WHOA!!! JSA Is Cancelled!!

[Sean Walsh]

Fresh from July's DC solicits - JLA #87 is the series final issue!!!


JSA #87
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Rags Morales, Jerry Ordway and Luke Ross
Cover by George Pérez
Everything comes together in this shocking final issue that paves the way for the next chapter in the adventures of the world's first superteam! The JSA's violent final battle against the Gentleman Ghost pits them against a vicious army of evil dead that may spell the end for the team - and their home - as we know it!
On sale July 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • Final Issue

Being relaunched obviously, but this kinda explains the "why Johns wasn't coming back" rumors a couple months ago...

[protege]

Wonder what this will mean for JSA classified?

[Speed]

DC just couldn't wait another year until #100 could they.
Way to ruin one of your best books.

[Lex]

Huh. When I first read that solicitation I thought it meant the final issue of the story arc. Weird.

I agree that the book is being relaunched, especially since Geoff said he has big plans for the book. Though it would've been nice to see a JSA book reach #100, a Justice Society of America #1 isn't a terrible idea.

[Michael P]

Great, I only have two more trades to buy!

[Kevinroc]

JLA, JSA, Flash, Wonder Woman.

Wow, looks like DC is just as guilty of this relaunch craze as Marvel has been.

[Meta 05]

I like relaunches, just getting into dc i feel like stasrting with a first issue is a great way to get on board.Its a clean slate in a way as far as plots go an it gives me a real chance to get introduced to the chars.Number 1 issues usually in some form reset the chars an let newbies to the seires have an easy way to get on board, it also is less likly i will drop the series if i have it from number one on ward.

[Lex]

As much as we in the loyal fanbase dislike relaunches, we really can't fault DC for a marketing strategy that works.

[Otto Print]

I support Didio's plans to keep DC on the move but not allowing this title to reach issue 100 is shortsighted. JSA is one of the reasons I have maintained faith in DC in recent years and I suppose many will take this as a slap in the face. But if Johns is writing, I'll be buying.

[onenatv]

If the JSA is cancelled it's going to be relanch! I was at Wondercon in Fab. I personally asked Geoff Johns why did he decided to left to book. He said that he's coming back to the book later this year.

Don't worry guys, it'll be relanch!

[soda]

I'm pretty sure by "final issue", they mean either "final issue for this creative team" (ie Levitz's last issue), or last issue of the run. In either case, I wouldn't get worried, JSA sales have never been as good as they have been the last two years, any cancellation is just a relaunch.

[Kid Kyoto]

OK I'm a bit behind, how are the golden age superman, batman etc back in the JSA, or is that to be reveiled?

[O_Perez]

sad to see it end, but eagerly await "for the next chapter in the adventures of the world's first superteam!" JSA is one of my top favorite team books.

[Ontir]

I liked this book in spite of myself. What I mean is, it always seemed to me, that since the JLA was the heir apparent to what the JSA had been, it didn't really make sense to have a contemporaneous JSA book. That not withsdanding, it's been a great book, that I've thoroughly enjoyed.

If they do a re-launch, I'd like to see a book set in the 1930's - 50's, depicting the post IC DCU.

[Deathstroke]

Man, I'm so tired of relaunches.

[protege]

Okay- let's try this again- Given that Alan Scott and Mr. Terrific are going over to Checkmate, and who knows what will happen to Jay Garrick once the new Flash comes out, maybe there won't BE a JSA to relaunch..

[Josh]

So because Terrific and Alan are in Checkmate and Jay might be in Flash, that means every other character in the book won't be around or available for a new JSA book?

That seems like a really strange (READ: "wrong") theory. I guess Hourman, Mid-Nite, Stargirl, Capt Marvel, Sand, et. al. aren't viable characters? :rolleyes:

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I can see why thier relaunching it. One Year Later will bring a lot of changes to JSA with members gone and the rumored return of Starman . Which I enjoy more than Stargirl...sorry guys. I never cared for Courtney like I did Jake Knight.

[glennsim]

OK I'm a bit behind, how are the golden age superman, batman etc back in the JSA, or is that to be reveiled?

Yet to be revealed. Although Gentleman Ghost references Wonder Woman as a JSA-er, and a future cover seems to reference the deceased Earth 2 Batman, so at the very least these characters are a part of the history of this new world, but it's unclear how.

[Deathstroke]

I can see why thier relaunching it. One Year Later will bring a lot of changes to JSA with members gone and the rumored return of Starman . Which I enjoy more than Stargirl...sorry guys. I never cared for Courtney like I did Jake Knight.

Messing with Stargirl? I don't like it.

Oh well, it would be one way to drop another title from my list.

[Meta 05]

Mr Terrific and Allan Scott in Checkmate, hmm.I am not sure i will be picking up JSA if i can get my fix of those two chars in CHeckmate instead.I just started on JSA an they our really two of the most unique chars DC has IMO.I definatly have to get Checkmate if they our going to be involved in it.I just wish they would give Allen a new costume,i know its traditional an has been around forever but if he is going to play with checkmate i think he should be suited up in something alittle more stream lined an less in your face.

[Captain Jim]

I remember in one of Didio's Crisis Q&A sessions over at Newsarama, someone asked him since JLA was being cancelled in favor of a new Justice League of America, could something similar be expected with JSA and he implied that the answer was yes.

[CaptChucky]

Man, I'm so tired of relaunches.

You said it!

More often than not, relaunches result in my buying less comics, not more.

[Alex L]

So because Terrific and Alan are in Checkmate and Jay might be in Flash, that means every other character in the book won't be around or available for a new JSA book?

That seems like a really strange (READ: "wrong") theory. I guess Hourman, Mid-Nite, Stargirl, Capt Marvel, Sand, et. al. aren't viable characters? :rolleyes:

Most of the 'older' (read: WWII era) members will be gone. If Jay and Alan leave, the only original members will be Wildcat and Sand.

To me, it would kind of throw off that old+new balance.

[Babylon23]

This doesn't bother me in the slightest. I know we'll be getting a new JSA book at some point, and the Geoff Johns will be involved in some way. I can hold out until the new books starts.

[protege]

So because Terrific and Alan are in Checkmate and Jay might be in Flash, that means every other character in the book won't be around or available for a new JSA book?

That seems like a really strange (READ: "wrong") theory. I guess Hourman, Mid-Nite, Stargirl, Capt Marvel, Sand, et. al. aren't viable characters? :rolleyes:
Well, excuse me, but we don't know what DC has planned, do we? But at least one of the legacy characters will be gone, presumably ,as well as one of the newbies. And if all these characters are still viable, what's the point of the relaunch?

[O_Perez]

found this link and post on the MillarWorld Forums (http://forums.millarworld.tv/index.php?showtopic=59474)

http://www.comicbloc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25035&page=5&pp=16

Ben Morse - Wizard Staff Writer

The team isn't done and Geoff isn't done with them.

More to come next month, but breathe easy, guys (and girls).

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"

(...)but when you see what's coming, I think you'll be happy with the tradeoff. The JSA is definitely going to be in the spotlight of the DCU where they belong.


Geoff Johns

Listen to this man!!! I cannot divulge any details just yet, but I have said before - I'm not done. I can't wait to start talking about what's next...

...soon. Promise.

Geoff

[Chris Daley]

Yet to be revealed. Although Gentleman Ghost references Wonder Woman as a JSA-er, and a future cover seems to reference the deceased Earth 2 Batman, so at the very least these characters are a part of the history of this new world, but it's unclear how.

That's what I'm thinking as well. However, it could just be that Levitz is giving us the run.

[Apathy Boy]

As long as the relaunch isn't numbered #1 (87) like the Marvel books, I can live with this. Especially if it gets renamed as JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA.

Though I suppose I could live with ALL-STAR SQUADRON or INFINITY, INC. as well.

[UniqueFrequency]

So because Terrific and Alan are in Checkmate and Jay might be in Flash, that means every other character in the book won't be around or available for a new JSA book?

That seems like a really strange (READ: "wrong") theory. I guess Hourman, Mid-Nite, Stargirl, Capt Marvel, Sand, et. al. aren't viable characters? :rolleyes:

who else would they have available?

Mid-Nite
Stargirl
Cpt Marvel
Sand
Atom Smasher (?)
Hawkman (?)
Hawkgirl
Wildcat
Jakeem
Jack Knight (?)

[Lady Obie]

I immediately recognized this kind of "cancel-then-reboot" behavior as something that previously happened in another series: JLA/Justice League of America/Justice League International/etc. :rolleyes:

My hope is that whatever this overhaul leads to will stick around a while and not cause JSA to fall into a string of overhauls that ultimately fubar the series ala the JL etc. I mentioned above :confused:

[Lonewalker]

Man, I'm so tired of relaunches.

Amen to that, my friend.

[TommyV]

OK I'm a bit behind, how are the golden age superman, batman etc back in the JSA, or is that to be reveiled?

That already started in the last couple issues of JSA (with the "lost tale" from Earth-2 (which isn't a lost tale at all, I believe) and in the last issue at the end when Gentleman Ghost asks Power Girl where Wonder Woman is - he has something to settle with her). I think the seeds have been planted to fold the "golden Age" (Earth 2) characters back into the continuity of "New Earth." I don't know exactly how this is going to play out, but I think that's the "hook" that people have complained is non-existent in the Levitz OYL JSA so far. It's unfolding slowly, but it's going to be a major reveal that obviously affects the whole DCU.

[Forefinger]

At least this gives me a clean breaking point to start buying TPBs of this instead of monthlys.

[kalorama]

At least this gives me a clean breaking point to start buying TPBs of this instead of monthlys.

True. I've pretty much arrived at the point where I'm blowing off monthlies altogether. JSA was the kind of book that really seemed made for monthly consumption.

[wolverine0815]

without monthlies there would be no tpbs :D

[kalorama]

That's not necessarily true.

[The Shadow]

That's not necessarily true.
There are so few OGN's that are any good... without monthlies craptacular stuff like JLA-JSA Virtue and Vice would dominate the shelves further adding to the decline of comic sales.

[kalorama]

There are so few OGN's that are any good... without monthlies craptacular stuff like JLA-JSA Virtue and Vice would dominate the shelves further adding to the decline of comic sales.


Even if that's true (and I don't necessarily think it is) that's not what I was referring to.

The primary reason for the continued existence of monthly comics is that Marvel and DC, the industry leaders, still cling to the format as an economic model. If there was a clear signal sent by the market place that first run graphic novels/collected editions of their standard menu of books was overwhelmingly preferred, they'd eventually have to respond to that.

[The Shadow]

Even if that's true (and I don't necessarily think it is) that's not what I was referring to.

The primary reason for the continued existence of monthly comics is that Marvel and DC, the industry leaders, still cling to the format as an economic model. If there was a clear signal sent by the market place that first run graphic novels/collected editions of their standard menu of books was overwhelmingly preferred, they'd eventually have to respond to that.
That's an expensive thing for a new reader to jump into... $3.00 is bad enough... but to ask someone who is new or worse yet, a kid!, to drop $20 on a 6 issue story is unrealistic... and I think that would kill the market.

Besides, Marvel and DC get more money doing it this way... they get the first time buyers like me who LOVE the monthlies and second run people (possibly)like you who don't.

[Mothmonsterman]

DC just couldn't wait another year until #100 could they.

You big silly. The commercial appeal of an issue #1 lasts for exactly one month, setting them up for a big "We're going back to our old numbering system for issue #100!!!!!!" extravaganza come next year. There could very well be half a dozen re-launches between now and then.

[hoopoe]

I don't really care if an issue is labeled #1 or #87. If the story and art are good, that's all that counts.

[Jason H]

As long as the relaunch isn't numbered #1 (87) like the Marvel books, I can live with this. Especially if it gets renamed as JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA.

Though I suppose I could live with ALL-STAR SQUADRON or INFINITY, INC. as well.

a new All Star Squadron would be awesome as long as it was set in the 40's/50's.

[wolverine0815]

I don't really care if an issue is labeled #1 or #87. If the story and art are good, that's all that counts.

I totally agree. :D

[kalorama]

That's an expensive thing for a new reader to jump into... $3.00 is bad enough... but to ask someone who is new or worse yet, a kid!, to drop $20 on a 6 issue story is unrealistic... and I think that would kill the market.

Well we all know kids don't read comics in any significant numbers and, as a result, the number of "new" comic readers is so small as to be not worth consideration, so that's not much of an issue. And asking someone to "drop $20 on a 6 issue story" in the form of a collected upfront edition is no more unrealistic than asking them to do so in monthly form.

Besides, Marvel and DC get more money doing it this way... they get the first time buyers like me who LOVE the monthlies and second run people (possibly)like you who don't.

They don't make any extra money that way unless people buy both versions, which most don't. If they stopped putting out collections, most readers would buy the monthlies because they had no other choice. And vice versa.

I'm not saying it'll happen, because Marvel and DC have internal economic factors (that have little to do with sales) that keep them using the current model. but from a sales standpoint, a shift to TPBs as the primary first-run release format would hardly signal the death knell of the comics industry.

[Zero Hunter]

I hope that they retitle the book simply "The Justice Society". The "of America" just doesn't sound right anymore. Same goes for the Justice League. Of coarse Legion of Super Heroes sounded better as just The Legion, but you can't fight the silver age fanboy instincts of some writers.

I do think they would have been better off waiting until issue 100. With the short attention span of alot of younger readers these days no book will ever reach that milestone again it seems. I though both JSA and Birds of Prey were going to be the exceptions. Hopefully BoP can hold of a relaunch a little while longer.

[jadegiant77]

Man, I'm so tired of relaunches.

Yeah I hear you, man. What's the point? This is obviously DC's way of relaunching the book as Justice Society of America to match the new JLA (excuse me, Justice League of America) book. Why not just change the title and continue the old numbering???

[Indefatigable]

Yeah I hear you, man. What's the point? This is obviously DC's way of relaunching the book as Justice Society of America to match the new JLA (excuse me, Justice League of America) book. Why not just change the title and continue the old numbering???True. My guess is that they figured JLA needed a relaunch and gave it the new name so they decided to do the same with JSA. Silly as heck, but whatever floats their boat.

[Periscope]

I don't really care if an issue is labeled #1 or #87. If the story and art are good, that's all that counts.

Completely agree. What is the big deal about a relaunch? It's just a number on the front of the book.

[Matt]

I hope that they retitle the book simply "The Justice Society". The "of America" just doesn't sound right anymore.

I agree with that, though I'd shorten it further to just 'Justice Society'.

[Lonewalker]

I agree with that, though I'd shorten it further to just 'Justice Society'.
I second that.


The primary reason for the continued existence of monthly comics is that Marvel and DC, the industry leaders, still cling to the format as an economic model. If there was a clear signal sent by the market place that first run graphic novels/collected editions of their standard menu of books was overwhelmingly preferred, they'd eventually have to respond to that.

I prefer TPBs.

[Gingold]

If the relaunch gets retitled, I'd vote for "Justice Society of America" or "All- Star Comics." I'm all for dropping the "America" from the Justice League where it seems outdated and isolationist, but the JSA's patriotic WW II era origins are too important to the basic concept.

[Captain Jim]

You big silly. The commercial appeal of an issue #1 lasts for exactly one month, setting them up for a big "We're going back to our old numbering system for issue #100!!!!!!" extravaganza come next year. There could very well be half a dozen re-launches between now and then.

I think you have them confused with Marvel. ;)

[Lonewalker]

All-Stars would be nice.

[Lex]

I'm with you guys. I hope they do something fun like restart "All-Star Comics" starring the Justice Society.

[Agentum]

I agree that they should skip the short names as JLA and JSA.
I think that is a bit 90s.

And like some others in this tread i would like if they dropped the "A" in those, to get a more global feeling, or would that make the title sell less in USA?
I know this is american comics and that you probably prefer the books to be mostly about and around USA.

[Trusty Mutsi]

Sometimes I think comics shouldn't even be considered "regular" series. Just make everything a mini-series. That way writers can take breaks rather than getting fill-in artists. You don't worry about re-numbering. You can have one-shot specials for single issue stories.

It's not a perfect solution, and could get just as confusing and the re-numbering.

[Mulett]

I think next month's final edition is going to be important because it will be (I assume) after IC #7, and so we'll know for sure whether or not the JSA is on New Earth or back on Earth-2 (I think Earth-2 is very unlikely, but you never know).

The reference to Wonder Woman was interesting - either Earth-2 Wonder Woman is now remembered by all, or it was a reference to Hippolyta's exploits in WWII. Possibly even Diana, I guess. although a link with her isn't obvious. And the 'Batman' figure in the preview is an interesting tease too. With continuity all up in the air, it looks like the final issue of JSA will answer all our questions. Hopefully.

I suppose the relaunch of the JSA is also linked with the relaunch of JLA. It looks like the big three will all be members of the JLA once more, so the writers are probably thinking they need a new direction for the JSA and also, I guess, a reason for it to exist at all if the JLA and JSA are on the same Earth together.

It's been a good run. At times, I thought JSA was far better than JLA. I hope the new series is half as good.

[K'Nort]

Sometimes I think comics shouldn't even be considered "regular" series. Just make everything a mini-series. That way writers can take breaks rather than getting fill-in artists. You don't worry about re-numbering. You can have one-shot specials for single issue stories.


That's what Dark Horse basically does with Hellboy and BPRD. BPRD especially these days, in there is no break between minis. It seems to work just fine.

[Agentum]

Yes and they can have small adventures happening inside the bigger plots.
Like a campaign with a big overall storyline but with small plots here and there.

Now they mostly draw out the story too long and some books feels dead to read.

[Sean Walsh]

That's what Dark Horse basically does with Hellboy and BPRD. BPRD especially these days, in there is no break between minis. It seems to work just fine.

On the other hand......

Marvel did this back in the late 1990's with Venom. Mini after mini after mini after mini.........and eventually people just got fed up and stopped buying them.

[Babylon23]

a new All Star Squadron would be awesome as long as it was set in the 40's/50's.

I'd love it if this happened. All-Star Squadron was one of the first series I ever collected. I still have those issues today.

AS for JSA, Johns has clearly stated that he'll be continuing on the book, so I'm a happy man.

[Roads]

First of all I like to say I just got on board with JSA around #68 and has become one of my favorite titles. I have no problem with DC starting at #1 but I like the JSA team as is. All I can do is see what happens.


But, I see a lot of folks saying that they want the "A" dropped off JSA or "America" dropped off Justice Society of America.

Are you guys that hateful of America? I understand the problems with the word "God" or "Christmas", but dropping America from the JSA?


If you want to be more inclusive, just have JSEurope, or JSIslam, or JS whatever. But, that gets messy.

JSA or Justice Society of America is good not evil.

And the All-Star Squadron was a combination of JSA and others not exactly one in the same.

I guess I will be called a hate monger, racist. homophobe, sexist, anti whatever. But, it's sad that the peace and love folks have hate in their hearts.

Good Day.

[Firestorm23]

Its a sad day for JSA fans...a sad day :(

[glennsim]

First of all I like to say I just got on board with JSA around #68 and has become one of my favorite titles. I have no problem with DC starting at #1 but I like the JSA team as is. All I can do is see what happens.


But, I see a lot of folks saying that they want the "A" dropped off JSA or "America" dropped off Justice Society of America.

Are you guys that hateful of America? I understand the problems with the word "God" or "Christmas", but dropping America from the JSA?


If you want to be more inclusive, just have JSEurope, or JSIslam, or JS whatever. But, that gets messy.

JSA or Justice Society of America is good not evil.

And the All-Star Squadron was a combination of JSA and others not exactly one in the same.

I guess I will be called a hate monger, racist. homophobe, sexist, anti whatever. But, it's sad that the peace and love folks have hate in their hearts.

Good Day.

I don't think anybody wants to drop the "America" due to any hatred of America (well, I'm sure someone does, but not the majority). I think it's just the lack of logic of calling a team the something of America and then sending them on adventures all over the world, with members potentially from all over the world (there aren't any members from other countries right now, but nothing is stopping there from being any).

Having the "of America" on there seems to suggest that the group is limited to or focusing on America, when they simply aren't. It invoces a patriotism that isn't a dominant part of the culture of the group. Not that the members aren't patriotic each in their own way, but that patriotism isn't any sort of requirement for the group.

That being said, I think that because the team is so much a legacy of the 1940s group, that keeping the name of the 1940s group intact isn't such a bad thing. But the Justice League doesn't have that excuse.

[Zero Hunter]

As to the name thing it just doesn't sound right. If you look most characters in the books don't even call the teams "of America" anymore (not really sure if they ever did). They all refer to them as the Justice Society and the Justice League, or even just "the League" when they talk about it.

I just think both teams names sound better without the "of America" on them. Of coarse I thought the Legion of Super Heroes name sounded better when they just started calling the book "The Legion" too.

[Lonewalker]

As to the name thing it just doesn't sound right. If you look most characters in the books don't even call the teams "of America" anymore (not really sure if they ever did). They all refer to them as the Justice Society and the Justice League, or even just "the League" when they talk about it.

I just think both teams names sound better without the "of America" on them. Of coarse I thought the Legion of Super Heroes name sounded better when they just started calling the book "The Legion" too.
Short is better - and easy to remember. ;)

[Roads]

OK, I can see where you guys are coming from.

So, what can be done is have the official name be Justice Society of America, because that is their headquarters and just refer to them as the Justice Society or JSA just like the United States of America is refered to as The U.S. or America or USA or the States.

I can go along with that idea, and can acept a book titled Justice Society as long as the original name is still Justice Society of America. That's important to me. America may not be perfect here but in the fantasy world of DC I believe America still have some good in it worthy of a Society of heros willing to defend it and the world as well from harm.


America is going through enough trouble without comic books putting her on the shelf.

[Mr. Truth]

OK, I can see where you guys are coming from.

So, what can be done is have the official name be Justice Society of America, because that is their headquarters and just refer to them as the Justice Society or JSA just like the United States of America is refered to as The U.S. or America or USA or the States.

I can go along with that idea, and can acept a book titled Justice Society as long as the original name is still Justice Society of America. That's important to me. America may not be perfect here but in the fantasy world of DC I believe America still have some good in it worthy of a Society of heros willing to defend it and the world as well from harm.


America is going through enough trouble without comic books putting her on the shelf.

I agree that they should keep the America at the end of the name, because JSA is all about the 50-60 years of history that they've had, and to drop America, the A would be like dropping a huge part of their history, and that wouldn't be right.