DCU Comic Book Reviews

JSA #76

In Search Of...

October 2005

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by David Lopez

Inks by Fernando Blacno

Cover by Alex Ross

Synopsis

After returning tot he United States, Albert Rothstein (aka Atom Smasher) turned himself into the authorities to be tried fro crimes during Black Adam’s invasion of Khandaq.  Both the JSA and Black Adam’s Society watch the proceedings with interest.  At the trial, Atom Smasher pleads guilty.  Meanwhile, Metamorpho and Fire come looking for Power Girl about the recent death of Ted Kord (aka Blue Beetle) while Hourman searches for Dr. Fate for a way to help Jakeem Thunder.  Standing outside the courthouse, several members of the JSA are suddenly attacked by an OMAC.  All are targets but Mr. Terrific, who apparently can’t be seen by technological devices, including the OMAC.  The JSA attempts to fight the OMAC but the machine is able to effectively counter all of their powers and abilities.  They are saved, however, by the appearance of Atom Smasher, who uses his big size to step on the OMAC.  Afterwards, he is taken to Belle Reve Prison in Louisiana, where is visited by Amanda Waller.

Review

Lately, it seems as if most of the DC comics have a checklist to make sure that the four mini-series leading to the crisis and the crisis itself are somehow touched upon.  Really, this issue should’ve been about the fallout from the attack in Khandaq, but instead we get an attempt to shoehorn the OMAC Project into the story.  And I’m not even talking about the OMAC:  the encounter with Power Girl should’ve been placed in that mini-series, not here.  The attack on the JSA was also anti-climactic and ultimately meant nothing (which is actually par for the course). The OMAC arrives, fights a little bit, and then disappears into a cloud of smoke.  Kinda like the plot of this issue.   The end result is that we see very little of the JSA and their feelings on Al’s decision, nor do we see anything more about Dr. Fate’s, well, fate or what Hourman is up to regarding Jakeem Thunder.  As I said, it felt like a big checklist.  Black Adam and the society?  Villains United!  Check.  Ted Kord and an OMAC?  OMAC Project!  Check.  At this point the only mini-series the JSA hasn’t been connected to is the Rann-Thanagar War.

It must have been some time between the return of the JSA from Khandaq in the last issue to the trial set in this issue; Al’s hair has grown an awful lot.  And why would he be taken to Belle Reve Prison; why wouldn’t he be kept in Riker’s Island or even taken to the meta-human facility on Alcatraz?

 -- Review by MRB 

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