Review: JSA #4
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Joey Vasquez
Colors: Luis Guerrero
Letters: Steve Wands
Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
Beth/ Dr. Midnight infiltrates Injustice Society HQ while Todd Rice/ Obsidian finally gets some attention as he discovers he’s been captured and takes action to free himself!
Positives
JSA #4 is a pretty action packed issue as various plotlines come together. Beth is spotlighted in the opening sequence as she has to face Solomon Grundy without the use of her goggles and ability to see in the dark. The stakes feel realistic and Beth comes through with a startling revelation by the end of the issue. However, Todd Rice’s role in the issue is what carries. Since issue #1 we’ve known that something happened to the real Obsidian and that Johnny Sorrow has been impersonating him in the JSA. Todd discovers he’s been captured and takes steps to escape. It’s a nice moment for Todd as he gets some agency. He’s so often portrayed as a victim of his own darkness, it’s nice to see him be his own light (even if he fights with darkness!)!
This section changes the tenor of the whole series. While we’ve known that Todd has been captured, it alleviates the shadow (no pun intended) that has hung over the series/ his character since issue #1. It creates some excitement and some drive for the story that had been otherwise missing, it finally feels like something different is happening and it’s not something we’ve seen before.
Positives Cont’d
These sections while advancing the plot also provide some important character work. It’s subtle, the comic is still focused more on plot than character, but it’s just enough to make a difference in this issue. One has to hope that Lemire will go on to revisit where Todd is in his personal life. When he got shunted off to limbo with Flashpoint and the New 52, he was in a relationship with Damon Matthews. Will this come back into play? There was some good an interesting relationship development between Alan and Todd, as Alan was still coming to grips with his son’s sexuality.
With the unnecessary and troubling retcon to Alan’s own sexuality and damaging details depicted in 2023’s Alan Scott: The Green Lantern mini-series it changes the dynamic of their father/ son relationship. It remains to be seen how this will play out. Pre-Flashpoint, there was some nuance, subtlety and realism present as Alan’s attitudes and mores of the 1940’s created some friction with his son. It created interesting and engaging character moments for both characters.
Negatives
It’s tough to really gauge negatives in this issue. There’s still a lot of focus on plot, but what does happen with Beth and Todd in JSA #4 mitigates this.
Verdict
JSA #4 is easily the best issue of the series so far. The characters seem to be more important, and Todd especially benefits. The entire storyline has a better feel and is just more enjoyable than the first three issues combined. The construction of this story from issue #1 has been awkward and not always worked, but going forward there is the sense that things are on the upswing.
