JSA VS. KOBRA #1

Engines Of Faith, Part One: Bad Religion

August 2009

Written by Eric S. Trautmann

Pencils by Don Kramer

Inks by Michael Babinski

Cover by Gene Ha

Synopsis

Mr. Terrific, with the help Dr. Mid-Nite, tries to find a way to cure Sasha Boudreaux, who was affected by the anti-life equation.  Outside Mr. Terrific’s church, a member of Kobra approaches and reveals a bomb, which detonates, killing the member of Kobra and injuring Mr. Terrific.  The JSA arrive to help Mr. Terrific and contain the damage.  An investigation of the crime scene provides evidence that the bomb was made out of alien technology.  The JSA track the materials to the makers of the bomb, where they are able to gather more information on who bought the bomb.  Later, Kobra operatives take a church full of worshippers hostage.  The JSA is able to defuse the situation and save the people.  The KOBRA operatives then surrender.  Mr. Terrific senses something is wrong; usually KOBRA operatives commit suicide rather than surrender.  Elsewhere, another KOBRA operative infiltrates a Checkmate facility and downloads files from the main computer.  To KOBRA, it is a good start to the game…. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Let’s start with what I don’t like. First, I don’t like the title.  It’s stupid and suggests the series is basically a big superhero type mash-up fight, much like those Countdown Arena comics that were released a little while ago.  This is so much more than that.  Dumb title.  Second, I don’t like the fact this is a mini-series.  This should’ve been in the Justice Society of America book or even in the Checkmate book.  It is almost guaranteed that by being placed in a mini-series, the book will drop off the radar and few people will read it.  These days, comic readers are rarely bothered by non-essential books.  If it not tied to a big event, then most readers will pass it by, because if it’s not in the main bok, it can’t really be that important, right? Sadly, this book falls into that non-essential category.  And that is a shame, because this is a fantastic book which I think will please fans of either the JSA or Checkmate.  Face it, when the only two things I dislike are the title and the format, then you’ve got something good.  And this is good.  This is a great set-up, with details in the plot and the characters that are presented clearly and succinctly, laying out exactly what is going on without overwhelming or confusing the reader.  It is a tightly plotted, well-written story with suspense, action, humor, and great characterization combined with great art by Don Kramer, who returns to the characters he drew for a number of years on the old JSA title.  This is a great beginning and I look forward to more. 

Trautmann has a good handle on the JSA.  The characters are sharply defined and the interactions within the group were nicely written.  I really like the way the team comes to Terrific’s rescue, followed by their pow-wow to learn more about the bomb.  It really shows the team acting like a team.  I also loved the way Power Girl, the appointed leader of the group which I think other writers tend to forget, barks orders and gets the team in gear at the time of the blast.  And I like the way Power Girl dresses down Terrific at the end, uncertain of the methods, but liking the results.  Terrific’s reactions indicate he agrees with her, but understands the reasoning behind his actions.  It shall be interesting to see if Terrific’ actions will continue to haunt him as Kobra plays its game of chess with him. 

I also like the structure of the comic, with the Kobra monologue on top of the JSA actions and Mr. Terrific’s monologue on top of Kobra actions.  Plus, we have the contrast of Mr. Terrific, who is uncertain regarding his faith after the death of his wife to the members of Kobra who are fanatical in their devotion to Kal Yuga!  The theme of faith, either in a higher power or in your teammates is a great theme and I look forward to see where Trautmann takes this story. 

As much as I like the cover by Gene Ha, I think he makes a mistake with the placement of his signature.  It looks weird just sitting above the heads of Amazing Man and Hourman.  It is kinda distracting. 

Comic Connection

Some of the plot points in this mini-series are taken from the one-shot Final Crisis: Resist, which is where Sasha became infected and from the “Faces Of Evil” one shot Kobra, which is where the new leader of the movement Jason Burr was resurrected.  Of course, there are some details taken from the book Checkmate, which was created by Greg Rucka and featured a number of issues co-written by Trautmann. 

 

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