JLA by Grant Morrison (1997, Paperback)

There's a reason why the JLA is the best super-team book of all-time: the icons. Only the JLA lives up to its name of being the 'world's greatest super-heroes'. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are recognizable names world-wide with over six decades of history. The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and even the Martian Manhunter have huge followings of their own and have been around almost as long. The individual status of these heroes is unparalleled and was best described by new GL, Kyle Raynor's comment that fighting side-by-side with the other JLA'ers is 'like playing with the Beatles'.

After years of a somewhat successful run with a campy Justice League with second-rate characters, the JLA became a serious and respected book again with this relaunch. Although others will find fault with the art and the storyline, it delivers what it's intended to do: present a world-wide threat that only the combined might of the world's greatest super-heroes can defeat.

In this initial story arc from JLA #1-5, the threat is a group of aliens with powers that rival the JLA. While the story is itself plays out well, the interaction between the iconic heroes is what makes this book great as this what has been sorely missed over the past few years. Grant Morrison does a great job of representing what makes each character unique and bringing it to the team concept. An excellent read for any JLA fan!