Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 9, Jonah Hex 12

 

black Lightning 9 coverBlack Lightning #9 – “Fear and Loathing at Garfield High” – Tony Isabella/Trevor von Eeden/Vince Colletta

This one starts with my favourite storytelling device (can you tell I’m being sarcastic?), that old trope where we come in right in the middle of the action then catch up through flashbacks. This time, we see Black Lightning getting blasted through the window of a building and falling three stories to the street. The guy who blasted him is called the Annihilist, some kind of terrorist asshole who’s taken over Garfield High School (where Black Lightning teaches in his civilian identity of Jefferson Pierce). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 9, Jonah Hex 12”

Comics Reviews: Superman 322, Action 482, Jonah Hex 11

Superman 322 coverSuperman #322 – “Laser War Over Metropolis” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

A quick recap: Parasite used a crystal to make Superman’s powers increase out of control which also made Superman act like kind of a dick. Parasite stole the knowledge of how to operate the top secret Laser Defense System and is threatening to obliterate Metropolis if he doesn’t get a billion dollars. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 322, Action 482, Jonah Hex 11”

Comics Reviews: Superman 321, Action 481, Black Lightning 7, Jonah Hex 10

Superman 321 coverSuperman #321 – “Too Strong to Survive” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts right where last issue ended, with Superman about to be detained by the Army for illegally entering a top secret facility. We get a recap to bring us up to speed: the Army told Superman a lighthouse would be attacked by foreign spies in a mechanical octopus at a certain time; he was a bit late, thanks to a fight with Solomon Grundy, but when he showed up his powers were running out of control (thanks to the Parasite, but Superman doesn’t know that) and he smashed the mechanical octopus to pieces. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 321, Action 481, Black Lightning 7, Jonah Hex 10”

Comics Reviews: Superman 320, Action 480, Jonah Hex 9

Superman 320 coverSuperman #320 – “The Absolute Power Play of the Parasite” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one continues from last issue, with Solomon Grundy strangling Superman with his own cape as the Parasite watches from a nearby rooftop. But even though Superman is being choked, he manages to use his super-breath to push Grundy away, causing the cape to unwind and Supes to drill into the ground like a corkscrew. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 320, Action 480, Jonah Hex 9”

Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 6, Jonah Hex 8

Black Lightning 6 coverBlack Lightning #6 – “One Man’s Poison” – Tony Isabella/Trevor Von Eeden/Vince Colletta

This issue addresses the lingering plot thread of what happened to Peter Gambi, Black Lightning’s friend and mentor. Lightning has finally noticed Gambi’s disappearance and has been scouring the streets for information. He runs across a couple of goofy-looking villains (a bruiser called Steel Fist Feeny and another dude who’s dressed like a miscoloured Shang Chi) busting into Gambi’s shop, which is also where Black Lightning lives in his civilian identity of Jefferson Pierce. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 6, Jonah Hex 8”

Comics Reviews: JLA 149, Superboy & the Legion 234, Jonah Hex 7

JLA 149 coverJustice League of America #149 – “The Face of the Star-Tsar” – Steve Englehart/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with Dr. Light finding one of the JLA’s teleporter devices that they use to travel to the Satellite. Before Light can do anything, he’s jumped by the Privateer. Light kicks Privateer’s ass, but before he can finish him off, Privateer sends a distress signal which brings the JLA (all of them—well, almost: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Red Tornado, and the Hawks) down via the teleporter. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 149, Superboy & the Legion 234, Jonah Hex 7”

Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 5, Jonah Hex 6

Black Lighning 5 coverBlack Lightning #5 – “Nobody Beats a Superman” – Tony Isabella/Trevor von Eeden/Vince Colletta

This one continues right from last issue, with Superman finding Black Lightning standing over Jimmy Olsen’s body and getting ready to pound Lightning’s ass into the ground. Of course, we know that it was Cyclotronic Man  who almost wasted Jimmy (and there’s a handy flashback to remind us), but Supes doesn’t, so he and Lightning mix it up. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 5, Jonah Hex 6”

Comics Review: JLA 147, Superboy & the Legion 232, Jonah Hex 5

JLA 147 coverJustice League of America #147 – “Crisis in the 30th Century” – Martin Pasko, Paul Levitz/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one’s a JLA/JSA crossover, with the added bonus of the Legion of Super Heroes appearing … it’s some kind of mega-crossover! It actually starts with some of the JSA getting ready to return Psycho Pirate to Earth-2 after chasing him to Earth-1 and capturing him in All-Star Comics #68. But the Leaguers want their friends to hang out, so Green Arrow shuts off the dimensional transporter (almost starting a fight with Wildcat) and the JSA decides to stay and have some fun. Continue reading “Comics Review: JLA 147, Superboy & the Legion 232, Jonah Hex 5”

Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 4, Jonah Hex 4

Black Lightning 4 coverBlack Lightning #4 – “Beware the Cyclotronic Man” – Tony Isabella/Trevor Von Eeden/Vince Colletta

We continue with the ongoing saga of Black Lightning vs. Tobias Whale and the 100 vs. the Metropolis Police Department. Black Lightning has just stopped a drug shipment at the docks, but the cops show up to arrest him. He fights back (which probably isn’t going to endear him to the fuzz) and wonders how the police always seem to know where he’ll be. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Black Lightning 4, Jonah Hex 4”

Comics Reviews: Flash 251, Wonder Woman 233, Jonah Hex 3

Flash 251 coverFlash #251 – “Vengeance on Ice” – Cary Bates/Irv Novick/Joe Giella

This issue continues directly from last ish—sort of. Last issue we clearly saw Iris getting frozen by Golden Glider, using her brother’s new cold gun (as revenge for Flash’s hand in her boyfriend, the Top’s death). But now we see Flash escape from the energy cage Glider had surrounded him with, just a little too late to save Iris from her frozen fate. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 251, Wonder Woman 233, Jonah Hex 3”