| Title | : | Justice League: Gods \u0026 Monsters |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1401261310 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781401261313 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | First published March 8, 2016 |
Collects JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MONSTERS - BATMAN #1-3, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MONSTERS - SUPERMAN #1-3, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MONSTERS - WONDER WOMAN #1-3 and JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MONSTERS #1-9.
Justice League: Gods \u0026 Monsters Reviews
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Looking at the reviews, I think this might not be for anyone who hasn't seen (and liked)
the movie first.
I suppose the reason for this one was to give fans a bit more background on each of the three main characters.
For me, this was perfect! For anyone else? No idea.
While it's titled JLA, these aren't our Justice Leaguers.
Superman is Zod's son who fell from sky and was raised by Hispanic migrant workers. Wonder Woman is the granddaughter of Highfather, and ultimately betrayed (unwillingly) her new husband Orion and his father Darkseid, leading to their slaughter on Apocalypse. And Batman is actually Kirk Langstrom (our Man-Bat) who is infected with something that turned him into a vampire.
Each character gets an issue to tell some new part of their origin, and then they come together as the Justice League and tell a story. And, as some of the other reviewers have mentioned, this isn't exactly a happy or fun group of people.
Each story has a different artist, so some of it appealed to me more than others, but none of it was so awful I hated it.
Again, I think you need to be a fan of the movie to appreciate and/or enjoy this one. Otherwise, it's just going to come off as some weird, dark story about unrecognizable superheroes.
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So, this started out as interesting.
The first story is about the origin of Hernan, son of Zod. It details his life being raised by hispanic immigrants in the south. His father believes in the American dream but Hernan thinks he's just fooling himself. They're migrant workers and they've been asking Hernan to hide his abilities his entire life. It's clear that his family loves him, even as they sometimes fear him. Hernan is an angry character, very unlike Clark. He curses America, his family, God. It causes a rift with his family until an incident with some racist townspeople leads him to leave his family for a while. He travels the world and finds himself saving others. He doesn't appear that arrogant in this story so what happens later confuses me.
The second story is about Kirk Langstrom. I don't like the art as much in this portion but the story is decent. Kirk is the Batman counterpart but in name only, in my opinion. He doesn't really have any cool gadgets until the last story and he doesn't seem to have that same need to be alone, the way Bruce does. Kirk's a vampire because of some story we don't get that much information on. There's a plot where he befriends the son of a crime boss he killed and this ends in a way that confused me. Not only because there were several panels where I thought that character was going to make out with Kirk but because the last panel of this character was ambiguous. Anyway, Kirk's a semi sympathetic character.
The least impressive to me was Bekka, the Wonder Woman counterpart. I like that she wants to bring peace to the world, which is very Diana. I like that she was unapologetic about her sexuality. That's about it. I didn't love that the thing that set her apart from Diana was that instead of joining the humans during World War II, she enters America during the 60s and becomes a flower child. I didn't like this segway into Across the Universe and the cult storyline just bored me. The fact that it ties into the Genesis storylines sealed this book's fate.
I enjoyed the first two stories and then it was all downhill from there. I would have rather seen a lot more of these characters interacting. I have not seen the film but I have to hope it shows more of the relationships between these characters. The last half of this book is pretty much plot heavy with a few character moments thrown in. I wanted to see Kirk and Hernan meet. There was a relationship there that really interested me. I loved seeing a Batman/Superman story where Batsy is the vulnerable one and Superman the confident one. Well, aside from the Supes in Injustice, typically its Clark that feels uncertain.
So, long story short, I wanted more of the characters interacting. However, I loved the origin stories for this version of Superman and Batman. So, I recommend Justice League: Gods and Monsters - Superman #1 and Justice League: Gods and Monsters - Batman #1. That's about it.
I'll have to check out the film. -
I received this from Edelweiss and DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.
This felt like a 90s cartoon throwback of an elseworlds story. It didn't grab my attention at all, and the artwork was very simplistic, like a beginner trying to capture his/her heroes.
2 stars, recommended only for fans of the JLA: Gods and Monsters movie. -
As I write this review, I have not seen the movie yet. As far as these prequels go, I do like the concept. We have a hispanic Superman, Wonder Woman is a New God, and Batman is a vampiric Kirk Langstrom. The three one shots that introduce the characters I enjoyed. The three issue series that brought them together, not as much. I didn't hate it, but it seemed too wordy and the pacing was a little slow. They could have told the story easily in 2 issues rather than 3. The art isn't bad and fits the animated movie style.
Overall this was good, but not great. I will be watching the movie soon. -
**I received a free eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Superman (Issues #1-3)
Rating: 2/5
After leaving his sister in a wheelchair, Hernán Guerra starts hating his powers and does his best not to use them. Years later, after an incident with his neighbors, Hernán leaves his town and the guilt he feels drives him to seek all the pleasures that life can offer.
I seriously couldn't like this guy, there's just something in me that keeps me from pitying a wealthy man who shares his bed with a different woman every night, thinks himself better than everybody else and, on top of that, complains about his own life choices. Really, Hernán? Should I feel bad for you because you hurt your sister, then ignored her and now you're this rich man who's got pretty much everything except the love of the family he hurt himself? Ugh... Gotta love a playboy who says he feels so sad and empty, because life hasn't been treating him the way he think he deserves, right?
And he complains so much about "the American dream", all he does is complain, complain, complain! What a crybaby...
Batman (Issues #1-3)
Rating: 3/5
Kirk Langstrom had lymphoma and the cure changed him. Now he craves human blood and, without it, the cancer comes back. He's a scientist and is trying very hard to find a cure that will work, in the meantime, he feeds on criminals and people he thinks don't exactly make the world a better place.
I really enjoyed this version of Batman, and I liked his personality a lot. He's definitely a good man, and he thinks he's helping others by killing bad people. It doesn't always turn out well though, because sometimes even bad people have loved ones who care about them.
I actually look forward to reading more about Kirk.
Wonder Woman (Issues #1-3)
Rating: 4/5
Bekka of New Genesis ends up on a different planet and is rescued by a nice couple. Even though her saviors are very good people, she soon learns that the world is a bad place, and she wants to use her powers to help make it better. But it's just not working, every time Bekka tries to make something right, it ends up badly. Until she meets a group of people who are looking for the same, and she decides to stay and work with them.
This was a very interesting read, I really loved this Wonder Woman, I think she's the kindest one in this Justice League and you can definitely tell how much she cares about others. She's always sacrificing herself to help people. Also, it was very funny to see her living with the hippies and kind of being one herself.
I can't wait to read more about her adventures.
Justice League (Issues #1-9)
Rating: 3/5
A man has found a way to make humans better, younger and healthier, but everything comes with a price, and not many can afford it. The "forever people" are born with this man's procedures and, as you might have guessed, "anti-forever people movements" are born as well, since not everyone can become one and they're also pretty scared about the superpowers these new creatures are developing.
We meet Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman once again, but, this time, they're working together, trying to find out more about this "forever people" and maybe even improve themselves.
Superman is as arrogant as ever, I seriously can't stand this guy. Batman and Wonder Woman, on the other hand, are great. They are suspicious of the man behind the "forever people", soon they find out that, if you don't have any money for upgrades, then you die. Also, others are getting very scared of them and are trying to kill them, but let's be honest. the only ones who can beat them are the Justice League.
Soon, people also start fearing the Justice League, thinking that they're no different and they're just playing God, killing criminals just because they think it's the right thing, when it doesn't really make them better than their victims.
Lois Lane is the narrator of this story... and oh God how I despise this woman. She's a reporter, she shouldn't encourage people's ideas like that or put thoughts in their heads. She's taking this way too personal. Lois is too judgmental and, if you ask me, she must be jealous of the Justice League or something.
In the end, these three go through a few hardships together, and realize what a great team they make, but they still have to find a way to earn people's trust. And they've already taken the first step.
All in all, this was very fun to read. Except Superman, I didn't like him.
More reviews on my blog:
Lipstick and Mocha -
This started off so promisingly, and on their own I think the three "origins" issues would have rated 4 stars but then the whole New Genesis arc featuring the Gods and Monsters JL just fell flat for me, particularly the last issue which I confess I just skimmed for the most part. I just felt these were characters worth getting to know a little better before they were punching out Tomorrow People and cheesy looking Anti-Monitor rip offs.
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I read this without knowing it was a prequel to a movie (I just assumed it was another Elseworlds title). Knowing that it is, I find myself utterly uninterested in seeing the movie that follows it.
We get three very different versions of the DC trinity, none of whom are particularly fun to read about; Superman reminds me of Mark Waid's Irredeemable series, Batman as a vampiric ManBat has been done better in other places, and Wonder Woman's hippie background was the most interesting thing, which then gets left behind in the modern day version of her. Putting the three up against a variation of the Forever People just leads to big battles and lots of unpleasant bickering. The art is strong, as I would expect from this team, but the story rubbed me the wrong way from the first issue. Lois Lane's narration is cynical and unpleasant and I get enough of that from the real world. If you want to dislike heroes, this may help you to do so. For everyone else, I'd say steer clear. -
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it would be like if Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman weren’t themselves, this is the book for you. In this spin on origin stories, baby Superman was rescued by migrant workers instead of Kansas farmers; Batman was a scientist who turned into a vampire; and Wonder Woman was trapped on earth after fighting a scary monster and was looking for respite. The 3 eventually unite to take on a villain whose aims are to modify genetics and create a race of super people- no matter what it costs. Action packed and good reflection on who decides what it means to be a superhero.
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Becca's costume is goddarn awful but this universe is fantastic and I'd love to see more of it.
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Gods and Monsters is a great prequel to the animated DC film that it ties into! :D The alternative characters of Bekka (Wonder Woman) Hernán Guerra (Superman) and Batman (Kirk Langstrom) and neatly put an alternative spin on these characters! :D At the same time the world that they are is subtly different to the normal world that we would and have come to see in Earth 1 Multiverse
that we expect and there are easter eggs all over the place showing us how different the characters are to the Earth 1 Characters and from the other iterations of the characters that we all know! :D This makes for great mixing up of character traits that you will not expect and which will keep you on your toes from the start trying to guess what differences are coming next! :D For example Amanda Waller as President of the United States is a shocker lol, Steve Trevor as a liaison to the Justice League and Lois Lane as a reporter but with a Doctor Father rather than general! :D This makes for a subtle change of familiar characters throughout and really puts a spin on things! :D
Gods and Monsters keeps the action flowing thick and fast with an interconnected series of stories that really show the origins of this worlds Justice League! :D Each character is given an overview that shows us how they became the characters they are and takes it from there! :D At the same time the differences in attitude of our heroes are stark with Superman callous, Batman with a taste for Blood and Wonder Woman convinced she is in the right! :D This makes for twist and turns that you will not see coming and will keep you guessing as to whether these characters can be more Light Side or if they are up to personal power gaining at the expense of others that results in a brilliantly complex plot that will keep you guessing from the start! :D This makes for the great character examination that neatly ties into the scientific developments that are going on from the beginning making for great character exploration as well as action from the beginning! :D
Gods and Monsters art really dovetails brilliantly with the script! :D Every character is is clearly shown really bringing the scripts point home and as the same the cinematic camera angles really enhance the scripts story making for an epic action packed ride! :D The coordination between the Art and the Script makes for a story that is a crazy ride that keeps you hopping right from the beginning and will keep you guessing from the start! :D
Gods and Monsters is a roller-coaster gripping feast right from the beginning that will keep you on your toes fro the start! :D Gods and Monsters is full of Character Changes, Smiting, Daring Do, Reversal of Plots, Easter Eggs, Epic Vistas, Plot Twists Adventure and Action! :D Brilliant Crisp High Five! :D Get it When You Can! :D -
To be fair I saw the Animated movie long before I read this, and I'm a bit of a Bruce Timm fanboy. I liked this. It's very different than most stories you will read, and also felt like an elseworld story, which is cool. The only issue I didn't like was the Wonder Woman one shot. That was too far out for me. Batman Being Kirk Langstrom and also a Vampire was very interesting. I won't spoil anything else. But I recommend this if you grew up watching Justice league or Batman the Animated series.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher. -
Saw the movie some years ago so my recollection is a bit fuzzy.
But again, stories like these and the movie they tie in to really makes you realize how much Bruce Timm and Paul Dini were holding back so that their animated world could still be accessible to children.
But most of those children are grown-ups now and have more adult tastes indeed.
And overall, it just shows how a world with these kinds of "heroes" would CONSTANTLY fear and admire them, but more in the fear camp than the do-gooders who we're familiar with. -
Public library copy.
Nothing to write home about. I liked the Rick Leonardi interior art and Darwyn Cooke covers, but little else. The cartoon was okay and this book wasn't any better or worse. At $23, it's far too expensive to buy considering how little I enjoyed it. -
Bleak. There are pieces of it I really liked--or wanted to. The Superman story in particular, having Kal-El be the son of migrant farm workers, had a lot of potential. But overall the darkness became oppressive. Not a fan of the darkness, the blood, the despair. Go figure.
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Holy balls this was painful.
Full review to follow, after a gallon of bourbon and two dozen tramadol to numb the pain. -
Review to follow after release date.
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Looking at the description, there may be multiple versions of this collection of comic issues. I read an edition that only covered the #1's of the Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman individual lines plus the 3 issues of their eventual "Genesis" as this universe's "Justice League". That said, I might have liked it better if I had the whole story, but even without it was a very interesting take on each of the members of this alt-universe trinity.
I did indeed watch the movie and certainly having this prequel knowledge world-builds and establishes their individual character traits well. I certainly appreciate the concept of coming to similar (yet still different) compositions of character based on your life experiences. Superman raised by migrant workers. Wonder Woman learning compassion through a 60's commune. Batman wrestling with humanity in the midst of his "vampire"-like blood lust. I think there's a lot there to unpack (which is why I'd love to read more about them if there is more material out there) and consider since the real question this story really asks is how do OUR life experiences influence our moral character. Does living within injustice lead to courage to stand up against the oppressors of our time? Is the doling out of justice, but at the cost of doing something bad, a heroic act? And what do we REALLY do when we see our peers, let alone strangers, in trouble and in need of help?
There really is a story here that brings the three together. It's fine. Does it lead into the movie? Frankly, I don't remember and it kinda doesn't matter. By my personal measurement, all these aspects of their lives could stand more attention. How does being Zod's son affect Hernan? What is his ongoing relationship with his sister? How much does Bekka's time on New Genesis really shape her? What other experiences did she have before she had to leave? And for Kirk, I would really be interested in knowing more about his personal relationships--those that possibly could survive his secret. For that matter, this volume oddly is missing how Hernan meets and "saves" Kirk as referenced. So... abbreviated?
All that said, I would recommend this to anyone who likes a multiversal hook, maybe even a social-justice hook, in a Superhero story. It's also not a "boring" straight-up "Superfriends" story. They are not quite anti-heros here, but they ain't "true blue" or "clean-cut" by any means. Fun that way. -
I read all the issues separately but here is a review of all 4 tie in stories.
Superman:
Short but powerful gut punch of a comic.
I like Elseworld stories and alternate version and this ones a good one. Not only is it from Timm but it takes the Superman character but does not turn him bad, but just different.
World: The art is simple and straight forward, with good character designs. I love the world building here, it takes it's time and at the heart of this is a character tale which is deep and complex. The world building is effortless and gives a wonderful stage for the story to be told in.
Story: 3 issue gut punch that reads super fast and is paced wonderfully well. Normally for a 3 issue arc you would worry that character or story will be sacrificed for one or the other but that's not the case here. I won't ruin the story for readers but it's good. It's a wonderful different take on the origin story of Superman and much like 'Red Son' poses a question and gives us a look at what if.
Character: Complex and relatable. Yes, we've known the boy scout superman since the 30s and this other take from Timm and DeMatteis is complex. He's not a villain he's not just dark he's human. I feel that this take is much more relatable to the current mindset of the populace with our jaded nature being what it is. It's an interesting look at what I feel Superman would be like in the modern age.
A wonderful little tale from master storyteller Timm, it's good, it's really good.
Batman:
The Bat truly is a monster.
I like this new take, he's different enough from Bruce that he feels fresh, but at the same time he's not written like an out and out villain. Timm's take on the Trinity in this series is great.
World: The art is nice, reminds of of Snyder's American Vampire and that's a great things to remind me of, the colors the framing the art, great. The world building is also very strong, being only 3 issues Timm and DeMatteis really packed it full of world building and created the context in which the character could be introduced to the readers. This Gotham is interesting and the people in it even more so.
Story: Well paced and bursting with story and depth. The narration by Kirk is a great in for the readers to understand this character and the story allows for the character story to play out. It's a fairly basic story as most of the time is spent on creating the world and also telling the character story but it does have enough punch to it to resonate when the conclusion does come, though it's expected and predictable.
Characters: Strong and complex. Timm and DeMatteis have painted this Batman with shades of grey bordering on black. The line between monster and hero is very blurred and given the different take on the Justice League found here it's a great thing. Even in this darker shade of grey for the League they are still able to paint Batman the darkest of them all. The supernatural aspect of the character is good and his struggle different enough from Bruce Wayne to feel fresh. It's really good.
A great little 3 issue arc that dives deeper into this version of Batman. I like it, I want more.
Wonder Woman:
A good tale that feels separate from the universe.
I really liked the 'Gods and Monsters' film and really enjoyed the tie in stories for Superman and Batman so I was really hoping to see something here also for Wonder Woman. What I found here is still good but somehow feels disconnected from the rest of the universe.
World: The art is fine, I feel it's the weakest of the three character series' but it's still very kinetic which I like. The world building is also very detailed and a wonderful attention to detail is given to Bekka and her journey on Earth. The 60s was an interesting period and her experiencing it was very unique.
Story: The story itself is wonderful. It's paced well, has weight and reads really quickly. The emotional journey that we go with Bekka is a strong one. What I found lacking however compared to the other two character tie ins was the villain and also the tone of the book. I found that villain to be too much of a plot device. What I mean by the tone is that this Wonder Woman in this arc feels and acts a lot different compared to the one I see in the film and there is a disconnect with it. Maybe eventually she reaches the point where she's a killer like in the movie but this version is not that. It's still a good story but as I said there is a disconnect.
Character: I like this new Wonder Woman, her origins are way different and that's very cool. We get to see the gentler side of her and the nurturing side of her which is great, but at the same time it is a bit of a disconnect with the character I saw in the film. Maybe eventually she gets there but it's not found here. I want to know more about her and I want to know more about what happens after the end of this arc.
A good book that felt a bit disconnected to the rest of the 'Gods and Monsters' universe.
Genesis:
This one is the longest of all the tie-ins and the most complex. It's good and a fun take on DC pieces in this new alternate universe.
Finally this is a tale that shows us the origin of the Justice League in this Earth, it's also a wonderful look at how the humans of this world react to metahumans.
World: The art is fine, I like how stylized and sometimes minimal it is. The line work is very kinetic and the facial expressions wonderfully expressive, it's good. The world building here is quite good, taking time to slowly show the world that Timm has created. It's very familiar but different making the effortless world building all the more wonderful. A lot is thrown at you, but with Lois acting as the narrator, the reader does not feel the info dumping so much. Good stuff.
Story: Very strong and expansive. It is 9 issues so the story has a lot of substance. It's paced wonderfully well with 3 issues each acting as acts. I did find the story deep but at the same time the time jumping a bit too much especially in the middle part with the Forever People. The middle conflict was resolved rather quickly and I would have wanted more details into that part as there are parts of it that dealt with the earth population and their response on the Trinity. The ending is also a bit rushed with the resolution of the final villain rather quick from finding the solution to the end. It's a bit irksome but overall a very strong story. Written by Timm, this does indeed feel like a 3 episode story.
Characters: It was good that the 3 previous stories were used to develop the Trinity. This freed the story to actually focus on the other characters of the story. This is not so much a character driven story as it is a story driven story so there is only minor character development. but enough for it to matter. The Luthor sections were great and the villain was given ample time to matter to the reader. Good and solid.
Overall this series is quite good. Normally tie in books are cash grabs but this series actually gave us context and weight to the film and rewatching the film will indeed feel different.
Onward to the next book! -
I saw the movie quite awhile ago, which I really liked, and I recently saw the companion web-series, which was pretty good, so I was curious to see how this digital comic series was all about, and honestly, I only liked the standalone origin stories more than the miniseries that came after.
The Batman story was my personal favorite, because it was an interesting character study, but the thing about this story, and even the movie, is that we never learn what happened to Bruce Wayne (unless the movie mentioned something in passing, because I certainly don’t remember. My personal headcanon is that Bruce Wayne died alongside his parents on that fateful night in Crime Alley). The artwork was good, and it certainly added to the dark, moody, horror-esque vibe.
The Superman story was mildly interesting, but it completely bypassed what happened on Krypton, and it’s not really a spoiler because it happens at the beginning of the movie, and it’s that this universe’s version of Superman is actually the son of General Zod (his mom is still Lara, tho, but the whole thing isn’t as simple as you think and I do encourage to go see the movie for yourself), and that explains why he’s a bit more ruthless. The artwork wasn’t the best for me.
The Wonder Woman story was fine in the beginning, but then it took a turn for the weird and bizarre (and not in a good way), it was almost like she joined the Manson Family, but without the racism and involved more science experiments. The artwork wasn’t the best for me.
Lastly, we got the main storyline/miniseries, and even though the artwork was better, the story was a ginormous slog to get through! There was so much dialogue and narration boxes, it was almost like reading a comic from the 60’s! Biggest mistake was having the narration boxes be narrated by Lois Lane, who’s barely in this story! What was interesting was how this story tied to the Wonder Woman story.
Overall, you’re better off watching the movie and Justice League: Gods & Monsters Chronicles instead of reading this. -
I really enjoyed the movie, so I was really looking forward to these prequels.
Wow. Superman’s backstory was intense. Of course it was well-written. It was Bruce Timm. (And J.M. DeMatteis.)
Wow. Batman’s story was even better. And darker. And more intense. I would love to see more stories on these characters. They’re a slightly different take on the heroes.
Dark heroes. Both searching for some form of redemption.
And Wonder Woman? Bekka? She didn’t call herself anything in the story. She’s not quite so dark - more an agent of light. And her story was a bit different. I like the juxtaposition. It will be interesting how they all come together.
These stories had more of an Elseworlds feel than the movie did.
So, the last ½ of the book is about the forming of The Justice League. I thought it was a good choice for Lois Lane to narrate. It really brought the story together.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read - though I liked the 3 back stories a little better than I did the 3-part story of them coming together.
Thanks to NetGalley and DC Comics for a copy in return for an honest review. -
"MY FATHER RAISED ME TO RESPECT THE FLAG AND ALL IT REPRESENTS, MADAM PRESIDENT -- SO IT WOULDN'T DO TO ASSASSINATE OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF -- JUST YET."
- Superman to President Amanda Waller.
Imagine if the "heroes" of Earth-3 were a little less evil and a lot more broken. That's THIS story. A reimagined, slightly rough around the edges, Justice League and supporting cast.
- Superman (son of Zod), Hernan Guerra, was raised by a poor family of migrant laborers;
- Batman, Dr. Kirk Langstrom, a mad scientist who cured his own cancer by contracting vampirism;
- Wonder Woman, Bekka of New Genesis, a refugee from Apokolips who was befriended by a group of hippies;
- U.S. president Amanda Waller. Aside from being president, she's the only constant;
- Dr. Lex Luthor, a respected scientist and gajillionaire, secretly in bed with the government;
- Finally (and most importantly) the story's narrator, Lois Lane. A journalist who's skeptical of the trio's benevolence. In fact, she kinda shit on them (objectively, of course) at every opportunity.
This was a perfect balance of "what-if" and "grittier-than-usual superheroes."
Four stars. -
This is a good 3, not a bad one. I read this because I just watched the DC animated film it’s based on, and I liked it quite a bit (more than this comic actually, I’d recommend you go watch it). This alternate version of our familiar trinity was interesting. I really liked the character designs, and their altered backstories as well. This is basically the cynical version of the Justice League.
The art has that DC animation look to it, and it looked good, but it felt sketchy at times. The buildup of the story was good and made me want to find out what happens next, but by the end it became predictable. It’s not really an extension of the movie either, it has its own plot it uses to get to the same end point as the movie, but I felt like the movie did it better.
Still, it’s an interesting alternative on classic characters, and I’d say it’s worth a free read if you liked the movie. -
I haven't watched it yet, but I think I will enjoy the movie. I always like to see how an artist will make an alternate world significant. The prequel comic was alright. Nothing ground breaking, but enjoyable enough.
When I watch the movie, I will get more of the context, but I know enough DC lore to keep up with everything. The only complaint I have is that this Wonder Woman isn't directly related to the Amazon's. I get that the Olympians are from the same place, but I would have liked something related to Themoscara. Bekka is still cool though.
I feel that this was still worth the five bucks I paid. Recommend it to anyone looking for a casual read, and probably watched the movie first. Here's to it -
The art and story were both really well done (for all the art styles involved). The alternate characters placed into the classic archetypes were well developed and compelling in each origin story. The shift also allowed for grittier stories and subject material and made room for (in some cases requiring) a more flexible moral perspective for the characters. Lots of gray areas here. There were additionally, alternate variations of familiar characters from elsewhere in the DC universe in addition to the big three and it was interesting to see the different directions they could go in as well. I really enjoyed it and look forward to seeing the movie.
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I picked this up because the different takes on the characters sounded interesting. In that sense the comic is not disappointing. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are all different, two of them being completely different people.
For me the weakest part of the books were the exposition boxes. I thought they were fine when going through the new origins but after that they were unwelcome. Particularly the over preach-y ones by a reporter who I will not name.
Aside from that I think it's an enjoyable AU story that doesn't require knowledge of a billion other comics. -
This world, created for the animated feature, is one I'd be willing to read more about. This take on DC's Trinity is one of the most fresh I've come across. The background stories for Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were all interesting. The Justice League origin was a little repetitive and drug on too long. Rick Leonardi's art was very good but there was too much going on at times. Overall, the book is decent but just a drop in the bucket for what this world has to offer.
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Gods and Monsters was a very fascinating concept when it came out. A brutal Superman, a Batman that was actually Man Bat and a New God Wonder Woman. A very interesting twisting and reinterpretation of DC's concepts.
This comic series is a prequel to the movie itself, it does provide with some backstory to how they got together and formed the justice league.
However, even if the story is fine. I really don't think it was needed, the movie by itself does say everything we need to know leaving no loose ends. -
I really liked the Justice League: Gods and Monsters movie, but it left me hungry for more background on Hernan Guerra, AKA the Superman. I thought the few lines in the movie about his Mexican-American upbringing were super interesting, but I’m lowkey disappointed w how shallow the actual depiction was in the comics. Not that it was super shallow, but it could’ve been a lot deeper I think.
