Justice Society of America (vol.3) #18 (2008)

Justice Society of America (vol.3) #18 (October, 2008)
"One World, Under Gog - Part III: War Lords"
Story - Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Pencillers - Dale Eaglesham & Jerry Ordway
Inkers - Mick Gray, Kris Justice & Nathan Massengill
Colorist - Hi-Fi
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Michael Siglain
Cover Price: $2.99

Well... last time we checked in with our Golden-Age pals, Gog was "giveth-ing"... which is usually followed by another line.  Will that other shoe drop here?  Let's find out!

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We open with some warlords invading a Congolese settlement... which is a big no-no, especially if there's a several story tall Gog in the area.  He heads off to look into... and quell the situation.  Upon arrival, he is "greeted" by a barrage of futile gunfire to his shins.  The Justice Society inserts themselves into the proceedings, hopeful that they can maybe get the warlords to cool their jets before Gog decides to make a more permanent "statement".

They are pretty successful in doing so, though at one point Hawkman gets a bit of a wild hair up his wing-helmet and goes in for the kill.  Flash (the interim JSA Chairman) zips over to calm him down... telling him they are there to trying to stop a war... not ignite one!

While this is going down, we hop over to check out some Society-centric vignettes.  We can see dreamy Damage trying to put the moves on Judomaster, Ma Hunkel putting Sandy to bed, and all the way on Earth-2, Power Girl being... ya know, pretty dang confused.

Back in the Congo, the gang breaks away to try to figure out what they ought to do about Gog.  They also recount the "blessings" he's bestowed over the past little while.  Curing Starman's schizophrenia, which might be more of a curse than anything... curing Dr. Mid-Nite's vision, which too, might be a bit of a "monkey's paw".  Most members of the team are a bit incredulous... however, Lance things Gog's aces, after all... as of yet, he hasn't actually done anything wrong.  Citizen Steel is also a bit of a Gog-booster... but we know he just wants to be "blessed".

While the Society chats, things get a bit contentious.  Superman-22 tells Hawkman that they need to not resort to lethal force... which, as you might imagine, ain't something Hawkman wants to hear... especially from someone he views as a "guest".  Green Lantern tries to reason with Carter, telling him that as long as they have a U.S. Marine on their team (Lance), they are representing the United States... and so, can't be leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.  Speaking of Lance, it's now that he volunteers to "walk with Gog."

Suddenly, another squad of warlords begins attacking the tiny town.  The Society rushes in just in time to see the baddies bodies start to contort.  They fear that Gog has finally been pushed over the edge... to the point of murder.  No, no, no... it's actually kinda worse than that.  He transforms the warlords into fruit-bearing trees... so that they can provide both sustenance and shade to those they had wronged.  The gang sees this as a fate just as bad as death... after all, there's no longer any brain function nor nervous system.  Plus, I mean... who in the hell is gonna eat that fruit?

Mr. Terrific's T-Spheres reveal that... well, more warlords are on their way... this is tantamount to an ambush.  At this point, Lance completely loses it... and rushes into battle, gun-arm-lance-glowing thing a'blazing!  That is, of course, until he takes a launched rocket at short range.  He slumps to the ground... dead!  Dr. Mid-Nite attempts to operate, howwwwwwever, with his sight "blessing" he no longer has his "special vision"... which renders him pretty blind as far a super-powered surgeon goes.

Superman-22 starts yelling at Gog... blaming him for the loss of one of their own.  To which, Gog smiles... and "fixes" poor, dead Lance.  Making him reborn into... Magog!  Uh-oh.

We wrap up this chapter back on Earth-2.  We meet Physics Professor Michaal Holt who is on the phone with his wife, who is expecting.  Upon entering his office he is greeted by... Power Girl, who desperately needs his help!

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Well, looks like Superman-22's prophecy has just come true!  We've finally got ourselves a Magog.  Really liked the way they did this.  The Society were following Gog (in part) to ensure he didn't endow anyone with the Magog name, powerset, and destiny... and in so doing, they actually wound up delivering him the perfect candidate on a silver platter.

Let's talk about the butting of heads that we saw here.  Of the Society we had two definite Gog-boosters in Lance and Citizen Steel.  As mentioned in the synopsis, we kinda get why Steel would be for the giant purple god thing... he's in need of a blessing.  Lance's isn't as well explained, but that kinda works.  Lance is a marine, we'd have to assume he's used to working under others and really only giving his opinion when it's solicited.  Eaglesham delivers some really great body language here, where Lance looks a bit pensive... but, staying in character, does not offer up his thoughts.  His bloodlust toward the end did feel a bit out of nowhere... but, that's okay, I can't recall if we learn a bit more about him in coming chapters.

The cutaway scenes back to the brownstone were cute.  Dreamy Damage trying to flirt with Judomaster via his English-to-Japanese dictionary was pretty funny.  Sandy finally getting to sleep... in a bed, no less... was nice to see as well.

Let's talk Earth-2.  I still have not read Power Girl's adventure in the Justice Society of America Annual, but will at some point in the next few days.  From the bits we get here... it looks as though Earth-2 already has a Power Girl, which could get interesting.  Also we get to meet the Earth-2 Mr. Terrific.  We know that "our" Mr. Terrific is a widower, however this one is not only still married, but is an expectant father to boot!  I'm looking forward to seeing how much this changes his character and perceptions of the world around him.  Definitely some great breadcrumbs here!

Overall... like I've been saying, this is a wonderful (and dare I say, "must read") series... buuuut, you're probably going to want to do so via collected edition.  Don't get me wrong, I'm always going to prefer the single-issues, but even I gotta admit you're going to experience a much more satisfying read getting it in one big "gulp".

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Justice Society of America (vol.3) #17 (2008)

Justice Society of America (vol.3) #17 (August, 2008)
"One World, Under Gog - Part II: Wish Fulfillment"
Story - Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Penciller - Fernando Pasarin
Inkers - Prentis Rollins & John Stanisci
Colorist - Hi-Fi
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Michael Siglain
Cover Price: $2.99

Due to our Green Lantern: Rebirth series, we missed out on this weekend's visit with the Justice Society.  Well, better late than never.

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We open with Maxine's monkey running amok throughout the Justice Society brownstone.  There's a sentence I never thought I'd type.  Anyhoo, if you recall, the monkey came through Gog's (that is, the little Gog's) portal.  He's wearing some cute little duds with wings on his back as though he's from The Wizard of Oz.  Turns out Maxine's a big Oz fan... even named the little beastie Frankie after L. Frank Baum.  Anyhoo (again), she runs into the newly-pretty Damage and homnina homminas at his dreaminess for a bit.  He'd rather chat up Judomaster though.

We hop over to Africa to check in with Gog... big Gog.  Looks like he's still up to all-good!  He's healing the lands, cleaning the water, bringing about peace... doesn't seem like a half bad God-dude.  The Justice League have arrived to assist the JSA with the Gog-following.  Looks like they're doing it in shifts to ensure nothing horrible goes down.  Wonder Woman introduces herself to the big purple fella... but he already knows who she is.  He thanks her for protecting the Earth, and says that he is now there to protect her.

We shift over to a church in Portsmouth where Dr. Mid-Nite is taking in a service.  He is joined by a conflicted and concerned Mr. Terrific.  They talk about faith, and we get some reasoning as to why Michael can't allow himself to believe.  He confesses that he'd like nothing more than to believe... and in light of everything he's seen while Mr. Terrific, has little reason not to.  There's just something inside him that keeps him from embracing it though.  He mentions how great it would be to believe, as then he would know that he would eventually be reunited with his late wife... but again, he just can't.  Excellent scene... respectful of both points of view.  I wouldn't expect anything less from Mr. Johns.

Bounce over to St. Roch briefly to join Hawkman and Hawkwoman as they discuss Lance, and a pending invitation to rejoin the Justice League.  Hawkman ain't all that keen on being on a team with an Arrow... be they Green or Red.  Speaking of Lance, he and Flash are at the Tuzla Air Base in Bosnia-Herzegovia... and they're talkin' Gog.  Lance says if Gog is who (and what) he says he is... this could be the greatest day in the history of our great sport the world!

Back in Africa, Gog continues... flanked by the natives and locals he has aided.  Mr. Terrific and Power Girl discuss the logistical problems this is causing worldwide... as, folks all over the place want to stand in Gog's presence.  Superman-22 hovers silently... emotionless.  Stargirl also hovers nearby... but she's not so silent.  She talks about how useless she feels in the shadow of Gog.  Gog turns and smiles... telling Courtney she's anything but useless.  Suddenly, Sandman slumps to the ground.  Gog informs the Society that he granted him the ability to sleep... and dream!

He next turns toward Dr. Mid-Nite.  He thanks him for his undying faith... and restores his eyesight!

Citizen Steel gets excited... if Gog's handing out "blessings" maybe he can be given the ability to feel again!  His pleas toward Gog go... ignored?  Maybe Gog just didn't hear him?  Either way, Gog next turns to Starman... poor brain-addled Starman... and makes his mind "good again".  Thom pulls off his mask... and is coherent!  Power Girl insists Gog stop... despite poor Citizen Steel not having yet been blessed.

Gog looks at Power Girl... and instantly knows that she wants to go home... and so, he opens a portal sending her to be with her friends?!

Superman-22 confronts Gog... and is asked if he wants to "go home" too.  Superman-22 informs him that he has no home to return to.  Before Gog can explain... he senses violence!  Ain't gonna have none'a that on his watch!  We wrap up with Gog stomping through the jungle preparing to "eradicate war".  Oh yeah, and Kara arrives on... Earth-2???

--

Gog giveth... and man oh man, the air is thick with "the sinister".  Such a great foreboding tension throughout this story.  Gog is a terrifying character... and the idea that he might be "on our side" somehow makes him even more so!

Let's start unpacking...

I've said it a couple of times already, but Johns' handling of the potentially sensitive subject of faith/non-faith was handled wonderfully here.  His work on the friendship/mutual admiration between Dr. Mid-Nite and Mr. Terrific is particularly spectacular.

Michael's apprehension and envy of his pals faith are wonderfully human.  I've several friends with deal with similar struggles.  They've "seen some stuff" in their lives where it makes it difficult to imagine there being a divine (or any) afterlife.  They'd like to believe... because, faith does make things easier for many.  It helps folks with acceptance, and gives them hope that there is "something better"... that, like Michael says, they will be reunited with the people they'd loved... and lost.  It's a subject that it's hard not to see both sides of... and by now I've written more words about it than Geoff did... and somehow said so much less!

Let's talk blessings.  Dr. Mid-Nite can see again... Starman can think... Sandman can sleep... Damage is handsome... Power Girl went... home?!  It's been so long since I've read this that I've forgotten how "monkey's pawish" these will turn out to be.  I do love how this plays into our everyday cynicism... used to be that when someone did something to help, you'd thank them... nowadays you just either wonder what their angle is... or when that other shoe is finally gonna drop!  Excellently done.

Not sure where we're gonna go from here... haven't decided if we'll discuss Kara's "homecoming" in the Justice Society Annual (featuring the awesome Jerry Ordway having a bituva "homecoming" of his own!)... or just move along to our next Goggy issue.  Either way, it's sure to be a good time.

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Justice Society of America (vol.3) #16 (2008)

Justice Society of America (vol.3) #16 (July, 2008)
"One World, Under GOG - Part 1: He Came, and Salvation with Him"
Story - Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Penciller - Fernando Pasarin
Inker - Rebecca Buchman
Colorist - Hi-Fi
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Michael Siglain
Cover Price: $2.99

Whew, almost let a weekend pass without checking in with our pals in the Society.  Can't have that!

--

Before rejoining the story proper, we get some brief bits about Damage and his father, the Golden-Age Atom.  Grant talks about the mask he wears... and how most people assume it's honoring his pop, but the real reason is that his face had been destroyed.  Most people also assume he joined the Society to follow in Al's footsteps, when he actually only did so as a sort of "Get Out of Jail Free" card.  This will be important in a bit.  We join the actual story with the giant Gog standing... admiring the world around him.

The Justice Society members... kinda just stand there, trying to wrap their heads around what they're seeing.  Could it be that Gog is an actual God?  Well, atheist Mr. Terrific sure doesn't think so... and attempts to address the purple giant.  Gog doesn't respond.  Amazing Man suggests that Gog knows Mr. Terrific doesn't believe in Gods... and so, he makes an attempt at communication.  Annnnd, it works!

The chat doesn't go too far though... Gog becomes preoccupied by something going on nearby.  The giant lumbers through the trees and into a camp full of evacuees from Goma.  The people are sick from the poisons that have been pumped into the air by a recent volcano eruption... remember, we're still in the Congo.  His appearance, as you might imagine, scares the bejeezus out of the folks... but Gog's not bothered.  He places his hand to the ground... and heals the place!

Elsewhere, we watch as a pair of... I dunno, amateur archeologists?  Maybe just grave-robbers... enter what is believed to be a cursed tomb.  On the wall there are are hieroglyphs of Black Adam, Isis, and Osiris... uh-oh.  They open the tomb... and whattayaknow... it's Black Adam!  He kinda looks like Namor did when the Fantastic Four discovered him early on.  Anyhoo, he says the magic word... and kills the men... and laments the loss of Isis.

Back in the Congo, Jay Garrick arrives to report in.  He asks where Gog went... and is shocked to see that the only Gog around is a giant purple man... and not the fella they fought back in New York.  Superman-22 asks Gog what happened to William Matthews (the other Gog from earlier) and if this giant-purple Gog hails from Earth-22.  Gog replies that he is "from Paradise".  He (thankfully) elaborates to explain that he is from the Third World... but was cast out during a war with the Old Gods.  He landed on Earth, where he lay buried in "a tomb of molten rock".  Later, he was discovered by a tribe who worshiped him... and forge his Goggy staff.

Many many years later, after Gog was long forgotten, the tomb was discovered by ol' William Matthews.  He took the Goggy staff, and was endowed with Goggy powers... and Goggy memories.  Memories of Earth-22!  Memories that (understandably) drove him insane.

Mr. Terrific thinks this is all well and good, but doesn't justify Gog's having murdered William Matthews (last issue).  Gog disagrees... he claims that the power he'd given him spared Matthews pain... and actually kept him alive much longer than he would've otherwise.  Damage still thinks this is horsehockey... and isn't afraid to say so...

As he approaches the giant, Gog appears confused.  He is unsure if he'd said or done something to offend this strange masked man.  To prove that he is there out of peace... he touches Grant.  Damage falls back, and the Society rushes to his side.  He sits up, and tugs at his mask...

... removing it to show us his re-prettified mug!  Gog asks who's next... and we are out.

--

This was a good one.  We're visited by a possible God who promises to make everything "good" and actually takes a few steps in that direction... and yet, we just can't shake the feeling of dread.  There is a sinisterness hanging in the air here... and it's really quite well done.  With each page, you just wait for that other show to drop... or for it to be made apparent that Gog (if that's even his real name) has any ulterior motives for his benevolence.

That was the crux of this issue... establishing that Gog does have the power to invoke change.  We still don't know if he's trustworthy... but, so far we don't have a whole heckuva lot to hold against him.  He even has his reasons for taking out William Matthews.

This isn't anything that hasn't been explored before... for all the heroes know, they might be walking into a Monkey's Paw situation here.  It's nothing new, but it's so well done that it doesn't much matter.

Let's kiss up to Mr. Johns a bit... early on, we have a scene between Mr. Terrific and Amazing Man.  One a believer, another an atheist... and yet, they are both written in such a way to denote respect for one another's belief/lack of belief, without resorting to lecturing, condescension, or smugness.  That's a talent (or tact) I wish more contemporary writers had.  Don't get me wrong, it's okay not to agree... but I do think there is a right way and a wrong way to illustrate that.

Readers don't want to be lectured... people who don't agree with a writer's (often made very plain) stance don't want to be told they're wrong, or that the writer thinks less of them... and, I'd like to believe those who do agree wouldn't want to become an echo chamber, or be the choir being preached to.  Hey, lookit me, bein' all Polyannaish!

My point is, Johns handled this about as well as I've seen in quite some time.  Two men... different beliefs... managing to respect one another.  There's this Superman poster about diversity popping up a lot on social media a lot these days (you know the one)... that I feel some contemporary writers would do well to take another look at.

Okay, off that soap box.

Overall... another excellent issue of Justice Society.  We get fill-in art from Fernando Pasarin which feels right at home this time around.  While, I'd probably rather Eaglesham... I think this looked great!  My only reservation was that this felt... like a chapter.  I have a difficult time recommending single issues sometimes, especially of this era.  You'd likely do better to grab the collection.

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DC Nation:

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Justice Society of America (vol.3) #15 (2008)

Justice Society of America (vol.3) #15 (June, 2008)
"Thy Kingdom Come, The Good Fight"
Story - Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Penciller - Dale Eaglesham & Alex Ross
Inker - Prentis Rollins
Colorist - Alex Sinclair
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Michael Siglain
Cover Price: $2.99

I thought I missed an issue for a second.  This is the only one from this run that isn't the Alex Ross cover.  It's not a bad cover, but really sticks out when flipping through the collection.  Not something I feel an urge to remedy or anything... that would just leave me with a "double"... and those kinda make me itch.

--

We open on Earth-22, where a battle rages until... the bombs are dropped!  Superman-22 narrates the utter hopelessness of the thing, and mourns the loss of his Earth and those he held dear.

We return to the here and now, where Gog is about to face off with the Brightest Day and Blackest Night combo from last issue, Green Lantern and Obsidian.  He's able to hold off the onslaught well enough, really... it looks like he's being jumped by a gang here... until, Obsidian uses his shadow powers to enter the baddie's bod.

After providing a psychological assessment of Gog, Obsidian attempts to blind him... this allows for Superman and Power Girl to briefly go on the offense, while Starman and Flash can direct traffic to keep civilians out of harms way.  Gog eventually "evicts" the young fella and regains his footing.

Stargirl and Lightning arrive, with the former instructing the latter to take out all of her frustrations on Gog... which leads to her blasting the baddie with her namesake while kvetching that she can't drive a car.  It's quite a bit cuter than I'm making it sound.  Amid this distraction, Liberty Belle jumps back into her old gimmick and calls upon the speed formula [3X2(9YZ)4A] she used while she was Jesse Quick to bum rush Gog... but gets blasted nonetheless.

By this point, the Justice Society just go ahead and dogpile Gog.  It's really quite the scene!  It's probably worth mentioning that it's the "kids" who are getting the upper hand here... Judomaster, Mr. America, Amazing Man, Citizen Steel, Lance... ya know, the newbies.  When one on one with Judomaster, Gog uses the environment against her... almost as though he'd sussed out her Achilles heel straightaway!

Ma Hunkel watches the whole thing unfold from the busted up brownstone.  Several Society members in various stages of kayo are with her... including her granddaughter Maxine who meets a new friend.  Sandman (who I think I've been calling "Sand" up to this point... because that was his name... it's the former Sandy the Golden Boy) arrives and tells the remainders that the villain is not Gog.

In Battery Park, the Society regains their bearings and heads in to head off Gog... before he can "head off" Judomaster.  Faced with pretty bad offs, Gog realizes discretion is the better part of yadda yadda, and so he activates a Boom Tube (!!!) to retreat.

Unfortunately for him... several Society members manage to teleport with him... in particular, Lance!  It's made pretty clear that Gog recognizes Lance... this will become important later.

Sandman shows up and demands (not) Gog spill the beans.  (Not) Gog reveals that Gog wants to save them all... and needs them to believe in him, and only him.  Suddenly, that giant purple Thanos-looking face from a few issues back activates.

The giant head's giant mouth opens... and (not) Gog is split in two!  It's a really cool visual... it's almost as though he's atomized from the inside out.  At the same time, Lance's... lance starts to glow even hotter than usual.  The rest of the Justice Society arrives just in time to see the mountain come apart.  Power Girl sees the giant head, and asks Sandman what it is she's looking at.  He reveals that, while speaking to the Earth, he learned that this stone head "didn't belong"... as in, it's not from this world!

The issue wraps up with Gog... the real one, stood tall... across an amazing vertical two-page spread.  He reveals to the Justice Society that he has come... in peace.

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Okay, we're getting somewhere!

It's been awhile since I read this, and I was bracing for another cliffhanger with (not) Gog facing off with another Justice Society member... was really glad that wasn't the case.  Not saying that this arc overstayed its welcome or anything... it just felt a bit repetitive over the past two or three chapters.

This issue is mostly an extended fight scene... but it's so well done, both in pacing, and art that it's a pleasure to experience.  While I'm a sucker for "talking heads" JSA stories, this was just as great.  Doesn't hurt that Johns managed to cram a who'lotta characterization into this bit.

Keeping with the fight, let's discuss that crazy dog-pile.  It's almost surreal to see all of these supremely powered characters have to actually bum-rush the threat of (not) Gog.  If I were a fella who got excited by superhero movies (I'm not, by the way) I'd say this would be an interesting scene to watch play out.  I especially liked Liberty Belle tapping into her old persona for a moment.  I feel like a less-invested writer wouldn't have "went there", and I'm glad Johns did.  It's the best kind of (and I hate this term) "fan-service".  If I didn't know about her past, this would have been something that prompted a Google search for sure.

It was neat seeing the newbies get their chance to shine.  Johns did this in a way that didn't cut down the establishment to make his point.  What we see is the new recruits having conviction and willingness to put themselves on the line to live up to the team, rather than bringing the team down to a lesser level.  That whole, if everyone else takes a step backwards... the people who simply stood still look better by comparison type of mentality.  I feel like that's the way a lazy (or agenda-driven) writer would've handled it, and I'm glad not to see that here.

And then there's Maude Gog!  We finally meet the "real" Gog here.  I mean, we saw his giant craggy head a few issues back, but we didn't know it was a living, breathing sorta thing.  I often gush over Dale Eaglesham's work... but, boy oh boy... Gog raising out of the mountain?  Friggin' incredible.  I could almost hear orchestral music... like as though you were about to fight a boss in Final Fantasy or something.  I hate the word "epic" because in the past decade of internetese, it's been rendered meaningless... but, c'mon... this was a pretty epic introduction!

Overall... yet another wonderful issue of Justice Society of America.  We wrap up this leg of Thy Kingdom Come and prepare for One World, Under Gog.  Well worth your time... and as loath as I am to promote a trade collection over single issues (not floppies, dammit), I'd recommend just hopping into the hardcover or tpb.  You're going to get an amazing story all in one bite.

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(Not the) Letters Page:

I'm pretty sure I have every issue with SIGHTINGS on the cover... and still haven't the foggiest idea what it means! 

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