Category: Comics Reviews

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 143, Conan the Barbarian 144

Conan 143 coverConan the Barbarian #143 – “Life Among the Dead” – Bruce Jones/John Buscema/Ricardo Villamonte

This one starts in a small Cimmerian village called Solvanthia, where the ground begins to tremble violently. The villagers have a pretty good idea what’s causing it and rush up the mountain to a gold statue of their hero, Graven. But there’s something missing from the statue … Graven’s sword, which is some kind of talisman that keeps a dragon asleep under the village. Now that the sword has been stolen, the dragon is waking up, so the villagers figure they’d better get the sword back quickly. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 143, Conan the Barbarian 144”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 112, G.I. Joe 113

GIJoe 112 coverG.I. Joe #112 (May 1991) – “Who’s the Hero?” – Larry Hama/John Statema/Randy Emberlin

This one starts where last issue left off, in the Emirate of Benzheen (which Cobra has just taken over) with Snake Eyes ready to kill the Saw Viper who’s bragging about wasting some Joes. Scarlett reminds him that their recon mission is vital to their teammates’ impending attack. Snake Eyes agrees and they move on, unaware that some Night Creeper ninjas are in the vicinity. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 112, G.I. Joe 113”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 141, Conan the Barbarian 142

Conan 141 coverConan the Barbarian #141 – “The Web Tightens” – Bruce Jones/John Buscema/Brett Breeding

Last issue, Conan was shanghaied aboard a pirate vessel by Lupos Davalte, a man he’d pissed off in a tavern brawl. Conan was forced to help row the ship until they stopped for provisions and ended up being attacked by giant spiders in the forest. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 141, Conan the Barbarian 142”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 110, G.I. Joe 111

GIJoe 110 coverG.I. Joe #110 (March 1991) – “Escalator to Armageddon” – Larry Hama/Ron Garney/Fred Fredericks

Last issue, a team of Joes was sent to Trucial Abysmia to take out some Cobra Terror Dromes, but Cobra had a secret operation going there so when the Joes were captured, Tomax and Xamot were ordered to get rid of them. A number of Joes (Doc, Quick Kick, Heavy Metal, Crankcase, Crazy Legs, Thunder, and Breaker) were killed, leaving only Duke, Lt. Falcon, and Cross Country against a Saw Viper and his team of executioners. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 110, G.I. Joe 111”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 139, Conan the Barbarian 140

Conan 139 coverConan the Barbarian #139 – “In the Lair of the Damned” – Bruce Jones/Val Mayerik

Last issue, Conan and Pelija Lon were sent to a demi-plane to recover an amulet for the wizard Revelle. The amulet is around the neck of Pelija’s father (Eshe Lon) and Revelle claimed that removing it would turn him back to his old (non-evil) self, but when they found Eshe and Conan took the amulet from him, he turned into some kind of serpent demon. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 139, Conan the Barbarian 140”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 108, G.I. Joe 109

GIJoe 108 coverG.I. Joe #108 (January 1991) – “Apparent Conclusions” – Larry Hama/M.D. Bright/Randy Emberlin

This one starts in Trucial Abysmia, the (fictional) Middle Eastern desert country the Joes have been to a few times before. A contingent of Joes (including Duke, Lt. Falcon, Doc, Quick Kick, Heavy Metal, Cross Country, Crankcase, Crazy Legs, Thunder, and Breaker) are blowing up a Cobra Terror Drome before heading back across the border, but they notice a lone Cobra vehicle making a run for it. They have to stop the Cobras before they can get outside jamming range and call for back-up, so they chase the vehicle into the desert but soon find themselves surrounded by Cobras in an ambush. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 108, G.I. Joe 109”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 137, Conan the Barbarian 138

Conan 137 coverConan the Barbarian #137 – “Titan’s Gambit” – Bruce Jones/Alfredo Alcala

This one starts at the court of King Arvenger of Voldhom, where a dwarf (Twillo) and a dim-witted behemoth (Bolo) are in attendance. Some peasants have brought in a “champion” (a huge bear)to fight Bolo, who seems too gentle for such sport … until Twillo plays a certain song on his flute. That song brings back memories of how Bolo’s parents were butchered, which makes him go crazy with rage and kill the bear with his bare hands. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 137, Conan the Barbarian 138”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 135, Conan the Barbarian 136

Conan 135 coverConan the Barbarian #135 – “The Forest of the Night” – Steven Grant/Marc Silvestri/Joe Rubinstein, Danny Bulanadi

This one starts with Conan in the Border Kingdoms, where he’s been hired as a scout and mercenary for an outpost. Having been ambushed by Picts and lost his horse and supplies, Conan makes his way through a strange forest, killing a deer for sustenance. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 135, Conan the Barbarian 136”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 104, G.I. Joe 105

GIJoe 104 coverG.I. Joe #104 (September 1990) – “Hero of the People” – Larry Hama/Mark Bright/Randy Emberlin

This one starts with Snake Eyes parachuting into Borovia to rescue George Strawhacker, the man who was once engaged to his sister. Storm Shadow has put Snake Eyes into some kind of ninja trance, so he can stay focused on his mission without letting his emotions cloud his judgment. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 104, G.I. Joe 105”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 133, Conan the Barbarian 134

Conan 133 coverConan the Barbarian #133 – “The Witch of Widnsor” – Bruce Jones/Gil Kane/Danny Bulanadi

This one starts with Conan making his way through some mountains bordering Cimmeria. He sees a strange-looking mountain peak that shimmers in the sunlight, but his attention is soon drawn to a line of dead men tied to crosspieces of wood. They all died of deep puncture wounds and have signed waivers tacked to the crosses, attesting that they sought to free Princess Seraina of their own free will. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 133, Conan the Barbarian 134”