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Identity Crisis (DC Comics Crossovers)

by Brad Meltzer (Goodreads Author), Rags Morales (Illustrator), Michael Bair (Illustrator), Joss Whedon (Introduction)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 8,627 ratings · 264 reviews

The most talked-about and successful miniseries of 2004 the story that has created ripple effects throughout the DC Universe for many years to come is now available in a stunning hardcover volume! New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer (GREEN ARROW) teams with artists Rags Morales & Michael Bair (WONDER WOMAN) and cover artist Michael Turner (SUPERMAN/BATMAN)...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published August 16th 2006 by DC Comics (first published 2004)

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Apr 11, 2011 Dan Schwent rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

Elongated Man's wife is murdered and the search for her killer opens up a whole can of worms involving super-villains having their memories erased.

The best comics are the ones that are about something. Starman is about stepping into your father's shoes. Sandman is about stories. The Watchmen is about how power corrupts. This one is a mystery that raises a lot of ethical questions. Meltzer's writing is really good and Rags Morales's art is the perfect fit. Having Green Arrow being one of the main...more

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Jul 04, 2007 Mo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphicnovel

Review originally published Imprint (Volume 29, Issue 29)[http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/mambo/ind...]

It’s rare to see a superhero cry. So when you actually do spot one with flooding tearducts, you know it’s not for just any trivial matter.

Identity Crisis, a collected series by Brad Meltzer, sees tears welling up in the eyes of superheroes worldwide when Sue Dibny, the wife of Elongated Man, is murdered.

With little to no evidence to go on, the Justice League of America and its associates begin a fr...more

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May 21, 2007 Edwina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Now THAT is how you write a quality comic book. The artwork is spectacular -- there's scarcely a panel wasted, not one that isn't very dramatically blocked and quite a few that are right up there with great moments on film. The story is gripping and written with a surprisingly careful hand. Too often, comic book writers remake the characters they inherit in order to ink their own private childhood fantasies. Meltzer, on the other hand, did his homework and took the time to parse out the many fac...more

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Feb 28, 2008 Pandem rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who likes solid, well-crafted stories

Shelves: fiction, graphic-novel, action-adventure

As those that know me already know, Watchmen is my absolute favourite book of all time, both of graphic novels and of regular novels. Identity Crisis didn't knock that book from its lofty perch.

That said. . .

For sheer gut-wrenching, tear-jerking, heartbreaking, jaw-dropping, mind-blowing emotional impact, there is no graphic novel even close to this one. Brad Meltzer wrote an excellent exploration of a superhero's greatest weakness here, and defines them by that weakness; Rags Morales does his p...more

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Aug 09, 2008 Travis rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic-books

A mystery novel of a comic book that relies on writing numerous DC heroes out of character as well as some fairly tasteless bits involving a villain.
Manages to suck most of the fun and nobility out of the Justice League, as well as setting a trend for some really dark, dreary stories that relied on forced plot twists to make them work.

Another prime example of the genre I like to call 'if it's going to be realistic then lots of characters must be unpleasant and have lots of really horrible things...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 28, 2007 Bill rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, avoid-at-all-costs

Is there a level below "utter garbage?" Because this is down there. Just an ugly story... a real shaggy dog of a mystery that leads one direction, then completely shifts direction at the last minute without any lead-up whatsoever. And then, of course, they go the classy route by actually relying on the violent, on-panel rape of a character as a selling point. I still can't believe DC editorial, not to mention their bosses at Time-Warner, actually let this fly. If you're sort of person who actual...more

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Sep 17, 2007 Mark rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

Hmmm...When I first read this book, I really liked it. It helped me get into comics. It took a comic book character that I knew very little about and made me care a whole lot, right from the get-go. This is something that very few people can do. The concept of "minor" characters becoming the title characters still intrigues me.
Now, however, after reading many more comics, I find myself less intrigued and more disturbed by certain aspects of the story. I can now only give the book three stars.

1 like · like · see review

Apr 20, 2013 Jordan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dc_comics

I found all 7 issues of this series in a back issue bin and figured now was a good time to re-read this momentous story, almost 10 (!) years later and with some historical perspective. It stands up, for the most part, with clean, dynamic art and a story that's emotional, fast paced and flows well, despite multiple narrators and a LOT of caption boxes.
I've always viewed the DC Universe from a distance, not truly engaged with the characters. Reading Marvel books, the stories were about Peter and M...more I found all 7 issues of this series in a back issue bin and figured now was a good time to re-read this momentous story, almost 10 (!) years later and with some historical perspective. It stands up, for the most part, with clean, dynamic art and a story that's emotional, fast paced and flows well, despite multiple narrators and a LOT of caption boxes.
I've always viewed the DC Universe from a distance, not truly engaged with the characters. Reading Marvel books, the stories were about Peter and Matt, or Ben and Johnny. DC seemed more formal, telling tales about Flash and Green Lantern, and not really the men under the masks. I won't say this book changed that entirely, but I felt a warmness and depth of characterization for many of the Justice Leaguers here that I can't recall truly seeing before.
My main criticism, and one that's only grown with time, is that I'm sure one could accomplish the same thing without being so... ugly. This book was controversial upon its release, stomping a bit on some of the sacredness of these Silver Age do-gooders. That didn't bother me, but the way it was done really did, joining the long list of comics guilty of resorting to the "women in refrigerators" plot device of harming the underutilized wife or girlfriend in some grotesque way in order to spur the male hero to action. I have no problem kicking up a little dust and tarnishing some of the squeaky clean events of comics gone by. I do have a problem immolating them in their own living room for the purpose of giving our heroes a mystery to solve. This story at least gave weight to the loss, not glossing over the impact it had on everyone involved. I'm just not sure I've seen the DC Universe "grow up" in the way this book seemed to signal it could, not by the use of drastic, shocking violence but by finding the humanity and by adding depth and texture to the relationships these icons have built in the decades of history they've shared with each other and with us, the reader.(less)

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Dec 27, 2012 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

This is a book that will a) remind you why you got into comics in the first place or b) force you to ask yourself why you didn't get into comics before. My cynical self picked this up (from the library) and thought, "oh, a commercial and critical success? Must mean it's not that good." I hope that part of me is gone, now. Sometimes (but not as often as statistics may try to convince us), a book is a critical and commercial for a good reason: it's a great book. This is one such book. Many years a...more This is a book that will a) remind you why you got into comics in the first place or b) force you to ask yourself why you didn't get into comics before. My cynical self picked this up (from the library) and thought, "oh, a commercial and critical success? Must mean it's not that good." I hope that part of me is gone, now. Sometimes (but not as often as statistics may try to convince us), a book is a critical and commercial for a good reason: it's a great book. This is one such book. Many years ago, when I started reading comics, I was not one of the die-hard "either/or" readers, as in I wasn't just a Marvel fan or a DC fan. Being young and fresh, I assumed it was okay to read both. I watched Adam West's Batman re-runs every day, I watched Super Friends incarnations when I could, and I read Marvel Team-Ups books and Origins collections, as well as X-Men, FF, Avengers, WCA, and a whole lot of other things. Soon, I became mainly a Marvel reader, though I continued watching DC shows (especially Batman: The Animated Series) and watching Batman movies (Batman Returns was one of the first movies I saw twice in the theater). I returned to DC for major events, especially when they were in TPB form, primarily the Death of Superman, but I didn't keep up with the comings and goings of the DC Universe too often - which didn't always seem to matter, since it appeared the DC Universe was committed to re-booting itself every other year or so, disregarding all the storylines and iterations of characters over the years. Suddenly, Marvel started doing that too, and, combined with going off to college, I drifted away from comics. I have recently returned, and though I'm not sure I'll try to keep up with the new 52 or Marvel Now, especially since Vertigo seems to be doing the really compelling things lately, I'm always glad to read good stories about DC or Marvel characters. Identity Crisis is one such good - great - story. It's simple without being simplistic, has multiple foci and narrators (cleverly distinguished by color-coded thought "bubbles"), and excites and purges genuine human emotion exactly like classical literature does/intended to do. In a way, it is the antithesis of a superhero story, since it is all about the human, mortal aspects of these costumed people, but that in no way diminishes its greatness - perhaps that adds to it. Meltzer does a great job of keeping the Icons above the rest (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman), but he also does a great job (along with Morales and Co.) of reminding us the rest of the heroes are just as important - and so are their supporting infrastructures, their families. What "Family" does for ST:TNG, Identity Crisis does for DC - and it's pretty close to brilliant from beginning to end. Infinite Crisis is a telescope, a wide net catching the entire DC Universe and all its characters in a mighty swath of cause and effect. Identity Crisis is a microscope, pinpointing the heart and soul of heroism and humanity. Even if you don't know all the villains, or all the heroes, you will know enough about them before you finish this great book. You will become an Elongated Man fan. You will become a Green Arrow fan. You will become a Ray Palmer (Atom) fan. This will remind you why you shouldn't leave one titan of comics for another - no choice is necessary. Your library is big enough for all of them. One of the great things about comics is that they are an unquantifiable mystery. In one sense, they are static works of words and pictures, especially if looked at them unconcernedly from a distance - but as one reads a comic, the human brain works with the comic to fill in the movement and progress intimated between panels. We hear the characters' voices, we see the swinging of their punches, and we stifle (perhaps) our tears when we see them cry. Comics are all about movement and direction and progress - but even if you don't like the overall direction of a series or a character or a company (such as a company-wide reboot/relaunch), comics give us the ability to go back to a time we prefer, stories we enjoyed, characters the way they were when we liked them better ... and the passage of time does not need to change that in any way. Reading Identity Crisis will make you a fan of the Silver Age (it certainly made me want to catch up on those days). Yet at the same time, it will show you the possibilities of Ideas of the Icons: things can change for the better, too. Read Identity Crisis. Be reminded about why you got into comics in the first place, or be encouraged that it's never too late to start reading good stories, even if they also provide some of the artwork for you.(less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Sam Quixote rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. “Identity Crisis” is probably one of the most baffling event books I’ve ever read. By turns it’s unintentionally funny, confusing, and ultimately pointless. At its core, it is a deeply cynical story and seems to be DC’s attempt at Watchmen-ifying the DCU - and utterly failing.

It opens with two unfamiliar characters speaking atop a rooftop: Elongated Man (yes that really is his name!) and Firehawk, a pair who look like the most generic superheroes ever created. They are failing to blend in with t...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Nick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Expertly-crafted narrative in a mystery about the familial and personal repercussions of being a superhero. Given that it's written by a mystery author, I can't tell if it has some heavy Watchmen influence in it with the sinister plot and narrative style, or if Watchmen has some classic mystery writing in it and these two simply share a common ancestor. Either way, it's definitely not a bad book to remind someone of. The density of DC history obfuscates the narrative sometimes, though, while Wat...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Ubalstecha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Someone has killed Sue Dibneym and the superhero community is pulling out all the stops to discover the murderer. The Justice League, the Reserves, the Justice Society and the Teen Titans beat the bushes and the criminals to try and determine what monster would do such a thing. But when a second attack occurs, the realization begins to hit that the heores secrets may not be as safe as they thought.

Ralph and Sue Dibny are the backbone of the Silver Age Justice League. They are the old married cou...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Johnny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel, mystery

I read Identity Crisis because I had recently read a novel by the author. I had heard of Identity Crisis but I guess I wasn't reading comics when the original "event" took place. This might have been one of those comic "events" that I hate, the kind that was originally drafted as a marketing gimmick featuring crossover references throughout the entire DC Universe. Don't get me wrong; I LIKE crossover references and continuity within the universe, I just resent having to buy an issue of a series...more I read Identity Crisis because I had recently read a novel by the author. I had heard of Identity Crisis but I guess I wasn't reading comics when the original "event" took place. This might have been one of those comic "events" that I hate, the kind that was originally drafted as a marketing gimmick featuring crossover references throughout the entire DC Universe. Don't get me wrong; I LIKE crossover references and continuity within the universe, I just resent having to buy an issue of a series I don't usually follow in order to keep up with the story. I hate having to figure out which separate issue to buy so that I don't get messed up.

However, this compilation of Identity Crisis gives me everything I needed to know and, if it was necessary (I said I don't remember the "event"), filtering out the unnecessary issues and giving us just the main story. That being said, I am so delighted that this series was developed by an author usually associated with thriller novels. It has some of the best of everything I like. It features an in-depth knowledge of the DC Universe (sometimes embarrassing me with my ignorance--of course, I just confessed that I wasn't voracious enough of a comics reader to keep up with what was happening when the series first appeared), a combination of modern and...er..."semi-retired" heroes in that universe, noir elements, and twisted psychological elements such as are often seen in Meltzer's other work.

Even though I'm an avid mystery reader, I was totally fooled until Meltzer deftly let the revelation unravel through casual conversation. I loved the way Meltzer kept giving you "red herrings" and blowing them up with introductions of unexpected characters providing for their innocence as well as the interesting complicity of the "good guys" into stuff that was not exactly good. This entire novel seems to be a paen against a flippant "act utilitarian" approach to ethics because the immediate good may not justify the eventual evil. Identity Crisis is well-named because it's difficult, at times, to discern the "good guys" from the "bad guys"--even when they seem to be espousing the right thing.

Identity Crisis is a tour de force of the DC Universe, the most powerful I've read since Mark Waid's Kingdom Come. This makes me incredibly thankful for compilations because, without them, I wouldn't have experienced some great stories. On the other hand, reading several compilations of late (mostly courtesy of my local library), has inspired me to actually subscribe to several series at my local comic shop [notably Before Watchmen and Garth Ennis' new foray into The Shadow). One thing's for sure, I cannot claim that comic writing is deteriorating. I think it may be better than ever. (less)

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Jun 07, 2012 Meghan R. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fiction-speculative, fiction-superheroes, library, sequential-art

This is, essentially, a murder mystery set in the DC universe (which is appropriate, I suppose, for DETECTIVE Comics). For reasons of continuity and sexism, it is obviously necessary that the murder victim be someone's wife, and the wife of a Z-list superhero at that, but in spite of the absolute tiredness of this trope, some of the strongest material in this miniseries is at the beginning, where the Elongated Man talks about how he met his wife and their marriage; it is genuinely touching, and...more This is, essentially, a murder mystery set in the DC universe (which is appropriate, I suppose, for DETECTIVE Comics). For reasons of continuity and sexism, it is obviously necessary that the murder victim be someone's wife, and the wife of a Z-list superhero at that, but in spite of the absolute tiredness of this trope, some of the strongest material in this miniseries is at the beginning, where the Elongated Man talks about how he met his wife and their marriage; it is genuinely touching, and sufficient to make the murder of a character you've never heard of before seem sad.

The story of the subsequent investigation mostly pushes Supes and Bats into the background, for sound reasons: they tend to dominate any story they have much of any part of. However, this means the story is dominated by what seems like scores of characters that I find difficult to tell apart and whose costumes and powers seem very old-fashioned to me. The middle issues devolve into a confusing muddle, with clues doled out by a mysteriously glacial autopsy process directing the otherwise directionless investigation. In a story about a (presumably) non-reversible death, it seems particularly bizarre and inappropriate that various characters talk openly about "when [currently living character] was dead", like this is just a thing that happens. The scene where someone talks to the ghost of a dead Green Lantern about when he was going to come back again was particularly off-putting to me; maybe this is a Green Lantern thing that I'm not getting, but if so I'm not a fan.

The final twist and solution is adequate, if nothing special for a murder mystery; a solid C+, shall we say. There are issues raised in a plot thread that are never adequately resolved; I suppose this is what is meant by "ripple effects throughout the DC Universe for many years to come", although I have no idea where I would pursue them and no real inclination to do so. In conclusion, Joss Whedon enjoyed this story a lot more than I did.(less)

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Nov 15, 2011 Theddy Blanc added it

This is the graphic novel that changed my perspective on the entire genre. Identity Crisis is a psychological thriller written by Brad Meltzer that infused characters seen only as action icons with depth and humanity. The murder of Elongated Man’s wife Sue Dibney leads the entire superhuman community on a search for the criminal who is infiltrating the homes of superheroes (even those with guarded identities) and attempting to murder their loves ones only to find it is the person they least expe...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

Packs a whallop, and plays out as a great mystery story - even having read it once years ago. However, it seems to emphasise the melodrama effect and makes for a heavy read (without any satisfying payoff). I know I like my comics to have more "real", but maybe I should revise my desires.

This was a well-told story, and had a great interplay among the characters that I haven't seen much of in DC. I wasn't a big fan of the art, partly because many folks were a departure from their traditional faces...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Clay Fernald rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trade-paperbacks

Brad Meltzer along with Rags Morales and Michael Bair have created a brilliant Justice League mystery for the ages.

Art is a solid 5 out of 5 stars. No question. Morales has the sensibility of another DC heavyweight, Brian Bolland, and the storytelling ability of a Neal Adams or John Byrne. Clean Bolland lines on the inks, solid blacks, great expressions and characterizations.

Spoiler-free story review. Meltzer ties the Justice League and Justice Society into a long form mystery involving the murd...more

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Jan 11, 2011 steven rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'd been holding off on reading this one because I wasn't sure about the art. But I heard good things about the story, so I eventually picked it up.

And I don't get what all the fuss is about.

The murder mystery by itself is decent. I hadn't even considered the perpetrator as a suspect, but it all made sense when it was revealed. I wasn't sure I actually believed her motivations, but, by and large, it is a semi-reasonable reaction of an unstable mind with perfect opportunity, and all the clues wer...more I'd been holding off on reading this one because I wasn't sure about the art. But I heard good things about the story, so I eventually picked it up.

And I don't get what all the fuss is about.

The murder mystery by itself is decent. I hadn't even considered the perpetrator as a suspect, but it all made sense when it was revealed. I wasn't sure I actually believed her motivations, but, by and large, it is a semi-reasonable reaction of an unstable mind with perfect opportunity, and all the clues were available from the first twenty pages. The writer did not hide facts or conceal evidence - you can go back and re-read it if you like, and all the elements are there in plain sight, so long as you know what you're looking for.

But this title was billeted as the defining reason why the supers conceal their identities. The perpetrator, however, indicates that secret identities didn't even enter into it - secret or not, the murder just opened up the list of suspects. If there's anything the JLA should take away from this, it's to conceal their identities from *everyone* - family, loved ones, friends, anyone and everyone, not only for the risk posed to them, but for the risk they pose to others. It should have stripped away, however temporarily, an element of trust. There should be the notion that one of their own has gone absolutely crazy, and, considering who they are and what they do, that's not exactly a limited subsection of the population in their line of work. How do they reconcile that?

Well, they don't. Apparently, they just go to their cover identities the next day, curl up with the family, and then go out to fight crime as if nothing had happened. Batman's the only one who's *ever* had the right reaction in the first place, which makes him the only sane man in the room -- and when Batman is the pinnacle of sanity and resolution, something is seriously wrong in Gotham.

But, OK. One aberration out of the entire JLA's extended family. Maybe things aren't as bad as all that. But it's not even touched on, so it bothered me.

Other pieces seemed ... unnecessary. The mind-wipe subplot I wasn't comfortable with at all, though I get that's part of the idea. B-list heroes taking it upon themselves to ensure the safety of the A-list is an interesting turn of events, but it seems an awfully thin line to tread. It would seem like they would have to wipe Batman's mind more than just the once, him being the great detective and all. It introduces a plot element that, as far as I know, was never resolved. That implies that Batman has found out about the wipes all over again, and is fine with it. It's explicitly stated that Superman "only hears what he wants to hear." What kind of shady underhanded operation *is* the JLA, after all? Is this DC I'm reading, or Marvel?

And, finally, the rape of Mrs "Elongated Man". Now, I've never been a fan of Dr Light, but there are so many other things that could have been done with that scenario, and his infiltration into the Watchtower. It seems like the writer wanted the readers to sympathise with the B-list mindwipe scheme a little too much, making the shade of gray a little more black-and-white. Questioning themselves at introducing shades of gray to the Justice League, protectors of right and justice? Surely there are other ways.

All in all, it's an OK JLA story, but I wouldn't go so far as to recommend it. I will agree with the back cover; it does "redefine a universe of characters." But in a way that I'm glad there's been another DC Crisis, as it means the definition has reverted back to form.(less)

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Nov 02, 2010 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Identity Crisis is a graphic novel about superheros' loved ones getting killed, because their identities are somehow getting leaked. The novel begins with the death of Sue Dibny (wife of the Elongated Man), from which the DC superheros go sleuthing, confronting likely suspects.

Throw away all your previous thoughts on what a graphic novel could be, for this will change all of them. There have only been a few novels which are equally heartwarming, funny, and devastating at the same time--and Ident...more

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Jul 10, 2010 Jessica at Book Sake rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is not your typical super hero saves the day comic. It is not based on the big name heroes and I am not really sure the day is saved. Despite that, or maybe because of it, this graphics novel has been widely popular and critically acclaimed.

The story is written by Brad Meltzer, who I believe writes mystery novels. He brings flavor over to this comic. The comic is a ‘Whodunit’ at its core. Sure there are super powered beings in it, but it shows a more human side to them. They feel pain, they...more

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Jan 25, 2010 Blair rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

A human look into the secret lives of superheroes and their families. I have never read a more detailed dissection of what it means to be a hero. Not only to the men and women that defend justice on a daily basis, but also to the loved ones waiting at home.
The story starts with the murder of a defenseless spouse of a member of the Justice League. The superheroes band together to find the culprit amidst a catalog of likely candidates. Upon pursuing leads in this case, past tactics of punishment m...more

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Jan 06, 2010 Mark Stalcup rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was the last comic book I've read, and I wanted to love it. Certainly, there's a lot to love, because the art's amazing, essentially silly concepts like comic heroes are made mature and, in the case of villians, demonically evil and threatening in a real-world way where they were formerly goofy. (i.e. the once silly Dr. Light, now a diabolical rapist and maybe murderer.) This book isn't for the kiddies, and it's debatable whether the assault on a hero's wife which kicks off the plot was nec...more

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Jan 25, 2009 Jodi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-read

As someone who spends most of her time reading (and writing) literary fiction, I have a hard time writing about graphic novels. I am unsure of what metrics to use to measure their success or failure, and spend a lot of time trying to determine what those might. Just when I get myself worked up into a nice confused tizzy, I kick myself in the ass and go back to the most basic question we should ask of any piece of art we’re trying to talk about, does it work?

Identity Crisis, a graphic novel writt...more

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May 12, 2013 Igor Kovalyov rated it 4 of 5 stars

• Igor Kovalyov
• APA citation: Meltzer, B., & Morales, R. (2005). Identity crisis. New York: DC Comics.
• Genre: Graphic Novel/Mystery
• Awards (If applicable): Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2007 (YALSA)
• Format: Print
• Selection Process: Recommendation
• Review:
Brad Meltzer brings a gritty realistic view to the world of DC when Sue Dibney, wife of Elongated Man, is murdered in her home. The Justice League begins their investigation as to who the murderer is. Although this graphic nove...more • Igor Kovalyov
• APA citation: Meltzer, B., & Morales, R. (2005). Identity crisis. New York: DC Comics.
• Genre: Graphic Novel/Mystery
• Awards (If applicable): Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2007 (YALSA)
• Format: Print
• Selection Process: Recommendation
• Review:
Brad Meltzer brings a gritty realistic view to the world of DC when Sue Dibney, wife of Elongated Man, is murdered in her home. The Justice League begins their investigation as to who the murderer is. Although this graphic novel raises many moral questions and delves into darker themes that makes it one of the best in recent years there is one major flaw to the entire work which is the fact that most of the superheroes are ones that many have never heard before. Aside from the Justice League which does contain Batman, Superman, Flash, Green Lantern as well as other few members majority of the characters in this novel are ones that many have never heard before. The cast is made of characters like Floronic Man, Zatanna, Firestorm, Wally West and many more names that I have never heard before. I am well versed in comics, DC and Marvel and for many of us comic fans who find connections to these characters that we have loved since we were kids, this was very hard to get into because I found many times I did not care about Sue Dibney, or who murdered her, it also made the emotional funeral scene almost seem confusing because we see these heroes weep over a person we had no idea they even had a connection to her.
If you are entering the comic world and characters are new to you then this is a great place to start. Meltzer's tone and narrations expose you to a world of reality rarely seen within the comic genre. Many of the characters reveal inner thoughts of anger, hate, love and pain which paints our heroes in a more human light. It delves into the humanity of superheroes and what is sacrificed for the path that they chose.
The artistic tone is spot on, working off of the adult tone and realism to add a gritty, dark look to the graphic novel. Overall this graphic novel is a good entry into the comic world. If you can get past the unknown superheroes then you will enjoy this human view on some of our favorite DC heroes as well as some lesser known ones.
• Recommendation Level: Recommend.
(less)

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Igor Kovalyov • Igor Kovalyov
• APA citation: Meltzer, B., & Morales, R. (2005). Identity crisis. New York: DC Comics.
• Genre: Graphic Novel/Mystery
• Awards (If...more • Igor Kovalyov
• APA citation: Meltzer, B., & Morales, R. (2005). Identity crisis. New York: DC Comics.
• Genre: Graphic Novel/Mystery
• Awards (If applicable): Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2007 (YALSA)
• Format: Print
• Selection Process: Recommendation
• Review:
Brad Meltzer brings a gritty realistic view to the world of DC when Sue Dibney, wife of Elongated Man, is murdered in her home. The Justice League begins their investigation as to who the murderer is. Although this graphic novel raises many moral questions and delves into darker themes that makes it one of the best in recent years there is one major flaw to the entire work which is the fact that most of the superheroes are ones that many have never heard before. Aside from the Justice League which does contain Batman, Superman, Flash, Green Lantern as well as other few members majority of the characters in this novel are ones that many have never heard before. The cast is made of characters like Floronic Man, Zatanna, Firestorm, Wally West and many more names that I have never heard before. I am well versed in comics, DC and Marvel and for many of us comic fans who find connections to these characters that we have loved since we were kids, this was very hard to get into because I found many times I did not care about Sue Dibney, or who murdered her, it also made the emotional funeral scene almost seem confusing because we see these heroes weep over a person we had no idea they even had a connection to her.
If you are entering the comic world and characters are new to you then this is a great place to start. Meltzer's tone and narrations expose you to a world of reality rarely seen within the comic genre. Many of the characters reveal inner thoughts of anger, hate, love and pain which paints our heroes in a more human light. It delves into the humanity of superheroes and what is sacrificed for the path that they chose.
The artistic tone is spot on, working off of the adult tone and realism to add a gritty, dark look to the graphic novel. Overall this graphic novel is a good entry into the comic world. If you can get past the unknown superheroes then you will enjoy this human view on some of our favorite DC heroes as well as some lesser known ones.
• Recommendation Level: Moderate(less)
May 11, 2013 04:12pm

Mar 10, 2012 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic_novel

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. As a relatively new comics reader, I've often wondered why more established female fans seem so reactionary about the subject of sexism in comics. "Come on now," I thought, "the situation isn't great, but it isn't that bad either!"

Then, I read Identity Crisis. I take it all back.

It would probably be easier to start by mentioning the things I *did* like about Identity Crisis, which were significant enough to justify a 2 star rating for a book that I felt an overwhelming urge to throw at the wall...more

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Dec 06, 2008 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphicnovels

I grew up on a garbage bag full of worn, well read DC Comics from the Silver Age. Extended stories where Lois Lane tries to trick Superman into marriage, Batman and Robin fighting a comical Joker on oversized novelty billboards, those were the stories on which I built my interest in superhero comic books.

I'm not naive. Though I love those types of stories, times have changed and while I don't know if I'd say superhero comics are more sophisticated, they are more grown up. When Identity Crisis wa...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Helmut Barro rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, superheroes, deckbuch

Heiligt der Zweck die Mittel?

Einer der kritischen Rezensenten wollte betonen, dass hier an einigen Ikonen des DC-Universums gewackelt wurde ("...to see beloved icons of childhood treated this way..."), und dass das eigentlich gar nicht gehe. Gerade das ist aber für mich das Highlight des Buchs - die Rollen Batmans und Supermans, ihre Sichtweisen auf die Justice League und die Fragestellung, ob der Zweck alle Mittel heiligt. Gerade die Justice League, mit ihrer immer fröhlichen Kleingärtner-Menta...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Bevans rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the best comics I've ever read, certainly up there with Watchmen and Scalped. And it's not just a great comic, but a great mystery story in general.

The author makes a very interesting storytelling decision, focusing on lesser-known heroes like Green Arrow, Elongated Man, and The Atom, rather than focusing on the big names like Superman and Batman (they are present, but they're just supporting characters). All characterization is spot-on, and though there are a lot of obscure supp...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

(From my blog, Misprinted Pages.)

Few comics can take a story about a superhero group and make it about a superhero family. Identity Crisis, which appeared in 2004, boiled the Justice League down to its most human, setting the powers aside. When the spouse of a League member is murdered, everyone, both heroes and villains, are in danger of falling apart. They cry and they fight, violently in the streets, both together and in opposition.

Writer Brad Meltzer is very good at taking larger-than-life c...more

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Dec 19, 2009 Anne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: comics, graphic-novels, read-in-2009, favorites, read-in-2012

How many of you out there know who Elongated Man is? Better yet, of those of you who know, how many of you care what happens to him? Thought so. Well, if you read Identity Crisis, you will find yourself caring not only about him, but his wife, Sue, as well. As it turns out, they have a great love story all to themselves. One that I had never even heard about before I read this book, which is what makes the opening pages even more heartbreaking.
Sadly, the story begins with Sue's murder. Naturally...more

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About Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, as well as the bestsellers The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, The Zero Game, The Book of Fate and The Book of Lies.

He is also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby—and is the Eisner Award-winning author of the critically acclaimed comic book, Justice League of America.

His...more Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, as well as the bestsellers The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, The Zero Game, The Book of Fate and The Book of Lies.

He is also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby—and is the Eisner Award-winning author of the critically acclaimed comic book, Justice League of America.

His first non-fiction book, Heroes For My Son, is a collection of heroes – from Jim Henson to Rosa Parks -- that he’s been working on since the day his son was born and is on sale now. He is the host of Brad Meltzer's Decoded on the History Channel. And his newest thriller, The Inner Circle, is in bookstores now.

Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all eight of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President's daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who steal money and go on the run. The Zero Game is about two Congressional staffers who are - literally - gambling on Congress. The Book of Fate, is about a young presidential aide, a crazed assassin, and the 200 year-old code created by Thomas Jefferson that ties them together. For authenticity, The Book of Fate was researched with the help of former Presidents Clinton and Bush. The The Book of Lies , is about the missing murder weapon that Cain used to kill Abel, as well as the unsolved murder of Superman creator Jerry Siegel's father. Brad is one of the only people to interview Jerry Siegel's family about the murder and, with his charitable site www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com, has been the driving force behind the movement to repair the house where Superman was created. His newest book, The Inner Circle, is based the idea that George Washington's personal spy ring still exists today. A young archivist in the National Archives finds out the spy ring is still around. He doesn't know who they work for -- but the greatest secret of the Presidency is about to be revealed. While researching the book, former President George HW Bush also gave Brad, for the very first time, the secret letter he left for Bill Clinton in the Oval Office desk. Oh, and yes, Brad was recruited by the Department of Homeland Security to brainstorm different ways that terrorists might attack the US.

His books have spent over eleven months on the bestseller lists, and have been translated into over 25 languages, from Hebrew to Bulgarian. In The Tenth Justice, the opening lines are: "Ben Addison was sweating. Like a pig." In the Hebrew translation, it became: "Ben Addison was sweating. Like a horse." We're not sure if it's a kosher thing or what!

Brad has played himself as an extra in Woody Allen's Celebrity, co-wrote the swearing in oath for AmeriCorps, the national service program, and earned credit from Columbia Law School for writing his first book, which became The Tenth Justice. Before all of that, he got 24 rejection letters for his true first novel, which still sits on his shelf, published by Kinko's.

Brad currently lives in Florida with his wife, who's also an attorney.
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