Jla: Crisis of Conscience - Vol 18

This story immediately Identity Crisis (a great story and you have to read before this volume) and is part of the preparation for INfinite Crisis. Basically, the League crossed the line, messing with the minds of villians. This is the after math of Ident Crisis and is part of the story leading up to Infinite Crisis. A definite must read, probably the best JLA story ever written.

This collection follows up on some of the loose threads from the "Identity Crisis" series. Geoff Johns infuses more super-hero action into this series than Meltzer did in "Identity Crisis," and one of the JLA's earliest villains makes a stunning return. It doesn't stand alone--I wouldn't attempt to make sense of what's going on here before first reading "Identity Crisis." Also, it's not a sequel to that book but more of an extension of the storyline--an epilogue of sorts. This book also sets up the "Infinity Crisis" mini-series/company-wide crossover, so it could also be considered a prelude as well.

This book is essentially the aftermath of Identity Crisis. You should know what happened in Identity Crisis by now, and this continues the road to Infinite Crisis. This book continues to prove that DC is the dominant and most reputable comic company at this point. The story is good, the characters and their struggles are true to their personalities, and continuity. Artwork does the job; all covers appear. If you read Identity Crisis and/or Infinite Crisis, this is a must have.

In Identity Crisis, it was discovered that, to protect their loved ones, the Justice League of America had tampered with the memories of Dr. Light, the Secret Society of Super-Villains, and even Batman himself. Well, now the repercussions of their acts are coming home to them, and it's tearing them apart. Someone has corrected the SSSV's memories, and sent them on a quest for vengeance. Can the JLA stand together as they always have, or will this be the JLAs final doom? Overall, I found this to be a very good graphic novel. The illustration work is excellent, and the storyline quite gripping. I do, though have two complaints against this book. First of all, the authors did not do a good enough job of convincing me that tampering with a villain's memory to protect a loved one would weigh quite that heavily on the JLA's consciences. And second, this book ends with a cliffhanger. How does everything wrap up? Buy Infinite Crisis to find out. (Sorry, but I do dislike cliffhangers.) But, that said, this is a good, exciting book, one that my son and I are quite glad we read. We highly recommend this book.

Hot from the pages of the best-selling "Identity Crisis" mini-series and last year's controversial "Sacrifice" storyline in the Superman comic book series comes DC Comics's excellent sequel: "JLA: Crisis of Conscience." Its finale (including the mysterious last page) will literally explode into the opening of DC's current mega-crossover event, "Infinite Crisis." JLA Roll Call: Batman, Superman, Black Canary, Hawkman, Aquaman, Zatanna, Green Arrow (Oliver Queen), the Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Flash (Wally West), Wonder Woman, and guest star Catwoman. Taking the revelations of "Identity Crisis" one step further, readers find out that members of the Justice League not only mind-wiped the psychotic Dr. Light and then Batman to cover their tracks, but they also committed the same questionable act against several other familiar super-criminals. Why, you ask? Years before, multiple villains had discovered the secret identities of the JLA members, and were deemed potential threats to harm the heroes' extended family members. To protect their loved ones, some of the League (Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Hawkman, Zatanna, Black Canary, the Flash Barry Allen, & Green Arrow among them) reluctantly chose to erase the villains' minds of this knowledge using Zatanna's magic, and keep this secret hidden away for years to come. However, their dark pact will backfire as Batman, the Martian Manhunter, the Flash Wally West, & Superman all discover the shocking truth and choose to each deal with the violent repercussions. Meanwhile, the alien Despero (an old enemy from classic JLA lore) has restored the villains' memories and sends them on a search & destroy mission against the JLA. It can be revealed that Superman's beloved wife, Lois Lane, will be among their first targets, as they launch an assault against the Daily Planet in Metropolis. If this threat isn't enough, vicious in-fighting may rip apart the Justice League forever, as an enraged Batman confronts his teammates over their betrayal, and Green Arrow & Hawkman storm back by going nose-to-nose with the Dark Knight over his deep-set paranoia and possibly his own hidden agenda. Additional sub-plots include a remorseful Zatanna and a self-exiled Wonder Woman both contemplating their status with the JLA and the controversial decisions they have made leading up to the current rift within the League. The climatic battle soon erupts within the Batcave and then the halls of Wayne Manor, as tha JLA must fight each other to escape the mind-bending clutches of Despero. Who will make the crucial difference to save the League from itself? Who will quit the team? Who else may have been mind-wiped? And how does the story's conclusion suddenly leap into the beginning of "Infinite Crisis?" The answers are definitely worth checking out. We certainly agree with another reviewer that prior reading of "Identity Crisis," and the "Sacrfice" storyline, as well as some basic knowled