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
