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JLA: Act of God #3
JLA: Act of God #3
DC Comics JLA Three book Series
Comic
Published March 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Doug Moench
2,078 books123 followersDoug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok. Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)
Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.
Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.
Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.
Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 11, 2017
Some black light event thingy (that's never explained) hits the world and everyone's powers are wiped out. Now all that are left are tech based powers and those like Batman who are Olympic level athletes. All the rest of the heroes cry in their beer and mope for 3 issues. The book is filled with contradictions and a lack of knowledge of the DC universe.
- Green Lantern's powers are based on alien technology and therefore his ring should work.
- The Atom's powers are tech based (A belt containing a dwarf star)
- Martian Manhunter is a martian. They all have his powers and therefore he should not be affected.
- Atlanteans are an offshoot of humanity. Aquaman would be able to breathe underwater but not be able to talk to fish.
- Green Lantern's powers are based on alien technology and therefore his ring should work.
- The Atom's powers are tech based (A belt containing a dwarf star)
- Martian Manhunter is a martian. They all have his powers and therefore he should not be affected.
- Atlanteans are an offshoot of humanity. Aquaman would be able to breathe underwater but not be able to talk to fish.
December 28, 2014
Wonder Woman, a woman raised as an Amazon, drawing her powers from Greek gods and having met several pantheons decides to become a catholic and pray to the Christian god.
This stupid scene embodies this whole comic.
It makes no sense, not a single bit and it's clear that the writer has no idea about any character except Batman. I will not go more into this, except that it is the bad ending to a bad miniseries.
This stupid scene embodies this whole comic.
It makes no sense, not a single bit and it's clear that the writer has no idea about any character except Batman. I will not go more into this, except that it is the bad ending to a bad miniseries.
July 31, 2018
I liked this Elsewords miniseries, plausibly presenting a much changed JLA, by longtime favorite scripter Doug Moench. Is this, I think, his only time scripting either JLA or a big crossover team book? I liked his Inhumans (1975-6) and Fantastic Four (1981) and Batman (1980s and 1990s), and I like the big concept of this story. Some set pieces work, some don't. J'onn Jonzz, Martian Manhunter gets some great lines. Your mileage may vary.
September 17, 2018
Este quadrinho da Liga da Justiça se passa nas realidades alternativas do Universo DC Comics, os Elsewords ou, como ficou conhecido no Brasil, o Túnel do Tempo. Nesta realidade em questão, acontece o efeito da Luz Negra, um blecaute que desliga e religa as tecnologias do mundo e,a o mesmo tempo, retira os poderes metahumanos. Assim, heróis como Superman, Mulher-Maravlhilha, Flash e Lanterna Verde, para citar alguns, se tornam pessoas comuns. Acompanhamos, então, o destino desses heróis. Alguns, como o Superman e o Lanterna Verde Kyle Rainer caem em desgraça. Outros como o Caçador de Marte, Supergirl, Aquaman e Flash decidem ser treinados por Batman e outros heróis sem poderes para continuarem seguindo no vigilantismo. Por outro lado, vilões como o Homem dos Brinquedos e Lex Luthor têm outros planos. Luthor, por exemplo, quer dominar a possibilidade de criar poderes extranormais com tecnologia e, para isso ele e um laboratório científico sequestram ex-superpoderosos para "estudá-los" até a morte. Cabe, então, aos vigilantes sem poderes desbaratar essas criminosas experiências. Um quadrinho bastante imaginativo e divertido de se ler pensando nas possibilidades dos acontecimentos.
September 15, 2018
Idea di base interessante per uno dei soliti elseworlds DC.
La resa però è alquanto scarsa. Moench avrebbe dovuto pretendere più pagine, oppure focalizzarsi su meno personaggi. Alla fine non ne emerge un buon quadro psicoanalitico, resta tutto troppo confuso.
Disegni sufficienti.
1 stella e mezza.
La resa però è alquanto scarsa. Moench avrebbe dovuto pretendere più pagine, oppure focalizzarsi su meno personaggi. Alla fine non ne emerge un buon quadro psicoanalitico, resta tutto troppo confuso.
Disegni sufficienti.
1 stella e mezza.
July 18, 2019
It was entertaining in general, the main idea is interesting, but....
SPOILERS ahead!
...
It has many bad moments, the religious staff is ...ugh.... (while I get the point) and the depiction of Wonder Woman is another FAIL in the history of DC heroes teaming up...
I liked the Phoenix idea, though.
SPOILERS ahead!
...
It has many bad moments, the religious staff is ...ugh.... (while I get the point) and the depiction of Wonder Woman is another FAIL in the history of DC heroes teaming up...
I liked the Phoenix idea, though.
May 2, 2019
7/10
Really enjoyable 'What if?' story that has a lot of heart, even if it sometimes misses opportunities or is vague. Some heroes act out of character at times, for example, Superman and Wonder Woman.
Artwork is a pleasure, especially the facial expressions.
Really enjoyable 'What if?' story that has a lot of heart, even if it sometimes misses opportunities or is vague. Some heroes act out of character at times, for example, Superman and Wonder Woman.
Artwork is a pleasure, especially the facial expressions.
January 20, 2018
This was a god awful JLA story. Moench basically states that most superheroes are good people because they have superpowers and without them they're not good people
August 30, 2020
One timeread. Nothing I would come back to re-read
June 19, 2024
This was an insult to DC heroes
An insult to Superman
An Insult to Wonder Woman
And one big Circle Jerk for the Dark Knight.
Fuck this comic.
An insult to Superman
An Insult to Wonder Woman
And one big Circle Jerk for the Dark Knight.
Fuck this comic.
July 29, 2025
The story ends here after two average parts, and it ends the same, but at least it feels good to have finished. I have seen this story mentioned here and there, but I always discounted it from my usual reading. However, the premise is so fascinating that I couldn't help but finally pick it up and read it. This wasn't a bad story, just not a great one.
After an unexplained Black Light or "Act of God" that neutralized the powers of various superheroes of alien, supernatural, and meta-human, the heroes have come to accept that whatever this change is now permanent, and they must move on. Some retire, having no choice but to continue. Whereas some simply cannot, especially in the face of supervillains that continue with a resurgence that makes them unstoppable, especially after one man had grown so reliant on his technology that he died in an attempt to stop them. Others try to work it out in the world but cannot, but are inspired by heroes who never had power but take the time to work it out.
I cannot deny that seeing heroes become normal people is handled realistically and, in many cases, depressingly well. The former Supergirl Carol Danvers becomes a cop, but she can't deal with the bureaucracy and decides to become a hero again. Kyle Rayner, without his power, becomes a furious man out to settle a score, though still clad in his old costume. But it's Superman, now Clark Kent, who hits rock bottom as he realizes how much his powers defined him. His wife only ever loved him because of his abilities ends up leaving him, but hope for him is kindled with a former heroine becoming his new love. A better choice, by the way, as she also endures without her powers, but she remembers to do the best thing in life, to live and live well. While others try to get their powers back, only to realize they're a part of a villain's scheme to grant him greater power.
After two great heroes end up being killed in part due to the villain's scheme, it all comes to an end that is partially satisfying but feels awkward. Former superheroes become superheroes again, but under the guise of Batman, creating a new version of the Justice League, calling them the Phoenix Project. Flash is Red Devil, Martian Manhunter is Green Man, Aquaman is simply Arthur, and Supergirl is Justice. The costumes look tacky and uninspiring, to say the least, but they work well together.
This part of the story is as depressing as the last, with other depowered heroes like Green Lantern. He fights to redeem himself, but at a great cost. Others, trying to find their place in life, like Superman and Wonder Woman, endure terrible depression. Some are driven to end their lives altogether, but hope isn't merely found in superpowers; it's having faith when there appears to be no miracle. And in the end, what those two have is more than hope; it's love.
This story was a good idea, but its execution wasn't the best. I'm still happy to have read it, and I especially love the ending, which doesn't clarify why this has happened, but it does do a great job of hinting at better things to come.
After an unexplained Black Light or "Act of God" that neutralized the powers of various superheroes of alien, supernatural, and meta-human, the heroes have come to accept that whatever this change is now permanent, and they must move on. Some retire, having no choice but to continue. Whereas some simply cannot, especially in the face of supervillains that continue with a resurgence that makes them unstoppable, especially after one man had grown so reliant on his technology that he died in an attempt to stop them. Others try to work it out in the world but cannot, but are inspired by heroes who never had power but take the time to work it out.
I cannot deny that seeing heroes become normal people is handled realistically and, in many cases, depressingly well. The former Supergirl Carol Danvers becomes a cop, but she can't deal with the bureaucracy and decides to become a hero again. Kyle Rayner, without his power, becomes a furious man out to settle a score, though still clad in his old costume. But it's Superman, now Clark Kent, who hits rock bottom as he realizes how much his powers defined him. His wife only ever loved him because of his abilities ends up leaving him, but hope for him is kindled with a former heroine becoming his new love. A better choice, by the way, as she also endures without her powers, but she remembers to do the best thing in life, to live and live well. While others try to get their powers back, only to realize they're a part of a villain's scheme to grant him greater power.
After two great heroes end up being killed in part due to the villain's scheme, it all comes to an end that is partially satisfying but feels awkward. Former superheroes become superheroes again, but under the guise of Batman, creating a new version of the Justice League, calling them the Phoenix Project. Flash is Red Devil, Martian Manhunter is Green Man, Aquaman is simply Arthur, and Supergirl is Justice. The costumes look tacky and uninspiring, to say the least, but they work well together.
This part of the story is as depressing as the last, with other depowered heroes like Green Lantern. He fights to redeem himself, but at a great cost. Others, trying to find their place in life, like Superman and Wonder Woman, endure terrible depression. Some are driven to end their lives altogether, but hope isn't merely found in superpowers; it's having faith when there appears to be no miracle. And in the end, what those two have is more than hope; it's love.
This story was a good idea, but its execution wasn't the best. I'm still happy to have read it, and I especially love the ending, which doesn't clarify why this has happened, but it does do a great job of hinting at better things to come.
September 24, 2019
In conclusion, this Elseworlds story is an abomination.
I have previously read reviews saying that this whole storyline was the writer's "love letter" to Batman. But even if that were his intention, that does not excuse the offensive hatchet job he does to Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, etc. Gone are the heroes we readers have come to love and admire. Now we have only these fragile, selfish people who abandon their spouses and all sense of purpose because they just loved their damn superpowers so much?
The premise is that all superpowered people lose their powers. For some reason this applies equally to metahumans and aliens, even though they're completely different species, and it is "normal" for Martians and Kryptonians to have their powers. When asked about mystical people, a character simply says they're "missing" and that's the end of it. (If Zatanna were in another dimension when all the characters lost their powers, would she pop back up and be the only magic user on earth?)
I could accept this premise as a thought experiment. I couldn't accept that Green Lantern became obsessed with defeating Sonar, to the exclusion of all else. I couldn't accept that Lois Lane left Superman, or that Wonder Woman for some reason became Christian (even though her people were literally created by the Greek gods, interact with them often, and Wonder Woman has even BEEN a goddess of truth) and suicidal.
It was all just offensively bad.
I have previously read reviews saying that this whole storyline was the writer's "love letter" to Batman. But even if that were his intention, that does not excuse the offensive hatchet job he does to Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, etc. Gone are the heroes we readers have come to love and admire. Now we have only these fragile, selfish people who abandon their spouses and all sense of purpose because they just loved their damn superpowers so much?
The premise is that all superpowered people lose their powers. For some reason this applies equally to metahumans and aliens, even though they're completely different species, and it is "normal" for Martians and Kryptonians to have their powers. When asked about mystical people, a character simply says they're "missing" and that's the end of it. (If Zatanna were in another dimension when all the characters lost their powers, would she pop back up and be the only magic user on earth?)
I could accept this premise as a thought experiment. I couldn't accept that Green Lantern became obsessed with defeating Sonar, to the exclusion of all else. I couldn't accept that Lois Lane left Superman, or that Wonder Woman for some reason became Christian (even though her people were literally created by the Greek gods, interact with them often, and Wonder Woman has even BEEN a goddess of truth) and suicidal.
It was all just offensively bad.
March 6, 2019
A bit of a disappointing end to what started as an interesting premise. With the clear understanding that this was an Else World story line the point of Else World is to plug DC characters into story lines that are not normal and see how they act. The writer had many of the heroes acting in ways that did not really seem worthy of themselves. Mostly Lois Lane and Superman. The first two books held my interest but this last book I struggled to finish since all the characters lost the human aspects that made them who they are, not just their powers. The question of identity for the super heroes is one that was treated rather poorly when you take into account many of the heroes were not born with super powers and would have adapted in more healthier ways. Mostly the Green Lantern, but his actions too are rather hard to follow. The writer has most of the heroes acting like they lost their fame and self worth rather what is normally written as another side of themselves.
August 5, 2014
Big big asterisk for my ratings. In fact, I'm not saying that this is a bad idea. To be honest, I like the ending, which is human, all too human for me. However, I still do not cling to the idea that the plot basically wants to express: that heroism goes haywire without powers. It's a good thing that conversion has been possible for the heroes who were involved.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews