Hawkman is the ultimate challenge in this regard, a superhero who has recently been rebooted and still almost impossible for any writer to get straight.

They happily embrace the convoluted histories and face them like a narrative puzzle that can be sorted out with intelligent writing. Our writers aren’t daunted by the oftentimes muddled and confusing continuity working with DC legacy characters brings. Sorrow is acutely aware of the role of legacy and stacks his Injustice Society with the descendants of the JSA’s old foes. Sorrow has two goals: Usher in the age of the King of Tears on Earth and get revenge on Sand for his role in Sorrow’s defeat in the Golden Age. He was a small-time villain who, after communing with a Lovecraftian entity, becomes a being of cosmic horror. This was no more apparent than in Johnny Sorrow, a retroactive invention modern comics writing placed in the past. Together, Johns and Goyer explored not just the positive side of legacy superheroics but how the sins of the past can often be visited upon the current generation. Goyer would continue as a contributor up through issue 50 and is often forgotten when discussions about this series arise. Geoff Johns was settling comfortably into the JSA during his second and third years. This leads to the return of two deadly enemies for both heroic teams. After a brief tour of duty in Our Worlds At War, the team finally settles down with a Thanksgiving dinner with the Justice League only to have it interrupted by global hell as the Seven Deadly Sins are unleashed. The JSA ends up across the galaxy on Thanagar heralding the return of the winged wonder while they battle the devilish Onimarr Synn. In the midst of this chaos, a new ally is forged, and Hawkgirl suddenly recalls her past-life as Shiera Hall and her lost love Hawkman. Shiv has a score to settle with the Star-Spangled Kid. Count Vertigo seeks revenge against Black Canary who is out on the town with Doc Mid-Nite. Jay Garrick, the original Flash, is confronted by his long thought dead arch-enemy Rival. The team is fragmented, and each villain targets a specific hero. The Justice Society is ambushed by their nemesis Johnny Sorrow and his new Injustice Society. Art by Stephen Sadowski, Phil Winslade, Carlos Pacheco, Steve Yeowell, Buzz, Javier Saltares

Justice League, Volume 2 by Geoff Johns