Issue 2 is out...and while it doesn't provide an explanation, it tries to provide some character motivation. The original Crisis emulation is still there...as the Artist depicts the Joker in the same trenchcoat and hat that the villain wore in the 1985 series. In fact, one pose looks IDENTICAL to a Joker scene from "Crisis on Infinite Earths" #9. In that, Joker was gloating in front of a captive Phantom Lady. Here, Joker has the exact same stance and outfit...and he's gloating in front of a captive King (from the Royal Flush Gang). It also seems a little far fetched that Joker could single-handedly wipe out the Flushies.
George Perez is creditted as an artist on the cover, but I found maybe 10 panels of his work. Jerry Ordway did a good portion, too, but I guess his name's not as appreciated among the retro-fanboys that this series is catering to. Ordway's always been serviceable, if not spectacular, but here he puts some ridiculous smirks on his characters. Check out the flashbacks from the 1986-era to see what I mean. Meanwhile, the book's main Artist continues his lame Perez imitation. An "elderly" Lois Lane looks downright awful.
A few random scenes of superheroes are thrown in, but the entire issue, from literally the cover to the final page is an homage to Power Girl's juggs. I've seen MAXIM covers that are less gratuitous than this. It's rather awful, too..as her cartoony figure isn't appealing by any stretch of the imagination. The close-ups don't work either, as her face and hair look like a road map of downtown Indianapolis.
The meat of this issue comes from the Golden age Superman and the other refuges from "Crisis on Infinte Earths #12". They've apparently lived a shitty existence since the original Crisis...sitting in a crystal dome having to watch EVERY DC story since 1986. Superman mentions that it was almost "like heaven"... I'm sure such a fate WOULD seem like heaven to the Writers of this shlop. They mention that the post-Crisis world started out "with promise".. as we're shown a shot of Booster Gold. There's also a quick outline of the multiple earths...but no mention of Earth C-Minus, dammit!! It also looks like their Big Crystal Room DC TV didn't pick up anything regarding the "original" sequel to the Crisis-- Zero Hour in late 1994. But that's okay, because the Writers were jerking off in college or working at Subway during that particular era. Power Girl suddenly remembers everything and I'm sure next month we'll get a lame excuse for all of her weak continuity re-writes since 1986. Something like:"oh yes, they were all delibreate misinformation fed to you as part of a MASTER PLAN to PROTECT THE COMSOS". Same BS a different Writer pulled with Immortus in "Avengers Forever".
Again, at 3.99 this is raising some serious doubts. Of course, the whole 7-issue series is a set-up for the massive "52" weekly series debutting next year. Basically, a 52-issue safety net where the Writers can explain away the stuff that fans didn't like about this series, as well as any new problems that result. While enforcing the things that may work out by sheer luck.