My problem with DC's Earth 2 and why it probably won't stop me reading

This totally has spoilers, so if you read on and haven't read it yet, it's your fault.

A side note before I begin: Is this not one of the coolest covers ever?
Wonder Woman is shiny. This is a thing. A good thing.

It's no secret that I'm more than a little into slash. It's a character flaw, I've been told, and I have to live with it. I am okay with this. It appeared that the Slash Gods somewhere out there were rewarding my unwavering faith when it turned out that Alan Scott (Green Lantern) was totally in love with a man named Sam. (Couldn't have picked a more unisex name, DC, well, other than Leslie.)

I knew it would be risky to get attached to Sam. Significant others in origin stories tend to have a high mortality rate. I knew this and yet... I was hopeful the writers (who are awesome, by the way, regardless of what I say next, they are great and I love them; T'Lema=Robinson fangirl) would stray from the cliché "lover's dead so we must fight in their memory" plotline. I was kind of asking for the moon on that one. It's hard to come up with compelling origin stories that stir the emotions of readers and give the heroes reasons to fight the evil coming for them. In my experience, people are less likely to risk their necks if they've got a lot to lose, by taking away their "everything", in this case Sam, they've got nothing left to lose, and everything to give to the world they protect.

That said, there were some really original and moving things added to this "cliché", although I find it hard to believe that anything can be a cliché any more; in a world where tentacle Hentai exists, I'm pretty sure everything's been done at least once. My favourite part, and the part that actually moved me to tears (which, incidentally is really hard for a comic book to get me to do) was the origin and Alan Scott's Green Lantern ring. It's the ring he was going to use to propose to Sam. If that is not heart-wrenchingly touching, you've got a heart of stone-cold steel and I never want to talk to you. I cried like a baby and then went through about twelve hours of blind anger at James Robinson for making Alan Scott gay and then killing off his lover just after introducing him. Sort of a blow to the whole "acceptance" thing that went with this revelation. But, I'm over that. It is almost 3 am and I can say I'm no longer furious. Characters die. Sam wasn't mine. I knew it was going to happen. I have no right to be angry over a creative decision. And to me, it was a smart decision. You know, the whole "nothing to lose" thing.

Yes, I was actually angry to the point of possible flame sightings in or around my ear-area. Yes I'm really sad that Sam died. But I'm looking at this on the bright side. Sam is actually giving Alan more power, as he is "close to his heart" and all that cliché romantic noise (so cute♥). Also, I didn't see Sam's body, therefore I have liscence to hope he'll be brought back into the story. Between me and you, internet, I'm hoping he'll be used by Grundy to get at Alan. Hello, my favourite plot ever. Lovers pitted against each other, and Alan will DEFINITELY have a reason to defeat Grundy then. (Seriously, James Robinson, if I mention you enough in this will you read it and use that? Please? James Robinson. Please. ...That's not how the internet works, and I'm sad.)

And this is the cover. I'm sorry, bad. ass.

Oh yeah, did I mention Grundy's the villain? Yeah. This is going to be sweet, nay, epic. I just, my fangirliness is getting in the way. Let me turn that off for a bit. Yes this is an option, slash fans. Not a fun one, but it's an option all the same. And yes, I'm fully capable of removing the "slash goggles".

Let's talk Hawkgirl. Super hot. I'm not kidding. She's a real ice queen and I love it. I'd continue reading on in the series for her snarkiness alone. I actually have no opinion on the Flash yet. I fin him sort of dumb and a little whiny, but I feel like that will go away once he understands more of what's going on. Plus, Alan Scott will be there to whack him if he gets whiny. This is something I really want to see happen. Someone please draw the Green Lantern smacking the Flash across the face for being whiny. I will love you forever.

So, the Wonders are dead. I was indifferent to this. A minor character introduced one volume ago had me up in arms for half a day. I was actually invested in Alan Scott's happiness. Alan Scott is someone I hated growing up. But Robinson and the two Scott's have made me like him a lot. He's a strong character with one hell of a heart. Seeing that heart broken made me feel as though my own were being attacked. This is the kind of writing the comic book world needs. This is also why I can't wait to get my mitts on the next issue of Earth 2, regardless of heartache. I want to see where this goes and I want to see more of this fantastic writing.

Seriously, your biggest fan, right here.
Use my ideas. My brain is yours to pick and then throw away, disgusted.

All I need now is for Batman Earth One to be fantastic and my summer will have been made. Since I've just found out I'm going to get to meet Frank Cho in September. DC, you're rocking it this summer, please don't stop.

Cheers!