Rating: 
Summary: Gorgeous Throwback to Pre-Crisis DC
Review: Grant Morrison's writing really shines in this self-contained JLA tale about an alternate dimension containing evil counterparts for every member of the Justice League (think "Mirror Mirror"). Morrison plays with every character as much as he can, giving them all a little more depth than usual as he fleshes out a charming tale straight out of the pre-continuity DC days. The conflict is interesting, the heroes are fully realized, and Frank Quitely's artwork is as good as it gets. Never have so many looked so cool so often. The attention to detail in this book is beyond the pale - so many little things stand out on re-reading and re-re-reading that it's worth your money just for the pictures. Pick this one up; it's well worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Typical Grant Morrison
Review: Here is another example of how inept Grant Morrison is at writing any JLA story. I was not a fan of his 40+ issue run on JLA, and this special graphic novel is just as muddled as those other 40. There is no soul. We don't "know" the characters. There is no point. Usually he just writes boring action, but there's barely any of that in this. It's just a forum for bad art (the characters look like my son's FisherPrice PreSchool Action Figures) and mediocre writing. This isn't the worst of Grant Morrison (That's still "JLA:Rock of Ages") but this one is a close second. Note to DC Comics... please stop giving JLA to Grant Morrison.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting return for the Crime Syndicate
Review: I haven't been a regular comics reader I was a teen (in the mid to late 80's). Only recently, thanks to the various places carrying these graphic novels, I have gotten back into reading comics a little bit. The reason I got this "comic" because it was the return of the Crime Syndicate of America. I only knew of the CSA for a brief time in the 80's because the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" wiped them away in issue #1. I won't go into the plot much as others have given an overview. But the plot is pretty intereting overall and I thought the art was just fine. I think those who remember the CSA from the old days will like this story. Those new to the CSA will also like it, but you may want to go online or a comic shop and find some of the older comics deaturing the "old CSA".
Rating:
Summary: Interesting return for the Crime Syndicate
Review: I haven't been a regular comics reader I was a teen (in the mid to late 80's). Only recently, thanks to the various places carrying these graphic novels, I have gotten back into reading comics a little bit. The reason I got this "comic" because it was the return of the Crime Syndicate of America. I only knew of the CSA for a brief time in the 80's because the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" wiped them away in issue #1. I won't go into the plot much as others have given an overview. But the plot is pretty intereting overall and I thought the art was just fine. I think those who remember the CSA from the old days will like this story. Those new to the CSA will also like it, but you may want to go online or a comic shop and find some of the older comics deaturing the "old CSA".
Rating:
Summary: Morrison's Best JLA Story
Review: I like Morrison's run on the regular JLA title but I was never crazy about it. I thought that the writers that followed him generally did a better job than him. But this side project is one of the best JLA stories of recent years.
It pits the JLA against their opposites form a universe where evil supervillains have the upper hand over the heroes. It introduces important characters who have since made interesting appearances in the regular Superman series.
I also love the art which has a realistic carnoony feel to it, if you know what I mean.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing and just plain bad.
Review: I no longer buy single comics, so, I take my chances with graphic novels and compellations. I have all ways liked what if stories, particularly from marvel. I thought that this would be a good diversion. I was disappointed. The story was very predictable, and seemed like it was phoned in after a bad weekend. I have loved JLA since they first appeared; I even loved the Starro stories. I admit that I like the Cartoon network's show. Save your time and money.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing and just plain bad.
Review: I no longer buy single comics, so, I take my chances with graphic novels and compellations. I have all ways liked what if stories, particularly from marvel. I thought that this would be a good diversion. I was disappointed. The story was very predictable, and seemed like it was phoned in after a bad weekend. I have loved JLA since they first appeared; I even loved the Starro stories. I admit that I like the Cartoon network's show. Save your time and money.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of potential
Review: I think I know what happened in the course of creating this book: Grant Morrison walked into the DC offices with a pitch for a rewrite of this classic story, to be split up over 6 or 12 issues. He handed over a plot summary, the editors said "Heck with the series, make it a graphic novel," and the summary was used as the script. Or maybe Morrison didn't want to spend the effort on details, I don't know... There seems to be way too many links and fine points missing from this storyline. If they were expanded upon, this could have been one of DC's truly justified limited series. As it is, it's a choppy reworking of the classic Silver-Age story where the JLA meets the Crime Syndicate, their evil selves, although they don't really MEET them in any extended sense. The only person the JLA has any real interaction with is Alexander Luthor, "Earth-1's" only hero, and not a very well-defined one at that. I must admit, however, that even though Martian Manhunter and Aquaman stay behind, Morrison does a good job of fleshing them out. Frank Quitely's artwork is great, as always, and that helps this book in a big way. His character design is wonderful and gets a round of applause. I've heard criticism about his characters looking too similar, but I don't have as much of a problem with him doing this as I do other artists, because you can see that he has talent. One last thing: to release this as a high-priced hardcover graphic novel right off the bat was not a good move. The softcover, which I purchased, is pretty expensive as well. Seriously, I do recommend this book, but just be aware that the price doesn't match the content, in either format.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it- seriously
Review: I've always gotten off on these "elsewhen" type stories and Morrison and Co. do it right in the pages of Earth 2. I won't bother to summarize the plot as others do a better job. But put it to you this way- there's never been a more compelling, more repulsive and more fascinating anti-JLA then the Crime Syndicate of America. While the notion of a world where evil always triumphs is a little ridiculous, the notion is trumped by the dark and sometimes hilarious characterizations of the opposites of the JLA (their Superman is a masochistic egotist, their wonderwoman is lois lane as a sexual tryant, their Batman, a vicious brilliant hardcore criminal, their flash is a speed/heroin junky and their GL is insane and who is possesed by the evil in his ring and ironically, their luthor the one "good" man on earth 2 but who's notion of good has been somewhat displaced by his precense on an evil world). The story is dark and funny and perfect, in my opinion. This is probably my favorite Morrison JLA story.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it- seriously
Review: I've always gotten off on these "elsewhen" type stories and Morrison and Co. do it right in the pages of Earth 2. I won't bother to summarize the plot as others do a better job. But put it to you this way- there's never been a more compelling, more repulsive and more fascinating anti-JLA then the Crime Syndicate of America. While the notion of a world where evil always triumphs is a little ridiculous, the notion is trumped by the dark and sometimes hilarious characterizations of the opposites of the JLA (their Superman is a masochistic egotist, their wonderwoman is lois lane as a sexual tryant, their Batman, a vicious brilliant hardcore criminal, their flash is a speed/heroin junky and their GL is insane and who is possesed by the evil in his ring and ironically, their luthor the one "good" man on earth 2 but who's notion of good has been somewhat displaced by his precense on an evil world). The story is dark and funny and perfect, in my opinion. This is probably my favorite Morrison JLA story.
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