DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #23

Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Part One: Power of Shazam

March 2009

Written by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway

Pencils by Jerry Ordway

Inks by Bob Wiacek

Cover by Alex Ross

Synopsis

The Justice Society of America request Hawkman take a leave of absence.  Hawkman dislikes the idea and quits the team altogether.  Elsewhere, Felix Faust, who holds Isis enthralled, is attacked by Black Adam, who demands Isis be returned to him.  Meanwhile, the JSA continue to debate who should be on the team.  Just then Atom Smasher returns and ask to rejoin.  In the Rock Of Eternity, Black Adam and Isis attack Captain Marvel.  They use the power of Shazam to take control of the rock.  In Fawcett City, young Billy Batson summons the JSA, who don’t realize Billy and Marvel are the same person.  Meanwhile, Mary Marvel wants to join wit h Black Adam and Isis.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This issue misses the mark.  It doesn’t quite match the level of greatness that Johns had reached in this title since the beginning.  Part of that reason, I think, is due to Ordway, who is credited as co-writer as well as the artist.  I am not sure how much input Ordway had into the plot and story development, although I suspect as the former creator of the Power of Shazam! he would some significance ideas to contribute.  The writing, however, is not the question.  The real drawback is the art, which is very sloppy and ill-defined in many places.  It looks rushed in some places and it doesn’t quite suit the dark material. 

The other misstep, I think, in the story was the needless scene of the JSA debating who should be allowed on the team.  Maybe it is just me, but I always thought that part of the “society” was that there was no standing team, but a group of people who could be called upon whenever needed.  So, to debate who should be part of the team seems stupid.  Add to the fact that it is derivative of not only earlier scenes in this book but also this issue of Justice League of America and the entire scene becomes dull and boring.  Granted, it was nice to see what some of the team members were up to, but the debate scene was not needed. 

The question about this book revolves around the Billy and the Rock of Eternity.  In the past year or so, the Marvel family has changed a lot from the normal status quo, with Billy taking over the wizard in the rock and Freddie taking the mantle of Captain Marvel (and Mary becoming evil, although that was changed in Final Crisis #6, so who the hell knows when this story takes place, assuming that is Mary on the final page).  Anyway, are Johns and Ordway attempting to take the Marvel back to their roots, back to the way it used to be and the way most people think it should be? 

It is not stated outright, but Ordway and Johns are hinting that Faust was raping Isis while she was catatonic.  Then, when she returns to normal, she allowed him to keep his head on his shoulders but decides to rip off his other head, if you know what I mean.  Even though both actions are implied, I was a little put off even by the implications.  Well, I think Isis’ revenge is totally warranted, but there was no reason for the implied rape.  Not in a book like this.  It is just wrong. 

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