Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
G.I. Joe Special Missions #5 (June 1987) – “Showdown” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts on Cobra Island, with a ground crew prepping the Night Raven stealth fighter for a recon flight. The crew are all impressed by the plane’s tech (including low-tech stuff like a breakout tool to be used if the canopy jams in a crash), but much less so with its pilot, the Strato-Viper. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 5, G.I. Joe 61”
Hourman and Dr. Mid-Nite – Director: David Straiton/Writer: Melissa Carter
This one starts nine years ago, with Rex and Wendi Tyler leaving Blue Valley in a hurry. They’ve signed over their house to Wendi’s brother (Matt Harris) and left him $50,000 to look after their son, Rick. Continue reading “Stargirl Reviews: Season 1, Episode 5”
Conan the Barbarian #63 – “Death Among the Ruins” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Steve Gan
This one continues from last issue, with Makeda leading Conan and the Watambis to the ruined city where Amra plans to marry Bêlit. Conan is so focused on saving Bêlit, he doesn’t know (or doesn’t care) that Makeda cast a spell to raise the dead of the lost city. Bêlit doesn’t want to be Amra’s mate, but he’s not giving her a choice. He shows his battle prowess by killing a lion with a knife when it threatens Bêlit, but Conan also kills a lion (with a sword) on the way to the city, so it seems the two titans are evenly matched. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 63, Conan the Barbarian 65”
G.I. Joe #59 (May 1987) – “Divergent Paths” – Larry Hama/Ron Wagner/Bob McLeod
This one starts in Denver at the garage hideout of Crimson Guardsman Fred (that’s Fred VII for those keeping score), where Cobra Commander and his son Billy are staying. Fred has built a prosthetic leg to replace the one Billy lost in the explosion, but Billy’s having a little trouble getting used to it. He catapults into a martial arts stance to keep from falling, surprising himself as much as the others, since he still has no memory of his old life. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 59, G.I. Joe 60”
Wildcat – Director: Rob Hardy/Writer: James Dale Robinson
This one starts with a flashback to three months ago, focusing on Yolanda Montez. But this isn’t the surly Yolanda that we’ve seen in the past three episodes, the one who’s treated like a pariah by everyone at school. This Yolanda is full of life, running for school president, with a loving family … she has it all. Continue reading “Stargirl Reviews: Season 1, Episode 4”
Conan the Barbarian #61 – “On the Track of the She-Pirate” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Steve Gan
This one continues from last issue, with Conan getting ready to go after the Dragon-Rider tribe who kidnapped Bêlit from the Watambi village. The Watambi chief (Ombassa) warns Conan not to trek through the jungle alone and offers to send some of his warriors as guides. But one of Bêlit’s crew (Kawaku) thinks she should be left to her fate, since she’s supposed to be the daughter of a goddess. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 61, Conan the Barbarian 62”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #4 (April 1987) – “No Holds Barred” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts with a team of Joes (Wild Bill, Roadblock, Leatherneck, and Lifeline) in a cargo plane being pursued by a Russian HIND helicopter over the Malay Peninsula. The Joes have retrieved a Cobra Firebat and are trying to get the electronic black boxes out so they’ll know the technical specs of the plane, but the Oktober Guard want the black boxes too. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 4, G.I. Joe 58”
Icicle – Director: Michael Nankin/Writer: Colleen McGuinness
This one starts eight years ago, with Jordan Mahkent (aka Icicle) and his son Cameron, watching helplessly as their wife and mother (Christine) lays dying in a sickbed. Jordan tells Christine he’ll make everyone pay for making her sick, but she urges him to forget about that and go on with his mission to make the country safe. Her reasonable side soon disappears when she tells him to destroy anyone who gets in his way. After she dies, Icicle goes outside to rage and freezes the entire garden, watched by his son. Continue reading “Stargirl Reviews: Season 1, Episode 3”
Conan the Barbarian #59 – “The Ballad of Bêlit” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Steve Gan
This one starts with Bêlit and Conan leading the crew of the Tigress against a Stygian galley. They make short work of the Stygians and Conan notices that Bêlit has a special hatred towards them. She’s not inclined to talk about it so Conan asks the Ship’s shaman (N’yaga), who has known Bêlit for years. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 59, Conan the Barbarian 60”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #3 (February 1987) – “Burn-out” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts with some Joes (Stalker, Leatherneck, and Slipstream) hanging out undercover at a café in some unidentified Middle Eastern country. They’re with an American mercenary pilot (Deke) who flies MiGs for the local dictator, Colonel Sharif. But Deke is helping the Joes, who want to get inside Sharif’s airbase. Unfortunately, the café owner is a spy for Sharif and lets him known about Deke’s treachery. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 3, G.I. Joe 57”