Customer Reviews

Batman: The Stone King (Justice League of America)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"The Stone King", the first in a new series of novels featuring the Justice League of America, is an excellent story for those who are fans of the comic book. While Batman is the central character in this one, all but one of the "big 7" play a role in the overall story. The only one of the big 7 who has a minor appearance/role is Aquaman.

The story involves a pyramid that is unearthed when Gotham Dam breaks and exposes the long buried structure. Soon after, the individual members of the Justice League experience weird occurences (undead rising from their graves, an out of control subway train, a problem with a space shuttle launch, etc.), all of which have one thing in common -- the presence of a blue light. Eventually the team unites to fight the menace, but are all captured leaving Batman and the Martian Manhunter to save the team and the world.

Alan Grant, the writer of numerous comic books, gives a good background to many of the characters. The origins of Flash, Green Lantern, and Superman are described to help casual reader who may know little about the characters. Minor characters' origins are also revealed (Oracle, Scarecrow, Commissioner Gordon). Even longtime readers would find this background to the characters refreshing. Other heroes are mentioned (Plastic Man, Atom, Zauriel), but have minor roles. Overall, if you are a fan of the Justice League or any of its "big 7", you should enjoy this original novel.

I don't want to give away any spoilers so I won't go into any great detail. I've been a Batman fan since I first started reading the comics back in the 60's and love the way that the character has progressed through the years, especially how he's gotten a lot tougher and less tolerant of the criminal mind. (By the way, I hated the TV series because it wasn't true to the comic!)
The Stone King is by no means a great novel but it did keep me intrigued. Alan Grant did a wonderful job on converting his comic book talent to paperback by describing the characters in such detail that it doesn't take much imagination to picture the whole Justice League, especially Batman, in action. In describing the disasters leading up to the Stone Kings first appearance Grant did such a good job in a couple of events that I found myself reacting as if I was watching it firsthand. The only complaint that I have on this book is that I would have liked to have seen a couple of hundred more pages on it. Right now I have just started reading "Batman: No Man's Land", and just from the first 20 pages I've read it's got me hooked. I'll post a review when I'm done but I can tell you now that this book goes into much more detail than "The Stone King" did, so I'm sure that I'll love it!

JLA:THE STONE KING seems to be the first in a series of books based around the JLA, and if the rest are as fast, powerful and confused as the frist, they should all prove to be a quick fix for fans of the JLA. THE STONE KING is hard to pin down in a few words - it is geared towards the young adult crowd, and its central plot feels very similar to the one in GHOSTBUSTERS II (save that the names have been changed to protect the innocent), and there is nothing wrong with that (even the TARDIS from DOCTOR WHO makes a small unnamed cameo here), but Alan Grant then takes his story into "Thomas Harris/Silence of the Lambs" country - where we are treated to violent acts, brutal ritual killings and major diasters that befall both the Earth and mankind (not to give too much away here - but by the end of the book the author clearly states that "millions" of people have been killed all over the world at the conclusion of the adventure). It's all a heady rich mix that will leave you both bored and breathless all at once. BATMAN is the focus here, and I was hoping that this adventure would be more central to his personal world, but as this is also a JLA novel it means that the threat here has to be a world threat, and thus THE STONE KING is. While riddled with clunky lines and a overly familiar plot, it is also touched by striking moments coupled with some serious adult action. While THE STONE KING is geared for the serious fan, first time readers will still get a jolt from the unexpected twists and turns, if not a few lurches in the gut from the violence and action.

I really love this series of books, I enjoy the development of the characters. If you are picking this book up for a long in depth intellectual read, then move on.

The plot is simple, the Justice League, with Batman spotlighted in this one, has to deal with a ages old shaman bent on cleansing the world of its evil ways and placing himself as the ruler. The big guns, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Green Lantern get taken down early and with the Martian Manhunter off the planet, it leaves Batman to deal with things when his greatest weapon, fear, is used against him.

I really enjoyed the book, but I am just a big kid at heart looking for a mindless foray into the world of superheroes.

Over the last few years, there has been a dearth of good comic book-based novels, since the Marvel efforst have really faltered. I was pleased to see that DC has begun putting out books, starting with a few Batman novels, even a Wonder Woman book. Now they have started releasing Justice League books. It seems that they will be releasing them with a specific character as the focus, in this case Batman.

The book opens with the Justice League working their minds and muscles to save Gotham City from disaster. A result of their solution is that an ancient pyramid is uncovered, the archaeological find of all time it seems. Unfortunately, the history of that pyramid leads to disaster the world over in terms of the spirit of one who was slain there.

This spirit possesses a student and begins wreaking havoc. Having learned something of the world from this student, the first efforts are geared toward subduing those who could stop his planetary domination, the super heroes of the Justice League. He manages to capture most of the main lineup, as it were, with Batman escaping and Martian Manuhunter not being present. Since it is in Gotham, Batman is able to bring his resources to bear against the villain.

The action proceeds from there, with little in the way of surprises. I dislike how some things were mentioned again and again and again, as though the reader would forget them from one chapter to the next. It does not really detract from the story, however. Personally, I have grown unfamiliar with the DC universe, and this book served as a good refresher, in that the back story to many characters is given. There was one thing in particular that disturbed me, as to how one of the heroes escaped his prison, as it seemed he was just suddenly free, but such things happen in comics sometimes, so I am inclined to let it go. I think JLA fans will enjoy this book, Batman fans, too.

This is the first Justice League title I've decided to buy and wasn't disappointed. Being a Marvel fan myself, I was a little skeptic about the abilities of DC and most of thier characters. Batman is the only decent character in my opionion but now that I've read this book my views have changed and I've found a new respect for Batman and the League. The book was well written and is good for anybody (such as myself) not familiar with the DC Universe because it gives a bit of background on anybody who is important and also breathes some life into the famous ones such as Batman and Superman. I highly recommend this book for anybody looking to get into DC.

this book was a real disappointment. after i read the wonder woman book and loved it i ran out and bought this one thinking that the story would be well written and worth reading. wrong!!!

it starts off with a pyramid being found in all places gotham city. after this strange events start happening that threatens the safety of the whole world. when the superfriends go and investigate, they find that they got more than they bargained for.

now this book has brillant ideals that never get going far. it is written more like an outline where the author forgot to put in the interesting details. it is sad that this book never went anywhere because it might discourge people from reading other justice league books that might actually be well written.

As a huge fan of the Batman character, I immediately picked up this book as soon as I saw it. With the resurgence in popularity of the Justice League (thanks to their new show on Cartoon Network) and with the comic legend Alan Grant behind it, I expected this to be a good read. Unfortunately, and as other reviewers pointed out, this wasnt a very well written book.

Perhaps I am spoiled by the current creative team writing the JLA comic, but the characterization of the team in this novel was haphazard and downright weird. I believe that Batman is the strongest member of the team, but the degree to which Grant downplays the other characters is startling. In some scenes, the screw-ups committed by Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and the Flash read like a Three Stooges movie.

Perhaps the most jarring point in reading this novel is that it seemed to be written for the young teen crowd, but the amount of gore and violence that it contained was more suited for an older audience.

If comic books ever hope to gain a larger share of the mainstream market, novels like this will not help draw in new readers. It played to every stereotype a non-comic book reader would expect to find, and did not draw on the literary and artistic strengths comic books offer.

I've always enjoyed Batman because aside from the occasional supervillain, it requires the least suspension of disbelief. Unfortunately, this is a Justic League book, and therefore there are a dozen other heroes involved. That wouldn't be so bad, but then last half of the book gets ridiculous with these other heroes chiming in to save the day through brute force and massively impossible acts.

The other JLA books aren't bad if you can deal with the idea that there are hundreds of superheroes walking the streets every day, but despite having Batman as the core character this book is over the top.

My other problem with the whole series is that the characterizations are not consistent. In each book the characters (especially Batman) have wildly varying degrees of trust and respect for each other, and the authors insist on spelling out those details in each book so that the inconsistencies are glaring. Even the descriptions of the JLA environment are different between books, and the changes are jarring at times.

If you're looking for a good Batman book, pick any of the other novels or graphic novels and you'll be much happier.

Knowing that Alan Grant is a veteran comic book writer, the book was rather disappointing. Perhaps if you don't follow any of the JLA or Batman comics, you might enjoy the book more than I did. But, if you do regularly read JLA or Batman, then I think you will find that the book has a rather weak plot, cliché character dialog, and is a re-hash of earlier comic book themes, etc.

There was nothing new, nothing interesting. It portrayed the JLA as a bunch on morons except for Batman. The novel insinuated that when a telepathic link that exists between team members is broken, the various team members don't know what to do (except for Batman because he is used to working alone). Didn't all the JLA members work alone for years before joining the JLA?

It is like Mr. Grant had a contract to write a book so he just threw one together to meet the obligation.