DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE SOCIETY of AMERICA #27

Ghost In The Darkness

July 2009

Written by Jerry Ordway

Pencils by Jerry Ordway

Inks by Bob Wiacek+

Cover by Jerry Ordway

Synopsis

In the midst of a conversation with Director Bones, Al Rothstein (aka Atom Smasher) receives a text from Stargirl.  There is something happening at JSA headquarters.  Hourman had a “future flash” of something horrible happening to his wife, Liberty Belle.  Now, Obsidian has draped the brownstone in darkness, holding Wildcat, Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, and Liberty Belle inside and keeping everyone else outside.  Alan tries to talk to his son, to convince them to let them go.  Obsidian tells him he is protecting the team from a ghost.  Outside, a crowd has gathered.  Suddenly, a man falls down.  When Stargirl gets close, energy flows from the man into the rod.  Stargirl has been possessed.  She approaches the brownstone and blasts it.  Meanwhile, Alan decides to use his power to disperse Obsidan’s dark cloak.  The combined energies causes Obsidian’s cloak to fall, allowing the ghost to invade the brownstone.  Wildcat, Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Hourman, and Liberty Belle vanish.  They are confronted by angry ghosts and then transported to Hirsohima just before the bomb was dropped.  In the brownstone, Mr. Terrific can’t locate the missing team members.  Judomaster thinks it is a death spirit.  Much like the Spectre, who looms overhead, telling those wiling to judged to come with him to make matters right.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Maybe it’s just me or maybe it’s the age of decompression, but there were several moments in the story where I felt I had reached the cliffhanger, only to realize there were more pages to read.  This can be a good thing, because it can keep a good story going when you don’t want it to end.  And I have to admit that this was an enjoyable story, featuring some of the lesser-used characters in the JSA and building the conflicts and the relationships based on previous stories.  However, in this case, the false endings (or pseudo-endings) made the story seem drag on longer than it probably should have.  As I said, maybe it is the fact that I am used to decompression, but it felt as if Ordway had reached the end a couple of times.  The issue is full of stuff to the point where it felt like the end (almost as if Ordway managed to put 22 pages of material into 16 pages, if you understand what I mean).  Despite the false endings, as I said, this was a decent issue and I look forward to the conclusion next month. 

I did not particularly care for the portrayal of Obsidian in this story.  Strangely enough, I think regular readers of this title probably wouldn’t think things were amiss.  Obsidian has been person non gratis for some time now, appearing only as a literal shadowy figure.  However, for those who read Manhunter, they wouldn’t recognize the robotic (almost silly) way Obsidian has locked down the JSA headquarters (and why does Obsidian kick almost everyone out the brownstone without at least explaining what he is doing?)  Obsidian comes across as a more fully rounded character in Manhunter than he does here to the point where I wonder if even some of the DC staff have read Manhunter.  They should; it was a good book. 

I must give credit for Ordway (and whomever in DC editorial) for crafting story that has ties to the larger DC universe at large rather than a simple throwaway story.  Basically, Ordway is holding down the fort until the new creative team jumps on board.  I think it would’ve been easy to just put together a random story, but thankfully Ordway doesn’t do that.  Instead, this story builds upon the established characters, previous stories, and even Ordway’s past experience working on Infinity, Inc.

What is Bibbo doing in New York? Shouldn’t he be in Metropolis, where Superman would normally be patrolling the skies.  I like his appearance and I like the way it calls out even more to the larger DC universe, but Bibbo is Superman’s biggest fan.  Bibbo’s bar is in Metropolis.  Unless Bibbo has franchised and is working at the New York bar for that day.  You know, even if Ordway completely lost track of where Bibbo should’ve been, I like that answer.  Franchise. 

PREVIOUS ISSUE	Main		Page	NEXT ISSUE

Home ●  Blog ● Who Are We? ● Site News
Alive and Well since April 16, 2006

 DC Universe Reviews.  All Rights Reserved
  Characters, trademarks, brands are property of DC Comics

For problems or questions regarding this website, please contact our kindly webmaster.
Last updated: 08/06/11.