JSA #55 (2004)

JSA #55 (February, 2004)
"Be Good for Goodness Sake"
Writer - Geoff Johns
Pencils - Leonard Kirk
Inks - Keith Champagne & Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors - Hi-Fi
Letters - Jared K. Fletcher
Associate Editor - Stephen Wacker
Editor - Peter Tomasi
For Jordan Marquis
Cover Price: $2.50

Welcome to the second day of our Twelve Days of Christmas on Infinite Earths special.  Today we have a very special issue from a very special series... JSA.  Just last month we discussed the issue that proceeded this one.  It was our Thanksgiving extravaganza... and it was a wonderful issue.  Definitely a high-point in my reviewing "career".  Can the Christmas-flavored follow-up measure up?  Let's find out.

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It's Christmas Eve and the Flash and Wildcat are being led in an emerald construct sleigh by Green Lantern while Hawkman takes up the tail.  Even on this peaceful night, Hawkman can't help but carry his mace.  In light of Jay's non-alcoholic eggnog, Ted declares this to be yet another boring Christmas Eve with the fogies.  He then asks Alan if "they're there yet"... No, Ted... still about twenty minutes.

We shift scenes to an almost idyllic Christmastime scene in Londonderry, New Hampshire.  It really looks like something off of a greeting card... makes me feel pretty homesick.  Out here in Arizona, we don't really have seasons... it's just varying levels of hot... and dry.  Anyhoo, a woman and her children are having car trouble... lucky for her, a good Samaritan just happens to be passing by...

Meanwhile at the local department store, the Santa line is growing long and excitable.  A hoity-toity manager is annoyed that Santa is late, and threatens to fire him.  An assistant reminds him that their Santa was part of the sale agreement for the business... and they've used the same Santa for over fifty years!  Santa finally arrives... only ten minutes late, but if the manager is to be believed, it was the most important ten minutes in the history of the Earth.

Before Santa can start taking requests a trio of robbers enter the establishment... all wearing cheap-o Santa masks.  After the alarm sounds, they threaten to start taking hostages... Uh-uh, not on Santa's watch.

One baddie draws his firearm... however, before he can do anything with it, the department store fills up with emerald energy reindeer!  Santa smirks, as though he had been expecting the cavalry to arrive.

And boy, do they.  They make short work of the thugs.  One tries to flee the scene... Santa grabs for him, but gets his beard sliced off for his troubles... we finally see who is behind the beard... and, well I'll be... it's not a fella at all... it's the Golden Age Red Tornado, Ma Hunkle!  She wallops the baddie, and it's reunion time.

We advance a bit to Ma's house.  It's pretty much a Justice Society museum... there are framed photos throughout the home, and perhaps best of all... her old Red Tornado helmet, which is currently serving as a planter for a small Christmas Tree.  If you're not familiar with Ma Hunkle... her helmet was just a soup pot... and it was pretty cool.

As Alan and Jay admire her home, she enters with coffee and cookies.  Here we get a proper introduction... so, if you didn't know her before this... you get to know her now.  Ma Hunkle was a concerned mother who was just trying to keep her neighborhood clean... she had no "super" powers... just a lotta guts.

She asks Alan how he's doing... and he discusses his newfound appreciation for Christmas.  He is looking forward to spending the day with his family, where before as a broadcasting executive, the holidays were nothing more than a burden to him.

Next up is Jay.  He's almost a new man himself... having Bart Allen in his life is making him feel young again.  He talks about having to search toy stores in both the United States and Japan to find everything on Bart's wishlist.  Ted, quiet philanthropist that he is, is opening up his gym to the public so that he may feed the poor.  He seems kind of embarrassed to confirm this... but he does.

Ted's face makes this scene!

Finally, Carter... he's standing by the window all by his lonesome.  Ya see, one of the big subplots during this time was the Hawks (Man and Girl) not really seeing eye to eye on their "shared destiny" thing.  Carter is still into the old way of doing things... they live, they love, they die... repeat.  The current Hawkgirl Kendra Saunders, however, just ain't feeling it this time around.  She is trying to fight their destiny... and it really is quite a gripping story.  Anyhoo, Carter is upset that Kendra is spending Christmas with her family rather than him.  Despite their own spiritual beliefs, Christmas is/was still a special day for them to share.  Ma suggests he help out Wildcat at the gym... and it looks like she might be on to something.

Next up we get to catch up with Ma.  She wound up testifying against the Yellow Mask Mob to keep them off the streets.  To avoid retaliation, the government facilitated her "death".  Ever since, she has been in a sort of witness relocation... even kept from her sons.  Well, Alan's got some good news tonight... the last living relative of the Yellow Mask Mob just passed away.  Ma is now free to "rejoin the living"... and, even better... rejoin the Justice Society of America.  As the museum curator.

We jump ahead a bit and see that Ma has made herself at home at the brownstone.  It doesn't take her long to settle in and make herself an institution.  Now she gets to be everybody's "Ma".  It's really such a touching scene/issue.  I severely doubt my words are doing it any justice.  I usually save my "recommendations" for the end... but, spoiler alert... check this book out.

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Ya know... my initial "gut" reaction in reading this issue is... anger.  Anger that the powers that be at DC Comics saw fit to retire these wonderful characters for some short-term financial gain back in 2011.  Thankfully cooler heads seem to have prevailed, and we will (eventually) be seeing them again in our new Rebirth-ed DC Universe.

As for this issue... damn, what an issue.  It's not too often a writer elicits such an emotional reaction from me.  I mean, I've gushed... I've hated... I've been indifferent... but today, I actually felt a bit of a tickle in my throat as I made my way through this issue.  This was a celebration of the Golden Age... a celebration of family.  Just a magical book... I absolutely loved it.

Best of all, I'd forgotten just who was under the Santa beard... I remembered that Ma Hunkle came back around this time, but totally forgotten that it happened here.  When that reveal happened, I must have had the dopiest smile on my face.  I loved the reunion, and the fact that she was able to rejoin the Society in some capacity.  Her old Red Tornado helmet serving as the planter for her Christmas tree was awesome too.

Really enjoyed the chatter among the fellas throughout the issue.  I mean, these guys have been pals for over a half century at this point... and it's just awesome seeing them play off one another.  Hawkman having some mixed feelings about the Holiday in light of his would-be soulmate, Hawkgirl being less than receptive to their shared "destiny" was a nice touch.  This had been a long-running subplot throughout this era, and was really quite well handled.

Green Lantern and the Flash are just the cornerstones of this entire generation of heroes.  They are just unshakable... such a comforting presence in the DC Universe... I hope they will be back soon... the real ones, that is.  Ted/Wildcat is definitely the Guy Gardner of this group... irascible and sarcastic with a heart of gold... just such a lovable jerk.  Man, this was just such an amazing book.

Overall... I gotta say it... if you're a DC Comics fan, you really owe it to yourself to check out the Justice Society.  Not that New-52 Earth 2 stuff... the real-deal stuff here.  If you are one of the fabled "new readers" DC threw the baby out with the bathwater to court, please check these issues out and let me know if these "old timers" would have been too intimidating and would have stopped you from buying DC Comics.

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On the second day of Christmas on Infinite Earths, I gave to you... JSA #55, and a Batman and the Outsiders #19 Review

Batman and the Outsiders #19 (1985)

Batman and the Outsiders #19 (March, 1985)
"Who's Afraid of the Big Red S?"
Writer/Co-Creator - Mike W. Barr
Artist/Co-Creator - Jim Aparo
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Cover Price: $0.75

Welcome to the first day of our Twelve Days of Christmas on Infinite Earths series!  Gonna take this right up to the day itself.  I was planning on starting the Christmas/Holiday special on December 1... but then remembered how burned out I got on horror books during the month of October... Figured a "Twelve Days of..." would suffice.  Hell, if I'm still doing this next year I think October will get a "13 Days of Halloween" type'a thing to assuage extreme disinterest.

Anyhoo, that's neither here nor there... let's get right into it.  Today we're going to be discussing another Christmas-themed issue of Batman and the Outsiders.  Whenever I flip through my bins, I'm always surprised about how many Christmas-themed issues the Outsiders had!

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We open with Halo bursting into Wayne Manor... well, that certainly won't attract any attention, right?  Luckily it's late on Christmas Eve, so nobody's really lurking about.  In such a panic, she nearly knocks poor Alfred over, spilling his tray of baked treats... she's got some horrible news for the Batman!  Well, it had better be important, Bruce has some Holiday reading to get to... she claims that Brion (Geo-Force) is on his way to kill someone!  He settles her tea kettle and asks her to start at the beginning.

Earlier that night we see Brion setting up his Christmas decorations (and smashing his thumb with a hammer).  Gaby arrives and they embrace.  This is in between Part 1 and 2 of The Truth About Halo, so at this point she is living with her "family"... she's been a bit adrift from her Outsider pals.  After becoming reacquainted, Brion produces a tiny box, one that might be the size of an engagement ring.  This prompts Halo to "have a talk" with her man... 

They both sit down with sullen looks on their face... they gather their gumption and at the same time they both announce that they don't love each other!  Hey, how easy was that?  That almost never happens... might just be the most unbelievable part of this comic book!  Anyhoo, Gaby says she's just been confused... finding out who she is... finding out she's got a family... yadda yadda yadda.  Brion says that he feels he might have been projecting his love for his dead sister Tara (that's Teen Titan Terror Terra to us), which is... kinda creepy, but I suppose I can forgive it.  He never knew Tara, and feels as though he missed out on loving/protecting her.  So, I guess he sees Gaby as his "little sister"... Hell, that's exactly how he refers to her when she opens her gift... which is a halo on a chain.

Halo decides to call Tatsu (Katana) to tell her about her gift, and to invite her over to Brion's.  We briefly shift over to Tatsu's place, and we see her decline to answer the phone.  As she listens to Halo's message she looks forlorn.

At this point, back in the "present", Bruce Wayne is all... "Get on with it!".  It's really quite funny... I, myself, had almost forgotten that this was a flashback.  Anyhoo... moments after trying to call Tatsu, Brion's phone rings.  On the other end is one of his classmates, a girl named Denise.  She just overdosed on sleeping pills and perhaps realized she's not quite ready to die.  Brion heads off and Gaby calls the paramedics.

Moments later, we see Geo-Force carry the poor girl from her home and deposit her in the back of an ambulance.  The paramedic informs him that she's "got a chance".  Brion promises that the one responsible for this will pay.

Gaby asks for clarification... and he mentions that Denise had muttered something as he carried her out... something about a professor of theirs... Dean Raeburn.  Doesn't that just sound like a teacher's name?  Like, I couldn't make up a better one if I tried!  Anyhoo, he crushes a brick in his hand, and heads off... to kill Raeburn!

This catches us up... Gaby went to Batman because she didn't know what else to do.  Clearly she couldn't stop Geo-Force herself... Hell, Batman might not even be all that much help if it became physical... this leaves Bruce having to rely on one ace he still has up his sleeve... and if the cover didn't already spoil it for ya... that ace, is Superman!

Alerted to a flipped switch in the Batcave, Clark Kent leaves the festivities of the Daily Planet Christmas party and suits up for "work".

A bit later, Superman meets up with Halo so that she can fill him in on all the details.  Gaby is immediately smitten with the Man of Steel... she's kind of acting like Ice would in his presence a half-decade later.

We shift scenes to a bell-ringer Santa Claus being held up by a street punk.  Luckily Black Lightning and Katana are out patrolling the area on this night.  Pierce zaps the baddie, and the Santa runs off to "get the P'lice"  He even refers to the Outsiders as "Youngblood"... which makes me realize neither Black Lightning nor Katana are drawn with feet on this page.

The pair stop the baddie from reaching his gun while they discuss Tatsu's current "Gaby" problem.  She claims that their separation needs to be permanent... for Gaby to truly move on and live with her family, Tatsu feels as though she should step aside and not be in the way.  Black Lightning thinks what we're all thinking... and it is just one word, "Bull."

We rejoin Geo-Force just as he arrives at Dean Raeburn's cabin.  He busts through the wall, Kool-Aid Man style, which causes Raeburn to go for his gun... bad move... Geo-Force crushes it in his hands.  We learn that Raeburn withheld Denise's scholarship... unless she, ahem, "served his pleasure"... I know that's probably the least offensive way that can be stated, but somehow it sounds the grossest!  He then lifts Raeburn off the ground threatening to cave in his skull!

Luckily, Superman (and Halo) have arrived in the nick of time.  Geo-Force is lost in rage, and accuses Superman of protecting Raeburn... which, he sort of is... but he's protecting Brion too.  Geo-Force does what everybody does when they're on the wrong side of Superman... he hauls off and punches him!  Which works about as well as you'd imagine...

Superman throws Brion from the cabin, fearing further physicality in the cabin would hurt or injure everyone present.  Brion slides back and hammers Superman from behind.  Here we get a pretty neat use of Brion's powers... he can affect gravity... and since Superman's powers are due in part to Earth having far less gravitational pull than Krypton... Geo-Force can somewhat level the playing field.

We briefly cutaway to Metamorpho and his lady Sapphire as they complete their Christmas shopping.  Sapphie thinks they're done, but Rex has other thoughts.  He wants to buy a gift for her father... the same dude who tried to have him killed a few times.  Aw, what the heck, it's Christmas!

Back by the cabin, Geo-Force is just walloping Superman!  They continue their philosophical discussion as they fight.  Geo-Force feels as though Raeburn's gotta pay with his life... while Superman, obviously, argues that there is a system in place to deal with people like the Dean.  Brion argues that it will simply be Denise's word against the Dean's... and sadly, he's not wrong.  Superman realizes that the fighting is futile... he looks around to make sure nobody is around, and with a thunderous clap... triggers an avalanche.

He plucks Geo-Force out of the powder, and returns to the cabin to confront Raeburn.  Of course, the Dean is none too quick to come clean... in fact, he threatens to sue for damages!  As if by magic, Batman appears holding a yellow envelope.  Inside are six signed affidavits from victims of Raeburn's "pleasure favors", which along with Denise's, will hopefully put this perv away.

We wrap up with battle-bruised Brion visiting Denise in the hospital.  She is well on her way to recovery.  She asks what day it is... and he informs her it is Christmas.

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Man I love this series!  Just can't get over how much fun I have whenever I check out an issue of Batman and the Outsiders.  Never expected much from it, but damn... this is some great comics.  Between this and the New Teen Titans going on at the same time... what a great time it would've been to be a DC Comics fan!

A lot of stuff happened here... so let's try and piece it all out.  We'll start with one of the things that made me chuckle... Gaby telling Bruce the story... and losing her place in it!  I thought this was so well executed... because I lost my place in it too!  When Bruce put his hand on her shoulder, it was just as though he was reminding me that there ought to be a point to her tale.  So great!  It also shows us that Gaby is sort of acting like a normal teenager might.  Of course, since we already know "The Truth About Halo", that's kind of iffy... but, the way I look at it... we're all kind of a product of our environment.  Who and what we are surrounded by can have a profound impact on our behavior.  If everyone around Gaby is treating her like she's a teenager... it might stand to reason that she would begin acting as such.  Orrrrrrrrr I might just be thinking too hard.  Either way, loved this bit!

The Tatsu (which I type as Tatus EVERY time) and Gaby relationship is another interesting part.  I'm not sure what kind of vibe we were supposed to be getting from Tatsu's feelings... I consider Barr to be a pretty subtle writer, similar to Marv Wolfman... I dunno if we're supposed to read more into Tatsu's affections.  Granted this may all be revealed in an issue I haven't yet checked out.  If I were to guess, I would say that Tatsu has some protective urges... everything she has done for Gaby thus far has been what she considers to be in her (Gaby's) best interests.  I know very little about Katana's past... for all I know she might, just like Brion, be projecting "little sister" feelings toward her.

Brion and Gaby deciding that they love one another... but don't love one another was pretty great.  Just another one of those things that make you realize that these are (for all intents and purposes) young people.  People who are confused about their emotions... those who may misdirect their affections.  It really humanizes them, and I appreciate it being here.

Moving ahead a bit... we've got the philosophical debate between Geo-Force and Superman.  Superman has mostly (well, maybe not during the Golden Age) been portrayed as letting the system work... and getting involved when it doesn't.  Brion, being... again, a young dude... doesn't quite dig that idea... especially when what has gone down has affected him personally.  I really like that Batman was able to dig up a half-dozen more victims of Raeburn's "advances"... it paints an interesting picture... nobody was there for them, the way Brion was for Denise.  No matter how personally one takes an affront to justice, there is always going to be injustice.  Or, again... maybe I'm just thinking too hard.

Brion took this personally... and just maybe, he doesn't trust "the system".  Gotta remember, he's from Markovia... a country that was taken over by the Soviets.  He may understand first hand that the "system" doesn't always work.  He mentions that it would be a simple game of "he said/she said" should it escalate... which, as noted above, is sadly true.  I'm glad this cynical view saw print... because it is very real.  There is a maturation in comics during this era.  There is skepticism... doubt... distrust.  It would be refreshing, if not for the subject matter!  He even kind of stumps Superman with his cynicism!

Which takes us to the super-avalanche.  It's a little thing, but I love that Barr and Aparo had Superman make sure the coast was clear before triggering it!  This shows a more conscientious Superman as we ready ourselves for the post-Crisis era.  I mean, we've discussed stories in which Superman set off massive earthquakes just to screw with the baddies... likely causing a ridiculous amount of damage, destruction... and casualties!  Here however, he makes sure nobody will be hurt before slippin' the slopes.  Very well done. 

Overall, if my gushing didn't make it obvious... this issue (and series) is definitely worth your time.

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Batman #414 (1987)

Batman #414 (December, 1987)
"Victims!"
Writer - Jim Starlin
Penciller - Jim Aparo
Inker - Mike DeCarlo
Lettterer - John Costanza
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Editor - Denny O'Neil
Cover Price: $0.75

Okay, after a weekend in WildStorm we're back in the safety of the DCU proper.  Today we're going to check out another issue from such a wonderfully surprising run on Batman.

Also... if my calendar-reading is right, tomorrow starts our Twelve Days of Christmas on Infinite Earths special.

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We open with Batman conferring with Commissioner Gordon as they watch over the crime scene of a young woman who was murdered, mutilated, and left in a dumpster.  Tonight's is the third such occurrence in recent times.  Gordon mentions that the murderer is a "non-secretor", that is to say that he leaves no evidence behind.  He then gives the ol' "I'm getting too old for this" spiel, and Batman assures him that eventually their perp will slip up... and when he does, they'll nail him.  In the distance, Batman notices a raging fire.  Gordon sets to call in the Fire Department, and Batman heads out to lend a hand.

Upon arrival atop the burning Decker Street apartment building, Batman finds a young blonde woman holding a child.  His thoughts give the impression that he is thankful that this woman is a stranger... it's always easier to deal with strangers, no emotional attachment.  The fire quickly spreads, cornering the woman at the very edge of the roof... she falls, never losing her grip on the child.  Batman swoops in and saves both lives.

On the ground, we learn that this woman (Kate) was simply a passer by.  A social worker who just happened to do much of her work in this nasty South Heights Gotham neighborhood.  She is responsible for saving several lives on this night... which causes Batman to actually crack a bit of a smile.  He offers to have the GCPD escort her home, but she... tough cookie that she is, declines.  Hell, she's shown tonight that she is quite capable of handling herself.

Batman again... kind of smiles.  He appreciates her spunk.  As the sea of looky-loos parts for him, he takes notice of a well-known skeezball drug pusher called Cutter.  He considers rattling his cage, but ultimately decides against it.  Hmm, is your spidey-sense tingling?

A week later, Bruce Wayne attends a dinner party held by a Morton Babcock.  It is here that he learns that Kate's last name is... Babcock!  She is Morton's do-gooder daughter who sees more value in helping people than just being a rich wife and mother.  Bruce can certainly dig that.  Over the next few weeks, Bruce and Kate saw a lot of one another... but kept things casual.  They were friends, nothing more.

Which makes what's about to happen somehow worse... A neighborhood woman sees a lady being forced into the back of a blue van.  She calls the authorities... and the following morning we learn that there has been another "dumpster killing".  Batman arrives on the scene... and, yup... you guessed it, today's victim is Kate Babcock.

If Kate and Bruce simply had a fling, I think he'd more easily "shake" this off.  Of course it would still be horrible... but for this to happen to Bruce's friend... someone he admired, someone whose work he respected... I dunno, it just feels like this may be a tougher pill to swallow.  Bruce returns to the Batcave to do some research, when suddenly he puts two and two together and realizes that the dope-peddler he let go on the night of the fire goes by the name "Cutter".  These murders all have "cutting" in common.

And so, Batman sets out on his mission of vengeance.  He shakes down all of Cutter's contemporaries... however, nobody seems to know where he is.  Next, Batman finds out where Cutter lives, and does a little non-warranted searching... but finds nothing.  Just as he's about to give up the search, he finds out that Cutter drives a... blue van!  He's back in business.

A few days later Batman learns that the GCPD is trying to work a sting on a drug drop... one where Cutter is expected to show up.  He offers to give his support to the Department as "back up".  Back on patrol, he notices that he's kept seeing not a blue van... but a red one.  Well, perhaps Cutter just got a new coat of paint, right?  He decides to tail the van... but before he can catch up, he notices a pair of small-timers robbing a convenience store.  He makes the call to take care of the robbers rather than pursuing the van.

The Gotham PD take their time coming to cuff the creeps and Batman hopes he isn't too late to catch Cutter in the act.  At the warehouse where the drug-drop is to occur, Cutter does show up.  He plans to screw over his customers... keep the cash, and the coke.  Ya see, he got his name "Cutter" from cutting pure cocaine with powdered sugar and baby laxative... or something.  The tensions rise among the druggers... and Cutter brandishes a... blade!

Upon seeing the blade, Batman's mind immediately goes to his friend Kate.  Without even thinking... he pounces into the fray.

Batman is ruthlessly aggressive with the creeps... and, ya know... I think he actually might have killed one of them... or maybe broke his neck.  Ya don't screw with Batman's friends...

It comes down to Batman and Cutter.  Cutter declines to "come peacefully" which is exactly the answer Batman wanted to hear... this gives him complete license to just pummel the hell out of the jerk... and he does!  Until Commissioner Gordon intervenes.  Before Batman leaves he informs Gordon that Cutter is the Dumpster Killer.

Later at the Batcave, Bruce gets a phone call from the Commissioner.  It is here that we learn two things... first, that Cutter could not possibly be the Dumpster Killer... he'd been in jail for the last couple of murders...

And also... there's been another murder.  Which takes us to an hour later, as Batman arrives at the crime scene.  An officer on duty informs both he and Gordon that an eyewitness claims to have seen a... red van.

We close with Batman standing alone on a rooftop.  He's processing the night's events... and accepting responsibility for this fifth murder.  He stopped his pursuit of the red van... and it cost a poor young woman her life.  He states that he will catch the butcher responsible, and pledges so in Kate's name.

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Kind of a punch inna gut, innit?

This Starlin era on Batman has been such a wonderful surprise and I can't figure out why I haven't gotten to it sooner.  Guess I may have just written Mr. Starlin off as a "cosmic" writer... I've been so impressed by this entire run thus far.  Every issue has been a treat.

His Batman is perhaps the most human that I've ever seen him.  He's truly a complete and complex character who is not always the coolest guy in the room... he's a man with flaws, urges, and guilt.  He's not always right... which is perhaps the most refreshing part of this issue and this era.

I love that he's human enough to let things become personal, while at the same time conscientious enough to realize that he's done so... just as he has here with Kate.  His drive does not usually cause him to fall victim to tunnel-vision... he's usually able to see things from all angles, even in the heat of battle... yet here, he shows those signs of humanity... he lets himself become obsessed with finding... and punishing, Cutter.

This issue seemed to play a bit with Spider-Man's origin story from Amazing Fantasy #15.  We watch as Batman chooses not to rattle Cutter's cage, passing him by during the fallout of the fire.  I thought for sure that he was going to be tangentially responsible for Kate's death.  Turns out he couldn't have saved her from the blue van... but he could've saved the next poor victim from the red one.

This issue puts Batman's "position" in Gotham as something of a blindfolded juggler... he lets the red van get away so that he can stop a pair of petty thieves... you gotta wonder just how often something like this occurs... how often he chooses the lesser (or greater) of two evils... not even realizing what he may be giving up in the pursuit.  It's a staggering and sobering thought... just adds another horrible layer to Batman's already shaky psyche.

So yeah... absolutely loved this issue.  The Starlin/Aparo pairing is pure Bat-magic... and should be enjoyed by anyone calling themselves a Batman fan.  This post-Crisis-infancy era on the Dark Knight is rapidly climbing its way to the top of my favorites... This gem and those around it are all currently available digitally, and they're definitely worth your time.  If you think Year One was all this era was good for (like I used to!), I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

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