JSA: The Golden Age Book

This is another of those books that I totally forgot that I'd read before. That's partly due to the cover of this Deluxe Edition being different from the original paperback, and partly due to the fact that it's been close to a decade since the last time I read it.

In the end, it's not a big deal. It's definitely a story worth reading again. Robinson and Smith take the Justice Society through the post-WWII years and into the McCarthy era. It's a final hurrah for the classic Golden Age heroes and a setting of the stage for the Silver Age heroes of the 60's. The story plays out nicely, and Paul Smith's art has never looked better. Robinson does a skillful job of giving everyone in his large cast their turn in the spotlight as he weaves comic book and real world history into a seamless whole.

Knowing something about the Justice Society going into this is probably a plus. Some of these characters are relatively obscure--the Red Bee, anyone?--and I'm not sure how this book will read to someone completely unfamiliar with them. If you're as much of a superhero fan as I am, though, it is definitely recommended!