JSA volume 4: Fair Play


By Geoff Johns & various (DC Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-84023-628-6

Now firmly re-established as a major force in the DC universe as well as the commercial comics market, the Justice Society of America went from strength to strength after the rebirth of the seminal, eternal hero Hawkman (see the previous volume JSA: the Return of Hawkman), with Geoff Johns writing increasingly grander epics, tinctured with intriguing soap-opera sub-plots whilst scrupulously exploring and reinventing the internal mythology that has kept the characters as beloved best friends for generations of fans.

This volume, collecting issues #26-31 of the monthly comic and pertinent selections from JSA Secret Files #2, leads off with ‘Breaking Storms’ (co-plotted by Davis S. Goyer and illustrated by Javier Saltares & Ray Kryssing) finding assorted members of the team getting reacquainted, generally carrying out day-to-day business, but beyond the rewarding view of heroes behind their masks, the groundwork for two upcoming epics were stylishly foreshadowed as a pair of old enemies made their first cautious moves…

‘Who Do You Trust?’ (with art from Rags Morales & Michael Bair) found the nominally reformed villain Black Adam making himself less than welcome with his new team-mates until magical boy-scout Captain Marvel intervened, and it was back to all-out action in ‘Upping the Ante’ (illustrated by Derec Aucoin) when extreme gambler Roulette laid plans to pressgang the JSA for her next cage-fighter gladiatorial tournament.

The plan got underway in ‘Thunderstruck’ (Morales & Bair) as the team elected a new chairman only to find themselves abducted and enslaved; forced to fight each other to the death for the edification of super-villains and evil millionaires. Throughout it all Roulette was playing a double-game: something other than greed for profit and blood was fuelling her actions…

The big climax began in a ‘Face-Off’ (by Stephen Sadowski, Christian Alamy & Dave Meikis) but the saga paused – if not digressed – for a short interlude featuring the team’s youngest members, Jakeem Thunder and Star-Spangled Kid (with art from Peter Snejbjerg), who were caught up in a battle with a “Jokerised” Solomon Grundy.

‘Kids’ was part of a braided crossover event that spanned the entire DC pantheon (see Batman: the Joker’s Last Laugh for more details and murderous high jinks) but scripter Johns also cannily used the opportunity to advance one of those aforementioned big plots by bringing back the original Johnny Thunder – who wanted his magic genie back from Jakeem…

Roulette’s motives were revealed even as her illicit fight-club went down in flames when the triumphant JSA overwhelmed her assembled hordes in ‘Fair Play’ (Sadowski & Keith Champagne) and this volume concludes with a team field trip to Gotham City and a terse encounter with the Dark Knight in ‘Making Waves’ (chillingly executed by Snejbjerg) as the assembled heroes raced to rescue a kidnapped baby…

Superhero stories simply aren’t to everybody’s tastes, but if the constant and continuous battle of gaudy costumes and flashy personas must be part of the graphic narrative arts market then high quality material like this should always be at the top of the list. If you haven’t been tempted yet these sterling stirring tales might make a convert of you yet…

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