DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #17

Wish Fulfillment

August 2008

Written by Geoff Johns and Alex Ross

Pencils by Fernando Pasarin

Inks by Prentis Rollins

Covers by Alex Ross & Dale Eaglesham

Synopsis

At the Justice Headquarters, Cyclone encounters Damage and marvels at his restored face, a gift given to him by Gog.  In Africa, Gog continues to help those who need it.  In Portsmouth, Mr. Terrific questions his faith to Dr. Mid-Nite.  In St. Roch, Hawkman and Hawkgirl examine artifacts that may be related to Gog.  At the Tuzla Air Base, the military is cautious of Gog and will be prepared if something were to happen.  Meanwhile, Gog performs miracles for the heroes, curing Starman’s insanity, Sandman a dreamless sleep, sight back to Dr. Mid-Nite, and sends Power Girl back home, to Earth-2.  The heroes are worried about Power Girl’s disappearance.  Gog is about to explain, but stops when he smells death and decides to eradicate war.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Johns continues to defy expectations with this storyline by spending an entire issue expounding on the benevolence of Gog, despite the fact that Kingdom Come has taught us that he is evil.  On the one hand it is a good choice, putting readers off-kilter because they were expecting something completely different.  On the other hand, unless Johns and Ross are going to contradict Kingdom Come and keep Gog a good guy, we know what will eventually happen in the next issue or so.  The only question is:  how?  And if Johns and Ross can’t deliver the change from good to bad with a damn good reason, the story will collapse under its own weight.  If the reason is lame or forced or clichéd, it will ruin whatever happens after the change.  But, you know what? I have faith in Johns.  I have seen what he can do on the titles that he writes and I think he can pull it off. 

As much as I am intrigued to see what the various heroes will do with their deformities fixed (would you continue to fight evil when the reason to fight is gone?), the most intriguing aspect of the story is the way Gog completely ignored Citizen Steel.  I love the fact that Johns showed Gog ignoring Steel, but that no character within the story picked up on it.  It is a subtle thing, a way to set the stage for something later without calling overt attention to it.  The moment also comes after Mr. Terrific’s soul searching when the same thing happened to him, which suggests a connection between the two characters.  And you know what that would be:  the death of loved ones from Terrific’s wife to Steel’s family.  Or maybe I am reaching.  Who knows? 

What happened to Starman’s hand on Page 18 (right panel in the middle)?

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