All Star Comics - Archives, Volume 11 (Archive Editions)
Grade 7 Up–In early years, the Justice League was called the Justice Society, and Green Lantern, Hawkman, Atom, Flash, and the rest of its members lived openly in society and were called on to aid authorities whenever needed. This title is the last in a series of bound volumes reissued by DC Comics. The Society goes to a college graduation and meets up with Mr. Alpha, a science wizard who uses his understanding of all things technical to wreak havoc. There are many interesting episodes contained here, such as men made of diamonds who are nearly impossible to fight. Also, an amusing scene has Hawkman and Atom travel back in time and end up in a gladiator ring, and when they refuse to kill the startled battlers, the emperor gets so mad he runs down from the stands to attack them himself. Early comics are good because the story and language are so dated that they seem refreshing, and no comics reader thinks that heroes saying Great gosh! is poor writing. Some readers may dislike the stylized renderings of all square-jawed men and narrow-waisted women. Also, the hand-colored panels may take some getting used to or possibly turn off browsers, since the less sophisticated artwork is really noticeable with a first look. Retro comics are great titles for pleasure-reading patrons who tire of contemporary moral ambivalence. Get this for a change of pace in your comics collection.–John Leighton, Brooklyn Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.