Warning: Spoilers for JSA #3
TheJustice Society of America’s heroes pride themselves on being a tight-knit family of heroes, but a villain has shaken that traditional foundation to the core by infiltrating their ranks. A longtime JSA foe, Johnny Sorrow, is replacing one of the team’s key members in order to tear them apart from the inside. With a hero unaccounted for and an enemy among them, the Justice Society is in serious peril.
InJSA#3 by Jeff Lemire, Diego Olortegui, Luis Guerrero, and Steve Wands, Beth Chapel - also known as Doctor Mid-Nite - keeps an eye on young Jakeem as he remains incapacitated after a battle with theInjustice Society. She performs a blood test on him and discovers something in his blood, which causes her to have a sudden revelation.
Doctor Mid-Nite has discovered that Obsidian is not himself, and has in fact been replaced by one of the JSA’s most horrifying foes: Johnny Sorrow.With the Justice Society housing an impostor, the team now faces an insidious threat unlike any other.
Johnny Sorrow Steals Obsidian’s Identity to Invade the Justice Society of America’s Roster
The JSA’s Scariest Enemy Has a Hero’s Immense Power At His Disposal
Johnny Sorrow first debuted in “Sorrow Ever More” by Geoff Johns and Phil Winslade, a story found in 1999’sSecret Origins of Super Villains 80-Page Giant#1. One of theJustice Society’s most iconic villains, Sorrow wears a mask to conceal his disfigured face. If anyone looks at his face, they can be killed, and this ability is what reveals his identity to Doctor Mid-Nite. During their fight, the fake Obsidian says,“I’ll show you things that will haunt you, girl. I’ll show you my true face!“By alluding to his deadly visage, Johnny Sorrow has admitted that he isn’t really Obsidian.
The Justice Society Officially Has a New Leader (Is She the Right Choice?)
A next-generation hero has stepped up to lead the Justice Society, but her leadership may not be enough to unite the fractured team in dark times.
This villain’s newfound presence in the Justice Society’s ranks is enough to spark concern in and of itself, butthe specific hero Johnny Sorrow has replaced increases his threat level significantly. As the son of Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, Obsidian hasgod-level powersat his disposal that allow him to manipulate shadows at will, and this ability could become highly dangerous in the wrong hands. Johnny Sorrow has already taken advantage of this, such as when"Obsidian” unleashed a nightmare-fuel formto torture his opponents inJSA#1, and he now appears to be harming Jakeem with his powers.
The Injustice Society Makes Big Moves to Take Down the JSA From the Inside
Johnny Sorrow’s Ruse Is Finally Discovered, But Is It Too Late?
Since Doctor Mid-Nite detects traces of Obsidian’s void powers in the blood samples, it can be presumed that Johnny Sorrow is responsible for Jakeem’s condition. His influence over the Justice Society doesn’t stop there, though, as he’s using Obsidian’s likeness to divide the team. TheJSA’s emotional conflictstems from Obsidian disagreeing with how Jade wants to lead the team, but Johnny Sorrow has actually been sowing that discord to weaken them. The Injustice Society’s scheme has been exposed, though time will tell if theJustice Society of Americacan reunite before the villains' infiltration destroys them.
JSA#3is available now from DC Comics.
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America is a DC Comics superhero team initially conceived during the 1940s and featured a mix of various heroes throughout DC Comics' continuity. Throughout the decades and via modern relaunches of the JSA, new members have been cycled in and out of the team, with heroes such as Stargirl, Cyclone, Wildcat, and Atom Smasher joining the ranks.
