6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Misleading, November 8, 2004
This review is from: Secret Origins: Featuring the JLA (Paperback)
So, the book features seven secret origins. One is of the new incarnation of the JLA, and the other six feature the more prominent members of its roster.
Grant Morrison writes the story of the actual JLA, and that's it. Mark Waid writes The Flash's origin story, but the other five are written (poorly) by no name talent.
Morrison and Waid's stories are great, but not enough to warrant spending this much on the book.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty infomative, but where's J'onn's story?, December 12, 2007
This review is from: Secret Origins: Featuring the JLA (Paperback)
I blew through this pretty quickly. It's a fun read, but nothing really groundbreaking. Basically if you're looking to find out a little more about the original seven JLA members, this is a good way to get caught up on their back stories and it's more enjoyable to read than their bios on wikipedia. There's just one problem. There's seven stories here, one for the JLA, and six for individual members, but nothing for J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter, always the odd man out.
Batman's story is pretty standard fare. I didn't learn anything about him I didn't already know. I learned a lot about GL and The Flash, as there have been many incarnations of each of them, and it's difficult to keep them all straight sometimes. Wonder Woman's training from girl to woman is explored and I never realized Aquaman had such a tragic past. Even though I have Superman's backstory down pretty pat as well, I thought the way it was told was unique (that goes for GL as well).
So basically an informative read for those who know the Justice League, but could use a refresher on where they all came from. I really am dissapointed that they left MM out but what can you do?
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A surprisingly good gem of a find to add to my collection! Informative, great art, and a streamlined modern origins update., April 21, 2011
This review is from: Secret Origins: Featuring the JLA (Paperback)
Periodically I look for new Justice League graphic novels to add to my collection, and not only did I not know this one existed, I was also a little reluctant. I tend not to like updates or streamlining of origins and character histories. I mean come on, it took me four years to accept Smallville. LOL (But once I did, I fell in love with it...
Smallville: The Complete First Season) But lately, some of the characters with decades worth of history need a little streamlining and modernizing. Not necessarily changing them, but just polishing them up for a new era of comic book lovers.
This book does all that and more. It gives great origin stories on Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Aquaman. In fact, my only 'flaw' was that they didn't have an origin story for Martian Manhunter. In addition, the stories are told in REALLY interesting ways. You'll LOVE a look back at the histories of ALL of Earth's Green Lantern's (Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Kyle Rayner), all as told to an unseen bar patron at Guy Gardner's Warriors bar. Not to mention the fun look at Superman's origins as posed by some great detective work on Batman's part. Each origin has some nice little twist take on it like that. The Flash's looks at all of The Flash's to bear the name, past, present, and future, and Wonder Woman has a nice look from the perspective of Artemis training Cassie Sandsmark while Diane watches. Even Aquaman's was very interesting, which I found surprising.
Bottom line, for the price of this book, and considering it is now nearly 12 years old, it's a bargain STEAL to add to your collection, and a truly great read by a wealth of comic's best writers, and with some of the best artists working with them. Give this book a try folks, whether you want to know more specific info on your favorite character's origins, or you just want a good Justice League read. Either way, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Thanks for your time folks. Sincerely, R.A. McDowell
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