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.
