Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Batman #424 – “The Diplomat’s Son” – Jim Starlin/Mark Bright/Steve Mitchell
This one starts with Robin hearing a woman screaming as he swings by a penthouse apartment. He busts in and finds an asshole named Felipe Garzonas, who attacks him. Robin kicks Felipe’s ass, but his bodyguard (Juan) has a knife and manages to corner Robin. Luckily, Batman saw where Robin detoured to and puts Juan through the wall (literally). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 424, Detective 591, Green Arrow 9”
Wonder Woman #20 – “Who Killed Myndi Mayer?” – George Perez/Bob McLeod
This one starts with Wonder Woman kicking among some street gangs, trying to get a line on who killed her publicist, Myndi Mayer. The cops are investigating too and most of the story is narrated (in Chandleresque prose) by the lead detective, Edward Indelicato. Myndi was found in her office shot in the face. She had a bloody letter-opener in her hand, indicating she fought her attacker, and there were traces of cocaine on her desk. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 20, Firestorm 75, Warlord 131”
Déja Vu All Over Again – Director: Renee O’Connor/Writer: R.J. Stewart
This one starts in modern times (in other words 1999, when this episode originally aired) with a woman named Annie—who looks a hell of a lot like Xena—having a dream. We get a clip of the ladder fight from Callisto and Annie wakes up, convinced she was dreaming of herself in a past life. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 4, Episode 22”
Legion of Super-Heroes #50 – “Life and Death and the End of Time” – Paul Levitz/Keith Giffen/Mike DeCarlo
This one starts with the Legionnaires working together to figure out a way to pierce the time barrier and confront Time Trapper so they can make him pay for screwing with history and killing Superboy. Ultra Boy and Timber Wolf retrieve the Time Cube from the Institute, while Rond Vidar (who refuses to explain his sudden resurrection from the dead) helps Brainiac 5 wire everything together. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 50, New Teen Titans 47, Suicide Squad 17”
Justice League International #17 – “Only the Dead Know Bialya” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire/Al Gordon
Last issue, Batman, Green Flame, Blue Beetle, and Booster Gold went undercover in Bialya to check out Rumaan Harjavti’s new “secret weapon”. The weapon turned out to be Wandjina, the Thunder God from another dimension who was injured in a nuclear explosion. But Queen Bee had a surprise for Harjavti … Wandjina obeys her commands and he ended up killing Harjavti so she could take over the country. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 17, Young All-Stars 16”
The Ides of March – Director: Ken Girotti/Writer: R.J. Stewart
This one starts with Callisto in Hell, being tormented by the shades of Xena and Gabi. She’s told that the Lord of Hell wants to knock Xena off her redemptive path and is willing to let Callisto be his instrument. But Callisto isn’t allowed to hurt Xena physically, since the triumph has to be a spiritual one. And Callisto has another mission, something to do with Julius Caesar. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 4, Episode 21”
Batman #423 – “You Shoulda Seen Him” – Jim Starlin/Dave Cockrum/Mike DeCarlo
This is an interesting little character study of Batman seen through the eyes of some cops who run into him over the course of one eventful night. The first cop (Bart) tells how he was trying to talk a junkie out of jumping off a bridge when Batman showed up. The junkie jumped, but Batman was rigged to a safety harness and swung down to catch the kid, giving him a lecture on making the most of his life afterwards. Bart figures Batman might’ve actually gotten through to the kid. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 423, Detective 590, Green Arrow 8”
Wonder Woman #19 – “The Witch on the Island” – George Perez/Frank McLaughlin
This one starts with Vanessa Kapatelis waking up still in the protective circle of Wonder Woman’s lasso. She tells her mom and the local cops how Diana fought off Circe’s monsters last issue before being felled by a bolt of energy from the sky. Vanessa still has the scroll from Stavros and gives it to her mom, Julia. Katina, one of the local rebels who have been fighting covertly against Circe’s grip of fear on the local community, tells Julia and Vanessa that Circe must’ve taken Diana to her island. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 19, Firestorm 74”
Endgame – Director: Garth Maxwell/Writer: Steven L. Sears
This one starts with Ephiny leading some Amazons (including a new recruit named Amarice) against Roman soldiers who have already killed some of her Amazon sisters. Ephiny ends up facing the Roman commander Brutus and he kills her, leaving Amarice devastated. Xena and Gabi are fishing when Amarice finds them and tells them Ephiny is dead and the Amazons need Gabi to lead them. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 4, Episode 20”
Legion of Super-Heroes #49 – “A Time to Live” – Paul Levitz/Pat Broderick/Mike DeCarlo
This one starts with Sensor Girl confronting Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl, Mon-El, and Duo Damsel about the secret stuff they’ve been doing (which isn’t so secret anymore since they brought a white dwarf star to Brainy’s lab as a power source last issue). Saturn Girl points out that they haven’t broken any Legion rules, but Sensor Girl is adamant that their plan is wrong. Mon-El’s ready to fight about it, but they’re interrupted when all the Legionnaires suddenly keel over in great pain. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 49, New Teen Titans 46, Suicide Squad 16”