JSA #35
"Stealing Thunder, Part 3 of 5: Lightning Storm"
Recommended (7/10)
|
DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns & David Goyer
Pencils: Leobard Kirk
Inks: Keith Champagne
Colors: John Kalisz & Heroic Age
Letters: Ken Lopez
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
Those looking to JSA for a story with the depth of Watchmen or relevance of The Dark Knight Returns will be disappointed. No, Johns and Goyer offer up little more than old-fashioned super-heroics, and they do it incredibly well. The writers' love of these characters shines through in this entertaining adventure story. JSA is proving to be just a load of fun, a delight for longtime comics readers and new fans alike.
While trying to free the group of telepaths the Ultra-Humanite is using to control the world, the substitute Justice Society finds itself faced with an onslaught from a collection of mind-controlled super-types. As they scramble to save their own skins and the whole world in the central chamber, Wildcat and a powerless Dr. Fate escape captivity and try to free Sentinel from his life as a living battery. Unfortunately, they meet some resistance from some familiar faces as well.
Leonard Kirk faced the daunting task of moving from a solo super-hero title to a team book that just embarked on a major story arc featuring a multitude of characters in addition to the already expansive regular cast of characters. He's proved that he's more than just up to the job. I was worried his softer style might not suit the more action-oriented nature of this title, but that concern is a thing of the past. He handles the charged script with seeming ease.
The most impressive aspect of this story is the writers' development of two new players: the "new" Hourman and the new Crimson Avenger. Goyer and Johns have breathed new life into the former, helping to maintain a JSA tradition. In the Avenger, they've revived a name from the Golden Age, but they haven't rehashed it. There's a haunted tone to this new Crimson Avenger, and I can't wait to learn more about her. The writers also flesh Jakeem Thunder out quite a bit through the narration in this issue.
Yes, this book features some standard super-hero storytelling, but there's a greater deal of suspense in this book than what might be considered the norm. With this large cast of characters, there's a greater degree of unpredictability at play. Sure, the reader knows that Hawkman or Sentinel or the Flash will no doubt emerge from their trials unscathed, but some of the other characters -- like Jakeem, the Icicle or Hourman -- are essentially blank slates that I imagine the writers can do with as they please. That unpredictability, along with the personality Johns and Goyer inject through the dialogue, makes for an entertaining read.
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
|
