Comics Reviews: Flash 261, Wonder Woman 243, Green Lantern 104

 

Flash 261 coverFlash #261 – “The Lure of the Ringmaster” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank Giacoia

This one starts with Barry Allen at work, getting a call from his wife, Iris. She reminds him to pick up groceries on the way home and he gets mad when she suggests he write it down. Outside, he answers a random pay phone and it’s Golden Glider on the line. In fact, she’s in the phone booth right opposite Barry. She attacks him, but he can’t fight back without giving away his secret identity—a fact Glider’s counting on, since she knows Barry’s secret. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 261, Wonder Woman 243, Green Lantern 104”

Comics Reviews: Flash 260, Wonder Woman 242, Green Lantern 103, Firestorm 2

Flash 260 coverFlash #260 – “The 1000 Year-Old Root” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Joe Giella

This one’s a bit strange, so bear with me. It hinges on the premise (first revealed in Flash #203) that Iris West (Barry’s wife) was sent from the future as a baby because her parents thought the world was on the brink of nuclear war. The baby appeared in the backyard of Ira West and his wife and they decided to raise Iris as their own. Iris and Barry eventually found out the truth and actually visited her real parents in the future. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 260, Wonder Woman 242, Green Lantern 103, Firestorm 2”

Comics Reviews: Flash 259, Wonder Woman 241, Green Lantern 102, Firestorm 1

Flash 259 coverFlash #259 – “Black Hand—the Kill-Proof Criminal” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Joe Giella

This one starts with Black Hand doing his annoying “narration” schtick again. It’s even more obnoxious than usual; not only is he breaking the fourth wall, he has home movies too. He recaps last issue, when he stole the aura that protects Flash from burning up at super speed and Flash promptly—well, burned up, leaving nothing behind but his boots. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 259, Wonder Woman 241, Green Lantern 102, Firestorm 1”

Comics Reviews: Flash 258, Wonder Woman 240, Green Lantern 101

Flash 258 coverFlash #258 – “The Day the Flash Ran His Last Mile” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

Between the guest villain (Black Hand) and the opening scenes (in Coast City) you’d think this was a Green Lantern comic. Don’t worry, Flash will be showing up soon enough. As I said, this issue starts out in Coast City, at the museum, where a bunch of people are looking at a work of “Modern Art” supposedly made by Green Lantern. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 258, Wonder Woman 240, Green Lantern 101”

Comics Reviews: Flash 257, Wonder Woman 239, Green Lantern 100

Flash 257 coverFlash #257 – “The Golden Glider’s Triple Play” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This issue starts with Barry and Iris on their way to Fallville to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Barry’s parents. But they’re being shadowed by someone with sinister motives … Golden Glider. She drops a tree in their path and when Barry stops the car, another tree falls right on top of it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 257, Wonder Woman 239, Green Lantern 100”

Comics Reviews: Flash 256, Wonder Woman 238, Green Lantern 99

Flash 256 coverFlash #256 – “Prisoner of the Past” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

If you remember, last issue ended with Flash defeating Mirror Master and disguising himself as the villain so he could infiltrate the Rogues’ meeting. This one starts with Weather Wizard and Pied Piper finding “Mirror Master” in the alley—though I’m not sure what Flash did with the real Mirror Master’s unconscious bod. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 256, Wonder Woman 238, Green Lantern 99”

Comics Reviews: Flash 255, Wonder Woman 237, Green Lantern 98

Flash 255 coverFlash #255 – “Flashback to Danger” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with Flash returning home after having been out all night. Lucky for him, Iris isn’t there, but Stacy Conwell is, and she’s conjuring another demon in her room. Those wacky college kids … Flash tries to pull Stacy away from the demon and accidentally stuns her. The demon disappears and Flash changes back to Barry and asks Stacy about her necromantic activities. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 255, Wonder Woman 237, Green Lantern 98”

Comics Review: Flash 254, Wonder Woman 236, Green Lantern 97

Flash 254 coverFlash #254 – “To Believe, Or Not To Believe” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one’s a bit weird, though I suppose you could say that about a lot of Bronze Age Flash stories. It starts innocently enough: a girl crawled out onto a ledge to rescue her cat and now she’s stuck. The cat wiggles free, so the girl jumps after it and Flash shows up just in time to save them both with one of his famous updrafts. Continue reading “Comics Review: Flash 254, Wonder Woman 236, Green Lantern 97”

Comics Reviews: Flash 252, Wonder Woman 234, Green Lantern 96

Flash 252 coverFlash #252 – “Double Dose of Danger” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with Sue Dibny (wife of Ralph Dibny aka Elongated Man) recounting the story in a flashback. We see a scuzzy-looking dude sneaking up on Sue and propositioning her. She kicks his ass and it turns out to be Ralph testing his gangster disguise. No wonder Dr. Light got so close, Sue probably thought he was Ralph fucking around. Ralph puts his face back to normal (or what passes for normal with him) and prepares to go undercover to infiltrate the hilariously-named Chane Gang. But just as he’s toasting Sue with a shot of Gingold, he disappears. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 252, Wonder Woman 234, Green Lantern 96”

Comics Reviews: Flash 250, Wonder Woman 232, Green Lantern 95

Flash 250 coverFlash #250 – “One Freeze-Dried Flash—Coming Right Up!” –  Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Vince Colletta

This issue introduces Golden Glider, Captain Cold’s sister. She’s got some hate for the Flash … why? Let’s read on and see. We start with Flash running along a street at super speed (as he does), but he runs through some letters frozen in mid-air. Of course, that means he’s about to mix it up with Captain Cold. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 250, Wonder Woman 232, Green Lantern 95”