Category: Comics Reviews

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 1, G.I. Joe 2

G.I. Joe 1 coverG.I. Joe #1 (June 1982) – “Operation: Lady Doomsday” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Bob McLeod

This is my first G.I. Joe review, but I’ve actually read quite a few of these issues before so this isn’t completely new territory to me. It has been a long time since I’ve read them, but I remember liking the series overall, at least until it turned into Snake Eyes and His Amazing Friends. Don’t get me wrong, I like ninjas as much as anyone (and Larry Hama came up with some great stories about Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Zartan, Firefly, and the rest), but I prefer when they’re just part of the story, not the sole focus. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 1, G.I. Joe 2”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 1, Conan the Barbarian 2

Conan the Barbarian 1 coverConan the Barbarian #1 – “The Coming of Conan” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Dan Adkins

Welcome to my first review of Conan, a comic I’ve read only sporadically over the years, so a lot of the issues will be new to me. This issue was originally cover-dated October 1970 (a couple years before I was born), but I have read it before in the first Chronicles of Conan collection (which is what I’m using to do these reviews since I like reading Roy Thomas’s comments about the various issues). Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 1, Conan the Barbarian 2”

Different Direction

I’ve finished my 1990 comics reviews, but I’ve decided to take a break from DC. I’ve been reviewing DC stuff from 1977 right through 1990 and I’ve seen some great stories (and a few not so great), but I’m feeling a little burnt out on DC stuff. I may come back to it in the future, but for right now I’d like to try something a bit different. I thought about doing some classic Marvel superhero stuff, but I’ve already read a lot of Silver/Bronze Age Marvels, so there wouldn’t be too many surprises for me. So I think I’ll go with Marvel but switch genres a bit by reviewing two series that I’m somewhat familiar with: Conan and G.I. Joe. I’ve read a fair number of issues in both series, but it’s been a long time so I think I’ll have fun delving into these two classics. I’ll be doing two Conans and two G.I. Joes per week, which means I can get through the first run of G.I. Joe in about a year and a half. Of course, I might get burnt out on these after a while too and switch to something else, but I am a fan of both franchises, so I think the genre change will keep me interested. I hope you’ll all join me as I check out these two cool titles and don’t be shy about leaving comments.

Comics Reviews: New Titans Annual 6, Legion Annual 1

New Titans Annual 6 coverNew Titans Annual #6 – “Starfire’s World” – Marv Wolfman/Paris Cullins, Curt Swan, Tom Grindberg/Al Vey

This one starts on Tamaran, with the Citadel forces attacking the planet and demanding the eldest daughter from each ruler’s house. Starfire’s father turned her over, but another ruler preferred to send his daughter (Xyannis, who is Karras’s sister) out in a rocket to avoid her being enslaved, kinda like Superman. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: New Titans Annual 6, Legion Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: Justice League America Annual 4, Justice League Europe Annual 1

Justice League America Annual 4 coverJustice League America Annual #4 – “What’s Black and White and Bl” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Mike McKone/Bob Smith

This story chronicles the (ever-so-brief) career of Justice League Antarctica. It takes place after Justice League 36 (where G’nort meets Scarlet Skier) but before the JLI Special (where Oberon and Mr. Miracle leave Earth). The story starts with former members of the Injustice League (Major Disaster, Big Sir, Clock King, Cluemaster, and of course the Mighty Bruce) running into each other at the unemployment office. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America Annual 4, Justice League Europe Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: Batman Annual 14, Detective Annual 3

Batman Annual 14 coverBatman Annual #14 – “The Eye of the Beholder” – Andy Helfer/Chris Sprouse/Steve Mitchell

This was meant to be the definitive post-Crisis origin of Two-Face. Some of the details have been superseded by Long Halloween, but that story mostly expands on this one without making it obsolete (although Long Halloween’s timeline needs to be compressed, as it would push Two-Face’s debut into Year 3). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman Annual 14, Detective Annual 3”

Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 49, Green Arrow 40, Green Arrow 41

Wonder Woman 49 coverWonder Woman #49 – (No Title) – George Perez/Colleen Doran

This is basically a retrospective of the first 48 issues of Wonder Woman, highlighting most of her adventures. It’s presented in the guise of a TV news special hosted by a reporter named Ronnie Sarasky (who looks a bit like Candice Bergen as Murphy Brown). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 49, Green Arrow 40, Green Arrow 41”

Comics Reviews: Suicide Squad 48, Justice League International Special 1

Suicide Squad 48 coverSuicide Squad #48 – “In Control” – John Ostrander, Kim Yale/Geof Isherwood

This one starts with Amanda Waller talking to Simon Lagrieve at the Institute for Meta-Human Studies. Count Vertigo and Vixen are being treated there and Lagrieve discusses Waller’s recent incarceration with her. She admits she crossed the line and figured she deserved some punishment for it … which didn’t stop her from getting out early as soon as Sarge Steel offered a deal. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Suicide Squad 48, Justice League International Special 1”

Comics Reviews: Justice League America 45, Justice League Europe 21

Justice League America 45 coverJustice League America #45 – “Hell on Ice” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Russell Braun/John Beatty

This one starts with Oberon thinking about leaving the team to spend more time with Mr. Miracle. Max asks him to stay and Oberon says he’ll think about it, but it’s hard to think when he’s surrounded by the usual chaos at the Embassy. Most of it is due to Guy Gardner and Ice arguing over Guy being a tactless asshole. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 45, Justice League Europe 21”

Comics Reviews: Batman 457, Detective 624, Legends of the Dark Knight 13

Batman 457 coverBatman #457 – “Master of Fear” – Alan Grant/Norm Breyfogle/Steve Mitchell

Last issue, Batman found out Scarecrow was the one behind the recent spate of murders around Gotham, committed by ordinary people seemingly on a whim. Unfortunately, Batman ran right into Scarecrow’s trap and was captured. Scarecrow brags to Batman (and Vicki Vale, who’s also his prisoner) about how he mailed his new hypnotic drug to random people, knowing it would bring out any latent aggressive tendencies they had. The fright masks were an extra touch, since Scarecrow knows how freeing wearing a mask can be (as does Batman, of course). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 457, Detective 624, Legends of the Dark Knight 13”