Category: Comics Reviews

Comics Reviews: Flash 263, Wonder Woman 245, Green Lantern 106

Flash 263 coverFlash #263 – “Nobody Stays a Flash Forever” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with a news report reminding us what’s been going on for the last couple of issues: Ringmaster, a new super hero showed up out of nowhere and caught Golden Glider, who Flash failed to stop. Now everyone’s speculating that Flash may be all washed up. Barry (Flash) Allen is watching the report and gets all huffy about it. He goes for a run on the cosmic treadmill, but his exercise is interrupted  by Golden Glider popping up on the TV and  taunting him about how she arranged for Ringmaster to steal Flash’s thunder—and his wife. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 263, Wonder Woman 245, Green Lantern 106”

Comics Reviews: JLA 156, Superboy & the Legion 241, All-Star Comics 73

JLA 156 coverJustice League of America #156 – “The Fiend With Five Faces” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with Aquaman emerging from the ocean in Honolulu and staggering through the streets mumbling about having to warn the JLA about a fiend with five faces. He’s accosted by a couple of muggers (who he quickly slaps down), then finds a cab. The cabbie is really excited to have such a distinguished person in his cab and takes Aquaman to a building where the JLA transporter tube is located. (The joke is that the cabbie thought Aquaman was Steve McQueen—ask your parents.) Aquaman beams to the JLA Satellite where Ralph (Elongated Man) Dibny is on duty. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 156, Superboy & the Legion 241, All-Star Comics 73”

Comics Reviews: Superman 325, Action 485, DC Comics Presents 1

Sup 325-cover (Copy) (Copy)Superman #325 – “The Super Sellout of Metropolis” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with that idiotic story device where we see a scene then learn what led up to it in a flashback. Pretty much this entire issue is a flashback, which might be a new record. Anyway, we start with Superman signing autographs in front of the UBC Building and learn that Supes has signed an exclusive (and lucrative) contract with UBC to appear on air. Lois, Lana, Perry White, and Morgan Edge are nearby, upset that Superman seems to be selling out, especially to UBC. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 325, Action 485, DC Comics Presents 1”

Comics Reviews: Batman 301, Detective 478, Brave & the Bold 142

Batman 301 coverBatman #301 – “The Only Man Batman Ever Killed” – David V. Reed/John Calnan/Tex Blaisdell

This one starts out with a charity antiques auction. The auction is an all-cash affair, which just seems like an invitation for trouble to me. Batman thinks so too and watches as the cash is transferred to the bank’s night depository. It seems like everything’s fine, except for a car passing by the bank very slowly. The bank wall suddenly explodes and a well-equipped (and well-coordinated) team of thieves goes into action. Batman jumps in and pounds them all before the cops show up. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 301, Detective 478, Brave & the Bold 142”

Comics Reviews: Flash 262, Wonder Woman 244, Green Lantern 105

Flash 262 coverFlash #262 – “With This Ring … I Thee Master” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts not long after the end of last issue. Flash is following Central City’s newest superhero, the Ringmaster, who’s flying through the streets with Iris in his arms. Yup, Flash is jealous because his wife seems keen on this new guy. Of course, Iris is interviewing Ringmaster for her news show, but she does seem rather charmed by him. Flash breaks off his pursuit, deciding to trust his wife. He heads to the police station where a psychiatrist is about to interview Golden Glider. Barry’s lab assistant, Patty, tells him they have evidence that needs processing right away. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 262, Wonder Woman 244, Green Lantern 105”

Comics Reviews: JLA 155, Superboy & the Legion 240

JLA 155 coverJustice League of America #155 – “Under the Moons of Earth” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts out with Ray (Atom) Palmer and his fiancée Jean Loring on a moonlight walk. Ray’s asking if Jean has any secrets (not yet!) because he still hasn’t told her he’s the Atom. Before he can figure out what to do, the moonlight walk gets a lot brighter, as a second moon appears in the sky. We jump to Central City where Flash is putting Captain Cold away. When the second moon appears, it causes a huge earthquake in Central City. In the Atlantic Ocean, Aquaman is plagued by new undersea volcanoes popping up everywhere and disrupting the ocean environment. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 155, Superboy & the Legion 240”

Comics Reviews: Superman 324, Action 484, Jonah Hex 13

Superman 324 coverSuperman #324 – “Beware the Eyes That Paralyze” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one continues from last issue, with Superman down for the count thanks to a brain-blast from Atomic Skull (aka Albert Michaels) and about to get wasted by Titano the Super Ape and his kryptonite vision. Jenet Klyburn (of STAR Labs) is free, but can’t do anything to save the Man of Steel. Luckily for him he was just faking unconsciousness and manages to evade Titano’s green-K vision. Supes wraps a lead pipe around Titano’s eyes to block the deadly rays and we get a quick recap of last issue. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 324, Action 484, Jonah Hex 13”

Comics Reviews: Batman 300, Firestorm 3, Warlord 13

Batman 300 coerBatman #300 – “The Last Batman Story?” – David V. Reed/Walt Simonson/Dick Giordano

This is an imaginary story, set some time in the future. As a rule, I don’t like imaginary stories since they don’t really “count”. Some of them are really good, but generally I find it hard to get excited about them since they’re outside of current continuity. Anyway, this story starts with Robin at Gotham Airport, checking on an injured woman who’s about to be flown (via space shuttle) to an orbiting hospital. And you thought health care was expensive now! Before the shuttle can launch, the airport is attacked by thugs with blue skin. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 300, Firestorm 3, Warlord 13”

Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 9, Jonah Hex 12

 

black Lightning 9 coverBlack Lightning #9 – “Fear and Loathing at Garfield High” – Tony Isabella/Trevor von Eeden/Vince Colletta

This one starts with my favourite storytelling device (can you tell I’m being sarcastic?), that old trope where we come in right in the middle of the action then catch up through flashbacks. This time, we see Black Lightning getting blasted through the window of a building and falling three stories to the street. The guy who blasted him is called the Annihilist, some kind of terrorist asshole who’s taken over Garfield High School (where Black Lightning teaches in his civilian identity of Jefferson Pierce). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 9, Jonah Hex 12”

Comics Reviews: Flash 261, Wonder Woman 243, Green Lantern 104

 

Flash 261 coverFlash #261 – “The Lure of the Ringmaster” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank Giacoia

This one starts with Barry Allen at work, getting a call from his wife, Iris. She reminds him to pick up groceries on the way home and he gets mad when she suggests he write it down. Outside, he answers a random pay phone and it’s Golden Glider on the line. In fact, she’s in the phone booth right opposite Barry. She attacks him, but he can’t fight back without giving away his secret identity—a fact Glider’s counting on, since she knows Barry’s secret. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 261, Wonder Woman 243, Green Lantern 104”