Review: JSA #3
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Diego Olortegui
Colors: Luis Guerrero
Letters: Steve Wands
Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
A team divided faces separate challenges: Hawkman vs. the Demons 3, Dr. Midnight vs. Obsidian, and Dr. Fate vs. the ISA, while Sand, Jade and Hawkgirl confront something more personal!
Positives
Diego Olortegui continues to do a fine job on this series. He has no problem conveying both the epic and personal. He gives us an enraged Carter Hall and a troubled Jennie-Lynn Hayden. He gives us an unsure Khalid Nassour and a worried Alan Scott. He gives us an impassioned Ted Grant and a surprised Beth Chapel. Olortegui also creates a sense of tension and anxiety as he depicts the captured Hawkman and he creates a real sense of menace as Obsidian confronts Dr. Midnight.
Jeff Lemire goes back to the DC Vault when he pulls out Rath, Ghast and Abnegazar– the three demons who first appeared in Justice League of America #10 (March, 1962). The JSA first encountered them in a crossover with the JLA and Legion of Super-Heroes which ran through Justice League of America #147 and #148. Its a fun callback.
Negatives
So far, this series is having a hard time finding its footing. It almost feels like Lemire is doing this by the numbers, or a checklist. Kendra Saunders just doesn’t seem to fit with this team. It still doesn’t make sense as to why she is hanging out with Carter instead of Shiera/ Shayera. It’s nice to see that Shayera is mentioned in this story…and that she is around, but he doesn’t give any reasoning as to why Kendra is her. He introduces the idea that Kendra feels like Carter is a big brother, but that may be an even more awkward thing…what exactly does she recall about their previous time together when she WAS the reincarnation of Shiera/ Shayera? That brings up a disturbing image of an already awkward relationship. Instead of creating the tension I believe he intends, it comes off as a questionable use of continuity and sort of problematic. It suggests a sort of incestuous relationship. No one wants that. No one.
Lemire does touch on the fact that this is Carter’s last life as Robert Venditti established in his wonderful Hawkman series a few years ago. However, it still feels like we are missing something. How did we get to this point? Why is Kendra here instead of Shiera?
There are too many storylines in this series right now. JSA #3 doesn’t have enough space to devote to all the plot lines to give them enough sufficient weight. Or, rather, what Lemire does include just doesn’t fit well. Beth Chapel, unfortunately, isn’t the Dr. Midnight that fits best with this team. She didn’t catch on when she was first introduced back in the ’80’s, but Pieter Cross did. Pieter Cross as Dr. Mid-Nite had a much more significant impact on the team in the JSA run from the early 2000’s. Beth seems to be doing the things Pieter would do and is just filling a role on the team instead of being a unique character. Her sequence in this issue doesn’t work as well as it should because we already know that Obsidian is really Johnny Sorrow in disguise as we learned in issue #1.
Verdict
There’s a lot going on in this series, maybe too much- too much without the right hooks. Some of the story elements feel like they are out of order, and not because it’s being told that way on purpose, but rather we’ve had a major reveal that has been spoiled that should’ve come later for more impact. It could also be said that Todd Rice/ Obsidian should never have been teased as villainous…A-GAIN! Instead of creating character moments that move things forward, it feels like Lemire is just recapitulating themes and story beats we’ve seen before. Even Kendra’s feelings echo those from her first story arc back when she was first introduced…but, with an even more awkward element this time. There’s a real lack of freshness to the story as we hit JSA #3. It’s “Ragnarok,” and the JSA has been there, done that before as well- JSA elements, but without the feeling or a sense of character progression.
