Category: Comics Reviews

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 103, Conan the Barbarian 104

Conan 103 coverConan the Barbarian #103 – “Bride of the Vampire” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one continues from last issue, with the unconscious Conan being taken by the Drellik king and his Bamula tribesmen thrown into a dungeon by the other Drelliks. A Drellik is a native word for vampire, but only the king is a true vampire; his followers have adopted his blood-drinking ways, but they die as easily as any other person. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 103, Conan the Barbarian 104”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 18, G.I. Joe 83

Special Missions 018 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #18 (February 1989) – “Extraction” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with Chuckles, Scarlett,Snake Eyes, and Iceberg returning from their mission in Tibet (uh, I mean Chomo Lungma) travelling down the Mekong River to find an extraction site. They’ve already missed a couple due to Snake Eyes spotting some ambushes, so they’re coming up on their last site somewhere in Southeast Asia. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 18, G.I. Joe 83”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 101, Conan the Barbarian 102

Conan 101 coverConan the Barbarian #101 – “The Devil Has Many Legs” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one starts with Conan camping in the jungle, having given up the sea after the death of his lover Bêlit last issue. As he’s brooding by his fire, he’s attacked by some Bamula tribesmen, who quickly surround him. Conan kills their war-chief but is overcome by superior numbers. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 101, Conan the Barbarian 102”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 17, G.I. Joe 82

Special Missions 017 coverG. I. Joe Special Missions #17 (January 1989) – “All in a Night’s Work” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with Dusty waking up four Joes (Muskrat, Shockwave, Hardball, and Hit & Run) to tell them they have a mission. They meet up with the team leader for the mission (Stalker) who fills them in en route. Armed gunmen have taken over the headquarters of Nexustech, a company in Siliconville, California that makes microchips and other high-tech stuff for the government. Local and federal law authorities are in a pissing contest over jurisdiction, so they probably won’t be much help, and the building is built like a bunker, so it’ll hard to get in without endangering the hostages. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 17, G.I. Joe 82”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 100, Conan the Barbarian 92

Conan 100 coverConan the Barbarian #100 – “Death on the Black Coast” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one starts with the Tigress sailing the Black Coast as usual, but Bêlit’s destination is well outside their normal haunts. She takes the ship to the mouth of the Zarkheba River, which they passed once before and reminds Conan that its waters are said to be poisonous, inhabited only by venomous reptiles. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 100, Conan the Barbarian 92”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 16, G.I. Joe 81

Special Missions 016 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #16 (December 1988) – “Tight Circle” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with Cobra moving a bunch of heavy crates on Cobra Island in preparation for airlifting them someplace else. The crates are labelled “Farm Machinery”, but the Joes (who are spying on Cobra with their satellite) don’t believe that for a second. When one of the crates breaks open, they see that it actually contains … a sofa? Hawk is doubly suspicious now and sends all the Joe pilots (Wild Bill, Lift Ticket, Ace, Slipstream, Maverick, and Ghost Rider) to the island for recon. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 16, G.I. Joe 81”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 98, Conan the Barbarian 99

Conan 098 coverConan the Barbarian #98 – “Sea-Woman” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one starts with a lookout on Bêlit’s ship spotting something amazing in the sea … a beautiful blue-skinned woman standing on a lily pad. Naturally, all the men (including Conan) want to bring her on board, but Bêlit is suspicious of her (either from legitimate caution or jealousy). Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 98, Conan the Barbarian 99”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 15, G.I. Joe 79, G.I. Joe 80

Special Missions 015 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #15 (November 1988) – “… and Into the Fire” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

Last issue, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Chuckles, Iceberg, and CIA agent Anderson went to a hidden valley in the Himalayas to find a renegade CIA operative named Esterhazy who supposedly died twenty years ago. Esterhazy’s original mission was to help the people of Chomo Lungma (a fictional stand-in for Tibet) fight the Chinese imperialists, but when Nixon and Mao settled some of their differences diplomatically, that meant Esterhazy’s mission was no longer needed. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 15, G.I. Joe 79, G.I. Joe 80”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 96, Conan the Barbarian 97

Conan 096 coverConan the Barbarian #96 – “The Long Night of Fang and Talon Part 1” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one continues from last issue, with Conan following the lion Sholo, hoping to find a secret way into the ancient city of Abombi where Bêlit is being held by Ajaga, a tribal chief who has learned how to command animals. Conan figures Ajaga’s siren call is bringing Sholo to his city and Conan can follow the lion to find Bêlit, but he’s not sure what’ll happen if Ajaga orders Sholo to attack Conan himself. (Sholo’s loyalty is due to Conan killing his former master, Amra, but it’s a tenuous connection at best.) Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 96, Conan the Barbarian 97”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 14, G.I. Joe 77, G.I. Joe 78

Special Missions 014 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #14 (October 1988) – “In From the Cold” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with some Joes (Chuckles, Iceberg, Snake Eyes, and Scarlett) in a old Dakota plane flying through the Himalayas in the (fictitious) region of Chomo Lungma. They have a CIA case officer named Anderson with them (who you’ll remember from issue 8) and he’s guiding them to a hidden valley. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 14, G.I. Joe 77, G.I. Joe 78”