As James Robinson and David Goyer's new ongoing JSA series nears closer to its June debut, some questions regarding Robinson's future involvement on the title have been raised on the DC Comics website's (www.dccomics.com) Starman Message Board. According to participants on the forum and attendees at official DC chats involving Robinson, he has been very publicly upfront that because of upcoming developments with Starman, and his continuing-to-development screenwriting career, Robinson plans or had "planned' to leave the JSA with issue #5, a issue that would coincide with Starman taking a "leave of absence" from the team to concentrate on problems in Opal City for an extended story arc.
Newsarama contacted a spokesperson for DC and Starman/JSA co-writer David Goyer to try to find out exactly what the story is. The DC spokesperson had no comments on the message board report and/or on Robinson's continued involvement or lack thereof, and while Goyer could not confirm Robinson's exit with issue #5, he did provide some details that shed some light on the topic.
According to Goyer, Geoff Johns, writer of the upcoming Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.S., whose star, the new Star Spangled Kid, is a member of the new team, will join the JSA creative team in some capacity with issue #6. "James' further involvement isn't entirely clear at this point," said Goyer. "We're trying to work out all of our schedules as James and mine have become increasingly complicated." Goyer did confirm, however, that Robinson will take over the Starman writing chores solo again beginning with issue #60, as "Jack will be focusing on Opal City for about 8 issues. We'll probably have some kind of crossover with the JSA near the end of that story" he said.
As to the series itself, no matter how the writing issue works out (and it appear it can go several ways and that many options are open at this point), Goyer was able to confirm some hints and teasers as to the first year of the JSA for us, so at this point consider yourself...
SPOILER WARNING
While Starman appears to be the first member to take leave of the team with issue #5, the new Dr. Fate and the new Dr. Mid-Nite (who premiered in Matt Wagner's recent mini-series) will be the first two new members, with Hippolyta/Wonder Woman also joining soon and functioning as a reservist. "Eventually, the team will have a rotating roster like the JLA," explained Goyer.
Expect appearances by Mr. Terrific, Obsidian, and a new Injustice Society in and around issues #5 through #9, and the writer hinted that, "another fairly big villain may be rearing his head in issue #6, but I'm not saying who right now."
And in addition the new Dr. Fate and new Dr. Mid-Nite, look for the new Spectre (coming your way in Johns' September weekly event Day of Judgment) in Year 2, and while Goyer stresses that this has NOT yet been approved, plans for the first JLA/JSA crossover that will wrap-up Year 1 currently include the much-awaited and debated return of something or somebody called Hawkman.