JSA #16 – Jeff Lemire, Writer; Gavin Guidry, Artist; Luis Guerrero, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: For the first three issues of this arc, the characters have all been divided. The JSA as we know it has been little more than a mirage, as duos of lone heroes struggle to unravel a much larger mystery. But now, finally, we’re starting to see the pieces come together as each hero discovers something hidden within the larger picture. Doctor Fate and Jim Corrigan, the two most powerful heroes in the group, bond over Corrigan’s fear of the power within him, with the spirit of vengeance making him see nothing but the evil in the world. Dr. Nelson, however, has a very different perspective. But not everyone is getting along – Wonder Woman and the Atom can barely stand each other, but when they encounter Hawkman and Hawkwoman, things quickly deteriorate between the two groups. It’s only when Dr. Curtis and his mysterious boss appear that they’re forced to work together – albeit briefly.
The big problem is that these heroes are often like oil and water, particularly when it comes to the Hawks and the more chipper Flash and Johnny Thunder, with the latter being the only one really interested in the idea of a team. But other heroes find darker affairs – such as Hourman and Sandman, who encountered a mysterious man made of steel in the basement of Curtis’ lab, and discover he’s tied to a much larger conspiracy. And that conspiracy is what Alan Scott gets a little too close to, as he investigates a murder and reports it back to what he thinks is an old friend – only to fall right into the trap of one of the JSA’s oldest and most ruthless villains. This story is a big-scale threat enough to justify bringing all these heroes together, but it’s also a great opportunity to show us what drives each of them – and give a spotlight to some heroes who have been dead and out of focus for decades.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
