BEST SHOTS EARLY EXTRA: JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #4

[MattBrady]

Justice Society of America #4
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Dale Eaglesham & Ruy Jose
From: DC Comics
Review by The Rev. O.J. Flow

Over the last month, I have immersed myself in some very solid comic book offerings featuring revamped A-list superhero teams. Over at Marvel, the Earth’s mightiest heroes have been divided into two camps, the more underground New Avengers and the “mainstream” Mighty Avengers, both written by Brian Michael Bendis. So far, Bendis has been successful at telling the story of two sets of good guys going in clearly different directions. Circumstances dictate that the diverse teams are inevitably going to clash, yet they serve their respective functions well right now. DC has brought back the JLA in a whole new edition, but despite some superlative art and a pretty sweet roster (I totally dig that the guy-girl ratio is 60/40 right now), Justice League of America to date is hit-or-miss thanks to leaden pacing and dizzying narrative. But all of those books can bow down to the master here. I can say with overflowing confidence that none of those team books can hold a candle to Justice Society of America, especially having just read issue #4. This is the team book of the year, and we’re only a quarter of the way through. Writer Geoff Johns is delivering some of his best work to date, and it’s only made better by the peerless artistic heights achieved here by Dale Eaglesham with Ruy Jose. With all due praise and adulation (by me alone!) to a certain Mr. Perez, if there’s someone working for DC right now who’s delivering better art, I’m apparently not reading that title. Friends, this stuff’s unbelievable.

Part 4 of Justice Society of America’s first arc in this updated volume is the conclusion to “The Next Age,” a story that, taken as a whole, let’s everyone know how much the world needs the JSA and how enduring their legacy is. The villain who has spearheaded the carnage since issue #1, Vandal Savage, has the lofty idea that cutting all of the leaves and branches off the JSA tree will cause the organization to wither and die. Oh, how wrong he is, and this is presented in several different scenarios, each one positively captivating. The better part of the team is split up into two groups who are doing their best to protect the family of legacy characters who are patriotically thematic in their costumes and M.O.s. Lord knows that we live in a time where despite the death of the Cold War has made Soviet threats a bit dated, and the “War on Terror” is a slippery slope for some writers. But, heavens to Betsy, cracking the skulls of Nazis never gets old. Savage proves to be a purist at heart in the worst way possible, and employing Nazi-flavored super-villains to do a lot of the dirty work (especially gut-wrenching an issue prior) is cruelly inspired, but seeing how they measure up against the world’s first and best superhero collective is exhilarating as well as gratifying. We have full-tilt, action simultaneously happening in at least three different locations, and they are all off the charts in their splendor, and there is an excellent mix of dialogue and ass-kicking. They pacing is frantic, but in all the right ways, and it’s so widescreen that in can barely be contained in two-page spreads (all beautifully colored by Jeromy Cox) sometimes. Oh, and not to give anything away, but the knockout blow (“blows,” if you factor in some exceptional juxtaposition) in one scene is hysterically ham-fisted in its patriotism, and another one is so effectively rendered that you may find your ears ringing afterward.

The good news is that it’s never anything you can’t keep up with since it is so skillfully produced by Johns, Eaglesham & Co. For real, the JSA has never had it so great, and you can tell it’s only going to get better. A legacy character who we were teased with early on in “The Next Age” is revived in noble fashion, and I swear I got goosebumps with how it played out at the end (or, should I say “beginning”?). Wildcat, probably the MVP of this issue, is in a pretty good place right now, and I am so on the same page with him in his sentiments regarding heroes sharing the same codename. Another compelling subplot of sorts is the enigma that is Damage. We get an idea how dire his predicament is, at least aesthetically, and I don’t think it would be the worst thing in the world to keep his rough appearance under wraps. You get the idea how bad it is, it adds to the suspense if the reader doesn’t have a complete idea how had the, err, damage is. I was also very happy, in light of some unflattering attention that a favorite of mine got recently that said character got her due when things settled down. We continue to get hints about what this team has planned, easiest to read being that meeting the Justice League is next, but who is this that may be entering the fray as well? A certain gang whose exploits postdate us by 1,000 years?? And not the particular bunch we’ve been reading for the last couple of years? Okay, consider this mind officially blown. I don’t know how much more goodness I can take!

[Poe]

Looking forward to the issue, but not sure how well Johns can wrap up the current storyline in just 22 pages. It seems that there's just too much going on in this storyline to fit it all in a four part story.

Then again, he's proven me wrong before.

[vbartilucci]

I coulda sworn there was a story somewhere recently where he came back from space not immortal anymore.

The very fact that I can't remember the location or details of said story should speak volumes.

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

I coulda sworn there was a story somewhere recently where he came back from space not immortal anymore.

The very fact that I can't remember the location or details of said story should speak volumes.

It was the first JSA Classified arc after OYL.

[TheUUShadow]

The one tiny negative thing I can say about this great series is that I went temporarily blind when I saw the full version of Cyclones costume.

[ZEBULON]

Fighting nazis doesnt feel very original to me, and rehashing the kingdom come plots so soon after rehashing the crisis plots to a tee makes me think they are running out of new ideas. I am all supermaned out. I thought the point was he was the last son of a dead planet, why are there three million kryptonians running around in all sizes large and small. now the martians are next.

[SouthtownKid]

Originally Posted by ZEBULON

Fighting nazis doesnt feel very original to me, and rehashing the kingdom come plots so soon after rehashing the crisis plots to a tee makes me think they are running out of new ideas. I am all supermaned out. I thought the point was he was the last son of a dead planet, why are there three million kryptonians running around in all sizes large and small. now the martians are next.

Uh...okay. Kids, this is why we don't do meth.

Anyhow, I've been loving JSA. It's one of the books that maintains my faith in the entire genre. Great, great series so far.

[Ace]

Honestly,

I liked JSA better than this.

I think that that it might be a matter of restraint. It's also a matter that JSA between the Injustice Society story and Black Reign might be the best straight up run on a superhero comic ever.

It also might be that this is edgier and it seems it's edgier just for the sake of being edgier. And I find it absolutely unnecessary. Everything seems more over the top. Maybe it's just the first story but I doubt it.

Which isn't me saying it's not good. It is. I just wish that he might have gone a different direction with it.

[KyleCowstar]

I love this book. Near perfect.

[theodoros2]

There is no JSA in the next DC solicitation. Damn...

[Sunless]

It's no Stormwatch PHD, but its a fun book.

For me the Wildcat sub plot is the best

[chap22]

love this book, and can't wait to get #4 tomorrow, but i have had some minor quibbles with it so far. still loads of fun, though.


my one disagreement with OJ is this: Dale is indeed great. and he's doing the work of his career on JSoA. but the best art being done at DC right now is on GL by Mr. Ivan Reis. that book (when it comes out) is GORGEOUS.

[rdotdragon]

This is all great stuff so far. I became JSA Fan through trades of Johns first run and when I heard of the relaunch I was all for it. Next to Green Lantern this is the book to read from D.C.

Things I dig:

Damage and his new uniform and attitude.

Liberty Belle - Hourman - I have a feeling this doing to lead to something huge and
negative for them and I think Damage will tie into it.

The New Steele, can't wait to see more of him if nothing else I would like to see if he can become popular since the last active Steele was part of the WAY non popular JLA: Detroit.

Starman - This dude is crazy.

Power Girl has a chest larger than the average female does.

Best of all: This book had a girl with no freaking panties on and a skirt raised into the air drawn be Alex Ross on the cover!

HOW CAN WE ALL NOT LOVE THIS? HOW DID IT NOT GET COVER OF THE WEEK, MONTH AND YEAR?!

[vbartilucci]

Originally Posted by rdotdragon

Things I dig:

Power Girl has a chest larger than the average female does.

Best of all: This book had a girl with no freaking panties on and a skirt raised into the air drawn be Alex Ross on the cover!

Honesty...what a delightful relief.

[SSK17]

Originally Posted by SouthtownKid

Uh...okay. Kids, this is why we don't do meth.

Anyhow, I've been loving JSA. It's one of the books that maintains my faith in the entire genre. Great, great series so far.

I think it is a little more then just meth....Maybe a Speedball.

I guess we should help him understand though. See all those kryptonians running around are from the Phantom Zone. This is like an alternate dimension. Superman's real dad Jor-El discovered it and turned it into a living prison for criminals. He then reluctantly sent his friends (Zod & Co.) in there as to save his family. There are many criminals in there that have no escaped and are running amok on Earth...just like in Smallville.

I guess you didn't read the Martian Manhunter Mini....there are atleast 5 Martians running around on Earth now. I think it is 2 Green and 3-4 whites.

[SpyGuy]

I'm not wild about Damage's "Atom-Smasher" look, Jesse Quick as Liberty Belle and Cyclone's costume, although I'm hoping that one's just a temporary one.

Otherwise, JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA is one of the best books currently being published. Can't wait for Nathan Heywood as the new Commander Steel. (Hmmm...Does he automatically outrank John Henry Irons?)

[Ghostrider]

Originally Posted by SouthtownKid

Uh...okay. Kids, this is why we don't do meth.

Anyhow, I've been loving JSA. It's one of the books that maintains my faith in the entire genre. Great, great series so far.

So.. hes doing meth because he has a different opinion then you?


There are a lot of kryptonians running around at the moment, But I guess you haven't been reading action.

Originally Posted by SSK17

I think it is a little more then just meth....Maybe a Speedball.

I guess we should help him understand though. See all those kryptonians running around are from the Phantom Zone. This is like an alternate dimension. Superman's real dad Jor-El discovered it and turned it into a living prison for criminals. He then reluctantly sent his friends (Zod & Co.) in there as to save his family. There are many criminals in there that have no escaped and are running amok on Earth...just like in Smallville.

I guess you didn't read the Martian Manhunter Mini....there are atleast 5 Martians running around on Earth now. I think it is 2 Green and 3-4 whites.

Damn, and this is what happens when you dont read through the entire thread, and only focus on one dorks post.

[ziza9]

Originally Posted by TheUUShadow

The one tiny negative thing I can say about this great series is that I went temporarily blind when I saw the full version of Cyclones costume.

Definitely worst new costume of the year. Guess it keeps in the family tradition of whack outfits. Red Tornado wasn't exactly a fashion icon.

[ziza9]

Originally Posted by rdotdragon

Best of all: This book had a girl with no freaking panties on and a skirt raised into the air drawn be Alex Ross on the cover!

HOW CAN WE ALL NOT LOVE THIS? HOW DID IT NOT GET COVER OF THE WEEK, MONTH AND YEAR?!

hahahahahahahahahaha

[OM]

Originally Posted by rdotdragon

Power Girl has a chest larger than the average female does.

Best of all: This book had a girl with no freaking panties on and a skirt raised into the air drawn be Alex Ross on the cover!

HOW CAN WE ALL NOT LOVE THIS? HOW DID IT NOT GET COVER OF THE WEEK, MONTH AND YEAR?!

...YesyesYES! Not only did we get another thread we can spend two dozen pages bitching at each other over Kara's boobs, we get to drool over Jessie's camel toe!

Originally Posted by SSK17

I think it is a little more then just meth....Maybe a Speedball.

...You will do Penance for that one, my son

[Dreighton]

Originally Posted by Ace

Honestly,

I liked JSA better than this.

I think that that it might be a matter of restraint. It's also a matter that JSA between the Injustice Society story and Black Reign might be the best straight up run on a superhero comic ever.

It also might be that this is edgier and it seems it's edgier just for the sake of being edgier. And I find it absolutely unnecessary. Everything seems more over the top. Maybe it's just the first story but I doubt it.

Which isn't me saying it's not good. It is. I just wish that he might have gone a different direction with it.

This is exactly what I was thinking. I found the first few issues of Justice Society to be rather boring, and I really didn't care. Ohio Nazi's? Nazis as villians, with fascists all around they give us Nazis.. Kid Wildcat, Hourman/JesseQuick, Commander Steel...don't care. I was interested in the crazy Starman from the future, and I loved the introduction of Maxine.

But not enough to make me care. I didn't get a "wow" factor. I got a "that's nice I guess" factor. I gave the title 3 issues

[SSK17]

Originally Posted by OM

...YesyesYES! Not only did we get another thread we can spend two dozen pages bitching at each other over Kara's boobs, we get to drool over Jessie's camel toe!

...You will do Penance for that one, my son

I was honestly going to put that..but I just drew a blank on his new name.

[SSK17]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider

Damn, and this is what happens when you dont read through the entire thread, and only focus on one dorks post.

Or I could have been answering his question of why there are so many kryptonians running around.

[furioso2012]

Originally Posted by KyleCowstar

I love this book. Near perfect.

Agreed. My only concern is that Johns has set the damned bar so high for himself! That's a rare and good place to be in though, firing on all cylinders.

I'm hoping this new launch and its success will pave the way for a few more JSA trades: the Roy Thomas 1980s mini (America vs Justice Society) and its one shot follow up, the 1990s JSA maxi and series drawn by the incomparable Mike Parobeck, and the Kevin Anderson-Barry Kitson mini from recent years that few folks seem to get/appreciate (which co-stars Jack Williamson, a scifi author who only just died at age ninely-whatever).

Am I missing any more JSA material in need of re-release?

[furioso2012]

Originally Posted by ziza9

Definitely worst new costume of the year. Guess it keeps in the family tradition of whack outfits. Red Tornado wasn't exactly a fashion icon.

I like the outfit. it's different & oddball and reflects the character who wears it. Why should everybody wear spandex?