DC's "The Golden Age"

I was re-reading The Golden Age last week, and for a book that's over 15 years old, it really holds up nicely. For those of you who don't know, The Golden Age shows how the heroes of the 1940's deal with the post-War era. It also touches on the anti-Communist fervor, the technological and economic boom, and the overall desire for conformity and prosperity. James Robinson balances plot and character development deftly, and the art of Paul Smith was wonderfully understated, given that this piece came out right in the middle of the Image boom.

Now, I'm avoiding spoilers for those who haven't read it, because there are a few BIG ones in this story. So, I'll just touch on a few other topics. First, this was originally not supposed to be an Elseworlds; it was initially envisioned to make sense of the post-Crisis DC history. As such, you won't see characters such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, or Captain Marvel, as it had been established that they neither lived during the Golden Age nor had Golden Age equivalents. Ultimately, I think that works to the story's benefit, as it allows the story to focus on less well-known characters, such as Johnny Quick, Manhunter, and Captain Triumph.

Also, at one point, Wizard Magazine listed the fight scene at the end as one the best fight scene ever. Again, no spoilers, but the sheer scope and setting of the fight alone certainly puts it up there as one of the best in comics.

Overall, this is a solid, damn good story. If you haven't read it yet, do so, and if you have, read it again.