Justice League of America Archives, Vol. 7

Justice League of America Archives #7

by Gardner Francis Fox, Mike Sekowsky (Illustrator), Sid Greene (Illustrator)

Contains the continuing adventures of the Justice League of America, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and the Green Lantern who get a helping hand from Robin, Zatanna, and Hawkgirl.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics

228 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer known best for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic book historians estimate that he wrote more than 4,000 comics stories, including 1,500 for DC Comics.
Fox is known as the co-creator of DC Comics heroes the Flash, Hawkman, Doctor Fate and the original Sandman, and was the writer who first teamed those and other heroes as the Justice Society of America. Fox introduced the concept of the Multiverse to DC Comics in the 1961 story "Flash of Two Worlds!"

Pseudonyms: Gardner F. Fox, Jefferson Cooper, Bart Sommers, Paul Dean, Ray Gardner, Lynna Cooper, Rod Gray, Larry Dean, Robert Starr, Don Blake, Ed Blake, Warner Blake, Michael Blake, Tex Blane, Willis Blane, Ed Carlisle, Edgar Weston, Tex Slade, Eddie Duane, Simon Majors, James Kendricks, Troy Conway, Kevin Matthews, Glen Chase

Reviews

[Matt Sonnack · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you only read this you’d probably think Green Lantern is the most washed superhero in DC Comics. Then if you read more issues you’d quickly realize that you’re completely right

[J. Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prolific and dependable Gardner Fox delivers another clever run of adventures starring the world's greatest super-heroes. If you've read previous volumes, you know what you're getting: Plot-driven, gimmick-filled tales that sometimes strain credulity, but always deliver action and thrills. Time and again, the Justice Leaguers show that the greatest super-power is the brain: each story revolves around a mystery or puzzle that must be solved in order to defeat the meance at hand. The enemies include everything from the card-themed Royal Flush Gang to mythological beast-men to a series of truly bizarre aliens (my favorite is the one who appears to be constructed out of neon tubes, although a close second would be the blocky monstrosity whose weak spot turns out to be its enormous big toe).

Consciously or not, it looks like Fox was trying to address the gender imbalance in the series. The first story in this volume features Zatanna the magician, concluding the long-running plotline of her search for her missing father. Hawkgirl and Batgirl are prominent guest-stars in other stories. Even on the villains' side, we have the Queen of the Royal Flush Gang, the alien empress Zazzala, and the stylishly-attired Gem Girl.

Speaking of style, artist Mike Sekowsky's work is looking better than ever in this run of stories. Finisher Sid Greene adds a beautiful polish to the art, and you can really appreciate how good Sekowsky is at expression and staging. A Justice League story by definition is going to have a big cast and a lot going on, but the action is always crystal clear. He's equally good at the scenes of high drama and the small moments of humor and humanity. There's a panel in the first story where a grateful Zatanna gives Batman and Green Lantern a big hug, and their sheepish grins are absolutely adorable.

Whether you're a nostalgic old-timer like me, someone interested in the history of the super-hero genre, or just a person who likes a rollicking good adventure, this is a great volume to get.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe you can't go home. i read these six or seven years after they came out and they were Boss! and now they aren't.
gardner fox overwrote, the art is simple, wish i were eleven again to love them. i really miss the ads, the letter pages and the text pages. these comics and cary bates' flash and curt swann all got me into DC and i didn't leave them until six months ago when they started their silly reboot.

this was so disappointing to read.

[Jdetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are certainly getting better. The predictably plots are gone and the layouts are opening up and getting much more interesting. Characterization is beginning to creep in and the stories are a lot more fun.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun stories to be read in the way comics were in the 60s. the art improved with Sid Greene taking over the inkstand from Sachs. gave the book a Murphy Anderson feel.