Written by: Brian Augustyn, Mark Waid, Mark Millar, Ron Marz, Devin Grayson, Joanna Sandsmark, Erik Larsen, Dan Jurgens

Penciled by: Lee Moder, Kenny Martinez, Dick Giordano, Howard Porter, Mike S. Miller, Staz Johnson

SECRET ORIGINS FEATURING THE JLA presents an in-depth look at the events and circumstances that created some of the world's greatest heroes. Divulging intricate details and facts about how each of these characters gained their abilities or powers, this book reveals much about the personalities and attitudes of these superhuman champions. Included in this volume are the back histories of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the new Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and the new Flash.

A stunning cover by John Cassaday (PLANETARY) tops a thrilling trade paperback collecting the origins of the World's Greatest Heroes, including the origin of the new JLA from JLA Secret Files #1 (written by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar with art by Howard Porter and John Dell). Also: the origins of Batman (from BATMAN Secret Files #1, written by Devin Grayson with art by Staz Johnson and James A. Hodgkins); Wonder Woman (from WONDER WOMAN Secret Files #1, written by Johanna Sandsmark with art by Dick Giordano and Sal Buscema); three different Flashes (from THE FLASH Secret Files #1, written by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn with art by Kenny Martinez and Anibal Rodriguez); multiple Green Lanterns (from GREEN LANTERN Secret Files #1, written by Ron Marz with art by Lee Moder and Dan Davis); Aquaman (from AQUAMAN Secret Files #1, written by Erik Larsen with art by Mike Miller and Saleem Crawford); and Superman (from SUPERMAN Secret Files #1, written by Dan Jurgens with art by Jurgens and Jerry Ordway).

Collects:
JLA Secret Files and Origins #1 ("Star-Seed: The Secret Origin of the New JLA")
Batman Secret Files and Origins #1 ("Gazing Back: The Secret Origin of the Batman")
Green Lantern Secret Files and Origins #1 ("Guy Talk")
Flash Secret Files and Origins #1 ("A Run of Luck")
Wonder Woman Secret Files and Origins #1 ("Vulnerability")
Aquaman Secret Files and Origins #1 ("Left for Dead")
Superman Secret Files and Origins #1 ("Who is Superman?")

Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: DC Comics

Lately, some of the characters with decades worth of history need a little streamlining and modernizing. Not necessarily changing them, but just polishing them up for a new era of comic book lovers.

This book does all that and more. It gives great origin stories on Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Aquaman. In fact, my only 'flaw' was that they didn't have an origin story for Martian Manhunter. In addition, the stories are told in REALLY interesting ways. You'll LOVE a look back at the histories of ALL of Earth's Green Lantern's (Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Kyle Rayner), all as told to an unseen bar patron at Guy Gardner's Warriors bar. Not to mention the fun look at Superman's origins as posed by some great detective work on Batman's part. Each origin has some nice little twist take on it like that. The Flash's looks at all of The Flash's to bear the name, past, present, and future, and Wonder Woman has a nice look from the perspective of Artemis training Cassie Sandsmark while Diane watches. Even Aquaman's was very interesting, which I found surprising.

Basically if you're looking to find out a little more about the original seven JLA members, this is a good way to get caught up on their back stories and it's more enjoyable to read than their bios on wikipedia. There's just one problem. There's seven stories here, one for the JLA, and six for individual members, but nothing for J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter, always the odd man out.

Batman's story is pretty standard fare. I didn't learn anything about him I didn't already know. I learned a lot about GL and The Flash, as there have been many incarnations of each of them, and it's difficult to keep them all straight sometimes. Wonder Woman's training from girl to woman is explored and I never realized Aquaman had such a tragic past. Even though I have Superman's backstory down pretty pat as well, I thought the way it was told was unique (that goes for GL as well).

So basically an informative read for those who know the Justice League, but could use a refresher on where they all came from.

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