The United States was at war with Iraq last year, essentially invading to bring democracy and peace to an oppressed people (if one is to believe the official line). It seems to have worked to a certain degree. It's certainly seen as a victory, weapons of mass destruction or not. It's hard to argue with the result. So why did the United Nations both with peacekeeping missions in other parts of the world? Is war a better avenue to peace than peacekeeping? It comes down to an argument of ends versus means, I suppose, and that's the issue that Geoff Johns explores here, using super-heroes instead of soldiers. It's an oversimplification, yes, but it makes for interesting reading. I just hope Johns doesn't adhere to the genre's conventions and instead brings more shades of grey into the equation.
Centuries ago, the man now known as Black Adam left his homeland behind to fight for good at the side of powerful, magical champions. While he and his allies triumphed, Adam's own family and home fell victim to evil, and dictators have ruled over the land -- now known as Kahndaq -- ever since. It's the 21st century, and the immensely powerful Black Adam has decided the time has come for justice and peace to return to Kahndaq even if blood must be spilled. He's gathered together allies, metahumans that once called the members of the Justice Society friends but now employ methods their onetime mentors would frown upon.
Kramer's linework here is appropriately dark and realistic. This first chapter of the "Black Reign" story arc is meant to shock and appal the reader. Kramer provides a brutal depiction of the violence employed by Black Adam's group without so far as to make the visual unpalatable for some readers. A good deal of the credit for the ugly, tense atmosphere throughout this issue goes to John Kalisz. His colors maintain that atmosphere throughout the issue, and they enhance the energy of some of the characters' powers, especially when it comes to the eerie purple glow emanating from the new Eclipso.
My concern about this story stems from the potential for Johns to embrace some obvious plot directions and conventional super-hero storytelling. Brainwave revels in the cruelty of what he's up to here far too much, and Nemesis seems to be just the generic female quota fulfiller on Adam's team. Atom-Smasher's crisis of conscience comes off as a little too familiar as well too.
What makes the story work is that the reader can see where Black Adam is coming from, why he's taken this violent path. He, Atom-Smasher and Eclipso certainly do come off as misguided heroes, not villains. Furthermore, the personal connection these characters share with the heroes boasts a lot of promise when it comes to emotional conflicts later on in the story arc.
