JSA Classified #19 Review

Reviews

Story Title: Skin Trade: Part One – Spare Parts
Reviewed by: Mathan “Yay, Son of Vulcan” Erhardt

Written by: Scott Beatty
Penciled by: Rags Morales
Inked by: Michael Bair
Colored by: I.L.L.
Lettered by: Travis Lanham
Editor: Mike Carlin
Publisher: DC Comics

The issue begins with a Doctor Mid-Nite recounting of the “Kidney-napping” urban myth as he attends to a DCU hero who’s been relieved of his eyes. The skeptical Doctor is then lead on a tour of S.T.A.R. labs and witness several characters who’ve been stripped of various organs and body parts (including a couple of Global Guardians and a couple of New Bloods.)

The good Doctor agrees to investigate and his first stop is at Roulette’s fight club. Roulette and Mid-nite verbally joust and he even engages in a thrilling arm wrestling match with her Valet. The result is that Roulette puts Mid-nite on the path of someone who’s benefited from the illegal practice. The model then leads the Doctor to who he believes is the “brain” of the operation that results in a thrilling cliffhanger.

Scott Beatty has crafted a story so good, that I’m not even trying to figure out who’s behind the whole thing; I’m just enjoying the ride. Beatty doesn’t write nearly enough books as far as I’m concerned. I’m glad that the impressive Son of Vulcan miniseries has finally been referenced, sadly it took Beatty to do it. Beatty managed to avoid making Mid-nite a “skim-Batman” by reiterating the fact that he’s a Doctor. And he also managed to utilize cannon fodder characters, in a respectful manner.

In terms of art Rags never disappoints. A trip to Roulette’s is always fun, not only for who’s betting, but for who’s in the ring and this appearance doesn’t disappoint. The scenes a S.T.A.R. are equally well rendered and full of cameos. Oh and Rags and Bair make Roulette look terrifically seductive.