Customer Reviews

Secret Origins: Featuring the JLA

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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.

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?

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

While comic books may be looked upon as the equivalent of intellectual cheez-whiz in the Literaty world, very rarely does a work of fiction so entertain as seeing Batman in action does. Of course, this book isn't just about Batman, which is the one major objection I will raise: while the effects, dialogue, and plot are enjoyable, perhaps the writers would have done better to focus on only two or three "super-heroes" at a time. Although the work is nicely done, it feely a bit rushed, and I think stretching the "origins" out over more issues wouldn've alleviated this problem. Anyway, who am I to disagree with DC Comics?