Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: Diego Olortegui
Colors by: Luis Guerrero
Letters by: Steve Wands
Cover art by: Cully Hamner
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: December 4, 2024
JSA #2, by DC Comics on 12/4/24, recounts how Kobra and the Injustice Society unleashed a series of attacks on the JSA, leading to the displacement of the Tower of Fate.
Is JSA #2 Good?
First Impressions
File this one under "the flashback issue that explains the first issue." Writer Jeff Lemire uses the sophomore issue in the series to show that the Tower of Fate's displacement in a demon dimension had nothing to do with Absolute Power or anything else readers would have guessed. Still, readers get plenty of JSA action, surprise twists, and a skull-crunching cliffhanger, even if there doesn't appear to be a reason for telling the story out of order.
Recap
When last we left the world's first and greatest super team in JSA #1, practically every member of the team was at each other's throats over the lack of coordination and direction for the team's mission statement. Part of the angst stems from the frustration that part of the team disappeared recently without a clue to their whereabouts. We learn that the missing team members have taken refuge in the Tower of Fate, which is trapped in a demon dimension. The issue ended with the reveal that Obsidian is really Johnny Sorrow in disguise.
Plot Synopsis
In JSA #2, the story begins with a flashback to one week before issue #1. Jade, Dr. Mid-Nite, and Sand arrive at a benefit dinner where all the attendees are trapped in a suspended state, hovering above the ballroom floor. The attendees suddenly get unstuck and fall to the ground, rescued by the heroes present from smashing to the floor.
Elsewhere, the other JSA members signal Jade to inform her that Kobra broke into Ted Knight's (the original Starman) old observatory, where he kept mementos and gadgets. It's unclear what, if anything, was taken, but this latest attack is another in a string of attacks meant to taunt the JSA.
Obsidian, who we know is Johnny Sorrow in disguise, pretends to be outraged at the attacks and demands to form a strike team to go after Kobra. Obsidian's over-the-top outrage creates friction with Wild Cat.
Suddenly, the Injustice Society breaks through the Brownstone wall and all JSA defenses to attack. Elsewhere in the brownstone, Kalid and Jakeem are hanging out when Gentleman Ghost, Johnny Sorrow, and Wotan ambush them. The villains successfully keep Jakeem from summoning Thunderbolt, but Khalid manages to get free long enough to reach the Helmet of Fate and transport everyone to the Tower of Fate out of instinct. Somehow, Jakeem and Obsidian were left behind.
The issue concludes with a replay of the demon fights from the last issue, Jay Garrick finding the one door in the Tower that leads back to the brownstone, an unwelcome group of guests waiting on the other side of the door, and Carter Hall encountering the pointy end of a demon's sword.
What’s great about JSA #2?
If you're a JSA fan (guilty as charged), you get all the characters in their glory fighting side by side against attacks on multiple fronts. Not every character gets a satisfying moment to shine, but a moment or two is better than nothing.
As a bonus, the Injustice Society hits fast and hard to remind you of just how dangerous they can be.
What’s not great about JSA #2?
Jeff Lemire's creative choice to tell the first and second issues out of order seems ill-advised. If he had started with the attack and then transitioned the team into escalating bouts of bickering and frustration, readers would have felt a natural rise in tension. Instead, the narrative flow feels clunky and disjointed.
Further, it's not clear from the flashback how and why the Tower of Fate wound up in a demon dimension. If the Tower's location was some side effect of Absolute Power, that outcome must have been a blink-and-you-miss-it development.
In short, Lemire is creating avoidable problems.
How’s the Art?
I liked Diego Olortegui's art in last year's Jay Garrick miniseries, but it doesn't look as good here. It's unclear if the difference has to do with Olortegui's inks or the bolder coloring application from Luis Guerrero, who also worked on the Jay Garrick miniseries. It's okay art, but some of the visual charm is missing.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
JSA #2 puts the question after the answer with a flashback-heavy issue that sets up most of the fallout from issue #1. It's unclear why Jeff Lemire chose to put the cart before the horse in terms of plot, but the issue compensates with big action and plenty of twists to hold your attention. Plus, the art team's output is decent enough, but the same team produced better visuals in last year's Jay Garrick miniseries.
6.5/10
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