Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
G.I. Joe Special Missions #25 (September 1989) – “Forced Play” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Danny Bulanadi
This one starts at a warehouse in Brooklyn where cops and Feds have some terrorists hemmed in. The terrorists are from Lower Darklonia and are trying to free their country from the oppressive yoke of Upper Darklonia by blowing stuff up in the United States. Yeah, I’m not really sure how that works either. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 25, G.I. Joe 90”
Conan the Barbarian #115 – “A War of Wizards” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan still making his way towards Akkharia, when he’s startled by the appearance of a green light with a face inside it … a familiar face. It’s the wizard Zukala (who we last saw in issue 15) using magic to speak to Conan even though body is far away in Ghaza. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 115, Conan the Barbarian 116”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #24 (August 1989) – “Ladies Day” – Herb Trimpe/Dave Cockrum/Danny Bulanadi
This one starts at a baseball game in New York between the Mites and Dandees (obviously meant to be the Mets and Yankees) which the President is attending. The Joes have a team there (Hawk, Lt. Falcon, Zap, Doc, Tunnel Rat, Hardball, and Heavy Metal) for PR and extra security, including Lady Jaye, Scarlett, Jinx, and Cover Girl undercover (so to speak) as scantily-dressed cheerleaders. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 24, G.I. Joe 89”
Conan the Barbarian #113 – “A Devil in the Family” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan and Erfu still on their way to Akkharia, making their way through a vast forest. They’re ambushed by some Shemites and Erfu takes an arrow in the shoulder before Conan’s berserker fighting frenzy drives their attackers off. Erfu figures he needs some kind of medical attention, but since they’re still a long way from Akkharia he suggests a wood-witch. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 113, Conan the Barbarian 114”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #23 (July 1989) – “Scoop” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts on the USS Flagg aircraft carrier, where a team of Joes (Stalker, Tunnel Rat, Leatherneck, Hit & Run, and Muskrat) are getting ready for a mission. At the last minute they find out a new Joe named Scoop is coming with them to document everything with a video camera. They’re not too happy about having a rookie on the mission, especially since they haven’t had a chance to train with him, but they aren’t given a choice. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 23, G.I. Joe 88”
Conan the Barbarian #111 – “Cimmerian Against a City” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one continues from last issue, with Conan waking up with his new “wife” Tossa, who he won by killing her former master last issue. Of course, Conan doesn’t want a wife, but that didn’t stop him from banging her. Conan gets a visit from the family of the man he killed and he quickly frees them from his servitude, while Tossa fills him in on the way the dwarf king Aoska keeps people in line. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 111, Conan the Barbarian 112”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #22 (June 1989) – “Decisions” – Larry Hama/Dave Cockrum/Andy Mushynsky
This one starts at an isolated farm in Iowa where three terrorists have taken hostages after an attack at a nearby airport. Some Joes (Chuckles, Lady Jaye, Hit & Run, and Shockwave) are aware of the situation and do a recon by driving by on the main road in a plumber’s van. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 22, G.I. Joe 87”
Conan the Barbarian #109 – “Sons of the Bear God” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan and Erfu making their way through the Sea of Buryat, a vast grassland that Erfu thinks is haunted. They run into some Shemites who attack immediately, forcing Conan to kill a bunch of them before he and Erfu can flee into the supposedly haunted grass. Erfu uses a strange whistle to scare the Shemites off, making it sound like a disembodied voice from the tall grass. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 109, Conan the Barbarian 110”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #21 (May 1989) – “The Lower Depths” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky
This one starts with four Joes (Airtight, Tunnel Rat, Charbroil, and Spearhead) in the sewers beneath Manhattan. Someone found gas canisters with Cobra markings on them in the sewers, so the Joes are there to check things out, although Airtight figures the canisters are so obvious they must be a diversion for something else. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 21, G.I. Joe 86”
Conan the Barbarian #107 – “Demon of the Night” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts where last issue left off, with Queen Tananda of Meroe about to whip the slave-girl Diana because she believes Diana is a spy sent by her rival, Tuthmes. Tananda is right, but before she can beat the truth out of Diana, Conan stops her and looses the unfortunate girl. Conan also warns Tananda that allowing a bunch of tribesmen into the city to witness the execution of the supposed traitor Aahmes might cause them to revolt instead of cowing them as Tananda intends. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 107, Conan the Barbarian 108”