World War III Review

World War III
DC Comics
Softcover Trade Paperback
128 pages
$17.99
ISBN 9781401215040

Contributors: Keith Champagne, Pat Olliffe, Andy Smith, John Ostrander, Tom Derenick, Norm Rapmund, Jack Jadson, Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, J. G. Jones, and Justiniano

Reprints: World War III #1-4 (of 4); 52 #50

Synopsis: The Black Marvel Family is dead and Black Adam rages against the world.  His family was murdered through treachery and he follows one of the murderers to the tiny nation of Bialya subsequently killing the entire nation in a haze of bloodlust.  In the ruins of Bialya the Martian Manhunter confronts Adam and is resoundingly defeated.  Other heroes band together battling Adam across the globe as he leaves death and destruction in his wake.  Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have been missing after the events of Infinite Crisis leaving the rest of the heroes to stop Adam's deadly rampage.  Can they accomplish the task without their three strongest members and who will be the casualties of this brutal war? 

Pros: Black Adam does some hardcore killing, writers kill off Teen Titan member Frankenstein (WTF is a teen Frankenstein doing on the Teen Titans!?), cover by J. G. Jones is awesome

Cons: Just like in 52 the revolving artist role can be distracting, some of the DCU storyline updates are confusing without any explanations

Mike Tells It Straight: WWIII fills in a lot of blanks on the rest of the DCU during the whole 52 storyline while expanding the conflict against Black Adam.  Two Teen Titans are killed, Checkmate's reformation continues, Aquaman/Sub-Diego are resolved/rebooted, and the Martian Manhunter gets a new direction.  You cannot read this series before reading 52 #1-49 or it will not have much impact.  Martian Manhunter is a particular focus of this story and you find out what changed him before his new series.  This series offers a nice, condensed recap of DCU events without having to read a bunch of different titles.

TO BUY and Recommendations: