Category: Comics Reviews

Comics Reviews: Batman 342, Detective 509, Brave & the Bold 181

Batman 342 coverBatman #342 – “Requiem for a Hero” – Gerry Conway/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, Commissioner Gordon received reports about weird things happening at Wayne Manor (possibly the work of a ghost); the Manor is supposed to be empty since Bruce Wayne moved out and left it in the care of the Gotham Historical Society. Gordon hired veteran ghost-breaker Dr. Thirteen to investigate, which forced Batman to get involved since he didn’t want Thirteen finding a secret route to the Batcave. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 342, Detective 509, Brave & the Bold 181”

Comics Reviews: Flash 303, Wonder Woman 285, Green Lantern 146, Jonah Hex 54

Flash 303 coverFlash #303 – “The Top is Alive and Well and in Henry Allen” – Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino/Bob Smith

Last issue we saw that Barry Allen’s father, Henry (who’s been acting weird for the last few issues), dressed himself up in the Top’s old costume, even though the Top has been dead for years. Barry still doesn’t suspect there’s anything amiss with Henry, but Barry’s mother is apparently sharper than her son. She mentions that something’s off about Henry, but Barry assures her everything is fine, even though he hasn’t actually seen his dad for a whole day. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 303, Wonder Woman 285, Green Lantern 146, Jonah Hex 54”

Comics Reviews: JLA 196, Legion of Super-Heroes 281, New Teen Titans 13, All-Star Squadron 3

JLA 196 coverJustice League of America #196 – “Countdown to Crisis” – Gerry Conway/George Perez/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, the JLA and JSA were beset by a new Secret Society of Super-Villains led by Ultra-Humanite. Ultra-Humanite has told his minions (a mix of villains from Earth-1 and Earth-2) that if a certain set of superheroes are sent to Limbo, that’ll result in the disappearance of all super-heroes from one of the Earths. Since the villains figure they have even odds of eliminating heroes from their Earth, they’re all in; what they don’t know is that Ultra-Humanite is lying to them … he knows exactly which Earth will lose its heroes—the one he inhabits. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 196, Legion of Super-Heroes 281, New Teen Titans 13, All-Star Squadron 3”

Comics Reviews: Superman 365, Action 525, DC Comics Presents 39, Warlord 51

Superman 365 coverSuperman #365 – “When Kryptonians Clash” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with Superman heading to New York for a meeting with his cousin, Supergirl (which is apparently a regular thing). He finds her unconscious in the bushes with weird splotches all over her and recognizes it as Virus-X, a deadly Kryptonian disease. He rushes her to the Fortress of Solitude, where he uses white kryptonite to irradiate her, since Virus-X is caused by a plant spore and white kryptonite is lethal to plant life. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 365, Action 525, DC Comics Presents 39, Warlord 51”

Comics reviews: Batman 341, Detective 508, Brave & the Bold 180

Batman 341 coverBatman #341 – “The Ghost of Wayne Mansion” – Gerry Conway/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with three kids running out of Wayne Manor during a thunderstorm, freaking out because they’re sure they saw a ghost. There is a strange shape flying out of the mansion, but it’s impossible to tell just what it is. The kids almost get run over by a cop and they tell him their story. Continue reading “Comics reviews: Batman 341, Detective 508, Brave & the Bold 180”

Comics Reviews: Flash 302, Wonder Woman 284, Green Lantern 145, Jonah Hex 53

Flash 302 coverFlash #302 – “Lisa Starts With an L and That Stands for Lethal” – Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino/Bob Smith

For the last few issues, we’ve seen Henry Allen (Barry’s father) acting strangely, even canoodling with a young woman named Lisa last issue right after his wife woke from her coma. It’s obvious “Henry” isn’t himself and he has a special hatred for Flash, who he knows is Barry Allen. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 302, Wonder Woman 284, Green Lantern 145, Jonah Hex 53”

Comics Reviews: JLA 195, Legion of Super-Heroes 20, New Teen Titans 12, All-Star Squadron 2

JLA 195 coverJustice League of America #195 – “Targets on Two Worlds” – Gerry Conway/George Perez/John Beatty

I had this three-parter when I was a kid and it’s one of my favourite JLA stories (actually, it’s one of my favourite comics stories) and definitely my favourite JLA/JSA crossover. Judging by what I’ve heard from other comics fans, I’m not alone. Over half of this issue deals with the “recruitment” process, showing the gathering of two sets of villains, one on each Earth. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 195, Legion of Super-Heroes 20, New Teen Titans 12, All-Star Squadron 2”

Comics Reviews: Superman 364, Action 524, DC Comics Presents 38, Warlord 50

Superman 364 coverSuperman #364 – “The Sounds That Menaced Metropolis” – Cary Bates/Rich Buckler/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with an awards dinner for journalists where Jimmy Olsen wins for a story he did on chemical waste. Clark and Lois are happy for jimmy, but a rival photographer (Rory Stasson) is pissed off; he says Jimmy (and Lois and Clark) have an unfair advantage because of their relationships with Superman. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 364, Action 524, DC Comics Presents 38, Warlord 50”

Comics Reviews: Batman 340, Detective 507, Brave & the Bold 179

Batman 340 coverBatman #340 – “A Man Called Mole” – Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas/Gene Colan/Adrian Gonzales

This one starts with a trail being thrown up through the streets of Gotham, resembling the mound of earth left by moles in a garden … except this mound is in solid concrete. The trail leads to a stockbroker named Elder, who’s grabbed by something that emerges from the mound of concrete. Elder’s screams wake someone, who doesn’t see anything strange but notices a terrible stench in the alley where Elder was grabbed. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 340, Detective 507, Brave & the Bold 179”

Comics Reviews: Flash 301, Wonder Woman 283, Green Lantern 144, Jonah Hex 52

Flash 301 coverFlash #301 – “And the Beat Goes Off” – Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino/Bob Smith

This one starts with Captain Frye, Central City police captain, being kidnapped by a gunman hiding in his car. At police headquarters, Barry Allen reports to work, apologizing to his lab partner (Patty Spivot) for being absent the last three days. Of course, we know Barry was being held at a clinic outside Central City by Abra Kadabra, but he can hardly admit that without blowing his secret identity. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 301, Wonder Woman 283, Green Lantern 144, Jonah Hex 52”