“Year One”-Chapter One
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artists: Gavin Guidry
Color Artist: Luis Guerrero
Letterer: Steve Wands
Review by Kendra Smart
JSA #13 begins the series arc Year One, which takes us to before there were standing organizations like the Justice League or the Justice Society of America. But what JSA #13 does is not a prequel, no. We dive right into moments of our favorites heroes lives with none of the normal preamble. We just arrived in already established moments in time, all leading to historic moments that we know and love. With beloved characters showcased in ways that gives us limitless amounts of new sides to them and deeper understanding.
Speaking of different sides, Dave Johnson gives us the main covers and for JSA #13 we get the duo of Hourman Rex Tyler and Wesley Dodds Sandman. I really love that the artwork resonates with the time period these characters are coming from, the 1940’s. Dave gives us a true gem with JSA #13’s cover.
Let’s Stick To Codenames
As JSA #13 opens, it is the Summer of 1940. Our story opens as Hitler is attacking Britain, Rex Tyler of Tyler Chemicals, Inc is making a contract with Starco, Jay Garrick is teaching class, while Carter and Shiera are searching for The Temple of Feithera. While all of these things are shown another voice speaks of bigger games and of pawns, survival…unsure. Rex takes a further look into Starco, this time as Hourman to suss out the details not disclosed earlier. He is not the only one interested as The Sandaman has been dreaming and in those dreams Wesley Dodds is courting death.
Meanwhile in Gotham City, Alan Scott is having a congratulatory meeting with an old friend, Gordan. Gordan recently won a bid for a job contract over Alan. But as he says, there was no issue with a backer like Starco. But something is obviously off as Gordie devolves into nerves and fear quickly covered by a mask of fake reassurements of being fine. Meanwhile the Hawks and The Atom each run into different battles with common threads. Something wicked is a foot and if the Justice Society of America doesn’t even exist yet…who’s got dibs?
Not A Beginning, The Beginning.
JSA #13 sets so much into motion, with charm and humor, and trusts readers to come prepared with popcorn for now… maybe soon tissues too. Jeff Lemire brings such distinct personality