Jsa: The Liberty Files

by Tony Harris and Dan Jolley

JSA: THE LIBERTY FILES is a clever spy thriller that takes an assortment of familiar super-heroes and reinvents them as covert agents during World War II and the Cold War. In the first tale, The Bat,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401202039
• ISBN13: 9781401202033
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: DC Comics
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.7" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 13 to 22 years
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

"The rumors are true. There is a Super-man. And he's a Nazi."

JSA: THE LIBERTY FILES collects the two part JSA: THE LIBERTY FILE and its sequel JSA: THE UNHOLY THREE (also, a two-parter), which were originally published in 2000 and 2003, respectively. At 264 pages, this trade is a fantastic addition to DC Comics' Elseworlds line (Elseworlds, by the way, takes characters from the DC Universe and places them outside of continuity and into a different timeline or reality). THE LIBERTY FILE and THE UNHOLY THREE spotlight members of the Justice Society of America, except that, instead of conventional superheroics, these mystery men are re-imagined as U.S. espionage agents operating abroad during World War II (although they still don their costumes whenever it's time to throw down). No surprise then that these stories play out more like an international spy thriller. THE LIBERTY FILE: It's 1942, and, in Cairo, Egypt, the Bat finds himself on an espionage mission in which he's forced to team up with two agents, Charles McNider and Rex Tyler, codenamed the Owl and the Clock, respectively. Their target is the albino smuggler Jack the Grin, who had intercepted a Nazi communique which just may contain the specs for a new German prototype weapon. This, Jack the Grin promptly puts up for bidding. As the Bat and his team seek to capture the homicidal albino, an old rumor resurfaces: that Hitler had found a Super-Man, whose addition to the German ranks, if true, instantly tilts the war in the Fatherland's favor. From Egypt to Switzerland and back to Egypt, the Bat, with the help of his allies (which would include a revenge-minded Mr. Terrific), races against time to avert ultimate disaster from befalling the Allies. THE UNHOLY THREE: 1948, and the war's been over for some years. The Bat has re-assumed the mantle of Gotham City's dark guardian and is busy spanking freaky wrongdoers like Two-Face. But when American operatives begin to be horrifyingly tortured and eliminated in Berlin, the Bat gets pulled back into covert government field work and is re-united with his old pal, the Clock. However, the third member of their "Unholy Three," Terry Sloane (Mr. Terrific), has had a falling out with Bruce Wayne years ago and won't be coming. But a near-indestructible rookie agent named Clark Kent will. In fact, because of the metahuman nature of the mission, Kent will be the one giving orders (and can you guess how long that lasts?). So off they go to Berlin, where they mean to hunt down their primary suspects: the super-strong Steel Wolf and the brutal ex-KGB interrogator, the Parasite. Then it's on to Chernobyl, Russia for a final confrontation with the Wolf and the Parasite's shadowy superior. But when the danger is revealed to be the most powerful being on the planet, the Unholy Three find themselves pitifully undermanned. DC's Elseworlds stories rock! For the most part, I relish these "imaginary" offerings, not all of which come from the Elseworlds label. Because when they work, brother, they work. The appeal of Elseworld

Pretty dark, but cool new take.

Icons. Powerhouses. Heroes... Spies? What a cool concept making many of DC's heroes into spies for the government during WWII and the Cold War. Batman, Hourman, Dr. Midnight, and Mr. Terrific, are a bunch of Nazi busters. Several other classic characters pop up, especially when Superman joins the team. If you like the characters of the JSA- those original Golden Agers, then you are in for a trip- and a much more realistic look at the way they WOULD have acted in that time and place. LOTS of twists and turns, but an unexpected level of violence, and killing, especially coming from many of these Heroes. I'd have more of a problem with this... but they ARE soldiers here. So, it's all cool. Definately check it out, if you have the opportunity. One of the best Elseworld tales I've read, that doesn't flat-out ape the comic formula of the characters it is representing. Worth the money.

Wow

This is a damn good book. If you need a break from the convoluted mess that is regular continuity, these stories are for you. Very entertaining and easy to absorb - you'll have trouble putting it down. Excellent writing and equally stunning artwork - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED :)

A new look at old heroes that is fantastic.

Ok first of all you do not need to know any history from DC comics to enjoy this book, it reads great as just a WW2 spt adventure, it is an elseworlds (a alternate reality story, a "what if").we see batman and more as more realistic, they don't even use their real names in most cases, like Batman is called the Bat, Houseman is called the clock.if you love the heroes then you will love to see a fun new adventure in a alternate world, if you have no idea about them you still get a lot of fun and only miss out on a few little names or events, nothing that hurts the story though for new readers.i can't say much about the story since it has so many great twists and i would hate to ruin it, but trust me it's worth every penny, and the price for this big a book is not bad.