There is a shorter wait between issues of Justice Society of America now, which is excellent, but with the announcement of Ghost Machine, I am worried about how we might get the following issues. Hopefully, they are more than contract work and keep up the high quality. I am excited about the opportunities that await these creators, but I also worry about what this will mean for DC’s New Golden Age. Hopefully, with the other titles circulating that are featuring Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, and Wesley Dodds, this means there are other creatives at DC wanting to work on the Justice Society and its members. Before we get too far into the worries of the JSA, what does this issue have for us?
Continuing from the last issue, Helena Wayne is very serious about bringing Solomon Grundy to the team. The scene with the team and Grundy is intriguing and opens up some doubts about Salem’s abilities and motivations. From what we have read about Salem, there can be some engaging content about her past and how she deals with the loss of time. I like how the focus continues with her in the issue, leading to an intense moment between her and Doctor Fate. What is fun from that confrontation is the vision Fate sees and the new characters we see at the end, but I hope they don’t flood the scene as there is quite a group already vying for page space.
The issue’s opener introduces us to the Harlequin’s Son, who is quite the vengeful hero. There is a rundown of how and why he goes after the people he does. It is an exciting tease of a character, but I look forward to seeing Alan Scott’s reaction and what this could mean for Molly Mayne’s status in the current DC Universe. Another portion of the comic was dedicated to some members trying to get Icicle to turn from a life of crime and join the JSA. I appreciate that the Stealing Thunder arc was mentioned, and in the “flashback” art, Sand and the new Crimson Avenger were present. I hope that even more JSA characters can return from comic book limbo.
Overall, the issue was not bad, but considering the upcoming creative situation and the amount of time between issues, I felt short-changed by this comic. The last issue had some momentum going for it, plus the start of the new arc, but this issue limps along trying to cram in the promise of the New Golden Age and get as much in. I will say that I appreciate the faster pace, but as one plot point closes, another point opens, and a lot is going on to get to before this arc closes. Hopefully, these new characters won’t be quickly lost like the JSA of the 31st Century.
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