Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

JSA All-Stars # 14

By Koppy McFad
January 22, 2011 - 00:24

An old foe goes after the All-Stars. And he's using MAGIC!!!

In this case, Arthur Pemberton, nephew of the original Star-Spangled Kid wants revenge on the team for the crippling of his daughter. Because super science hasn't been enough to do the job, he joins forces with a group of monster-like sorcerers to defeat the heroes.

This story tries to balance the action with the characterisation and the drama but it doesn't do a very good job of it. Too much time is spent talking, hyping up the bad guys, only to have the sorcerers beaten without too much effort. The creative team seems to be trying to make the book a lot like the Claremont-Byrne X-MEN: the team mates are training in some rural setting while they converse about their personal matters, their internal conflicts and personal problems. At the same time, the bad guys are shown hatching elaborate plots behind the scenes... which the heroes track down with amazing ease.
  
The use of the computer programme called "Roxy" to tell exactly where the baddies are headed, is getting to be an overused device. In fact, the whole magic angle may be getting overused. the All-Stars were fighting ancient gods just a few issues ago, and before that, the King of Tears. It is too much magic, too soon.

The creative team also seem to think that this Roxy character can be promoted into a lovable fan-favourite. Maybe it is just me but I find her irritating.

The art is still unique and dynamic. There is no other book on the market that looks anything like it. But there are some panels which just get confusing, where you can't tell who is blasting who with what.

Rating: 6.5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12