JSA by Geoff Johns Book Two

JSA de Johns #2

by Geoff Johns, David S. Goyer, Stephen Sadowski (Illustrator)

“One of DC's most exciting titles.” —IGN  A recently reunited Justice Society of America faces some of its most fearsome foes in this second collection of classic stories from critically acclaimed Geoff Johns.  In these history-making tales, the chilling secrets of the bizarre Johnny Sorrow are revealed as he leads an all-out assault on the JSA, forcing the team to make incredible sacrifices just to survive. Then, in the aftermath, the legendary Hawkman returns to the team he helped to found—just in time to join forces with Shazam and the Justice League for a battle whose stakes are nothing less than the fate of the world itself!  Featuring contributions by acclaimed screenwriter David Goyer (The Dark Knight trilogy) and artists Stephen Sadowski (Avengers/Invaders), Michael Bair (Hawkman), Carlos Pacheco (Final Crisis), Jesus Merino (The Flash) and many more, JSA by Geoff Johns Book Two continues one of the great runs in comics history! Collects JSA #16-25, Our Worlds at War #1, JLA/JSA Secret Files & Origins #1 and JLA/ Virtue and Vice.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Fantasy

422 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Geoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Comics. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time.

His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.

Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this book wraps itself in DC's history. It has just the right mix of classic JSA, Infinity Inc., and other 2nd generation heroes. My one complaint about this collection is that JLA / JSA: Virtue and Vice appears out of order. It shouldn't appear for another 12 issues, but I guess DC decided the overall page count was more important. C'est la vie, appearing out of order only spoils some very small things in this case.

The Injustice League returns, attacking the JSA members at home before Johnny Sorrow tries to go all Cthulhu on everyone. Then Johns and Goyer come up with a great way to bring back Hawkman. Dan Jurgens really screwed this character up while trying to fix him in Zero Hour. Johns does a top notch job unraveling Jurgens's mess with the simple concept of reincarnation. It fits in well with Carter Hall's Egyption roots. I also like how Black Adam was used, making him much more than a one note villain for Captain Marvel. Here he's much more complex and I really dug how Dr. Fate, Black Adam, Hawkman and Hawkgirl were all tied together. This is basically volume 0 of Johns's Hawkman run. The art is all very solid, in the house JSA style, tied together with John Kalisz's colors.

JLA / JSA: Virtue and Vice hearkens back to the days when the JLA from Earth-1 and the JSA from Earth-2 would team-up each year pre-Crisis to stop a threat. Now that the teams exist on the same earth, they just have Thanksgiving dinner together when the Seven Deadly Sins escape Shazam's Rock of Eternity and wreak havoc throughout the earth. Goyer and Johns do a great job of juggling 30 plus heroes. Carlos Pacheco provides his smooth, clean lines and characters.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice art and stories made this a enjoyable read. I am a huge fan of the Golden Age JSA and this series does a great job of telling of them in modern times. Recommended

[Michael Emond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second volume of the Geoff Johns run on JSA. Johns has been lauded as one of the best writers for DC in the last couple of decades and I happen to be reading his Flash and Justice League and JSA series and I see the attraction but he doesn't stand out as a writer I love but I do enjoy his writing. You can depend on him to treat the characters with respect - to respect the past history of the characters and to write an entertaining story. I do applaud his ability to come up with challenges befitting such a powerful team - that is not easy to do. In this volume I love the development of characters like Mr. Terrific and Doctor Midnight and I think he corrected some of the missteps in the first volume and got rid of lesser characters like Starman and the time lord Hourman (we get the Hourman we are more used to). The only negative I have is the stories - while entertaining - are not ones I think I would want to revisit. They are fun and action filled but they lack that spark of cleverness or creativity that draws me to read a comic again.

I still would recommend this comic and loved the villains - Johnny Sorrow leads a new team of Injustice Gang. The new Hawkgirl returns to free Thanagar. And there is a special that was a graphic novel Virtue and Vice with some amazing art and a fun story of the JLA and JSA having to fight members of their team that have been possessed by the 7 deadly sins. All in all - entertaining and fun. A good solid read.

[Marcelo Soares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eu sou um crítico do trabalho mais recente do Johns, mas aqui ele e o Goyer são geniais misturando a os velhos heróis com a segunda e terceira geração de heróis mais recentes - o único personagem que eles parecem não ter muita mão é com o Jakeem Thunder, mas não dá pra ganhar todas.
Nas primeiras edições, Johnny Sorrow reúne uma nova Sociedade da Injustiça para libertar o Rei das Lágrimas e tocar o terror geral; como é de praxe, a SJA apanha mais que tapete em dia de faxina e, aos poucos, vai se reencontrando para vencer o Johnny com uma sacada muito interessante. Ah, e o Adão Negro quer se regenerar porque não era bem ele, e quando alguém fala alguma coisa, ele pergunta sobre o Superman que, na época, tinha feito umas cagadas com um tal de vírus numa história que eu não li. Essa é a integração que eu gosto entre títulos diferentes.
Depois temos a volta do Gavião Negro, numa história mais chata porque, bom, Gavião Negro, né? Thanagar, reencarnações, Onimar Synn e mais umas lenga-lengas. Uma edição daquela porcaria dos Mundos em Guerra que é até bem interessante com a SJA enfrentando uma espaço nave gigante com basicamente boa parte do segundo escalão da DC.
Por fim chegamos na cereja do sundae, Vícios e Virtudes, um dos melhores encontros entre a SJA e LJA; Johnny Sorrow e Despero despertam os Sete Pecados aprisionados na Pedra da Eternidade que, por sua vez, dominam alguns dos heróis e o pau come.
No geral é bem divertido, e Vícios e Virtudes, uma das minhas histórias favoritas, vale a viagem.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

JSA Book Two

As Black Adam seeks membership of the JSA, Johnny Sorrow begins a series of frightening attacks with the intention of destroying them once and for all. Hawkman returns to seek his beloved Hawkgirl. A combined meeting of the Justice League and the JSA turns ugly when Batman and Mr Terrific go for to toe.

John's careful plotting and a great set of graphics brings the pages to life. A superb compilation.

[Eric Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing and artwork continue to be excellent. Loved seeing Hawkman's return and the Injustice Society was so much fun.

Also, JLA/JSA Virtue and Vice is featured in this collection, and it's fantastic. Carlos Pacheco's artwork is incredible, and Geoff Johns' take on the JLA and JSA teaming up is a joy to read.

[Evan]

Johns' JSA saga really found its footing here and is already becoming one of my favorite comic runs of all time. There's just so much good here - a great sense of history, balance between characters (especially impressive considering the enormous cast), and both levity and gravity in equal measure. I adore Johnny Sorrow - this is my first time encountering him and he’s already one of my all-time favorite villains. And this has the "Return of Hawkman" arc, as well - I've been really wanting to get into Hawkman/Hawkgirl lately, and this JSA run is giving me what I've been looking for. I'm loving this.

I had to loop around back to this after bits of Books Three and Four because it ends with the JLA/JSA crossover, which takes place much later chronologically. I'm glad I waited and read them in the proper order (as annoying as it was to have to jump around) because I care about these characters even more than I did twenty issues and several days ago. That "Virtue and Vice story is a blast, too - a little more action than I tend to like, but I know that's what plenty of others come for, so I don't mind. There's a good bit in here where Hourman can’t have fun watching sports because he gets flashes of the future where he finds out the outcome. Great stuff.

[Nate]

Some really good stuff here. First, the Injustice Society returns before Johnny Sorrow tries to bring an elder god down on everyone. Then Hawkman comes back. Johns actually does a great job with this, considering how messed up Hawkman continuity is. His origin makes at least some sense and the story has nice touches of emotion. After a throwaway Our Worlds at War tie-in we get JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice, which is a throwback to the teamups of old. This one has a lot packed into it and it’s a testament to Johns’ skill as a writer for balancing everything. This is the type of bombastic, fun story I’ve come to expect from him: good use of DC history while having the right amount of action and heart. The only problem is that it takes place chronologically later in the series, therefore spoiling some things.

[Jonathan Crites · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really strong follow up the volume one, I feel like the JSA in this era is really picking up steam in the stories here. The first arc here covers a pretty intense battle with the rejuvenated Injustice Society, while the second story focuses on the return of Hawkman. Which also continues in a ongoing a Hawkman series that DC has also collected in this kind of large volume format. I actually really enjoyed the Hawkman/Hawkgirl story, so I might be picking that volume up next. This book also includes a great JLA/JSA crossover. This team up reminded me a lot of the annual JLA/JSA crossovers from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. All the various ‘Crisis On...’ adventures from the past. Very fun read, ties out the Injustice Society arc that began the volume, great Pacheco art, definitely would recommend.

[Chris Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the first volume more. This one felt rushed, episodic, in part because this book format breaks the Johnny Sorrow arc in two. Then, you are left with several pieces, including a JLA/JSA mashup with, you guessed it....Johnny Sorrow. The return of Hawkman /Thanagar arc was ok, but closely follows the “Mwahahaha, in my power” yet “good guys always find a way” formula. Don’t like the thug-kid joined with a thunder genie character AT ALL. Good to see Mr. Terrific developed as a character. Art was good, but whoever rendered Wonder Woman made her quite.....distracting. Good, and I will continue, 3.5 stars.

[Casper · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the first volume wasn't really dragging me in, this volume blew my mind.

Although the newly formed JSA proudly proclaimed that they'd be down to earth heroes in the previous volume, Geoff Johns has other plans. There's time travel, space travel and world ending catastrophes wherever these poor heroes walk! And it's incredible. I didn't know half this cast when I started reading, but Johns really managed to make these characters feel alive.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geoff Johns and David Goyer do such a great job of showcasing these characters. There is such respect and reverence for this group. They have taken characters that are usually in supporting roles and made them shine. Characters like Sand, Stargirl, and Hawkgirl to name a few. The art it mostly by Stephen Sadowski and its very good. I thought the two arcs presented here are both wrapped up a little too easily. The JLA/JSA crossover was spectacular. Overall, a very good read.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been dipping in and out of this collection for the last two months and am still happy with my decision last year to reread this series. Hawkman comes back, the Injustice Society wreaks havoc, and the collection ends with the epic almost 100 page "Virtue & Vice," which pairs the JSA and JLA against massive foes with high stakes and outstanding art by Carlos Pacheco. This is excellent DC Comics.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heroes are only as good as their villains.... and the JSA have some of the BEST baddies around~!
Love seeing Johnny Sorrow and Black Adam... then toss in the Seven Deadly Sins and you gots a Story!
And a great surprise villain (that's not really a surprise if you know much history about these characters)
Nice fluid art by just about everyone.

A Very Satisfying read.

[Roberto Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things that this entire run of JSA does is cement itself in the pilars of DC history. I love the fact that the JSA have their own set of enemies, and Johnny Sorrow and the King of tears make a great foil for the heroes in the first half of the book. Great art by the overall creative team, that gives JSA a distinctive look against their JLA counterparts.

[Matthew WK · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Julien L · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite runs in comics. It's all about legacy and family and history in a superhero tapestry

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than volume 1. Enjoyable read

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is JSA, HE'S Geoff Johns, and I'm dB. 'Nuff said.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt incoherent, like a lot of issues were missing or that one needed a lot more JSA knowledge than I have to understand it.

[Raul Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t really care for neither the Hawkman arc or the JLA crossover, but the event tie in was fun as well as the prelude to the JLA crossover

[Kurt Rocourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finds it’s groove

This is where Johns starts to establish himself as a great writer. You can see how well he understands the DC Universe in this book. There are different things that you can take from this book but you’re sure to appreciate something in this book.