Written by (See Below).
Art by (See Below).
Collection Cover Art by John Van Fleet.
SUMMARY:
Re-released by DC Comics in 2024, this 432-page trade paperback reprints four one-shots, plus, a pair of two-parters, that were all published between 1996 and 1998. Specifically, they are:
Notes: The 2024 version of this anthology is also available digitally. This book was first released in 2016; however, its exact page count is unconfirmed. DC’s website claims 424 pages while another source says 377 pages. Even so, both the 2016 and 2024 editions supposedly share the exact same content.
- Elseworld’s Finest # 1 (Page 7).
Writer: John Francis Moore. Artists: Kieron Dwyer; Hilary Barta; Gloria Vasquez; Heroic Age; & Bill Oakley. Cover Artists: Dwyer & Barta.
Set in the spring of 1928, intrepid Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent and pre-teen orphan Jimmy Olsen accompany Clark’s childhood friend, Lana Lang, on an Indiana Jones-like quest to save her archaeologist father from Ra’s al Ghul and his League of Assassins. For the invaluable prize at stake, roguish mercenary Bruce Wayne becomes their ally for a dangerous Egyptian rescue mission. Awaiting these adventurers is the Captain Nemo-like pirate, Alexi Luthor, who also covets the secrets of the lost ancient city of Argos.
One pertinent enigma is the true allegiance of the seductive Talia al Ghul. Hints of Clark’s otherworldly origin and Bruce’s bat-related destiny are teased. Cameos include: The Newsboy Legion; Selina Kyle; Alfred Pennyworth; Perry White; Hal Jordan; Carter Hall; Dan Turpin; and a sly Marvel Family homage.
- Elseworld’s Finest # 2 (Page 56).
Writer: John Francis Moore. Artists: Kieron Dwyer; Hilary Barta; Gloria Vasquez; Heroic Age; & Bill Oakley. Cover Artists: Dwyer & Barta.
In the remote mountains of the Brazilian jungle, all parties converge in their quest for the lost city of Argos. Rivals Alexi Luthor and Ra’s al Ghul have different destinies in mind for the all-powerful Godstone, as its origin is revealed. Also revealed are origins for Luthor, Clark Kent, and an enigmatic Egyptian-themed Batman. Ultimately, the world’s fate rests in the hands of two men at last discovering their true natures.
- The Justice Riders (one-shot) (Page 105).
Writer: Chuck Dixon. Artists: J.H. Williams III; Mick Gray; Lee Loughridge; Heroic Age; & Bill Oakley. Cover Artist: John Van Fleet.
In the American Old West, Sheriff Diana Prince sets out on a vengeful quest for justice upon the annihilation for her secluded frontier town, Paradise. She subsequently recruits a makeshift Justice League (i.e. Wally West’s Flash; Hawkman; Martian Manhunter; Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle; Booster Gold; and possibly Guy Gardner). Against railroad baron Maxwell Lord’s strangely high-tech forces and immortal outlaw Felix Faust, the odds appear heavily stacked against justice. The epilogue includes a sly cameo from Clark Kent.
Note: This reality’s Diana Prince has resurfaced in other DC projects (i.e. the 2007 DC Countdown: Arena mini-series).
- League of Justice # 1 – Stove One: Hero Quest (Page 170).
Writer: Ed Hannigan. Artists: Ed Hannigan; Dick Giordano. Tom McCraw; Cynthia Morris; & John Constanza. Cover Artists: Hannigan, Giordano, & McCraw.
In Brattlesboro, Vermont, three youths and a drug-addicted thief are magically transported into a medieval fantasy world where a Justice League faces its darkest hour. Among the bizarre counterparts the kids meet are: Batman; the Flash; the Atom; Green Arrow; Wonder Woman; Hawkman & Hawkgirl; John Stewart’s Green Lantern; Black Canary; Martian Manhunter; Aquaman; Lobo; and Superman.
- League of Justice # 2 – Stove Two: Hero War (Page 219).
Writer: Ed Hannigan. Artists: Ed Hannigan; Dick Giordano. Tom McCraw; Cynthia Morris; & John Constanza. Cover Artists: Hannigan, Giordano, & McCraw.
The battle continues, as League members fall. The question becomes: in this reality’s time of need, who can replace them?
- Wonder Woman – Amazonia: A Tale of the Wonder Woman (one-shot) (Page 269).
Writer: William Messner-Loebs. Artists: Phil Winslade; Patricia Mulvihill; Digital Chameleon; & John Workman. Cover Artist: Winslade.
In a dark alternate-reality Victorian England, Amazonian vaudeville performer Wonder Woman rises to face multiple threats – among, them, this world’s Jack The Ripper.
- Titans: Scissors, Paper, Stone (one-shot) (Page 318).
Writer: Adam Warren. Artists: Adam Warren; Tom Simmons; Joe Rosas; Digital Chameleon; & Chris Eliopoulos. Cover Artist: Warren.
Styled as Japanese manga, a futuristic quartet of original Teen Titans are evidently their world’s only hope.
- Elseworld’s Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl (one-shot) (Page 367).
Plotters: Barbara Kesel, Matt Haley, & Tom Simmons. Writer: Barbara Kessel. Artists: Matt Haley; Tom Simmons; Moose Baumann; & Bill Oakley. Cover Artists: Haley & Simmons.
In an alternate reality present-day, Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl is the Dark Knight defending Gotham City. Even a passive Justice Society/League is reluctant to tread on Gotham’s turf without Batgirl’s permission. Against a Bane-like Joker obsessed with her, Batgirl reluctantly teams with Kara (aka Supergirl/Power Girl) to rescue the abducted tech-billionaire, Lex Luthor. Yet, Kara slowly realizes that her beloved Lex is hiding a horrific secret from her.
Note: In 2007, for its third Elseworlds wave, DC Direct released Elseworld’s Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl as high-quality action figures.
REVIEW:
This anthology is far more a page count than a cohesive read. For starters, no matter its slew of familiar pulp elements, the unpredictability of Elseworld’s Finest # 1-2 is still welcome. Along with its generally appealing artwork, Volume One’s first two installments rate a semi-enthusiastic ‘7’ out of 10 stars.
By comparison, The Justice Riders is also riddled with movie clichés (i.e. The Wild, Wild West; The Magnificent Seven; and even The Terminator). Still, Chuck Dixon’s Old West caper is at least readable and easy to grasp. Despite relatively good visuals and some entertaining twists, this unoriginal Justice League take on Westerns lands squarely as a ‘5½’ on a 10-star scale. As stated in my separate Justice Riders review, reading Dixon’s story in this anthology frankly makes more sense than seeking it out by itself.
Unfortunately, afterwards, it’s a sharp descent from ‘merely average.’ The two-part League of Justice would-be fantasy epic might prove appealing to some Dungeons & Dragons addicts. For casual readers, though, this ghouls, goblins, and sorcery adventure drags on far too long.
Regarding Wonder Woman’s Victorian-era showcase, Amazonia: A Tale of the Wonder Woman, its mostly bleak storytelling proves a bore. Further, perhaps other readers might have better luck fathoming Titans: Scissors, Paper, Stone. For all this story’s vivid colors and hip originality, I found myself immediately tuned out. How exactly this hyperactive tale pertains to the Justice League is beyond me.
Lastly, there is Elseworld’s Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl. As with The Justice Riders, I’ve separately reviewed this Elseworlds adventure before. My thumbs-down opinion hasn’t shifted. Aside from the eye-rolling premise of Batgirl bullying an entire Justice Society/Justice League, this storyline’s climatic plot twist is beyond tasteless. Still, consider this irony: Barbara Kesel’s ludicrous plotting is a more coherent read than time wasted on a fantasy Justice League, a Victorian Wonder Woman, and manga-style Titans unrelated to any League.
For curiosity’s sake, let’s just say the disappointing Elseworlds: Justice League, Volume One is best found treading at the library.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a table of contents. Each full-page cover precedes its issue.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3½ Stars
