Month: October 2022

Written by Jeph Loeb.

Art by Pat Lee; Comicraft; & Dreamwave Productions.

Cover Art by Pat Lee & Dreamwave Productions.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for April 2004, this issue is entitled “Protégé.”  At Teen Titans Tower, in San Francisco, Superboy and Tim Drake’s Robin debate the Boy of Steel’s reluctance to confide the truth re: his split DNA with Superman.  On a covert mission assigned by their mentors, the two Titans journey to Japan’s Mt. Fuji to recruit fellow teenager, the new Toyman, as Batman’s new chief Bat-tech designer. 

Even if the best friends succeed, it’s up to them to thwart a reconfigured Metallo in a Transformers/Battlebots-like showdown in an adjacent Japanese city (presumably, it is downtown Tokyo).     

REVIEW:

In terms of both scripting and visuals, this one-shot tale delivers some welcome DC dynamite.  As conveyed by some snappy battle banter, Jeph Loeb’s storytelling makes Robin & Superboy’s heroics a treat to read.   Holding up their artistic end, Pat Lee and Dreamwave Productions concoct a likable anime-style that ideally melds with Loeb’s plot. 

For any comics fan, Superman/Batman # 7 is well worth adding to his/her collection.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Penned by a supposed ‘mole,’ the single-page “DC in Demand” column hints at Supergirl’s imminent return in Superman/Batman # 8.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    8½ Stars

Written by Louise Simonson.

Art by John Bogdanove; Dennis Janke; Ken Lopez; & Glenn Whitmore.

Cover Art by John Bogdanove & Dennis Janke.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for September 1994, this preliminary Zero Hour crossover is entitled “Countdown to Zero.”  At a Metropolis city park amphitheater, a smarmy concert promoter flirts with Lois Lane while Clark Kent leaves to investigates Batman’s emergency summons.  At the same venue, Jimmy Olsen & Ron Troupe are The Daily Planet duo covering vampire Babe’s “Children of the Night” goth rock concert. 

Oddly encountering DC Comics’ Batman from the 1970’s, the Man of Steel soon finds that multiple Batmen across the space-time continuum are converging on Metropolis to warn him of imminent danger.  Though these Dark Knights are later replaced by other random Batman variants, they team up with Superman to thwart an assassination involving the Mutant goons from The Dark Knight Returns. 

Superman eventually meets up with the mainstream Batman, as their involvement in Zero Hour begins. In another time-altering shocker, the Kents receive unexpected visitors in Smallville.

Note: This issue is the thirty-third issue in 1994’s interconnecting Superman titles.

REVIEW:

Visually, witnessing this assortment of iconic Batman incarnations (especially the cover image), no matter how briefly, is worth the price of admission.  Still, Louise Simonson’s script is at best middling when it comes to exploring such an intriguing premise.  In the end, along with its average artwork, this issue’s plot twists are as blandly forgettable as Superman evidently finds them. 

Even so, at a modest price, the cover’s neat Bat-nostalgia in Superman: The Man of Steel # 37 is likely worth adding to any comics collection.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There is a two-page “Tempered Steel” letters-and-answers column.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                          5 Stars

Written by John Ostrander.

Art by Tom Mandrake; Todd Klein; Carla Feeny; & Digital Chameleon.

Cover Art by Tom Mandrake.

SUMMARY:

Entitled “A Savage Innocence,” DC Comics released this issue for March 1997.  After the Joker’s latest escape from Arkham Asylum, Batman tracks him to New York City.  The NYPD simultaneously assigns homicide cop Nathaniel “Nate” Kane to find out why Batman is in town.  Secretly, Kane is the reluctant host body for his recuperating partner, James Corrigan/Spectre.  Upon hearing of Batman’s return, Corrigan’s alter ego seeks to encounter the Dark Knight again. 

In Lower Manhattan, ‘The Killing Joke’ is an ultra-perverse nightclub worshipping the Joker, which has invited him as its dubious guest-of-honor.  Separately converging on ‘The Killing Joke,’ Batman and the Spectre are caught up in a three-way showdown with the Joker and his murderous flunkies.  Worse yet, with his curiosity sparked by Batman’s pleas, the Spectre absorbs the Joker’s psyche to better judge his propensity for pure evil. 

A catastrophe is imminent once the Joker quickly overwhelms Corrigan’s psyche to dominate the Spectre.  The Dark Knight must risk baiting the Joker’s supernatural wrath in hopes that a defiant Corrigan fights back.     

Note: Batman recalls his last visit to New York City put him into contact with the Spectre in Batman # 450-451.

REVIEW:

Including its ironically suggestive ‘go figure’ last scene, John Ostrander’s scripting of The Spectre # 31 is a high-caliber Brave and the Bold team-up.  Suffice to say, this issue’s climax is well-played.  The issue’s art squad also supplies excellent visual support for Ostrander’s Vertigo Comics-style plotting.  For Batman and/or Spectre fans, The Spectre # 31 is a welcome read for older teens and up.     

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There is a two-page letters-and-answers column.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                  7½ Stars

Written by Jerry Ordway.

Art by Pete Krause; Mike Manley; Glenn Whitmore: & John Costanza.

Cover Art by Jerry Ordway.

SUMMARY:

Entitled “Of Shadows and Fog …,” DC Comics released this issue for January 1997.  Billy Batson’s rough day includes an ‘invitation’ to a fistfight after school with surly football player/resident bully Ryan Thomas.  However, Batman’s arrival in Fawcett City first necessitates a team-up investigating a local mobster’s homicide in Gotham City. 

The Dark Knight’s subsequent investigation finds him outnumbered against Fawcett’s mysterious crime boss, ‘Lady M,’ and the evil Dr. Praetor.  Captain Marvel will have to play catch up to help Batman, as an unpleasant member of Billy’s family resurfaces.    

REVIEW:

Written like a Brave and the Bold team-up, writer Jerry Ordway delivers all the necessary goods for a kid-friendly read.  Even better are the art squad’s visuals, which prove remarkably good for such a routine tale.  Though The Power of Shazam! # 22 is hardly a must-have, this Captain Marvel & Batman caper provides some reliable fun.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The last page is a letters-and-answers column.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        6 Stars

Written by Mike Manley.

Art by Jerry Ordway; Glenn Whitmore: & John Costanza.

Cover Art by Jerry Ordway.

SUMMARY:

Entitled “Sin,” DC Comics released this issue for September 1996.  Though aided by a scientist and a security guard, Mary Marvel finds herself outnumbered against her corrupt relatives: a Mr. Mind-controlled Ebenezer Batson and a monstrous Sinclair Batson. 

Meanwhile, now residing on Earth, the wizard Shazam must return to the Rock of Eternity to discover Captain Marvel’s whereabouts: having been rendered unconscious amongst the rings of planet Saturn battling an army of Mr. Mind’s parasitic worms. Unless the Captain and Shazam can help Mary in time, the mind-controlling worm/parasite may prove unstoppable. 

Later, young siblings, Mary Bromfield and Billy Batson, come to terms with their elder relatives’ theft of Billy’s family inheritance. Elsewhere, a bewildered Dr. Sivana makes a potentially devastating discovery to use against Shazam and The Marvel Family. 

Note: The magician, Ibis, makes a guest appearance.     

REVIEW:

Conveyed closer to traditionally silly Captain Marvel storytelling, The Power of Shazam! # 18 is a well-played adventure by this creative team, both in scripting and visually. 

Supplying Mary Marvel with welcome screen time, Mike Manley’s plotting includes some fun twists, i.e., how the Marvels must counter-act Mr. Mind’s brainwashing tactics.  Also, fans of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ought to immediately recognize the mind-control gimmick that Manley’s story utilizes.

Whether for Shazam aficionados or as a reliable pick supplementing a child’s comics collection, The Power of Shazam! # 18 (no matter its cheesiness) holds up well today.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The “Watch this Space # 52” column and a two-page “Words of Wisdom” letters-and-answers column are included.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   6 Stars

Written by (See Below).

Art by (See Below).

Cover Art by Scott McDaniel & Kevin Nowlan.

SUMMARY:

Released in 1998, DC Comics’ 58-page special offers eight short stories by separate creative teams.  Specifically, they are:

• Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) / Green Arrow (Connor Hawke): “The Present” (10 pages).  Writer: Devin Grayson.  Art by Will Rosado; Sal Buscema; Lee Loughridge; & John Costanza.  Dragging along his fellow JLA rookie, Kyle has last-minute League gift shopping to do on Christmas Eve.  The emerald heroes are soon entangled in a shopping mall hostage crisis. 

• Batman: “The House of Peace (6 pages).” Writer: Chuck Dixon.  Art by Dave Taylor; Wayne Faucher; Noelle Giddings; & John Costanza.  On Christmas Eve, a boy witnesses a Gotham City neighborhood synagogue’s religious ceremony being threatened by an armed robber.  

• Darkseid: “Present Tense (2 pages).” Writer/Artist: Ty Templeton.  Guess who travels all the way to Apokolips to personally deliver Darkseid’s annual lump of coal?   

• Black Lightning: “’Twas the Night Before Kwanzaa (10 pages).” Writer: Tony Isabella.  Art by Eddie Newell & John Costanza.  Accompanied by two trusted friends, Black Lightning storms a gang’s decrepit, six-story hideout to rescue an ex-thug’s abducted wife and young son in time for Kwanzaa. 

• Superman: “The Gift (3 pages).” Writer: Dan Jurgens.  Art by Brett Breeding; Jason Wright; & John Costanza.  After returning to Lex Luthor his usual ‘present,’ the Man of Steel discovers one of his own in Smallville.

• JSA: “I Left My Heart at the Justice Society Canteen (10 pages).” Writer: Howard Chaykin.  Art by Rick Burchett; Rick Taylor; & John Costanza. As narrated by a Justice Society icon, a future Gotham City Police Commissioner (at this time, a teenage U.S. sailor on shore leave) attends the JSA’s Christmas Eve party in 1944.  Appearances/cameos include: Wildcat, the Star-Spangled Kid & Stripsey; Merry – The Girl of a 1,000 Gimmicks; The Newsboy Legion; Mary Marvel; Doctor Fate; Jay Garrick’s Flash; Alan Scott’s Green Lantern; Liberty Belle; Phantom Lady; Jim Harper’s Guardian; Al Pratt’s Atom; Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt; Dinah Drake’s Black Canary; Charles McNider’s Doctor Mid-Nite; and Rex Tyler’s Hourman.

• Sgt. Rock: “A Christmas Carol (4 pages).” Writer: Chuck Dixon.  Art by Russ Heath.  On a snowy Christmas Eve, 1944, in Bastogne, Belgium, a pensive Sgt. Rock’s Easy Co. awaits an imminent battle.  Silently, Rock encounters the ghosts of war: past, present, and future.

• Nightwing & Oracle: “The Old Lane (6 pages).” Writer: Brian Stelfreeze & Devin Grayson.  Art by Brian Stelfreeze; Karl Story; Lee Loughridge; & John Costanza.  Urged by Batman, Nightwing scrambles to make his annual New Year’s Eve date with his best friend.

REVIEW:

None of these stories are duds, though the new generation JLA opener leaves the least impression.  As brief as they are, Darkseid and Superman’s tales score the intended humor points, along with Smallville goodwill in the latter. 

Still, the other five inclusions required more thoughtfulness and creative effort.  Specifically, poignancy is well-played in the tales starring Black Lightning (in spite of the art’s deliberate murkiness), Nightwing & Oracle, and Batman.  More so, a somber mixture of heartbreak and rage powering Sgt. Rock (even a premonition of his own fate) says far more in silence than words grimly could.     

Aside from the Sgt. Rock story, this one-shot’s other gem is the JSA tale.  Not only is the narrator’s identity saved for last, the same applies to its young protagonist, who doesn’t need a mask to become a hero.  Hence, the story’s spelled-out message about wartime’s real heroes is top-caliber.  Enhanced by its likable artwork, DCU: Holiday Bash II’s storytelling merits adding this yuletide treat to any comics collection.       

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Materials and directions are provided to make a hanging ornament of: Batman/Nightwing/Robin/Batgirl.  The same applies to making individual gliders for Superman Electric Blue and Kyle Rayner’s Green Lantern.  DC’s Rick Burchett provides the artwork for both projects.  DC’s full-page “Watch This Space # 73” column is also included.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         8 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Written by Benjamin Raab.

Art by Pete Woods; Jamal Igle; Rick Burchett; Andy Owens; John Workman; Tom McCraw; & Digital Chameleon.

Cover Art by Kevin Nowlan.

SUMMARY:

Entitled “Tomorrow’s Hero,” DC Comics released this 48-page one-shot for July 2002.  Re-imagining 1965’s Green Lantern # 40, in the present-day, ex-radio executive Alan Scott reluctantly accepts a lifetime achievement award from Gotham City’s mayor.  At this public relations dinner supporting Alan are his daughter, Jade, and her boyfriend, Kyle Rayner. 

Sensing Alan’s pensive mood, Kyle privately approaches him.  Alan then relates his first team-up with a brash, young Hal Jordan … away from the early Justice League/Justice Society-related crises. 

Though resentful of Hal’s arrogant blowhard attitude, Alan joins him, at the behest of the Guardians of the Universe, against the cosmic threat of evil Oan scientist, Krona.  The elder Lantern later concedes Hal’s solo action realigning the moon to prevent further devastation impacting Earth makes him the best man wearing the ring.  Yet, once Hal’s physical body is taken over by Krona, Alan and Hal must implicitly trust one another, if there’s still time to stop their adversary. 

Finally shifting back to the present-day, it appears that two generations of Green Lantern gladly look upon Jade and Kyle as their shared legacy.

REVIEW:

Though a roguish Hal Jordan is not particularly likable for much of this tale, writer Benjamin Raab effectively distinguishes Alan Scott as Hal’s equal.  With the art squad’s excellent visuals, Raab concocts a well-played tale bridging Alan and Hal’s familiar Silver Age incarnations with DC’s present continuity.  All that is missing from DC is some acknowledgment of the original creative team that devised this issue’s source material (i.e., writer John Broome; artist Gil Kane, etc.). 

Overall, for Green Lantern fans, this one-shot offers a welcome addition to any comics collection. 

Note: Raab’s story has some inferences and a suggestive hook-up scene between Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris that are not necessarily kid-appropriate.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The full-page “1^st and Foremost” column hypes three other DC First one-shots: Superman/Lobo; Superman/Flash (Jay Garrick); and Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)/Joker.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         7 Stars

Written by Chuck Dixon.

Art by Scott McDaniel; Kart Story; Roberta Tewes; Jamison: & John Constanza.

Cover Art by Scott McDaniel; Karl Story; & Patrick Martin.

SUMMARY:

Entitled “Dead Meat,” DC Comics released this issue for November 1997.  Captured by the Blüdhaven meat-packing mobster, Boss Deever, and his goons, Nightwing and Batman face death in a mud-slopped pig-pen surrounded by hungry wild boars.  Having ditched Deever, the former Dynamic Duo splits up once Nightwing again voices discontent over his mentor horning in on his established turf. 

Elsewhere in Blüdhaven, Blockbuster anoints two young costumed thugs: Lady Vic and Stallion the task of eliminating Nightwing, and as a thrill-seeking bonus, Batman.  Simultaneously, elderly Golden Age hero John “Tarantula” Law does his best to reassure a young female neighbor by safely escorting her home. 

After contacts with Oracle and Alfred, Dick Grayson ponders how to repair his ingratitude towards his surrogate father.  Though the issue ends on a positive note, the Blockbuster feud against Nightwing & Batman continues in Nightwing # 15.       

REVIEW:

The issue is a solid, if unremarkable, read that delivers a welcome last page.  Both Chuck Dixon’s plotting and the art team’s visuals work just fine without leaving much of an impression.  Nightwing # 14 holds up for Bat-afficionados; yet, it just is not a necessary purchase.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There is a two-page “Written in Blüd” letters-and-answers column.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               5½ Stars