Comic News: Justice Society of America Re-Launch

[Kefkataran]

I know we don't get too much comic news in here, but this is a big story for the DC fans. Kudos to Newsarama for their article/interview (http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/JSA/JusticeSociety.html).

It seems that in October the long-hinted at Justice Society relaunch is happening. The book's title will change from "JSA" to "Justice Society of America", and new ongoing team Geoff Johns (writer), Dale Eaglesham (artist) and Alex Ross (covers, "creative consultant"). Not much is known about what different direction the book will take from the current JSA book, which will end at issue #87. Currently the only characters confirmed to be on the team are Power Girl, Hourman, Damage, and, most intriguingly, a new Starman. Apparantly the new Starman will have a hidden identity, and figuring that out will be one of the focuses of the series.

A quote from DC bigwig Dan Didio from the article:

"Oh, if only I could give the story away," Didio said, chuckling. "There are aspects of the DC Universe that we want Justice Society of America to build on, and one of the things that I'm most excited about is the story that Geoff pulled together with Alex, from direction characters take to the designs of the characters. You're going to see really dramatic things occurring with this particular book that will make it feel like it has a different sensibility than the series that came before. There's a lot of fun stuff coming out of this."This is really nice news. The team DC has put together for this book is astounding. Johns, Eaglesham, AND Alex Ross? Sounds like a dream team if ever there was one. Of all the DC relaunches since Infinite Crisis, this is easily the one I'm most excited about.

[balamoor]

WOOT! This is frigging awesome; I thought this was on permanent back burner status?

[Kefkataran]

WOOT! This is frigging awesome; I thought this was on permanent back burner status?

Definitely seemed that way for a while, since it's been hinted at and talked about for so long with no solid news. but seems it's finally happening, thank God! It's just strange that they didn't try to push this up to start right at One Year Later instead of having one last JSA storyline OYL and then ending it. Guess Johns was way too busy then, though.

[digitalErich]

Wow, great news...while the current JSA arc is a little weak, the current JSA Classifieds arc is decent, so I'm looking forward to some good JSA story arcs with a new team. Like Teen Titans, this is one of those team books that really needed a line-up change post Crisis, IMO.

[Kefkataran]

Digital, if you've never read any of Johns old JSA stuff, trust me: you're in for a treat. Johns is probably the single best JSA writer I've ever seen. And a new Starman always gets me excited. And hell, Alex Ross covers. His JSA covers have always been fantastic. And Eaglesham's art -- gosh. So much to be excited about with this book.

[Dr.Finger]

I read somewhere that they pushed this back to Fall, as well as Meltzer & Benes' JLofA relaunch back to July, so they wouldn't overwhelm, and be overwhelmed by, all of the OYL stuff. I just hope the presence of a new Starman doesn't preclude the presence of Stargirl. (unless that means Courtney is showing up in another book?)

[Moatman]

I don't see why the series really needed a restart, short of a new #1 and low numbering(and gimmicks...) to draw new readers in. Johns made JSA awesome, so him being on the new series is good news, but still a bit baffled.

JLA I'm glad that it's being relaunched, after the Morrison and Waid runs, the series went downhill for a very long time, even the identity crisis story and wrapup stories sucked. Hoping Meltzer does a good job with it, it really should be the flagship dc series, the same way avengers should be(and is, now) at marvel.

Another thing that's been bugging me with DC is their current run with affirmative action. Kill white firestorm off, introduce black one(though I read and love the series, not complaining there) Make the Atom disappear and replace with new asian guy. Get rid of asian batgirl and introduce Batwoman of a different minority(her identity was recently spoiled in a newspaper recently, if you want to look that up.) White blue beetle killed and replaced with hispanic(though the series is pretty fun so far) I'm all for diversity, but the head guy over at dc(dan didio) has said that several of these have been done on purpose to have more visible minorities.

If these had happened over a long period of time, I could understand, but all but the firestorm change have been within about 6 months or so. I'm all for diversity, but this seems like dc is trying to cram it down our throats all at once and in the process, killing off a bunch of existing, albeit less popular, characters to make room. Comic companies are lazy these days, instead of taking their existing characters and finding interesting directions to go with them and finding the right writer to just redoing the character from scratch. DC is currently the champion of this, marvel has been developing existing people a lot more lately and I am happy with the depth that this can give the characters, though it's a double edged sword when someone writes a character in a totally different and contradictory way.

But I have to say that, between 52, OYL, some of the new dc relaunches, and civil war, I haven't been this "into" the two universes as a whole in a long while, I like the unity and continuity that the big two are putting up lately.

[Evil Avatar]

I miss the 80's Justice Society. Those were some good times and some of the first comics I read as a teen. (The other one that got me started again was Swamp Thing.)

[Spigot]

I really like what I've read of Johns' stuff. Stink. Yet ANOTHER book to add to my pull pile.

[SexualChoc]

I'm put off joining new titles as I don't want to join midway through a new storyline, so I welcome this. DC wants to reboot almost all of it's major titles, and I'd rather they did it all at once rather then separtly. So this will definitely be added to my stash.

[Dr.Finger]

Another thing that's been bugging me with DC is their current run with affirmative action. Kill white firestorm off, introduce black one(though I read and love the series, not complaining there) Make the Atom disappear and replace with new asian guy. Get rid of asian batgirl and introduce Batwoman of a different minority(her identity was recently spoiled in a newspaper recently, if you want to look that up.) White blue beetle killed and replaced with hispanic(though the series is pretty fun so far) I'm all for diversity, but the head guy over at dc(dan didio) has said that several of these have been done on purpose to have more visible minorities.
I think it's about 'diversity' as a politically correct statement, but it's also about marketing. DC can now say that just about every group has their heroes now. A young asian kid looking for a role model? Well Ryan Choi, an American od Chinese descent, is the New Atom! Girls feeling left out? Read Birds of Prey. I agree it may not be terribly organic, but I like it.

[Kefkataran]

I read somewhere that they pushed this back to Fall, as well as Meltzer & Benes' JLofA relaunch back to July, so they wouldn't overwhelm, and be overwhelmed by, all of the OYL stuff. I just hope the presence of a new Starman doesn't preclude the presence of Stargirl. (unless that means Courtney is showing up in another book?)

Judging by the end of Infinite Crisis spash plage (where the new Starman is first picture), Stargirl's still sticking around somewhere, whether in JSA or some other book. And yeah, I think they have a LOT of cool new books planned and have been staggering them. Makes sense.

I don't see why the series really needed a restart, short of a new #1 and low numbering(and gimmicks...) to draw new readers in. Johns made JSA awesome, so him being on the new series is good news, but still a bit baffled.

Not sure either, besides to rename, but DC *has* stated that they didn't want to do restarts like they're doing with this, Justice Leage, Flash, and Wonder Woman unless there was a significant change, so...

And I get what you're saying, Moatman, but so far at least I think most of the diversifying has been done tastefully rather than just to shove minorities down our throats. I'm digging the more realistic, diverse DCU.

I miss the 80's Justice Society. Those were some good times and some of the first comics I read as a teen.

Oooh, any recollection who was writing back then?

[MosBen]

Evil, are you talking about Moore's run on Swampy? I'm just working my way through that in trades and it's so freaking good. You get used to hearing about Watchmen and V and forget that this guy wrote mainstream comics for a while and managed to be do so writing in a completely different ball park than most of the writers of the time.

[Dr.Finger]

I know Roy Thomas used to write JSA in the late 70's/early 80's. Maybe that was who Evil was reading.

[Sazime]

So... do we get to look forward to punch to the head decapitation as the preffered method of death for heros? I'm just say'n, with Johns writing...

[Kefkataran]

So... do we get to look forward to punch to the head decapitation as the preffered method of death for heros? I'm just say'n, with Johns writing...

Hey, he only did that once (or, er, a few times) in Infinite Crisis! :p

[Sazime]

When I saw the first one, I thought, "Ok, he's evil. So grusome works." When I saw it again, I knew Johns was on to something. I mean, who comes back from decapitation? No one! Those mofos are dead, never coming back.

I am looking forward to seeing how this series is. I have been enjoying Teen Titans (TPB only though, not buying individual issues). Didn't he do a decapitation there as well?

[Kefkataran]

When I saw it again, I knew Johns was on to something. I mean, who comes back from decapitation? No one! Those mofos are dead, never coming back.

I am looking forward to seeing how this series is. I have been enjoying Teen Titans (TPB only though, not buying individual issues). Didn't he do a decapitation there as well?

Yeah, and at least it was only f-listers. Besides Psycho Pirate. But, no, he didn't do one in Teen Titans in any of the OYL stuff yet at least... unless it's the latest issue, which I haven't read yet. But his TT is great.

[Spigot]

Where were these decapitations in IC? Was it in the main series or in the various spin-off books?

[Zeal]

When's the Infinite Crisis graphic novel supposed to come out, anyway.

Superboy Prime still pwns those nubs.

[Soap]

As long as "Power"Girl still retains her special power of hypnosis...count me in.

[Kefkataran]

Where were these decapitations in IC? Was it in the main series or in the various spin-off books?

The main series. He was referring to Superboy Prime punching the heads off a couple no-namers and Black Adam giving Psycho Pirate the two-finger special.

When's the Infinite Crisis graphic novel supposed to come out, anyway.

I think it was solicited for August. Either July or August. It's definitely been solicited already, either way.

Superboy Prime still pwns those nubs.

Dude, fucking totally.

[Deadend]

Psycho Pirate isn't F-list? Only thing I can remember him doing was being in Grant Morrison's Animal Man run.

For some odd reason I can see the new JSA comic being about a govenment sponsored team, but not millitary, more likely FBI, NSA, or Homeland Security.

Either that or it will be about superpowered atturenys who will fight for justice in, and out of the courtroom.

[pacman]

For some odd reason I can see the new JSA comic being about a govenment sponsored team, but not millitary, more likely FBI, NSA, or Homeland Security.

Either that or it will be about superpowered atturenys who will fight for justice in, and out of the courtroom.

I doubt they'll end up doing that, as they already have Rucka working on Checkmate, which is a sort of NSA/spy-fi group hybrid. I'd personally just like to see the JSA as the DC equivalent of the Avengers...that would be good enough for me

[Deadend]

I doubt they'll end up doing that, as they already have Rucka working on Checkmate, which is a sort of NSA/spy-fi group hybrid. I'd personally just like to see the JSA as the DC equivalent of the Avengers...that would be good enough for me

I thought the JLA was Avengers for DC? Well, I am not sure exactly what JSA will be as having 2 Headline teams is odd. Marvel has Avengers, and X-men is not a headline team, they are a mutant team... it makes sense in my head.

Well, Teen Titans are younger heros in a team, JLA is the headliner group and then JSA is... uhhh, the old people?

[Dr.Finger]

I thought the JLA was Avengers for DC? Well, I am not sure exactly what JSA will be as having 2 Headline teams is odd. Marvel has Avengers, and X-men is not a headline team, they are a mutant team... it makes sense in my head.

Well, Teen Titans are younger heros in a team, JLA is the headliner group and then JSA is... uhhh, the old people?
JSA is all about legacy. Every member of the modern team, except Black Adam & Captain Marvel, had some sort of link to the Golden Age team. It sure looks like they're keeping that for the relaunch.

[Kefkataran]

Psycho Pirate isn't F-list? Only thing I can remember him doing was being in Grant Morrison's Animal Man run.

Considering his major part in both Infinite Crisis and Crisis on Infinite Earths, the two greatest, most defining events in DC history, I'd at LEAST give Psycho Pirate B-list status. Sure, he hasn't been used much outside of that, but yeah.


For some odd reason I can see the new JSA comic being about a govenment sponsored team, but not millitary, more likely FBI, NSA, or Homeland Security.

Isn't that almost exactly what Checkmate is?


JSA is all about legacy. Every member of the modern team, except Black Adam & Captain Marvel, had some sort of link to the Golden Age team. It sure looks like they're keeping that for the relaunch.

Yep. Although apparantly the first story arc begins with someone out to destroy people who have connections to the Golden Age...