JSA #54

Virtue, Vice & Pumpkin Pie

Geoff Johns Writer
Don Kramer Pencils
Keith Champagne Inks
John Kalisz Colors
Heroic Age Separations
Jared K Fletcher Letters
Stephen Wacker Assoc. Editor
Peter Tomasi Editor

Our cover by Carlos Pacheco shows the JSA and the JLA gathering around a table like a happy family for a Thanksgiving feast. And this isn't just a sentimental, fun holiday cover. This actually happens in this issue. With one exception: Wally West. I'll talk more about his conspicuous absence at the end.

Our story opens at the headquarters of the Justice Society of America in Manhattan, where the JSA and JLA have gathered together for the first time since the Virtue and Vice even that saw Despero and Johnny Sorrow nearly conquer the world. Everybody's in a good mood and excited to celebrate Thanksgiving, except for Batman, who spends the entire issue worrying that something bad will happen.

Representing the Flash family are Jay and Joan Garrick, Bart (still as Impulse) and the de-powered Jesse Chambers. Bart complains to Jay about having to wait so long to eat, noting he could quickly grab some KFC right now. (I love this joke, because in the future, Impulse will literally appear in a KFC comic.) Jay encourages Bart to try to socialize with the other heroes and warns him that he'll steal his speed if he doesn't slow down.

Bart and Jakeem Thunder find each other, and although they have met before, it was only briefly, so Bart needs to be reminded of Jakeem's name. Turns out they both live in Keystone City, but go to different high schools. Bart says his school "totally blows," which earns him a reprimand from Jay. So Bart improves his language, saying he doesn't like it. Jakeem actually swears when talking about his school, and when Jay yells at Jakeem, Bart gives him a thumbs up.

Eventually, dinner is served. Stargirl (formerly known as the Star-Spangled Kid) is upset at having to sit at the kids table with Bart and Jakeem, complaining that Captain Marvel is the only real kid in attendance. Bart and Jakeem don't make Courtney feel any better by bragging about being able to eat mashed potatoes through their nose.

Jay proposes a toast, but before anyone can begin eating, a blue and red alien suddenly teleport into the middle of the room, destroying the table and all the food. They announce themselves as Kulak the Sorcerer and the Warlock of Ys and claim they'll crush the Justice League and rule the world. But then they realize they're outnumbered 10-to-1 and don't stand a chance. With the villains defeated very quickly off screen, our heroes order pizza and Mr. Terrific allows Batman the satisfaction of saying he was right.



This was a nice, light-hearted comic, giving our heroes the rare chance to just hang out and relax. Bart goofing off with Jakeem was a natural pairing, although I feel Geoff Johns had both of them acting way too young. I don't think there are many 15-year-olds trying to eat mashed potatoes through their nose.

Now for the Wally business. The Flash #200 ended with Wally reporting on Bart having joined the Teen Titans and Jesse losing her powers, right before he makes a deal with the Spectre to have the world forget about the Flash. So this comic had to fall within a very narrow time frame after the conversation Wally had with Jay about Bart joining the Teen Titans, but before Bart spends his first day with the team, because he ended that night as Kid Flash. It's pretty weird, but it does almost, sort of work, continuity-wise. The ironic thing here is that Geoff Johns is the writer of all three books, so you'd think he would have made everything a bit clearer. Instead, it feels like he kind of painted himself into a corner with Wally's story.

Next time, we'll continue Bart's first day as Kid Flash in Teen Titans #5.