Review of DC's World War III (spoilers)

OrcaDesignStudios

If you haven't read the 4-issue miniseries, stop reading now - there will be spoilers.

You've been warned.

This 4-issue miniseries is the resolution of the Black Adam storyline from 52. Or at least, that's what it's billed as. There is, in fact, no solid resolution to anything. The story is told largely from the perspective of Martian Manhunter and explains why he is so different now compared to how he was pre-52. In this, the series does a good job -- I understand his change and the rationale behind it. My biggest problem with this series -- and pretty much every "big event" that goes on in the comics world these days -- is that the consequences of the storyline are fairly minimal compared to what we're led to believe. There is a LOT of death and destruction in these four books, but it's all civilian. Sure, heroes gets beaten up, but really that's nothing new. Black Adam takes on essentially the entire DCU and kicks the crap out of most them. I don't have a problem with this at all -- it's refreshing to see a villain who can actually represent a significant threat to these superheroes, since most villains are gimmicky and ineffectual. I'm hoping that the coming Darkseid event will re-establish him as a villain on the same level (or better) than Black Adam is portrayed in WWIII. My biggest problem with the effects of Black Adam's rampage is that they were focused on civilians almost exclusively. As I said, a few heroes get pounded pretty good, but throughout the series, we're treated to news reports talking about the huge death tolls. Despite these supposedly huge death tolls, a grand total of two heroes lose their lives. One of them I had never even heard of, and the other is such a minor character, I doubt her death will have any impact outside the one monthly title she made appearances in. Black Adam dispatched these two in such simple ways that, really, the superhero body count should have been much higher. I mean, Terra was killed by ONE PUNCH. My other complaint about the series is the resolution, or lack thereof. Granted, I know they don't want a 100% resoltuion, because 52, WWIII and Countdown are all tied together, but the end of WWIII was a huge cop out. Black Adam "vanishes" and no one knows where he went? In the middle of the biggest battle of World War III? Meh.

Overall, the Martian Manuunter part of the story was interesting and well done. Everything else was a bit of a letdown.
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Jim Harnock - ODS
www.OrcaDesignStudios.com

dlfurman · Forum Member Joined: Jun 18, 2002 Posts: 97

I chalk it up to the fact that the story of 52 changed as the writers were writing it. They were supposed to do what COUNTDOWN is going to do (moving forward of 52) and that is consider the entire DCU.

I'll also consider that the superhero battles were vicious as the various heroes tried to slow or stop an enraged (and supported by the Egyptian pantheon) Black Adam.

Both Civil War #7 and Fifty-Two #50 showed the effects of the heroes battling with a few glimpses of civilians. (A few more civies were shown in CW #7).

DC had to strike a balance between NOT spoiling the story, as it was literally going to take a year to tell, and resolving some issues. I also think that if they'd gone the "Tell the stories in Annuals" there would be a revolt (though the Nightwing Annual was very good) especially after DC committed to 52. The $10 for the extra 4 books was a decent compromise both in saving $$ for both DC and the customers.

I enjoyed.

GhostofMacbeth · Forum Member Joined: Sep 21, 2001 Posts: 611

I enjoyed it but I do feel that the hero body count was really low for the ammount of damage he was doing. I hadn'y ever heard of either of the dead and it just seemed tacked on and odd. Make it have meaning. They basically did a Star Trek (later shows) episode where they had a bunch of cool stuff with little consequence. An all out War with the Klingons and then (next episode) Klingons are walking around like nothing happened.