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Justice Society of America v.3 #1
“The Next Age, Chapter 1”
Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Dale Eaglesham
Inks: Art Thibert
Colors: Jeromy Cox
Letters: Rob Leigh
Cover artists: Alex Ross (regular edition) & Dale Eaglesham (variant)
Editor: Stephen Wacker & Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99 US/$5.50 CAN

Ever since the Silver Age of Comics, stories featuring the Justice Society of America and its members have been about preserving tradition, about remembering where the modern icons of super-hero pop culture of today came from in the first place. That was true of Gardner Fox’s JLA/JSA stories in Justice League of America in the 1960s. It was true of Paul Levitz’s JSA stories in All-Star Comics in the 1970s. And it was true of Roy Thomas’s All-Star Squadron in the 1980s. I loved all of those stories and still do today. In this relaunched series, writer Geoff Johns balances the fondness of the heroes of yesteryear with an accessible script and a slightly darker edge. This debut issue has its flaws, but this gathering-of-the-troops chapter has a solid foundation in characterization. Given my affection for the characters from DC’s Golden Age, I was surprised to find how interested I am in the new, younger members of the team.

Whereas the Justice League of America is about bringing together the world’s greatest heroes to fight the most dangerous threats to mankind, the Justice Society, though equally powerful and honorable, is about maintaining longstanding legacies of heroism. At the urging of their colleagues in the JLA, the three surviving members of the original Justice Society set out to recruit new members, young men and women with connections to their past teammates. What they don’t know is that someone else is also seeking out new faces carrying on old heroic traditions, but for far more sinister ends.

Eaglesham faces a daunting task here, as the script calls for the depiction of a large cast of colorful characters, both in the main story and in flashback. The penciller does an excellent job of reinforcing the personalities of the new players who are incorporated into the title team. Damage’s rage and instability shines through in his eyes, and we even get a hint of the physical scars (symbolic of the damage within) around the edges of his eyes. Maxine Hunkel’s enthusiasm and awkwardness shines through not only in her eyes but her body language. Starman’s appearance — exuding raw strength and power — makes for an interesting contrast to his childlike character.

One distracting visual component of the book — mentioned by critic Johanna Draper Carlson earlier this week — is how the new Liberty Belle draped herself over the form of Hourman. These two characters seem to be defined by their sexual desire for one another. One could almost think their powers are dependent on constant contact with one another. But this isn’t a fault with Eaglesham’s artwork. Johns’s script defines these characters by their new and passionate relationship for one another. Hourman and Belle are a walking, costumed Public Display of Affection, and it ends up being rather irksome rather than endearing.

I think the character that intrigued me the most was the new Starman. This incarnation of the character has been hinted at in Kingdom Come and James Robinson’s Starman series, and there are small but not subtle indications here that would seem to confirm that this is Star Boy from the Legion of Super-Heroes after having travelled back in time from the 31st century. He’s damaged goods, a hero who’s gone a bit crazy and regressed to something of a childlike state of mind. It’s really an off-the-wall character to be included in a rather straight-laced super-hero book. The connection to the Legion will no doubt prove to be lots of fun for longtime DC readers such as myself. However, knowledge of the link to the Legion isn’t necessary to appreciate Johns’s characterization.

The new Starman is representative of all of the new members recruited in this issue. Damage and Maxine (soon to be named Cyclone, if memory serves) are just as fragile as Starman, and that seems to be the elder heroes’ purpose in their selection. It would seem that these junior heroes will be not only guided by the more experienced heroes, but healed as well.

Some might not react well to the introduction of a new hero with a familiar name in this issue only to see him killed off (I assume) in the same issue as his first appearance. Johns clearly uses this death for shock value and to establish what’s at stake for the JSA. I don’t have a problem with it because the character concept is dated, not updated, and it’s a minor property from comicdom’s past. I enjoyed seeing the retooled character, and Johns’s narration brings the character to life quite well and quite quickly.

Where this book goes somewhat awry is in its effort to go grim-and-gritty with these classic characters (or newer versions thereof). I admit I’m intrigued by the plot, but I’m far more interested in the characters. The murder investigation plotline reminded me a lot of the sort of tone that was dominated in Brad Meltzer’s Identity Crisis. Now, I thought the intent at DC these days was to veer away from that darker, harsher atmosphere, and with this book, I think the publisher should. So many of the characters here are about hope, energy and just plain fun. Maxine Hunkel is perfectly representative of this lighter feel, and I’d honestly prefer more of that than the darker fare that’s borderline cliche today. 7/10

December 7, 2006 Don MacPherson

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17 thoughts on “The Society Pages”

  1. Nick Piers says:
    December 7, 2006 at 12:14 am

    I have to say, I share your opinion of the Hourman/Liberty Belle affections. They were both great characters before but the new “joined at the hip” thing seems to be their new definition. It could be that they’re still recently married and going through the honeymoon phase. It hasn’t been stated anywhere as to when they got hitched. On the bright side, at least they’re not saying “You’re schmoopy! No, you’re schmoopy!”

    A lot of the original JSA run was straight superheroics, as well. While it did go into the dark side at times (like the body count of the first issue back in ’99), it was more bright than dark. I would say give that time.

    The thing I liked about this issue, though, was the introduction for each of the new characters. It felt almost like Claremont’s first run on X-Men or more recently, the first issue of Ultimate X-Men. Same goes here, where the creative team dedicated a couple of pages to introduce each character.

    Personally, I thought this issue was leaps and bounds better in comparison to Meltzer’s first couple of issues of JLA so far. Characters are introduced, the team is just about nearly formed by the end of this issue and the plot is going into a higher gear for issue two.

    Personally? I’m stoked.

  2. Don MacPherson says:
    December 7, 2006 at 12:23 am

    Nick wrote:
    The thing I liked about this issue, though, was the introduction for each of the new characters. It felt almost like Claremont’s first run on X-Men or more recently, the first issue of Ultimate X-Men. Same goes here, where the creative team dedicated a couple of pages to introduce each character.

    I see your point, and I think the comparison is valid. But I think the more appropriate comparison isn’t to Claremont’s work on Uncanny X-Men but to Len Wein’s plot for Giant Size X-Men #1.

    As for this title being superior to Meltzer’s JLA, well, I’m a big fan of that series. I’m pleased to find that clear efforts have been made to distinguish these two titles. JLA focuses on the big threats and adventures, and JSA seems poised to focus more on heroic legacies and training a new generation. JLA is the police force, and JSA is the academy.

  3. JohnnyZito says:
    December 7, 2006 at 12:33 am

    I just read it.

    Is it to early to speculate about that last page 🙂

  4. Nick Piers says:
    December 7, 2006 at 11:43 am

    Sorry, that’s essentially what I meant in reference to Claremont’s X-Men. I should have double checked the writer and actual issue number before saying that. I blame being overtired. =p

  5. Kevin says:
    December 7, 2006 at 2:08 pm

    In response to all the Hourman/Liberty Belle concerns, there is an interview with Johns that was just posted on Newsarama, he indicates that they are indeed still in their honeymoon phase and mentions that they’re the characters that’ll have everyone in meetings rolling their eyes. At least we know it’s an intentional decision.

    They warn you before you read it, but I’ll warn you too, don’t read it if you don’t want to get some hints of events in future issues.

    As for the comic, I have to admit, I was put off by Mr. America, he was driving me crazy during the issue. I knew I recognized him from somewhere but he was just so bloody dated that I’m really hoping he is dead (and I’m not one to wish death upon fictional characters) instead of being an ongoing member of the JSA.

    The entire time he was in the book all I could think was “this guy should be in The American Way.” He just felt like he would fit in perfectly there.

    Anyway, I’m not going to talk about other things in the issue, but I did enjoy it, despite having some real misgivings about certain developments, but whatever, if I don’t like it I should write my own story, right?

  6. Don MacPherson says:
    December 7, 2006 at 4:09 pm

    Kevin wrote:
    As for the comic, I have to admit, I was put off by Mr. America, he was driving me crazy during the issue. I knew I recognized him from somewhere but he was just so bloody dated that I’m really hoping he is dead (and I’m not one to wish death upon fictional characters) instead of being an ongoing member of the JSA.

    Mr. America is a lesser-known Golden Age character, who was renamed Americommando. If memory serves, his sidekick was Fatman. Really. He played a prominent role in James Robinson and Paul Smith’s Golden Age Elseworlds series from the 1990s.

    The fact that we don’t see him on the Alex Ross cover leads me to believe he is, in fact, dead. Unless he’s the one to take on the Commander Steel identity in later issues.

  7. John Foley says:
    December 8, 2006 at 12:12 pm

    I thought Mr. America was kind of cool. I like some of those corny old characters, and I appreciated what a huge part he played in the Golden Age miniseries.
    The only real problem I had with Mr. America was the idea that the mask would ever conceal his identity, especially from people that knew him personally. I realize we’re expected to believe this from a lot of characters already (e.g. Robin), but even still.

  8. JohnnyZito says:
    December 8, 2006 at 7:01 pm

    There were a lot of Earth 2 and Kingdom Come references.

    There sure are a lot of universes floating around in a place that supposedly doesn’t have a multi-verse 🙂

    Is Golden Age continuity now? If that’s the case, isn’t the legacy of Mr. America a lil bit tainted?

  9. Don MacPherson says:
    December 8, 2006 at 7:36 pm

    Johnny Zito wrote:
    Is Golden Age continuity now? If that’s the case, isn’t the legacy of Mr. America a lil bit tainted?

    Oh, I don’t think Golden Age is in continuity at all.

  10. Dan Coyle says:
    December 9, 2006 at 1:13 am

    Golden Age was an Elseworlds book at its original publication, but the recent reprinting seems to indicate that it’s in continuity, along with small elements of it that Robinson snuck into Starman.

  11. Don MacPherson says:
    December 9, 2006 at 11:13 am

    Dan Coyle wrote:
    Golden Age was an Elseworlds book at its original publication, but the recent reprinting seems to indicate that it’s in continuity, along with small elements of it that Robinson snuck into Starman.

    You’re right that some elements turned up in James Robinson’s Starman, but weren’t some characters killed off in Golden Age that remained alive in regular continuity? For example, Tarantula is killed in Golden Age if memory serves, but in the in-continuity Nightwing, he was depicted as being alive, living out his senior years in Bludhaven.

    Some plot points from other Elseworlds books — e.g. The Dark Knight Returns and Kingdom Come — have turned up in “regular” continuity, but it hasn’t made the entirety of those stories canon.

    (Not that “canon” is ever concrete in super-hero comics.)

  12. JohnnyZito says:
    December 10, 2006 at 12:06 pm

    Some plot points from other Elseworlds books — e.g. The Dark Knight Returns and Kingdom Come — have turned up in “regular” continuity, but it hasn’t made the entirety of those stories canon.

    Good point.

  13. PilapZ says:
    December 10, 2006 at 9:41 pm

    I know it may be a little 2 early to speculate but I have a hunch of what DC’s new BIG EVENT is all about. With Infinite Crisis we saw the DC Universe face different Universes of themselves, something that has to do with the past(Earth-2 Supes, Superboy-Prime, etc.). I think their next event has to do something about the future, they will face their future selves this time(Dark Knight Returns and Kingdom Comes), i guess that’s why there is a lot of references to those 2 books lately. I believe the title of the series might be “DC One Million”. Oh well, that’s just my 2 cents…….

  14. Don MacPherson says:
    December 10, 2006 at 10:23 pm

    PilpZ wrote:
    I believe the title of the series might be “DC One Million”.

    DC has already published a crossover event entitled DC One Million, back in 1998.

  15. JohnnyZito says:
    December 11, 2006 at 1:05 am

    Pilap, I think there’s something to what your saying.

    But I think where Infinite Crisis was about cementing the core thread of continuity and “New” earth; the next event wiill about resetting the multi-verse so that there’s a place and order to things like Kingdom Come, Dark Knight, Earth 2 characters…

  16. PilapZ says:
    December 11, 2006 at 11:21 am

    DC has already published a crossover event entitled DC One Million, back in 1998.

    thanks for correcting me on that. it was just a guess. but i think there is a possibility that the DC universe will now try to rearrange itself so that they could fit into the continuity of KINGDOM COME and DARK KNIGHT RETURNS! but of course there will be a lot of adjustments also, again! I mean c’mon, why else would geoff johns get alex ross on JSA, and the last panel itself is a shocker. i was right when i guessed that scarlet witch went cuckoo on avengers disassembled, i was right that pietro was behind house of m, and i was also right that bucky was winter soldier. oh! i forgot! those were marvel books, they’re just that predictable. wahehe! ;p but seriously, i think im onto something here…….am i?

  17. JohnnyZito says:
    January 11, 2007 at 8:39 am

    After reading JSA #2 I think Kingdom Come might have taken place n Earth 2.

    That would explain why the Flash and Green Lantern in KC appear to be extensions of their golden age selves.

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