6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a thought-provoking superhero read, October 9, 2005
This review is from: Justice League Elite: VOL 01 (Paperback)
The reader will want to read the chapters of Joe Kelly's Justice League Elite multiple times, in order to continually enjoy the rich, complex ideas and storyline Kelly has created here. This is a mature comic--not in the sense of gratuitous sex or violence, but that, like Greg Rucka's Batman: Death and the Maidens, this comic book doesn't pander to its audience. Instead, it offers an intriguing look at how the heroes of the DC Universe might deal with morally ambiguous Justice League-caliber threats without sullying the Justice League's reputation. Great action, great mystery, great characterization--and moreover, realistic characterization that looks at the big questions of heroism. Justice League Elite inherits the gauntlet laid down by Warren Ellis and Mark Millar's Authority, and Volume Two can't come soon enough.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
YOUR BADGE?, THANK YOU... WELCOME TO THE J.L.E., February 1, 2006
This review is from: Justice League Elite: VOL 01 (Paperback)
While I'm not 100% sure, this collection feels incomplete - we open with a setting of the stage and positioning of all the players, and the arrival of THE ELITE and their view that the world, it's people, it's laws and the heroes (both super, and human) who protect it are corrupt and should be pushed aside, removed, or killed to make way for a New World Order.
It's brutal, violent and coldly rational - and seems to make perfect sense...if it wasn't for all the killings. THE ELITE are unlike anything the JLA have ever fought before. They're more than powerful, they are all but Gods among us - so it comes as a bit of a disappointment that they not only fold so quickly, but that Superman alone manages to bust them up. Granted Superman does so with brains over brawn, he outsmarts and tricks them into exposing their weaknesses - but when push comes to punch, Superman can't match THE ELITE in power. He's our hero, our values, our way of life - he's fair play and Sunday baseball and lemonade - so THE ELITE get off easy. But, something happens to the leader of THE ELITE, one Manchester Black, in a story that is presented to us as a flashback (but missing from the book itself) and is killed.
From then on THE ELITE falls under the sway and control of Black's sister - but the dark edge remains, it's just now "working" for the good guys. In short, it's the CIA, NSA, BLACK OPS arm of the JLA - it's the stealth team that takes the battle to the bad guys before they have time to mount their evil plans (sound familiar?)... and for most of the book, this works. The tension between the two teams, the clashing of ideology, fair play, justice and the rules. And the unexpected, and nicely handled, turning of THE FLASH from scarlet speedster, to midnight traveller - working both sides of the coin, playing on both teams. This is the best part of the book, and is paid off nicely when we see THE FLASH push himself and his powers to the limit to literally be in two places at once (and wearing both costumes at the same time - while the art work is split between two artists as well to show us the different moods of each team: everything with THE ELITE is dark and dank, while everything with the JLA is bright and colorful) saving the day for both teams... excellent work.
But the rest is a mess. There are subplots and past stories that never really connect - and the plot, while rich, is never mined as deeply as it could be. As dark as the series is (both in story and on the page itself) it never really crosses the line - never fully takes the battle to the heart of the problem, and therefore falls short.
It is what it is - a comic book, and being so the answers have to come a bit easier, the attitudes and views have to be less complex, and while it strikes a cord with what absolute power does to a person - it never crosses the line to drive that point home.
A good start to a great idea - and only VOLUME ONE in the series, it could get better.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Justice League Elite: Volume 1, May 17, 2011
This review is from: Justice League Elite: VOL 01 (Paperback)
First thing you have to know about this book: THIS IS NOT A JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA BOOK!!!!!!.
The title is clear as water: Justice League Elite.
Indeed I was expecting a bit more participation from the JLA but no such of thing. This is not about them. This is about an Elite group that'll work the most awful and disturbing real cases on an underground basis with approval of the JLA. Neat concept if you ask me!.
There's a bunch of new characters but they all are cleverly combined with other classic characters so it all comes up pretty easy.
What it comes great on this book is the thematic. Kelly (once again) comes with a lot of comments about what is and what it should be. Several obvious points to be taken by heros and they day to day battle, and the dilemas that comes with them.
Dug Manhke's art never cease to impress me. He give such of charater to the heroes and bad-guys alike. Wrinkles when they smile or get mad. I don't know. Is pretty good.
Even when I thought the whole book is great, i have to admit that I LOOOOOOOOVED Action comics #775. This is a jewel from Kelly/Manhke team. Why Superman is the best?. Is a magnificent comic, and is the foundations of the book.
i can't wait for volume 2. I'll start it tonight.
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