29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
JUSTICE LEAGUE YEAR ONE IS A FUN READ!, September 2, 2001
This review is from: JLA: Year One (Paperback)
Justice League: Year One has two goals. Goal #1 - Take the core members of the "post-Crisis" Justice League of America and make them into actual characters. These being: Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aqua-Man, and Black Canary. Goal #2 - Tell a fun story that can be intertwined with old JLA stories without rewriting history.
IT ACCOMPLISHES BOTH GOALS.
Now, many readers may complain at the lack of Superman or Batman in this story. But let's be honest...we already know plenty about them. The five core members of the JLA have been around since the 1960's and what do we actually know about their characters? Not much beyond the stereotypical hero adventures that they were placed into. Writer Mark Waid does a nice job of fleshing out who these people are.
Some key strengths of the twelve chapter (i.e. 12 issue) trade-paperback: The Flash taking the leadership role of the JLA, Aqua-Man's introduction to land-dwelling life, Black Canary's continual acknowledgement of the JSA and her possible relationship with The Flash, a great villain conspiracy that works well into the JLA mythos and does not overtly change anything that fans may already know about the team.
Sometimes retrospect storylines don't work because we (as readers) already know what becomes of these characters. However, sometimes they are just a fun read that can remind us about our love for the history of the heroes and their team and what we miss in today's comic book environment. I recommend JLA - Year One and I also believe that Brave & The Bold - Flash and Green Lantern makes an excellent sequel of sorts.
CHECK THEM OUT HERO FANS!
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Justice League of America: The Beginnings Revisited!, December 29, 1999
This review is from: JLA: Year One (Paperback)
Retroactive continuity is frequently a buzzword these days in the comics milieu. While the Justice League of America has been around since the late 1950's, this collection updates their beginnings and first year for the new century. Mark Waid, for many, a definitive JLA chronicler and a master storyteller, enchantingly and with loving respect, reworks early JLA adventures and lore together with contemporary plotting and characterization into a grand reading experience for new readers as well as for longtime fanboys and continuity geeks. The League here is the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Black Canary, and the Martian Manhunter, but there are tons of guests from the original Doom Patrol, the Blackhawks, the Challengers of the Unknown, and a pre-beard Green Arrow. DC's Big Two, Superman and Batman, also appear briefly. Traditional League lore such as the Secret Sanctuary, the JSA, Snapper Carr, Amazo, Despero, and Kanjar Ro are all present, but cleverly entwined with new, additional concepts such as the insidious Locus, the original Blue Beetle, Maxwell Lord, and an incipient and flirtation between the Flash and Black Canary. Waid is also an expert of the bon mot and clever conversation:
Flash (speaking of Green Lantern): "Besides, of course, he's going to get all the attention. He's the prettiest."
Black Canary: "Well, you have me there. He is cute, isn't he?"
Flash: "Actually, I was joking, but I'll take your word for it."
As with so many of these collections, there is something here for even the newest comics readers and tons of delight for the eternal fanboys. Most highly recommended.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great DCU intro!, October 2, 2006
This review is from: JLA: Year One (Paperback)
You know, I'm pretty surprised that all these other reviewers were so disappointed with this book. It was what introduced me to Mark Waid and what turned me into a DC Comics fan. Before I read this, I was a strictly Marvel reader. The art is great, and the character interaction is top notch. That is actually what I like most- character interaction. Mark Waid is a great conversation writer, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes good characterization. If you need huge Earth-shaking storylines like 'Kingdom Come' or the like... you should probably A)tone down your scope a little and B) skip this book.
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