WHO'S WHO - INDEXES - HISTORY OF THE DCU - MESSAGE BOARD - SEARCH ENGINE

JSA

JSA #18 January 2001 [$2.50] Cover Credits: Alan Davis (pencils); Mark Farmer (inks)

Story: "Injustice Be Done, Part 3: Sorrow's Story"

Credits: David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns (plot, script); Steve Yeowell (pencils); Stephen Sadowski (pencils); Michael Bair (inks)

Feature Characters: Doctor Mid-Nite II, Black Canary II, Sand (also in flashback to 1944), Sentinel, Flash I (last two in flashback to 1944 only)

Guest Stars: Scarab (also in flashback to 1944), Sandman I, Starman I, Hawkman I, Hawkgirl I, The Spectre I (last five in flashback to 1944, teamed with Flash and Sentinel as the Justice Society of America)

Villains: Johnny Sorrow (also in flashback to 1944), The King of Tears (also in flashback to 1944)

Other Characters: Andrea (Johnny Sorrow's other half, flashback to 1944), Shard, Dr Nowhere, The Veil (last three teamed with Scarab and three other unnamed heroes as the Seven Shadows; first appearance (in flashback to 1944); deceased)

Synopsis:

As Johnny Sorrow prepares to unleash the King of Tears on the Earth, using Louis Sendak as a vessel, the history of this villain flashes through Sand's mind. Back in 1944, when Sand was still Sandy, the Golden Boy, sidekick to the Sandman, Johnny Sorrow was a crook who used a variety of gadgets in his crimes, generally being apprehended by Starman in Opal City. On the occasion in question, he was using a device which allowed him temporarily to leave this dimension, the effects of this allowing him to become intangible, or, in effect to teleport. Sandy fires Sandman's wirepoon at the crook's device, which has an unexpected effect, his body disintegrating and disappearing.

Some months later, Sandy is still haunted by the consequences of his action, and is suddenly awakened by a mysterious visitor, who is, of course, Johnny Sorrow. Sorrow takes him to Chicago, where six heroes lie dead, killed simply by seeing what lies behind his mask. The disruption to his device had catapulted him into the subtle realms, inhabited by ancient primal creatures whose god, the King of Tears, desperately wants to re-enter the 'real' world. These beings gave him a mask, which contained his physical form and sent him into the world as their representative. He tracked down his 'widow', but when he removed his mask to show her who he was, she died instantly. At this point in his story, the JSA and Scarab attack, whereupon Sorrow reveals the King of Tears, making its way into the world. Conventional means are unable to stop it, but the Spectre is on hand and consumes its essence even as Johnny Sorrow makes his escape. The Spectre is unable to destroy the King of Tears, but weeps, these tears containing the terrible being's essence in a new form which is entrusted to the Society.

Back in the present, the King of Tears erupts from the mouth of Louis Sendak and things look rather grim.