Review: JSA #8
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Gavin Guidry
Colors: Luis Guerrero
Letters: Steve Wands
Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
Times Past: After the end of World War II, the JSA and member of the All-Star Squadron continue to try and track down the Spear of Destiny!
Positives
First, a tip of the hat to Jeff Lemire for picking up on a brilliant aspect of James Robinson’s Starman, and using the “Times Past” storytelling motif (Robert Venditti did this in Hawkman as well!). Robinson used it to great effect in order to add something to the history of the characters while finding a connective thread to what was transpiring in the present. Lemire does just that in JSA #8 as the story he tells in 1945 has repercussions for the story in which the JSA is involved in recent issues that are taking place in the present day.
Lemire also finally imbues this series with some genuine fun as he utilizes a couple of DC Comics war characters, Sgt. Rock and the Unknown Soldier. Additionally, Lemire brings in Liberty Belle, one of the main characters from the All-Star Squadron helping JSAers Hourman, Dr. Fate, Hawkman, Wildcat and the Flash. The main villain of this piece at first appears to be Baron Blitzkreig, a Nazi nemesis of the All-Star Squadron and a couple of his companions.. Throw in an appearance of the Blackhawks, including Lady Blackhawk and it really makes JSA #8 have a whole different feel from the previous seven joyless issues of this series.
Referencing All-Star Squadron directly is not only a meaningful reference to the World War II era of the Justice Society of America, but is also a nice nod to Roy Thomas who did so much work on the Earth-Two/ Golden Age characters throughout the 1980’s and did a significant amount of character and world building.
Gavin Guidry’s art fits the World War II era well and the cover by Michel Cho evokes just enough of a Golden Age sensibility to give the reader a genuine throwback feel in this issue. Kudos to Guidry for drawing Hawkman’s original mask which doesn’t make the rounds as often as it should!
Negatives
There’s nothing hugely negative about JSA #8, but there are a couple of details that give the impression that Lemire isn’t doing his homework. The first is that Hawkman, the Golden Age Hawkman would never use the “seven hells,” term, that is something that refers directly to the Hawkman from Thanagar. Golden Age Hawkman has not experienced his reincarnation on Thanagar yet and would not use this term. It works to an extent in present day stories, but not in this flashback to the 1940’s.
Secondly, Johnny Sorrow had already been transported to the subtle realms in 1944 and would not have been present on Earth to appear in a story set in 1945. These details also make one wonder if Lemire is somehow under the impression that Liberty Belle is a member of the JSA since he doesn’t mention the All-Star Squadron at all. These are details that many readers may not catch, but if you know you know, and if you know they present a red flag. Furthermore, Hourman was not even active at this time, so his inclusion is also questionable.
Verdict
JSA #8 is a much better issue than perhaps all of the previous seven with only issue #4 providing any real competition. The nods and references Lemire includes provide some fun to a series that has just not been very enjoyable and one that has struggled to be interesting as well. Is it a sign that Lemire would be better suited to telling Times Past stories of the JSA, or is it an overall sign of turnaround for the series?
