JLA or the JSA?
Two fabulous Super Groups...bands of heroes who together fight the villains that are just too big for any single person to take on. Each group has their own quirks and oddities. One for example, is packed full of egotistical and narcissistic whackos...while the other is the JSA!
Here's the Justice League.
That may not be the current group, but it is probably the one that is the most iconic. Gosh, they certainly are a heroic bunch.
Then there is the Justice Society of America.
Frankly this is the bunch that I would want to hang out with. You have the Norman Rockwellian artist in the lower corner who has just finished painting this mixed up bag of people in proper Heroic fashion...similar to the Alex Ross painting of the JLA...and then you have the REAL people (or as real as Comic Book characters can be) released from their posing, and behaving like REAL people.
The Justice League goes out and fights megavillains. So does the Justice Society, but they also mentor the young heroes, and attend pancake breakfasts and do charity work. All the time, being the one group of people that the Justice League actually looks UP to. And respects. Even Hal. Even Roy. Hell, even Batman.
posted by SallyP @ 7:42 AM
6 Comments:
Yeah, but then compare the current JSA with the JLI! (*Snicker* ...) But, yeah, I have to agree that, overall, I'd rather hang out with the JSA. They're definitely a much more relaxed bunch.
Seeing these images reminded me of that Patrick Gleason pencil sketch of Ollie serving chili to the JLA. Oh, what I wouldn't give to see an actual scene like that in the comics ...! Maybe after Final Crisis is over. :-)
And only one of these groups has a monkey!
Oh, I dunno. Dinah has certainly called Ollie a "big ape" often enough ... ;-)
Why I love the JSA, as captured in an instant by this picture: the monkey enjoying tea, Tommy lighting a cigarette (is Ted telling him to put it out?), Peej's muscles, Jay's pants getting higher and higher the older he gets, Starman's pipe, Todd trying to sneak out the back...
In the JLA picture I like how, even though most of them are standing there looking all challenging and arrogant and macho, Diana's pose is almost casual, and yet no less majestic. It makes me want to respect and obey her, but kick everyone else in the crotch for being jerks.
But that pose and expression, and the fact that he's standing out in front of everyone: perfectly Hal, no?
You ask me, I do definitely like the Justice Society a lot more than the current Justice League. But I think it's just a matter of how it is written. The current JLA is at its most boring depth. They thought storylines full of punches would do for the lack of characterization, but that's not grabbing me, not at all.
On the other side, the JSA has grown more complex and full of characterization and subplots. Of course, the JLA is aimed to 12 year olds, I think, while out of the two, the JSA is the mature one.
Pat Gleason drew a picture of Ollie serving chili to the JLA? Why oh why have I not seen this?
Monkeys make everything better. If the JLA got a monkey, I imagine that the writing would also improve. And the art. And the characterization.
Of COURSE Hal is standing out front! Ollie's pissed that he's standing right in front of him, and is getting ready to shoot him in the ass.
I do love the characterization displayed in the JSA picture. Even if you don't know the first thing about this bunch, it draws you in, and you can start to deduce things.
Plus, they have Ma Hunkel dispensing tea and lemonade. Lemonade!
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