DCU Comic Book Reviews

JSA #87

Ghost In The Castle

September 2006

Written by Paul Levitz

Pencils by Jerry Ordway, Luke Ross, Rags Morales

Inks by Dave Mekis, Jerry Ordway

Cover by George Pérez

Synopsis

In England, the JSA are battling with Jim Craddock (aka the Gentlemen Ghost), who hopes that if he kills his deadliest foes, he can come back to life.  During the fight, only Thunderbolt is able to hurt the Gentleman Ghost, although Wildcat does as well for some odd reason.  At JSA headquarters, Mr. Terrific learns that Wildcat is descendant of a 17^th century Duke and thus has royal blood, confirming the Batman ghost’s assertion that only one of royal blood can harm Craddock.  Suddenly, an army of ghosts attacks the JSA headquarters.  Needing to get a message to Wildcat, they send Stargirl to England, as the ghosts can’t hurt her since she is a virgin.  In England, Thunderbolt leads the team to Craddock’s location.  He is waiting for them and sends his army after them.  Just then, Stargirl arrives; she tells Wildcat it is up to him and then faints.  Wildcat carries Stargirl to a church, where the others join him for the final battle.  Craddock’s army follows, but they are soon attacked by a group of ghostly church knights.  In the middle of the battle, Wildcat is able to defeat and kill Craddock, at which point all of the ghosts disappear.  In the Epilogue, Power Girl and Stargirl bond while the rest of the JSA clean up the damaged headquarters.  Jay Garrick thinks this might be the end of the JSA, but Joan Garrick tells him to stop talking nonsense.

Review

I must say that I found this entire arc and this final issue to be average, a good solid story that was enjoyable to read, but very forgettable after I closed the book.  There were bits and pieces that I enjoyed through this arc and this issue was no different.  While the Wildcat revelation was a little bit of a Deus Ex machine for the ending, I got a good chuckle out of it and was not all perturbed by it, unless some writer makes a big deal of it down the line.  I also liked the Stargirl revelation if only because it shows that good girls like Courtney don’t engage in such activities before they should.  This statement about sex really confirms that this book as always had an undercurrent of family values, whether it was the offspring of former heroes or the presence of Jay’s wife Joan or even the appropriately named Ma Hunkel.  The ending conversation between Power Girl and Stargirl reinforced the family values, showing a sisterly bond that has grown between the two women. 

Regardless of these little tidbits, the real question revolves around the new Justice League book that will be coming out in several months and who will be part of that team.  One could easily think that Green Lantern and Mr. Terrific will be absent because they will be involved with Checkmate.  Wildcat as well if he remains within the pages of Catwoman.  Jay Garrick will probably stay, especially after the beating he got from his wife about the end of the JSA in this issue.  I would assume Stargirl and Power Girl will stay, unless Stargirl joins the Teen Titans or even Titans East.  Since Geoff Johns created her character and he is writing all three books, she could really end up anywhere.  About the only certainty for the new Justice Society is that there will be new members.-- MRB