Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Conan the Barbarian #141 – “The Web Tightens” – Bruce Jones/John Buscema/Brett Breeding
Last issue, Conan was shanghaied aboard a pirate vessel by Lupos Davalte, a man he’d pissed off in a tavern brawl. Conan was forced to help row the ship until they stopped for provisions and ended up being attacked by giant spiders in the forest. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 141, Conan the Barbarian 142”
G.I. Joe #110 (March 1991) – “Escalator to Armageddon” – Larry Hama/Ron Garney/Fred Fredericks
Last issue, a team of Joes was sent to Trucial Abysmia to take out some Cobra Terror Dromes, but Cobra had a secret operation going there so when the Joes were captured, Tomax and Xamot were ordered to get rid of them. A number of Joes (Doc, Quick Kick, Heavy Metal, Crankcase, Crazy Legs, Thunder, and Breaker) were killed, leaving only Duke, Lt. Falcon, and Cross Country against a Saw Viper and his team of executioners. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 110, G.I. Joe 111”
Frenemies Chapter 12: The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton – Director: Jennifer Phang/Writers: Turi Meyer, Alfredo Septien
This one starts decades ago in Los Angeles, with Dolores Winters winning a movie award. Of course, we know Dolores was just a vessel for Ultra-Humanite’s consciousness, which explains why she battered a suitor to death (with the award statuette!). Professor Ito shows up and Dolores lets him know she’s found a new body for her mind … that of a giant white ape that was recently captured by the adventurer Congo Bill. Dolores figures that body will be perfect to face the Justice Society, especially since Ito has already started transforming himself into reptilian form. Continue reading “Stargirl Reviews: Season 3, Episode 12”
Conan the Barbarian #139 – “In the Lair of the Damned” – Bruce Jones/Val Mayerik
Last issue, Conan and Pelija Lon were sent to a demi-plane to recover an amulet for the wizard Revelle. The amulet is around the neck of Pelija’s father (Eshe Lon) and Revelle claimed that removing it would turn him back to his old (non-evil) self, but when they found Eshe and Conan took the amulet from him, he turned into some kind of serpent demon. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 139, Conan the Barbarian 140”
G.I. Joe #108 (January 1991) – “Apparent Conclusions” – Larry Hama/M.D. Bright/Randy Emberlin
This one starts in Trucial Abysmia, the (fictional) Middle Eastern desert country the Joes have been to a few times before. A contingent of Joes (including Duke, Lt. Falcon, Doc, Quick Kick, Heavy Metal, Cross Country, Crankcase, Crazy Legs, Thunder, and Breaker) are blowing up a Cobra Terror Drome before heading back across the border, but they notice a lone Cobra vehicle making a run for it. They have to stop the Cobras before they can get outside jamming range and call for back-up, so they chase the vehicle into the desert but soon find themselves surrounded by Cobras in an ambush. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 108, G.I. Joe 109”
Frenemies Chapter 11: The Haunting – Director: Jennifer Phang/Writers: Steve Harper, Maytal Zchut
This one starts with a flashback to a year ago, when Mike ran into Icicle with the truck and smashed him to pieces. Hours later, we see the ice chunks (which apparently nobody thought to pick up) melting and coalescing into a puddle of water that oozes down into the tunnels under Blue Valley. Continue reading “Stargirl Reviews: Season 3, Episode 11”
Conan the Barbarian #137 – “Titan’s Gambit” – Bruce Jones/Alfredo Alcala
This one starts at the court of King Arvenger of Voldhom, where a dwarf (Twillo) and a dim-witted behemoth (Bolo) are in attendance. Some peasants have brought in a “champion” (a huge bear)to fight Bolo, who seems too gentle for such sport … until Twillo plays a certain song on his flute. That song brings back memories of how Bolo’s parents were butchered, which makes him go crazy with rage and kill the bear with his bare hands. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 137, Conan the Barbarian 138”
G.I. Joe #106 (November 1990) – “I Lift My Lamp” – Larry Hama/Mark Bright/Randy Emberlin
This one starts in Borovia, with Snake Eyes still in his “ninja trance” storming the gulag where Strawhacker (his dead sister’s fiancé) is being held. White Clown and Orlovsky are with him, hoping to find the Clown’s old love, Magda, but Orlovsky is worried about Snake Eyes’s lack of feeling. None of them know that the American government prefers that Strawhacker not come home and has hired Major Bludd to kill Snake Eyes. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 106, G.I. Joe 107”
Frenemies Chapter 10: The Killer – Director: Andi Armaganian/Writers: James Dale Robinson, Taylor Streitz
This one starts with a focus on the Crocks, who seem to be assimilating pretty well to life in Blue Valley (and we see Paula has finally learned how to bake a chocolate cake). While out for a jog, Crusher and Paula decide they need to do something about the Mahkents. Continue reading “Stargirl Reviews: Season 3, Episode 10”
Conan the Barbarian #135 – “The Forest of the Night” – Steven Grant/Marc Silvestri/Joe Rubinstein, Danny Bulanadi
This one starts with Conan in the Border Kingdoms, where he’s been hired as a scout and mercenary for an outpost. Having been ambushed by Picts and lost his horse and supplies, Conan makes his way through a strange forest, killing a deer for sustenance. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 135, Conan the Barbarian 136”