All things Kahndaq

[Astroape2000]

I just picked up the latest arc of the JSA and I'm unfamiliar with the back story. What arcs do you recommend that deal with Kahndaq? I know about the parts in the latest Hawkman trade. What JSA arcs involved this place?

[Eric Moreno]

Black Reign (JSA 56-58 and Hawkman 23-25) ... it is the next collected TPB ... this was the story that had Black Adam and his crew (Atom Smasher, Brain Wave - and a special guest -, Northwind, Eclipso II and Nemesis II) take over Kahdaq and come into conflict with the JSA. That is it to date.

[Atom-Smasher]

The trade comes out later in the month (and I can't wait to get it!).

[Astroape2000]

Ah, that is the missing link. I thought that trade might have been out already. Much thanks.

Oh, do they explain the origin of Eclipso II? I thnk he appeared in an earlier JSA arc. Is Eclipso still the angry god sitting on the moon?

[Chaomancer Omega]

Eclipso I is the angry god sitting on the moon, possessing people right and left, but most notably Bruce Gordon. This is "classic Eclipso".

Eclipso II is Alexander Montez. In the Princes of Darkness arc, he acquired tattoos from Devil's Island (Eclipso's birthplace), and injected liquified black diamonds into his veins. Confronting Eclipso, he took the last black diamond (with Phantom Lady's help), and seized control. You can think of it as Alex possessing the demon. He's a hero who uses Eclipso's power... up until the tattoo-runes were broken.

Eclipso III is Jean Loring, possessed by Eclipso, taking a more distinct form than before. She's the one currently wreaking havoc in "Black Vengeance".

[Anthem]

Actually, the earlier "Justice Society of Egypt" arc in JSA could also be considered part of the Kahndaq story, since that is where the whole Black Adam backstory showed up for the first time.

[Eric Moreno]

Actually, the earlier "Justice Society of Egypt" arc in JSA could also be considered part of the Kahndaq story, since that is where the whole Black Adam backstory showed up for the first time.

Anthem

That's one of the weaker arcs of the series (though still really good) and is collected in the JSA: Savage Times TPB (JSA 39-45). Alexander Montez (Eclipso II) was introduced in JSA #26 ... he became Eclipso in JSA #49 during the awesome Princes of Darkness story.

[Atom-Smasher]

Yeah, the shorter trades are the weakest ones, namely Fair Play and Savage Times (and to a degree, Justice Be Done, but it was the first few issues so I'll give it a break). Darkness Falls, Return of Hawkman, Stealing Thunder and Princes of Darkness are much better, and Darkness Falls and Princes of Darkness are the strongest ones. Black Reign is only going to be six issues, but Lost is supposed to be ten.

[Astroape2000]

"Thank you, mighty Atom Smasher."