Month: March 2021

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 14

Xena title cardA Fistful of Dinars – Director: Josh Becker/Writers: Steven L. Sears, R.J. Stewart

This one starts with a ruffian (Klonig) attacking another guy (Lycus) and stealing his pouch. Xena shows up and Klonig tales off. Xena catches him, but their scuffle is interrupted by an assassin (Thersites), who kills Klonig and takes Lycus’s pouch. Apparently, Lycus, Klonig, and Thersites each have one clue that leads to a great treasure, which means Thersites now has three of the clues. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 14”

Comics Reviews: JLA 242, Legion of Super-Heroes 14, Tales of the Teen Titans 57, New Teen Titans 12

JLA 242 coverJLA #242 – “Battle Cry” – Gerry Conway/George Tuska/Mike Machlan

This one starts with Aquaman scouring the Atlantic Ocean for his estranged wife Mera, hoping to reconcile with her. Which is nice, but the JLA could really use his help too. They’re in the Yukon, looking for Amazo who seems to have absorbed the personality (and anger) of a local asshole named Jake MacGregor. J’onn J’onzz has split the team (never a wise move) to cover more ground. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 242, Legion of Super-Heroes 14, Tales of the Teen Titans 57, New Teen Titans 12”

New Webhost

I recently switched webhosts from WordPress.com to Bluehost, so I hope there aren’t any problems with the site. Note that the site URL now includes the “www” before eruditegorilla (although it should redirect no matter what), so you may have to update your bookmarks. Additionally, the blog is now named “The Eruditegorilla” (all one word) instead of “The Erudite Gorilla”. I left a message on the old URL with a link to this one, so everything should be fine. I’m hoping the transition will be basically seamless (and I won’t lose any subscribers), but if there are any problems let me know and I’ll try to sort them out. Thanks for reading 🙂

Comics Reviews: Superman 411, Action 571, DC Comics Presents 85, All-Star Squadron 49, Infinity Inc. 18

Superman 411 coverSuperman #411 – “The Last Earth-Prime Story” – Elliot S! Maggin/Curt Swan/Murphy Anderson

This is a special story that was created for Julius Schwartz’s 70th birthday. Julie was the longtime editor of the Superman line and apparently the creators (along with some help from Dick Giordano, Paul Levitz, and Bob Rozakis) managed to put this issue together without Julie finding out about it until the last minute. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 411, Action 571, DC Comics Presents 85, All-Star Squadron 49, Infinity Inc. 18”

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 13

Xena title cardAthens City Academy of the Performing Bards – Director: Jace Alexander/Writers: Steven L. Sears, R.J. Stewart

This one starts with a clip of Xena fighting Mezentius’s men in The Path Not Taken. The action grinds to a halt and we see Gabi is telling the story in a tavern. A drunk questions some details, so she shifts into The Reckoning, telling how Xena was accused and acquitted of murder. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 13”

Comics Reviews: Batman 387, Detective 554, Batman & the Outsiders 25, Firestorm 39, Vigilante 21

Batman 387 coverBatman #387 – “Ebon Masquery” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one starts with Bruce (Batman) Wayne laying an elaborate trap for Black Mask by throwing a masked ball at Wayne Manor. It’s such an obvious trap (since Black Mask has been killing Wayne Foundation executives after Wayne took over his failing cosmetics company) that Batman knows Black Mask will show up … and he’s right. Black Mask reasons that Bruce Wayne won’t expect him to show for such an obvious set-up and will feel safe, so Black Mask does plan to attend the party … though not in his usual ebony mask. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 387, Detective 554, Batman & the Outsiders 25, Firestorm 39, Vigilante 21”

Comics Reviews: Flash 348, Green Lantern 191, Warlord 96, Jonah Hex 92

Flash 348 coverFlash #348 – “The Final Verdict” – Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, Professor Zoom showed up in Central City, abducting several members of Flash’s Rogues Gallery and throwing Captain Frye (who was dressed as the ridiculous “hero” Captain Invincible) off a roof. Flash saved Frye, but is reluctant to believe Zoom is still alive, since Flash is currently on trial for killing him. But Frye had a camera in his costume and shows Flash the film of Zoom. Flash realizes Zoom is still alive and takes off to look for him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 348, Green Lantern 191, Warlord 96, Jonah Hex 92”

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 12

Xena title cardBeware Greeks Bearing Gifts – Director: T.J. Scott/Writers: Roy Thomas, Janice Hendler (story); Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster (teleplay)

This one starts in the city of Troy, which has been besieged by the Greeks for the last ten years. The object of their quest, Helen, has a nightmare about something terrible happening. Her husband (or “husband”) Paris tells her not to worry about it, but she’s pretty freaked out, so she sends a messenger (Miltiades) to find Xena. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 12”

Comics Reviews: JLA 241, Legion of Super-Heroes 13, Tales of the Teen Titans 56, New Teen Titans 11

JLA 241 coverJLA #241 – “Sea Change” – Gerry Conway/George Tuska/Mike Machlan

This one starts in a tiny town in the Yukon (St. Jude), where a drunken reprobate named Slick Jake MacGregor is cursing the entire population for robbing him. He’s so wasted he wanders out into a blizzard and almost freezes to death, but he’s found by a stranger … a big stranger who can generate heat and has super-strength. (And judging by the glimpses we get of his armbands and boots, this is someone we’re quite familiar with.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 241, Legion of Super-Heroes 13, Tales of the Teen Titans 56, New Teen Titans 11”

Comics Reviews: Superman 410, Action 570, DC Comics Presents 84, All-Star Squadron 48, Infinity Inc. 17

Superman 410 coverSuperman #410 – “Clark Kent—Fired!” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Al Williamson

This one starts with Superman taking care of a satellite that’s fallen from orbit. The satellite breaks in half and he buries one piece (containing a nuclear-fueled engine) deep underground, flying to Hawaii just in time to kick the other piece into a volcano, which gives the crowds in Honolulu a thrill. Back in Metropolis, Superman changes to Clark Kent and writes up the satellite story for the Daily Planet, pretending (as always) that he scored an exclusive interview with Superman. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 410, Action 570, DC Comics Presents 84, All-Star Squadron 48, Infinity Inc. 17”