JSA #5 – Jeff Lemire, Writer; Diego Olortegui, Artist; Luis Guerrero, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: This title has split the JSA across the dimensions, and peril is stalking just about all of them. After taking a break last issue (surprising for someone in hell), Hawkman is back in the lead role as he gets a new ally – Kid Eternity. But this isn’t the well-known DC and Vertigo cult hero, it’s a mysterious new ghost girl whose memories are spotty but who remembers what she’s supposed to be called. And while the demons guarding Hawkman aren’t able to keep them from getting away, they get a higher-class of pursuer in the Gentleman Ghost. The same goes for Scandal Savage, who fails in her attempt to trap Beth Chapel thanks to the latter’s awareness of how to fight in the dark. As Mid-nite escapes with Obsidian’s unconscious body, Obsidian and Jakeem Thunder continue their battle to escape the psychic plane they’re trapped in – with a surprising reveal of just how well it’s guarded.
And of course, the JSA themselves have been infiltrated by Johnny Sorrow, using Obsidian as a disguise. This dangerous enemy is steering the entire anti-JSA plot, and he’s dangerously close to the people closest to Obsidian. This has added a great sense of tension to everything going on in this issue, as Jade continues to struggle with balancing the challenges of leadership with the original members missing. But there may not be much time to reflect and try to solve the mystery, because all the JSA’s enemies are ready to march on the Tower of Fate and put an end to the DCU’s oldest superhero team. Lemire’s run on this title is radically different from Johns’ and plays on many of the tropes Lemire worked with in Black Hammer. It’s a really good fit for these characters, who stand apart from the rest of the heroes in the DCU and have a dynamic that isn’t like any other DC team book.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
