Category: Comics Reviews

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 2, JLA Annual 1

Legion Annual 2Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #2 – “Whatever Gods There Be” – Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen/Dave Gibbons

This annual came out right after issue 303, so some of the plot set-ups have already been resolved in my reviews of the regular issues. More specifically, Shrinking Violet’s situation hasn’t been resolved, Dream Girl is still leader, and Dawnstar hasn’t left yet. This one starts on Daxam, where a group of Legionnaires (Dream Girl, Ultra Boy, Star Boy, White Witch, and Cosmic Boy) are helping restore the planet after the damage done by Darkseid. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 2, JLA Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: All-Star Squadron 28, Warlord 76

All-Star Squadron 28 coverAll-Star Squadron #28 – “By Hatred Possessed” – Roy Thomas/Richard Howell/Gerald Forton

Today I’m finishing up with the All-Star Squadron and Warlord issues that were pushed out of synch because of their annuals. The next couple posts will wrap up the other 1983 Annuals and then I’ll do my preview for 1984. Last issue, Dr. Fate went looking for the Spectre and found him guarding the tomb of Kulak, evil sorcerer. Fate and Spectre fought and Fate ended up being tossed through countless dimensions into oblivion. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: All-Star Squadron 28, Warlord 76”

Comics Reviews: Flash 328, Wonder Woman 310, Green Lantern 171, Jonah Hex 79

Flash 328 coverFlash #328 – “Reverse-Flashback” – John Broome/Carmine Infantino/Joe Giella

Last issue ended on a cliffhanger, as Flash was called to the JLA Satellite to see if he would be kicked out of the League after being arrested for killing Professor Zoom. The vote was split and Superman was supposed to be the tie-breaker, but we still don’t get to see the Man of Steel’s decision. Yeah, this is a reprint and it ends on the exact same cliffhanger as last time, with Superman about to render his decision. So we’ll have to wait a little longer to see if Flash stays in the JLA or is asked to leave. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 328, Wonder Woman 310, Green Lantern 171, Jonah Hex 79”

Comics Reviews: JLA 221, Legion of Super-Heroes 306, Batman & the Outsiders 5, All-Star Squadron 27

JLA 221 coverJustice League of America #221 – “Beasts” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Pablo Marcos

This one starts with a bunch of rich people going to a very private party. These are people with so much money that they’ve gotten bored with the usual entertainments and decided to look for something unique. They’re all wearing masks, so you might think it’s some kind of Eyes Wide Shut sex party, but they actually end up underground at a large gladiatorial arena. We don’t see the combatants, but judging by the comments they’re animals of some kind. The spectators really get into it; one woman looks like she’s creaming herself when the blood starts flying. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 221, Legion of Super-Heroes 306, Batman & the Outsiders 5, All-Star Squadron 27”

Comics Reviews: Superman 390, Action 550, DC Comics Presents 64, Warlord 75

Superman 390 coverSuperman #390 – “Lost on a Comet” – Cary Bates (plot), Elliot S! Maggin/Curt Swan/Dave Hunt

This one starts with Vartox, in a deep state of unconsciousness, inside a comet in the far reaches of space. The comet runs into an alien spaceship, dislodging Vartox, who can’t remember who he is or how he got there. His heroic instincts are intact though, and he immediately tries to help the stricken ship. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 390, Action 550, DC Comics Presents 64, Warlord 75”

Comics Reviews: Batman 366, Detective 533, New Teen Titans 37, Firestorm Annual 1

Batman 366 coverBatman #366 – “The Joker is Wild” – Doug Moench/Don Newton/Alfredo Alcala

Last time, Batman and Vicki Vale both ended up in Guatemala, where Joker has been stirring up trouble between the government and some rebels, hoping they’ll decimate each other so he can take over the country and turn it into a gigantic theme park. Batman and Vicki escaped Joker’s hideout in an ancient Mayan temple, but Joker still plans to kill a top General (Diaz) and make sure the rebels are blamed. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 366, Detective 533, New Teen Titans 37, Firestorm Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: Flash 327, Wonder Woman 309, Green Lantern 170, Jonah Hex 78

Flash 327 coverFlash #327 – “Burnout” – Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino/Dennis Jensen

Last issue, Fiona Webb kept insisting her fiance Barry Allen had visited her in the hospital, even though her doctors said it was impossible. Fiona was right—Barry got in the building at invisible super-speed—but the doctors thought she was losing her mind. When Flash came to the hospital to get his hands bandaged, Fiona came running out like a maniac, yelling about how glad she was to see her beloved Barry again. Has Fiona figured out Barry’s secret identity? Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 327, Wonder Woman 309, Green Lantern 170, Jonah Hex 78”

Comics Reviews: JLA 220, Legion of Super-Heroes 305, New Teen Titans 36, All-Star Squadron Annual 2

JLA 220 coverJustice League of America #220 – “The Doppelganger Gambit”– Roy Thomas/Chuck Patton/Romeo Tanghal, Pablo Marcos

Last issue, the annual JLA/JSA reunion was interrupted when all of Earth-1’s heroes were incapacitated, leaving anyone from Earth-2 hale and hearty. Black Canary and Starman were dragged into the Thunderbolt dimension by Johnny Thunder’s T-bolt, now under the control of the Earth-1 Johnny Thunder (who’s an evil bastard). They were startled to see another Black Canary in suspended animation, lying beside Canary’s dead husband, Larry Lance. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 220, Legion of Super-Heroes 305, New Teen Titans 36, All-Star Squadron Annual 2”

Comics Reviews: Superman 389, Action 549, DC Comics Presents 63, Warlord 74

Superman 389 coverSuperman #389 – “Brother Act” – Cary Bates (plot), Paul Kupperberg/Curt Swan/Dave Hunt

This one starts with some guy in a phone booth trying to call Clark Kent at WGBS. Someone in a crane sends the wrecking ball toward the phone booth, trying to pulverize the guy. Since this is Metropolis, Superman shows up to save him. Supes assumes it was an accident until the crane operator is found half-conscious, claiming someone hit him from behind. The would-be victim disappears (shedding a disguise) before Superman can question him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 389, Action 549, DC Comics Presents 63, Warlord 74”

Comics Reviews: Batman 365, Detective 532, Batman & the Outsiders 4, Firestorm 18, Vigilante 1

Batman 365 coverBatman #365 – “Ruins” – Doug Moench/Don Newton/Alfredo Alcala

Last time, we saw Vicki Vale heading to Guatemala for a hot story. She tracked down a shipment of guns from the USSR, funneled through Cuba, and intended for rebels in Guatemala. As she’s taking photos of the rebel trucks, another convoy shows up to hijack the weapons. The newcomers aren’t government soldiers … in fact, they seem like rebels themselves, just with newer equipment and perfectly coordinated moves. Vicki wonders if these new “rebels” might be a CIA-trained team out to expose the rebels’ connections to Cuba. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 365, Detective 532, Batman & the Outsiders 4, Firestorm 18, Vigilante 1”