The Justice Society of America’s had a rocky road as of late. The Black Adam movie, which features the group in a prominent role, wasn’t a box office hit and the recently concluded Justice Society of America maxiseries written by Geoff Johns was plagued by both delays (it also probably didn’t help that Johns is now over at Image Comics with Ghost Machine.) JSA #1 by Jeff Lemire and Diego Olortegui aims to pick up the pieces, with the JSA front and center.
But this time the roster is different, as the senior members of the JSA have gone missing and the younger members are divided in the wake of Absolute Power. With their ranks thinned and the threat of the terrorist organization known as Kobra looming, can the JSA pull together, or are they doomed?
Lemire is bringing the energy that permeates his work on Black Hammer to JSA; the fact that Jay Garrick, Alan Scott and the rest of the JSA’s senior members are trapped in the Tower of Fate feels extremely reminiscent of Black Hammer‘s setup. But he also brings a new dynamic to the table with the younger members of the JSA; Jade is struggling to hold her team together, while dealing with her brother Obsidian’s more extreme method of dealing with Kobra’s members. That’s not even getting into the fact that Hourman and Jesse Quick have hit a rough patch following Absolute Power. Lemire manages to write these conflicts in a human way, building on the inherent bonds between characters rather than stooping to cheap drama.
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Olortegui also draws image after impressive image, putting the “super” in superhero art. In the same way that Lemire knows how to handle character dynamics, Olortegui knows how to handle their powers. Obsidian’s powers over shadows takes a terrifying turn; he summons a massive being made of shadows, and forcibly interrogates a Kobra soldier by sending tendrils of darkness snaking into his body. Doctor Fate is surrounded by weaving golden tendrils of magic. When Jesse and Jay move, lightning is left in their wake. Thanks to Luis Gurrero’s color art, each power has its own unique signature – and so do the backgrounds. The JSA Brownstone is warm and inviting, while the Tower of Fate is a labyrinth of stairs and shadows.
The standout moment has to be the opening pages, where Olortegui draws the entire history of the Justice Society. Lemire also tops things off with narration that covers the Society’s legacy, from the days of World War II to the current era. It’s a brilliant way to highlight their legacy, both for longtime DC fans and new readers alike.
JSA #1 is the fresh start the Justice Society needed, as Jeff Lemire and Diego Orlotegui pushes the team in a new era. If DC were to pick books that serve as a representation of its “All-In” era, this would be at the top of the list.
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