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Shotgun Reviews presents:
The Essential Trade
Paperback Collection
Part Two: The JLA
Compiled
below is a list of trade paperbacks that collect some of the
finest stories in comics. It does not pretend to be an
exhaustive list, but merely a starting guide to lead you to
some of the best stories in the medium. The majority of
these are available for you to order simply by clicking on the
appropriate links below.
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JUSTICE
LEAGUE: A MIDSUMMER NIGHTMARE
DC Comics
Writers:
Mark Waid/Fabian Nicieza
Artists: Jeff Johnson/Darick Robertson
Originally
appearing as a three-part mini-series, JLA:MSN
set-up the status quo for Justice League Morrison.
The "Magnificent Seven" of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman,
Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter
are together again for the first time (in Post-Crisis
continuity) as they confront classic JLA foe Dr. Destiny
. . . and one other. Solid, solid stuff. |
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JLA:
NEW WORLD ORDER
DC Comics
Writer:
Grant Morrison
Artist: Howard Porter
Reprinting
issues 1-4 of the current ongoing JLA series, this,
for lack of better phrasing, kicks enormous ass.
It's hugeness cannot be understated. A mysterious
group of aliens arrives on Earth, professing to bring
an era of peace. The JLA is suspicious, and with
good reason. Morrison nails each character perfectly
and Porter's art is unreal. Every Leaguer gets to
shine, particularly Batman, who administers a smackdown
of epic proportions, and Superman, whom the bad guys make
the mistake of really pissing off. When it's all
over, Morrison hasn't just saved a legend; he's begun
his own. |
JLA:
AMERICAN DREAMS
DC Comics
Writer:
Grant Morrison
Artists: Howard Porter/Oscar Jimenez
American
Dreams collects the stories from JLA #5-9,
reprinting three truly great stories. In the first,
the JLA begins recruiting new members. The
second introduces future Leaguer Zauriel as renegade armies
from Heaven invade Earth. And the final story features
Green Arrow Connor Hawke (son of original GA Oliver Queen)
as he must face classic League villain The Key to save
his new teammates. Certainly the best
of the bunch is the two-part clash between the League
and the rebel angels. Superman and Wonder Woman
come across as truly epic, particulary the stunning scenes
where Superman moves the freaking moon and Wonder
Woman unleashes some righteous Amazonian anger on the
invaders. Hugely entertaining. |
JLA:
ROCK OF AGES
DC Comics
Writer:
Grant Morrison
Artists: Howard Porter/Gary Frank/Greg Land
Collecting
the mammoth Rock of Ages story that ran from JLA
#10-15, this story arc remains Morrison's own favorite.
Lex Luthor, The Joker, Circe, Mirror Master, Dr. Light,
Ocean Master and a surprise seventh member have built
a new Injustice Gang to destroy the League. An ancient
evil stirs. And Darkseid . . . is. This one
has it all, folks. Rock of Ages manages to
cram in the New Gods, much foreshadowing, evil holographic
dopplegangers of the League, time-travel, the Atom, and
new members Aztek and Plastic Man! If it's not the
best story of Morrison's run, it's in the top three. |
JLA:
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
DC Comics
Writers:
Grant Morrison/Mark Waid/Christopher Priest
Artists: Howard Porter/Arnie Jorgenson/Yanick Paquette
Chock
full of JLA goodness, this tpb not only collects issues
from the JLA series, but a couple of specials as well
to flesh out the happens. First up is the Priest/Paquette
goodie from the JLA: Secret Files special that
showed the intial drafting process for the 14-member League,
showing who was asked (Steel, Plastic Man, Huntress, Oracle,
Zauriel), who wasn't (Firestorm, Zatanna) and who passed
(Nightwing, Black Canary, The Atom). Next is the
New Year's Evil: Prometheus one-shot that introduced
the new DCU public bad-ass number one. After that,
you get JLA #16-23. Numbers 16 and 17 show
the JLA squaring off against Prometheus. Waid scripts
18-21, which detail a really rockin' story about probability
and a visit from Adam Strange. Morrison is back
for 22 & 23 in a story that makes Starro terrifying,
the Sandman a visitor, and Superman's quote in the middle
of things going badly the best comic line of 1998. |
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JLA:
JUSTICE FOR ALL
DC Comics
Writers:
Grant Morrison/Mark Millar/Mark Waid and Devin Grayson
Artist: Howard Porter/others
A huge collection, featuring JLA #24-33, Justice For
All manages to fit together some really great reads
in one volume. Leading off with the three-part "Executive
Action", Morrison pits the League against the Ultra-Marines,
a government sponsored team with a deadly secret.
Next is an inspired single-issue tale, written by Mark
Millar and featuring The Atom. A four-part
team-up with the JSA follows. The edition is closed
out with two Gotham-centric tales, one by Mark Waid and
Devin Grayson, the last by Waid. The entirety of
this volume is distinguished by active, colorful storytelling
in the grand new tradition that Morrison has established. |
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JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE NAIL
DC Comics
Writer:
Alan Davis
Artists: Davis/Mark Farmer
A
simply great Elseworlds tale that asks, "What if the Kents
had gotten a flat tire and never found baby Kal-El?"
The impact on the DCU is startling. The JLA still
forms, but without their shining figurehead, the public
is distrustful. I can't say much about it without
giving it away, but it's a great tribute to the characters
of the Silver Age and early '80s. With bits like
Black Canary leading the outsiders and absolute horror
at the hands of the Joker leading up to an awesome finish,
this is a classic story. |
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JLA:
YEAR ONE
DC Comics
Writers: Mark Waid/Brian Augustyn
Artist: Barry Kitson
Return
to those thrilling days of yesterday with DC's first official
telling of the first year of the Post-Crisis JLA!
See Hal "GL" Jordan, Barry "Flash" Allen, Black Canary,
Aquaman and Martian Manhunter form a new team! Watch
them meet Superman, Green Arrow and the Doom Patrol!
Witness Batman in a bad mood! Understand how Vandal
Savage and the Appelaxians fit in! Feel your jaw
hit the carpet at the slam-bang finish, featuring the
JSA and more Silver Agers than you can shake a DC Direct
figure at! (In case you didn't catch it, I really
dug it.) |
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