This Week’s Trip to the LCS- December 3, 2025
What’s new at the comic shop this week- December 3? DC has a couple facsimile editions that really caught my attention, and the fourth issue of the new Batman by Fraction and Jimenez is also out. We’ll take a look at a couple other things as well.
Christmas with the Super-Heroes Limited Collector’s Edition #43 (Facsimile)
Probably the most exciting book for me is the facsimile edition of the 1975 edition of Christmas with the Super-Heroes. The full title includes Limited Collector’s Edition #43. It’s a tabloid sized issue with reprints of Christmas tales from DC’s past. Since it originally came out in 1975, it’s not surprising all but two of the reprints are from the Golden Age. Superman, Wonder Woman and Sandman and Sandy have Golden Age tales centered around the holiday. The Batman story is more recent, especially for the original time of publication, “The Silent Night of the Batman” comes from 1969 and Batman #219. It takes its cues from Will Eisner’s “The Christmas Spirit” stories as the Dark Knight must let the Spirit of Christmas fight crime on Christmas Eve, and perhaps as Commissioner Gordon suggests, perhaps the Spirit of Batman as well! There’s even a House of Mystery reprint!
These stories capture the emotions of the holiday with the concepts of peace and goodwill towards all on full display. If you’re able to feel those things, some of these tales will bring a lump to your throat and conjure the sensibilities of the holidays.
This edition is probably not as strong as the 1974 edition which I reviewed for a Retro-Review a number of years ago, but it’s a solid holiday outing. Worth reading again later this month, well after the December 3 release!
JSA #14
This is a tough issue to discuss. I bought it, but didn’t read it. I probably will be waiting to read this arc in a single sitting when it completes in the Spring. This story arc raises a lot of question. Why an origin for the JSA when one already exists? DC Special #29 gave us that origin back in 1977. It’s introduction of the Spear of Destiny as a weapon against the Justice Society first appeared in that story and has been used in a number of other tales over the years including issue #8 of this series. It then begs the question, who asked for this? Really, no one. And that’s the approach Jeff Lemire is taking.
Last month’s JSA #13 demonstrated a complete lack of effort on Lemire’s part to incorporate the Golden Age stories and existing history of the team including apparently their origin mentioned above. It’s not clear if its negligence, ignorance or outright maliciousness. To name a few of the inconsistencies: Rex Tyler works for Bannermain Chemicals in the Golden Age, not Tyler Co. Hawkman is a blond and Shiera Sanders is a brunette, she’s not a redhead and he’s not a brunette. Shiera makes her first appearance as Hawkgirl in All-Star Comics #5, a story that takes place after the JSA has formed. The couple are also apparently married. This was not the case in the Golden Age. They didn’t marry until later. Johnny Thunder has the Thunderbolt in a pen, and this is a MUCH later development in 1998 and associated with Jakeem Thunder, not Johnny. For an longtime JSA/ Golden Age/ original Earth-Two fan, it feels like it’s been written purposely incorrect, like Degaton has come back and messed up the history.
Unfortunately, it’s probably more along the lines of what Leah Williams did with Power Girl. She was allowed to give PG whatever history she wanted and Lemire is doing the same. As a longtime fan and reader, it’s alienating. One must be able to forget everything…that’s hard…especially when it’s what you love the most about DC Comics- original Earth-Two/ JSA/ Golden Age…. If you can get your head through that obstacle, then it may be enjoyable. However, the first 12 issues of this series have been slow and uninspired, so I don’t think Lemire is suddenly going to get better at writing these characters.
Again, the penchant for writers to rewrite origins is one of the biggest problems in comics, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Writers today seem unable to move characters forward and develop them, all they seem to want to do is rewrite pasts or write alternate versions. This JSA is nothing more than that. It might as well be the Absolute JSA. But, that’s not what JSA fans want. It’s not good comics. Serialized storytelling works because the past informs. If the past is malleable and there’s no attempt to incorporate what’s come before it’s a disservice to the fans and alienating. It no longer feels like these are the same characters who’ve developed over time. It takes a good writer to utilize continuity and the stories of the past effectively, and Lemire is failing miserably. Maybe not as bad as Leah Williams, but the effect is essentially the same.
I don’t expect every bit of minutiae to be adhered to, but Lemire is messing with some bigger stuff and the little parts add up. Furthermore, part of the charm of the JSA and associated characters is that part of their charm and what makes them work is that they do fit into the historical framework of published stories…they are SUPPOSED to reflect that publishing history and those stories are supposed to have taken place somehow…with some changes…but, not wholesale changes.
Very disappointing….
Batman #4
There are times when Fraction’s Batman really conjures up a Bronze Age feel, and this issue does that quite well. The feel is actually better than the story. It’s a good sign that he’s able to work in a Bronze Age style storytelling. One hopes that this isn’t just a rehash of Silver St. Cloud’s storyline in terms of the romantic interest, or that he’s just using Annika. Fraction said these would be whole stories per issue, but I don’t think this issue feels satisfying in that way. Modern writing is so trade oriented, it’s hard to find the balance, but I give Fraction credit for trying. The villain, Minotaur may be the strongest element of the issue. Certainly a lot of potential with how he is going to be developed. I’m a bit concerned that Fraction told us how Batman has missed what’s been going on instead of showing those moments. All in all, a pretty good issue with potential for a solid run.
Detective Comics #66 (Facsimile)
The selling point for this facsimile is the first appearance, introduction and origin of Two-Face, however this is the first time I’ve also been able to read a Golden Age Airwave story! That’s the extra bonus of these facsimile editions, and they never disappoint in that regard. This issue features Boy Commandos, Crimson Avenger, Spy and Slam Bradley features as well as the lead and historically significant Batman and Robin story. This issue actually read fairly quickly for a Golden Age book. Sometimes they can be quite dense, this issue flows better than some.
It’s quite interesting to see that the biggest change in Two-Face’s origin is his name, D.A. Harvey Kent! I’ve not researched the reasons behind the change to Dent from Kent, but everything that’s important to the character is there- acid in the face, Boss Moroni, even his girlfriend, Gilda! This facsimile is highly recommended.
DC Finest: Superman- The Invisible Luthor
And lastly for December 3, while I certainly haven’t been able to read it yet, this DC Finest volume continues the Golden Age adventures of the Man of Steel. It picks right up where Superman- The First Superhero left off. I can’t comment yet, but I can express my excitement for this. It’s the next DC Finest volume to be consumed, right after I finished Hawkman- Wings Across Time!
What did you get at the LSC this week? What’s your favorite book for the week of December 3?
