One part fantasy epic, one part super-hero conflict and a couple dashes of soap operatics make this issue of JSA a solid read, and another chapter in what has been a long-running and fairly successful super-hero franchise for DC. Johns and Goyer show a love of DC continuity, but while those who know some of the second- and third-string characters who are referenced or reintroduced in these pages will get a big kick out of them, there isn't a need to know the continuity to enjoy the story. Instead, this is a book for those who love straight-up super-heroes in the vein of Claremont and Wolfman at their height, with solid artwork from Kirk and Champagne sealing the bargain.
I must confess that the creators are playing around in a time and place that I have a particular fondness for, that being ancient Egypt. However, they have put a decidedly DC universe spin on the setting, introducing an ancestor of Metamorpho (in powers at least), as well as playing around with some of the characters who have ties to that era, such as the Hawks, Nabu and of course Black Adam. I was very impressed with Kirk's take on the setting, especially his designs for the battleground where the time-lost JSA members face off against Vandal Savage's army and the land of the dead, which is very evocative of the Egyptian mindset as depicted in fiction.
While the big overall story is about a conflict of armies and super-powered beings, however, Johns and Goyer also keep the story small to some degree. The focus on Black Adam has been a welcome one, as we see him as more than just a sympathetic former villain and start to learn more of his back-story. Seeing him in his early days, before he had earned the arrogance that has defined him in modern times, made for some interesting storytelling, and I especially enjoyed the role he played in the JSA's return to the present, significantly altering his relationship with Captain Marvel.
In a smaller part of the story, the subplot of Dr. Fate and his wife is resolved. This subplot has seemed to meander a bit throughout it's existence, and the new Dr. Fate really needs some more screen time (perhaps his upcoming mini will help), and this latest chapter doesn't do much to bring focus to the overall story as it has unfolded. However, the end result certainly surprised me and got my attention, and it again speaks to these creators' love of less-popular characters, and their willingness to play around with the fringes a little more is what gives the book a lot of its charm.
JSA is an unapologetically old school super-hero team book. This team isn't "proactive," they don't kill people, they don't decide to take on oppressive governments and they're not facing down threats that seem to come from outside the bounds of a mentally stable reality. Instead, this is all about flashy costumes, good triumphing over evil and the inevitable personality conflicts in a large group, even one made up of super-powered individuals. This is the modern-day heir of books like the Claremont/Byrne Uncanny X-Men or Wolfman/Perez New Teen Titans, and that's nothing to sneeze at.
