JSA #21 Review

 

JSA #21 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Diego Olortegui

Colorists: Luis Guerrero

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Pete Woods

Variant Cover Artists: Matt Taylor

Editors: Marquis Draper, Andrew Marino & Katie Kubert

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: July 1, 2026

 

As Alan Scott readily admits, everyone has done wrong. Yet condemnation must always be mixed with compassion to achieve justice in any society. In Jim Corrigan, the Spectre found a Human host who could protect people while tempering its outrage at their misdeeds. But after Darkseid attacked the Spectre, the embodiment of God's wrath seeks to punish everyone as it searches for a new Human host.

 

As the JSA combats the Spectre in New York City, Dr Fate, Stargirl, Jakeem Thunder, and Kid Eternity search for Jim Corrigan. Can they find the police officer who served society so ably in the past? And how many people will the Spectre punish before it finds a permanent host? Let’s leap into JSA #21 and see!

 

Story

In their search for answers, Dr Fate led his teammates to a swamp, where they found the House of Mystery. While they didn't learn Jim Corrigan's whereabouts, Kid Eternity reclaimed a fragment of her missing past. But like her life before she freed Hawkman from Hell, someone or something shields Jim Corrigan's presence from the most perceptive eyes.

 

Despite not achieving their objective in the house that Dream built, Dr Fate and his teammates receive aid from an unexpected source. Metron offers to lead them in their search. But instead of transporting them to Jim Corrigan’s current residence, Metron reveals the origins of the Spectre in JSA #21.

 

As Metron transports the search party on a journey through time, Jeff Lemire weaves contemporary events in New York City into his story. While Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, and the team attempt to forestall the Spectre’s judgment of New York, each demonstrates their willingness to sacrifice for their friends. Their acceptance of the situation contrasts with Dr Fate, Kid Eternity, Stargirl, and Jakeem Thunder, who bristle at the need to understand the Spectre's history before they can find Jim Corrigan. Yet in their desire to secure someone else to resolve the crisis, neither the young heroes nor their mentors considers whether Jim wants them to find him in JSA #21.

 

Art

As a bundle of white energy spins at a furious pace, the atom resolves into an angel plummeting through darkness. Feathers fall from Aztar’s wings as Metron and the young heroes watch. Diego Olortegui reveals the events that forged Aztar’s character across two pages. Two additional two-page spreads showcase the battle that severed Aztar from his Human host. A splash page reveals heroes working together to dispel the darkest nights. Yet as Metron and the kids hover in space, Aztar reveals the magnitude of his power by holding the Earth in his hand.

 

As Luis Guerrero lavishes a bright palette on JSA #21, yellow light reveals Alan Scott and Jade’s concern for Obsidian. Darkseid’s burning red eyes showcase his determination to control all of reality. Metron, riding in his glowing blue chair, offers the searchers hope of finding Jim Corrigan. Yet after losing his wings, glimpses of green Aztar throughout time demonstrate his willingness to fulfill his God's wishes.

 

While Steve Wands places black uppercase words in white balloons, yellow borders Dr Fate's dialogue. The Spectre’s words fill green balloons with serrated edges, while Darkseid’s red conversation fills black balloons. As Metron’s off-camera dialogue fills white boxes, words in green boxes reveal the Spectre’s locations. But while the letters grow bold with intonation and swell for volume, Jim Corrigan's location proves more elusive. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When Aztar chose ambition over peace, he turned against his creator. Since then, the angel's spirit has known pain as he carried out his purpose. When Jim Corrigan linked with the Spectre, he likewise knew pain as he carried out his purpose. Now that they’ve separated, Jim Corrigan can finally know peace. But for the former police officer to rest in God's peace, someone else must accept his life of duty and pain. And as the embodiment of God's wrath searches for a new host, it seeks a young hero filled with ambition in JSA #21.

 

Rating 9.6/10 

 

To look inside see my preview of JSA #21.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of JSA #20.

For what happened before that, see my review of JSA #19. 

For how the Spectre helped Jay Garrick and Alan Scott in 1940, see my review of JSA #18. 

For Darkseid's attack on the Spectre, see my preview of DC All In Special #1.