Written by Roy Thomas
Art by Jerry Ordway; Rafael Kayanan; Etc.
SUMMARY:
In 2015, DC Comics reprinted its four-part America vs. the Justice Society mini-series as a 156-page trade paperback. This 1984-85 courtroom storyline is a last hurrah for DC’s original Earth-Two — prior to 1985-86’s game-changing Crisis on Infinite Earths. On Earth-Two, the elderly Justice Society of America (JSA) has aged in real time (even Superman) since World War II, as their heroic offspring (the Infinity, Inc. team) waits to assume the JSA’s mantle.
America vs. the Justice Society depicts ghosts from the JSA’s decades-old closet coming back to haunt them. Blindsiding the team is a deceased Batman, as he launches a vindictive assault from beyond the grave. His covert Bat-diary is published directly accusing his fellow JSA members of war-time treason. Per the Caped Crusader’s enigmatic instructions, the diary is posthumously passed for safekeeping from a trusted Gotham City scientist, Dr. Nichols, to Clark Kent, now the editor of The Daily Star. Unbeknownst to Clark, his own newspaper reveals this explosive exposé.
According to Batman, his Golden Age JSA allies (excluding Robin & Superman) were secretly Nazi double-agents during World War II. Surrendering to federal custody, a reeling JSA is forced into a grand jury-like hearing before a three-member congressional inquiry.
Defending the JSA as its legal counsel is Batman & Catwoman’s daughter, Helena Wayne (aka the Huntress). Her opposition includes attorney Dick Grayson (still Robin), who still believes his Batman’s word above all others. Further complicating the case is that both Huntress and Robin are JSA members themselves.
Narrated by various members in turn, the team’s convoluted history is revisited. For instance, why did Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman remain active while their friends abruptly chose retirement amidst the McCarthyism of the early 1950’s? During this “trial,” others covertly scheme to hijack the JSA’s predicament. A long-absent JSA member resurfaces to further impact the team’s defense.
A troubled Helena contemplates the dire possibility of revealing her late father’s secret identity, if necessary, to save the JSA. Will the Golden Age Batman’s final case come to light? Only time will tell, so to speak.
REVIEW:
Roy Thomas and a reliable artistic crew (i.e. Jerry Ordway) deliver first-class entertainment for DC Comics’ old school fans. In satisfying fashion, it resolves a 1970’s mystery re: why Gotham City Police Commissioner Bruce Wayne (possibly Earth-Two’s biggest hypocrite) became the aging JSA’s most vocal critic. As readers are reminded, a disturbed Wayne had tragically donned Batman’s mantle one last time and sacrificed his life to rescue a captive JSA. Given the complexity of circumstances, the final reveal is a remarkable epitaph honoring the Golden Age Batman.
Despite the JSA’s occasionally wacky exploits, Thomas smartly balances their storied history with plausible character depth. He also knows well enough not to expand the storyline’s cast too much. For instance, Power Girl’s presence is bolstered by relegating her Infinity Inc. teammates to minimal ‘screen time.’
Another terrific plot thread is depicting the JSA’s personal lives in old age. Case in point: Wonder Woman fumes over not being home on Paradise Island to care for her ailing husband, General Steve Trevor. The Golden Age Sandman hasn’t fully recovered from a recent heart attack. Seen in one-panel cameos, readers can only wonder what is ticking in the minds of the JSA’s worried spouses, includes Lois Lane-Kent; Sheira Hall; Inza Nelson; and Joan Garrick. The friction rising between Helena and Dick is another intriguing element. To Thomas’ credit, his non-courtroom sequences are top-notch.
Yet, readers are inexplicably left cheated, as Thomas’ extensive footnotes per each issue have been excluded. These insights would have been helpful to casual readers puzzled by minor details that Thomas references. Omitting the footnotes doesn’t ruin America vs. the Justice Society, but they would have provided the necessary historical context re: the JSA’s Golden Age exploits. Even so, this well-produced collection offers a proper sense of closure for comics’ original super-team. America vs. the Justice Society is well worth re-discovery.
Note: A gunshot suicide sequence may preclude this storyline as an appropriate reading option for pre-teens.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Full-sized replicas of the four covers are included.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
