4 stars: Two good stories, fantastic artistry
These were originally published as JLA #5-#9.
Unlike the first JLA collection, there are two good story lines in here: the angels, with Zauriel vs. Asmodel with the JLA joining Zauriel; and the Key, using the virtual mind probes on the JLA. Both excellent enemies for the combined might of the JLA.
As I’m reading these, I realize the perils of “collection” stories…there are events that happen to the individuals in their own books that are represented but not explained. For instance, in this one Superman is a being of pure energy, wearing a flouresant blue suit that contains the energy and allows him to use it. Gotta ask my son what’s going on to keep up.
Favorite panel: my son and I agree this time: page 7, GL and Flash are playing a GL manufactured Rock’M'Sock’M robots, talking about how scary Batman is and the changes in Superman. These two always provide the humor. But in a different tone, on page 30 and 31, Flash ends up giving advice and counsel to Superman, on being who he is…then he jets back to being Flash.
Also like the entrance of the young Green Arrow.
A beautiful jazz album that flows through every number
I’ve had this album for a long time, just listened to it again last night. I was amazed how the songs flow together and that every track on the album is memorable and listenable.
Starting with the simple clean piano on “Free Yourself”, with the percussion and bass flowing in, and ending with “Angels on my Mind”, again clean piano chords and lead, with it’s somewhat somber, somewhat hopeful tone, this album should be listened to straight through over and over.
My favorites are “Hippies on a Corner” which always gets me moving (and has a great background story that Joe tells in concerts before he plays it; the refrain is great in this song) and “Black and White” with it’s single note melody opening.
Fantastic album, recommended for jazz fans, piano fans.
3 stars: Great artistry, predicatable story, glad the JLA seven are back together
This book was originally JLA #1-#4.
It’s great to have Superman, Batman, WonderWoman, Flash, Green Latern, Aquaman and the Martian Manhunter reunited again. With this much power, you have to have large enemies. Unfortunately the story of an alien race coming to invade is tired and predictable.
Batman has a great part in this story, as he usually is overshadowed by the others. And the balance of Flash and the young Green Latern’s goofiness vs. the seriousness of the others always makes this team work great.
My son’s favorate pane: page 82, of course with Flash and GL (“low quality finish, Lantern.” “Yeah? Kiss my ring, buddy”. My is on 83, an excellent drawing of WonderWoman battling Primaid.
Fantastic artistry, all of the JLA members are drawn superbly. Hoping the story gets better with the next one.
4 stars: A great beginning
We watched Justice League and Unlimited on Toon for many years while my son was growing up. Now he collects the graphic novel collections of the comics, and we are re-reading them together.
My son like this one because it tells the story of the beginning of the Justice League, focusing on Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter and Black Canary, with a little sprikling of other superheroes ala the Justice League Unlimited Show.
The story (originally JLA: Year One #1-#12, 1998) tells a lot about the interaction with the five, and how they gain respect with the rest of the heroes and start working as a team. It also has an excellent story arc, about the alien Appelaxians, their battle for supremacy amongst themselves and then for control of Earth.
Our favorite characters in this one are Green Arrow and the Martian Manhunter (me) and the Flash (my son). I think J’onn goes through the most transformation, the most discovery, and the Green Arrow keeps popping in and out. My son likes the Flash because he takes charge, but also cracks jokes (he’s remembering the TV show too).
The Vandal Savage part of the story was my least favorite, he seemed shoe-horned into the story, only there to fix a couple of pieces in the stoy line.
On to New World Order, JLA graphic novel #1.
5 stars: Listening to this on the way to hear Dave Brubeck last night
Dave Brubeck was in Houston for a concert last night, and we were listening to this album on the way there. A classic album, a classic artist. Though there was no Paul Desmond at the concert, it was fantastic to finally get to hear Dave in person.
It’s hard to pick a favorite tune from this album, as they are all wonderful to listen to. “Take Five”, the main hit from this album, sounds great on this remastered version, and it sounded amazing as his 85 year old hands tickled the ivories at the concert. Bobby Militello filled in well and amply for Paul Desmond on sax at the performance, by the way.
In addition to “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo A La Turk”, I also enjoy “Kathy’s Waltz” and “Everybody’s Jumpin’”, with the Sax lead opening and Dave’s piano answering, and the following exchange and counter point.
Also, if you have not heard any of Dave Brubeck’s choral arrangements, I would highly recommend them. They were played last night with the Dave Brubeck quartet, the Houston Chamber Choir and a brass section. Simply amazing. You can find them on his albums “The Gates of Justice” and “To Hope”.
A fast paced book that moves quickly though time
The first three chapters of The Plot to Save Socrates take place in the years 2042, 150 and 1889. After getting through the initial disorientation that this caused, I raced through the rest of Paul Levinson’s page turner. It is an enjoyable read that I would recommend to science fiction fans and non-scifi fans alike.
The premise is a complex web of events started by someone out to save Socrates through time travel. The paradoxes of time travel (that changes in the past can change you in the future) are interweaved with the story of people both historical and fictional, some who believe they are nobly trying to save one of the greatest minds ever, some who believe they have no say in events and are just following along paths to destinies already set out before them, and others who are determined to change their fates by changing the past.
Although many ancients (Greek and otherwise) appear in the story, the fictional character (at least fictional in the beginning) of Sierra Waters (a paradoxical name in and of itself!) is the most intriguing. She becomes interwoven in the plot, but determined to make decisions about what paths she takes based on personal choices, not waves of the future or patterns of history.
I enjoyed the pace of the story, once I got used to the back and forth of the time and place settings. I also enjoyed the ancient characters brought to life, always a struggle and Paul does this well. Others may nitpick about some facts (how to people survive in different times? aren’t people who left one time never to return missed by parents and others? why aren’t there many more time travellers than there are in the book). But I enjoyed the story.
In addition, I believe Mr. Levinson leaves the story open for a sequel (or, because of time travel, would this be a prequel??), but I will not give the details of how as I do not want to spoil the story. I, for one, would certainly welcome a follow up.
