Throwback Thursday: The Four Judomasters
Feb 03, 2022
Before Judomaster was picking fights with John Cena and eating hot Cheetos on Peacemaker, the character name was used by four different individuals in DC Comics.
The first Judomaster was Hadley Jagger, a Charlton Comics character created by Joe Gill and Frank McLaughlin. Introduced in Special War Series #4 (November 1965), Jagger was a sergeant in the army during World War II. He saved the daughter of a Pacific Island chief, who thanked Hadley by teaching him judo. When the Charlton characters moved to DC, he was reintroduced as a member of the All-Star Squadron. He died during Infinite Crisis when Bane broke his back during a battle in Metropolis.
The fourth Judomaster was Sonia Sato who was recruited by Oracle, along with Big Barda, to help the Birds of Prey. Her next mission came in Justice Society of America, which revealed that she was a metahuman who could project an aversion field to protect herself from direct attacks. When Blackest Night ended Sonia was set on getting revenge on Tiger for killing her father. After King Chimera persuaded her not to kill Tiger, she changed directions by starting relief funds for people who’d been hurt during the conflict.
Long before joining the Suicide Squad, Christopher Smith, code name Peacemaker, meets with a psychiatrist-a woman dangerously obsessed with his bizarre and violent past. From his tragic childhood to his military service overseas to his multiple missions with Special Forces, Smith has more than his share of skeletons in the closet. But who's actually analyzing whom? And will this trip down memory lane result in yet more fatalities?
Garth Ennis and Garry Brown delve deep into Christopher Smith's history of violence, and reveal what might bring peace-or not-to the Peacemaker. "
Art and cover by JESUS MERINO
Writers Bill Willingham (FABLES) and Matthew Sturges team up with artist Jesus Merino on a new era for the JSA. The team battles a monstrous army of villains who've declared war on them to collect a mysterious bounty in this collection of JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #29-33.
Art by Dale Eaglesham, Art Thibert
and Ruy Jose
Cover by Alex Ross
The world's first super-team returns in this volume collecting the first 4 issues of the all-new JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA series, written by Geoff Johns (52, GREEN LANTERN, ACTION COMICS) with stunning art by Dale Eaglesham (VILLAINS UNITED) & Art Thibert (OUTSIDERS) and a cover by Alex Ross (JUSTICE, KINGDOM COME)!
Determined to rebuild the Justice Society, founding members Green Lantern, Flash and Wildcat initiate an unprecedented recruitment program, tracking the bloodlines of heroes across the world and bringing in the new Starman, Damage, Liberty Belle and more! But just as the Society welcomes the rookies into their ranks, an evil force sets out to destroy them. Meet new legacies, solve a mystery stretching into the far future, witness the return of the world's greatest hero and watch another one fall in this fantastic collection!
Advance-solicited; on sale September 19 136 pg, FC, $19.99 US
This article originally appeared in Gemstone Publishing’s e-newsletter Scoop.
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Amanda Sheriff is Gemstone Publishing’s Associate Editor, serving as the writer/editor of the e-newsletter, Scoop. She is the author of The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Movie Posters, The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Concert Posters, and The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Horror, and co-author of The Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles and The Overstreet Price Guide to Batman.
