Comics Reviews: Justice League 6, Infinity Inc. 43, Young All-Stars 5

Justice League 6 coverJustice League #6 – “Massacre in Gray” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire/Al Gordon

Last issue, a guy called the Gray Man took over Stone Ridge, Vermont and lured Dr. Fate there. Gray Man was condemned by the Lords of Order to live in a featureless world devoid of emotion and harvest dream essence from dead people. But he figured out how to use the dream essence like magical energy, escaping from his bleak world and capturing Dr. Fate and Captain Marvel, who the JLA sent to investigate Stone Ridge. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League 6, Infinity Inc. 43, Young All-Stars 5”

Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 20

Xena title cardVanishing Act – Director: Andrew Merrifield/Writer: Terence Winter

This one starts with Xena heading out to take care of something, leaving Gabi to participate in a festival dedicated to Pax, Goddess of Peace. Xena and Gabi’s friend Hadar makes a speech commemorating the end of hostilities between his town and a neighbouring one, but the next day, the golden statue of Pax is gone and the villagers start blaming each other. Xena returns and quickly uncovers a possible suspect … Autolycus, who’s disguised as an old woman. But Autolycus insists he didn’t steal the statue. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 20”

Comics Reviews: Batman 412, Detective 579, Outsiders 24

Batman 412 coverBatman #412 – “The Sound of Silence” – Max Allan Collins/Dave Cockrum/Don Heck

This one starts early Sunday morning, with Batman and Robin finishing their nightly patrol and stopping across from St. Martin’s church to hear the bells chime (which is apparently a ritual Batman observes every Sunday). But this time, the bells don’t ring and they find out someone has stolen the clapper. Commissioner Gordon tells them the same thing has happened to churches and cathedrals all over Gotham and Batman wonders if someone’s trying to send a message. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 412, Detective 579, Outsiders 24”

Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 8, Firestorm 63, Vigilante 45, Warlord 121

Wonder Woman 8 coverWonder Woman #8 – “Time Passages” – Len Wein/George Perez/Bruce Patterson

This is kind of a downtime issue that uses a different format for a lot of the story, combining a handful of images with page-long blocks of text. Most of the text is told in the past tense, reminding us of what’s happened in the first seven issues and bringing us up to date on events since last issue. These mini-stories are interspersed with scenes of Cheetah and her manservant heading to the United States to find Wonder Woman … or more specifically, her magic lasso. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 8, Firestorm 63, Vigilante 45, Warlord 121”

Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 19

Xena title cardTsunami – Director: John Laing/Writer: Chris Manheim

This one starts with Gabi visiting a fortune-teller, who says she’s going to meet a tall, dark man and that there’ll be danger and death. Xena is skeptical and Gabi remarks that danger and death is pretty typical for them. They separate to get supplies and Gabi notices Autolycus being loaded onto a convict ship. She tries to talk to him and gets into a fight with the guards. The ship sets off and Gabi yells for help. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 19”

New Trekker Book

Gulliver reads Reckoning on RigelI just received the latest chapter in the Trekker saga (Reckoning on Rigel) and Ron Randall has done it again. Another great story (with a few interesting twists) and top-notch art as usual. Things are getting a little more intense and it looks like Mercy may have some tough choices ahead of her, but I’m sure she’ll make the right decision in the end. Gulliver loved it too (and he claims he saw the surprises coming, but I don’t believe him).

Don’t even get me started on the rewards for backers … Ron really outdidReckoning on Rigel swag himself this time. Bookmarks, stickers, a mini-poster, a fridge magnet, a bumper sticker, some cool prints, and two enameled pins, plus a special coin-medallion. There’s more swag here than in one of those Oscar bags (and it didn’t cost $100,000).

Trekker pins and medallionHere’s a closer look at the pins (the top one is the Zephyr spaceship and the other is a funky one of Molly) and the coin. I was surprised how much the coin weighed … maybe it’s made of Adamantium? Anyway, if you haven’t already been initiated into the ranks of Trekker fandom, check it out and maybe think about contributing to the next chapter so you can get some swag of your own.

 

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 38, New Teen Titans 35, Suicide Squad 5

Legion of Super-Heroes 38 coverLegion of Super-Heroes #38 – “The Greatest Hero of Them All” – Paul Levitz/Greg LaRocque/Mike DeCarlo, Arne Starr

This one starts with some Legionnaires (Brainiac 5, Blok, Invisible Kid, Sun Boy, plus Superboy) returning from the present to Superboy’s past in Smallville. They ran into the present-day Superman (in his own title) and found that he isn’t the grown-up version of Superboy as everyone previously thought. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 38, New Teen Titans 35, Suicide Squad 5”

Comics Reviews: Justice League 5, Infinity Inc. 42, Young All-Stars 4

Justice League 5 coverJustice League #5 – “Gray Life, Gray Dreams” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire/Al Gordon

This one starts in a small town called Stone Ridge (in Vermont), where some people witness a car accident and try to help the victim. But they’re acting a little weird and we see that the Gray Man (who we saw a couple issues ago) is in Stone Ridge, spreading his melancholy over the town. Dr. Fate senses the Gray Man and comes to investigate, but Gray Man doesn’t seem too worried. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League 5, Infinity Inc. 42, Young All-Stars 4”

Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 18

Xena title cardFins, Femmes, and Gems – Director: Josh Becker/Story: Rob Tapert, Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster/Teleplay: Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster

This one starts with Aphrodite hanging out in one of her temples when three thugs come in to see her. They’ve stolen the Mystic Diamond from the Temple of the Heavens. The Diamond represents the North Star, without which the world will be thrown into disarray, but Aphrodite doesn’t care; she wants the Diamond for her own constellation and (after some sexual innuendo with the leader) sends the men to Parnassus where she has an astrologer waiting to launch the Diamond into the sky. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 3, Episode 18”

Comics Reviews: Batman 411, Detective 578, Outsiders 23

Batman 411 coverBatman #411 – “Second Chance” – Max Allan Collins/Dave Cockrum/Don Heck

This one starts with Two-Face robbing a bank (the Second National Bank, naturally) in broad daylight, figuring it’ll be safe since Batman only comes out at night. Sure enough, Bruce Wayne is attending a meeting at the hospital where he’s offering to fund some more free clinics. He hears about the robbery and goes to see Commissioner Gordon as Batman. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 411, Detective 578, Outsiders 23”