Green Lantern #201 – “Setting Up Shop” – Steve Englehart/Joe Staton/Mark Farmer
Last issue, the Guardians of the Universe took off to parts unknown with the Zamarons to start a new cosmic race or something. Before leaving, they told Hal Jordan and John Stewart they should both base themselves on Earth because Earth is destined to produce the successor race to the Guardians … in a few thousand years. Naturally, Katma Tui decided to relocate to Earth (since she and John are in love) and Arisia wanted to come along (since she still has the hots for Hal). Ch’p and Salakk headed home to their respective space sectors, but found things had changed. In Ch’p’s case, the changes were wrought by the Crisis;
nobody on his home planet recognized him (not even his wife) because their version of Ch’p had been dead for years. Salakk on the other hand, realized he’d actually come to enjoy the fellowship of the Green Lantern Corps and found himself feeling lonely (not that he’d ever admit to that). So Ch’p and Salakk both end up on Earth too, where they meet a previously unknown Lantern … Kilowog, from Sector 674. Since his sector was wiped out during the Crisis, Kilowog decided to come where the action was. Hal and the others welcome Kilowog, although Ch’p and Salakk are both a little suspicious of him. Elsewhere, Sonar and his minions (Throttle and Blindside) break into an Army base to look for weapons, but run into Dr. Polaris and his new 
henchmen (Whiiteout, Dropded, and Polestar). Dr. Polaris knows there are now seven Green Lanterns on Earth and proposes an alliance between himself, Sonar, and their super-goons. Sonar accepts, as long as he can retain control over his own henchmen. On Maltus, Guy Gardner is bitching about the small quarters he’s assigned, but Appa Ali Apsa doesn’t want to hear his complaints. An alien fleet attacks and Guy uses his ring to destroy their ships, apparently killing most of them. Appa watches, but we don’t get to see if he approves of Guy’s methods or not. On Zamaron, Star Sapphire finds herself a queen without subjects, but vows to learn all the secrets of the Zamarons and use them
against the Green Lantern Corps. On Earth, the Lanterns are building a headquarters for John and the alien members to live in (and a place where people with problems can get in touch with them). Dr. Polaris, Sonar, and their goons attack and the other Lanterns are impressed by how Kilowog jumps into the fight physically, not even using his ring. The two groups fight and the new minions give the Lanterns a bit of trouble (except Polestar, who just stands and watches through the whole thing), but the Lanterns use teamwork to get the upper hand and the villains retreat, vowing to return.
Noticeable Things:
- The cover title says Green Lantern Corps, but the indicia still reads Green Lantern, so that’s the title I’m using. It will officially switch to the new title in a few issues, but I think I’ll stop my GL reviews at that point.
- Kilowog will end up being a fan favourite and I think he’ll eventually be retconned into Hal’s origin (as one of the Lanterns who trained Hal), but they don’t seem to know each other here.
- The aliens who attack Maltus are from Palomaris and they’re looking for Maltusians to help repopulate their decimated planet, so naturally one of them says, “Palomaris needs women!”
Firestorm #48 – “Moonbow Rising” – Gerry Conway/Joe Brozowski/Mike Machlan
This one starts with a super-powered archer named Moonbow attacking some mobsters and stealing their loot. The cops wonder how to deal with someone like her and one officer suggests they get Firestorm to help. But Firestorm is currently in New York, in court to answer Felicity Smoak’s lawsuit against him for destroying her business. It’s especially awkward since Felicity is engaged to Ronnie Raymond’s father (Ed); Professor Stein suggests telling Ed and Felicity that
Ronnie is one half of Firestorm, but Ronnie figures that might ruin Ed and Felicity’s relationship and he doesn’t want to do that. With a superhero on trial, the courthouse is a circus and Felicity’s lawyer seems like a bit of a grandstander. His opening remarks cast Firestorm as a thrill-seeker who doesn’t give damn about the consequences of his actions and acts as a superhero for the adulation. Firestorm (who’s defending himself) admits he does like the accolades, but says he does what he does because people need help and he has the power to help them. If he stood by and did nothing with his powers, he’d 
never be able to live with himself. Firestorm’s statement is so sincere that Felicity calls for a recess to rethink her lawsuit. Back at Vandemeer University in Pittsburgh, Ronnie and Stein go their separate ways and Ronnie runs into a redhead named Bree Brandon (who looks a lot like Mary Jane Watson). Bree asks Ronnie to pass out some flyers for the drama club … she also kinda comes onto him. Ronnie’s already trying to sort out his feelings for Doreen and Lorraine, so he ignores Bree’s flirtations but does pass out the flyers for her. Later, Ronnie and Doreen are making out when he sees a cop on TV asking Firestorm to contact Chief Ferguson. Ronnie ditches Doreen and becomes
Firestorm, heading over to see Ferguson, who asks him to help catch Moonbow (even offering to make Firestorm a special police investigator). That night, Moonbow shows up to steal some more mob money (alternating between ripping off the two top gangs in the city). Firestorm stops a goon from shooting Moonbow, but she gets away with the money, leaving Firestorm feeling stupid. Later, we see Moonbow removing her costume and guess who she turns out to be? Yup, Bree Brandon, who apparently has a trust fund and only steals for the sheer fun of it. We’ll see how much fun she has next issue.
Vigilante #30 – “Counsel” – Paul Kupperberg/Tod Smith/Tony DeZuniga, Larry Mahlstedt
Last issue the new Vigilante (Dave Winston) revealed his identity to the original Vigilante (Judge Adrian Chase), who wasn’t too thrilled to know his bailiff was now a costumed avenger. They continue their discussion and Adrian urges Dave to get rid of the Vigilante costume (and the whole idea) before it turns him into someone he won’t like. Dave says he wants to plug the holes in the justice system and mentions Adrian’s own beginnings, when his family was wiped out. Adrian gets pissed off and says Dave is crazy, but Adrian is the one who seems a bit unhinged. Across town,
Lieutenant Stein and his partner investigate another bunch of dead gangsters and realize someone is targeting every mob in the city. Stein still thinks he can link Adrian to Judge Welles’s death, so he sees these gangland killings as a distraction. In Brooklyn, a flashy gang boss called Glitz Jefferson is the next target for a hit. Adrian and Dave aren’t that far away and Dave heads over to see what’s going on, even though Adrian begs him to forget about being Vigilante. There’s quite a shootout going on between Glitz’s bodyguards and the would-be assassin, but Glitz has some grenades that give him the advantage. Glitz takes off in his limo, but Vigilante shoots out the tires. Glitz 
and his woman take off while Vigilante fights his bodyguards, one of whom is huge. Vigilante evens the odds with a tire iron, but has to take off when the cops show up. Vigilante catches up to Glitz, who assumes Vigilante wants to kill him. But Vigilante just wants to know who’s been wasting gangsters lately. Glitz has no idea and his woman busts a bottle over Vigilante’s head. They take off but get gunned down by someone in a car. At the police station, Stein gets lab results proving Judge Welles’s blood was on the tarp in Adrian’s basement. The captain realizes Stein is still investigating Welles’s death and tells Stein to back off or he’ll lose his job and pension. Stein pretends to agree, but won’t give up that easily. At the courthouse, Adrian gives Dave shit and threatens
to turn him in if he doesn’t give up the Vigilante identity, but Dave reminds him that he knows how Judge Welles died … at Adrian’s hand. Dr. Knopf examines news reports about Vigilante (who he still thinks is Adrian) and wonders what makes him tick. That night, Vigilante heads to Glitz’s hideout and fights his way in, hoping to convince Glitz’s surviving henchmen that he can help stop the killings if they cooperate. Unfortunately, he runs into the same bruiser who almost pounded him the night before … and this time there’s no tire iron handy.
Warlord #106 – “The Secret of the Crystal Skull” – Michael Fleisher/Ron Randall
This one starts with Travis Morgan and Shakira reaching Shalmandar, a city on the edge of their map. They’re still trying to get to the wizard who might be able to lift the aging curse on Morgan’s daughter Jennifer, and Shalmandar is close to their destination. Shakira notices a wanted poster that freaks her out, but before Morgan can ask her about it, some thugs try to abduct a woman in the marketplace. Morgan pounds them and the woman thanks him, introducing herself as Ladah Panar, daughter of a rich local family. Ladah has heard on
Morgan and offers him and Shakira a safe place to rest at her palace. Far to the west, Machiste and Mariah are being taken somewhere by the crew of skeletons that rescued them last issue after their ship was wrecked. Machiste is worried about the ghastly sailors and where they might be headed, but Mariah points out it has to be better than drowning. At Ladah’s palace, she shows Morgan and Shakira her treasure room, including a flawless black diamond, supposedly one of a pair that fit into the eye sockets of a crystal skull. She mentions a rival (Imag Grann) who holds the 
other diamond, but knows he’ll never sell it, just as she’d never sell hers. Shakira is quite impressed with all the treasures and changes into cat form later that night to go prowling. Alarm bells go off in the treasure room and Morgan comes running along with Ladah’s guards. Morgan notices a cat jumping out the window with the diamond in a bag. He assumes it’s Shakira (and worries the collar she wears might be turning her evil, as it did the girl in issue 103), but when he checks Shakira’s room she’s there, and denies having anything to do with the theft. Away west, Machiste and Mariah reach their final destination, the island of Ummschal. A gaggle of wizard-priests greet
them, informing them they’ll be tortured and killed for the wizards’ amusement. In Shalmandar, Shakira locks Morgan in his room and heads for Imag Grann’s place, where she find a fellow were-cat named Daimon (who was the guy on the wanted poster). Judging by their hot kiss on seeing each other, they have quite the history and Shakira gives him shit for stealing the diamond. She convinces him to return it and they change into cats, but before they can leave, Grann shows up and shoots one of them with a crossbow. It turns out to be Daimon and Grann recovers the diamond, 
telling Shakira he’s going to use it in some kind of ritual. When Morgan shows up, Shakira fills him in and he goes after Grann, finding him in an underground chamber. Grann has found the crystal skull and a magical helmet that lets him enhance his natural psychic abilities. His mental powers give him an edge over Morgan, but Morgan ends up shooting Grann with his Automag. Morgan goes out to see Shakira, who says she wants to help Daimon recover from his wound … although Morgan isn’t even sure he’ll live.