Tag: Firestorm reviews

Comics Reviews: Firestorm Annual 3, Vigilante Annual 1, Warlord Annual 4

Firestorm Annual 3 coverFirestorm Annual #3 – “Sparx” – Gerry Conway/Rafael Kayanan/Ian Akin, Brian Garvey

This story takes place just before Ronnie’s graduation and Professor Stein’s move to Pittsburgh. It starts with some modern-day pirates robbing a tourist boat on the Hudson River. Firestorm tries to stop them, but his powers conk out when he makes himself intangible (not the first time that’s happened), which results in the Statue of Liberty being damaged. Firestorm fixes it, but he still looks like an idiot for letting it happen in the first place. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Firestorm Annual 3, Vigilante Annual 1, Warlord Annual 4”

Comics Reviews: Firestorm 42, Green Lantern 195, Wonder Woman 328, Warlord 100

Firestorm 42 coverFirestorm #42 – “A Long Night’s Journey Into Day” – Gerry Conway/Rafael Kayanan/Ian Akin, Brian Garvey

This one starts with Lorraine (Firehawk) Reilly and Donna (Wonder Girl) Long flying around over Manhattan (or what’s left of it) discussing all the crazy crap they’ve seen since the Crisis started. Firehawk has a new look, with a better colour scheme and more bad-ass flames. The two heroines are looking for their loved ones (Donna’s husband Terry and Lorraine’s father), but New York has been altered by the Crisis. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Firestorm 42, Green Lantern 195, Wonder Woman 328, Warlord 100”

Comics Reviews: Firestorm 41, Green Lantern 194, Warlord 99

Firestorm 41 coverFirestorm #41 – “Storm Warning” – Gerry Conway/Rafael Kayanan/Ian Akin, Brian Garvey

This one starts with Lyla (the Monitor’s assistant) receiving power from him and turning into Harbinger, before being sent out to gather help to fight against the Anti-Monitor (which was happening concurrently in Crisis on Infinite Earths). Meanwhile, Firestorm is in Pittsburgh, getting ready to head for Vandemeer College where Professor Stein will be teaching and Ronnie Raymond will be a student. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Firestorm 41, Green Lantern 194, Warlord 99”

Comics Reviews: Batman 388, Detective 555, Batman & the Outsiders 26, Firestorm 40, Vigilante 22

Batman 388 coverBatman #388 – “The Round-Trip Looking Glass” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one starts with Mirror Master breaking into the Gotham Museum to steal a jade necklace. He soon finds out he’s not the only one interested, as Captain Boomerang snatches the necklace right out of his hand with a trick boomerang. The two of them start arguing over who should get to ravage Gotham and Captain Boomerang reminds his fellow Rogue that Batman won’t like them being on his turf. (Boomerang and Batman fought back in issue 322 and Boomerang wouldn’t mind some revenge on the Caped Crusader.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 388, Detective 555, Batman & the Outsiders 26, Firestorm 40, Vigilante 22”

Comics Reviews: Batman 387, Detective 554, Batman & the Outsiders 25, Firestorm 39, Vigilante 21

Batman 387 coverBatman #387 – “Ebon Masquery” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one starts with Bruce (Batman) Wayne laying an elaborate trap for Black Mask by throwing a masked ball at Wayne Manor. It’s such an obvious trap (since Black Mask has been killing Wayne Foundation executives after Wayne took over his failing cosmetics company) that Batman knows Black Mask will show up … and he’s right. Black Mask reasons that Bruce Wayne won’t expect him to show for such an obvious set-up and will feel safe, so Black Mask does plan to attend the party … though not in his usual ebony mask. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 387, Detective 554, Batman & the Outsiders 25, Firestorm 39, Vigilante 21”

Comics Reviews: Batman 386, Detective 553, Batman & the Outsiders 24, Firestorm 38, Vigilante 20

Batman 386 coverBatman #386 – “Black Mask: Losing Face” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This issue introduces a new Batman villain, Black Mask. Pretty much the entire issue is dedicated to his origin story, showing how Roman Sionis (heir to a cosmetics company) became criminal mastermind Black Mask. Moench really goes all out on this one; maybe DC had started giving creators a piece of the characters they invented and Moench was trying to come up with the next Joker. It didn’t quite work out that way, but Black Mask has lasted a long time and been used in other media, so maybe Moench and Mandrake did make some money off him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 386, Detective 553, Batman & the Outsiders 24, Firestorm 38, Vigilante 20”

Comics Reviews: Batman 385, Detective 552, Batman & the Outsiders 23, Firestorm 37, Vigilante 19

Batman 385 coverBatman #385 – “Day of Doom” – Doug Moench/Rick Hoberg, Chuck Patton/Alfredo Alcala

This one continues from last time, with Calendar Man fleeing the new subway tunnel ceremony after running into Batman. Jason (Robin) Todd has disobeyed Batman’s orders to stay home and sees Calendar Man taking off, so he follows. Batman was wounded by a mobster’s bullet, so he has to head back to the Batcave for treatment, but Alfred has told him Jason took off and he’s not happy. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 385, Detective 552, Batman & the Outsiders 23, Firestorm 37, Vigilante 19”

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: 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: Batman 382, Detective 549, Batman & the Outsiders 20, Firestorm 34, Vigilante 16

Batman 382 coverBatman #382 – “The Vengeance Spiral” – Doug Moench/Rick Hoberg/Rudy Nebres

Last issue, Batman and Robin rescued some hostages at the Egyptian Embassy from a terrorist called Darkwolf, who managed to get away (which doesn’t sit well with Batman). Meanwhile, Vicki Vale and Julia Pennyworth followed a lead on a mysterious panther that had attacked a couple of people in Crime Alley and ran right into the big cat … and its master, Catwoman. Given their history (in issue 355), Vicki is understandably wary around Catwoman, but Catwoman only cares about her panther, Diablo. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 382, Detective 549, Batman & the Outsiders 20, Firestorm 34, Vigilante 16”