This is the definition of a fill-in issue. Through some unclear Spectre-powers, a few more JSA'ers are sent back into the past to save GL, Flash, Wildcat, Liberty Belle, and Hourman. At the end of last issue, that group had been dropped off at Hiroshima to die in the blast, but Ordway does a nice little trick with some DCU continuity. Japan's WWII magical devices sapped the will of America's supers, explaining why the team was helpless last issue. However, as the bomb-blast hits, the magical protection is destroyed, giving GL the chance to throw up a shield. It's a neat bit of plot that plays into the history of the All-Star Squadron. Kung explains how he enlisted the spirits of the restless dead for his revenge, and they make things a little difficult for the Society, but with Spectre assisting, they make short work of the villains. The Spectre reveals Kung's plot which would have led to his resurrection, but the Society spoils that return too. Overall, this felt very fill-in-y, with Jerry Ordway getting to toss out a few bits of decent characterization, but the actual plot was very simple and not very engaging. I never like it when the stars of a book can't solve their own problems, and without the Spectre, the JSA would have lost this for sure.
Ordway's art is finely detailed, as it always is. I enjoyed his pencils more than the plot in this one. I am looking forward to Willingham and Sturges coming on next month!
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2 comments:
The only book I EVER liked Spectre in was Kingdom Come. And all he did was provide the framing for the story.
Frankly, no one knows what to do with the Spectre. He needs a serious power trim and re-alignment of what his job is in the DCU.
DC has a serious power creep problem. Of course Marvel has a serious incest problem, so, choose your poison.
John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake actually had a cool take on the character in the mid-90s, it was like old EC morality/horror tales. Available in 50 cent bins everywhere!
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