DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE SOCIETY of AMERICA #32

The Worth Of A Hero

December 2009

Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges

Pencils by Jesus Merino

Inks by Jesus Merino

Cover by Jesus Merino

Synopsis

At Justice Society Headquarters, Mr. America, Power Girl, and Jay Garrick examine evidence from the brownstone’s security cameras to determine if the All-American Kid was involved in the stabbing of Mr. Terrific.  Based on what they find, they instead think King Chimera might be involved.  Nearby, a group of villains prepare to storm the brownstone.  Elsewhere, Dr. Fate, Dr. Mid-Nite, and Alan Scott continue their attempts to heal Mr. Terrific.  Meanwhile, Mr. America, Power Girl, and Jay Garrick decide to tell the team All-American Kid is the prime suspect, then question King Chimera.  The interrogation doesn’t go well as King Chimera finds their suspicions demeaning so he walks out and refuses to talk.  Just then the villains attack.      

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

The best way I think I can describe the writing for this story and this issue in particular is to say it feels forced.  It is as if the writers have an idea of what they want to do and how they want to get there and in order to it they are slotting round pegs into square holes.  While the peg will fit into the hole fairly easily, you can still see the around the peg to know there is something else than can fit a little bit better.  In other words, what the writer’s provide is pretty good, but for whatever it just doesn’t quite fit perfectly.  Like the scene with the questioning of King Chimera. The scene went to his indignation way too quickly; there could’ve been more questioning, more probing before he turned and fled.  Overall, the entire issue felt that way.  The scenes as written were good and this issue flowed well, but around the edges I just felt like there could’ve been more.  Part of the reason some of the scenes feel incomplete is the knowledge hat the team will soon be separated into two different groups.  Well, not so much they will fall into two groups, but that it will happen within the next issues.  There is a timeline and rather than the story unfolding on its own terms, it is unfolding according to a publishing schedule.  Now, I may be wrong, but it is possible that the impending split is forcing the writers to structure the story differently than if there was no deadline. 

I also wonder about the so-called investigation into the stabbing of Mr. Terrific.  What the writers have provided is decent and it unfolds very nicely, with the characters being open-minded with regards to the potential culprit.  I liked how they have switched to another potential suspect.  They way they handled the All-American Kid’s actions and arrived at King Chimera (as well as the deception in keep the kid as the prime suspect) is a nice touch.  But, none of what the characters are doing seems to tie into the first crime committed in this story:  the attack on Obsidian.  Or trying to determine if the attacks on Obsidian and Mr. Terrific are connected in some way to the attack by the villains.  Granted, they mention the thing with Stargirl, but it was discussed away from the rest of the material.  Everything should come together; it is a little strange that the characters can be smart about the video tape footage, but not about Obsidian. 

I should mention that I like the way Power Girl is being written, as the leader of the team.  She is in the midst of everything, making decisions and stopping fights.  It is (sadly) one of the rare times when she is acting like the leader that she is supposed to be.

I liked the spread page of the villains storming the proverbial castle with the bounty prices provided for the various members of the team.  Looking at the amounts, I had a meta-textual vibe.  I found it amusing that the amount for each team member pretty much reflects each character’s popularity and longevity.  The really low amount for Mr. America is funny. 

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