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Justice League: The World's Greatest Superheroes by Alex Ross & Paul Dini
408 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2024
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14 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dini
509 books716 followersPaul Dini is an American television producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond and Duck Dodgers. He also developed and scripted Krypto the Superdog and contributed scripts to Animaniacs (he created Minerva Mink), Freakazoid, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. After leaving Warner Bros. In early 2004, Dini went on to write and story edit the popular ABC adventure series Lost.
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 21, 2024
A timeless and beautiful piece of work done by Ross and Dini. Dini understands not just the characters' backstories but the essence of what these characters are meant to represent, not just costume-clad men and women who happen to fight crime but the hope and strength they represent. The art is masterfully done as well, but that's to be expected with an Alex Ross piece. The book did drag at times but that may be more of a binge-reading issue rather than a writing critique. Highly recommend! Grade: B+
August 14, 2025
Look. Alex ross’ art is great, that’s kind of a given. But dini’s writing even though I generally like him as a writer, it is just way too safe, way too generic. I wasn’t engaged at all and honestly I was pretty bored reading this which is not a good place to be when reading anything at all.
December 10, 2025
Alex Ross isn't my favorite comic artist, but his work is always breathtakingly impressive! The narratives are functional, but the attempt to be profound wasn't very successful so they feel shallow.
Superman: Peace on Earth. The thought is nice, but the plot is a bit weak. Superman fails to provide food for everyone on earth for the day because a despot threatens him, and another country hits his delivery with a missile. The message of the book is that even some problems are too big for Superman, but he also chooses not to act in situations that he is clearly the best solution to. If a country is impoverished because a despot and his goons are terrorizing the citizens, Superman could overthrow the regime without any risk to the populace, then the threat of a watching Superman should at least dissuade future would be despots.
It was somewhat thought-provoking despite being a bit dumb. 3/5.
Batman: War on Crime. During his war on crime he witnesses a young teen lose his parents during an armed robbery at their store, and sees himself in the teen. This one was pretty good. 4/5.
Shazam! Power of Hope. The varied settings and resplendent colours made this my favourite of the three so far. Shazam brings joy and hope to children at a hospital, it was a nice story. 4/5.
Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth. Lots of vibrant colour! The Muslims don't respect WW since she isn't in a burka, and then she learns she can be more effective as a regular civilian protester. The plot was not very good, but the action was great. 3/5 I'd probably put it just above Superman's story, since I prefer better art over a slightly better story.
JLA: Spirit of Justice. Again magnificent art, this one was definitely too long in the tooth. The actual threat of the story was fine, but the secondary issue of mass hysteria and looting, and then the media fallout for using their super powers to stop ordinary citizens was fairly boring, and ultimately dumb. 2/5.
Superman: Peace on Earth. The thought is nice, but the plot is a bit weak. Superman fails to provide food for everyone on earth for the day because a despot threatens him, and another country hits his delivery with a missile. The message of the book is that even some problems are too big for Superman, but he also chooses not to act in situations that he is clearly the best solution to. If a country is impoverished because a despot and his goons are terrorizing the citizens, Superman could overthrow the regime without any risk to the populace, then the threat of a watching Superman should at least dissuade future would be despots.
It was somewhat thought-provoking despite being a bit dumb. 3/5.
Batman: War on Crime. During his war on crime he witnesses a young teen lose his parents during an armed robbery at their store, and sees himself in the teen. This one was pretty good. 4/5.
Shazam! Power of Hope. The varied settings and resplendent colours made this my favourite of the three so far. Shazam brings joy and hope to children at a hospital, it was a nice story. 4/5.
Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth. Lots of vibrant colour! The Muslims don't respect WW since she isn't in a burka, and then she learns she can be more effective as a regular civilian protester. The plot was not very good, but the action was great. 3/5 I'd probably put it just above Superman's story, since I prefer better art over a slightly better story.
JLA: Spirit of Justice. Again magnificent art, this one was definitely too long in the tooth. The actual threat of the story was fine, but the secondary issue of mass hysteria and looting, and then the media fallout for using their super powers to stop ordinary citizens was fairly boring, and ultimately dumb. 2/5.
November 9, 2024
This book is a masterpiece. It's the best comic I've read since 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.'
Alex Ross is a brilliant artist. How brilliant? So much so that my poor wife could hardly get any reading of her own done as I kept interrupting her with "Look at this!" and "Look at this!" He paints gouache and watercolor, giving his work sense of beauty and majesty that's rare in the form.
Paul Dini is a brilliant writer. His concept, of superheroes taking on mundane yet intractable issues like world hunger, is thoughtful and inspiring. It's a pleasant break from the usual, rock 'em sock 'em world of superhero comix.
That's all fine, but the real reason this book is a masterpiece is because its combination of beauty and idealism in the face of harsh reality is just the thing for trying times. Sometimes, when the world looks dark, you want to spend some time with Clark and Diana and Bruce and the rest. You want to spend some time with characters who embody our highest aspirations. You want some hope. You want some nobility. You want a little grace.
My friends, this is the right book for those times. Seek it out.
Alex Ross is a brilliant artist. How brilliant? So much so that my poor wife could hardly get any reading of her own done as I kept interrupting her with "Look at this!" and "Look at this!" He paints gouache and watercolor, giving his work sense of beauty and majesty that's rare in the form.
Paul Dini is a brilliant writer. His concept, of superheroes taking on mundane yet intractable issues like world hunger, is thoughtful and inspiring. It's a pleasant break from the usual, rock 'em sock 'em world of superhero comix.
That's all fine, but the real reason this book is a masterpiece is because its combination of beauty and idealism in the face of harsh reality is just the thing for trying times. Sometimes, when the world looks dark, you want to spend some time with Clark and Diana and Bruce and the rest. You want to spend some time with characters who embody our highest aspirations. You want some hope. You want some nobility. You want a little grace.
My friends, this is the right book for those times. Seek it out.
December 25, 2024
The idea of putting the Justice League against real-world problems instead of the typical super villains they battle is a simple yet effective one. When Paul Dini and Alex Ross are involved, it is elevated into something even more grand.
There are five separate stories collected here, and all of them are excellent, though the Superman and Shazam (Captain Marvel) stories were my favorite. I wish we could get more Dini and Ross stories. The two of them together are dynamite.
There are five separate stories collected here, and all of them are excellent, though the Superman and Shazam (Captain Marvel) stories were my favorite. I wish we could get more Dini and Ross stories. The two of them together are dynamite.
July 19, 2025
Paul Dini and Alex Ross team up and deliver a collection of outstanding one-shot stories. The phenomenal artwork by Alex Ross is equalled by Paul Dini's engaging storytelling. Overall this a complete package worthy of any DC fan's attention.
September 18, 2025
This made me actually buy a superman book wtf.
It even made me interested in captain marvel!
So simple yet so good
It even made me interested in captain marvel!
So simple yet so good
January 13, 2026
destacando el arte que es hermosísimo, las historias son muy buenas y emotivas sobre todo la de captain Marvel pero todas me tocaron un poco mi corazón
August 31, 2025
War & Hope were by far my favorite arcs. The JLA arc was whimsy & fun. Great artwork like always with mr ross.
November 9, 2025
El arte de Alex Ross es eterno.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews