Colourist: Luis Guerrero, Letterer: Steve Wands
I've been a fan of the Justice Society since getting into comics, there's been something about this team of Golden Age heroes, who train up the younger generation and embrace legacy heroes, that really appeals to me. I still haven't finished the previous run on the title, the Johns written series about Helena Wayne, mainly due to the sporadic release schedule making it hard to stay invested. I think this made me a bit unsure going into Lemire's run, and the secretive manner of the first issue didn't help me settle into things too well. Now that we've started to get more answers as to what's going on I'm really coming to like this run, and this issue's focus on Doctor Mid-Nite, the Beth Chapel version, was an absolute treat for me.
With the JSA scattered, some trapped in the underworld, some on Earth, and others captured by an alliance of the team's many villains, Lemire seems to be doing a good job at balancing the multiple characters, and everyone feels like they're doing something that plays into the larger narrative. This issue drops us with Beth Chapel, the second character to wear the Doctor Mid-Nite costume. Despite having read a lot of Justice Society books I've not spent a whole lot of time with Beth, so getting to see this issue through her was great for me, and gave me a good impression of her character, showcasing how resourceful and smart she can be, even when stripped of her equipment and back-up.
We also spend some time catching up with Todd Rice, Obsidian, this issue. Obsidian has been in the series since the first issue, but we learned that he was an imposter, and that Johnny Sorrow was tricking the team; which makes this the first time we're getting to see the real Obsidian since the series began. Todd is trapped inside a hospital, one where he's being drugged every time he wakes up, his room bathed in bright light. His mind addled by drugs, strapped to a bed, Todd seems lost and disorientated, and it's down to his own inner strength and guile to win him through and free him from his imprisonment. It's a nice reintroduction to the character, and for those only getting into the JSA with this run I think it shows some of the best of his character.
The art team do a wonderful job this issue, and I love how Joey Vasquez and Luis Guerrero make everything pop. The book has a larger than life, almost cartoonish feel to it, where it doesn't feel like realism is the main goal of the art, but it's the desire to have fun that takes president. This works well with these kinds of characters, as both the JSA and their villains tend to look a bit goofier than characters introduced after the Golden Age. And I say goofy affectionately there. I adore the sillier look a lot of Golden Age characters have, where they look like they're wearing real clothes instead of high-tech uniforms. The art on the book enhances that feel, and for that I really like it. With more of the mystery being revealed this issue, and several of the pieces moving, I'm looking forward to seeing how things come together, and what happens when the team get reunited.
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