Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Many Happy Returns – Director: Mark Beesley/Writers: Liz Friedman, Vanessa Place
This one starts with Xena and Gabi talking about Gabi’s birthday, which is the next day. Gabi’s impatient for her present, but Xena wants to get in a few birthday pranks first, which Gabi definitely isn’t looking forward to. (Xena gets her right away with the old “grease on the telescope” gag.) Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 6, Episode 19”
New Titans #63 – “Into the Darkness” – Marv Wolfman/Tom Grummett/Bob McLeod
This one starts with Deathstroke (aka Terminator) breaking into Gar (Changeling) Logan’s room and holding a knife to his throat. Deathstroke isn’t there to threaten Gar, just to let him know that he has reasons for trying to kill Lanier and his lycanthropic friends (as we saw last issue). Gar tells the rest of the Titans, who are at the hospital where Troia is recovering from a lycanthrope attack. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: New Titans 63, Legion 4, Suicide Squad 38”
Justice League America #35 – “Lifeboat” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Adam Hughes/Art Nichols, Jose Marzon, Joe Rubinstein
Last issue, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle set up a casino on Kooeykooeykooey, a Pacific island whose natives thought the League’s presence might keep away the world powers. But the island turned out to have a mind of its own and decided to uproot and drift away, causing havoc with the tourists and residents alike. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 35, Justice League Europe 11”
When Fates Collide – Director: John Fawcett/Writer: Katherine Fugate
This one starts with a flashback to Destiny, where Caesar had Xena crucified on the beach. Turns out Caesar has escaped from Tartarus (things have gotten a bit lax since Xena killed Hades) and chained up the Fates so he can change his own history. He decides to reweave the Fates’ Loom to make it so he didn’t try to kill Xena all those years ago. The scene shifts to Rome where Caesar and Brutus are discussing emissaries from Lao Ma. A black-clad warrior woman rides in, scattering the soldiers and riding right up to Caesar and Brutus. It turns out to be Xena, who is now Empress of Rome … and Caesar’s wife. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 6, Episode 18”
Batman #444 – “Crimesmith and Punishment” – Marv Wolfman/Jim Aparo/Mike DeCarlo
Last issue, Batman caught some thieves who were working for a criminal mastermind known as Crimesmith. But when Batman tried to get one of the thieves to talk about his boss, the guy was immolated by an incendiary device Crimesmith had earlier injected into his neck. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 444, Detective 611, Legends of the Dark Knight 4”
Wonder Woman #38 – “Forbidden Fruit” – George Perez, Mindy Newell/Chris Marrinan/Mike Machlan
This one starts with Lois Lane and the other guests on Themiscyra attending a sort of Passion Play about how the Amazons were created and how they first came to Paradise Island. Menalippe is the narrator, but her tone conveys boredom rather than passion, something noted by Lois and Diana. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 38, Green Arrow 28, Firestorm 93”
Last of the Centaurs – Director: Garth Maxwell/Writer: Joel Metzger
This one starts with some centaurs in the woods being attacked and killed by a band of men. One of the centaurs (who’s actually Xenon, Ephiny’s son) gets away, though he does take an arrow in the arm. In town, Xena and Gabi are at the market when Ephiny’s spirit appears to Gabi (who can see and hear her because she once gave Ephiny her Right of Caste), telling her Xenon is in trouble. They soon figure out what the trouble is when a crier shows up with a Wanted poster bearing Xenon’s likeness on it. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 6, Episode 17”
New Titans #62 – “Titan Plague” – Marv Wolfman/Tom Grummett/Al Vey
This one starts with the Titans (Troia, Raven, Jericho, Speedy, Starfire, and Cyborg) wading through the sewers looking for some mysterious beasts that have been killing people in a particularly grisly way. They get ambushed by the beasts (which kinda look like werewolves) and they soon find themselves in trouble. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: New Titans 62, Legion 3, Suicide Squad 37”
Justice League America #34 – “Club JLI” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Adam Hughes/Art Nichols
This one starts with Major Disaster lamenting his lack of success as a super-villain. He’s been reduced to living in a shithole apartment with Big Sir, but when he realizes Big Sir can count cards like Rainman, he decides to cash in on that talent. In New York, Maxwell Lord isn’t happy when he finds out Blue Beetle and Booster Gold have opened a casino on Kooeykooeykooey (the Pacific island recently annexed by the League) and used the JLI name to advertise it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 34, Justice League Europe 10”
Send in the Clones – Director: Charlie Haskell/Writer: Paul Robert Coyle
This one starts in the present day—or what was the present day when this episode first aired—with a woman named Alexis (who looks just like Alti) buying a chakram and some ancient strands of hair from a shady dude. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 6, Episode 16”