Rating: 
Summary: "From The Ashes Of The Old"-----
Review: "The Golden Age" is the perfect example of what D.C.'s Elseworlds should be.
Originally a four part mystery, James Robinson brilliantly weaves a tale of lost hope, and ultimately redemption,featuring a host of DCs 1940's superheroes.
We catch up with several heroes,post-WWII, some prospering,
some not, but all seem to be trying to find a purpose in a new world, and time(the 1950's).
Without giving away the plot,the story starts with the homecoming of a war hero,Tex Thompson-The Americomando,and soon snowballs into a rollercoater ride of politics,betrayl, and world domination.
The art, by Paul Smith is some of his best work, and you can see the care that he brings telling this story.
By the way,this was supposed to be followed up by a sequel "The Silver Age"(which was supposed to be drawn by Howard Chaykin)
I hope DC decides to publish it(although it's been ten years)
Rating: 
Summary: All that glitters...
Review: Although it's not held in quite as high regard as 'Watchmen' 'The Dark Knight Returns', or 'Kingdom Come', 'The Golden Age' ranks as one of those four-color yarns that most aficionados of the spandex set would agree is a must-read. So I stopped procrastinating, picked up a copy, dug in-- and found myself agreeing with most folks that it is one of the modern era's best super-hero stories. While I usually blow off most comic geeks' assertions that some comic book story-arcs have to be read more than once to "really see the subtle nuances and blah blah blah" as pretentious nonsense, I found this collection to be an exception to the rule. After readin' it once, I felt the need to give it another go! But mainly 'cuz there are quite a few subplots and characters (mostly retired super-heroes) involved, and I had a little trouble keepin' track of 'em all. Ya got one guy with repressed memories of something terrible & is constantly on the run from hitmen, another guy tryin' to put together a documentary on superheroes, another who is an alcoholic would-be novelist with writer's block, another who is literally haunted by the ghost of his brother, yet another who makes every effort to defend the employees who work for his publishing company against the post-WWII U.S. government's anticommunist paranoia, and still another back from the front lines of postwar Europe who becomes the catalyst for the story's political intrigue. So needless to say, there's quite a lot goin' on here. It's almost like I need Cliffs Notes for this bad-boy! Fortunately, I was able to line things up a little better on the second go-round...One thing I found rather interesting about 'The Golden Age' was the way that writer James Robinson managed to beautifully meld the kinda deep and multifaceted story that 'Watchmen' and its ilk popularized several years before this came out, with the kinda super-villain plot to rule the world that was the staple of just about every ten-cent four-color super special back in the day. I couldn't believe it when they rolled out the ol' tried-and-true "They Saved Hitler's Brain!" gimmick near the climax, which wasn't nearly as corny as one would expect it to be. They even dropped the good ol' "super-villain's-highly-detailed-diary-that-gives-away-his-plans-for-world-domination-falling-into-the-hands-of-the-good-guys" formula into the mix! Sheesh, you'd think these super-villains would've learned by not to not write down every little evil plan that pops into their head! Or, in the least, put their writings in a place that only they have access to... Adding a beautiful touch to the story is the Jack Kirbyesque pencil and ink-work of Paul Martin Smith. But the best part to me is the coloring efforts of Paul Ory. The quasi watercolor-looking shades, textures, and fine details that Ory lays down are some of the best I've ever seen in comics, and has the kind of human touch that today's computer-aided coloring and shading techniques could never come close to emulating. It's the kinda work that's become something of a lost art (if you'll pardon the expression) in the field of comics... 'Late
Rating:
Summary: All that glitters...
Review: Although it's not held in quite as high regard as `Watchmen' `The Dark Knight Returns', or `Kingdom Come', `The Golden Age' ranks as one of those four-color yarns that most aficionados of the spandex set would agree is a must-read. So I stopped procrastinating, picked up a copy, dug in-- and found myself agreeing with most folks that it is one of the modern era's best super-hero stories. While I usually blow off most comic geeks' assertions that some comic book story-arcs have to be read more than once to "really see the subtle nuances and blah blah blah" as pretentious nonsense, I found this collection to be an exception to the rule. After readin' it once, I felt the need to give it another go! But mainly `cuz there are quite a few subplots and characters (mostly retired super-heroes) involved, and I had a little trouble keepin' track of `em all. Ya got one guy with repressed memories of something terrible & is constantly on the run from hitmen, another guy tryin' to put together a documentary on superheroes, another who is an alcoholic would-be novelist with writer's block, another who is literally haunted by the ghost of his brother, yet another who makes every effort to defend the employees who work for his publishing company against the post-WWII U.S. government's anticommunist paranoia, and still another back from the front lines of postwar Europe who becomes the catalyst for the story's political intrigue. So needless to say, there's quite a lot goin' on here. It's almost like I need Cliffs Notes for this bad-boy! Fortunately, I was able to line things up a little better on the second go-round... One thing I found rather interesting about `The Golden Age' was the way that writer James Robinson managed to beautifully meld the kinda deep and multifaceted story that `Watchmen' and its ilk popularized several years before this came out, with the kinda super-villain plot to rule the world that was the staple of just about every ten-cent four-color super special back in the day. I couldn't believe it when they rolled out the ol' tried-and-true "They Saved Hitler's Brain!" gimmick near the climax, which wasn't nearly as corny as one would expect it to be. They even dropped the good ol' "super-villain's-highly-detailed-diary-that-gives-away-his-plans-for-world-domination-falling-into-the-hands-of-the-good-guys" formula into the mix! Sheesh, you'd think these super-villains would've learned by not to not write down every little evil plan that pops into their head! Or, in the least, put their writings in a place that only they have access to... Adding a beautiful touch to the story is the Jack Kirbyesque pencil and ink-work of Paul Martin Smith. But the best part to me is the coloring efforts of Paul Ory. The quasi watercolor-looking shades, textures, and fine details that Ory lays down are some of the best I've ever seen in comics, and has the kind of human touch that today's computer-aided coloring and shading techniques could never come close to emulating. It's the kinda work that's become something of a lost art (if you'll pardon the expression) in the field of comics... `Late
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely golden
Review: I'm a huge mark for Golden Age heroes. The major problem with the comic books of yesteryear is that the heroes were two dimensional, completely lacking in personality. They were all upstanding, usually rich, and basically boring, when not in costume. If it wasn't for the creative gimmicks and colorful costumes, the men and women behind the masks were interchangeable. James Robinson's updating of these classic Golden Agers is insightful and refreshing. He takes these legends and creates distinctive, and relatively believable, personal backgrounds for each of them. Yet he does this without diminishing the fun and nostalgia of those earlier tales. While congratulating Robinson, I feel inclined to point out the influence of Alan Moore's Watchmen. While Watchmen may have set the standard for alternate takes on the traditional DC/Marvel universes, Robinson and Smith's work here easily lives up to that lofty standard. Paul Smith does a great job on the art, subtly employing updated pencilling techniques along with a very distinctive golden age era style. The colors in this book are also great, obviously far superior to the comic books of decades past. My only problem with the art lies with the lack of differentiation between some of the alter egos of these costumes heroes. Since most of these guys basically had the same blonde hair, chiseled features, erect postures, and well tailored suits back in the day, sometimes it's difficult to tell them apart, at least in the early chapters. As you read on, Robinson adds humanistic touches of doubts, addictions, regrets and redemption to enrich the characters well beyond their original incarnations. This collection covers a complete story arc, which is great, but I must admit that I would love to read more tales of the Golden Age from James Robinson and Paul Smith. James Robinson is easily one of the top 5 to 10 comic book writers out there. Check out his popular, and critically acclaimed, Starman (another update of a Golden Ager) series if you don't believe me.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely golden
Review: I'm a huge mark for Golden Age heroes. The major problem with the comic books of yesteryear is that the heroes were two dimensional, completely lacking in personality. They were all upstanding, usually rich, and basically boring, when not in costume. If it wasn't for the creative gimmicks and colorful costumes, the men and women behind the masks were interchangeable. James Robinson's updating of these classic Golden Agers is insightful and refreshing. He takes these legends and creates distinctive, and relatively believable, personal backgrounds for each of them. Yet he does this without diminishing the fun and nostalgia of those earlier tales. While congratulating Robinson, I feel inclined to point out the influence of Alan Moore's Watchmen. While Watchmen may have set the standard for alternate takes on the traditional DC/Marvel universes, Robinson and Smith's work here easily lives up to that lofty standard. Paul Smith does a great job on the art, subtly employing updated pencilling techniques along with a very distinctive golden age era style. The colors in this book are also great, obviously far superior to the comic books of decades past. My only problem with the art lies with the lack of differentiation between some of the alter egos of these costumes heroes. Since most of these guys basically had the same blonde hair, chiseled features, erect postures, and well tailored suits back in the day, sometimes it's difficult to tell them apart, at least in the early chapters. As you read on, Robinson adds humanistic touches of doubts, addictions, regrets and redemption to enrich the characters well beyond their original incarnations. This collection covers a complete story arc, which is great, but I must admit that I would love to read more tales of the Golden Age from James Robinson and Paul Smith. James Robinson is easily one of the top 5 to 10 comic book writers out there. Check out his popular, and critically acclaimed, Starman (another update of a Golden Ager) series if you don't believe me.
Rating:
Summary: Deconstructing Fascism with Comics
Review: In the introduction to "The Golden Age," the author mentions Moore's "Watchmen" as a source of inspiration. In fact, the idea that superheroes are fascist tools isn't a new one, and "Watchmen" explored that same issue, but from a Reagan-era hysteria point of view. "The Golden Age" returns readers to a simpler time, when apple pie and the Stars and Stripes were good, and Hammers and Sickles and All Things Red were bad, and that was that. Since superheroes, especially traditional superheroes, represent the same dualistic worldview- ultimate good and ultimate evil, with very little in between - it's natural that they be used as a vehicle to explore the darker aspects of living with such a limiting cosmology. "Golden Age" takes some of the classic superheroes and does just that, focusing on the McCarthy-era, post-WWII hysteria. On one hand, America had a lot of to be proud of, fighting a successful war to rid the world of obviously evil enemies. But, on the other, the Red Menace was growing, an evil that no one could really define yet everyone agreed was bad. Enter the superheroes, fighting for all that is good and American. But where does the line between fascism in the name of good, and fascism in the name of evil, fall? Or is there even a difference? While "The Golden Age's" point isn't exactly subtle, sometimes ideologies must be taken to the extreme to show how their application would be absurd. This it does with style and elegance, making it an interesting story for anyone interested in comics as literature, or as art (or both). "The Golden Age" is definitely worth your time. Final Grade: B
Rating:
Summary: The Way Things Might Have Been
Review: The Golden Age is a four-issue addition to the Elseworlds line and all four issues are in this collection. This story is a chronicle of the last hurrah of the Golden Age mystery men. Heroes who disappeared after World War Two. The story centers around the lives of a number of mystery men and one who was sent to Germany. All other heroes had been kept in the States by a Presidential Decree. The President felt that if even one hero fell overseas then the morale of the county would plummet. But one hero was sent undercover, the Americommando. A minor figure in the golden age, he rockets to stardom upon his return. His mission had been to kill all of the German super-beings and Adolph Hitler. The Americommando, now in his mundane role as Tex Thompson, begins a project to create a new hero. A hero not of mystery but of openness. He succeeds and his political career really takes off. But some off the old heroes manage to piece together the truth of Tex and his new hero. A frightening truth. In the story's climax, heroes come out of retirement to defeat the new menace. We also catch a glimpse of the new heroes starting to come into their powers. If you liked the old heroes of the Golden Age then this is definitely a story worth reading. It is also a great tale for fans of hero stories or government conspiracies. Take a look at it if you can find it.
Rating:
Summary: Another look at times past
Review: The Golden Age is another "Elseworlds" examination of comics history. By using such rarely seen characters as Captain Triumph and Mr.America along with the "big guns" of the era (Green Lantern, The Atom,etc.)James Robinson visits a Post WWII America where superheroes are considered suspect, and only those who conform are to be trusted. Using superheroes to comment on McCarthyism may seem to be a stretch, but Robinson makes the story challenging with many twists. The "alternate history" concept gives the author the freedom to take chances, but also eliminates the element of "this can't be happening" suspense. Too many sub plots (Hourman's addiction, Starman's breakdown) get in the way of the more compelling central tale. Paul Smith's art is a wonder throughout. Shifting from the well-lit scenes of Dyna-man to Paul Kirk's despair, Smith constantly creates visuals that hold your attention and never let you forget the true wonder of this medium; the ability for two dimensional, brightly colored figures to fascinate and entertain.
Rating: 
Summary: Dark and grim
Review: The Golden Age is another "Elseworlds" examination of comics history. By using such rarely seen characters as Captain Triumph and Mr.America along with the "big guns" of the era (Green Lantern, The Atom,etc.)James Robinson visits a Post WWII America where superheroes are considered suspect, and only those who conform are to be trusted. Using superheroes to comment on McCarthyism may seem to be a stretch, but Robinson makes the story challenging with many twists. The "alternate history" concept gives the author the freedom to take chances, but also eliminates the element of "this can't be happening" suspense. Too many sub plots (Hourman's addiction, Starman's breakdown) get in the way of the more compelling central tale. Paul Smith's art is a wonder throughout. Shifting from the well-lit scenes of Dyna-man to Paul Kirk's despair, Smith constantly creates visuals that hold your attention and never let you forget the true wonder of this medium; the ability for two dimensional, brightly colored figures to fascinate and entertain.
Rating:
Summary: Golden Age: A New Look at some Old Characters
Review: This was one of James Robinson's best works. He excels at taking little used characters (especially Golden Age ones) and making them human and more relevent for the reader. For the first time I have encountered the JSA they felt more then the cardboard heroes that they have been portrayed as before. Although the plot is not horribly original, they are enough twists and mysteries to keep you guessing. If you are a fan of Starman and want a little bit of a mroe realistic edge on your superheroes, give this a shot.
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