Category: DC Comics

Written by Chris Claremont

Art by Joshua Hood; Sean Parsons; Jack Morelli; & Guy Major

Cover Art by Art Adams & Guy Major

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for September 2003, the penultimate installment of this six-part mini-series is entitled “Fatal Fire.”  Martian Manhunter and Kishana Lewis emotionally connect.  Discovering her ancestral destiny she joins the League’s stand against the demonic invaders.  In the resort’s basement, Jade & a monstrous Wonder Woman fight back, though the mutated Amazon’s ongoing corruption evidently becomes complete.  High above Black Spirit Lake, Superman and Martian Manhunter launch an incendiary counterstrike vs. the demons to destroy its interdimensional portal to/from Earth.  Batman, Flash, Plastic Man, and Kishana find that the League’s last ditch efforts may be too little too late.      

REVIEW:

Setting up for the finish line, writer Chris Claremont does inspired work fusing the JLA with a Stephen King or Dean Koontz-style concept.  The detriment, however, is that Claremont spends considerable time during Issues # 3-5 re-spinning and telegraphing the same plot twists without progressing the story much – i.e. references to the same basic details readers already know. 

Still, one wonders if Claremont meant to spell out the story thus far to readers just tuning in or if it’s just page filler.  Much  like the League is fighting to buy more time vs. their foe, Claremont, to a lesser degree, is killing time in Issue # 5.  In other words, the suspense-packed Scary Monsters might have been a taut five-issue adventure vs. a bloated half-dozen issues.  Still, Claremont’s savvy storytelling is hard to match.

Deserving kudos, this art squad’s visuals remain consistently high-caliber.  It’s inexplicable, as of this writing, why JLA: Scary Monsters hasn’t merited a compilation hardcover/trade paperback from DC Comics.  Holding up exceptionally well years later, it’s definitely due for re-discovery.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Written by a supposed ‘mole,’ the “DC in Demand” column includes thumbnail cover reveals for: Empire # 1; Formerly Known as The Justice League # 1; Superman: Birthright # 1; Batman # 620; and Teen Titans # 1.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:          7 Stars

Written by Chris Claremont

Art by Joshua Hood; Sean Parsons; Jack Morelli; & Guy Major

Cover Art by Art Adams & Guy Major

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for August 2003, the fourth installment for this six-part mini-series is entitled “Super Freaks.”  With each resurgence, the relentless demonic invasion keeping coming back stronger and for longer durations.  The League realizes that severe cold is their best weapon, but the demonic link to mortal Kishana Lewis remains an enigma.  Martian Manhunter draws closer to the pivotal answer.  A still-mutating Wonder Woman inspires the League’s desperate counter-strike.  The invasion’s mole makes its move, as the seemingly impregnable resort is breached.     

REVIEW:

Up front, as with the first three issues, writer Chris Claremont effectively fuses the JLA with a Stephen King or Dean Koontz-style concept.  The problem, however, is that Claremont spends far too much time during Issues # 3-5 re-spinning the same tantalizing plot twists without progressing the story much – i.e. the JLA keep reviewing the same basic details they already know.  Much like the JLA is fighting to buy more time against their foe, Claremont does the same in this issue to readers.  In other words, the suspense-packed Scary Monsters should have been a taut five-issue adventure vs. risking a bloated half-dozen issues.  Still, Claremont’s intelligent storytelling can’t be denied.  

Earning excellent marks for consistency, this art squad’s visuals remain high-caliber.  It’s inexplicable, as of this writing, why JLA: Scary Monsters hasn’t merited a compilation hardcover/trade paperback from DC Comics.  Holding up exceptionally well years later, it’s definitely due for re-discovery.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Written by a supposed ‘mole,’ the “DC in Demand” column includes thumbnail cover reveals for: Outsiders # 1; Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity # 1; Birds of Prey # 56; The Demon: Drive Out # 1; and Green Arrow: Sounds of Violence.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    7 Stars

Written by Chris Claremont

Art by Joshua Hood; Sean Parsons; Jack Morelli; & Guy Major

Cover Art by Art Adams & Guy Major

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for July 2003, the third installment for this six-part mini-series is entitled “Bloody Bones.”  Having rescued Wonder Woman from an ominously-frozen Black Spirit Lake, the League discovers that her body is slowly being demonically corrupted.  As the League fortifies the isolated resort for an increasingly likely last stand, Superman survives a second run-in with the hellacious demons. 

With Linda Park-West recruited to help keep panic down amongst the resort’s occupants, the team (including Jade) explores Abel Carmody’s fortress-like manor home, which is now the present-day resort.  At The Daily Planet, Lois Lane worries about her injured husband.  Wonder Woman’s alien-like mutation continues.  Martian Manhunter explores U.S. Forest Service smokejumper Kishana Lewis’ psyche for possible answers.  Wearing down, the League realizes that this on-and-off demonic siege is taking its toll.             

REVIEW:

Aside from ignoring the obvious (why isn’t Zatanna Zatara and/or Doctor Fate being summoned?), writer Chris Claremont conveys an excellent continuation of this storyline.  Specifically, Claremont sets up some pertinent details re: the invasion’s ultimate outcome in Issue # 6.  It’s an added bonus that Linda Park-West, Lois Lane, and Jade (Jenny-Lynn Hayden) appear within the plot, though their contributions are mostly relegated to the background.  More so, Claremont has conjured up an effective new adversary for the League that bears a welcome sense of unknown dark magic.        

Like the first two issues, the art squad does a dynamite job re: the visuals (i.e. the intriguing cover image).  As evidenced by another impressive issue here, JLA: Scary Monsters absolutely deserves re-discovery.  It’s inexplicable, as of this writing, why this suspenseful mini-series hasn’t merited a compilation hardcover/trade paperback from DC Comics.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Written by a supposed ‘mole,’ the “DC in Demand” column includes thumbnail cover reveals for several kick-off issues: among them, Human Defense Corps # 1; Arkham Asylum: Living Hell # 1; JSA: All-Stars # 1; and Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day # 1.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:         8 Stars

Written by Chris Claremont

Art by Joshua Hood; Sean Parsons; Jack Morelli; & Guy Major

Cover Art by Art Adams

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for June 2003, the second installment for this six-part mini-series is entitled “Cold Front.”  Now identified as Black Spirit Lake in the Badlands, the Justice League discovers a comatose Flash (Wally West) and Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), along with the sole surviving U.S. Forest Service smokejumper, Kishana Lewis.  While attending their critically-injured members, the League investigates Black Spirit Lake. 

It’s revealed that the African American ex-soldier-turned-local industrialist, Abel Carmody, built his fortress-like home at Black Spirit Lake, which ultimately becomes a present-day palatial resort –seemingly isolated from the rest of the world.  Martian Manhunter tries interviewing Kishana Lewis.  An outmatched Superman barely escapes a demonic presence in the surrounding forest.  Exploring Black Spirit Lake, Wonder Woman goes missing in action.   

REVIEW:

Writer Chris Claremont does a solid job in Round 2, but he must overcome two continuity gaffes from the first issue.  First, Issue # 1’s Spirit Lake is now called Black Spirit Lake – presumably, this twist relates to Abel Carmody’s destiny following the previous issue’s prologue.  At least, identifying this storyline’s historic Old West locale as South Dakota’s Badlands makes good storytelling sense. 

In contrast (as far as wonky continuity), an exhausted Flash & Green Lantern appear otherwise fine at the end of Issue # 1, but Claremont now depicts them comatose and critically-injured (at least, psychically).  While this after-effect works dramatically, Claremont needs to make up his mind, for consistency’s sake, what exactly the demonic presence will do.  Still, his plotting makes JLA: Scary Monsters an intriguing read, much like the storytelling various writers would later conjure up the ongoing JLA: Classified series starting in 2005.

As with the first issue, the art squad’s visuals are high-caliber (i.e. the spot-on cover image).  Yet, as of this writing, as evidenced by this well-produced issue, why exactly JLA: Scary Monsters hasn’t merited a compilation hardcover/trade paperback from DC Comics remains a mystery.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Written by a supposed ‘mole,’ the “DC in Demand” column includes thumbnail cover reveals for Sweatshop # 1; The Legion # 19; Outsiders # 1; Superman: Red Son # 1; and a crossover between Green Arrow # 23 and Green Lantern # 162.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:        7½ Stars

Written by Chris Claremont

Art by Joshua Hood; Sean Parsons; Jack Morelli; & Guy Major

Cover Art by Art Adams & Guy Major

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for May 2003, the standard-length opener for this six-part mini-series is simply entitled “Scary Monsters.”  In the prologue, an Old West flashback to 1877 through the journal of U.S. Army 6^th Cavalry soldier Abel Carmody.  Carmody reveals that the cavalry’s tragic annihilation of a Native American tribe is a precursor to a terrifying supernatural incursion seemingly from Hell itself. 

In present-day 2003, the Justice League’s members quietly attend to their personal lives.  At the posh and secluded Spirit Lake resort, a vacationing Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), Jade (Jenny-Lynn Hayden), Flash (Wally West), and Linda Park-West initially enjoy couples time, though it’s odd that the resort is virtually deserted.  An unexpected crisis sends in Flash and Green Lantern to rescue a group of Forest Service smokejumpers from a demonic inferno threatened to engulf them.           

REVIEW:

Well-played!  Writer Chris Claremont brings his X-Men storytelling magic to the Justice League, and this opener brims with intriguing potential.  In particular, Claremont demonstrates a likable take on the character personalities, such as the Kyle-Jenny/Wally-Linda double-date.  The same applies to Wally & Kyle’s chemistry in their  Flash and Green Lantern personas.  Even better are the excellent visuals (i.e. the cover image) start to finish from the art squad.  Suffice to say, this creative team’s JLA: Scary Monsters # 1 is a convincing advertisement to seek out the complete mini-series.        

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Written by a supposed ‘mole,’ the “DC in Demand” column includes thumbnail cover reveals for Smallville # 1; H-E-R-O # 2; and JSA # 46.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:             8 Stars

Written by Paul Levitz

Art by Joe Staton; Joe Giella; Ben Oda; & Adrienne Roy

Cover Art by Joe Staton & Dick Giordano

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for September-October 1978, this issue is entitled “World on the Edge of Ending.”  In an unknown dimension within DC’s Earth-Two universe, Hawkman & Doctor Fate are ominously warned by the mystical Master Summoner of their Earth’s imminent destruction. 

Meanwhile, Power Girl, Green Lantern, & Hawkman intervene in a Chinese-Russian skirmish on the River Amur.  It’s up to Doctor Fate, Huntress, & Flash to thwart a terrorist group’s hostage-taking scheme at a Montreal women’s rights conference.  Battling calamities all over Earth, the JSA doesn’t realize that their own powers are being used to cause these disasters.  Doctor Fate may be the team’s only option to deduce a means of thwarting the real threat.

Note: Appearing in cameos are: Sandman; Dr. Mid-Nite; Starman; Atom: Superman; Hourman; Wonder Woman; Robin; Johnny Thunder; and the Star-Spangled Kid.

REVIEW:

Amusing hyped as an epic-length (25 pages) adventure, All-Star Comics # 74 retains its old-school DC magic.  Writer Paul Levitz’s formulaic script splits the story into five chapters, as the issue’s lead JSA members (Huntress; Green Lantern; Hawkman; Doctor Fate; Flash; and Power Girl) are all given solid moments.  A few sequences (i.e. Huntress & Power Girl’s lunch scene and Green Lantern’s philosophical disagreement with Hawkman) are exceptionally well-played. 

On a side note, an image of the Master Summoner fading away suspiciously resembles an absent Batman’s familiar silhouette.  It’s a clever foreshadowing of a historic tragedy coming up for the JSA.  Geared for all ages, All-Star Comics # 74 makes a reasonably entertaining read.      

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There are three single-page extras: 1. The “All-Star Comments” letters-and-answers column; 2. Answer Man’s “DC Explosion” guide to what comic titles the company’s biggest-name characters are currently appearing in; and 3. publisher Jenette Kahn’s “DC Publishorial” (an editorial) about DC’s effort against the rising price of comics.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               7 Stars

Written by Paul Levitz

Art by Joe Staton; Joe Giella; Joe Orlando; Adrienne Roy; & Todd Klein

Cover Art by Joe Staton & Joe Giella

SUMMARY:

Entitled “Be It Ever So Deadly …,” it was published by DC Comics for July-August 1978. On DC’s Earth-Two, a critically wounded Wildcat is watched over in a hospital ICU by Green Lantern Alan Scott; Jay Garrick’s Flash; & Power Girl.  Retrieving a freeze ray device from JSA Headquarters, the Huntress (Helena Wayne) is ambushed by the jealous Golden Age villainess sharing the same alias. 

Her co-conspirators – Thorn and the Sportsmaster simultaneously target Jay’s wife, Joan, which sends the Flash and Power Girl into action against them.  Green Lantern may be Helena’s sole hope of rescue, as the freeze ray might medically save Wildcat’s life. 

“Elsewhere,” in an Ancient Egypt-like realm, Doctor Fate and Hawkman are forced to stand before the grim Master Summoner.

REVIEW:

Writer Paul Levitz’s scripting delivers a vintage 1970’s Justice Society adventure.  Notably, Wildcat’s medical dilemma is well-balanced by two exciting sub-plots.  Helena Wayne’s team-up with Green Lantern also really clicks, as the original Huntress makes a surprisingly formidable opponent — even when facing a formidable 2-on-1 handicap. 

However, Levitz is let down at times by occasionally rudimentary artwork, including the inexplicable sight of middle-aged Joan Garrick as a young blonde (as if she is far closer to Helena’s twenty-something age).  Even if this issue’s visuals don’t age well, All-Star Comics # 73 at least remains a solid read as all-ages DC entertainment.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

In addition to the “All Star Comments” letters-and-answers column, there is a single-page “Daily Planet” news-and-notes column.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:              6 Stars

Written by Rick Veitch

Art by Rick Veitch; Gary Erskine; Brian Miller; & Travis Lanham

Cover Art by (Uncredited: presumably Rick Veitch & Gary Erskine)

SUMMARY:

Published by Vertigo Comics (a DC Comics imprint) for August 2007, this issue is entitled “Truth and Dare.”   In their resort hotel room in the Gulf of Amhen, the married Col. Healey and his female assistant, Woyner, conduct a game of extramarital Kama Sutra.  At Afbaghistan’s local airport, elderly Secretary Stelaphane arrives with his female assistant, Major Frick; a soldier named Flabbergast; and, restrained to a stretcher, Allie (Healey’s sedated wife), who is evidently suffering from the effects of attempted suicide. 

In Edgefield, New Jersey, a married couple reveals their various indiscretions to each other in multiple scenes.  Stelaphane sends Woyner to watch over a teary-eyed Allie’s hospitalization.  Healey submits to Stelaphane’s  panic-driven polygraph test (the torture device resembles a recumbent exercise bike). 

In Afbaghistan, Flabbergast’s tank unit needs a corporal’s mother to help a fast food restaurant’s hostage crisis.  While Healey suffers during his interrogation, Woyner (in local attire) ominously discusses with two Afbaghi female conspirators about selling his confidential cell phone to North Koreenia.

REVIEW:

Aside from gratuitous nudity, sex, and a f-bomb festival, what exactly writer Rick Veitch accomplishes through this wretched satire is anybody’s guess.  Calling it a military soap opera parody is no excuse for Vertigo Comics’ sleaze-peddling.  All that’s readily apparent re: Veitch’s tawdry ‘for mature readers’ storyline is the waste of a talented art team.  Including the issue’s sardonic cover, the decent art quality is the sole reason this vulgar comic doesn’t receive a complete zero rating.     

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There’s David Lapham’s single-page “On the Edge” news-and-notes column.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               1 Star

Written by Joe Kelly

Art by Adrian Sibar; Rodney Ramos; Tanya Horie; Richard Horie; & Sean Konot

Cover Art by Howard Chaykin & Edgar Delgado

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint for June 2009, this installment of the six-part ‘mature readers’ mini-series is entitled “Chapter Three: La Mariposa.” 

A crew of flamboyant Brooklyn mobsters headed by ‘Daddy’ are in San Francisco forcibly looking into the suspicious cable car death of one of their cronies, “Hawk” Falconetti.  At a nearby diner, suave tango dancer (and ex-mobster) Vincente “Vinnie” Ponticello ponders his next move after sitting down with his transgender ex-girlfriend, Autumn.  After Vinnie’s sultry new lover, Mel, and their mutual friend, Rodney, are questioned by the local police re: Hawk’s demise, a troubled Mel darkly hints to Vinnie that she senses the truth.  The police are evidently giving ‘Daddy’ a wide berth to operate. 

Vinnie is furious at a chameleon-like Autumn’s presence in his life.  They both realize there may be retribution for their secret involvement in Hawk’s death.  Mel & Vinnie’s dance montage is interspersed with a flashback to Vinnie’s romantic past with Autumn.  To escape their predicament, Autumn reveals to Vinnie an audacious robbery scheme she has in mind.  A lethal net may ensnare Mel first because of them.    

REVIEW:

As Mel (plagued by an icky personal quirk) is this comic’s only remotely appealing personality, it’s indicative of the story’s putrid nature.  In spite of how wildly profane Bang! Tango # 3 is, the art team’s interior visuals are still B-caliber.  More so, the provocative cover image implying Autumn’s complex nature is sophisticated, as compared to this sleazy attempt  at modern noir/pulp fiction.  For instance, multiple f-bombs aren’t an adequate substitute for dialogue.  The same applies to relying on naughty inferences in lieu of actually building the story’s characters.  Inhabited by a generally repulsive cast, Bang! Tango # 3 wants to be a sexy and enigmatic juxtaposition between tango dancing and a mob thriller.  Instead, it’s a sorry excuse for adult entertainment.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Aldous Pogue offers a single-page “On the Edge” column promoting The Great Fables Crossover.  An eight-page preview (including six pages from Issue # 1) offers a new Vertigo series: The Unwritten.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 2 Stars

Written by Len Kaminski

Art by Aluir Amancio; Claude St. John; Kurt Hathaway; Gloria Vasquez; & Digital Chameleon

Cover Art by George Pérez; Richard Horie; & Tanya Horie

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for March 2001, this one-shot (it’s the second installment of an alternate-reality Justice League splintered into multiple groups) is entitled “Jungle Work.”  In the Amazon rainforest, the lush greenery fights back against the logging intrusion of development company, R.A. Vaje, Inc. Desperately seeking help, a wounded Black Orchid flees to Washington D.C. to find Wonder Woman’s Justice League of Amazons (Supergirl; Huntress; Power Girl; Big Barda; and Zatanna Zatara).  The Justice of Anarchy makes a cameo.

This JLA accompanies Black Orchid to confront the Vaje Co., only to inadvertently ignite an environmental firestorm.  Wonder Woman doesn’t realize that her JLA’s efforts is a diversion by the disguised Advance Man’s bio-warfare scheme against humanity.  Encountering yet another Justice League splinter group, Wonder Woman’s squad loses one member but may well gain a replacement. 

Notes: The Justice League of Anarchy includes: Harley Quinn; Plastic Man; Creeper; and Ambush Bug. The Justice League of Atlantis includes Aquaman; Mera; Tempest; and Arion.

REVIEW:

Writer Len Kaminski creates an intriguing environmental fable where this JLA’s good intentions can only resolve so much of a global problem.  Kaminski further ensures that the group’s unselfish teamwork gets the spotlight vs. focusing on a few individual characters.  Still, Wonder Woman’s solo action intimidating Vaje is likely the story’s highlight.  Capably supported by the art team’s excellent work (as seen in the stellar cover image), JLA: Justice League of Amazons # 1 is an entertaining read well worth finding.     

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There is a single-page, follow-up ‘letter’ from Wonder Woman to the U.N. Secretary General re: the peculiar existence of these various Justice Leagues.  The same page hypes the current “Justice Leagues” issues available.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               8 Stars