Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
G.I. Joe #100 (May 1990) – “Seeds of Empire” – Larry Hama/M.D. Bright/Randy Emberlin
This one continues from last issue, with Cobra invading the struggling industrial town of Millville, led by the newly-revived original Cobra Commander. Mutt and Spirit are in Millville visiting Mutt’s uncle, and they try to stay out of the way of Cobra troops until they can find a way to get a message out to the rest of the Joe team. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 100, G.I. Joe 101”
Conan the Barbarian #129 – “The Creation Quest” – J.M. DeMatteis/Gil Kane
This one continues from last issue, with Conan and Noyo confronting the Warriors of Eternity who guard the Sword of Strength. The Sword is one of four elemental artifacts that Noyo (a sorceress from Khitai) has to retrieve for the evil wizard Pau-Styss so he’ll release her husband from captivity. Since Noyo’s husband (Laynnen) is an old friend of Conan’s, the barbarian is helping her complete the quest. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 129, Conan the Barbarian 130”
G.I. Joe #98 (March 1990) – “He’s Back” – Larry Hama/M.D. Bright/Randy Emberlin
This one starts in Northern Quebec, where Clutch and Rock n’Roll are still attached to the special RCMP task force looking for Cobra activity in Canada, as we saw last issue. They check out the remote cabin of a known felon, who just happens to have three petty dictators as house guests. They quickly realize there’s a Terror Drome hidden under the frozen lake and wonder why Cobra would be selling stuff so far from their home base. Clutch finds paperwork showing that these particular Terror Drome components were shipped from Denver, not Cobra Island. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 98, G.I. Joe 99”
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”