JLA volume 9: Terror Incognita


By Mark Waid & various (DC Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-56389-936-2

By the time of these tales (reprinting issues #55-60) the Justice League of America had become once more a fully integrated part of the DCU and no longer a high-profile niche project for creative superstars. Mark Waid, joined here by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty, proved that the heroes were the true stars in a succession of fast, furious and funny fights ‘n’ tights romps that managed to blend high concept and big science with all the classical riffs beloved by long-term fans.

Starting off this volume is the extended, eponymous dark and devilish thriller ‘Terror Incognita’ as the sinister White Martians (first rearing their pallid spiky heads in JLA: New World Order) return to transform the planet into their own recreational slaughterhouse. Launching the campaign with a series of blistering personalised psychic assaults in ‘Came the Pale Riders’ by Waid, Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary, their intensifying efforts were met with valiant resistance in ‘Harvest’ (illustrated by Mike S. Miller & Dave Meikis), before Batman led the counterpunch with plenty of guest-stars in tow in ‘Mind Over Matter’ (Miller & Neary) resulting in a calamitous crescendo and glorious triumph in ‘Dying Breath’.

With no appreciable pause for breath the team then became involved in the cross-company publishing event that saw “Jokerised” super-villains running amok throughout the DCU (see Batman: the Joker’s Last Laugh for further details).

‘Bipolar Disorder’ (scripted by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty, with art from Darryl Banks & Wayne Faucher) saw magnetic malcontent and world class lunatic Dr. Polaris made even crazier when infected by the Crazy Clown’s unique brand of insanity, stretching Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Plastic Man to their utmost in a bid to preserve the planet deep in the icy Antarctic wastes…

Rounding out the book is a classy Christmas neo-classic as Plastic Man reveals how Santa Claus joined the JLA in the outrageously engrossing ‘Merry Christmas, Justice League… Now Die!’ by Waid, Cliff Rathburn & Paul Neary.

Witty, engaging, beautiful and incredibly exciting these are some of the best superhero adventures ever created: timeless, rewarding sagas that must be part of your permanent collection…
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