DC Newbie looking for JLA recommendations (+ Hawk Girl)

[TPK]

Hi guys,

I used to only read Marvel books back in the days but recently my girlfriend and me started watching the JLA cartoon series and we enjoy it a lot. Thus, I am looking for good JLA storylines to pick up. Availability as trade paperback would be a big plus.

Moreover, my girlfriend really likes the character of Hawkgirl in the animated series. I tried to find out more about her comic book alter ego but to be honest, her background seems to be a big mess. Is there an equivalent character to her animated alter ego in the comicbook universe? If so, are there any decent storylines involving her? Would be nice to surprise my gf with a Hawkgirl trade or two.

Thanks for your time,
TPK - Toilet Paper Kevin

[Alisha Mynx]

Moreover, my girlfriend really likes the character of Hawkgirl in the animated series. I tried to find out more about her comic book alter ego but to be honest, her background seems to be a big mess.

All the "Hawk" characters histories are fairly messy and confusing.  There have been so many retcons that DC even kept the characters from appearing in JLA and other books for a time (which is why Zauriel was created for the early run of Grant Morrison's JLA):

Grant Morrison created Zauriel out of necessity during his tenure as writer of JLA, after being forbidden from using Hawkman. At the time, Hawkman had been declared off-limits by DC editorial due to the character's convoluted continuity (complicated by retcons from the Hawkworld limited series), which DC tried to negate during Zero Hour. As such, Morrison does allude to the Hawkman-connection by having Aquaman mistake Zauriel as "Katar" when the two characters first meet in the middle of a frantic battle.

[ikindadislikekevinsmith]

Tower of Babel. JLA #43-46. 

No Hawkgirl, but it’s a classic story.  You could buy the originals for less than 20 bucks.

[Blackthunder01]

I started reading JLA after watching the cartoon as well.  I picked up the individual issues starting when they relaunched the team and renumbered the books back to #1 this last time.  Tornado's Path, The Lightning Saga, and The Injustice Gang were the names of their first 3 trades.  The fourth trade had something to do with Amazo too I think... or perhaps that was the fifth one...

Either way, I enjoyed that very much and it's a great jump on point.  I wish they never changed that roster.

[Slappy]

Find the Trade for the beginning of JLA Grant Morrison Run run and the Trade for Justice League. beginning of the Keith Giffen Run.

[TPK]

Thanks for your replies. I started out with buying the first trade of the Morrison run and the story is enjoyable. The art, however, is awful. It really puts me off. Probably a matter of taste but still ... haven't been upset about art so mich in a long time.

Yours truly,
TPK

[ikindadislikekevinsmith]

if you want art, try this.

http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/graphic_novels/?gn=1410

[Jawiin]

TPK -

Howard Porter's art does take some getting used to. But Grant Morrison's JLA run is hard to beat. In terms of story, it's epic.

And as a starting point, it's where I started reading the DCU several years ago.

Check out the new hardcovers they just recently released of those arcs. They're amazing.

[Michael]

The current Hawkgirl has become a bit of a mess.  Hopefully Brightest Day will change that.

Offhand, here's a few recommendations:

- JLA:  Earth-2.  Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly bring the CSA back into the current continuity.
- The JLU book ran for almost 50 issues.  That HAD to put out at least a few trade paperbacks.  The other comics from that animated era were also pretty good.
- Though I like and do recommend "I Can't Believe It's Not The Justice League" and "Formerly Known As The Justice League", that has a whole different roster than you'd be used to and the humorous tone might throw you at first.

[MiloMinderbinder]

I personally am a HUGE fan of Giffen and DeMatteis' run on the Justice League, aka the Justice League International.
It's recently been rereleased in several volumes that you can get pretty reasonably through Amazon
The "Formerly Known as the Justice League" and "I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League" are follow-ups to this run.

In terms of a more serious Justice League, Grant Morrison's stories are always epic, but I agree that the art takes some getting used to. I still don't care for it much, but I tolerate it.

Additionally, Meltzer's run on the Justice League is great. The Lightning Saga especially.