JLA 2: American Dreams

Comic Info

JLA #5

Reprints JLA #5-9 (May 1997-September 1997).  The JLA has defeated the White Martians and now seeking new members to help round out their new goal to protect the world.  Taking on a membership drive, the JLA is rocked by an infiltrator named Tomorrow Woman, and then finds themselves in a battle with angels.  When the JLA is captured by their old enemy the Key, the new Green Arrow finds himself with the task of trying to rescue his new teammates.

Written by Grant Morrison, JLA Volume 2:  American Dreams follows the reforming of the Justice League of American in JLA Volume 1:  New World Order.  Featuring art by Howard Porter, the issues collected here were also collected in JLA Deluxe Edition—Volume 1.

JLA was a big splash when it was released.  The issues were not highly ordered, and they quickly sold out…leading to even more popularity.  The second collection of JLA comics were a bit easier to find, but the need to get them out quick was still necessary.  JLA 2:  American Dreams is short but sweet.

I really like the JLA.  While the first issue felt a bit rushed with too much story for four issues, this collection does a better job in balancing the work.  The story is pretty much broken into three storylines.  JLA #5 (May 1997) is the JLA membership drive and the Tomorrow Woman story, JLA #6-7 (June 1997-July 1997) introduces Zauriel who becomes a bigger factor in later issues of Morrison’s run on JLA, and JLA #8-9 (August 1997-September 1997) reintroduces the Key and allows the new Green Arrow to prove his position in the team.

JLA #8

The thing I liked about Morrison’s run on JLA is demonstrated in this collection.  He has halfway interesting stories with the big characters like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, but he is still able to use smaller characters like Green Arrow and Zauriel and have it make sense.  This collection provides a taste of things to come in the storyline and makes you want to keep reading.

Some of this collection is unbalanced like the first collection and I feel most of these stories could be expanded upon, but for the most part, they read nicely.  I really enjoy the membership drive and could have read a whole stand-alone issue on that.  I never liked Hitman, but his little cameo in the story is one of the best parts.  The angel war issues really are hurt the most by the two issue format.  It feels a little unexplained, but Zauriel returns later to help the JLA and expands on his character.  The Green Arrow was a fun read in his own struggling series so it was nice to see him introduced to take his father’s place…plus throughout this series, you get the short lived “electric” Superman which is a change.

JLA 2:  American Dreams is a quick read, but if you were trying to read JLA at the time it was a bit necessary due to the scarcity of the issues collected.  The JLA exploded (or exploded again) on the scene, and it was refreshing to have a new look at them.  JLA 2:  American Dreams was followed by JLA 3:  Rock of Ages.

Preceded By:

JLA 1:  New World Order

Followed By:

JLA 3:  Rock of Ages