Reign of the Supermen #352: Superman of Earth-D

Source: Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (1999)
Type: Alternate EarthIn an untold tale of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Barry Allen finds himself on Earth-D, a world that considers 1985's Earth-1 "dark". It's not just the heroes of the Justice Alliance of America (cozy in their underwater base) who have a cheerier outlook on life, but apparently their writers as well. This is a version of the DCU where racial diversity is of the utmost importance. The only members of the JAA who appear to be white are Batman and Robin. Green Arrow is a Native American. Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and the Atom appear to be Hispanic (the latter may be black). The Flash is Japanese-American and the brother-sister team of Hawkman and Hawkwoman have a sallow coloring, but are still aliens. And even Aquaman and the Martian Manhunter have more alien appearances to go with this world's heightened tolerance.

Superman (Kal) and his wife Supergirl (Kara) are black Kryptonians who came to Earth when their planet died only three years ago. Though his apparent ethnicity is different, this Superman is just as much a hero as our Superman is, a beacon for truth, justice and all that other stuff. His world's greatest hero. And he gave his life in the Crisis, a little earlier than most others, on that day when a hero of Earth-D died for the first time. And again. And again.
The combined efforts of the JLA and JAA still managed to save millions of people by "merging" them with their Earth-1 counterparts, foreshadowing the merging of Earths 1 and 2 later in the Crisis.

Comments

That Batman remains white reminds me of John's second point here: http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2011/09/22/if-i-rebooted-dc/
What I mean to say is, it never occurred to me until recently just how much Batman's origin is tied in to him coming from a privileged, white background, something that isn't necessarily true of a lot of other old DC heroes (maybe Green Arrow, but then he's a Batman analogue anyway).
Also (sorry for the comment spam), is that a take on Sunshine Superman's logo?
Siskoid said…
I don't know that it specifically is, but it sure looks like it!

The Green Lantern also has a costume that looks more like Kyle's original one than Hal's. The idea being that some elements from Earth-D made their way to New Earth.
Siskoid, this is one of my favorite "Crisis" comics I own. (Plus, it was Barry's first Flashpoint.) Did you read the Retroactive issue of Superman that Marv Wolfman wrote? He actually explains why the Monitor chose Earth-1 for his initial shadow appearances and gathering of heroes. I'm a sucker for COIE, Alex Ross gave me a signed copy for my birthday when the deluxe HC came out. I love every bit of that thing. You need to read that retroactive 80s book, if you haven't already.
Too bad DC never did anything more with the Earth-D concept outside of Wolfman. The current DCU could do a new take on this, but since Dildio has declared "no more Crisises" I doubt it will happen.

Nice point from Jay about why Batman stays white while in other Earths..you're exactly right about how being white and privileged could be a major factor. now while I don't think the writers go that far into detail, Asians and Blacks, and even Mexicans can also be rich and be doctors as well, so there.

Good post Sisk.
Siskoid said…
I read it, but it left me a little cold, frankly. Too much of a recap of every year's big event.
Siskoid said…
Dale: I thought showing off Earth-D in the wake of various diversity discussions re: the new DC was good timing.