Next issue is the finale of this 12-issue maxi-series and I’m expecting that to be a big package of loose ends. Why? Because this penultimate chapter is a crash bang wallop climatic action issue full of marvellously crowded splash pages and spreads.
In the blue corner we have the JSA, battling to protect newest member Mordru the Not Yet Merciless. And in the red, hailing from the far flung 31st century, the Legion of Super-Heroes, convinced no good can come of harbouring a teenage version of one of their greatest foes.
You may notice that the JSA aren’t as outnumbered as might be expected by the 30-strong Legion – they’ve called in the reserves, the likes of Atom Smasher. Cyclone and Jesse Quick. So the fight isn’t going to end quickly… unless someone listens to the man they’re fighting over.
As easy as it is for longtime comic fans to accept that two teams of good guys will go to war over the slightest misunderstanding, Mordru doesn’t read comics, he likes spell books. So he can’t believe everyone is this quick to anger… and he’s right, there is a dark influence in play.
They don’t come much darker than the original Spirit of Divine Wrath, who’s been hiding inside a JSA member for some time. But Mordru proves his worth, teaming up with Huntress Helena Wayne – our purple-boxed narrator – to take him down in a manner that rewards longtime DC fans.
And in the end, Rainbow Girl of the Legion of Substitute Heroes – did I not mention they show up mid-fight? – has a suggestion as to how to kill two birds with one stone.
And who is the tyro team?
It’s the JSA of the 31st century, comprising founders Green Lantern, Dr Fate and the Atom, whom we met in the New Golden Age #1, our very own Huntress, Mordru, Solomon Grundy and, in a hideous metal outfit, Wildcat, along with a new version of Zero Hour Legionnaire XS, resplendent in a Jay Garrick helmet… maybe even the Jay Garrick helmet. I am intrigued.
For one thing, how long is Helena going to stay in the future, surely the Huntress is a big enough DC character that she’s needed in the 21st century comics? Then again, I think time shenanigans have meant this is an ‘extra’ Huntress to the one seen in the line over the last several years.
As for Wildcat, I imagine Yolanda Montez will soon return, given she’s appearing alongside original and best Wildcat Ted Grant in the upcoming new Justice Society of America series launching a month after next issue’s conclusion. I suppose the 31st century isn’t for everyone.
Then there’s Grundy, and I’m not worried, there’s always another Grundy growing in Slaughter Swamp.
I do have a question about Mordru – when he first appeared at the end of Justice Society of America #8 it read as if he was a previously unknown member of the Legion of Super-Heroes on an away mission.
And the next issue, when he meets the JSA, he refers to having a load of different powers, like a Composite Legionnaire, and we find he has a secret history with the team.
Yet by the following issue he’s ‘just’ a younger version of Mordru with magic powers, and apparently acting alone.
Have I missed something? Have I forgotten something? Or did Geoff Johns change the story behind the Golden Age Legionnaire in between issues? I could certainly see that happening, given the huge delay this supposedly monthly series has suffered… something could easily have been happening behind the scenes.
Funnily enough, this issue is the first in which Johns tacitly acknowledges the delays, with an awful lot of recapping from Helena. I was very grateful.
As a big old Legion fan, Johns will be familiar with the Traitor Within The Legion trope, and while he doesn’t manage to squeeze one in here, he does give us a Traitor Within The Society. The reveal comes in rather an offhand manner, but it’s there, and again, I’m grateful.
Basically, as a JSA lifer who’s been waiting ages in between issues of this series, and is still hanging on for the return of a regular series featuring a Legion I can recognise, I’m pretty much grateful for everything.
That includes the various chats between heroes of different eras mid-melee, and the clever match-ups on that amazing spread. There’s Master of Dreams Sandman vs sleeping beauty Dream Girl. Magnetic-powered Cosmic Boy vs Nth Metal-wielding Hawkman. Jesse Quick, who can vibrate through things via super-speed vs Phantom Girl who, well, you know.
It’s clever stuff, and wonderfully well drawn by Marco Santucci, who shows no fear in the face of something like 50 heroes. Everyone is immediately recognisable (well, if you’re a JSA/LSH/LSH mark). The storytelling is clear as day throughout, with plenty of interesting angles and dynamic moments, along with smart use of nine-panel grids. He even gives Colossal Boy legs in group shots where most artists fob us off with a floating torso and head. The corruption wave with which Eclipso assails the heroes is especially well presented, aided by the intense colour work of Ivan Plascencia. I’m talking seriously eerie.
The final member of the on-page creative team, Rob Leigh, lays out the letters with his usual style and gusto.
The cover is incredibly crowded, but fun as delivered in full colour by Mikel Janín. I saw someone online saying it’s a homage to Justice League of America #148 from the Bronze Age. That’s a nice idea, given that book also featured the Legion and the JSA, as well as Mordru, but I think not – Rich Buckler kept his figures a lot more discrete whereas Janín emphasises the confusion of a big battle.
Gosh, I’ve gone on a bit. This is long even for me, but it’s great that a comic provides so many talking points. And I bet you can come up with some more…
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
You know, if Johns is gonna be used for sales but not have any of his work important to the overall line, it might be time to give up on his books. I won’t if the orphaned stories involve the JSA or LoSH but you can be sure if he returns with any Green (Hal Jerkdan) Lantern or JLA I’ll be reading them after the fact if they have any ramifications to other books.
This installment has great moments and is amazingly well drawn, colored, and lettered but it’s a hot mess. Huntress #4 is a dud, the Eclipso reveal that was spoiled by how heavy handed the possibility was for issues, and the last page reveal is of a very stupid idea.
The seemingly forgotten Golden Age team ups for Legionnaire aren’t negated here to my thinking (even though I forgot they existed until you mentioned them) because Mordu is a time traveler and could of done them days ago to him.
Let’s hope the new creative team after Absolute Drek has more attention from TPTB (and God, do I wish editorial at DC were as organized as Marvel and benefited from summits like they do) and doesn’t suffer from an inability to meet deadlines. ‘Cause, let’s face it, not every artist Johns works with could all suddenly start missing deadlines.
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Maybe the stuff Johns has been generating isn’t important to the overall DC line but at least the New Golden Age gave us three very distinctive mini-series. Heck, the Jay Flash book was such a showcase for the wonderful artwork of Diego Olortegui that he’s got the new JSA assignment.
I went off Johns on GL when it became all zombies and the Crayola Corps.
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Great review! I love this issue too!
LLL!!
…and JSA!
-Matthew Lloyd
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Can’t agree more!
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I’ve been enjoying and continue to enjoy this series but yes, there have been clearly a few massive u turns in where the story was supposed to be going and closing off of threads. The Huntress stuff seems like it was probably part of that tease about Batman’s daughter back when the 5G crisis was still going to be a thing, but we’ve had one minor encounter with Batman before she was gone again. So I’m guessing that a lot of these plans were probably wiped out by All In and whatever Lemire is planning, which could well be interesting.
Lemire also seems to be throwing out the supervillains on the team by the looks of things. While it’s fair enough for writers to be given the chance to start fresh, I do miss them having to at least pay lip service to what the last writer did and for a concept like JSA which hasn’t been around awhile (similar to Legion) some continuity would help them get established again – although might be prejudging there and we might get an explanation of the transitions. I wasn’t totally sold on the idea but it would have been interesting as a source of tensions.
The legionnaire thing with Mordru is weird, it works fine but feels like it was never meant to play out this way, and was probably supposed to have him be on the team for a while and lead to a journey to the 31st Century and some event, but at least the worry about dangling threads is dealt with! It feels especially strange as this feels like it should be a past Mordru as we already saw a more adult Mordru contemporaneous with the team when Goyer and Robinson did their series restart, but it’s clear that he was supposed to be another timelost Legionnaire like Thom was – but maybe that was it, that he suddenly realised he was redoing the lightning saga? But more likely he was told there were plans for the original character?
Stu
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Oh gosh Stu, I’d completely forgotten about 5G, and that JSA Forties flashback story that seemed to be tied into it… which I can’t remember where it appeared!
I’m not too fussed at all about the villains being sidelined, I said in a review that I don’t think bad guys should be able to join a superhero team as a form of probation/restitution… Let them serve some of their sentence first! And wrangling Grundy? The guy – well, one of him – killed Sylvester Pemberton. He’s too much of a loose cannon, if the heroes want to help him on a positive journey they should find a ritual that helps Cyrus Gold rest in peace.
The Mordru business really is dizzyingly confusing, he surely was a late change. Maybe the Golden Age Legionnaire was originally meant to be Captain Atom…
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The final page reveal is confusing to me. We’ve already seen XS is action with this particular team when Levitz was writing the book (although he sent her off in the the past quick enough). So… is this a new Jenni? The same Jenni, but one who’s decided to hang around with the JSA instead?
Also… Mordru? A younger version of himself is going back into current 31st century? Isn’t there already a Mordru around? What happens to him? My memory is fuzzy. I think his powers were absorbed by Mysa, but surely he’s still around isn’t he?
At the end of the day, it’s all a big shrug. When next we see the Legion all of this could be swept under the rug.
This issue certainly felt like a finale to me. I’m not sure what the next issue is going to bring, but I’m already kinda of over it. Just bring on the Lemire series and lets get moving.
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That’s a good point about two Mordrus! If time travel worked differently in the DC universe, it might be a good way to short circuit his villainous development by just making him unavailable for a thousand years.
I never was completely sure where this Legion breaks with the past. Is it effectively that they’re the version pre-Crisis and never went through 5YL?
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I think it was said Magic Wars didn’t happen so the timeline diverged there.
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That’s what I remember too.
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Whatever the story is with Jenni, I accept it because she has Jay’s tremendous helmet… surely a bit heavy for a speedster, but Jay always made it work. I’m just glad Johns never threw Judy ahead in time.
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I was sorry to see that Janín was not able to draw this or next issue. The last few issues have been “meh, we’ve been waiting for THIS?” I’ll have to read the issue #10 again, seems like I missed something somewhere to be in the middle of a big fight.
Not the best series to build a brand or reward long time fans.
so long Johns, I’ll get your next series Janín and bring on the new JSA
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It is a shame Janín’s couldn’t do the whole series, do we know why he didn’t? I’ve a vague memory of reading he was working on some upcoming special, but can’t remember what that was.
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this book has left the 31st century in a shambles. There is a legacy JSA with a Dr Fate and GL that have never been seen in this era or anywhere in between.
XS has jumped ship from the Legion.
And most importantly 16 year old Mordru has travelled to the 31stC and joined the JSA, thereby wiping out all of the battles the Legion have had with him at a stroke.
This was Johns wanting to wrap up storyline quickly but in so doing has left a 31st century status quo that the next Legion writer will almost certainly ignore.
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Fair comments! I just assume when we get a new Legion book the writer will ignore this.
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I guess there’s always a possibility of Mordru being forced to go back in time for some reason in the future to set things right, but yeah if the Legion know Mordru but they’ve short-circuited his history by taking him to the future to be taught to be good then the Legion can’t know Mordru so why would they come back in time to take him forward to be taught to be good.
It does feel a lot like this was Johns’s swansong for DC for now, with him doing his own version of characters from the JSA era over at Image, but it’s a shame. And if there were editorial issues that forced him to change the story, maybe that explains the long waits between some of the issues.
Stu
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People used to blame the artists for delays in projects with John but that falls apart when every Johns project sees delays no matter who the artist is. Johns either can’t keep a deadline or non comics work wins every single time for him. Honestly, I’ve been irritated about this since Johns missing deadlines on Legion of 3 Worlds caused Shooter’s Threeboot run to be truncated according to what should have been the original release date of the last issue of Lo3W.
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It’s tough to disagree with you, Steve, it must be Johns. I really don’t get why DC schedule his stuff before all the scripts are in.
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Stu, you had my head spinning with your fair comment logic. Nice one!
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I liked the issue but while the art is just ok, I do wish there had been another artist BUT I’m glad it finally came out! Other than Thom being a member of the JSA, How are the JSA so familar with the Legion? Nukklon knew Colossal Boy’s 1st name!
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Very good question! Maybe Thom arranged an exchange ship? Maybe tall heroes have meet-ups. See, this is why they should have lettercols, maybe you could No Prize/Baldy it.
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I’ll have more to say about this issue, but right now, I just want to look at Marco Santucci’s pages. All those wonderful Legionnaires…and the JSA too! I’m in heaven.
After all the delays, all the stalling… I absolutely loved this payoff.
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That’s great to hear! I hope Santucci takes on a regular DC assignment.
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The art and coloring is spectacular and I wholeheartedly agree with your view about the Eclipsing scenes. The Variant cover by Tony Harris was gorgeous (make a poster DC!) but I had to also have the cover with the LSH on it.
Now… onto the story. I bought this issue only because the LSH was in the story. Once they revealed it was Mordru behind that mask, I just rolled my eyes and thought “Oh, so this story isn’t going to matter.” With all the delays every time an issue came out I thought “Oh right, this is STILL going on! Wrap it up already!”
The Eclipse thing seemed to come from left field (maybe there were clues in previous issues but again, it’s been so long I probably forgot them). Still, they didn’t explain the “if you let Mordru in, the future is dead” cliffhanger from last issue. In fact, it seems that shuffling him off to the future with a JSA probably did wipe out a version of the future.
A JSA in the 31st century makes no sense in a unified world with no “America” – maybe a JSE would have worked but I am just assuming this is just another alternate future instead of the “main” future. Maybe this adventure happened in another world with some elements also happening in the prime timeline (for Lemire to use if he so chooses). Given that Lemire had to start working on the story for the new series at least a coupld of months ago, it feels like this story matters less and less.
Can we please keep Johns out of the sandbox for a while? He’s not adding anything new (IMO) and just keeps trying to make his stories stick in the prime universe but I’m not sure any of it has mattered since Lo3W.
YMMV – @LegionTonyL
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I agree that this does seem like a story that ceased to be important even before the print was dry.
I found the Mordru reveal hugely disappointing, Tony – just think of all the interesting possibilities for the identity of the Golden Age Legionnaire… my mind would have been blown if they’d linked it to the Golden Age Legion from the Zero Hour team. Instead it’s yet another great villain Geoff Johns seemingly wishes to redeem. Except it seems obvious Mordru was a late slot-in, so even Johns isn’t down with the story.
Still, I did enjoy it, the excitement of seeing Legionnaires carried me through, and there were some neat bits of business.
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