DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #24

Black Adam and Isis, Part Two: Family Ties

April 2009

Written by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway

Pencils by Jerry Ordway

Inks by Bob Wiacek

Cover by Alex Ross

Synopsis

In Fawcett City, Billy Batson, formerly known as Captain Marvel, leads the Justice Society through a secret passage to reach the Rock Of Eternity.  It is there, Isis plots her revenge for the loss of her brother, Osiris.  Black Adam is unsure of her goals, but agrees to help her.  When Billy and the JSA find them, Isis grabs Billy and throws him in to the nexus.  The Flash rushes to find Billy and tosses him back.  However, now the Flash is stuck in the nexus. As the team fights Black Adam, Stargirl goes to find Billy.  The two are talking quietly with each other when Mary Marvel interrupts.  Stargirl battles Mary to allow Billy to get away.  In the nexus, Flash is trying to find a way out when he encounters someone else:  Billy’s father, who tells Jay he needs to come to the Rock Of Finality.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

After reading this issue, I realize that this particular story is less a desire to tell a story and more of an editorial decision to clean up the mess of the Marvel family that has occurred in the past couple of years.  First, the creator of the short-lived Power Of Shazam, Jerry Ordway, is enlisted to write this story, with the help of continuity fixer Geoff Johns.  Then, the story mixes the current situation of the Marvels, the death of Isis, Black Adam’s power, Marvel Marvel’s corruption, Billy as the new wizard with the story that Ordway had been telling in Power Of Shazam.  Hell, the team that shows up on Billy’s doorstep is the same cast that was on the JSA when Billy was on the team.  So, this is a story designed to push the Marvel family forward by pulling them back to their roles of yesteryear.  I really think that at the end of the story, there will be a new wizard in the rock (Billy’s dad?), Captain Marvel will return to his classic role, Mary and Freddy (where is he?) will become sidekicks once more, and Black Adam will once more be alone. 

Having said that, it is really an assessment of the mechanics of the story and not really an evaluation of the story that is being told.  And what we have here is a decent story.  I like the development of Isis’ thirst for revenge and Black Adam’s uncertainty about going down that path, but willing to do whatever he can for his love.  I think Isis’ ultimate goals are not what is being painted; her comment about Billy’s family as she tosses him into the Nexus makes me wonder if she knew Billy’s dad was in there.  So there are the good parts.  The bad parts, unfortunately, are the extraneous materials, the bad Mary Marvel (which Ordway had to explain was bad again in order to avoid contradiction to the ending of Final Crisis), the history of Billy, Theo-adam, and Billy’s dad, and so forth.  It is one thing to use continuity to build a story, it is another to have continuity to be a crutch for the story.  And that is what Ordway has, pieces he needs to build into the story in order for it all to make sense.  I think he is doing a decent enough job, but at some point it needs to get out of the way so he can tell the story fof Isis and Billy and the need for family or revenge. 

What is the deal with the drunk on the first page?  That is not a throwaway moment.  The drunk knew Billy’s name.  Could it have been Freddy?  Who else could it have been?  I suppose it could’ve been just a random drunk that Billy knows since Billy is supposed to be living on the streets so it would make sense for him to know a drunk or a someone who is homeless.  But I get the feeling that the drunk is someone more than just a drunk. 

You know, I always take DC to task for not providing reference to current series when they are referenced (or events in these books are referenced) in other books.  And in this issue we get a reference to a book that is no longer being published.  Unless DC is planning to release a trade paperback of the Power of Shazam, why the hell is this here (other than perhaps to appease Jerry Ordway; was it done per Ordway’s agreement to do this story)?  I mean, it is a nice touch but it doesn’t help DC’s bottom line. 

Origins & Omens

Written by Matthew Sturges

Art by Fernando Pasarin

Commentary

More recruits?  Huh, I would have thought that particular aspect of the Justice Society would been beaten to death, but hey what can you do.  As for this back-up, it has a few pages of the past, but most of it feels like a set-up for the new writers with a lot of hints of what is coming up or has Alan says: the future of the Justice Society.  This not an “omen” per se, but just an idea of what Sturges (and his writing partner Bill Willingham) are planning.  As for the real “omen” portion of the back-up, I am not pleased to see Mr. Terrific laying on the floor bleeding profusely. 

PREVIOUS ISSUE	Main		Page	NEXT ISSUE

Home ●  Blog ● Who Are We? ● Site News
Alive and Well since April 16, 2006

 DC Universe Reviews.  All Rights Reserved
  Characters, trademarks, brands are property of DC Comics

For problems or questions regarding this website, please contact our kindly webmaster.
Last updated: 08/06/11.