JSA: Classified # 23
DC COMICS
WRITER: J.T. Krul
ARTIST/COVER: Alex Sanchez

Dr. Midnite investigates a series of murders where the victims are drained of blood-- apparently the work of vampires. Despite his experiences with ghosts, genies and wizards in the regular JSA title, the good doctor gives no ground to the supernatural in this issue and treats this case as a hunt for just another demented killer. That may not be too consistent with his past JSA history but it does give the story a special sense of suspense as we, the readers, can plainly see what the genius superhero does not. The creative team does a good job of setting the menacing mood for the story and in creating a world of decadence and decay where drinking blood is treated as a hot new fad by the goth crowd. However the art tries a little too hard to gritty and awkward. Everyone in the story looks unattractive-- even the girls who are suppose to be sexy. Dr. Midnite also looks less like a hero and more like an owlish, little man who is out of his depth. Perhaps that was the intention, to further make the comic more eerie. But it also makes the art difficult to look at and this makes the story harder to get into. Just the same, this gets four stars out of five for its fresh handling of a musty plot.