Category: Comics Reviews

Comics Reviews: Justice League International 15, Infinity Inc. 52, Young All-Stars 14

Justice League International 15 coverJustice League International #15 – “Gnort and South” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Steve Leialoha/Al Gordon

Last issue, Manga Khan brought his Cluster to Earth and laid down an ultimatum. The Cluster travels from planet to planet forcing worlds to join their “Cosmic Shopping Network” and if they refuse, the Cluster ravages their planet and moves on. (I know that sounds like a contrived plot summary, but I’m just repeating what Manga Khan’s assistant L-Ron said.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 15, Infinity Inc. 52, Young All-Stars 14”

Comics Reviews: Batman 421, Detective 588, Green Arrow 6

Batman 421 coverBatman #421 – “Elmore’s Lady” – Jim Starlin/Dick Giordano/Joe Rubinstein

This one starts with Batman and Commissioner Gordon discussing a serial killer who leaves his victims—all young women— in dumpsters. There’s not much evidence left on the bodies and no real pattern, except the Dumpster Slasher does stick to a schedule, killing once a week but skipping every third week. But there’s been no new victim found and Gordon wonders if the killer has moved on to new hunting grounds. Batman hopes not, since he wants to put the scumbag away. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 421, Detective 588, Green Arrow 6”

Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 17, Firestorm 72

Wonder Woman 17 coverWonder Woman #17 – “Traces” – George Perez/Dick Giordano

This one starts with Diana and Vanessa packing for a trip to Greece to join Vanessa’s mom (Julia Kapatelis). Steve and Etta help and Etta mentions her jealousy when she thought Steve might have a thing for Diana. Diana says she’s a bit jealous of Etta’s relationship with Steve, since Diana’s romance with Superman went nowhere. Vanessa says goodbye to her friend Eileen (who she treats kinda crappy) and Steve brings in a dove with a message from Themiscyra. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 17, Firestorm 72”

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 47, New Teen Titans 44, Suicide Squad 14

Legion of Super-Heroes 47 coverLegion of Super-Heroes #47 – “Conspiracy Theory” – Paul Levitz/Greg LaRocque, Pat Broderick/Mike DeCarlo

This one starts with some Legionnaires (Lightning Lass, Tellus, Timber Wolf, Quislet, and Magnetic Kid) at a broadcasting tower in the Atlantic. The tower caught fire for some reason, so the Legionnaires do damage control and rescue people inside. Tellus gets distracted and afterwards tells Magnetic Kid that there’s some kind of conspiracy in the Legion and that Saturn Girl is part of it … a fact he gleaned telepathically right from Saturn Girl’s mind. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 47, New Teen Titans 44, Suicide Squad 14”

Comics Reviews: Justice League International 14, Infinity Inc. 51, Young All-Stars 13

Justice League International 14 coverJustice League International #14 – “Shop or Die” – J.M. DeMatteis/Keith Giffen, Steve Leialoha/Al Gordon

This issue really leans into the goofball humour we think of when we think of JLI. It starts with an alien on a planet with the unlikely name of Yecktamecktokovia watching as the planet’s technology is sucked up into orbit by a giant spaceship. Apparently the ship (called the Cluster) is retrieving the tech from the planet which it has just decimated. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 14, Infinity Inc. 51, Young All-Stars 13”

Comics Reviews: Batman 420, Detective 587, Green Arrow 5

Batman 420 coverBatman #420 – “Ten Nights of the Beast Part 4” – Jim Starlin/Jim Aparo/Mike DeCarlo

This one starts with Batman finding the dead body of the underworld engineer who built a weaponized mechanical hand for KGBeast, after he lost one fighting Batman last issue. KGBeast (and his associate Salari) are in town to kill off ten people involved in the Strategic Defense Initiative, hoping to cripple the program. KGBeast has taken out most of his targets, but there’s one big one left … President Reagan. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 420, Detective 587, Green Arrow 5”

Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 16, Firestorm 71, Warlord 129

Wonder Woman 16 coverWonder Woman #16 – “Bird of Paradise/Bird of Prey” – Len Wein/George Perez/Bob Smith

This one continues from last issue, with Silver Swan attacking the fair where Wonder Woman is appearing for charity. Sliver Swan’s sonic blast brings down the Ferris wheel and Wonder Woman has to catch it to keep all the kids on it from being killed. (Steve helps out by catching a kid who falls.) Silver Swan’s old friend (Maxine) doesn’t think Silver Swan could be this cruel on her own, blaming Swan’s husband (Henry Armbruster) for pushing her into it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 16, Firestorm 71, Warlord 129”

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 46, New Teen Titans 43, Suicide Squad 13

Legion of Super-Heroes 46 coverLegion of Super-Heroes #46 – “On the Fourth Hand” – Paul Levitz/Greg LaRocque, Pat Broderick/Mike DeCarlo

This one starts with four Legionnaires discussing some kind of plan they have, something they’re keeping secret from their teammates. Brainiac 5 is one of them, but the others are in the shadows. (Going by their hands on the splash page, I’d say Mon-El is definitely one of them, plus a couple of unidentifiable women.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 46, New Teen Titans 43, Suicide Squad 13”

Comics Reviews: Justice League International 13, Infinity Inc. 50, Young All-Stars 12

Justice League International 13 coverJustice League International #13 – “Collision Course” – J.M. DeMatteis/Keith Giffen/Al Gordon

This one starts with a look at Nemesis, who’s still in a Russian prison after being captured in Suicide Squad 7. The Russians plan to execute him for espionage and make a public statement about that, which gets attention back in the States. Rick Flag is ready to take the Squad in to rescue Nemesis, but Amanda Waller figures it’s a trap to grab more Western superheroes and make the Americans look bad. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 13, Infinity Inc. 50, Young All-Stars 12”

Comics Reviews: Batman 419, Detective 586, Green Arrow 4

Batman 419 coverBatman #419 – “Ten Nights of the Beast III” – Jim Starlin/Jim Aparo/Mike DeCarlo

In the last couple of issues, a Russian super-agent called KGBeast has (with help from his Iranian associate, Salari) been eliminating people crucial to the development of the Strategic Defense Initiative. He’s already killed six of the ten people most important to the SDI and this issue opens with him taking out number seven, a general named Ridwell. KGBeast uses a Stinger missile to blow up a plane that Ridwell and Agent Bundy of the CIA are travelling on. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 419, Detective 586, Green Arrow 4”