The Super Heroes Monthly #3

I remember exactly when I bought this. Earlier this year, I was at my favorite comic shop. I had just finished buying some new release stuff I had ordered when I saw it. The book hadn't been put out yet. It was on top of a pile of things to be bagged, boarded and priced. But from the cover, I was enticed. I had to have it!

The book was actually a magazine from the U.K.. Filled with holiday reprints from DC Comics America, I was fairly certain that I already had copies of all 3 stories. But because of that Bryan Talbot cover and the title's exotic nature, I needed this as part of my Christmas comic book collection.

The cover reminds me of that scene from the beginning of Lethal Weapon where we first meet Mel Gibson character of Riggs... or is it Murtaugh? Anyways, the character is working undercover at a Christmas tree lot trying to weed out drug dealers. With Batman standing over the body of one of Santa's helpers in the middle of a tree lot with guns pointed at the Dark Knight, I feel like this is what would have occurred if the first Lethal Weapon film took place in Gotham instead of L.A..

The 3 tales inside are classics. Batman investigates the appearance of a boat owned by an underworld kingpin and stumbles upon a Christmas Eve theft at a local department store. Paul Levitz pens a tale set a thousand years in the future with Superboy invited to spend Christmas with the Legion of Superheroes. Lastly, Len Wein crafts a murder mystery where the Justice League of America investigate the killing of a man playing Santa Claus. Guest starring John Stewart subbing in for an injured Gal Jordan, the investigation turns into a race against time when the mysterious killer reveals in clues that he's set a bomb somewhere in the United States at the stroke of midnight!

Like I said, I've read all 3 stories before. I don't think I own any of them in their original formats. But over the years I've managed to collect them in reprint form. A fascinating glimpse of British comic books published by DC Comics in 1981. Since nothing over the pond seems to ever be issued first run or even in chronological order, I don't think I could live permanently in the UK and be a comic book collector with any sort of sanity.

A great time capsule. My only problem, it's oversized, like a tabloid,and I don't have a comic book box that will fit it. So where am I going to store it???

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Justice League of America Annual #1 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The Justice League are at the mercy of their deepest fears when the villainous Doctor Destiny invades their dreams!

When Doctor Destiny last encountered the Justice League, the heroes had to resort to drastic measures that would prevent the foe from dreaming. This fractured Destiny's psyche and caused his body to shrivel down into a skeletal form. Seeking a cure as well as revenge Doctor Destiny escaped his Gotham City cell and is running experiments on kidnapped patients under the guise of a legitimate sleep clinic.

In typical Justice League fashion, the heroes break up into groups in search for the fugitive as well as the victims that Doctor Destiny kidnapped. As the protagonists arrive at the various locales throughout Gotham in hopes of apprehending Doctor Destiny, the Leaguers are met instead with grotesque versions of their worst nightmares.

The first ever Justice League of America annual from 1983, was written jointly by Paul Levitz and Len Wein. Penciled by Rick Hoberg with inks by Dick Giordano, this issue sports 2 surprise guest stars. Unfortunately, one of those reveals are spoiled by their appearance on the cover. Black Green Lantern Jon Stewart also guests in this issue. Only his appearance isn't so much as a revelation as a special treat for DC readers as once again, Stewart is begrudgingly recruited by the Guardians of Oa to assist Wonder Woman and the Flash on their leg of the Doctor Destiny manhunt. 

Astute readers of Justice League of America might notice the absence of a major player on that action packed cover by Hoberg and Giordano. There's no Caped Crusader! That's because at this point in time, Batman and the Justice League had a falling out over the political crisis in Markovia and the Dark Knight left the League to form the Outsiders. Despite having almost a dozen active members, Hawkwoman standing by her Thanagarian man and a Green Lantern on hand, without the presence of Batman on his home turf, this version of the Justice League just seems way understaffed.

To learn more of where Batman is, fans should start with issue #1 of Batman and the Outsiders.

Completing this review completes Task #46 (With a $1 cover price (original price)) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Super Powers #3 (3rd Series)

The Justice League is attacked by a group of all-new villains. It looks like these new foes are about to win when the heroes are saved by a never before seen hero, Janus!

This Greek god with long golden locks has stolen Wonder Woman's heart to the point that if any of her fellow Justice Leaguers questions Janus' true motives, she accuses them of being jealous of the Fabio looking protagonist.

I'm rather disappointed that Paul Kupperberg took Wonder Woman back to the days where she was more concerned playing housewife than super hero. This sort of fawning over Janus is more akin to what I would expect during the early days of the Justice Society of America when Wonder Woman was the team's secretary. Not in the 1980s when women were dominating the work force and DC Comics was being led by the mighty Jeanette Kahn. 

By the way, if you understand the significance of the name Janus, you might be able to figure out this cat's true identity. I won't spoil it until I review issue #3. But from my past two reviews of this miniseries and the details that I've provided thus far, the answer is there.

Good Luck!

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Secret Origins: Collecting All Eight Mini-Comics Included With Leaf Candies

Trident Studios triumphs again. After presenting fans with a pair of beautiful collections of the Super Powers mini comics that came with waves I and II of Kenner's awesome action figures, there are more minis for fans! This set contains the 8 mini comics that were packaged with Leaf Tart n' Tangy Comicbook Candy!

There were 8 mini comics in the Leaf candy line that was released in 1980. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, The Flash and Hawkman's secret origins were examined. Book #8 reports on the creation of the world's greatest super hero team, the Justice League of America! 

The quality of these reprints are absolutely stunning. Vibrantly colored and as crystal clear as possible, based on the fact that the originals used for this book are over 40 years old! Once again, due to publishing and binding requirements, the reprints are 20% bigger than the original minis. Generally, when you increase the size of an image, it gets all smudgy and pixelated. The necessary enlargements have no evidence of poor quality here!

The only real crime of this volume is something that is more Leaf or DC's fault. In fact, I don't think you can blame any of my single grip on Trident Studios. The sole qualm I have is that whomever were the geniuses behind the writing and artwork of these mini comics appear to be lost in time. 

While Trident Studios does provide credit to the creators of all 8 stars of this book, along with notes to their first appearances, that's all the reader gets. When it came to this type of promotional work, DC and other comic book publishers didn't give writer and artist credits. From what I see, I think Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Gil Kane were probably some of the artists of these books. But I'm not 100% sure and I am glad that Trident Studios didn't try to make any sort of assumptions either.

Just as I thought that was it from Trident Studios, I received another surprise. Trident has a 3-volume set that collects all of the DC mini comics released by Post cereals from the late 70s. Will I be getting my hands on those? You betcha! Stay tuned!

As for this book and the Secret Powers collections, fans can find them on Etsy. Just be sure to look for the creator under 1 single word, without spaces: TridentStudios.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Justice League of America's Vibe, Vol. 1: Breach

Next to the character of Wells and his various incarnations, my favorite character on The CW's The Flash is Cisco Ramon. Played by actor Carlos Valdes, the character is witty, smart and super chill. With his love of pop culture and Star Wars, I think we'd make great friends if we were to meet IRL. But when it comes to the comic book version, I know very little about the superhero known as Vibe. That interest in knowing a little bit more about the hero is why I chose to pick up this book a while back at my local Ollie's store.

The New 52! incarnation of Vibe/Cisco Ramon is similar to what little I know about the character. He's Latino. From Detroit. Has some sort of ability to alter the vibrational frequencies of not just our Earth; but the entire gambit of the multiverse. And he was a part of the Justice League of America- the original version.

Here we get Vibe's origin of how Ramon obtained his powers as a young boy when he's unfortunately sliced in half by a boom tube during an early invasion from Darkseid's parademon forces. Cisco survived the incident. However, his older brother died in the rescue attempt. Due to his ultra-close encounter with boom tube technology, Cisco Ramon's latent meta-human genes were unlocked and the ability to command the multiverse was now his.

As Cisco's powers strengthen, this puts him in the crosshairs of ARGUS. The feelings of the clandestine agency is that if Cisco can't be used as a super-powered weapon against potential foes that slip into our dimension then Cisco too is a potential threat to global safety. 

Now training to be an agent of ARGUS, Cisco is given the codename VIBE. Vibe's powers help him to sense when someone has breached the barriers between our universe and their own. Things seem to be going great as the newest wunderkind at ARGUS until Cisco is tasked with apprehending a mysterious woman named Gyspy who seems to have familiar air to her.

I felt like this book had two tones to it. Vibe was originally a 10 issue series. The first 4 or 5 issues in which Vibe is learning the ropes of being an agent of ARGUS feels like the Denzel Washington film Training Day or something similar. Cisco learns that being a hero doesn't always mean being a good guy. Then when Vibe meets Gypsy things shift over to The Fugitive (pick your version). Add some DC Comics touches like Apokolips and some forgotten characters from the 60s and 70s getting a modern retouch and you've got the basis for one of the more enjoyable titles to come from the New 52! experiment.

I did have one problem with this book and it's more of a design flaw or issue with the marketing/editing department. This book is touted as Volume 1. As I said early, the Vibe series lasted 10 issues, from 2013-2014. All 10 issues are reprinted here. So, why call this a Volume 1? The back cover even confirms that this book contains the 'full 10-issue series' and there's a 1 on the spine of the book!

This isn't the first time DC has done this. They did it a lot with the Showcase Presents B&W reprint collections and some other works. It irks my OCD to no end and it kinda ruins how my bookcase display looks. I know this is a small thing. But it makes my brain itch to no end.

A good story poorly marketed. Definitely a reason NOT to judge a book by it's cover!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Justice League of America #135 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

It's the 14th annual meeting of Earth One's Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America from Earth Two. This time around, a third Earth is in danger: Earth-S!

A prehistoric ruler named King Kull has declared war on humanity. The last of his race of protohumans, Kull has vowed to hunt mankind to extinction just as the human race did to his people. In order to do this, Kull attacks the Rock of Eternity and has trapped Captain Marvel's elders and Mary Marvel's patron goddesses, along with the epic wizard, Shazam! 

Just prior to his enslavement, Shazam mentally ordered the super-speedy Mercury to recruit a number of heroes from Earths One, Two and S to stop Kull's plans. After gathering a grand total of 18 heroes, Mercury sends them off to various locations throughout the multiverse. First stop- the Atlantis of Earth Two where women are the dominant gender. Exiled Queen Clea has recruited IBAC, the Penguin and Blockbuster to assemble a device that when attuned to similar technology on Earth's One and S, will result in the end of humankind. 

The 'Crisis on Earth-S' storyline would continue through issue #137 which culminates in one of the very first meetings between Captain Marvel and Superman. This 3-parter is very heavy in Shazam family lore. IBAC is the anthesis of Captain Marvel. He's a milksop delivery man who turns into a fascist brute when he says 'I Back.' King Kull is another villain from Shazam's past. However, if you don't know of the character's background then you will find much of this opening chapter to be rather silly. 

Our story begins with King Kull flying a spaceship to the Rock of Eternity. Now if you're like me, you are wondering what is a prehistoric sovereign doing with a UFO? Turns out that Kull somehow entered a state of suspended animation only to wake up millions of years in the future; our present. With his genius level intellect and membership in the Monster Society of Evil, King Kull has been able to develop a number of gadgets and devices of mass destruction in his quest to eliminate mankind. 

If I had prior knowledge of King Kull, I probably would have been able to suspend my disbelief. Thankfully, the DC Wiki filled in my gaps. Since I don't own issues #136 and 137 yet, it might be a little while before my collection gaps are lessened. 

With rosters of the JLA/JSA and Shazam's Squadron of Justice on both the cover and front page of this issue, I more than meet the challenge of reading a book 'With a Map, Family Tree or Roster in the front/front page'.

Completing this review completes Task #32 (With a Map, Roster or Family Tree in the front/front page) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Justice League of America #134

After a shocking defeat at the hands of Despero, Superman and the phony Justice Leaguers are placed in stasis aboard the baddie's ship. I thought Despero wanted to conquer that planet in which Superman was whisked away to. But plans change, I guess. 

Meanwhile, aboard Hawkman's space cruise, Supergirl has managed to get some members of the League to finally go on a rescue mission from her cousin. Literally, flying blind, the team finds Superman and his captor thanks to a pair of omniscient beings fascinated by the concept of anger and revenge. 

As Despero and the heroes are pitted against each other in a series of conflicts, I am reminded of two things. One is Marvel's Contest of Champions in which the Grandmaster and the Collector pit heroes and villains against one another in a fight for the universe. Secondly is a number of Star Trek episodes, especially the 'Gamesters of Triskelion', in which god-like beings test the mortal crew members of the Enterprise.

Since Star Trek came first, I wonder if the crew behind this book (Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin and Ernie Chan), had Star Trek as an inspiration and Marvel later taking notes from these 3-issues storyline.

As with quite a few DC books at this time, the ending is quite abrupt with nothing very satisfying. The last panel or two get philosophical as you'd expect an episode of classic Trek. But there's so many loose ends left dangling without any adequate conclusion.

One thing that I was quite happy with was the additional presence of Supergirl. In issue #133, her presence was in my opinion a dirty trick bait-and-switch. Here, Kara Zor-El is a major player in saving her beloved cuz, Kal-El from the villain.

Lots of great Supergirl action but things don't add up from the end of the previous issue to the conclusion here. That really doesn't make a lot of sense as Conway wrote all 3 issues!

 It's very typical of mid-70s DC sadly...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. 

Justice League of America #133

When we last left the Justice League of America in the pages of Showcase Presents: Justice League of America, Volume 6, Superman had gone missing. His cousin, Supergirl, called on the League to investigate the disappearance. And then we had a big ole' 'To Be Continued...'

As fate, or DC's publishers, would have it, Volume 7 never materialized. Both DC and Marvel decided to stop publication of the very popular black and white reprints for a more expensive (and profitable?) line of color collections. 

This now meant that I was on the hunt for individual issues of Justice League of America #133-261. Recently, I found the two issues that completed the storyline left hanging in Showcase Presents and I must say, I was blown away by issue #133!

Superman awakes on an alien planet with the rest of his Justice League teammates. Only, his pals are actually actors equipt with high tech gadgets to mimic the powers of the other Leaguers. Together, Superman is put through a ruse to defeat the 3-eyed menace of Despero who has claimed this alien world as his new base of operations. 

As these phony superheroes are no match for Despero's might, they start dropping like flies. Instead of being inspired to save the day, the Man of Steel becomes despondent at the fall of his comrades. Can Superman overcome the one weakness that is even mightier than Kryptonite?- His love and devotion for his friends!!!

Issue #133 was a near flawless masterpiece from Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin. The only thing I wanted was more Supergirl! We're promised a lot more of her on the cover. But except for a brief- VERY BRIEF- cameo, there's really no Maid of Might here. That's a big disappointment for a huge fan of Supergirl such as myself!

The fate of Superman and a beleaguered planet hang in the balance. It's a good thing I've got issue #134 for the epic conclusion to look forward to next!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance

In general, when a publisher has a major crossover event, the tie-in issues offer very little to the completion of the story. That's not the case here. In fact, after reading these tie-ins from Teen Titans, Nightwing, Suicide Squad, Green Arrow, Justice League of America, The Flash and Green Lantern Corps, I actually understand the wildly popular Dark Nights: Metal even more!

From just reading Dark Nights: Metal only, I didn't understand how the evil Batmen had managed to capture so many heroes and villains. I also didn't understand Dick Grayson's supposed draw to the mysterious metals. Those elements are cleared up thanks to these issues. Plus, if you are a fan of Harley Quinn, she's done to perfection here!

This volume was a great teaming of the talents of Joshua Williamson, Jeff Lemire, Ethan Van Sciver, Liam Sharp and Tyler Kirkham. I am a big fan of their work on their individual titles. It's Scott Snyder, Geoff Johns and Bendis who are getting the chance to create the all-encompassing stories. But I would like the earlier group, who worked on this volume, to get a chance to tackle a multi-title crossover event. I think that they'd be amazing at it. This collection is proof they've got the chops!

One tends to over look the tie-in issues in a company wide event. That would be the wrong way to go with this awesome volume!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Unlimited Access #3

Time is getting even more jumbled as the original Avengers take on the original line-up of the Justice League of America. 

Meanwhile, Access discovers who is behind this time caper and it's in my opinion the most unlikely super villain team-up of all: Magneto and Darkseid.

Their goal: to destroy the Marvel Universe.

I call the pairing of Darkseid and Magneto unlikely because of Magneto's desire to destroy the Marvel Universe. I would understand why Magneto would want to kill all the humans. But wouldn't his beloved fellow mutants get wiped out as well?

As for Darkseid- what does he have to gain with all of this? The Lord of Apokolips won't go to the bathroom if there's nothing for him to benefit from it. So what's his deal?

The plot is getting kinds thin. The action is top notch especially the battle between Justice Leaguers and Earth's Mightiest Heroes. But it's just not enough to save this issue.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Showcase Presents: Justice League of America, Volume 6

Another great collection of Justice League of America issues.

This one introduces Earth-X; the earth in which Hitler and the Nazis won World War II. Back are Golden Age great like Uncle Sam, The Human Bomb, and the Phantom Lady.

Plus witness the return of several founding members of the Justice League. While most of these returns are just for an issue or two temporary team-up, there is one exciting return that actually sticks around! 

Featuring some of the most interesting and creative story lines of the Justice League, such as when writers Cary Bates, Elliot S. Maggin, and editor Julie Schwartz become the stars of one of their very own Justice League story. 

And for one very short period of time, witness the beginnings of Dick Giordano's amazing run on this title. He only pencils a couple of issues (and the art is so freakin' good), but it's a hint of what's in store for later issues of this series, one of my all-time favorites. 

Speaking of later issues, this volume ended quite sadly for me. Or at least bittersweet. This is the final volume of Showcase Presents: Justice League of America. Since this is a later edition, unless DC would ever consider revitalizing this dynamic series, the publisher more than likely is going to start over at issue #1. 

The good thing is that there's well over a hundred individual issues out there for me still to read. But it will take time (and I suspect a nice chunk of change) in order to obtain them all. Oh, don't worry, their now on my wish list and I'm ready for the hunt to begin.

A much better collection than volume 5. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Showcase Presents: Justice League of America, Volume 5

The black and white reprinted early exploits of the Justice League of America continue with a pair of team-ups with the Justice Society of Earth-2. 

The first involves an alien child and his pet who become separated from each other. There's a symbiotic bond between the two and their absences are causing the pair to become gigantic and destructive. The second adventure has the two teams asking the question 'Whatever happened to the Seven Soldiers of Victory?'

Both crossovers were extremely good. Other great stories involved The Shaggy Man infiltrating the Justice League's satellite base, three complete strangers saving the world unawares when the League cannot, and a Halloween yarn involving Len Wein, his wife Glynis and the despicable Felix Faust.

There was a fair share of stinkers in this book as well such the several episodes that hinted at a love affair between Batman and Black Canary. Also, there was one story that was just rotten. 

The cover of it (issue #89) promised that you, the reader, got to be a part of the story. I thought this was going to be like a Choose Your Own Adventure type affair. Instead, writer Michael Friedrich gets all metaphysical and philosophical ending the story personally explaining how when he writes a story he becomes the characters of the story. He makes allusions to someone named H.E., so I am wondering if he wrote this as some sort of personal challenge to writer (and eternal pain in the ass) Harlan Ellison. A lot of writers did that because Ellison liked to be a pompous jerk to everyone and anyone who thought they could write science fiction. 

The artwork is fairly decent. Lots of great covers by Neal Adams. Dick Dillin, Nick Cardy, and Mike Sekowsky do fair work that ranges from awesome to not quite dreadful. 

I love the Justice League of America and despite the flaws in this book, they are a delight to read and a fond throwback to my childhood.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

DC Universe Decisions #3

  The race for President is heating up. Under the guise of showing their support Bruce Wayne and Wonder Woman are able to embed themselves into more campaigns. But when a secret service agent turns on the politician he is assigned to protect, the stakes get higher. Ironically, this event helps Batman to figure out who is behind these mind controlled acts of terror. Now to bait the trap…

   Decisions returns to its political intrigue roots. When it clicks as a thriller, it’s like Marathon Man, but with superheroes.

    It’s not just a thriller. There are some very funny moments, especially thanks to the Flash, whose very perturbed that the media isn’t covering the assassination attempts as in depth as they are the circus of superheroes who are throwing their support behind a wide open field of candidates.

   One thing off with this issue is some of the art- in particularly, that of Lois Lane. Her eyeballs look like they take over all of her forehead. And there was one scene where is looks like she broke not only both arms but her wrists and all ten fingers. Really freaky looking.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC Universe Decisions #2

  After Green Arrow's impromptu endorsement of a presidential candidate, things come to a head between Ollie Queen and Hal Jordan.
   Meanwhile, as more candidates become targets of the mysterious bomber, even more superheroes go on the record for who they are endorsing for President. It seems that the only two heroes willing to stay impartial are Batman and Superman. But how do you explain the breaking news that a dark horse candidate has just picked up the support of Gotham City's favorite son, Bruce Wayne?
    The political intrigue takes a back seat to bickering and great sound bits of humor. But that's okay, I really did enjoy this chapter. Especially the twist of having Bruce Wayne endorse a candidate after just a couple of pages earlier Batman promises Superman that he'll not stoop to Green Arrow's level and play pundit.
   Is there going to be a major fight between the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel? I don't know, but the implications would be epic.
   
   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC Universe Decisions #1

   Someone has a grudge against the candidate for President. Not just one candidate, but all of them and the person behind the scheme is using mind controlled suicide bombers to try and eliminate all of the competition. When former Doom Patrol member Robotman is nearly killed saving one of the candidates from an assassination attempt, it prompts the Justice League to get involved with the investigations.

   Assigned to security detail for one of the Democratic candidates, League member Green Arrow discovers that the bomber is using close members of each candidate's campaign to carry out the attacks. The attack also happens live on national television right after Arrow declares to there are no active bomb threats. To save face, the hero agrees to an interview. But Ollie makes things go from bad to worse, when he accidentally gives his endorsement for the job seeker he is supposed to protect.

   I had heard from friends that this miniseries from 2008 was really preachy. Maybe it gets that way in the later issues, but this opening issue didn’t feel preachy. It felt like an intense political thriller. Sure, Green Arrow makes everyone wallow in his self-righteousness, but hey so what else is new?

   Okay- the role reversals are totally new territory. The wild card candidate that says whatever is on his mind is the Democrat. The Republican candidate is an African American female who's considered even tempered and refined. I’m telling you, it’s this year’s election only reversed...

I’m wondering if the editors at DC planned it this way to avoid backlash because co-creator/ writer Judd Winick (Batman) is considered one of the more liberal voices in comics. Or maybe his writing partner Bill Willingham (Fables) kept him wheeled in.

   A good opening act. I hope it doesn’t go downhill from there.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

DC Retroactive Justice League Of America The 80s #1

 The Detriot era of the Justice League of America may be one of the least popular in the team’s epic history. But, DC decided to focus on that time period and I think it was a great idea. The Aquaman led team has major issues and in both the lost tale and the reprint, the team bickers so much that they are their own worst enemies. And that made for some compelling reading...

   I like it when the characters show they aren’t perfect. It was what made Marvel great and though it took a long time for DC to follow suit, the company’s done a great job at showing these modern day gods their human side.

   Great read!

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC Retroactive Justice League America The 70s: #1

    In the lost tale, Adam Strange is accidently zeta-beamed to Earth Prime, where there are no superheroes, except the one’s published by DC Comics. Thankfully, a little-known editor named Julie Schwartz is there to help save the day.

   Then in the reprint, writer Cary Bates is teleported to Earth-2, where his writing skills have turned him into the Justice Society’s worst nightmare. But don't expect to know how this story finishes as you'll need the following issue to read what happens next as this tale ends on a cliffhanger.

   Both tales are great and they reflect DC’s tradition of tying the real and fake worlds together. The lost tale was so good, it should have been used in the Schwartz JLA tribute instead of Harlan Ellison’s awful tale. Still, why would you include a two-part story in a one-shot when you only include part I? 

   Great stuff- Worth Consuming. But, I am a little steamed on the editors for leaving us with a cliffhanger and no affordable options for resolution. 

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

  

 

DC Comics Presents: Justice League of America #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time EIC of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title.

In this issue, Harlan Ellison, Marv Wolfman, and Peter David contribute 2 tales surrounding a cover in which the Justice League is plagued by their super powers and weapons. The first tale is awesome. It has the future JLA going back in time to stop the newly formed League from getting decimated by a time travelling villain from the 30th century.

Sadly, Harlan Ellison’s tale really sucks rocks. Here, Schwartz is a character in his own tale, in which he dreams that his characters have taken over his life and he hates them for that! I really think that’s hogwash. Ellison, good a writer he may be, tends to embellish facts AND likes to restructure characters into more controversial subjects than they really are. Case in point: his first draft for City of the Edge of Forever in which Scotty was to become a drug addict.

Thankfully, the first tale makes this issue worth consuming, but just barely.

Worth Consuming!

  Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #85

The conclusion of the Ice story line has Ice pitted against her crazed brother in a battle to the death. It’s got some really good fight sequences and the conclusion is sufficient.

Meanwhile, the rest of the League tries to liberate this frozen kingdom from the usurper’s army. These scenes make me realize that the League has a lot of members right now with little to no super powers at all. I count 4 members at this time. That’s a bunch for what is supposed to be DC’s premiere super hero team.

From reading the editor’s notes at the end of the issue, some major changes are happening soon and I bet most of those powerless heroes will be out of work.

Worth consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Justice League America #84

Several issues ago, Ice left the League and went back to her homeland in the Nordic mountains. What she arrived to was a power struggle between her father and her brother. Now, Dad is dead and the power mad brother is turning the frozen kingdom into his own little dictatorship.

Answering an urgent call for help, the League comes to help liberate Ice and her people from captivity.

A very good issue. Great art. Last issue, I had to read a book I didn’t have to find out why guy Gardner was a murderer all of a sudden. Well, wouldn’t you know, now Guy is back on everybody’s good graces and nothing is made of what transpired in the issue I don’t have from a series I don’t yet collect.

Thankfully, there is Wikipedia to find the answers I need.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.