Written by: Geoff Johns
Art by: Mikel Janín, Jerry Ordway
Colors by: Jordie Bellaire, John Kalisz
Letters by: Rob Leigh
Cover art by: Mikel Janín
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: August 1, 2023
Justice Society of America #5 brings the current fight against Per Degaton to a close with a temporal battle to end all temporal battles, but the timeline will never be the same again.
Is It Good?
In the interests of full disclosure, I couldn't remember where this maxi-series left off. It took a few pages to dust off the cobwebs, but I'm glad we're sticking with it because this was a relatively fun issue. Not great, but fun.
When last we left the present-day JSA, the group learned Per Degaton was the mastermind behind all the timeline shenanigans because he believed that the JSA is the only generational group standing in his way in his bid to take over the world (Don't ask about the Justice League. Just go with it.). Now, the present-day JSA hunts for Degaton while Helena Wayne (Huntress from the future and star of this series) finds Batman to warn him about his future death. Batman's knowledge of the future destroys Helena's timeline, turning her into a Paradox ("temporally homeless"), and the only thing keeping Helena in existence is the magic snow globe containing the sliver of the Flashpoint universe because it was given to her in her timeline when it still existed... or something.
Suddenly, all Degatons from across the timeline arrive to destroy Helena, Batman, and the JSA. In response, the JSA teams from every era (and some we haven't seen yet) arrive to battle Degaton to the death. Ultimately, Degaton couldn't be destroyed because he, like Helena, is a Paradox, so Madame Xanadu traps Degaton in the magic snow globe indefinitely.
The comic ends with an epilogue where the present-day JSA discusses how the timeline is changed, what to do next, and the surprising arrival of a few characters from the recent Stargirl series.
In an odd way, this issue reads like a finale to realign the characters and position them for whatever Johns has brewing on the horizon. Why Johns chose to end the arc in issue 5 of 12 is a mystery, but here we are.
What's great about this comic? Big JSA battles with teases of JSA members from the distant future are a fun treat. Degaton is dealt with completely, albeit a little too easily. And the art looks great.
What's not so great about this comic? Degaton's defeat felt a little rushed. The art handoff between Janín and Ordway is jarringly noticeable. And Degaton's plan makes sense, but the way he went about it felt clumsy and uncoordinated.
On the scale of good versus bad, this issue is more good than bad. Johns clearly has a love for all things JSA, and less Batman on the shelves is a good thing when DC has such a rich catalog of characters, but the delays are an excitement killer.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Bits and Pieces:
Colors by: Jordie Bellaire, John Kalisz
Letters by: Rob Leigh
Cover art by: Mikel Janín
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: August 1, 2023
Justice Society of America #5 brings the current fight against Per Degaton to a close with a temporal battle to end all temporal battles, but the timeline will never be the same again.
Is It Good?
In the interests of full disclosure, I couldn't remember where this maxi-series left off. It took a few pages to dust off the cobwebs, but I'm glad we're sticking with it because this was a relatively fun issue. Not great, but fun.
When last we left the present-day JSA, the group learned Per Degaton was the mastermind behind all the timeline shenanigans because he believed that the JSA is the only generational group standing in his way in his bid to take over the world (Don't ask about the Justice League. Just go with it.). Now, the present-day JSA hunts for Degaton while Helena Wayne (Huntress from the future and star of this series) finds Batman to warn him about his future death. Batman's knowledge of the future destroys Helena's timeline, turning her into a Paradox ("temporally homeless"), and the only thing keeping Helena in existence is the magic snow globe containing the sliver of the Flashpoint universe because it was given to her in her timeline when it still existed... or something.
Suddenly, all Degatons from across the timeline arrive to destroy Helena, Batman, and the JSA. In response, the JSA teams from every era (and some we haven't seen yet) arrive to battle Degaton to the death. Ultimately, Degaton couldn't be destroyed because he, like Helena, is a Paradox, so Madame Xanadu traps Degaton in the magic snow globe indefinitely.
The comic ends with an epilogue where the present-day JSA discusses how the timeline is changed, what to do next, and the surprising arrival of a few characters from the recent Stargirl series.
In an odd way, this issue reads like a finale to realign the characters and position them for whatever Johns has brewing on the horizon. Why Johns chose to end the arc in issue 5 of 12 is a mystery, but here we are.
What's great about this comic? Big JSA battles with teases of JSA members from the distant future are a fun treat. Degaton is dealt with completely, albeit a little too easily. And the art looks great.
What's not so great about this comic? Degaton's defeat felt a little rushed. The art handoff between Janín and Ordway is jarringly noticeable. And Degaton's plan makes sense, but the way he went about it felt clumsy and uncoordinated.
On the scale of good versus bad, this issue is more good than bad. Johns clearly has a love for all things JSA, and less Batman on the shelves is a good thing when DC has such a rich catalog of characters, but the delays are an excitement killer.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Bits and Pieces:
Justice Society of America #5 brings the conflict with Per Degaton to a close with a massive battle using every JSA team from across the timeline. The character cameos are fun, the battle is energetic, and the resolution is complete, but Degaton's defeat felt rushed, and issue #5 seems an odd place to end an arc in a 12-issue maxi-series.
6.5/10
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