Comics Reviews: JLA 195, Legion of Super-Heroes 20, New Teen Titans 12, All-Star Squadron 2

JLA 195 coverJustice League of America #195 – “Targets on Two Worlds” – Gerry Conway/George Perez/John Beatty

I had this three-parter when I was a kid and it’s one of my favourite JLA stories (actually, it’s one of my favourite comics stories) and definitely my favourite JLA/JSA crossover. Judging by what I’ve heard from other comics fans, I’m not alone. Over half of this issue deals with the “recruitment” process, showing the gathering of two sets of villains, one on each Earth. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 195, Legion of Super-Heroes 20, New Teen Titans 12, All-Star Squadron 2”

Comics Reviews: JLA 194, Legion of Super-Heroes 279, New Teen Titans 11, All-Star Squadron 1

JLA 194 coverJustice League of America #194 – “Destiny is a Stacked Deck” – Gerry Conway/George Perez/John Beatty

This one starts with a cloaked and hooded figure dealing out some tarot cards and musing on life and death. But six of these tarot cards are a bit different from the others … they hold images of six JLA members. One of those depicted on the card, Clark (Superman) Kent, is at a carnival in Metropolis with Lois. He’s holding a bunch of stuffed animal prizes (all won by Lois) and waits as she tries for another one. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 194, Legion of Super-Heroes 279, New Teen Titans 11, All-Star Squadron 1”

Comics Reviews: JLA 193, Legion of Super-Heroes 278, New Teen Titans 10, All-Star Squadron preview

JLA 193 coverJustice League of America #193 – “Secret of Genesis” – Gerry Conway/George Perez/John Beatty

Last issue, the JLA were attacked by one of their own members, Red Tornado … twice. It turned out the multiple Tornados were constructs sent by T.O. Morrow, the original Red Tornado’s creator, to see if he could recreate whatever gave the original Tornado sentience. When his duplicates failed, Morrow kidnapped the original Red Tornado and took him to a hideout in New York City. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 193, Legion of Super-Heroes 278, New Teen Titans 10, All-Star Squadron preview”

Comics Reviews: JLA 192, Legion of Super-Heroes 277, New Teen Titans 9

JLA 192 coverJustice League of America #192 – “Quest for Genesis” – Gerry Conway/George Perez/John Beatty

This one starts with a meeting of the JLA on the Satellite. They’re discussing their United Nations mandate and whether they might get in trouble for having too many members (currently, they have 14), when Red Tornado shows up. He’s acting weird, talking in a robotic monotone and claiming to be acting on behalf of some nameless “Master” before unleashing a deadly tornado blast. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 192, Legion of Super-Heroes 277, New Teen Titans 9”

Comics Reviews: JLA 191, Legion of Super-Heroes 276, New Teen Titans 8

JLA 191 coverJustice League of America #191 – “The Key Crisis of the One-Man Justice League” – Gerry Conway/Rich Buckler/Pablo Marcos

This one starts with one old foe of the JLA (The Key) using his scientific know-how to summon another JLA enemy (Amazo) from the depths of space. Amazo isn’t happy about his android slumber being interrupted, but the Key blasts him with a beam of energy, knocking Amazo out. Apparently, the Key has some kind of plan to confront the JLA and Amazo is part of it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 191, Legion of Super-Heroes 276, New Teen Titans 8”

Comics Reviews: JLA 190, Legion of Super-Heroes 275, New Teen Titans 7

JLA 190 coverJustice League of America #190 – “Our Friends, Our Enemies” – Gerry Conway/Rich Buckler/Bob Smith

Last issue, a piece of Starro the alien starfish, was fished out of a lake by a kid named Terry Watson. Starro soon reconstituted himself and dominated the minds of Terry and his family, using them to get the alien conqueror to New York. Starro shot millions of small starfish replicates from his body, taking over the minds of everyone in New York … including a number of JLA members. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 190, Legion of Super-Heroes 275, New Teen Titans 7”

Comics Reviews: JLA 189, Legion of Super-Heroes 274, New Teen Titans 6

JLA 189 coverJustice League of America #189 – “The Return of the Starfish Conqueror” – Gerry Conway/Rich Buckler/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts on the JLA Satellite, with Black Canary running Firestorm through a high-tech obstacle course. Firestorm cheats by using his molecular powers to render the obstacles harmless, instead of dodging them like he’s supposed to. Black Canary tells him she runs the course every day and that plays on his ego enough that he promises not to cheat anymore. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 189, Legion of Super-Heroes 274, New Teen Titans 6”

Comics Reviews: JLA 188, Legion of Super-Heroes 273, New Teen Titans 5

JLA 188 coverJustice League of America #188 – “The Metamorph War” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, a weirdo villain named Proteus used something called an Identi-Factor to change the physical forms of several Justice Leaguers (Superman, Zatanna, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Elongated Man) and suppress their memories. Proteus created his own JLA duplicates so he could use them to rob a jewelry store, but without the super powers possessed by the originals. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 188, Legion of Super-Heroes 273, New Teen Titans 5”

Comics Reviews: JLA 187, Legion of Super-Heroes 272, New Teen Titans 4

JLA 187 coverJustice League of America #187 – “Proteus Says: All Things Must Change” – Gerry Conway/Don Heck/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with Zatanna on the JLA Satellite, in a pensive mood. Flash sticks around after the latest meeting and they start talking about how the League has changed since its founding. Zatanna tells Flash she’s made a decision and magics up a new costume. She says her old costumes were reflections of her parents’ styles, so now she wants something that fits her own personality more closely. It is a pretty cool-looking outfit. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 187, Legion of Super-Heroes 272, New Teen Titans 4”

Comics Reviews: JLA 186, Legion of Super-Heroes 271, New Teen Titans 3

JLA 186 coverJustice League of America #186 – “Who Can Stop the Shaggy Man?” – Gerry Conway/George Perez/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts in Siberia, where some Red Army guards are attacked by a furry giant. One of them escapes and gets back to his base babbling about the Abominable Snowman attacking the guard outpost. More soldiers investigate, finding giant tracks and crushed soldiers. They decide to hush it all up, shooting the lone survivor who witnessed the attack. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 186, Legion of Super-Heroes 271, New Teen Titans 3”