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Legends of the DC Universe
Legends of the DC Universe: Doug Mahnke
These tales spotlight Doug Mahnke, one of DC?s most dynamic artists, including stories starring Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and more.
Collects stories and art from Action Comics #775 and #1000; Batman #645; Batman: The Man Who Laughs #1; Batman and Robin Annual #2; Black Adam: The Dark Age #1; Detective Comics #1000; Final Crisis: Requiem #1; Green Lantern (2011) #0 and #50; Green Lantern (2016) #50; Hitman/Lobo: That Stupid Bastich #1; JLA #61 and #65; Justice League #25; Justice League of America #25; Justice League: Elite #1; The Multiversity: Ultra Comics #1; Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #1; Superman #8-9; and Superman: The Man of Steel #87.
- GenresComics
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 26, 2021
6 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Doug Mahnke
700 books33 followersDouglas "Doug" Mahnke is an American comic book artist and penciller. He embarked on a love affair with comics at the age of five, having received a pile of Spider-Man issues from a rugby-playing college student named Mike who lived in his basement.
A consistent interest in the medium, coupled with some art skill, landed Mahnke a job drawing comics for Dark Horse at the age of 24. His first gig was illustrating a moody detective one-shot entitled Homicide written by John Arcudi. The two went on to collaborate on Dark Horse's The Mask and their creator-owned series Major Bummer, originally published by DC.
Since then, Mahnke has worked almost exclusively for DC on a wide variety of titles, including Superman: The Man Of Steel; JLA; Justice League; Batman; Team Zero; Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein; Black Adam: The Dark Age; Stormwatch: P.H.D.; Final Crisis; Green Lantern; Superman/Wonder Woman; Superman; and Detective Comics.
A consistent interest in the medium, coupled with some art skill, landed Mahnke a job drawing comics for Dark Horse at the age of 24. His first gig was illustrating a moody detective one-shot entitled Homicide written by John Arcudi. The two went on to collaborate on Dark Horse's The Mask and their creator-owned series Major Bummer, originally published by DC.
Since then, Mahnke has worked almost exclusively for DC on a wide variety of titles, including Superman: The Man Of Steel; JLA; Justice League; Batman; Team Zero; Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein; Black Adam: The Dark Age; Stormwatch: P.H.D.; Final Crisis; Green Lantern; Superman/Wonder Woman; Superman; and Detective Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 30, 2024
Legends of the DC Universe Doug Mahnke (2021)
Writer – Various
Illustrator – Doug Mahnke
Legends is a collection of 14 stories featuring the artwork by one of DC’s main artists, Doug Mahnke. The stories cover a wide array of the superheroes, primarily Superman and Batman, but also consisting the JLA and some lesser-known heroes.
The highlight is of course the artwork by Doug Mahnke, and his rise from the early 90’s to today. The evolution of the artwork is pretty clear and is pretty great. In terms of the classic tales, my favourites would be Hitman/Lobo, Action Comics #775 and Batman And Robin Annual #2. Both were very much self-contained and fun to read. The best is definitely kept for the last with Action Comics #1000, featuring full page artworks of Batman facing off with his major foes. This was just beautiful and jaw dropping.
A major portion of the stories are good but having just one chapter or section, doesn’t do much justice to the arc. Major disappointments were Justice League: Elite #1 and The Multiversity: Ultra Comics #1, which were primarily confusing and unfinished. Green Lantern (2011) #0 was pointless to have as it doesn’t have a wrap up and not even a proper story. Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #1 was something new, but once again is abrupt and short.
The book is primarily a collector’s edition, a tribute to Doug Mahnke’s work. But all the stories should have been a stand alone or something with a proper start and end.
RJG Rating – 3.0/5
Goodreads – 3.57/5
Synopsis:
• Superman: The Man Of Steel #87 – The Iron Hand Of Kindness – Superman struggles to not be in control of the various disaster across the globe. (Story - 3/5; Artwork – 3/5)
• Hitman/Lobo: That Stupid Bastich #1 – That Stupid Bastich – The Hitman provokes Lobo on a chase across town. (Story – 3.5/5; Artwork – 3.5/5)
• Action Comics #775 – What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice And The American Way? – An iconic tale featuring Superman go against a new group of violent antiheroes called the Elite. (Story - 4/5; Artwork – 3.75/5)
• JLA #65 – Bouncing Baby Boy – Plastic Man requests a favour from Batman to intervene and stop a young meta human. (Story – 3.5/5; Artwork – 3.75/5)
• Justice League: Elite #1 – Grand Experiment – The creation of Justice League Elite, a team of antiheroes along with Flash and Green Arrow. (Story – 2/5; Artwork – 3/5)
• Batman #645 – Show Me Yesterday, For I Can’t Find Today – Batman exhumes the casket of Jason Todd, while Alfred reminisces on one of Batman and Robin’s adventures. (Story – 3/5; Artwork – 3/5)
• Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #1 – Uglyhead – With a power of telepathy a bullied kid starts to attack his classmates with his new powers. (Story – 2/5; Artwork – 3/5)
• Final Crisis: Requiem #1 – Caretakers Of Mars – A dying J’onn J’onzz (The Martian Manhunter) broadcasts his final message to the Justice League. (Story – 3.5/5; Artwork – 4.25/5)
• Green Lantern (2011) #0 – The New Normal – In a post 9/11 era, Simon Baz carjacks a van not knowing it contains an explosive device. (Story – 2/5; Artwork – 3.25/5)
• Justice League Of America #25 – Forever Lost – In an alternate universe, Thomas Wayne Jr., the older brother of Bruce Wayne orchestrates a chilling murder, that sets into motion his origin as Owlman. (Story – 3/5; Artwork – 3.75/5)
• Batman And Robin Annual #2 – Batman And Robin: Week One – Dick Grayson recounts to Damien Wayne (the new Robin), about his first week officially as Batman’s side kick. (Story – 4.25/5; Artwork – 4.25/5)
• The Multiversity: Ultra Comics #1 – Ultra Comics Lives! – The origin of a fourth wall breaking superhero called ‘Ultra Comics’. (Story – 0.5/5; Artwork – 4/5)
• Superman #8-9 – Escape From Dinosaur Island – Superman, Jon and Krypto are pulled into an island where dinosaurs roam free. (Story – 3.25/5; Artwork – 4/5)
• Action Comics #1000 – Medieval – A mysterious narrator vows to take down Batman for his atrocities in Gotham. (Story – 3/5; Artwork – 5/5)
Writer – Various
Illustrator – Doug Mahnke
Legends is a collection of 14 stories featuring the artwork by one of DC’s main artists, Doug Mahnke. The stories cover a wide array of the superheroes, primarily Superman and Batman, but also consisting the JLA and some lesser-known heroes.
The highlight is of course the artwork by Doug Mahnke, and his rise from the early 90’s to today. The evolution of the artwork is pretty clear and is pretty great. In terms of the classic tales, my favourites would be Hitman/Lobo, Action Comics #775 and Batman And Robin Annual #2. Both were very much self-contained and fun to read. The best is definitely kept for the last with Action Comics #1000, featuring full page artworks of Batman facing off with his major foes. This was just beautiful and jaw dropping.
A major portion of the stories are good but having just one chapter or section, doesn’t do much justice to the arc. Major disappointments were Justice League: Elite #1 and The Multiversity: Ultra Comics #1, which were primarily confusing and unfinished. Green Lantern (2011) #0 was pointless to have as it doesn’t have a wrap up and not even a proper story. Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #1 was something new, but once again is abrupt and short.
The book is primarily a collector’s edition, a tribute to Doug Mahnke’s work. But all the stories should have been a stand alone or something with a proper start and end.
RJG Rating – 3.0/5
Goodreads – 3.57/5
Synopsis:
• Superman: The Man Of Steel #87 – The Iron Hand Of Kindness – Superman struggles to not be in control of the various disaster across the globe. (Story - 3/5; Artwork – 3/5)
• Hitman/Lobo: That Stupid Bastich #1 – That Stupid Bastich – The Hitman provokes Lobo on a chase across town. (Story – 3.5/5; Artwork – 3.5/5)
• Action Comics #775 – What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice And The American Way? – An iconic tale featuring Superman go against a new group of violent antiheroes called the Elite. (Story - 4/5; Artwork – 3.75/5)
• JLA #65 – Bouncing Baby Boy – Plastic Man requests a favour from Batman to intervene and stop a young meta human. (Story – 3.5/5; Artwork – 3.75/5)
• Justice League: Elite #1 – Grand Experiment – The creation of Justice League Elite, a team of antiheroes along with Flash and Green Arrow. (Story – 2/5; Artwork – 3/5)
• Batman #645 – Show Me Yesterday, For I Can’t Find Today – Batman exhumes the casket of Jason Todd, while Alfred reminisces on one of Batman and Robin’s adventures. (Story – 3/5; Artwork – 3/5)
• Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #1 – Uglyhead – With a power of telepathy a bullied kid starts to attack his classmates with his new powers. (Story – 2/5; Artwork – 3/5)
• Final Crisis: Requiem #1 – Caretakers Of Mars – A dying J’onn J’onzz (The Martian Manhunter) broadcasts his final message to the Justice League. (Story – 3.5/5; Artwork – 4.25/5)
• Green Lantern (2011) #0 – The New Normal – In a post 9/11 era, Simon Baz carjacks a van not knowing it contains an explosive device. (Story – 2/5; Artwork – 3.25/5)
• Justice League Of America #25 – Forever Lost – In an alternate universe, Thomas Wayne Jr., the older brother of Bruce Wayne orchestrates a chilling murder, that sets into motion his origin as Owlman. (Story – 3/5; Artwork – 3.75/5)
• Batman And Robin Annual #2 – Batman And Robin: Week One – Dick Grayson recounts to Damien Wayne (the new Robin), about his first week officially as Batman’s side kick. (Story – 4.25/5; Artwork – 4.25/5)
• The Multiversity: Ultra Comics #1 – Ultra Comics Lives! – The origin of a fourth wall breaking superhero called ‘Ultra Comics’. (Story – 0.5/5; Artwork – 4/5)
• Superman #8-9 – Escape From Dinosaur Island – Superman, Jon and Krypto are pulled into an island where dinosaurs roam free. (Story – 3.25/5; Artwork – 4/5)
• Action Comics #1000 – Medieval – A mysterious narrator vows to take down Batman for his atrocities in Gotham. (Story – 3/5; Artwork – 5/5)
August 21, 2024
This book overall was a good read. Mahnke's artwork was great throughout, and there was a good mix of stories. Some of them were great, some were good but have moments that aged poorly, some were ok, and others were good but were only the beginning of longer pieces, so you're left feeling a little unsatisfied. Nevertheless, the book introduced me to some stories and characters I'd like to read more of and provided some solid one-shots and mini-arcs. Good book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews