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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2019 11:33:41 GMT -5
I have read very few JSA comics. I want to read more. I'm open to reading everything and anything from any era. Some of my favourite comic runs are from before I was born (e.g. the original The Defenders).
But I have read some JSA. It was enjoyable.
Do they still have a place in the modern era?
"Society" does sound quaint. I do not mean that in a pejorative way, but it's not a word I come across, in any context, these days. Decades ago, someone may have formed, say, a stamp-collecting society or whatever, but "group" seems to be the word now. There are no doubt societies of all kinds, I just don't come across the word a lot.
Plus, with all due respect to the JSA, were they eclipsed by the JLA a long time ago? That's not a rhetorical question, but one I am opening up to more knowledgeable members. I'm here to learn as much as to share my views.
Are the JSA a product of their era? Or can they still work in the modern era?
I'm particularly looking forward to views from hardcore JSA fans.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2019 12:06:25 GMT -5
Do you think Capt America is still relevant today?
Yes to both. The JSA are tied to WWII like Cap but I still think they work today. There are so many ways to work around the fact that they would be 90 yrs old. Yes they were overshadowed by the JLA but the JSA fills a different niche. They are the elder statesmen. They have tons of experience, confidence. They are more a family than a team. They can have legacy characters easier than the JLA like the new Dr Mid-Nite, Hourman and Mr Terrific. They also do well with "untold" tales from the past (1940-1951).
They were the first team in comics and have a rich history and tradition unmatched by other teams.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2019 12:12:44 GMT -5
Do you think Capt America is still relevant today? Absolutely! Always! |
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Post by tarkintino on Apr 27, 2019 12:18:20 GMT -5
The JSA having a "place" is purely subjective. If you're referring to the stories actually published during the Golden Age, the JSA is--in my view--essential, reading, along with the concept's next major phase (the Super Squad beginning in All-Star Comics #58 from February, 1976), as it is not only the foundation of superhero group comics, but serving the same purpose for the pre-Crisis DC Universe.
In short, the JSA is an important part of DC history, both in-universe and its impact or influence on the industry. There's much to be found with JSA stories (independent of appearances in the JLA), if one give it a chance.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2019 13:14:59 GMT -5
Could anyone please recommend a character-driven JSA trade or graphic novel? I don't mind what date it was published.
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Post by hondobrode on Apr 27, 2019 13:53:44 GMT -5
JSA ( 1999 - 2006 )
James Robinson, David Goyer and Geoff Johns all firing on all cylinders.
Crazy good series
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Post by rberman on Apr 27, 2019 14:41:16 GMT -5
Every character or team is one good story away from becoming a breakout favorite. Even Congo Bill.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2019 17:50:55 GMT -5
I find it hard to recommend anything JSA related since I have read everything JSA (except some Golden Age stories). I like it all. So I would recommend anything JSA.
My favorite runs are the 70's All Star Comics/Adventure Comics and All Star Squadron. The JSA is my favorite team and also has been. I preferred reading about them in the annual JLA/JSA teamups. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 27, 2019 18:36:59 GMT -5
Could anyone please recommend a character-driven JSA trade or graphic novel? I don't mind what date it was published. Justice Society, Vol 1-2-Features the revived All-Star Comics stories, from the 70s, which finished up in Adventure Comics, as wells as the Origin story, from DC Special-The series started well, then was kind of uneven, until Paul Levitz and Joe Staton took over. Fairly solid once they come on board. Introduces a second generations JSA (Super Squad), with Robin, Star Spangled Kid and Power Girl; then, the debut of the Huntress. Also features the death of the original Batman and the story of why the JSA disappeared in the 50s. The Justice Society Returns-written by David Goyer and James Robinson, features the JSA vs Steve Ditko's Stalker character. Great adventure that showcases each member well. JSA: The Golden Age-an Elseworlds story, from Robinson and Paul Smith, that shows a post-war JSA and All-Starr Squadron vets, the dawn of the Atomic Age, and a sinister conspiracy. Uses the backdrop of the HUAC hearings for historical connections JSA: The Liberty Files-also an Elseworlds, from Tony Harris & Dan Jolley-pulpy alternative take on the JSA, with some excellent handling of characters like Mr Terrific. JSA trades-Goyer, Robinson, Johns et al-excellent run of new generation JSA heroes, continues into revamped Justice Society of America series, with collections. Crisis on Multiple Earths, Vol 1-6 JLA/JSA crossovers, plus other heroes, in later stories Crisis on Multiple Earths The Team-ups-later Silver Age & early Bronze Age stories with JSA members. Starman-James Robinson series, with Tony Harris and Peter Snejlberg, focusing on Jack Knight, with original Starman Ted Knight a major character. Several Times Past stories with Ted and the JSA, plus other Golden Age heroes. All-Star Squadron-Roy Thomas takes on the DC Golden Age heroes, mixing JSA members with other heroes, with Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle as major characters, plus tons of other Golden Age heroes and villains. That's plenty. |
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Post by hondobrode on Apr 28, 2019 0:51:57 GMT -5
Those were all good series.
I posted about JSA because I'm shocked I don't hear more about it and it was exceptionally good.
FWIW, the JSA is tied with the Legion for my all-time favorite group.
My first comic was a 100 page Justice League giant with a great Golden Age JSA reprint.
A few months later I picked up an early issue of the 70's All-Star revival with beautiful Wally Wood art.
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Apr 28, 2019 19:06:57 GMT -5
So the Parobek JSA still isn't collected?
That was the best of all time.
I do think you need to make the JSA different from the JLA.
The Earth-Two versions of the JSA, introduced in the '60s, were older and wiser than the JLA.
All Star Squadron and the early '90s JSA series were period pieces.
The '70s All Star Squadron and '00s JSA series were about the interaction between older and younger generations of heroes, best exemplified by Power Girl and Wildcat.
I don't think the concept will stand on it's own the way it did in 1943, but I think there are ways to sell the JSA and make them unique and interesting.
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 28, 2019 21:26:16 GMT -5
Neither the 1991 miniseries, from Len Strazewski and various artists (including Parobeck) nor the 1992 regular series, from Strazewski and Mike Parobeck, have been collected. Amazon has a placeholder listing for a trade collection. Those are usually based on publishers making tentative announcements about putting out a book; but, which do not have a definite release date planned, yet. However, Amazon also makes listiings for things with no plans, as a way to send feedback to studios and publishers to goose them into releasing a product. This was done with the Batman tv series, for years.
The regular series only lasted 10 issues; but, they were great issues. The mini-series was 8 issues.
Strazewski had heat with DC editorial, though I can't recall if that was because of the cancellation of the series or if that occured before, while the series was coming out. I know he took some shots in print, after it was cancelled (can't blame him).
The JSA is part of what makes DC unique, with the legacy of previous generations. Marvel has the Timely characters; but, it really isn't a generational thing, much, since the big three exist in the modern world (or did, at one point, with Namor and Cap being the main two to be revived). You don't quite get that legacy feel, except for Cap handing over to Bucky and Sam Wilson.
With DC, You have at least 3 generations of heroes, with the JSA, JLA and Teen Titans, plus, the individual children, proteges, and new generation versions of the JSA and Golden Age heroes. It is one of the differences that DC exploited well, especially in the Robinson/Goyer/Johns et al JSA series. I kind of liked an analogy that Robinson used in Starman, referring to the key JSA members as comparable to the Mercury Seven. The JLA can then be considered to be the Gemini and Apollo astronauts and the Titans and others as the Space Shuttle and beyond astronauts.
Marvel dabbled, a bit, with Young Avengers; but, it was pretty half-hearted, if you ask me.
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 28, 2019 21:35:00 GMT -5
Also worth reading is the Last Days of the JSA, which has been collected, with the JSA Secret origins stories, which took them out of the present, for a couple of years (not as long as you think). America vs the JSA is also an interesting read, from Roy Thomas (author of Last Days), covering the JSA's history, after Batman's diary indicates a JSA member committed treason, in WW2. The mini covers their run in with HUAC, plus their previous adventures, while involving a plot by Per Degaton.
Infinity Inc also hasn't been collected; but, the first year is a pretty good read, with the new team of JSA children and proteges having to fight their mind-altered parents, with story by Thomas and art by Jerry Ordway. They rest of the series is good, for a bit; but, suffers badly post-Crisis and during the Millennium crossover.Roy was having a hell of a time keeping up with all of DC's changes. It was a big part of what soured his relationship with DC. This also had Todd McFarlane's first regular series run, though he is rather at odds with Thomas' style of storytelling. he was bored by the scripts and would compensate by jazzing up the pages, adding marginal illustrations and framing features that made the individual pages look good, even if they didn't enhance the story. The series kind of struggled to keep an artist on it, after Ordway left. Don Newton was set to take it over, when he died of a heart attack.
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Post by beyonder1984 on Apr 29, 2019 6:31:31 GMT -5
""Society" does sound quaint. I do not mean that in a pejorative way, but it's not a word I come across, in any context, these days. Decades ago, someone may have formed, say, a stamp-collecting society or whatever, but "group" seems to be the word now. There are no doubt societies of all kinds, I just don't come across the word a lot."
National Honor Society
Straight Edge Society
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
California Historical Society
American Cancer Society
The World Science Fiction Society
World Future Society
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Post by rberman on Apr 29, 2019 7:11:01 GMT -5
""Society" does sound quaint. I do not mean that in a pejorative way, but it's not a word I come across, in any context, these days. Decades ago, someone may have formed, say, a stamp-collecting society or whatever, but "group" seems to be the word now. There are no doubt societies of all kinds, I just don't come across the word a lot." National Honor Society Straight Edge Society National Multiple Sclerosis Society California Historical Society American Cancer Society The World Science Fiction Society World Future Society Exactly. There's an air of academia, of erudition, about the word "society." We don't expect to have the "World Wrestling Society" or the "High School Dropout Society," but we can understand the "Village Green Preservation Society." |
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