Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Batman #442 – “Rebirth” – Marv Wolfman, George Perez/Jim Aparo/Mike DeCarlo
This is the fifth and final chapter of the Lonely Place of Dying storyline, but because of the way my reviews are set up I’m doing it before the fourth chapter (in New Titans 61). This one starts with Alfred and Tim Drake in the Batcave worrying because they haven’t heard from Batman or Nightwing (who left to track down Two-Face). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 442, Detective 609, Legends of the Dark Knight 2”
Wonder Woman #36 – “Changes in the Wind” – George Perez, Mindy Newell/Chris Marrinan/Steve Montano
This one starts with Hermes standing naked on the roof of Steve’s building, receiving a message from a dove sent from Themiscyra. Steve tells Hermes to put some clothes on and Hermes relays Diana’s message to him. Diana has arranged for Hermes to bring some representatives from the United Nations to Themiscyra for a big feast to formally announce their acceptance of the world at large. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 36, Firestorm 91”
Green Arrow #26 – “Ollie of Sherwood” – Mike Grell/J. J. Birch/Michael Bair
This one continues from last issue, with Oliver (Green Arrow) Queen still in the pub. The innkeeper tells him he shouldn’t stir up trouble by investigating Hawthorne’s death. He tells Oliver how Hawthorne’s daughter-in-law got into witchcraft after her husband died, and how it drove her to a premature death. Now Hawthorne’s granddaughter (Rowan) has followed in her mother’s footsteps and gotten into the whole “magic” thing. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Green Arrow 26, Young All-Stars 31, Suicide Squad 35”
Justice League America #32 – “Breaking Point” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Adam Hughes/Art Nichols
This continues the JLA/JLE crossover from last month, when the two teams were called to a village in Eastern Europe because most of the population had turned into vampires … or something resembling vampires, at least. After some indecisive skirmishes, daylight drove the “vampires” into hiding and the teams took up a defensive posture around the village. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 32, Justice League Europe 8, New Titans 60, Legion 1”
Batman #441 – “Parallel Lines” – Marv Wolfman/Jim Aparo/Mike DeCarlo
This is part three of the “Lonely Place of Dying” storyline, which takes place after New Titans #60 even though they came out in the same month. Last issue, Batman realized Two-Face was behind the strange crimes he’d been dealing with. This issue gives us a look at how closely matched Batman and Two-Face are (almost like opposite sides of the same coin, if that’s not stretching things too much) and how their thought processes work almost in tandem. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 441, Detective 608, Legends of the Dark Knight 1”
Wonder Woman #35 – “Journey’s End” – George Perez/Chris Marrinan/Steve Montano
Last issue, Wonder Woman was attacked by Shim’tar, who considers herself the new queen of the Amazons in Bana-Mighdal (an ancient city hidden inside a mystical sandstorm in the Egyptian desert). A faction led by the rebellious Amazon Faruka wants the Amazons to reclaim their glory and make war against the outside world instead of hiding from it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 35, Firestorm 90”
Green Arrow #25 – “Witch Hunt Part 1” – Mike Grell/Trevor von Eeden, J.J. Birch/Michael Bair
This one starts at a graveyard in a forest, where a woman is enacting some kind of ritual with a baby. An Owl warns her that some men with guns and dogs are coming, so she gives the baby back to its mother and takes off. The dogs run her down, but she calms them with her witchcraft and heads home to a large manor house. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Green Arrow 25, Young All-Stars 30, Suicide Squad 34”
Justice League America #31 – “Crossed Wires” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Adam Hughes/Joe Rubinstein
This one starts with the Spectre arriving at a devastated village in Eastern Europe. He was drawn there by mystic forces, but he can’t figure out why since there are no human souls left in the village … not even the souls of the dead. The Gray Man shows up and we’re reminded of his mission: collecting dream essence from the recently dead on behalf of the Lords of Order. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 31, Justice League Europe 7, New Titans 59”
Batman #440 – “Suspects” – Marv Wolfman, George Perez/Jim Aparo/Mike DeCarlo
This is the beginning of the “Lonely Place of Dying” storyline that crosses over with New Titans and introduces the new Robin, Tim Drake. This issue starts with Batman on top of a dam fighting a guy called Ravager, who has killed numerous people (including a couple of cops) in the last few weeks. Batman knows he was led here by someone who wanted him to find Ravager, but his opponent turns out to be a pretty tough customer. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 440, Detective 606, Detective 607”
Wonder Woman #34 – “The Tournament of the Crown” – George Perez/Chris Marrinan/Will Blyberg
This one starts where last issue left off, with Hermes attacking the hidden Amazon city of Bana-Mighdal. The Amazons start fighting back, but Diana intervenes before things go too far, calming Hermes down. He tells her he received a plea from Gaea herself to come here and retrieve the Golden Girdle. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 34, Firestorm 89”