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33 reviews for:
Justice League International, Vol. 1
Bart Sears, William Messner-Loebs, Al Gordon, Keith Giffen, Mark Waid, Ty Templeton, Dan Vado, Dan Jurgens, Kevin Maguire, J.M. DeMatteis, Gardner F. Fox
3.98 AVERAGE
33 reviews for:
Justice League International, Vol. 1
Bart Sears, William Messner-Loebs, Al Gordon, Keith Giffen, Mark Waid, Ty Templeton, Dan Vado, Dan Jurgens, Kevin Maguire, J.M. DeMatteis, Gardner F. Fox
3.98 AVERAGE
This was a lot of fun to read - some of the dialogue was just hilarious and had me laughing out loud. The Justice League has regrouped after the events of "Legends", and the new team is, um, special. Those are really entertaining and light-hearted stories, and I'm looking forward to reading more of them.
The humor in this caught me just right. I was not expecting it and that made for a fun read. I had the chance to interview co-author J.M. DeMatteis for the All the Books Show on his long career in the industry: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/off-the-books-interview-with-jm-dematteis
Superhero comedy comics put out by DC or Marvel usually miss the mark for me. They try to be both funny and universe changing and they usually fail at both. I much prefer indie superhero comedies because they don't aren't weighed down by continuity nor do they have to worry about what other writers will do with these characters down the line.
Giffen has mentioned in several interviews that this wasn't originally intended to be a comedy, just have some light moments, and it didn't go full-blown comedy until the issues that make up volumes two and three of Justice League International. This volume is far superior to those.
The comedy? Guy Gardner is a misogynist, insincere, disobedient, petulant jerk. Eh. The idea of this sounds like it would age terribly. But nobody excuses his behavior or even likes him in this book. And he says things that are mean-spirited and condescending but he doesn't say anything Edgy so it reads as a true look at a jerk rather than a writer trying to couch his own bigotry in an anti-hero. Props to [a:JM DeMatteis|51584847|JM DeMatteis|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] for pulling that off.
We also get to see Batman be gritty and bossy in a world that isn't as dark as Gotham. So he comes off as out-of-touch and frustrated, which is a great lens on Batman that makes him seen less as an outsider/object of ridicule, and more of a self-aware fish in shallow water.
The storylines around multiversal nuclear disarmament and a near-God level villain who just wants to die are pretty decent, and wrapped around the humor the stories pop more than your average JLA story. If you enjoy team books with humor, this is probably going to be in your wheelhouse.
Giffen has mentioned in several interviews that this wasn't originally intended to be a comedy, just have some light moments, and it didn't go full-blown comedy until the issues that make up volumes two and three of Justice League International. This volume is far superior to those.
The comedy? Guy Gardner is a misogynist, insincere, disobedient, petulant jerk. Eh. The idea of this sounds like it would age terribly. But nobody excuses his behavior or even likes him in this book. And he says things that are mean-spirited and condescending but he doesn't say anything Edgy so it reads as a true look at a jerk rather than a writer trying to couch his own bigotry in an anti-hero. Props to [a:JM DeMatteis|51584847|JM DeMatteis|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] for pulling that off.
We also get to see Batman be gritty and bossy in a world that isn't as dark as Gotham. So he comes off as out-of-touch and frustrated, which is a great lens on Batman that makes him seen less as an outsider/object of ridicule, and more of a self-aware fish in shallow water.
The storylines around multiversal nuclear disarmament and a near-God level villain who just wants to die are pretty decent, and wrapped around the humor the stories pop more than your average JLA story. If you enjoy team books with humor, this is probably going to be in your wheelhouse.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I loved this and found myself giggling a few times. I wish I had read this when it first came out but I was just too busy with life. Glad I was gifted it!
I just love going through these old comics. I know there have been other continuity reboots, but I'm really enjoying reading these pseudo-firsts.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Oh, the joy of re-reading my favorite run of the Justice League!
It can feel dated at times, but it never gets old to me.
This is characterization at its prime, and mysteries and drama and fun.
What’s not to love about this run?
One of the fun things with this series is that it only gets better.
I guess this is when Keith Giffen earned my absolute love and devotion. And of course, J.M. DeMatteis had his part. Giffen is not as fun all by himself. Ohhhh, and Kevin Maguire’s art. He’s fantastic at depicting emotions.
Anyway, I only have love to give to this book so call me biased.
It can feel dated at times, but it never gets old to me.
This is characterization at its prime, and mysteries and drama and fun.
What’s not to love about this run?
One of the fun things with this series is that it only gets better.
I guess this is when Keith Giffen earned my absolute love and devotion. And of course, J.M. DeMatteis had his part. Giffen is not as fun all by himself. Ohhhh, and Kevin Maguire’s art. He’s fantastic at depicting emotions.
Anyway, I only have love to give to this book so call me biased.
So I broke down and bought the new hardcover edition, replacing my existing softcover copy of Justice League: A New Beginning (which, in turn, replaced the first seven issues of the series that I'd bought from back issue bins). I hope DC is serious about publishing a big chunk of the JLI run!
As this series is the only time I've ever cared for the Justice League, at all, I'm happy to report that it ages very well. Sure, the references to the Soviet Union ground it in a time period, but the more important aspects - the character interactions, the humor, the adventure - all still feel fresh. One Punch! is still amusing, as is seeing the various members play off Guy and Batman's various anti-social tendencies. I never really recognized until now that death-cheater Scott Free is thought killed twice during this run (#7 and vs. Despero), but comes through intact both times.
I had some minor reproduction issues, however, with this volume. Some balloons didn't reproduce well, and a few pages were difficult to open due to the glue-binding. I'd prefer a nicer job on the later volumes.
As this series is the only time I've ever cared for the Justice League, at all, I'm happy to report that it ages very well. Sure, the references to the Soviet Union ground it in a time period, but the more important aspects - the character interactions, the humor, the adventure - all still feel fresh. One Punch! is still amusing, as is seeing the various members play off Guy and Batman's various anti-social tendencies. I never really recognized until now that death-cheater Scott Free is thought killed twice during this run (#7 and vs. Despero), but comes through intact both times.
I had some minor reproduction issues, however, with this volume. Some balloons didn't reproduce well, and a few pages were difficult to open due to the glue-binding. I'd prefer a nicer job on the later volumes.
Actually laughed out loud once--which I never do. I love ALL the characters and I really wasn't expecting that. Only read this for Blue Beetle, but will probably keep up with the rest of the series because it's THAT awesome.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first arc is pretty boring, but after that it really picks up, and it really feels like a soap opera