Posts: 1099 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Joined: 29.07.05
(NOTE: I didn't plan on reviewing this. Upon finishing it, I couldn't resist.)
In case you don't know, THE WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER-HEROES is a newly (it came in July) collected hardcover with a hardcovered slipcase of six of the oversized graphic novel books done by Alex Ross and Paul Dini. SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH, BATMAN: WAR ON CRIME, SHAZAM! POWER OF HOPE, WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH, JLA: SECRET ORIGINS and finally JLA: LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
I got into Ross' work with WAR ON CRIME. I loved his work and how he (a comic book fan) viewed a real life Gotham City and a real life Batman before the famous fan film; BATMAN: DEAD END was made. After that, I wanted to see if I could get other of his books. All were great, but most hard to find. I almost forgotten Alex Ross' works until I read KINGDOM COME, then I came back. I was glad when this came out, kill 6 birds with one stone.
One of the things I loved from these stories was that instead of fighting an evil alien force, or an army of supervillians, they were facing world, down to earth problems that all of us either face or could relate to. But one of the shockers to these characters is the fact that they can't win easily no matter how smart or powerful they are.
We all see that the heroes can look real, but what if they acted real too? Superman trying to end world hunger, Batman wanting to win his war on crime, Captain Marvel wondering if being a superhero was a right choice for him to make, Wonder Woman's daunting task to change the world and lead it to peace, and the JLA fighting a diease.
As the story moves onward, we see how the heroes handle their missions and roles. Then we see a big shock to all of them when they fail. It's a huge burden for the heroes to accept it but in the end, they encourage: Superman spreads his words of wisdom for everyone to counter a problem they see, Batman realizing his war is a non-winning one but keeps trying thanks to small victories, Captain Marvel seeing that as a hero, he gives out hope no matter who, Wonder Woman seeing that fighting as Diana is more important than fighting as Wonder Woman, and the JLA showing that there's no difference between the men and women and the supermen and women.
These stories are on the mark with another story that can encourage someone's life and that is SUPERMAN: SECRET IDENTITY. You can read both books and feel that you can face any danger and encourage others to follow suite. These books just shows what great works thay are.
I can't say anything on Ross' art. Superb, breathtaking, real, amazing. Every positive remark goes to Alex Ross. As for Paul Dini, well we're all fans of BTAS so you know what I'll say.
RATING: 10/10
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