Between 1998 and 2003, Paul Dini, the Emmy Award-winning producer of Batman Beyond and The New Batman/Superman Adventures, joined forces with superstar illustrator Alex Ross (KINGDOM COME) to create six original graphic novels starring The World’s Greatest Super-Heroes: SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH BATMAN: WAR ON CRIME SHAZAM!: POWER OF HOPE WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH JLA: SECRET ORIGINS JLA: LIBERTY AND JUSTICE Now, all six of these classic works are back in a new trade paperback in a unique storytelling format that combines aspects of both comics and picture books, printed for the fi rst time at DC’s standard trim size. This spectacular volume includes developmental art and more.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
In the early 2000s, Dini and Ross collaborated on a series of tabloid-sized books featuring DC Comics’ best-known superheroes. The stories portray the iconic figures at their noblest, harkening back to early depictions of the characters: Superman attempts to end world hunger, Batman wages a war against crime, Captain Marvel helps an abused child, Wonder Woman strengthens her connection to humanity, and the Justice League struggles to contain a viral plague in Africa. Dini eschews dialogue balloons and uses lengthy, typeset captions to tell the tales, which makes them feel more like elaborate picture books than traditional comics. This places greater emphasis on Ross’ artwork, which is the book’s primary selling point: his painted illustrations, which brought photo-realism to the medium, have made him the most popular artist in comicdom. Although the volume’s smaller size is a less-impressive showcase for Ross’ lushly rendered paintings than the oversize pages of the original books, the format is far more convenient for crowded library shelves—although Ross’ vast following means it’s unlikely to spend much time there. --Gordon Flagg
About the Author
The winner of multiple Emmy, Eisner and Writers Guild of America Awards, Paul Dini is renowned for his work on Batman: The Animated Series and Lost, the comic book series DETECTIVE COMICS and Jingle Belle, and the graphic novel THE WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER-HEROES. He was the head writer on DC Comics' 2007 weekly series COUNTDOWN. Paul Dini is a multiple Emmy and Eisner Award-winning writer and producer. In animation he has helped redefine the legends of the DC Universe in such series as The New Batman / Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond, Krypto and Justice League Unlimited.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By J. M. Hannam
Format:Hardcover
I have been an avid superhero fan since a child. I have read many comics, both good and bad. This collection of DC stories is by far the most visually appealing. Not only is the art work of Alex Ross incredible, but the story telling is phenomenal as well.
In this book Superman tries to cure hunger, Batman endeavors to completely cease criminal activity, and Wonder Woman aims to free oppressed women. Each character runs into the same problem. They are only one person. Despite all their super-abilities they are unable to eradicate the crime, starvation, oppression, etc.
The realization the characters come to is devastating but well portrayed. They are timeless stories about ageless heroes.
The second section of the book deals with the JLA. My favorite section is the "Secret Origins" part where each main character of the JLA gets a two page origin spread!
All in all the book is worth the money. It is a treasure to read over and over again. Share it with friends and family. A must have!
In this book Superman tries to cure hunger, Batman endeavors to completely cease criminal activity, and Wonder Woman aims to free oppressed women. Each character runs into the same problem. They are only one person. Despite all their super-abilities they are unable to eradicate the crime, starvation, oppression, etc.
The realization the characters come to is devastating but well portrayed. They are timeless stories about ageless heroes.
The second section of the book deals with the JLA. My favorite section is the "Secret Origins" part where each main character of the JLA gets a two page origin spread!
All in all the book is worth the money. It is a treasure to read over and over again. Share it with friends and family. A must have!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Tom
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book reprints 6 special comics and does them justice. Alex Ross's art not only looks great, but tells the story well.The pretty pictures do not get in the way of the story. The book is smaller size than the originals, which were the size of the old LIFE magazine, but the art is not impaired in the least and the production values are top of the line.What makes the book worth having, though, are not the pretty pictures but the stories.Paul Dini writes stories which make each of the characters examine themselves, bringing us along in a thoroughly entertaining manner. He makes them very human, complemented by the art which is very lifelike (Ross uses human models.)The Batman story is the best, the Justice League story the weakest, although that is a relative judgement since it is a pretty good story.At the time the stories were first published, I had wished that the 5th volume would be a Plastic Man story and still feel that would have been a better way to go, but such was not to be. Regardless, this book will remind you why we love superheroes.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Sebastian
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
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Length:
3:35
Mins
One of many absolute edition reviews i made, largely so you can get a feel for the look of the book as well as its bonus features. my vids are mostly about the particular addition, with minimal critique of the story/art itself.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful stories that give hope and make you think
I love it! Althougt they are not canonical, the stories (written by Paul Dini) are a great way to understand the thougt of our heroes. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Eugenia Monserrat Pinzón Balam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
Ross and Dini rock. It was nice to have a smaller size print compared to the original. Get this book.
Published 5 months ago by Tyler Mackey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Read it, the Art is amazing!!
I borrowed this book at a library and what I can say is that I'VE BEEN BLOWN AWAY AGAIN FROM ALEX ROSS'S ART!
Although the story lack the allure of the superhero vs. Read more
Although the story lack the allure of the superhero vs. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Aaron James Asuncion
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everyone's already said it...
But I'll say it again. This is just a fantastic book, it focuses on the issues of men through the eyes of superheroes, and engages the reader in a truly unique artstyle. Read more
Published 13 months ago by A. Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars
great show case for impressive Alex Ross art
The World's Greatest Superheroes is a collection of six short graphic novels most of them around 64 pages except one which is considerably smaller done originally in an oversized... Read more
Published 16 months ago by woodrow locksley
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the great classics of all time
I received this book from my beloved brother. First it is Visually stunning. More importantly this is a deep compassionate and intimate look at the human experience and the... Read more
Published 17 months ago by sergei kochkin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read for newbies and a fantastic book over all
This book is a fantastic introduction to the DC Universe, and it contains 5 fantastic stories inside, plus a whole collection of abridged origin stories. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Reed Serna
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful!!!
Simply put, this is beautiful. Alex Ross, who's now a legend, shows why as he paints every single imaginable detail in such realistic incredibility. Its amazing. Read more
Published 20 months ago by S. Penrose
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning - both visually and intellectually
I would not normally review a book I haven't finished yet, but this book is so awesome I will make an exception. Read more
Published 23 months ago by VolunteerPadme
5.0 out of 5 stars
A masterwork blending of Art and Story, of Drama and Action, of Butt...
I remember falling in love with these things back in 1998. I STILL have each of my super oversized original editions, in mint condition I might add, and EVERY single time it comes... Read more
Published on May 2, 2011 by R. A. McDowell
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