Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 18, New Teen Titans 16, All-Star Squadron 53, Infinity Inc. 22

Legion of Super-Heroes 18 coverLegion of Super-Heroes #18 – “Has Anyone Noticed a Crisis Going On?” – Paul Levitz/Greg Larocque/Larry Mahlstedt

This one starts at the Time Institute, with Rond Vidar losing it when he realizes the Crisis has been going on for weeks (or went on for weeks in the distant past, I’m not sure how that works for a series set a thousand years in the future) but nobody seems to have noticed, even though Supergirl and Kid Psycho were killed. Vidar goes to see Brainiac 5, but he’s freaked out too because he also can’t remember anything that happened in the Crisis, even though he participated in some of it. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes 18, New Teen Titans 16, All-Star Squadron 53, Infinity Inc. 22”

Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 1, New Teen Titans Annual 1

Legion Annual 1 coverLegion of Super-Heroes Annual #1 – “Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold” – Paul Levitz/Keith Giffen, Karl Kesel/Mike DeCarlo, Ernie Colon, Steve Mitchell

This one starts with a handful of Legionnaires (Brainiac 5, Shrinking Violet, Colossal Boy, Chameleon Boy, and new recruit Magnetic Kid) sitting around headquarters bored while everyone else is off on a mission. Brainy suggests they do something constructive and Magnetic Kid reminds them that they never figured out who tried to kill Laurel Kent with a kryptonite bullet in issue 8. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual 1, New Teen Titans Annual 1”

Comics Reviews: JLA 245, Legion of Super-Heroes 17, New Teen Titans 15

JLA 245 coverJLA #245 – “The Long Road Home” – Gerry Conway/Luke McDonnell/Mike Machlan

This one starts with Steel waking up on a ravaged planet which may or may not be Earth. He’s in bad shape, but manages to fight off some insectoid creatures. A woman shows up (Olanda) and Steel passes out before he can ask her where he is. Olanda is able to command the insectoids and orders them to load Steel in her ship so she can take him to her father. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 245, Legion of Super-Heroes 17, New Teen Titans 15”

Comics Reviews: JLA 244, Legion of Super-Heroes 16, New Teen Titans 14

JLA 244 coverJLA #244 – “The Final Crisis” – Gerry Conway/Joe Staton/Mike Machlan

This one starts with the JLA arriving at the wrecked Satellite in orbit around Earth after being defeated by Infinity Inc. last issue and forced out of their Detroit headquarters. Vibe isn’t happy about having to retreat, but J’onn explains that they need help from the Justice Society. Ralph tells Vibe about the multiverse and how they can use their transporter to go to Earth-2, but it sounds so weird that Vibe assumes Ralph is bullshitting him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 244, Legion of Super-Heroes 16, New Teen Titans 14”

Comics Reviews: JLA 243, Legion of Super-Heroes 15, Tales of the Teen Titans 58, New Teen Titans 13

JLA 243 coverJLA #243 – “Storm Clouds” – Gerry Conway/George Tuska/Mike Machlan

This one starts with the newly-reconciled Aquaman and Mera arriving at JLA headquarters and finding the place empty. Aquaman consults the computer and figures out where his teammates went and who they might be up against. In the Yukon, Vixen’s claustrophobia is getting to her, but she uses her powers to break free of the ropes binding her. Unfortunately, she and the other JLAers are still trapped in a hole under a huge rock. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 243, Legion of Super-Heroes 15, Tales of the Teen Titans 58, New Teen Titans 13”

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”