JLA Vol. 9: Terror Incognita [Paperback]

Mark Waid (Author), Bryan Hitch (Illustrator), Paul Neary (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2002

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY.

--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563899361
• ISBN-13: 978-1563899362
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars White Martians return, June 18, 2003

By 

Alton Johnson "Ollie Fan" (Kentucky United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JLA Vol. 9: Terror Incognita (Paperback)

After reading the two previous JLA story arcs from Mark Waid, which proceed this one, ("Tower of Babel" and "Divided We Fall"), I decided to pick up "Terror Incognita". I really enjoyed Mark Waids writing in "Tower" and "Divided", and although I feel that "Terror Incognita" slips a notch when compared to "Tower" and "Divided", it is still a solid book. Without giving too much of the story away, this run of the JLA is about the return of the White Martians who the JLA had faced earlier and defeated, The White Martians have induced toxins in the earths air which change the oxygen levels in the atmoshpere thereby making combustion impossible, in other words, no fire, which is a martians only weekness. They then create a plan to use all the pychics on earth to improve their mental abilities and control the universe without ever having to leave the earth which they have made fireproof. It feels like your basic "Alien Invasion" type of story, but there is so much more to it than that, also it was great to see Mark include "The Phantom Zone" and Krypto the superdog in his story. all in all a good read, but not quite as good as the superior "Tower of Babel" and "Divided We Fall". Definitely worth the money.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars story and art only adequate, but still worth a look, September 18, 2004

By 

Ted Blanton (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JLA Vol. 9: Terror Incognita (Paperback)

Terror Incognita contains numbers 55-60 of the monthly JLA comic and is book nine of the collected reprint JLA paperbacks. Chapters 1-4 of this book pit the JLA against the White Martians (evil counterparts to JLA member J'onn J'onzz, debuted in "JLA: New World Order") and are written by Mark Waid. Chapter 5 is a crossover with the miniseries "Joker: Last Laugh" by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty. Chapter 6, a Christmas story, is Waid's last as JLA writer.

The four-part White Martian story is marred by the inconsistency of the art. Superstar penciler Bryan Hitch left the book after part one, and the initial transition from him to guest artist Mike Miller is jarring. This is admittedly unfair to Miller, however, as his art would hold up fine against any artist not in Mr. Hitch's category. Waid turns in a fine story with some nice insights into the character of stalwart Leaguer J'onn J'onzz and gives a real sense of the team being threatened by the immensely powerful evil Martians. Sadly, the means by which the JLA defeats the Martians is all too similar to how they prevailed in one of the Grant Morrison stories now collected in "JLA: American Dreams," so Waid's final arc lacks the impact that his earlier work on this series had.

Chapter 5, unfortunately, requires reading "Joker: Last Laugh" to know what's going on. "Last Laugh" has not been collected in trade paperback form. It was a huge crossover and received mixed reviews, and in no way affects any other story in this book. It was a mistake for DC to include this story here, as it confuses the reader and detracts from the rest of the content.

Chapter 6, Mark Waid's farewell, is a Christmas story. I don't like Christmas stories in general, superhero Xmases more specifically. This one is cute, slightly irreverent, and there's a nice Mike Ploog quality to the art. Still, though, it's just a Christmas story, so those hoping one of the best (but not exactly most consistent) superhero writers in the biz will leave JLA with a bang might be disappointed.

3.0 out of 5 stars The White Martians rise again!, January 15, 2007

By 

Larry Ketchersid "author of Software by the K... (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JLA Vol. 9: Terror Incognita (Paperback)

These were originally published as JLA #55 - #60.

The White Martians, J'onn the Martian Manhunters 'evil counterparts' if you will, were first defeated in JLA: New World Order. The White Martians lay a trip for J'onn, thinking that taking him out first is the key to defeating the JLA. The shape shifting Martians were 'wished' out of their hypnotic state inadvertently by J'onn while battling ID (United We Stand).

The White Martians should be a great foe for the JLA. But their defeat, while clever (think oxygen and fires, no spoiler here) is somewhat contrived and convenient.

This issue also contains Bipolar Disorder (JLA vs. Polaris infected with a Joker toxin) and a JLA Christmas tale that is better left unread.

Fav panels: page 50, Superman with the White Martians behind him masquerading as the rest of the JLA; page 85, Superman, WonderWoman and GL pulling the moon closer to the Earth.