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”

Comics Reviews: JLA 228, Legion of Super-Heroes 313, Tales of the Teen Titans 44, Tales of the Teen Titans Annual 3

JLA 228 coverJustice League of America #228 – “War—of the World?” – Gerry Conway/George Tuska/Alex Nino

This one starts with a familiar character (J’onn J’onzz aka Martian Manhunter) in a spaceship being pursued by other ships sent by someone called the Marshal. The other ships are piloted by green-skinned aliens (presumably Martians like J’onn) and one of them is a woman named J’en, who seems to have feelings for J’onn but knows her duty is to stop him. J’onn flies his ship past the JLA Satellite on the way to Earth, alerting his ex-teammates that something’s up. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 228, Legion of Super-Heroes 313, Tales of the Teen Titans 44, Tales of the Teen Titans Annual 3”

Comics Reviews: JLA 227, Legion of Super-Heroes 312, Tales of the Teen Titans 43, Warlord 82

JLA 227 coverJustice League of America #227 – “Dragon Keep” – Joey Cavalieri/Chuck Patton/Mark Alexander

This one starts on a lonely island in the Pacific where a bunch of Fiatlux brothers are trying to escape. They end up being devoured by strange flora and fauna on the island, including a couple of dragons. The last leader of Fiatlux (the Falconer, aka Lord Claw) gloats that he’s now the supreme commander of the group, since his two rivals have been taken care of (as we saw in the last couple of issues). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 227, Legion of Super-Heroes 312, Tales of the Teen Titans 43, Warlord 82”

Comics Reviews: JLA 226, Legion of Super-Heroes 311, Tales of the Teen Titans 42, Warlord 81

JLA 226 coverJustice League of America #226 – “Hell on Earth” – Joey Cavalieri/Chuck Patton/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, a cult known as Fiatlux started recruiting people who were missing something in their lives. They also stole a new substance called Luciferase from the lab of Ray Palmer, alerting the JLA to their misdeeds. The leader of Fiatlux was playing a more dangerous game and used the Luciferase summon a demon from Perdition named Hellrazer. Zatanna, Black Canary, Green Arrow, and Hawkgirl arrived at cult headquarters just in time for the summoning. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 226, Legion of Super-Heroes 311, Tales of the Teen Titans 42, Warlord 81”

Comics Reviews: JLA 225, Legion of Super-Heroes 310, New Teen Titans 41, Warlord 80

JLA 225 coverJustice League of America #225 – “Let There Be Light” – Joey Cavalieri/Chuck Patton/Pablo Marcos

This one starts with Ray (Atom) Palmer returning to Ivy College after his recent adventures in South America (in the Sword of the Atom mini-series). Ray is startled to find a bunch of guys in his lab stealing something called Luciferase. The thieves are kinda weird, speaking in hesitant monotones like robots. Ray goads them into knocking him out the window so he can change to Atom and attack them. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 225, Legion of Super-Heroes 310, New Teen Titans 41, Warlord 80”

Comics Reviews: JLA 224, Legion of Super-Heroes 309, New Teen Titans 40, Warlord 79

JLA 224 coverJLA #224 – “The Supremacy Factor” – Kurt Busiek/Chuck Patton/Dick Giordano

This one starts with Hal (Green Lantern) Jordan, Clark (Superman) Kent, and Oliver (Green Arrow) Queen meeting for lunch at a restaurant in Star City. The waitress thinks she’s ht the jackpot having three studs like them at her table, but Oliver is more concerned with Black Canary, who’s late for lunch. We see Black Canary on her way to the restaurant (having stopped a bank robbery) getting delayed by an altercation in an alley. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 224, Legion of Super-Heroes 309, New Teen Titans 40, Warlord 79”

Comics Reviews: JLA 223, Legion of Super-Heroes 308, New Teen Titans 39, Warlord 78

JLA 223 coverJustice League of America #223 – “Bloodsport” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, the JLA learned about a group of people who’d turned themselves into animal-human hybrids (the Ani-Men) in an effort to save their genetics company, Repli-Tech. The process worked a little too well and they became more animal than human, staging gladiatorial combats for bored rich people and plotting to rule the world. One of their number (a cat-lady named Reena) defected and filled the JLA in. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 223, Legion of Super-Heroes 308, New Teen Titans 39, Warlord 78”

Comics Reviews: JLA 222, New Teen Titans 38, Legion of Super-Heroes 307, Warlord 77

JLA 222 coverJustice League of America #222 – “Death Games” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Romeo Tanghal

Last issue, the JLA tangled with several beast-men, human-animal hybrids like something from the Island of Dr. Moreau. Firestorm encountered one of the beast-men (a cat lady named Reena) who asked him for help. He brought her back to the JLA Satellite so she can tell the JLA her story. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 222, New Teen Titans 38, Legion of Super-Heroes 307, Warlord 77”

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 2, JLA Annual 1

Legion Annual 2Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #2 – “Whatever Gods There Be” – Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen/Dave Gibbons

This annual came out right after issue 303, so some of the plot set-ups have already been resolved in my reviews of the regular issues. More specifically, Shrinking Violet’s situation hasn’t been resolved, Dream Girl is still leader, and Dawnstar hasn’t left yet. This one starts on Daxam, where a group of Legionnaires (Dream Girl, Ultra Boy, Star Boy, White Witch, and Cosmic Boy) are helping restore the planet after the damage done by Darkseid. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 2, JLA Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: JLA 221, Legion of Super-Heroes 306, Batman & the Outsiders 5, All-Star Squadron 27

JLA 221 coverJustice League of America #221 – “Beasts” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Pablo Marcos

This one starts with a bunch of rich people going to a very private party. These are people with so much money that they’ve gotten bored with the usual entertainments and decided to look for something unique. They’re all wearing masks, so you might think it’s some kind of Eyes Wide Shut sex party, but they actually end up underground at a large gladiatorial arena. We don’t see the combatants, but judging by the comments they’re animals of some kind. The spectators really get into it; one woman looks like she’s creaming herself when the blood starts flying. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 221, Legion of Super-Heroes 306, Batman & the Outsiders 5, All-Star Squadron 27”