Justice League of America #138 (1977)

Justice League of America #138 (January, 1977)
"Adam Strange--Puppet of Time!"
Writer - Cary Bates
Art - Dick Dillin & Frank McLaughlin
Editor - Julius Schwartz
Cover Price: $0.30

I've been in Arizona a long time... and I still can't get used to school starting in early August.  Today my school teacher wife reported back to active duty... and it still seems wrong.  I mean, it's the first day of school, and it's 108-degrees outside... yeesh.

In my head, kids are still off until the day after Labor Day in September.  That's where I got my negative association with Jerry Lewis... something I was hoping to pass down to my kids.

Oh well, let's talk some pre-Crisis League.

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We open with Alanna Strange recording herself speaking into a microphone about... guilt.  She claims that it's her fault that five members of the Justice League have been doomed.  This leads us into a flashback scene wherein Mrs. Strange visited the JLA Satellite with some dire news.  It turns out the Zeta Beam that sends her husband Adam to and from Rann has been a bit on the wonky side of late.

Now, instead of the Zeta Beam simply sending Adam back and forth from Rann, it's sending him throughout space... and time!  She shares a story Adam had told about seeing the Flash and his wife Iris hanging out in the year 2971, like they do.  He goes on to explain that during his last Zeta Beam trip he learned that the real menace to the Earth is... him!

Batman and Flash take this information (delivered by a tri-fold projection of Alanna Strange... which seems like a really inconvenient way to say "3D hologram", but whattayagonnado?).  They send out a distress signal, which is answered by Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman.  In learning the threat (and following a Superman-scan of time), they... decide to head into the 73rd Century... just like that (imagine me snapping my finger here).  It's crazy how in the span of ONE panel, we've got the League hopping through time.

Upon arrival, they find themselves staring down a large red great ball 'o fire.  Flash and Wonder Woman immediately set about taking care of it... while Batman and Aquaman decide to "sit this one out" (Aquaman's words).  Superman, however, gets nailed with a blast of green energy... which causes him to pull Diana and Barry off the job.  Turns out the fireball isn't a danger... it's simply a 73rd Century street sweeper!

Suddenly, Adam Strange flies in... I guess he didn't get the memo about the street sweeper, because he's firin' his blaster at the ball o' fire... whiiiiiich, somehow supercharges it and turns it into "real" fire, causing quite the incendiary mess.  What follows is a tremendously weird scene in which Wonder Woman and Flash team up to make a super-speed fan... with Diana holding the Lasso of Truth in her mouth while spinning in circles.  Just crazy!  Adam then confronts the League and blasts Superman... which, c'mon... that don't even tickle!

Wellll... it might not tickle, but it's effective!  The blast actually sends him flying back, almost clobbering his teammates.  In the distraction, Adam flees... and the League is visited by Green Lantern (of the 73rd Century).  He's the fella who zapped Superman with the green energy earlier... which filled him in on several of the secrets of this far-flung future.  Here, he tells the League about Adam Strange... the most destructive menace on Earth!

Ya see, things aren't exactly as they seem in the 73rd Century.  Things that look terribly dangerous and threatening to 20th/21st Century eyes, are actually helpful and/or necessary to survival.  Like the fireball being a street cleaner, for example.  Also, their air purifiers look like tornadoes... very dark and sinister-looking tornadoes.  When Adam Strange arrived, he immediately tried to calm the winds... ya know, thinking he's performing a heroic feat!  Well, this Green Lantern took exception to that, for obvious reasons... and attempted to explain the situation, by zapping him with green energy.  Before he could set things straight, Strange was pulled back by the Zeta Beam.  When he returned, they had "Round Two"... in which Green Lantern found that his energy blasts were now redirect-able via Adam's ray-gun!

As the League and Lantern try to plan their next move, Superman suggests perhaps the Lantern consult his ring (which, you'd assume he'd have already done... but no!).  The ring proclaims that Adam Strange, from all his Zeta Beam jumping, has residual zeta-particles in his body, which both amped up his power levels... and warped his mind (that's always the way)!  He now sees anyone who stands in his way as a menace... and unfortunately, he's now packing a ray-gun with "infinite" power.

Suddenly, they see Adam heading to his next... I dunno, "gig"?  It's a skyscraper that is spewing water all over the place threatening to flood the city below... or, so it would seem.  Green Lantern explains that it's actually a special liquid that is routinely sprayed to keep the molten rock under the city from exploding.  So, yet another terrifying sight with necessary benefits.  Adam starts... shooting the liquid with his ray-gun to instantly evaporate it.  The League heads into action... well, all but Batman who would rather they maybe... ya know, make a plan of action.

Over the next several pages, Adam Strange systematically takes out each member of the League... and Batman falls into a fissure in the Earth caused by the special liquid being evaporated.

Finally, Batman is able to pull himself out... and it's down to he and Adam Strange.  Batman has a pretty decent plan here... he's been observing the fight(s) up to this point, and something that stood out.  He attracts Strange's fire, and dodges each blast... and each one appears weaker than the last (they are slimmer, for instance).  By the time Strange is finally able to land a shot (grazing Batman's shoulder) it is too weak to do much damage.

Then, after all that build-up... Adam tosses his ray-gun aside, and apologizes for the damage he's done.  Wait, what?  Just like that?  He helps Batman to his feet, and then the League delivers him back to present-day Rann.  We close out with Alanna still recording her audio-missive into the microphone.  Adam comes up behind her with an odd look on his face and lays his hand on her shoulder.  Once again, she claims to have doomed the Justice League!  Looks like we ain't outta the woods yet!

--

Well... that ending was kind of abrupt, wasn't it?  I mean, Adam's gun runs out of juice... and it's all over?  I get that he was affected by the Zeta-residue, but still... just so sudden.  Everything built up to... literally the last page where things just flip.

Now, I don't know a whole lot about Adam Strange... he never seemed all that interesting to me.  In the relatively recent Justice League United, he (and Alanna) played a pretty big role, and still... didn't do all that much for me.  I really dig his design, and Dick Dillin (and Neal Adams on the cover) does a great job making him look super cool.

The 73rd Century is a pretty weird place, ain't it?  I mean, they certainly have history books, right?  You gotta imagine they would maybe not make their beneficial dealies look positively terrifying.  First, I mean... a fireball as a street sweeper?  Not only is that incredibly silly... you'd have to figure that sucker would be "branded".  There'd be a LexCorp7000 sticker on that bad-boy before it went out on it's first sweep.

The air-purifying tornado... eh, I think it could've been designed to look less like a natural disaster... but, whattayagonnado?  Maybe in the 73rd Century they have their packages delivered via flaming meteorite slamming into their front yards.  Nothing to be alarmed by... that's just that thing I ordered online!  73rd Century Earthquakes are just part of amusement parks, and tidal waves are the way cranberries are harvested.  Totally normal stuff here, folks!

Silliness aside, these bits did facilitate the conflict.  We've got Adam acting heroically... to a fault, where he sees anyone who steps in his way as a threat.  Fair enough.  The future Green Lantern was a neat touch, as he provided the necessary exposition... and saved us from the League learning (likely through contrived means) that everything isn't as it seems.

My only real quibble here is the abrupt ending.

However, the epilogue was really neat... haunting even.  I'm not sure if Adam Strange was supposed to be looking... strange here, but his face was pretty sinister.  The fact that he was saved, and yet the League still faces peril is an interesting enough wrinkle to make me want to come back for more.

I'm finding that Dick Dillin is kinda sneaking up on me... such a fantastic artist, who has been off my radar for so long.  He draws such great faces, for the women in particular.  Just really great stuff.

Overall, this is a weird and fun little tale that I'd say is worth your time.  Unfortunately it doesn't appear to have been collected nor been made available digitally as of this writing.  If you can get a hold of it for a decent price, I'd say it'd be a great addition to your longbox.

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Justice Society of America (vol.3) #12 (2008)

Justice Society of America (vol.3) #12 (March, 2008)
"Thy Kingdom Come, New Recruits"
Story - Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Penciller - Dale Eaglesham
Inker - Ruy Jose
Colorist - Alex Sinclair
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Michael Siglain
Cover Price: $2.99

Ya know, I've seen this cover a whole bunch of times... and never realized it's a Rossian homage to Giant-Size X-Men #1!

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We open with the return of Jakeem Thunder and (erg) Yz the Thunderbolt to the JSA brownstone.  The stickers on his luggage give the impression that he has been rather well-traveled during his time away... and is a bit disappointed the team didn't amp up the pomp and ballyhoo for his return home.  He overhears some hoopla from down the hall, and follows it to find... some Society members who are completely new to him, which he doesn't seem to like one bit.

We witness some awkward, and almost contentious introductions... and see that Wildcat is just about to begin sparring with Judomaster.  Ahhh, here comes that scene I was expecting back in issue #9... where the veteran Wildcat gets schooled by one of the kiddos.

We scoot over to the elders as they do that thing where they pore over a table-full of photos as they discuss their ongoing JSA recruitment drive.  When they come across one photo in particular, it's decided that there's one new recruit they should visit in person.

Speaking of visiting in person, we pop over to New Orleans... home of Amazing Man.  Not the original, of course... he'd be over 100 by now.  This is his grandson, Markus Clay.  Superman-22 and Power Girl are headed down to the Big Easy to make their pitch.  Along the way, Pee Gee provides the origin for the first Amazing Man, Will Everett.

They touch down, and meet the man himself.  He's cool with the idea of joining the Justice Society, however he's got a lot of work to do in (post-Katrina) New Orleans before he can leave.  Superman and Power Girl help him hoist a huge barge back into the gulf.

We check in with the new Mr. America, Jeffrey Graves.  Remember, he was Trey Thompson's FBI insider and pal... who got fired when the FBI found out that he was Trey Thompson's insider and pal.  He's found some more dead villains... and we're starting to see a trend.  All of these baddies proclaimed themselves to be demigods... or just gods in general.  The newest are Maxie Zeus' old running buddies, the New Olympians!  As Graves investigates, we see a shadow creeping up on him.

Next stop, Chicago!  More specifically, the home of Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce.  Mr. Terrific, Stargirl, and Cyclone are having some coffee with the Pierces while discussing the manifestation of powers in their youngest daughter, Jennifer.  Their older daughter, Anissa currently (pun!) displays electricity-based powers as well... and serves as Outsiders member, Thunder.  Well, if Jennifer doesn't wind up going by Lightning, I'll eat my hat!  Okok, I already know she becomes Lightning.

After tripping out the electricity, Jennifer comes downstairs... and we get a pretty cute scene between her and motormouth Maxine.  Now, we know Maxine is an excitable gal... who loves to talk, but this is all new to Jennifer.

Back at the New Olympians death-site, Hourman and Liberty Belle arrive on the scene.  While Jesse chats up an FBI Agent, Rick snoops around... and finds a column with the letters G-O carved in it.  Hmm.  At the same time we can see Mr. America frantically fleeing across the rooftops.

We shift scenes to Afghanistan where that one fella from the photo is fighting back the insurgency using a strange lance-looking gadget.  Later, he is joined in his tent by Hawkman, Green Lantern, and Flash.  We learn that his name is David Reid, but most folks call him "Lance".  We see that he has a strange tattoo/brand on his left bicep that pulsates and glows.

He's unsure why he's being visited... he's heard of the JSA recruitment drive, but isn't sure how that applies to him.  This prompts Green Lantern to ask him who his Great Grandfather was.  Turns out, that man was Franklin Delano Roosevelt!  The heroes tell him that FDR was the man responsible for putting the Justice Society together in the first place... which makes Mr. Reid their most important legacy!

We wrap up back at the brownstone, where Wildcat is... still getting schooled in the ring by Judomaster.  A great time is being had by all... until they are interrupted by disheveled and beaten Mr. America.  He asks the question, "Any of you ever heard of Gog?"

--

The Society just keeps growing!

Another fun issue, though one that actually feels more like a "chapter" than anything.  Even though the past issues have all been "chapters" as well, this one really felt like just a part of a story.  It wasn't bad or unenjoyable, just a bit slight.

Before we talk about our new friends, I wanna say something.  I don't think I've given Geoff Johns enough credit when it comes to bringing up potentially controversial or divisive situations without outright "picking sides" or turning the book into a "livejournal lecture".  I think I've been reading too many contemporary books where everything is a lecture or commentary.

Last issue, there was that brief aside about Atheism/Agnosticism... which treated both sides with respect, and did not diminish the belief(s) or lack/speculation thereof.  This issue, we had mention of Hurricane Katrina... which, I will admit... I was preparing myself for Mr. Johns to drag out the soap box... but the lecture never really came!  It was cited as the tragedy it was, and there was mention of mistakes being made... but the main focus was on helping the people of New Orleans, and not losing sight of them amid posturing and finger-pointing.  It's all about subtlety!

Now, let's talk some newbies!

New Amazing Man, Markus Clay.  Really dig his altruistic nature and how he is at the same time a man of the people and someone the people look to for guidance.  He walks that fine line quite well.  While on the subject, I love that the original Amazing Man (which I've typed as "Mazing Man" nearly every time up to this point) is tied in with the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King.  Feels like such a Roy Thomas thing to do, and it makes me smile.

Lightning... while we don't get to know all that much about her, works for me just on account that she's tied to Black Lightning.  I really like the idea of Jeff having a pair of super-powered daughters... and just trying to stay sane.  We get to keep the legacy aspect of the recruitment without digging back to the Golden-Age here, which is also kinda cool.  Her interaction with Maxine and Courtney was a lot of fun too, and I look forward to more.

"Lance" is another interesting idea.  I'd totally forgotten about his heritage.  His character is going to go through some pretty big changes soon, and I guess I only remember him from that.  Him being a descendant of Franklin Roosevelt is another awesome "Roy Thomas" touch, that tickles me.  I was going to do some research on some actual FDR descendants as a gag... but realized it wouldn't be terribly funny, and probably not even all that interesting!  I do dig the Eye of Providence tattoo on his arm... that thing always makes me feel a bit uneasy!

We finally get an ID on our bid bad (for those of us who hadn't already figured it out, that is)... and it looks like we're in for a doozy.  Johns has figured out a way to pull all these disparate murders together in a way that feels organic and meaningful.  This entire arc up to this point has been exceptionally laid out.

Overall, if you read (and dug) last issue, you're gonna wanna read this one.  It's another great issue of a book where every issue feels somewhat like an event... minus the inflated price-point and skatey-eight hundred variant covers.

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Justice Society of America (vol.3) #11 (2008)

Justice Society of America (vol.3) #11 (February, 2008)
"Thy Kingdom Come, The Second Coming"
Story - Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Penciller - Dale Eaglesham
Inkers - Ruy Jose & Drew Geraci
Colorist - Alex Sinclair
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Michael Siglain
Cover Price: $2.99

Things that start with S and end with Y... Saturday and Society!  Yeah, that's pretty weak... but let's read some JSA anyway.

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We pick up with Flashes Wally and Jay getting ready to hop on the Cosmic Treadmill to use it to cross into another dimension.  Wally is confused, thinking that the Multiverse was erased... and, even now, it's weird to read that the characters actually know that that happened.  Anyhoo, they manage to cross into Universe 2--, which perhaps we can assume to be Universe-22 (home of the Kingdom Come Earth), the Treadmill begins to break apart and they find themselves surrounded in complete blackness.  They reverse course and return to the Flash Museum before the Treadmill goes to pieces.

We shift scenes over to the brownstone where the Justice League have arrived and the Kingdom Come Superman is undergoing a whole bunch of tests.  He's wrapped in Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth, and Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart are ring-scanning.  It's deduced that he actually is who he saws he is...

Alan Scott turns to Superman (our Superman) to get his opinion... He says he's definitely telling the truth.  He doesn't even need to analyze him... he just knows.  Unfortunately, the Supermen don't get any one-on-one time.  KC Superman appreciates that, and comments that this Justice Society learns from mistakes, just as Obsidian told him last issue.  The Hawks and Dr. Mid-Nite talk off to the side, and observe how the last time a grey-haired Superman showed up, he damned them... while this one blesses them!  The compare it to the "Second Coming", which Mr. Terrific poo-poos with the quickness, as he's Atheist and likely doesn't want confounding variables of faith included in his data, which is fair enough.  Obsidian pops his head in to suggest he respect the beliefs of others.

Finally, Batman pipes up... (about time, right?) and says that their next task is to find a way to send this Superman back home.  He turns to Starman, suggesting that the black hole he opened in the paint factory also acted as a wormhole... and if it could go one way, it ought to be able to go the other.  Starman says he'd need a Map of the Multiverse to accomplish something like that.  Wonder Woman asks the question... does KC Superman even want to return to Earth-22?  Well, turns out... it's moot.  KC Superman informs the heroes that his Earth is gone.

We shift scenes to join Power Girl.  If you guessed she'll be sitting at Kal-L's grave... you've been paying attention!  In a neat bit, she uses her x-ray vision to peer into the graves... where she sees the bodies of her cousin and his wife.  I suppose that's proof positive that this other grey-haired Superman is definitely not Kal-L.

We jump ahead to the Justice Society flying over New York City.  We also see KC Superman standing in the crowd below.  A brief flashback shows Maxine and Courtney presenting him with his mended Superman costume... which is really fun.  In just two panels, Johns was able to show us the difference between Maxine and Courtney insofar as comfort level around supers.  Superman overhears some hub-bub over on Ellis Island, and knows this is a job for... well, him!

Over on Ellis Island, we meet Judomaster (Sonia Sato) as she fights off some Eastern-themed supervillains, Seppuku, Kamikaze, and Kung the Obake.  Green Lantern asks if Ms. Sato is any relation to the original (Charlton Comics) Judomaster, Rip Jagger.  Thankfully, she's not!  However, Jagger's old sidekick Tiger is the leader of this crew of baddies.

As the battle rages, Mr. Terrific explains that she has the power to... not get hit, which is convenient.  Unfortunately for her, there is a loophole.  While she cannot be attacked head-on, she can take damage from an attack that isn't directly at her... case in point, the sumo-sized Kamikaze exploding himself!

It looks like Kamikaze's power is to explode his upper half, then reforming to do it all again... which is exactly what he decides to do!  That is, of course, until Superman arrives and threatens to throw chunks of Kamikaze all across the globe.  In the distraction, Judomaster lands a well-placed kick.

As the dust settles, the authorities arrive with the intentions of arresting Judomaster.  Damage pipes up and tries to get the officers to back off.  Hourman and Liberty Belle are proud of "their boy".  As the Justice Society leaves, we can see that Tiger has watched the entire event unfold from the torch of the Statue of Liberty.

Back at the brownstone, Superman approaches Power Girl to try and iron things out.  He knows that she's uncomfortable with his presence, but vows that he will do whatever he can to make it so they are as close to being a "family" as possible.  Kara looks incredibly touched... I mean, this is just a beautiful panel.  I give Eaglesham a ton of credit on his excellent two-page spreads, but ho-lee cow, this is a gorgeous Power Girl.  You know exactly what she's thinking and feeling... it's just amazing.

We wrap up picking up another thread from last issue.  We're in the sewers where "God of Crayola" Chroma was killed.  The FBI are out in full-effect, alongside a special helper... Mr. America?!

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Another really good issue of Justice Society... though, I gotta say I was a little bit let down.

When last issue's "next issue blurb" promised Superman meeting Superman, I was hopeful that we'd get a bit of a chat.  We don't get a single scene of the two paired off, and (our) Superman only gets like two lines of dialogue.  That bummed me out.  Seems like such a missed opportunity... though, to be fair, I haven't read this since it hit shelves, and there may yet be a conversation between the two yet to come.

I dig seeing Judomaster, as post-Crisis the original (and Tiger) showed up in the All-Star Squadron.  Makes sense that this character would gravitate toward the JSA.  I haven't finished my All-Star read-through, so I'm unsure if the Tiger heel-turn happened there, or if this is actually in reference to that unforgettable The L.A.W.: Living Assault Weapons miniseries... nah, couldn't be.

I've mentioned a couple of times already how much I appreciate Maxine being treated like the newbie that she is.  I love that she gets flustered in front of Superman... I mean, who wouldn't, right?  I also like that hanging around supers is old-hat to veteran Courtney Whitmore.  Neat little two-panel scene that shows us so much of both of their personalities without being overblown or "precious" about it.

Speaking of short bits that say so much... Mr. Terrific telling Hawkman and Hawkgirl to leave religion out of their postulation makes perfect sense without being condescending.  Clearly, being an Atheist/Agnostic, Holt wouldn't want issues of faith being brought in to confound his theories... which, if we take ourselves out of comic books where Gods regularly visit the the mortal realm, makes a bit more sense.  What Michael said didn't come with any vitriol, scorn, or superior tone, it was just a statement.  I also appreciate Obsidian imploring him to respect the beliefs of others, so that they will respect his.  Without digging too deep, something tells me this scene would've been written a bit differently had this issue been released in 2017... or by Marvel.

I mentioned the art during the synopsis... but, man it's ridiculously good.  That one panel of Power Girl where she's somewhere between smiling and bawling... just so damn powerful.  Dale Eaglesham is a true master, and brings so much to this book and these iconic characters.  I know it'll never happen, but if/when we ever get our JSA Rebirth comic... a Johns/Eaglesham team... even for just the opening arc.  Maaaan.

Another JSA book I wholeheartedly recommend.  Besides a missed opportunity between the Supermen, I was more than pleased with what this issue gave us.  Wonderful writing, amazing art, awesome characters... what more could a fan want?

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