Reviewer: John Babos
Story Title: “Ray Guns and Bug-Eyed Monsters”
Written by: Kevin J. Anderson (of Star Wars and other sci-fi novels fame)
Penciled by: Barry Kitson (upcoming Legion of Super-Heroes relaunch penciler)
Inked by: Gary Erskine
Cover art: John Watson
Colored by: Hi Fi
Lettered by: Rob Leigh
Associate Editor: Stephen Wacker
Editor: Peter J. Tomasi
Publisher: DC
Flowing from JSA: Strange Adventures #1, issue #2 continues the adventure of Lord Dynamo and his half-man half-machine soldiers vs. the JSA… or does it? This issue throws a monkey wrench into things as the yet-to-be-revealed Dynamo showers humanity with great gifts of… art… music.. literature… and more.
Now…
….wait for it…
…there’s a catch!
And that catch could mean the humbling of two of the JSA’s most-powerful and iconic heroes.
While I’m a huge fan of the JSA and DC’s Golden Age (or Earth 2 as it was called pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths), I find it is very difficult to accept cliffhangers that threaten harm or career-ending dilemma’s for JSA characters. I find it particularly difficult in cases where 1) I know the hero will survive and be an active member in the current ongoing JSA series or 2) I already know the fate of the character if they aren’t active nowadays. That said, the Dynamo plot in Strange Adventures is intriguing and harkens back to the feel of yesteryear, but I don’t find there to be much weight behind the presumably serious threat the villain poses to our heroes.
The other arc in mini-series revolves around JSA “mascot” Johnny Thunder, the JSA’s new historian and the pulp magazine Amazing Stories‘ new scribe. I find it particularly interesting that writer Kevin J. Anderson is blending fact with fiction by squarely rooting the JSA in the reality of the time as it relates to Amazing Stories. Johnny Thunder’s boss at the magazine, for example, is Editor Hugo Gernsback – who was actually at the mag at the time – and Thunder’s writing mentor is Jack Williamson – a popular scribe at the time too.
Following the ups-and-downs of Johnny’s quest to hit it big as a writer is a very engaging yarn and the strength of the mini-series so far. I imagine many fans can relate to wanting to be successful in their chosen track – some have always wanted to be a comics professional – whether writer or artist. Readers really can live vicariously through Thunder in the Strange Adventures mini (so far anyway).
Barry Kitson’s art is good. It suits the book. My only minor quibble is that his style hasn’t really evolved over time, particularly how he portrays his characters. His art looks pretty much as it did ten years ago from that perspective. Its a dated feel. Since I’m pretty much into nostalgia, I like it for this story, but I hope he’s paired with another inker when he takes over Legion of Super-Heroes reins later this year. That might bring something “new” from his pencils. I know this seems like a mixed bag art commentary, but I’m letting my gut do the typing here.
John Watson’s painted covers are just gorgeous and Hi Fi’s muted-yet-bright colors really suit the book and add to its presumably deliberate retro feel.
All-in-all, JSA: Strange Adventures #2 is a fun read.
