Customer Reviews

Formerly Known As the Justice League

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As mentioned by a previous reviewer, this series is written by Keith Giffen and JM DeMatteis who did the 80's campy series JUSTICE LEAGUE. These two comedic masters, with the amazingly humorous pencils of Kevin Maguire, renovated the JLA in the 80s and added something that comics needed at that time: humor. Sometime between 1986 and 1987, comics became overwhelmingly grim. Wolverine was staking his claim as a hardened good guy. Batman became known as the Dark Knight properly thanks to Frank Miller. The X-Men became more about their inabilities and personality weaknesses than about their mutant powers. Comics were becoming less fun and more "realistic" incorporating the all-heroes-have-miserable-life-issues motif into issue after issue. So the trio of Giffen, DeMatteis, and Maguire gave popular comics a slap in the face and fans responded by slapping their knees (while laughing, of course).

So now almost 20 years later, the "Unholy Trio" prove that they still have it. Back in '87, they took unloved characters like Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Mister Miracle, and Guy Gardner (to name a few) and made them lovable fan favorites. This time around, Booster and Blue Beetle are still around, but added to the mix of heroes are Mary Marvel, Elongated Man (and wife Sue), Fire, and Captain Atom.

I was initially afraid that the writers would not be able to keep their flavor fresh with humor. I was wrong. Giffen and DeMatteis are still funny and still love the characters they write. This series is about the characters, not mainly about what the characters' actions. The characters are well-written and lovable, and so what they do is just a product of their personalities with humorous and clever results.

I was also initially afraid that the artist (Maguire) might have lost his ability to draw the greatest facial expressions in comics. He too still has it. In fact, he is a much better artist now. Maguire's story-telling has improved, and with that mixed with his classic ability to contort a character's face really enhances the characters. He's able to enhance a character's dialogue by their expression that so effectively conveys their emotional state and temperament. That right there really makes this book worth reading and admiring over and over.

Heck, DC even got the under-rated letterer Bob Lappan in to work the whole series. If you've never really considered how a letterer can add to story-telling, then I highly suggest you give this book a gander and examine Lappan's talent for effectively enhancing a story with properly timed "tiny" letters (which I think he popularized back in the day) whenever a hero was embarassingly muttering to himself. Lappan is also able to emphasize key words without beating us readers over the head. It's really a talent to letter, or so he quietly shows us.

Anyway, pick this book up. If you've never experienced a Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire book, then you need to start. They will also be working on "The New Defenders" which comes out this summer. That too looks more than promising.

Humor in comics isn't for everyone, but if you pick this book up, then you'll more than likely find out that when humor is done right (like this), it's for basically everyone.

I'm a sucker for B-level heroes, and a series using my favorite second stringers trying to revive their lost glory is something I can't miss. The book has a number of laugh out loud moments, although sometimes I tend to get bogged down by the numerous exchanges of dialogue, sometimes it crowds out the art inside the panels. The addition of Mary Marvel is perfect, it's a wonder why she wasn't there in the previous series. I'm actually looking forward to the next book (which I hope becomes a TPB soon) where Guy Gardner makes a return, rumored to be using his old yellow power ring.

Although Giffen and DeMatteis JL is more about the characters, as stated by the previous reviewer, I would've loved to see them in a "serious" fight, meaning, facing them against a legit DC villain (No more Manga Khan please). Again, my bias for second stringers saving the day shows here.

Nevertheless, it's a fun book worth picking up.

It would be wise to ignore the review below. The reviewer states that there's no point in reading the book, as the DC universe shake up negates the story. However, that doesn't change the fact that the book is wonderfully written and penciled, with hilarious dialogue and characterizations. The back and forth between Booster Gold and the Blue Beetle is priceless. Mary Marvel doesn't want to get close to Captain Atom because of fertility issues. Beetle can't remember the phone number to the headquarters. Booster is married to a 65 year old plastic surgery addict. It goes on and on...

Just because the book may be rendered "out of canon" doesn't make it any less meaningul or well done.

A year or so ago, I rediscovered my brother's collection of JUSTICE LEAGUE comics from throughout the Giffen/DeMatteis run. I'd read them before, and re-reading them so many years later, I appreciated their unique style of humor- both urbane and extremely corny- as well as the extremely strong characterizations. I was more interested in the stories of Blue Beetle, Fire, Guy Gardner et. al. than I was in the endless death struggles of Superman and the like. I heard about an upcoming revival, but missed most of the run of this limited series. I only recently received this TPB collection and had a chance to go over the whole story.

Is it as good as the old days? Yes and no. As a limited series, it only has so much time to set things up, and some of the ensemble has changed (Ice, who was killed some time after Giffen and De Matteis' departure, is sorely missed), but the characters who do return are as recognizable as ever. What's more, they've grown. Beetle and Booster don't get along so well, the former having "grown up" in his own words, Bea is slightly more abrasive, and Max is no longer a big shot (though he talks like one.) A new addition, the naive Mary Marvel (the Cap's kid sister) fits very well into the group dynamic.

Oh, yes, the plot- Max decides to set up a small franchise of "people's heroes", summonable by 800 number, unwisely called "Superbuddies." He rounds up some of his old pals- L-Ron, Beetle, Booster, Captain Atom, Fire, Elongated Man and Sue Dibny- and persuades them to move into a shoddy storefront and open for business. Needless to say, carnage ensues before they can even get a phone call.

A lot of events are jammed into six issues, and I was disappointed in the rather swift (and not entirely convincing) resolution to #6. Then again, the old JLI was never really about plot- it was about the characters, and the group's dysfunction is as beautiful as ever. There are some great one-liners, and Kevin Maguire's art is superb (Bea looking more like a real person than she ever has.)

Giffen and DeMatteis are currently working on a limited series sequel, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT THE JUSTICE LEAGUE! Frankly, it seems to me they've got enough left in them for a full, unlimited run, especially if DC would let them play around with more of the old characters. That may be a vain hope- but it's nice to have the old gang back, however briefly.

From 1987 to 1992, Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis broke so many taboos regarding super-hero team books that their names are still both cursed as well as revered amongst comic book aficionados. They pushed the envelope with their boisterous comedy style which was a welcome contrast with the emergence of the Grim'n'Gritty vogue. Perhaps the Blake Edwards (Pink Panther) tone of the series caused some traditionalists to cease buying the title but the success of that book spawned a spin-off series alongside a quarterly title that maintained the Abbot & Costello flavour found in Justice League International. A decade after the last issue of Giffen & DeMatteis' take on the Justice League, it appears that there is still an audience waiting to embrace the antics of Maxwell Lord's merry gang of misfits. Enough for DC Comics to produce a sequel which entitled I Can't Believe It's Not The Justice League.

The writers accentuate heavily on a farce style comedy where they use dialogue to exaggerate the characters' quirks and eccentricities. If your idea of a super-hero book is one where the characters come across as being in dire need of laxatives while the script is entrenched in obscure, irrelevant continuity references and strictly cater to anal retentive fanboys, then Kurt Busiek's Avengers is what you should be buying. But if you do not mind a Batman that has a funny bone or a Wonder Woman acting like a stuck-up besides a fearful Flash, you will definitely appreciate Giffen & DeMatteis' presentation of these icons.

Frank Zappa once asked the following; Does Humour Belong In Music? In this case, can comedy relief be in league (pun intended) with the super-hero genre? For over five years, Giffen & DeMatteis proved that there are readers who enjoy variety in their dose of spandex adorned repertoire. Conceivably, the situation has not changed since their last collaboration on Justice League.

During DeMatteis & Giffen's tenure on the Justice League books, the graphic style had to irrevocably complete the script's tomfoolery for the series to be a creative success. In the late 80's, Kevin Maguire's depictive art work was instrumental in the success of the title's revival and he does a repeat performance with Formerly Known. The previous volume of Justice League and Justice League Europe also contains oeuvres by Adam Hughes, Bart Sears and served as a launching pad for Darick Robertson's career in the industry. Do not overlook them so easily the next time you come across those comics in the back issue bin of your favourite store or a convention. The highly overrated Dodsons ain't got nothing on these prolific artists!

Maguire's portrayal of the characters' figures and facial expressions gives them a life of their own by not stifling the realistic renderings with elaborate details. Maguire demonstrates again that he is a master at conveying emotions without the aid of narration or dialogue.

If the ludicrous sensibility of television sitcoms such as Seinfeld or Frasier tickle your rib cage and desire a different spin on super-heroes, this trade paperback will be a worthwhile purchase. For those whose sense of nostalgia dates back to the Bwa-ha-ha era of the Justice League, it is yesterday once more!

Review by Brian Grindrod

"Okay, okay -- so we can't put up much of a fight. And we're generally useless." Given, Blue Beetle said this when he and the others were cowed subjects of Roulette's brainwashing, but, still, "generally useless" pretty much sums up the running theme of this bunch. It's partly this underdog quality which makes these characters so endearing. Of all the past and current members of the Justice League, this incarnation feels the most like close-knit friends and family (who, yes, bicker a damn lot).

In 2003 J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Griffen, and Kevin Maguire hooked up again to revive their goofy comedy schtick, a brand which made them household names for comic book fans in the late '80s and the '90s. Their baby back then, of course, was the reinvented Justice League (check out Justice League International: Volume 1), and in FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE Giffen and DeMatteis reunite the JLI ex-members. Things have changed, though, since the JLI disbanded. There's a new Justice League and it wants no part of these hapless goofballs. But Maxwell Lord, former JLI financier, decides to form a new team, what he calls the common man's superheroes. Accordingly Lord sets up shop in a nondescript strip mall in Queens and also places ads on television featuring his new team... the easily accessible *drumroll* Super Buddies!

But it takes some work to recruit his superheroes (because who wants to be in a low rent crimefighting group?). Lord's first get is the robot L-Ron, whom Lord finds toiling away at a fast food drive-thru window. Ralph (Elongated Man) and Sue Dibny are plain sick of boring barbecues and movie nights, and so they're quickly on board. But more coaxing on Max and L-Ron's part is required to convince the other ex-Justice Leaguers to sign on. Ted Kord (Blue Beetle) has a heart condition. Booster Gold is living it up as a gigolo. Beatriz (Fire) is raking in the dollars with her own semi-smutty website. Captain Atom's stuck in a rut and, thanks to his personal dialogue coach, he's also spouting superhero cliches. Captain Marvel wants no part of the Super Buddies, but his sister Mary is intrigued enough to take up his spot. Oberon, however, hangs up on L-Ron 27 times.

If you've read the old JLI issues then you know that Giffen and DeMatteis prefer to focus more on screwball banter and antics than on conventional superhero stuff. The superpowered brawls tended to be more incidental and in service of the zany storylines. Here, the gallery of superbads vary from erudite street thugs who resent the Super Buddies moving into their 'hood, to Roulette (the Don King of DC Comics) who abducts the Super Buddies and pits them against each other in gladiator contests, and the overdramatic cosmic barterer Manga Khan who just wants his old sidekick robot back (that would be L-Ron). Some good fight scenes here, but, again, these acts of supervillainy are mere frames for what Giffen and DeMatteis does best: skewing the cape & cowl genre and composing convoluted Marx Brothers-type dialogue.

As always, there's an element of featherbrained soap opera shenanigans. Blue Beetle feels that he has matured and now considers himself above indulging in juvenile hijinks with Booster. Booster, understandably, is cheesed off about Ted's attitude. This, naturally, offers up plenty of chances for "discussions" between Beetle and Booster, one of which almost triggers a cataclysmic alien attack. Then there's the worldly Fire's dismissive reaction to Mary Marvel, who does share Captain Marvel's naive milk & cookies demeanor. Fire mockingly refers to Mary as Pollyanna, to which Mary retorts: "Oh, that's my favorite movie! Wasn't Hayley Mills adorable?"

Meanwhile, the real Justice League drops in for a visit, kind of like the disapproving aunt, fully expecting the Super-Buddies to drop the ball with the Manga Khan crisis. And Maxwell Lord doesn't appreciate this:

- Maxwell Lord: "I want you to give me one good reason why the Justice League should be sticking their supercilious noses in our business?"
- Batman: "Beetle and Booster."
- Maxwell Lord: "Those are two reasons! I asked for one!"

I don't even really have to mention Kevin Maguire's awesome artwork, right? The master of drawing facial expressions is still masterful at drawing facial expressions (and drawing everything else besides)! He excels at the talky talk sequences, but Kevin can also handle himself with the action pieces. In particular, his illustrations of a berserk and fully unleashed Mary Marvel happen to be spectacular stuff.

Nowadays it's good to compartmentalize, when you're reading FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE and its 2005 sequel Justice League: I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League (published in JLA CLASSIFIED #4-9). These two story arcs, lighthearted as they may be and considered canonical, still take on this very bittersweet tone when juxtaposed with the shocking events in Identity Crisis (DC Comics), which came the year after FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE. If you're a fan of this cast of characters, it's particularly hard not to feel glum when you see Ralph and Sue being that happy-go-lucky couple or whenever Ted Kord interacts with that manipulative fink Maxwell Lord. But, if you can compartmentalize, if you can put aside what eventually happens to these characters, then let Giffen, DeMatteis, and Maguire take you back to a time when fun and silliness ruled the day, when Blue and Gold were still the superhero version of Abbott & Costello, and every dumb schmoe seemed to have gotten that annoying "Bwa-ha-ha" laugh down. Good times.

When I first heard about that Giffen and J. M were getting back together for another round of non stop laughs and adventure I couldn't wait to get hold of it. And it is worth every buck! For those who are thinking that it will never be as funny or good as A New Beginning, let me tell you that you are absolutely right! This isn't as good, it's much much better!
These two writers practically made the characters into what they are today. My only concern is that there were a few of my favourites from the original run these two had, missing. What is amazing is that there are no recycled jokes and everything is as fresh and new as can be. The characters have matured (and why not, it's been a while) and recruting them takes some effort but once the ball gets rolling you just have to be there.
This is one book that you will defintely want to have. Even if you are not a collector. Buy it because you won't ever regret it.

I was just as big a fan of the BWAH-HA-HA! Justice League as most people back in the late 80's, and it was good to see the fun again!

I will admit it was difficult to read at times because of what DC has done to several of the characters, i.e. Sue, Beetle and Max, but it was still a fun read.

If you were a fan of the 80's JL, then I can recommend you pick this book up. You might also want to check out the Trade Paperback of Justice League International, which contains the first 6 or 7 issues of the original series.

Years ago I got rid of a majority of my moderately extensive comic book collection keeping only the ones I couldn't bear to part with. So, recently I went back through the comics I had kept and found an interesting pattern. A tremendous amount of material by artist and writer Keith Giffen managed to make the final cut. After all this time it finally occurred to me. I'm a big Keith Giffen fan. So acting on this revelation I went out and bought the first Keith Giffen material I could find which happened to be this book, `Formerly Known as the Justice League'.

I'd seen many of these Keith Giffen comics on the comic shelves when they originally came out including `Justice League International' and `Justice League: A New Beginning' but they looked silly with second tier heroes and quite frankly I wasn't buying comics at the time. What I learned after reading Formerly Known As... was that it doesn't matter who's in the comic. In the end good writing is what matter most.

Most of the book is dialogue consisting of clever banter and exchanges of insults particularly between the two stars of the show Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. The writers also have a lot of fun with Maxwell Lord and the robot L-Ron and besides his appearance as the head of Checkmate this is my only experience with Mr. Lord and it's quite a dramatic difference. I'm not usually a fan of this much dialog but Giffen makes it so fun it never felt tedious.

The writing here isn't nearly as slapstick as the venerable Ambush Bug but it remains funny. Legitimately humorous dialogue is just about the hardest thing to pull off in comics and I have to give credit to the team of Giffen and DeMatteis for years of great material that contrasts with the too often heavy tone of other DC Comics. If I would change just one thing I actually would have had Keith do the art because he's as talented at penciling as he is at writing.

Ok, this is not your daddy's Justice League. This is funny stuff and they do not apologize for making you laugh either.

I have always been a Shazam fan, perhaps moreso than Superman. Here is this great powerful warrior who is really a little kid. Compare that to a grown man with a good job and the adoration of millions.

Plus Captain Marvel can so kick Supes but...

Anyway, I bought this because I saw Mary Marvel on it.

If you are at all a Shazam fan, this will truly amuse you. Mary Marvel is the most powerful goody goody on the planet and this superteam is exactly what happens to pretty goody goody girls at frat parties...

The humor is laugh out loud funny. If you have read Final Crisis or the neverending 52/Countdown/quest to take all your money recent DC lines, you may really enjoy this storyline.

Also if you enjoyed the Identity Crisis storyline, you will feel a much greater affinity for Elongated Man's wife as she plays a major role in this series and is fully fleshed out as well. I found Ralph Dibney to always be an annoying Jimmy Olsen with superpowers copy, and after reading this and Identity Crisis, you actually feel for Dibney.

Sue Dibney up until this funny comic series is just sort of there and really is more in the way. Here, she is part of the humor and becomes a real character in her own right.

Also anything with Booster Gold and Blue Beetle is good, and this storyline is really great.

I fun romp that should not be taken too seriously.