You have nothing to fear, human beings. I am here to save you. 
- — Gog I
Justice Society of America (Volume 3) #16 is an issue of the series Justice Society of America (Volume 3) with a cover date of July, 2008.
Synopsis for "One World, Under Gog (Part I): He came, and salvation with him"
Grant Emerson the illegitimate son of Al Pratt reminisces about his biological father Al Pratt the World War II Atom. Emerson recounts that unlike most he considers his powers that he inherited from his father a curse rather than a blessing. Emerson feels abandoned in that his biological father never knew about him and Emerson had to suffer at the hands of his foster family. When Emerson later developed his own powers, his powers were uncontrollable to the point he destroyed a portion of Atlanta, Georgia and even deformed his own face. The reason Emerson wears the mask is not, as many assume, a homage to Pratt but rather a concealment of his disfigurement.
Emerson is broken from his memories when Gog I re-emerges from his own imprisonment. After watching Gog I revive and disintegrate William Matthews, Emerson and the roster of the Justice Society of America and its associates who were teleported to Africa attempt to communicate with the sixty foot being. Mister Terrific analyzes the situation and tries the most direct manner but is ignored. Refusing to accept Gog as an actual god, the Earth-22 Superman and Markus Clay try a more emotional communication which succeeds in gathering Gog I's attention and response. However, Gog I turns his attention to the distant community of evacuees of the city of Goma who fled the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo. With the water poisoned by the eruption and the resultant carbon dioxide, methane and other toxins, the evacuees are all dying. Gog I chooses to save the villagers with his powers. But several of the Justice Society press Gog I further. The Earth-22 Superman inquires to which source Earth Gog I comes from and is rebuffed by Gog I stating "You speak of William Matthews. You speak of something wicked." He goes on to recount his own past as being "from Paradise. A paradise know as the Third World." Gog I recounts that the old gods destroyed the peace of Third World and refused to take a side in the battle. As he refused to take sides he was rejected by both and "cast out" and "fell for an eternity. Though the inverted pyramids of parallel worlds." He impacted on Earth near death and was entombed on earth during its volcanic era and was entombed in solid rock for eons being found by primitive humans who were able to fashion a power rod that was able to tap into Gog I's own powers. He was abandoned and forgotten over the years until William Matthews entered Gog I's temple. Taking the staff he accessed Gog I's own memories and was overwhelmed by the massive amount of information and visions of alternate realities including that of Earth-22 and its parallels including the one where Magog has killed Superman many different times. The awareness drove Matthews mad. Gog I recounts that despite Matthews taking Gog's own name as his own "William Matthews was NOT doing my bidding. War is not my way."
Emerson rejects Gog I's statements fearing that he is lying and is a villain. Sensing the conflict and anger in Emerson, Gog I decides to eliminate Emerson's pain. Gog I bluntly fixes Emerson's face and states "I made him good again. Who is next?"
Appearing in "One World, Under Gog (Part I): He came, and salvation with him"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Cyclone
- Doctor Mid-Nite (Pieter Cross)
- Doctor Mid-Nite (Charles McNider) (Flashback only)
- Hourman (Rex Tyler) (Flashback only)
- Green Lantern
- Hourman (Rick Tyler)
- Jakeem Thunder
- Liberty Belle
- Obsidian
- Stargirl
- Wildcat (Ted Grant)
- Wildcat (Tom Bronson)
- Judomaster
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Black Adam
- Gog (Flashback only)
Locations:
- Africa
- New York City
- Earth-22 (Flashback only)
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue shipped in the United States on June 4th 2008.
- Includes DC Nation editorial #115 by Eddie Berganza. Berganza discusses the "Final Crisis" and his role in the upcoming series.
Trivia
This story is based on the age-old idealogical debate of "science versus religion" as summarized by Amazing Man's inquiry of "Isn't that what a god IS, Mr. Terrific? ( to the statement of 'a being of alien origin and immense power')".
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Justice Society of America series
- Images from Justice Society of America Vol 3 16
Recommended Reading
- Justice Society Recommended Reading
- Adventure Comics (Volume 1)
- All-Star Comics (Volume 1)
- All-Star Squadron (Volume 1)
- America vs. the Justice Society (Volume 1)
- Infinity Inc. (Volume 1)
- JSA (Volume 1)
- JSA: All Stars (Volume 1)
- JSA Classified (Volume 1)
- JSA: Strange Adventures (Volume 1)
- JSA vs. Kobra (Volume 1)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 1)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 2)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 3)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 4)
- Last Days of the Justice Society Special #1
- Kingdom Come Recommended Reading
- Kingdom Come (Volume 1) - collected in Kingdom Come
- The Kingdom (Volume 1) - storyline The Kingdom collected in The Kingdom
- Thy Kingdom Come - collected in Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come, Part One and Part Two and Part Three
- Justice Society of America (Volume 3) #9 - JSA #17
- Justice Society of America Annual (Volume 3) #1
- Justice Society of America (Volume 3) #18 - JSA #20
- Justice Society of America Kingdom Come Special Superman #1
- Justice Society of America Kingdom Come Special Magog #1
- Justice Society of America Kingdom Come Special: The Kingdom #1
- Justice Society of America (Volume 3) #21 - JSA #22
- Titans: Who is Troia?
- Justice League: Generation Lost (Volume 1) - storyline Justice League: Generation Lost collected in Justice League: Generation Lost Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (Volume 1)
- Strange Visitor: Batman/Superman: World's Finest #7 - Batman/Superman: World's Finest #11
- Heir to the Kingdom: Batman/Superman: World's Finest #20 - Present
