JSA question...

[Peter]

I'm just wondering, I've pretty much read every JLA story written in the last four or five years (well, most of them. Some I'm looking for but I don't think I'll ever find), and I think I could really like JSA, as well.

Problem is I don't know the first thing about them. I mean I know what the initials stand for and I get the basic premise of the team, and I read the "Crisis Times Five" JLA story that (I think) was there to kick these guys back into modern continuity, or whatever.

So my question is, what good trades should I be looking for, if I want to give the JSA a look but I'm not that familiar with the team or the book's general vibe?

I saw a "Virtue and Vice" TPB that looks interesting, is that any good? Just a starting point or something is all I'm really wondering about.

[Brian Cronin]

Virtue and Vice, you may like (as it a JLA crossover), but that may be a bit heady, as it does not explain the JSA much.

To be honest, I think you'd be best served by just getting the first JSA trade.

The Justice Society is made up of the heroes you saw in Crisis Times Five, plus a bunch of tradition heroes (those who take their names from, and often have connections to, Golden Age heroes).

-Brian

[Peter]

To be honest, I think you'd be best served by just getting the first JSA trade...

Which would be...?

:)

Sorry, like I said, I don't the first thing about the book, but a lot of the stories sound really interesting.

[Brian Cronin]

Sorry...I just thought that they labeled them nowadays (you know, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, etc. ). :)

In any event, the first volume is titled JSA: Justice Be Done.

Here's a nice description of it, with some previews of interior art!

http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1404

-Brian

[powergirl]

the JLA/JSA team up TPB's would probaly be a good starting point for him even if they ain't in contuinity anymore.

[Peter]

Sorry...I just thought that they labeled them nowadays (you know, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, etc. ). :)

Oh. My bad :).

They didn't used to label the JLA TPBs with numbers, but I notice they've started doing that only recently. Coolness.

In any event, the first volume is titled JSA: Justice Be Done.

Here's a nice description of it, with some previews of interior art!

http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1404

-Brian

Cool. Thanks Brian. I was actually reading another thread which had about twenty positive and glowing reviews for "Virtue and Vice", so I'll put that on the list as well.

I'm actually a big fan of Captain Marvel -- anything in particular that I'm likely to really like?

[Brian Cronin]

Virtue and Vice does a good job with Captain Marvel.

Beyond that, the Ordway graphic novel (http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1457) is decent (although the followup series is painfully dull), and that's about it, as I presume you wouldn't want to go for the expensive reprints of the original stuff. :)

Captain Marvel eventually joins the JSA, if you keep reading the trades.

-Brian

[ExoKnight]

Isn't there a tpb called Justice Society Returns? Is that the rebirth of the JSA in modern DCU? Think it was written by Robinson.

[Michael P]

Modern JSA History:

JLA: Crisis Times Five (reprinted in the Strength in Numbers trade)
The Justice Society Returns!
JSA Vol. 1: Justice Be Done
Vol. 2: Darkness Falls
Vol. 3: The Return of Hawkman
Vol. 4: Fair Play
Vol. 5: Stealing Thunder (Captain Marvel joins here)
JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice
JSA: All-Stars
Vol. 6: Savage Times
Vol. 7: Princes of Darkness
Vol. 8: Black Reign
Vol. 9: Lost

[Brian Cronin]

Yeah, but the Justice Society Returns was lame!

To be avoided at all costs!

For completists only (which is the only reason I can think of for collecting it)!

-Brian

[Peter]

Modern JSA History:

JLA: Crisis Times Five (reprinted in the Strength in Numbers trade)
The Justice Society Returns!
JSA Vol. 1: Justice Be Done
Vol. 2: Darkness Falls
Vol. 3: The Return of Hawkman
Vol. 4: Fair Play
Vol. 5: Stealing Thunder (Captain Marvel joins here)
JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice
JSA: All-Stars
Vol. 6: Savage Times
Vol. 7: Princes of Darkness
Vol. 8: Black Reign
Vol. 9: Lost

Michael/Writerboy, without you we'd all be a great deal worse off :).

I'm tempted to buy the first one, and then jump straight down to "Stealing Thunder", but these things really should be read in order, shouldn't they?

Thank you muchly. Plenty to think about/spend money on :).

[Michael P]

Michael/Writerboy, without you we'd all be a great deal worse off :).

Aw, shucks.

I'm tempted to buy the first one, and then jump straight down to "Stealing Thunder", but these things really should be read in order, shouldn't they?
Well, there are membership changes (Jack Knight and Black Canary leave, Dr. Mid-Nite, Black Adam, Power Girl and Mr. Terrific join, Hawkman comes back from the dead), and the whole Kobra/Extant storyline happens that starts some changes with Atom Smasher, but Stealing Thunder is pretty much self-contained. All the trades have a handy "roll call" section at the front, so you can follow the players.

[Captain]

Michael/Writerboy, without you we'd all be a great deal worse off :).

I'm tempted to buy the first one, and then jump straight down to "Stealing Thunder", but these things really should be read in order, shouldn't they?

Thank you muchly. Plenty to think about/spend money on :).

Actually, having never read anything JSA before, I started off when the Stealing Thunder Trade came out. I then read trade 1, 2, 3, 4 after, and I didn't feel too lost.

Great stuff though, enjoy!