MoviesNewsTalk
JSA #1: Green Lantern's Kids Are About to Go to WAR!
Get ready for some serious family drama in the DC universe! The superpowered children of the legendary Green Lantern, Alan Scott, are about to clash, with the future of the Justice Society of America (JSA) hanging in the balance. It is going to be big!
Jeff Lemire (writer) andDiego Olortegui (artist) are bringing a new take on JSA, starting with the original members mysteriously disappearing–includingAlan Scott!– creating a situation where all the younger members must figure out the next step in this intense and action-packed story arc, focusing on the conflicts and issues inherent between that existing leadership and that potentially newer version.
Jade and Obsidian (created by Roy Thomas andJerry Ordway back in 1983 inAll Star Squadron #25) are Alan Scott's children. They're at the center of this conflict–with vastly differing views.Jeff Lemire, in an interview withDavid BrookeofAIPT, discusses the core tension and issues underlying this story arc:
"As our series kicks off, the original JSA members — Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Ted Grant, and others — are missing. The younger generation is left wondering where they went and how to keep the JSA going. The internal conflict among the younger heroes — one faction led by Jade wanting to preserve the legacy, while another, led by Obsidian, seeks to push the team into the modern world — sets the stage for a dynamic and emotional story."
Jade, wielding powers much like her father’s, wants to maintain the traditional JSA's approach. But her brother,Obsidian(drawing powers from theShadowlands), pushes for change. He thinks this "modernization" could mean taking a far more proactive, assertive path (maybe even something akin to theAuthority). This inherent difference makes a rift; especially since Jade's life is rather privileged and Obsidian’s has severe trauma from an abusive past.This is shown extremely clearly in that awesome introductory moment.
Jade and Obsidian’s shared heritage gives an important undercurrent for their present situation! They’re the kids ofGreen Lantern Alan ScottandHarlequin! To protect them,JadeandObsidianwere separated at a very young age and didn't meet again until their teenage years; further creating difficulties and making these contrasting ideas of the hero’s roles come about even more prominently. Jade’s life?Relative luxury.Obsidian’s? Seriously abusive. They ultimately develop contrasting viewpoints; the resulting contrasts are now shaping this JSA narrative into something entirely unique; adding further weight to the decisions made by both siblings. This situation created this internal conflict within the JSA’s family. And will this conflict define their futures?
The missingJSAoriginal members create this extremely high tension and uncertainty throughout JSA #1. That missing leadership pushes this confrontation and resulting schism that totally splits those younger members and generates these two major opposing ideological viewpoints!
This disagreement betweenJadeandObsidiancreates another massive development: a potentialJSAcivil war!Obsidian’s"modern" take is in direct contrast to that originalJSAphilosophy and could ultimately clash. This also makes this storyline into an extremely tense encounter, leading to further intrigue and uncertainty which makes that possibility extremely clear; those members originally inJSAwould likely reject these changes— leading to conflict! Perhaps we see Green Lantern having to intervene against his own son!
JSA #1lays out a compelling, intensely emotional storyline; it does so extremely effectively! That disappearance creates this massive level of suspense, and we're presented with a confrontation where both those key characters–and that fundamental tension–really set things up nicely; providing this intense level of uncertainty, showcasing an epic conflict; a classic fight between generations and ideological extremes! Those contrasting viewpoints—those profoundly unique moments created through these specific details–makes this introductory issue absolutely worth reading. This clash withinJSA'sfamily— the clash of past versus present—creates major plot points for this exciting and high-stakes narrative. Go get it!