Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Conan the Barbarian #47 – “Goblins in the Moonlight” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Dan Adkins
Last issue, Conan was on his way to Phalkar to deliver an amulet to the regent of that city when he got sidetracked by (what else?) a beautiful woman. He saved the woman (Stefanya) from a bloodthirsty mob who accused her of sorcery, but Stefanya told Conan the real sorcerer was her hated master, Zoqquanor. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 47, Conan the Barbarian 48”
G.I. Joe #47 (May 1986) – “Sea Duel” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
This one starts where last issue left off, with the Joes loading the wounded Ripcord into the Killer Whale after finding him on Cobra Island. Of course, we know that this isn’t actually Ripcord, it’s Zartan in disguise hoping to infiltrate Joe headquarters, while the real Ripcord is in the Cobra Firebat plane that just launched from the island. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 47, G.I. Joe 48”
Conan the Barbarian #45 – “The Last Ballad of Laza-Lanti” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Crusty Bunkers
This one starts with Conan drinking in a tavern in Shadizar, trying to forget Red Sonja. A minstrel sings a sad ballad and Conan takes a liking to it, so when local toughs start giving the minstrel a hard time, Conan kicks their asses. The bard (Laza-Lanti) turns out to be a fighter too and saves Conan by tossing a dagger into a thug trying to sneak up on the barbarian. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 45, Conan the Barbarian 46”
G.I. Joe #45 (March 1986) – “In Search of Candy” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
This one starts with Ace and Ripcord doing aerial surveillance of Cobra Island from the Skystriker. Since Cobra Island has been declared a sovereign nation (at least tentatively), the Joes aren’t allowed on the territory, hence the eye in the sky. Professor Appel wants to shoot them down because they’re violating sovereign airspace, but Zartan tells him not to be too hasty. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 45, G.I. Joe 46”
Conan the Barbarian #43 – “Tower of Blood” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan and Red Sonja (remember her from issues 23 and 24?) being pursued by bounty hunters from the City of Thieves. Apparently, Sonja was chosen as a Hyrkanian king’s concubine but stabbed him instead of marrying him, plus one of Conan’s wenches accused them both of murder, so now there’s a price on both their heads. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 43, Conan the Barbarian 44”
G.I. Joe #43 (January 1986) – “Crossroads” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
Last issue, Stalker and Snake Eyes were at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. to look up their dead war buddies. But one name was missing, that of Wade Collins. The two Joes got a surprise when Fred II (a Crimson Guardsman working for Cobra) stepped out of the shadows with a gun to tell them that he was Wade Collins, given a new face and name by Cobra. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 43, G.I. Joe 44”
Conan the Barbarian #41 – “The Garden of Life and Death” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan arriving at a small village about a week away from Zamora. He runs into a mob chasing a girl and naturally, he defends her. The mob claim the girl (who they refer to as Zhadorr, although it seems more of an appellation than a name) is a demon in human form, but Conan still won’t let them near her. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 41, Conan the Barbarian 42”
G.I. Joe #41 (November 1985) – “Strategic Diplomacy” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Keith Williams
Last issue, Cobra tricked the Joes into blowing up an underwater bunker in the Gulf of Mexico, which aggravated a fault line on the ocean floor. We soon learn why … the fault line pushes up a new landmass in the Gulf, which Cobra plans to claim as its own sovereign territory. (They already have an army of lawyers ready to plead for formal recognition in various capitals, as well as the United Nations.) Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 41, G.I. Joe 42”
Conan the Barbarian #39 – “The Dragon from the Inland Sea” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema
This one starts with Conan riding through some wastelands on his way to Zamora. He’s waylaid by some bandits and ends up killing them all, but his horse is lamed and he’s forced to kill it. While contemplating his next move, Conan is bitten by a snake. He sucks as much poison out as he can, but succumbs to what remains inside his veins, passing out in the desert. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 39, Conan the Barbarian 40”
G.I. Joe #39 (September 1985) – “Walk Through the Jungle” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
Last issue, a team of Joes (Stalker, Ripcord, Gung Ho, and Roadblock) went to Sierra Gordo and made contact with another Joe (Recondo) and his friends, the local Tucaro Indians. They’re in the war-torn banana republic to rescue Dr. Adele Burkhart (who longtime fans will remember from issue 1) from a rebel stronghold. Continue reading “G.I. Joe reviews: G.I. Joe 39, G.I. Joe 40”