Written by: Geoff JohnsArt by: Mikel JanínColors by: Jordie BellaireLetters by: Rob LeighCover artwork by: Mikel JanínCover value: $3.99Release date: December 26, 2023
Justice Society Of America #8 sends Alan Scott to Russia to apprehend Ruby Sokov as a part of Huntress’s recruitment drive of heroes and villains who will sometime change into the brand new JSA.Is Justice Society Of America #8 Good?
Geoff Johns will get again to the chronically delayed JSA maxi-series for Huntress’s subsequent goal on her recruitment record – the Crimson Flame-powered Purple Lantern of the long run, Ruby Sokov. Stuffed with cool Purple Lantern motion of the non-rage selection, emotional angst (extra on that in a minute), and drama, Johns could also be providing up essentially the most fascinating challenge on this maxiseries so far.
When final we left the JSA, Huntress despatched assorted members of the present crew to reconnoiter the present whereabouts of members from the JSA of the long run, together with Solomon Grundy, Icicle, the Mist, and extra. The recruitment drives ended with combined outcomes and rising quantities of stress throughout the present JSA.
Now, Huntress’s drive to recruit future heroes who’re nonetheless within the villain part of their lives meets JSA resistance, particularly when the subsequent title on the record is Ruby Sokov, daughter of the Crimson Flame-powered Purple Lantern and former nemesis of Alan Scott. Sokov is on a killing spree to search out her father in Russia. Alan Scott is for certain her father is useless, so he insists on a solo mission to search out Ruby and cease her from doing extra hurt. Alan quickly finds his process personally difficult given his “historical past” with Ruby’s father.
“Wha…? What’s that presupposed to imply?” you may question. Effectively, Johns seems to be dovetailing this collection, significantly the facets associated to Alan Scott, into Tim Sheridan’s Alan Scott miniseries that retcons the hero’s historical past and defines the origin of the unique Purple Lantern, Agent Sokov. Though neither collection reveals the small print of Sokov’s origin story but, it is attainable Sokov was dwelling a double life as an American citizen, Navy sailor, and Alan Scott’s homosexual lover, Johnny Ladd. If true, that may put Alan Scott in an emotionally and ethically troubling state of affairs in any state of affairs involving Agent Sokov and his offspring. We’ll see if that idea pans out.
What’s nice about Justice Society Of America #8? Extra Purple Lantern motion of the non-rage selection is an efficient factor. Ruby is a deadly villain, which makes her a formidable ally sooner or later. Spending a lot time on a recruitment drive for a JSA crew in a future timeline that does not exist is an odd play by Johns, however I am to see the place he is headed.
What’s not so nice about Justice Society Of America #8? I am to see the place this story is headed, however the story is nothing greater than a gentle curiosity. Johns’s multi-month delays are a momentum killer, and the overarching plot appears to don’t have any function apart from for Huntress to reconstruct the JSA of the long run, which is not a lot of a hook. After eight points, we should not nonetheless be questioning concerning the level of this maxi-series.
How’s the artwork? Mikel Janín’s artwork is implausible on this challenge, particularly the transient bits of Purple Lantern motion. If we get extra Inexperienced Lantern versus Purple Lantern motion sooner or later with this caliber of artwork, I am on board.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Writer & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics evaluate web site devoted to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Observe @ComicalOpinions on Fb, Instagram, and Twitter
Bits and Items:
Justice Society Of America #8 continues Huntress’s self-serving recruitment drive to Russia when Alan Scott tracks down the daughter of the unique Purple Lantern. Johns liberally hints at a deeper story concerning the relationship between Alan Scott and Agent Sorkov, presumably in connection to the present Alan Scott miniseries, which might be an attention-grabbing dramatic twist. Nonetheless, the fixed delays are a momentum killer, and the collection’ hook is simply too weak to make this a must-read.
7/10