Comics Reviews: JLA 181, Legion of Super-Heroes 266, Jonah Hex 39

JLA 181 coverJustice League of America #181 – “The Stellar Crimes of the Star-Tsar” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts out with Green Arrow making a recording for his fellow Leaguers to explain the momentous decision he’s made. We won’t find out what that decision is until later (although it’s pretty obvious from the foreshadowing in the last few issues), but the story plays out in flashback as Green Arrow recounts events leading up to the present. A couple days ago, after a JLA meeting, Green Arrow and Black Canary returned to Star City and Arrow was going on about how he thought the JLA was out of touch with the common people and all that. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 181, Legion of Super-Heroes 266, Jonah Hex 39”

Comics Reviews: JLA 180, Legion of Super-Heroes 265, Jonah Hex 38

JLA 180 coverJustice League of America #180 – “A Beautiful Evil” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue Ronnie (Firestorm) Raymond, newest member of the JLA, went with some friends to the penthouse of model Sabrina Sultress to investigate a classmate’s disappearance. Firestorm got inside, but was jumped by Sultress, who has some kind of mesmeric power. He managed to send an emergency signal, so this issue opens with the JLA busting into the penthouse. The place is empty, but Zatanna senses an evil presence and they’re attacked by a fire demon. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 180, Legion of Super-Heroes 265, Jonah Hex 38”

Comics Reviews: JLA 179, Legion of Super-Heroes 264, Jonah Hex37

JLA 179 coverJustice League of America #179 – “The Siren Song of the Satin Satan” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts at a really happening disco in New York. A famous model named Sabrina Sultress (aka the Satin Satan) watches a young dancer named Roscoe and gives him the come on look. He follows her out of the disco like he’s hypnotized … which I’m assuming he is. Meanwhile, on the JLA Satellite, the team has just asked a new member to join and he’s pretty excited. Yup, it’s Firestorm, sponsored for membership by Superman. Firestorm’s enthusiasm startles the Leaguers at first, but most of them end up enjoying his exuberance. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 179, Legion of Super-Heroes 264, Jonah Hex37”

Comics Reviews: JLA 178, Legion of Super-Heroes 263, Jonah Hex 36

JLA 178 coverJustice League of America #178 – “The Chess-Master of Mars” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

Despite the title, this isn’t an Edgar Rice Burroughs pastiche, Last issue, the JLA were menaced by stylized chess pieces come to life and we found out (although they still haven’t) that it was all caused by Despero playing a cosmic chess match against ex-JLA member Martian Manhunter … except Despero is playing the JLA, so Martian Manhunter has to do his best to destroy his friends. This issue opens with the League gathering for an emergency meeting on the Satellite. Zatanna has figured out the chess angle, but doesn’t know who’s behind it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 178, Legion of Super-Heroes 263, Jonah Hex 36”

Comics Reviews: JLA 177, Legion of Super-Heroes 262, Jonah Hex 35

JLA 177 coverJustice League of America #177 – “Graveyard Gambit” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts in the middle of the ocean with Aquaman pounding some Russians who are illegally killing whales. Aquaman gives them a lecture on how surface-dwellers rape and pollute the oceans, and takes out some of his anger by having the whales capsize the ship. Aquaman tells some dolphins to save the whalers from drowning, but suddenly the sailors start glowing and turn into weird gold-colored statues of stylized soldiers. The dolphins freak out and take off, leaving Aquaman to ponder in the sailors were turned into statues, or if they were statues masquerading as sailors to begin with. He also wonders why the statues’ design looks so familiar. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 177, Legion of Super-Heroes 262, Jonah Hex 35”

Comics Reviews: JLA 176, Legion of Super-Heroes 261, Jonah Hex 34

JLA 176 coverJustice League of America #176 – “The Dream Factories of Doctor Destiny” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, Dr. Destiny built a new version of his Materioptikon which could bring people’s nightmares to life. The JLA destroyed his infernal machine and are now tracking him to his hideout by homing in on Destiny’s twisted psyche courtesy of Green Lanterns ring. They trace him to an abandoned film studio and bust in, only to face more manifestations of their own darkest fears. Superman and Wonder Woman decide to bypass the usual brawl and head into the main building to look for Destiny, only to find Zatanna has beaten them to it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 176, Legion of Super-Heroes 261, Jonah Hex 34”

Comics Reviews: JLA 175, Legion of Super-Heroes 260, Jonah Hex 33

JLA 175 coverJustice League of America #175 – “But Can An Android Dream” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

As you can tell from the title, this one focuses on Red Tornado. Gerry seemed to like using Reddy to reflect on what it means to be human. The story starts with Red Tornado resigning from the JLA over some mistake he made on a mission. His teammates assure him they don’t care about his screw-up, but he quits anyway and heads down to Earth to “find himself”. He starts by reviving his old John Smith identity and going to see Traya, the orphan girl from the Middle East that Reddy’s sort of adopted. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 175, Legion of Super-Heroes 260, Jonah Hex 33”

Comics Reviews: JLA 174, Legion of Super-Heroes 259, Jonah Hex 32

JLA 174 coverJustice League of America #174 – “A Plague of Monsters” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue ended with Black Lightning turning down membership in the JLA and a new villain in a weird costume (the Regulator) using an army of controlled rats to attack a STAR Labs facility. This issue starts with Regulator inside STAR, ordering his rats to swarm over a guard. A STAR scientist confronts the villain and we get a self-narrated origin. Regulator used to work at STAR and invented a helmet that allowed him to control vermin, but using the helmet drove him crazy and he was committed to an asylum. Now he’s back for revenge on his colleagues at STAR and everyone else who wronged him, which seems to include most of the city. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 174, Legion of Super-Heroes 259, Jonah Hex 32”

Comics Reviews: JLA 173, Superboy & the Legion 258, Jonah Hex 31

JLA 173 coverJustice League of America #173 – “Testing of a Hero” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with some JLA members (Superman, Zatanna, Flash, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow) observing someone from the roof of a building … someone they’re considering for League membership. Of course, we already know who the mystery candidate is from the cover—Black Lightning. The Leaguers watch as Lightning takes down some guys robbing a pawnshop; he deflects bullets with his electrical force-field, zaps a couple of the thieves with a power-packed punch, and scares the last crook so much that he faints before Lightning can touch him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 173, Superboy & the Legion 258, Jonah Hex 31”

Comics Reviews: JLA 172, Superboy & the Legion 257, Jonah Hex 30

JLA 172 coverJustice League of America #172 – “I Accuse!” – Gerry Conway/Dick Dillin/Frank McLaughlin

You’ll remember last issue Mr. Terrific was killed during the annual JLA/JSA reunion on the Satellite. At first, it looked like an accident—an explosion blew out a wall on the Satellite—but it was determined Mr.Terrific was strangled and the explosion was meant to cover up his murder. Since nobody entered or left, and no one is hiding aboard the Satellite, it looks like one of the superheroes is the killer. Superman comes to that conclusion quickly and asks the two Green Lanterns and Dr. Fate to seal off the Satellite until they figure out who the murderer is. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 172, Superboy & the Legion 257, Jonah Hex 30”