JSA #60: Review & SPOILERS!!

[Fazhoul]

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Don Kramer, Tom Mandrake & Keith Champagne

When it comes to characterization Geoff Johns is quite simply one of the best in the field. In this one issue we get more insightful looks into Dr. Mid-Nite, Mr. Terrific & Hourman than I remember seeing at any time before. Whether it was Dr. Mid-Nite's inability to let go of not being able to save his mother's life years ago, Mr. Terrific's loss of faith after his wife's death, or Hourman's determinination to enjoy his brief reprieve from death to the fullest, each scene was poignant and not only served to give us a look into each character's psyche but to also move their storylines ahead.

The art by Don Kramer (with Tom Mandrake doing the flashback at the beginning of the story) was simply fantastic. With each issue Kramer becomes more polished and his figures and faces more "realistic". Seeing how much he has improved in his short time on the book so far gives me high hopes for the future of the series.

This issue's story was the lead in to the return of the Spirit King who is responsible for the death of the original Mr. Terrific which looks to be another great story arc from Johns and Co. I don't remember the Spirit King from his appearance in the JLA so I don't know exactly what his threat level is but he seems to be giving the Spectre a hard time on the last page so he's no pushover.

I give this issue a solid A and reccomend that anyone not reading this series give it a try.

[Caramuru]

Johns really is pretty good at handling so many characters and finding time to develop them and make them interesting.

The idea of Mr. Terrific delving into faith and religious themes with a mind of a scientist, even after having experienced so many unexplained supernatural phenomenae is one of those things that are just essential for a character like that. With all that happens in super-hero universes it's hard to concieve the logic of a character who would not be open-minded to almost anything. And at the same time it's important that all characters remain distinctive in their individual world views.

Hourman's reluctance to go see his former wife is complicated and understandable. I wish Johns explores that further, because Rex Tyler shows the potential to be a tragic and compassionate character.

The first couple of pages with art by Tom Mandrake were a nice touch. The Spectre/Spirit King storyline seems promising. I'd like to see the Spectre returning to his terrifying glory. Let's see what happens...

Oh, and, glad to see you're back Fazhoul!

[deathlok]

all i can say is...... HAL JORDAN!!!!!!!!

[Fazhoul]

Originally posted by deathlok
all i can say is...... HAL JORDAN!!!!!!!!
That's all you got from the issue?

[dollman]

The Spirit King was a one-shot character created by Gerry Conway I believe, for the sole purpose of killing the origingal Mr. Terrific in a late 70s/ early 80s issue of Justice League of America. It was pointless story, one of the more forgettable PRE-CRISIS annual JLA/JSA team-ups. We had no idea who this guy was. Just that he had the ability to possess Jay Garrick to do the murder.

Although I missed the issue, it took 20 years for Ostrander and Mandrake to offer some meaning to Terry Sloane's death, in Spectre #54. This was also the issue that introduced the current Mr. T., and it added personality to really a throw away villain.

I truly miss Mandrake's Spectre, it was definitely a nice prologue. I was also expecting a long lull after the Black Reign saga, but it looks like Johns has found his groove.

I can't say I was impressed with Kramer originally. His Dr. Fate work really didn't do anything for me, nor did the Black Reign art. But it seems like he's getting comfortable with the JSA, and I really did enjoy his work in this issue.

The thing I like Johns and Goyer's work on JSA, is they've always left us tidbits on the history of these characters, enough to whet our appetite, and then finally have a freaking great story to explain it all.

Case in point, Lyta Hall. First we were lead to believe she was dead, then resurfaced as a comatosed hospital victim, only to discover she was really Dove, and then dead again, and finally reunited with Hector. I love it!

Now we've been teased with Northwind and his strange evolution, Hourman's possible return from the dead, and Jay Garrick's lost child. Johns is definitely the man!

[melperfect]

Glad to see you reviewing Fazhoul!!!

Hope to see more of it in the future. you really bring a lot of class along with your comments, and have convinced me in the recent past to try some new books (Selina's big score).

Keep up the reviewing man!

[Ryan Grant]

The Spectre is just plain scary.

I haven't really read much of the character outside of the Crisis, the arc in LOTDCU, and a little bit here and there, but the way he was presented in this issue of JSA.....scary. Tracking down murdering wives and throwing them into the pits of hell? Scary.

What are you supposed to think about a character like him?

--Ryan--

[Fazhoul]

OK, c'mon. Six replies? I know more people than that read this book.

[Caine]

I read the book and really enjoyed it. This is by far a MUCH stronger book than TEEN TITANS.

I liked the Mandrake art in the early pages as a nice homage to Mandrake's work on the earlier Spectre series by Ostrander.With each issue Kramer becomes more polished and his figures and faces more "realistic". Seeing how much he has improved in his short time on the book so far gives me high hopes for the future of the series.
Agree here, too. His lines are getting tighter and cleaner, if that makes sense, and he is developing a good knack for distinct interpretations of each character. I have to be honest, I was a bit non-plussed with his initial work on JSA, but it is getting alot better.

I think it is safe to say this is THE HANDS DOWN BEST TEAM BOOK ON THE SHELF TODAY, and as I read more of the series, I want to track down older issues and earlier series spotlighting the JSA as a whole, and individually (Golden Age Flash, Alan Scott, Starman, etc.)

[MikeHuffman]

Originally posted by dollman
The Spirit King was a one-shot character created by Gerry Conway I believe, for the sole purpose of killing the origingal Mr. Terrific in a late 70s/ early 80s issue of Justice League of America. It was pointless story, one of the more forgettable PRE-CRISIS annual JLA/JSA team-ups. We had no idea who this guy was. Just that he had the ability to possess Jay Garrick to do the murder.



I totally forgot about this story until you brought it up — so you're apparently right! And I lived for the JLA/JSA team-ups back in the day.

JSA continues to surprise, and I echo the thoughts of those who say this is the best team book out there. Too bad Johns' Avengers stories never caught fire the way his work on this title has.

I honestly feel JSA is the closest analogue to Claremont and Byrne's Uncanny X-Men days. Subplots are actually picked up again later in major storylines that totally deliver (I can't wait to see wait Johns has in store for Power Girl) and every character has a unique "voice" that is clearly his/her own.

Solid stuff.

— Mike

[Aquaboy]

i've always enjoyed John's take on Stars.
She was a character I never really cared for, but Johns has kept her a strong character in the JSA next gen. It's been a slow evolution, but to see her become the posessor of the star rod and changing her name to Stargirl were all good things.
I wish they wouldve gone further with the Captain Marvel storyline tho.

[Fazhoul]

Originally posted by Aquaboy
i've always enjoyed John's take on Stars.
She was a character I never really cared for, but Johns has kept her a strong character in the JSA next gen. It's been a slow evolution, but to see her become the posessor of the star rod and changing her name to Stargirl were all good things.
I wish they wouldve gone further with the Captain Marvel storyline tho.
Was it the Stars & Stripes series that you didn't care for? Because Geoff wrote that series too. I hope they revisit the Stargirl/Captain Marvel storyline later on too.

[Aquaboy]

Originally posted by Fazhoul
Was it the Stars & Stripes series that you didn't care for? Because Geoff wrote that series too. I hope they revisit the Stargirl/Captain Marvel storyline later on too.
i heard the johns wrote it, but when it 1st debuted the new series, i was initially turned off by it. i might have to locate the series now :)

[Fazhoul]

Originally posted by Aquaboy
i heard the johns wrote it, but when it 1st debuted the new series, i was initially turned off by it. i might have to locate the series now :)
I bought the first few issues and then dropped it. I've gone back and tried to pick up the rest of the issues but I haven't been able to find all of them.