Category: Comics Reviews

Comics Reviews: Batman 331, Detective 498, Brave & the Bold 170

Batman 331 coverBatman #331 – “Closed Circuit” – Marv Wolfman (plot), Michael Fleisher/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with a guy running through the alleys of Gotham, followed relentlessly by a dude in a trenchcoat. When the runner is finally cornered, the guy in the trenchcoat grabs him, electrocuting him by touch. Later, Batman identifies the dead guy as Spike Rafferty, a criminal who was scheduled for execution but released not long ago on a legal technicality. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 331, Detective 498, Brave & the Bold 170”

1981 Preview

Well, that’s another year gone by. DC’s comics in 1980 were a bit of a mixed bag. Stuff like Batman, Legion, and JLA had some cool storylines and great art, foreshadowing even better stuff to come. Other comics (Superman especially) seem stuck in the Silver Age, giving us goofy aliens and imaginary stories that don’t mean anything for the characters. Now that Marv Wolfman is writing Action and Green Lantern, and Gerry Conway looks like he’s getting a bit more serious on Wonder Woman and JLA, maybe those titles will get better. The following is my preview for the comics I’ll be reviewing from 1981. As usual, I’ll divide them into the groups they’ll appear in during my reviews, some of which I’ve re-arranged from the 1980 pattern. Continue reading “1981 Preview”

Comics Reviews: Warlord 40, Jonah Hex 43

Warlord 40 coverWarlord #40 – “The Brotherhood of Death” – Mike Grell/Vince Colletta

This one starts at the royal palace of Kaambuka, where the ruler (Prince Aram Al Ashir) is bored out of his mind with matters of state. He perks when he sees Travis Morgan (and Shakira) outside the throne room, and immediately leaps forward to challenge Morgan to a duel. Ashir boasts that he’s been practicing, but Morgan still manages to defeat him. Before the palace guard can skewer Morgan, Ashir calls them off, explaining that he and Morgan are old friends. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Warlord 40, Jonah Hex 43”

Comics Reviews: Flash 292, Wonder Woman 274, Green Lantern 135

Flash 292 coverFlash #292 – “Mirror, Mirror, Off the Wall” – Cary Bates/Don Heck

This one starts with Barry Allen and Fiona Webb on a date at the carnival. Fiona seems to have gotten over her negative feelings toward Barry, and (judging by the smooching they do in the House of Mirrors) Barry’s over Iris as well. But the fun is interrupted when Barry sees the face of Joe Scudder (aka his old enemy Mirror Master) in one of the mirrors. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 292, Wonder Woman 274, Green Lantern 135”

Comics Reviews: JLA 185, Legion of Super-Heroes 270, New Teen Titans 2

JLA 185 coverJustice League of America #185 – “Darkseid Rising” – Gerry Conway/George Perez/Frank McLaughlin

This one opens with Metron giving us a recap of the last couple issues. Basically, most of the people of New Genesis were kidnapped to Apokolips to construct a machine to return Darkseid to life (with help from three members of Earth-2’s Injustice Society). Metron brought the JLA and JSA to help and they split into teams, as usual. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 185, Legion of Super-Heroes 270, New Teen Titans 2”

Comics Reviews: Superman 354, Action 514, DC Comics Presents 28

Superman 354 coverSuperman #354 – “Twice Upon a Time” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with a gang of thieves with rocket packs and other high-tech weaponry fleeing after a successful robbery. They’re reporting to their boss (Mr. Alpha) over a radio link when Superman shows up and ties them in knots … literally. He overhears Alpha’s communication and goes to look for him, but Alpha (who was hiding in a van in a nearby street) sneaks down into the sewers. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 354, Action 514, DC Comics Presents 28”

Comics Reviews: Batman 330, Detective 497, Brave & the Bold 169

Batman 330 coverBatman #330 – “Target” – Marv Wolfman/Irv Novick/Vince Colletta

This one starts with a guy named Archie Skyler on death row, scheduled to be executed in 24 hours. All his hopes for clemency have been exhausted, so he puts the word out that he’s got $10 million in gold stashed away and it’ll go to whoever kills the man who put Archie on death row in the first place … Batman. We see some would-be assassins practicing their Batman killing, but they’re a couple of losers who use a cowboy schtick. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 330, Detective 497, Brave & the Bold 169”

Comics Reviews: Jonah Hex 42, Warlord 39

Jonah Hex 42 coverJonah Hex #42 – “Wanted for Murder” – Michael Fleisher/Gerald Forton

This one starts with a bunch of sheep rustlers herding their stolen flock down a trail. We learn they’ve already run into Jonah Hex (one guy is wearing Hex’s famous Confederate jacket) and strung him up from a tree. They probably should’ve waited around to make sure he died, but you know how impatient rustlers are. Hex ambushes them, killing or capturing most of the gang except the leader, Sugar Wallace, who takes off with the sheep. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Jonah Hex 42, Warlord 39”

Comics Reviews: Flash 291, Wonder Woman 273, Green Lantern 134

Flash 291 coverFlash #291 – “The Saber-tooth is a Very Deadly Beast” – Cary Bates/Don Heck

Last issue, we found out that Barry;s neighbour, Fiona Webb, is in witness protection after ratting out her criminal boss to the feds. She was brainwashed to forget her old life and moved to Central City under a new name, but her ex-boss tracked her down and sent an assassin named Saber-tooth (no, not the Wolverine guy) after her. As if that wasn’t enough, her scuzzy boss looks exactly like Barry Allen, so she’s been freaking out lately, thinking Barry was trying to kill her. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 291, Wonder Woman 273, Green Lantern 134”

Comics Reviews: JLA 184, Legion of Super-Heroes 269, New Teen Titans 1

JLA 184 coverJustice League of America #184 – “Crisis Between Two Earths or Apokolips Now” – Gerry Conway/George Perez/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, members of the JLA and JSA were shanghaied to the worlds of the New Gods by Metron, who told them he needed their help. Three members of the Injustice Society were on Apokolips and had helped kidnap most of the citizens of New Genesis for some nefarious purpose. After splitting into teams to investigate different leads, one group of heroes found the Injustice Society members using some kind of ray to bring Darkseid (who’d been turned to stone) back to life. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 184, Legion of Super-Heroes 269, New Teen Titans 1”