JSA #21 — Jeff Lemire and Pete Woods Send the Team Into the Unknown

The New God Metron pulls Doctor Fate, Stargirl, Jakeem, and Kid Eternity into a dangerous temporal investigation to find the missing Jim Corrigan. Meanwhile, the rest of the JSA faces the Spectre on Earth. A high-stakes split-narrative issue from Jeff Lemire and Diego Olortegui.

There’s something inherently cinematic about the Justice Society of America when it’s in the right hands. Jeff Lemire’s run has always leaned into that classic, larger-than-life feel, and issue #21 is shaping up to be a masterclass in tonal contrast. We’re looking at a story that fractures the team in two, sending them on parallel quests that feel like they’re playing out in different genres entirely.

The premise kicks off with a serious problem: Jim Corrigan is missing, and the trail goes cold after a confrontation with Darkseid. The solution? The New God Metron steps in. He drags Doctor Fate, Stargirl, Jakeem, and Kid Eternity out of the present and back into the events of the DC ALL IN SPECIAL. It’s a time-displaced rescue mission that promises to dig into the past to solve a present-day crisis. The art from Diego Olortegui here is going to be a treat, handling that temporal shift with a clarity that keeps the stakes high.

While that quartet navigates the complexities of yesteryear, the rest of the JSA is dealing with a much more immediate, spiritual threat. The battle against the Spectre continues, and the search for a new host is underway. It’s a gritty, grounded counterpoint to the cosmic mystery unfolding elsewhere. The cover by Pete Woods captures that energy perfectly, hinting at the sheer scale of the conflict without giving away how the pieces fit together.

This issue works because it trusts the reader to hold two different threads in their head at once. You’ve got the magical, time-bending investigation with the heavy hitters, and you’ve got the raw, spiritual struggle on the home front. It’s a great example of why this team dynamic still works so well. If you’ve been riding along with Lemire’s take on these characters, this is the kind of plot twist that reinvigorates the whole series.

I’d keep an eye on the Pete Woods cover for this one. It’s vibrant and packed with character beats that reward a second look. These variant editions tend to move quickly, so if you’re a fan of Woods’ style, you’ll want to grab it while it’s still in the stack. It’s a great companion piece to the main story, even if you just want the art on your shelf.