World Famous Comics: JLA Vol. 19: World Without a Justice League
JLA Vol. 19: World Without a Justice League
By: Bob Harras Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 144 Publication Date: May 01, 2006 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: May 01, 2006
Product Description: In the wake of a scandal in which the JLA tampered with the minds of their foes, Batman has dissolved the team. But that doesnt change the need for heroesand with innocent citizens targeted for death, an obsessed Green Arrow desperately attempts to hold the team together. When the adventure ends, the JLA may never unite again!
Angst in the JLA One's greatest enemy can be oneself. When talking about a team, a group of individuals, just one virulent seed need be planted in order to grow into a divisive force which could bring the collective whole down. Add to the internal flames of friction external pressures from mysterious outside forces and you have the makings for an inferno. In this case the particular team that we are discussing is the powerful Justice League of America, who due to these factors, among others, is currently a team on the brink of destruction. At the forefront of this conflagration are Batman and Green Arrow, polar opposites even in the best of times. As a leading member of the JLA, Batman's mistrust of the other members due to the infamous mindwipe incident is contrasted by their mutual resentment over his private dossiers that he kept on them and which resulted in such dire consequences and ramifications during the Tower of Babel storyline. The JLA is a microcosm of society as a whole, with the moral being we all must put aside our petty jealousies and work towards the greater good. Through work and pain we can overcome the obstacles and become stronger. Critics knock this book for its' angst-centric theme, a direction that many do not want to see DC head towards, myself included. However in this case it works well and was made more palatable by the many witty verbal battles, along with a few physical ones, most primarily between Batman and Green Arrow. This was during the peak of Batman's dark loner period, which was referenced often, and he was thus the object of most of the verbal barbs. It was a pleasant change to see G.A. take a few blows himself and be exposed as the hypocritical jerk that he is though. This isn't just another superhero good guy vs. bad guy tale. This goes to the core of what heroes are and what they are made of, with all of their flaws and warts exposed for the world to see, and more importantly, for themselves to see. From the ashes arises something greater. This wasn't as much a story about resolution as it was about transition, and thanks to Bob Harras' well written script, an enjoyable story at that.
I did enjoy this book The JLA has broken up amid distrust and recriminations. However, just as the heroes all going their own separate ways, crises are arising that require all their powers. When the time comes that they must work together, just what will happen?
Well, this seems to be a much-maligned graphic novel. Yes, it is somewhat disjointed, with the most powerful heroes being either gone at the beginning of the book, or disappearing along the way. And, yes, it probably is irrelevant, with the story coming down to the least powerful and most human heroes.
But, that said, I did enjoy this book, even more so than some other DC stories I have read. I enjoyed the action, which was fairly intense and bloody enough to seem very important. And, I enjoyed the story. In the end, it is a story of healing and moving on. And perhaps that did need to start with the most human of the heroes.
So, while I would never say that this is a great graphic novel, I am glad that I read it, and I do recommend it to others.
Disjointed and Irrelevant, But Not Awful I remember reading a few of the single issues of this storyline and was not impressed in the least. In fact, I gave up on them. However, after reading the collected edition, I must admit that it was not as terrible as I remembered. Make no mistake, this arc is set amidst the editorial transitions of Infinite Crisis and is also the last of the JLA run initiated by Grant Morrison, so at times World Without a Justice League strikes the reader as disjointed and irrelevant, but, again, it's not awful. I only recommend it if you're compelled to complete the collection.
~Scott William Foley, author of Souls Triumphant
15 Pages of a Fight..Waste of Time This is the first JLA 'novel' which has disappointed me...It is just one long fight between Green Arrow, Black Canary, Batman and a looney tune villian...No real plot development. I gave it two stars instead of just one because as usual, the art work is fantastic.. First time ever I have been bored while reading a JLA story..
Jla: Pain for the Reader What's even more dangerous to Superman than kryptonite? Or more deadly than fire to the Martian Manhunter? How about lousy artwork and weak writing.
I think the attempt here was to humanize DC Comic's greatest heroes. But this has been do so much better so many times before. And it was done without having our heroes act so out-of-character. Don't believe me? Check out the scene where Diana gets back to headquarters after nearly being killed. Did GL or Flash or even Manhunter act like any kind of friend? Especially after all they had been through as a team?
And the artwork? Don't get me started. Go back to JLA issue one and look at what beauty is.
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