JLA, Vol. 1 [Hardcover]

Grant Morrison (Author), Oscar Jimenez (Author), Howard Porter (Illustrator), John Dell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2008

Relive the legendary 1990s JLA series, written by comics mastermind Grant Morrison (FINAL CRISIS) with stunning art by Howard Porter and others, in this amazing oversized softcover collecting JLA #1-9 and SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS #1! The action begins as the JLA reunites to stop the Hyperclan, who have come to Earth posing as a new group of super heroes. But as their true nature comes to light, only the World's Greatest Super Heroes can stop them! Standing side by side, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern and the Martian Manhunter take on alien posers and come to realize that Earth needs a protectorate made up of only the mightiest icons!

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics; Deluxe edition (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401218431
• ISBN-13: 978-1401218430
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.7 x 11.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #811,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Grant Morrison is one of comics' greatest innovators. His long list of credits includes Batman: Arkham Asylum, JLA, Seven Soldiers, Animal Man, Doom Patrol, The Invisibles and The Filth. He is currently writing Batman and All-Star Superman.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The League's Rebirth, September 3, 2008

By 

Grant Waara (Lusk, Wyoming, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: JLA, Vol. 1 (Hardcover)

One day, early in 1996, Grant Morrison wondered if DC would like to relaunch the Justice League. The sales of the Justice League have fallen off. The League was now populated with second and third tier characters in the DCU. Mr. Morrison's plans were simple. He wanted the A list League. When people think of the Justice League, he said in interviews, they think of DC's big guns, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and of course, J'onn J'onz, the Martian Manhunter. That's what he wanted to do. He wanted to do big, epic superhero stories. DC aquiesced. Morrison once said that had he asked DC the next day, they probably would have rejected it.

It's a good thing DC said yes. Because Morrison's relaunch, titled "JLA" would turn out to be DC's biggest selling title of the 1990's hands down. And, true to Morrison's word, he DID pull out the stops. In the first four issues alone, the League tangled with the Hyperclan, an intergalactic superteam (with [shock!] nefarious plans for Earth). Then the JLA would accept a prospective new heroine Tomorrow Woman and prevent a mutiny in heaven and face their old foe, the Key.

The art by Howard Porter, John Dell and others was terrific. But the standout was Morrison. I vividly recall finishing issue #2 when the Hyperclan seemingly vanquished the JLA and I was floored. I couldn't wait for issue #3! Mr. Morrison knows how to write a cliff hanger. Not only that, he knows the JLA's core characters so well that nothing seems forced. His stories move along with the force of a runaway locomotive. This is popcorn reading at it's absolute best.

This is a must own if you're a fan of the JLA or any of the core characters. A comics classic. 5 Stars.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JLA Deluxe Vol. 1: The Justice League that the fans have been waiting for!, February 18, 2010

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W. Wong - See all my reviews
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This review is from: JLA, Vol. 1 (Hardcover)

The JLA Deluxe editions collects Grant Morrison's vision of what the Justice League is all about; quite simply put:

The seven greatest heroes of the DC Comic Universe (Aquaman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Superman, and Wonder Woman) uniting to solve that universe's greatest problems.

The real selling point to the Deluxe editions is that Grant Morrison's well crafted, title redefining tales are beautifully reproduces in large (11.25" x 7.5"), hardbound, dust jacketed, and glossy papered collections; each weighing in at over 250 pages. Each volume is a handsome edition to any library or bookshelf display.

This is the volume that began it all and helped established the JLA as one of DC's must read titles! This hardcover collects issues JLA #01-09 and SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS #01 which contain the story arcs New World Order and American Dreams (previously available as JLA (Book 1): New World Order and JLA (Book 2): American Dreams). In these tales the JLA is formed in response to an Alien group of super beings promising mankind a cure to all of it woes. The adventures continue when THE SEVEN encounter divine forces in a tale about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. From there the JLA face the Key (reinvisioned) via a cleverly told tale that weaves pieces of several pre-crisis elsewhere stories into one encounter. The SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS #01 has a very interesting tale in which the JLA (with help from the Specter) use their wits instead of their super powers to save the day.

If you love JLA as THE CLASSIC SEVEN and you love Grant Morrison's writing then this is a MUST HAVE for your library. For those who are not familiar with the Justice League then this volume is an excellent place to begin your journey.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Morrison does it again, November 2, 2008

By 

Ryan Bonneville (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: JLA, Vol. 1 (Hardcover)

How in the world did it take me so long to read this? It's absolutely brilliant. The Zauriel story is good (and epic), the Tomorrow Woman story is outrageous and probably a lot more hilarious than intended, and the Hyperclan stuff is great. The only miss is the origin story ("Star Seed"), which is forgettable at best. And Morrison's take on Batman is inspired.

But the real gem is Imaginary Stories/Elseworlds. The Key is a ridiculous villain and Morrison plays him to the hilt. The alternate realities are genius (Wonder Woman as an Indiana Jones pastiche fighting Nazi zombies? More please!), and Connor Hawke trying to use his father's idiotic trick arrows to take down an army of robots is even better.

This is Morrison firing on all cylinders. The only thing I can liken it to is the old Fantastic Four stuff after Kirby really hit his stride, with nutty mind-blowing images of alien craziness and everyone sort of crackling and emoting right off the page. It's epic and grand and cranks the endorphins right up to 11. This is exactly why comics exist.