JLA/JSA Secret Files & Origins #1 (January, 2003)

Unlike JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice, I bought the related Secret Files book new. For starters, it was only $4.95, equivalent to $8.63 for a 64 page special. A better deal, I'd say. Also, I bought nearly all of the Secret Files books new, because I love DC's Who's Who-style comic format reference editions, as evidence by my having started a devoted podcast to them. But perhaps most importantly, because all of the character interaction stuff that I wanted from a JLA/JSA meet-up but was cut from Virtue and Vice ended up here. There's the explanation of who Captain Marvel and the Wizard Shazam even are, how they and the Rock of Eternity relate to The Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, and the story ends on a neat horror movie beat. There's Mr. Terrific checking out mementos in the Batcave, including a framed picture from the first JLA/JSA meet that includes J'Onn J'Onzz. Setting aside the painful Ace Ventura version of Plastic Man from this period, there's a cute grouping of two Flashes and an Hourman at a professional hockey match. There's The Atom going microscopic to study the mystical emerald flames that Green Lantern Alan Scott is made up of. How about Wonder Woman, Power Girl, and Stargirl rating the hotness of their teammates? Or Zatanna at the Tower of Fate? This was all the good stuff cleared out for empty spectacle. "The Day Before" was by Geoff Johns & David S. Goyer and Stephen Sadowski & Andrew Pepoy.

But that's not all! As per usual, there's a bunch of short stories and character profile pages by some notable talents. Most relevant here is the Department of Extranormal Operations feature, a regular part of Secret Files books, and also the organization J'Onn J'Onzz ran (as Hank Henshaw) on the CBS/CW Supergirl. TV show. In the comics, that was Director Bones' job. If you saw Thunderbolts*, it's hard not to think of its take on La Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine being a whitewashing of the DCEU's Amanda Waller. Technically, Bones is a cynical African-American along the lines of Ultimate Nick Fury, whom he predates, but it's easy to forget that part when all anyone can see is a talking (and smoking) skeleton. No confuse of who's who there. Anyway, the story involves the Director intentionally leaking controversial information on the D.E.O., and seeing how long it takes Earth's heroes to confront them regarding the misinformation. Just over an hour, as it happened, with the Martian Manhunter among those heroes. "Telephone" was by Dan Curtis Johnson, Kelly Yates, & Mick Gray.