Author: anarchyinsk

Comics Reviews: JLA Annual 3, Infinity Inc. Annual 1

JLA Annual 3 coverJLA Annual #3 – “Force of Nature” – Dan Mishkin/Rick Hoberg/Mike Gustovich

This one starts in orbit, with Red Tornado on the remains of the JLA Satellite. Reddy is trying to activate what’s left of the JLA computers so he can analyze himself. While fighting the Monitor (this takes place during the Crisis), someone remarked that Red Tornado was “more than machine and more than man”, so he wants to figure out what that means. But he ends up overloading the computers and the bulk of the Satellite catches fire and plummets toward Earth. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA Annual 3, Infinity Inc. Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: Superman Annual 11, DC Comics Presents Annual 4

Superman Annual 11 coverSuperman Annual #11 – “For the Man Who Has Everything” – Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons

This one starts with a weird prologue of Kal-El living on Krypton, working as a scientist, and celebrating his birthday with his family … including his wife (Lyla) and kids. The story moves to Earth, where Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman arrive at the Fortress of Solitude to celebrate Superman’s birthday. This is Jason’s first trip to the Fortress, and his first time meeting Wonder Woman; hard to say which he’s more impressed by. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman Annual 11, DC Comics Presents Annual 4”

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 21

Xena title cardThe Greater Good – Director: Gary Jones/Writer: Steven L. Sears

This one starts with Gabi practicing her fighting moves (using Argo as an opponent) until Xena whistles and Argo kicks the staff out of Gabi’s hand. Xena wishes Gabi and Argo could get along, but Gabi thinks Argo hates her. Xena goes to a well for a drink and meets a girl who asks her to help Lord Seltzer, who’s being attacked by the warlord Talmadeus in a nearby village. Xena calls Argo (who tosses Gabi out of the saddle onto her ass) and rides to help Lord Seltzer, who turns out to be Salmoneus. Xena runs off Talmadeus’s men, but ends up getting shot with a dart by a woman in a tree outside the village. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 21”

Comics Reviews: Batman Annual 9, Batman & the Outsiders Annual 2

Batman Annual 9 coverBatman Annual #9 – “The Four Faces of Batman” – Mike W. Barr

This annual features four stories highlighting different facets of Batman’s character: the Child, the Avenger, the Detective, and the Man. Every story was written by Mike W. Barr but illustrated by different artists, who I’ll list separately for each story. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman Annual 9, Batman & the Outsiders Annual 2”

Comics Reviews: Firestorm 42, Green Lantern 195, Wonder Woman 328, Warlord 100

Firestorm 42 coverFirestorm #42 – “A Long Night’s Journey Into Day” – Gerry Conway/Rafael Kayanan/Ian Akin, Brian Garvey

This one starts with Lorraine (Firehawk) Reilly and Donna (Wonder Girl) Long flying around over Manhattan (or what’s left of it) discussing all the crazy crap they’ve seen since the Crisis started. Firehawk has a new look, with a better colour scheme and more bad-ass flames. The two heroines are looking for their loved ones (Donna’s husband Terry and Lorraine’s father), but New York has been altered by the Crisis. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Firestorm 42, Green Lantern 195, Wonder Woman 328, Warlord 100”

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 20

Xena title cardTies That Bind – Director: Charles Siebert/Writers: Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster

This one starts with a warlord named Kirilus rounding up a bunch of girls to sell into slavery. Kirilus is working for Ares, but Ares shows up and tells him he won’t be needed anymore, since Ares wants Xena to lead his army instead. Xena and Gabi are watching Kirilus’s men cage up the girls and planning how to rescue them when an older man (Atrius) shows up to challenge a couple of the guards. Atrius gets in trouble and Xena saves him and when Atrius finds out who she is, he claims to be her long-lost father. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 20”

Comics Reviews: JLA 245, Legion of Super-Heroes 17, New Teen Titans 15

JLA 245 coverJLA #245 – “The Long Road Home” – Gerry Conway/Luke McDonnell/Mike Machlan

This one starts with Steel waking up on a ravaged planet which may or may not be Earth. He’s in bad shape, but manages to fight off some insectoid creatures. A woman shows up (Olanda) and Steel passes out before he can ask her where he is. Olanda is able to command the insectoids and orders them to load Steel in her ship so she can take him to her father. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 245, Legion of Super-Heroes 17, New Teen Titans 15”

Comics Reviews: Superman 414, Action 574, DC Comics Presents 88, All-Star Squadron 52, Infinity Inc. 21

Superman 414 coverSuperman #414 – “Revenge is Life—Death to Superman” – Elliot S! Maggin/Curt Swan/Al Williamson

This basically continues the story from DC Presents 87, where Superman was shanghaied to Earth-Prime and met the Superboy of that world. Since he’s missing from Earth-1, the Superman Revenge Squad (well, two alien members of the Squad) take the opportunity to invade the Fortress of Solitude, wreck the place, hack the computer, and take off. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 414, Action 574, DC Comics Presents 88, All-Star Squadron 52, Infinity Inc. 21”

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 19

Xena title cardAltared States – Director: Michael Levine/Writer: Chris Manheim

This one starts with a woman (Zora) telling her son Icus to run away because someone’s after him. At a pastoral lake we see Xena and Gabi’s clothes hanging from a bush and some suggestive dialogue makes it sound like they’re having some sexy fun, but it’s a big fake-out … they’re just fishing. Icus shows up at the lake, pursued by a bunch of zealots and Xena (still naked) kicks their asses using fish as a weapon. The zealot leader (Mael) shows up and warns Xena this is none of her business, but she refuses to turn Icus over so the beaten zealots leave. Icus tells Xena the zealots want to sacrifice him to their God and that Icus’s father is the one who ordered it. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 19”

Comics Reviews: Batman 390, Detective 557, Batman & the Outsiders 28, Outsiders 2, Vigilante 24

Batman 390 coverBatman #390 – “Women Dark and Dangerous” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one continues from last time, with Batman and Nocturna making out in the abandoned observatory. Batman’s still conflicted about Nocturna’s thieving ways, especially since she’s taken over what’s left of the False Face Society and made them steal for her. Nocturna’s rationalizations about only stealing from rich people and using the money to study the weird weather caused by the Crisis doesn’t completely convince Batman … although he doesn’t take Nocturna in either. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 390, Detective 557, Batman & the Outsiders 28, Outsiders 2, Vigilante 24”