Tuesday, January 20

This is the first entry in my JSA journal. I grew-up being the atypical kid attracted to Marvel Comics, but within the past months I’ve been completely immersed in the DC universe. More specifically, the Justice Society of America has become my favorite super-hero team and book to read. Maybe it’s kind of sad really: I’m a 22 year-old college graduate and my days are spent thinking about how rich the history of the JSA is, and how great of a super-hero team they are. Forget about allocating my time to finding a career…I’ve got JSA adventures to dedicate myself to! This is just a daily exercise to capture random thoughts that wander through my mind about the JSA. Each day there shall be a new topic with my opinions and feelings. Man, I love the JSA.

Yes, that’s a “T” on his face

In the past month, I’ve bought all the JSA trades my local comic book shops have to offer. My favorite JSA trade is Justice Society Returns. The reader was given insight and characteristics to each hero of the JSA as they paired-off to fight disciples of the Stalker. Among many things (Johnny Thunder saving FDR, Atom showing his heart and heroism at Los Alamos, and the pairing of Mid-Nite and Hourman) my favorite aspect was Mr. Terrific and Flash in Dresden, Germany. I was completely in awe of Mr. Terrific and his adherence to “fair play.” This was my first real introduction to Terry Sloane and I became inspired: this was a hero—albeit a prodigy—without any guns, healing factors, or web shooters. He fights to make things fair in the world. Wow. It’s a simple concept really, but you hardly see it as a deliberate motivation for super-heroes. And then it was tragic, to see a flaw when Terry is unable to compose himself—goes ballistic, actually—when he is unable to comprehend (because it isn't fair) the Allied Forces bombing innocents in Germany.

Needless to say, Terry Sloane is one of my favorite characters and I was interested to read about how Michael Holt would carry the Mr. Terrific mantle. My friend who works at one of the local comic book stores says he thinks Michael Holt is a dumb character because of the “T” on his face. He does like the characteristics and personality of Holt, but cannot get over the “T” on the face. Although he does understand its Holt’s technology and serves as a mask to provide the hero with multiple capabilities, he just laughs and says, “What were they thinking? He has a T on his face!” At first I was compelled to make-fun of the new Mr. Terrific too because I respect my friend at the comic book store; he’s a wealth of comic knowledge, always funny, and is genuinely a nice guy. But once I started reading and became introduced to Michael Holt, I began loving everything about the character: including the “T” on the face. It fits the character well, if not perfectly. Hell, I think there aren’t enough super-heroes putting letters on their faces!

My friend does acknowledge the purposes of the mask, but is compelled to make fun of him nonetheless. I can see where he is coming from, but Michael Holt is not a lame dork walking around with a “T” on his face. The costume is perfect, just like the one worn by a guy who walked around with the words “Fair Play” written in a yellow polygon on the chest of a green jacket complimenting a red hood and tights.

wow!!!


are you sure your not me? your story is me to a T, from your age to your being a marve fan who bought the trades to JSA and loved the history the team has!!!


what a small world.....

Monday, January 26

The one and true Green Lantern.

Well, to me at least. If I was cocky, I would probably try to construct an argument amplifying why Alan Scott should be heralded as the one and true Green Lantern. I could easily support my argument with unavailing fodder and extrapolations. For example, in a recent study conducted by the Strummer Institute of Psychology, results show that people who wear green tights, red lace-up boots, and purple capes are the most confident and effective at being super-heroes. Although I digress, popular media uses this tactic frequently, and the general public starts confusing fact with polls, studies, and surveys. However, this is an Internet message board and that stuff doesn’t fly here. More importantly, this is a unique Heroclix and comic book-related forum where fanboys passionately and relentlessly argue everything from WizKids being Satan incarnate because the spoils of Hell influenced them to make Galactus a convention-only figure, to Batman could beat Jesus Christ in a fight…if he had enough time to prepare.

With that said, I’ll just state that Alan Scott is my favorite Green Lantern, and you’ll have to guess if I’m humbling you under the guise of opinion.

I’ll admit I’m partial to the JSA. However, after reading the JSA trade Darkness Falls Alan Scott’s actions speak for themselves. First, Alan Scott has the best and immortal line when a God-complex Obsidian commands to his father that he will make Scott see the world as he “wills it.” Scott replies by saying something along the lines of: “Son, I wrote the book on willpower!” It was one of those things where I contorted my face into an expression of laughter and surprise while shouting, “Oooh, he put you in your place!” Then I look around to gather the collective response of everybody else watching to see if they enjoyed the jibber-jabber as much as I did, but then I realize I’m sitting in my efficiency apartment wearing red plaid boxers with a comic book in my hands, whose content is being illuminated by a cheap Miami Dolphins license plate lamp while a ceiling fan whirrs above my head. Yeah, it’s a very humbling experience.

Anyways, to continue why I favor Alan Scott: while Obsidian nearly has the entire planet drenched in darkness and shadow, the JSA is able to prevail when Scott overpowers his son by using his willpower and ring to bring light to the whole world.

However, this is my favorite: while battling Extant, Alan Scott uses his ring to create a pseudo Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite and Hourman; he exacts vengeance with the memory of his deceased friends! It was touching and honorable, and once again I was shouting and exclaiming, “Did you see that?! Oh no, he didn’t! Nobody can stop this mug!” While waving my arm like a low-rider in the air and making whooping sounds, I again realized that I’m a young and single male spending his Friday night alone reading a comic book in his apartment. Two humbling and self-pitying moments within the span of a couple of pages: humility is great.

However, I feel no shame for being a dork because according to a recent study conducted by the Institute of DC Comics Fandom, most lovers of comics are genuine people who appreciate good writing, artwork, and all the other aspects that create a good book. Comic books were meant to be enjoyed, and I’m having fun.

Join the Dork Clan!