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Showcase Presents: Justice League of America #5
Showcase Presents: Justice League of America, Vol. 5
This new Showcase Presents volume collects over 500 value-priced pages of heroic adventure! The World’s Greatest Super-Heroes – Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Hawkman, The Flash, The Martian Manhunter and the Atom – take on evil in this new Justice League of America collection. In this volume, the JLA battles BLACKEST NIGHT villain Solomon Grundy, meets the bizarre hero known as Deadman, faces a “cosmic vampire,” and team up with both the Justice Society of America and the Seven Soldiers of Victory.
528 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2011
3 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Robert Kanigher
584 books8 followersSee also as Bob Kanigher
One of the most prolific writers in comics, particularly in the Silver Age. He took over scripting duties on Wonder Woman after William Moulton Marston's death, and handled the character's transition from the Golden to the Silver Age. He also created Barry Allen, the second Flash, for editor Julius Schwartz's superhero revival of 1956, as well as writing and editing DC's pioneering war titles.
His creations include Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, Barry Allen, Ragman, the Losers, Black Canary, the Metal Men, Poison Ivy, Enemy Ace, the Suicide Squad, and Rex the Wonder Dog.
One of the most prolific writers in comics, particularly in the Silver Age. He took over scripting duties on Wonder Woman after William Moulton Marston's death, and handled the character's transition from the Golden to the Silver Age. He also created Barry Allen, the second Flash, for editor Julius Schwartz's superhero revival of 1956, as well as writing and editing DC's pioneering war titles.
His creations include Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, Barry Allen, Ragman, the Losers, Black Canary, the Metal Men, Poison Ivy, Enemy Ace, the Suicide Squad, and Rex the Wonder Dog.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 24, 2018
The black and white reprinted early exploits of the Justice League of America continue with a pair of team-ups with the Justice Society of Earth-2.
The first involves an alien child and his pet who become separated from each other. There's a symbiotic bond between the two and their absences are causing the pair to become gigantic and destructive. The second adventure has the two teams asking the question 'Whatever happened to the Seven Soldiers of Victory?
Both crossovers were extremely good. Other great stories involved The Shaggy Man infiltrating the Justice League's satellite base, three complete strangers saving the world unawares when the League cannot, and a Halloween yarn involving Len Wein, his wife Glynis and the despicable Felix Faust.
There was a fair share of stinkers in this book as well such the several episodes that hinted at a love affair between Batman and Black Canary. Also, there was one story that was just rotten.
The cover of it (issue #89) promised that you, the reader, got to be a part of the story. I thought this was going to be like a Choose Your Own Adventure type affair. Instead, writer Michael Friedrich gets all metaphysical and philosophical ending the story personally explaining how when he writes a story he becomes the characters of the story. He makes allusions to someone named H.E., so I am wondering if he wrote this as some sort of personal challenge to writer (and eternal pain in the ass) Harlan Ellison. A lot of writers did that because Ellison liked to be a pompous jerk to everyone and anyone who thought they could write science fiction.
The artwork is fairly decent. Lots of great covers by Neal Adams. Dick Dillin, Nick Cardy, and Mike Sekowsky do fair work that ranges from awesome to not quite dreadful.
I love the Justice League of America and despite the flaws in this book, they are a delight to read and a fond throwback to my childhood.
The first involves an alien child and his pet who become separated from each other. There's a symbiotic bond between the two and their absences are causing the pair to become gigantic and destructive. The second adventure has the two teams asking the question 'Whatever happened to the Seven Soldiers of Victory?
Both crossovers were extremely good. Other great stories involved The Shaggy Man infiltrating the Justice League's satellite base, three complete strangers saving the world unawares when the League cannot, and a Halloween yarn involving Len Wein, his wife Glynis and the despicable Felix Faust.
There was a fair share of stinkers in this book as well such the several episodes that hinted at a love affair between Batman and Black Canary. Also, there was one story that was just rotten.
The cover of it (issue #89) promised that you, the reader, got to be a part of the story. I thought this was going to be like a Choose Your Own Adventure type affair. Instead, writer Michael Friedrich gets all metaphysical and philosophical ending the story personally explaining how when he writes a story he becomes the characters of the story. He makes allusions to someone named H.E., so I am wondering if he wrote this as some sort of personal challenge to writer (and eternal pain in the ass) Harlan Ellison. A lot of writers did that because Ellison liked to be a pompous jerk to everyone and anyone who thought they could write science fiction.
The artwork is fairly decent. Lots of great covers by Neal Adams. Dick Dillin, Nick Cardy, and Mike Sekowsky do fair work that ranges from awesome to not quite dreadful.
I love the Justice League of America and despite the flaws in this book, they are a delight to read and a fond throwback to my childhood.
October 25, 2017
The main reason I read this was for issues 100-102, which featured the return of the Seven Soldiers Of Victory. The annual JLA/JSA team up convened this time to rescue the time-lost superheroes with help from Oracle, a cosmic being of vast power. They were needed, as their old foe The Hand (now the Iron Hand) created a nebulous hand powerful enough to crush Earth-2 to powder. The Soldiers defeated an energy creature of the same substance years ago, at the cost of one of their lives. The energy unleashed by their destruction of the Nebula Man hurled them back through time into seven different eras, and the two super teams divided into seven teams to find them, rescue them and bring them back to the present to destroy the giant hand. This mission brought the Star Spangled Kid back into continuity and gave him the chance to join the Justice Society, despite being 20 years removed from his rightful time period.
There was a lot to like during this era of the pre-Crisis JLA, including the new look of the Green Arrow, his growing relationship with Black Canary, the Red Tornado's first appearance and more. It also covered the time during which Wonder Woman gave up her super hero identity and went on adventures with her sensei I Ching using martial arts skills in place of her lost powers. I enjoyed the look back at the team I grew up reading about.
There was a lot to like during this era of the pre-Crisis JLA, including the new look of the Green Arrow, his growing relationship with Black Canary, the Red Tornado's first appearance and more. It also covered the time during which Wonder Woman gave up her super hero identity and went on adventures with her sensei I Ching using martial arts skills in place of her lost powers. I enjoyed the look back at the team I grew up reading about.
September 22, 2016
Enjoyable read as the JLA transitions from the mid 1960s to the early 1970s. Most notable are Green Arrow's change in character and focus, the addition and emphasis of newer members, and the heavy emphasis on science fiction. Interesting to note the changes in character dialogue over time as well as the different reference to societal changes and pop culture. Liked the issue that had references to the Marvel universe
August 8, 2013
This book is pretty good. I'm a big JLA fan in general, so it's nice to have even ok writing with my favorite superhero team involved.
The stories get dumb sometimes. Being the seventies, a lot of "hey, the environment" stories that get kind of dumb, but some actually good ones.
BAD STORYLINES:
Visualizations of hunger,environmental issues, pollution, etc. important topics, crappy villains
the first JLA/JSA crossover: I love the heroes, but a little boy alien and his dog, drecky crap.
GOOD STORYLINES:
The second JLA/JSA crossover: Also for the one hundredth issue of the magazine. This pretty awesome triple team crossover with the SEven Soldiers of Victory. Very related to what Roy Thomas was doing with DC, with the All Star Squadron and their ilk.
Anything by Robert Kanigher all one issue of that
, and the Elongated Man
It's not bad, it should've been better, it's pretty decent.
The stories get dumb sometimes. Being the seventies, a lot of "hey, the environment" stories that get kind of dumb, but some actually good ones.
BAD STORYLINES:
Visualizations of hunger,environmental issues, pollution, etc. important topics, crappy villains
the first JLA/JSA crossover: I love the heroes, but a little boy alien and his dog, drecky crap.
GOOD STORYLINES:
The second JLA/JSA crossover: Also for the one hundredth issue of the magazine. This pretty awesome triple team crossover with the SEven Soldiers of Victory. Very related to what Roy Thomas was doing with DC, with the All Star Squadron and their ilk.
Anything by Robert Kanigher all one issue of that
, and the Elongated Man
It's not bad, it should've been better, it's pretty decent.
June 4, 2011
Volume 5 of the JLA Showcase series starts off with writer Mike Friedrich, following Denny O'Neil's example and writing socially relevant stories that are both less bombastic than O'Neil's and less effective as a result. After a point Len Wein took over for old-fashioned superheroics, with the return of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the Elongated Man and Red Tornado joining the team, and the start of the Green Arrow/Hawkman feud. My biggest complaint for this volume is I'd read most of the stories before in other reprints.
October 30, 2014
Some strong stories inside but also a lot of poor ones from Friedrich. Overall a good collection but a step down from O'Neil's run.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews