6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
JLA Classics From The Bronze Age!, May 4, 2010
This review is from: Justice League of America by George Perez, Vol. 2 (DC Comics Classics Library) (Hardcover)
This excellent collection contains four issues of "Justice League of America" from 1981 written by Gerry Conway and illustrated by George Perez with the aid of several guest artists. The first three tales are "Targets on Two Worlds," "Countdown To Crisis," and "Crisis In Limbo" from issues 195-197. This three part story relates how The Secret Society of Super Villains enacted a plan to wipe out all the heroes on either Earth I, the home of the Justice League, or Earth II, the home of the first super hero team The Justice Society of America. Naturally, members of both groups team up in order to thwart the villains dasterdly scheme. Combining stunning images with a fast moving plot, this story is one of the best of the annual JLA/JSA team-ups that were presented every summer in the pages of JLA from 1963-1985.
The final tale in this collection is "A League Divided" from the landmark 200th issue of JLA. In this 72 page tale, the original seven League members-Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter-become possessed by a desire to collect seven glowing meteors that they had buried years before, following the events of their first case together. Doing so brings them into conflict with the remaining League members-Green Arrow, Atom, Hawkman, Black Canary, Elongated Man, Red Tornado, Zatanna, and Firestorm- whom they no longer recognize as friends and allies. In the end, the League must reunite to save Earth from a group of fearsome alien invaders. This tale is, in my opinion, not only the finest JLA story ever created, but the single greatest comic story of all time. The action moves at a cinematic pace, and the visuals are spellbinding. For this issue, George Perez was aided by a host of guest artists including Pat Broderick, Jim Aparo, Dick Giordano, Gil Kane, Carmine Infantino, Brian Bolland, and Joe Kubert. The end result is a masterpiece. The only complaint I have is that Hawkgirl was not included as she and Hawkman were separated at the time. Otherwise this story stands as a testament as to what a super-hero comic should be.
This volume is filled out with full page reprints of the covers George Perez illustrated for "Justice League" issues 199, 201-205, 207-209, 212-215, 217, and 219-220. This book is highly recomended for any one who enjoys well-told comic tales. If you read these issues when they were initially published, you will feel a rush of wistful nostalgia for a bygone era. While newer readers will delight in seeing the true icons of the DC Universe written and drawn as they were always meant to be.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Perez JLA, December 30, 2010
This review is from: Justice League of America by George Perez, Vol. 2 (DC Comics Classics Library) (Hardcover)
Absolute fun if you're a fanboy of the eighties.
Great 3 issue team-up with the JSA against "The Secret Society of Super Villians." What a classic name for a villian group. Lot's of typical Perez action and great pacing with his usual added touch of character interaction that sets him above most others. He and Conway were a great duo that were underappreciated - (good work on their Firestorm back-up in Flash as well). Although there is no Firestorm solo material here, Firestorm is certainly very active in all 4 books.
The final comic in this collection is the triple-sized JLA 200 (Perez also did the 200th issue of The Avengers). Some thought this was a bit of a downer as this is supposed to be a Perez book, but much of the 200th issue is illustrated by other pincellers. I had a different view on this not only does Perez do at least 30 of the pages in this book, but you also get to see Broderick on Firestorm and Martian Manhunter, Aparo on Aquaman, Red Tornado and The Phantom Stranger, Giordano on Zatanna and Wonder Woman, Kane on Green Lantern and Atom, Infantino on The Flash and The Elongated Man, Kubert on Hawkman and Superman and BOLLAND on Green Arrow, Black Canary and Batman. There's even a cameo of Adam Strange as the JLA is up against it's very first foe ever.
In addition to these fun stories full of lots of guest stars, there are 16 additional gorgeous covers penciled by Perez including the Royal Flush Gang, The JSA, THE CRIME SYNDICATE and The All-Star Squadron as well as The Atom trussed up like Gulliver by the Lilliputians.
The only thing keeping this from being an out and out 5 star rating is the price tag, but if you can afford it, this is a wonderful book to read and the art is fantastic.
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