Comics Reviews: Batman 384, Detective 551, Batman & the Outsiders 22, Firestorm 36, Vigilante 18

Batman 384 coverBatman #384 – “Broken Dates” – Doug Moench/Rick Hoberg/Rudy Nebres

This one starts with the remnants of Dr. Fang’s gang contacting the Monitor (who’s apparently still doing contract work, even though Crisis has already started) to get rid of Batman so they can build up their organization in Gotham again. Monitor calculates that Calendar Man has a good shot at eliminating Batman and contacts him, but Calendar Man isn’t sure he wants the job. He considers himself a thief not a killer, and wonders if his life would be boring without Batman to challenge him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 384, Detective 551, Batman & the Outsiders 22, Firestorm 36, Vigilante 18”

Comics Reviews: Flash 345, Wonder Woman 325, Green Lantern 188, Warlord 93

Flash 345 coverFlash #345 – “The Secret Face of the Flash” – Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino/Frank McLaughlin

This one opens in the far future, with the mysterious escaped prisoner from last issue breaking into a lab and using a time machine to head back to the mid 1980s. Apparently, historical records of the time (which are spotty) say that this dude did show up in the mid 80s and went after the Flash. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 345, Wonder Woman 325, Green Lantern 188, Warlord 93”

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 6

Xena title cardThe Reckoning – Director: Charles Siebert/Writer: Peter Allan Fields

This one starts with Xena and Gabi traveling through a forested area. When Gabi goes ahead to look for a road, Xena hears the sound of fighting and finds a hooded man attacking some farmers nearby. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 6”

Comics Reviews: JLA 238, Legion of Super-Heroes 10, Tales of the Legion 323, Tales of the Teen Titans 53, New Teen Titans 8

JLA 238 coverJLA #238 – “Savage Symphony” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Mike Machlan

This one continues from last issue, with General Gorki ordering the Maestro to torture the helpless Wonder Woman using Anton Allegro’s Synthesizor. Gorki blathers on about his vision for Russia and how his superiors can’t see it until Superman reminds him he’ll soon have to face the Justice League as well as the Kremlin. Gorki ends the torture and goes off to plan a response to a JLA attack. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 238, Legion of Super-Heroes 10, Tales of the Legion 323, Tales of the Teen Titans 53, New Teen Titans 8”

Comics Reviews: Superman 407, Action 567, DC Comics Presents 81, All-Star Squadron 45, Infinity Inc 14

Superman 407 coverSuperman #407 – “Peril of the Pass-Along Powers” – Gerry and Carla Conway/Irv Novick/Dave Hunt

This is another goofy Superman story that seems like it belongs back in the Silver Age. Mr. Mxyzptlk casts a spell (while invisible) on Superman so Supes will pass on 75% of his powers to the first friend he touches, who will pass some of that power on to another friend, and so on. Superman notices something destabilizing the bedrock of Metropolis and finds a giant metal worm underground, eating through the city’s foundations. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 407, Action 567, DC Comics Presents 81, All-Star Squadron 45, Infinity Inc 14”

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 5

Xena title cardThe Path Not Taken – Director: Stephen L. Posey/Writer: Julie Sherman

This one starts with a young couple (Agranon and Jana) getting all lovey-dovey in a meadow while they talk about their upcoming wedding. Apparently their kingdoms (Boeotia and Kolonus) having been feuding for years, so neither of their families is too enthusiastic about the marriage, but it may be just what both kingdoms need to heal the rift between them. Unfortunately, a band of masked thugs show up and beat the shit out of Agranon, kidnapping Jana. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 5”

Comics Reviews: Batman 383, Detective 550, Batman & the Outsiders 21, Firestorm 35, Vigilante 17

Batman 383 coverBatman #383 – “Just as Night Follows Day” – Doug Moench/Gene Colan/Alfredo Alcala

This month’s Batman stories are a little different, both of them being more focused on inner conflict than on pounding bad guys. This is issue is basically about how Batman sometimes has trouble maintaining two identities and the toll it takes on him. In a way it’s almost funny: the story starts with Batman having been up for three days and four nights with hardly and rest. Now he’s looking forward to actually spending a day asleep in bed, but various unexpected events conspire to keep him awake. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 383, Detective 550, Batman & the Outsiders 21, Firestorm 35, Vigilante 17”

Comics Reviews: Flash 344, Wonder Woman 324, Green Lantern 187, Warlord 92, Jonah Hex 90

Flash 344 coverFlash #344 – “Betrayal” – Cary Bates, John Broome/Carmine Infantino/Frank McLaughlin, Joe Giella

Last issue, Flash got a shock when his longtime friend Kid Flash was called to testify in Flash’s murder trial … for the prosecution. Flash’s lawyer (Cecile Horton) reminds him that if Kid Flash was subpoenaed he has no choice but to testify, but Flash is still pretty shaken up. He reflects back on his past with Kid Flash and we get a couple of reprints shoehorned into this story. I don’t know if the book was running late, or if Bates just needed some filler leading up to the end of the series in issue 350, but as usual I’m not going to go into depth on the reprint stories. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 344, Wonder Woman 324, Green Lantern 187, Warlord 92, Jonah Hex 90”

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 4

Xena title cardCradle of Hope – Director: Michael Levine/Writer: Terence Winter

This one starts with a king (Gregor) consulting a seer about the troubling dreams he’s been having. She tells him there’s a child in his future, but Gregor informs her his wife died in childbirth six months ago, so that’s impossible. The seer insists there’s a baby in Gregor’s future, who’ll grow up to take his throne. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 4”

Comics Reviews: JLA 237, Legion of Super-Heroes 9, Tales of the Legion 322, Tales of the Teen Titans 52, New Teen Titans 7

JLA 237 coverJLA #237 – “Lest Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Mike Machlan

This one starts with Aquaman moping over Mera leaving him. Vixen points out that Aquaman is a hard guy to get through to, so maybe Mera leaving was the only way she could get his attention. Vixen advises Aquaman to go after his wife, but he doesn’t want to walk out on the League. He’s also wondering what happened to Superman, Flash, and Wonder Woman, since he’s heard nothing from them since the new League formed (which we learn was only three weeks ago). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 237, Legion of Super-Heroes 9, Tales of the Legion 322, Tales of the Teen Titans 52, New Teen Titans 7”