Weird Science DC Comics: JSA #5 Review

In JSA #5, the loose threads get picked back up. In the Demon Dimension, Hawkman gets help from a wandering ghost who seems to think she’s the new Kid Eternity. The ghost frees Hawkman, who heads off to find his wings, weapons, and armor. When the two encounter a trio of demons with Hawkman’s stuff, they find themselves outmatched. Thankfully, Kendra swoops by to save the day. The trio of Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and maybe “Kid Eternity” head back to the Tower of Fate.

On Earth, Beth, aka Dr. Mid-Nite, finds herself at the mercy of a surprise punch by Scandal Savage. Beth finds a small pebble and uses a well-aimed throw to shatter the only lamp in the room, giving her the darkness she needs to overwhelm Scandal and escape with Obsidian’s unconscious body.

Meanwhile, the consciousness of Obsidian and Jakeem escape the hospital by busting through an outer wall. Unfortunately, they find the outside world to be nothing but a massive maze.

Elsewhere, the fake Obsidian, Johnny Sorrow in disguise, announces the JSA sensors have picked up Beth’s communicator signal. He urges his teammates to take action now instead of waiting for the rest of the team or permission from Jade. Wildcat and Jesse Quick agree but Hourman chooses to stay behind because Obsidian’s rash decisions don’t feel right.

The issue ends with Sandman and Jade concluding they have a traitor in their midst, Grundy arriving in the Demon Dimension with Gentleman Ghost to claim Hawkman, and an army of demons assembling to lay siege to the Tower of Fate.

First Impressions

I like every piece of what’s happening in JSA #5. I don’t like that the pieces are all smushed together in a chaotic jumble. Jeff Lemire would serve this title a lot better if he pared back a couple of the subplots and told a more focused story.

How’s the Art?

Diego Olortegui is back to the closer form we saw when he drew last year’s Jay Garrick mini-series. The figure work is sharper and cleaner, Olortegui’s compositions are a little more dynamic, and Luis Guerrero’s coloring choices are solid.

What’s great about JSA #5?

Again, the pieces in Jeff Lemire’s multi-faceted story are each interesting in their own right. Gentleman Ghost and Grundy chasing the Hawks through Hell would have been an unheard-of dream just a few years ago. The ISA’s master plan sounds like it could be a doozy, and the dramatic tension created by Johnny Sorrow’s plan to undermine the JSA as a fake Obsidian is well done.

What’s not great about JSA #5?