JLA Vs. JSA: The Newly Relaunched Titles get Assessed

By Christopher Hoerdemann

 

The Score Before.......

JLA
Before I read JLA, or JSA, I already had an opinion on which story I thought would be better. JLA always struck me as having a great “geek out” factor. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in one title. How can you beat that? Plus, they handed the keys to the relaunch to the guy who wrote one of the better JLA stories in a long time, Brad Meltzer. The guy did a really good job with all the characters in Identity Crisis (had the ending of that mini series been better, it would have been the best JLA story ever), and I thought that it was a no brainer that he would do the same here. Add that to the fact that Ed Benes, who has a lot of Jim Lee in him, (but with a better sense of time ........where's All Star Batman #5 Mr. Lee?) was doing the art, and this series seemed destined for greatness.

Grade: A

JSA
JSA seemed like it was going to be a yawn fest for me. It didn't have the big characters, and it just seemed second tier when it was compared to the JLA. Geoff Johns is a great writer, no doubt about that, but a great writer can only do so much when I really don't care for the characters in a story. Dale Eaglesham didn't even hold a candle to Benes in my opinion. I had seen some of his art, and it was okay, but Benes was the closest thing to Jim Lee out there, which scores points in my book. I also wasn't sure what role the JSA would fill, since the JLA was probably going to have the more prominent role in the DCU. In short, this title wasn't exciting me like JLA.

Grade: C 

   

The First Issue........

JLA
Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman sitting around a table talking! Genius! Why had nobody thought of this before? What better way to pick a team than have the three leaders talk it out! Plus, Red Tornado gets the spotlight, and we get a look at the rest of the cast that will eventually fill out the team. All of that, and the humanity that Meltzer gives these characters has me glued to the page. Ed Benes dazzles, and the JLA looks to be in great hands.

Grade: A

JSA
HEY! Give Brad Meltzer his “sitting around a table picking the team” idea back Geoff Johns! The new JSA is formed relatively quickly in this issue, as opposed to the slow burn that seems to be happening over in JLA. We are introduced to the characters (most of whom I still can't remember names for), and a mysterious murder leads to another murder. The JSA realize that even though they just formed, they needed to spring into action. Plus, Wildcat gets a shock, and the last page had me wishing that this next year would go a lot faster (the teaser images therein raised millions of questions). Dale Eaglesham's art was better than I had thought it would be. Overall, this issue surpassed my expectations, and ranked right at the level of the first JLA issue.

Grade: A

   

The Rest to this Date.........

JLA
Here's the dialogue in my head during each of the next four issues of JLA.....

Issue 2: “Okay, you can keep sitting and talking. It's all good.....be nice if you got up soon though”

Issue 3: “NO! THIS IS LIKE THE HULK MOVIE! GET UP! WALK WHILE TALKING, JUST STOP SITTING AND TALKING! THIS ISN'T EVEN THE JLA, IT'S LIKE THE VIEW!”

Issue 4: “Thank the lord, they finally stood up.”

Issue 5: “Well, what do you know. There is actually a league of super people, who are trying to provide Justice. That's a novel idea for a Justice League comic book.”

The issues following issue #1 focused on all the members of the JLA doing their own thing pretty much, and it was kind of disappointing. The JLA should involve a team of super people doing something super together. I guess I hoped that more would have happened in four issues as well. There are lots of really good character moments, but at some point, the JLA should kick some evil butt during the span of four issues. That's more than 80 pages of story that was pretty much all build up. Plus Solomon Grundy? Whatever you say Mr. Meltzer...... Ed Benes art was solid. I kind of cooled off when it comes to his style. He has a LOT of Jim Lee in him, and even though I thought I would really like that, I thought he might have had some style of his own to add to his art too. Just as I cooled off on the art, I cooled off on this series as well. It was by no means bad, and character moments are great, but dear lord, get the League together quicker!

Grade: B -

JSA
Now, the JSA might not have the star power, but man, it sure brings the heat. All of these characters I never thought I would care about suddenly are riveting. Wildcat is awesome, Starman is an enigma wrapped in a riddle who I can't get enough of, and Cyclone is the realistic voice of the teenagers out there. Each issue is just so packed with action, character moments, and just awesome developments that make the month in between issues nearly unbearable. All of these characters shine no matter how much, or how little screen time they get. Geoff Johns works wonders, and is a true master of his craft. Dale Eaglesham works perfectly on this title. He has a cinematic quality in his art, and he can draw the big splash page just as well as the smaller, more emotional moments. Plus, the fact that Kingdom Come looks like it is tied to this title gives it another positive asset.

Grade: A + 

   

Prospects for the Future.......

JLA
JLA is anything but doomed. Yes, it is a little slow, but there is still all kinds of potential. Meltzer needs to snap out of his decompression style, and try something new. His portrayal of all the characters is spot on, but after awhile, I want something big to go down. Less talk, more punching. I think when he realizes that not every arc he does has to be this huge sprawling mystery, things will get better. Ed Benes just needs to keep on schedule. His art works, and I think that if he sticks with this title, it will give it a nice continuity. Plus, this title, and JSA will be crossing over soon, which will undoubtedly boost this title, and point it in the right direction. Don't get me wrong, this is one of the better titles coming out each month, but there is untapped potential that needs to be utilized.

Grade: B +

JSA
The sky is the limit. I have faith that Geoff Johns isn't going to run out of ideas. This title impresses me every month, and I think it just keeps getting better and better. Dale Eaglesham has become one of my favorite artists as well. Plus, all the events that were teased in the first issue have me extra excited for the coming years stories. Unlike JLA, the potential of this title has been utilized.

Grade: A