JLA: Liberty and Justice [Paperback]

Paul Dini (Author), Alex Ross (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Artist Ross (Mythology) and longtime collaborating writer Dini (Batman: The Animated Series) render DC Comics' larger-than-life heroes in an oversized edition showcasing Ross's brilliantly painted, highly detailed artwork. The latest in an annual series of supersized books featuring DC's best-known characters, this work shows the ultimate superteam up against a real-world situation with a sci-fi twist. An alien virus threatens to wipe out Earth unless the Justice League of America can find a cure and prevent further infection. As the news gets out, the world panics and riots; now the heroes have to calm fears and quell nationwide hysteria, too. Although the JLA features the Big Three (Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman), lesser-known characters appear here too, such as J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, The?Flash, Green Lantern and Aquaman. Each gets a chance to use his or her particular skills and confront the threat in his or her own way. Even though it's almost a guarantee the good guys are going to eventually win, Dini and Ross deliver a solid, entertaining story that will be particularly welcoming to newer readers. The star of the book, however, is Ross's breathtaking art. Each image looks like a photograph and bursts with life. The backgrounds and realistic characters have a curiously retro feeling, as if they've stepped off the pages of a Saturday Evening Post pictorial. Ross deftly makes the fantastical look real, whether it's whales ramming a Russian sub, a giant green fist grabbing a missile in mid-air or a man in a cape floating majestically in space.
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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563899116
• ISBN-13: 978-1563899119
• Product Dimensions: 13.5 x 9.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,042,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Old Guard saves the world, June 9, 2004

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: JLA: Liberty and Justice (Paperback)

The classic silver age Justice League of America save the world one more time. All of the old familiar members are here: Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Atom, Martian Manhunter, as well as the "associate members" from Black Canary to Zatanna. Yet they all fit together perfectly- for this is primarily a tale of teamwork for the greater good. There is no squabbling and conflict of egos here. That is because these are all men and women whose only reason to BE is to help those who need their help. Each individual member has been gifted with powers and abilities that would enable them to easily overwhelm ordinary men and rule as kings or queens- yet none of them would consider such a thing for an instant. Individually and collectively the League stands for liberty and justice. They are altruism, and incorruptibility, incarnate. Their code is simple: Wherever lives are threatened, a champion will fight to save them. On land or sea the rules are simple, those who use force will find it returned in kind- and killing is never tolerated.

If the League has flaw, it lies in the fact that they are too powerful, too perfect. Lesser men hold them in suspicion. When a super-plague breaks out in Africa they are hard pressed to maintain their sacred trust in the face of global fury and desperation. And yet they do, for they know that their greatest power comes from the belief that the people have in them as allies and friends.

I have read all of the Paul Dini and Alex Ross collaborations. I won't say that this one is my favorite- what I will say is that they are all good.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything old is new again, December 25, 2003

By 

James C. Taylor (Wilmington, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JLA: Liberty and Justice (Paperback)

It's clear where Dini and Ross's sympathies lie regarding the DC Comics universe: the Justice League members presented here are the Silver Age versions, right down to the Flash being Barry Allen and sporting a crew cut. The story even follows the Gardner Fox basic formula of breaking the team (and it's mission) into smaller parts.
However this isn't a retro piece. The Martian Manhunter engages in deep thematic introspection Gardner Fox would never have dreamed of and all the characters, Flash in particular, have moments of subtle humanity. Humanity, ultimately, is what the whole book is about.
Ross's paintings are exquisite, improving (IMO) on some of his earlier model choices for these characters. In some instances, it is more like looking at a film still than a painting.
If you like beautiful art, if you like your Justice League old school, and if you didn't get this for the holidays, get it for yourself now.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five stars each for Dini, Ross, and Amazon.com, January 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: JLA: Liberty and Justice (Paperback)

I am a dyed-in-the-wool, comic book loving fool and the Justice League has long been my favorite team/book so this purchase was a no-brainer. Enough has been written about the talent of Alex Ross that I don't need to prattle on about the art (okay, it's exactly what you'd expect from Ross--amazing). The story by Paul Dini is nothing revolutionary but it's solid and shows great respect for the history of the characters, individually and as a team. Appearances by many "second-tier" Leaguers--Atom, Black Canary, Red Freakin' Tornado (!) to name just a few--are a bonus for any big time DC fan (like me). Of the five "tabloid" books on which Ross & Dini collaborated, this one is my favorite.

When I ordered mine from Amazon, I was a little concerned about the condition the book would be in when it arrived. I was quite pleased that it arrived shrink-wrapped to a good stiff piece of cardboard inside the box. The book is in absolutely pristine condition.

Great stuff all the way around.