When people talk about accessibility of comics, sometimes I don't think they give kids enough credt for being able to figure things out. One of the very first comic stories I read as a kid - and one that got me hooked was Justice League of America #100-102, which featured the JLA, JSA and Seven Soldiers of Victory in one big adventure. Even Metamorpho came along for the ride! I wasn't put off by so many characters I hadn't seen before - indeed, I was dazzled by them and wanted to find out more.
Agree with you Ross. And what was great we did not have almost endless stories then. I do not mind threads connecting stories or flashbacks to previous stories but current crossroads last months and then are swept away by next big event.
ReplyDeleteAdditional note: Considering the time period this is a great team-up and great cover.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to what you said in your narrative, Ross. I cannot recall the issue numbers, but the first comics that I got in about 1977 or 1978 were a World's Finest (featuring a story with Batman and Superman, the Creeper, the Human Target, and I believe that Green Arrow and Black Canary had a story in it) and a Spiderman with Aunt May holding him at gun point protecting Dr. Octopus.
ReplyDeleteThat started it all with me in comics. From that point to now I have loved superhero stories (even making up some of my own characters). I especially loved the various crossovers such as the JLA/JSA and the DC/Marvel team ups. That is, I suppose, one reason why I love your covers so much. You are able to do what I had only dreamed of doing. Thank you for doing this!
You know.. agreed. When I first pulled comics from the drug store spinner rack, I don't think any book was below triple digits. It was also sometimes in the middle of a story.
ReplyDeleteComic companies don't give potential new readers of any age enough credit. Or maybe as we grow we get too caught up in a need for order. I don't know.
Still... good cover, good point.
If that giant bell jar is made of the same material as the Nebula Man, then I would hazard to guess that Iron Hand has forged an alliance with Degaton. Perhaps, even the nucleus of a new Injustice Society? Given their alpha personalities, however, I would also hazard to guess that they were probably brought together by the telepathically hypnotic Lady Lotus!
ReplyDeleteRoss, your compositions are consistently outstanding. But this one is remarkable to me - it is just PERFECT! The story, the title, the arrangement of the characters - ABSOLUTELY SPLENDID!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys, I'm glad you like this one!
ReplyDeleteAnother thing we didn't have was the Internet, with all of the review blogs and chat rooms inhabited by trolls who make fun of newbies who can't tell you what book Lameo's first appearance was in and smother the spark of the newbies.
ReplyDeleteMy first 'spark' was from a house ad in Superboy (which my folks bought for me) for the "Fantastic Fingers of Felix Faust" issue of Justice League of America. I recognized Supes & Bats, Aquaman and GA (from the back of World's Finest), knew that had to be Wonder Woman, Flash and GL, but had no idea who Martian Manhunter, or Snapper were, but I wanted to read the book and find out.
i have always loved the annual jla/jsa team ups and i miss them alot!!!!....wish they would bring them back!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete"i have always loved the annual jla/jsa team ups and i miss them alot!!!!....wish they would bring them back!!!!!"
Same here!!!
There have been hints from the start of 'Rebirth' that the JSA will come back, and after all we've even seen Jay [briefly] in a Flash/Batman crossover, but the backstory behind their disappearance looks to me as though the "returned" version might be as they were when [OOC] 'All-Star Comics' was changed into 'All-Star Western' back in '51.
There's also the question of who'd be the Society's members, given that we presumably still couldn't have the Golden Age versions of Superman or Batman or Wonder Woman (and that the current Wonder Woman continuity would seem to rule out Byrne's "Hippolyta as the JSA's 'Wonder Woman'" story, too); that Dr Fate and the Spectre both exist in DC's mainstream continuity anyway; and that versions of their Hawkman (Carter Hall) and Hawkgirl (Kendra) have recently been introduced in the 'Metal'/'Dark Nights' storyline.
Still, we can hope....
(Oh, and just to confuse things further, a recent appearance by Mr Bones had him looking at an old newspaper photo of himself in costume and reminiscing about his time in Helix... but canonically, so far [as far as I know], Helix only appeared as a team against the version of 'Infinity Inc' that was formed by JSA legacy characters...)
Back in the day, if it wasn't continued in the next issue, the story was a "novel-length" adventure in one issue! Now a story is almost always told over a six-issue arc. From the get-go you're committed to six months. On one book. The mega-events are so much more expensive than a two part JLA/JSA team-up.
ReplyDeleteMore expensive...and more unpredictable, re: delivery date, if published independently.
ReplyDeleteMr. Bones appeared a number of times post Helix and post JSA/Infinity, Inc. Visually he is too appealing to not use.
ReplyDeleteWe have also seen Mr Terrific post new continuity.
@GH: I'd love to see him go up against the other Bone. The one currently on furlough from WAR OF THE INDEPENDENTS! It was six years ago, this month, that Red Anvil finally published issue #1. Unfortunately, publication of the other three issues has been more off than on...
ReplyDelete...with a five year-long hiatus between #3 and #4, especially!
Glenn Host said...
ReplyDelete"Mr. Bones appeared a number of times post Helix and post JSA/Infinity, Inc. Visually he is too appealing to not use."
'Appealing' is a matter of opinion. Yes, I know that he appeared post-Helix before this, but as far as I'm aware that was all pre-Flashpoint and so when the Helix/JSA/II continuity still applied: In post-Flashpoint continuity, however, who would Helix have fought against?
@Simreeve: The Bronze Wraith and the rest of the Justice Squadron, perhaps?
ReplyDelete