2010 Reading #38: Justice League of America, Volume 3
Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
31. Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley.
32. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.
33. Justice League of America, Volume 2 by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, et al.
34. Killer Princesses by Gail Simone and Lea Hernandez.
35. Michael Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, Volume 1 by Michael Chabon, Kevin McCarthy, Glen David Gold, Howard Chaykin, Bill Sienkewicz, etc.
36. Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn by Robert Holdstock.
37. Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800 by Jeff Sypeck.
38. Justice League of America, Volume 3 by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, Carmine Infantino, et al. Really, the story here is JLA #37, where Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt from Earth-2 is taken over by the Johnny Thunder from Earth-1, a petty crook who first erases the JLA from existence by sending the Thunderbolt back in time to prevent their origin stories from taking place, then slips members of his gang into their places to gain their super-powers. Note that in at least some cases--Superman, Batman, the Martian Manhunter--this makes absolutely no sense; standing in the spot where lightning struck Barry Allen's lab to get the Flash's power, sure, but how exactly does replacing an alien with a human give him that alien's powers? And Batman . . . I don't even know where to start. And yet. This issue was in a box of comics that my uncles had left in my grandparents' house, and I used to read it over and over again, and it's so ridiculous that it's awesome. What's more, it was part one of a two-part story, and until I read this volume I never knew how the Justice Society (from Earth-2) managed to save the JLA. If I needed to explain, though, why I like superheroes and comic books, that issue would be part of the answer, because it has alternate earths, team-ups, ridiculous humor, and a replacement Batman with enough stubble to scour every pan in an aircraft carrier mess hall.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
31. Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley.
32. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.
33. Justice League of America, Volume 2 by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, et al.
34. Killer Princesses by Gail Simone and Lea Hernandez.
35. Michael Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, Volume 1 by Michael Chabon, Kevin McCarthy, Glen David Gold, Howard Chaykin, Bill Sienkewicz, etc.
36. Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn by Robert Holdstock.
37. Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800 by Jeff Sypeck.
38. Justice League of America, Volume 3 by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, Carmine Infantino, et al. Really, the story here is JLA #37, where Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt from Earth-2 is taken over by the Johnny Thunder from Earth-1, a petty crook who first erases the JLA from existence by sending the Thunderbolt back in time to prevent their origin stories from taking place, then slips members of his gang into their places to gain their super-powers. Note that in at least some cases--Superman, Batman, the Martian Manhunter--this makes absolutely no sense; standing in the spot where lightning struck Barry Allen's lab to get the Flash's power, sure, but how exactly does replacing an alien with a human give him that alien's powers? And Batman . . . I don't even know where to start. And yet. This issue was in a box of comics that my uncles had left in my grandparents' house, and I used to read it over and over again, and it's so ridiculous that it's awesome. What's more, it was part one of a two-part story, and until I read this volume I never knew how the Justice Society (from Earth-2) managed to save the JLA. If I needed to explain, though, why I like superheroes and comic books, that issue would be part of the answer, because it has alternate earths, team-ups, ridiculous humor, and a replacement Batman with enough stubble to scour every pan in an aircraft carrier mess hall.