JLA/Avengers

Back when DC Comics and Marvel Comics were on speaking terms, there were crossovers. From Superman/Spider-Man to Batman/Hulk and even X-Men/New Teen Titans, each one was a major success that made readers hungry for more.

The next step was obvious, JLA/Avengers.

Unfortunately, it took decades to be released due to company politics, but it was well worth the wait.
Written by Astro City and Marvels‘ Kurt Busiek and drawn by the the legendary artist who brought us Crisis on Infinite Earths George Perez, JLA/Avengers was initially released in for installments. Ironically I wasn’t into super hero comics when it first hit the stands but by the time I was interested in that kind of all out blockbuster action, I purchased the deluxe hardcover edition. However, the over-sized edition was both limited and pricey, leading many to do without. This week a reasonably priced trade paperback edition was released and hopefully more readers will have the opportunity to see what a grand experiment JLA/Avengers really is.

Not just a slam-bang action comic, this cross-over also analyzes the differences in tone and philosophy inherent in each universe. Because of their differences, the JLA and Avengers hate each other upon first meeting (par for the course for any cross-over), with Captain America and Superman taking a particular dislike to each other. Aside from the bigger than life battles with Starro and Terminus, the four issues also have nice little moments, such as Batman dispatching the Punisher off-panel and fighting Captain America to a stand-off before realizing that they are too evenly matched. It still makes me chuckle to see both heroes pause in mid-fight and start talking, then retire to the Bat Cave to find out how their universes collided.

Perez really shines in this series and with so many locations and characters to draw, the book is a visual feast. Honestly, I was kicking myself for ever sticking my nose up at this series and taking so long to pick it up. If you yearn for simpler times and have fond memories of Perez on both JLA and Avengers, this book belongs in your collection.

Available at your local comic shop and at Amazon: JLA/Avengers (DC and Marvel Comics)

Kurt Busiek writes DC Comics’ Trinity… plus other news

Another weekly comic book series from DC Comics? It looks that way.

Word is that the co-creator of Astro City (and writer of the under-rated Aquaman series) is joined by Ultimate Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley on the new weekly showcase series that features the ‘Big Three’ of Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman.

While this sounds interesting, to be frank I was shocked by this tidbit:

To make room for the massive project, Busiek is leaving “Superman” following #675 to be replaced by popular British scribe James Dale Robinson (“The Golden Age” and “Starman”).

Not only did I forget that the co-creator of the excellent Starman series was still alive (shame on me), but I had no idea he was using his middle name these days.

Maybe I should start using mine again? But Hildebrandt has a mixed reaction.

Seriously, I know that I am not alone in my extreme fanboy love for Starman which was printed at just the right time to bring new excitement to super hero comics in a novel way. Robinson is sure to bring new readers to Superman and I hope continue the wave of greatness that Busiek and Pacheco brought to the title (Not only was Camelot Falls a great storyline, but it featured Arion!).

I wait with a bated subscription.

As soon as the title ‘Trinity’ was announced, there has been speculation that it is tied into the rumored Godlike status of the Big Three superheros of Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman. Bu t scribe Busiek put that rumor to rest:

“Clearly, Superman is the father, Wonder Woman is son and Batman is the Holy Ghost,” laughed Busiek. “Yes, first we will start with the ‘Song of Solomon’ but it will be the ‘Sound of Solomon Grundy.’

“No, ‘Death of the New Gods’ is one of the series that is leading into ‘Final Crisis.’ ‘Trinity’ is not ‘Final Crisis’ related. It is a relatively self-contained story that follows its own track. It’s part of the DC Universe, but it’s not one thread in the giant plot structure that is a big event. It is its own story. It has a beginning, a middle and an ending. There will be repercussions, yes. It has new characters that are introduced that I sure hope will spin off into their own mini-series or series or things like that, but it’s not leading to ‘Final Crisis 2: This Time It’s Personal.’

Since his debut in the pages of JLA, I’ve been a huge Kurt Busiek fan. I’m very curious to see how this new series pans out.