Wish I Had A Pencil-Thin Mustache, So I Could Solve Mysteries Too

October brings a new JSA series, lovingly revamped by Geoff Johns, Dale Eaglesham, and Alex Ross. Let's take a good look at the cover of issue #1, shall we? [SPOILERS, I guess, behind that link and after the jump.]

As Dan DiDio pointed out at WW Philly, it is an homage to the cover of All-Star Squadron #1, which has Earth-2's Hawkman, Doctor Mid-Nite, and the Atom poring over pictures of various Golden Age colleagues, with more pictures on the wall behind them. Not to make this into a Sgt. Pepper/Abbey Road photoanalysis session, but it may be instructive to see whether comparing the two might help predict the new team.

First, the All-Star Squadron cover. On the wall behind the three JSAers are pictures of Wildcat, the Shining Knight, Green Arrow, Johnny Quick, Batman & Robin, and the Star-Spangled Kid & Stripesy. On the table are pictures of the Vigilante, Robotman, Doctor Fate, the Sandman, the Tarantula, Superman, Captain Triumph, the Flash, the Crimson Avenger, Johnny Thunder & Thunderbolt, Plastic Man, the Spectre, Liberty Belle, the Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman.

As for the cover of Justice Society #1, Wildcat, Power Girl, and Mister Terrific are looking at photos of Hawkman, Sand, the new Starman, Wonder Woman, Obsidian, the Flash (Jay Garrick), Stargirl, Damage, STRIPE, Superman, Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Hourman, a new Liberty Belle, Jakeem Thunder & Thunderbolt, and ... some guy in a cape?

Obviously the first cover has more characters (24 vs. 16), including five Earth-2 counterparts lost to history. However, eleven characters (or their counterparts) appear on both covers: Hawkman, Wildcat, Star-Spangled Kid/Stargirl, Stripesy/STRIPE, Sandman/Sand, Liberty Belle, the Flash, Johnny/Jakeem Thunder, Thunderbolt, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman. Obsidian could also be seen as a "legacy" for his father, Green Lantern; and if the new Liberty Belle is Jesse Chambers (a/k/a Jesse Quick), she would likewise be a legacy for her dad, Johnny Quick.

We know already that Wildcat, Power Girl, Mr. Terrific, Damage, Starman, and Hourman will be on the new team. The commonalities between the two covers suggest that Hawkman, Green Lantern, Flash, Jakeem Thunder & Thunderbolt, Sand, and Liberty Belle will join them, which wouldn't be much of a stretch. Superman and Wonder Woman seem like longshots, considering their major roles in the new Justice League, although Wonder Woman would be an interesting "legacy" given her mother's role in the wartime JSA.

That's thirteen characters so far, which would be plenty for a rotating cast but a little unwieldy to handle month-to-month. It's hard to imagine a Justice Society without the Flash and Green Lantern, but events in the new Flash may not be kind to Jay. Similarly, the JSA waited long enough to get Hawkman back, but by this time he might have joined the new Justice League. (Wait a minute -- that would mean he's back -- and that reminds me: where's the picture of Hawkgirl?) What's more, we don't know how much time Checkmate will demand from Green Lantern and Mr. Terrific. The new Justice Society might have over a dozen members, but these four may not be featured a whole lot.

Still, why put Obsidian on the cover unless he's going to be in the book? For that reason I think he's in. And what about that guy in the cape?

Here's a better look at the costume. Look at the collar and the stars on the cape -- it's an updated Mr. America! What's funny (to me, at least) is that this guy was not exactly treated well in James Robinson's The Golden Age, which was the "grandparent" of the just-ending JSA book. Just the circle of life, I guess. However, I can't tell -- is that a pencil-thin mustache...?

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