Our Heroes at War; DC Special 29, The Untold Origin of The Justice Society Review

Kudos to Paul Levitz. Thirty-seven years after their first appearance in All-Star Comics 3, Winter 1940, Levitz reveals the secret origin of comics' first superhero team. Their debut appearance was made up of dinner conversation. The team gathered and shared solo adventures. This origin story accomplishes a few things. Primarily, it explains why Hitler did not invade England during World War II. Secondly, it provides an action-packed origin story for the Justice Society, including Superman and Batman. This story takes place prior to Wonder Woman's debut, as well as a number of other Golden-Age heroes.

Levitz establishes that President Roosevelt attempts to keep his promise not to enter the war - unless of course the United States is attacked. That would occur almost a year after these events of November 1940. That's when Agent Smythe carrying an important message from Intrepid, Sir William Stephenson, imploring the Commander-in-Chief to aid the British against the Nazi Reich. FDR's solution is to use "Mystery Men", costumed superheroes - basically civilians - in covert operations.

Smythe contacts Batman, The Flash and Green Lantern and sends them off to Glasgow. Dr. Fate observes as the trio is captured and moved to Hitler's Berlin, where he is about to make an example of them. Fate and Hourman rush to the rescue. Fate also summons The Atom, Hawkman and Sandman. Ultimately, The Spectre and Superman make an appearance. The heroes end up fighting Valkyries. The Atom even saves FDR from a "fatal" Valkyrie blast. He quips that it's impossible to split The Atom. Little do he know...

Joe Staton, Bob Layton and Anthony Tollin pack the punch for Levitz's bombastic script. Bill Morse's lettering is superb - even in newsprint, which is finicky and fickle.

The opening and ending splash pages are a treat. This is definitely for Justice Society and die-hard comic-book-y fans. Readers that enjoy Dr. Fate, The Spectre and Superman fighting Valkyries and Nazis. It's definitely wonky.

As such, The Untold Origin of The Justice Society in DC Special 29 earns five stars.

     
 

The Thrilling Action-Packed Conclusion; JSA: All Stars 8 Review

If DC Comics is about anything, it is about "legacy". The idea that the mantle, the torch is passed down. Jay Garrick, Alan Scott and Carter Hall were heroes of the Golden-Age of Comics. The Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman. When the Silver-Age was launched, Barry Allen, Hal Jordan and Katar Hol took up the mantle and carried the baton. These three, along with Ted Grant were captured by Legacy first, because they don't have a counterpart in the Justice Society. Their legacy is with the Justice League. Hawkgirl, Dr. Fate, Stargirl, Hourman, Dr. Mid-Nite, and Mr. Terrific are all legacy heroes. They've taken on the mantle and picked up the baton from previous heroes.

So it was that The Spectre told them to prepare and brace themselves to go on the rescue mission. What seems off is that it's obvious that it's not really The Spectre. He's Legacy's captive as well. So, it just seems out of place he would be presenting and narrating each hero's personal journey. 

When the Justice Society regroup at their New York City brownstone headquarters, The Spectre reappears. Just as the team is piecing together important clues. The Spectre stands revealed by Dr. Fate as Legacy, and he whisks them off to another realm, where they find their teammates. Fate and Hawkgirl are able to free the real Spectre, who in turn reveals Legacy's more true identity - The Wizard! In the ensuing battle, he is fighting for survival. Gone and forgotten are the Injustice Gang. Where are they now? 

The Spectre ends the conflict by sending The Wizard to hades, where he will be confronted by the sister he murdered. Condemnation or retribution. Jay, Alan, Carter and Ted are troubled by this fiery fury. Yet they are heartened that they can be inspired by this new generation in turn as they pass on inspiration.

As enjoyable as it is, it's all sort of thin and flimsy. The Wizard's plot kind of floppy. While the pacing of the story is smooth, the motivation seems somewhat forced. It has to happen because it has to happen! Taken separately and individually, the issues are enjoyable, unfortunately they don't really stack up all that well as a whole. Your mileage may vary on that.

JSA: All Stars 8, "And Justice For All" earns three stars.

All's Fair in Love and Hate and Life and Death; JSA: All Stars 7 Review

 

Well this certainly is interesting. Michael Holt, inheritor of the Mr. Terrific moniker is a man without faith. Bored and suicidal, he is confronted by The Spectre, once an agent of wrath and vengeance but now the spirit of redemption. The Spectre tells Holt of Terry Sloane, the original Mr. Terrific. Holt takes up the challenge to equal or surpass Sloane's accomplishments. The reason Holt is lost and faithless is that he lost his wife. He's alone now. He doesn't believe in an afterlife or a future. 

After visiting her grave, Holt is confronted by a pair of DEO agents. He overpowers them. Then he visits Mr. Bones at his DEO office. What ensues is nothing more than a heated argument. What comes out of the argument is that Bones has been aware that Holt's wife was pregnant. Michael didn't know. Now he believes that wherever his wife is, she's not alone. It's a sweet and touching sentiment. Going for the feelz.

This issue is extra-sized. It seems split between Michael Holt and Terry Sloane. 

The second story is not so much about Terry Sloane, or his exploits as Mr. Terrific, but the impact he has on his ne'er-do-well brother, Ned. Brother Ned is a drunk and gambler. Not very successful at either. He's somewhat bitter toward the more ambitious, focused and successful Terry. Until a Christmas party, where Ned encounters a former employee bent on murdering Terry.

There really is very little action. It's more conversation... arguing. Avoiding things until they can't avoid them any longer. Push coming to shove. Still, the only connection among these character profiles in The Spectre. Which is weird, because he's supposed to be captive of Legacy with Jay, Alan, Carter and Ted. There's nothing connecting these stories back to the introduction in the first issue. No mention of the rest of the team. That's the disconnect. Even more odd, this is an extra-sized issue to accommodate a story by fan-favorite and award-winning author Michael Chabon. So, these stories feel more like padding and filler and fluff. As stand-alone stories, they're enjoyable. However, the pretense and pretext that they're pieces of a larger picture just doesn't seem to hold up to basic scrutiny.

JSA: All Stars 7, "Fair Enough" and "The Strange Case of Mr. Terrific and Doctor Nil" earns three stars.   

Right in Front of His Eyes; JSA: All Stars 6 "Out of the Shadows" Review

Geoff Johns and David Goyer seem to be somewhat selective in their memories. The '80's weren't totally terrible. Roy Thomas was doing pretty exciting things with the Justice Society in the pages of All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc. Dr. Charles McNider had hung up his special goggles and was replaced as Dr. Mid-Nite by Beth Chapel. Although the name may have caused some confusion. There was the classic Nurse Chapel on Star Trek; and, over in the pages of Spawn and Youngblood, there was a mercenary named Chapel. Still, the gender-bending re-imagining of Dr. Mid-Night wasn't all that bad... unless you're not a fan of flowing, puffy sleeves.

Dr. Mid-Nite may be one of those difficult, challenging characters. He is more unique as a superhero. It's hard to imagine more than one individual in an accident that causes blindness that can only be reversed or cured by corrective lenses... or the unique ability to see clearly in total darkness.

Pieter Cross is a unique individual. He suffers the very same blindness that Charles McNider does!

Cross faces almost the same personal situations that McNider does as well. He returns to his hometown of Portsmouth to reconcile with the family that faced a loss he feels responsible for. Along the way he rescues a pregnant woman from a train accident. And learns a very important personal lesson along the way. It's a great story. Stephen Sadowski and Wade Von Grawbadger provide enjoyable art for the Johns and Goyer story.

The back-up story, "Blind Spot" by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso is just as enjoyable, focusing on McNider's misplaced trust.

Once again, these stories are great character profiles. Still, what seems to be missing is the connection to the first issue. It's vague and unclear what role The Spectre is playing in all this. It's unclear how this story ties in to what's going on with the four - possibly five - captive JSA members. If The Spectre is Legacy's captive along with Jay, Alan, Carter and Ted, how is he able to act as host and narrator to each breakout story? There's an expectation of a thread or a link that isn't there. Which is a disappointing letdown.

JSA: All Stars 6, shining a light on the darkness that Dr. Mid-Nite works in, earns three stars.

He Has All the Time in the World, JSA: All Stars 5 Review

Time.

The Spectre pulls the curtain back on Rick Tyler. Son of the legendary Rex "Tick-Tock" Tyler. Better known to the public at large as Hourman, "The Man of the Hour"! Admittedly, Miraclo is addictive. Like a steroid. Originally, it might have been conceived as a vitamin, an energy pill. However, with addictions growing, and programs like Alcoholics Anonymous among other addiction recovery programs, Miraclo (and perhaps Gingold) becomes more of a taboo. Both Tylers suffer from addiction, not just to Miraclo, but as adrenaline junkies. Hooked on the thrill of adventure and action.

Fortunately, both Rex and Rick have conquered the lust. Or have they?

An interesting development is Rick's flash-forwards - his ability to see events an hour in the future. This precognition, or perhaps foreknowledge comes in pretty handy as a crimefighter. If they weren't so disturbing and painful to witness. 

Adam DeKraker, Prentis Rollins and John Kalisz Provide the spectacle to Johns and Goyer's ongoing character profiles.

"An Hour at a Time" gives Rick Tyler the opportunity to confront his inner demons and face the monkey on his back.

The back-up story, "Conduct Unbecoming" as told by Howard Chaykin is an interesting historical period piece. Funny that Rex would be mistaken for Dr. Mid-Night or Mr. Terrific!

Once again, these stories are fine and enjoyable as stand-alone one-shots. Yet, they continue to fall short by not making any connection to the whole. There's no explanation for The Spectre's narration. There's no connection to the bad guy Legacy or the Injustice Gang. no explanation as to how this will help rescue Jay, Alan, Carter, and Ted. There's no explanation as to how The Spectre is narrating these stories if he's Legacy's captive, too.

JSA: All Stars 5, spotlighting the Hourman legacy earns three stars.

Tales of Time Present, Tales of Times Past; JSA: All Stars 4 "A Star is Born" Review

Here we go again.

The Spectre once again pulls back the curtain, this time on Courtney Whitmore, Stargirl. The latest in the very long Starman line. Thanks to James Robinson, the Starman family tree has many branches and has been very fruitful. Not just Ted Knight, but the departed David Knight, as well as the late Sylvester Pemberton, who was both the Star-Spangled Kid and Skyman, and Courtney's near predecessor Jack Knight.

Geoff Johns and David Goyer's Stargirl story is kind of a bummer. Only because Courtney's biological father is a down-on-his-luck grifter who ends up an F-list henchman for The Royal Flush Gang. He doesn't even get a cool costume. He's not even a high card. He's the "Two of Clubs". Or maybe just Number Two.

It's a pretty simple story. Courtney and Pat head off to Atlantic City. They beat up on The Royal Flush Gang, put Courtney's biological dad behind bars and have a bonding moment. It's pretty cool.

As far as the Starman family goes, this is a treat and delight. Pat and Courtney bond. The story fits into the ongoing "Father-Child" theme that Robinson established with Ted and Jack.

Even better, the back-up story is a Tale of Times Past courtesy of Robinson and Tony Harris spotlighting Ted Knight fighting Nazi spies posing as FBI Agents.

These stories are entertaining as character-profiles. Your mileage may vary, but for fans of James Robinson and Tony Harris, as well as the Ted Knight Starman connection this is definitely a highlight. Still, what's missing is a thread or shred of connection to the main narrative. All well and good, but how does this story fit into rescuing Jay, Alan, Carter, Ted and presumably The Spectre from Legacy and the Injustice Gang? That whole line seems to be forgotten in each one of these stories.

On their own and as a pair, the Stargirl and Starman stories are enjoyable. However, what's missing is the connection these stories have in the series as part of any larger picture. 

JSA: All Stars 4 earns three stars.

The Pickled Fickle Finger of Fate! JSA: All Stars 3 "Challenging Fate" Review

Once again, The Spectre draws back the curtain on another member of the Justice Society of America. The Spirit of Redemption is acting more like The Phantom Stranger or Rod Serling, host and presenter. This time, we see Hector Hall, son of Carter and Shiera Hall, one-time Silver Scarab of Infinity, Inc., now, the latest iteration of Dr. Fate.

In Salem, MA, Hector walks into a bar where he finds Nabu. Usually, Nabu is confined to the helmet of Fate. Yet, he steps out for... a beer and some peanuts. Hector is older from his Infinity, Inc. days. As the latest Dr. Fate, he is able to look around the room and see each person's ultimate... fate, how they will die and when. Both in a booth in the bar and the Tower of Fate, Nabu presents Hector with his own fate! In conflict with his father, Carter (or Katar, it's somewhat convoluted.) The original fate of Cater and Shiera is that they meet their end from Hath-Set time and time again. Yet what Nabu presents is that Hector is destined to be the end of his parents. It's a destiny that Hector will not accept and vows to change. He vows to make a future of his own.

The art by Kitson and Kalisz is nice, but it just comes down to a couple of talking heads. The story is predominantly conversation, with an interlude of action. Domestic conflict between father and son. It seems to amount to navel-gazing. 

The back-up story by Darwyn Cooke is enjoyable simply for Darwyn Cooke. He brings a horrific take to the master sorcerer. And a bit of wit and whimsy. The banter between Kent and Inza is Nick and Nora inspired. It's a fun story.

Once again, this issue and these stories are stand-alone and do not seem connected to the main narrative. They don't seem to be advancing the story set-up in the first issue. It seems that the point of the mini-series is to spotlight the legacy characters in solo stories with a comparison to the originals. These two stories are fine asides. Unfortunately, there's no Injustice Gang, there's no mortal adversary, no thread other than The Spectre.

"Challenging Fate", JSA: All Stars 3, by Geoff Johns and David Goyer leaves something to be desired. It earns three stars.