By: Grant Morrison Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 232 Publication Date: December 01, 1999 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: December 01, 1999
Graphic SF Reader General Wake Eiling gets all Shaggy then shaved, I guess army types don't like too be long haired and hairy still, even if superhuman monsters.
The JLA have to face a forgotten would be hero, and deal with the always annoying, but this time very lethal 5th dimension. Thunderbolt to the rescue.
One poor story at the beginning, then three excellent ones These were originally published as JLA #24-33.
The first story arc (Executive Action, Scorched Earth and Our Army at War) has a pretty lame premise and a weak ending. The premise is that a General would override the President of the US and would authorize an action against the JLA because they were protecting the rest of the world (in addition to the USA). The Army Ultramarine Corps are X-men knock-offs. The villan is pretty interesting, but the way that get rid of him (no spoilers here) is lame.
The last three stories are quite good.
The Atom gets recruited back into the JLA and saves the day against Amazo...although the way they beat him is trite, it's the only way they could given that Amazo absorbs all their powers.
The Crisis Time Five story arc is excellent, and brings back the JSA members to fight alongside the JLAers. Two 5th dimension beings, including original JSA/JLA founder Triumph's (I missed the episode where he was the founder?) Thunderbolt, are fighting and destroying the Earth. Interesting new non-JLA characters in this story.
And in the last one, a nice "Gotham City is a disaster, Bruce Wayne is to blame story".
Nothing of interest here A rogue American general seeking ultimate power, a new more powerful Amazo android, the return of a fallen hero, an assault by powers from the 5th dimension and two incidents from the No Man's Land stories comprise the tales in this latest JLA trade. This collects issues 24-33.
I have to say that I didn't find even one of these stories to be the least bit interesting. In a three part story arc we have an insane American general telling the president that he is in effect staging a coup to take out the Justice League because they won't restrict themselves to only protecting America and the president doesn't even try to stop him. Is this in any way close to being a credible story idea? I'm no military expert but I think that actions of this magnitude would have to travel through the chain of command and not hinge on the word of just one general.
In a stand-alone story a new more powerful Amazo android attacks the JLA and is on the verge of beating them all when one of the weakest plot resolutions I have ever seen is used to stop him.
In a four part story arc forgotten hero Triumph uses the power of an imp from the 5th dimension to throw the world into chaos just so he can try to regain the notoriety he feels was stolen from him. Though I found Triumph's motives and actions believable for the weak and flawed person he is portrayed as, what I didn't find believable was the idea that these 5th dimensional imps were shown to be more powerful than the powers of Heaven. And no I am not just exaggerating when I say that because that is actually how they are portrayed. We also meet the newest custodian of Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt (another 5th dimensional imp) who isn't up to the task of using it properly. So while the bad blue imp is fighting the good pink imp Green Lantern gets the bright idea to mix them into purple to stop the fighting. I kid you not. And to help this along Captain Marvel uses his powers to skywrite this message to the pink imp by shifting the worlds cloud patterns. Yet another Morrison JLA tale that is way over the top in its scope yet never actually amounts to anything. Near the end of this story arc Plastic Man says, "something tells me the JLA's most pointless adventure is at an end." No need for me to comment further. That says it all.
The last two issues involve a rogue group of geneticists called LOCUS trying to seize control of the quake ravaged remains of Gotham City, as well as members of the JLA chasing after Bruce Wayne who is thought to be behind the federal government turning its back on Gotham City.
JLA vs. the World In this trade the JLA goes up against the Shaggy Man and the U.S. Army, a former JLA-member, Triumph and a genie and an elf from the 6th Dimension. This story also brings Johnny Thunder's magical genie into the contemoprary JLA scene...pretty enjoyable. There's also a story that takes place in Gotham during the No Man's Land arc where the JLA is to take on Bruce Wayne in civilian guise. Overall most of these stories were enjoyable and I personally liked them. But take note that none of these are earth-shattering stories like the ones that you would find in the Tower of Babel or the Obsidian Age, they have no long term effect but in traditional JLA-standard they are just out saving the world and having a great adventure in the process.
Some highs and lows This graphic novels comprises three or so stories from the JLA. A couple are good and a couple seem to be written high on drugs. Grant Morrison is one of the most inconsistent writers. I don't know why he's praised so much. One of the highs for me was bringing in the living members of the JSA. It's great to see the old Flash, etc. back in action. And seeing Captain Marvel (Shazzam) and Superman battling each other was also a great moment. Too many of the stories don't coincide well. (Some of the action takes place during the "Batman: No Man's Land" era.)And some are there just to setup later stories. Overall, although a mixed bag... it was an entertaining read.
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