Month: January 2022

Comics Reviews: Batman 407, Detective 574, Outsiders 19

Batman 407 coverBatman #407 – “Friend in Need” – Frank Miller/David Mazzucchelli

This is the final chapter of the Year One story that redefines Batman’s origin. As you’ll see, this storyline is just as much about James Gordon’s beginnings as it is about Batman’s. This one starts with Gordon and his partner (Sarah Essen) still messing around, even though Gordon is married and his wife is pregnant. They both feel guilty about the affair and Essen has put in for a transfer, but in the meantime they’re still canoodling. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 407, Detective 574, Outsiders 19”

Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 3, Firestorm 58, Vigilante 40, Warlord 116

Wonder Woman 3 coverWonder Woman #3 – “Deadly Arrival” – Len Wein/George Perez/Bruce Patterson

This one starts with Hermes showing Wonder Woman around Boston, telling her to get ready to face Ares and stop whatever plan the God of War has to wipe out humanity. They’ve already dropped Steve Trevor off at a base hospital in Concord and now Hermes says he’s going to show Diana her proper path. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 3, Firestorm 58, Vigilante 40, Warlord 116”

Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 9

Xena title cardWarrior … Priestess … Tramp – Director: Robert Ginty/Writers: Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster

This one starts with Xena confronting a warlord named Daxon, but instead of kicking his ass, she throws down her weapons and implores him to embrace the way of peace and love. If you’re thinking this isn’t the real Xena, you’re right; aside from the peacenik stuff, she speaks with a different accent and a slight lisp. She doesn’t even resist when she’s tied to a stake and is about to be burned. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 9”

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 33, New Teen Titans 30

Legion of Super-Heroes 33 coverLegion of Super-Heroes #33 – “Forgotten Planet” – Paul Levitz/Greg LaRocque/Mike DeCarlo, Arne Starr

Last issue, a quartet of Legionnaires (Saturn Girl, Dream Girl, Brainiac 5, and Chameleon Boy) found themselves on a strange planet with a bunch of others, all mind-controlled to be placid field workers. Saturn Girl’s natural psychic powers broke her mind-control and she freed her teammates. They decide to look for a way off the planet, but also want to know who brought them there in the first place and why. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 33, New Teen Titans 30”

Comics Reviews: JLA 261, Infinity Inc. 37

JLA 261 coverJustice League of America #261 – “Last Stand” – J. M. DeMatteis/Luke McDonnell/Bob Lewis

This one begins with Professor Ivo thinking about his actions of the last few issues, which have resulted in the deaths of Steel, Vibe, and Gypsy. (Gypsy’s not really dead, she’s back with her family, but Ivo doesn’t know that.) Ivo is doing another therapy session with a robot analyst and he blows the robot up when it points out how wrong he is to take out his frustrations on the JLA … especially since this new JLA has never even met him before. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 261, Infinity Inc. 37”

Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 8

Xena title cardKing of Assassins – Director: Bruce Campbell/Writers: Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster

This one starts with Xena bringing a bandit to prison and interrogating him to find out where his leader went. She finds Joxer in the prison (for stealing a chicken) and gets him out. Meanwhile, two guys break into a warlord’s place to steal his sword, but end up setting off a trap. When the warlord shows up, one guy kills him. The other guy (who turns out to be Autolycus, King of Thieves) isn’t too happy about his partner killing someone in cold blood. The killer says there will be more deaths to come and when he takes his mask off, he looks exactly like Joxer. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 8”

Comics Reviews: Batman 406, Detective 573, Outsiders 18

Batman 406 coverBatman #406 – “Black Dawn” – Frank Miller/David Mazzucchelli

This is the third chapter of the Year One storyline that redefined Batman’s origin. Last Issue, Batman ended up in an abandoned building and police commissioner Loeb (who’s crooked) ordered his SWAT team (also crooked) to firebomb the place and kill Batman, who’s declared war on corruption in Gotham. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 406, Detective 573, Outsiders 18”

Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 2, Firestorm 57, Vigilante 39, Warlord 115

Wonder Woman 2 coverWonder Woman #2 – “A Fire in the Sky” – Greg Potter/George Perez/Bruce Patterson

This one starts with Colonel Steve Trevor (a war hero who’s managed to piss off some of his superiors because he testified about their warmongering attitudes) is called in to see General Kohler, who’s not a fan. Kohler orders Steve to fly out in a storm to coordinates in the middle of the ocean, taking Captain Slade with him. Steve wonders about the mission, but can’t disobey orders, so he and Slade take off. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 2, Firestorm 57, Vigilante 39, Warlord 115”

Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 7

Xena title cardThe Debt Part II – Director: Oley Sassone/Story: Rob Tapert, R.J. Stewart/Teleplay: R.J. Stewart

This one starts with Gabi pleading for Ming Tien to release Xena (which he apparently promised to do when Gabi warned him about her assassination attempt), but he won’t even let Gabi see Xena. Xena is thrown in a watery dungeon with her hands and arms encased in stocks. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 7”

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 32, New Teen Titans 29

Legion of Super-Heroes 32 coverLegion of Super-Heroes #32 – “Forgotten Heroes” – Paul Levitz/Greg LaRocque/Mike DeCarlo

This one starts with Imra (Saturn Girl) Ardeen waking up in some kind of work camp with her Legion flight ring gone. Everyone around her is very placid and uncomplaining, eagerly going out to work in the fields harvesting crops and doing other chores. Imra tries mind-reading some of the others, but realizes they’re being controlled and have very strong psychic blocks put in place to keep them from remembering who they are. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 32, New Teen Titans 29”