Category: Comics Reviews

Comics Reviews: JLA 152, Superboy & the Legion 237, All-Star Comics 71

JLA 152 coverJustice League of America #152 – “2000 Light Years to Christmas” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This issue is a bit strange; it’s supposed to be a Christmas allegory, an updating of the Star of Bethlehem/Three Wise Men story. But it’s a bit heavy-handed and I’m not exactly sure what point Gerry Conway was trying to make. Anyway, it starts with three weird-looking aliens zipping through space. They run into some kind of space warp and crash land on Earth, losing the three “gifts” they’re carrying. One lands in Georgia, one in the Middle East, and one in Canada. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 152, Superboy & the Legion 237, All-Star Comics 71”

Comics Reviews: Superman 321, Action 481, Black Lightning 7, Jonah Hex 10

Superman 321 coverSuperman #321 – “Too Strong to Survive” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts right where last issue ended, with Superman about to be detained by the Army for illegally entering a top secret facility. We get a recap to bring us up to speed: the Army told Superman a lighthouse would be attacked by foreign spies in a mechanical octopus at a certain time; he was a bit late, thanks to a fight with Solomon Grundy, but when he showed up his powers were running out of control (thanks to the Parasite, but Superman doesn’t know that) and he smashed the mechanical octopus to pieces. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 321, Action 481, Black Lightning 7, Jonah Hex 10”

Comics Reviews: Batman 297, Detective 476, Brave & the Bold 140

Batman 297 coverBatman #297 – “The Mad Hatter Goes Straight” – David V. Reed/Rich Buckler/Vince Colletta

This one starts at the taping of a lavish TV commercial for the Great Excursion Travel Agency. During the taping, the marquee lights up with the word “give” and everyone in the theatre comes forward like they’re hypnotized or something and puts all their money and jewelry into a hat. The commercial’s star takes the hatful of loot backstage and passes it to Mad Hatter. He goes back to his hideout with his new-found fortune, but his victory rings hollow. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 297, Detective 476, Brave & the Bold 140”

Comics Reviews: Flash 258, Wonder Woman 240, Green Lantern 101

Flash 258 coverFlash #258 – “The Day the Flash Ran His Last Mile” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

Between the guest villain (Black Hand) and the opening scenes (in Coast City) you’d think this was a Green Lantern comic. Don’t worry, Flash will be showing up soon enough. As I said, this issue starts out in Coast City, at the museum, where a bunch of people are looking at a work of “Modern Art” supposedly made by Green Lantern. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 258, Wonder Woman 240, Green Lantern 101”

Comics Reviews: JLA 151, Superboy & the Legion 236

JLA 151 coverJustice League of America #151 – “The Unluckiest League of All” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This is Gerry Conway’s first issue of JLA, which he’ll be scripting for the next five and a half years. The action starts early, with Wonder Woman, Black Canary, and Hawkgirl on the JLA Satellite doing monitor duty. Apparently, the men are all attending Ray (Atom) Palmer’s bachelor party. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 151, Superboy & the Legion 236”

Comics Reviews: Superman 320, Action 480, Jonah Hex 9

Superman 320 coverSuperman #320 – “The Absolute Power Play of the Parasite” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one continues from last issue, with Solomon Grundy strangling Superman with his own cape as the Parasite watches from a nearby rooftop. But even though Superman is being choked, he manages to use his super-breath to push Grundy away, causing the cape to unwind and Supes to drill into the ground like a corkscrew. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 320, Action 480, Jonah Hex 9”

Comics Reviews: Batman 296, Detective 475, Warlord 11

Batman 296 coverBatman #296 – “The Sinister Straws of the Scarecrow” – David V. Reed/Sal Amendola

One thing about David V. Reed as a writer … he sure does his research. This one is a psychological thriller, focusing on fear. We start with Scarecrow bragging to a couple of his “Strawmen” that he’s isolated a drug that will bring out anyone’s hidden fears. It attacks the brain somehow and makes the victim think they’re being affected by whatever they fear most. Scarecrow says it’ll even work on Batman, since everyone has something they’re afraid of. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 296, Detective 475, Warlord 11”

Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 6, Jonah Hex 8

Black Lightning 6 coverBlack Lightning #6 – “One Man’s Poison” – Tony Isabella/Trevor Von Eeden/Vince Colletta

This issue addresses the lingering plot thread of what happened to Peter Gambi, Black Lightning’s friend and mentor. Lightning has finally noticed Gambi’s disappearance and has been scouring the streets for information. He runs across a couple of goofy-looking villains (a bruiser called Steel Fist Feeny and another dude who’s dressed like a miscoloured Shang Chi) busting into Gambi’s shop, which is also where Black Lightning lives in his civilian identity of Jefferson Pierce. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 6, Jonah Hex 8”

Comics Reviews: Flash 257, Wonder Woman 239, Green Lantern 100

Flash 257 coverFlash #257 – “The Golden Glider’s Triple Play” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This issue starts with Barry and Iris on their way to Fallville to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Barry’s parents. But they’re being shadowed by someone with sinister motives … Golden Glider. She drops a tree in their path and when Barry stops the car, another tree falls right on top of it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 257, Wonder Woman 239, Green Lantern 100”

Comics Reviews: JLA 150, Superboy & the Legion 235, All-Star Comics 70

JLA 150 coverJLA #150 – “The Key … or Not the Key” – Steve Englehart/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts immediately after last issue (and gives us a recap), when he JLA unmasked Star-Tsar and found him to be their old friend Snapper Carr. Of course, they want an explanation, but he basically tells them to go to hell. They’re attacked by his henchmen (the Star Lords) and kind of get their asses kicked. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 150, Superboy & the Legion 235, All-Star Comics 70”