Comics Reviews: Superman 349, Action 509, DC Comics Presents 23

Superman 349 coverSuperman #349 – “The Turnabout Trap” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with Superman returning from a mission in deep space. He goes to the Daily Planet, where a new receptionist is on duty. The newcomer doesn’t know Clark, or even recognize his name, and protests when Clark walks right into the city room. Clark soon realizes why he wasn’t recognized … this isn’t exactly the Daily Planet he’s used to. The trappings are the same, but everyone’s gender is reversed, so he sees Jenny Olsen and Louis Lane talking to editor Penny White (who still hates being called “chief”). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 349, Action 509, DC Comics Presents 23”

Comics Reviews: Batman 325, Detective 492, Brave & the Bold 164, Warlord 35

Batman 325 coverBatman #325 – “Death—Twenty Stories High” – Roger McKenzie/Irv Novick/Steve Mitchell

This one starts with Commissioner Gordon in his office at police headquarters. A crime wave has hit Gotham, just as Gordon is up for re-election and now someone’s making threats against Batman, so Gordon activates the Bat-Signal and waits on the roof. He figures someone is trying to ruin his chances at being re-elected and wonders if his opponent (Brand) is behind it. He also wonders if it isn’t time for him to step aside and let someone else be commissioner. Batman shows up and scoffs at the death threat, but notices the gleam of a sniper scope on a nearby roof. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 325, Detective 492, Brave & the Bold 164, Warlord 35”

Warehouse 13 Reviews: Season 1, Episode 11

Opening titleEpisode 11: Nevermore

This one starts in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at a bookstore with the familiar name of Bering & Sons. A delivery guy leaves a package outside the door and the store owner comes out to pick it up. We know from previous episodes that Myka’s father runs a bookstore in Colorado, so obviously this is him. (He’s played by Michael Hogan aka Tighe on Battlestar Galactica). Continue reading “Warehouse 13 Reviews: Season 1, Episode 11”

Comics Reviews: Flash 286, Wonder Woman 268, Green Lantern 129

Flash 286 coverFlash #286 – “The Color Schemes of the Rainbow Raider” – Cary Bates/Don Heck/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with Barry Allen leaving the police station rather late. His new captain has been running him ragged, and Barry’s exhausted from all the overtime. But there’s no rest for the weary, as he overhears an alarm call for an art museum downtown. Barry changes to Flash and heads over at super-speed. He’s startled to see a rainbow outside the museum, even though it’s night-time and not raining. Flash finds the museum security guards inside crying their eyes out, but they manage to clue him in to the thief up on the third floor. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 286, Wonder Woman 268, Green Lantern 129”

Comics Reviews: JLA 179, Legion of Super-Heroes 264, Jonah Hex37

JLA 179 coverJustice League of America #179 – “The Siren Song of the Satin Satan” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts at a really happening disco in New York. A famous model named Sabrina Sultress (aka the Satin Satan) watches a young dancer named Roscoe and gives him the come on look. He follows her out of the disco like he’s hypnotized … which I’m assuming he is. Meanwhile, on the JLA Satellite, the team has just asked a new member to join and he’s pretty excited. Yup, it’s Firestorm, sponsored for membership by Superman. Firestorm’s enthusiasm startles the Leaguers at first, but most of them end up enjoying his exuberance. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 179, Legion of Super-Heroes 264, Jonah Hex37”

Warehouse 13 Reviews: Season 1, Episode 10

Opening titleEpisode 10:Breakdown

This one starts with Myka and Pete finishing writing up the reports of a case. I guess even the Warehouse is plagued with bureaucracy. Artie comes in to collect the reports, which he’s hand-delivering to a courier, since email isn’t secure enough. Continue reading “Warehouse 13 Reviews: Season 1, Episode 10”

Comics Reviews: Superman 348, Action 508, DC Comics Presents 22

Superman 348 coverSuperman #348 – “The Master of Wind and Storm” – Gerry Conway/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts in the Arizona desert, where a couple of developers are preparing to build a retirement community. They’ve hired a Native American “rainmaker” to bring water to the desert (and as a publicity gimmick), but they’re shocked when his ritual summons a weird-looking cloud creature and the skies open up and pour rain down on the parched land. A couple weeks later in Metropolis, Superman saves an oil refinery from blowing up (and manages to do so without wasting any of the oil). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 348, Action 508, DC Comics Presents 22”

Comics Reviews: Batman 324, Detective 491, Brave & the Bold 163, Warlord 34

Batman 324 coverBatman #324 – “The Cat Who Would Be King” – Len Wein/Irv Novick/Bob Smith

Last issue, we found out Catwoman is dying of some rare disease (which she hasn’t told her boyfriend Bruce Wayne, though he suspects) and she was suspected of stealing some ancient medicinal herbs from an Egyptian exhibit at the museum. Catwoman and Batman tracked the theft to an abandoned warehouse, where they were captured in a polymer spider web coated with super-strong adhesive. Their captor (and the real thief) turned out to be Cat-Man. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 324, Detective 491, Brave & the Bold 163, Warlord 34”

Warehouse 13 Reviews: Season 1, Episode 9

Opening titleEpisode 9: Regrets

This one starts with a dude named Lee wandering around a club full of young people. Everything’s out of focus and he looks confused so it’s probably a dream sequence. But the dream turns into a nightmare when one of the young girls accuses Lee of killing her while driving drunk. Continue reading “Warehouse 13 Reviews: Season 1, Episode 9”

Comics Reviews: Flash 285, Wonder Woman 267, Green Lantern 128

Flash 285 coverFlash #285 – “If at First You Don’t Succeed …” – Cary Bates/Don Heck/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with Flash returning to Central City after a leisurely morning jog around the equator (show off!) Flash is enveloped in a cloud and starts laughing like a maniac. Turns out Trickster is planning a crime and decided to get Flash out of the way. Trickster’s gas is a mixture of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), helium, and a few other things; it not only makes Flash laugh uncontrollably, it causes him to float up off the ground where he can’t use his speed. He’s laughing too hard to concentrate on saving himself, but figures he can use that to his advantage. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 285, Wonder Woman 267, Green Lantern 128”