DCU Comic Book Reviews

JSA #61

Redemption Lost, Part II

July 2004

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Tom Mandrake & Don Kramer

Inks by Tom Mandrake & Keith Champagne

Cover by Ethan Van Sciver

Synopsis

Seven years ago...the Spirit King overtakes the body of the Flash and kills Terry Sloane (aka Mr. Terrific).  Although the Spectre sends the Spirit King back to hell, the Flash still feels guilty.  Today, in Portsmouth, the Spirit King has escaped from hell once more as the current Spectre has lost control of the dead.  The sinners are free to walk again.  At the Cross Clinic, the Flash and the rest of the JSA investigate the death of Dr. Mid-Nite’s assistant, Ice Sickle.  On the bullet that killed him, the Flash finds a fingerprint.  He learns that it belongs to a man who died in the 1930s.  Suddenly, bullet fire hits the clinic.  When they look out the window, the JSA find zombies.  They head outside for the battle.  In the middle of the fight, the Flash disappears.  The Spirit King has taken him and decides to take the Flash’s body once more. 

Review

This was another good issue, although the ending was kind of predictable given the beginning sequence.  There is a reason these issues are called redemption.  Even though he is not guilty, Jay feels guilty for the death of the original Mr. Terrific, so it stands to reason that Jay will atone for his inability to stop the Spirit King in the first place.  A nice story idea that is done well here, but for many new fans of the JSA (such as myself) will not be as emotionally invested in this part of the story than will be older fans.  This whole aspect of the Flash is new to me; obviously other writer’s have not felt it was an important enough of an event (Terry’s death) to add to Jay’s character.  It comes across as a minor event that is being blown up to make it seem so much more important than it probably ever was. 

It is interesting to note that the Spectre’s inability to hold the dead is related to the change from vengeance to redemption.  It is obvious that the Spectre’s reason for being is to mete out vengeance and that having not done that for awhile, it has taken its effect on Hal and the underworld.  It will be curious to see how this plays out in the future since it seems to suggest a shift back to the Jim Corrigan version and not the Hal Jordan version.

The use of the captions to indicate Mr. Terrific’s thoughts about life and death and his wife Paula during the scene in the church were too much for the story.  They slowed down the reading and interrupted the flow of the dialogue.  There is enough going on in the story, and enough dialogue and action that the captions come across as overkill.  I think the story does just fine without the extra insight to Mr. Terrific. 

I like seeing Jay doing a little bit of forensics work, even mentioning his relationship with Barry Allen.  I like these little touches, especially in a book like this that depends on the legacy of heroes.  Even though Jay and Barry are not related, there is a strong legacy with the Flashes.-- Review by MRB

Comic Connection

The Spectre (Hal Jordan) refers to helping Wally (West) regain his secret identity.  The Flash asked for the Spectre to erase all knowledge of his secret identity as Wally West in The Flash (vol. 2), issue #200.

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