Traitors and Pawns - Justice League (New 52) volume 4 The Grid

Review:

From a recruitment drive to battles between three Justice Leagues, ending with the appearance of the Crime Syndicate of Earth-3, this volume packs loads of characters into a tight space. Beyond the Justice League regulars, we get Firestorm, Element Woman, Zatanna, Madam Xanadu, Martian Manhunter, Shazam and many more. Bring a DC Characters Bingo card!

Author Geoff Johns covers a lot of ground in this tale too, and switches between dark and creepy on one hand, to light and flippant and finally to intense, from deep bonds of trust to the broken trust when a mole in the Justice League betrays and nearly destroys them.

The grand battles that ensue give Ivan Reis a workout on pencils. The results are engrossing and compelling, a series of grand tableaus crackling with visual power. Other pencillers rotate in for a chapter here and there, barely noticeable though with so many different characters.

As big and intriguing as this story is, there are some holes that will hopefully be filled in by future issues. Who broke into the Batcave and stole the Kryptonite ring? It is much discussed but never explained. Cyborg's transformation into the Grid, the title of this collection, should be a shattering event yet it comes and goes almost without remark. An entire Pandora's Box subplot leads into Justice League of America actively working against the main Justice League. Almost too much to keep track of.

I particularly enjoyed the discussions of abuse of absolute power, which is a central theme to the whole Injustice project with its titles, books and video games. It is less central here, but we hear it in Batman's necessary precautions and in the little boxes he keeps on each League teammate - an identification of their weaknesses and how to exploit them. But why is Wonder Woman's box empty?

Ultimately the vast number of characters and ideas packed into so small a space becomes more bewildering than satisfying.

Description:

The event that the New 52 has been building towards since the beginning! #1 New York Times best-selling writer Geoff Johns (GREEN LANTERN, BATMAN: EARTH ONE) brings together almost two years of plot threads for an epic tale that will forever change the shape of the DC Universe. When the three Justice Leagues go to war with one another, who's side will everyone be on? Allies will be born, friends will become enemies and the DC Universe will never be the same.

Collects: JUSTICE LEAGUE #18-23

Authors: Geoff Johns
Artists: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Jesus Saiz, Oclair Albert
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: April 8 2014
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401247171
Pages: 176 pages

From the Congo to the Trench - Justice League vol 3 Throne of Atlantis

Review:

This book can barely contain the powerful images by the team of three talented artists. The action, emotion and dynamism of movements fill these pages and draw us in. A dozen or more pages here are worthy of full-poster treatment.

Tony S. Daniel pencils the opening two-parter, focused on Wonder Woman and her desire to reform, or at least help, the Cheetah. The story is book-ended by the growing romantic relationship between Wonder Woman and Superman. We see their first kiss, a "visit the parents" type of trip to Smallville, a dinner date and more. The side story of their time in Smallville is tremendous! Author Geoff Johns puts into just a handful of words and panels the most fundamental differences between Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman - one prefers to have the trust of the good guys, another the fear of the bad guys. Perfect!

In between these sweet and romantic asides, we find a ferocious series of battles with the Cheetah. Wonder Woman reluctantly accepts the help of the Justice League, and they travel to the Congo. Once there, Geoff Johns gives us a wonderful new take on Cheetah's origin story. Overall, this is a furious and sexy two-parter.

The rest of the book is the eponymous Throne of Atlantis tale. This collection smartly includes all parts of the cross-over story, the three Justice League and two Aquaman chapters. It gives the reader a full and coherent tale of family politics, trench monsters and the destruction and death caused by massive flooding of Gotham, Metropolis and Boston.

The art is again fantastic, with Ivan Reis and Paul Pelletier alternating chapters. Both fill the pages with beautifully rendered water and flood pages especially, giving them a believable fluidity, and solid work on the monsters from the deep.

Johns does not shy away from dramatic character developments either, most notably Cyborg's sacrifice of his one remaining lung in order to save his teammates. And the powerful conclusion, the final confrontation between Aquaman and his brother Orm, gives this a deeply moving and tragic finale.

Two amazing stories in one volume, with powerful art and strong storytelling.

Description:

When Atlantis is struck by a U.S. Naval missile gone awry, Atlantis—led by Aquaman's brother Ocean Master—attacks the East Coast of the United States flooding its major cities such as Boston, Metropolis, Gotham City and several others.

The Justice League comes together to help Aquaman turn back the tide, but they soon learn that they are woefully overmatched by the Atlantean Army, and must find a way to save the world from total annihilation.

Collects: Justice League #13-17 and Aquaman #15-16

Authors: Geoff Johns
Artists: Ivan Reis, Paul Pelletier
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: April 8 2014
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401246983
Pages: 192 pages

Blood and Brains: Teen Titans vol 4 - When Titans Fall

 

Review:

Our beloved teens grow up fast in this somber conclusion to the 2014-2016 ongoing series. Fugitives no more, they continue to struggle to find their place in the world, and in their relationships. Things turn even darker and more fragile in the Annual #2 story, a battle with Sister Blood that leaves the group wrestling with whether or not to break up and go their separate ways. Then the foreboding and sense of doom reaches its climax with the death of Tim Drake / Red Robin. The events around his death are not in these stories, but the wake following the funeral is full of emotional swings, memories and grieving.

Writer Tony Bedard gave us the main story arc, with Ian Churchill and Miguel Mendonca alternating chapters on the art side. With Monsieur Mallah and the Brain using mind control in a two-parter, followed by a battle of wits with the H.I.V.E. Queen and her mind-control takeover of New Orleans, their battles demand team-wide mental protection from Raven, a taxing ask. The bromance between the Brain and Monsieur Mallah adds lightness to this book, but Bedard moves us quickly into the darker chapters. Despite its potential, I found the facile resolution of the battle with the H.I.V.E. Queen to be a letdown of a promising direction.

The alternating art duties works well, with each of Churchill and Mendonca showing a distinct enough style to keep their own work distinct, while overlapping enough that nothing is lost. Churchill's work in the series finale especially stands out, with the tough emotions of grief that the characters must wrestle with throughout. Most amazing is his fashion-work, with Raven's gorgeous Gothic outfit.

As much as Brains take center stage in the final issues of the series, Blood is central in the Annual. Sister Blood uses a synthetic modification of Beast Boy's blood and distributes it as illicit drugs at a night club. The result is the beautiful dancing couples are quickly replaced by chaotic green animals panicking. Cory Smith handles the art duties for the Annual and gives it a hot, sexy, crowded club feel. The tale suffers from inconsistent behaviors and choices from Red Robin, although it is surely setting up the series conclusion.

As dark and gritty as is the wind-down of this fifth Teen Titans series, the Rebirth tale at the end starts the swing back toward fun. Damian Wayne / Robin gathers together a new team, in fun, clever and unique ways. While this is a downer conclusion to this edition, the Rebirth looks very promising!

Description:

The Teen Titans should be keeping a low profile. After all, a misunderstanding has left them wanted criminals, on the run from the law. But when Red Robin, Beast Boy, Wonder Girl, Raven, Power Girl and Bunker see people that need saving—whether it’s from a rampaging French gorilla or a designer drug that turns them into mindless beasts—they spring into action. That’s what being a Teen Titan is all about.

Unfortunately, if you’re a metahuman who’s a wanted criminal, you’re going to find yourself in Amanda Waller’s crosshairs! The master manipulator wants the Teen Titans for her Suicide Squad, and she’s determined to prove that the Titans are just as dangerous as her hardened criminals.

But if the only thing keeping these heroes from becoming outlaws is when the Titans stand together, what happens when one of their own pays the ultimate price? Is this the end of the Teen Titans as we know them?

Writers Tony Bedard (SUPERGIRL) and Scott Lobdell (RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS) and artists Ian Churchill (THE RAVAGERS) and Miguel Mendonça (WONDER WOMAN) set the stage for the rebirth of the Teen Titans…by tearing the team apart!

Collects: TEEN TITANS #20-24, TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #2 and a special preview of TEEN TITANS: REBIRTH #1

Authors: Tony Bedard, Scott Lobdell
Artists: Ian Churchill, Miguel Mendonca
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Feb. 7, 2017
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401269777

Teens on the Run: Teen Titans volume 3 - The Sum of its Parts

 

Review:

This volume, which collects issues #14-19 of the ongoing series, picks up immediately following the prison break-in that capped the Superboy story arc of volume 2. And it starts with a bang, a spectacular break from custody and battle with the cocky and over-confident Alpha Centurion.

As fugitives, the team passes through a range of locations - Pennsylvania, Gotham, Chicago, Virginia and beyond. They overlap with the Robins War happening in various Bat-related DC titles; they face down Professor Pyg and his gruesome surgeries (images that are definitely not for young children!); they battle Durlan soldiers, come to Earth to reclaim Chimera; and at last they travel internationally for a deep-dive into Wonder Girl's past.

It is this multi-part Wonder Girl tale that takes the prize in this group. Greg Pak blends teen struggles and fears with demigod mythology and swirls it all together into a potent mix. It reaches its climax in an almost unbearable choice for Wonder Girl to make. Wonder Woman guest-stars, and exudes such easy strength and maturity, in stark contrast to the teenaged volatility and confusion.

Ian Churchill does a great job with the age differences between Teen Titans and Wonder Woman. Her visual confidence, strength, experience and wisdom shines through in every panel. As with the storytelling, his visuals create a superb contrast to the energy-filled struggles among the youth, and especially their naivety and lack of strategic thinking.

Teens on the run will not stay an interesting plotline for ever, and Red Robin's and Wonder Girl's behaviors are most frustrating, as they struggle to cope with the "adult" world, but this book overall holds up very well in this series of tales.

Description:

A WORLD AGAINST THEM

The Teen Titans were the greatest team of young heroes ever assembled. Now, in the eyes of millions, they’re heroes no more.

After the shocking revelations about Superboy shook the team to its core, they’re divided amongst themselves and hunted by the outside world. Their leader, Red Robin, is more isolated than ever—even as a legion of idealistic but dangerously untested young people takes to the streets of Gotham City, using his identity as an emblem for revolution.

To survive as outlaws, the Titans will have to come together as never before and count on the help of unlikely allies—including former Batman protégé the Red Hood, no stranger to outlaws himself. And if they make it through, even more stunning secrets await them…

Writers Will Pfeifer (RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS), Scott Lobdell (SUPERBOY) and Greg Pak (ACTION COMICS) join a talented team of artists including Ian Churchill (SUPERGIRL), Miguel Mendonça (WONDER WOMAN) and more for TEEN TITANS VOL. 3: THE SUM OF ITS PARTS—a thrilling chapter that takes the team from Gotham City to Themyscira and beyond!

Collects: Teen Titans #14-19

Authors: Scott Lobdell, Greg Pak, Will Pfeifer
Artists: Ian Churchill, Miguel Mendonça
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Aug. 30 2016
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401265205
Pages: 144 pages

Friendship Dedication and Drama: Teen Titans vol 2 Rogue Targets

Review:

Welcome back, Kon.

Just when the Teen Titans have reached the pinnacle of fame and social influence - Beast Boy hosting a comedy TV show, Bunker planning a reality series, Raven in tight with a metal rock band, Wonder Girl and her posse of empowered vigilante fangirls - Kon aka Superboy comes back and spoils it all.

Did he really kill dozens of innocent civilians in broad daylight? The world thinks so. So, too, do Martian Manhunter, Manchester Black and S.T.A.R. Labs. Red Robin, however, stands by his friend, showing a fierce loyalty that splits the Titans into warring factions.

Wonder Girl and Power Girl join Black and his Elite, a secret squad of meta-humans, to track down and capture both Superboy and the Teen Titans. We get a book full of high drama, friendships, broken relationships and of course violence, as the scene shifts from Chicago to Metropolis and its Supermax prison for super-villains.

With the villain Harvest pulling the strings behind the scenes, and Doctor Psycho plotting evil from within the Supermax prison, it's desperate times for our fractured team.

Will Pfeifer's storytelling is tight, guiding us through some convoluted shifts in direction. He centers on Red Robin, as the team leader and best friend of Kon, themes that run through nearly every page. Overall, it is an effort to bridge some unpopular twists in Teen Titans continuity, keeping elements like Harvest and Bart Allen, while ignoring or sweeping past some of the more forgettable bits. He mostly succeeds at threading that needle.

Kenneth Rocafort is the standout artist in these tales, as he continues to dazzle with his innovative panel flows and use of white space on the page. He is joined by other artists for occasional chapters, but his pages are so filled with breathtaking visuals and clever artistic touches that they rise above the rest.

Description:

Writer Will Pfeifer (CATWOMAN) and artists including Kenneth Rocafort (SUPERMAN) and Alisson Borges (BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT GENESIS) turn the Titans’ world upside down!

After saving New York City from a nuclear bomb, the Teen Titans are more famous than ever. TV appearances, reality shows, tribute bands—the sky’s the limit for the country’s favorite teenage superheroes!

But when their former teammate Superboy appears out of nowhere, public opinion does a fast 180. It looks to the world like Kon-El is responsible for a senseless mass murder, and even Kon himself can’t remember what really happened. Superboy turns to his friends for help, but not all the Titans are ready to put their blind faith in the Kryptonian clone.

Soon, it’s Titan against Titan as they struggle to find the truth. With the team fractured and their attention divided, will they be able to see the bigger picture? Or will the mysterious threat manipulating their loyalties from the shadows get the best of the Teen Titans?

Collects: TEEN TITANS #8-13, ANNUAL #1 and DC SNEAK PEEK: TEEN TITANS #1

Authors: Will Pfeifer, Tom King, Scott Lobdell
Artists: Kenneth Rocafort
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: March 15 2016
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401261627
Pages: 192 pages

Spectacular Start in an Awkward Space - Teen Titans volume 1 - Blinded By the Light

 

Review:

These Titans are connected. They're social. They're urban. They're fearless. Most of all, they are definitely teens.

Writer Will Pfeifer spins a pair of multi-issue tales of these Teen Titans, and gives a central place to their obsession with social media, friendships, romantic attractions and grudges, and of course struggles with authority figures. We have Red Robin, Beast Boy, Bunker, Wonder Girl and Raven at the start, and pick up Power Girl along the way.

In the opener, the eponymous 'Blinded By the Light' tale, they must prevent an assault on S.T.A.R. Labs. But even as they save the day, there are lingering doubts - have they been played for naive youths and manipulated?

The threats to S.T.A.R. Labs continue in the 'Human Resources' story. The Titans accept M_____ Black's invitation to join forces with him and his offer of more resources. But in exchange for what, exactly?

The story arcs are fun, and the characters and their relation ships are once again a central strength of the Teen Titans. Kudos to Pfeifer for that! Other threads i these tales feel tangled. This is the fifth ongoing series of Teen Titans, and it is squeezed awkwardly between Scott Lobdell's New 52 run and the coming reboot and universe-wide Rebirth. As a result, as the tales unfold, readers cannot be blamed for being confused about how characters and situations fit into the very recent continuity we've been reading about.

Kenneth Rockafort did the art duties for five of the seven chapters in this collection, and what stunning pages he gives us! The visuals are worth the price by themselves. They are so filled with power, emotion an draw energy. His panels often flow in a dynamic, non-linear sequence across the pages, yet it is all exquisitely done, adding punch without the least confusion. Gorgeous pages!

Description:

Red Robin, Wonder Girl, Raven, Bunker and Beast Boy step out of the shadows of the adult heroes of the DC Universe to offer bold, exciting and sometime dangerous ideas on how to protect a world full of superpowered teenagers--any one of whom could be the next heroic figure or major villain!

This exciting new chapter in the teen heroes' mythos starts here in TEEN TITANS VOL. 1, written by Will Pfeifer (CATWOMAN) and illustrated by Kenneth Rocafort (SUPERMAN, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS)

Collects: TEEN TITANS #1-7

Authors: Will Pfeifer
Artists: Kenneth Rocafort, Scott Hepburn, Dan Brown
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Aug. 11 2015
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401252373
Pages: 176 pages

Judgmental Eyes; Blue Beetle (Rebirth) v2 Hard Choices

 

Review:

Jaime Reyes gets his wish fulfilled in this book. Except it comes through the mystical intervention of Arion, the twisted and evil former ruler of old Atlantis. Arion wants the scarab for himself. Once he succeeds in prying it free, his power rises to astounding new levels, dwarfing and defeating an over-arrogant Dr Fate. Arion threatens to rain judgment down upon El Paso first, then the whole world.

Arion is not the only one making judgments in these chapters. Ted Kord, the previous Blue Beetle, continues to evaluate and mentor Jaime Reyes, the current Beetle, and his youthful but raw super heroic prowess. Doctor Fate is dismissive of all comers. And most intriguingly Batman comes to El Paso to pass his own judgment on Jaime and his potential as Blue Beetle. His concern is all the higher due to his scorn for Kord's own time and service as Beetle.

Can the now powerless Jaime don the old Blue Beetle armor and save the day?

Keith Giffen is joined by artist Scott Kolins and comics-writing legend J. M. DeMatteis (long-time contributor to Justice League, Superman and Spider-man titles) to tell this fascinating tale of heroic coming-of-age. They find a beautiful balance of teen angst and relationships, on-the-job learning and mentorship, and of course threats to individuals, family, city and the whole world. It's a wild ride, with lots of humor in the midst of the battle royale.

Kolins's art crackles with energy. From Fate's mystical poses to Blue Beetle's sometimes strong and sometimes awkward stances, to Arion's shifting body and size, the art jumps off the page.

This book continues a fascinating rebirth of Blue Beetle, blending much that fans loved in the Ted Kord version with a young Latino hero and all his teen challenges.

Description:

Jaime Reyes is more than your average high schooler. When he’s not awkwardly talking to girls and taking tests, he happens to be a superhero. With the powers granted to him by his bond with the mysterious Scarab, Jaime takes on evil as the legendary crime-fighter known as Blue Beetle!

But that all changes when an ancient evil has come to Jaime’s home city of El Paso to take possession of the Scarab...and use it to turn the world into a deadly hellscape! Now, without his powers, Jaime has to leave saving the world up to his more powerful friends, like Doctor Fate, OMAC and even his mentor, Ted Kord.

Will Jaime be able to step up and become the hero he’s meant to be, even without his powers? Find out in the next chapter the DC Rebirth series BLUE BEETLE VOL. 2: HARD CHOICES.

Collects: Blue Beetle #6-12

Authors: Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis
Artists: Scott Kolins
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Jan. 2, 2018
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401275075
Pages: 168 pages

The Life of a Busy Meta-Teen: Blue Beetle (Rebirth) v1 The More Things Change

 

Review:

This ongoing Blue Beetle series is, amazingly, the ninth such series of this name in comics history. By the time it started in 2015, the second Beetle (Ted Kord) and third Beetle (Jaime Reyes) had developed a long and convoluted history. In this Rebirth, Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins share story credits and use their teamwork to weave together the best and most fun strands of that history and the Kord and Reyes runs as Blue Beetle.

The alien scarab is there, although intriguingly reimagined as magic-based rather than alien tech. The Mexican American lived experience of Reyes and his friends and family is front and center, much like in the 2023 film. Although if you are coming to these books after seeing the film, note that in this series Reyes is about 5 years younger than the movie version, and his high school and teen relationship challenges get as prominent play here as the family dynamics. Ted Kord and his flying bug and oversized goggles are here, at least in the background, along with his flippant humor and charm,

Kord provides guidance and mentoring in the heroic ways to young Jaime, and it is not always appreciated. Kord also brings the resources to better analyze the extent of the symbiotic scarab-human union. It's a side of Kord we've not seen before - rich, powerful business leader mixed with mentor to youth, and it sits a bit awkwardly atop the goofy jokester hero of the 1990s Justice League era.

There's lots of meta-human brawling here - the super-powered gang The Posse are alternately enemies and uneasy friends to Jaime; magical Mordecai nearly steals the scarab; Dr Fate is also at the margins.

But it's the humanity that gives the book its punch. Jaime's youthfulness, his ever-squabbling friends; high school gossip; parent troubles, who has time to be Blue Beetle when life is so full of other complications?

Overall, this is a very fun and fresh take on Blue Beetle.

Description:

Bonded to the Blue Beetle Scarab, teenager Jamie Reyes has no idea what he's doing with one of the most powerful weapons in the universe. But he's in luck, because his predecessor--Ted Kord--is back in the DC Universe and here to serve as the young hero's mentor! Alongside fellow teen hero Doctor Fate, this duo will have to learn how to be heroes on the fly!

Written by the legendary Keith Giffen (LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES) and illustrated by Scott Kolins (THE FLASH), Blue Beetle is back for a new generation as a part of DC Rebirth! Collects BLUE BEETLE: REBIRTH #1, BLUE BEETLE #1-5.

Rebirth honors the richest history in comics, while continuing to look towards the future. These are the most innovative and modern stories featuring the world's greatest superheroes, told by some of the finest storytellers in the business.

Honoring the past, protecting our present, and looking towards the future. This is the next chapter in the ongoing saga of the DC Universe.  The legacy continues.

Collects: Blue Beetle #1-5 and Blue Beetle: Rebirth #1

Authors: Keith Giffen
Artists: Scott Kolins
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: May 16, 2017
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401268688
Pages: 144 pages

The New and the Old - The Brave and the Bold: Demons and Dragons

 

Review:

Mark Waid knows a thing or two about team-ups, and this collection brings to a close his run on DC's premier team-up book, The Brave and the Bold. As his final four chapters made for a rather thin TPB collection, he selected three older team-up stories, two from his own pen a decade previously, and one by Alan Bennett, whom Waid credits with being a major influence on his own approach to writing.

In the first chapter (#13), Batman and the Jay Garrick Flash must stop T.O. Morrow's Samuroids, stealthy samurai androids, from assassinating Bruce Wayne. In Waid's hands, there is a naturalness to Jay's fatherly bits of wisdom that even Batman can appreciate. The top single image has to be Jerry Ordway's angry Penguin on page 7!

Chapters two and three pair Green Arrow with Deadman, then add in Nightwing and Hawkman. They must stop Anuttara and his Ghost Army. The mix of intense heroes with more flippant ones presents some narrative tensions, and the horrific torture sequence of Green Arrow makes this definitely for Teen+ readers.

Waid's final chapter brings Superman to Gotham, where he teams with Catwoman to thwart an auction sale that would lead to an army of Clayfaces. Waid really plays up the differences between Superman and the absent Batman, as Catwoman, Commissioner Gordon and others note. Scott Kolins has a wonderfully adaptive art style, and he fluidly shifts to meet the narrative needs.

The most remarkable older tales included in the collection are Alan Bennett's story of Hawk and Dove, teaming with Batman, and the tensions between Peace and War that lead to shocking developments. I see why Bennett would become such a strong influence on a young aspiring writer, it is a compelling story. And Waid's own story, a goofy team up between Impulse and Zatanna, complete with highly stylized art by Humberto Ramos. Zatanna has seldom looked so tall, lean and leggy.

Description:

Collects: The Brave and the Bold (volume 2) #13-16 and (volume 1) #161, The Flash (volume 3) #107 and Impulse #17

Authors: Mark Waid
Artists: 
Published By: 
Published When: 
Parental Rating: 
ISBN: 
Pages: 

Brave and the Bold 3: Dragons and Demons Paperback – April 6 2010

by  (Author)

Bursting with the high-octane sense of adventure that powered classic superhero team-ups in the Silver Age, BRAVE AND THE BOLD pairs A-list characters from all walks of life for unforgettable, out-of-this-world stories. In this collection, written by KINGDOM COME writer Mark Waid, Batman teams with the Golden Age Flash while Nightwing, Hawkman Green Arrow and Deadman battle a siege on the mystical haven known as Nanda Parbat. And look out for appearances by Superman and Catwoman, too!

Or from the back:

Batman. Flash. Deadman. Green Arrow. Nightwing. Hawkman. Catwoman. Superman.

They may be dedicated to the fight against evil, but some of the DC Universe's greatest heroes don't have much more in common than that.

Tge irugubak Fkash, Jay Garrick, has inspired a legacy of heroes bearing his mantle - but Batman believes there can be only one Dark Knight - and he is no role model.

Green Arrow wages a no-nonsense, one-man war for justice on the streets of gritty Star City - but the wisecracking Deadman takes a lighter approach as he battles in the surreal world of spirits.

Nightwing is a born leader whose years of training and friendly disposition made him one of the world's  most trusted heroes - but Hawkman is a commander who soars on the strength of his take-no-prisoners personality and brute force.

Superman is the ultimate hero who fights for truth, justice and teh American way - but Catwoman’s herioc deeds are tainted by her exploits as a thief.

Can this diverse - and conflicting - assortment of heroes work together to stop the demons, dragons and other evildoers who want to put them all out of commission?

Publisher ‏ : ‎ DC Comics (April 6 2010)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 168 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1401221912

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1401221911