JSA All-Stars 17 and 18

JSA All-Stars #17
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Freddie Williams III

This book and the main JSA book really could have benefited from having those boxes explaining each character that shows up like they have in Legion books. It is very helpful and would bring in new readers. That being said, story-wise I enjoyed this issue as a man named “The Prince”shows up claiming he comes from an alternate timeline where he is a member of the Justice Society and no one believes him but the last panel makes it look like he is telling the truth. I can’t say I enjoyed the art of Williams III here which is still too cartoony for my tastes and for this title.

JSA All-Stars #18
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Freddie Williams III

This is the final issue of JSA All-Stars in which the Prince is revealed to be extremely powerful and almost destroys the world before being defeated by Roxy. Who luckily survives! But other than that it wasn’t really that great of an ending and I imagine it was rushed due to a surprise that the series was ending. I have to say that Sturges created some great characters in this run and I hope to see them elsewhere in the DCU.

Rest In Peace Damage

JSA All-Stars #7
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Freddie Williams II
Co-Feature by Jen Van Meter
Art by Travis Moore

 

The main story focuses on Judomaster – a character who really hasn’t had a lot of focus. She is dealing with the death of Damage during Blackest Night – I liked it although it didn’t seem to be that different from the letter sent from beyond the grave stories told in comics past. It was great to see former Titans at Damage’s funeral – because DC seems to have forgotten that Damage was also a Titans at one point. I loved seeing Argent too! The Liberty Belle and Hourman back-up goes along with its Indiana Jones like themes – pretty good stuff.

Power Girl Vs. The Douche With Horns

JSA All-Stars #3
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Freddie E. Williams III
Co-Feature by Jen Van Meter
Art by Travis Moore

 

The main story is actually pretty good. It was nice to see Power Girl kick Magog’s annoying ass. This probably should have come out before the annual but oh well. I am getting used to Williams’s art, at least we had pupils this time around. I like that they are addressing Atom Smasher and Sandman, as well as we get to see quiet moments between the elder Hourman and his son. There are a lot of subplots in this book. People who stopped reading JSA books after Johns left really are missing out. The Liberty Belle and Hourman back-up was a decent read as well.

I Love Roxie!

JSA All-Stars #2
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Freddie E. Williams II
Co-Feature by Jan Van Meter
Art by Travis Moore

 

In the second issue of this series, Stargirl is retrieved from Arthur Pemberton and the Injustice Society shows up. Williams’s art is barely tolerable with his ugly faces in this issue. Most of the time Cyclone was drawn without any pupils! What is she Batman! Williams is better then this! I am still enjoying this book and the co-feature starring Liberty Belle and Hourman was a nice addition. I love Roxie too! She reminds me of Indigo but with a great sense of humor.

An All-Star Start

JSA All-Stars #1
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Freddie E. Williams III

So the guy behind the recent attacks on the JSA is none other then Johnny Sorrow. It has been a while since I read the story in the last volume of this series featuring Johnny Sorrow but I remember he was a pretty bad ass villain. Interesting that he is in love with Stargirl – or should I say infatuated? Anyways, this series started off on good feet with this issue. I think I might enjoy this more then the main JSA as I like these characters a lot. Despite Caleb over at Every Day is Like Wednesday saying that these are everyone’s least favorite JSA members (great blog by the way even if I don’t always agree with some of his statements). I do wish Amazing Man could have stayed around or for someone to  say what is going on with Jakeem Thunder. At least we find out what is going on with Sand and someone comments about Atom Smasher’s absence here. All in all, I am excited about this book’s future.

JSA 7 – 19

Justice Society of America #7
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham

I am glad to be reviewing this series again as it is just so full of goodness I want to scream in happiness. This issue deals with the aftermath of Nathan Heywood becoming Citizen Steel. I do think it is kinda rude how the JSA kinda forces the whole super hero thing upon Nathan but all in all this was an uplifting yet sad story of a man who has lost the ability to feel and lost his family. Starman’s moments are of course fantastic as is the teamwork of the JSA.

Justice Society of America #8
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Fernando Pasarin

I barely even noticed Eaglesham wasn’t the artist the art and story was so good this issue. This issue dealt with the character of Liberty Belle and really got into the psyche of her character…dealing with her parents and her love for Hourman. The whole thing with not throwing away something just because it has a crack in it was perfect. Tremendous issue.

Justice Society of America #9
Written by Geoff Johns Art by Dale Eaglesham

While this was another fantastic issue, the last page reveal did not really excite me much; considering I am not a fan of Alex Ross or Kingdom Come but I trust Johns will do something good with the Superman of Earth-22. Oh and Johns knows how to utilize each member of a superhero team like no other writer in comics.

Justice Society of America #10
Written by Geoff Johns Art by Dale Eaglesham

I like that one has to not even read Kingdom Come to understand this as Kingdom Come is recapped throughout the issue. I am digging this even though I wish this series wasn’t so Alex Ross-influenced.

Justice Society of America #11
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham

I am getting exicted for all these new members! In this issue alone we get Superman of Earth-22 (who I like the contrast between his perception of New Earth and the Earth-2 Superman’s perception), Judomaster, and Mr. America. I wonder why Judomaster is so different from her appearances in Birds of Prey though. I am pretty sure she spoke English there.

Justice Society of America #12
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham

Nice! I am always excited for new members and this issue was packed full of ’em. Amazing Man – making the original a hero of the civil rights movement was brilliant and the new one helping out in New Orleans after Katrina was brilliant as well. Lightning – You have to wonder why Black Lightning has these daughters he never mentions. It is unclear in this issue – but aren’t Black Lightning and his wife still divorced. Visually Lightning is cool as hell though. Lance is probably the least exciting of the bunch – I mean his Lance arm is cool but the whole no costume thing kinda kills it. I like that he is Roosevelt’s Great Grandson though. Roosevelt you could say is a found of the JSA. I don’t know how I feel about Lance mentioning there are 300 other metahumans in the military because I don’t really like the idea that metahumans are extremely common. It takes away from their specialty.

Justice Society of America #13
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham

This was another good issue but it was a little more Kingdom Come-Centric then I would have liked and not enough JSA action. I like that Jakeem Thunder is crushing on Lightning. They would make a great couple!

Justice Society of America #14
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham

This is the kind of issue that shows how well Johns writes teams. Not only does all twenty-something members get a word in in this issue, but they are all utilized well in the fight scene.

Justice Society of America #15
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham

The fight with the false Gog continues this issue with great character moments sprinkled in – such as Lightning’s aggression over not being able to drive a car to Citizen Steel’s declaration of his “thing”- the art and writing in this issue was fantastic. The upcoming preview was cool but didn’t get me as excited as the first issue’s one did.

Justice Society of America #16
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Fernando Pasarin

I can’t tell if Gog is bluffing or not, but he does have the creepiest yet warmest smile of any giant gods I know (:
Pasarin is the perfect subsitute for Eaglesham, their work is so similar.I hope Damage’s face isn’t fixed for good. I like his current costume.

Justice Society of America #17
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Fernando Pasarin

Awww I really like Gog! I like his smile and his kindness. I still get the feeling he can’t be trusted but he is at least fooling me into thinking he could be a good guy. Another fantastic issue. I hope Starman isn’t permanently cured, he is a lot more interesting as a loon.

Justice Society of America #18
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham

I am excited for next issue as we get a look at the Earth-2 Michael Holt in this issue. Hawkman is right…it might be a good idea to let them stay as trees but no I do not think he should be allowed to just kill them. I get the feeling that Gog’s “miracles” are not really blessings at all.

Justice Society of America #19
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham

At first I thought that Johns had gone to the cliche we are going to fight eachother over something completely stupid thing but luckily he saved itself by Alan Scott declaring the JSA doesn’t fight itself. Awesome. I didn’t want Johns going all Winick on us all of a sudden. Anyways, another fine issue but this is Gog thing is dragging out a little long. I am more excited about the Power Girl stuff and look forward to next issue. Oh and it’s great to see Black Adam back.

JSA Classified 13 – 18

JSA Classified #13
Written by Stuart Moore
Art by Paul Gulacy

This was the final issue of this Vandal Savage story arc and it ended pretty well. I mean it was kinda cool seeing Vandal eat flesh Hannibal Lector style. The whole clone thing was a little cliche though. I think this arc could have been a lot shorter but it had some good moments.

JSA Classified #14
Written by Steve Engleheart Art by Tom Derenick

This issue begins a new story arc that is the sequel to the recent “Detroit Era” JLA Classified arc that I loved so much. This time around, it takes place in the modern DCU when Gypsy and Vixen discover some villain’s plan to kidnap the JSA and make them fight eachother. Okay, that whole thing right there is a little cliche, so I am not singing this arc’s praises just yet. We have seen that whole force a team to fight eachother thing a million times. But I look forward to next issue. Oh and when do you think Stargirl will finally get her braces off?

JSA Classified #15
Written by Steve Engleheart
Art by Tom Derenick

This felt like such an “in the middle” issue. Not much happened and when it did, it didn’t interest me. I think it’s safe to say that Engleheart’s JLA Classified arc was much better than this one. The superheroes fighting each other has just been done too many times.

JSA Classifed #16
Written by Steve Engleheart
Art by Tom Derenick

This issue was a little bit better than last, at least the ending was. It was nice to see Vixen and Gypsy be asked to join the JSA, even though they turned it down. Vixen will be re-joining the JLA soon and Gypsy is now a member of the Birds of Prey. It was funny to see Amos Fortune balloon up like Violet from Willy Wonka. I was expecting the oompa loompas to come in and roll him away (:

JSA Classified #17
Written by Tony Bedard
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

This was a really creative, well-written storty. I like writers who make me think of something I have never though of before, and Bedard does that this issue. I never thought of the connection between Bane and Hourman; that Hourman and Bane both have to use drugs to get their power. And I am surprised no one has thought of it before, so I think that was really clever on the part of Bedard. The only problem I have is the art, I have McDaniel’s art, it’s terrible. Just look at the legs on Hourman on the cover, he looks fricken weird.

JSA Classified #18
Written by Tony Bedard
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

Damn, it is nice to see Bane being written well again. Bedard is good, I am surprised I have never heard of him before. I enjoyed this issue a lot. Bane was kick ass in this isssue and so was Hourman. I didn’t even really mind the art this time around, the story kept me from realizing how bad it was. Gosh, I can’t wait till the Justice Society of America book begins in december. Anyways, I hope Bedard returns to this book sometime soon for a rematch between Bane and Hourman.