DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #21

Earth Bound

January 2009

Written by Geoff Johns and Alex Ross

Pencils by Dale Eaglesham and Jerry Ordway

Inks by Nathan Massengill and Bob Wiacek

Covers by Alex Ross & Dale Eaglesham

Synopsis

[continued from JSA Kingdom Come:  The Kingdom]

Gog demands the heroes worship him.  Magog obeys, but the others are uncomfortable with bowing down to Gog.  The rest of the JSA arrive to warn them that Gog has literally rooted himself to the Earth.  Gog counters that he wants peace and to make the world better.  To make them listen, he sends a windstorm that scatters the heroes.  Only Citizen Steel remains standing.  Gog offers to make Steel feel again if he worships Gog.  Steel refuses.  Gog then makes Jay Garrick better, turning him in electricity to power a continent.  Superman saves Jay by punching lightning.  The JSA attack Gog, who is furious.  He takes back all the gifts he gave.  Meanwhile, Superman convinces Magog that what Gog wants to do is not right.  Magog tells Gog to stop hurting his friends.  Furious at being disobeyed, Gog strikes him down. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This was another excellent issue, with the pieces in place for the finale as we get the truth behind Gog’s seeming benevolence and even more references to the Kingdom Come mini-series (in the form of Alan Scott’s armor and Jay’s transformation).  This entire story has been brilliant and this issue offers more of the same, with the heroes learning the price of not kneeling down to Gog.  Actually, Gog reminds of a petulant, spoiled, rich brat, one who buys friendship with money and gifts, but doesn’t understand why they don’t actually like him, so then acts out with aggression to punish them, thus proving why he had to buy them in the first place.  Its brilliant and I love it. 

Johns and Ross have crafted a wonderful moral dilemma:  would you surrender your moral beliefs in order to have the world at peace.   Would you bow down to a greater power, one who would have absolute power (a dictator, if you will) if he can give you what you desire and make the world a better place?  That is the heart of the story and Johns and Ross have successfully managed to make these decisions heartbreaking, especially with the single panel of Citizen Steel suddenly confronted with exactly that question.  Sadly, I am not entirely sure Johns is going to tackle those questions.  I suspect the next issue will be a long fight sequence as the JSA tries to dislodge Gog before he can get his roots into Earth.  However, I must admit that the set-up was handled well, the eventual revelation of Gog’s true nature worked perfectly (if a bit predictable), and I have confidence that somewhere Johns will find some emotional center.  And I think it will work for the story, but what I would have enjoyed a little bit in this story would have been a discussion of Gog’s methods and if kneeling fealty to Gog would be worth it.  There have been some discussion prior to this issue, but once Gog demands fealty it just seems like talking has been tossed out the window if favor of standard superhero fisticuffs. 

It is interesting to note that there are no credits listed on the big splash of pages 4 and 5 (and I would guess they should’ve been on the bottom of page 4 where there is the big blank black bar.  Dale Eaglesham and Jerry Ordway are credited on the cover.  During this arc, Ordway was responsible for the Earth-2 sequences so it is a little strange to see him provide art for the main portion of the series.  And with the credits missing, I am inclined to think something is going on with Eaglesham finishing this story that DC is trying to hide.  But, I am kinda cynical that way.

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