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JSA (1999)
JSA: Strange Adventures
Renowned science fiction novelist Kevin J. Anderson (THE SAGA OF SEVEN VEILED ALLIANCES) comes to the DCU for this epic starring the World's First Super-Team!
Set during the Golden Age, STRANGE ADVENTURES begins when fumbling Johnny Thunder decides to become a big-time writer by chronicling the adventures of the JSA. Taken under the writing wing of legendary, real-life science-fiction Grand Master Jack Williamson, Johnny tries his best -- and when a deadly new villain called Lord Dynamo appears on the scene, flying a deadly zeppelin crewed by robot zombies, it's up to Johnny and Jack to help Hawkman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Starman, Dr. Mid-Nite, The Sandman and the rest of the JSA save the day!
Set during the Golden Age, STRANGE ADVENTURES begins when fumbling Johnny Thunder decides to become a big-time writer by chronicling the adventures of the JSA. Taken under the writing wing of legendary, real-life science-fiction Grand Master Jack Williamson, Johnny tries his best -- and when a deadly new villain called Lord Dynamo appears on the scene, flying a deadly zeppelin crewed by robot zombies, it's up to Johnny and Jack to help Hawkman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Starman, Dr. Mid-Nite, The Sandman and the rest of the JSA save the day!
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Kevin J. Anderson
867 books2,898 followersYes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 10, 2012
The JSA are a potentially interesting group of characters, but they'er handled like a bunch of one-dimensional cardboard cutouts in this clumsy, clunky substandard effort. Anderson's attempts to deify Jack Williamson are laughable, and the constant "look at my research" references are so hamfisted they quickly become comical.
This is, simply, the worst graphic novel I've read in a very long time.
This is, simply, the worst graphic novel I've read in a very long time.
September 13, 2012
This is a bit of a curious mix. The JSA themselves are portrayed in a really nice old-fashioned way, but the villain of the piece is more the modern style.
I enjoyed it. For those who read nothing but gritty and dark like most DC lines since Batman: Year One (not that there is anything wrong with them) then this more old school story should make a nice refreshing change.
I enjoyed it. For those who read nothing but gritty and dark like most DC lines since Batman: Year One (not that there is anything wrong with them) then this more old school story should make a nice refreshing change.
April 4, 2017
I see what he was trying to do. Anderson was trying to recapture the Golden Age feel. However, it felt flat. Johnny Thunder is by far my least favorite JSAer and it was so hard to read about him. He may be the absolute least interesting member of the team. I did like the little insight to old literary magazine days, but for the most part it was just okay.
June 10, 2012
An extremely weak attempt to produce a book that brings the characters of the JSA into a universe that's different from the book series.
August 31, 2015
Very good solid work.
I liked it..
I liked it..
November 20, 2015
Not bad, but the world will keep turning if you miss this one. I like the Golden Age characters, but really need to know more about them to get fired up about this title.
February 27, 2018
Very nice story with some of the classic heroes of the Golden Age. Good story and art. Recommended
August 2, 2020
Undead nazi cyborgs on a battle zeppelin combating the forces of Good in the middle of America! Evil genius Lord Dynamo posing as a benevolent being offering the citizens world treasures in return for just two artifacts of JSA! The full cast of JSA has to work together to stop him!... You'd think that with descriptions like that and Barry Kitson art it'd be at least somewhat exciting but, unfortunately, no, it isn't. It manages to be somehow very bland and overly long. For one thing, we have six full issues for that storyline. Essentially, JSA fights the same guy six times and he flies off into the sunset five out of six. In the process, we get tidbits of the plot revealed but there's just not enough of that to justify the repeating pattern. Three or four issues would work much more nicely. The other big thing is that all of the JSA characters behave like action figures. They do their stuff, use their powers but with the exception of Johnny Thunder, the rest are just background. Okay, I get it, it's a story about Johnny. Then cut the repeating battle scenes with robots out, leaving just a couple. All in all, it's like a bad TV show. "You've got a page of metaplot, you need to produce 13 40-minute episodes, go for it, guys."
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August 28, 2023The effort here is a reasonable one - to do a throwback Golden Age-style story befitting these Golden Age characters - but it's honestly mediocre at best. This is basically a 6-issue tribute to science fiction writer Jack Williamson, with some lackluster villainy in the background that the JSA has to stop. It's pretty silly! And it's written in the expository, blunt style of a '40s comic. I didn't hate it, because I like any excuse to see these characters, but it's nothing special.
June 12, 2023
Most of the heroes just act as background characters for this story. The story itself is a bit weak and really drawn out.
Seems like the normal human heroes are the most powerful of the bunch, or at least do the most work.
Seems like the normal human heroes are the most powerful of the bunch, or at least do the most work.
December 18, 2018
Just what I wanted - old-timey stories with a bit of a message. Awesome art, too. Would have liked a smaller cast, though.
May 26, 2019
I REALLY wanted to like this, but I just couldn't get into it. I love the JSA and I love the Hellboy-ish type of atmosphere it was trying to evoke, but I just don't think it got there.
March 30, 2020
Anyone who is a fan of early 20th century pulp fiction and the campy DC comics from the late 30’s/early 40’s should read this.
September 7, 2015
This is a valiant attempt at capturing the spirit of a Golden Age superhero team-up book that does a lot right but ends up missing the mark. The action is fast & breezy, the dialog cheesy, and the characters pure cardboard. I did like the inclusion of real-life author Jack Williamson in the plot and his drive back home to New Mexico. However, they spell "green chile" incorrectly, and have Saguaro cactus dotting the scenery. Two fatal errors to a New Mexican like me. The art, which is in very modern DC style, is quite nice, but can't save this book from its own blandness.
November 20, 2021
Just reread what may be the wildest, hard sci-fi tale the JSA was put through. Everyone knows who Anderson is, but his introduction of Jack Williamson (arguably one of the Fathers of Pulp and Speculative Fiction) into the story really makes it seem like a real world event with the original super-heroes of the DCU.
Find it ! Buy it! READ IT!
Find it ! Buy it! READ IT!
May 5, 2015
La cosa migliore della storia è l'inserimento di Jack Williamson, quello vero, nella trama, nonché la prefazione che lui ha scritto per questa miniserie che si permette di usarlo come protagonista. E che ricorda Gernsback come l'editore taccagno già descritto da molti, tra cui H.P.Lovecraft.
October 8, 2011
Picked this up at the library. Don't make the same mistake I did.
May 3, 2017
it was a story and i read the hell out of it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews