Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Young All-Stars Annual #1 – “The Mekanique Paradox” – Roy and Dann Thomas/Mike Gustovich, Joe Kubert, Brian Murray, Michael Bair/Tony DeZuniga
This one starts with Mekanique and Per Degaton sneaking into the Perisphere (aka All-Star Squadron headquarters). Degaton is a bit nervous about going into the stronghold of his enemies, but Mekanique seems confident they can handle even a full team of All-Stars. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Young All-Stars Annual 1, Infinity Inc. Annual 2”
Justice League International #22 – “Little Murders” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire/Joe Rubinstein
This is another Invasion crossover and it starts with Oberon and Max Lord discussing the alien Invasion of Earth. Most of the team have gone to the South Pacific in response to a summons from Black Canary and Wonder Woman. Max is pretty worried about the threat to Earth, which makes Oberon worry too. He goes to see Booster Gold, who’s pissed off about being on monitor duty and missing all the alien-bashing fun. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 22, Young All-Stars 21”
Justice League International #21 – “Apokolips Wow” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Ty Templeton/Joe Rubinstein
Last issue, Big Barda, J’onn J’onzz, Gnort, and Rocket Red tracked Manga Khan to Apokolips, where Khan was trying to open trade relations by selling Barda’s husband (Mr. Miracle). When they were attacked by a horde of Parademons, Barda boomed to Earth for reinforcements, bringing back the rest of the team (plus Lobo, who’s been hanging around headquarters waiting for Barda and the others to return so he can kill them and fulfill his contract with Manga Khan). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 21, Young All-Stars 20”
Justice League International #20 – “If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Apokolips” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Ty Templeton/Joe Rubinstein
This one starts on Apokolips, with Manga Khan and Virman Vundabar pontificating at each other. Khan has been trying to open trade with Apokolips for decades, but now he finally has something they want … Mr. Miracle. Khan gets a message from L-Ron that the Cluster blew the Justice League ship to hell as soon as it warped in, and that they still haven’t heard back from Lobo (who Khan hired to kill the Leaguers). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 20, Young All-Stars 19”
Justice League International #19 – “No More Mr. Nice Guy” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire/Joe Rubinstein
Last issue, Lobo accepted a contract from Manga Khan to kill the Justice League members who were following Khan to get Mr. Miracle back. Lobo attacked them but Big Barda zapped him across the galaxy … right to the JLI Embassy in New York. Lobo’s sudden appearance knocked Guy Gardner back into his old asshole self—yes. Guy’s an arrogant prick again—and he went after Lobo. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 19, Young All-Stars 18”
Justice League International #18 – “Where No League Has Gone Before” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire/Al Gordon
This one starts with the spaceship carrying J’onn J’onzz, Big Barda, Gnort, and Rocket Red suddenly appearing in the far reaches of space thanks to Barda hooking her Mega-Rod into the ship’s warp system. They’re looking for Manga Khan, who took Barda’s husband (Mr. Miracle) while trying to add Earth to his cosmic barter network. Khan’s Cluster isn’t there, so J’onn starts calculating a new destination. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 18, Young All-Stars 17”
Justice League International #17 – “Only the Dead Know Bialya” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire/Al Gordon
Last issue, Batman, Green Flame, Blue Beetle, and Booster Gold went undercover in Bialya to check out Rumaan Harjavti’s new “secret weapon”. The weapon turned out to be Wandjina, the Thunder God from another dimension who was injured in a nuclear explosion. But Queen Bee had a surprise for Harjavti … Wandjina obeys her commands and he ended up killing Harjavti so she could take over the country. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 17, Young All-Stars 16”
Justice League International #16 – “Bialya, My Bialya” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire/Al Gordon
This one starts with Batman and Max Lord discussing Rumaan Harjavti, dictator of Bialya. Harjavti supposedly has some new super-weapon and since he’s known to be friendly with terrorists, everyone is worried about it. The League can’t be seen interfering with a sovereign country, so Max suggests they send in a covert team, using an upcoming international gala that Harjavti’s holding as an excuse. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 16, Infinity Inc. 53, Young All-Stars 15”
Justice League International #15 – “Gnort and South” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Steve Leialoha/Al Gordon
Last issue, Manga Khan brought his Cluster to Earth and laid down an ultimatum. The Cluster travels from planet to planet forcing worlds to join their “Cosmic Shopping Network” and if they refuse, the Cluster ravages their planet and moves on. (I know that sounds like a contrived plot summary, but I’m just repeating what Manga Khan’s assistant L-Ron said.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 15, Infinity Inc. 52, Young All-Stars 14”
Justice League International #14 – “Shop or Die” – J.M. DeMatteis/Keith Giffen, Steve Leialoha/Al Gordon
This issue really leans into the goofball humour we think of when we think of JLI. It starts with an alien on a planet with the unlikely name of Yecktamecktokovia watching as the planet’s technology is sucked up into orbit by a giant spaceship. Apparently the ship (called the Cluster) is retrieving the tech from the planet which it has just decimated. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League International 14, Infinity Inc. 51, Young All-Stars 13”