Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Return of the Valkyrie – Director: John Fawcett/Writer: Emily Skopov
This one starts one year after last episode ended. A contingent of Norsemen arrives to rescue Gabi from the ring of fire, despite Beowulf’s warnings that only Gabi’s soulmate can pass the fire safely. (And it looks like Beowulf tried it himself, since one of his hands is burnt.) Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 6, Episode 9”
Green Arrow #25 – “Witch Hunt Part 1” – Mike Grell/Trevor von Eeden, J.J. Birch/Michael Bair
This one starts at a graveyard in a forest, where a woman is enacting some kind of ritual with a baby. An Owl warns her that some men with guns and dogs are coming, so she gives the baby back to its mother and takes off. The dogs run her down, but she calms them with her witchcraft and heads home to a large manor house. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Green Arrow 25, Young All-Stars 30, Suicide Squad 34”
Justice League America #31 – “Crossed Wires” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Adam Hughes/Joe Rubinstein
This one starts with the Spectre arriving at a devastated village in Eastern Europe. He was drawn there by mystic forces, but he can’t figure out why since there are no human souls left in the village … not even the souls of the dead. The Gray Man shows up and we’re reminded of his mission: collecting dream essence from the recently dead on behalf of the Lords of Order. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 31, Justice League Europe 7, New Titans 59”
The Ring – Director: Rick Jacobson/Writer: Joel Metzger
This one starts with Gabi, Brunnhilde, and Beowulf following Grendel’s trail after it dragged Xena off at the end of last episode. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 6, Episode 8”
Batman #440 – “Suspects” – Marv Wolfman, George Perez/Jim Aparo/Mike DeCarlo
This is the beginning of the “Lonely Place of Dying” storyline that crosses over with New Titans and introduces the new Robin, Tim Drake. This issue starts with Batman on top of a dam fighting a guy called Ravager, who has killed numerous people (including a couple of cops) in the last few weeks. Batman knows he was led here by someone who wanted him to find Ravager, but his opponent turns out to be a pretty tough customer. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 440, Detective 606, Detective 607”
Wonder Woman #34 – “The Tournament of the Crown” – George Perez/Chris Marrinan/Will Blyberg
This one starts where last issue left off, with Hermes attacking the hidden Amazon city of Bana-Mighdal. The Amazons start fighting back, but Diana intervenes before things go too far, calming Hermes down. He tells her he received a plea from Gaea herself to come here and retrieve the Golden Girdle. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 34, Firestorm 89”
The Rheingold – Director: John Fawcett/Writer: R.J. Stewart
This one starts 35 years ago, with the still-evil Xena forging a ring out of gold. She’s attacked by a monster, who she forces into an old mine. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 6, Episode 7”
Green Arrow #23 – “Kia” – Mike Grell/Dan Jurgens/Dick Giordano, Frank McLaughlin
This one starts with Green Arrow and Shado reviewing their performance against the opposition in the mountain monastery last issue. They came there looking for info on Shado’s son, who’s been kidnapped to force Shado to assassinate someone (possibly the American president). But Shado went a little wild at the monastery and killed all the yakuza who were there. Green Arrow tried to spare one, but he killed himself rather than be questioned. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Green Arrow 23, Green Arrow 24, Young All-Stars 29, Suicide Squad 33”
Justice League America #30 – “Teenage Biker Mega-Death” – Keith Giffen, J. M. De Matteis/Bill Willingham/Joe Rubinstein
Last issue, Big Barda’s car was stolen with her Mega-Rod in the trunk. Barda, Mr. Miracle, and Fire tracked the car to New Jersey where they found the thieves dead and the Mega-Rod missing. They soon found out what happened to it when a street punk blasted Barda and Fire with the Rod. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 30, Justice League Europe 6, New Titans 58”
The Abyss – Director: Rick Jacobson/Writer: James Kahn
This one starts with Virgil and a friend (or maybe one of his brothers?) named Hosep being chased by a tribe of wild men. Hosep is caught and Virgil follows, keeping out of sight. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 6, Episode 6”