Identity Crisis

August 1, 2005
This seven-issue miniseries by bestselling author Meltzer (The Zero Game
) was both wildly popular and reviled, and the collection shows that both views have merit. It does
knock the rust off scores of DC characters while opening avenues to explore post-9/11 morality. On the other hand, it trashes the roles of characters whom readers have come to consider old friends and tampers outrageously with years' worth of continuity. The story begins shockingly when the wife of the minor super hero Elongated Man is brutally murdered. Things get increasingly serious as other members of the Justice League of America find that their loved ones are targets. The super villains are a lot nastier than they used to be; the heroes, meanwhile, are forced to admit that they could have been responsible for some of what's gone wrong when they started tampering with the minds of villains who deserved it or even fellow heroes who merely disapproved of the idea. This makes familiar heroes more morally ambiguous—more human—and the old, easy trust is lost, with long-term consequences still to be revealed in future DC story lines. In the meantime, Meltzer's script and Bair's inking of Morales's penciled art serves the realistic aspect of the characters very well, making this book a genuine comics landmark.

January 15, 2006
This top-selling, expertly written and drawn mystery has become a flashpoint for superhero fans. When Sue Dibny, wife of the Elongated Man, is brutally murdered, the world's heroes -Superman, Batman, Nightwing, and many others -head out to find the killer, hoping that their own loved ones won't be next. But Flash and Green Lantern uncover a secret in the past of Sue and the Justice League -a secret which, had it not been hidden, would have torn the super-group apart, and which still might do so. Meltzer, author of popular prose thrillers such as "The Zero Game", is a long-standing superhero fan, and the dialog and interaction he writes for the heroes is excellent. Penciller Morales, inked by Bair, does strong work in the traditional idealized realism of superhero comics, with an extra measure of grit and emotion added. But long-time fans are liable to balk at the book's revelation, feeling that it badly taints favorite characters and fondly remembered stories. Still, this story has had great impact on DC's current output, making it a must-read for many. Recommended for all collections, but with a rape scene (depicted without nudity), it's for mid-teens and up.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2006
Gr 10 Up -After the tragic death of Sue Debny, the wife of the Elongated Man, the members of the Justice League of America and most of the DC superheroes are brought together to investigate. Sue -s murder is unsettling for a couple of reasons: she was a friend, and whoever committed the crime knew enough personal information to be able to sneak past security. Even more troubling are the letters that the family members of other heroes receive, indicating that they are the next targets. The superheroes split into teams to follow the leads that they are most suited to solve. The novel asks: how far do you go to protect your loved ones? What if everything you stand for goes against your need to protect your family? The story moves quickly and the full-color artwork is splendid. Morales captures human emotion in such a way that he breathes life and authenticity into the characters. The coloring job is superb: the dark, somber tones perfectly set the mood. Some of the action occurs offscreen, such as the flashback to Sue -s rape, making what happens even more dramatic and powerful. Featuring a good mystery, great fight scenes, and good writing, "Identity Crisis" is an exciting read for fans of the DC universe." -Erin Dennington, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2005
" Identity Crisis" collects a seven-issue comic book series that cast an unusually harsh light on DC Comics' leading superheroes. After Sue Digby, the wife of second-string hero the Elongated Man, is brutally murdered, his comrades search for the killer while trying to protect their loved ones from similar fates. The hunt reveals that the suspect, Dr. Light, had brutally raped Sue years before, and one of the heroes then used her powers to magically lobotomize him, expunging the incident from his memory. As the story proceeds, other ethical dilemmas arise, and other supporting characters meet harsh ends. Thriller novelist Meltzer brings solid plotting and vivid characterization to the series, which penciler Rags Morales' detailed art perhaps overdramatizes. The apparent intention of showing the high cost of being a hero is achieved but seems manipulative and sensationalistic because of the shock value of killing off a character, Sue, who'd been around for 40 years.Despite, or because of, its luridness, the series enjoyed mainstream-media publicity and huge original sales; expect demand for the collected edition.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)