Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
G.I. Joe Special Missions #11 (June 1988) – “Sheep’s Clothing” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts in Frankfurt, Germany, where a group of four armed robbers have taken over the main PX building at the American base and are holding hostages inside. Chuckles, Dial-Tone, and Lowlight are on the scene, but Chuckles calls in Scarlett, Lady Jaye, and Jinx from New York for back-up. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 11, G.I. Joe 73”
Conan the Barbarian #86 – “The Devourer of the Dead” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan and Zula outside the Stygian capital of Luxur, studying the city before they go in to look for Bêlit. Of course, Zula is only there because he promised Conan he’d help rescue Bêlit, hoping that Conan returns the favour and helps him track down his old master in Kheshatta. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 86, Conan the Barbarian 88”
G.I. Joe #71 (May 1988) – “Bailout” – Larry Hama/Ron Wagner/Randy Emberlin
This one continues from last issue, with Wild Bill, Maverick, and Crazy Legs having to cooperate with Zarana, Monkeywrench, and Thrasher to evade General Villavaca’s troops as they search the jungles of Sierra Gordo for their downed plane. Just to complicate things, they also have a bunch of refugees (who the Dreadnoks were using as hostages to force the Joes to help them escape) who need to be looked after, plus Thrasher has a broken arm and won’t stay quiet when Wild Bill is setting it. (Crazy Legs solves that problem by knocking Thrasher out.) Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 71, G.I. Joe 72”
Conan the Barbarian #84 – “Two Against the Hawk-City” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan returning to the city of Harakht to find Bêlit gone. He interrupts a religious ritual to ask Mer-Ath what’s going on and the Priest-/king tells him how he foresaw the doom of Harakht in a dream. Apparently, he dreamt that Bêlit would topple the king of Stygia, thereby leading to Harakht’s downfall as well. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 84, Conan the Barbarian 85”
G.I. Joe #70 (April 1988) – “Fair Trade” – Larry Hama/Ron Wagner/Randy Emberlin
This one continues from last issue, with Wild Bill and Maverick trying to control the damaged plane while Zarana and Thrasher threaten them. But the plane took heavy damage while taking off from the airfield in Sierra Gordo and it’s overloaded with the Dreadnoks, their Thunder Machine, and the hostages they took. The plane goes down in the jungle, but Wild Bill manages to keep it from being smashed to pieces and it looks like everyone in the back is okay. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 70, G.I. Joe Special Missions 10”
Conan the Barbarian #82 – “The Sorceress of the Swamp” – Roy Thomas/Howard Chaykin/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan heading back to Harakht after his adventures in the lost valley. He’s taking a circuitous route through the swamplands in case some of Hun-ya-Di’s men are waiting along the usual trail. He only knows this territory through rumour, but is aware that a small contingent of Stygians live in the vicinity, lording it over some renegade Kushites they encountered there. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 82, Conan the Barbarian 83”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #9 (February 1988) – “Plausible Denial” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts with some rebels in Afghanistan using Stinger missiles to bring down a couple of Soviet helicopters. The rebels capture the passengers and we learn that the Americans have given them a bunch of Stingers in exchange for turning over the Soviets (who just happen to be Spetsnaz soldiers) to the Joes. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 9, G.I. Joe 69”
Conan the Barbarian #80 – “Trial by Combat” – Roy Thomas/Howard Chaykin/Ernie Chan
This one starts where last issue left off, with Conan in the throne room of the hidden city of Attalus. He was sent there from Harakht to bring a jewel called the Eye of Set, one of two that are exchanged any time one of the cities gets a new ruler. But Hun-Ya-Di, the scheming priest in Harakht, wants the Eye for himself to consolidate power, so he ambushed Conan in the wilds. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 80, Conan the Barbarian 81”
G.I. Joe #67 (January 1988) – “Cold Snap” – Larry Hama/Ron Wagner/Randy Emberlin
This one starts with Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick coming home after the rescue mission in Borovia last issue. They land at the new Pit in Utah and are welcomed back by everyone, but Outback is worried they’ll be pissed off because he left them behind and escaped alone, even though that’s exactly what Stalker ordered him to do. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 67, G.I. Joe 68”
Conan the Barbarian #77 – “When Giants Walk the Earth” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one continues from last issue, with Conan tossed into the pit where he finds a meteorite fragment and its guardian, the giant Gol-Thir. The brute attacks and Conan is hard-pressed to hold him off. The barbarian is knocked down and Gol-Thir raises the meteor to split his skull. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 77, Conan the Barbarian 79”