DCU Comic Book Reviews

JSA ALL-STARS #18

A Better World

July 2011

Written by Matthew Sturges

Pencils by Freddie Williams II

Inks by Freddie Williams II

Cover by Freddie Williams II

Synopsis

At the headquarters of Doctor Hass, Dr. Hass explains how she created the world in which an alternate version of her son was the hero Regal.  Upon hearing this, her son, the Prince, demands to why she didn’t send him there.  Then he destroys her laboratory and flies to JSA All-star headquarters.  There, he sets in motion a chain reaction that will destroy everything within a 5-mile radius.  Power Girl orders the team to clear out anyone and everyone they can.  Meanwhile, Roxy develops a plan to limit the blast.  When the blast comes, it kills her, but she dies a hero.  In Upstate New York, Regal awakens from a nightmare in which the world was ending.  Meanwhile, Roxy emerges from the blast, her consciousness shifted a robot body.  Everything is in ruins.  Cyclone asks what do they do now.  Power Girl says they try to make the world a better place. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Due to the fact that I am extremely behind schedule (by 3 months) completing reviews, the following few words will suffice until I can get back on track. 

Fair/Average:  Unlike Doom Patrol and Freedom Fighters, this issue had an ending befitting the final issue of the book.  The stuff up until the end didn’t make much sense.  The whole Doctor Haas thing was plain stupid (why create Regal if it is not your son?), but I can’t make up my mind if the character is stupid or Sturges’ idea came across as stupid.  And The Prince’s idea of destroying Earth didn’t make sense.  Wouldn’t it be better to find a way to the other dimension, not destroy the one you are in?

Thoughts on final issue and series:  Most of the focus on the book is the clumsy art from Williams, which is misshapen and weird.  I think he can tell a good story visually, but the characters look like mush so it is difficult to tell.  The other problem is that Sturges never found a good voice for the team.  He tried to truly make it a team book and it works (mostly) except when he tries to include subplots which feel perfunctory and shallow.  Hell, I am not even sure Anna Fortune has ever been explained where she came from.  Or King Chimera, as well.  Or the time travelling thing with Roxy and the android Hourman.  Or, well, you get the idea.   Overall, this wasn’t a bad comic, but nor did it really find its stride.

 

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