If I was a comic character joining a super-hero team, I'd really like to be in a Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges written comic. These two authors have totally instilled their logical approach into most of the characters on this team. This issue opens with a throwdown between Magog and Wildcat, but the conflict is wisely explained away as a fact of life when a bunch of warriors are stewing and have nowhere to deflect their anger. Dr. Fate is able to defuse the situation by pointing out that he, Dr. Fate, and Sentinel are trying to save Mr. Terrific in the next room over. This opens things up for some logical discussion.What it boils down to is that Magog wants the team to function more like a special ops team, with training, psych evaluatations, and the like. He isn't down with using the JSA as a boarding house for any new hero using an old name. It's a great, reasonable argument that the arrogant King Chimera quickly backs up. The problem is, Chimera is an ass and the whole team doesn't like him, so Magog responds to his support with a wonderful line "Don't undermine my argument by agreeing with me." THIS Magog is much more likeable and is a cool leader; I like this guy a lot more than the one starring in the solo title. The plot churns along too, with Icicle stepping forward as a middle-man for the mysterious bad guy who hired the army of villains 2 issues ago. After Eclipso leaves, it looks like the new villain team consists of Icicle, Underhand, Homonculus, Blue Moon, Dr. Polaris, Atomic Skull, and Wild Huntsman. Those guys aren't household names, but they do make a pretty cool looking villain team.
The big news is on the closing page where the doctors have to give up and declare Mr. Terrific is dead. I don't believe it, but it does make for a dramatic closer.
Jesus Merino is still doing a wonderful job. He does 2 nice transitions that would fit in a TV show or film. In one scene, the panel swivels around the table showing different characters chiming in on a discussion. At the close of that scene, Power Girl states "here's what we learned" and the scene cuts to various villains spilling their guts.
Excellent
2 comments:
Mea culpa, mea culpa. I actually read Giffen's Magog issue and that coupled with this storyline have me actually liking the gaudy lug.
Nice build to a cogent argument for both sides. When you've got a society, where's the line between freedom and security. Not like we haven't heard this one before but it seems like a novel approach for the JSA...and who, besides Magog, could really be the catalyst for such a debate?
Jesus Merino's work is getting so consistent and so polished it makes me question who was the strength of the Pacheco/Merino team. I don't think Pacheco is doing his best work right now. Very pretty book. I imagine the next arc will go on without Merino though--I don't think he's even a 10-issue-a-year guy.
That's funny about finally coming around to Magog. In college, my roommates and I were way into Kingdom Come, and I always acted like Magog was the hero of the story and how he was one of my new faves. Now he's actually getting kind of cool!
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