DC Comics
Justice Society of America # 53
By Koppy McFad
July 31, 2011 - 02:43

DC Comics
Writer(s): Marc Guggenheim
Penciller(s): Jerry Ordway
$2.99 US 32 pages



JSA.jpg

The Justice Society and the Challengers of the Unknown descend into a hidden city with a dark secret.

With the big revamp/reboot coming up, this comic is being forced to wrap things up a little early. The whole "Supertown" storyline involving the city of Monument Point which was suppose to set the tone for a continuing series is being concluded in two issues. The mystery of the city and why the government is keeping it a secret is explained in this issue but it doesn't really sound credible. It really feels like the creative team just pieced together an explanation to tie up all their loose plotlines before the coming final issue.

In the end, it all comes up to another ancient monster with a big sword-- like the Justice Society hasn't faced creatures like that a hundred times before.

So far, the creative team does a good job of patching things together so that the story at least looks like it is going somewhere rather than just ending abruptly. However the dialogue, with all the pointless "wisecracks" by some characters-- especially the Challengers, could use some work.

The art clearly looks rushed and comes off as uninteresting and stiff with no hint of the menace and danger involved. The bad guys don't look scarey at all. The ads say Derenick was suppose to be the artist but the interiors were done by Ordway... a clear indication that a last-minute switch was made. 

Sadly, this is the end of the line for the JSA for now-- a sad conclusion for a title which was once one of the brightest lights of DC Comics. Frankly, I doubt the new DC comics line will come up with anything to match this book in its glory days.


Rating: 6/10

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