Comics Reviews: Justice League America 41, Justice League Europe 17

Justice League America 41 coverJustice League America #41 – “Maximum Force” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Mike McKone/Bruce Patterson

This one starts with Maxwell Lord telling J’onn J’onzz about his power to influence minds, which he got from the gene-bomb during the Invasion. J’onn promises to keep Max’s power a secret, but reminds him about the moral implications of tampering with people’s minds, even quoting Spider-Man’s “with great power comes great responsibility” maxim. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 41, Justice League Europe 17”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 6

Frankie Drake titleWhisper Sisters – Director: Leslie Hope/Writer: Adriana Maggs

This one starts with Frankie experimenting with various blends of homemade gin, using Trudy as the final judge of quality. Trudy points out an article in the newspaper about a mobster (Joe Perry) committing suicide in prison. Frankie is bothered by the news and we get an extended flashback to six months ago, when she and Trudy met Joe Perry. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 6”

Comics Reviews: Batman 452, Batman 453, Detective 619, Detective 620, Legends of the Dark Knight 10

Batman 452 coverBatman #452 – “Dark Knight, Dark City” – Peter Milligan/Kieron Dwyer/Dennis Janke

This one starts with a journal entry by a guy named Jacob Stockman, who writes about a satanic ritual he performed in 1764 with some other men (including a pre-Revolutionary Thomas Jefferson) on his farm outside Gotham. Stockman and the others were attempting to control a “daemon” (Barbathos) by sacrificing a drugged-up girl. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 452, Batman 453, Detective 619, Detective 620, Legends of the Dark Knight 10”

Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 44, Green Arrow 34, Firestorm 99

Wonder Woman 44 coverWonder Woman #44 – “Caged” – George Perez, Mindy Newell/Chris Marrinan/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, Wonder Woman was forced to surrender after Etta Candy and Maxine Sterenbuch were captured by Armbruster’s men. Maxine had come to Wonder Woman for help in getting her friend Silver Swan away from Armbruster, but Silver Swan is so smitten by Armbruster that she can’t see he’s just using her (and she shrugs off his abusive behaviour, no matter how bad it gets). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 44, Green Arrow 34, Firestorm 99”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 5

Frankie Drake titleOut of Focus – Director: Sudz Sutherland/Writer: John Callaghan

This one starts with Frankie about to be hanged; naturally, it’s a fake-out, but we don’t get to see the circumstances until later. The real story starts with Frankie and Trudy watching a silent comedy in Frankie’s office. The guy showing them the film turns out to be Mack Sennett, who points out someone getting shot in the background of the scene. Sennett tells them that nobody saw or heard anything, and no dead body has been found, so he wants Frankie to find out what happened. He does mention that a local who worked on the production (Dan Channing) has disappeared, so he could be the victim … or the killer. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 5”

Comics Reviews: New Titans 68, Legion 9, Suicide Squad 43

New Titans 68 coverNew Titans #68 – “New Deal” – Barbara and Karl Kesel/Steve Erwin/Bob Smith

This one starts with the Royal Flush Gang preparing to work for the Joker. The Royal Flushers have kinda gone downhill in the last few years: Queen is an alcoholic, Jack a fading gigolo, King and Ace (who’s human now, not a robot) are pulling small-time robberies to get by, and Ten is making like Fagin, using a gang of street kids as thieves. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: New Titans 68, Legion 9, Suicide Squad 43”

Comics Reviews: Justice League America 40, Justice League Europe 16

Justice League America 40 coverJustice League America #40 – “Hell on Earth” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Adam Hughes/Jose Marzan Jr.

Last issue, Despero came to Earth looking for revenge against the JLA for defeating him, but he soon found out that particular iteration of the team no longer exists. After killing Gypsy’s parents, Despero confronted the new Justice League, his hatred making no distinction between them and his original targets. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 40, Justice League Europe 16”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 4

Frankie Drake titleHealing Hands – Director: Sudz Sutherland/Writer: Andrew Burrows-Trotman

This one starts with Trudy and her mom (Mildred) going to church. The pastor (Edmund Thompson) gets everyone going with his sermon, then brings out his daughter Elsie, who’s apparently a healer. Trudy seems a bit skeptical, but Mildred is a believer and wants to get her hip healed. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 4”

Comics Reviews: Batman 450, Batman 451, Detective 617, Detective 618, Legends of the Dark Knight 9

Batman 450 coverBatman #450 – “Wild Card” – Marv Wolfman/Jim Aparo/Mike DeCarlo

This one starts with the cops finding a judge (known as the “Hanging Judge”) hanged in his apartment. Commissioner Gordon is sure the Joker is behind it, even though he supposedly died in issue 429. Gordon still hates the Joker for crippling his daughter Barbara, something his fellow cop (Hanrahan) tells the other cops … and us, just in case we forgot. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 450, Batman 451, Detective 617, Detective 618, Legends of the Dark Knight 9”

Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 43, Green Arrow 33, Firestorm 98

Wonder Woman 43 coverWonder Woman #43 – “The Armageddon Aria” – George Perez, Mindy Newell/Chris Marrinan/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, Wonder Woman found Maxine Sterenbuch and Solomon Buchman going through Julia Kapatelis’s house. Maxine had some files on Silver Swan she wanted Wonder Woman to have, but Silver Swan showed up and attacked Solomon, then came after them. Swan went a little overboard, letting out a devastating sonic scream, but Wonder Woman managed to dampen its effects by getting her golden lasso around Swan’s waist. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 43, Green Arrow 33, Firestorm 98”