21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Golden Age Strikes Again!, December 26, 2003
This review is from: Justice Society Returns (JSA) (Paperback)
For anyone who's a fan of 1) The "Golden Age" of DC Comics; 2) Great team books; 3) Compelling superheroes; or 4) Old-fashioned comic book grandeur, you can't do much better than The Justice Society Returns!
I picked it up not knowing worlds about the golden age: Of course I knew Wonder Woman (although this is actually the current WW's mother, Hippolyta), and I knew the Spectre, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman, but for the most part, these were new characters to me. And honestly, there's not a soft one in the bunch. Robinson - along with comic greats like Mark Waid and Geoff Johns - puts a very modern spin on a tale that sees the original JSA battling a demon bent on stopping war by eliminating all life on Earth. The story follows the traditional golden age JSA formula: the team confronts the problem as a unit, they break up and fight on their own or in small teams - and they reunite at the end to fight the menace together.
Overall, the whole thing is really effective. The writing is top-notch, as each character gets some time to shine (especially Hourman and the Atom). The art is also fantastic, often taking a realistic approach for serious settings and topics like WWII and branching into a more cartoonish look when dealing with a throwback like Starman. There are just enough nods to the era (it's set circa 1944) blended with a modern feel (mainly in the smooth lines and dynamic action of the art) to make it seem both nostalgic and relevant (see specifically the chapter that sees the Flash and Mr. Terrific trying to prevent the firebombing of innocent civilians in Dresden). It makes cornball heroes like the Star-Spangled Kid seem legit and just makes comics in general seem colorful and fun again. Really, any age will enjoy the stories here, and it's all an excellent introduction to the (still relatively) new JSA ongoing series DC started in 2000.
If you like this collection, you should also take a look at:
*The new JSA series (vols. 1-5) by Geoff Johns & David Goyer, among others.
*"Dr. Mid-Nite" by Matt Wagner & John K. Snyder III
*"The Spectre: Crimes & Punishments" by Ostrander & Mandrake
*"All-Star Comics Archives, Vol. 1"
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"But you are just a street fighter. I am the emissary to a God.", May 26, 2008
This review is from: Justice Society Returns (JSA) (Paperback)
1994's Zero Hour crossover event did much to do away with the Justice Society of America (damn you, Extant!). But, thankfully, it was merely a temporary absence. 1999 saw the relaunching of a JSA regular series, a successful run which would last until 2006, to massive popular and critical acclaim. But before that, a bunch of writers, headed by David Goyer and James Robinson, crafted a tale, told in nine issues, which re-introduced the Justice Society to the DC Universe, and soon paved the way for that JSA monthly title. Thing is, this story arc chronicled a JSA adventure set not in contemporary times, but rather in war-torn 1945.
February of 1945, to be exact, as we see Hourman trailing a suspected traitor to an abandoned cement works. There, Hourman finds Dr. Occult being held captive and tortured by a fraternity steeped in black magic and sympathetic to the Fatherland. Help soon arrives for Hourman in the form of several of his sorcerous colleagues (Dr. Fate, the Spectre, Sargon the Sorcerer, Zatara, etc.), but it becomes all too clear that they have fallen into a trap. The occult energies from the mystical heroes are siphoned off and a portal is opened. But what emerges is something more malignant and more frightening that even the summoners had expected: the crazed demi-god, the Soulless One. The Stalker.
The Stalker, it seems, has had his soul ripped away ages ago, a soul he can regain only by putting an end to all war. This, he has vowed to do. But bent epiphany had struck him some millenia ago: that the one sure way to end war would be to eradicate all intelligent life. And, thousands of dessicated worlds later, his mission has finally brought him to Earth, with only the JSA standing in his way.
The JSA, hardy men and women, turns the Stalker back, depleting him enough that he has to retire to replenish his energies. But before departing, the Stalker calls up seven undead disciples and deploys them around the globe to complete the mission. What else could the Justice Society do but follow the time-honored tactic of splintering into smaller groups?
But the JSA isn't alone in this. The Americommando, the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, the Manhunter and the Tigress, and even Hawkgirl's cousin find time to step in and lend a hand. This is another reason I love the JSA. You just never know who's gonna pop in.
Though very much from the classic mold of the superhero teams of the '40s (the JSA, the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the All-Winners Squad), THE JUSTICE SOCIETY RETURNS! finds a way to inject a contemporary feel, lending more shading and complexity to these heroes. The story delves into the angst felt by the lesser mystery men, with no two feeling so insignificant as Johnny Thunder and the Atom. Johnny, because he's treated as a mascot and bossed around by everyone; the Atom, because he believes that his contributions of brawn and moxie pale in comparison with real super powers. Too, the bright hues of rah-rah patriotism, so prevalent in the old comics, wash away to something that is more morally gray. This is never more evident than in the story arcs involving Starman and Mr. Terrific.
Speaking of whom, if there's a standout character here, it would have to be Mr. Terrific. So brilliant a man, his talents so eclectic. In Germany, in the midst of an air-bombing, he even finds time to perform surgery and play the piano to comfort the besieged. And, later, we see how his flinging a buffalo nickel helps to save the day. Mr. Terrific is in great form. Here, we catch a glimpse of what makes the man tick, of what drives him, even as his impossible idealism is harshly confronted by the realities of war. I would say that, of all those showcased here, Mr. Terrific receives the most in-depth character development. By the way, the Flash, who partners up with Mr. Terrific, is my favorite JSA member of all time. Here, he develops a nasty streak in disposing of his villain. Loved it!
The writers do well to make the Stalker's disciples incredibly powerful. Even though you know the JSA will somehow win thru, there is suspense in how it's managed. This holds specially true with the non-powered mystery men. Other than the arc with the Flash and Mr. Terrific, my favorite team-ups involve them, the lesser lights. These cats are really up against it, or as one disciple dismissively comments to an overmatched JSA member: "But you are just a street fighter. I am the emissary to a God." In New York Sandman and Sandy get an assist from the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy. Even so, they face impossible odds against a rampaging colossus. In Angola the Manhunter and the Tigress lend a hand to Hawkman and Wildcat, but it doesn't seem enough. Okay, Hawkman's got a superpower. But having wings isn't all that impressive, compared to, say, the talents of the Flash or Green Lantern or Starman.
Continuity buffs are thrown plenty of bones. Just some of the stuff: this is where we learn of the second catalyst (the first being his tussle with the radiation-powered Cyclotron) which would awaken the Atom's atomic abilities. We also witness the official first sighting of the Atom's new costume. There's even a nod to the Spear of Destiny, and a foreshadowing by Sandy.
The artists do it up right, evoking that simple, nostalgic 1940s energy yet maintaining enough of that contemporary style. The standout to me is Michael Lark, whose deceptively clean lines are reminiscent of Steve Rude and David Mazzucchelli. But I also enjoyed Chris Weston's busy artwork.
THE JUSTICE SOCIETY RETURNS! collects the following retro-titled issues (all with original publishing dates of 1999): ALL-STAR COMICS (Vol. 2) #1 & 2, ADVENTURE COMICS #1, ALL-AMERICAN COMICS #1, NATIONAL COMICS #1, SENSATION COMICS #1, SMASH COMICS #1, STAR SPANGLED COMICS #1, THRILING COMICS #1. Also reprinted are GOLDEN AGE SECRET FILES #1 (2001) and JSA SECRET FILES #1 (1999).
Some 411 on the two short stories culled from GOLDEN AGE SECRET FILES #1 and JSA SECRET FILES #1. The first one is tongue-in-cheek and set in a gala event held for the JSA, as the conversation among several of the snobbier mystery men turns into a socio-economics debate; ah but who gets the last laugh? Then, in a warehouse overflowing with JSA memorabilia, the Sentinel attempts to give the disinterested new Star Spangled Kid a quick lesson in JSA History 101.
The JSA was the first superhero team, yet the team flourishes even to this day, prominent in the DC Universe and looked up to by all the heroes who've followed them. Currently, the JSA's modern-day exploits are told in the regular monthly title, JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA (Vol. 3) (see
Justice Society of America Vol. 1: The Next Age). But if you want a dose of the past, a shot of nostalgia, but colored with a darker palette, then look into THE JUSTICE SOCIETY RETURNS! It tells a good story.
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