Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Conan the Barbarian #127 – “The Snow-Haired Woman of the Wastes” – J.M. DeMatteis/Gil Kane
This one starts with Conan back in Cimmeria, wandering through the snowy hills. He sees a beautiful white-haired Vanir woman (rather scantily-dressed for the climate) being menaced by a bear, so he attacks the beast. After a long struggle, Conan manages to kill the bear, but he passes out from his wounds. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 127, Conan the Barbarian 128”
G.I. Joe #96 (January 1990) – “The Hexagram Completed” – Larry Hama/M.D. Bright/Randy Emberlin
This one continues directly from last issue, with Snake Eyes making his way up through the Cobra consulate towards the top floor, where Baroness is barricading herself with as much security as she can. Snake Eyes wants her dead not because she kidnapped and tortured him, but because she shot Scarlett in the head. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 96, G.I. Joe 97”
Conan the Barbarian #125 – “The Witches of Nexxx” – J.M. DeMatteis/John Buscema/Bob McLeod
This one starts where last issue left off, with the survivors climbing out of the caverns beneath the mines. Murilo has decided to go back to his adventurous life, sending Conan, Jonnwalli, and Dukenrik back to Pergona with Atreah’s charred corpse to pass off as his. Conan and his two companions do as Murilo asked, but they find the people at the palace (including Murilo’s wife Yvonna) curiously subdued, seemingly more interested in the young girl they found in the streets a couple issues back than in their dead lord. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 125, Conan the Barbarian 126”
G.I. Joe #94 (December 1989) – “Exterminating Circumstances” – Larry Hama/M.D. Bright/Randy Emberlin
This one starts with Snake Eyes at Dr. Hundtkinder’s clinic in Switzerland, undergoing surgery to reconstruct his ravaged face. The surgery is going pretty well, but neither Snake Eyes nor Scarlett know that Hundtkinder has tipped off the Baroness and that she believes Snake Eyes killed her brother years ago in Saigon. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 94, G.I. Joe 95”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #28 (November 1989) – “Condor” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts with Ace, Slipstream, and Payload launching in the Joe space shuttle for a top secret mission. Another team is standing by as support on the USS Flagg aircraft carrier in the Caribbean, but a heavy storm limits their chances to do anything meaningful. Meanwhile, the Joes have talked the president of Punta Del Mucosa (a fictional country right beside the equally fictional Sierra Gordo) into letting them establish a secret base in his country. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 28, G.I. Joe 93”
Conan the Barbarian #121 – “The Price of Perfection” – J.M. DeMatteis/John Buscema/Bob McLeod
This one starts with Conan in Khorshemish, hanging out with a couple of doxies. He sees a huge man getting attacked by thieves in an alley and runs to help after noticing a beautiful woman is also under attack. Conan routs the thieves, but the giant (Atreah) saves him from a knife in the back. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 121, Conan the Barbarian 122”
G.I. Joe #92 (November 1989) – “Thunderclap” – Larry Hama/Mark Bright/Randy Emberlin
This one starts with Cross-Country, Rumbler, and Long Range on a train with the president of the (fictional) republic of Punta Del Mucosa. The Joes are there to demonstrate the Thunderclap artillery piece for El Presidente. Of course, Punta Del Mucosa just happens to be right beside Sierra Gordo, where all hell just broke lose with the treacherous El Jefe just sold out to the North American Banana Monopoly. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 92, G.I. Joe Special Missions 27”
Conan the Barbarian #119 – “The Voice of One Long Gone” – J.M. DeMatteis/John Buscema/Bob McLeod, Sal Buscema
This one continues from last issue, with the villagers celebrating Myya’s death, but Conan is in a dark mood and refuses to take part in the revels, even when a drunken Jenna tries to entice him. Conan takes off and Jenna decides to go with him rather than deal with the losers who start hitting on her. They have to stop for Jenna to be sick and Conan confides that his mood is because he feels a strange presence hanging over him, a presence that reminds him of someone he knew back in Cimmeria … his grandfather, Drogin. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 119, Conan the Barbarian 120”
G.I. Joe #91 (October 1989) – “No Simple Solutions” – Larry Hama/Tony Salmons/Randy Emberlin
This one continues from last issue, with Zartan and Blind Master squaring of in an alley in San Francisco. They’re pretty evenly matched and keep up a running argument over Zartan’s betrayal of Professor Onihashi and his killing of the Hard Master. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 91, G.I. Joe Special Missions 26”
Conan the Barbarian #117 – “The Corridor of Mullah-Kajar” – Larry Hama/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts in Zamboula, which has recently been taken over by Mullah-Kajar, a priest of Hanuman, who has sent the Turanian satrap fleeing into exile. The Ziggurat of Hanuman is warded by a labyrinthine approach that’s full of conjured guardians, but the sentries inside are still nervous. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 117, Conan the Barbarian 118”