Comics Reviews: All-Star Squadron 28, Warlord 76

All-Star Squadron 28 coverAll-Star Squadron #28 – “By Hatred Possessed” – Roy Thomas/Richard Howell/Gerald Forton

Today I’m finishing up with the All-Star Squadron and Warlord issues that were pushed out of synch because of their annuals. The next couple posts will wrap up the other 1983 Annuals and then I’ll do my preview for 1984. Last issue, Dr. Fate went looking for the Spectre and found him guarding the tomb of Kulak, evil sorcerer. Fate and Spectre fought and Fate ended up being tossed through countless dimensions into oblivion. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: All-Star Squadron 28, Warlord 76”

Comics Reviews: JLA 221, Legion of Super-Heroes 306, Batman & the Outsiders 5, All-Star Squadron 27

JLA 221 coverJustice League of America #221 – “Beasts” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Pablo Marcos

This one starts with a bunch of rich people going to a very private party. These are people with so much money that they’ve gotten bored with the usual entertainments and decided to look for something unique. They’re all wearing masks, so you might think it’s some kind of Eyes Wide Shut sex party, but they actually end up underground at a large gladiatorial arena. We don’t see the combatants, but judging by the comments they’re animals of some kind. The spectators really get into it; one woman looks like she’s creaming herself when the blood starts flying. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 221, Legion of Super-Heroes 306, Batman & the Outsiders 5, All-Star Squadron 27”

Comics Reviews: JLA 219, Legion of Super-Heroes 304, New Teen Titans 35, All-Star Squadron 26

JLA 219 coverJustice League of America #219 – “Crisis in the Thunderbolt Dimension” – Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Romeo Tanghal

This one starts with a bunch of would-be terrorists taking hostages and threatening to release nerve gas if their demands aren’t met. Too bad for them the Flashes are hanging out together in anticipation of the annual JLA/JSA meeting. Since they’re currently on Earth-1, everybody recognizes the JLA’s Flash (Barry Allen), but Earth-2’s Flash (Jay Garrick) is something of a mystery. The two speedsters pound the terrorists and head for a transport tube so they can join their colleagues on the JLA Satellite. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 219, Legion of Super-Heroes 304, New Teen Titans 35, All-Star Squadron 26”

Comics Reviews: JLA 218, Legion of Super-Heroes 303, New Teen Titans Annual 2, All-Star Squadron 25

JLA 218 coverJustice League of America #218 – “The Price of Humanity” – Cary Burkett/Chuck Patton/Romeo Tanghal

This one starts with an epic space battle … sort of. Actually, it’s just Hawkman and Ralph (Elongated Man) Dibny playing 3-D Space Wars on the JLA Satellite computer. Ralph is demolishing Hawkman and they’re so engrossed in the game they don’t notice Wonder Woman arrive on the Satellite. Hawkman is such a stick-in-the-mud he’s embarrassed to be caught having fun. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 218, Legion of Super-Heroes 303, New Teen Titans Annual 2, All-Star Squadron 25”

Comics Reviews: JLA 217, Legion of Super-Heroes 302, New Teen Titans 34, All-Star Squadron 24

JLA 217 coverJustice League of America #217 – “All the Elements of Disaster” – Paul Kupperberg/Chuck Patton/Romeo Tanghal

This one starts in Atlantis, with a seaquake that rocks the city. Vulko tells Aquaman their seismic monitors detected nothing unusual before the quake and Aquaman suspects the quake is centered on the spot where the original city of Atlantis lies long-buried. He’s right and he almost gets blasted by a multi-coloured beam of energy shooting up from a crack in the sea floor. Aquaman realizes he needs help and signals the JLA. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 217, Legion of Super-Heroes 302, New Teen Titans 34, All-Star Squadron 24”

Comics Reviews: JLA 216, Legion of Super Heroes 301, New Teen Titans 33, All-Star Squadron 23

JLA 216 coverJustice League of America #216 – “The Choice” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Pablo Marcos

Last issue, Princess Kass’andre (daughter of Golka the usurper) surprised the JLA and their allies in the Siren Sisterhood by confronting them with the magical Staff of Ikara. Kass’andre blasts the JLA with magical energy, stunning them. The Staff’s rightful owner, Krystal Kaa (granddaughter of the last legitimate ruler) freaks out and wants to pound Kass’andre, but her Sisters urge caution, sending their giant ally (Mule) to deal with the dark princess. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 216, Legion of Super Heroes 301, New Teen Titans 33, All-Star Squadron 23”

Comics Reviews: JLA 215, Legion of Super-Heroes 300, New Teen Titans 32, All-Star Squadron 22

JLA 215 coverJustice League of America #215 – “The Bigger They Are …” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, a number of JLA members came to a subatomic world to find the Atom. They found a warlord called Goltha, who’s been ruling the realm like a tyrant, using Atom (who’s a giant in this world) as a means to terrify the populace and keep them in line. This issue starts with a mindless Atom going nuts, attacking the people of the city. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 215, Legion of Super-Heroes 300, New Teen Titans 32, All-Star Squadron 22”

Comics Reviews: JLA 214, Legion of Super-Heroes 299, New Teen Titans 31, All-Star Squadron 21

JLA 214 coverJustice League of America #214 – “The Siren Sisterhood” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, Ray (Atom) Palmer had a slight freak-out and took off into the microcosmos, a vast realm that exists at a sub-atomic level. Some of Atom’s JLA teammates (Batman, Green Arrow, Red Tornado, Black Canary, and Hawkman) followed him into the microcosmos and ran into a friendly native who calls herself the Wanderer. The Wanderer filled them in on a despot named Goltha who’s been keeping this world (L’arra Sha) under his thumb for three generations using some kind of secret weapon. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 214, Legion of Super-Heroes 299, New Teen Titans 31, All-Star Squadron 21”

Comics Reviews: JLA 213, Legion of Super-Heroes 298, New Teen Titans 30, All-Star Squadron 20

JLA 213 coverJustice League of America #213 – “Into the Microcosmos” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Romeo Tanghal

This one starts with a very dramatic scene of Ray (Atom) Palmer trying to keep his sanity as he tumbles down into the sub-atomic universe. The scene shifts to Katar (Hawkman) Hol on the JLA Satellite telling his teammates that something bad has happened to Atom. That’s right, it’s flashback time! Hawkman recounts how he wanted to share the good news of Shayera (Hawkgirl) Thal’s return with his old friend Ray, but when he called, Ray’s wife Jean was freaking out. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 213, Legion of Super-Heroes 298, New Teen Titans 30, All-Star Squadron 20”

Comics Reviews: JLA 212, Legion of Super-Heroes 297, New Teen Titans 29, All-Star Squadron 19

JLA 212 coverJustice League of America #212 – “(No Title)” – Gerry Conway/Rich Buckler, Paris Cullins/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, a bunch of aliens called the Treasurers offered to help Earth with a problem that could threaten all life. A fundamental element called X-element, which binds all matter together, has been decaying, which affects weather patterns and natural phenomena all over the world. The Treasurers promised to fix the X-element in exchange for a few innocent items from Earth … and a certain human named George Stuart. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 212, Legion of Super-Heroes 297, New Teen Titans 29, All-Star Squadron 19”