Broken Frontier

With a story juxtaposing the wrath of Black Adam with a discussion of a new phase in the Justice Society, this issue returns the book to its early promise.

While “Thy Kingdom Come” was not a bad story, it was super decompressed and in the end somewhat inconsequential in its handling of the legacy of Kingdom Come.  Instead of a proper sequel, the reader was given an alternate reality tangent.  Again, not bad, it just lacked a compelling reason for existing.

In terms of its effect on the eponymous team, this issue makes up some of that lost ground.  The reader is shown a team indecisive on its future and fragmented.  The stalwart leaders are discussing who should be cut from their youthful ranks.   Hawkman leaves the team, partly because he is asked and partly because he is appalled by the reaction of the team to his actions.

In fact, the team’s reaction to his side of things is a little strange.  Gog had certainly coerced the side that helped him and those that decided extreme force was necessary.  Being affected in the matter that Gog was capable of is a burden that most people could never understand.  It is great that some team members rose above his influence, but to actively persecute those that succumbed to his influence seems a tad hasty, at least until all sides of the issue can be more completely examined.

The rest of the issue deals with the Marvel Family in all its various aspects.  Most important is the revelation that Isis is indeed not dead, a fact that will surely send people into the long running debate of the permanence and need for death in mainstream metabooks.  Controversy aside, it gives Black Adam a stage for his anger and a new directive as his resurrected love sets events in motion.

It is a curious thing to watch the super being succumb to a will immediately after being duped by Faust, but Love is a strange and wondrous power.  The plan itself leads them to the Rock of Eternity and Billy Batson, the new wizard.  In a moment of levity, we see him complaining about his new status quo, wondering when he is going to be entertained.  A nice reminder that for all his power, Billy is still a kid.  This fact comes into play with the end of this chapter as shocking twists occur with the status quo for the cast of one of the heroes who calls himself Captain Marvel.

Ordway brings his classic style and pacing to the page.  His pencils are as strong as ever.  However, the modern coloring makes it all a little off.  It is nice to see modern pencils given the pop they deserve, but Ordway is a classic artist.  One of those guys who told his stories in the restrictions of computer-less four color.  To see the adhoc rendering is a little jarring.  Much as the recent Secret Invasion: Requiem hurt Kirby’s art by modernizing it, it is possible that the same is accomplished here.  The line between what is en vogue and what is true to a style can often be a divisive one.  Here, although a nitpick, it seems to be a problem as well.

Justice Society of America was DC’s crowning achievement with its relaunch almost two years ago, but after continuity laden story lines and nifty ideas not fully realized in print, it had lost its heart.  It is good to see at least half of this story devote itself to what made “The Next Age” live up to its moniker.