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DC 60th Anniversary Tabloids #1-6
The World's Greatest Super-Heroes
You can't afford to miss this massive slipcased hardcover you've been waiting for, featuring the stunning art of the Eisner Award-winning team of the incomparable Alex Ross & writer Paul Dini! Between 1998 and 2003, Paul Dini, the Emmy Award-winning producer of Batman Beyond and The New Batman/Superman Adventures, joined forces with superstar illustrator Alex Ross to create six oversized tabloid editions of stories featuring the World's Greatest Super-Heroes: SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH, BATMAN: WAR ON CRIME, SHAZAM!: POWER OF HOPE, WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH, JLA: SECRET ORIGINS, and JLA: LIBERTY And JUSTICE. These classic works for all ages feature the iconic DC characters in a unique storytelling format that combines aspects of both comics and picture books. Also included are several pages of promotional art, preliminary art and thumbnails, art done for DC Direct product, model-to-finished-painting comparisons, reflections by the book's creators, and much more! This landmark volume also features an introduction by noted book designer and author Chip Kidd, a new painted cover by Alex Ross, and an 8-page foldout of the JLA: LIBERTY And JUSTICE poster featuring every member of the JLA by Ross.
404 pages, Oversized Slipcased Hardcover
First published July 6, 2005
53 people are currently reading
861 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dini
726 books714 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 - 30 of 105 reviews
May 21, 2019
Dini tackles the radical idea of superheroes addressing normal human issues.
Did you ever wonder why Superman doesn't tackle world hunger? Or why Wonder Woman doesn't end world poverty? This book addresses issues like this, and it is refreshing.
SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH
Superman is a mensch. This makes him one of my favorite superheroes. In this issue, he decides to tackle world hunger. After saving a starving girl during the Christmas season, he does some research.
The photos, however, I stare at for a long time. It's ironic. I don't need to eat. I will never know hunger. I don't know what victims of starvation feel. I can't decide if that is a blessing or a curse.
I think back to my father. As a farmer, he had a natural understanding for the earth. I remember him telling me this world is capable of providing for all its creatures. Even now, with so many more people, there exists enough food for everyone.
"The problem," Pa used to say, "is people. As far back as we go, we've always had problems with sharing. Seems everyone's too busy holding on to what they've got to care how their neighbors are doing."
Pa said it would take a special individual with no personal agenda to make everyone realize what the world has to offer.
Someone who could put his own needs aside to help the greater good.
I don't pretend to think I am that person, though I have always tried to be there for others.
I look upon my powers as a gift, not mine alone but for anyone who needs them.
Like I said, mensch.
So Superman stands before Congress and asks to take America's surplus and transport it to those in need. ...as I can reach in one day.
Congress approves, but things aren't so easy.
Examples: Superman unable to look a child in the eye when the child asks if he will be back tomorrow; corrupt governments trying to take the food and 'distribute it themselves;' people who are too scared to come out and receive food (I found this one hard to swallow, wouldn't they just come out after Superman leaves?); people throwing rocks at Superman; evil governments who would rather blow up the food or poison it rather than allow the starving to eat...
In the end Superman admits he cannot solve world hunger, but he encourages humans to help each other. It's very touching. It was an emotional issue with some great writing.
Some of the art is beautiful, like Superman appearing above Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, looking like a Messiah himself.
BATMAN: WAR ON CRIME
Batman's story is pretty different. Mainly because Batman is all about terror and petty crime in a dark city rife with evil.
To much of the city I am a ghost. An urban bogeyman often discussed but rarely seen. More vivid in rumor than reality.
Glimpsed fleetingly in shadow, possessed of seemingly inhuman powers, I have become, through imaginations and nightmares, a creature to be avoided.
The aura of fear that I project is my most potent weapon. It triggers panic, giving me the advantage in my attack.
It acts as a barrier, warning the innocent and the curious to keep their distance.
Even those who fixate on challenging the "Bat-Man" recoil in horror when I finally confront them.
But in this issue, Batman attempts to understand why people might turn to crime and exhibit compassion for them. Batman considers how different his life could have turned out if, instead of turning to vigilantism and justice after his parents were murdered he took to crime.
To illustrate this, the story loosely follows a boy whose parents were gunned down by thugs (apprehended by Batman) as he turns to a life of crime. Can Batman convince him this is not the best path? This sounds corny, but it's really not - Dini does a great job.
Another excellent thing about this issue is the rare, seamless examination about how Batman moves through Gotham as a dark vigilante, intelligently manipulating criminals and biding his time and spying. But also, he is moving through Gotham as Bruce Wayne, a privileged white billionaire who can make or break buildings, companies, careers... This issue brilliantly illuminates how rich, evil, corrupt people might think Bruce Wayne is 'one of them,' only interested in seeking more wealth, not caring about the poor or who he hurts. Wayne plays them, he manipulates them, then he crushes them - not violently as Batman, but with his money and power.
So often Batman comics only focus on Batman. Not Wayne. On what Batman does - fight crime, imprison criminals, save people from physical danger. Here, Dini explores the ways Wayne is a hero as well, not just his alter ego. Bruce Wayne has different 'powers' than the Batman. He can also use these powers for good. He also is moving through and crushing an evil, disgusting element as Bruce Wayne - not the gangs, drug dealers, thieves and murderers in Gotham - but the slimy, corrupt, life-ruining rich and powerful people who consider themselves 'above' other people and don't concern themselves with anything but money and power.
It's very good. You get to enjoy both a powerful and intelligent Batman fighting violent crime, and a powerful and intelligent Bruce Wayne fighting corporate greed, corruption, and dirty evil rich people.
There's a scene where Bruce exercises shirtless that I enjoy, not only because I like to look at shirtless Batman, but because being Batman has taken such a physical toll on Wayne's body and I think it is nicely illustrated here. He's fucked-up. You wonder how long he can keep this up. I know they briefly address this in one of the DC movies... was it Justice League? But it's interesting to see his scarred and battered body and realize this isn't some super-powered human or some alien with healing powers. There's no way Batman can keep this up long-term, despite what some comics would have you believe. No one's body can resist that level of punishment for over a decade and still be an amazing, top-shape fighter, something has to give. I wonder what his doctor has to say!
Great illustrations, as usual.
SHAZAM!: POWER OF HOPE
Shazam! is a totally different animal. Billy Batson's joy and youthful exuberance is much different from the vibes of both Batman and Superman. When the radio station Batson works at starts receiving letters from people in need, a bunch of letters from a children's hospital catches Billy's eye.
Instead of using his powers as 'a quick solution,' he starts to realize there is good he can do that doesn't involve rescuing people at the last minute. He regales the children with stories of his adventures. He flies over a specialist from Japan to perform surgery on a blind girl. He takes the kids on some adventures. It's great. I thought the story was fun and touching.
WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH
I was really looking forward to Wonder Woman's comic, but I found myself a bit frustrated and disappointed.
Wonder Woman is getting rejected, hated and feared by all sorts of people. The comic is very unclear as to why.
It seems to be saying that she's not 'relatable' and that she's 'too powerful.' I think this is a misogynistic message. Everyone else can be a superhero and run around doing superhero stuff, but when Wonder Woman does it it's 'threatening and scary.' 'No one can understand or relate to her.'
People are ungrateful little jerks. Wonder Woman is great. I felt sorry for her. What the fuck was people's problem? This issue shows even people WW has saved from death being terrified of her and hateful to her. It just made me sick.
Then she has to call SUPERMAN for HELP. *Carmen spits on the ground* What the fuck is this shit?! And he tells her she is 'too beautiful and strong' and that makes people unable to relate to her. WHAT THE FUCK.
So she starts wearing disguises to go everywhere, which in my opinion makes no fucking sense. I suppose Dini was trying to say she 'gets the perspective of average people,' but I was upset.
Of course eventually she has to fling off her disguise and fight as WW, but people are not much more understanding. They still hate and fear her.
The End. What a fucking disappointment. Misogyny. WW was unable to shine like the other heroes in this collection, which makes me sad and angry. :( >.<
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: SECRET ORIGINS
This kind of loses the thread of the collection. The Justice League teams up to defeat a virus. Although it tries to fit in to the human aspect of the collection, with all the heroes together taking on a rather supernatural element the comic fails at capturing the human spirit of the previous issues.
It does touch on it when it addresses how the heroes have to fight not only their enemy, but humans who are fearful, stupid, and reckless. Humans don't act smart in crises.
This is also the only comic that uses dialogue, which breaks the feeling of the collection which up til now had only been narrative.
At the end of this comic, I was kind of fed up. Humans are so stupid and violent and impulsive. The heroes are around to protect them from others and from themselves, but in real life no one is here to save you. It's a wonder the League doesn't get fed up with humanity and just let them destroy themselves.
At the end they even have to present themselves to the United Nations and explain their actions! UGH. It's surprising more heroes don't become anti-heroes or even villains.
There are some iconic images in here, like Superman holding up a falling building.
Martian Manhunter is the real stand-out in this comic, giving us a touching and relatable perspective as an immigrant to earth.
TL;DR Overall a great and pretty touching collection from DC. Strong writing and wonderful from-life illustrations. Dini screwed over Wonder Woman IMO and the Justice League comic broke the overarching theme of the book. But it was definitely enjoyable and worth reading, I'd highly recommend it.
Did you ever wonder why Superman doesn't tackle world hunger? Or why Wonder Woman doesn't end world poverty? This book addresses issues like this, and it is refreshing.
SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH
Superman is a mensch. This makes him one of my favorite superheroes. In this issue, he decides to tackle world hunger. After saving a starving girl during the Christmas season, he does some research.
The photos, however, I stare at for a long time. It's ironic. I don't need to eat. I will never know hunger. I don't know what victims of starvation feel. I can't decide if that is a blessing or a curse.
I think back to my father. As a farmer, he had a natural understanding for the earth. I remember him telling me this world is capable of providing for all its creatures. Even now, with so many more people, there exists enough food for everyone.
"The problem," Pa used to say, "is people. As far back as we go, we've always had problems with sharing. Seems everyone's too busy holding on to what they've got to care how their neighbors are doing."
Pa said it would take a special individual with no personal agenda to make everyone realize what the world has to offer.
Someone who could put his own needs aside to help the greater good.
I don't pretend to think I am that person, though I have always tried to be there for others.
I look upon my powers as a gift, not mine alone but for anyone who needs them.
Like I said, mensch.
So Superman stands before Congress and asks to take America's surplus and transport it to those in need. ...as I can reach in one day.
Congress approves, but things aren't so easy.
Examples: Superman unable to look a child in the eye when the child asks if he will be back tomorrow; corrupt governments trying to take the food and 'distribute it themselves;' people who are too scared to come out and receive food (I found this one hard to swallow, wouldn't they just come out after Superman leaves?); people throwing rocks at Superman; evil governments who would rather blow up the food or poison it rather than allow the starving to eat...
In the end Superman admits he cannot solve world hunger, but he encourages humans to help each other. It's very touching. It was an emotional issue with some great writing.
Some of the art is beautiful, like Superman appearing above Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, looking like a Messiah himself.
BATMAN: WAR ON CRIME
Batman's story is pretty different. Mainly because Batman is all about terror and petty crime in a dark city rife with evil.
To much of the city I am a ghost. An urban bogeyman often discussed but rarely seen. More vivid in rumor than reality.
Glimpsed fleetingly in shadow, possessed of seemingly inhuman powers, I have become, through imaginations and nightmares, a creature to be avoided.
The aura of fear that I project is my most potent weapon. It triggers panic, giving me the advantage in my attack.
It acts as a barrier, warning the innocent and the curious to keep their distance.
Even those who fixate on challenging the "Bat-Man" recoil in horror when I finally confront them.
But in this issue, Batman attempts to understand why people might turn to crime and exhibit compassion for them. Batman considers how different his life could have turned out if, instead of turning to vigilantism and justice after his parents were murdered he took to crime.
To illustrate this, the story loosely follows a boy whose parents were gunned down by thugs (apprehended by Batman) as he turns to a life of crime. Can Batman convince him this is not the best path? This sounds corny, but it's really not - Dini does a great job.
Another excellent thing about this issue is the rare, seamless examination about how Batman moves through Gotham as a dark vigilante, intelligently manipulating criminals and biding his time and spying. But also, he is moving through Gotham as Bruce Wayne, a privileged white billionaire who can make or break buildings, companies, careers... This issue brilliantly illuminates how rich, evil, corrupt people might think Bruce Wayne is 'one of them,' only interested in seeking more wealth, not caring about the poor or who he hurts. Wayne plays them, he manipulates them, then he crushes them - not violently as Batman, but with his money and power.
So often Batman comics only focus on Batman. Not Wayne. On what Batman does - fight crime, imprison criminals, save people from physical danger. Here, Dini explores the ways Wayne is a hero as well, not just his alter ego. Bruce Wayne has different 'powers' than the Batman. He can also use these powers for good. He also is moving through and crushing an evil, disgusting element as Bruce Wayne - not the gangs, drug dealers, thieves and murderers in Gotham - but the slimy, corrupt, life-ruining rich and powerful people who consider themselves 'above' other people and don't concern themselves with anything but money and power.
It's very good. You get to enjoy both a powerful and intelligent Batman fighting violent crime, and a powerful and intelligent Bruce Wayne fighting corporate greed, corruption, and dirty evil rich people.
There's a scene where Bruce exercises shirtless that I enjoy, not only because I like to look at shirtless Batman, but because being Batman has taken such a physical toll on Wayne's body and I think it is nicely illustrated here. He's fucked-up. You wonder how long he can keep this up. I know they briefly address this in one of the DC movies... was it Justice League? But it's interesting to see his scarred and battered body and realize this isn't some super-powered human or some alien with healing powers. There's no way Batman can keep this up long-term, despite what some comics would have you believe. No one's body can resist that level of punishment for over a decade and still be an amazing, top-shape fighter, something has to give. I wonder what his doctor has to say!
Great illustrations, as usual.
SHAZAM!: POWER OF HOPE
Shazam! is a totally different animal. Billy Batson's joy and youthful exuberance is much different from the vibes of both Batman and Superman. When the radio station Batson works at starts receiving letters from people in need, a bunch of letters from a children's hospital catches Billy's eye.
Instead of using his powers as 'a quick solution,' he starts to realize there is good he can do that doesn't involve rescuing people at the last minute. He regales the children with stories of his adventures. He flies over a specialist from Japan to perform surgery on a blind girl. He takes the kids on some adventures. It's great. I thought the story was fun and touching.
WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH
I was really looking forward to Wonder Woman's comic, but I found myself a bit frustrated and disappointed.
Wonder Woman is getting rejected, hated and feared by all sorts of people. The comic is very unclear as to why.
It seems to be saying that she's not 'relatable' and that she's 'too powerful.' I think this is a misogynistic message. Everyone else can be a superhero and run around doing superhero stuff, but when Wonder Woman does it it's 'threatening and scary.' 'No one can understand or relate to her.'
People are ungrateful little jerks. Wonder Woman is great. I felt sorry for her. What the fuck was people's problem? This issue shows even people WW has saved from death being terrified of her and hateful to her. It just made me sick.
Then she has to call SUPERMAN for HELP. *Carmen spits on the ground* What the fuck is this shit?! And he tells her she is 'too beautiful and strong' and that makes people unable to relate to her. WHAT THE FUCK.
So she starts wearing disguises to go everywhere, which in my opinion makes no fucking sense. I suppose Dini was trying to say she 'gets the perspective of average people,' but I was upset.
Of course eventually she has to fling off her disguise and fight as WW, but people are not much more understanding. They still hate and fear her.
The End. What a fucking disappointment. Misogyny. WW was unable to shine like the other heroes in this collection, which makes me sad and angry. :( >.<
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: SECRET ORIGINS
This kind of loses the thread of the collection. The Justice League teams up to defeat a virus. Although it tries to fit in to the human aspect of the collection, with all the heroes together taking on a rather supernatural element the comic fails at capturing the human spirit of the previous issues.
It does touch on it when it addresses how the heroes have to fight not only their enemy, but humans who are fearful, stupid, and reckless. Humans don't act smart in crises.
This is also the only comic that uses dialogue, which breaks the feeling of the collection which up til now had only been narrative.
At the end of this comic, I was kind of fed up. Humans are so stupid and violent and impulsive. The heroes are around to protect them from others and from themselves, but in real life no one is here to save you. It's a wonder the League doesn't get fed up with humanity and just let them destroy themselves.
At the end they even have to present themselves to the United Nations and explain their actions! UGH. It's surprising more heroes don't become anti-heroes or even villains.
There are some iconic images in here, like Superman holding up a falling building.
Martian Manhunter is the real stand-out in this comic, giving us a touching and relatable perspective as an immigrant to earth.
TL;DR Overall a great and pretty touching collection from DC. Strong writing and wonderful from-life illustrations. Dini screwed over Wonder Woman IMO and the Justice League comic broke the overarching theme of the book. But it was definitely enjoyable and worth reading, I'd highly recommend it.
November 19, 2017
Loved Alex Ross growing up. His photo realistic paintings were around at a time when we didn’t have 6 comic book films coming out a year, so his paintings were as close as we got in some cases to how these characters would look in real life. I was very happy to hear DC would be bringing out a new edition of this Absolute book, since I hadn’t read a lot of the tabloid stories that are collected here.
Nearly 20 years later, his artwork still stands out as something special. It does work best at times as more pinups than classic comic book panel grids, but the power he portrays in his figures and characters is amazing.
Add to that Paul Dini, and you get a great collection of DC superheroes and a Justice League Story that’s worthy of the legacy names. I would say the Batman story is the strongest, and I think that comes from Dinis time on the character. They’re also not superhero stories in the style of hero fighting villain. Even Liberty and Justice has the league come to cover to stop a virus that threatens the planet. (If you want more heroes fighting villain stuff from Ross, it’s out there. Just check out Justice or Kingdom Come which are also great books)
This is one that’ll sit proudly on my shelf and be returned to whenever I need to look at Ross’s work.
Nearly 20 years later, his artwork still stands out as something special. It does work best at times as more pinups than classic comic book panel grids, but the power he portrays in his figures and characters is amazing.
Add to that Paul Dini, and you get a great collection of DC superheroes and a Justice League Story that’s worthy of the legacy names. I would say the Batman story is the strongest, and I think that comes from Dinis time on the character. They’re also not superhero stories in the style of hero fighting villain. Even Liberty and Justice has the league come to cover to stop a virus that threatens the planet. (If you want more heroes fighting villain stuff from Ross, it’s out there. Just check out Justice or Kingdom Come which are also great books)
This is one that’ll sit proudly on my shelf and be returned to whenever I need to look at Ross’s work.
December 22, 2010
Um...wow. The art in this...Alex Ross, you are my hero. Spectacular, the style is like a painting, every frame a work of art. And the stories are so interesting, trying to ground the heroes we know in a real humanity, a reality. This is a breathtaking graphic novel, a great gift and just wonderfully done.
May 2, 2021
Alex Ross and Paul Dini have created a masterwork. While the stories themselves are quite good, some very good, it is the artwork of Alex Ross that stands heads and shoulders above the common Graphic Novel. Holy crap! It's freaking beautiful. Each page is an over sized panel with flawless representations of the characters in classic Ross fashion. Before I go off on a tangent raving about the art, allow me to tell you about the stories contained within.
This volume collects the combined talents of Dini and Ross and their creations. Superman: Peace on Earth; Batman: War On Crime; Shazam!: Power of Hope; Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth ; JLA: Secret Origins and JLA: Liberty and Justice. As I said, all of them are good and some are great. I truly enjoyed the complexity of the Superman story, as well as the Batman story. The final story "Liberty and Justice" was interesting as well. There..enough about the stories.
Oh my Lord! The art! The end of the volume has some very interesting stuff about how the art was created. Just a brief idea- Ross had models with custom crafted real uniforms pose for certain key shots. Then this was finely penciled and then gorgeously painted. Each panel is truly beautiful. This is the kind of art that I take the volume out and show to people who think comic artists are not "real" artists. Some, admittedly, are putrid. Then there are some like Alex Ross who are simply sublime. Highly recommended to anyone who likes the Justice League and anyone who appreciates gorgeous artwork. This volume is a feast for the eyes.
This volume collects the combined talents of Dini and Ross and their creations. Superman: Peace on Earth; Batman: War On Crime; Shazam!: Power of Hope; Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth ; JLA: Secret Origins and JLA: Liberty and Justice. As I said, all of them are good and some are great. I truly enjoyed the complexity of the Superman story, as well as the Batman story. The final story "Liberty and Justice" was interesting as well. There..enough about the stories.
Oh my Lord! The art! The end of the volume has some very interesting stuff about how the art was created. Just a brief idea- Ross had models with custom crafted real uniforms pose for certain key shots. Then this was finely penciled and then gorgeously painted. Each panel is truly beautiful. This is the kind of art that I take the volume out and show to people who think comic artists are not "real" artists. Some, admittedly, are putrid. Then there are some like Alex Ross who are simply sublime. Highly recommended to anyone who likes the Justice League and anyone who appreciates gorgeous artwork. This volume is a feast for the eyes.
January 12, 2019
I loved the photorealistic art they used for the characters and the stories were some of the feel good stories people often look for in comics but rarely get in the modern age I feel. All in all just a great read.
January 5, 2019
Mythical heroes of the modern age, filled with nostalgia and human stories that will touch your heart. It quickly became one of my all time favorite.
December 14, 2022
If there is a name that is technically impossible for me to disassociate with the trademark of ‘DC Comics’ is Paul Dini. Dini is better known for creating some of the most memorable and iconic animated series not only for Warner Bros., but for animation in general. The animated version of each DC popular property (Batman, Superman, the Justice League) became the definitive ones, regarding on the way people relate and distinguish the characters of Dini’s own depiction. For a better example, there you have the introduction of the character of Harley Quinn, or the definitive take on Mr. Freeze regarding his origin story. It was natural that his vision would translate to comic books. And which better way to do so, but with the addition of one of the most powerful visual forces in the media? Alex Ross- as he did in Kingdom Come-, provided the central focus and ideas for this collection. Originally intended as a homage to classic pulp magazines, Ross intentionally first crafted the panels in each issue in that format, however, for this collection, it all was compiled in a single Hardcover. Is it a bad thing? Not necessarily, the collection is quite complete, including both, ‘JLA: Secret Origins’, as well as JLA: Liberty and Justice, although, I’m betting most people will be more interested in the individual stories, collected here in ‘Superman: Peace on Earth’, ‘Batman: War On Crime’, ‘SHAZAM!: Power of Hope’, and ‘Wonder Woman: Spirit Of Truth’. Each one of these crafted in the same prestigious and quality level as the one before.
Personally, I wish I would’ve read this before checking out ‘Kingdom Come’, since it feels not only as a poetic depiction of each main hero, but also, as a recap on each origin of every single JLA member. It is the perfect material to get into those characters, without necessarily having read something related to them previously, and each hero has something unique and special to offer to the table; we have Superman, who in his main story takes a deep introspection on what it means to be an alien living on Earth, and what his limitations are towards his need- and capabilities- of helping humanity. It is a fascinating take on the character, and what impresses me the most, is that Dini never utilizes cheap comic book tropes to present his tale; there are no bigger-than-God bad guys giving hell to our hero, or any fantastical elements aside on Superman’s own persona that interfere with the main plot, it is actually down to earth in a way I don’t usually see in comics these days. But if Dini’s script truly moves our attention on the character’s motivations, Ross’ art moves us all around the character himself; from the world to the very godlike image of the Man of Steel, trying to save the world from hunger, using his almighty abilities, it is all presented in such magnificent and glorious way thanks to Ross’ photorealistic paintings.
The same goes to the rest of the heroes; Batman also takes a deep dive into his own alter ego, and helps us understand the darkest corners of his tormented mind, but at the same time, the humanity that is still attached to him, and how he desperately wishes for change where it seems it won’t ever be, and is all told from the constant intervention of a kid that he saves at one point, but constantly threatens on becoming a criminal himself. That’s genius, and I expect no less from the guy that co-created ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. SHAZAM! And Wonder Woman, sure, their issues feel a little inferior, especially Wonder Woman’s, since her whole journey feels (in the end) directly connected to Superman, when it comes to her own speech as for why she does the things she does in pro of humankind, although, I get it; she’s an Amazonian, she follows a certain war code, after all, she’s a warrior, and one that needs to find balance between her need for peace, and the means to obtain it- something I couldn’t help but to directly relate to her take on ‘Kingdom Come’, again, is the reason why I wanted to read this before that event-, so naturally, a figure that represents everything good about humanity, such as Clark, would influence her, but again, Dini did such great job on Superman and Batman without using a “third-party JLA member” as an influence for their respective cape crusading, I thought it was sort of a let down to see that on one of these character’s main story. Regardless, it is only a nitpick, and I’d found her story to be moving and beautifully draw, as expected.
As for the JLA titles included, ‘Secret Origins’ is exactly what its title suggests: a definitive Dini/Ross take on each JLA member origin story, displayed in a full two-page format with excelling art, and beautiful lines of text that captures the truest essence of the heroes, from the very Man of Steel himself, to underdog characters as Plastic Man, or Hawkman and Hawkgirl. ‘Liberty and Justice’, on the other hand, is a stand-alone adventure that gathers these characters to fight a single evil: society itself. After the discovery of a new deadly viral disease, the JLA is sent to Africa in order to obtain some answers, but little did our heroes know, its an alien virus, and the spreading could reach global proportions in a terrifying short rate of time. Worst yet is the fact that panic is spreading as fast as the virus does, so people all around the world are causing all sorts of mayhem and riots, and is up to our heroes to put a stop to it, but what would be the consequences for them afterwards?
What caught me off guard reading ‘Liberty and Justice’ was the narrator, or at least, our lead point of view in Martian Manhunter, not breaking the beautiful tradition that Dini imposed in these entries to use one member of the JLA as a narrator, and this added plenty to his character, since I feel he is one of the most ignored and underappreciated members of the JLA, so I’m happy that Dini gave him certain “protagonism”, which is something I strongly admire from him: his ability to understand and develop even the most secondary and underrated characters related to such big figures in any kind of story. Perhaps that’s precisely what makes his animated series so portentous, adult and touching, which are qualities easily assigned to each one of the titles compiled in this collection. It actually feels as comic book version of his classic animated series but accompanied by the astonishing art of Alex Ross.
In the end, this is one of the best collections out there; ‘The World Greatest Super-Heroes’ takes us back to the golden age of comic book era, with a thought-provoking heartwarming script that exposes each character’s virtues and weaknesses in Paul Dini’s unquestionable expertise towards the subject, in conjunction with Alex Ross close-to-perfection display of artwork, making this the ideal comic book companion for any fans out there, not only of ‘DC Comics’. It is the ideal collection to be introduced onto the world of these famous and mythical characters, and being honest, it takes us back to those good old days when comic books were both, simple but special, but with a visual impact that combines the value of its narrative in an exceedingly modern fashion. Easily, one of the best compilations of titles from the ‘DC Comics’ collection.
Personally, I wish I would’ve read this before checking out ‘Kingdom Come’, since it feels not only as a poetic depiction of each main hero, but also, as a recap on each origin of every single JLA member. It is the perfect material to get into those characters, without necessarily having read something related to them previously, and each hero has something unique and special to offer to the table; we have Superman, who in his main story takes a deep introspection on what it means to be an alien living on Earth, and what his limitations are towards his need- and capabilities- of helping humanity. It is a fascinating take on the character, and what impresses me the most, is that Dini never utilizes cheap comic book tropes to present his tale; there are no bigger-than-God bad guys giving hell to our hero, or any fantastical elements aside on Superman’s own persona that interfere with the main plot, it is actually down to earth in a way I don’t usually see in comics these days. But if Dini’s script truly moves our attention on the character’s motivations, Ross’ art moves us all around the character himself; from the world to the very godlike image of the Man of Steel, trying to save the world from hunger, using his almighty abilities, it is all presented in such magnificent and glorious way thanks to Ross’ photorealistic paintings.
The same goes to the rest of the heroes; Batman also takes a deep dive into his own alter ego, and helps us understand the darkest corners of his tormented mind, but at the same time, the humanity that is still attached to him, and how he desperately wishes for change where it seems it won’t ever be, and is all told from the constant intervention of a kid that he saves at one point, but constantly threatens on becoming a criminal himself. That’s genius, and I expect no less from the guy that co-created ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. SHAZAM! And Wonder Woman, sure, their issues feel a little inferior, especially Wonder Woman’s, since her whole journey feels (in the end) directly connected to Superman, when it comes to her own speech as for why she does the things she does in pro of humankind, although, I get it; she’s an Amazonian, she follows a certain war code, after all, she’s a warrior, and one that needs to find balance between her need for peace, and the means to obtain it- something I couldn’t help but to directly relate to her take on ‘Kingdom Come’, again, is the reason why I wanted to read this before that event-, so naturally, a figure that represents everything good about humanity, such as Clark, would influence her, but again, Dini did such great job on Superman and Batman without using a “third-party JLA member” as an influence for their respective cape crusading, I thought it was sort of a let down to see that on one of these character’s main story. Regardless, it is only a nitpick, and I’d found her story to be moving and beautifully draw, as expected.
As for the JLA titles included, ‘Secret Origins’ is exactly what its title suggests: a definitive Dini/Ross take on each JLA member origin story, displayed in a full two-page format with excelling art, and beautiful lines of text that captures the truest essence of the heroes, from the very Man of Steel himself, to underdog characters as Plastic Man, or Hawkman and Hawkgirl. ‘Liberty and Justice’, on the other hand, is a stand-alone adventure that gathers these characters to fight a single evil: society itself. After the discovery of a new deadly viral disease, the JLA is sent to Africa in order to obtain some answers, but little did our heroes know, its an alien virus, and the spreading could reach global proportions in a terrifying short rate of time. Worst yet is the fact that panic is spreading as fast as the virus does, so people all around the world are causing all sorts of mayhem and riots, and is up to our heroes to put a stop to it, but what would be the consequences for them afterwards?
What caught me off guard reading ‘Liberty and Justice’ was the narrator, or at least, our lead point of view in Martian Manhunter, not breaking the beautiful tradition that Dini imposed in these entries to use one member of the JLA as a narrator, and this added plenty to his character, since I feel he is one of the most ignored and underappreciated members of the JLA, so I’m happy that Dini gave him certain “protagonism”, which is something I strongly admire from him: his ability to understand and develop even the most secondary and underrated characters related to such big figures in any kind of story. Perhaps that’s precisely what makes his animated series so portentous, adult and touching, which are qualities easily assigned to each one of the titles compiled in this collection. It actually feels as comic book version of his classic animated series but accompanied by the astonishing art of Alex Ross.
In the end, this is one of the best collections out there; ‘The World Greatest Super-Heroes’ takes us back to the golden age of comic book era, with a thought-provoking heartwarming script that exposes each character’s virtues and weaknesses in Paul Dini’s unquestionable expertise towards the subject, in conjunction with Alex Ross close-to-perfection display of artwork, making this the ideal comic book companion for any fans out there, not only of ‘DC Comics’. It is the ideal collection to be introduced onto the world of these famous and mythical characters, and being honest, it takes us back to those good old days when comic books were both, simple but special, but with a visual impact that combines the value of its narrative in an exceedingly modern fashion. Easily, one of the best compilations of titles from the ‘DC Comics’ collection.
May 9, 2019
I never knew that a comic book could bring me so much awe, not just from the renaissance-level artistry but to the beautiful story and deep themes. If Leonardo da Vinci wrote comics, I imagine it would look similar to this book. I'm a big D.C. fan, at least when it comes to the Justice League comics and television. I think the movies are hard to compare to the funding for Marvel films, but I don't care that much. JLWGS was astounding and every page was a jewel. I recommend this to others specifically for Alex Ross' stunning artwork and the beautiful messages in the book.
December 20, 2017
The good:
-Batman and Wonder Woman story.
-The JL story conlifct, putting the Justice League against the world was very entertaining to watch.
-Obviously, Alex Ross's art is majestic.
-The concept of this stories: super humans fighting humane problems, no supervillains.
The bad:
-I think that the weakest part of this stories are Paul Dini dialogues, they are childish sometimes, and other times they are overly dramatic. Dini is telling a story of gods fighting humane problems, is a dramatic and grandiose story, you don't have to narrate it more dramatically.
-Batman and Wonder Woman story.
-The JL story conlifct, putting the Justice League against the world was very entertaining to watch.
-Obviously, Alex Ross's art is majestic.
-The concept of this stories: super humans fighting humane problems, no supervillains.
The bad:
-I think that the weakest part of this stories are Paul Dini dialogues, they are childish sometimes, and other times they are overly dramatic. Dini is telling a story of gods fighting humane problems, is a dramatic and grandiose story, you don't have to narrate it more dramatically.
July 16, 2019
5 Stars Plus.
This could easily be the best art ever presented in a graphic novel. Museum quality painting from Alex Ross the likes of which we really haven't seen before or since. I actually found the single hero stories stronger than the Justice League tale, one reasons being there were no word balloons in the first four stories to distract from the art.
And while the art is of course the main strength of the series, the stories are top notch as well. Once again, the first four stories are the best because they dealt with themes rarely explored in comics, while the JLA story was more of a traditional style story.
Overall I give this one the highest possible recommendation, as even readers who don't normally read comics would probably appreciate the art. Great stuff.
This could easily be the best art ever presented in a graphic novel. Museum quality painting from Alex Ross the likes of which we really haven't seen before or since. I actually found the single hero stories stronger than the Justice League tale, one reasons being there were no word balloons in the first four stories to distract from the art.
And while the art is of course the main strength of the series, the stories are top notch as well. Once again, the first four stories are the best because they dealt with themes rarely explored in comics, while the JLA story was more of a traditional style story.
Overall I give this one the highest possible recommendation, as even readers who don't normally read comics would probably appreciate the art. Great stuff.
March 20, 2023
I loved it. Especially the last story "
Liberty and Justice".
Secret Origins and Shazam stories were good too.
Its also included a folded Poster and it was very fragile, opened only once , never opening again
Liberty and Justice".
Secret Origins and Shazam stories were good too.
Its also included a folded Poster and it was very fragile, opened only once , never opening again
December 29, 2017
Elmas değerinde ideallere sahip koruyucuların, ağızlarını açtıkları her an etrafa yaşam sundukları, adım attıkları her panele Michelangelo'nun ruhunu yaydıkları bir külliyat.
February 16, 2018
The most beautiful graphic novel I've ever seen!
September 19, 2021
This book collects JLA: Secret Origins, Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, Shazam! Power of Hope, Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth, and JLA: Liberty and Justice.
It is unquestionably a GORGEOUS work of art. Alex Ross is a master.
In terms of story (stories), Paul Dini is a fantastic JLA writer & gets to the heart of each character.
JLA: Secret Origins is a very short hero showcase with a two-page spread for every hero's origin story. While JLA: Secret Origins was a pretty "magazine", it fits in here really nicely. Especially for new DC readers.
(I don't remember if Plastic Man was included in the independent volume I read before this collection, but he made me LOL.)
Superman in Superman: Peace on Earth tries to tackle world hunger. Ambitious, hopeful, maybe a little naive, but determined, Superman asks the world for one day to at least try. As the world watches, and the clock ticks down, corrupt governments, warlords, militias get in the way of Superman trying to help humanity.
Superman knows his actions aren't a sustainable long-term solution, but he hopes that his trying will inspire the world to think of a more permanent solution to help itself. It's a pretty impactful Superman story that answers the very basic comic-book question, "why can't superheroes solve world hunger/world peace?"
Ok, we already know Alex Ross's art is beyond, but Batman: War on Crime opens with a gorgeous page of Batman crouched between praying angel statuary in a cemetery during golden hour, and it's FRIGGIN STUNNING...
Anyway. Batman's story is about how his whole life is about turning his personal tragedy into purpose and how singular his experience was because he had the resources and wealth to not fall into despair, drugs, or crime. His origin story is mirrored here by the story of a young Black boy named Marcus who falls into crime after his parents are killed. Batman saves him from making a huge mistake and works on saving his neighborhood. (Bruce Wayne buys an abandoned factory to create new jobs and opportunities and Batman cleans the streets of the same forgotten neighborhood at night.)
"I know I am fighting a war I can never completely win. But there are small victories that encourage me to keep trying. If I can win back one child, there may be hope for many others. If it starts with one person, and then a neighborhood, then perhaps redemption can spread through an entire city, and finally back to me." ♡o(╥﹏╥)o ♥♡
I'm a new Captain Marvel/Shazam reader & Shazam! Power of Hope is a great introduction to the character (& superheroes in general). It's about the impact of human connections & how some powerful/impactful personal moments can be made by a superhero, while others need a more human (in this case, a child's) touch. Captain Marvel can visit and bring comfort to sick kids*, but so can Billy Batson).
*Trigger warning that there is death in this story. ♡o(╥﹏╥)o ♥♡
Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth is a fantastic Wonder Woman story about Diana's want to help, yet her alienation at being a threatening outsider.
There's an amazing two-page spread of Wonder Woman lifting up a tank before it rolls over a protester (I believe it's supposed to be a depiction of the Tiananmen Square protests).
(WW:)"It's all right," I gently said, helping her up. "The danger's over." She stared at me fearfully for a few seconds. Then finally gasped, "What are you?"
"A friend," I smiled. "A woman, just like you."
"No," she shot back. "You're not at all like me!"
With that she turned and ran. The girl had seen me only as an unwelcome intrusion into her world. A bizarre creature every bit as threatening as the tank that nearly killed her."
When Wonder Woman tries again to intercede in another situation across the globe, she is shunned and literally stoned. "Humbled and heartbroken" she goes to her friend, Clark Kent for advice. He explains that while he is superhuman, he was still raised human. His life as Clark Kent allows him to never lose sight of his humanity, which helps him help others by allowing him to "work alongside people, rather than above them."
The dichotomy between human and superhuman identity (and power) infuses this Wonder Woman story with a good conflict as she learns to navigate the World of Men. She's rebuffed as she tries to help. She's a warrior as she tries to make peace. And she, like us all, is a being of contradictions. (Diana sees herself as a woman, just like the woman she saved from the tank, yet she was the one who was holding a tank while the woman she saved was on the ground.)
JLA: Liberty and Justice on its own is pretty short & to the point. Included at the end of this book I think adds to the The World's Greatest Superheroes story as a whole that Paul Dini and Alex Ross are trying to tell here (about the Justice League).
The plot of JLA: Liberty and Justiceis: there's a deadly alien pathogen that hits earth & quickly spreads. The JLA jumps in FAST to not only contain the virus, but come up with a cure, and simultaneously maintain (police) the peace as the world starts to freak out and panic (think "End of the World" type chaos & behavior).
Everything in this short story happens so quickly: the JLA has to act on the behalf of humanity without talking to it first, which is one of the trickiest storylines in comic-book history. No one elected the JLA into power, no one gave them power over humanity; humanity just trusts these powerful individuals to work towards humanity's best interests... And maybe that trust isn't always a given.
Anyway, it's a great ethical dilemma & I'd love to see more of it in more comics.
Also, Martian Manhunter plays focus in this book & I'm here for it! I love J'onn. <3
(I gave the independent volume 4.5 stars in my review of the book. I thought the story was a little short & could have used a little more meat if it weren't such a time-intensive work of art lol.)
All together though, The World's Greatest Superheroes deserves all the stars. 5 easy from me. <3
It is unquestionably a GORGEOUS work of art. Alex Ross is a master.
In terms of story (stories), Paul Dini is a fantastic JLA writer & gets to the heart of each character.
JLA: Secret Origins is a very short hero showcase with a two-page spread for every hero's origin story. While JLA: Secret Origins was a pretty "magazine", it fits in here really nicely. Especially for new DC readers.
(I don't remember if Plastic Man was included in the independent volume I read before this collection, but he made me LOL.)
Superman in Superman: Peace on Earth tries to tackle world hunger. Ambitious, hopeful, maybe a little naive, but determined, Superman asks the world for one day to at least try. As the world watches, and the clock ticks down, corrupt governments, warlords, militias get in the way of Superman trying to help humanity.
Superman knows his actions aren't a sustainable long-term solution, but he hopes that his trying will inspire the world to think of a more permanent solution to help itself. It's a pretty impactful Superman story that answers the very basic comic-book question, "why can't superheroes solve world hunger/world peace?"
Ok, we already know Alex Ross's art is beyond, but Batman: War on Crime opens with a gorgeous page of Batman crouched between praying angel statuary in a cemetery during golden hour, and it's FRIGGIN STUNNING...
Anyway. Batman's story is about how his whole life is about turning his personal tragedy into purpose and how singular his experience was because he had the resources and wealth to not fall into despair, drugs, or crime. His origin story is mirrored here by the story of a young Black boy named Marcus who falls into crime after his parents are killed. Batman saves him from making a huge mistake and works on saving his neighborhood. (Bruce Wayne buys an abandoned factory to create new jobs and opportunities and Batman cleans the streets of the same forgotten neighborhood at night.)
"I know I am fighting a war I can never completely win. But there are small victories that encourage me to keep trying. If I can win back one child, there may be hope for many others. If it starts with one person, and then a neighborhood, then perhaps redemption can spread through an entire city, and finally back to me." ♡o(╥﹏╥)o ♥♡
I'm a new Captain Marvel/Shazam reader & Shazam! Power of Hope is a great introduction to the character (& superheroes in general). It's about the impact of human connections & how some powerful/impactful personal moments can be made by a superhero, while others need a more human (in this case, a child's) touch. Captain Marvel can visit and bring comfort to sick kids*, but so can Billy Batson).
*Trigger warning that there is death in this story. ♡o(╥﹏╥)o ♥♡
Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth is a fantastic Wonder Woman story about Diana's want to help, yet her alienation at being a threatening outsider.
There's an amazing two-page spread of Wonder Woman lifting up a tank before it rolls over a protester (I believe it's supposed to be a depiction of the Tiananmen Square protests).
(WW:)"It's all right," I gently said, helping her up. "The danger's over." She stared at me fearfully for a few seconds. Then finally gasped, "What are you?"
"A friend," I smiled. "A woman, just like you."
"No," she shot back. "You're not at all like me!"
With that she turned and ran. The girl had seen me only as an unwelcome intrusion into her world. A bizarre creature every bit as threatening as the tank that nearly killed her."
When Wonder Woman tries again to intercede in another situation across the globe, she is shunned and literally stoned. "Humbled and heartbroken" she goes to her friend, Clark Kent for advice. He explains that while he is superhuman, he was still raised human. His life as Clark Kent allows him to never lose sight of his humanity, which helps him help others by allowing him to "work alongside people, rather than above them."
The dichotomy between human and superhuman identity (and power) infuses this Wonder Woman story with a good conflict as she learns to navigate the World of Men. She's rebuffed as she tries to help. She's a warrior as she tries to make peace. And she, like us all, is a being of contradictions. (Diana sees herself as a woman, just like the woman she saved from the tank, yet she was the one who was holding a tank while the woman she saved was on the ground.)
JLA: Liberty and Justice on its own is pretty short & to the point. Included at the end of this book I think adds to the The World's Greatest Superheroes story as a whole that Paul Dini and Alex Ross are trying to tell here (about the Justice League).
The plot of JLA: Liberty and Justiceis: there's a deadly alien pathogen that hits earth & quickly spreads. The JLA jumps in FAST to not only contain the virus, but come up with a cure, and simultaneously maintain (police) the peace as the world starts to freak out and panic (think "End of the World" type chaos & behavior).
Everything in this short story happens so quickly: the JLA has to act on the behalf of humanity without talking to it first, which is one of the trickiest storylines in comic-book history. No one elected the JLA into power, no one gave them power over humanity; humanity just trusts these powerful individuals to work towards humanity's best interests... And maybe that trust isn't always a given.
Anyway, it's a great ethical dilemma & I'd love to see more of it in more comics.
Also, Martian Manhunter plays focus in this book & I'm here for it! I love J'onn. <3
(I gave the independent volume 4.5 stars in my review of the book. I thought the story was a little short & could have used a little more meat if it weren't such a time-intensive work of art lol.)
All together though, The World's Greatest Superheroes deserves all the stars. 5 easy from me. <3
September 6, 2019
Masterpiece. This book is not what I expected in the best way. The first 60% of the book are individual stories about Batman, Superman, Shazam, and Wonder Woman. Each of them tackles a problem that is not as tangible as they are used to, and it ends up teaching them a valued lesson. The formula is the same for each issue, but it is written so powerfully that it works. Superman takes on world hunger, Batman attempts to solve Gotham's poverty problem, Shazam spends time with terminal children at the hospital, and Wonder Woman attempts to change the worldview of women in certain cultures. These are some huge tasks that even these super-powered beings can't solve overnight, so each story is about them learning that fact and taking pride the "little victories" they can achieve to push things in the right direction. This theme culminates in a story where the Justice League bands together to stop an alien plague from wiping out the human population, but are immediately seen as the aggressors of the situation instead of the saviors. They must decide whether saving lives or saving face is more important. It's all brilliant, really. I am so pleased to see that Dini can write stories like these, because I know he elevated animated television and comic book shows and movies for years, but I wasn't sure that he could pull off something so thought-provoking, layered, and ...beautiful, frankly. I am so excited to see what he has to offer in his Detective Comics run I will be reading in the near future. And speaking of beautiful, let's talk about Alex Ross. I don't think anyone will argue that Alex Ross is the most talented comic book artist of all time. He might not be everyone's favorite, but no one will dispute his craftmanship. His photo-realistic style is perfect for stories so close-to-home like these. If you've never read a comic in your life, pick up anything drawn by Alex Ross and I promise you will understand that it is an art form and with his style it feels more like a movie than reading a book. I will talk more about his art in later reads but.....perfection is really the only word you need to hear from me about it.
All-in-all this book is a masterpiece and everyone and their mother needs to read it right now.
All-in-all this book is a masterpiece and everyone and their mother needs to read it right now.
April 9, 2021
Brilliant! A collection of one-shots written by Paul Dini and illustrated by Alex Ross. Not one of these stories portray a villain but rather shows these superheroes facing off against issues of the world at large. Superman trying to solve world hunger, Batman getting at the throat of inner city crime, Wonder Woman facing rejection from other women as a liberator. Through creating superheroic stories at real world level that doesn't resort to bullshit darkness, this book is a rarity. The true goal it achieves by holding a mirror up at us through the short stories and proving that in spite of a fictional characters best efforts, society itself has to do better. I'm honestly surprised that a nearly 20 year old story featuring the Justice League, foresaw how we would react when faced with a pandemic. Paul Dini, while understanding these characters amazingly well, also understands society even better. He, along with Mark Waid, create humanistic superhero stories that I crave. Also I don't think I can put into words how godly Alex Ross is. His photorealism was a turn off for me for a while, not because it was bad, but because I prefer traditional comic art. But damn if his panels aren't glorious. He gives these characters a Norman Rockwell/retro futurism/pulp magazine look that makes these stories feel timeless. I genuinely believe this book could have easily worked without text, and people could still pick up on what the story is.
February 24, 2016
I wanted something special for book #150 for 2014 and settled on this one which I have as a hardcopy. A combination of six Paul Dini/Alex Ross collaborations (Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, Shazam!: Power of Hope, Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth, JLA: Secret Origins, and JLA: Liberty and Justice), this is probably my preferred primer for DC Comics heroes. I'm a sucker for well-told origin stories, and the two-page ones featured here are excellent. This volume also contains very unique stories that don't involve stopping super-villains. Instead these are about solving world hunger, crime, abuse, disease. These issues are portrayed realistically; though the heroes make slight headway, the problems are shown to be more deep-rooted and true solutions are things that can only be achieved when everyone is involved. Dini's writing is brief and meaningful, and Alex Ross's art casts the heroes in photographic reality.
February 4, 2015
I just want to shove this book in the face of every comic book writer or artist who assumes that imagining these heroes operating in the real(ish) world requires rebuilding them into dark and gritty purveyors of violence always one small step away from a mental breakdown (yes, Miller, I am looking at you).
Yes, yes, OK the world probably isn't quite as simple as presented here. It is always clear to our heroes whether people are dastardly terrorists or plucky freedom fighters, whether governments are despotic or 'legitimate' - and the world just ain't like that.
But the stories here do take Golden Age-style superheroes and drop them into a more realistic world than we normally see them in. It is real uplifting stuff.
And the art... Oh my crikey. It's just fucking beautiful - but you knew that already right? Seriously take any page or spread in this book - ANY OF 'EM - and you could happily frame it and stick it on your wall. Gorgeous stuff.
This book made my heart soar.
Perfect.
Yes, yes, OK the world probably isn't quite as simple as presented here. It is always clear to our heroes whether people are dastardly terrorists or plucky freedom fighters, whether governments are despotic or 'legitimate' - and the world just ain't like that.
But the stories here do take Golden Age-style superheroes and drop them into a more realistic world than we normally see them in. It is real uplifting stuff.
And the art... Oh my crikey. It's just fucking beautiful - but you knew that already right? Seriously take any page or spread in this book - ANY OF 'EM - and you could happily frame it and stick it on your wall. Gorgeous stuff.
This book made my heart soar.
Perfect.
June 1, 2020
*I have read WAY more books than I've actually reviewed, so this is a knee-jerk reaction. Too many books to read and review... so little time!*
STUNNING ARTWORK!
I'd read many of these stories in their own volumes, but reading them all together was actually a really cool testament to the impact these characters have had on, not only popular culture, but on the readers who have made them a part of their lives. What we learn about the world and ourselves from comics was centerstage in this collection.
Favorite story was definitely the one with the unknown disease. Very poignant in today's world with COVID-19, especially in how the media chose fear-mongering over reporting. Plus... Martian Manhunter was the star of that story! One of my favorites who never seems to get enough time in the spotlight.
STUNNING ARTWORK!
I'd read many of these stories in their own volumes, but reading them all together was actually a really cool testament to the impact these characters have had on, not only popular culture, but on the readers who have made them a part of their lives. What we learn about the world and ourselves from comics was centerstage in this collection.
Favorite story was definitely the one with the unknown disease. Very poignant in today's world with COVID-19, especially in how the media chose fear-mongering over reporting. Plus... Martian Manhunter was the star of that story! One of my favorites who never seems to get enough time in the spotlight.
December 22, 2025
Learning this collection existed instantly made me want to read it. On the writing side, it's penned by Paul Dini, who worked on “Batman The Animated Series” which I considered to be one of if not the best Batman projects ever. As for artwork, we’ve got Alex Ross, whose hyper-realistic art style made the likes of “Marvels” (which I adore) and “Kingdom Come” (which I was less taken with but still enjoyed) visually phenomenal treats for any superhero fan. So the two of them working together on a series of issues focused on four major DC characters and then one big Justice League story sounded peak.
Let’s just get it out of the way, Ross is in top form with his art as always. There's the brilliant contrast between these larger-than-life and colorful characters and realistic looking humans yet unlike a live action film he doesn’t try to make these characters’ costumes look real. The contrast/juxtaposition between the comic book-y nature and photo-realism is striking. Frankly these are more like paintings than regular comic books (true for all his work).
In general I thought Dini was also doing a good job here with the writing for each story. The four solo stories were meant to be less about superheroes beating up criminals or monsters and more of them trying to take on real world problems. It’s a compelling idea and while Dini approaches it as even these god-like figures can’t solve these issues themselves, if at all, it always is a worthy endeavor and these figures should still act as an inspiration for change (even in the real world, proceeds from the comics went to real world charities). Thoughts on each story are as follows:
Superman: Peace on Earth - Our first story is the original superhero and symbol of hope trying and failing to solve world hunger all by himself. It’s a bleakish story with even one who is so god-like coming up short due to logistical problems and interference from individual humans and governments. It ends on a slightly optimistic note with Clark resolving to teach others on how best to feed themselves and enact change to fix world hunger. Good overall and a solid indication of what to expect with the other stories.
Batman: War on Crime - This one was my favorite of the lot, no surprise because Batman is my favorite DC hero and Dini is helming the story. There’s nothing as ambitious in the story’s intent here like Peace on Earth, it’s just a war on Gotham’s crime being conducted by both Batman and Bruce Wayne. I did enjoy the description of how the Bruce Wayne persona at parties is part of his crime-fighting repertoire but the best part of these sections is Bruce putting his billions to good use to fix up communities and give long term residents good jobs. The best part for the Batman story and of the whole collection is when Batman comforts an aspiring criminal that is still a crying orphan boy (whose parents' murder Batman witnessed himself). Coupled with Ross’ artstyle this moment is *Perfection*.
Shazam!: Power of Hope - Truthfully of the 4 solo heroes that get individual stories in the collection, I’m the least familiar with Shazam/Captain Marvel. But this was a decent enough story that shows how the character straddles the line between an adult and a child which allows him to use the strengths of both (I really enjoyed Dini’s closing monologue that explains this). Maybe this hasn’t made me a Shazam fan but this is still a sweet enough story that shows the character’s appeal.
Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth - In this story, Wonder Woman elects to go undercover after her usual super heroics and being an official ambassador causes more problems than solutions. By doing undercover work she’s seemingly going to get more of an intimate understanding of humanity. This one definitely focused on feminism issues (i.e., being dismissed by men and disliked for her appearance differing from more conservative cultures) which was fine. Overall I’d just say the story was just that, fine, with a surprise cameo from another Leaguer being appreciated. I guess it just didn’t resonate with me like the others had (although Ross clearly had fun drawing Diana).
JLA: Secret Origins - Not much to this one, the rest of the major Justice League members (Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, etc.) get 2 page spreads that condenses their origin stories. A few others like Zatanna get 1 panel introductions. Most are okay, the only one that really stood out is the one for Plastic Man which captures the character’s humor (how have we not gotten a movie about him yet?). Decent crash course for DC newcomers in the lead-up for the final story.
JLA: Liberty & Justice - This was the most traditional superhero story of the lot (it’s the only one with speech bubbles!). The League is trying to contain an extraterrestrial virus from wiping out humanity which is the most fantastical part of the story. The League’s actions have the unfortunate side effect of scaring the world about what the League is up to and whether these powerful figures are about to conquer the planet (not helped by our heroes trying to quell the subsequent unrest). It’s a storyline that has become a staple over the decades in the genre and Dini doesn’t bring too much new here. It’s still a solid JLA story though and I really like how Martian Manhunter is a driving force in the story. Overall I really enjoyed it even if it doesn’t break new ground.
Overall I wouldn’t say the collection is 100% a homerun for Alex Ross and Paul Dini BUT it’s still a good showcase of why they’re both creative icons in the genre. With Ross’ artwork being stellar and Dini having moments of his usual storytelling genius throughout, “Justice League: The World’s Greatest Superheroes” is sure to be enjoyed by all sorts of DC fans.
Let’s just get it out of the way, Ross is in top form with his art as always. There's the brilliant contrast between these larger-than-life and colorful characters and realistic looking humans yet unlike a live action film he doesn’t try to make these characters’ costumes look real. The contrast/juxtaposition between the comic book-y nature and photo-realism is striking. Frankly these are more like paintings than regular comic books (true for all his work).
In general I thought Dini was also doing a good job here with the writing for each story. The four solo stories were meant to be less about superheroes beating up criminals or monsters and more of them trying to take on real world problems. It’s a compelling idea and while Dini approaches it as even these god-like figures can’t solve these issues themselves, if at all, it always is a worthy endeavor and these figures should still act as an inspiration for change (even in the real world, proceeds from the comics went to real world charities). Thoughts on each story are as follows:
Superman: Peace on Earth - Our first story is the original superhero and symbol of hope trying and failing to solve world hunger all by himself. It’s a bleakish story with even one who is so god-like coming up short due to logistical problems and interference from individual humans and governments. It ends on a slightly optimistic note with Clark resolving to teach others on how best to feed themselves and enact change to fix world hunger. Good overall and a solid indication of what to expect with the other stories.
Batman: War on Crime - This one was my favorite of the lot, no surprise because Batman is my favorite DC hero and Dini is helming the story. There’s nothing as ambitious in the story’s intent here like Peace on Earth, it’s just a war on Gotham’s crime being conducted by both Batman and Bruce Wayne. I did enjoy the description of how the Bruce Wayne persona at parties is part of his crime-fighting repertoire but the best part of these sections is Bruce putting his billions to good use to fix up communities and give long term residents good jobs. The best part for the Batman story and of the whole collection is when Batman comforts an aspiring criminal that is still a crying orphan boy (whose parents' murder Batman witnessed himself). Coupled with Ross’ artstyle this moment is *Perfection*.
Shazam!: Power of Hope - Truthfully of the 4 solo heroes that get individual stories in the collection, I’m the least familiar with Shazam/Captain Marvel. But this was a decent enough story that shows how the character straddles the line between an adult and a child which allows him to use the strengths of both (I really enjoyed Dini’s closing monologue that explains this). Maybe this hasn’t made me a Shazam fan but this is still a sweet enough story that shows the character’s appeal.
Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth - In this story, Wonder Woman elects to go undercover after her usual super heroics and being an official ambassador causes more problems than solutions. By doing undercover work she’s seemingly going to get more of an intimate understanding of humanity. This one definitely focused on feminism issues (i.e., being dismissed by men and disliked for her appearance differing from more conservative cultures) which was fine. Overall I’d just say the story was just that, fine, with a surprise cameo from another Leaguer being appreciated. I guess it just didn’t resonate with me like the others had (although Ross clearly had fun drawing Diana).
JLA: Secret Origins - Not much to this one, the rest of the major Justice League members (Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, etc.) get 2 page spreads that condenses their origin stories. A few others like Zatanna get 1 panel introductions. Most are okay, the only one that really stood out is the one for Plastic Man which captures the character’s humor (how have we not gotten a movie about him yet?). Decent crash course for DC newcomers in the lead-up for the final story.
JLA: Liberty & Justice - This was the most traditional superhero story of the lot (it’s the only one with speech bubbles!). The League is trying to contain an extraterrestrial virus from wiping out humanity which is the most fantastical part of the story. The League’s actions have the unfortunate side effect of scaring the world about what the League is up to and whether these powerful figures are about to conquer the planet (not helped by our heroes trying to quell the subsequent unrest). It’s a storyline that has become a staple over the decades in the genre and Dini doesn’t bring too much new here. It’s still a solid JLA story though and I really like how Martian Manhunter is a driving force in the story. Overall I really enjoyed it even if it doesn’t break new ground.
Overall I wouldn’t say the collection is 100% a homerun for Alex Ross and Paul Dini BUT it’s still a good showcase of why they’re both creative icons in the genre. With Ross’ artwork being stellar and Dini having moments of his usual storytelling genius throughout, “Justice League: The World’s Greatest Superheroes” is sure to be enjoyed by all sorts of DC fans.
January 29, 2020
Love the art, of course. The four stories that focus on individual members of the Justice League are the best. They're essentially character studies, hopeful but realistic. Surprisingly, the Captain Marvel one was the most emotionally effective for me. The Secret Origins story is ok, for yet another collection of origin stories. I was not in love with the last story, focusing on some kind of alien virus. It just felt too long to me, and the presence of so many members of the League felt forced. But those first four stories are great.
February 20, 2018
It's an art museum in a book. Art. Museum. In a book.
In all seriousness though, its no secret that painter Alex Ross has a deep affinity for all these characters, and it shows on every page. In every panel.
Paul Dini writes what could be described as human moral conundrums juxtaposed against these larger than life super heroes and their idealistic mentalities. It works rather well.
But even if the writing was bad––which its not––the artwork alone is worth the price of admission.
In all seriousness though, its no secret that painter Alex Ross has a deep affinity for all these characters, and it shows on every page. In every panel.
Paul Dini writes what could be described as human moral conundrums juxtaposed against these larger than life super heroes and their idealistic mentalities. It works rather well.
But even if the writing was bad––which its not––the artwork alone is worth the price of admission.
November 3, 2019
This is a collection of Alex Ross’s and Paul Dini’s take on most of DC’s iconic superheroes. I recall reading each of these separately when the Mgr originally were released. While it is great to have them all collected in one volume, and this TPB collection is an oversized edition, the original volumes were a much bigger size. To fully enjoy Ross’s artwork, you need the artwork to be as big as possible.
November 21, 2024
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
Are superpowers what makes super heroes so admirable, or is it their generosity, sense of justice, curiosity and willingness to be part of the solution? Even powerful beings can't solve most of the complex realities and injustices of our world, but that wont stop them from trying to.
If you are a humanitarian worker or activist read this so you remember you can't (neither have to) solve everything or save everyone, but that doesn't mean your work is not important.
Are superpowers what makes super heroes so admirable, or is it their generosity, sense of justice, curiosity and willingness to be part of the solution? Even powerful beings can't solve most of the complex realities and injustices of our world, but that wont stop them from trying to.
If you are a humanitarian worker or activist read this so you remember you can't (neither have to) solve everything or save everyone, but that doesn't mean your work is not important.
September 19, 2025
What a great collection of stories written by Paul Dini and illustrated by the great Alex Ross…
This book absolutely blew me away, from the opening pages of Superman’s story I was hooked. Dini has always excelled at creating interesting narratives that go deep into the character’s feelings and motivations in interesting and wildly entertaining ways, his work on the animated Batman series immediately comes to mind as he always provided interesting ideas and interpretations of beloved characters that still have plenty of interesting places to go thematically and emotionally. Superman’s story in the first part of this book illustrates his kindness and unwavering commitment to the Earth and her people beautifully, telling an inspiring yet melancholic tale of a man with the power of the gods, fighting tooth and nail to deliver a better tomorrow for the world he loves so dearly. The book utilizes a mainly narration driven way of story telling, allowing the story to become extremely personal and engaging, while also giving way to a very slight sense of loneliness as we begin to see how each goal our beloved heroes strive towards can be paths that lead to sacrifice and an almost impossible task of trying to “save the world”. Batman’s story is equally as beautifully tragic (which you’d expect from the Dark Knight), weaving this well written ballad of a child caught up in a cycle of violence and crime, leading Bruce to reevaluate his role as Batman and his role as playboy billionaire, Bruce Wayne. The story captures what makes Batman my favorite hero and it is an exemplary portrayal of the crime ridden streets of Gotham and Batman’s endless struggle to bring a stop to the crime that has festered and spread throughout Gotham like a cancer. The story of Batman features all the corruption and seediness you’d expect from his hometown, which makes me wish this story featured The Question in some way. Shazam’s story is beautifully written as well, going deep into the mind of Billy Batson and showing how his childlike whimsy can help those most vulnerable to the pains of the world: children. It’s a story that nearly brought me to tears in its conclusion and it made me appreciate Shazam more as a character and casted him in a whole new light for me. I am especially in love with Wonder Woman’s story, her struggle to understand humanity and “Man’s World” because of her life on Themyscira truly brought to life how interesting of a character Diana is. Her unbeatable passion for peace and her confidence as a warrior, and her ability to make change while wanting nothing in return, it’s truly remarkable to see and it’s such a nice story to read when you face the world we live in today. This entire book was very therapeutic to me because the Justice League wants nothing but the best for the planet and her people, the final story featuring all the characters coming together to fight a unique threat was such a treat. Each character was given so much time to shine while keeping the pacing consistent, and the story switches to a more traditional way of comic book storytelling with speech bubbles and a less poetic way of telling the story (while still be poetic and interesting). It was the best way to end the book, creating such a memorable tale after an already great run of stories, to end on such a high note was such a pleasant and satisfying experience, giving me so much new found love for characters I’ve always liked but never considered much in the greater DC lore. There’s time given to who heroes like Green Arrow and Black Canary are, we see some great characterizations in heroes like Plastic Man and The Atom, and all the characters come together in perfect harmony and the chemistry is so good. The story makes me want James Gunn’s DCU to take inspiration from it when they make a JLA film, and since that world seems to be veering towards a plotline that goes in depth into how Metahumans are losing favor with the public, I think this is the ultimate story to truly encapsulate that kind of narrative experience. I’m so happy with this book, Alex Ross’ art is so beautiful too, pairing perfectly with this narrative in such a well done way. The colors are natural but bright and heartwarming, Gotham is dreary and you can literally hear the grime ridden streets, the traffic and the banter of the evildoers and the lost souls sucked in by the curse of Gotham City, you can hear the optimistic silence and natural beauty of the Kent farm, or the otherworldly lush landscapes of Themyscira. It’s so amazing, I adore how Ross drew both Batman and Wonder Woman, and his art astounds me in its ability to be so photo realistic while simultaneously being interesting and expressive. I wish I could’ve seen more of Zatanna and Plastic Man but that’s really my only complaint. This may be the best comic I’ve read yet, I enjoyed it so much and it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, while also recognizing the real and oftentimes sad realities of our world. With everything going on, the bigotry allowed to run rampant, the lack of any real compassion in our governments and our humanity being ignored in place of greed, these stories really hit home and demonstrate why these types of stories and characters matter so much. I 1000000% recommend this and I guarantee you’ll walk away a devout fan of these characters. It’s such a joy to read and I am so happy I did. Here’s to more beautiful journeys in both fiction and in our waking lives!
This book absolutely blew me away, from the opening pages of Superman’s story I was hooked. Dini has always excelled at creating interesting narratives that go deep into the character’s feelings and motivations in interesting and wildly entertaining ways, his work on the animated Batman series immediately comes to mind as he always provided interesting ideas and interpretations of beloved characters that still have plenty of interesting places to go thematically and emotionally. Superman’s story in the first part of this book illustrates his kindness and unwavering commitment to the Earth and her people beautifully, telling an inspiring yet melancholic tale of a man with the power of the gods, fighting tooth and nail to deliver a better tomorrow for the world he loves so dearly. The book utilizes a mainly narration driven way of story telling, allowing the story to become extremely personal and engaging, while also giving way to a very slight sense of loneliness as we begin to see how each goal our beloved heroes strive towards can be paths that lead to sacrifice and an almost impossible task of trying to “save the world”. Batman’s story is equally as beautifully tragic (which you’d expect from the Dark Knight), weaving this well written ballad of a child caught up in a cycle of violence and crime, leading Bruce to reevaluate his role as Batman and his role as playboy billionaire, Bruce Wayne. The story captures what makes Batman my favorite hero and it is an exemplary portrayal of the crime ridden streets of Gotham and Batman’s endless struggle to bring a stop to the crime that has festered and spread throughout Gotham like a cancer. The story of Batman features all the corruption and seediness you’d expect from his hometown, which makes me wish this story featured The Question in some way. Shazam’s story is beautifully written as well, going deep into the mind of Billy Batson and showing how his childlike whimsy can help those most vulnerable to the pains of the world: children. It’s a story that nearly brought me to tears in its conclusion and it made me appreciate Shazam more as a character and casted him in a whole new light for me. I am especially in love with Wonder Woman’s story, her struggle to understand humanity and “Man’s World” because of her life on Themyscira truly brought to life how interesting of a character Diana is. Her unbeatable passion for peace and her confidence as a warrior, and her ability to make change while wanting nothing in return, it’s truly remarkable to see and it’s such a nice story to read when you face the world we live in today. This entire book was very therapeutic to me because the Justice League wants nothing but the best for the planet and her people, the final story featuring all the characters coming together to fight a unique threat was such a treat. Each character was given so much time to shine while keeping the pacing consistent, and the story switches to a more traditional way of comic book storytelling with speech bubbles and a less poetic way of telling the story (while still be poetic and interesting). It was the best way to end the book, creating such a memorable tale after an already great run of stories, to end on such a high note was such a pleasant and satisfying experience, giving me so much new found love for characters I’ve always liked but never considered much in the greater DC lore. There’s time given to who heroes like Green Arrow and Black Canary are, we see some great characterizations in heroes like Plastic Man and The Atom, and all the characters come together in perfect harmony and the chemistry is so good. The story makes me want James Gunn’s DCU to take inspiration from it when they make a JLA film, and since that world seems to be veering towards a plotline that goes in depth into how Metahumans are losing favor with the public, I think this is the ultimate story to truly encapsulate that kind of narrative experience. I’m so happy with this book, Alex Ross’ art is so beautiful too, pairing perfectly with this narrative in such a well done way. The colors are natural but bright and heartwarming, Gotham is dreary and you can literally hear the grime ridden streets, the traffic and the banter of the evildoers and the lost souls sucked in by the curse of Gotham City, you can hear the optimistic silence and natural beauty of the Kent farm, or the otherworldly lush landscapes of Themyscira. It’s so amazing, I adore how Ross drew both Batman and Wonder Woman, and his art astounds me in its ability to be so photo realistic while simultaneously being interesting and expressive. I wish I could’ve seen more of Zatanna and Plastic Man but that’s really my only complaint. This may be the best comic I’ve read yet, I enjoyed it so much and it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, while also recognizing the real and oftentimes sad realities of our world. With everything going on, the bigotry allowed to run rampant, the lack of any real compassion in our governments and our humanity being ignored in place of greed, these stories really hit home and demonstrate why these types of stories and characters matter so much. I 1000000% recommend this and I guarantee you’ll walk away a devout fan of these characters. It’s such a joy to read and I am so happy I did. Here’s to more beautiful journeys in both fiction and in our waking lives!
January 17, 2019
While I love the artwork from Alex Ross, the stories are just OK. I like the attempt to cross real-world issues with "what would superpowers actually accomplish?" - but the end result is a little preachy.
November 21, 2019
Beautifully rendered
This is heroism at its finest. Inspiring, humbling, and pleasurable to read. The richness of the art and masterful storytelling make this collection worthy for comic fan and casual reader alike.
This is heroism at its finest. Inspiring, humbling, and pleasurable to read. The richness of the art and masterful storytelling make this collection worthy for comic fan and casual reader alike.
January 4, 2011
Just beautiful! I had read the 'Shazam!' story before, and it is still my favorite, but the whole collection is tremendous. Thoughtful, heartwarming, exciting stuff.
April 3, 2016
Fantastic. Perhaps the best Justice League collection--Alex Ross as artist, Paul Dini, writer? Best match up ever.
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