Justice Society of America 15-16
Plotted by Geoff Johns and Alex Ross, with alternate painted covers by Ross. The interior art by Eaglesham and Rollins is outstanding. I'm enjoying this story arc in spite of the so-called New Gods and fourth world stuff, which I could typically care less about. But Gog is an interesting character and some happy events actually take place in # 16. Do comics always have to be dark?
Issue 15 is basically a battle issue with the JSA against Magog. While character development might at first seem sparse, the characters are developed as individual members' powers are showcased in various panels. The final page of this issue promises a return of Earth-2 and its Robin and Huntress (but we already knew that, right?). Both issues 15 and 16 hint at a return of Isis, a character created to be killed in 52. I do hope she comes back. I liked her.
I'm glad Cyclone is around. It's great to have a descendant of the original Red Tornado on board. But I do wish she'd replace that utterly ridiculous costume. She looks more like she belongs in the circus than with the JSA.
Avengers / Invaders 1-2
In addition to JSA, Alex Ross is co-plotting and painting covers for this Marvel/Dynamite series. I wasn't going to add anything else to my pull list. But my love for Golden Age characters, combined with the free sketch book, and Ross' life like painted cover for the first issue made this a must read. It takes me back to the Roy Thomas Invaders series I read as a kid in the 70s.
The Invaders accidentally travel forward through time from the battlefields of World War II to present day NYC. They get there through a most creative and mysterious means. And they unknowingly take an American soldier with them. What havoc might such anomalies play on the timestream?
Will the WW II Captain America learn that the Avengers he meets were his friends in the present, but that it's a present in which he is already dead? Will Bucky meet his older self, who I hear is the new Captain America? Will the outcome of WW II be altered in the Marvel Universe?
This is one of three current titles in which Golden Age heroes find themselves in their future, which is our present day. The others include Marvel's excellent series, The Twelve. It may be that the Black Widow of that series may appear in this one along with some other forgotten Golden Age heroes. The third title with Golden Age heroes is Project Superpowers. As with Justice Society of America and Avengers / Invaders this one also includes painted covers and co-plotting by Ross.
I love this resurgence of Golden Age characters and I'm enjoying Avengers / Invaders as much as I have any comic in a long time. By the time I get to the last page I can't believe it's already over and I'm looking forward to the next issue to see what develops. Sadowski's excellent interior art makes the original Human Torch more realistic than ever. Ross and Krueger have Namor's character down perfect. And of course Ironman and Spiderman play key roles.
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