Tag: JLA reviews

Comics Reviews: JLA 242, Legion of Super-Heroes 14, Tales of the Teen Titans 57, New Teen Titans 12

JLA 242 coverJLA #242 – “Battle Cry” – Gerry Conway/George Tuska/Mike Machlan

This one starts with Aquaman scouring the Atlantic Ocean for his estranged wife Mera, hoping to reconcile with her. Which is nice, but the JLA could really use his help too. They’re in the Yukon, looking for Amazo who seems to have absorbed the personality (and anger) of a local asshole named Jake MacGregor. J’onn J’onzz has split the team (never a wise move) to cover more ground. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 242, Legion of Super-Heroes 14, Tales of the Teen Titans 57, New Teen Titans 12”

Comics Reviews: JLA 241, Legion of Super-Heroes 13, Tales of the Teen Titans 56, New Teen Titans 11

JLA 241 coverJLA #241 – “Sea Change” – Gerry Conway/George Tuska/Mike Machlan

This one starts in a tiny town in the Yukon (St. Jude), where a drunken reprobate named Slick Jake MacGregor is cursing the entire population for robbing him. He’s so wasted he wanders out into a blizzard and almost freezes to death, but he’s found by a stranger … a big stranger who can generate heat and has super-strength. (And judging by the glimpses we get of his armbands and boots, this is someone we’re quite familiar with.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 241, Legion of Super-Heroes 13, Tales of the Teen Titans 56, New Teen Titans 11”

Comics Reviews: JLA 240, Tales of the Legion 325, Legion of Super-Heroes 12, Tales of the Teen Titans 55, New Teen Titans 10

JLA 240 coverJLA #240 – “The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be” – Kurt Busiek/Mike Sekowsky/Tom Mandrake

This is a combination flashback/untold story featuring some of Kurt Busiek’s early work, plus the art of classic JLA artist Mike Sekowsky. The framing device (which runs through the story) is about a couple of STAR Labs scientists who work in temporal research. (Their names are Fred and Daphne … a Scooby-Doo reference maybe?) There’s a sort of sub-plot about them being interested in each other, even though Daphne is Fred’s supervisor; these days, that comes off as problematic, but neither of them seem too bothered by it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 240, Tales of the Legion 325, Legion of Super-Heroes 12, Tales of the Teen Titans 55, New Teen Titans 10”

Comics Reviews: JLA 239, Legion of Super-Heroes 11, Tales of the Legion 324, Tales of the Teen Titans 54, New Teen Titans 9

JLA 239 coverJLA #239 – “In the Shadow of the Ox” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Mike Machlan

This one starts with a very stylized parable about Anansi the Spider learning to share his wisdom with the world instead of hoarding it. We quickly jump to JLA Headquarters in Detroit, where Superman, Wonder Woman, and Flash are grilling Aquaman on why he dissolved the old JLA and started a brand-new team. After some haranguing back and forth, the founders realize that these new recruits have the commitment to the League that the older heroes no longer do, so they give the new team their blessing. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 239, Legion of Super-Heroes 11, Tales of the Legion 324, Tales of the Teen Titans 54, New Teen Titans 9”

Comics Reviews: JLA 238, Legion of Super-Heroes 10, Tales of the Legion 323, Tales of the Teen Titans 53, New Teen Titans 8

JLA 238 coverJLA #238 – “Savage Symphony” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Mike Machlan

This one continues from last issue, with General Gorki ordering the Maestro to torture the helpless Wonder Woman using Anton Allegro’s Synthesizor. Gorki blathers on about his vision for Russia and how his superiors can’t see it until Superman reminds him he’ll soon have to face the Justice League as well as the Kremlin. Gorki ends the torture and goes off to plan a response to a JLA attack. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 238, Legion of Super-Heroes 10, Tales of the Legion 323, Tales of the Teen Titans 53, New Teen Titans 8”

Comics Reviews: JLA 237, Legion of Super-Heroes 9, Tales of the Legion 322, Tales of the Teen Titans 52, New Teen Titans 7

JLA 237 coverJLA #237 – “Lest Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Mike Machlan

This one starts with Aquaman moping over Mera leaving him. Vixen points out that Aquaman is a hard guy to get through to, so maybe Mera leaving was the only way she could get his attention. Vixen advises Aquaman to go after his wife, but he doesn’t want to walk out on the League. He’s also wondering what happened to Superman, Flash, and Wonder Woman, since he’s heard nothing from them since the new League formed (which we learn was only three weeks ago). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 237, Legion of Super-Heroes 9, Tales of the Legion 322, Tales of the Teen Titans 52, New Teen Titans 7”

Comics Reviews: JLA 236, Tales of the Teen Titans 51, New Teen Titans 6, Tales of the Legion 321, Legion of Super-Heroes 8

JLA 236 coverJLA #236 – “ Gypsy Genius” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Rick Magyar

Last issue, the JLA were shanghaied out of the sky (they were in their plane headed back to Detroit) to an unknown location, where they were confronted by Overmaster and his brand new team of super-villains, the Cadre. Overmaster is styling himself as a god (even claiming he’s the one who wiped out the dinosaurs ages ago) and wants to test his new flunkies against the JLA. He also speaks in a weird way, using first and third-person at the same time, which gets annoying really fast. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 236, Tales of the Teen Titans 51, New Teen Titans 6, Tales of the Legion 321, Legion of Super-Heroes 8”

Comics Reviews: JLA 235, Tales of the Teen Titans 50, New Teen Titans 5, Tales of the Legion 320, Legion of Super-Heroes 7

JLA 235 coverJustice League of America #235 – “Heavy Metal” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Mike Machlan

This one starts with the League gathering to discuss Vixen’s assault on the police station last issue. Aquaman’s pissed off about it and doesn’t much care why Vixen (who’s not there to defend her actions) did it, even though the others want to understand her motivations. When steel gets pissed off, Aquaman uses his telepathy to calm him down, which leaves Steel feeling sick and he heads outside for some air. J’onn (Martian Manhunter) J’onzz suspects what Aquaman did and isn’t happy about it. He gets even less happy when Aquaman tells Sue Dibny she’s not really part of the team and to keep her mouth shut. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 235, Tales of the Teen Titans 50, New Teen Titans 5, Tales of the Legion 320, Legion of Super-Heroes 7”

Comics Reviews: JLA 234, New Teen Titans 4, Tales of the Legion 319, Legion of Super-Heroes 6

JLA 234 coverJLA #234 – “Claws” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Bill Anderson

This continues the introductions of the new members of the JLA, spotlighting one character per issue. This time around, it’s Vixen who’s at the forefront of the story. The story starts with Vixen pursuing a car full of armed men through the streets of Detroit. The cops are chasing these goons too, but Vixen leaps right into the car (a convertible) and takes out the gunmen, stopping the car right before it smashes into a church. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 234, New Teen Titans 4, Tales of the Legion 319, Legion of Super-Heroes 6”

Comics Reviews: JLA 233, Warlord 88, Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 3

JLA 233 coverJustice League of America #233 – “Gang War” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Bill Anderson

The next few issues are basically introducing us to the various new JLAers and their backgrounds, as well as setting up a new team of super-villains for them to fight. This one starts with a JLA member break-dancing. Yeah, you read that right … welcome to the Detroit League, baby! One of the JLA’s new recruits (Vibe) is showing off for the crowd, which includes Zatanna and Vixen in their civilian clothes. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 233, Warlord 88, Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 3”