I make a joke all the time about all my baggage. “I do come with a lot of baggage. At least it’s cute and it matches.” That baggage is also my damage. Do I wallow in my damage? No, I seek balance and I seek ways to loosen my burden. I try to put things in proper perspective and deal with the baggage when it gets too heavy. To quote Rebecca Wells from Divine Secrets of the Divine Ya-Ya Sisterhood, “I want light baggage when I leave this joint.”

Damage

“Damage can make us beautiful. There is much more Grant Emerson has left me. But there is one thing for which I will always be grateful. Before I met him, love was a foreign language to me. Damage taught me to speak it.” - Judomaster *

Sonia Sato, young Japanese girl out to avenge her father’s murder becomes the Judomaster. Sonia Sato is gifted with the ability not to be hit, although because she is in pain over her father’s death she refuses to be touched. Eventually Sonia meets the JSA (Justice Society of America) and Grant Emerson (Damage). Grant having uncontrollable explosive powers has caused lots of damage. Being horrible disfigured by a villain Grant refused to let people see his face. Needless to say Sonia and Grant fell in love. Sonia could not speak English before meeting Grant – he taught her English. Grant was killed by zombies brought to life during the “Blackest Night” event. Sonia Sato, Judomaster, is dealing with the pain and loss with love in her heart.

We all suffer loss and pain and damage. It is what we chose to do with that pain that matters most. Of course, that is easier said than done. Think about it for a moment, would it not be better to look at the pain as a lesson to change. When dealing with the end of a relationship (for whatever reason) would it not be better to look at what they taught us and move in that direction instead of wallowing in grief or running from the pain. What better way to remember someone than to move in the direction of their lessons. If we are all students and our fellows are our teachers what better way to honor the teachers than to achieve the lessons they teach. Damage is a lesson. Pain is a lesson. Loss is a lesson. Learn the lessons with Love.

Judomaster
First Appearance as Hadley Jagger: Special War Series #4, Charlton Comics (DC Comic), Nov 1965

First Appearance as Andreas Havoc: Justice League Quarterly, DC Comic, 1994

First Appearance as Sonia Sato: Birds of Prey #100, “Blood and Circuits”, Jan 2007

Creators: (Jagger) Joe Gill (plot), Frank McLaughlin (art), (Havoc) Paul Kupperberg, (Sato) Gail Simone (plot), Paulo Sequiera (art)

* “Damage is Done!” JAS All Stars #7 August 2010