Review – JSA #9: Enemy at the Gates
Ray: Despite the huge scale, there's a sense of claustrophobia to this series – as the JSA finds themselves under attack from every possible corner, including from within. The heroes are scattered to the winds, with some being trapped in unknown locations. Beth Chapel has found the real Obsidian and is trying to escape with him, but is pursued by Scandal Savage – who has returned to her villainous ways, same as her wife Knockout over in another title. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but at least Lemire gives a good explanation for the change her. Obsidian's mind, meanwhile, is stuck in a maze with Jakeem Thunder – and Johnny Thunder, the original voice behind the Thunderbolt. This is a very clever visual segment, with a great reveal about the villain, bringing in one of the JSA's most obscure villains but also one of its most powerful with surprising ties to another big franchise. Escape. Via DC Comics.
But the biggest threat might be right here on Earth, as the team is falling apart from within. Yolanda Montez has quit, out of grief and rage after she killed a Kobra member to avenge Ted Grant. Ted's not entirely gone, but she doesn't know that, and it falls to Khalid to try to pull her back from the brink. Meanwhile, the impostor Obsidian gets close to Alan Scott, as he tries to manipulate the team against each other and collect some valuable information to transfer back to Wotan. While we know exactly who this villain is under the disguise, it still packs a punch when he's revealed as arguably the JSA's arch-nemesis. This series took a little getting used to compared to the lighter JSA run by Johns, with its denser tone and higher stakes, but it's really grown with every issue, pulling in some compelling plot threads from the history of the JSA and giving some less-known characters an excellent spotlight.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!
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