*This article contains spoilers for Justice Society of America #4*
**This series is the first which has turned sour while we’ve been reviewing it. Issue 3 showed a lower score on our meter, but this one has hit a lower point. It is readable, but it is struggling as a coherent narrative. We will be writing an op-ed explaining our honest thoughts on the series soon, but be warned of our bias.**
The Justice Society of America saga continues. This time, the time traveling story has brought Madame Xanadu, Detective Chimp, and Deadman into the fold—a heavy hitting team of mystical heroes who may play a role in saving the Justice Society of America!
Unfortunately, this team offers absolutely no new information, just that someone is killing the Justice Society of America. And it is all tied to a snow globe. Which, if you have not already picked up on it, is the theme of this series.
Per Degaton takes on the modern Justice Society of America of 2023, and he is wildly prepared for every possible attack, except for an attack from Helena Wayne (Huntress). She’s a wild card because she is not from the original timeline—she’s from the future. That makes her as dangerous as Doctor Fate, who can see the future. Helena’s assault on Degaton gives Doctor Fate a chance to use his magic, but he vanishes before the good Doctor can do his magic. Instead, the Justice League Dark appears.
The Justice League Dark explains that Per Degaton made a deal with the Last Lord of Chaos. And that he is “an ever-altering paradox. And if he isn’t imprisoned soon, the Justice Society of America will be not only erased from history forever, but replaced by something far darker” (Johns 18). This alludes to where Degaton got his power and ability to attack the JSA across time. But it also tells us, once again, that the JSA are in trouble! As if we did not know that already!
Meanwhile, Beth and Yolonda are looking into Degaton’s DNA. Where Beth mentions that Degaton is a living paradox! Which is something that was just explained to us 4 pages ago! We also learn Beth and Yolanda may have a bigger role in this story as Yolonda mentions Eclipso’s voice in her head. And that they need to take Lazarus pills to survive.
The Justice League Dark reveals Degaton is performing sacrifices to fuel his magic. And that he’s tried to kill the JSA at their conception, but it did not work. Replacing them with his own dark society is the only way to fully erase the JSA.
The issue ends with Huntress heading to Gotham and confronting her father, telling him she is there to save him.
Overall, this series is getting extremely repetitive. We get explanations of everything that is happening while it is happening—as if there is no better way to convey what is happening. A classic instance of show don’t tell. I will most likely have an op-ed about this series soon, but right now I am disappointed with how the JSA have been handled, which I alluded to in brief sarcasm throughout the recap.
Rating: 2/5 Stars. For a book which has had much time to be re-worked because of its constantly delayed release schedule, this series should be immaculate. However, it is far from it. There are too many subplots and too much exposition. This book is letting down JSA fans left and right.
Suggested reading: JSA (1999) Get a feel for how Johns has approached the JSA. Those stories were legendary. This current JSA series feels like a fall from grace.
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