Justice Society of America #1 (April, 1991)
"Vengeance from the Stars, Chapter 1: Beware the Savage Skies!"
Writer - Len Strazewski
Artist - Rick Burchett
Letterer - Janice Chang
Colorist - Tom Ziuko
Editors - Brian Augustyn & Mike Gold
Cover Price: $1.00
Taking a break from out #Action100 endeavor to take a look at some good ol' comics-comfort food.
It's hard to explain... but, I'll give it a shot. For whatever reason, reading the Justice Society reminds me of Christmas (not that I have to look all that hard for things to remind me of Christmas... by the way, there's only 290 days until Christmas as I write this). Maybe it's nostalgia... maybe it's the feeling of family. Not sure what it is... but, well... it is.
Anyhoo... today, we're going to read the (first ever) Justice Society of America #1... from 1991? I know... it surprised me too. Heck, I've researched it a bunch, and I'm still not completely convinced that this is the first #1!
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We open in 1950 during a the Mount Pride Observatory for a press conference where Ted Knight is about to speak.. The proceedings are interrupted by a wacko with an "End is Near!" sign. Being the affable fella he is, Ted allows him to speak. He warns about the "Savage Skies" and offers Ted an aged star-map for his perusal before running off.
Later, we rejoin Ted at the Observatory's telescope. He's handing it over for use in a project the following day, and figures he might as well take his last few looks through it. He decides to use the old coot's star-map as a guide... and boy, does he get an eyeful!
We jump ahead one week... and arrive back at the Observatory alongside the Flash, Jay Garrick. Ted tips him off about some of what's gone on... and asks him to check out the Boulder Dam. He fears that whatever it was he saw among the stars is "eating" their power supply. Jay can dig it, and asks if Ted would like to come along... to which, Ted reveals that he is now confined to a wheelchair!
As Jay runs off, Ted meekly apologizes under his breath. Ya see, he just sent his buddy into a trap. Ted is now, unwillingly, under the control of... somebody.
Moments later, Jay arrives at the Boulder Dam and looks for the person in charge. When he begins to explain the danger, everyone's first thoughts turn to the Russians. As he continues, the workers notice a huge surge of juice in the lines... which ultimately manifests itself into the Greek (I think it's Greek) God, Orion (I think it's Orion)!
Jay hops to, and begins running circles around the giant star-beast, but doesn't manage to slow it down. He then, along with the assistance of the Boulder Dam crew, proceeds to spin a web of power lines between two towers in hopes that this might hinder the beastie.
And... it does! For now, anyway.
Back at the Observatory, Ted celebrates Jay's victory... much to the aggravation of his keepers. They tell him to shut his yap... and we learn that one of the fellas working for the main-baddie is... Solomon Grundy!
The main-baddie sends Knight and Grundy off on "assignment" and flips the television from the news to I Love Lucy (or, Love that Suzy). He then just destroys the set. I feel ya, fella... some episodes of that show are tough to get through!
Back at Boulder, Orion (if that is his real name) has transformed into a giant electrical dog! It proceeds to gnaw its way out of the power-line webbing and takes to re-energizing itself... even, in a pretty funny bit, "eating" on of the Boulder Dam crew!
As Jay tries to maintain order, he is struck on the back with a girder. Looks like this dog might be good at playing fetch... or at least bludgeoning folks with whatever its got in its mouth!
The dog's rampage looks to have been enough to knock out all of the power from here... to Gotham. Lights out, America!
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Fun little adventure here! Not bad at all.
It's funny when I look at the brief early 90's Justice Society runs... among my first thoughts is "Wow, I was sooooo bored by this when I was a kid". I mean, I've told the story on the podcast, but I actually bought Justice Society of America #1 (the 1992 "ongoing" series) off the racks as an "investment". What can I say, 12-year old Chris was an idiot. Or, maybe a "bigger idiot", I dunno.
When I tried actually reading it... it was really nothing I could glom onto. Jay and Alan weren't my Flash and Green Lantern... and I just couldn't get invested. Thought the costumes were goofy... thought the art was too cartoony... just wasn't my bag.
Fast-forward almost a decade later... and I couldn't get enough!
I feel like the main "problem" with these early Justice Society of America series' was that they were hitting the shelves at the same time as Marvel's new adjective-less (Spider-Man, X-Men) books... and Image's... well, everything. I wish I had given these books and these characters more of a chance when I was younger... because there is a lot to like here.
The other problem is... if you don't know these characters already, you're not really going to after reading this issue. I mean, there's a bit of exposition... Ted Knight (briefly) uses the Star Rod. If you were around in the pre-Crisis days, that might mean something... but, if you're 11/12-year old Chris, that doesn't really move the interest-needle.
I feel like I'm just repeating myself at this point. And, I probably am.
Overall... I can wholeheartedly recommend checking this out. It's plenty fun, and very well drawn. If you happen to be reading this in 1991... and currently are a pre/early-teen, you may not get as much out of it. This issue is available digitally... but doesn't appear to have been collected.
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(Not the) Letters Page:
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Action Comics #817 (September, 2004)
"Weapons of Revelation"
Writer - Chuck Austen
Penciller - Ivan Reis
Inker - Marc Campos
Colors - Guy Major
Letters - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
Gonna keep our Road to #Action100 within the Austen City Limits today... I mean, we kinda didn't have a choice, right? Superman... died last issue! We gotta be there for the funeral...
Apropos of, not a whole lot... as of today, we are one month (just learned that March has 31 days, I could never decode that "Thirty days has..." song) away from our 800th Daily Discussion. So barring my being struck by lightning or a bus... I gotta try and find a book worthy of chatting up pretty quick!
On the off-chance that I do get blown off the planet by a bolt of lightning... I guess you'll see me on some paranormal YouTuber's list of "weird internet things"... because, it's like I knew it all along.
Er... speaking of YouTube, the Cosmic Treadmill now has one. So, uh... yeah... give it a look if you like to listen to podcasts while working in another tab.
Anyhoo... let's get on with it!
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We open with Lana Lang on the phone with Ma Kent as reports of Superman's demise... or, at least his defeat... play on the television. Jerk-ass Jack Ryder seems especially pleased... because this gives him a really big story to report on. He says once he gets the skinny, he'll wave a certain colored flag in order to alert the masses. Inside S.T.A.R. Labs, the med-techs and med-types are hard at work trying to resuscitate the Man of Steel. Time after time... the shock paddles spring to life... unfortunately, Superman does not. Oh, and as promised by the cover... Wonder Woman is there.
Finally, Superman comes around... and claims that the shock paddles really hurt him. I've never been, but I could imagine. He asks Superboy about the fallout from the Gog attack... and is informed that the fella just skipped out.
Then we meet... this guy. The appropriately-named, Dr. Mohlman... this guy is the best at being the worst. He informs the gang that Superman will be just fine... well, maybe... possibly... eh, he might just make it after all. Really loving this guy! He tells Superman that he was in fact injected with a liquid form of Kryptonite... but not to worry, they were able to draw every last drop from his wound... well, most of... er, a lot of... uh, quite a bit of it. This dude is fantastic!
As Superman struggles to his feet, Mohlman continues... he says that the base nucleotides of the liquid-K allowed them the ability to get a good look inside Superman... and for the first time, get a peek at his innards, and perform some bloodwork. Mohlman was disappointed at just how un-alien he was from the inside... though, Superman's appendix does appear to be a fully-formed organ... so there's that! Feel like we just added something to the Superman mythos.
Anyhoo... Mohlman can't give a straight answer as to Superman's mortality going forward. Which... I mean, we really can't blame him. He only has the newly-procured information about his vitals... and doesn't have a baseline to compare 'em against. He advises Superman to maybe take it easy... and spend the next few days with those he holds most dear... or, ya know... his online pals.
Outside... news of Superman's demise has spread, leading to quite the assortment of nogoodniks assembling to raise a bit of hell. We've got some deeeeep cuts here, I mean the Masters of Disaster and the Demolition Team?!
Jerk-ass Jack Ryder peers into the S.T.A.R. Labs window and notices that Superman is heavily-bandaged around his midsection... and so, he reports that Superman is injured... and goes off to seek out his green flag. Drawing attention to this potentially vulnerable Superman really helps to foment the present riot.
Superman goes to leave, but Wonder Woman stops him... as he's in no condition to fight. Unfortunately that doesn't much matter at this point, because the baddies have decided to take the fight to him!
Wonder Woman stops the roof from caving in... giving Mohlman a good look at her "gluteal development". Outside, Ryder and his cameraman Guzman attempt to get the best footage of the riot as possible. Guzman tries to keep a safe distance, preferring to use his camera's zoom function rather than... ya know, dying. Ryder insists he come closer to the action for some better shots... annnd... well, poor dude doesn't get the shot... he just gets shot.
We join Superman as he's in battle with the Weapons Master. They fight through to the outside of S.T.A.R. Labs, at which time the baddie takes a shot at Superman's chest... at point blank range (if I'm using the term right... maybe not). Superman's just as shocked as we are that the bullet... penetrates his skin! The next issue blurb promises that Superman... is gonna die... again... again.
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I thought the prevailing opinion was that the Chuck Austen run became progressively worse as it went on? We're only about halfway through at this point, but I'm feeling the exact opposite way. I know I mentioned that I "left" Superman around this time... but, in reading these past few issues... I don't think it was because I was "mad at" the story quality. I mean, there's a bit of cringe in here... but nothing worth abandoning the book/line over.
Speaking of "prevailing opinion"... I kinda hate that it's a "thing". I mean, I'm trying to objectively look at these books... but feel like they almost need to be graded on a different "curve" because... Chuck Austen. I feel like if any other writer would have written this same story, nobody would have batted an eye. Because... it's not a bad story! I dunno, maybe I'm just thinking too hard... wouldn't be the first time.
My earlier complaints about Superman's "voice" being off... are still there, but less so. That could just be because he said far less... or, maybe I'm just coming around to it. Superman "sounded" far more heroic... and far less snarky this time around, and the overall issue was better off for it.
Wonder Woman's guest-appearance... was what it was. She didn't seem to do all that much besides stop the ceiling from caving in on top of Doctor Mohlman. Maybe she'll play a bigger role in the coming issues.
Now... speaking of Doctor Mohlman... where has this dude been all my life? This dude was pretty great. Like I said above... the best, at being the worst. I feel like this fella gave Austen a means to funnel all the snark that might've otherwise been coming out of Superman's mouth. I really enjoyed him... wouldn't have minded him becoming a regular side-character (in short doses).
Jack Ryder continues to up the jerk-factor... and his pursuit of a scoop wound up costing the life of his cameraman. Hopefully this will either trigger him to being less of an ass... or, into more of a creep(er).
Overall... not a bad issue at all. Lots of neat cameos, the art is still wonderful... and Superman sounded less like a teenage boy here. Also, it's got one heckuva cover.
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Action Comics #816 (August, 2004)
"Superman vs. Gog, Part 2: Behold, I am Against Thee"
Writer - Chuck Austen
Penciller - Ivan Reis
Inker - Marc Campos
Colors -Guy Major
Letters - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
Ya know... I've been working on this blog for almost 800 days at this point... and in that time I've uploaded nearly 20,000 images using the same phone I've had since 2015.
And today was the first time I noticed that I can fiddle with the colors on my phone before I upload 'em. I generally just hit the little "magic wand" thing, and call it good. Never realized I could enrich the colors manually! I guess I still have a lot to learn about my already-nearly obsolete phone!
I say all of that, so that I may say this... I'm fiddling with the images a bit... sooooo, there might be a bit of "saturation abuse" in the coming days, until I can work out the "kinks".
Kinks as in... I might overdo it and make the sky look like the Crisis is visiting Arizona! Stop me before I saturate again...
Anyhoo, if anybody's still reading at this point... lemme know if these pics "pop" any better than usual.
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Picking up where we left off, Gog had just jabbed Superman with his spear-thingie. Superboy manages to get in between them and gets into his own fist-fight with the baddie. He takes a good pounding just long enough for Superman to recover and take a swipe at Gog with that very same spear.
Superman checks in with Kon... and there be banter. It's not long before Gog is back to his feet... and back in his helmet? Could'a sworn that had been knocked off. I'd love to have seen a few panels of Gog kicking aside rubble to find it... then wiping it clean before putting it back on. Anyhoo... he attacks.
Gog has clearly got Superman's number... and is making really holding his own. Nothing Superman (nor Superboy) is doing appears to be hurting him. Also... he can teleport! So... uh, why didn't he just teleport in last issue rather then pretending to be a meteorite?
Nearby, Kid Flash and Wonder Girl have gotten all of the Smallvillians to safety... and wonder what their next move ought to be. Before they can decide, Superman-and-boy come barreling past them and into a couple of cars.
The fight continues... this time with added-Titans. Wonder Girl manages to cinch Gog up in her lasso... and gives him quite the shock. Gog then hops away, Hulk-style.
As the dust settles, Superman gives instructions. He asks the Titans to get more help... the Justice League... more Titans... Hero Hotline... whoever! He's going to try and draw Gog to a nearby abandoned military base to settle the score. We can see that his wound from earlier is glowing... green. Looks like Gog might've dipped the tip of his spear (sorry about how that sounds...) into some Kryptonite.
After Superman leaves, the Titans realize that the place he's headed is... the same place they brought the Smallvillians for safe-keeping! Whoops. Kon tells Bart and Cassie to go for help... he's going to follow and protect the civilians. Gog overhears all of this... and makes sure to give the teens a little dig before heading back into battle.
At the abandoned base... Gog attacks Superman... sending them both into the underground bunkers... that are just loaded with Smallville-folk. Well, maybe not loaded... but there are a few of 'em here. Superboy starts carrying them out by the armful.
Then... the base explodes!
Superboy returns to the wreckage to find Superman... dead?! It's really a heckuva page, very reminiscent of that... other time Superman died.
We close out with Kon demanding answers from Gog... why would he do such a thing? Without a reply... Gog vanishes.
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Well... it was a fight scene, and a pretty good one at that!
Gog is depicted as quite the threat... actually "killing" Superman. I can't quite remember how this ended up... I think he turned out just to be a nut who happened upon the memories of the actual (Earth-22?) Gog. I dunno... I think he might've made a pretty neat addition to Superman's rogues gallery... but they definitely had grander designs on the Gog/Magog "brand" following Infinite Crisis... which we chronicled here at the humble blog... and this is where I'd leave a link, if only I bothered to assemble them into an easy-to-find page! Eh, maybe later. For now, if you are interested, check out the Justice Society of America (vol.3) discussions in the archives.
For this issue... I only really have one complaint. I don't feel like Chuck Austen has the right "voice" for Superman. I mean, he calls Gog a "loser" who "kicked my--" I mean, really now? I dunno. Just really feels like he'd be more at home writing a Superboy comic. It's just too bad there wasn't one in 2004...
The art remains really great. I hope I didn't muddle it up too much with all my newfound color-sorcery. Reis makes this book feel like something really special. His work definitely evokes that "event" feel.
Overall... it's, ya know... a fight scene. I could joke and say having Chuck Austen write a fight scene might be considered "risk mitigation"... but, I try to avoid the low-hanging fruit... sometimes. Worth grabbing? I think so... the art, as mentioned, is really nice... plus, ya know... Superman dies! This issue is available digitally.
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Action Comics #815 (July, 2004)
"Superman vs. Gog: End Times"
Writer - Chuck Austen
Penciller - Ivan Reis
Inker - Marc Campos
Colors - Guy Major
Letters - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
It's been... nearly a year, but we're about to check back in with the Chuck Austen run on Action Comics. At the time, this was when my Superman-fandom (insofar as being compelled to buy new issues) kinda waned. Though, it was also a time when my finances hit a bit of a crunch... so, my dropping off might have just been out of necessity... hard to remember being so far removed.
Now, the last time we talked about Austen, I made it pretty clear... fella was never my favorite writer, but I didn't really fall into that "frothing rage" camp either. Let's read his second issue here and see if we can move the needle... in either direction!
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We open in Smallville, where Teen Titans Superboy, Wonder Girl, and Kid Flash are walking the sleepy streets. Bart thinks the town is pretty lame... but cannot fully opine, because just then something crashes down to the street! At that same time in Metropolis, Clark Kent is dealing with his recent demotion. He calls Lois and is rather displeased to find out she knew all about his shift down the Planet's ladder and didn't warn him! We find out that he's been replaced by Jack Ryder... who we might know better as, The Creeper.
Jack goes to shake Clark's hand... before telling him he needs to vacate his work area before his workmen arrive with his belongings. Clark stares a hole in him... well, uh, not literally. Just then, he hears Superboy calling for help... and so, it's up, up, and away.
In Smallville, we can see that "the thing that fell" was actually a man in some shiny... horny armor. In case you missed the cover, this fella be Gog. No, not that Gog. He actually looks more like Magog... but it's not him either, ya dig? Anyhoo, he holds Superboy up by the throat... and is pleased to find that Superman has already been called in.
Gog decides to just beat the holy hell out of the Boy of Steel for awhile, until Superman finally arrives.
Superman and Gog tussle for a bit until the latter levels the former... sending him flying into a tree. The Titans run up to check on Superman... and are immediately given jobs to ensure the safety of the Smallvillians. I think this was a really well written scene... really illustrates the hierarchy of the DC pantheon. The Teen Titans don't question Superman's requests... and get right right to work.
Then... back to fightin'. And... unfortunately, back to quippin'. Like seriously, Superman starts mocking Gog's threats. That's something Spider-Man might do... but, Superman? I don't see him instigating such a massive threat, especially in his hometown... where his parents and friends live. I dunno, that just seems like tossing some unnecessary gasoline on an already out of control fire. Well, he did the same thing last issue... only then it was Metropolis, and he was sassing Darkseid! Woof.
They fight some more... and Superman decides to mock Gog's fashion sense. Yep. He then smashes the baddies head into the ground before giving him his "options". This is pretty cringy, folks.
The issue wraps up with Gog recovering, outta nowhere... and jabbing Superman in the gut with his spear... rod... thing. The next issue blurb warns that next time... things get worse. Heaven help us (I kid, I kid... sorta).
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Just like with the last issue, this Austen script doesn't really fall apart until after the staples. Up until there, we had scenes of Clark Kent dealing with his demotion... and Superman directing traffic with the Teen Titans. Nothing bad... actually, there were a few good lines in there.
Then... the staples. For folks who only read comics digitally, I should probably explain... comics, the physical ones, are stapled together. Ahem. Once we hit those staples here, the script goes completely wonky... and Superman turns into a quipping twit. I mean, he's mocking Gog's lines... as if he's Spider-Man or something. This really doesn't feel like Superman. I mean, you might be able to get away with Superboy talking this way... but not the big guy.
Last issue, Austen had Superman sassing freaking Darkseid... so it stands to reason that this is just how he thinks Superman is supposed to act? I mean, it's been forever since I've read this... so, for all I know it might be revealed that his "new attitude" is a result of his being frustrated with events from his civilian life... but honestly, I don't have enough faith in Austen's ability to be subtle to rest and kind of hope in that idea.
Speaking of subtlety... I recall back in the early-mid 2000's, people really ran with the notion that through Mr. Austen's writing you could deduce that he had a lot of... er, issues, with the fairer sex. I suppose if I were to get out the yarn and thumbtacks and start connecting the dots on the forensics wall of my Palatial Christate, I might be able to come back with something...
Here we have Lois withholding information from Clark... and being painted rather poorly for it. Clark comes across like a trusting goof... while Lois, with all the power and information comes across as condescending and dismissive. Not a good look for Lois, and while she's always been career-focused, I'm not sure I see her keeping something like a demotion from Clark. I'd actually see her putting her own position on the line to ensure Clark keeps his.
This might just be me thinking too hard... or giving in to the Chuck Austen hive mind, circa 2001-2004, but it might still be a subject worth discussing. I want to make it clear... I don't hate Austen's work. Some of his Marvel (X-Men/War Machine) work was rough... like really rough, but it wasn't completely without its charm. I think if someone were to "discover" this run on Action today, with no prior knowledge of Austen's reputation... they'd just find it a middling issue, bag it, board it... toss it in a longbox and not give it a second thought.
Overall... a pretty weak issue, however one I couldn't insist you avoid picking up. The art is still spectacular and... I feel, in hindsight, this is a pretty fascinating era for the character to observe. We're out of the initial "Berganza" run (Seagle/Casey/Kelly/Loeb/Schultz)... into the earliest days of the Didio DC... and on our way to Infinite Crisis. There are a lot of plates spinning at the same time... it's pretty interesting watching to see which ones start hitting the floor first. This issue is available digitally.
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