Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes - Posts Tagged "batman-66"

Usually, I'm not reading current comic book titles at all. Most of my graphic reading material is 40-70 years old. However, DC has released a couple of digital first titles that are worth some attention:

Batman '66 #1

There are few things that are more reviled among hardcore Batman fans than the 1966 Batman series. Basically, they feel that they took the gritty creation of Bob Kane and turned him into unanimated Dudley Do-right that was played for laughs.

DC and its parent company Warner Brothers has shown little interest in resolving the rights issues with Fox to at last give the show a DVD release. However, the series remains very popular with fans who (like me) were first introduced to Batman and Robin in this very fun series.

After Tim Burton's Batman movies, Batman: The Animated Series, the Christopher Nolan Batman series, and a series of Batman comic stories that are darker than a black hole, DC decided to give us Batman '66, a series of comic books based on the TV show continuity as a digital first release.

">Batman '66 #1 written by Jeff Parker manages to get the series started off right. It introduces to our key characters with Parker capturing them almost pitch perfect versions of Batman, Robin, Chief O'Hara, and our special guest villain, the Riddler. The plot is pretty basic: The Riddler breaks up a picnic where Commissioner Gordon is being honored and it's up to Batman to stop him. Riddler is Frank Gorshin's definitive version of the character.

The electronic story has an almost animated feel to it as several of the ninety-five screens are repeats with the previous but with a bit of dialog or action added in.

It really captured the spirit of the series right up to its final screen with its teaser for the next issue.

The question is, "Will Jeff Reynolds be able to maintain this nostalgic tone without falling into modern comic book tropes that turn off some readers like me? Will we see character like Egghead and Louie the Lilac. Find out same Bat Day, same Bat comic.

Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5.0

Adventures of Superman #10

The Adventures of Superman takes one shot stories out of current continuity written by a rotating crop of writers. This has actually been a series of decent stories that do a better job of capturing the spirit of Superman.

This issue, "A Day in the Life" focuses on a day in the life of Superman's most bitter foe, Lex Luthor.

The stories not bad, but it's hardly that original. We basically get to see how Lex Luthor spend a day being an evil genius CEO. Laughing merrily as he lays a group of scientist and keeping a notebook, an evil notebook.

Superman faces a robotic foe he fights all day long prior to a confrontation with Lex that's far from climatic.

Really, it's hard to plum new information on Lex Luthor, and to try and do so in a short digital release story was probably the author's reach exceeding his grasp.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.0

I expect better for Issue 11 which is written by Tom DeFalco.

Batman '66 #34:

This issue brings back a lesser-remember Batman villain from the TV series, Marsha Queen of Diamonds and she has a totally outlandish and audacious scheme that strikes at the heart of the Dynamic duo. This was just a fun story that really was in keeping with the spirit of the TV show.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Indestructible Hulk #16:

This book served as a prelude to the inhumanity saga and finds Bruce Banner frustrated as things haven't quite gone according to plan with him giving SHIELD use of the hulk in exchange to being able to build and create scientifically. Banner's shown having to intimidate people to get more funding. (You going to argue with a guy who turns into the Hulk?) However, even his efforts to be a groundbreaking scientist are frustrated as on three straight days, the groundbreaking scientific project he's trying to create is actually solved by fellow Marvel science guys Tony Stark, Reed Richards, and Hank Pym.

Banner needs to hulk out but he needs to be restrained until it's time and for that, he needs the help of his lab assistant Randall Jessup to keep calm until the Hulk is actually needed. Jessup in some ways is reminiscent of Rick Jones. The book explains how he became equipped for dealing with out of control angry people in some nice flashbacks. Jessup's a good character though I'm dubious at why Waid so openly tips his hands as to what will happen to him.

Overall, this was a nice issue that sets up the next story arch.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Silver Surfer #2:

At the end of the last issue, the Surfer is challenged to protect an alien world and told that even if he doesn't the most important person to him, Dawn Greenwood, will be killed. He has no idea who Dawn Greenwood is but because he's Norin Radd, he will do what he can to protect the innocent and confront the Never Queen.

The Never Queen is just a great character and concept. Dawn Greenwood also is just incredibly likable and plucky. The plot takes a couple nice turns as the Surfer learns that he hasn't been told the whole truth.

Overall, I'm really enjoying this arch and the new Silver Surfer. It's the type of fun that makes people fans of science fiction in the first place.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0

Iron Man Volume 1 #53:

Mostly this was a decent issue, continuing Iron Man's battle with the flame powered cultist from Issue 52. There's nothing great or bad about the issue other than it spends a lot of time telling us backstory about a character who would never be seen again. Still Jim Starlin writes a competently done Iron Man story here.

Rating: 2.75 out of 5.0

Masks #8

This final issue of the pulp miniseries wraps up with the heroes battling the villain for the first part and then having an ethical debate about their differences, particularly in regards to their willingness to kill ranging from: none at all (Green Lama) to only if forced (Green Hornet) to as he sees fit (The Shadow). This was kind of interesting but the last issue wasn't that place. The story did end on a positive note.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

My overall thoughts on the series: It did a good job with what it had to do. With few true "superpowers" among the group of pulp heroes, they needed an enemy big enough to draw them together, but not absurdly over the top, and they succeeded. Most of the cast did get screen time and the art really does carry the story with the solid art direction of Alex Ross. While we don't get too deep with most characters, we get deep enough with everyone.

Overall series rating: 4.0 out of 5.0.

Justice League Unlimited #9:

This story features the Justice League travelling back to Camelot, which is a pretty fun concept, and there's some nice art of this battle with Morgana Le Fey.

The story is dragged down by massive amounts of padding to get this thing to 20 pages. We're given the origin story of shining night, which is great, except his role in the story is minimal. The focus of the story is Vixen (Green Lantern's rebound girlfriend after Shiera in the TV series) who spends the entire issue refusing to listen to Merlin and dragging out the story.

Rating: 1.75 out of 5.0

Star Trek #35:

In this issue of Star Trek, the Enterprise encounters a planet that is literally changing all the time with its terrain and climate changing rapidly. It's a pretty interesting concept require some good art. The story kind of peters out at the end with Spock having to struggle to keep control of his mind. I think we've seen this plot before.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.0

Peter Cannon Thunderbolt #3:

This book has some good moments, particularly the fight scene with Master Tiger as Peter Cannon begins to get some incite that tempers down some of the self-righteousness in the prior two issues. The book has its stupid parts such as a "Reverend" being part of a big military cabal of what the writer imagines to be evil people trying for some sort of ultramilitaristic end.

Still, the Master Tiger stuff carries the book and the power of the twist ending makes this an above average comic book that's worth a read.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.00

Batman'66 #36:

After several multi-parters in a row, we get a self-contained story in Batman '66 #36 as the Dynamic Duo end up facing off against the Minstrel. The Minstrel burgled Wayne Manor, not knowing that Wayne was Batman and stole the Shakespeare, not knowing that it contains the key to the Batcave, leaving our heroes locked out of the Batcave.

The Minstrel isn't a memorable villain but Jeff Parker makes this a fun issue anyway with answers to questions like how the Batmobile accesses the Batcave but not every other car. Also, we get to see our heroes in two costumes that are even more retro. They look they were out of one of the 1940s Movie serials, plus a makeshift Batmobile. Overall, this is just another solid issue in these great run.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0

Iron Man Vol. 1 #54

This is another one of those issues where Submariner and Iron Man go at each other. In this case, the cause is Iron Man's armor being hijacked by a woman known as Madam MacEvil, one of the silliest named villains ever.

Madam MacEvil, who would later be known by the more awesome moniker of Moondragon premiers as an impatient woman who wants to capture and enslave the Submariner and her solution is to take over Iron Man and send him into the ocean (where the Submariner's strongest) to fight him.

The surprising thing is that the Sub-mariner does shows some restraint (explaining how Tony Stark could survive the event) The story is goofy but actually pretty fun and featured pencils by Bill Everett, the creator of the Submariner.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0

Mr. T and the T-Force #5:

The change in direction from the first four issues in Issue 5 is stark. Issue 2 had Mr. T fighting a giant Aztec and then finding drug-induced demons after being force fed drugs. This comic is much more mundane as we have three separate plots going at once. There's some action but nothing like we saw in previous issues. Don't get me wrong. There's plenty of Mr. T being a good guy in an urban setting, and the writing is decent but just so.

Rating: 2.75 out of 5.0

Justice League Adventures:

There's a crisis in several different cities involving women with a magic sticks and an evil mastermind behind it all. This leads to the Justice League going of by twos with Batman and Superman, Flash and Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern and Hawkgirl pairing off. It's interesting to see how they work and how the Martian Manhunter comes into it. This isn't a spectacular comic, but has some good character moments and would rate higher with a better villain.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0

There's a crisis in several different cities involving women with a magic sticks and an evil mastermind behind it all. This leads to the Justice League going of by twos with Batman and Superman, Flash and Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern and Hawkgirl pairing off. It's interesting to see how they work and how the Martian Manhunter comes into it. This isn't a spectacular comic, but has some good character moments and would rate higher with a better villain.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0

Indestructible Hulk #17:

After the fall out of another event, we're presented with this miniseries which begins with Bruce Banner at last trying to realize the goal of the whole series. The whole reason Banner agreed to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. was so that he could actually use his genius for good while Hulk could help S.H.I.E.L.D. smash when necessary. However, "Hulk destroys, Banner builds" is not a reality, but a somewhat meaningless mission statement. However, after radioactive fall out of a battle with Thanos leaves anyone with any relation to the Inhumans undergoing a serious mutation. Banner is the man to solve it but Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Hank Pym (original Ant Man) try to take over his lab, give him twenty-four hours to solve it, come back before the twenty-four hours are over along with Hank McCoy (Beast) and immediately prepare to take over and hand his work over to a newbie scientist leading to a massive hulkout that foreshadows a potentially cataclysmic event.

I have mixed feelings on this. I don't like my heroes acting like jerks and you have a lot of that in this book which seems kind of cynical, throwing in a civilian selling phony radioactivity suits for an extra dose. On the other hand, there's something to be said for this story and the way our characters react. We'd like to think that in crisis people would rise above this nonsense but Waid suggests that some people particularly Tony Stark and Bruce Banner may just be themselves only more. In this case, Tony Stark has had issues with Bruce Banner for a while and doesn't trust him and is a bit of a jerk anyway, so he's not going to trust Banner with so much on the line. Banner, as previous issues have shown, is getting frustrated by how everything's going and is on his last nerve. Hulking out is not a conscious decision. While it would have been nice for either of these two (particularly Stark) to care a bit more about the other 6 billion people on the planet, I think the issue was a good concept, and was nicely foreshadowed by what came in Issue 16.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0

Batman '66 #37:

This is the best concept in the entire run. A new TV series is airing featuring Batman but it bothers our hero as he is portrayed as a grim and gritty hero who gets information by beating up criminals. And people on the street and criminals alike begin to believe this as criminals fear him giving them "the Bat business."

This is a funny portrayal with a nice bit of irony. After all many fans of a grittier Batman insist that the 1960s TV series ruined the character, so how would the Batman portrayed in the TV series react? Nicely executed and with a good cliffhanger. I'll be tuning in same Bat-time to find out what happens.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

Fantastic Four Volume 1, #89:

This issue is mostly a battle book featuring the Fantastic Four fighting their classic foe, The Mole Man, and it's good for what it is. There's also some reference to the return of the Skurll. This book definitely does show its age as one of the later Lee/Kirby books as it features four full page flashes which means this has a lot less story than previous issues. Though, credit where credit is due, none of the Splashes are as silly as that one of food that Doctor Doom prepared in the previous story with Doctor Doom.

Rating: 3.25 out out of 5.0

Silver Surfer #3:

Issue 3 of the new Silver Surfer Relaunch was simply a blast as the Silver Surfer rushes to save Dawn, the Never Queen, and everyone aboard the Impericon.

It's a great and fun adventure with some great moments. This is a comic that manages to not take itself too seriously, while at the same time giving our heroes a real problem to solve. The issue ends with lots of hope and anticipation and if the rest of the series can live up to the standard set up by Issue 3, this run of the Silver Surfer could be something very special indeed.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

X-Men (2013-Present) #2:

Issue 2 of this serial continues to tell the story of the mysterious baby and the battle between John Sublime and his Sister Arkea. The story develops nicely, however there are far too many characters and none of them are that well developed by Wood. The Primer storyline feels like it would have been better later on as coming in the first three issues, it's really hard for us to get to know these characters.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Kark Waid's Green Hornet #1:

Veteran comic book writer Mark Waid wrote the perfect first issue with this book. Waid knew that he couldn't assume readers knew who the Green Hornet was, so he introduces the character but does it in a way that's not tedious and that holds our interest. In the first issue Waid does three things very well: He establishes who the Green Hornet is, he establishes what the status quo is for the Green Hornet, and he foreshadows what's to come later on in the series. This is the ideal first issue as it manages to maintain perfect balance.

If being well-written wasn't enough, this book was exquisitely drawn and really has a great feel for the era. Overall, this is just a top notch first issue that I heartily recommend.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

Batman Adventures #28:

The Joker is bored at Arkham so Harley Quinn hatche a zany scheme. A German psychiatrist shows up at Arkham claiming to have a plan to cure the Joker as well as some city councilmen that have recently gone psycho. There's a fun concept in the story and Harley and the Joker make a good team. The problem I have with this piece is there's no rhyme or reason to the Joker's plan or activities and usually there is some logic even if it's quite twisted. What we have here is a relatively safe Joker story with some zaniness but alas not much of a punchline.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Justice League Unlimited #30:

This is a story in which Mike Baron recycles ideas from previous writers. Want to highlight a lesser known character (or two)? Portray them alone in the Watchtower facing a threat as Adam Beechen did when writing Justice League Unlimited #5. Also, having an annoying teenager (Speedy in this case) learn to respect an elder is a weld-worn meme in this series. Overall, this doesn't work quite as well in this Issue. For one thing, Speedy (or is Red Arrow) is on screen for most the book whining and Booster Gold is very one dimensional and unlike how he was portrayed in the cartoon show or in comics in general. Plus, this younger Speedy contradicts a TV episode that aired a year before portraying Speedy as the older version of the character who went by the name of Red Arrow. The action isn't horrendous but the book itself is not well-executed at all.

Rating: 1.75 out of 5.0

Doc Savage #4:

This issue fast forwards another 18 years to 1979 with Doc Savage embittered by the loss of the cure for death, he finds himself with a brand new team of people we don't care about and haven't seen before trying to stop a former assistant who we've never seen before from completing a dangerous oil rig, and to do so so he has to team up with a cynical teenager who wonders, "Why not just let the world blow up?"

This book really doesn't work. Having read four issues, these are different from what we expect from Doc Savage adventure stories. Not only that, but the author's jumping in time to ensure that a third of each issue has flashbacks and introductions of the characters and the event we missed is really tedious. There's nothing in this bool that makes me want to pick up Issue 5 and find out what happens next. The character of Doc Savage is unrecognizable in terms of personality, and the story is just not that special.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.0

Daredevil: Road Warrior #3

Things unfold nicely as Daredevil begins to unfurl the truth about the mysterious stranger without a heartbeat he followed from the airport and discovered what classic Marvel villain is behind it all. Can't wait for Part four.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0

Peter Cannon Thunderbolt #4:

Issue 4 of Peter Cannon features a Christian extremist taking a pot shot at Peter Cannon because he's nuts and he's abusive and he listens to TV preacher who happens to be part of the General's Cabal. The use of this trope is annoying for several reasons as it's the writer inserting his political and religious agenda into the comic at best, if not just trying to demonize a certain stripe of Christians. to be fair, the writer does balance this somewhat by the fact that he's clear that people in this guy's own church won't have anything to do with him.

The big problem here is that this random walk on character taking a pot shot at Peter Cannon is the only actual action in the story. The rest of the book is actually pretty good as we get a sense of suspense and excitement building up, but the only action is random guy shoots at Peter Cannon. Plus, we have four different views were following. We really didn't waste two pages on this walk on character who served no purpose but to advance the writer's religious views.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Mr. T and the T Force #6

Issue 6 wraps up the storylines from Issue 5 nicely and with a little more action. It's not as good as the first four issues, but this one has positive messages and just enough of Mr. T to keep it interesting.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0

Star Trek Gold Key #36:

Star Trek Gold Key comics were notorious for being nothing like the TV show and could also be kind of repetitive with them facing one generic alien menace after another with early issues even messing up the uniforms.

However, this particular was actually a very pleasant surprise as we get a very pleasant break in this pattern as a scientist has traveled back in time to disrupt history but they don't know whether it was to 1855 or 1955. Mr. Scott goes to 1855 and Kirk heads to 1955. The story is a lot fun particularly the part where Kirk thinks he landed in the wrong time and the wrong country. This book actually feels like it could have been on the original series. It's a fun story that captures what people really love about Star Trek.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0

Batman'66 Meets Green Hornet #4:

This comic moves along and does what it has to do: Our two villains are interacting, while the Dynamic Duo and the Green Hornet and Kato are converging on the villains

There's not a whole lot special about this but 2/3 of the way through we have somewhat average story. Not a whole lot bad, but not a whole lot really good has happened so far. The only real bad dialogue is the part where Batman has to explain to Robin what a philatelist is. (No way that Robin doesn't know that.) On the positive side, the book does conclude with a decent cliffhanger and I'm hopeful that the last two issues will redeem the time I've spent reading this series.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0

Iron Man, Vol. 1, Issue 55:

This is a landmark book drawn and co-written by Jim Starlin which introduces the villain Thanos as well as Drax the Destroyer. In many ways, the story seems somewhat out of nowhere, but with all the changes happening on Iron Man at the time, that's kind of par for the course. But as an issue, it's well written and fun, and introduces a character who would be key at Marvel for decades to come.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0

Flash #23:

Like in many modern comics, the story is kind of slow and not a whole lot happens although we do have a great reveal of who the Reverse Flash is as well as an idea of what he's aiming for. By rights, we should also have a resolution. However, this is dragged out to Issue 24 due to only 17 pages of story, much of which is taken up by Barry Allen's girlfriend Patti who seems to be more worried that he might miss her parents 30th Anniversary party than that he might get killed by a supervillain who has already murdered several other people with Speed Force powers. Ah, priorities. Got to love them.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0

Mr. T and the T Force #7:

Mr. T continues his one man crusade against crime. (Though this was supposed to be a group book, I don't miss the lack of T force) as Mr. T goes after a gang of jewel thieves and he suspects someone he knows is involved. As usual, there's a few corny bits but the story works pretty well with a lot more action than seen in the prior storyline. It's a cliffhanger with a decent set up even if it's a little silly (though with a serious message.) We'll see how they wrap it up in Issue 8.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0

World's Finest #7:

This book continues on from Issue 6 and finds Huntress and Damian Wayne teamed up on the trail of whoever's been stealing money from Bruce Wayne (other than of course the Huntress who is the daughter of Earth's 2 Bruce Wayne) while Karen investigates a related issue in Africa.

To be honest, I'd been losing interest in this series, but this book was really fun and renewed my interest. Both parts of the story were well-told and Paul Levitz did a great job building mystery, so I'll definitely be back for issue 8.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0

Silver Surfer #4

The Silver Surfer is taking Dawn back to Earth, but first he has to meet with cover guest stars, the Guardians of the Galaxy who are serving as de facto custom's agents for Earth when the SIlver Surfer returns Dawn to Earth.

The story continues to be fun. This issue has some good humor that's done perfectly as the Silver Surfer and eating a fish dinner in New England create very natural easy comedy.

The ending was intriguing though if it states the new status quo of the series, it would be somewhat disconcerting. Overall, I continue to really enjoy every issue of this new series.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

X-men #3:

A satisfying solution to the opening story arch with some nice action. Still not sold on this comic.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

She-Hulk #1:

This is a great first issue for a series I picked up on a whim. She Hulk (Jennifer Walters, formerly of the Fantastic Four and currently of the Avengers) finds herself dismissed from her law firm job when she refuses to use her superhero connections to steer work to her law firm. On her own, she finds herself thrust into a case for a woman who's suing a Stark subsidiary over a patent issue. She-Hulk thinks she can settle it in a simple conversation with Tony but it doesn't work out this way,

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. She-hulk's a good character and I liked how the writer worked the legal stuff into the story. If I had one complaint with the issue, it was that it was a tad text-heavy, but I'm left curious that I'll probably take a gander at issue 2.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0

Mark Waid's Green Hornet #2:

This second issue of Green Hornet builds on the foundation Waid laid in Issue 1 as we begin to get glimpses of a plot that's being unfurled to fool Britt Reid and trap the Green Hornet. Waid really is spinning a great tale that feels like a 1930s political thriller laced into the crime fighting tale.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Batman-Robin Adventures #6:

A supermarket tabloid reports that Batman has fired Robin, a story that Batman thinks is no big problem until a crook captures one of a phalanx of wannabe Batman sidekicks believing him to be the new Robin and holds him for ransom. Now Batman and Robin have to rescue the fake Robin while dealing with a phalanx of wannabe replacement Robins.

This is a great story with a lighter touch. It's good comedy because it introduces our characters into a comedic situation and then just has them respond naturally. I love Lieutenant Bullock's line to one of the wannabes, "Lady, we don't need you amateur loonies dressing up like the professional loonies." 'Nuff said. A great issue without a single supervillain in sight.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0

Mr. T and the T Force #8:

A supermarket tabloid reports that Batman has fired Robin, a story that Batman thinks is no big problem until a crook captures one of a phalanx of wannabe Batman sidekicks believing him to be the new Robin and holds him for ransom. Now Batman and Robin have to rescue the fake Robin while dealing with a phalanx of wannabe replacement Robins.

This is a great story with a lighter touch. It's good comedy because it introduces our characters into a comedic situation and then just has them respond naturally. I love Lieutenant Bullock's line to one of the wannabes, "Lady, we don't need you amateur loonies dressing up like the professional loonies." 'Nuff said. A great issue without a single supervillain in sight.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0

Justice League Unlimited #31:

The book is actually pretty formulaic: Have Metamorpho act like a jerk who thinks he's all that and have him humbled by the one villain who could actually be a threat so he learns the value of teamwork. Never mind that Metamorpho appeared in the original Justice League series and was nothing like that...we have a moral to awkwardly repeat.

The book gets two stars because Metamorpho is awesome and the way he defeats the villains was a thing of beauty even if he was acting like a jerk to set up the author's moral.

Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0

Spectacular Spider-man Annual #7:

his book follows up on the successful Spider-man wedding story with a look at Peter and Mary Jane's honeymoon in France. The Puma featured on the cover but his role is not as sinister as the cover applies. Though he does interrupt the honeymoon to offer Parker an $80,000 a year job as a debt of honor.

Spider-man and Puma don't like each other but Peter feels the need to take the job in order to ensure that MJ can continue to live in the manner to which she's become accustomed after some of her jet-setting friends look down at him.

This a good story. It's a weak spot is that it begins with 3 or 4 pages of the Puma being scolded by his grandfather for not having repaid Spider-man. It's a ton of backstory thrown at us up front. However, the rest of the book more than makes up for it. Peter and Mary Jane are a delightful couple with many sweet, romantic, and tasteful scenes that show them enjoying the start of married life without being graphic or gratuitous. The emotional struggle of both is also very adult and well-done as we feel Peter's pressure to measure up and be worthy of Mary Jane while Mary Jane tries to be supportive. Overall, a nicely done issue that's a very fun read.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Fantastic Four #90:

This comic has the Fantastic Four (under the leadership of Reed Richards) letting the Mole Man stage an escape because they believe in the due process of law, but as Reed says, they also believe the law is incapable of dealing with supervillains because while there may be a law against bank robbery, there's no law against trying to take over the Earth. (really, Reed?) and so the FF is discouraged from trying to stop the Mole Man from escaping. The Thing leaves in disgust but unfortunately for him, a Skrull has him targeted as a potential slave. This isn't horrible, but given what the cover and title is, a lot of the story is taken up by Reed Richards being stupid.

Ratings: 1.75 out of 5.0


Fantastic Four #91:

Ben Grimm is taken captive to the Skrull homeworld as a slaver to fight in the games. Pretty interesting drawing. The aliens dress like humans from the 1930s so this calls to mind that Star Trek episode, "A Piece of the Action." Okay, but not spectacular.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Justice League Adventures #9:

How do you balance superhero and social life? When you're the fastest man alive, you find a way. The Flash (Wally West) is on a date with a beautiful woman and being paged constantly by the Justice League but for him it's just a matter of a quick run out to save the world and then back before his date notices he's gone. It's a fun concept and it's nicely handled here, plus I appreciated how the writers pulled all the emergencies together.

My one complaint is that the look of Wally was wrong with Wally being drawn as a blonde, but this may have been written before, "Star Crossed," when we saw Wally without his mask, but then again the main DC Universe version of Wally was a red head not a blond. Hair coloring aside, it was a good issue.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Batman '66 #39:

The description listed by Amazon wrong. This story is actually by the archer stealing police equipment and setting up his own phony criminal police force. The result is a very solid piece that fits nicely into the world of the TV series and Batman has a very clever solution that his henchwoman tries to stare the Archer away from. However, the archer has gotten so into character that he believes he's required to do so as a debt of honor. The henchwoman comments on a con believing his own line. Just a very good and enjoyable story.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Star Trek (Gold Key) #38:

There are Gold Key Comics that are laughably silly and then there's this issue which feels like a true Star Trek story. In some ways, the plot calls to mind the TNG story, "Chain of Command." as Kirk has to leave the Enterprise on a secret mission to thwart Klingon attempts to subvert a peaceful civilization. The story isn't without its faults, but it really does shine with Kirk involved in a truly interesting mission and a chance to see how much Kirk is beloved by his crew. A fantastic story.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Batman '66 Meets Green Hornet #6

I had problems with the first few installments of this series, but I really feel that it hit its stride in the last two issues. This one sees the cliffhanger from part five resolved in style and then the Dynamic Duo putting their heads together in classic 1960s Batman fashion to find the Joker and Colonel Gumm's next target. And then it wraps up with a great twist ending. For those who have been patient with this series' faults, it's really starting to pay off nicely.

Rating: 4.75 out of 5.0

Mr. T and the T-Force #9


This comic delivers what we’ve come to expect from Mr. T and the F-Force: Mr. T being awesome and beating up bad guys. The story, like many prior versions has two plotlines running at once but they combine them well. Mr. T is wanted for questioning in murder. At the same time, he has to find a distraught young pregnant girl who has already attempted suicide. Good action and suspense building towards the series finale in Issue 10.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.00

flash Gordon #2:

Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, and Professor Zarkoff are pretending to be agent from the Planet Mongo in a forest kingdom ruled by Arborians, who are blue people. The comic is a lot of fun as we get to see a lot of Flash's daring do and his love of adventure but also get to see his heroic instincts when confronted with how Mongo turns men into their warrior slaves. Those pages are chilling and Flash's reaction really gives a picture of what type of hero he is.

Rating: 4.75 out of 5.0

Superman Adventures #47:

I have to admit I was somewhat concerned when I saw the cover as Superman Adventures had already done the whole "shrinking Superman" concept but I was pleasantly surprised to see them take a different angle. What they produce here is not a ripoff of the prior story but a much more surprising sort of Science Fantasy story. It's a very fun issue.

Silver Surfer #5:

I really was somewhat nervous when Issue 4 of Silver Surfer ended with our hero somewhat earthbound. But I shouldn't have been. It's not a matter of Galactus' barrier being put in place, it's just that every life on the planet is in danger and only one person can actually save them.

I appreciated the call back of Hulk and Doctor Strange, the Surfer's former colleagues on the Defenders as was appropriate for such a big threat.

More importantly, Slott made Dawn's continuing roll in the series plausible as we see how the same type of love that makes it hard for Dawn to leave, makes it hard for them to hold her there. Overall, this was a great issue in a wonderful book. Forward to greater adventures ahead.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0

She-Hulk #3:

Every Marvel hero worth their salt has to battle Doctor Doom every once in a while. It's safe to say that this particular battle is certainly unusual one. Doom's heir Kristoff wants asylum because he fears becoming Doom's heir and puppet. However, Kristoff has been in the country more than a year and for him to have any prayer of getting asylum, Jennifer Walters has to get him to court, but she has to go through Doom's efficient robots to do it.

Overall, I'd rate this comic 3.5 stars. The first flash page was a bit unsettling though somewhat justified by later parts of the story. The story was humorous but not near as funny as the prior issues.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

Indestructible Hulk #20

This issue wrapped up the Inhumanity saga and the 20-issue Indestructible Hulk series with a change of character for Banner. It was similar in some way that experienced by Matt Murdoch in the final issue of Daredevil Volume 3, though not quite as well-realized. The Inhumanity storyline showed the ugliness in Bruce Banner who's frustration with his life as the Hulk wasn't that his having to focus on running away as the Hulk or on curing the Hulk cost the world the advances he could discover but rather that fate had left him second rate. This issue sees him confront the issue, but his realization is short-lived as our attention demanded by the close which sets up the next series.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Green Hornet #4:

The theme of Waid's Green Hornet in the first three issues has been the ability of power to corrupt. Issue 3 showed how corrupt the Hornet could get and how blind power made Britt Reid. In this issue, the fall begins and it is a stunning occurrence. We don't see who the man who pulls the strings is but we see that he is diabolically clever and Reid isn't prepared for what he's about to go through. I should say the book does it earns 15+ rating with violence that's a bit more extreme than your typical comic book. The book left me very curious what Issue 5 would hold.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Justice League Unlimited #34:

General Zod from the Phantom Zone by Mr. Mxyzptlik and it's up to the Justice League to save Superman. This issue illustrates what every bad issue of JLU did in the most extreme.

The story had lazy continuity with Superman having claimed never having met Zod, despite the fact this occurred in Superman: The Animated Series. It might be too much to expect the writers for JLU to know every comic story published for the DC Animated Universe, but someone editing this should've known the TV shows. They don't and it shows here.

The story is very slow getting going which leads to a very rushed conclusion. This horrific pacing is added to by the fact that Mr. Mxyzptlik is acting totally out of character by spring Zod. In fact, he's only in the story as a plot device.

This is a lazy and boring story that fails to entertain.

Rating: 1.25 out of 5.0

Batman and Robin Adventures #18:

This story finds Joker depressed as all of his criminal efforts seem in vain. However, Harley is determined to cheer him up the only way she knows how: killing Batman.

In many ways, this story seems like a lighter version of Paul Dini's classic, Mad Love. However, this particular story takes a couple different turns. The relationship between Joker and Harley remains center stage and Templeton's writing really captures its disturbing yet hilarious nature. The end is a nice touch too.

Rating: 3.75 out of 4.0

Batman '66 #43:

This issue wasn't quite as good as what came before. Batman and Robin have to talk their way out of the death trap and really there's far too much standing around talking in this issue. Also, I'm very share of writing "whack whack whack" into the Penguin's dialogue as it doesn't quite seem right for a comic book, particularly when he does it so much. The book has some good moments and while the Penguin's actions were predictable, it was still fun to read. Overall, the Widow saves this story though it's not quite as fun as the one that came before it.

Rating 3.0 out of 5.0