Maybe Late to the Party... Thoughts on The Curious Case of Natalia Grace Season One

 

I may be a little late to the party.

The Curious Case of Natalia Grace was release in 2023. It ran for three seasons from 2023 through 2025. I'm midway through season two, Natalia Speaks, where she shares HER side of the story.

Her story is tragic, shocking and sensational. It makes for "tabloid television" the kind of gaper's block you would find on Geraldo! The Maury Povich Show, Dr. Phil, or any one of the typical daytime talk shows.

The first season is all about things like "control", "manipulation", "narrative" and "spin".

Natalia's story unfolds from her adoptive father, Michael Barnett. He comes across very articulate. Very flamboyant. The story he tells is quite vivid and detailed. Almost polished and rehearsed. It's quite possible that Michael and Kristine Barnett's version of the story may be based on the 2009 horror film "Orphan". The Barnetts adopted Natalia Grace in 2010. Season One focuses primarily on Michael Barnett and his son, Jacob, leading up to Michael's trial for the abandonment of Natalia. As Michael's grip on the "narrative" and "spin" apparently slips, and the seeming house of cards starts to collapse, he comes across more of a bitter, vindictive, whiny cry-baby. An unnecessarily foul-mouthed one at that.

My take-away from Season One is that it is not Natalia's complete story. It's only the horrific experience with the Barnetts. 

Natalia Grace was born in Ukraine to a single, low-income mother. Natalia's mother was told that she could not afford to care for Natalia properly. In Season One, she comes off as not wanting to be tracked down for any information on Natalia. Eventually, she provides DNA and critical birth information.

What's missing is any information from Gary and Dyan Ciccone. Did they decline to be interviewed? What comes across is the question of why they only had Natalia for a year after adopting her. The quick and glossy answer is that they found some behavioral issues with her. But there's several accounts that the Ciccones were trying to find a new home for her with couples that also had dwarfism, to the point that the narrative and spin is that the Ciccones were shopping her around.

Toward the end of Season One and midway through Season Two, the story comes across that Kristine Barnett may be the true villain of the story.

The sad thing is that very few people came to Natalia's help and rescue.

It's a shame that her story was negatively sensationalized and turned into trashy tabloid television.

There are a lot of noble couples and families looking to build relationships and support future generations through adoption. Hopefully this one story doesn't severely damage that.   

Earth-2 Sensation! All-Star Squadron Review!

 

NOTE: First posted June 18th, 2009...

Following an encounter with The Monster at the Lincoln Memorial with Dr. Mid-Nite and The Atom, Hawkman wings his way back to New York and the meeting room of the Justice Society of America. There he is met by Plastic Man, who tells him that he has been sent to bring the Justice Society to the President in Washington. The two look for Wesley (The Sandman) Dodds, who owns the building the JSA meet in. They don't find him. Plastic Man turns on the radio and the two learn that Solomon Grundy has fought and overcome The Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman and disappeared with them in tow. Professor Zodiak has captured Superman, Batman and Robin; Wotan has captured Dr. Fate and The Spectre; and Sky Pirate has captured Starman, The Sandman, Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt.  Heading back to Washington to answer the President's summons, the pair encounter King Bee. Although they defeat him, the conflict takes its toll and the two are downed and out for the count.

Sir Justin, The Shining Knight, encounters vulcanologist Danette Reilly at work on a strange island near Pearl Harbor. They are over-powered by Grundy and Professor Zodiac, as her brother Rod, a Navy ensign, and his buddy Slugger Dunn become two victims - among many - of the December 7th, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

In Washington, at the Redskins football game versus the Philadelphia Eagles, Dr. Mid-Nite and The Atom, along with Robotman are alerted to the President's summons and head to the White House. As they make their way across the gate, Johnny Chambers and Tubby Watts literally run into Libby Lawrence. Johnny and Libby run into each other only minutes later in costume as Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle. Soon they are joined by Hawkman and Plastic Man.
 
In the Oval Office, President Franklin Roosevelt commissions them as the All-Star Squadron and dispatches them to San Francisco to curb a possible Japanese advancement. 

In the bay there, aboard a submarine, Degaton reveals to Justin and Danette that he plans to use the cover of the Pearl Harbor attack to his advantage!

I'm kicking myself for unloading both my All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc. issues after Crisis on Infinite Earths seemingly negated their very relevance. I know! When Earth-Two was wiped out at the end of COIE, I think I lost as much interest in reading the Earth-Two focused books as Roy Thomas did writing them. Not long after Young All-Stars launched. Very quickly, that book and Infinity, Inc. folded. Roy Thomas sent the JSA into limbo and turned the lights out.

I realize now that this is classic stuff from Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler, Jerry Ordway and Len Wein. As good as anything from the Silver or Bronze Age; All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc. stand the test of time right alongside Wolfman and Perez' run on New Teen Titans, and Barr and Aparo's run on Batman and The Outsiders. I enjoyed reading his stuff in The Invaders over at Marvel. This is more detailed in the history - both world history, current events from the war, and comic book history of the characters. Compared to what DC is producing now, All-Star Squadron is incredible, great stuff and worth a good thorough re-reading. At the current $3.99 cover price, I'm going to be tracking down and re-reading All-Star Sqaudron, and making Earth-Two my new home.

Stuck in The Golden Age With Dr. Fate

 

I was really excited when Pierce Brosnan was cast as Kent Nelson, also known as Dr. Fate. Defender of Order versus Chaos. Fate previously made an appearance on Smallville. Clark got to see glimpses of the Justice Society. It would be exciting to see one of the original, founding members of the Justice Society on the big screen. He was going to be working with Carter Hall, Hawkman; Atom Smasher and Cyclone!

I never really got past The Rock as Black Adam. Sure, he was portrayed as a wronged individual, looking for justice and vengeance and retribution and revenge. Which was why he crossed paths and swords with the JSA. It was just incredibly confusing that the character was split from Zachary Levi's Captain (SHAZAM!) Marvel. I'm still confused. I'm not sure I really want to know.

I didn't watch Remington Steele for Brosnan. I watched Remington Steele for Stephanie Zimablist. She was my excuse for bad grades in high school.

Brosnan's Bond was fairly enjoyable. Mom and Dad were Sean Connery fans. Mom and my sister were Roger Moore fans. Cathy, my wife, is a George Lazenby fan. Gotta respect the man that connected with Diana Rigg! I'm not sure I know any Timothy Dalton fans (He was pretty good as Prince Baron in Flash Gordon; as well as an appearance on Doctor Who, and as The Chief in Doom Patrol!)

Brosnan was my era or generation Bond. I'm not sure the material was up to his performance. Wherever the bar is set, the next mission or adventure usually has to up the ante. By Die Another Day the ante had been upped to the extreme. The hotel made entirely of ice (ICE!) was extreme... extremely redonkulous!

As an aside, one of the reasons Daniel Craig ditched a lot of the paraphernalia was due to Mike Meyers' Austin Powers parodies. Craig was quoted in some interview somewhere that Austin Powers poked so much fun at the Bond tropes - not to mention the Mel Brooks-Buck Henry Get Smart parody - that Bond had sort of become self-parody. Look closely at some of the scenes with Q, there's a bit of self-deprecating humor and parody in those scenes. Connery's Bond didn't seem to take Q seriously. neither did Brosnan. Q gave Brosnan's Bond two specialized cars. The second one had a stealth, cloaking ability, like Harry Potter's blanket.

Off and on Brosnan has made some impressive solo films. Some, hit or miss. Seraphim Falls with Liam Neeson and The Matador with Greg Kineer stand out. After The Sunset is somewhat shaky. Remember Me with Robert Pattinson is engaging. We don't have to talk about the Mama Mia! films... 

Celebrating his 73rd birthday today, Brosnan has most recently been in The Thursday Murder Club with Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie... along with David Tenant and Jonathan Pryce.

Might be a good day to give that a spin... it just might be better... Fate.

   

A Salute to Marv Wolfman and His Half of The New Teen Titans

 

I blame Burt Ward. 

There's a whole legion of Bat-fans that grew up watching Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin. It was Burt Ward's performance as Dick Grayson, also known as Robin, The Boy Wonder that got me interested in the Teen Titans. I could have been an X-Men fan. Crimefighting sidekicks versus teenage angst and puberty. Stan Lee's Uncanny X-Men was about teenagers gaining super-powers at a certain age and living in a world that feared and hated them. Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Speedy and Wonder Girl fought crime. Smiling and joking. Almost like The Amazing Spider-Man without all the teenage baggage. Don't get me wrong, teenagers have baggage. My superpower as a teenager was invisibility. I also repelled girls. I wasn't really athletic, or smart. I didn't have an award-winning personality. I didn't stand out for any reason at all. So, I accepted my lot in life as a comic book geek and reveled in it.

Instead of Uncanny X-Men, I went Teen Titans. 

Marv Wolfman turned 80 yesterday (May 13th, 2026.) He and George Perez relaunched and revived the group as The NEW Teen Titans! Aqualad was benched. Speedy made rare guest appearances. Gar Logan went from Beast Boy to Changeling. Wolfman and Perez introduced Victor Stone as Cyborg, Koriand'r as Starfire and Raven... as... er, um... Raven.

The core of the team was Dick Grayson's Robin, Wally West's Kid Flash and Donna Troy as Wonder Girl. (Side note, probably another reason I'm a Teen Titans fan is both The Penguin and Wonder Girl name drop in The Monkees' Randy Scouse Git...) Wolfman and Perez also introduced a sense of teenage angst that wasn't there in the original Teen Titans. Robin struggled against The Batman's tight reins. Kid Flash struggled with emotions and feelings for Raven and a girl from hometown Blue Valley that developed magnetic powers. Wonder Girl was an independent photographer in a relationship with an older, soon-to-be divorced gentleman. 

George Perez gets a lot of well-deserved credit for the look of The NEW Teen Titans. Marv Wolfman, along with Perez came up with the angle. Raven's father was the demon Trigon. Starfire's sister was the evil Blackfire. The team fought against a cult led by Brother Blood. They also dealt with drugs and runaways. Issues that were somewhat realistic, but still able to fit in a comic book world that could be dealt with using comic book rules and solutions.

As much credit as George Perez deserves, Marv Wolfman is a talented writer who carved out a place for NEW Teen Titans in the DC Universe.

I still blame Burt Ward for drawing my attention to his groovy team of sidekicks...  

Back-Up Feature - The Origin of the JSA; 52, Week Forty-Nine Review

 

52 may have been an attempt to ride the wave of 24. The FOX political thriller starring Keifer Sutherland was a weekly series with events that occurred in real-time. What that meant was the fifty-minute drama contained fifty-minutes of action, adventure and suspense. there were no time gaps. Typically, there's a jump, usually over the boring stuff. 24 contained no boring stuff. Every second, every moment was jam-packed with something. The series occurred over a single twenty-four-hour period. That single day was rolled out over twenty-four weeks. 52 was a single story - an EVENT! - that rolled out every Wednesday for a full year!

Week Forty-Nine, as the series winds down to its conclusion, finds the Justice Society in China trying to rescue Black Adam from captivity. When Adam finally is free, he has nothing but vengeance in mind and heart. Elsewhere, Doc Magnus unleashes his Metal Men on Chang Tzu. He's been developing a new Metal Man for the vile creature. After destroying Chang Tzu, Magnus helps Professor Morrow, creator of The Red Tornado, escape. 

Following the main story is a two-page back-up featuring an abbreviated origin of the Justice Society. Written by Mark Waid, with art by Don Kramer, inks by Michael Bair and colors by Alex Singlair, the spread highlights the landmark first superhero team, leaping out of the mists to fight Nazis and turn the tide of WWII. Later, they are summoned out of retirement by the Justice League. As time passes, the legacy of the JSA continues, with new heroes taking up the mantle and baton of the original, older heroes. The feature ends with a roll call and Essential Storylines.  It's an enjoyable piece.

Your mileage may vary on the main story of 52. The cover, posing Doc Magnus as Bond, firing Metal Men bullets is simply eye candy. It would make a great wall poster. The back-up feature on the JSA is well worth the price of admission.

From April 11th, 2007, 52: Week Forty-Nine, "Eve of Destruction" earns four stars.  

Revisionist History; Secret Origins 31, Starring The Justice Society of America Review

 

The Challenge for writer and fan Roy Thomas is putting an end to the Justice Society of America. With the landmark Crisis on Infinite Earths series, a single Earth, a single timeline and reality was written. Legend has it that some writers found it confining. I would argue that that may have been the case for Thomas and The Golden-Age portion of the DC Universe. All-Star Squadron was left without Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Green Arrow, and their associated, connecting characters. Power Girl had to be re-imagined. Robin and The Huntress were erased along with The Golden-Age versions of Batman and Catwoman. Fury had to be re-imagined. Green Arrow and Speedy were no longer members of the Seven Soldiers of Victory or Laws Legionnaires. The Justice Society was trapped in a Ragnarok loop to preserve the universe. All-Star Squadron came to an end and replaced with the Young All-Stars title. Infinity, Inc. may have come to a close around the same time as well. 

Roy Thomas re-imagines the origin of the Justice Society of America, post-Crisis. Michael Bair, Bob Downs and Carl Gafford handle the art, with Jean Simek lettering. Mark Waid edits.

The story is pretty much similar to DC Special 29, from 1977. Without Batman, The Flash and Green Lantern head off to Glasgow. Superman does not make an eleventh-hour save. The significant difference is that FDR is in fact killed by a Valkyrie. The Spectre goes into the afterlife to plead for his return to lead the country, nay, even the world through the second great war. That's really the centerpiece of the story. Jim Corrigan pleading for the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the comparison to Moses that FDR did not survive into the "Promised Land".

What really comes out is that The Spectre and Dr. Fate could easily eliminate Hitler and the Nazi threat, just the two of them. Add Green Lantern, Hourman and possibly The Flash, and the Axis powers might be stopped in its tracks. Hawkman, The Atom and The Sandman are pretty good in hand-to-hand, or espionage agents. Unfortunately, fictional characters, comic book characters can't fix or solve real-world problems. They're stuck fitting into a reality. Which is an explanation for Hitler diverting from invading England. 

It's a great story. Thomas updates it well. Bair's art is thrilling, providing a number of individual character poses. The opening splash page appears somewhat weak, but the end page splash is pretty decent.

Over all, Secret Origins 31, featuring The Secret Origin of The Justice Society of America earns four stars.  

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.

Fluff Piece JSA: All Stars 2 "Flying High" Review

 

Wow. Just... wow.

With Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Carter Hall and Ted Grant along with The Spectre captives of "Legacy", each member of the Justice Society of America was given forty-eight hours to pull themselves together and reconcile the past the face the challenge of the present for a brighter future. That was what The Spectre told the team. It was somewhat vague if it was the actual The Spectre or Legacy posing as The Spectre.

Here, The Spirit of Redemption pulls back the curtain on Kendra Saunders. Granddaughter of Speed Saunders, great-niece of Shiera Saunders, the original Golden-Age Hawkgirl. Quickly and smoothly recapping her origin, The Spectre launches into her adventure. Rescuing her grandfather from a militia armed with anthrax that they intend to unleash on Seattle. Kendra quickly, however roughly, dispatches the militia members and rescues her grandfather. Afterward she pays a visit on a little girl that turns out to be her daughter. Pregnant at fifteen, Kendra gave Mia up for adoption. 

The Reunion seems to be healing and cleansing for Kendra. However, this is a stand-alone story that in no way connects to the main narrative. It's a fine, touching story. It's got action and great art by Phil Winslade. But that's it. 

The back-up story by Loeb and Sale is equally enjoyable. It's a hoot of hilarity. Carter helps Midway City's finest capture a trio of bank robbers. He plays cards with the police commissioner. He's late for dinner and has to warm up Shiera's cold shoulder. Still, there is absotively no connection to the previous issue.

It's all a very nice piece of filler. It's a fluff piece.

Hawkgirl in "Flying High" and Hawkman in "The Same Thing Happens Every Night" are enjoyable stories, individually and together. 

JSA: All Stars 2 earns three stars.

For Those That Follow... JSA: All Stars 1 "Legacy" Review

 

David Goyer and Geoff Johns present the Justice Society of America facing Legacy!

The Spectre pulls back the curtain. Sand is escorting The Icicle on a military transport to prison in Florida. Solomon Grundy rips open a side of the plane. Freed, The Icicle cushions the planes crash landing. The rest of the Injustice Gang is on hand, greeted by the Justice Society. The battle engages! It's all very dramatic and somewhat posing and posturing. Very quickly The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman and Wildcat are transported out of the battle by the bad guys. Sand is immobilized! Returning to their Manhattan headquarters, they try to deduce what the device is that paralyzed Sand and kidnapped four of their members.

The cover is awesome.

Sal Velluto's art, with Bob Almond inks and John Kalisz colors is just the very definition of eye-candy. Ken Lopez's lettering has each character's voice down and dialogue, roll call and effects are unique.

Legacy himself is pretty much a mystery and cypher at this point. Somewhat hollow and shallow. The cliffhanger sets up the master plan that will undoubtedly unfold as the story progresses.

JSA: All Stars 1, "Legacy" earns four stars.