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JLA (Original Trades)
JLA, Vol. 10: Golden Perfect
Following JLA: TERROR INCOGNITA, this volume features the World's Greatest Super-Heroes as they attempt to save the world after fantasy replaces reality. On a simple mission to save a young girl from the evil dictator Rama Khan of Jarhanpur, Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth is severed and the laws of reality cease to exist. Now Batman, Superman, the Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, the Flash and Plastic Man must find a way to stop the wicked despot and return fiction back to fact. But as the world continues to be redefined by the fears and dreams of humanity, only a shattered Wonder Woman holds the key to salvation.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
214 people want to read
About the author
Joe Kelly
1,004 books205 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 25, 2015
Without a doubt, Golden Perfect is the stupidest, most ill-conceived JLA story I've read of the modern age. Featuring a stoned high schooler's understanding of quantum mechanics and probability, an insultingly thin sense of politics, and a superficial conception of the characters, the entire story arc earns its star solely on the strength of Doug Mahnke's art. How Joe Kelly was ever picked to follow Morrison's run on this iconic comic, I'll never understand.
June 9, 2019
Full points for originality. Wonder Woman doesn't want to accept someone's personal truth that they give the lasso, so the lasso comes undone, and so does the world as subjective truths start reshaping reality. A bit of a reach getting from point A to B, and I don't see why Diana's personal moral dilemma would cause worldwide havoc, but it was still interesting. It isn't the typical "alien invasion"/"super villain team up"/"punch the bad guys harder until we save the day" kind of story, and for that I was thankful.
Also there's a Batman/Plastic Man team up story that makes for a fun, quick adventure.
Also there's a Batman/Plastic Man team up story that makes for a fun, quick adventure.
December 1, 2017
Vol. 10 opens with Two Minute Warning, a kind of 'all in a day's work'/'day in the life' view of being a JLA member. Straightforward, punchy and doesn't overstay its welcome -- a near-perfect short story.
The title story is appropriately dramatic and action-filled, but the quieter interactions between Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter (WW voice actress Susan Eisenberg: "I've always felt that there's been a very strong connection between those two characters") were very effective.
The title story is appropriately dramatic and action-filled, but the quieter interactions between Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter (WW voice actress Susan Eisenberg: "I've always felt that there's been a very strong connection between those two characters") were very effective.
March 23, 2025
Joe Kelly has big shoes to fill taking over writing duties from Mark Waid, but he proves himself quickly in this volume. It helps that Mahnke/Nguyen are a great art team for the JLA, too.
February 13, 2013
Reprints JLA #61-65 (February 2002-June 2002). The JLA are faced with a quick mission to save the Earth, but then face one of their biggest challenges when the universe literally revolts when Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth is broken. With all “truth” in question can the JLA appease reality and have Wonder Woman restore the world? Plus, Plastic Man reveals a secret to Batman that could change his fun loving perspective on life.
Written by Joe Kelly, JLA 10: Golden Perfect is a short collection. Following the events of JLA 9: Terror Incognita, the story still has a lot of focus on Wonder Woman and the loss of Hippolyta the previous year in Wonder Woman (2) #172 (September 2001) during the Our Worlds at War storyline.
JLA: 10 Golden Perfect is a rather hodge-podge story. While most collections are one theme, this series has two stand-alone issues plus a three issue storyline in the middle. This leads to a not very smooth transition for the story and the final story also holds a random clue to a future storyline that seems a bit out of place since the previous stories didn’t do much to tie in with the others stories.
The first story in the book appears to be a Mr. Mind story with the JLA discovering a worm controlling Abra Kadabra. I thought from the story’s structure that this was somehow going to tie into the “Golden Perfect” storyline, but it really was just a standalone. It isn’t a bad story but it is very stylized with all the pieces of the JLA leading toward a single goal as the clock ticks down.
“Golden Perfect” is the bulk of this collection and is predominately a Wonder Woman story with the JLA playing second fiddle. I do enjoy the Wonder Woman/J’onn J’onzz storyline in this storyline since I feel both Wonder Woman and J’onn are often outsiders (even more so than Batman). Kelly tries a bit too hard and it leads to a rather confused (but thoughtful) conclusion that is a bit too heavy to have been worked out in three short issues.
I love Plastic Man so I did enjoy Batman’s team-up with him in the final issue in the collection. I always like it when Batman feels a bit out of place and when Plastic Man has to play serious so this is a good, but different pairing. It also introduces the DC Universe version of Plastic Man’s kid which was part of the Plastic Man cartoon show from the ’70s…in a more adult version. The issue also hints to “The Destroyers” storyline in the next collection.
JLA 10: Golden Perfect continues to help JLA be an interesting comic. I have to hand it to Kelly to try something new, even if I think it could have been worked with a little to make it even better. JLA 10: Golden Perfect was followed by JLA 11: The Obsidian Age Book 1.
Written by Joe Kelly, JLA 10: Golden Perfect is a short collection. Following the events of JLA 9: Terror Incognita, the story still has a lot of focus on Wonder Woman and the loss of Hippolyta the previous year in Wonder Woman (2) #172 (September 2001) during the Our Worlds at War storyline.
JLA: 10 Golden Perfect is a rather hodge-podge story. While most collections are one theme, this series has two stand-alone issues plus a three issue storyline in the middle. This leads to a not very smooth transition for the story and the final story also holds a random clue to a future storyline that seems a bit out of place since the previous stories didn’t do much to tie in with the others stories.
The first story in the book appears to be a Mr. Mind story with the JLA discovering a worm controlling Abra Kadabra. I thought from the story’s structure that this was somehow going to tie into the “Golden Perfect” storyline, but it really was just a standalone. It isn’t a bad story but it is very stylized with all the pieces of the JLA leading toward a single goal as the clock ticks down.
“Golden Perfect” is the bulk of this collection and is predominately a Wonder Woman story with the JLA playing second fiddle. I do enjoy the Wonder Woman/J’onn J’onzz storyline in this storyline since I feel both Wonder Woman and J’onn are often outsiders (even more so than Batman). Kelly tries a bit too hard and it leads to a rather confused (but thoughtful) conclusion that is a bit too heavy to have been worked out in three short issues.
I love Plastic Man so I did enjoy Batman’s team-up with him in the final issue in the collection. I always like it when Batman feels a bit out of place and when Plastic Man has to play serious so this is a good, but different pairing. It also introduces the DC Universe version of Plastic Man’s kid which was part of the Plastic Man cartoon show from the ’70s…in a more adult version. The issue also hints to “The Destroyers” storyline in the next collection.
JLA 10: Golden Perfect continues to help JLA be an interesting comic. I have to hand it to Kelly to try something new, even if I think it could have been worked with a little to make it even better. JLA 10: Golden Perfect was followed by JLA 11: The Obsidian Age Book 1.
December 12, 2019
Golden Perfect fue el nombre del primer arco de Joe Kelly al frente de Liga de la Justicia, y la verdad es que fue una entrada espectacular. Kelly, probablemente no tan conocido como Morrison o Waid, llegaba a JLA después de haber pasado por Marvel (Masacre, Patrulla-X) y por las páginas de las colecciones de Superman en la propia DC, pero se enfrentaba a un desafío importante después de las espectaculares etapas de Morrison y Waid. Y además, lo hacía sin contar con un dibujante tan llamativo como había sido Bryan Hitch, siendo su compañero durante toda la etapa el mucho más sombrío (y personal) Doug Mahnke. Y sin embargo, Joe Kelly consiguió una etapa larga, completa, interesante y con una gran caracterización de los personajes, dotándoles de un sentido del humor y unas conversaciones que estaban ausentes en las icónicas etapas anteriores.
Siguiendo el ejemplo de Waid, Joe Kelly decidió arrancar con una JLA mucho más limitada en el número de lo que había sido la gran formación de Morrison, manteniéndose en siete miembros, seis de los siete grandes (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash y el Detective Marciano; Aquaman quedaba fuera debido a los acontecimientos de Nuestros Mundos en Guerra), más Plastic Man, que le daba el contrapeso humorístico a la grandiosidad de las tramas. Y Golden Perfect fue el arranque de una larga etapa de más de treinta números.
Además de una introducción (que plantea en tono de la serie) en la que la JLA se enfrenta a unas criaturas dominadas por uno de los villanos clásicos de Flash, Abra Kadabra, y de un epílogo protagonizado por Batman y Plastic Man que se centra en la búsqueda del hijo de este último, el grueso de Golden Perfect es una historia donde Wonder Woman es la protagonista principal. Y sobre todo, el Lazo de Wonder Woman, el Lazo de la Verdad. Todo comienza cuando Diana recibe una alerta procedente de una de sus fundaciones, sus "embajadoras" han sido asesinadas por proteger a una mujer procedente de un misterioso país asiático, Jamaphurtan (o algo así), que había huído de allí junto a su hijo. Wonder Woman y la JLA acuden a averiguar qué ha pasado con el niño, heredero del líder de la nación, Rama Khan, una especie de cargo religioso y mágico que gobierna una nación paradisíaca con el poder de la propia Tierra. Y es al tener que enfrentarse a sus propios sentimientos y a la idea de que un hijo debe estar siempre con su madre, frente a las leyes, la tradición y la posible destrucción del propio paraíso, lo que hace que durante un enfrentamiento con Rama Khan, el Lazo de la Verdad se rompa.
Wonder Woman inicia entonces un peregrinaje para recomponer el lazo (y a sí misma), pero la JLA se encuentra con que la ruptura del Lazo ha tenido una consecuencia inesperada, y es que la Verdad ha dejado de existir, se ha roto. La Verdad como concepto. Los números pierden su sentido, la Tierra no tiene por qué ser redonda... Golden Perfect tiene uno de los momentos más chocantes y originales de la JLA contemporánea, con Ray Palmer (Átomo) encogido a tamaño molecular y aferrado a un átomo, gritando "2+1 son tres, ¡deja de dar cuatro!"
En fin, el inicio de la que sería la última etapa "importante" de la JLA antes de la llegada de Crisis Infinita... y quizá, a falta de releer mucho, la última gran etapa de la JLA contemporánea.
Siguiendo el ejemplo de Waid, Joe Kelly decidió arrancar con una JLA mucho más limitada en el número de lo que había sido la gran formación de Morrison, manteniéndose en siete miembros, seis de los siete grandes (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash y el Detective Marciano; Aquaman quedaba fuera debido a los acontecimientos de Nuestros Mundos en Guerra), más Plastic Man, que le daba el contrapeso humorístico a la grandiosidad de las tramas. Y Golden Perfect fue el arranque de una larga etapa de más de treinta números.
Además de una introducción (que plantea en tono de la serie) en la que la JLA se enfrenta a unas criaturas dominadas por uno de los villanos clásicos de Flash, Abra Kadabra, y de un epílogo protagonizado por Batman y Plastic Man que se centra en la búsqueda del hijo de este último, el grueso de Golden Perfect es una historia donde Wonder Woman es la protagonista principal. Y sobre todo, el Lazo de Wonder Woman, el Lazo de la Verdad. Todo comienza cuando Diana recibe una alerta procedente de una de sus fundaciones, sus "embajadoras" han sido asesinadas por proteger a una mujer procedente de un misterioso país asiático, Jamaphurtan (o algo así), que había huído de allí junto a su hijo. Wonder Woman y la JLA acuden a averiguar qué ha pasado con el niño, heredero del líder de la nación, Rama Khan, una especie de cargo religioso y mágico que gobierna una nación paradisíaca con el poder de la propia Tierra. Y es al tener que enfrentarse a sus propios sentimientos y a la idea de que un hijo debe estar siempre con su madre, frente a las leyes, la tradición y la posible destrucción del propio paraíso, lo que hace que durante un enfrentamiento con Rama Khan, el Lazo de la Verdad se rompa.
Wonder Woman inicia entonces un peregrinaje para recomponer el lazo (y a sí misma), pero la JLA se encuentra con que la ruptura del Lazo ha tenido una consecuencia inesperada, y es que la Verdad ha dejado de existir, se ha roto. La Verdad como concepto. Los números pierden su sentido, la Tierra no tiene por qué ser redonda... Golden Perfect tiene uno de los momentos más chocantes y originales de la JLA contemporánea, con Ray Palmer (Átomo) encogido a tamaño molecular y aferrado a un átomo, gritando "2+1 son tres, ¡deja de dar cuatro!"
En fin, el inicio de la que sería la última etapa "importante" de la JLA antes de la llegada de Crisis Infinita... y quizá, a falta de releer mucho, la última gran etapa de la JLA contemporánea.
July 14, 2011
Awesome kickoff story in the first chapter. Totally embodies the spirit of the JLA.
The Wonder Woman mainline story here was interesting - yes, it's probably not the canon Diana, but it's a damned intriguing story nonetheless (what happens when WW's beliefs fall into question?). Fascinating line of thinking, well thought out, and even some pretty convincing science talk mixed in.
The Batman/Plastic Man romp was fun and a little heart-breaking.
The Wonder Woman mainline story here was interesting - yes, it's probably not the canon Diana, but it's a damned intriguing story nonetheless (what happens when WW's beliefs fall into question?). Fascinating line of thinking, well thought out, and even some pretty convincing science talk mixed in.
The Batman/Plastic Man romp was fun and a little heart-breaking.
July 6, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this arc. On one hand, I loved that we finally have a JLA arc that focuses on Wonder Woman. But, on the other hand, I wished Joe Kelly had found another way to execute his ideas for Diana's character.
The ideas that Kelly presented was very interesting but his execution didn't work out. I appreciated his efforts in trying to dive into Diana's character and her relationship with the Truth. Diana questioning the Truth that her lasso compelled from others was such a fascinating storyline. What happens when Diana's Truth didn't align with other people's Truth? This was one of the major questions raised in the arc. Her decision to betray her duty in safeguarding the Truth brought devastating consequences. Honestly, this arc could have been amazing if not for the fact that Diana and the JLA displaced an entire civilization. It just made me uncomfortable :/
The ideas that Kelly presented was very interesting but his execution didn't work out. I appreciated his efforts in trying to dive into Diana's character and her relationship with the Truth. Diana questioning the Truth that her lasso compelled from others was such a fascinating storyline. What happens when Diana's Truth didn't align with other people's Truth? This was one of the major questions raised in the arc. Her decision to betray her duty in safeguarding the Truth brought devastating consequences. Honestly, this arc could have been amazing if not for the fact that Diana and the JLA displaced an entire civilization. It just made me uncomfortable :/
November 15, 2022
★★★★½
A very interesting character study for Wonder Woman. Because of her being unable to accept two different truths, the Golden Perfect breaks, and the very concept of truth is destroyed. Everyone's individual truth begins to destroy reality, which gives some pretty awesomely weird visuals. The art, by Doug Mahnke, really benefit from his ability to draw really out-there stuff. Highly recommended for Wonder Woman fans!
A very interesting character study for Wonder Woman. Because of her being unable to accept two different truths, the Golden Perfect breaks, and the very concept of truth is destroyed. Everyone's individual truth begins to destroy reality, which gives some pretty awesomely weird visuals. The art, by Doug Mahnke, really benefit from his ability to draw really out-there stuff. Highly recommended for Wonder Woman fans!
January 13, 2023
Coraje. Es que el tuvo Joe Kelly para tomar las riendas luego de Grant Morrison y Mark Waid con la Jla en lo más alto. Invencibles, derrotando enemigos cuando parece que ya no hay salvación. Y junto a Doug Mahnke nos trae estos primeros cinco números contra nuevos enemigos y la rotura del lazo mágico de Wonder Woman. Bien resuelto. Igual mi favorito es el capítulo de Plastic Man con Batman, buen relato conociendo la personalidad de cada uno, disfrútable.
June 7, 2024
Very good artwork by Doug Mahnke, and the stand alone issues were good.
But the Golden Perfect arc did not make a lick of sense, which was unfortunate, as its rare for a JLA story to focus on Wonder Woman. While the first part of the arc suggested something promising, it devolved into an inchoerent mess in the second and final part.
Highlight of the book was the last collected issue, which focused on a Plastic Man/Batman team-up, which was alot of fun.
Overall, a 6/10.
But the Golden Perfect arc did not make a lick of sense, which was unfortunate, as its rare for a JLA story to focus on Wonder Woman. While the first part of the arc suggested something promising, it devolved into an inchoerent mess in the second and final part.
Highlight of the book was the last collected issue, which focused on a Plastic Man/Batman team-up, which was alot of fun.
Overall, a 6/10.
November 28, 2019
More like 4.5 stars. Starts with a warm-up issue, then a neat three-parter wherein Wonder Woman’s lasso breaks. Finally, a bang-up Plastic Man issue with Batman helping one of Plas’s ex-girlfriends track down her son (hmm...). Last issue is worth the price of admission - loved it!
May 28, 2022
Joe Kelly is a hack, and I fail to understand why he was able to write so many mainline titles in the early 2000s. That being said, the Plastic Man / Batman story is fantastic. The Wonder Woman mainline was just nonsense.
July 23, 2025
Doug Mahnke is like if 2000s Gary Frank and 1990s Gary Frank had a baby: super detailed musculature stretched over cartoonishly proportioned skeletons.
September 3, 2012
Joe Kelly is a favourite of mine, having written "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?"
This time he takes control of the JLA with artist Manhke for another epic outing with Wonder Woman at the helm of this volume.
A quick story about each of the Leaguers activities for two minutes before a monster attack starts us off with a glance into the civilian lives of the JLA. It doesn't set up the main arc, but its an interesting look at what the JLA does in their spare time.
Then we get the main arc. A hidden utopia. A child born to be king. The golden lasso of Hessia destroyed. Wonder Woman at a crossroads.
All this and more in a morally challenging story that throws in lots of greek mythology and the uncertainty principle.
Although light on the action, it sums up nicely and develops Wonder Woman.
The last story is an amazing tale of Plastic Man and Batman teaming up to stop a kid from joining a gang. It might well up your eyes with tears with its simplicity.
This time he takes control of the JLA with artist Manhke for another epic outing with Wonder Woman at the helm of this volume.
A quick story about each of the Leaguers activities for two minutes before a monster attack starts us off with a glance into the civilian lives of the JLA. It doesn't set up the main arc, but its an interesting look at what the JLA does in their spare time.
Then we get the main arc. A hidden utopia. A child born to be king. The golden lasso of Hessia destroyed. Wonder Woman at a crossroads.
All this and more in a morally challenging story that throws in lots of greek mythology and the uncertainty principle.
Although light on the action, it sums up nicely and develops Wonder Woman.
The last story is an amazing tale of Plastic Man and Batman teaming up to stop a kid from joining a gang. It might well up your eyes with tears with its simplicity.
gave-up-on
December 9, 2015My Brief Bookshelf Overview: gave-up-before-finishing, hell-of-a-ride, story-not-intriguing-enough, unrealized-potential
Additional Notes: This collection contains JLA issues #61-65.
For me, the highlight of the volume is Mahnke's art, which was as impressive here as it was in Black Adam: The Dark Age and Batman: Under the Red Hood – two comics which were, in my opinion, far more enjoyable than this. Not surprisingly, it was DC comics' tendency for blatant moralizing and an overly lighthearted tone in favor of cool superhero stuff that turned me off. Still, I'm intrigued enough with Kelly's writing to give him another chance; one thing that actually worked in this comic's favor was that each character on the JLA was written in a way that made them feel distinct, and they captured a large enough part of what made each character appealing. Unfortunately, the end product was something that turned out to be just not for me.
Additional Notes: This collection contains JLA issues #61-65.
For me, the highlight of the volume is Mahnke's art, which was as impressive here as it was in Black Adam: The Dark Age and Batman: Under the Red Hood – two comics which were, in my opinion, far more enjoyable than this. Not surprisingly, it was DC comics' tendency for blatant moralizing and an overly lighthearted tone in favor of cool superhero stuff that turned me off. Still, I'm intrigued enough with Kelly's writing to give him another chance; one thing that actually worked in this comic's favor was that each character on the JLA was written in a way that made them feel distinct, and they captured a large enough part of what made each character appealing. Unfortunately, the end product was something that turned out to be just not for me.
November 6, 2010
Pretty good JLA story that examines what is universally "true." If enough people believe that the Earth is flat, does that make it so? Wonder Woman doubts herself and her ability to determine what is really true, thus causing her magic lasso to break and all the many and disparate subjective truths (what people think or have thought throughout history) to start coming true. And, of course, this also applies to the League members themselves. Decent bonus story at the end featuring Plastic Man asking Batman for a favor to help the kid of one of his exes whose starting to get involved with gangs.
April 26, 2015
Il ciclo di Joe Kelly parte decisamente male, e solo in piccola parte a causa del confronto col precedente di Waid e quello iniziale di Morrison. Certo non aiuta Mahnke ai disegni, che ho sempre trovato abbastanza inguardabile. Sta di fatto che di queste cinque storie si salva giusto l'ultima dove Batman aiuta Plastic man a confrontarsi con suo dovere di padre. Per il resto davvero un brutto volume.
November 12, 2015
La premisa del tomo me convenció más bien poco, y me cansan bastante las historias de la Liga donde se meten en un país "sometido" para repartir democracia en forma de sopapos, discursos y americangüeyoflaif. Pero entre que la resolución un poco arregla esos arrebatos imperialistas y que el capítulo dedicado a Plastic Man me gustó bastante, le promedio pa'rriba y le doy un voto de confianza a esta JLA de Kelly y Mahnke, aunque claramente no apunte a ser el mejor trabajo de ninguno de ellos.
January 22, 2023
The Wonder Woman story is interesting in concept but the execution leaves a bit to be desired. It doesn't always work when you think about it too much and the pacing also leaves it a little less engaging than it should be. I like this approach to a JLA story rather than always punching bad guys though. Mahnke is a great fit for Wonder Woman and mythological stories too. The Plastic Man/Batman story is simple and cliché but pretty well done.
August 29, 2013
The four stars come from the two one shots in here. The first is a fun look at how busy the lives of the Justice League can be. The second one shot is a more emotional story about Plastic Man. Both are really good. The middle story, a three-parter that focuses on Wonder Woman, isn't bad it's just goes on for an issue too many.
December 12, 2009
Very disappointing. Main story was a Wonder Woman story, but all the writing for her felt out of character.
Read
August 10, 2011For me the combo Kelly /Manke doesn't work.
September 30, 2011
The main story is ok, Wonder Woman loses her way and then finds it agin. The Plastic Man story is what stands out when Batman helps 'some kid' heknows. Full of emotional impact and character.
December 6, 2012
I liked the story, and the characters were written well, but overall the first two stories were very disjointed and somewhat confusing. The transitions and scene changes weren't handled well.
April 21, 2013
Really strong artwork by Doug Mahnke does not save this rather exceptionally weak story.
April 18, 2015
Wonder Woman is faced with a truth that destroys her golden rope which have devastating concequences in the world.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews