Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Episode 2: Credit Where Credit’s Due
This one starts with Veronica telling Wallace about her (boring) plans for the weekend. Wallace shows her a coded flyer advertising a 09er party (09ers are the kids who live within the fancy 90909 ZIP Code). Veronica interprets the coded flyer, telling Wallace where and when the party will be before reminding him why the flyer is in code in the first place … to keep undesirables like them away. Continue reading “Veronica Mars Reviews: Season 1, Episode 2”
Batman #352 – “The Killer Sky” – Gerry Conway (plot), Paul Kupperberg/Don Newton/John Calnan
This one starts with Batman going to visit Jim Gordon in the hospital. Gordon was roughed up last issue by some crooked cops as a warning to him and his private eye partner (Jason Bard, who also got pounded) to stop investigating the recent mayoral election. To reinforce the message, the new Commissioner (Pauling) and one of his bent cops (McClosky) stop by to warn Jim again. Barbara Gordon is there and almost goes for Pauling’s throat, but it’s Batman showing up that gets Pauling and McClosky to leave. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 352, Detective 519, Brave & the Bold 191, Firestorm 5”
Flash #313 – “3-Way Fight for the Super-Simian” – Mike W. Barr/Carmine Infantino/Dennis Jensen
This one starts in Central City’s slum district, where a drunk in an alley gets a surprise. An entity pops out of nowhere, evolves the drunk’s body into a futuristic form (which he christens Psykon), and pops back through another space warp. Psykon materializes outside Gorilla City in Africa. He fights his way inside, using his vast mental powers to overcome the super-intelligent apes, but ends up disappointed. The object of his quest, a high-tech prison cell, is empty … though the gaping hole in the wall tells us how the occupant left. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 313, Wonder Woman 295, Green Lantern 156, Jonah Hex 64”
Episode 1: Pilot
Welcome to my first Veronica Mars review. I’ve heard a lot about this show but never got around to watching it, so these episodes will be new to me. It sounds like a cool show (and Kristen Bell is always worth watching), so I think I’ll probably like it. I’m not completely clueless about the show, having read a few things about it, one of which is that it gets pretty heavy into the rape stuff as a plot point, so if that’s something that bothers you, you might want to stop reading now. Continue reading “Veronica Mars Reviews: Season 1, Episode 1”
Justice League of America #206 – “The Secret That Time Forgot” – Gerry Conway/Carmine Infantino/Romeo Tanghal
This one starts out in the 25th Century, with a guy named Thomas Parker taking his son Garner to the Space Museum. They see an exhibit containing a bell, a jar, and a wheel, which confuses Gardner. When he finds out they were used by the Justice League, he wants to know more. Luckily, there’s a whole room dedicated to the League and Gardner drinks it all in. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 206, Legion of Super-Heroes 291, New Teen Titans 23, All-Star Squadron 13”
Superman #375 – “The Stoning of Lana Lang” – Cary Bates/Curt Sawn/Dan Adkins
Last issue, Lana Lang prepared to leave Earth to go live with her alien loverboy, Vartox. Lana received a boon from out of nowhere, a protective aura allowing her to live in the harsh atmosphere of Vartox’s planet. But unknown to anyone, Vartox’s first love (Syreena) has returned from the dead and is the one who gave Lana the protective aura. Syreena hates Vartox for leaving her and has been screwing with his head, hypnotizing him to believe Superman is trying to get Lana for himself. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 375, Action 535, DC Comics Presents 49, Warlord 61”
Last week was my final review of Warehouse 13, after five seasons of great shows. When I first started reviewing it, I wasn’t sure if i’d like it or not, but I ended up absolutely loving it. The premise (secret Warehouse housing artifacts that are too dangerous for people to know about) is a natural for adventure stories, which I’m a sucker for. But the best adventure show in the world doesn’t work if you can’t get interested in the characters, and these characters are great. Continue reading “Warehouse 13 Overview/Veronica Mars Preview”
Batman #351 – “What Stalks the Gotham Night?” – Gerry Conway/Gene Colan/Tony DeZuniga
Last issue, Batman was turned into a vampire by a guy called the Monk. The Monk’s sister Dala, is also a vampire and she turned Dick (Robin) Grayson into a creature of the night as well. This issue opens with Batman watching as Dick drops off Vicki Vale, Bruce Wayne’s current squeeze. Dick tries to give Vicki a goodnight bite, but he notices Batman swinging down and pulls back. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 351, Detective 518, Brave & the Bold 190, Firestorm 4”
Flash #312 – “Dead Heat for a Scarlet Speedster” – Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino/Dennis Jensen
This one starts with Barry (Flash) Allen calling his parents to catch up. Apparently he’s not satisfied with the next best thing to being there, so Barry changes to the Flash and zooms across country for some home cooking. He ends up staying the night. Meanwhile in Central City, Mick (Heat Wave) Rory checks in with his parole officer, a guy named Hobart. Mick has a job at a glass foundry, and given his predilection for heat, that might seem a bit suspicious. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 312, Wonder Woman 294, Green Lantern 155, Jonah Hex 63”
Episode 6: Endless
That’s a rather ironic title, since this is the last episode of Warehouse 13. It basically gives the characters (and fans) a chance to look back on the series and how they’ve evolved over the past five years. But don’t worry, it’s not one of those flashback episodes; we get to see new “old memories” as the characters face the end of their time at the Warehouse. Continue reading “Warehouse 13 Reviews: Season 5, Episode 6”