The World's Greatest Super-Heroes
Encyclopedia
The World's Greatest Super-Heroes is the name to the oversized slipcased hardcover
collection, consisting of six oversized graphic novel
s all done by writer Paul Dini
and artist Alex Ross
. The graphic novels are; Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, Shazam!: Power of Hope, Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth, JLA: Secret Origins, and JLA: Liberty and Justice. The artwork is of Ross' very own photorealism
, and the books themselves were created after the success of Ross' and writer Mark Waid
's famous Kingdom Come
.
This shouldn't be confused with The World's Greatest Superheroes
, the syndicated
newspaper
comic strip
that ran from April 9, 1978 to February 10, 1985.
season in Metropolis
; Superman
finds a starving young woman that leads to him look up the topic of world hunger. Wanting to help, Superman proposes to the United Nations
to help to end world hunger through the gesture of spending a day delivering as much food as he can to settlements that need it anywhere on the planet, an idea met with significant controversy but ultimately given the go-ahead. With tankers
filled with food, Superman flies to starving and impoverished locations all over the Earth, and is met with varying levels of gratitude, praise, fear and frenzy. Eventually, Superman arrives in a country whose militarized government warns against his help. In response to his persistence, they fire a chemical-weapon missile at where he is, with civilians below. He attempts to save the people by sending the cloud of poison into space, but the tanker is damaged and the food is poisoned. In the end, Superman makes a statement to the press, quoting the old phrase Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he eats for a lifetime. His message to the world is for everyone to share their knowledge to anyone in need. He asks for the world to inspire others in hopes for true peace to live on.
The story in Peace on Earth was conceived based on the Superman stories from the 1940s, specifically, the World War II
-era stories where Superman would go out and fix the world's problems. In explaining the reason why he fails, Alex Ross
said that the lesson Superman learns in Peace on Earth is that he leads by example, instead of becoming the brawn that humanity doesn't and shouldn't have. The artwork gave Superman another nod to which he has been alluded: a stand-in for Jesus Christ.
hears gunshots in a store and captures the mugger. When he checks the bodies, he notices something familiar and unexpected: a boy who saw his parents die. The boy, Marcus, is seen by Batman as a mirror to his eight-year-old self. The next night, Batman takes care of a gang with Marcus as one of them, and he runs off. The very next night, Batman stops a drug location and confronts a gun weiding Marcus. Talking him down, asking him not to become what killed his parents, and he lowers the gun. Having given Marcus new hope for the future, Bruce Wayne decides to make changes without the mask by helping rebuild Bayside, not replace it. Randall is not so happy, but due to other things going on, Randall is arrested. Batman knows he is fighting a war he cannot completely win, but the small victories encourage him to keep trying, and hopes that soon he'll move on from his pain.
, meets with the Shazam Wizard
who tells him about a child who will need his help. Arriving at the hospital, all the kids are happy to see their hero, except for one in a wheelchair who Marvel thinks is the kid who needs his help. Captain Marvel decides to talk to the kid as Billy, and the kid asks if his father would ever hurt him. Later, Billy meets with the kid's father, and after getting nothing, threatens him as Captain Marvel, telling him not to hurt his son anymore. After his visit is over, Marvel learns from the Wizard that it was himself who needed help, and it is himself and the children that he has given hope towards. Happy as ever, Captain Marvel continues his adventures with Billy Batson playing ball with the kid in the wheelchair.
to return to her homeland of Themyscira
. Following that visit, she attempts to end the civil war in Asia, where Wonder Woman stops a tank when it carelessly almost kills a woman. The woman looks at Diana, and after asking who she is, disagrees that Diana is like her or one of them. This continues in the Middle East where rocks are thrown at her when she asks for their help. Talking to Clark Kent, she decides to work with humanity instead of above them, and learns things she wouldn't have as herself. Returning to the Middle East, she poses as one of the Muslim women before stopping the men from using women as shields. Freeing them, the reactions are better and she is accepted as one of them. Wonder Woman notes that she is a heroine, demigoddess, and a warrior, but only in part, as she is like everyone else; a human being. She then prepares herself to be more part of the human world.
, Martian Manhunter
, Aquaman
, Green Arrow
& Black Canary
, Plastic Man
, and Hawkman and Hawkgirl
, along with the origins of the other four super-heroes presented in the previous one-shots, are all told, ending with the origin of how Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter, followed by Superman & Batman, formed the Justice League of America.
with the urgent news from The Pentagon
. With the other members with them, the heroes learn of a virus in Africa that led to a seize in communications. In Africa, the JLA find out that the virus is alien and has made the victims alive but prisoners in their own body. Flash races back only to fall ill from the virus. He is saved by Aquaman
, but he falls ill too until Diana saves them both. With panic over the news, Superman and J’onn prevent jets from bombing Africa. In the Batcave, Batman and The Atom find a cure after a voyage into Flash's body: the virus adapts the brains impulses, but can't if they are increased. by increasing the impulses, it can't adapt. Flash helps in making more of the cure while the entire JLA handles the panic across the globe. Back in Africa, thanks to the powers of Flash and Green Lantern, the virus successfully goes back into space. By J'onn addressing the United Nations
, trust is restored between the humans and the superhumans, and J’onn and Superman take what's left of the virus and send it off. Even with differences, J'onn knows Earth sees the JLA as their hope and strength, because that's what Earth gives to the JLA as well.
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
collection, consisting of six oversized graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
s all done by writer Paul Dini
Paul Dini
Paul Dini is an American writer and producer who works in the television and comic book industries. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics animated series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated...
and artist Alex Ross
Alex Ross
Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross is an American comic book painter, illustrator, and plotter. He is praised for his realistic, human depictions of classic comic book characters. Since the 1990s he has done work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an...
. The graphic novels are; Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, Shazam!: Power of Hope, Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth, JLA: Secret Origins, and JLA: Liberty and Justice. The artwork is of Ross' very own photorealism
Photorealism
Photorealism is the genre of painting based on using the camera and photographs to gather information and then from this information creating a painting that appears photographic...
, and the books themselves were created after the success of Ross' and writer Mark Waid
Mark Waid
Mark Waid is an American comic book writer. He is well known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America...
's famous Kingdom Come
Kingdom Come (comics)
Kingdom Come is a four-issue comic book mini-series published in 1996 by DC Comics. It was written by Alex Ross and Mark Waid and painted in gouache by Ross, who also developed the concept from an original idea...
.
This shouldn't be confused with The World's Greatest Superheroes
The World's Greatest Superheroes
The World's Greatest Superheroes was a syndicated newspaper comic strip featuring DC Comics characters which ran Sunday and daily from April 9, 1978 to February 10, 1985...
, the syndicated
Print syndication
Print syndication distributes news articles, columns, comic strips and other features to newspapers, magazines and websites. They offer reprint rights and grant permissions to other parties for republishing content of which they own/represent copyrights....
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
that ran from April 9, 1978 to February 10, 1985.
Superman: Peace on Earth
After helping to start the ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
season in Metropolis
Metropolis (comics)
Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16 ....
; Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
finds a starving young woman that leads to him look up the topic of world hunger. Wanting to help, Superman proposes to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
to help to end world hunger through the gesture of spending a day delivering as much food as he can to settlements that need it anywhere on the planet, an idea met with significant controversy but ultimately given the go-ahead. With tankers
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
filled with food, Superman flies to starving and impoverished locations all over the Earth, and is met with varying levels of gratitude, praise, fear and frenzy. Eventually, Superman arrives in a country whose militarized government warns against his help. In response to his persistence, they fire a chemical-weapon missile at where he is, with civilians below. He attempts to save the people by sending the cloud of poison into space, but the tanker is damaged and the food is poisoned. In the end, Superman makes a statement to the press, quoting the old phrase Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he eats for a lifetime. His message to the world is for everyone to share their knowledge to anyone in need. He asks for the world to inspire others in hopes for true peace to live on.
The story in Peace on Earth was conceived based on the Superman stories from the 1940s, specifically, the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-era stories where Superman would go out and fix the world's problems. In explaining the reason why he fails, Alex Ross
Alex Ross
Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross is an American comic book painter, illustrator, and plotter. He is praised for his realistic, human depictions of classic comic book characters. Since the 1990s he has done work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an...
said that the lesson Superman learns in Peace on Earth is that he leads by example, instead of becoming the brawn that humanity doesn't and shouldn't have. The artwork gave Superman another nod to which he has been alluded: a stand-in for Jesus Christ.
Batman: War on Crime
Bruce Wayne is in a business meeting with corrupt Randall Winters, as he proposes to replace the Bayside area. That night in Bayside, BatmanBatman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
hears gunshots in a store and captures the mugger. When he checks the bodies, he notices something familiar and unexpected: a boy who saw his parents die. The boy, Marcus, is seen by Batman as a mirror to his eight-year-old self. The next night, Batman takes care of a gang with Marcus as one of them, and he runs off. The very next night, Batman stops a drug location and confronts a gun weiding Marcus. Talking him down, asking him not to become what killed his parents, and he lowers the gun. Having given Marcus new hope for the future, Bruce Wayne decides to make changes without the mask by helping rebuild Bayside, not replace it. Randall is not so happy, but due to other things going on, Randall is arrested. Batman knows he is fighting a war he cannot completely win, but the small victories encourage him to keep trying, and hopes that soon he'll move on from his pain.
Shazam!: Power of Hope
Billy Batson's baseball plans are shot when he is asked to check out a mailbag filled with letters to Captain Marvel. One letter asks if Captain Marvel could stop at a hospital for sick children, and then, as Captain MarvelCaptain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
, meets with the Shazam Wizard
Shazam (comics)
Shazam is a comic book character created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. He is an ancient sorcerer who gives young Billy Batson the power to transform into the superhero Captain Marvel...
who tells him about a child who will need his help. Arriving at the hospital, all the kids are happy to see their hero, except for one in a wheelchair who Marvel thinks is the kid who needs his help. Captain Marvel decides to talk to the kid as Billy, and the kid asks if his father would ever hurt him. Later, Billy meets with the kid's father, and after getting nothing, threatens him as Captain Marvel, telling him not to hurt his son anymore. After his visit is over, Marvel learns from the Wizard that it was himself who needed help, and it is himself and the children that he has given hope towards. Happy as ever, Captain Marvel continues his adventures with Billy Batson playing ball with the kid in the wheelchair.
Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth
Stopping a terrorist attack, and other heroic deeds, sends Wonder WomanWonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
to return to her homeland of Themyscira
Themyscira
Themyscira is a fictional island nation in the DC Comics universe that is the place of origin of Wonder Woman and her sister Amazons. Known as Paradise Island since Wonder Woman and the island's first appearance in All Star Comics #8 , it was renamed "Themyscira" with the character's February...
. Following that visit, she attempts to end the civil war in Asia, where Wonder Woman stops a tank when it carelessly almost kills a woman. The woman looks at Diana, and after asking who she is, disagrees that Diana is like her or one of them. This continues in the Middle East where rocks are thrown at her when she asks for their help. Talking to Clark Kent, she decides to work with humanity instead of above them, and learns things she wouldn't have as herself. Returning to the Middle East, she poses as one of the Muslim women before stopping the men from using women as shields. Freeing them, the reactions are better and she is accepted as one of them. Wonder Woman notes that she is a heroine, demigoddess, and a warrior, but only in part, as she is like everyone else; a human being. She then prepares herself to be more part of the human world.
JLA: Secret Origins
The origins of The Flash, Green LanternHal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
, Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
, Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
, Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
& Black Canary
Black Canary
Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
, Plastic Man
Plastic Man
Plastic Man is a fictional comic-book superhero originally published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. Created by writer-artist Jack Cole, he first appeared in Police Comics #1 ....
, and Hawkman and Hawkgirl
Hawkwoman
Hawkwoman is the name of several fictional superheroines all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's DC Universe. They are partners, and sometimes spouses or lovers, of the various versions of Hawkman, and share many features with the character Hawkgirl.-Shayera Hol:The Silver Age...
, along with the origins of the other four super-heroes presented in the previous one-shots, are all told, ending with the origin of how Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter, followed by Superman & Batman, formed the Justice League of America.
JLA: Liberty and Justice
Wonder Woman comes to Martian ManhunterMartian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
with the urgent news from The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
. With the other members with them, the heroes learn of a virus in Africa that led to a seize in communications. In Africa, the JLA find out that the virus is alien and has made the victims alive but prisoners in their own body. Flash races back only to fall ill from the virus. He is saved by Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
, but he falls ill too until Diana saves them both. With panic over the news, Superman and J’onn prevent jets from bombing Africa. In the Batcave, Batman and The Atom find a cure after a voyage into Flash's body: the virus adapts the brains impulses, but can't if they are increased. by increasing the impulses, it can't adapt. Flash helps in making more of the cure while the entire JLA handles the panic across the globe. Back in Africa, thanks to the powers of Flash and Green Lantern, the virus successfully goes back into space. By J'onn addressing the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, trust is restored between the humans and the superhumans, and J’onn and Superman take what's left of the virus and send it off. Even with differences, J'onn knows Earth sees the JLA as their hope and strength, because that's what Earth gives to the JLA as well.
Production
- In creating his Batman, Ross based his take from the 1939 version by having him not have his vehicles like the BatmobileBatmobileThe Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
, and have him just appear on the scene. The reason was, at the time after the release of Batman & Robin, Batman had gone too hi-tech, and Batman is scarier if he just appears. For the mask Ross came up with the concept on having the mask act as a second skin by having the eyeholes come right up to the upper and lower eyelids so the mask becomes the face.
- Alex Ross faced a challenge in designing Wonder Woman by making her feminine and physically imposing at the same time because she is an AmazonAmazons (comics)The Amazons of DC Comics are a fictional all-female society of superhumans, based on the Amazons of Greek mythology. There have been three major incarnations of these Amazons, one before the Crisis, and two after. What two of these groups have in common is that they are the race which produced...
. Ross says that the only person he can identify with Wonder Woman is Lynda CarterLynda CarterLynda Jean Carter is an American actress and singer, best known for being Miss World USA and as the star of the 1970s television series The New Original Wonder Woman and The New Adventures of Wonder Woman ....
, just as much as George ReevesGeorge ReevesGeorge Reeves was an American actor best known for his role as Superman in the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman....
is who he identities with in regards to Superman.
- Alex Ross' inspiration for his Justice League of America came from their Bronze Age of comic booksBronze Age of Comic BooksThe Bronze Age of Comic Books is an informal name for a period in the history of mainstream American comic books usually said to run from 1970 to 1985. It follows the Silver Age of Comic Books....
version, as he grew up reading this version of the team.