G.L.A.: Misassembled

G.L.A. #1-4

by Dan Slott, Paul Pelletier (Artist), Rick Magyar (Artist)

They are the Great Lake Avengers, the guys who got the shortest end of the super-hero stick. But with the real Avengers disassembled, they're going to try to step up to the plate and deal with one of their most powerful villains Can they save the day? Well, we just hope these guys can save themselves Collects G.L.A. #1-4; and West Coast Avengers #46.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Humor, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 2005

About the author

Dan Slott is an American comic book writer, the current writer on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, and is best known for his work on books such as Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, The Superior Spider-Man, and Ren & Stimpy.

Reviews

[Kemper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A weird mix of comedy and tragedy.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Dan Slott before Slott found his groove on Spider-man. The only other Slott I remember from this era was Mighty Avengers, and I couldn't stand that hyperventilating-about-the-unsung-heroism-of-Hank-Pym tripe, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear over & over how great Slott's Spidey run was (until I finally broke down and tried it myself). (Somehow I've completely forgotten reading his run of She-Hulk, and I think I'm gonna remedy that very soon.)

I'm a big fan of the underdog, the also-ran, the sad sack geeks that no one notices. (Therapy has worked wonders for my own ego, but it hasn't erased the memories.) so this is a book tailor-made for folks like me. And while it's entertaining, it feels like they left so much potential fun in the toybox.

This book is mildly inoffensive - feels like a high school play version of a random selection of Deadpool "funny". It's not hard to read, and I laughed out loud a couple of times along the way, but mostly felt like this was pretty tame for what could've been a savage takedown of Avengers or supes in general.

Also gotta say, I was kinda sad to see how little they did with Squirrel Girl (the only hero who's come out of this with any legs). Or rather, how poorly they thought of her in the old days. Bendis worked wonders for her self-esteem (and that ridiculous overbite).

Strangely, the original appearance of this team was far more helpful in establishing them as a credible team than Slott's "spoof" of them was. Wish it'd been more straight-ahead with jabs at superheroics, rather than a near-total retcon of the team.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautiful and nothing hurts. I laughed, I got the feels (not Monkey Joe!!), and I loved every minute of it. Between weird jokes about Wisconsin and genuine character depth, you almost forget that this book essentially only exists to make fun of the 'dark' turn in superhero comics of the 90's/00's. A classic!

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

É amigos, os detratores podem falar o que quiserem do Dan Slott, mas eu acho ele um baita roteirista de quadrinhos de super-heróis. Ele constrói tramas como ninguém e sabe utilizar o humor da maneira correta como pede uma história em quadrinhos desse tipo. Essa minissérie dos Vingadores Centrais (Great Lake Avengers) é um ótimo exemplo de seu esmerado trabalho. Ele não só mostra conhecimento sobre personagens de pouco conhecimento da maioria dos leitores como sabe usar e parodiar de maneira criativa o Universo Marvel em geral. Nessa minissérie Slott foi responsável por colocar a Garota-Esquilo (uma personagem Z criada por Steve Ditko) nos holofotes. Foi a partir daqui que ela ganhou sua série própria na Marvel, conquistando muitos leitores (lá fora). Os desenhos de Paul Pelletier, sempre muito competentes e detalhados, dão o tom que a trama precisa para se encaixar no vasto Universo Marvel. Os dois juntos criam um pano de fundo para os GLA ou VC, que até então ninguém havia ousado dar, tornando-os mais que os Vingadores Perdedores, mas personagens interessantíssimos, mesmo que seja para rir da cara deles.

[Jace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dan Slott is one of my favorite comic writers. He tells great super hero stories in the mold of classic comics, and he's hilarious to boot. Somehow his humor also seems just appropriate for the story. It doesn't go overboard like Justice League International (which I love as well, just in a different way) often did. Plus the Great Lakes Avengers are a really fun squad. And are much more interesting than other more serious super teams.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really hard book to find. I can see why Dan Slott is such a pop-cult writer. The more I read of his work the more I find to admire. This one's a comedy. Think Terry Pratchett style humor but super-heroed. Need to find more Dan Slott! Next up is his run on She-Hulk.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 2016 GLA story before this, so was surprised at how dark some of this story was, but also how capably and touchingly it handled its darkness. It's not all doom nor gloom though, as it's got a very knowing and sarcastic writing style. Highly recommend this for anyone looking for a dysfunctional team of losers dynamic. I liked how each team member got to narrate an issue and give their back story, the joyfully anarchic way that supporting characters are killed off, and the tonal balance of nastiness and silliness. Shame it was so short, would have liked to see this as an ongoing The GLX-Mas special that followed this miniseries is a weird mix of goofy mini stories and two great stories, one involving Mr Immortal, and a really touching one about Doorman.
Dan Slott may be a maniac (see the Marvel Method documentary) but this miniseries is very capably written.

[boofykins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, here’s a quick spoiler-freed rundown of Great Lakes Avengers: GLA Misassembled, an absolute diamond in the rough four-issue banger from the mid-aughts.

- Scathing satire on super-hero comics? Check

- Fourth wall? Broken

- Dark? Waaay darker than you’d expect!

- Funny? Absolutely! Definitely wades in the waters parody by-way-of black comedy and more than stays afloat.

-Dumb? Yeah, kinda, what’s your point?

- Sex Appeal? And twisted steel!

Look, this won’t go down as one of the all time great comics in history but I had a blast reading so just get off my back, will ya?

[Kevin MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although having little to do with Bendis’ Avengers Disassembled, Slott’s Great Lakes Avengers miniseries is surprisingly both fun and lightly profound. This was before his major Spidey works, but this book is a great primer for a superhero team that hasn’t had much priority in the 30+ years they’ve existed for. I recommend it, although it doesn’t have much lasting impact besides reintroducing Squirrel Girl to comics in the mid-2000s. I even liked how Slott brought up how her and Monkey Joe defeated Dr. Doom in an early appearance alongside Iron Man.

[Chloe Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5 stars)

I thought the final issue was good, had the best blend of (actually funny) humor and dark tones. Its very of the time (especially where the whole coming out scene is concerned- though admittedly it made me chuckle if only for its bizarness) I guess for the most part it just wasn't really my thing.

Also why was Mr. I such a psychopath in his first ever issue? His smile was terrifying

[Robotato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black humor and self awareness does this otherwise quite bleak story well. It's a charming team of misfits that end up being truly likeable even though the central plot does little to impress. Especially fun to see the return of Squirrel Girl with a quirky nod back to her, horrendously rendered, origin.

Format: Digital single issues through Marvel Unlimited.

[Randy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was awful. I was hoping it would be like the witty campy other GLA series from early 2010s.... I feel like the author tried to be "dark" while trying to be witty and adult.... and it failed it on all accounts. Boring all around.

[Will Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny and not a bad story, so I think you should read it.

A bunch of loser heroes get together and try to help people. Squirrel Girl is in it.

[Gomezmr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This comic is very fantastic.

[Ellie Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

37/100

[NereaNickFan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uf. Esto ha envejecido bastante mal. Me lo he leído por ser de las primeras apariciones de la Chica Ardilla. No es tan divertida como la de la etapa de Ryan North pero sigue molando.

[Isaac Batista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Roteiro: Dan Slott
Arte: Paul Pelletier

• GLA 1-4

Nota: 5/10

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

better than I thought it would be. pelletier is growing into the artist they will soon become. nice colours. writing is fine.

worth reading digitally.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collects G.L.A. issues #1-4, West Coast Avengers #46, and Marvel Super-Heroes #8

I'm giving this collection a 4-star rating, not just for the story, but because I think this is a well-done collection for Great Lakes Avengers fans. The story itself probably deserves a 3 or 3.5-star rating.

The main reason I read this is because I am a huge fan of Dan Slott, and I was interested to see what he would do with the GLA. I think he did a good job with this oddball team. I had never read anything with them in the past, and this collection totally caught me up and told me everything I needed to know in order to enjoy the story.

Each of the members are likable in their own way, but for some reason, I think that Doorman's power is pretty cool. I also like Squirrel Girl as a character, but I liked her before picking this book up.

I think it is awesome that this collection includes the 4 issues in Dan Slott's mini-series along with the issue that features the first appearance of the GLA and the issue that features the first appearance of Squirrel Girl. That is a lot of good stuff for GLA fans.

Fans of Dan Slott will enjoy his typical off-the-all humor, sometimes moving into dark humor.

Even though I didn't give this the full 5 stars, this is still a big recommend from me.

[Johnny Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know all the Avengers teams...yeah, these are the other guys. I dunno, reading this band of misfits would almost feel like that Mystery Men movie but maybe starring people like Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell and I dunno Rebel Wilson. It's the crew with not very good powers but a lot of heart and want to do right by what they have.
Twisted and funny, I wouldn't say for the light heart-ed as it delves into almost British style of humour seeking light within the darkness.
As usual we have their first appearance in West Coast where Hawkeye and Mockingbird check them out after they use the Avengers name and then see potential.
Then we shift way ahead in a 4 part mini-series that shows what makes them great or semi-great but hey they give it all with what they have...Mr. Invincible no real powers but hey he canny die, Flatman the 2-D hero, like the parody of Reed Richards, Big Bertha supermodel by day, obese powerhouse when need be, Doorman...exactly that people can use him as a door to go through solid matter.
New characters join, like Squirrel Girl and her lil sidekick Monkey Joe (a squirrel) and they go off to save the universe.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvel's version of the 'Mystery men' get their own adventure and along with their screw ups, and a couple deaths manage to save the world.

Fun read, as the GLA are treated as goofs, but goofs that want to do the right thing and be heroes. The humor doesn't feel forced or only there to make the heroes look like idiots. Unlike Kieth Giffen's JLA run or a lot of what passes for 'humor' in comics these days.

You laugh, but also root for these guys.

Plus, who doesn't love Squirrel girl?

[Jdetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

While John Byrne may have created the Great Lakes Avengers, I think that Dan Slott thrust them into greatness in this series. Balancing the darkness of today's comics with some amazing humor, this series proves that any character can be fun to read. Even Squirrel Girl.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some weird issues of tone here as it tries to be simultaneous dark and cheery, thrilling and funny. It kind of feels garbled as a whole.

I'm not sure any of it is better than the original GLA / Deadpool, but what is?

[LeShane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only superhero team from my hometown...Milwaukee, WI

All their powers suck, less Mr Immortal, but whats the point of being able to reincarnate...

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun read with great characters. The whole team has such a big heart and just cant catch a break. Its the other side of super heroes that we dont get to see in the more serious Marvel comics.

[Emmanuel Nevers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The GLA are funny and 4th wall breaking kind of like a PG 13 Deadpool. This book balanced the line between funny and dark.

[Casseroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous and odd. A spoof on superheroes with great artwork. The hair was drawn well. Haha

[Jeremy Driver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, silly volume

[Kevin Connery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky

[Ir Bing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta miniserie post Avengers Dissasembled es una buena muestra de lo que es el comic ligero, con un montón de superheroes con poderes cuasi-inutiles donde el principal enemigo son sus crisis existenciales y por si fuera poco enfrentarse a un enemigo que es muy poderoso este cómic es una buena muestra de lo que un poco de sarcasmo y buena narrativa puede lograr sin tener que llegar a forzar cierta intransigencia, se merece 4.5 batarangs en escala de 5.