The Titans break up a mob plot that utilizes children as drug runners – but things take a tragic turn. A superior conclusion to a two-parter from the creative team of Marv Wolfman, George Pérez and Romeo Tanghal. Plus: Atari Force makes its spinner-rack debut.
READJohn Targitt falls prey to Professor Death’s nerve gas, but ultimately assumes a new identity as the more powerful Man-Stalker. A confusing script undermines a tonal shift that is well served by stylish art from cartoonist Howard Nostrand.
READA man falls hard for a woman who wipes out on a surfboard – but her mommy issues stand between them. Bronze Age romance comics prove even harder to follow than the superhero ones, but this one features nice art by Alex Toth, Ernie Colón and others.
READMembers of the Justice League somehow get pulled to Earth-Prime, where they come to the aid of that world’s first superhero. Logic leaps and other story execution problems hinder this outing by Gerry Conway and fill-in artist George Tuska.
READB-list villain Dr. Death holds Gotham – including Batman and Robin – hostage with a deadly allergen. A surprisingly weak 45th-anniversary outing for DC’s flagship Detective Comics. Creative talent includes Gerry Conway, Gene Colan, Klaus Janson and others.
READWhen villains from different universes team up, Superman and Captain Marvel require an assist from the extended Marvel Family. Writer Roy Thomas is having a great deal of fun here – perhaps more so than some readers – and receives strong art support from Rich Buckler and Dick Giordano.
READInfected by a toxin from Morbius’ blood, Spider-Man fights the X-Men – and then must be saved by the mutant heroes. This fairly typical story from Gerry Conway is elevated by the dynamic art of comics master Gil Kane.
READWhen the Justice League’s very first foes reappear, new Leaguers must battle original members before the team can stand united against the threat. Gerry Conway’s story does its job, but the real treat here is the art of George Pérez, Jim Aparo, Joe Kubert and others.
READLocked in the JLA satellite, the Justice League and Justice Society investigate who among them is a murderer. The conclusion to this Gerry Conway two-parter stumbles, keeping it from being a classic. (The interior is by JLA regulars Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin.)
READThe Justice League and Justice Society meet for a social get-together – but the good times end in murder! Writer Gerry Conway delivers a more-intimate-than-usual drama for the 1979 edition of this annual team-up, and he gets solid support from the journeyman art team of Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin.
READ