They Put a Spell on You!

Although thrilling and action-packed, Buckler and Giordano's cover for All-Star Squadron 4 is somewhat flat and lackluster. Inexplicably showing the heroes fighting amongst themselves! In-fighting among the greatest heroes of all time! "A Battle You Never Expected!", reads a caption. "The Justice Society of America vs. the All-Star Squadron".

The question Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Len Wein address in this issue is this: with heavy hitters such as Superman, Dr. Fate, Green Lantern, Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt, The Spectre and Wonder Woman, why wasn't the war over before it even started? Captain America punched Hitler! Chewbacca punched Hitler!

The answer comes in the form of The Dragon King. He has arrived at a secret base in the South Pacific. Hitler has his Spear of Destiny, the legendary and fabled spear that pierced the Savior's side. Apparently, Tojo also has a mystical talisman: the Holy Grail! The jeweled stone cup that the Savior used at The Last Supper before the crucifixion. The power of those talisman holds great magic.

That magic is amplified in the hands of the Axis to warp the minds of the heroes so that they do not directly attack Germany and Japan! Which is a convenient plot device to explain why Superman doesn't just simply crush the Axis powers. Superheroes, like regular folk, fight side-by-side to overcome evil.

The art by Buckler and Ordway continues to shine. Gafford's colors are awesome as is the lettering by Costanza.

It's such a simple out to say that magic keeps the heavy hitters from crushing the Axis, yet it sets the tone and direction of the book. Characters like The Atom, Dr. Mid-Night, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle and Robotman might be able to invade Europe or Asia, which would make for a dramatic, gripping adventure. The Big Guns maybe not so much.

All Star Squadron 4 earns four stars.    
 

Like Sands in an Hourglass...

Another outstanding cover! Buckler and Giordano capturing the All-Stars fighting Solomon Grundy, while Degaton stands by commanding!

This issue is all about dialogue. Degaton recaps everything that happened in the previous issue. It's fun to bask and enjoy his endless monologuing, while following the distinct voices of Wotan, Professor Zodiac, Grundy and The Shining Knight. The spouting between all of these characters is just a word soup. Then there's the slang of the other All-Stars mopping up the zombie Japanese Zeroes.

As the heroes manage to turn the tide, the bad guys start turning and feeding on each other. Wotan and Zodiac abandon Degaton to get their own revenge on their adversaries. Eventually, Grundy does the same. 

The action comes together somewhat smoothly. A casual remark means that Hawkman, Johnny Quick and Robotman were able to follow markers to catch up to the rest of the group. 

Zodiac's dropped vial conveniently falls on The Spectre, allowing him to free the rest of the captive heroes. Some details feel slightly rushed or maybe brushed over. However, Degaton's house of cards does come crumbling down rather quickly when it's clear his plan has fallen completely apart.

It's interesting that once everything is unraveled, everyone forgets Degaton. What all this amounts to is an explanation as to why the Justice Society and Golden-Age superheroes could not prevent that attack on Pearl Harbor. It's a very convenient plot device. Still, a fantastic launch to the All-Star Squadron. Standing firm as patriots and fighting for freedom. One of the reasons why colorful costumed heroes came about in the first place. To inspire.

All-Star Squadron 3 earns four stars. 

Hello, Exposition, My Old Friend... Or, He's Monologuing! The All-Star Squadron 2 Review!

 

Joe Kubert brings the Sgt. Rock, "Our Heroes at War" vibe with the cover to All-Star Squadron 2! A scene leaping from inside, shows Robotman, The Atom, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle, Hakman and Plastic Man ripping apart one Japanese Zero from an aerial squadron over the ocean! 

Roy Thomas and Rich Buckler's story picks up from the next moment from the end of the previous issue. It is the morning of December 7th, 1941, "... a day that will live in infamy!" The historic Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Atom and Hawkman, founding members of the Justice Society are leaving FDR and the White House with Dr. Mid-Nite, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle, Plastic Man and Robotman. They're being sent off to the West Coast to prevent further Japanese attacks.

This issue is actually jam-packed! 

Leaving the White House, the All-Stars come across looters taking advantage of the day's confusion and hysteria! Boom! Stopped!

On their flight west, Hawkman suggests that they reveal their identities to one another in order to build trust and camaraderie. Over the next four pages - one panel per hero - each one reveals the briefest of Secret Origins!

And then, Degaton monologues! He waxes egotistical and reveals his whole plan to Sir Justin and Danette Reilly!

The story is a veritable dump of information! Degaton catches everyone up on his many plots, leading to this current plan to divide and conquer! If he alone isn't a pure, devious genius, he's assembled a crew fitting and worthy: Grundy, Professor Zodiac, Sky Pirate and Wotan! Degaton even gets a Fact File page! This is Degaton's third attempt at world domination. 

Len Wein is to be complimented for guiding Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway in how this issue and story unfurls. Carl Gafford provides brighter, more optimistic colors and John Costanza's lettering is less muddy and obscured. Still, newsprint is newsprint. There is an editorial page devoted to more detailed history.

While the exposition and monologuing could be a drawback, it doesn't really slow or bog down the story. It just adds to the drama and intensity. Your mileage may vary on that. There is a nationalism and patriotic vibe that seems quaint, dated and somewhat corny to modern post-Vietnam cynicism.

All Star Squadron 2 earns five stars.

Assembling the Squadron! All Star Squadron 1 Review

 

Rich Buckler's cover is just amazing. Dr. Mid-Nite, Hawkman, and The Atom pouring over photographs of Golden-Age Mystery Men. The cover question "Who Will Be the Heroes of the All-Star Squadron"? Pause for just a moment and consider... "mystery men" and "mystery women" actually posing for photographs, like Hollywood celebrities of the day! Between Hawkman and The Atom is a photograph of The Golden-Age Batman and Robin. These are not newspaper photographs. These are portraits. Posed portraits. In the foreground is a posed portrait of The Spectre. Now, granted, it is possible that a shutterbug might catch one of these colorful figures off-guard. All of the photos on the cover feature the heroes smiling at the camera. Even The Dynamic Duo seem to be caught in a pose, although whether they're smiling is hard to tell. This is going to be a fun book to read, simply because no matter what happens inside, no matter how serious, dramatic or Earth-shattering, the heroes will face it with a positive "can-do" attitude. These heroes will face the hard knocks and shrug each one off with a wink and a smile! These are not angsty, navel-gazing costumed vigilantes... except for Vigilante.

Roy Thomas' "The World on Fire!" opens with Hawkman returning to the Justice Society of America headquarters, where he runs afoul of - - Plastic Man!? A quick recap recounts Solomon Grundy overpowering The Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman; Professor Zodiak capturing The World's Finest team of Batman and Robin along with Superman; Wotan capturing Dr. Fate and The Spectre; and Sky Pirate capturing Johnny Thunder and Thunderbolt along with The Sandman and Starman! Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite and The Atom faced and bested The Monster! On their way to Washington, Hawkman and Plastic Man encounter King Bee! They quickly best him and his winged henchman!

Elsewhere, Sir Justin, The Shining Knight and Danette Reilly are captured by Per Degaton and his crew!

All these events lead up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

At the White House, Hawkman and Plastic Man are joined by Robotman, The Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite, Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle! They are commissioned as The All-Star Squadron and head to San Francisco to head off saboteurs and ultimately stop Degaton!

Buckler and Ordway's art is just simply Golden-Age eye-candy. On newsprint, John Costanza's lettering is somewhat muddy and blurred. Carl Gafford's coloring is top-notch. Len Wein guides creators Roy Thomas and Buckler to a thrilling, enjoyable story.

The Greatest Generation saving the world earns five stars.

Maybe Late to the Party... Thoughts on The Curious Case of Natalia Grace Season One

 

I may be a little late to the party.

The Curious Case of Natalia Grace was release in 2023. It ran for three seasons from 2023 through 2025. I'm midway through season two, Natalia Speaks, where she shares HER side of the story.

Her story is tragic, shocking and sensational. It makes for "tabloid television" the kind of gaper's block you would find on Geraldo! The Maury Povich Show, Dr. Phil, or any one of the typical daytime talk shows.

The first season is all about things like "control", "manipulation", "narrative" and "spin".

Natalia's story unfolds from her adoptive father, Michael Barnett. He comes across very articulate. Very flamboyant. The story he tells is quite vivid and detailed. Almost polished and rehearsed. It's quite possible that Michael and Kristine Barnett's version of the story may be based on the 2009 horror film "Orphan". The Barnetts adopted Natalia Grace in 2010. Season One focuses primarily on Michael Barnett and his son, Jacob, leading up to Michael's trial for the abandonment of Natalia. As Michael's grip on the "narrative" and "spin" apparently slips, and the seeming house of cards starts to collapse, he comes across more of a bitter, vindictive, whiny cry-baby. An unnecessarily foul-mouthed one at that.

My take-away from Season One is that it is not Natalia's complete story. It's only the horrific experience with the Barnetts. 

Natalia Grace was born in Ukraine to a single, low-income mother. Natalia's mother was told that she could not afford to care for Natalia properly. In Season One, she comes off as not wanting to be tracked down for any information on Natalia. Eventually, she provides DNA and critical birth information.

What's missing is any information from Gary and Dyan Ciccone. Did they decline to be interviewed? What comes across is the question of why they only had Natalia for a year after adopting her. The quick and glossy answer is that they found some behavioral issues with her. But there's several accounts that the Ciccones were trying to find a new home for her with couples that also had dwarfism, to the point that the narrative and spin is that the Ciccones were shopping her around.

Toward the end of Season One and midway through Season Two, the story comes across that Kristine Barnett may be the true villain of the story.

The sad thing is that very few people came to Natalia's help and rescue.

It's a shame that her story was negatively sensationalized and turned into trashy tabloid television.

There are a lot of noble couples and families looking to build relationships and support future generations through adoption. Hopefully this one story doesn't severely damage that.   

Stuck in The Golden Age With Dr. Fate

 

I was really excited when Pierce Brosnan was cast as Kent Nelson, also known as Dr. Fate. Defender of Order versus Chaos. Fate previously made an appearance on Smallville. Clark got to see glimpses of the Justice Society. It would be exciting to see one of the original, founding members of the Justice Society on the big screen. He was going to be working with Carter Hall, Hawkman; Atom Smasher and Cyclone!

I never really got past The Rock as Black Adam. Sure, he was portrayed as a wronged individual, looking for justice and vengeance and retribution and revenge. Which was why he crossed paths and swords with the JSA. It was just incredibly confusing that the character was split from Zachary Levi's Captain (SHAZAM!) Marvel. I'm still confused. I'm not sure I really want to know.

I didn't watch Remington Steele for Brosnan. I watched Remington Steele for Stephanie Zimablist. She was my excuse for bad grades in high school.

Brosnan's Bond was fairly enjoyable. Mom and Dad were Sean Connery fans. Mom and my sister were Roger Moore fans. Cathy, my wife, is a George Lazenby fan. Gotta respect the man that connected with Diana Rigg! I'm not sure I know any Timothy Dalton fans (He was pretty good as Prince Baron in Flash Gordon; as well as an appearance on Doctor Who, and as The Chief in Doom Patrol!)

Brosnan was my era or generation Bond. I'm not sure the material was up to his performance. Wherever the bar is set, the next mission or adventure usually has to up the ante. By Die Another Day the ante had been upped to the extreme. The hotel made entirely of ice (ICE!) was extreme... extremely redonkulous!

As an aside, one of the reasons Daniel Craig ditched a lot of the paraphernalia was due to Mike Meyers' Austin Powers parodies. Craig was quoted in some interview somewhere that Austin Powers poked so much fun at the Bond tropes - not to mention the Mel Brooks-Buck Henry Get Smart parody - that Bond had sort of become self-parody. Look closely at some of the scenes with Q, there's a bit of self-deprecating humor and parody in those scenes. Connery's Bond didn't seem to take Q seriously. neither did Brosnan. Q gave Brosnan's Bond two specialized cars. The second one had a stealth, cloaking ability, like Harry Potter's blanket.

Off and on Brosnan has made some impressive solo films. Some, hit or miss. Seraphim Falls with Liam Neeson and The Matador with Greg Kineer stand out. After The Sunset is somewhat shaky. Remember Me with Robert Pattinson is engaging. We don't have to talk about the Mama Mia! films... 

Celebrating his 73rd birthday today, Brosnan has most recently been in The Thursday Murder Club with Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie... along with David Tenant and Jonathan Pryce.

Might be a good day to give that a spin... it just might be better... Fate.

   

A Salute to Marv Wolfman and His Half of The New Teen Titans

 

I blame Burt Ward. 

There's a whole legion of Bat-fans that grew up watching Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin. It was Burt Ward's performance as Dick Grayson, also known as Robin, The Boy Wonder that got me interested in the Teen Titans. I could have been an X-Men fan. Crimefighting sidekicks versus teenage angst and puberty. Stan Lee's Uncanny X-Men was about teenagers gaining super-powers at a certain age and living in a world that feared and hated them. Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Speedy and Wonder Girl fought crime. Smiling and joking. Almost like The Amazing Spider-Man without all the teenage baggage. Don't get me wrong, teenagers have baggage. My superpower as a teenager was invisibility. I also repelled girls. I wasn't really athletic, or smart. I didn't have an award-winning personality. I didn't stand out for any reason at all. So, I accepted my lot in life as a comic book geek and reveled in it.

Instead of Uncanny X-Men, I went Teen Titans. 

Marv Wolfman turned 80 yesterday (May 13th, 2026.) He and George Perez relaunched and revived the group as The NEW Teen Titans! Aqualad was benched. Speedy made rare guest appearances. Gar Logan went from Beast Boy to Changeling. Wolfman and Perez introduced Victor Stone as Cyborg, Koriand'r as Starfire and Raven... as... er, um... Raven.

The core of the team was Dick Grayson's Robin, Wally West's Kid Flash and Donna Troy as Wonder Girl. (Side note, probably another reason I'm a Teen Titans fan is both The Penguin and Wonder Girl name drop in The Monkees' Randy Scouse Git...) Wolfman and Perez also introduced a sense of teenage angst that wasn't there in the original Teen Titans. Robin struggled against The Batman's tight reins. Kid Flash struggled with emotions and feelings for Raven and a girl from hometown Blue Valley that developed magnetic powers. Wonder Girl was an independent photographer in a relationship with an older, soon-to-be divorced gentleman. 

George Perez gets a lot of well-deserved credit for the look of The NEW Teen Titans. Marv Wolfman, along with Perez came up with the angle. Raven's father was the demon Trigon. Starfire's sister was the evil Blackfire. The team fought against a cult led by Brother Blood. They also dealt with drugs and runaways. Issues that were somewhat realistic, but still able to fit in a comic book world that could be dealt with using comic book rules and solutions.

As much credit as George Perez deserves, Marv Wolfman is a talented writer who carved out a place for NEW Teen Titans in the DC Universe.

I still blame Burt Ward for drawing my attention to his groovy team of sidekicks...