DCU Comic Book Reviews

JSA #75

Black Vengeance, Part 3

September 2005

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Don Kramer, Leonard Kirk, Steve Sadowski

Inks by Michael Bair, Keith Champagne

Cover by Alex Ross

Synopsis

All of his life Albert Rothstein (aka Atom Smasher) wanted nothing more than to be a hero, to be a member of the JSA.  But when he helped Black Adam to liberate Khandaq, when he killed dozens to save thousands, he turned his back on the JSA.  Now...In Khandaq, Jean Loring, the current host of Eclipso, has convinced the Spectre to seek vengeance against Black Adam for the death of the former of host of Eclipso, Alex Montez.  The JSA has come to help Black Adam, although he resents their help.  In the midst of battle, Hawkgirl sinks her spear into Eclipso’s eye.  Then Black Adam snaps her neck.  Neither has any effect; she still lives.  Meanwhile, Atom Smasher increases his mass size to gigantic proportions to fight the Spectre.  Al offers a deal:  take vengeance on him and leave Khandaq alone.  The Spectre takes the deal, killing Atom Smasher and then disappearing.  In despair Black Adam uses the lighting of Shazam to jump start Al’s heart, bringing him back to life.  The JSA then tell Black Adam to step aside as they take Al’s body and return home.

Review

As much as I like this issue, and I did think this was a solid conclusion to this storyline, there is one glaring problem that weakens what should’ve been a powerful, emotional ending.  This one problem occurs early when Eclipso is “killed” by Black Adam (after getting a spear through the head).  Knowing she appears in the current Day of Vengeance mini-series (and therefore knowing her death wouldn’t be wasted here), I had a number of reactions to this scene, none of which was related to the feeling that Black Adam just killed her.  Yet, this is supposed to be a big moment; heck, it gets splash page with the credits.  Then, when she stood up and acted as if nothing had happened, I almost tossed the book away.  Worse, those two scenes had an effect of creating a level of cynicism when Atom Smasher supposedly died.  Hell, Johns killed a character just to bring her back a page or two later, why should I be heavily invested in the “death” of Atom Smasher?  Sadly, Johns wanted these scenes to be emotional; everything in this issue (and the storyline) leads up to it.  First, Johns provides insight to Al’s past and to his state of mind, creating compassion for his situation.  Then Johns shows Black Adam grieving and attempting to revive Atom Smasher to no effect.  And Al asks Courtney if he is a member of the JSA and she tells him yes, which is meant as another moving moment.  None of that had an effect on me.  The impact (or lack of impact) of Eclipso’s death just deadened anything I might have felt. 

I am also a little surprised that the Spectre would abandon Khandaq so easily.  He supposedly went there to avenge the death of Alex Montez, the previous host of Eclipso.  Why would Atom Smasher’s death suffice in this instance?  He was a teammate of Montez, not an enemy.  Shouldn’t the Spectre be taking his vengeance on one of the JSA (or specifically Rex Tyler as he was the one who cut Montez to allow the Eclipso free).  So having the Spectre walk away after killing Atom Smasher just did not make much sense. -- Review by MRB 

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