Must read JSA trades?

[Tony Starkz]

#1 was a great read.I was wondering which trades were worth picking up.I'm not interested in picking up the whole run,just the standout ones.

[The Shadow]

I'm not interested in picking up the whole run,just the standout ones.
Well... that would be all of them.

I kid you not. From #1 to the last issue it's about the best team superhero book around.

Black Reign is awesome... it's the story that sets Black Adam up as ruler of Kandaq (or however it's spelled) and sets the stage for a lot of what's happening in 52.

[rwe1138]

Well... that would be all of them.

I kid you not. From #1 to the last issue it's about the best team superhero book around.

Black Reign is awesome... it's the story that sets Black Adam up as ruler of Kandaq (or however it's spelled) and sets the stage for a lot of what's happening in 52.

Seconded. I was tried the first one when it came out and have been hooked ever since. Not that I'm complaining. :D

[handOFfate]

I pretty much agree. Johns uses the "X-Men Claremont" style in that the storyline is continuous, and you might get lost if you read the trades out of order. the whole run is collected in twelve trades...

1. Justice Be Done- **** Outstanding way to restart the JSA and introduce a new Dr. Fate.

2. Darkness Falls- **** Infinity Inc. fans will like this one. Centers on Alan Scott and his son Obsidian.

3. Return of Hawkman- ***1/2 The first arc (H. P. Lovecraftian alien story) is excellent. Johnny Sorrow is an awesome villain. The second story (Return of Hawkman) is pretty good, too.

4. Fair Play- ***1/2 The friendships of Atom Smasher/Black Adam and Dr.Mid-Nite/Mr. Terrific are explored here.

5. Stealing Thunder- **** The best JSA story ever, for my money. Ultra-Humanite steals the Thunderbolt and changes the world. Excellent characterization, particularly from Hourman, Icicle, and Jakeem Thunder

6. Savage Times- *** A somewhat weak follow-up, but had moments. Captain Marvel stands out here.

7. Darkness Falls- **** A big splashy action story with lots of asskicking and cameos gallore. A lot of fun. sort of sums up the first fifty issues of JSA

8. Black Reign- **** Great story about Black Adam's invasion of Khandaq. Shows that Adam and Hawkman are different sides of a coin, and theres a great substory involving the Hourmen (rick and rex)

9. Lost- ***1/2 Four stories in one giant collection. The first starts Mid-Nite and Terrific (good), the second is the rescue of Sand (mediocre), the third is the resolution of the Hourmen crisis (outstanding), and the last deals with the effects of Identity Crisis (very good)

10. Black Vengeance- *** The JSA of past and present team up, and the team heads to Khandaq to battle the Spectre. First story is good, second story is okay.

11. Mixed Signals- ** A mess as Johns got sidetracked at this point due to Infinite Crisis. There is one excellent story here featuring Stargirl, but the rest feels out of synch.

12. Ghost Stories- **1/2 Post-OYL story. Its not bad, but not great in any way. I think Johns was just treading water until the relaunch by this point.

JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice- *** Not bad considering its small size. Seven members of the teams are possessed by the seven sins, and two mystery villains are behind it. Lots of cameos, and Alan Scott manages to stand out.

The Justice Society Returns!- **1/2. Different artists and writers take a crack at writing the JSA, and result is rather uneven. The villain, Stalker, didn't dazzle me at all.

JSA All-Stars ***- Same formula as Justice Society Returns, but better executed. The successors of the originals get a little cameo story each, followed by a short story featuring their predecessors.

[Tony Starkz]

I have read Golden Age which was a beauty.

[The Shadow]

I have read Golden Age which was a beauty.

Picture that... only for an entire series.

handOFfate broke em down nicely. The last couple are the weakest... but seriously... start at the beginning!

[rwe1138]

12. Ghost Stories- **1/2 Post-OYL story. Its not bad, but not great in any way. I think Johns was just treading water until the relaunch by this point.

Good call on the reviews, except that Ghost Stories was written by Paul Levitz, not Geoff Johns.

[CYOTI]

Black Reign is awesome... it's the story that sets Black Adam up as ruler of Kandaq (or however it's spelled) and sets the stage for a lot of what's happening in 52.
And it presented a more honest dialogue of the pros and cons of overthrowing and installing governments in 3rd world nations than that single JLA issue written by Joe Kelly.

[kal_el21]

JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice. A fun read with great Carlos Pacheco art.

[DC_FanBoy]

Stealing Thunder was awesome. Actually they all are but I love that one. I just recently re-read them all in the span of like 5 days, they just rule. Virtue and Vice is a fun read too. I forget what book its in, but the Crimson Avenger stuff is really cool. Prices of Darkness was awesome too. Put it ths way, after reading JSA I really have bee trying to get old Infinity Inc stories to see old Atom Smasher and Obsidian. Great books.