Collecting The Wrong Earth issues 1-6 from Ahoy Comics.

Tom Peyer – Writer. Jamal Inle – Artist. Juan Castro – Inker. Andy Troy – Color. Rob Steen – Letters.

I picked up a Free Comic Book Day book from Ahoy two years ago and always meant to go back and read this comic. Also, Ahoy Comics is based in Syracuse and I’m just down the road. So I want to support the local companies.

The Wrong Earth tells the tale of two versions of the same hero. Earth-Omega is the 1980’s grim and gritty and dark super hero worlds we’ve all experienced for near 40 years. This is Dragonfly’s world. He’s bitter. He’s a vigilante. He drinks, he swears, he pushes people away, he takes lives.

But over on Earth-Alpha Dragonflyman saves the day in the most Biff Bam Pow of ways. Bright colors, respectful, lesson giving super heroics.

So what would happen to these two heroes and their respective worlds if they switched places?

That’s the concept of this series – The Wrong Earth – when Dragonflyman is plunged into a world of darkness and Dragonfly shields his eyes in a world of light. These six issues shine a mirror, shattered though it may be, on the blueprint of what is expected of modern comics, and also what they used to be.

As a long time reader I fell in love with both worlds. Yes – with the sidekicks, and the money, and the city – this is Batman but not. That is what makes it so enjoyable. We’ve all seen everyone from Adam West to the upcoming Robert Pattinson. Even non comic book readers are familiar with the character and the changes into darkness. What sounds like a Saturday Night Live sketch – throwing Adam West into the new Batman movie – instead of a joke is an examination of what makes a hero.

It’s cliche to say that Gotham City is a character, even though it’s true. The Wrong Earth takes that idea and makes every bit of Fortune City – streets, alleys, politicians, police, criminals, public and more – into a character that adapts and changes in symbiotic relationship with Dragonfly/Dragonflyman. As one becomes darker, the other one has to change its hue to adapt. And as one may be influenced by something a little brighter, the same.

I don’t feel like I’m going out on a limb here either because it’s obvious nothing is in this book by accident. Every villain, every turn, every bit of the costume has been planned out and edited and discussed back and forth. The guns that might not be used for 100 issues are present on page one. Tiny things like Dragonflyman’s mask has lights around his eyes to obscure his true identity. That’s brilliant and so mod.

I over hear gate keeping comic fans constantly question the talent levels any independent publisher can afford. Please don’t be like that. My only complaint about this book is that it is so well done, so big, I do wish it could connect to one of the big 2 universes. I think they both need to be shown the errors of grabbing the throats of what Miller and Moore did in the 80s and never letting go. Both Earths are equally enjoyable for their own reasons but especially as a contrast to each other. And that’s a huge part of what’s missing. When everyone is grim and gritty. When everything is an event. Nothing is.

Dragonflyman and Dragonfly are though.

An amazing read. Start the story here and put anything new on your pull list.