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JLA: The Deluxe Edition
JLA: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 7
The members of the JLA are some of the most powerful beings on the planet. With new members Hope, Major Disaster and Manitou Raven joining heroes like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, there’s nearly no problem the Justice League can’t handle, from civil wars on alien planets to fascist super-teams.
But there is one being more powerful than the combined might of the JLA. One being that even Superman is afraid to face...and he’s never had to, because it’s a trusted ally and a member of the Justice League.
But no more.
Now, the most deadly being on Earth has been unleashed, and no force in the world can stop him. He will bring fire, death and destruction in his wake. And the only champion who could possibly stand a chance doesn’t even remember that he’s a superhero anymore.
Man of Action’s Joe Kelly ( Ben 10, Generator Rex ) teams up with all-star artist Doug Mahnke (GREEN LANTERN) as the Justice League of America faces destruction at the hands of one of their own! Collects JLA #77-93.
But there is one being more powerful than the combined might of the JLA. One being that even Superman is afraid to face...and he’s never had to, because it’s a trusted ally and a member of the Justice League.
But no more.
Now, the most deadly being on Earth has been unleashed, and no force in the world can stop him. He will bring fire, death and destruction in his wake. And the only champion who could possibly stand a chance doesn’t even remember that he’s a superhero anymore.
Man of Action’s Joe Kelly ( Ben 10, Generator Rex ) teams up with all-star artist Doug Mahnke (GREEN LANTERN) as the Justice League of America faces destruction at the hands of one of their own! Collects JLA #77-93.
416 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2003
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About the author
Joe Kelly
1,001 books205 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 22, 2022
This deluxe edition doesn't push me into the Joe Kelly writes Justice League fantastic section, but it's solid enough.
The thing is the start of this volume has interesting ideas. The Justice League going to different countries and helping out. Something horrible happens. They are blamed for it. Under trial. But it all moves so quick and wrapped up doesn't give the arcs a chance to breath. I can't tell you how much I wished it did, cause they're ideas are solid.
The martian manhunter arc is solid here. Watching a hero turn villain is always good with some really great art and fights at points. Overall the best part of the book.
The last few issues are near trash level, silly, and not interesting at all.
A 3 out of 5.
The thing is the start of this volume has interesting ideas. The Justice League going to different countries and helping out. Something horrible happens. They are blamed for it. Under trial. But it all moves so quick and wrapped up doesn't give the arcs a chance to breath. I can't tell you how much I wished it did, cause they're ideas are solid.
The martian manhunter arc is solid here. Watching a hero turn villain is always good with some really great art and fights at points. Overall the best part of the book.
The last few issues are near trash level, silly, and not interesting at all.
A 3 out of 5.
June 5, 2016
Meh. The stories are okay. The Jon Jonzz storyline in the middle of the volume was definitely the best, and the only story line even worthy of consideration for a rating above three stars. The end story, with a visiting alien, was horrid. The writing was weak, our heroes are mostly passive characters who have no role in the outcome, and the artwork is the worst I've seen on this book in seven volumes--absolutely horrid penciling. It was neither successfully stylized, nor anywhere realistic, instead seeming to partake only of the flaws of each general style. characters were nearly unrecognizable from one panel to the next facially, only there costumes allowing for identification. Finishing this volume it's amazing how far the book fell from its Morrison/Porter, Waid/Porter/etc. heyday. Compared to those early volumes even the Jon jonzz story is weak, and that last one is an absolute travesty. Not certain if I want to bother moving on to volume eight...
February 4, 2024
3.5/5
The first couple of stories were near abysmal, they presented interesting moral dilemmas for the JLA, but were executed in such a boring way. I was also quite bummed, as The Flash is sidelined in every story in here and gets almost nothing to do or say. The new League member Faith and Major Disaster are forgettable, though Manitou Raven is intriguing.
Despite my complaints, the Trial by Fire storyline was excellent, giving us great interactions with the league. I especially loved Plastic Man and Batman's interactions as well as Martian Manhunter versus Plastic Man. That was epic.
The final story arc by Dennis O'Neal was also great.
The first couple of stories were near abysmal, they presented interesting moral dilemmas for the JLA, but were executed in such a boring way. I was also quite bummed, as The Flash is sidelined in every story in here and gets almost nothing to do or say. The new League member Faith and Major Disaster are forgettable, though Manitou Raven is intriguing.
Despite my complaints, the Trial by Fire storyline was excellent, giving us great interactions with the league. I especially loved Plastic Man and Batman's interactions as well as Martian Manhunter versus Plastic Man. That was epic.
The final story arc by Dennis O'Neal was also great.
May 17, 2017
Some very well written tales that test the JLA including the fallout of their powers out of control and an unstoppable force from within make this just about a five star. There are some other tales within that are not A level.
OVERALL GRADE: A minus.
OVERALL GRADE: A minus.
July 7, 2015
It was pretty much downhill after Grant Morrison left the title, and this volume in the deluxe series is at times painful to read - Joe Kelly's white supremacist arc essentially goes nowhere, and is followed by the endless Fernus story in which J'onn Jonzz goes off the deep end, except that it's not really J'onn, except...augh. And then a Denny O'Neill three-parter closes things out in a turgid, painful manner, with painfully bad artwork being the icing on the cake.
March 22, 2017
Lots of talent on view here, with huge swings in quality. Joe Kelley's writing has its points, but I always tune in to art by Doug Mahnke. Other artists, less so: I dislike Ariel Olivetti here, but love, as usual, work by ChrisCross. Then, rereading the concluding three issue run written by Denny O'Neil, I am transported back to where I came in in 1970, reading O'Neil writing Justice League of America.
Mildly recommended.
Mildly recommended.
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March 6, 2020The Martian Manhunter story is the best one here. I can take or leave the rest. Kelly’s run finishes in this volume, and while I think he contributed a few good stories, I can’t say they were very memorable. Honestly, the thing I’ll remember most from Kelly’s run is Plastic Man. He writes a great Eel and went out of his way to give him pathos. That's something.
July 23, 2015
I am giving this collection 5 stars for one reason only: the Trial by Fire storyline was fantastic - both as a fan of good storytelling and as a fanboy of Martian Manhunter.
The rest of this collection deserves a 2. It is just bad.
The rest of this collection deserves a 2. It is just bad.
June 22, 2024
To say something nice, cos I’m sure writing this took a lot of time, the art was very pretty, some parts of the story were cool and I do think the comic had potential.
But unfortunately I didn’t like it. So I’ll move on to the negative points.
And while I’ve already hidden this review, I’m warning you, there are going to be a lot of spoilers.
The whole story just didn’t make any sense! Like, I read this a long time ago and maybe I didn’t always read everything with attention, so genuinely sorry if I missed some points, but overall, this was the story(or at least what I understood):
At first the JLA is fighting some device that steals your memories, then they’re helping a sect that isn’t a bad sect, then everybody thinks the JLA killed thousands of people, then we see WW outside in the snow while basically wearing a swimming suit which doesn’t make sense I mean can’t she feel the cold, then the sect turns out to be evil after all, then we just forget about the sect and the bad guy is Martian Manhuter who fought his fear of fire and has a new girlfriend, then we see the guardians, who look like smurfs, (what on earth was the guy who first designed them thinking?) explaining some weird reason I didn’t understand for why martians are scared of fire, then MM turns out to have become evil and wants to burn the world for no reason, then Plastic Man who, I hate and was so happy to be rid of, comes back, then they win, then we see WW in a weird machine and I’ll come back to that part later cos it deserves a nonsense resume on its own.
Did you understand anything about this?
Well, I didn’t.
Look, it’s very possible that I wasn’t attentive while reading. If that’s what happened, well then it maybe does make sense after all, but I wasn’t interested enough to read carefully. I don’t want to be mean… I just didn’t find it very captivating. As I already said, it had some good stuff. Kelly is probably capable of great things. As I already said, there still were some interesting parts and I didn’t hate it, not at all! But for me, the story just didn’t make sense.
Actually, what was truly boring was the ending, that thing with WW with her head in that machine.
Me during those last scenes: huh?
I mean, I didn’t even understand why WW went into that machine, but I supposed it was to be sure of her feelings for Batman.
Again, I read this a long time ago so this resume won’t be chronological or maybe not even completely right.
But here’s what I remember:
At first, there’s WW with an old Batman in Themiscyra, then Batman turns out to be beating his wife and another Batman and Batwoman show up from nowhere to stop him, then we see Diana eating with a bunch of noble, arrogant people, then Batman got kidnapped by the Joker and Diana comes to save him, but too late, then WW is crying and because I’m still hoping for some sense, I think she’s crying because Batman died, but no she’s crying cos she can’t have children with a very well alive Batman.
Then, WW gets out of the machine, kisses Batman and gets back in the machine. Then, weird things happen and she’s finally out.
Euh…
Huh?
Anyway, to conclude: that wasn’t for me, but other people who are more attentive while reading may enjoy it.
But unfortunately I didn’t like it. So I’ll move on to the negative points.
And while I’ve already hidden this review, I’m warning you, there are going to be a lot of spoilers.
The whole story just didn’t make any sense! Like, I read this a long time ago and maybe I didn’t always read everything with attention, so genuinely sorry if I missed some points, but overall, this was the story(or at least what I understood):
At first the JLA is fighting some device that steals your memories, then they’re helping a sect that isn’t a bad sect, then everybody thinks the JLA killed thousands of people, then we see WW outside in the snow while basically wearing a swimming suit which doesn’t make sense I mean can’t she feel the cold, then the sect turns out to be evil after all, then we just forget about the sect and the bad guy is Martian Manhuter who fought his fear of fire and has a new girlfriend, then we see the guardians, who look like smurfs, (what on earth was the guy who first designed them thinking?) explaining some weird reason I didn’t understand for why martians are scared of fire, then MM turns out to have become evil and wants to burn the world for no reason, then Plastic Man who, I hate and was so happy to be rid of, comes back, then they win, then we see WW in a weird machine and I’ll come back to that part later cos it deserves a nonsense resume on its own.
Did you understand anything about this?
Well, I didn’t.
Look, it’s very possible that I wasn’t attentive while reading. If that’s what happened, well then it maybe does make sense after all, but I wasn’t interested enough to read carefully. I don’t want to be mean… I just didn’t find it very captivating. As I already said, it had some good stuff. Kelly is probably capable of great things. As I already said, there still were some interesting parts and I didn’t hate it, not at all! But for me, the story just didn’t make sense.
Actually, what was truly boring was the ending, that thing with WW with her head in that machine.
Me during those last scenes: huh?
I mean, I didn’t even understand why WW went into that machine, but I supposed it was to be sure of her feelings for Batman.
Again, I read this a long time ago so this resume won’t be chronological or maybe not even completely right.
But here’s what I remember:
At first, there’s WW with an old Batman in Themiscyra, then Batman turns out to be beating his wife and another Batman and Batwoman show up from nowhere to stop him, then we see Diana eating with a bunch of noble, arrogant people, then Batman got kidnapped by the Joker and Diana comes to save him, but too late, then WW is crying and because I’m still hoping for some sense, I think she’s crying because Batman died, but no she’s crying cos she can’t have children with a very well alive Batman.
Then, WW gets out of the machine, kisses Batman and gets back in the machine. Then, weird things happen and she’s finally out.
Euh…
Huh?
Anyway, to conclude: that wasn’t for me, but other people who are more attentive while reading may enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2022
This book starts with a single issue, by guest writer Veitch, with campy dialog but an interesting premise of a villain that can steal memories.
Joe Kelly starts with a short two issue story that has the JLA deal with the ethical dilemma of interfering in an extra-planetary geopolitical conflict. A very interesting read that i wished was longer before he starting "The White Rage". This story had a very dark tone tgat contained the JLA believing they were responsible for a tragedy, a white supremacists Meta-team, and an amoral government fix it man. All of that was heavily undercut by the rounded Buzzlightyear-like jaw-lines of Rouleau's art.
Next was another single issue that followed Superman as he struggled with a moral dilemma, when the US government asks the JLA to take out a foreign enemy they think responsible for a threat but with no proof. The story is a bit confusing and oddly paced before you realize the twist in the end.
Finally the big story of this book is "Trial by Fire". A captivating and highstakes story that reveals the origin of the Martian fire weakness. Full of incredible moments like Batman's reaction to his rogues gallery being forced to feel remorse.
Joe Kelly ends his JLA run with, in my opinion his greatest contribution to DC continuity, a single issue of the Batman Wonder Woman romance. Since the beginning of his run when Bruce and Diana share a dying kiss on the battlefield; there has been a sporadic will they or wont they between them as they try to talk about their feelings while the job gets in the way. This issue culminates in Wonder Woman using a subconscious Martian dream machine to see how their relationship might play out. All in all it was good and covered a lot of what you'd want to see. But I felt that the randomness in which the scenarios were shown did it all a disservice. In the end she leaves the machine to find Bruce ready to talk. And of course because DC would never allow it they agree to stay friends, but it is nice to see that their lingering feelings has left ramifications throughout every new iteration of the characters.
This book ends with three issues by Dennis O'neil. Unfortunately he is an old school writer so I never got past the first issue of campy descriptive character dialog.
Joe Kelly starts with a short two issue story that has the JLA deal with the ethical dilemma of interfering in an extra-planetary geopolitical conflict. A very interesting read that i wished was longer before he starting "The White Rage". This story had a very dark tone tgat contained the JLA believing they were responsible for a tragedy, a white supremacists Meta-team, and an amoral government fix it man. All of that was heavily undercut by the rounded Buzzlightyear-like jaw-lines of Rouleau's art.
Next was another single issue that followed Superman as he struggled with a moral dilemma, when the US government asks the JLA to take out a foreign enemy they think responsible for a threat but with no proof. The story is a bit confusing and oddly paced before you realize the twist in the end.
Finally the big story of this book is "Trial by Fire". A captivating and highstakes story that reveals the origin of the Martian fire weakness. Full of incredible moments like Batman's reaction to his rogues gallery being forced to feel remorse.
Joe Kelly ends his JLA run with, in my opinion his greatest contribution to DC continuity, a single issue of the Batman Wonder Woman romance. Since the beginning of his run when Bruce and Diana share a dying kiss on the battlefield; there has been a sporadic will they or wont they between them as they try to talk about their feelings while the job gets in the way. This issue culminates in Wonder Woman using a subconscious Martian dream machine to see how their relationship might play out. All in all it was good and covered a lot of what you'd want to see. But I felt that the randomness in which the scenarios were shown did it all a disservice. In the end she leaves the machine to find Bruce ready to talk. And of course because DC would never allow it they agree to stay friends, but it is nice to see that their lingering feelings has left ramifications throughout every new iteration of the characters.
This book ends with three issues by Dennis O'neil. Unfortunately he is an old school writer so I never got past the first issue of campy descriptive character dialog.
March 5, 2019
Kelly continues his tenure on this book by making one of the teams most trusted allies the villain. I think where Kelly excels in is the interpersonal relationships of the characters. So by turning it around and making one of the most important, and trusted, characters the bad guy, we get a lot of great moments of doubt and subtle details regarding how everyone is taking the situation. Kelly is able to convey the emotions of each character, without it getting too "soap opera". Its something I definitely appreciate when reading team books, as most of them can devolve into basically a cheesy soap opera.
The rest of the book is a series of one shots and I believe two 3 parters. These.... were not the best in my opinion. This is the first volume where I found myself really disliking some of the issues and am glad that the main story kind of...saved the whole book.
They cant all be winners, but I'm glad to see that even though there may be a few misses, the hits definitely make it worth the read.
The rest of the book is a series of one shots and I believe two 3 parters. These.... were not the best in my opinion. This is the first volume where I found myself really disliking some of the issues and am glad that the main story kind of...saved the whole book.
They cant all be winners, but I'm glad to see that even though there may be a few misses, the hits definitely make it worth the read.
January 13, 2019
Too many characters.
There are two stories. One is a confusing and unresolved story about Glory, who we haven't really had a reason to care about.
In the other, it turns out that is a nearly unstoppable force for evil. Disappointing because he's usually so likeable. Also everyone seems fine with it.
Also, it seems like not enough respect for the women in the book. They're treated by other characters as sex objects, except Wonder Woman. A little.
There are two stories. One is a confusing and unresolved story about Glory, who we haven't really had a reason to care about.
In the other, it turns out that is a nearly unstoppable force for evil. Disappointing because he's usually so likeable. Also everyone seems fine with it.
Also, it seems like not enough respect for the women in the book. They're treated by other characters as sex objects, except Wonder Woman. A little.
November 13, 2017
Reading collections where the art shifts can be extremely jarring. Wonder Woman transforms the most. One of the artists interprets her as a roid case with implants (because no woman can be that muscular and have such big boobs).
This was the weakest collection so far. I found the Manhunter story a little too long. The Dennis O’Neil story is fun, but has weak art. It’s not bad, but it looks like an indie book rather than the JLA.
This was the weakest collection so far. I found the Manhunter story a little too long. The Dennis O’Neil story is fun, but has weak art. It’s not bad, but it looks like an indie book rather than the JLA.
June 2, 2025
Joe Kelly run in JLA from the 1990s.
My favorite, Martian Manhunter, featured prominently in the Trial by Fire arc
My favorite, Martian Manhunter, featured prominently in the Trial by Fire arc
February 27, 2024
Rules of Engagement is pretty meh, not an all-timer JLA storyline. Trial by Fire has its moments, but spanning six issues, it somehow fails to get things going right then and there. Extinction is quite interesting but again, not a memorable storyline.
December 27, 2015
Would have been five stars - Joe Kelly's run was nothing short of impeccable - but the three issues of Denny O'Neil nonsense at the end knocked a star off. Still, by and large fantastic.
January 9, 2016
Ehhhh
February 29, 2016
The Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke stories are pretty great. The others in the book fall a bit flat. Mahnke is one of the best artists in DC's arsenal.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews