Justice Society of America #34 – Review

By: Bill Willingham (writer), Travis Moore (penciller), Dan Green (inker), Allen Passalaqua (colorist)

The Story: Merciless, Part One of Two: Dr. Fate’s body is possessed in the temporary HQ of the JSA (the old cave HQ of the JLA). The JSA are getting settled. Mr. Terrific is recuperating from his injuries and tinkers with Mr. America’s whip. The Flash and Green Lantern struggle over what to do with Kid Karneval, their prisoner after he penetrated the JSA and stabbed Mr. Terrific.

What’s Good: The art and the plotting were fun. Moore draws some very expressive faces which gives Willingham a lot more tools in his toolbox to tell the story. Dr. Midnight’s sympathetic expression on page 3 says more than the dialogue, as do the different expressions on Kent’s face as he’s possessed. And, check out the expressions in the conversation the possessed Fate has with Wildcat and Mr. America. My favorite art moment, though, is probably when Mr. America is testing out the whip that Mr. Terrific has improved for him.

Willingham made some funny scenes in this book that I enjoyed. And he had me going on the possession story. I was getting myself worked into a tizzy about this story idea and near the end, I was thinking didn’t we just do this!? Right when I thought of how stupid it was to repeat a plot we’d just had this very team go through, Willingham twisted the idea and had upset my expectations. I love it when a writer outsmarts me! I also loved who the villain turned out to be. I take it as a good sign that Willingham pulled out one of DC’s heaviest hitters for the first adventure of the new team.