Wonder Woman #18 – “Creatures of the Dark” – George Perez/Dick Giordano
This one starts with Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades retrieving from the body of Cronus the holy pact they created when they divided the heavens, the ocean, and the Underworld. The three gods are forging a new pact, trying to begin a new era for the Olympians. In Greece, Diana awakens in hospital after passing out while approaching a mysterious isle last issue. Julia introduces her to a man named Ventouras (a wealthy landowner on Cephalonia) and his nephew, Demetrios. Demetrios mentions the curse said
to befall people who get too close to the island and Diana says she did feel something strange emanating from the place. Ventouras offers his library to Diana for research and she accepts, unaware that the nurse is listening. The nurse goes to tell Mikos, who changes into a red-eyed bird and flies to the island to warn his mistress. But Mikos is unaware that two young people (Spiros and Katina) are watching him and know exactly where he’s going. Julia takes Diana to meet her parents, who Diana quickly charms. Julia’s father is about to head out with Julia’s brother Stavros, but Stavros finds a note on his windshield and takes off. 
Mikos reports to his mistress, who says she and Diana are fated to meet. Julia and Diana bond, with Julia telling her about her childhood and her late husband. Stavros meets with Katina and some of her friends, including a guy named Gregori. Apparently, the note on Stavros’s car was a warning that Diana will die if she keeps investigating the island. Stavros thinks the “curse” stuff is all bullshit, but Katina mentions that seven of her friends have died mysteriously, and Gregori reminds Stavros that he lost a leg to some infernal creature. Gregori gives Stavros a parchment that was taken from the island, saying it’ll prove what they’re saying. The guards mention a red-eyed cat they tried to shoot
and Katina says it’s time to relocate. The next day, Stavros studies the parchment (helped by Demetrios), thinking the pre-Minoan writing resembles that of Themiscyra. Vanessa shows up to use the phone and Stavros has to hide what he’s doing. Diana doesn’t find much in Ventouras’s library about the island other than the owner’s name (Cassandra Colchis), but she’s still sure something’s going on there. After she leaves, Mikos shows up and we see that Ventouras is a pawn of his mistress. Mikos brings in the dead body of Demetrios, telling Ventouras the “rebels” are responsible. Ventouras freaks out and his eyes glow red. On the island, the mystery woman casts a spell that turns all her 
followers into demonic animals and they head out to find blood. Julia and Diana find Stavros’s house in flames and Diana’s goes in to get Vanessa, but comes out with Stavros. He sent Vanessa away when the creatures attacked, giving her the scroll. Diana soon finds her in a nearby field, fighting off a demonic bird. They’re quickly surrounded by more creatures demanding the scroll and Diana uses her lasso to create a protective circle around Vanessa. Diana fights the creatures, but is felled by a mystic bolt sent by the witch of the island … Circe, who demands Diana be brought to her.
Firestorm #73 – “Blood Red Square” – John Ostrander/Joe Brozowski/Sam De La Rosa
Last issue, Zuggernaut blasted Firestorm and Stalnoivolk, but thanks to Firestorm’s instincts, he managed to throw a protective force field around them. Zuggernaut goes after Soliony, leaving Firestorm and Stalnoivolk to recover from the near-miss. Stalnoivolk isn’t grateful and is ready to keep fighting, but Ronnie’s consciousness pushes Firestorm to repeatedly slam him into the ground at high speed, hoping to kill Stalnoivolk in revenge for killing Ronnie’s grandfather.
Inside the Kremlin, Soliony and Zastrow are arguing over jurisdiction when Zuggermnaut comes in to kill them both. Outside, Ronnie’s mind argues with Mikhail’s about whether killing Stalnoivolk is justice or murder. Meanwhile, Mikhail’s niece Serafina leads her team of super-powered friends (Soyuz) into the Kremlin and they find Zuggernaut about to kill Soliony and Zastrow. Even though they agree Soliony is an asshole, they try to stop Zuggernaut. Outside, Mikhail gets Ronnie to admit that his anger isn’t just about his 
grandfather, it’s about the death of Martin Stein, who Ronnie cared about but couldn’t save. Ronnie admits it’s his own pain he wants to kill and Firestorm sympathizes but refuses to be used as a weapon of revenge. The fight between Zuggernaut and Soyuz spills outside and Firestorm jumps in, using his powers to force the alien part of Zuggernaut to leave its human host body. Zuggernaut flees before the transformation starts and the alien crawls away, which kills the human host. Serafina uses her telepathy to figure out that her uncle Mikhail is part of Firestorm and to change Soliony’s memories. She makes
him think Stalnoivolk defeated Zuggernaut, and that Mikhail has nothing to do with Firestorm and should be left alone. Firestorm asks her to do the same to Stalnoivolk and Zastrow, making them forget Firestorm. And he asks her to form a link between Ronnie and Mikhail so either of them can opt out of forming Firestorm if it’s inconvenient. Serafina points out that they might choose never to become Firestorm again, but Firestorm is certain they will, saying the world needs him.
Warlord #130 – “Past Lives” – Michael Fleisher/Jan Duursema
This one starts with Travis Morgan having a very vivid dream about his wife Tara being still alive. He wakes up and looks for her, but realizes it was just a dream. He almost puts the moves on Aoife, his new travelling companion, but pulls back at the last moment (which kinda disappoints her) and they prepare to head out to Xur-Chemosh. Speaking of Xur-Chemosh, Maddox is still there and he’s mastered the advanced tech in the spaceship he found last issue. I’m assuming it’s Atlantean since it’s obviously meant as a colonization ship. Maddx uses the
tech to grow crops super-fast and build a city out of nothing, which makes the people worship him almost like a god. Naturally, he’s not satisfied being in charge of one little city, setting his sights on all of Skartaris. There is one machine in the ship that he can’t access, even with the control helmet, and not knowing what it does drives him nuts. While flying over a swamp, a giant Venus Flytrap attacks Maddox’s ship, but with the prompting of the control helmet, he blasts it into ashes. Near Shamballah, Khnathaiti 
retrieves the amulet Jennifer gave Tara before her soul was torn from her body. Khnathaiti uses the amulet’s connection to Jennifer to establish a magical link. Jennifer feels the link and has to devote some of her power to insure Khnathaiti can’t use it to strike at her remotely. Meanwhile, Morgan and Aoife reach the shores of the Tourmaline Sea and Aoife has another vision, this one of a strange spaceship crash-landing ages ago. Aoife is certain her visions are leading her to Xur-Chemosh on an island in the Tourmaline Sea, where she’ll find her life’s destiny. In Xur-Chemosh, Maddox and Mariah
are about to get it on when they’re attacked by assassins who aren’t happy about Maddox’s new godlike status. Maddox mows them down with a machine-gun, which bothers Mariah a bit, but she figures he’s still better than the old priests since he’s actually helping the people instead of just exploiting them. Morgan and Aoife fly toward the island on a magic carpet, but a thunderstorm saps Aoife’s concentration and they end up falling into the sea. Elsewhere, Shakira is still looking for Morgan, earning her room and board by 
killing mice (in her cat form) at an inn. Morgan makes it to the island, but there’s no sign of Aoife, so he heads inland to explore. He’s surprised to find the city and even more surprised when he runs into Mariah. But his biggest shock comes when he sees Maddox, who’s been his rival since they were kids and who blames Morgan for getting him thrown in the GULAG.