Jenny Sparks #3: Can I Get A Light?

Jenny Sparks #3 sees the Justice League arrive at the scene as they seek to end Captain Atom’s plans swiftly and for good. It is honestly shocking to see this issue come out on the same day as Wonder Woman #14, as writer Tom King seems to be depicting two opposing narratives with these series, although in a very coy way. Jenny Sparks #3 truly highlights what this series intends to be, showcasing a dual narrative that helps identify what exactly Jenny’s world view looks like and why this ordeal with Atom is so important to her character.

With Jenny Sparks #3, Tom King is clearly saying something about superheroes and what they can and cannot do. One of the narratives here showcases a flashback to 2004 where Jenny meets Superman in the Middle East to prove a point. This part of the narrative says everything about what King is saying and criticizing. The idea that Superman can end all wars and create world peace is not new, but King approaches it from a different angle here, depicting Superman’s long standing argument that he cannot be the world’s judge and jury, and that he can physically stop whatever he wants, but he will never be able to make people act differently than they choose. What is unique here is how King uses Jenny, putting her in a position where she calls Superman’s bluff, forcing him to take action but putting him in proximity to an IED that would have killed several soldiers. The point here is clearly that the picking and choosing what battles to fight showcase the superhero’s self identification of divinity, only using their powers when they feel it is right.

This directly ties into the main narrative, where the Justice League have decided to dive in and take down Atom because he has now crossed a line that they cannot forgive. Jenny uses the same logic here, showing that the League could have tried to stop Atom whenever they wanted, but waited until now. And even then, they refuse to come up with any semblance of a plan, choosing to just rush in despite Atom’s powers immediately knocking The Flash away in an unprecedented manner.

This is where the bizarre publishing decision comes in, with DC releasing this issue the same week as Wonder Woman #14. In that issue, King continues to show what makes Wonder Woman so unique compared to her counterparts, highlighting what makes her so great in the face of adversity. Jenny Sparks #3 is almost the complete opposite, depicting the Justice League in a negative light, which includes Wonder Woman. On the one hand, this shows King’s diversity as a writer, but for fans of both series, it is a bit perplexing.

This issue shines in the art, with Jeff Spokes depicting a version of the Justice League that seems to be inspired by the animated Justice League TV show. When the action kicks into gear towards the end of the issue, Spokes’ art really starts to shine. Spokes uses a sense of vibrancy within his colors to show how fantastical and beyond human these superheroes are, as Atom performs some kind of experiment with five people who are completely innocent in everything. This really highlights the themes of the book, showing how these heroes represent themselves in such a divinistic way.