What do you think?
Rate this book
The Wrong Earth #1
The Wrong Earth: Volume One
Collecting the smash-hit miniseries that launched Ahoy Comics! On dark, gritty Earth-Omega, masked vigilante Dragonfly punishes evil maniacs and evades corrupt authorities. On sun-splashed Earth-Alpha, costumed crook-catcher Dragonflyman upholds the letter of the law. Now they're trapped on each other's worlds, where even the good guys don't share their values!
This volume also collects The Wrong Earth 1-6, including all the original Stinger and Dragonflyman backup stories, plus extra behind-the-scenes features.
This volume also collects The Wrong Earth 1-6, including all the original Stinger and Dragonflyman backup stories, plus extra behind-the-scenes features.
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2019
4 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Tom Peyer
632 books18 followersTom Peyer is an American comic book creator and editor.
He is known for his 1999 revisioning of Golden Age super-hero Hourman, as well as his work on the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 1990s. An editor at DC Comics/Vertigo from 1987 to 1993, he served as assistant editor on Neil Gaiman's groundbreaking Sandman. Peyer has also worked for Marvel Comics, Wildstorm, and Bongo Comics. With John Layman, he wrote the 2007–2009 Tek Jansen comic book, based on the Stephen Colbert character.
He is known for his 1999 revisioning of Golden Age super-hero Hourman, as well as his work on the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 1990s. An editor at DC Comics/Vertigo from 1987 to 1993, he served as assistant editor on Neil Gaiman's groundbreaking Sandman. Peyer has also worked for Marvel Comics, Wildstorm, and Bongo Comics. With John Layman, he wrote the 2007–2009 Tek Jansen comic book, based on the Stephen Colbert character.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
June 4, 2019
When Dragonflyman chases his arch-nemesis Number One through a magic mirror, he winds up in a much bleaker world and that world's Dragonflyman and Number One end up in his...
The basic premise of The Wrong Earth is a simple one: What if the Batman of the '60s TV show ended up in Frank Miller's Batman's world. Combine that with a cover that is somewhat of an homage to Flash of Two Worlds and it's not something I could pass up.
So Dragonflyman leaves his campy, retrofuture world behind and winds up in a world of corrupt cops, psychopathic villains, and dead sidekicks. His counterpart, Dragonfly, ends up in a world where his sidekick is still alive and the criminals waste their time on ridiculously elaborate death traps. And there's a secret binding the two worlds together that will be explored in future volumes.
The writing is great. Not only can the story be viewed as how Batman has changed over time, it could be interpreted as a commentary on comics as a whole changing over the past 80 years. Plus Dragonflyman is every bit as fun as Adam West. The art does a great job contrasting the two Dragonflymen and their worlds, making Earth Omega seem like a crime-ridden hellhole and Earth Alpha like a paradise by comparison. Unlike most comics these days, I didn't feel the bite of decompression. Each issue was self contained but part of a greater whole.
Most modern comics don't exactly make the grade for me but this one checked all the boxes. I'm ready for volume two, same Dragonflyman time, same Dragonflyman channel! Five out of five stars.
The basic premise of The Wrong Earth is a simple one: What if the Batman of the '60s TV show ended up in Frank Miller's Batman's world. Combine that with a cover that is somewhat of an homage to Flash of Two Worlds and it's not something I could pass up.
So Dragonflyman leaves his campy, retrofuture world behind and winds up in a world of corrupt cops, psychopathic villains, and dead sidekicks. His counterpart, Dragonfly, ends up in a world where his sidekick is still alive and the criminals waste their time on ridiculously elaborate death traps. And there's a secret binding the two worlds together that will be explored in future volumes.
The writing is great. Not only can the story be viewed as how Batman has changed over time, it could be interpreted as a commentary on comics as a whole changing over the past 80 years. Plus Dragonflyman is every bit as fun as Adam West. The art does a great job contrasting the two Dragonflymen and their worlds, making Earth Omega seem like a crime-ridden hellhole and Earth Alpha like a paradise by comparison. Unlike most comics these days, I didn't feel the bite of decompression. Each issue was self contained but part of a greater whole.
Most modern comics don't exactly make the grade for me but this one checked all the boxes. I'm ready for volume two, same Dragonflyman time, same Dragonflyman channel! Five out of five stars.
June 23, 2019
Imagine if Adam West's Batman and Frank Miller's Dark Knight changed places. That's what happens to Dragonfly Man, who comes from a world where villains only try and harm you through elaborate death traps, and Dragonfly, a vigilante who murders anyone who breaks the law. It's a nice juxtaposition as each character is set loose in each other's world. The art is also very good with veteran comic book artist, Jamal Igle, performing capably.
Received a review copy from Ahoy Comics and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Ahoy Comics and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
May 17, 2019
This was a nice surprise.
So take a 60's version of batman and a 80's version of Batman and have them switch worlds.
Dragonflyman is a superhero in both. However, on one world he is a gritty badass vigilante fighter who lost his sidekick and vows to kill anyone who fucks with him. The other-side of the coin is a happy go lucky hero who stops crime like it's a Saturday morning cartoon everyday. When these two switches spots into their world they must adapt to save the city. Will they be able to or are they doomed?
I thought the story was well balanced throughout. Both versions of the same character kept me very interested. The ways they would do things was so different but at the same time their results weren't ALL that different, which was interesting and fun to see. I also enjoyed the art, both lively when it needed to be, with great colors, and dark and gritty too. The dialogue was mostly really solid with plenty of great banter.
The only negatives really were the extra chapters were bland and depressing to be depressing and some of the villains talked way too much.
Overall, super fun time here. Can't wait to read book 2. A 4 out of 5.
So take a 60's version of batman and a 80's version of Batman and have them switch worlds.
Dragonflyman is a superhero in both. However, on one world he is a gritty badass vigilante fighter who lost his sidekick and vows to kill anyone who fucks with him. The other-side of the coin is a happy go lucky hero who stops crime like it's a Saturday morning cartoon everyday. When these two switches spots into their world they must adapt to save the city. Will they be able to or are they doomed?
I thought the story was well balanced throughout. Both versions of the same character kept me very interested. The ways they would do things was so different but at the same time their results weren't ALL that different, which was interesting and fun to see. I also enjoyed the art, both lively when it needed to be, with great colors, and dark and gritty too. The dialogue was mostly really solid with plenty of great banter.
The only negatives really were the extra chapters were bland and depressing to be depressing and some of the villains talked way too much.
Overall, super fun time here. Can't wait to read book 2. A 4 out of 5.
July 30, 2020
This would have been a 5 star volume had the writers not devoted several issues to fluff. The actual story, or book one, ends with roughly 80 pages to go. The remainder of the volume is filled with small vignettes set in both the Golden Age and Modern Age. But I would have much rather them continued on with the story as the fluff was not truly all that great. But what about the original story?
It's really clever and interesting. So there is an Earth Alpha and an Earth Omega. EA is very similar to the style of 60's campy Batman, where as EO is far more like Frank Miller's Dark Knight. I say "Batman", because at the heart of this story is a similar hero- Dragonflyman. In EA he is Dragonflyman, similar to the 60's Batman, he is campy, brave, respectful, works well with the cops and authorities and has a sidekick. The EO Dragonflyman actually is called "Dragonfly" and he is Batman-post Robin's demise- Dragonfly is dark, grim, brutal, feared by criminals, cops and citizens alike, in the EO reality his sidekick had already been killed.
Both the Dragonfly guys have a nemesis named Number One, a Joker-like figure. The EA Number 1 is a campy Cesar Romero inspired criminal, whereas the Number 1 from EO is far more like Heath Ledger's Joker. An incident occurs where the respective Dragonfly guys and Number Ones get transplanted in the alternate Earth. So the campy, silly, do-gooder EA world gets a violent and brutal hero and villain, while the EO gets the campy versions.
No more spoilers. It is a very clever idea and I liked how Dragonflyman has all sorts of stupid campy 60's style tech like "anti-explosion spray" or "bullet stopping spray", while Dragonfly is breaking limbs and even, occasionally, killing criminals. The effect is similar to seeing the grim and brutal Dark Knight of Frank Miller getting sent into the world of 60's campy Batman. Meanwhile, it was funny to see the campy Dragonflyman also trying to make his way in this far bleaker world than his.
Had they kept the entire volume, or just one or two fluff stories, this would have been a 5 star volume. Good artwork too. Clever, rather original and well drawn take a second to check out "Wrong Earth". I'll certainly hunt down Vol 2 and hope they don't waste as much time on fluff stories. I don't mind the "extra" stuff where the creators explain the art and inspirations, that stuff is cool but please just go with the main story and you can limit yourself to one short story instead of several.
It's really clever and interesting. So there is an Earth Alpha and an Earth Omega. EA is very similar to the style of 60's campy Batman, where as EO is far more like Frank Miller's Dark Knight. I say "Batman", because at the heart of this story is a similar hero- Dragonflyman. In EA he is Dragonflyman, similar to the 60's Batman, he is campy, brave, respectful, works well with the cops and authorities and has a sidekick. The EO Dragonflyman actually is called "Dragonfly" and he is Batman-post Robin's demise- Dragonfly is dark, grim, brutal, feared by criminals, cops and citizens alike, in the EO reality his sidekick had already been killed.
Both the Dragonfly guys have a nemesis named Number One, a Joker-like figure. The EA Number 1 is a campy Cesar Romero inspired criminal, whereas the Number 1 from EO is far more like Heath Ledger's Joker. An incident occurs where the respective Dragonfly guys and Number Ones get transplanted in the alternate Earth. So the campy, silly, do-gooder EA world gets a violent and brutal hero and villain, while the EO gets the campy versions.
No more spoilers. It is a very clever idea and I liked how Dragonflyman has all sorts of stupid campy 60's style tech like "anti-explosion spray" or "bullet stopping spray", while Dragonfly is breaking limbs and even, occasionally, killing criminals. The effect is similar to seeing the grim and brutal Dark Knight of Frank Miller getting sent into the world of 60's campy Batman. Meanwhile, it was funny to see the campy Dragonflyman also trying to make his way in this far bleaker world than his.
Had they kept the entire volume, or just one or two fluff stories, this would have been a 5 star volume. Good artwork too. Clever, rather original and well drawn take a second to check out "Wrong Earth". I'll certainly hunt down Vol 2 and hope they don't waste as much time on fluff stories. I don't mind the "extra" stuff where the creators explain the art and inspirations, that stuff is cool but please just go with the main story and you can limit yourself to one short story instead of several.
May 3, 2019
Another «underground» comic book with super-heroes that just can't bring anything new and don,t achieved the level of those major super-heroes machine that are Marvel and DC. the illustrations don't do it any good, seem unpolished and story/characters/world is just unoriginal. Not worth it!
May 5, 2019
I give this a high rating as I found the banter between the heroes and vilains entertaining and refreshing. I love the contradictions between Dragonflyman and Dragonfly. Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to view this arc.
May 12, 2019
3.5/5
AHOY comics is a new company, and The Wrong Earth written by Tom Peyer with art by Jamal Igle is their first series.
The story focuses on Dragonflyman and Stinger, characters from different Earths. One is a hero, the other a villain. When they trade places things go off the rail fast. While the concept of alternate worlds isn't new, Peyer and Igle approach it in a clever way that made me first mildly interested, then invested in the plot. They highlight differences between worlds through characterization and art (mainly coloring).
I felt entertained, but I also found dialogue unnecessarily over the top in places and characterization, especially of the super-villain, lacking subtlety.
That said, I think The Wrong Earth is well worth a read and if AHOY comics continue to offer more similar stories, it will win many fans. I'll check their next publications for sure.
AHOY comics is a new company, and The Wrong Earth written by Tom Peyer with art by Jamal Igle is their first series.
The story focuses on Dragonflyman and Stinger, characters from different Earths. One is a hero, the other a villain. When they trade places things go off the rail fast. While the concept of alternate worlds isn't new, Peyer and Igle approach it in a clever way that made me first mildly interested, then invested in the plot. They highlight differences between worlds through characterization and art (mainly coloring).
I felt entertained, but I also found dialogue unnecessarily over the top in places and characterization, especially of the super-villain, lacking subtlety.
That said, I think The Wrong Earth is well worth a read and if AHOY comics continue to offer more similar stories, it will win many fans. I'll check their next publications for sure.
May 10, 2019
A very strong concept, and well thought through (at least as far as this initial collection goes), but really only shines with a Batman Universe overlay to get the best of the nuances. I would have loved Peyer to have pitched this to DC.
The artist is competent, very strong on anatomy and facial expressions, but a more stylised artist could have brought out the alternate worlds more strongly; as it is, sometimes it's difficult to tell which Dragonfly/Man is Adam West and which is Christian Bale.
(Read as single issues.)
The artist is competent, very strong on anatomy and facial expressions, but a more stylised artist could have brought out the alternate worlds more strongly; as it is, sometimes it's difficult to tell which Dragonfly/Man is Adam West and which is Christian Bale.
(Read as single issues.)
May 9, 2019
Ahoy Comics "The Wrong Earth" from Tom Peyer and Jamal Igle is quite frankly, something special. Taking the classic "mirror mirror" alt universe switcharoo approach and flipping it on it's head in quite a refreshing way. The writing and art are incredibly solid and will have you wanting the next volume immediately. If you like silver age shenanigans meets gritty widescreen hi-jinx, this one is for you.
May 7, 2019
The Wrong Earth is a great exploration of the duality of superhero media across the Silver and more modern eras. It was refreshing to see a superhero comic unburdened by years of continuity yet still retain a lot of the flavor of familiar beats - especially with regard to the Batman Mythos. As someone who's oft derided the grim-dark era of 1980s comics, it was a delight to see the two sides to comic book heroes explored in more detail. However, I think the first TPB could have gone into a bit more depth, but that may be something we'd get in future arcs.
April 25, 2020
Checking out some other smaller publishers
This was awesome. A good and bad superhero kinda reminiscent of Batman accidentally swap worlds. Very fun. The art is great to look at as well
This was awesome. A good and bad superhero kinda reminiscent of Batman accidentally swap worlds. Very fun. The art is great to look at as well
May 14, 2019
The notion of parallel universes is not new, but the approach to the concept can be fresh or generic. This time, we got an extremely refreshing story as Dragonfly and Dragonflyman swap worlds and universes. One is basically these day's Gotham, while the other is the 60's TV Show Batman Gotham. Ohhhhh, and was it fun.
Tom Peyer brought a beautiful story filled with fun, action and emotional moments, at a time when decompression in comic books is so severe that it's not rare to read a whole issue of another series and realize that nothing really happened.
And as if I wasn't getting enough joy, Jamal Igle's art is beautiful and perfect.
I need this to be a regular series.
Tom Peyer brought a beautiful story filled with fun, action and emotional moments, at a time when decompression in comic books is so severe that it's not rare to read a whole issue of another series and realize that nothing really happened.
And as if I wasn't getting enough joy, Jamal Igle's art is beautiful and perfect.
I need this to be a regular series.
October 18, 2019
Collects The Wrong Earth (2018) issues #1-6
What would happen if the Batman from the 1966 TV show switched places with the grittier Batman of the 1980s and beyond? How would they survive on each others' Earths? Using a Batman analogue, this comic book tackles those questions, along with others. For example, the escalation question has come up related to Batman's presence in Gotham City. Does his presence there make the criminals and crimes worse? This graphic novel seems to answer that question with a "yes."
What would happen if the Batman from the 1966 TV show switched places with the grittier Batman of the 1980s and beyond? How would they survive on each others' Earths? Using a Batman analogue, this comic book tackles those questions, along with others. For example, the escalation question has come up related to Batman's presence in Gotham City. Does his presence there make the criminals and crimes worse? This graphic novel seems to answer that question with a "yes."
October 25, 2020
This and Penultimateman shows Peyer has a solid, imaginative grasp on Superheroes. And its amazing DC and Marvel haven't given him any big assignments since the 90s.
The guy bleeds Superhero comics.
The guy bleeds Superhero comics.
January 2, 2023
A great and fun read. Very witty and clever writing. At this point I can't wait to see where the story is going. To bad that the backup stories weren't that great.
January 22, 2021
Main story is awesome fun. The backup stories are not as good unfortunately.
May 9, 2019
An absolutely stunning launch for Ahoy. The Wrong Earth fills into every slice of the superhero genre, switching between colorful camp and dark grit seamlessly until the two actually blend together. As a Batman fan, I felt like I was watching a trading places between Adam West’s 60’s series and Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. The characters are unique, and both earths showcase intricate and detailed designs that both work with and contrast the characters in them. I was excited for this series when I saw an issue by chance in my local comic shop, and was blown away by the final product. The Wrong Earth showcases everything I love about the superhero genre, and I eagerly await volume 2.
October 4, 2019
Not great, not terrible. There are many pretty funny moments, but story could haw more drive and hold better together.
February 27, 2025
Woah, I was not expecting to enjoy this book so much, this was incredible. It may very well be vying for a spot in my top five favorite comics series.
The Silver Age of comics was filled with happy, honorable, paragons of virtue who smiled as they beat up the villain of the week, villains who really weren't all that much worse than the heroes.
The modern age of comics often features dark, gritty, anti-heroes soaked in cynicism and trauma, taking on twisted villains that they are not all that significantly better than.
The Wrong Earth has the same hero from two alternate universes, each representing one of the aforementioned periods, swap places. It's a great premise. And what's even more gratifying is that Peyer & Igle execute the content based off this premise with near-perfection. The art is beautiful and clear, and makes a visible distinction between the two Earths without having to explicitly label them. The dialogue is great, and the plot is extremely well-paced. There were very few points at which the usual "rushed" pace of character or relationship development that I am used to in comics occurred.
The whole thing is a commentary in some ways on the direction the comics industry has evolved in, but you don't at all have to be a comics-aficionado to enjoy this series. (You'll just get some extra bonus enjoyment out of it.) Peyer's really clever framing of events and plot points will keep you flipping all the way through the six issues (and maybe even the bonus content at the end) compiled in this book in one sitting. I've seen series with a strong start fall off the wagon later, so I will remain cautiously excited as I look forward to reading the next volume, but this is a really great self-contained story regardless of how the rest of the plot plays out.
The Silver Age of comics was filled with happy, honorable, paragons of virtue who smiled as they beat up the villain of the week, villains who really weren't all that much worse than the heroes.
The modern age of comics often features dark, gritty, anti-heroes soaked in cynicism and trauma, taking on twisted villains that they are not all that significantly better than.
The Wrong Earth has the same hero from two alternate universes, each representing one of the aforementioned periods, swap places. It's a great premise. And what's even more gratifying is that Peyer & Igle execute the content based off this premise with near-perfection. The art is beautiful and clear, and makes a visible distinction between the two Earths without having to explicitly label them. The dialogue is great, and the plot is extremely well-paced. There were very few points at which the usual "rushed" pace of character or relationship development that I am used to in comics occurred.
The whole thing is a commentary in some ways on the direction the comics industry has evolved in, but you don't at all have to be a comics-aficionado to enjoy this series. (You'll just get some extra bonus enjoyment out of it.) Peyer's really clever framing of events and plot points will keep you flipping all the way through the six issues (and maybe even the bonus content at the end) compiled in this book in one sitting. I've seen series with a strong start fall off the wagon later, so I will remain cautiously excited as I look forward to reading the next volume, but this is a really great self-contained story regardless of how the rest of the plot plays out.
June 3, 2019
AHOY COMICS’ first expedition took sail last year and landed on our shores during the third quarter of 2018, with four debut titles coming to port. I’m not going out on a limb by designating them the small publisher to watch in 2019. They have already proven to be a premium quality house of ideas.
THE WRONG EARTH was their very first title, and it’s appropriate that it now becomes the first Ahoy trade paperback collection this year. The publisher’s goals were clearly stated in the editorial page of THE WRONG EARTH #1. The goal was to produce books that were “smart, good-looking, unusual and funny.”
They clearly hit the target, in my opinion. In addition, Ahoy also promises to provide “more” every issue with extra content. Most 32 page Ahoy titles contain a 20-page main story, a second back-up feature, interviews with creators, and the return of short text fiction (which disappeared from comics pages in the 1960’s.) I haven’t seen the trade paperback yet (scheduled for release in May) but I’ve read the individual issues — and if they include everything then the trade paperback will be worth the asking price.
Story arcs for those four debut titles have wrapped up, and Ahoy launched its second expedition in April with brand new titles.
If you’ve been following the comics career paths of either Tom Peyer or Jamal Igle (two under-the-radar creators deserving of more recogniton) then you need to pick up THE WRONG EARTH VOL 1 trade paperback, as it showcases some of the best work of both.
Peyer’s writing is sharp, crisp and subtly pokes fun at the super-hero genre, albeit respectfully and lovingly. This could easily be read as a straight-up super-hero adventure story - - but it’s more than that.
Jamal Igle’s art sparkles under the eye of inker Castro and colorist Troy. It’s both fluid and dynamic. It reminds me overall of THE WATCHMAN art, although Igle is not copying, and isn’t confined to a strict nine-panel-per-page format, allowing him creative freedom with panel placement and size.
THE WRONG EARTH is a homage to the super-hero tales from a more innocent age (mid-’60’s,early ’70’s) as well as darker-themed superhero fare from the time when things began to shade grayer (beginning in late ’60’s, slogging through the ’70’s and really hitting stride in the ’80’s and beyond).
Fortune City substitutes for Gotham, and exists on both Earth Alpha and Earth Omega — as well as a super-hero with similarities and differences. Dragonflyman on Earth Alpha is “campy”, utilizing gadgets and a sidekick (Stinger). Dragonfly on Earth Omega is “gritty” employing both brutality and sometimes murder to protect citizens from criminals. He works alone, as his sidekick committed suicide.
Both heroes have similar costumes, with Dragonflyman’s being a bit more colorful and inviting while Dragonfly’s costume conceals more and is slightly intimidating.
The main villain on both worlds goes by the title of Number One. On Earth Alpha he’s a sharp dresser, makes cornball wisecracks and goes with crimes that polish his vanity (as in stealing expensive art from museums and replacing with portraits of himself). His team uses numbers as pseudonyms, beginning with the alluring Deuce (like Joker’s Harley Quinn) and well-dressed thugs. Number One on Earth Omega prefers traditional crime targets (banks, etc), resembles a punk rocker and employs brutality and violence to keep his crew in line. All his henchmen dress like terrorists, with concealing masks.
One common element that plays a big part in the series is a teleport-mirror, as both Number Ones walk through these mirrors to escape from a pursuing Dragonflyman/Dragonfly. Both hero and villain find themselves in the opposite world, and therein lies the crux of the series. How do hero and villain adjust to worlds that contrast where they came from? Do they adapt? Do they effect change? Do they live?
Things really come to a head in Issue #5 with an unexpected fatality and Issue #6 where we learn the universe is much bigger than the worlds of Alpha and Omega - - a real cliff-hanger, and a teaser for Volume Two coming in 2020.
There are great moments and highlights throughout the first volume, but I don’t want to make this column too long. Take my word for it and check it out. Here’s just one example . . . .
Issue #4 is one of my favorites, featuring a team of super-villains on both worlds. The Dastardly League on Earth Alpha has some amusing members, including Dr Yo-Yo, Granny Oakley, Toreador, and Chef Escargot. All funny, but my absolute favorite is the ridiculous Kactus of Earth Omega.
THE WRONG EARTH was their very first title, and it’s appropriate that it now becomes the first Ahoy trade paperback collection this year. The publisher’s goals were clearly stated in the editorial page of THE WRONG EARTH #1. The goal was to produce books that were “smart, good-looking, unusual and funny.”
They clearly hit the target, in my opinion. In addition, Ahoy also promises to provide “more” every issue with extra content. Most 32 page Ahoy titles contain a 20-page main story, a second back-up feature, interviews with creators, and the return of short text fiction (which disappeared from comics pages in the 1960’s.) I haven’t seen the trade paperback yet (scheduled for release in May) but I’ve read the individual issues — and if they include everything then the trade paperback will be worth the asking price.
Story arcs for those four debut titles have wrapped up, and Ahoy launched its second expedition in April with brand new titles.
If you’ve been following the comics career paths of either Tom Peyer or Jamal Igle (two under-the-radar creators deserving of more recogniton) then you need to pick up THE WRONG EARTH VOL 1 trade paperback, as it showcases some of the best work of both.
Peyer’s writing is sharp, crisp and subtly pokes fun at the super-hero genre, albeit respectfully and lovingly. This could easily be read as a straight-up super-hero adventure story - - but it’s more than that.
Jamal Igle’s art sparkles under the eye of inker Castro and colorist Troy. It’s both fluid and dynamic. It reminds me overall of THE WATCHMAN art, although Igle is not copying, and isn’t confined to a strict nine-panel-per-page format, allowing him creative freedom with panel placement and size.
THE WRONG EARTH is a homage to the super-hero tales from a more innocent age (mid-’60’s,early ’70’s) as well as darker-themed superhero fare from the time when things began to shade grayer (beginning in late ’60’s, slogging through the ’70’s and really hitting stride in the ’80’s and beyond).
Fortune City substitutes for Gotham, and exists on both Earth Alpha and Earth Omega — as well as a super-hero with similarities and differences. Dragonflyman on Earth Alpha is “campy”, utilizing gadgets and a sidekick (Stinger). Dragonfly on Earth Omega is “gritty” employing both brutality and sometimes murder to protect citizens from criminals. He works alone, as his sidekick committed suicide.
Both heroes have similar costumes, with Dragonflyman’s being a bit more colorful and inviting while Dragonfly’s costume conceals more and is slightly intimidating.
The main villain on both worlds goes by the title of Number One. On Earth Alpha he’s a sharp dresser, makes cornball wisecracks and goes with crimes that polish his vanity (as in stealing expensive art from museums and replacing with portraits of himself). His team uses numbers as pseudonyms, beginning with the alluring Deuce (like Joker’s Harley Quinn) and well-dressed thugs. Number One on Earth Omega prefers traditional crime targets (banks, etc), resembles a punk rocker and employs brutality and violence to keep his crew in line. All his henchmen dress like terrorists, with concealing masks.
One common element that plays a big part in the series is a teleport-mirror, as both Number Ones walk through these mirrors to escape from a pursuing Dragonflyman/Dragonfly. Both hero and villain find themselves in the opposite world, and therein lies the crux of the series. How do hero and villain adjust to worlds that contrast where they came from? Do they adapt? Do they effect change? Do they live?
Things really come to a head in Issue #5 with an unexpected fatality and Issue #6 where we learn the universe is much bigger than the worlds of Alpha and Omega - - a real cliff-hanger, and a teaser for Volume Two coming in 2020.
There are great moments and highlights throughout the first volume, but I don’t want to make this column too long. Take my word for it and check it out. Here’s just one example . . . .
Issue #4 is one of my favorites, featuring a team of super-villains on both worlds. The Dastardly League on Earth Alpha has some amusing members, including Dr Yo-Yo, Granny Oakley, Toreador, and Chef Escargot. All funny, but my absolute favorite is the ridiculous Kactus of Earth Omega.
August 20, 2024
The premise of The Wrong Earth is strong. Take the campy 1960s Batman and the gritty modern Batman (begun around Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), and have them swap worlds. The initial incongruity of the main character in a different world is entertaining enough, but watching each superhero slowly adapt to the other's world is more fascinating.
And it's almost impossible not to laugh out loud when Dragonflyman starts providing his own sound effects (e.g. "Biff", "Bam", "Pow") during a fistfight.
The dichotomy of Dragonflyman and Dragonfly is interesting and offers a bit of commentary on the state of modern comics. I've felt for many years that it's a shame I can't hand a young child a current issue of Batman without risking some mental scars. The Wrong Earth doesn't necessarily take a side and say one version is better than the other, though. It's more like proof that there's room for both takes on the character to coexist.
The alternate world versions of comic book characters has also been done to death at this point. Harley Quinn had a recent-ish story arc that spanned several universes' versions of Harley working together. The recent Spider-Verse movies have done the concept even better with an actual superhero and playing off that real world history.
I felt like the handling of the Joker equivalent, Number One, was not as good as the Batman analog. Which is a shame, since that leaves a huge hole in the superhero's character. And while the ending page hints at more, the lack of development prior to that causes the reveal to fall flat. I understand the story wanted to stay focused on the superhero, but it feels like Number One was only included for future story arcs.
The illustrations are pretty standard superhero comic fare. The differences between Dragonflyman and Dragonfly are subtle but noticeable enough. I would recommend flipping through the concept art included at the back of the book. I wish we got more of some characters (e.g. Earth Omega's Stinger, Earth Alpha's Number One) to see more world comparisons.
This book sat on my shelf for a couple years before I finally got around to reading it. Maybe my expectations built up too much over that time, but I came away underwhelmed compared to other reviewers.
And it's almost impossible not to laugh out loud when Dragonflyman starts providing his own sound effects (e.g. "Biff", "Bam", "Pow") during a fistfight.
The dichotomy of Dragonflyman and Dragonfly is interesting and offers a bit of commentary on the state of modern comics. I've felt for many years that it's a shame I can't hand a young child a current issue of Batman without risking some mental scars. The Wrong Earth doesn't necessarily take a side and say one version is better than the other, though. It's more like proof that there's room for both takes on the character to coexist.
The alternate world versions of comic book characters has also been done to death at this point. Harley Quinn had a recent-ish story arc that spanned several universes' versions of Harley working together. The recent Spider-Verse movies have done the concept even better with an actual superhero and playing off that real world history.
I felt like the handling of the Joker equivalent, Number One, was not as good as the Batman analog. Which is a shame, since that leaves a huge hole in the superhero's character. And while the ending page hints at more, the lack of development prior to that causes the reveal to fall flat. I understand the story wanted to stay focused on the superhero, but it feels like Number One was only included for future story arcs.
The illustrations are pretty standard superhero comic fare. The differences between Dragonflyman and Dragonfly are subtle but noticeable enough. I would recommend flipping through the concept art included at the back of the book. I wish we got more of some characters (e.g. Earth Omega's Stinger, Earth Alpha's Number One) to see more world comparisons.
This book sat on my shelf for a couple years before I finally got around to reading it. Maybe my expectations built up too much over that time, but I came away underwhelmed compared to other reviewers.
December 27, 2021
Holy Stinger, Dragonfly(man)! Ahoy Comics is producing some quality content!
Tom Peyer teams up with Jamal Igle to bring us one of the most interesting superhero stories I've read in a few years. The premise is simple, yet captivating - what would happen if Batman '66 met The Dark Knight Returns? What if they exchanged worlds!? How would Adam West's good-natured Batman fare in Ben Affleck's (or Christian Bale's) grittier Gotham?
Peyer is obviously not working with Batman or with DC Comics here to answer this question but instead leverages Dragonflyman and Dragonfly as perfect conduits.
In the story, Dragonflyman (from Earth Alpha) and Dragonfly (from Earth Omega) are fighting their respective villain, Number One (think Joker mixed with some Mirror Master and with some Riddler). In an attempt to capture their villain, however, the heroes get mixed up and end up in a different earth. Now they must find a way to navigate their new reality and get back to their home earth...
It's a short story (for now), but with such a cool concept. The art is great - it manages to depict both the grittier realities of Earth Alpha and Earth Omega with such ease. I have to say, as much as a I like Batman, I'm glad that this story is being told outside of the DC Comics realm. It allows Peyer much more room to breathe and tell his story.
Overall, a 9/10 for story and an 8/10 for the art.
Tom Peyer teams up with Jamal Igle to bring us one of the most interesting superhero stories I've read in a few years. The premise is simple, yet captivating - what would happen if Batman '66 met The Dark Knight Returns? What if they exchanged worlds!? How would Adam West's good-natured Batman fare in Ben Affleck's (or Christian Bale's) grittier Gotham?
Peyer is obviously not working with Batman or with DC Comics here to answer this question but instead leverages Dragonflyman and Dragonfly as perfect conduits.
In the story, Dragonflyman (from Earth Alpha) and Dragonfly (from Earth Omega) are fighting their respective villain, Number One (think Joker mixed with some Mirror Master and with some Riddler). In an attempt to capture their villain, however, the heroes get mixed up and end up in a different earth. Now they must find a way to navigate their new reality and get back to their home earth...
It's a short story (for now), but with such a cool concept. The art is great - it manages to depict both the grittier realities of Earth Alpha and Earth Omega with such ease. I have to say, as much as a I like Batman, I'm glad that this story is being told outside of the DC Comics realm. It allows Peyer much more room to breathe and tell his story.
Overall, a 9/10 for story and an 8/10 for the art.
July 21, 2019
A brief synopsis from the publisher for context: "On dark, gritty Earth-Omega, masked vigilante Dragonfly punishes evil maniacs and evades corrupt authorities. On sun-splashed Earth-Alpha, costumed crook-catcher Dragonflyman upholds the letter of the law. Now they're trapped on each other's worlds, where even the good guys don't share their values!"
I kinda really loved this. It was both an homage and a parody of superhero comics from different eras. Earth-Alpha's Dragonflyman, along with his sidekick, villains, and world were very Adam West Batman, and Earth-Omega's Dragonfly et al was more Frank Miller's Dark Knight on steroids. Once each version of the hero and villain arrives in the mirror world of their own, shit gets real in different ways. Dragonfly is frustrated by the cornball antics of the Alpha world, and Dragonflyman is baffled by the corruption of the Omega world. They each find different ways to deal with their situation and adjust, and the worlds start to change and adapt to them. The way each hero deals with the emotional impact of the differences was well done, and stayed true to how I felt each would react- there's a subtlety there, a depth that was very satisfying. The ending was a nice cliffhanger- how will they get back to their correct worlds? Do they both want to go back? Oh shit, who's that guy? I really want the next volume now!
#TheWrongEarthVol1 #NetGalley
I kinda really loved this. It was both an homage and a parody of superhero comics from different eras. Earth-Alpha's Dragonflyman, along with his sidekick, villains, and world were very Adam West Batman, and Earth-Omega's Dragonfly et al was more Frank Miller's Dark Knight on steroids. Once each version of the hero and villain arrives in the mirror world of their own, shit gets real in different ways. Dragonfly is frustrated by the cornball antics of the Alpha world, and Dragonflyman is baffled by the corruption of the Omega world. They each find different ways to deal with their situation and adjust, and the worlds start to change and adapt to them. The way each hero deals with the emotional impact of the differences was well done, and stayed true to how I felt each would react- there's a subtlety there, a depth that was very satisfying. The ending was a nice cliffhanger- how will they get back to their correct worlds? Do they both want to go back? Oh shit, who's that guy? I really want the next volume now!
#TheWrongEarthVol1 #NetGalley
August 13, 2019
*I received this book as an eARC from Ahoy comic via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Two different worlds. Two different superheroes: The Dragonfly and Dragonflyman. I love multiverse stories. Alternative possibilities. I could hear Adam West's and Christian Bale's voices in these characters. The two worlds and their characters are so different. I like the changes in vocabulary. There's one world where guns are the answer to everything. In the other, ridiculous over the top things happen. And there's also a lot of sexism, racism, and misogyny. The story calls out hypocrisy and biases. Privileges.
This story is essentially Adam West Batman and Christian Bale Batman, but with enough new character traits to make them unique individuals playing with the established tropes. Deuce is a "Harley Quinn"-like character and she is pretty damn awesome. There's a great last page reveal. I am excited for volume two!
I give this graphic novel a 4.5/5. It's an original concept playing with classic tropes in a well executed way. I love multiverse stories, especially when they provoke ethical thinking. There's a lot of great questions that are brought up. I hope the next volume continues these moral quandaries.
Two different worlds. Two different superheroes: The Dragonfly and Dragonflyman. I love multiverse stories. Alternative possibilities. I could hear Adam West's and Christian Bale's voices in these characters. The two worlds and their characters are so different. I like the changes in vocabulary. There's one world where guns are the answer to everything. In the other, ridiculous over the top things happen. And there's also a lot of sexism, racism, and misogyny. The story calls out hypocrisy and biases. Privileges.
This story is essentially Adam West Batman and Christian Bale Batman, but with enough new character traits to make them unique individuals playing with the established tropes. Deuce is a "Harley Quinn"-like character and she is pretty damn awesome. There's a great last page reveal. I am excited for volume two!
I give this graphic novel a 4.5/5. It's an original concept playing with classic tropes in a well executed way. I love multiverse stories, especially when they provoke ethical thinking. There's a lot of great questions that are brought up. I hope the next volume continues these moral quandaries.
March 10, 2020
This love letter to vintage comic tropes satirizes the 1980s wave of “dark and gritty” superhero deconstructions and is rife with inside jokes for genre fans. Deploying the cliché of parallel but opposite realities, the narrative alternates between virtuous Dragonflyman of Earth-Alpha and his teen sidekick, Stinger—allusions to the Batman and Robin of the campy 1960s Adam West TV series—and the vicious Dragonfly of Earth-Omega, a Punisher-like costumed vigilante whose teen partner died tragically.
The two heroes collide through a dimensional gateway (literally “through the looking glass”). Stranded in each other’s realms, facing versions of the same nemesis, the heroes try to adapt, which alters the worlds around them; mayhem ensues.
With action to excess and intentionally ridiculous dialogue, the script skewers both the quaint style of classic superhero comics and the harsher material and corrupt politics ushered in since the debut of the Watchmen series, with Igle’s skillfully rendered art bringing the proceedings to believable (if absurd) life. This series contains more entertainment than most contemporary comics and serves to remind readers of what they were always intended to be: fun.
The two heroes collide through a dimensional gateway (literally “through the looking glass”). Stranded in each other’s realms, facing versions of the same nemesis, the heroes try to adapt, which alters the worlds around them; mayhem ensues.
With action to excess and intentionally ridiculous dialogue, the script skewers both the quaint style of classic superhero comics and the harsher material and corrupt politics ushered in since the debut of the Watchmen series, with Igle’s skillfully rendered art bringing the proceedings to believable (if absurd) life. This series contains more entertainment than most contemporary comics and serves to remind readers of what they were always intended to be: fun.
April 25, 2020
'The Wrong Earth, Vol. 1' by Tom Peyer and Paul Constant is a graphic novel that has two superheroes changing worlds and the consequences of that.
In a sort of Silver Age world known as Earth-Alpha, Dragonflyman and his young sidekick fight goofy heroes, but their main rival is known as Number one. On the gritty Earth-Omega, Dragonfly has lost his sidekick to the much crueler villain Number One, and Dragonfly resorts to violence in a darker more sinister world.
Now a strange mirror has brought each world's main hero and villain to it's counterpart. Can Earth-Omega deal with a moody, hyper-violent hero, and can an upbeat do-gooder survive in the gritty world of Earth-Omega?
I loved this look at how different comics have become over the ages. If you know comics a little, it's easy to know which hero they are mimicking, and they do a good job. The art changes for each world, and I loved the care that was taken, even extending to some fun backup stories from each world. This was just a lot of fun to read.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Ahoy Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
In a sort of Silver Age world known as Earth-Alpha, Dragonflyman and his young sidekick fight goofy heroes, but their main rival is known as Number one. On the gritty Earth-Omega, Dragonfly has lost his sidekick to the much crueler villain Number One, and Dragonfly resorts to violence in a darker more sinister world.
Now a strange mirror has brought each world's main hero and villain to it's counterpart. Can Earth-Omega deal with a moody, hyper-violent hero, and can an upbeat do-gooder survive in the gritty world of Earth-Omega?
I loved this look at how different comics have become over the ages. If you know comics a little, it's easy to know which hero they are mimicking, and they do a good job. The art changes for each world, and I loved the care that was taken, even extending to some fun backup stories from each world. This was just a lot of fun to read.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Ahoy Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
November 29, 2022
I have to admit, when I saw Mark Millar's breathless praise for this one on the cover, I nearly passed it over. And I nearly did it again in the opening pages, when what I thought I was going to get was another sneering takedown of superhero stories in general. But I sure am glad I didn't let my biases get the better of me, because this is a magnificently told story of two versions of the same character falling through an interdimensional portal and ending up in each other's worlds. But it's really more about context: what if Frank Miller's Dark Knight fell into the world of Batman '66? What if Adam West's Batman found himself up against the Mutants of The Dark Knight Returns? That's the story here, and while it is sometimes shocking and sometimes hilarious as both versions of the Dragonfly/Dragonfly Man find themselves essentially transported into each other's comics, the larger story takes the time to get into how each world shapes its displaced hero, and how they symbolize an entire era's relationship with costumed vigilantes. Surprisingly meta, surprisingly awesome.
November 27, 2022
Really good graphic novel. The story here is just as good as the art and both exceeded my expectations from a comic company and publisher I have never heard of. This is the story of a hero called Dragonflyman, who is like a Blue Beetle/Batman/Superman mixture of powers and abilities. He chases crime alongside the police and is an icon. On an alternate Earth, Dragonfly is a vigilante, violently punishing crime syndicates and other powered criminals. This story is based on a strange occurrence where the men switch Earths. One goes from his to the other's and vice versa. The instant change is felt by Dragonfly who starts beating the crap out of these bad guys and ends up with his ward almost being killed. The other more heroic version of the hero finds himself doing good in a place where he is feared and hated.
This is a solid story, and the art is great! Good bad guys and unique situations. This book really impressed me. I'm glad I read it.
Danny
This is a solid story, and the art is great! Good bad guys and unique situations. This book really impressed me. I'm glad I read it.
Danny
August 6, 2020
I loved The Wrong Earth, also loved Dragonfly & Dragonflyman. This is my favorite series now. They clicked with me on multiple levels. Smart humor. The over-the-top extremes of both the happy, campy earth alpha and the gritty, dark earth omega are funny. I also cared about the story and the characters. Wanted to keep reading. The art is great and complements the jokes. The humor reminds me of Astro City. I want to continue with this series, and I think I will try some of Tom Peyer’s other books.
December 13, 2022
In The Wrong Earth, Peyer presents us with the question of what would happen if an optimistic Silver Age hero and his dark, '80s counterpart switched worlds. But neither hero (or world) is quite what they seem, and both are subject to the corruptions of power and wealth. A sort of Watchmen-lite, Peyer asks whether any vigilante (or law enforcement body) is truly "good." The volume also contains back-up stories in these same universes, including a particular fun parody of early attempts at cyberpunk in comics.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews