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Justice League of America Archives #9
Justice League of America Archives, Vol. 9
Contains the continuing adventures of the Justice League of America, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and the Green Lantern.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2004
About the author
Dennis O'Neil
1,762 books283 followers
Dennis "Denny" O'Neil
was a comic book writer and editor best known for his work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics from the 1960s through the 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of titles until his retirement.
His best-known works include Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman with Neal Adams, The Shadow with Michael Kaluta and The Question with Denys Cowan. As an editor, he is principally known for editing the various Batman titles. From 2013 unti his death, he sat on the board of directors of the charity The Hero Initiative and served on its Disbursement Committee.
His best-known works include Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman with Neal Adams, The Shadow with Michael Kaluta and The Question with Denys Cowan. As an editor, he is principally known for editing the various Batman titles. From 2013 unti his death, he sat on the board of directors of the charity The Hero Initiative and served on its Disbursement Committee.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 1, 2021
This volume of the JLA archives is a valuable glimpse into what I think of as the teen years of DC comics. Yet, to paraphrase Yoda, "The cheese is strong in this one." Although Denny o'Neil, one of the greatest DC writers, is present, his mature voice, as fully realized in the seventies, is just coming into being here. Dick Dillin does the penciling on all these stories, and though his work is serviceable it isn't exactly stellar compared to the likes of legendary Neal Adams. Probably the most ridiculous of the DC western heroes, the Vigilante, unfortunately makes an appearance, blathering about 'rannies,' 'gunsels' and a 'nest of skunks.' However, it is nice to see Batman in the years before he became so unrelentingly grim and brooding, and in these stories Green Arrow progresses from a bland, clean-cut bow-brandisher to a goateed, highly intelligent and sometimes overly aggressive--read BELIEVABLE--member of the team.
Environmental issues are dealt with in one story, and though it has its fair share of heavy-handedness and general cheese content, this is very noteworthy considering today's conservation dilemma.
Having read this volume twice, I find that even though I'm glad I've become acquainted with these stories, as a whole they aren't worth keeping in my carefully limited collection. These volumes are very pricey, and as I have with many others I'll be unloading this one on eBay.
Environmental issues are dealt with in one story, and though it has its fair share of heavy-handedness and general cheese content, this is very noteworthy considering today's conservation dilemma.
Having read this volume twice, I find that even though I'm glad I've become acquainted with these stories, as a whole they aren't worth keeping in my carefully limited collection. These volumes are very pricey, and as I have with many others I'll be unloading this one on eBay.
October 16, 2022
These are important issues, historically. Green Arrow evolves into his modern form, Wonder Woman has gone plainclothes, and Black Canary joins the JLA. Dick Dillin is early in his long tenure as penciller. Poor Red Tornado is the jinx of the JSA, and Hawkman and Hawkgirl, in their few appearances, are victims. Aquaman is utterly absent.
I do not have the common, worshipful opinion of the late Denny O’Neil’s writing. It’s long on character, which is good, but it’s blunt and preachy about his political opinions. And, when he talks about science, my head hurts. He thinks all suns become neutron stars, for instance. In other volumes, more than once, he makes reference to his belief that Earth’s sun used to be red, which is counter to our understanding of its life cycle.
Overall significant and worth reading.
I do not have the common, worshipful opinion of the late Denny O’Neil’s writing. It’s long on character, which is good, but it’s blunt and preachy about his political opinions. And, when he talks about science, my head hurts. He thinks all suns become neutron stars, for instance. In other volumes, more than once, he makes reference to his belief that Earth’s sun used to be red, which is counter to our understanding of its life cycle.
Overall significant and worth reading.
January 5, 2017
With new writer Denny O'Neil and new artist Dick Dillin firmly in place, the Justice League see some big changes in this volume. Veteran members Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, and teen-age sidekick Snapper Carr are out; new member Black Canary is in. Second-stringer Green Arrow gets a makeover, both in looks and personality, and practically becomes the star of the book.
O'Neil's plots are just as gimmicky (and sometimes credulity-straining) as his predecessor Gardner Fox. But he's a little more concerned with developing the characters (especially Arrow and Canary, who's budding romance becomes a running sub-plot). He also brings in a dollop of social commentary, which, while clearly heartfelt, often comes off as heavy-handed and awkward. Even for the target audience of kids, a villain named "Chokh" who spreads pollution wherever he goes is a bit on-the-nose. But other villains are much more effective: The two-part story featuring Aquarius, a powerful "living star" with a twisted and childlike personality, is genuinely creepy as he toys with the heroes and threatens to destroy the world on a whim. One thing O'Neil really excels at is giving a sense of high stakes, making it feel like even these powerful heroes are really sweating it out to save the day.
If you didn't grow up with these stories, you may find them too corny and camp. But there's fun to be had here, on the cusp of the 1970s, when the whole world seemed to be in upheaval, and even a stodgy old institution like the Justice League could suddenly be "hip".
O'Neil's plots are just as gimmicky (and sometimes credulity-straining) as his predecessor Gardner Fox. But he's a little more concerned with developing the characters (especially Arrow and Canary, who's budding romance becomes a running sub-plot). He also brings in a dollop of social commentary, which, while clearly heartfelt, often comes off as heavy-handed and awkward. Even for the target audience of kids, a villain named "Chokh" who spreads pollution wherever he goes is a bit on-the-nose. But other villains are much more effective: The two-part story featuring Aquarius, a powerful "living star" with a twisted and childlike personality, is genuinely creepy as he toys with the heroes and threatens to destroy the world on a whim. One thing O'Neil really excels at is giving a sense of high stakes, making it feel like even these powerful heroes are really sweating it out to save the day.
If you didn't grow up with these stories, you may find them too corny and camp. But there's fun to be had here, on the cusp of the 1970s, when the whole world seemed to be in upheaval, and even a stodgy old institution like the Justice League could suddenly be "hip".
July 22, 2015
Volume 9 in the Justice League of America Archives holds a special place in my heart, simply because it opens with the very first comic book story I ever read as a kid, and contains a two-parter featuring my favorite super-hero, the original Vigilante.
This volume was the beginning of the more radicalized sixties stories in the series, as Denny O'Neil took over the scripting, and Dick Dillin started his epic run as the penciller on the title. The stories are nothing to write home about, but they are a bit important to the JLA mythos, as Black Canary joins the team, Snapper Carr betrays them, and the JLA moves to their satellite headquarters for the first time. The Black Canary move is part of the JLA-JSA team-up in which her husband dies.
It's a nice book if you like sixties super-heroes, but don't expect Marvel quality dialogue quite yet; it took awhile for DC to get believably angst-ridden in their stories.
This volume was the beginning of the more radicalized sixties stories in the series, as Denny O'Neil took over the scripting, and Dick Dillin started his epic run as the penciller on the title. The stories are nothing to write home about, but they are a bit important to the JLA mythos, as Black Canary joins the team, Snapper Carr betrays them, and the JLA moves to their satellite headquarters for the first time. The Black Canary move is part of the JLA-JSA team-up in which her husband dies.
It's a nice book if you like sixties super-heroes, but don't expect Marvel quality dialogue quite yet; it took awhile for DC to get believably angst-ridden in their stories.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews