JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice [Paperback]

Geoff Johns (Author), David S. Goyer (Author), Carlos Pacheco (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although well-done, this mega-team-up story is somewhat routine. It's natural for a publisher to let superheroes make guest appearances in one another's comics, and the idea of grouping several into a squad of superpowered do-gooders follows irresistibly. The Justice Society of America (with 1940s superheroes like Captain Marvel and Dr. Mid-Nite) was DC's first major stab at a superhero team, before superhero comics faded away in the early '50s. The Justice League of America is the present-day version, featuring some new characters and some who never disappeared (like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman). DC decided to unite the two groups periodically. The attractions are obvious: comics fans get to see the characters pictured on the same page in dynamic interaction. During a party, Wildcat arm wrestles with Green Lantern, while Plastic Man stretches across the room to ogle Power Girl's cleavage. And there's terrific conflict. When different versions of the characters (such as Superman and Captain Marvel) are present, all sorts of power comparisons are possible. A demonic alien conqueror causes several of the heroes to be secretly possessed by the seven deadly sins, pitting one group against another (e.g., Power Girl is possessed by Lust; Batman by Anger). The writing is smooth and the scene in which Dr. Mid-Nite exorcises the demon of rage from Batman is unexpectedly moving. The art is professional and a double-page spread showing the united band of superheroes plunging forward is a rouser. Nevertheless, the story feels stale. It's been done before and will be done again.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401200400
• ISBN-13: 978-1401200404
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest superheroes of all time together again!, December 19, 2002

By 

Blake Petit "Novelist, columnist & reviewer" (Ama, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice (Hardcover)

I don't care what it takes -- get David Goyer and Geoff Johns writing the regular Justice League monthly comic RIGHT NOW.

Goyer and Johns already are the regular writers on JSA -- the Justice Society of America. For superhero neophytes, here it is in a nutshell -- the JSA were the first superhero team ever. These days it is comprised of elder statesmen like the original Flash, Green Lantern and Wildcat guiding younger second-generation heroes like the new Star-Spangled Kid and Mr. Terrific. The JLA made up of the current superhero top dogs, featuring Superman, Batman, the current Flash and GL and the like. In this tale the two teams gather for what they hope will become a Thanksgiving tradition, only to have their celebration thrown into turmoil when members of the two teams are possessed by the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man. (You've heard of `em, right? Sloth, Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Pride, Envy and Greed?) The possessed members dispatch their teammates and go on a rampage, leaving the others to try to free themselves, save their friends and find out who's behind this madness.

While a knowledge of DC Comics continuity helps, it is by no means a necessity to read this book. Goyer and Johns have written brilliant interpretations of the JSA for years now, and in this book they prove they can handle the JLA as well. Not only that, they can balance the two teams, giving each hero his or her moment in the sun, and utilize and develop not one, but three villains (not counting the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man) in a story worthy of the best these teams have to offer.

The artwork by Carlos Pacheco is brilliant. Superman looks strong, Captain Marvel looks innocent, every hero and heroine is perfect, and the double-page spread near the climax of the reunited heroes storming into battle is something I'd frame and hang on any wall.

This book is the best these heroes have been treated in years. Here's hoping Goyer, Johns and Pacheco grace us with another one soon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great..., March 10, 2003

By 

Babytoxie (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice (Hardcover)

This story, featuring a much-desired crossover between the post-Crisis JSA and JLA, would have definitely benefitted from an extra 40 or so pages. It's fairly complex, packing the two super-teams and several villains into one 96-page hardcover.
I always have mixed feelings about these hardcovers, as they usually have too much story for such little space. The action moves along lickety-split with huge amounts of plot and exposition left to the reader's imagination. Scenes change with almost no order, and the progression is very rushed. As a result, you end up with a book that can be finished fairly quickly, not living up to the cover price.

The premise is interesting to me, particularly because it involves the Shazam mythos to a large degree, and I guess Goyer does a serviceable job with the space he was given. The trip into Dr. Fate's Tower and the return of the JSA to Limbo were well-done. Plus, there are several good bits of humor, such as the confrontation between Firestorm and Johnny Sorrow. And even though Plastic Man's modern interpretation annoys me, he is written fairly well. Pacheco's artwork is beautiful as always, and I love seeing him try his hand at illustrating these two teams.

In short, this easily could have been a limited series, expanding on the story and providing more detail (plus more Pacheco artwork... oh well).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Two great teams, too many charcaters!!, April 5, 2009

By 

S. Penrose (Small Town, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice (Paperback)

I've been a fan of both Goyer and Johns for quite awhile but this wasn't my favorite story. With so many charcaters between the two teams, there just weren't enough pages to flesh out who these guys are and why this story matters. The resolution to the conflict was too easy and Pacheco'a art got pretty sloppy at times. Just an okay read.