In 2004, Geoff Johns penned a Thanksgiving crossover between the Justice League and the Justice Society. The fun and festive story served as a pleasant reminder that a comic book doesn't need a dark and gritty tone to make for a great read.
The current era of DC Comics is full of stories that follow the idea that the best stories require a dark and gritty feel to succeed. But in 2004's JLA #54 (by Johns and Don Kramer), the "Virtue and Vice" story saw DC's two greatest teams come together for a wholesome Thanksgiving dinner. The issue was reminiscent of some older team books, which would see issues fill the gap between arcs by having their heroes take a break and enjoy life. While Chris Claremont had various members of the X-Men take breaks by having baseball games, other books would have Christmas specials and Thanksgiving unions. These comics are a great throwback to the years of fun and wholesome stories.
The Justice League and Justice Society Celebrated Thanksgiving Together
The comic acted as a festive break from the trials and difficulties members of either team had been battling in recent stories. Replete with all the expected Thanksgiving tropes, Wildcat starts a political argument with Wonder Woman and the younger heroes eat at the kids' table. As the story continues, characters from across the two teams of DC heroes make their entrance, everyone from Kid Flash to Green Arrow. Meanwhile, the ever-vigilant and paranoid Batman struggles to take his mind off his heroic duties and is convinced of an imminent attack sure to disrupt the celebration.
As Black Canary and Doctor Mid-Nite try to heal a fractured relationship, the teams chat and get ready for their long-awaited Thanksgiving feast. However, two super villains make the hilarious mistake of crashing the JLA/JSA gathering and are swiftly defeated by the large gathering. However, even Batman is sure to not let the intrusion affect their dinner. The heroes order out for enough pizza to go around. And, to cap it all off, the story ends with Batman getting the opportunity to deliver a smug "I told you so."
Comic book issues that serve as a cooling-off point between big arcs have great value to readers, both new and old. While they make for some great fan service to long-time collectors, they give new readers a great place to start reading and become acquainted with characters. In "Virtue and Vice," the story continued with an equally wholesome Christmas follow-up and showcased a variety of heroes from the DC Universe. Although the gritty and darker stories of modern comics have delivered some excellent stories, JSA and similar books have always showed the strengths of a lighter comic book.
The JSA Series Featured More Light-Hearted Stories
The JSA has, since its 1990s comeback, been a great source of DC's more lighthearted and old-fashioned stories, embracing its heroes' "old meets new" style. This story was no different, uniting every generation of DC hero under one roof to celebrate Thanksgiving together for a wholesome break from crime-fighting. Intentionally created to be a down-to-Earth and relatable story, "Virtue and Vice" is a must-read story for any fan who enjoys the lighter side of comics.
Wholesome holiday stories that offer a break from the series can also be an excellent entry point to new readers and give them something to get to know the heroes in one issue. Stories like this have mostly fallen by the wayside in current comics, save for a few titles, and modern books have a stronger fixation on grit and darkness. But it's worth remembering how well-received the lighter books can be by the fans and the breath of fresh air they bring to a series.