I love Obsidian Age...

I have a confession to make.

I love JLA: Obsidian Age.

I'm not sure if that's an unpopular opinion or not, but I was just digging through the back room and found my TPBs. And I'm reminded how much I love them.

Now, as I've said before, I'm a relatively new reader of comics. I'd started reading them around the beginning of 2005. I'd started with the Batclan, quickly branched over to Green Lantern (thanks to dim childhood memories of Superfriends/Justice League reruns and going "I want that power!"). I tend to be a very "character-based" reader. I will read almost anything with the promise that one of my favorite characters would be in it.

I started with Trade Paperbacks because, aside from manga (which I read in tankoban form anyway), I really didn't have a lot of experience with periodicals and didn't really want to commit to a flimsy 22-page thingy until I was sure I'd like it. Fortunately, my good friend Diamondrock did what all devoted comic book readers should do for their clueless neophyte friends and recommended some good tpbs for me to get started on.

He knew I liked Kyle Rayner already so he recommended Obsidian Age in which Kyle's appropriately ass-kicking, which ended up the first JLA story I'd ever read.

It really was the perfect introduction for me. I was familiar with the main Justice League characters, at least vaguely, I wasn't as familiar with the "replacement" league (except Nightwing), but the set-up of the replacement league to begin with allowed for a nice introduction to them.

I didn't really know what to make of the mysterious Faith, but honestly, two years and many many comic book collections, pull list additions, and tons of back issues later, I STILL have no idea what to make of her.

I didn't really have any trouble following the time travel plot, which surprised me. Fortunately the TPBs had a nice introduction of the major players of the ancient past so I wasn't as overwhelmed as I might have been.

There were lots of cute relationship moments and some genuinely startling imagery (Flash being held up by the enemy with his legs ripped off, Superman's skeleton as found in the future.) And Kyle held the spirits of his colleagues in his STILL BEATING HEART for millenia. Which was decidedly impressive.

And given that my only exposure to Aquaman at the time had been a couple of half remembered cartoon reruns and countless lame jokes, the Arthur of Obsidian Age was quite illuminating!

Sadly it did give me a false appreciation for Nightwing, as the only other place he's been that interesting and competent in the last few years was Infinite Crisis! Hmph!

I did giggle helplessly at Tempest. I don't know why. Just something about the way he gets drawn. But I have to admit, he acquits himself nicely.

Also, I always have and always will appreciate a naked Jason Blood.

Admittedly, I would never qualify Obsidian Age as high literature, even by superhero comics standards. It's weirdly paced, crazy, the plot is full of holes, and it definitely reads better in trade form than it had to have had as individual comic issues.

But it had good mundane character moments, really nice kickass competent moments and a fairly exciting story. It's not nearly as confusing as it ought to be and made for a nice exposure to a decently wide range of characters for a newbie just starting to dip her toes in the DCU. Also the concept of superpowered teams in other time periods/settings is always an interesting one.

So yep, in the end, it's still one of my favorite stories that doesn't involve Sanderson Hawkins or Guy Gardner. It's just...fun!