Customer Reviews

JSA: Mixed Signals

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

*Please note, this review is based on individual issues, not the TPB. As per DC Comics (http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=2376) this TPB is comprised of issues #39-45, so that's what I'm basing this review on.

This collection starts off with a single issue story dedicated to Power Girl. The issue is mostly played for laughs as a bombastic (in more ways than one) villain tries to draw Power Girl's attention. The ensuing fight is enjoyable, if a bit "light" and the issue really tries hard to portray Kara as a self-reliant super heroine. The highlight of the issue is Kara's speech at the end to the JSA's two youngest female heroes as to why she acts the way she does.

The next story appears to be dedicated to Dr. Mid-nite, but Captain Marvel really steals the show, which is a shame. Pieter Cross is one of the more interesting alter-egos out there and while in recent issues Geoff Johns has done a good job of fleshing him out, this issue is really more of a focus on his surgical skills. The issue does start hinting at a Captain Marvel/Stargirl relationship, but it's not fully developed. I kind of felt this issue was more filler than anything else. Once again, the ending of the issue saves it, as it sets the stage for "Black Reign."

Next up is the main storyline in this collection, the 4-Part storyline "JSA, BC."

The first issue features a rather generic fight against an unknown entity, first foreshadowed by Sand a few issues back. Black Barax isn't really fleshed out here and the majority of the issue is spent building up to the battle. While Barax does pull off some interesting moves, especially against Captain Marvel and Black Adam.

All of which leads into the following issue's Mr. Terrific/Mr. Terrific team-up, which is actually quite enjoyable. The concept of a hero who fights for "Fair Play" does seem cheesy, but it plays out rather nicely, as the plan to defeat Barax has one of the Mr. T's playing not so fairly. Another nice bit in this issue is the appearance by the Freedom Fighters, who are among DC's often forgotten Golden Age Past.

The next two issues are the highlight of this storyline, where Mr. Terrific and Hawkgirl travel back to Ancient Egypt to find Captain Marvel. There they find not only the villainous Vandal Savage and his "monster," a precursor to the former Justice Leaguer and Outsider, Metamorpho, but also Nabu, the originator of Dr. Fate, Black Adam (as he was in this time period) and Prince Khufu and Princess Chay-Era, who are fated to be reincarnated as Hawkman and Hawkgirl.

The scenes with Captain Marvel and Black Adam are really nice, as Marvel must confront an earlier, heroic version of the man who will become his most dangerous foe and also uneasy ally in the JSA.

I did feel that they could have done more with Kendra (Hawkgirl) meeting her previous self, especially given the fact that Kendra is in denial about her previous lives.

At the same time, these issues also foreshadow the next arc "Princes of Darkness," with Dr. Fate making a mistake that will unleash one of the JSA's deadliest foes.

Issue #45 sets up "Princes of Darkness" and brings together several previous plot lines that will converge in that arc. I'm kind of surprised that DC added it to this collection and I have to wonder if it was an error on DC's solicitations to note this issue as a part of the "Savage Times" collection.

I'd say buy this TPB for the "Justice Society, B.C." story and make your own decisions on the solo issues featuring Power Girl and Dr. Mid-Nite.

As always, Geoff Johns (joined in this collection by co-writer David Goyer) weaves multiple threads through each story and little of previous stories is "wasted" or forgotten.

The art in these issues (save for the Power Girl one) is by Leonard Kirk, who is tied with Steven Sadowski as my favorite JSA artist. It's clean artwork that's easy to follow and the action is easy to follow.

If you're a current fan of JSA collecting the series through TPBs, I'd say this is a "must have." If you're new to JSA, I'd say your best bet is to start with "JSA: Justice Be Done" and work your way through the series.

We live in times wherein comic book stories come in arcs - and usually comic creators work not on an ongoing book but only on a particular arc. Therein lies the problem with a lot of "greatest hits" style of storytelling in today's comics (e.g. Whedon's "X-Men", Millar's "Spider-Man" and Loeb-Lee's "Batman:Hush"). With JSA however, the writing team of Geoff Johns and David Goyer delivers month after month. In music terms, they feel like the Beatles or Led Zep during their heydays. Every new album is an attempt to top the previous one - while maintaining an obvious intelligence, growth and direction with the constant move forward. This is how I feel everytime I pick up a new TPB collection of JSA. Regular artists Leonard Kirk and Keith Champagne takes over the chores from the previous artists Steve Sadowski and Rags Morales very well - the style is similar and the action is no less blockbusting.

As with ongoing stories, there are times when things are quieter. This volume "Savage Times" is one of those times. It sets up the events to come in the next two epic storylines "Princes of Darkness" and "Black Reign". However, with the JSA, "quieter" doesn't mean uneventful. And this is why I come back again and again to this book - in contrast to the "talking heads" attempts of decompressed-writing over at Marvel (see anything by Brian Bendis for example). This is what comic books should be - action-oriented, fun, melodramatic and above all, superbly entertaining. Here, we get a time-travel story back to 1944 (the Freedom Force and Mr. Terrific appears) and ancient Egypt. This story wraps up a lot of things originally set up previously and successfully sets up new things for the future (the cliffhanger ending of this volume guarantees that you WILL want to get the next volume).

Another reason to get this volume is the focus on Captain Marvel (the "Shazam" guy). This storyarc fleshes him out in many ways and takes him way beyond the "cartoonish" feel that he's always been portrayed. We also get additional light shed on Black Adam (Theo-Adam) never before seen. This adds a lot of meat to his once over-simplified "villain" character and also forces the reader to symphatize with his methods and ideals (a lot of which will result in the explosive "Black Reign" saga to come).

I am a fan of JSA but this book was an 80% disappointment...We learn that Thunderbolt has a son who is married to 'peachy pet' that cartoon character from the 40's Johnny Thunder...When in the heck did that happen.
Shazam sends Captain Marvel off to find the Spectre..We only see him in three more panels fighting Superman and Batman..Where? How? Why? and we never do see The Spectre..Air Wave and the Green Lanterns go off on some wild escapade and suddenly disappear...There is a great story about Stargirl coming to terms with her family which is why it gets two stars instead of just one...A Bummer...

This TPB is an interesting mixture of stories. Each has a relation to Infinite Crisis, but also insights into the heroes, which makes them more three dimensional. In my opinion, the JSA is most fascinating series that DC currently puts out.

Mordru, here's a tip for you. When Wildcat starts mouthing off, kill him. Obliterate him. Erase him from existence. I know what you're thinking, `but Wildcat's a pussycat'. Sure, and you know what's gonna happen. You're gonna find yourself momentarily weakened... as you ALWAYS do... and Wildcat's gonna haul off and punch you in the face, shouting something like, `PAYBACKS A B!TCH'... You're an immortal, ultra-powerful wizard but when Wildcat pastes you with one of his haymakers you're gonna look like a punk and the heroes are gonna chuckle behind your back and Wildcat's gonna tell ALL his loser friends down at whatever greasy pub he hangs at how he punched out Mordru.

This was not one of the better JSA compilations. It started out with more of the sad trials of Atom Smasher followed by a series of Infinite Crisis tie-ins that go nowhere. Finally the action started with Mordru attacking the wizard Shazam and then going after the disembodied form of Nabu dressed as Dr. Fate and a handful of JSAers. Meanwhile another crew is out searching the fifth dimension looking for Jakeem Thunder who disappeared during a battle with The Specter.

The JSA and JLA have always had a problem with juggling characters of wildly varying powers. The JSA in particular had the godlike Specter fighting alongside Sandman. Gardner Fox was a brilliant writer but he used to employ an extremely tiresome technique to minimize the heavy hitters in the JLA that included copious amounts of Kryptonite for Superman, fire for J'onn J'onzz and yellow for Green Lantern. Geoff Johns just seems to fill the weaker characters with so much pluck and spunk that no villain would kill them. If I were Mordru I would be laying waste. It's been established that the beings of the fifth dimension have near unlimited power. I mean this is where Mister Mxyztplk hails from. Yet the heroes stoll through strutting as confidently as if they were walking down Main Street at Disney World. Courtney (Star Girl), in particular, is quite a petulant brat to one of the fifth dimensions less friendly residents. He could, say, snap his fingers and cause her to immolate but instead he merely endures it.

Despite being a disjointed mess Mixed Signals has some good points. It advances some storylines and the final tale focussing on the relationship between Star Girl and her adopted father Pat Dugan is a pretty good story. My suggestion for die hard JSA fans is to set your expectations low and you might find it decent.

I've been a fan of Justice Society since the mid-1970s when All-Star Comics 3 was re-released.

They've been updated and brought into modern times. But it's still a talented group of writers and artists that are doing today's stories.

A good series.

Not the strongest book of the series but still a must read to keep up with the story line. From the last book to this a lot has happen which was tied in with Infinite Crises story arc. It would seem the Spectre has been on the rampage and much turmoil has happen. Dr. Fate missing in action but without having to invest in all the other stories in the IC story arc this book is rather disjointed and empty.

I like these heroes because they have glaring faults, inter-society squabbles and families

JSA is a great underated title. Better than all books with "X" in the title and is great month to month and even better in the trade format. Check it out, you won't be disapointed!

really boring, in between steps here.. the art work is okay, no where near as detailed as sadowski. DC seems to give up on its titles after a while, ala JLA. JSA is headed in that direction.