After twenty issues, I have to say that one thing that still bothers me about Johns' writing is that every issue seems to have a moment where the characters do something that doesn't really make sense. I mean, don't get me wrong, Johns is great at the small moments of characterization; Firestorm's one-sided conversation in this issue is a great testament to that. But, we always seem to have a moment where I'm left scratching my head.
In this issue, I don't understand why Superman and Wonder Woman decided to invade Kahndaq to rescue the prisoners taken by the Sons of Adam terrorist group. After all, Superman tells Wonder Woman, after they've freed the hostages, that he made the decision long ago to use his powers "to inspire, not interfere." But, he did interfere. I mean, he interfered in a way that resulted in Kahndaq threatening to attack U.S. interests. In terms of interfering, he chose a really big way to do it. But, Superman never really answers the question why here. In fact, Johns seems to be implying that Clark is only there because Diana wanted him to help her. Diana takes a stronger position on her right to interfere to make the world a better place and in so doing proving Bruce's point that people are going to be scared about what the two most powerful people on Earth could do when it's revealed that they're dating. Given how portentous this event is, you'd think Johns would've spent a little more time explaining why Clark and Diana decided to initiate it. Plus, why those hostages? Why not any number of other people who needed help elsewhere in the world?
The answer seems to be so that Johns could get them in Kahndaq, since, as we learn in the back-up story, it was the home of Black Adam in ancient times. Given that Billy's confrontation with Adam is reaching a head, it seems like we're close to the moment where these two stories are going to merge. Although that moment seems long overdue, I still expected Johns to bring it together in a more carefully constructed way, not just having Clark and Diana go rogue in a country to which Black Adam is connected. (Speaking of the back-up story, I thought Johns did a great job having Billy project his fears onto Black Adam. Billy calls Adam a kid "lashing out to hurt people" "before they can hurt [him]," who doesn't "trust anyone -- because people have always taken advantage of [him] for it," and who's angry "because [he's] trying to hid how scared [he] really is." Sound familiar?)
We also have the mysterious stranger who invaded the Batcave for kryptonite and the arrival of Despero in the mix. I'm still enjoying this series, but I just wish Johns would spend a little bit more time making the characters feel a little less like chess pieces that he's obviously moving around the board.
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