JLA–Z

    (DC, 2003-2004)
™ and © DC Comics, Inc.

JLA-Z is a big disappointment, especially to long-time DC fans spoiled by the great Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe from the mid to late 1980s. The former is essentially a pin-up book, as each Justice League member (from Amazo to Green Arrow) is accompanied by a single paragraph of biographical text. The latter, on the other hand, is more encyclopedic in nature, with each entry featuring three specific topics: Personal Data, History, and Powers & Weapons.

Comparisons aside, JLA-Z works fairly well within its unambitious constraints. The writing is fittingly succinct, explaining each character clearly and plainly within the limited space. The art is a mixed bag, running the gamut from excellent (Jim Lee’s Batman) to very good (Tom Nguyen’s Firestorm) to disappointing (Scott Kolins’s Captain Marvel) to downright lame (Pat Quinn and Walden Wong’s Flash).

Regardless, kids will have fun cutting out the pictures and tacking them to their walls. Hardcore readers wanting something more substantive than JLA-Z (and more modern than Who’s Who) should stick with the various Secret Files & Origins comic books.

— Brett Weiss
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  • 1
    #1
    Nov 2003
    Cover: $2.50
    W: Mike McAvennie  ·  A: Rob Haynes, Patrick Gleason, Mike Wieringo, Jim Lee, Steve Lightle, Kevin Maguire, Dan Jurgens, Scott Kolins, Peter Pachoumis, Chris Batista, Walt Simonson, Dean Haspiel, Scott McDaniel, Pasqual Ferry, Tom Nguyen, Pat Quinn, Steve Conley, Howard Porter, Jeff Parker
    Amazo - Green Arrow
    7 copies from $2.98
  • 2
    #2
    Dec 2003
    Cover: $2.50
    W: Mike McAvennie, Eliot Brown  ·  A: James Bosch, Kevin Maguire, Gary Chaloner, José Luis García-López, Sal Velluto, Michael Avon Oeming, Jerry Ordway, Tom Grummett, John Delaney, Doug Mahnke, Eliot Brown, Don Kramer, Alejandro “Al” Barrionuevo, Sean Phillips, Kelly Yates, Leonard Kirk, Joe Prado, Val Semeiks
    Green Lantern–The Lord of Time; Green Lanter–The Lord of Time
    10 copies from $1.75
  • 3
    #3
    Jan 2004
    Cover: $2.50
    W: Mike McAvennie  ·  A: Paul Rivoche, Eric Wight, Shane Davis, John Byrne, Darryl Banks, Christopher Jones, C. Scott Morse, Todd Nauck, Ty Templeton, Jennifer Graves, Norm Breyfogle, Yvel Guichet, Jon Bogdanove, Jim Lee, Phil Jimenez, Steve Conley, Rick Burchett, Jerry Ordway, John Delaney, Drew Johnson, Pia Guerra
    Martian Manhunter–Zatanna
    10 copies from $1.75