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Keith Giffen
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J. M. DeMatteis
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Justice League International Hardcover – March 12, 2008

by Keith Giffen (Author), J. M. Dematteis (Author), Kevin Maguire (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 144 ratings
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"In the wake of a world crisis, a new generation of the World's Greatest Super-Heroes takes center stage. But it's the most unlikely grouping of heroes you'll ever see! Batman, Blue Beetle, Martian Manhunter, Guy Gardner, Black Canary, Mister Miracle, Dr. Fate, Booster Gold, Doctor Light, and the power of Shazam! Can this ragtag group work as a functioning unit to stop terrorists at the United Nations, a brigade of Rocket Reds, the Royal Flush Gang, the mysterious Gray Man, and other threats -- or will they succumb to in-fighting and bad jokes?"--P. [4] of cover.
Previous page
  1. Part of Series
    Justice League of America (1987-1996)
  2. Print length
    186 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Dc Comics
  5. Publication date
    March 12, 2008
  6. Dimensions
    6.8 x 0.65 x 10.45 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1401216668
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1401216665
  9. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In 1987 the venerable superhero team the Justice League, a DC mainstay since 1960, took an unexpectedly loopy turn with an overhaul of its membership. The only original members retained were Batman and the Martian Manhunter. The ranks were filled out with second-string and somewhat eccentric characters like wisecracking Blue Beetle, strident feminist Black Canary, naïve Captain Marvel, showboating Booster Gold, and abrasive blowhard Guy Gardner. New plotlines were fairly routine—the team thwarted terrorists attacking the U.N. and fought superpowered foes like the Royal Flush Gang and the Gray Man—but a lighthearted approach and droll banter between the constantly bickering heroes made the revamped JL a surprise success in an era when “grim and gritty” dominated superhero comics. Subsequently, the series’ tone would become even more humorous and essentially parodic of the genre (and Kevin McGuire’s already appealing, fine-lined artwork would grow more assured), but the early issues collected here strike an appealing balance between the straitlaced and the zany. --Gordon Flagg

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dc Comics; First Edition (March 12, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 186 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1401216668
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1401216665
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.8 x 0.65 x 10.45 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 144 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Keith Giffen

    Keith Giffen

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  2. J. M. DeMatteis

    J. M. DeMatteis

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    Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, J. M. DeMatteis was a professional musician and rock music journalist before entering the comic book field. DeMatteis has written almost all of the major DC and Marvel icons—including memorable runs on Spider-Man (his classic "Kraven’s Last Hunt" was voted number one in a 2012 Comic Book Resources poll of Spider-Man stories and number twelve in a 2017 CBR poll of the greatest comic book stories of all time. The Hollywood Reporter called KLH "perhaps the greatest Spider-Man standalone story") and Justice League (winning DeMatteis and his collaborators, Keith Giffen and Kevin Maguire, comics’ highest honor, the Eisner Award); but his greatest acclaim has come for sophisticated original graphic novels like Seekers Into The Mystery, Blood: A Tale, The Last One, and Mercy. The autobiographical Brooklyn Dreams was picked by the ALA as one of the Ten Best Graphic Novels and Booklist, in a starred review, called it “as graphically distinguished and creatively novelistic a graphic novel as has ever been...a classic of the form.” The groundbreaking Moonshadow was chosen (along with Brooklyn Dreams, Blood and other DeMatteis works) for inclusion in Gene Kanenberg, Jr’s 2008 book 500 Essential Graphic Novels—where it was hailed as one of the finest fantasy graphic novels ever created.

    His success in the comic book medium has led DeMatteis to work in both television (writing live action and animation) and movies (creating screenplays for Warner Bros, Fox, Disney Feature Animation, directors Carlo Carlei, Chris Columbus, and others).

    In 2006, DeMatteis had great success with the acclaimed children's fantasy Abadazad-which Entertainment Weekly hailed as "...one of those very rare fantasy works that can enchant preteen kids and 40-year old fanboys..." and Publisher's Weekly, in a starred review, called "an appealing blend of Spirited Away and The Wizard of Oz." Abadazad began life as a CrossGen comic book before morphing into a three-book series published by Disney's Hyperion Books For Children. DeMatteis's 2009 graphic novel, The Life and Times of Savior 28, was called "one of the finest superhero stories of the decade" by Newsarama. In 2010, HarperCollins published DeMatteis's fantasy novel Imaginalis—which the School Library Journal said "will delight readers who imagine themselves in the pages of their favorite books." For DC he wrote Phantom Stranger, Justice League Dark, Justice League 3000, and Scooby Apocalypse.

    In animation, he contributed episodes to the series Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Ben 10, Teen Titans Go and other shows—as well as writing the animated features Batman vs. Robin, Batman: Bad Blood, and Constantine: City of Demons.

    More recently, DeMatteis has written the animated movies Superman: Red Son and Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons, IDW's cosmic adventure Impossible Inc., the reality-bending thriller The Girl in the Bay for Dark Horse/Berger Books, and multiple episodes of Marvel's Spider-Man. Current works-in-progress include DC's Justice League Infinity, Marvel's Ben Reilly: Spider-Man, several new creator-owned series, and more work in animation and film.

    DeMatteis continues to teach Imagination 101, a workshop exploring the practicalities and metaphysics of writing for comics, graphic novels and animation. He's also the founder of Creation Point, a story consultation service that offers in-depth guidance for both the professional and aspiring writer.

    DeMatteis lives and works in upstate New York

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
144 global ratings
Super-Hero Team Writers take note:
5 Stars
Super-Hero Team Writers take note:
Plenty has been said about DC's choice of paper. After reading reviews and their discussions I've decided I just don't know anything about paper and so I won't review the medium of the book but rather the substance.I kept counting pages. So much story telling was taking place on so few pages without the writing or the art suffering I was amazed. About half way into the first chapter I thought "man this is cool!"I read parts of this series when I was very young but not these early issues and not in order like this. Wonderful stuff. The introduction by Keith Giffen talks about Kevin Maguire's amazing talent for facial expressions, and boy was he right. Everyone looks fantastic. So much story telling is done with a head shot of Max Lord or a profile of Batman. It's awesome.Then there's the whole 80's charm. The nostalgia is great. Guy says to Black Canary: "Hey, Babe--This is the Eighties. Alan Alda's out.. Sylvester Stallone is in."I already care about all these characters and I'm interested in what events are to come. I'm hooked.I think some modern super-hero team writers could learn a lot from what's on these pages.
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Top reviews from the United States

Alexander Levering
5.0 out of 5 stars Jeeze, had I been missing out for years!
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2015
Verified Purchase
Wow. Just wow. This collection (along with volumes 2-6) have instantly become some of my favorite comics of all time! The stories, the writing, the art. It is just all immaculate. I love it. Thoroughly entertaining and humorous. Good action too. I have always loved Guy Gardner and have retroactively gone back to read everything hes been involved in (ugh lets ignore Guy Gardner Warrior. WHAT were they thinking! ruining one of the best characters for a good while!) I flew through volumes 1-6 and ANXIOUSLY await more volumes to be released. PLEASE RELEASE THE REST OF JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL/EUROPE! They must do it . . . They will . . wont they ?! Hopefully. If there is anything bad about this, it is that it makes reading OTHER comic books less enjoyable. This sets the standards/bar pretty high.
6 people found this helpful
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Juan Carrillo
5.0 out of 5 stars laugh laugh
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2016
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Love this run of the Jli by Griffen the Humor mixed with the stories and the art make the ride a magical adventure. This is also the start of the team of Blue beetle and Booster Gold..this is also a story arc that picks up after the ending of the JLA Detroit..More into the martian Manhunter and Captian Marvel. soon glad I got for my collection.
One person found this helpful
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Thanatos
4.0 out of 5 stars An Iconic Series that Still Holds Up Today (Review #570)
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2023
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It feels almost foolish to be reviewing this title. I have no unique insights, no controversial opinions on the book. This is a much beloved series by fans and I can absolutely see why. Nevertheless I will endeavor to do my best to make a review that is worth the time to read.
Near as I can tell, this is the Justice League series immediately post Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), replacing the previous series which ran for 261 issues. The inclusion of characters like Blue Beetle (the Ted Kord version) and Captain Marvel (Billy Batson, better known nowadays as Shazam) lend credence to this assertion as prior to Crisis both characters existed on their own, separate Earths.
There is no single cohesive storyline that plays out in this volume, but several small arcs pitting the team against a variety of threats both familiar and brand new. This all while a mysterious manipulator of the new League makes bold moves in the background until finally things are partially revealed at the end of the book. There are references to events that happened prior to the formation of the team that are regrettably unknown to me but they don't matter to overall enjoyment of the book.
What can I really say about Kieth Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis' series? It's funny, really funny, yet the constant jokes never overshadow anything in the actual story. Every character displays a distinct personality, and every team mission has real stakes to it. There are moments that stand out and some have become absolutely iconic. There is one in particular involving Batman and Guy Gardner (the team's Green Lantern representive) that is so very satisfying when it comes around but also represents the kind of careful buildup moments like it get.
Kevin Maguire as the artist on the book is good, but maybe too good. His work is very detailed, so much so that he draws every line in every character's face and it can give them at times an off appearance. Don't know when I'll be able to get around to volume 2 of the series but I hope it's soon.
4/5
One person found this helpful
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Mr. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect condition, perfectly delivered.
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2021
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This was a gift for my son for his birthday and it arrived in perfect condition, on time. Thanks!
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Todd Davidson
5.0 out of 5 stars Good classic
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
Another great comic from the eighties. This story arc is one well placed introduction. There are no end of universe events, it's all about classic DC characters stepping on each other's toes.
Bat Man is a little stiff but Blue Beetle steals the show.

Lots of nine panel grids full of ham and cheese.

I wish current DC would return to this well.
3 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2019
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This is a fun, lighthearted read. It is told in a refreshing style that doesn't take the superhero genre so seriously.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars I can see why the fans loved it back then.
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
In fact, if you ask me to name a DC series that is not all serious or outright grimdark, I would have a problem finding one. That's excluding the ones for younger audience, of course, like Batman Adventures. So the humorous take on the Justice League is very much welcome, even if it's from the late 80s, no less, with simplistic art and coloring of those years. Keith Giffen manages to strike a good balance between the gags and the adventures. Some of the characters take a heavier hit when parodied than others, of course, but it doesn't feel too jarring. I'm talking about Batman and Guy Gardner, specifically. The former is one step away from a full psychotic outbreak, and the latter is basically a hoodlum. Reading the first three volumes back to back, I can see the progression more clearly. In this volume, the series is just starting and the amount of jokes is somewhat toned down compared to the latter ones. Mysterious billionaire Maxwell Lord builds the new League without their agreement, pretty much, and the result is a rag-tag group of individuals that can only very marginally be called an actual team. But hey, it's so funny, I'm not complaining.
2 people found this helpful
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Fernando H. Ramirez
5.0 out of 5 stars Great comics!
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2015
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Great stories. Great lettering. Great art (Maguire and AUSTIN? Heck yeah!). Austin departs early, but it's still good stuff. This combines humor and seriousness. You have to read it to understand it. An enjoyable series. Wish it were recolored (like the covers).
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Tito
5.0 out of 5 stars O início da melhor formação da Liga da Justiça.
Reviewed in Brazil on September 22, 2023
Verified Purchase
O início da saga da Liga cômica, verdadeiro clássico dos quadrinhos que eternizaram a dupla De Matteis e McGuire como uma das mais criativas e engraçadas dos quadrinhos americanos. Aqui temos a criação da nova Liga pós-Crise nas Infinitas Terras, suas primeiras aventuras (e desventuras), com personagens impagáveis, como um Guy Gardner insuportável, um Besouro Azul engraçadinho, um Ajax com paciência de ferro e um Batman turrão tentando manter na linha essa trupe de desajustados. Pastelão é a tônica das histórias, que mais parecem episódios de uma sitcom da TV americana dos anos 80. Altamente recomendável se você curte mais comédia do que aventura e ação.
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Kieran J. Mcandrew
5.0 out of 5 stars Justice League International Vol. 1
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
Reforming the Justice League after Darkseid's attack and Reagan's Executive Order banning superheroes was inevitable, but the leadership is still being contested with Guy Gardner and Batman at loggerheads. When a nuclear crisis occurs in the Soviet Union, the League sets aside its differences to save the world.

An interesting change of direction by Giffen and his team makes the Justice League take a more light hearted approach to storytelling. The quips come thick and fast, which makes the characters feel a little more real and the plot works well to explore the new dynamic.
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Stan Barber
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for Everyone
Reviewed in Canada on January 26, 2016
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Some of the best Justice League comics ever written. This was one of (if not the first) team book whose focus was on telling lighthearted-comedic stories while still having solid plots that mattered in the DC Universe as a whole, and also bringing more minor characters into the forefront. The stories are excellent and fun, but the real standout of this series is the art. Kevin Maguire's art works so perfectly with the feel of the book. His characters' faces are so detailed with some of the most expressive faces of the time, and this leads to many excellent comedic moments. I cannot recommend this series enough.
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Ángel
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest comicbooks of the 80's
Reviewed in Spain on April 8, 2014
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Actually there's few truly revolutionary comicbooks, and this is one of these: Keith Giffen and De Matteis are very brilliant (and funny) writers, but the real star here is Kevin Maguire. Pity it didn't last...
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Gary P.
5.0 out of 5 stars great book, took me back to the late eighties
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2017
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great book , took me back to the late eighties , good story
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