Review: JSA #9
[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
Beth fights back! Todd and Jakeem find Johnny Thunder! The imposter is revealed! Will the Injustice Society get the Spear of Destiny!
Positives
Normally, it’s the character moments that appeal to me the most. Unfortunately, in the series, Jeff Lemire’s decisions for character bits is depressing uninspiring meaning that it’s the plot that is more interesting. For JSA #9 what really stands out is some of the characters getting some agency. Beth Chapel takes on Scandal Savage and she feels like she’s making the decisions. She’s doing something to change her situation and not just helpless which is how so much of this series has felt.
Jakeem and Todd get the same treatment as they face their challenge together and stumble across Johnny Thunder who has a welcome appearance. Like Beth, these characters make some decisions to improve their own situation and move things forward. It’s a huge improvement from where we’ve been with so much failure and infighting and moping around. The moves these characters make is nothing earth shattering, but it’s a great step forward.
Negatives
JSA #9 improves enough that there’s not a litany of criticism. In fact, it can be boiled down to a single instance- Yolanda wallowing in self pity. This whole bit of subplot is not playing out like Lemire hoped, I’m sure. It’s not interesting, it’s not engaging, it’s not providing some sort of deep nuance to her character- it just makes her miserable and tedious. With the perspective of nine issues, it’s clear there’s just been too much of that sort of thing in the series. Literally NO ONE is likable, almost everyone is miserable or lost and nearly helpless, but not in an interesting way. There’s only a little of it in this issue, so there aren’t a lot of negatives.
Verdict
Lemire lays off the infighting and it helps JSA #9 immensely. He gives the characters some agency and it really improves the tone and feel of the issue. Like issue #4 when Obsidian got the spotlight, Beth gets it here and allowing characters to do something to move the plot really works. It’s no surprise that last issue’s flashback story plays into a small part to complete an idea, even if it’s fairly obvious. It may not be clever, but it’s solid. This issue is definitely better than most of the series with only Yolanda’s self pity holding things back. Maybe I’d go 7.5/10.
