Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Episode 16: Rise
Last episode, Bo pretended to switch sides and join her father (Hades) in his plan to destroy the world. Hades as understandably skeptical of her sudden heel turn, so he asked her to demonstrate her loyalty by killing her friends. She lured everyone to her place and lit it on fire with them inside, which seemed to convince her father that she was sincere in her newfound villainy. Continue reading “Lost Girl Reviews: Season 5, Episode 16”
Well, that’s 1979 down … bring on 1980! Yup, it’s time for my semi-annual preview of what’s to come on the blog over the next six months. I’ll be reviewing pretty much the same comics I did for the first half of the year, with a notable addition near the end. As you can see, Gulliver is concentrating on his chess game; he’s upset that there aren’t more apes in the comics I’ve been reviewing. For the rest of you, read on to get the lowdown on what’s coming up over the next six months. Continue reading “1980 Preview”
Flash #280 – “The Wrong Man” – Cary Bates/Don Heck/Frank Chiaramonte
This story starts not long after last issue, with Flash zipping all over the city looking for Clive Yorkin, the man he believes responsible for the death of his wife. Flash’s friend Melanie is tracking Yorkin too, and having better luck since her psychic abilities point her in the right direction. Flash finds some vigilantes in the park, about to blow away a shadowy figure. Flash saves their target and reveals that it wasn’t Yorkin, just some homeless guy. The vigilantes feel like idiots and head home. Continue reading “Flash 280, Wonder Woman 262, Green Lantern 123”
Episode 15: Let Them Burn
Last episode ended with Vex getting his throat slit by Hades to send a message; this one starts with Bo’s house on fire. Dyson, Kenzi, Lauren, and Mark rush in, looking for Bo, but she’s nowhere to be found. Kenzi notices a burnt-out microwave oven (and what looks like Tamsin’s blanket hanging above it) and announces that Hades is responsible for the fire, but we see Bo standing outside with a gas can in her hand. Continue reading “Lost Girl Reviews: Season 5, Episode 15”
Justice League of America #173 – “Testing of a Hero” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin
This one starts with some JLA members (Superman, Zatanna, Flash, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow) observing someone from the roof of a building … someone they’re considering for League membership. Of course, we already know who the mystery candidate is from the cover—Black Lightning. The Leaguers watch as Lightning takes down some guys robbing a pawnshop; he deflects bullets with his electrical force-field, zaps a couple of the thieves with a power-packed punch, and scares the last crook so much that he faints before Lightning can touch him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 173, Superboy & the Legion 258, Jonah Hex 31”
Superman #342 – “Hero Under Glass” – Len Wein/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte
This one starts with Superman getting a call from Jenet Klyburn at STAR Labs. It seems STAR were trying to solve the problem of industrial pollution, so they seeded the sky over the industrial area with an experimental chemical that was supposed to eliminate pollutants. Unfortunately, it did just the opposite, combining with the pollution to form a noxious black cloud that’s now raining filth on the town. Klyburn says what happened is impossible according to STAR’s simulations, so Superman goes to check it out. Continue reading “Superman 342, Action 502, DC Comics Presents 16”
Episode 14: Follow the Yellow Trick Road
Last episode ended with a bang, as Bo found the bodies of her mother and Trick, murdered by her father, Hades. When Dyson found her, Bo was in some sort of catatonic state. This episode starts with her waking up at home … except it’s not quite how she remembers it. Everything is in black and white except Bo’s dress, a red-checked number. Her hair is also in pigtails. That, combined with the episode’s title, makes me think this is going to be a Wizard of Oz homage, though Bo likens it to a rerun of Lucy. Continue reading “Lost Girl Reviews: Season 5, Episode 14”
Batman #318 – “My City Burns at Both Ends—It Will Not Last the Night” – Len Wein/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin
This one starts with Batman trying to rescue a kid from a burning building. He falls off, but manages to bounce off some telephone wires and land on a pile of fire hoses. Yeah, it sounds impossible, but he is Batman, after all. Commissioner Gordon sees someone on the roof on the burning building and Batman heads up to check it out. It turns out to be the arsonist, dressed in a weird costume and calling himself Firebug. His costume includes napalm projectors and he lights another fire in front of Batman while ranting about how the building has killed enough people and it’s now being killed in turn. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 318, Detective 487, Brave & the Bold 157, Warlord 28”
Flash #279 – “Death-Feast” – Cary Bates/Alex Saviuk/Frank Chiaramonte
You’ll remember last issue ended on a big cliffhanger, with crazed convict (and number one suspect in the murder of Iris Allen) Clive Yorkin ambushing the Flash and using a weird new power to drain Flash’s life-force. Yorkin used it earlier on some innocent bystanders and on Heat Wave, which left them looking old and ravaged. Flash tries to fight Yorkin, but can’t vibrate out of his grasp because can somehow match his vibrations. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 279, Wonder Woman 261, Green Lantern 122”
Episode 13: Family Portrait
This one starts with Bo showing Tamsin the “weapon” that Hephaestus forged for her … a horseshoe. Tamsin tries to make the best of it, saying Bo could use it like knuckle-dusters, as a back-scratcher, or as a non-returning boomerang. Bo’s not impressed. Continue reading “Lost Girl Reviews: Season 5, Episode 13”