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JLA (Original Trades)
JLA, Vol. 17: Syndicate Rules
A new collection featuring JLA #107-114 and a story from JLA SECRET FILES 2004! Seeking revenge against their positive matter universe counterparts —the fabled JLA —the Crime Syndicate of Amerika breaches the barrier between universes and brings chaos to Earth!
200 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2005
2 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,859 books626 followersKurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 16, 2018
The Crime Syndicate is back. Reality has been altered (We never find out why.) and it's our universe's fault. So the CSA come to our Earth to find out why and, of course, decide to take out the JLA. Meanwhile the Qwardians are also invading our reality due to something the CSA did. Eventually, it all comes to a head.
I found something missing from this story. It was a bit of a slog to get through. Maybe I just hate the CSA. It's a very one trick pony. Ron Garney's art here is really sloppy too. It reminded me some of Sal Buscema, which is not a good thing.
I found something missing from this story. It was a bit of a slog to get through. Maybe I just hate the CSA. It's a very one trick pony. Ron Garney's art here is really sloppy too. It reminded me some of Sal Buscema, which is not a good thing.
July 16, 2008
I really wanted to enjoy this - one of the longest modern JLA stories I've read - and I did, but it still left me a little disappointed. It's Grant Morrison's fault. His, and that of the other British invaders, like Warren Ellis, Mark Millar and Alan Moore. They can't write everything (though Mark Millar gives it a good try), but few others can match them. So a perfectly decent story like this feels a bit flat because it lacks the flash, bang and sparkle of a Morrison JLA story. It's unfair: I wouldn't watch Two and a Half Men and complain that it isn't quite as good as Annie Hall. I try to enjoy things for what they are, but reading comics, where the geniuses and the craftsmen all use the same characters, the small things accumulate. Flash isn't quite as cheeky. Green Lantern isn't quite as imaginative. Batman isn't quite as cool. Superman isn't quite as awesome. You're left looking for what's missing, rather than enjoying what's there.
One other problem here is that the longer it goes on, the more it seems that very little is going to happen. Worst of all is a scene where the JLA are in life-or-death battle with aliens, and we're being told that they are being soundly defeated - but they're all invulnerable, and just being slapped about by energy beams. There's no real sense of peril or drama.
One other problem here is that the longer it goes on, the more it seems that very little is going to happen. Worst of all is a scene where the JLA are in life-or-death battle with aliens, and we're being told that they are being soundly defeated - but they're all invulnerable, and just being slapped about by energy beams. There's no real sense of peril or drama.
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November 20, 2015In the antimatter universe, the Justice League's evil duplicates are alerted to a cosmic disturbance by their Green Lantern knock-off suddenly turning black. Seriously, that is the inciting incident for these eight issues.
Everyone knows by now that superheroes tend to come back from the dead like the rest of us come back from the shops. What's less remarked upon is that even their universes are remarkably prone to getting unmade by forces of cosmic annihilation, and then reborn with slight tweaks. Kurt Busiek once wrote a very affecting Astro City short story on this theme - probably my favourite work of his. But if that was a miniature, this is the widescreen epic. In large part a sequel to Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's Earth 2, which reintroduced the Crime Syndicate as the League's dark mirror, Syndicate Rules uses the multiversal reshaping to tweak the parameters within which they operate - and then, just to make sure it doesn't feel too much like a replay, chucks in a rampaging space juggernaut to complicate matters further (though this does require extended scenes of Qwardian politics, which will try the patience of all but the most hardcore). I'm not sure anyone could claim Syndicate Rules is a terribly good comic, even within the field of regular superhero books. But it is a comic from the DC Universe back when it was *proper* - which is to say, how I first knew it. The heroes are heroic, the tapestry is complex, and Superman's pants are on the outside just as nature intended. I miss those days.
Everyone knows by now that superheroes tend to come back from the dead like the rest of us come back from the shops. What's less remarked upon is that even their universes are remarkably prone to getting unmade by forces of cosmic annihilation, and then reborn with slight tweaks. Kurt Busiek once wrote a very affecting Astro City short story on this theme - probably my favourite work of his. But if that was a miniature, this is the widescreen epic. In large part a sequel to Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's Earth 2, which reintroduced the Crime Syndicate as the League's dark mirror, Syndicate Rules uses the multiversal reshaping to tweak the parameters within which they operate - and then, just to make sure it doesn't feel too much like a replay, chucks in a rampaging space juggernaut to complicate matters further (though this does require extended scenes of Qwardian politics, which will try the patience of all but the most hardcore). I'm not sure anyone could claim Syndicate Rules is a terribly good comic, even within the field of regular superhero books. But it is a comic from the DC Universe back when it was *proper* - which is to say, how I first knew it. The heroes are heroic, the tapestry is complex, and Superman's pants are on the outside just as nature intended. I miss those days.
May 3, 2021
A sequel to Grant Morrison's JLA: Earth 2, this storyline pits the Crime Syndicate against the JLA once again, when the Syndicate realizes they've been rebooted in the wake of Busiek's own JLA/Avengers and goes looking for answers. Busiek introduces some interesting nuances to the antimatter Earth's society (though he also undoes one of the more interesting metafictional aspects of Morrison's take) as well as that of the planet Qward (old Green Lantern foes). While Syndicate Rules isn't quite as clever or intriguing as Morrison's earlier story - and there's also one pretty morally questionable decision from Batman near the end - it's still entertaining. (B+)
April 28, 2025
Busiek knows how to write a fun superhero story, and this one feels like a bit of a throwback to the 80s; think comics Marv Wolfman was writing back then. Nonetheless, that very retro tone makes the story feel a little incongruous with other stories going on at DC at the time.
January 2, 2020
I wanted to like this story. I really did. Kurt Busiek understands the machinery of comics better than nearly anyone alive. Astro City demonstrates this pretty conclusively. And who doesn't like to see a big epic where the Justice League goes toe-to-toe with their evil twins from another dimension? (Sure, some people don't, but they're probably not the kind of people who would pick up a Kurt Busiek JLA story anyway.) Unfortunately, the results were subpar. Syndicate Rules was boring and convoluted and rarely paid off. It suffered from it's tendency to get in the weeds and over-explain everything from the minutiae of Quardian culture to the dynamics between the positive and negative universes to wink-and-nod references to JLA/Avengers (also written by Busiek) and every other thing Busiek could cram in. It doesn't help that I don't care for Ron Garney's art, either. His style just looks messy to me. On the brighter side, the characterization was solid, and the story was okay in a kind of throwback way, and Busiek does leave some threads for future writers to pick up. (Of course, they don't, because DC had pretty much given up on JLA at this point, focusing on the lines bridging Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis and leaving JLA with a series of weak fillers until it finally ended and was replaced with whatever version of the League Brad Meltzer was interested in ruining next. I'm not bitter.) Anyway, Syndicate Rules in not BAD comics, but it isn't GOOD comics, either. And it is certainly not indicative of Busiek at his best. If you want a good mainstream Busiek superhero story, read JLA/Avengers or his late-90s Avengers run. Or better yet, just read Astro City. I would give this one a pass, though.
December 23, 2019
Seguimos con el repaso a JLA y sus arcos anteriores a Crisis Infinita, y ahora ha llegado el turno al arco que escribió uno de los guionistas más solventes de los últimos 90 y los primeros años del siglo XXI, Kurt Busiek. En unos años en los que los guiones eran bastante bluff debido a la época Image, la crisis creativa y esas cosas, Busiek había sabido mantener una línea muy interesante en Marvel, en los Thunderbolts, y luego guionizó una de las etapas más largas e interesantes que han tenido los Vengadores, hasta el punto de que cuando DC y Marvel llegaron a ese épico acuerdo que permitió la publicación de la serie limitada JLA/Vengadores, se decidió que fuera Kurt Busiek quien dirigiera el esperado evento.
Así que cuando se puso en sus manos a la Liga de la Justicia, Busiek decidió recuperar los eventos de dicha serie limitada, y continuarlos haciendo uso de una de las reinvenciones más llamativas que Grant Morrison había llevado a cabo (aunque no dentro de la serie oficial), el Sindicato del Crimen de Amérika, la versión siniestra y malvada de la Liga de la Justicia procedente del Universo de Antimateria. A consecuencia de los eventos de JLA/Vengadores, el universo DC había sufrido varios cambios, y al descubrir esto, los miembros del Sindicato deciden investigar en el Universo de Materia Positiva, haciéndose pasar por sus contrapartidas de la Liga.
Pero al mismo tiempo, estas alteraciones son detectadas también el Qward, el planeta de los Armeros, la réplica de Oa en el universo de Materia Negativa, y un nuevo Sumoseñor de los Armeros se lanza a la búsqueda de los responsables, enviando un arma capaz de destruir planetas enteros contra la Tierra.
Con este planteamiento, Busiek narra una historia que adolece de los mismos problemas que todos los arcos de "relleno" que completaron el espacio entre la etapa Kelly y Crisis Infinita, la falta de continuidad. Sin duda Busiek, que habría reinventado a los propios Vengadores, podría haber creado todo un nuevo mundo para la JLA, pero las decisiones de la editorial mandaban, y el siguiente arco ya sería Crisis de Conciencia, con guión de Geoff Johns y donde se verían las consecuencias de Crisis de Identidad, la historia de Brad Meltzer que vendría a reestructurar todo el Universo DC.
Así que cuando se puso en sus manos a la Liga de la Justicia, Busiek decidió recuperar los eventos de dicha serie limitada, y continuarlos haciendo uso de una de las reinvenciones más llamativas que Grant Morrison había llevado a cabo (aunque no dentro de la serie oficial), el Sindicato del Crimen de Amérika, la versión siniestra y malvada de la Liga de la Justicia procedente del Universo de Antimateria. A consecuencia de los eventos de JLA/Vengadores, el universo DC había sufrido varios cambios, y al descubrir esto, los miembros del Sindicato deciden investigar en el Universo de Materia Positiva, haciéndose pasar por sus contrapartidas de la Liga.
Pero al mismo tiempo, estas alteraciones son detectadas también el Qward, el planeta de los Armeros, la réplica de Oa en el universo de Materia Negativa, y un nuevo Sumoseñor de los Armeros se lanza a la búsqueda de los responsables, enviando un arma capaz de destruir planetas enteros contra la Tierra.
Con este planteamiento, Busiek narra una historia que adolece de los mismos problemas que todos los arcos de "relleno" que completaron el espacio entre la etapa Kelly y Crisis Infinita, la falta de continuidad. Sin duda Busiek, que habría reinventado a los propios Vengadores, podría haber creado todo un nuevo mundo para la JLA, pero las decisiones de la editorial mandaban, y el siguiente arco ya sería Crisis de Conciencia, con guión de Geoff Johns y donde se verían las consecuencias de Crisis de Identidad, la historia de Brad Meltzer que vendría a reestructurar todo el Universo DC.
May 4, 2019
The Syndicate is kinda cool, but get overshadowed by Qward which is a shame.
January 2, 2020
It was pretty interesting with the anti-matter universe Justice League
April 9, 2024
⭐️2.5
June 21, 2024
Just about got myself to finish this book, but wasn’t very impressed. Wouldn’t recommend…
December 14, 2025
Not nearly as good as I had hoped.
December 21, 2010
Quizás esta secuela es menos original que su primera parte "JLA Tierra 2", pero le hace honor a las ideas perpetradas por Morrison allí, y se toma la molestia de agregar varias nuevas, como la idea del "banco de favores" (¿se llamaba así?) o de ahondar un poco más en la política de esa Tierra espejada, tanto en lo físico como en lo moral, del mundo superheróico de siempre, aunque el hecho de que haya varias subtramas en paralelo confunda un poco las cosas y le quite fluidez a la lectura. De hecho, suena a chiste malo, pero creo que la segunda vez que lo leí entendí menos que la primera, aunque seguro influyó que la segunda vez la leí en medio de un viaje de lo más irritante. Yendo al dibujo, no es demasiado interesante y comete varios errores tontos producto de un mal asesoramiento, pero cumple con su función y poco más, a diferencia del guión que va un poco más allá.
Leído en la edición en dos tomos publicados el 16 de agosto de 2006 en Argentina por la Editorial SD, cuya edición creo que no voy a subir para no desdoblar la obra. La traducción es bastante buena salvo errores puntuales y nombres que salen distinto entre un tomo y el otro.
Leído en la edición en dos tomos publicados el 16 de agosto de 2006 en Argentina por la Editorial SD, cuya edición creo que no voy a subir para no desdoblar la obra. La traducción es bastante buena salvo errores puntuales y nombres que salen distinto entre un tomo y el otro.
August 9, 2013
The CSA is back! Kurt Busiek takes the JLA on a trip to confront their antimatter doppelgangers in this volume of the JLA title. After a universal reboot - which turns the previous Power Ring into an African-American to better match GL John Stewart - the Crime Syndicate realizes that the fault lies in the positive universe. Donning the costumes of their counterparts, the CSA attempts to discern the truth behind the cosmic shift while lying low. Meanwhile, the JLA has their hands full with an incoming Qwardian invasion fleet, seeking to annihilate both the CSA and JLA. The end result is a fun romp through both versions of the DC universe, as each team tests out existence on the other side of the fence. Any story involving the "evil" Justice League rates highly, as it gives the DC offices a chance to explore corrupted versions of their most popular heroes. The use of the Qwardians as a potential threat to both squads was a nice touch, as was the costume-swap moments that allow the CSA to actually try out the hero business. The story does run a little longer than necessary, but any excuse for more CSA is a good one. The Syndicate does indeed rule!
December 5, 2008
Not great literature, but some interesting ideas and well-written; better written then the usual DC/Marvel trash. At least it didn't insult my intelligence too severely!
Plus I have to admit that I get a big kick out of seeing evil versions of Superman, Batman, and the rest. When they're handled right (as here), they're a lot of fun. And I like alternate universe stories.
I'll admit that the knowledge that DC wouldn't get too nasty with the "dark" characters added to the experience, for me. Unlike some people, I don't like books or comics where the author vies to see just how vile and shocking they can be. I run across that sort of thing more often than I would like.
There's a little of that "normal Americans love their superheroes and fight to help them" shtick in this book. That seems to be a very popular theme for DC/Marvel. But at least it's used to comedic effect; it's still a bit annoying (as it was in Sam Raimi's Spiderman movie), but acceptable.
Plus I have to admit that I get a big kick out of seeing evil versions of Superman, Batman, and the rest. When they're handled right (as here), they're a lot of fun. And I like alternate universe stories.
I'll admit that the knowledge that DC wouldn't get too nasty with the "dark" characters added to the experience, for me. Unlike some people, I don't like books or comics where the author vies to see just how vile and shocking they can be. I run across that sort of thing more often than I would like.
There's a little of that "normal Americans love their superheroes and fight to help them" shtick in this book. That seems to be a very popular theme for DC/Marvel. But at least it's used to comedic effect; it's still a bit annoying (as it was in Sam Raimi's Spiderman movie), but acceptable.
October 31, 2010
Gotta love any JLA story where the CSA (Crime Syndicate of Amerika) shows up to do battle. Basically, the CSA is like the evil doppelganger version of the JLA (Owlman, Ultraman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick & Power Ring). Only unlike in Star Trek's mirror universe, these baddies don't sport goatees like "evil Spock" does. The CSA has completely conquered & subdues their own world and is itching for more action. The spend a few weeks battling & destroying the once great warrior planet Quord, but then a cosmic catastrophe throws our Earth, Earth 2, and the Quord world into disarray (don't you hate when that happens?) Soon, it's a 3 way battle alternating between the different worlds that takes an almost impossible team up to save the day ... for now.
February 1, 2010
The Crime Syndicate of Amerika--evil counterparts of the Justice League from another universe--come to the JLA's reality to investigate something that has gone wrong in their universe. This leads, of course, to hilarious impersonations, ridiculous team-ups, and glorious battles. The art was both wonderful at expressing the duality of the teams, and poor in that one couldn't tell any real difference between Superwoman--Evil!Lois Lain--and Wonder Woman--Diana. Perhaps this was a stylistic choice, but the choice made is that The Girl On The Team is just as interchangeable as brothers and body doubles from alternate realities.
September 29, 2012
The Crime Syndicate of Amerika is back! This time they find out their universe has been tampered with and seek answers in the JLA's world, while a super powered ship called the Void Hound is powered by the Qwardians! Its a three way battle for supremacy in this epic volume by Kurt Busiek. Seeing the JLA in CSA's World and vice versa was very interesting, to see the parallels in their world. It was a pretty good story as well, very big in scope and tone.
February 14, 2011
Although I thought this one had some big problems with being comprehensible (especially whenever the Qwardian's got involved) it was still a lot of fun. The CSA is great, they're such bastards. It must be fun to write the big 3 without a conscience.
February 11, 2023
A perfectly fine Crime Syndicate story with a few new takes on the differences between the alternate worlds and the people on them. It's a bit less interesting and exciting than the better CSA storys though.
January 30, 2010
It was ok. Nothing special.
December 1, 2011
A bit disappointing, I expected something more from the crime syndicate. The story seems drawn out, and a bit boring at times.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews