Comics Reviews: JLA 211, Legion of Super-Heroes 296, New Teen Titans 28, All-Star Squadron 18

JLA 211 coverJustice League of America #211 – “The Devil’s Bargain” – Gerry Conway/Rich Buckler/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, a newly-discovered form of matter known as the X-element began breaking down, changing Earth’s fundamental forces and threatening to wipe out life on the planet. Some aliens called the Treasurers showed up with a proposition: give them some materials from Earth (snow, water, soil) and they’d restore the X-element. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 211, Legion of Super-Heroes 296, New Teen Titans 28, All-Star Squadron 18”

Comics Reviews: JLA 210, Legion of Super-Heroes 295, New Teen Titans 27, All-Star Squadron 17

JLA 210 coverJustice League of America #210 – “When a World Dies Screaming” – Gerry Conway/Rich Buckler/Romeo Tanghal

This one starts with Ray (Atom) Palmer and a colleague named David using a special sub-electron microscope at Ivy Town university. David has postulated the existence of an “X-element”, a sort of catalyst that ties all the atoms in the universe together. David and Ray have finally observed the X-element, but they noticed it’s decaying rapidly which will mean disaster for all life on Earth. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 210, Legion of Super-Heroes 295, New Teen Titans 27, All-Star Squadron 17”

Comics Reviews: New Teen Titans 26, All-Star Squadron Annual 1

New Teen Titans 26 coverNew Teen Titans #26 – “Runaways” – Marv Wolfman/George Perez/Romeo Tanghal

This one starts with the Titans returning from the their adventure in space (which we covered in the last few reviews). Dick (Robin) Grayson apologizes to Starfire for acting like such a tool lately and finally admits he has feelings for her. Dick says being raised by Batman has made him trust his head more than his heart, so he’ll need some time to process these feelings. Starfire already knows she loves him, but says she can wait for him to figure things out. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: New Teen Titans 26, All-Star Squadron Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: JLA 209, Legion of Super-Heroes 294, New Teen Titans Annual 1, All-Star Squadron 16

JLA 209 coverJustice League of America #209 – “Let Old Acquaintances Be Forgot …” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck

We open with the three successful teams from last issue returning to the White House to tell Roosevelt they’ve found most of the nukes. But as long as Degaton still has some left, the world still isn’t safe. We then get a quick recap of the overall story so far. There’s also an interesting aside as Roosevelt is shown pondering the ethics of the Manhattan Project. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 209, Legion of Super-Heroes 294, New Teen Titans Annual 1, All-Star Squadron 16”

Comics Reviews: JLA 208, All-Star Squadron 15, Legion of Super-Heroes 293, New Teen Titans 25

JLA 208 coverJustice League of America #208 – “The Bomb-Blast Heard Round the World” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Sal Trapani

We start off with something we’ve already seen twice—the confrontation between the JLA and the All-Star Squadron in JSA headquarters on Earth-2 in January 1942. We get the usual misunderstanding fight (remember, Gerry and Roy both worked at Marvel for years), but it’s soon settled and the two teams compare notes and recap the previous two parts of this crossover. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 208, All-Star Squadron 15, Legion of Super-Heroes 293, New Teen Titans 25”

Comics Reviews: JLA 207, All-Star Squadron 14, Legion of Super-Heroes 292, New Teen Titans 24

JLA 207 coverJustice League of America #207 – “Crisis Times Three” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Romeo Tanghal

We start out with five members of the Justice Society (Dr. Fate, Starman, Green Lantern, Huntress, and Power Girl) getting ready to beam to Earth-1 for their annual get together with the JLA. Five JLA members (Superman, Hawkman, Firestorm, Aquaman, and Zatanna) eagerly await the arrival of their friends (and we learn that Firestorm still has the hots for Power Girl). But something goes horribly wrong. (Hey, it’s a JLA/JSA crossover… something always goes wrong.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 207, All-Star Squadron 14, Legion of Super-Heroes 292, New Teen Titans 24”

Comics Reviews: JLA 206, Legion of Super-Heroes 291, New Teen Titans 23, All-Star Squadron 13

JLA 206 coverJustice League of America #206 – “The Secret That Time Forgot” – Gerry Conway/Carmine Infantino/Romeo Tanghal

This one starts out in the 25th Century, with a guy named Thomas Parker taking his son Garner to the Space Museum. They see an exhibit containing a bell, a jar, and a wheel, which confuses Gardner. When he finds out they were used by the Justice League, he wants to know more. Luckily, there’s a whole room dedicated to the League and Gardner drinks it all in. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 206, Legion of Super-Heroes 291, New Teen Titans 23, All-Star Squadron 13”

Comics Reviews: JLA 205, Legion of Super-Heroes 290, New Teen Titans 22, All-Star Squadron 12

JLA 205 coverJustice League of America #205 – “The Final Hand” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Romeo Tanghal

Over the last couple of issues, a new Royal Flush Gang has been taking out Justice Leaguers left and right. So far Firestorm, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Superman are all hospitalized in some kind of strange coma, as if their minds are being stolen from afar. Last issue, Ralph (Elongated Man) Dibny and Black Canary tracked some tech to a company called Megaform whose CEO (Reston) attacked them. But after they beat him, he claimed to have amnesia and had no idea what had happened. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 205, Legion of Super-Heroes 290, New Teen Titans 22, All-Star Squadron 12”

Comics Reviews: JLA 204, Legion of Super-Heroes 289, New Teen Titans 21, All-Star Squadron 11

JLA 204 coverJustice League of America #204 – “The Cut of the Cards” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, a new Royal Flush Gang started taking out various Justice Leaguers to establish some quick cred. Firestorm and Aquaman wound up comatose in a Los Angeles hospital and Wonder Woman was knocked out just outside. But the new Jack found out the leader of the Royal Flush (Ace) is actually a robot, reporting to an unseen master called Wild Card. (No, I don’t think it’s George R.R. Martin.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 204, Legion of Super-Heroes 289, New Teen Titans 21, All-Star Squadron 11”

Comics Reviews: JLA 203, Legion of Super-Heroes 288, New Teen Titans 20, All-Star Squadron 10

JLA 203 coverJustice League of America #203 – “Shuffle and Deal … With Death” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Romeo Tanghal

This issue is a bit different because a lot of the story is told from the villains’ points of view. But it starts with a couple of good guys (Aquaman and Firestorm) hanging out in the southern Pacific Ocean (with Aquaman surfing on a couple of dolphins). Aquaman has brought Firestorm there for some training, but he’s also hoping to give the young hothead an attitude adjustment; Firestorm has been acting a bit too cocky lately, jumping into situations before being properly prepared, so Aquaman has decided to give him a lesson in humility. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 203, Legion of Super-Heroes 288, New Teen Titans 20, All-Star Squadron 10”