JLA JSA VIRTUE AND VICE FINALE SPLASH PAGE 94 BY CARLOS PACHECO AND JESUS MERINO

I will be repeating myself once again but, while there is no denying that Carlos Pacheco was an impeccable storyteller and great stylist, there are two projects on equal footing that can be considered at the top of the pyramid of his production quality wise as far as I’m concerned. Avengers Forever and the JLA/JSA graphic novel. Many will argue that it has to do with how perfectly suited Merino’s inks were for his pencils, which is certainly true. The fact that Kurt Busiek and Roger Stern wrote the former and Geoff Johns the later surely made for great reads as well.

Case in point, the very last page of JSA/JLA by a perfect art team.

The book opens with a scene of Superman and Sentinel (older Green Lantern) in space, looking at the earth and discussing the wider scheme of things.

And after an amazing adventure featuring both teams, the circle is complete as we find them both back at the same spot that gives them a clarity of the mind and…perspective (a word Sentinel uses in the opening scene, which is another way to complete the circle).

Now to say that this splash page of a quiet scene is grandiose would be an understatement.
By playing with scale, depth and distance, Pacheco establishes how small two of the most powerful super beings in the DCU are as compared to the universe.

I love the majesty and respect given to both characters. How Sentinel’s flame is subtly burning. How delicately Superman is holding his cape. And then all the subtle details, the way Sentinel’s flame is drawn really gives the impression it is wavering, the ice on Superman’s cape, his frozen breath.

And of course, the insane stary background (kudos to Merino on this part) with our good old Earth and some bits of ice floating around.

The wholes scene radiates a scene of calm and peace.

What an artist he was. One of the very best.

This is part 6 of my 2026 CAF birthday party.