Month: December 2022

Comics Reviews: Justice League International Annual 2, Suicide Squad Annual 1

Justice League International Annual 2 coverJustice League International Annual #2 – “Hit or Miss” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Bill Willingham/Joe Rubenstein

This one starts with Rumaan Harjavti (dictator of Bialya) rummaging through Maxwell Lord’s destroyed office for something that might help him strike back against the Justice League. But someone else had the same idea … the Joker. He’s found Max’s Rolodex, hoping there’s a clue to Batman’s identity in it. Harjavti proposes a trade-off: if Joker eliminates the JLI, Harjavti will use all his resources to narrow down the possibilities of Batman’s secret identity. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International Annual 2, Suicide Squad Annual 1”

Xena Reviews: Season 5, Episode 11

Xena title cardPunch Lines – Director: Andrew Merrifield/Writer: Chris Manheim

This is another clip show (this time focusing on humorous clips), with another elaborate framing device. Xena and Gabi are spending the night in one of Aphrodite’s temples and Gabi tries to get some writing done, but she has writer’s block. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 5, Episode 11”

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 4, New Teen Titans Annual 4

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 4 coverLegion of Super-Heroes Annual #4 – “Secrets Within the Star” – Paul Levitz/Barry Kitson, Bruce Patterson/Romeo Tanghal

This one starts with Dawnstar using her homing power to lead the members of the Legion Espionage Squad (Phantom Girl, Shrinking Violet, and invisible Kid) to Chameleon Boy, who infiltrated Starfinger’s criminal organization a while back. Phantom Girl found Cham while he was undercover, but backed off when he told her to. Now she’s feeling guilty and figures he might be in trouble. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 4, New Teen Titans Annual 4”

Comics Reviews: Young All-Stars Annual 1, Infinity Inc. Annual 2

Young All-Stars Annual 1Young All-Stars Annual #1 – “The Mekanique Paradox” – Roy and Dann Thomas/Mike Gustovich, Joe Kubert, Brian Murray, Michael Bair/Tony DeZuniga

This one starts with Mekanique and Per Degaton sneaking into the Perisphere (aka All-Star Squadron headquarters). Degaton is a bit nervous about going into the stronghold of his enemies, but Mekanique seems confident they can handle even a full team of All-Stars. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Young All-Stars Annual 1, Infinity Inc. Annual 2”

Xena Reviews: Season 5, Episode 10

Xena title cardLyre Lyre, Hearts on Fire – Director: Mark Beesley/Writers: Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster

This one starts with Draco and his men looking through some ruins for Terpsichore’s Lyre. They find it, but some Amazons show up (led by Amoria) to claim the Lyre, since it’s on their land. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 5, Episode 10”

Comics Reviews: Detective Comics Annual 1, Green Arrow Annual 1, Question Annual 1

Detective Comics Annual 1 coverDetective Comics Annual #1 – “The Monkey Trap” – Denny O’Neil/Klaus Janson/Tony DeZuniga

This is the first of a three-part story that continues in the Green Arrow and Question annuals, linked by the story of a Japanese sensei who imparts some wisdom to each of the heroes in exchange for their help later. We start with a scene from the sensei’s past, when he was a soldier in Manchuria during the Sino-Japanese War. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Detective Comics Annual 1, Green Arrow Annual 1, Question Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 25, Firestorm 80

Wonder Woman 25 coverWonder Woman #25 – “The Burning School” – George Perez/Chris Marrinan/Will Blyberg

This is an Invasion crossover that coordinates with JLI 22, repeating a number of scenes from that issue (which is why Giffen and DeMatteis get a special mention in the credits). This one opens with Lieutenant Etta Candy running for her life on a small Pacific island. Etta was assigned to a radio post and detected transmissions from the invading alien vessels. Her superiors weren’t sure whether to believe her or not, but when the aliens came in and started blasting, they figured out it was for real. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 25, Firestorm 80”

Xena Reviews: Season 5, Episode 9

Xena title cardSeeds of Faith – Director: Garth Maxwell/Writers: George Strayton, Tom O’Neil

This one starts with a guy named Petracles preaching to a group of people about not worshipping the Greek gods anymore, instead leading their own lives without fear. Some of the crowd are skeptical and things get heated. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 5, Episode 9”

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 55, Suicide Squad 22

Legion of Super-Heroes 55 coverLegion of Super-Heroes #55 – “Different Paths” – Paul Levitz/Keith Giffen, Ernie Colon, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Erik Larsen/Al Gordon

This one starts with Legion leader Polar Boy worrying about a few Legionnaires who have taken off for personal reasons and fallen out of contact. The rest of the issue is a series of vignettes letting us know what these “missing” Legionnaires are doing. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 55, Suicide Squad 22”

Comics Reviews: Justice League International 22, Young All-Stars 21

Justice League International 22 coverJustice League International #22 – “Little Murders” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire/Joe Rubinstein

This is another Invasion crossover and it starts with Oberon and Max Lord discussing the alien Invasion of Earth. Most of the team have gone to the South Pacific in response to a summons from Black Canary and Wonder Woman. Max is pretty worried about the threat to Earth, which makes Oberon worry too. He goes to see Booster Gold, who’s pissed off about being on monitor duty and missing all the alien-bashing fun. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 22, Young All-Stars 21”