Johnny Sorrow is a Sick Fuck

Johnny Sorrow is one of the creepiest comic villains I have seen in a long time. I seriously believe that. He's a fascinating reject from Lovecraft who also happens to be a melodramatic ex-silent film star with a scary fixation on the hero who defeated/killed him.

A hero who also happens to be a kid.


So it shouldn't be any surprise really that I think the guy is a sick bastard. Especially given my particular subtextual reading of certain events. But it's not just that. He also has some really really creepy lines.

JSA 17:

"Dear Mr. Sendak is indisposed at the moment-- --but I would be more than happy to receive you."

(Hmph, I'd bet you would be.)

"Ah Sanderson, the decades have treated you well. All grim and grown up, are we? No longer Wesley Dodds' Golden Boy, I see."

(Christ man: that's like one step better than "Well, you've certainly grown up pretty, haven't you?" for creepy things a man shouldn't say to a kid he's had tied to a chair in an empty theatre.)


JSA 18:

"Hello, Sandy, it's so good to see you again-- --So awfully, terribly good."

(Okay, personally, I'd find that line creepy in any context. But Sorrow's not satisfied with that, he has to say while hovering above the kid's bed, about to kidnap him for dire purposes. Creepy.)

"Time to wake up, my fair haired child."

(Creepy)

"I took the liberty of dressing you. I wanted you here in your official capacity."

(Creeepy)

"I wanted the Golden Boy."

(I'll bet you did.)

"Don't be frightened, child. The time for fear has passed."

(...yeah. Somehow I doubt the poor kid finds that reassuring.)

"Now Sandy, tell me, my Golden Boy. Where is your Spectre now?!"

(...)

(See, that'd be not so bad, if he weren't talking to the *adult*)


JSA 19:

(He's actually relatively restrained in 19. He gloats about his plan and has a captive in bondage on a stalagmite, but at least avoids the creepy innuendo!

That's it Sorrow, just keep manhandling the kid instead! It works much better! I'll try not to notice how infuriated you seem to get when the kid's talking back or laughing at you. Just keep away from the innuendo.)

JSA 20:

(This issue also is heavy on the bondage and hitting tied up victims but light on the innuendo. Much to my relief. In fact the creepiest line uttered isn't actually Sorrow's this time)

"That's it-- Take Sorrow's focus off commanding the King of Tears-- and just on you."

(Yeah, see, this is what we call a "martyr complex", Sand. Not to mention, it's really fucking creepy that the ploy worked. That Sorrow really *was* distracted from the King of Tears by the mere fact of his captive *laughing* at him. Dominating his captive is more important than a Lovecraft-reject Elder God. Creepy)

Virtue and Vice:

"Come now, Sand. Surely you haven't forgotten your old friend..."

(Welcome back, creepy guy!)

"Did you really think you could destroy me, Golden Boy."

(I shudder whenever Sorrow calls him that. Really. He makes it sound sleazy.)

"I made you a promise. I told you I would bring this world to its knees."

(This is creepy twofold. 1, because I'm internally about twelve and thus any reference to knees like that makes me have scary thoughts. and 2. We didn't *see* him make this promise in issues 17-20. Which means the scenes continued off-panel. Which I knew already had to, as it'd take Mid-Nite forever to climb that damn spire. But I was ignoring that muchly, thank-you-very-much.)

After that it gets too action packed for more creepy lines. And then he doesn't show up again for a long time, until JSA Classified 7 when they set him free. So he can lead the Injustice Society again. And be really fucking creepy again.

How wrong is it that I'm sorta looking forward to it?