Hey all,

I'm looking for a rec of a really good JLA comic I can pass to some of our vendors who may not be as familiar with the property. If there was one JLA graphic novel to read that is both entertaining and informative, what would it be?

ToyGuru

You can't go wrong with these two. they're the beginnings of two of the most definitive versions of JLA



info from DC Comics

Depends. How broad of a JLA story/cast are you looking for.

Classic team Modern take. Grant Morrison revived the classic team in 1996. his entire run of JLA has been collected into trade paperbacks you can get at places like Barnes & Nobel.

http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?cat=DC+COMICS

» JLA VOL. 1: NEW WORLD ORDER Softcover
Start with this one first. Really sets up the team. An alien invasion story.
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1378

if they want more, suggest the following follow ups
» JLA VOL. 2: AMERICAN DREAMS Softcover
New members, new allies
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1382

» JLA VOL. 3: ROCK OF AGES Softcover
A massive story with 2 other stories shoved in the middle.
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1383

» JLA VOL. 4: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Softcover
The team expands to twice its size.
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1384

» JLA VOL. 5: JUSTICE FOR ALL Softcover
The original superteam the Justice Society is remembered.
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1385

somewhere in here, timewise, there is another story told in
» JLA: ONE MILLION Softcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=3760

and one more stuck in the middle but timewise I do not know when.
» JLA: EARTH 2 Softcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1395

» JLA VOL. 6: WORLD WAR III Softcover
This is it. The finale that all the other pieces have been building towards.
The other stories are complete in themselves, but here pieces of earlier plots are brought to light once more and the whole becomes bigger than each of the parts.
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1386

These 8 books would definitively give them a picture of the JLA.

One more thing. It might be a little confusing, but you should let them know that the cast has changed over the years. There are characters who are almost always members, but even then, the person inside the costume can change.

Case in point 1. The Green Lantern in the above stories is neither Hal Jordan who many of us grew up with nor John Stewart who was used in the JLU cartoon. In fact 4 different characters have served as Green Lantern in the Justice League across its almost 50 year history.

Case in point 2. Green Arrow served with the JLA from 1960 thru 1982. he's never been a member since except in a short lived offshoot group a few years back. his son, a second Green Arrow was a member briefly (books 2 and 3 above). his sidekick, Red Arrow is currently a member.

Case in point 3. Supergirl was a big part of the JLU cartoon but was never a member in the comics.

What do you mean by rec?

It all depends on the JLA era you are looking to showcase.

If you are interested in the more classic stuff, you could give 'em the Justice League Archives or the JLA Showcase, though that stuff is considered pretty old fashioned.

There's no collection of the Perez issues, are there? Maybe DC should correct that.

The Morrison era stuff (particularly Rock of Ages - vol 3 and Strength in Numbers - vol 4) seems to be what excites people the most.

The current issues (the Dwayne McDuffy run) are shaping up to be pretty fun, "classic" JLA action. You could always send those.

the original Justice League of America #200 (actually JLofA #184-200 are GREAT)

JLA: Year One too.

JLA Year one is very good! As is the tower of babble

The other thing you could do is use books such as these when buyers ask you 'Why is Superman in an electric blue and white costume?' or 'Who is Firestorm?' A book might make them more receptive to the idea.

I submit a few more for consideration.

The next two are sort of a pair.
» JLA: SECRET ORIGINS Softcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1399
This is a collection of 2 page origin stories for DC's main characters.
» JLA: LIBERTY AND JUSTICE Softcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1397
This is the JLA adventure capitolizing on the Origin book.

» THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA HEREBY ELECTS… Softcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=6457
a group of stories from the Silver Age to the bronze age which showcases new members joining the team.

Or if you are looking for an animated style, I found this.
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES VOL. 1: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Softcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=3911
or this.
» JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED VOL. 1: UNITED THEY STAND Softcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=3011

The most modern and current version of the team is packaged so far in hard cover only.
» JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOL. 1: THE TORNADO'S PATH Hardcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=7162
» JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOL. 2: THE LIGHTNING SAGA Hardcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=8534

I would be remiss for not mentioning Alex Ross's painted "Justice". This is only available in hardcover, so is more pricely, and in 3 parts, so the story is not complete in one book. That may be an issue.
» JUSTICE VOL. 1 Hardcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=5802
» JUSTICE VOL. 2 Hardcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=6450
» JUSTICE VOL. 3 Hardcover
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=7824

I apologize if this is more information than you need, I'm just trying to be thorough. My vote goes to the one I highlighted in blue in my earlier post above and the pair in here.purple

My favorite JLA storyline is The Tower of Babel http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1387

The JLU tpbs are pretty good too--quick reads as well.
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=3011
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=4991
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=4992

Though I think if I had only one book with which to try to convince someone of the coolness of the JLA: I would go with JLA/JSA Virtue and Vice
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1391

I think you will find that Dwayne McDuffy's current run is probably the closest comic you will find to the JLU cartoon besides the JLU comic, but I never cared for the JLU comic myself.

Year one is great for showing what the team is all about but it it does not include Batman or Wonder Woman, and Superman is in it but not as a member of the team. IIRC.

Tower of Babel is a good story, but has the league feeling like they were betrayed by Batman.

Just about anything from the Grant Morrison run would be good though.

Tower of Babble is an excellent, well confined story.

Also the first few issues of the current Justice League, it's good and should be fairly easy to get in trade or get the issues. Or the current story arc which is almost JLU style heroes vs. villains, pretty cut and dry.

If you're looking for something with a larger cast of heroes that is simple... JLA and JSA: Vice and Virtue. Has a ton of heroes familiar to JLU fans, some not so much, but it's not confusing or too dark.

Hope these help.

My single favorite JLA story is JLA: Earth 2. It features the Crime Syndicate. Best scene is when Aquaman punches out Power Ring. I never really cared for Aquaman until I saw that scene, now Aquaman is one of my favorites... Because of that one scene.

-Seth!

I think the best thing to do would be to pick up some copies of Justice League of America #13, since it came out very recently and starts off a new arc by Dwayne McDuffie (the main writer for the JLU cartoon). I'm not a fan of issues 1 - 12 by Brad Meltzer though.

Here's more information: http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=118107
http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/features/119239025414598.htm

You can buy the book here:
http://www.scifigenre.com/backissues/issueDetail.aspx?sid=QG10YUWIKGG0LV0&nIssueID=23807

You also can't go wrong with Tower of Babel.

Kingdom Come both focuses on Superman and shows how expansiveness of the DC universe when used properly is awesome.

Does JL: New Frontier count? A great take on the entire DC silver age...

I just have to chime in here to say that it kind of scares me that any vendor needs to become familiar with these characters. These vendors may very well decide what gets sold at retail, correct?

I know that their knowledge may be somewhat limited compared to us fanboys, but still.

As for graphic novels and trades, has anyone mentioned the oversized JLA: Heavens Ladder or that other oversized JLA book which I cannot recall right now? They might really help to bridge the knowledge gap.