JLA: Age of Wonder

    (DC, 2003)
™ and © DC Comics

Half the fun of the Elseworlds series is seeing familiar DC universe characters in fancy dress: Vikings, cowboys, knights, etc. But the stories rarely rise to the level of alternative history SF, relying on a gimmick whose novelty wears off quickly, leaving readers with just another super–hero story.

At least JLA: Age of Wonders has actual ideas in evidence. Few corporately produced comics actually deal with capitalism, but it’s at the core of this one. The conflict between the reimagined Luthor and Superman here isn’t Good vs. Evil but Capitalism vs. Utopian Idealism, and, while Lex is as creepy as usual, his side of the argument has validity. There’s a scene in which Superman distributes free “cold wireless lamps” (clear round spheres with no “off” switch; kind of a design flaw) to the masses, which leads to a riot—suggesting he hasn’t thought about how to achieve his goals nearly enough. It’s elegantly drawn and cleverly written, the only flaw being that the Steam-Age Starman, Flash, etc., are reduced to mere sidekick status.

— S.A. Bennett
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  NotesWriterArtist
JLA: Age of Wonder #1

June, 2003
Cover Price: $5.95
3 copies available from $5.25 		Adisakdi TantimedhP. Craig Russell, Galen Showman
JLA: Age of Wonder #2

July, 2003
Cover Price: $5.95
4 copies available from $2.88 		Adisakdi TantimedhP. Craig Russell, Galen Showman