-origins-season-pass-announced-new-dlc-skins-revealed/|archive-date=June 6, 2014|url-status=live|access-date=October 1, 2013}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{cite web|url=http://toonopedia.com/earth1-2.htm|title=Earth-One, Earth-Two, Crisis on Infinite Earths|first=Don|last=Markstein|date=2010|website=[[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527210357/https://www.webcitation.org/6hzYNsTZT?url=http://toonopedia.com/earth1-2.htm|archive-date=May 27, 2024|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all|access-date=June 3, 2016}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=title|id=36902|title=Earth 2}}
* [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/series.php?seriesid=10276 ''Earth 2''] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics

{{Earth-Two|state=collapsed}}
{{Gardner Fox}}
{{Justice Society of America|state=collapsed}}
{{The New 52|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Earth-Two| ]]
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[[Category:Fictional elements introduced in 1961]]
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