Category: Comics Reviews

Comics Reviews: JLA Annual 3, Infinity Inc. Annual 1

JLA Annual 3 coverJLA Annual #3 – “Force of Nature” – Dan Mishkin/Rick Hoberg/Mike Gustovich

This one starts in orbit, with Red Tornado on the remains of the JLA Satellite. Reddy is trying to activate what’s left of the JLA computers so he can analyze himself. While fighting the Monitor (this takes place during the Crisis), someone remarked that Red Tornado was “more than machine and more than man”, so he wants to figure out what that means. But he ends up overloading the computers and the bulk of the Satellite catches fire and plummets toward Earth. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA Annual 3, Infinity Inc. Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: Superman Annual 11, DC Comics Presents Annual 4

Superman Annual 11 coverSuperman Annual #11 – “For the Man Who Has Everything” – Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons

This one starts with a weird prologue of Kal-El living on Krypton, working as a scientist, and celebrating his birthday with his family … including his wife (Lyla) and kids. The story moves to Earth, where Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman arrive at the Fortress of Solitude to celebrate Superman’s birthday. This is Jason’s first trip to the Fortress, and his first time meeting Wonder Woman; hard to say which he’s more impressed by. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman Annual 11, DC Comics Presents Annual 4”

Comics Reviews: Batman Annual 9, Batman & the Outsiders Annual 2

Batman Annual 9 coverBatman Annual #9 – “The Four Faces of Batman” – Mike W. Barr

This annual features four stories highlighting different facets of Batman’s character: the Child, the Avenger, the Detective, and the Man. Every story was written by Mike W. Barr but illustrated by different artists, who I’ll list separately for each story. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman Annual 9, Batman & the Outsiders Annual 2”

Comics Reviews: Firestorm 42, Green Lantern 195, Wonder Woman 328, Warlord 100

Firestorm 42 coverFirestorm #42 – “A Long Night’s Journey Into Day” – Gerry Conway/Rafael Kayanan/Ian Akin, Brian Garvey

This one starts with Lorraine (Firehawk) Reilly and Donna (Wonder Girl) Long flying around over Manhattan (or what’s left of it) discussing all the crazy crap they’ve seen since the Crisis started. Firehawk has a new look, with a better colour scheme and more bad-ass flames. The two heroines are looking for their loved ones (Donna’s husband Terry and Lorraine’s father), but New York has been altered by the Crisis. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Firestorm 42, Green Lantern 195, Wonder Woman 328, Warlord 100”

Comics Reviews: JLA 245, Legion of Super-Heroes 17, New Teen Titans 15

JLA 245 coverJLA #245 – “The Long Road Home” – Gerry Conway/Luke McDonnell/Mike Machlan

This one starts with Steel waking up on a ravaged planet which may or may not be Earth. He’s in bad shape, but manages to fight off some insectoid creatures. A woman shows up (Olanda) and Steel passes out before he can ask her where he is. Olanda is able to command the insectoids and orders them to load Steel in her ship so she can take him to her father. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 245, Legion of Super-Heroes 17, New Teen Titans 15”

Comics Reviews: Superman 414, Action 574, DC Comics Presents 88, All-Star Squadron 52, Infinity Inc. 21

Superman 414 coverSuperman #414 – “Revenge is Life—Death to Superman” – Elliot S! Maggin/Curt Swan/Al Williamson

This basically continues the story from DC Presents 87, where Superman was shanghaied to Earth-Prime and met the Superboy of that world. Since he’s missing from Earth-1, the Superman Revenge Squad (well, two alien members of the Squad) take the opportunity to invade the Fortress of Solitude, wreck the place, hack the computer, and take off. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 414, Action 574, DC Comics Presents 88, All-Star Squadron 52, Infinity Inc. 21”

Comics Reviews: Batman 390, Detective 557, Batman & the Outsiders 28, Outsiders 2, Vigilante 24

Batman 390 coverBatman #390 – “Women Dark and Dangerous” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one continues from last time, with Batman and Nocturna making out in the abandoned observatory. Batman’s still conflicted about Nocturna’s thieving ways, especially since she’s taken over what’s left of the False Face Society and made them steal for her. Nocturna’s rationalizations about only stealing from rich people and using the money to study the weird weather caused by the Crisis doesn’t completely convince Batman … although he doesn’t take Nocturna in either. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 390, Detective 557, Batman & the Outsiders 28, Outsiders 2, Vigilante 24”

Comics Reviews: Firestorm 41, Green Lantern 194, Warlord 99

Firestorm 41 coverFirestorm #41 – “Storm Warning” – Gerry Conway/Rafael Kayanan/Ian Akin, Brian Garvey

This one starts with Lyla (the Monitor’s assistant) receiving power from him and turning into Harbinger, before being sent out to gather help to fight against the Anti-Monitor (which was happening concurrently in Crisis on Infinite Earths). Meanwhile, Firestorm is in Pittsburgh, getting ready to head for Vandemeer College where Professor Stein will be teaching and Ronnie Raymond will be a student. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Firestorm 41, Green Lantern 194, Warlord 99”

Comics Reviews: JLA 244, Legion of Super-Heroes 16, New Teen Titans 14

JLA 244 coverJLA #244 – “The Final Crisis” – Gerry Conway/Joe Staton/Mike Machlan

This one starts with the JLA arriving at the wrecked Satellite in orbit around Earth after being defeated by Infinity Inc. last issue and forced out of their Detroit headquarters. Vibe isn’t happy about having to retreat, but J’onn explains that they need help from the Justice Society. Ralph tells Vibe about the multiverse and how they can use their transporter to go to Earth-2, but it sounds so weird that Vibe assumes Ralph is bullshitting him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 244, Legion of Super-Heroes 16, New Teen Titans 14”

Comics Reviews: Superman 413, Action 573, DC Comics Presents 87, All-Star Squadron 51, Infinity Inc. 20

Superman 413 coverSuperman #413 – “Superman—Your World is Mine” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Al Williamson

This one starts with a recap of the last couple issues to remind us how Lex Luthor used a mind-altering ray to make Superman hallucinate events that never happened. Not only did Superman believe (for a short while) that he’d killed Luthor and caused the destruction of Metropolis, but Clark Kent got fired from Galaxy Communications for writing a story about Superman that never actually happened. Superman is pretty freaked out, not knowing if he can trust his senses anymore. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 413, Action 573, DC Comics Presents 87, All-Star Squadron 51, Infinity Inc. 20”