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Justice Society of America #21 [Review]

Posted on December 7, 2008 by Walt

One World, Under Gog part VI: Saints and Sinners

Story: Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencillers: Dale Eaglesham & Jerry Ordway
Inkers: Nathan Massengill & Bob Wiacek
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Michael Siglain
Cover: Alex Ross (variant by Dale Eaglesham and Nathan Massengill)
Publisher: DC Comics

Coming off of the Kingdom Come Specials, the story picks up with Gog having asked those he’s helped to worship him. While some are ready to kneel immediately, others are less than comfortable at this proposition–that you don’t ask worship for helping, you help TO help and nothing more. The JSA is divided and fighting amongst itself, and we see the older members who have either not been helped or who have refused help confronting those swayed by Gog’s “persuasion”…and things begin to unravel as Gog starts to show a side previously unseen by our heroes.

The art on this issue surprised me a bit–something about it seems slightly “off.” It is far from being bad, but just doesn’t seem quite what I expected. However, the characters are all plenty recognizeable and look like they (mostly) should (I feel like they have a “90s look” to them somehow). It’s interesting to see several characters (Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, Hawkman) taking on a Kingdom Come appearance–it’s a nice nod, but for me forces a comparison to the original–visually–which might be part of what seems “off” about the art…this hardly compares to Alex Ross’s painted imagery.

The story is quite solid–after however many issues it’s been of building, things are coming to a head, with the JSA split and fighting within its own ranks and Gog finally showing what’s been hinted at: an actual menace/threat to the JSA…and the world as a whole. I would assume Green Lantern creating the green armor around himself, and what happens to the Flash to be an intentional story element and not just the art team giving us an homage to Kingdom Come. While it at first doesn’t make much sense, upon further reflection, it does, as Superman gets to see these people becoming more and more like those he knew on his world, which really ups the ante a bit, so to speak.

I was a bit disappointed, somehow convincing myself that this issue would be the resolution of the story, that the specials all led to this. At the same time, I’m actually anticipating the next issue–it will be something I’m looking forward to, actively interested in reading, and not something to be read just because it’s something I bought “last month” and so buy “this month.”

All in all, if you’re following the JSA, this issue’s well worth while. I’m not sure it’d be the best read if you’re coming in cold. Quality wise, this is a title that has held my attention for the last half-year, and I’m interested enough in the backstory to want to track down the earlier issues I’ve missed.

Story: 8/10
Art: 7/10
Whole: 8/10

Please note: Credits for this issue acquired from a pdf preview found at DC’s website…it appears that they were to have printed on a black bar, but the colors have zero contrast, effectively nixing creator credits for the issue. Preview found here

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, DC, DC Universe, Justice Society of America | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Justice Society of America #20 [Review]

Posted on November 6, 2008 by Walt

Earthbound

Story: Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Dale Eaglesham (Earth-2 Sequence: Jerry Ordway)
Inker: Nathan Massengill (Earth-2 Sequence: Bob Wiacek)
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Michael Siglain
Cover: Alex Ross (variant by Dale Eaglesham & Mark McKenna)
Published by: DC Comics

Without a “previously…” page, I don’t recall EXACTLY how the previous issue ended…but this seems to pick up on a cliffhanger of the Justice Society of Earth-2 busting in on the New Earth JSA seeking the “rogue” Power Girl imposter. Accusations (and punches) fly, and ultimately several New Earth JSA members are dragged (along with Power Girl) back to this Earth-2, where elements of the Multiverse are re-revealed and discussed…while painful memories are dredged up as people who have died on New Earth are still alive on Earth-2. The two Power Girls have it out, before the nature of Earth-2 is revealed, and both find information to make their lives a little bit easier.

The art here is just fantastic. Perhaps because it just really fits the story–even down to having a different art team on the Earth-2 sequence (an art team that I vaguely recall has some significance to the characters). I have zero complaint with the art, and really quite enjoyed it. The cover by Alex Ross is quite cool as well…if slightly on the inappropriate side given the viewer’s angle.

The story continues to overall story that’s been going on the entire time (since #10 or so) that I’ve been reading this title, and I’m enjoying that. There’s real progression here that resolves old threads, opens some new ones, and just really holds my interest. I’m interested in the character interactions–in what happens to Power Girl and how her interaction with Earth-2 will affect her. I’m interested in Starman and his character’s evolution. I’m interested in the team dynamics–the old and young and the cross-generational stuff. I’m especially interested in the unfolding story of Gog–and even though this issue seems to be an “aside” from the ongoing Gog/Magog saga–it takes us aside to explore ongoing story elements and I don’t feel that this issue is at all out of place–it’s a great spot for such an aside after so many issues following Gog.

All in all, simply another very strong issue of a solid series. This truly seems to me to be if not the flagship, then certainly a flagship title of the DCU. Fan of the Justice Society, or of Johns, or Ross, or Earth-2, or Power-Girl…I see no real reason to skip this issue. New readers may not get a whole lot out of this given the ongoing arc–but at the same time, there’s a roster at the issue’s opening that will get new readers brought up to speed on the WHO (if not the why/what or ‘previously’) necessary for the issue at hand.

Story: 8/10
Art: 8.5/10
Whole: 8.5/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, DC, Justice Society of America | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

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