Our coverage continues of JSA in the 90s with Tim Price and The Irredeemable Shag discussing JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #10 (May 1993) by Len Strazewski, Mike Parobeck, and Mike Machlan! It’s the final issue of this volume of the JSA, and the team struggles to defeat the evil of Kulak, the sorcerer who has made the world turn against the world’s first super-team! Plus, we discuss some favorite final issues of other comic book series! Finally, we wrap up with YOUR listener feedback!
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final issuses?
NEATO
1. marvel 2 in one anual 2 the FINAL (ACCEPT NO subsitues) Death of Warlock! it’s my fave superhero Story!
2 Joker 9 is it a good comic? oh HELL NO it’s a quickly written code approved homage to the movie “king of comedy” (and joker can look just like Batman by slaping on a costume
3 Question 36 pretty perfect ending
4. Whatever the last issuse of the jonah hex before new 52 was. Also the new 52 johnah hex was bad enough that it was FUNNY “oh my god they bought in Batman (and he’s not born)
ps I never explain why that Middling joker comic is important Well friends I found Joker 1-8 in 5 weeks IT took me and my father NINE YEARS to find issuse nine! and HE FOUND it not me. i still have no idea how
I haven’t read them in years but the end of the !mpact line seemed rushed. But I remember enjoying the end of The Comet. I have some vague memories of the storyline being turned up to 11, maybe to get to the conclusion earlier than intended.
I would tell you how it ended, but it doesn’t seem to be available on DC Infinite. And googling “Comet Impact” has me curled up in a ball in the corner of my bedroom.
First of all, Tim, I also love Bone! I haven’t read it all yet, but it’s good to know that Smith kept up the high quality throughout the entire book. A recent favorite final issue was Justice Society of America #12. Not only was it the final issue of that volume of the JSA, it was also the end to the “Geoff Johns era” of the team that started back in the late 90s. In fact, I believe it was his last published work for DC before he started the Ghost Machine imprint at Image. It’s a fantastic tribute to Stargirl dedicated to Johns’ late sister Courtney who inspired the creation of the character.
And comic book sound effects don’t get any better than Kulak exclaiming “EEE-YAH!” as he gets hit in his third eye.
Looking forward to the coverage of the prior limited series and will be re-reading along.
Ah, you’re a man of excellent taste, Super Cap. And I agree, that JSA #12 was an excellent conclusion.
When I think about “final issues” of favored series, I especially gravitate to the ones I was there for as they happened.
First and foremost, I think of the final issue of the Marvel Transformers series (#80 in 1991). This was definitely one of those where they learned of cancellation, and had to quickly wrap things up. It’s especially noteworthy that, with issue #75, they had a double-sized issue wrapping up a major storyline, and it would have been a pretty good place to end things, had they known that the series was to be ending so soon. But as it happened, they thought they were going to continue, and so started setting up a few new threads that, when the axe fell almost immediately afterward, had to be tied up very quickly. I’m not convinced they did so particularly cleanly, but it was closure nonetheless. At the time, we all thought that Transformers was going away forever (despite a parting “It Never Ends!” from author Simon Furman that has come back to bite him many times over as the franchise was revived just a few years later, and despite many changes over the years, it’s never really gone away since). It was thus not really a surprise that, although there were threads that wanted exploring (I attempted some of my first fan-fiction in this vein), when “Generation 2” came a few later, they were mostly untouched in favor of an almost entirely new storyline. And, indeed, the “official” attempt pick up the original series decades later with “Regeneration One” (2012-2014) was decidedly unsatisfying (although it WAS given the length that Furman always intended for it). Sometimes even a rushed ending is best left where it is….
I won’t talk too much about the end of Firestorm with #100 in 1990, since Shag’s already done so, but I will note that, it was, at least, more along the lines of a planned ending, in that the series may have been low on sales, but it ended as much because the creative team was ready to move on as it was for other reasons, so they seem to have had time to give the series the closure they wanted to.
More of a mix (the timing wasn’t *quite* what the creators wanted, but the ending *was* nonetheless what had been intended for a long time, and they were given about a year to draw all the threads to that closure) was the end of IDW’s first Transformers continuity, and especially the saga of the “Lost Light” (Transformers: Lost Light #25 in 2018) It’s somewhat controversial, precisely because it manages to pull off a “both ways” conclusion to many plot threads (for one example, Megatron is held to account for his crimes against… well, everything… while also finding freedom and a new life in repentance… it makes sense if you’ve read it all). But the fact remains that the threads of that conclusion were seeded *years* beforehand, and speaking only for myself, I found it satisfying (and I still hold this run in much higher regard than either of the main continuities to come after it, including the currently popular run by Skybound, which personally I cannot stomach).
Final issues: Zot! #36 was a perfect ending. I’ll also pick Flash 350; i wasn’t following the trial closely but did pick it up, a fitting happy ending in the future after which nothing bad ever happened to Barry and Iris…
Then into the slightly cheating realm: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow. The Superman part at least should qualify; there was a new #1 and the numbering went to a different title.
And thinking about title changes, well, The Legion has had a lot of final issues, several of them excellent, but Superboy and the Legion of Super-heroes 258 was an ending and turning point to remember.
“Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” is, to me at least, the gold standard to which all other attempts to finish out a continuity (if not a series nor a character) should be measured.
Excellent choice on Whatever Happened to…, Jeff! It also doubles as the last WHT Bronze Age story, or I choose to believe it is
Favorite Final Issues is a fun topic. Maybe you should do a whole podcast on it called ‘Fade Out Comics’?
The first one that came to mind was the 1990’s Shade The Changing Man. In the end, Shade so loves Kathy that he tries to rewrite time to spare her so much of the tragedy that entered her life. But that means they never met, plummeting him into despair. The final panels are him finally forcing himself to meet her, standing at her doorway in a pouring rain. She invites him in. It was the perfect ending to that weird comic, a comic I truly love.
The next one I thought of was the Baxter Series Legion. Yes, 5YL would be out there soon. But Paul Levitz wrapping up his incredible run with the team winning the Magic Wars but looking upon an uncertain future, still ready to do what was needed, was a wonderful swan song.
I do think Parobeck’s art and his time being cut short has made this far more cherished than it would have been without him on the book.
Great wrap-up for this JSA ongoing series Shag and Tim. Like I said previously, for several years I was unaware the 10th issue made it out! I was picking up some comics at comic shops, but I was still doing most of my purchasing from the same newstand I had since early childhood. So it was a result of the dreaded newstand trap you mentioned early in this episode. I did eventually see it at a comic show and picked it up.
As a big Starman fan, I was happy to see Ted (and Johnny) save the day, even if it was a bit of a deus ex machina. Ted coming in with the last minute save will kind of be his thing in the 90s/early 2000s, given his absolute boss moment in Starman #72.
Speaking of which, Starman #80 is also my favorite final issue of any series I have read. Another strong one is Brave and the Bold #200 with it’s non-team-up but parallel Earth-One/Earth-Two Batman stories.
I don’t think this series would be as well-remembered without the Parobeck art. The stories were good, but I think the art and Parobeck’s unfortunately short life and career really make this a standout. We just didn’t get enough of him, so we cherish every page he drew.
Looking forward to where the show goes from here!
Great episode, guys! I’m sad to see this series end, but I’m excited to move closer to the amazing 1999 series.
Favorite final issue? Starman was a great choice. I would also go with Y the Last Man, which has a gut punch moment and wraps the story up nicely. I also loved the last issue of Shade the Changing Man (vol. 2). The book had really petered out by this point, but the last issue opens the door on the Shade/Kathy romance again, which had been the heart of the best years of the series.
On the flip side – the final issue of Ex Machina made me so angry that I refuse to ever read the book again, even though I really enjoyed much of it.
No one seems to remember this one at all, but one of my favorite final issues was Dynamo Joe #15 from First Comics. 1980s mecha-centric military scifi story that bounced around as a backup or anthology feature in a few other books before getting its own title, which was due for three issues and wound up getting 15 instead. The last issue wrapped up the overarching conflict that had been central to everything in an unexpected but satisfying way that left things open for a revival or continuation (most likely after a time skip). That never happened, but the characters we’d been following got solid but believable “happily ever afters” that left them in good spots without definitively ending their stories either.
Nowhere near as well-loved as many of First’s other titles (Grimjack, Dreadstar, American Flagg, etc.) and probably only had afraction of their readership, but the book got a pretty great sendoff rather than feeling rushed or just left hanging. Not something you see out of indie books very often, not even way back in 1988.
First another great episode. Can’t wait for the spotlight. Have to ask have watched the bbc series red dwarf it has four books and comic collection as well ? .
K secret question time what do think Jay Garrick favorite radio show and later tv show is or was ?
Was he fan of shadow or more of you bet your life guy or was listing to the Lone Ranger and Gunsmoke , and tv shows was watching big fan of the adventures of Ozzie and Harriet or was he a classic doctor who and V the original series guy ?
Interesting question re: Jay Garrick and Old Time Radio.
Not sure how one would determine (was his personality even defined enough in the Golden Age to determine more than a generic idea?), but I’m going to guess at things like the Blue Beetle radio show and The Avenger (“The road to crime ends in a trap that justice sets! Crime does not pay!”). Examples for a super-powered hero to follow.
I think Jay and Joan would listen to radio together. Being married to a super hero, I can’t see Joan wanting to listen to a superhero radio show. Ditto for crime. I’d see them listening to a comedy together. I come up with three choices:
Amos and Andy was the most popular radio show until the early 1940s. In the 1930s, it was probably the most popular program ever broadcast. Nothing since the primed years of serialize A&A has been as popular.
Jack Benny was arguably the best comedy ever done.
Fibber McGee and Molly was on for over two decades, it featured a married couple who were married in real life and it had more of a home town feeling to it than Jack Benny. So, Fibber McGee and Molly would be my guess.
Those are good shows others might be stuff like ma Perkins or pepper young’s family soap operas Joan would listen to by her self and they both might listen to shows with daughter boom before she vanished maybe dick Tracy and captian midnight or even little orphan any or a day in life of Dennis day or one of my bros favorites the Phil Harris and Alice Faye show
This months question hit remarkably hard being that I listened on the day my 90 year old uncle passed away.
At our ages, older heroes, like older people in general, are getting harder to find. This means that we in our 50s are the old people that younger generations are supposed to be looking up to. It is our job to give them something worth idolizing.
Thanks for giving me something to think about. Great show as usual.
Sorry for your loss.
Condolences Brett, you make good points.
I’m so sorry, Brett. I feel much the same, having laid to rest both of my in-laws around 2020. My only hope is doing my best for others will provide my own legacy. Well said.
To answer Tim’s question about Mercury on the hood of a car: Justice League of America #135 features Mercury (from the Shazam pantheon) standing on the hood of the Earth Two Batman’s Batmobile and it indeed flies into space and lands on Earth S, I think. This is one of my early JLA / JSA crossovers and a favorite of mine as it introduced me to a whole ‘nother world of super-heroes with the Fawcett characters. I mean, Mr. Scarlet and Pinky? Spy Smasher? Ibis the Invincible? Bulletman and Bulletgirl? I love these comics!
Nicely done, John. I was also reminded by Ward Hill Terry. Glad to know I wasn’t imagining things. Again.
Awesome episode, as usual. But, Shagg, Shiera was never “Hawkwoman” except in her first appearance in the costume way back in FLASH COMICS. She was always “Hawkgirl.” (Oh, and I don’t think the Atom was Alan Pratt; I think “Al” was short for “Albert,” but I can’t remember where I saw that.)
As for final issues: Maybe it’s a cheat, but SECRET ORIGINS #50, especially the origin of Black Canary I/II post-Crisis. Alan Brennert did a wonderful job of just completely ignoring all the pre-Crisis shenanigans.
Another one: SUPERGIRL v4 #80, where Peter David wraps up the story of Linda Danvers as Supergirl after the wild ride through the series. It’s a bit rushed, but it still wraps everything up nicely and gives us an excellent reason for Linda to retire.
And one more, which may seem strange, but EARTH 2: SOCIETY #22. One of the few things I thought got off to a good start in the New 52 was James Robinson’s new version of Earth 2. It was one of the times I’ve been really pleased with James Robinson’s writing (sorry-not-sorry). After Robinson left, the concept of Earth 2 floundered terribly for a long time, but by the end of EARTH 2: SOCIETY, Dan Abnett’s rescued the whole idea and brought the series to what I felt was a successful conclusion without retelling a bunch of Golden Age stories (something the Earth-2 series concept was good at avoiding overall).
I was also going to chime in on Al the Atom, I’m pretty sure his godson Albert Rothstein was named after him.
Thanks for this great series of podcasts on a true favorite run of my favorite DC team. Loved the issues back in the 90s and re-reading them for the podcast. Older heroes done really well. Beautiful art.
Final issue: Has to be Elfquest #20. The original quest ends. Every issue of that original run was an event, as it came out quarterly. Even though there have been many issues of Elfquest since then, nothing has ever topped Wendy Pini’s masterpiece.
One Christmas in the early 1970s, I got a box full of DC comic books from the early 1960s. One of the issues include was the last issue of the silver age version of the Doom Patrol. I’d never even heard of the Doom Patrol, so this was my first exposure to them and I’ve been a fan ever since. The ending of that issue is so different than any other final issue I can think of, so it gets my vote for best final issue. I’m intentionally being vague, because I don’t want to spoil the ending for anyone who hasn’t read it.
A sad day for the podcast, but we’ve had ten mostly great issues, and lots of very listenable discussions.
Nice work Shag and Tim, you did a great job putting this period of the JSA to bed. It’s such a shame they never had an epic battle with a classic foe… Ultra-Humanite might qualify had he not been redesigned into silliness.
I still hate Hourman’s yellow mask and Starman’s green cowl – don’t mess with the classics. See also Hawkman’s new vest, just draw him as a hot daddy and don’t worry about his supposed human age.
That ‘THE’ on the cover is certainly straight off the Silver and Bronze Age Flash but it was also on many a house ad from fabled DC designer Ira Schnapp, who designed that Flash logo.
All the best to your theatre friend Joella (?) Tim, she sounds amazing, I hope her health improves.
And Shag, your dad sounds incredible, I know you’ve mentioned him being an entertainer previously, but goodness, he’s done so much – okay, Ronald McDonald is terrifying, but then again, as a former restaurant. manager my Steve does have a degree in Hamburgerology, so I feel protected.
Oh Shag, you were a bit hard on Tim, initially saying he never answered your question about whether the JSA series would still be getting talked about if the artist had been someone else – how can anyone know? My guess is yes because we talk about EVERYTHING.
Tom Artis? Tom Artis who ‘drew’ The Web? Blimey!
A great final issue was that of the New 52 Stormwatch; the likes of Jim Starlin and Peter Milligan had proven unable to make the book sing, but writer Sterling Gates and artist Jeremy Robert’s came in for #30 and smashed it… it’s on the DC app.
Thanks for the great feedback, Martin! I just found a photo in the theater office from 2023 of Joellen getting a distinguished service award from the VMI superintendent. I need to get it framed for her.
is “hot daddy” going to be a thing on this show now? Oh my.
It’s only been twice in the last three shows, Tim!
They could at least have taken it to 12, amirite?
Yes you are
We were robbed not having Starman on this cover.
Big shout of thanks to Shag and to each of his cohorts. These 10 episodes help make a lot of travel for work this week much more bearable. Enjoyable even. Just about back home now where I will pull all these issues out to read over the weekend!
Then next week, digging into all the Spotlight episodes I kept hearing mentioned. Justice Society Presents is the podcast that keeps on giving!
Here are three final issues that resonated with me:
1) Marvel’s Transformers #80 (1991). First of all, Transformers was my favorite toy and cartoon franchise as a kid, and this series was my gateway into comics. When it suddenly wrapped up, it felt like a piece of my childhood was forever closing. Little did we know Transformers would eventually come back and basically never leave.
2) R.E.B.E.L.S. #17 (1996) Starting with the acronym L.E.G.I.O.N. title, I followed the stories of the various team members, if you can really call it a team. Vril Dox was the leader you loved to hate. The ending with his and Stealth’s tyrant son Lyrl Dox is poignant.
3) Hitman #60 (2001) Garth Ennis and John McCrea made you care about the hilariously violent adventures of Tommy, Natt, and the rest of the guys at Noonan’s Bar. Somehow it was part of the main DC continuity. It’s definitely a finale for the main characters.
Here we are at the final issue of this run. I can’t help but wonder what we would’ve gotten had the series continued. I know some say it would’ve been like the late 90’s JSA series, but when you think about it, that series was addressing things that happened to the Justice Society in comics shortly after this series wrapped up like characters killed by Extant and Eclipso or the legacy characters that came after this like Mr. Terrific. I would like to think we’d get something with Per Degaton and a Justice League team-up of some kind.
In terms of finales, you know I love Starman. I’d always heard James Robinson knew where the series was going to end even before he wrote the first issue and as a teenager I was fascinated by that idea and the commitment to telling your story to reach the end you want. Robinson in general is an inspiration in my own writing but this idea has always stuck with me.
Finally….my family and I dig the Coneheads movie. It’s not the Blues Brothers or Wayne’s World, but its a staple with me and my sisters. We still can’t hear “Tainted Love” without thinking of this movie. We’ll gladly show that movie some love.
That’s a good point, what do I think would have happened next. I’m really bad at that, but there were seeds planted about Vandal Savage, the current JLA, McNider’s medical partner, KIku and Jessie. So maybe more about T-bolt’s home, Jessie’s parents and becoming her own hero rather than Wally’s supporting character, the Hourmen becoming a hero team, and more obscure golden age villains. Without a doubt, the path could have been very different!
“I feel I’ve got, uh uh, get awaaay.” Dang it, Jose!
Showing that I’m not that smart as usual, I thought of another notable final issue by flamehead, of course meaning Ghost Rider #81, where Johnny Blaze was cured of the curse, at the time. This was the only issue of that series which I bought, because the cover copy intrigued me. (That is who we mean by flamehead, right? I don’t remember what Shagg said in the show anymore.)
Another great episode, guys! This series definitely feels like it came to an end too quickly. I would have loved to see where they would have taken the story if it had been allowed to continue. I’m also bummed we haven’t seen Kiku since this series. While I love Jakeem Thunder, I wish DC had given a little more time to the other characters who carry on Johnny’s legacy (Kiku, Willpower, Peachy Pet, and Shocko).
Wrapping up this issue by putting the spotlight on Ted Knight as Starman was a great touch, and it transitions nicely into the Starman series that launched about a year later. I wonder if that was intentional, since there was a nod to Sandman Mystery Theatre at the start of this series.
As for great final issues, I’d agree that The Spectre (1992) and Starman (1994) both ended strong. It’s rare to find a satisfying last issue for a series that didn’t have a consistent creative team. Even books that do have one don’t always stick the landing.
Take JSA (1999), for example. Geoff Johns wrote it from the start (uncredited) through issue #81, aside from Keith Champagne’s excellent four-issue arc. Then Paul Levitz wrapped up the book with a six-issue Gentleman Ghost story that felt more suited to JSA Classified. Issue #81 should have been the finale. The Stargirl-focused issue provided real closure for the series, and with Dale Eaglesham on art, it served as a great tease for Johns’ follow-up Justice Society of America series.
In fact, each of Johns’ final Justice Society issues seems to spotlight Stargirl and bring things to a satisfying close, whether or not the series continued without him. That includes Justice Society of America (2006) #26 and Justice Society of America (2022) #12.
I’m looking forward to more JSA in the ’90s Character Spotlight episodes and the 1991 series!
To be on brand, one of my favourite last issues is the last issue of the All-Star JSA run. Though, because of the implosion, it was finishing off in Adventure Comic #466 (1979).
In the issue, we have Huntress explaining to Pee Gee why the JSA disbanded in the 50s to avoid being forced to reveal their identities for HUAC. The story is a little silly, the JSA get tricked into accepting a satellite built by an ancient of a foreign power, but the framing story includes a few little jabs at politics, just make it for me!
Cheating a little, like the show did, I also have a soft spot for the last issue of Steve Orlando’s Supergirl (2016) run, #19. A nice, quiet little story where Kara is just a decent and accepting person around a non-binary person.
Great episode as always ! The JSA is my favorite super-team and this comics was the first JSA title i bought. Love the channel : i read along and it feels like i’m with a comic book club.
Keep on the good work!!!
P.S. i was impressed by how Shagg pronounced my name ! That was good thanks !
Hmmm…not too many comic series finales stand out for me. A lot of them seem to be rushed or the end of a phase where the series is truly limping to the finish line. The end of James Robinson’s Starman is a standout but he seems to have been given leeway to end it on a high note. And the more I think about it, there aren’t too many series I follow to the bitter end. Even reading some older series for the first time on digital, it seems there is almost always an inevitable decline in art and writing and I bail instead of slogging through it.
A grevious one for me is the ending of the original Marvel Star Wars series with issue 107. I started collecting at issue 104 and poor naive 4th grader me was dismayed it was canceled so abruptly. It did launch an epic multi year back issue hunt together rest of the series, but the abrupt wrap up of ongoing storylines like the Nagai-Tof War and Lumiya’s grudge against Luke were very disappointing.
Alas, the grim and gritty early 1990s comic book landscape didn’t have room for a JSA ongoing. I don’t think the choice of stories did it any favors. The Parobeck art is wonderful but definitely not em vogue at the time. Too bad, I think different timing and maybe it would’ve had more traction. With the introduction of Jesse and Kiku and the inclusion of Rick Tyler, it did plant the seed that Robinson and Johns would run with years later with a multigenerational team of heroes with older heroes mentoring younger ones. Alas, Alex Ross ignored Kiku in Kingdom Come and created Jakeem Thunder—who I like—but DC writers (sometimes puzzling) devotion to Kingdom Come stuff meant they were gonna run with Jakeem as that legacy and put Kiku on the bench.