I meant to review this issue of the JSA over a week ago but time, work and internet marketing activities got in the way. Shame on me... Anyway, I must say that JSA 82 was really great in both the artwork and the story line. But then personally, I've never read an issue of JSA that in which I didn't enjoy the plot. Sometimes the art has been a little on the amateurish side especially with the beginning issues of JSA Classified. But that aside, here's the scoop on what's up in JSA 82 and how I think that it might reflect in both Infinite Crisis and upcoming issues of the JSA.
It starts out with none other than Ma Hunkle, a.k.a., the original Red Tornado, mopping and cleaning the museum at JSA headquarters only to be both surprised and visited by the unexpected entrance of none other than Power Girl. Power Girl, has with her a notebook filled with writing by none other than Lois Lane of Earth Two. Unfortunately, the notebooks contents are written in code which Ma Hunkle states is nothing more than shorthand. She reads the story to Power Girl with much confusion as Ma Hunkle doesn't understand the multiverse concept.
The Superman and Batman involved in the story are involved with the early JSA and an encounter with the Gentleman Ghost. Lois Lane tells this story from a historical aspect and at one point it seems as if Lois and Kal-l (the Earth Two Superman) have returned to what appears to be Earth Two. However, that doesn't seem plausible considering that Power Girl is tied to Alexander Luthor's Tower when Superman and Lois seem to be transported home. Lois, does make a comment in these recollections however, that Clark (Superman) has a hard time distinguishing between what is real and what isn't. The issue ends with Power Girl in bed sobbing about being caught with a difficult decision in bringing back Earth Two which would wipe out millions of people that now exist. The dilemna is that now she remembers her cousin Kal-l and the Earth Two Lois Lane, both of whom were like parents to her.
Now as for the encounter with the Gentleman Ghost there may be more encounters with the JSA after Infinite Crisis is over according to the spoilers I have seen for upcoming issues of the JSA. In fact he may be bringing them even greater hardships than what they've already endured. Is Lois Lanes observation about Kal-l not knowing what is real and what isn't also tied into Infinite Crisis? Well, I guess that we will have to wait and see.
