Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew #20: Bridwell, Cavallieri and Hoberg/Lay finish out the series with guest appearances by Changeling and Gorilla Grodd and teases for an upcoming limited series that won't appear for another couple of years. The Cavallieri approach to scripting is a bit less punny than the writers that came before, but he does ring some mildly humorous bits from Changeling's bemusement at the differences with the Zoo Crew's world, and that world's with him. Grodd is defeated mostly by the Teen Titan, though. The Zoo Crew isn't exactly sidelined, but they also don't seem to have the lead. Based on one scene, Grodd appears to be working with a mysterious Roquat, who Oz fans will know is the Nome King, but I wonder if Grodd's involvement is still a part of the Oz-Wonderland Wars mini when it appears? Anyway, so long Earth-C.
Detective Comics #532: I liked this issue better than the last one due to an added dose of comic book silliness. Moench and Colon/Alcala have the Joker reveal to the captive Batman and Vicki Vale that his master plan is to get total control of Guatemala and turn the whole country into a Joker-themed amusement park with "killer" rides and attractions. In fact, he's got a site model to show them--and a Joker-faced train deathtrap for them both. Batman frees them both of course. Vicki snatches up a gun, and they fight their way out, collapsing the building on a still-laughing Joker.
Meanwhile, a remorseful Bullock convinces Barbara Gordon he's changed his ways at Jim Gordon's hospital bedside, and Alfred is reunited with his daughter Julia, who finally knows that he is her father.
In the backup by Cavalieri and Moore/Gonzales/Trapani, Green Arrow and the thief he was captured with manage to escape the Survivalists and through a number of outrageous trick shots and gimmick arrows, Green Arrow foils their plot and takes them captive.
Action Comics #549: Bates, Saviuk and Colletta/Marcos continue their "untold tale" of Superman and the Phantom Zone escapees, or as they call themselves here: The Zod Squad. It turns out those criminals are trying to do the right thing for once, and after a confrontation with Superman they manage to convince him. The real enemy is the Vrangs, who we now learn are conquerors with a history of subjugating Krypton (as first revealed in Superman #176). As Kryptonians, the Zod Squad is willing to make common cause with Superman to defeat them. However, when Superman is captured and two of the Phantom Zoners are killed, Zod is quite willing to use the Jewel Kryptonite in a way which will kill the Vrangs (who have a weakness to crystal, apparently) and Superman, thus ridding himself of two enemies. Superman manages to break free from the Vrangs on his own and use the power of the jewel to escape into the Phantom Zone just like the Zod Squad as the Vrang ship blows up. Supes quickly uses the jewel again to return to regular space and ensures the Zod Squad is trapped once again in their prison.
All-Star Squadron #26: Thomas and Howell/Houston again have a lot of characters to juggle, which makes the book constantly feel like a lot of its pages are spent on getting them from one place to another, not on superhero action. While the Atom is briefly hospitalized for his radiation exposure, the Justice Society use Wonder Woman's Magic Sphere to try to find Dr. Fate. They locate him at the end of his search for the Spectre in a Ditko Dr. Strange-esque weird dimension. The Spectre appears to have become the thrall of the evil being known as Kulak, High Priest of Brztal. He fights with Fate and in the end hurls him through an infinity of dimensions, off to the end of time. Then Kulak turns his attention to Earth. Gigantic blue hands, visible everywhere in the world, reach out from the rent fabric of the sky.
Arion Lord of Atlantis #13: Kupperberg returns to script the comic he co-created. Now that Wyynde's father has died, he is expected to become the next dhonu (leader) of the tribe according to the customs of his people. Although, he'd like to keep serving Arion and D'Tilluh, he does his duty. However, his cousin Graywolff challenges Wyynde for leadership during the ceremony, and the shaman Wintermoon uses his magic to help the treacherous Graywolff secure an advantage. Luckily, Arion has Wyynde's back and even without his full magical fight, he's able to help his friend win the day and take his rightful place with his people.
Fury of Firestorm Annual #1: Rafael Kayanan makes his American comics debut and begins a long association with Firestorm. While there are perhaps some amateurish panels here, I think some of his designs (Firehawk, particularly) are an improvement over what we've seen before. The story here continues from this month's issue. Firestorm has to figure out a way to escape Tokamak's plasma rings, which are compressing him right out of the universe. He does by causing a nuclear explosion, but don't worry, he absorbs the radiation. Meanwhile, Tokamak has again kidnapped Lorraine and returns to his base where it's apparent he's not acting rationally. Stein's ex again spies on his activites for Tokamak, who sends the new Enforcer to nab the physicist, but Firestom beats her just like her predecessor. Our hero arrives at Tokamak's base just as Multiplex is deciding it's time to bug out.
A battle ensues between Firestorm and Tokamak, which it looks like the villain might win, until Firehawk shows up to help. Lorraine's powers got re-triggered by a potential plunge to her death. Firehawk proves she's free of Tokamak's control forever, and the two heroes defeat Tokamak, evening dealing with his explosion, then share a kiss.
Returning to the Day home, Ronnie finds out his father was in the witness relocation program after testifying against the mobster, Shine. Shine tried to have him killed but failed. He's still alive, and he and Ronnie can be reunited now that Shine is dead. Not really sure what the point of this subplot was given that it was resolved so quickly.
Jonah Hex #78: Fleisher and Ayers/DeZuniga take a bit of a side trip from the ungoing story of Hex being framed for the governor's murder. He does rescue Emmylou from the Turnbull's goons, but as he goes to find the letter than will exonerate him (at least for the original sentence; not for killing the governor) he runs into a massacred group of Indians. He gives aid to the sole survivor, but the kid ropes him into helping bring the men responsible to justice. Hex helps out then becomes the young man's "blood brother." That done, he returns to his mission only to fall into a trap laid by bushwhacking bounty hunters.
New Adventures of Superboy #47: Kupperberg and Saviuk/Schaffenberger conclude Superboy's visit to Japan. We find out Sunburst isn't really a villain but is being forced to commit crimes by criminals who are holding his parent's hostage. In a typical Superman comics twist, Sunburst told Superboy this last issue, so the two are actually working together to set a trap for the crooks. Superboy rushes to rescue Sunburst's parents, who reveal Sunburst must have come by his powers by inhaling vapors from a volcano that happened to be erupting the day he was born. If he appeared again, I'm betting his origin got retconned to "mutant." Anyway, Superboy helpfully super-hypnotized Sunburst so that the hero forgets he has the powers that have been so burdensome.
In the Dial H backup by Bridwell/Rozakis and Bender/Hunt, Trouble Clef and Venus the FlyingTrap must defeat a cadre of new villains serving the master: Metalliferro, Darkstar, Spyderr, Titaness, Solar Dynamo, Trojan, Blue Damsel Fly, Serpentina, and Cableman. In the end of the issue a shocker: the suggestion the duo's friend Nick might be working for the Master.
Sword of the Atom #3: It turns out Taren's old righthand man, Voss, isn't a spy but only sort of jealous of the Atom usurping his position. In tried-and-true action media tradition, once the two fight a bit, they come to grudgingly respect each other and work together for the rebellion. Meanwhile in Moriadh, Deraegis continues his plan to steal the throne from Caellich by repairing the stardrive that powered the ship their people came to Earth in to power the city. Caellich forbids this because he fears the engine is unstable, but Deragis instructs his men to continue the work.
Back at the rebel camp, a troop of army ants causes an emergency, forcing the rebels to run for safety. Taren, who has been feeling he is a drag on the group, takes the opportunity to commit suicide by ant. This pushes Atom to decide the time has come to lead the rebels forward--and also frees him and Laethwen up to act on their feelings for each other.
World's Finest Comics #297: Big shift in art style this issue as Colan/Smith replace Andru/DeCarlo. We're treated to a long fight between Superman and the Pantheon member Omicron while Batman gets the secret origin of the villains and just what they're about from Rho. It's a kind of interesting set up, having a definite 70s Marvel feel, like something Gerber would have done. A CIA agent comes across a mysterious Living Diamond in his work, killing the person that had it to take it. Everyone he shows it to, from the priest he to whom he confesses, to a jeweler, to a husband and wife scientific research team fall under the diamond's sway. They find a way to harness the diamond's mutagenic affects and hasten their own evolution. They realized the diamond was a seed of the Cosmic Tree, so they set out to find the tree, believing it will complete their evolution so they can remake the world in their own image. Like I say interesting, to the it takes up a lot of pages.
Batman and Superman finally get together. Batman goes to warn the League to bring in reinforcements, while Superman pursues the Pantheon, hoping to stop them from bringing forth, Zeta, who would be their strongest member from the roots of the Cosmic Tree. The issue ends with him appearing to be too late.
Ronin #3: This issue didn't actually hit the stands until next month, but it was dated November. In Aquarius, a group meets to discuss the Ronin. Their security chief Casey would very much like to kill for murdering 3 of her men. The AI Virgo, however, reminds the executives of the value of the Ronin's telekinesis enhanced cybernetics. It appears, however, Virgo may have another motive. Anyway, the head of Aquarius agrees. He's thinking of moving into selling weaponry, something he had been against previously. Meanwhile, the Ronin acquires himself a horse, some clothes, and a bow. With an old hippie as his self-appointment manager, he seems to be starting to play Yojimbo in the middle of a race gang war between the Nazis and the Panthers. Then, Aquarius security shows up.
Miller plays with a lot of things that will again show up in The Dark Knight Returns and other works of his over the decade. Interesting to see how long he's been going to some of these same wells.
4 comments:
Ronin is the outstanding pick here.
This must be around the time I dropped Firestorm as I was not a fan of Rafael Kayanan's art. Maybe he got better after this.
I feel like he did. I prefer his work, which I first encountered in issue 24 to Broderick's in the title.
I guess I should have stuck with the title for longer. Maybe we'll get a DC's Finest with some Firestorm in it.
Detective Comics #532: I'm virtually certain I've seen that position Bruce is in listed on a "rope play safety guidelines" page under the "don't do this" category. Not surprising, though. Joker's probably terrible about safety words.
Fury of Firestorm Annual #1: I missed this as a kid and it's nice to know how the story ended after all these years. The next issue was where I finally quit for good. It was jut too difficult to get the book reliably and having a story left hanging was the last straw.
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