Three consecutive weeks have brought us three distinct JSA specials. The first explored the experience of Kingdom Come Superman as he comes to grips with life on Earth. It was excellent. The second attempted to explain the evolution of Magog from soldier to minor superhero to god-servant. It was fair. The third - this week's JSA special - examines the ramifications of Gog's beneficence. Without a doubt, this is an exceptional comic.

Geoff Johns has repeatedly been described as characterizing Gog as having a child-like affectation. I believe that this is accurate. We have not heard learned anything that would make us suspect that Gog's goal is to deceive his subjects as he grants them his "beneficence". Rather, as we learn in this book, Gog's "gifts" are not gifts at all. They require great trade-offs. Dr. Mid-Nite has regained his sight, but he has lost the ability to diagnose patients. Sandman has lost his tortured nightmares, but he has also lost the ability to track criminals. As Atom Smasher poignantly notes, "Gog is a living monkey's paw". Still, JSA members covet his gifts; for instance, Citizen Steel longs for the ability to feel through his indurated skin. It is this potent conflict that makes this book so strong.

There has been some controversy as to whether $4 one-shots should be used to supplement JSA continuity. I am not sure that I care. I am sure that I cannot wait for the next JSA #21. We learn that if Gog spends one more day on Earth, the Earth may die. If that isn't a cliff-hanger, I don't know what is. Two other story lines keep us pinned to the edge of our seats as well. Starman is about to start a job as a gravedigger. Apparently, if he fails at his efforts, the future of the Legion of Super-Heroes is threatened. And the Gog-loving JSA members are about to wage war in Khandaq. Big superhero wars are generally pretty exciting.

I don't know how Geoff Johns does it, but he does it so well. I am not a great lover of Alex Ross as a writer, but I suspect his influence as a co-creator of the story (as he is billed) was quite helpful here. The art is excellent, as Fernando Passarin's lines work perfectly for this story. Still, this is an emotion- and plot-driven comic. This book is moving me from JSA fan to JSA junkie.