Justice Society of America #37 – Review

by Bill Willingham (writer), Jesus Merino (pencils), Jesse Delperdang (inks), Allen Passalaqua (colors), and Rob Leigh (letters)

The Story: Mr. Terrific tells the story of how the JSA tried to rally against the Fourth Reich while he, and some big name allies, plot a jailbreak.

What’s Good: It’s already pretty clear that Mr. Terrific is probably Willingham’s favourite character on the JSA and so it should be no surprise that Willingham also has the best handle on the character’s voice and how to write him in general.

He continues to be well-written and I really do enjoy having him as the lead character.  Willingham does a great job with Terrific’s dialogue; he’s snarky but genuine and you really do root for him.  Indeed, the fact that he’s a know-it-all and calls it like he sees it only adds to the appeal of the character.  Indeed, Terrific’s dynamic with his “memoir writer” was also quite well-done, achieving a good back and forth with a dash of hopelessness.

I’ve always loved Mr. Terrific and seeing him in more or less solo hero position and in a leader position over Superman and Batman, revealed to be two of his fellow inmates, is all kinds of awesome.  I found these prison scenes to be by far the most engaging and creative parts of the book.  The planned jailbreak had me intrigued, while the dialogue and the means the former superheroes are forced to employ to enact their plans really spelled out the brutality of the Fourth Reich’s world.  These portions said a great deal about the dystopic world Willingham is working with here and the sense of horror and desperation is tangible.

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.

Justice Society Of America #32 – Review

by Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham (writers), Jesus Merino (art), Allen Passalaqua (color), Rachel Gluckstern (assistant editor), Mike Carlin (editor)

The Story: The Bad Seed, Part 4: Power Girl, the Flash and Mr. America struggle to find out who killed Mr. Terrific. In the meantime, Dr. Midnight discovers that the Green Lantern has been using his ring to keep Mr. Terrific’s body in stasis, so that he is preserved in the condition of only moments after death. This is because Dr. Fate is going to see if magic can do what medicine could not. And then the villains close in…

What’s Good: Merino does some great work in this issue, from the beads of sweat on Green Lantern, to the multiple images of the Flash, to the Flash’s wrinkly face, and the pleading expression on the suspected murderer. The action sequences are dynamic and clear, and the emotions are clearly running high, even without the dialogue.

Sturges and Willingham continue their massive (I counted 34 heroes and villains in this issue, although 1 is dead, 2 are probationary recruits, and 3 of them are dogs) mystery saga. There’s only one issue left in the Bad Seed arc, so they are pulling the plot threads tighter. By the end of this book, the tension is wound incredibly tight. By next issue, this arc has to tell us who hired the 15 villains, why they didn’t want Star Girl harmed, who really killed Mr. Terrific, whether Mr. Terrific actually qualifies for a death certificate, and what happens to fracture the team in two. That’s a whole lot of story to be sitting on the edge of your seat for.

What’s Not So Good: Bits of dialogue sounded a bit off to me. The villains especially have some lines that could have been improved or dispensed with. Some of the JSA’s arguing seems to be serving the story more than the characters who are speaking, and King Chimera’s bit of upper class diction, while giving him a new sound in the beginning, is in danger of making him a caricature. But, this dialogue complaint is a small mark against an otherwise solid book.

Conclusion: Sturges, Willingham and Merino have me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t wait for the answers to all the questions they’ve put on the table.

Grade: C+

-DS Arsenault