| Unofficial JSA Index |
JSA #18
Cover Date: January 2001
Cover Price: $2.50
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Cover Credits:
Pencils: Alan Davis
Inks: Mark Farmer
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Credits:
| Story | David S. Goyer, Geoff Johns |
| Pencils | Stephen Sadowski, Steve Yeowell |
| Inks | Michael Bair |
| Lettering | Ken Lopez |
| Colors | John Kalisz |
| Color separations | Heroic Age |
| Editing | Peter J. Tomasi |
Feature Character(s):
- JSA:
- Black Canary II
- Sand (also in flashback to 1944; between Adventure Comics #89 and #90 and Adventure Comics #92 and All-Star Comics #21)
- Doctor Mid-Nite II
- Sandman (in flashback to 1944; between Adventure Comics #89 and #90 and Adventure Comics #92 and flashback in Starman Vol. 2 #22)
- Starman I (in flashback to 1944 between Adventure Comics #92/4 and flashback in Starman Vol. 2 #22)
- Hawkman (in flashback to 1944; in between Flash Comics #54/5 and Flash Comics #55/5)
- Hawkgirl I (in flashback to 1944 between Flash Comics #53/5 and #55/5)
- Spectre I (in flashback in between More Fun Comics #97/5 and All-Star Comics #21)
- Flash I (in flashback to 1944; in between Flash Comics #54 and Flash Comics #55)
- Green Lantern (Alan Scott; in flashback to 1944; between Big All-American Comic Book #1 and All-American Comics #60)
Villain(s):
- Johnny Sorrow (also in two flashbacks to 1944)
- King of Tears (also in flashback to 1944)
Guest Appearance(s):
- Scarab (also in flashback to 1944 as a member of the Seven Shadows)
Other Character(s):
- Andrea (first appearance; Johnny Sorrow's wife, flashback to 1944; dies)
- Seven Shadows:
- Shard (first appearance; in flashback; dies)
- Doctor Nowhere (first appearance; in flashback; dies)
- Veil II (first appearance; in flashback; dies)
- Jake Justice (first appearance; unnamed in this story; in flashback; dies)
- Lodestar (first appearance; unnamed in this story; in flashback; dies)
- Man-at-Arms (first appearance; unnamed in this story; in flashback; dies)
Location(s):
- Subtle Realms (first appearance)
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.