Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come, Part III

This book didn't felt like a "Soap Opera", like other review say, rather that I felt this JSA story a magnificent Kingdom come Companion. I just LOVE the way the book end, as so how it develops. You get great action and more Alex Ross goodness. Give these 3 part story a chance, get loads of fun and get more used to the JSA and their role on the DC Universe. Worth every penny in your pocket.

Thy Kingdom Come part 3 is epic comic storytelling at its best. It has a clear beginning, middle and end, and concludes fully and satisfyingly in the last issue of the story. The art by Dale Eaglesham, Fernando Pasarin and of course Alex Ross is exceptional, right down to the amazing way each artist is able to maintain a distinct visual rendering of the Kingdom Come Superman and the "real" one. As a monthly series, I can relate to why many readers would have found the story to be plodding or overlong. In trade form, its length is actually one of it's strengths. The story unfolds organically, and since there is no wait between chapters, a clear tension builds that ultimately has a satisfying resolution. The collected version of the story also has the benefit of including all the related chapters inbetween two covers which as monthly or single issues, would have been frustrating for readers to keep up with. There are some weaknesses. To be sure, Gog's eventual turn is predictable. The central conflict driving the issues is a fairly cliche, retreaded idea we've seen a thousand times before. What makes it interesting here is that, beside the cliche, character interactions take some surprising turns and the factions that develop in the team prompt a genuine sense of dread and concern from the reader. After all, the JSA is supposed to be above these types of conflicts, and yet they manage somehow to be more human than many a stick figure currently being published by both DC and Msrvel. Gog's failure to provide a miracle for Commander Steel is never directly addressed and is distracting. Gog performs miracles for a number of other characters but for some reason, Steel's particular predicament is ignored. This is a glaring problem which the writers draw attention to, and then apparently chose to ignore. I'm sure there's a good explanation in their minds that makes sense, but from a reader's point of view, the plot point actually takes you out of the story, and distracts from the dramatic tension. But there is also some admirable execution by Johns and Ross. They do make a convincing try for instance, at making Gog seem the encapsulation of benevolence in the early stages, so that when he eventually turns, as the reader knows he will, the change is dramatic and still a little surprising. It's a testament to Johns that he can evoke an emotional response of disappointment from you even from something you knew was coming. By far my favorite aspect of the story is its universe sweeping scope. In TKC part 3, we are taken to alternate worlds, see two versions of the man of steel, see glimspes into parallel worlds and meditate on the future of these heroes we love. The surprising turn for Lance Corporal David Reid gives the story a sense of tragedy beyond the confines of those issues immediately dedicated to telling it. In fact, the whole story is fraught with a sense of foreboding for the future that gives it a level of gravitas and consequence. As a mont

...but that means it's better than 95% of everything out there. I can only agree with the other reviewers' comments that the resolution *is* rather forced and anticlimactic in this rather long story arc. That being said, Johns really shines as he slowly but surely works through the bright side of Gog's "gifts" and then in a deft reversal shows the dark side which eventually reveals the dark side of Gog himself. The artwork in this volume is also superb. Having just previously read New Mutants Classic 4 with its butt-ugly art maybe I'm being too effusive in my praise. I came to this story not having read Mark Waid's influential "Kingdom Come" story but familiar with its plot. I don't really think it's necessary to have read that story to enjoy "Thy Kingdom Come". It's a sequel, to be sure, but it works just fine all by itself. Don't let that put you off. Finally, I've never been happy with the decision to make this into the "four old timers from the original JSA help all the super powered teenagers in the DC universe become heroes" book. The JSA is starting to resemble the Legion of Super-Heroes. I like the Legion and all; I just don't think we need a 20th century incarnation.

An exceptional addition to the Justice Society of America library. There is some beautiful artwork by Dale Eaglesham as well as a fully painted Superman issue by Alex Ross in here. If you're interested in the original Kingdom Come story or good, epic storytelling this is the book for you.