Category: Comics Reviews

Comics Reviews: Batman 292, Brave and the Bold 137

Batman 292 coverBatman #292 – “The Testimony of the Riddler” – David V. Reed/John Calnan/Tex Blaisdell

The “trial” storyline from last issue continues here, with a gathering of villains trying to get the truth about which one of them killed Batman. This time, it’s Riddler’s turn to tell his tale, which he does in another extended flashback. He tells his fellow crooks about how he lay in wait on one of Batman’s patrol routes so he could give the Caped Crusader a clue to his next crime—which is the Riddler’s shtick, as I’m sure you all know. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 292, Brave and the Bold 137”

Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 4, Jonah Hex 4

Black Lightning 4 coverBlack Lightning #4 – “Beware the Cyclotronic Man” – Tony Isabella/Trevor Von Eeden/Vince Colletta

We continue with the ongoing saga of Black Lightning vs. Tobias Whale and the 100 vs. the Metropolis Police Department. Black Lightning has just stopped a drug shipment at the docks, but the cops show up to arrest him. He fights back (which probably isn’t going to endear him to the fuzz) and wonders how the police always seem to know where he’ll be. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 4, Jonah Hex 4”

Comics Reviews: Flash 253, Wonder Woman 235

Flash 253 coverFlash #253 – “Don’t Mess With the Molder” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one continues from last issue when Flash was melted by the Molder, who’s really Ralph (Elongated Man) Dibny in disguise. Ralph went undercover as a crook, but somehow turned into a real criminal and wasted Flash. Iris sees it on TV and freaks out, and Sue (who knows about Ralph’s disguise) can’t believe her eyes. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 253, Wonder Woman 235”

Comics Reviews: JLA 146, Superboy & the Legion 231, All-Star Comics 68

JLA 146 coverJustice League of America #146 – “Inner Mission” – Steve Englehart/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one follows immediately after last issue, with a resurrected Red Tornado being mobbed by the Justice League. But not everyone is thrilled to see old Reddy back from the dead; Superman is suspicious since last time Red Tornado came back from the dead, it was part of a plot by T.O. Morrow. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 146, Superboy & the Legion 231, All-Star Comics 68”

Comics Reviews: Superman 315, Action 475

Superman 315 coverSuperman #315 – “Good Evening Superman: I’m Clark Kent … and You’re Not!” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Dan Adkins

This one continues from last issue, showing us what’s happening after the plague ended in Central City. Superman and Supergirl go to the Fortress of Solitude and send Nam-Ek into the Phantom Zone. Supergirl takes off, leaving Supes to relax. But his downtime is interrupted when an alarm goes off warning him that SKULL is making a move. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 315, Action 475”

Comics Reviews: Batman 291, Detective 472, Brave & the Bold 136

Batman 291 coverBatman #291 – “Where Were You on the Night Batman Was Killed?” – David V. Reed/John Calnan/Tex Blaisdell

This is the beginning of a four-part story about Batman being dead and different villains trying to take credit for killing him. We start out with the news that Batman is dead, but nobody is able to agree on where or how it happened. So Batman’s Rogues Gallery convene to hear testimony from villains claiming to be Batman’s killer. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 291, Detective 472, Brave & the Bold 136”

Comics Reviews: Flash 252, Wonder Woman 234, Green Lantern 96

Flash 252 coverFlash #252 – “Double Dose of Danger” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with Sue Dibny (wife of Ralph Dibny aka Elongated Man) recounting the story in a flashback. We see a scuzzy-looking dude sneaking up on Sue and propositioning her. She kicks his ass and it turns out to be Ralph testing his gangster disguise. No wonder Dr. Light got so close, Sue probably thought he was Ralph fucking around. Ralph puts his face back to normal (or what passes for normal with him) and prepares to go undercover to infiltrate the hilariously-named Chane Gang. But just as he’s toasting Sue with a shot of Gingold, he disappears. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 252, Wonder Woman 234, Green Lantern 96”

Comics Reviews: JLA 145, Superboy & the Legion 230, Warlord 8

JLA 145 coverJustice League of America #145 – “The Carnival of Souls” – Steve Englehart/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts out with a guy named Count Crystal calling up a demon (Azgore) and offering to sacrifice the souls of the Justice League in exchange for power—as you do. Azgore agrees, but says the League has consistently beaten all the other sorcerers who challenged it, and it Count Crystal doesn’t get the JLA’s souls, Azgore will take his instead. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 145, Superboy & the Legion 230, Warlord 8”

Comics Reviews: Superman 314, Action 474

Superman 314 coverSuperman #314 – “Before This Night is Over, Superman Will Kill!” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Dan Adkins

This one continues directly from last issue and there’s a lot of plot convenience in the first few pages. We get a recap of the story so far: Amalak sent an alien named Jevik to a news conference to infect everyone with some kind of space plague and Superman figured out Jevik was “disguised” as a stray dog that Steve Lombard’s nephew Jamie picked up. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 314, Action 474”

Comics Review: Batman 290, Detective 471

Batman 290 coverBatman #290 – “Skull Dugger’s Killjoy Capers” – David V. Reed/Mike Grell/Vince Colletta

This continues the story from last issue and we get a quick recap; Skull Dugger can’t feel joy so he built a machine to steal joy from others right at a moment of exhilaration, but it has the unfortunate side effect of killing them (and leaves a skull-shaped mark on their foreheads). Batman figured it out, but thanks to one of Dugger’s machines, the Caped Crusader now feels intense agony any time he’d normally feel joy. Continue reading “Comics Review: Batman 290, Detective 471”