JSA Strange Adventures #5 Review

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Reviewer: Andy Campbell
Story Title: Life of a Madman (part 5)

Writer: Kevin J. Anderson
Breakdowns: Barry Kitson
Finishes: Gary Erskine
Color and Seps: Hi Fi
Letters: Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Peter J. Tomasi
Publisher: DC Comics

JSA Strange Adventures has been another pleasant surprise for me. I picked it up because I’m a fan of the JSA, and I haven’t been disappointed. For those who don’t already know, this book follows the exploits of the original Justice Society of America. It also features Johnny Thunder as…well, not so much a POV-character, but more like just a well-grounded character we can sympathize with.

The main focus of this issue is not on the JSA, but on Lord Dynamo, the story’s antagonist. We finally learn his origin, and what a great one it is! The origin is familiar enough to “feel” like Golden Age, but also decidedly a more modern style of storytelling. The origin is a tragic tale (as they so often are), and I really found myself sympathizing with Lord Dynamo…to a degree.

The art is also excellent. At first glance, it may not appear to be anything special. In fact, it sort of feels like an homage to the Golden Age style. However, upon closer inspection, it is really excellent work. In the origin scenes especially, you can really get an appreciation for the layout talents of the art team. They also have that “simplistic, yet detailed” look going on, which I always enjoy.