Written by Roy Thomas & Gerry Conway
Art by Chuck Patton; Romeo Tanghal; John Costanza; & Gene D’Angelo
Cover Art by George Pérez
SUMMARY:
Published for October 1983 by DC Comics, it’s entitled “Crisis in the Thunderbolt Dimension, Part One.” The League line-up consists of Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern; Barry Allen’s Flash; Firestorm; Red Tornado; Zatanna Zatara; Elongated Man; and Black Canary. The JSA guest stars are: Hourman; Jay Garrick’s Flash; Helena Wayne’s Huntress; Power Girl; and Starman.
On Earth-One, the Flashes Barry Allen and Jay Garrick make predictably fast work of a rookie terrorist squad. Yet, Johnny Thunder’s corrupted Thunderbolt genie intercepts and critically wounds Barry Allen. Aboard the JLA satellite, another Thunderbolt attack decimates the JLA-JSA reunion party, which includes stranding the JSA on Earth-One.
Along with Black Canary & Red Tornado, the JSA ponders why the Thunderbolt genie has hospitalized five Justice Leaguers. Black Canary poignantly remembers the tragic death of her husband, Larry Lance, during a JLA-JSA team-up in Justice League of America # 73-74. She also recounts how the same cosmic incident evidently mutated her to gain the ‘canary cry’ super-power.
With most of the League neutralized, the heroes set out to thwart crime sprees across Earth-One by rampaging super-crooks from both Earths. Starman & the Canary secretly trace the Thunderbolt back to his otherworldly dimension. With a familiar villain now revealed, Black Canary is stunned by an enigmatic sight.
Note: This pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline is one of the few JLA-JSA team-ups not yet collected in the Crisis on Multiple Earths trade paperback series. Perhaps DC Comics will publish a future Volume 7 to someday resolve this matter.
REVIEW:
Though their work starts a bit shaky, the art team’s visuals prove top-caliber (especially the spot-on cover image). As a tag team, co-writers Roy Thomas & Gerry Conway deliver an intriguing opening round of a sequel to classic JLA-JSA team-ups. By plausibly narrowing down the cast to a more manageable amalgam of both teams, Thomas & Conway imbue their Black Canary sub-plot with necessary depth.
Celebrating their abundance of heroes, the co-writers even offer some fine quibbling bits, as well as another round of Firestorm’s crush on Power Girl. Between the quality writing and its excellent artwork, Justice League of America # 219 is an exciting entertainment package for any Justice League fan.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Editor Dick Giordano contributes a full-page “Meanwhile …” column. There is also a single-page “JLA Mail Room” letters-and-answers column. A single half-page provides synopses on then-current DC issues for the week of July 7, 1983.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars
