"Enemies and Enemies and Enemies"
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artists: Ron Garney (p), Dan Green (i)
Publisher: DC Comics
Plot: As the Void-Hound tears a path of uncontested destruction across the Crime Syndicate's planet, the hometown heroes return and they are quickly joined by the JLA who have arrived to help their evil counterparts save their world. These two groups then come up with a very simple plan that surprisingly gives them the momentary edge they need to get past the Void-Hound's defences, and working together they are able to drive off this weapon of destruction.
Comments: An utterly conventional climax to Kurt Busiek's opening arc, as the JLA and the Crime Syndicate join forces to overcome the seemingly overwhelming threat that the Void-Hound presents. Truth be told the only real surprise of this final chapter was how steadfast the material was when it came to following the most predictable path. Even the big surprise twist that gives the two teams a brief element of surprise has to be one of the most simplistic plans that the two groups could have come up with. However, what makes this plan even more disappointing is the fact that Kurt Busiek already played with this idea, and when one considers how many toys he had to play with, one can't help but be a little disillusioned by the idea that he would offer up this very same idea as a clever manoeuvre that would give our heroes the edge they needed. In the end the biggest problem with this issue is that given this is the final chapter, Kurt Busiek had to spend most of his time wrapping up the main plot, and as such the interesting questions only get a fleeting glimpse. I wanted more discussion between the two teams when they agreed to join forces. The scene that was done the greatest disservice would have to be the final conversation that the JLA have about what they should do after they were cast back to their home universe. Superman gave in a little too easily when he learned that there was little point to travelling back to bringing the Crime Syndicate to justice. If nothing else, one would think that the families of the 217 victims who were killed by Ultraman would be asking where is this evil double that was pretending to be him when he vaporized them? The issue also glosses over the idea that Batman's decision to point the Void-Hound toward the Crime Syndicate's planet resulted in countless death and destruction. Though I guess since this all played out in another dimension Batman's actions get a free pass.
Ron Garney's work on this title is quite uneven as while there are moments such as the opening page tour of death and destruction that the Void-Hound has created where I get the sense that he's the ideal artist for this title, there are also scenes where the art leaves me with the exact opposite impression. There's a scene in this issue where the JLA arrive to offer a helping hand, and the moment completely lacks any real drama. The same holds true for the big impact moment where the two teams race forward into battle, though I will give the art credit for tipping readers off visually what was going on. If one studies this double-page spread it's pretty easy to tell what's wrong. However, the biggest problem with the art is that the emotional reactions of the characters really aren't all that expressive. There are scenes of genuine emotion that the art fails to convey, as I want to see the anger of Superman's face when he orders an immediate return to the Crime Syndicate's Universe.
What did you think of this book?
Have your say at the Line of Fire Forum!