JSA #9 review

Posted on by martingray1

Upholding the law? The Justice Society of America are pretty good at it.

Upholstery? Not so much.

Look at those backbreaking chairs? Checking in with the Injustice Society of America we find…

… much comfier-looking seats. They’re perfect for listening to Green Lantern Alan Scott give away a big secret. ISA member Johnny Sorrow, disguised as Alan’s son Obsidian, is out to discover the location of Hawkman’s Secret Museum – the bad guys are collecting mystical objects.

The real Obsidian, meanwhile, is unconscious in snowy wastes, Dr Midnight Beth Chapel – believed dead by Alan and the other JSA-ers on Earth – defends him from the villainous Scandal Savage. Given Scandal has always been a bit of an anti-hero rather than an out and out rogue, Beth has questions.

While Obsidian, Todd Rice – is out of it physically, on a stretcher Scandal has been dragging, his mind – soul? – is in some magical maze with Jakeem Thunder. And soon, someone else.

And back in the real world, a man walks into a bar. Or rather, a doctor – Dr Fate Khalid Nassour – and he’s looking for his friend and fellow JSA member Yolanda Montez, the second Wildcat.

So, after last issue’s flashback to the Golden Age we’re back to the ongoing storyline. As in on and on and ongoing. Writer Jeff Lemire gives us another issue of the JSA team split across various locations. The individual bits of business are engaging enough, but I’m tired of how long it’s taking the original super-team to get off the back foot while the Injustice Society runs rings around them. Of course they’re going to win eventually – a development with the Thunder boys is hugely encouraging – but meanwhile we have the massively experienced Green Lantern standing around wondering where Jakeem, Beth and the Hawks (unseen this time) are, and daughter Jenni-Lynn, Jade, bemoaning that she’s not doing a great job as leader of the team.

Which is true.

Jay, of course, is the original Flash, last seen turning down an offer by the Justice League Unlimited leadership to track down the Injustice Society, so the older heroes could concentrate on finding their missing members. The offer came across as a tiny bit patronising, but goodness me, basically kicking the Leaguers out of the Brownstone was incredibly short sighted.

After that, JSA #7 ended with a heck of a cliffhanger, with the ghosts of various JSA members confronting the new Kid Eternity. I was looking forward to seeing where that would lead. Would you be surprised if I told you the answer is – nowhere. We don’t see any of them.

The pacing of this series really is appalling, and that’s surprising given how long Lemire has been writing comics – good ones at that. The series will likely read well as a collection, but it should work as a serial too.

Positives! The reveal of the man in the maze who had been Obsidian’s hospital orderly. The location of Hawkman’s Secret Museum. And Khalid’s pep talk.

After a couple of months away, series artist Diego Olortegui is back and delivers another great-looking issue. He’s especially good at drawing puzzled-looking people, so perfect for the way this story has been going. Highlights this time include the fracas between Beth and Scandal – usually I’m unable to join the dots in fight scenes, but here the action flows nicely. And there are two big moments with Johnny and Jakeem – I’ve hinted at one, so let’s show you.

You’ll also note the fine colour work from Luis Guerero and elegant lettering from Steve Wands – I especially enjoy the signature narrative boxes he gives Beth and Alan.

The cover by Leonardo Romero is utterly stunning. It has to be intended for the collection, it’s that good (and that irrelevant to this issue).

Despite my problems with the pacing, I did enjoy this issue. Maybe that’s why it irks me so much – I like the new bits of business, but they come at the expense of already dangling plots. Fingers crossed Lemire wraps everything up in a lovely bow this lifetime.

20 thoughts on “JSA #9 review”

  1. My comic store didn’t get its DC shipment this week so I’ll have to wait to reserve judgment on this issue. But for whatever reason, I’m really digging the episodic nature of this series so far. Now, your comment that each individual issue should be a satisfying read is totally valid. For me, though, I find I’m getting enough forward momentum in each individual character’s story that I’m left feeling satisfied with each issue. I wouldn’t say no to each individual chapter having its own beginning/middle/end, but I’m also not bothered by the way that the story is being told.

    Given the nature of the comfy chairs in the Injustice lair, I’m wondering if fake-Obsidian is somehow responsible for a seat switcheroo. Perhaps he’s been trying to inconvenience them in subtle ways since the very beginning. Hanging pictures slightly off-kilter. Switching the expiry dates on the foods in the kitchen. That kind of thing.

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    1. Now I like that idea, does that count as gaslighting? Given all the villains either sneaky ghost and stealth powers, we should see more of that kind of thing.

      I’m glad the bittiness of this series don’t bother you! I am entertained, but I e been stung so many times by the likes of Chris Claremont who drop plot points, then never get back to the,

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      1. That makes a lot of sense regarding dropped plot lines. I suspect that most writers nowadays have a storyiine planned out and if plot lines get dropped (or radically changed) it probably has more to do with whatever is going on within the company or within editorial. I can’t imagine that many of Geoff Johns’ last couple of series have turned out the way he envisioned (although we can chalk that up to any number of factors beyond DC editorial).
        I have the sense that all of the storyline related plotlines will get tied up by issue 12, although it won’t surprise me if some of the character arcs continue to bubble away in the background.

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  2. omg… Maybe Not-Obsidian is responsible for removing the blades from Alan’s razors!!

    You’re right! This storyline needs to be wrapped up next issue if only so that Alan can be clean-shaven again!!

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      1. If he is going for the gay bear look, it’s not working for him. Gimme a clean shaven Lantern any day of the week

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      3. I figured Alan’s beard was overcompensation on the part of Johns or Janin. Alan’s sexuality is forefront of the character. He’s now “the Gay Green Lantern” or “Gay Lantern”. Despite his “queer” costume being designed to throw off criminals, in a somewhat similar manner as Sandra Knight’s Phantom Lady costume – it’s now a “of course he’s gay, look at that costume!” His son Todd is gay and has had a close enough relationship with his siter Jade that he was merged with her as a single being for a while. Alan’s step-son is “of course he’s gay! He’s an actor in the theatre and good with make-up and look at that costume!” (Forgive my digression, but in G2 DC Super Hero Girls, Oliver Queen is “of course he’s gay, it’s in his name, he’s in theatre and look at that costume!” and has his eyes set on his rival in the theatre, The Cavalier.) Thus, I think it was all to make him more butch. By the way, he’s too smooth to be a muscle bear. Another reason he may have a beard is it being a forced joke. “Oh, look! It’s Alan and his beard!”

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      4. I figured Alan’s beard was overcompensation on the part of Johns or Janin. Alan’s sexuality is forefront of the character. He’s now “the Gay Green Lantern” or “Gay Lantern”. Despite his “queer” costume being designed to throw off criminals, in a somewhat similar manner as Sandra Knight’s Phantom Lady costume – it’s now a “of course he’s gay, look at that costume!” His son Todd is gay and has had a close enough relationship with his siter Jade that he was merged with her as a single being for a while. Alan’s step-son is “of course he’s gay! He’s an actor in the theatre and good with make-up and look at that costume!” (Forgive my digression, but in G2 DC Super Hero Girls, Oliver Queen is “of course he’s gay, it’s in his name, he’s in theatre and look at that costume!” and has his eyes set on his rival in the theatre, The Cavalier.) Thus, I think it was all to make him more butch. By the way, he’s too smooth to be a muscle bear. Another reason he may have a beard is it being a forced joke. “Oh, look! It’s Alan and his beard!”

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  3. Lemire really won me over with the flashback issue and this one is looking good, especially with the return of Johnny Thunder. I don’t love all of his choices, but it does feel like things are really starting to come together. I’m looking forward to the wrap-up and then to see what else Lemire has up his sleeve for the team/characters. I would like to see more promotion for this book. Lemire did interviews when it was launched and teased some stuff on his Instagram. But in recent months I haven’t seen additional publicity online. He seems to be getting more attention for “Absolute Flash.” Would be nice if he/DC gave “JSA” a bit more of a push if possible. – Brian

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    1. I do miss the days of fanzine interviews and online features that weren’t just puff pieces. Even a two-page lettercol filler introducing the series and telling readers of Lemire’s approach would be great.

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  4. UPDATE: On his Substack Lemire in response to a “JSA” fan’s question writes that he currently has plans thru issue 24. Current storyline done at 12, then 13 – 18 are some sort of story in the past, then back to present. A little more detail on Substack. Sounds like fun! I’m looking forward to it. -Brian

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    1. @Brian! Cool! I’m down with that for sure! Always love me a golden age story! There are tons of eras to pick from… All-Star Squadron… O G JSA, the Infinity era… I’d be happy to see a story set anywhere in the JSA history

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    2. I saw that, I remember him saying he’d do the occasional Times Past story, but five issues? Slice it off and make it a mini-series, I want the modern JSA established.

      That Alan piece by Gavin Guidry does look great, though.

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  5. This is the first issue I have only one complaint about. Everything’s great except that there’s still three issues to go. What I liked best is that the Doctor Mid-Nite currently on staff had the best showing she has ever been given. After her debut she was a badly dressed milquetoast and was temporarily killed not long after. I’m glad too that they kept her resurrection but dropped Johns’ hints there was a dark side to her return.

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  6. I liked this issue a lot — it feels like we’re getting our first real glimmers of things turning around for the team. Loved the revelation of who the orderly was, and especially loved that Scandal’s heel turn was addressed (even if the answer doesn’t completely satisfy me, it’s at least an answer!).

    This remains the comic book that feels the most like the 70s team comics (including — and maybe especially — JSA) that I read as a kid: lotsa bickering, lots of plots moving at different speeds, and the reader having no real idea of the shape of the story as it unfolds. We’re constantly on unsteady ground, and I like it!

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Published by martingray1

Journalist, comic reviewer, theatre critic, film lover, biscuit fan, cat indulger