Super Strength and Super Intelligent! The Adventures of Supergirl 3 Review

Kara confronts Vril Dox in his cell at DEO headquarters. He responds by taking control of the DEO agents beside her and turning them into zombies. She "wakes" from that nightmare and is confronted by another - the destruction of DEO headquarters and Director Henshaw and her sister Alex transformed into zombies! Through one alternate reality after another, Kara fights a "never-ending battle", nearly reaching the one controlling her dream. Finally, through determination and persistence, she confronts her tormenter: the disembodied Psi! Who was used as a tool at Fort Rozz to keep all the alien super-criminals calm and under control.

Psi developed a bond with Rampage and her sister. Her actions are in retaliation to what Alex Danvers did to Rampage's sister.

Sterling Gates once again provides enjoyable storytelling under a Cat Staggs psychedelic cover. Emanuela Luppachino and Ray McCarthy handle the trippy dreamscape, with Hi-Fi colors and Saida Temofonte providing characters an individual voice through lettering.

There are references to instances of the CBS live action series. Red Tornado is name-dropped. It may not be essential; however, it may be helpful to follow the series to appreciate the companion comic.

Overall, Adventures of Supergirl earns three stars.     

Hit Him Like a Hammer! Batman 127 Facsimile Reprint Review!

Wow.

Batman 127, October 1959 was re-released as a facsimile reprint, July 2026. It's totally wonky. The first story finds The Dynamic Duo with a "new partner"! The Eagle. Spoiler Alert on a story from 1959 - it's Alfred, who's gained super-powers through a crazy accident. As much as he tries to help Batman and Robin, he ends up helping The Joker more! Until his powers just surprisingly disappear! Alfred comes up with such a wacky Eagle costume. Considering costume designs for Hawkman, this full-bodied and helmeted costume is just bonkers.

Next, Bruce and Dick visit Professor Nichols. Bruce tests out a new invention. The invention is a mental gadget that projects an alternate reality. Bruce's parents are not murdered in Crime Alley by a mysterious lone gunman. Would Bruce still become Batman? (Spoiler Alert!) Yes. Yes, he would. Destiny would still cause Bruce to become Batman. This is probably the highlight story of the issue. For the time period, Bruce is quite serious and grim. It also features a cameo by an alternate reality Superman!

Finally, Batman and Robin are confronted by the Mythic Norse God of Thunder, Thor! He's come to life and is pillaging Gotham City for Odin's sake. (Spoiler Alert!) a non-Kryptonite meteor crashes through a museum window and radiates Thor's hammer, transforming the museum curator into the Norse Thunder God! He's hypnotized into thinking he's serving Odin!

The first two stories are definitely enjoyable. Batman versus Thor...? It's just so lopsided. Batman is just so outmatched. The only way he "wins" is that Thor (Spoiler Alert!) isn't really Thor.

Definitely a time-capsule issue - a throwback to simpler times.

Batman 127 facsimile reprint earns three stars!

Archie Andrews Pure of Heart! The Life with Archie 42 Review!

June 2026, Archie Comics released a facsimile reprint of the October 1965 Life with Archie, featuring the FIRST appearance of Archie as Pureheart the Powerful.

The cool villain, The Ice Cube freezes Pureheart in a block of ice. While whisking the hero away, Pureheart's "inner goodness" melts the ice! Free, Pureheart grabs a nearby flagpole, while the street floods with the water from the block of ice! Before he can carry The Cube away, The Witch Doctor turns Pureheart into a white rabbit! Hopping away to find help from The Head, who uses syrup and a lighter to change him back. It's a game of cat and mouse as Pureheart endeavors to prevent The Ice Cube from stealing Mr. Lodge's fortune!

The pacing is somewhat uneven and jerky, jumping from one thing to the next pretty quickly. That's due to the nature of the story and The Reveal. The reveal is a bit of a letdown. Pureheart is a very cool character. He deserves a genuine, unique origin.

Of course, Archie is pretty similar to Jimmy Olsen and Chris King. So maybe a Walter Mitty approach is not so bad a thing.

The back-up story features Archie stepping in at the Choklit Shoppe when Pop Tate gets a crick in his neck. Reggie pulls a prank that drives everyone away and causes Pop to throw Archie out when he comes back.

Hilarity courtesy of Archie scribe Frank Doyle, with art by Bob White and Mario Acquaviva.

The highlights of the reprint are original ads featuring Rocky and Bullwinkle for Cheerios, the Trix Rabbit and Sunny, the Cuckoo Bird for Cocoa Puffs! Good times...

Life with Archie 42 earns five stars as a definite classic.

The Hand That Rocks The Army of Darkness! Archie x The Army of Darkness 5 Review

With Riverdale's new S-Mart overrun by Deadites, Ash, Archie and the gang decide to flee and head to Pop's Choklit Shoppe. There's no way to drive there, the car in the parking lot had flat tires, so they have to leg-it. Quietly, so they don't attract the Deadites to follow them... Unfortunately, they are hot on the gang's trail, and things get bloody on the way to Pop's. Even more unfortunate, the leader of the Deadites has gotten there first, and dispatched and decapitated Pop.

It's the final round and the final stand for the gang against The Army of Darkness!

Evil, arrow-through-the-head Archie cuts off Pureheart Archie's hand!

Finally, (SPOILER ALERT!) Archie finishes the counter incantation and The Army of Darkness bursts into flames!

Archie ends up with a metal hand just like Ash.

Ash ends up transferred to Hawaii, where a new S-Mart is set to open. He may face future encounters with the Deadites!

It's a pretty simple ending to the thriller-chiller. It's an ending that was in place from the start - reverse the incantation and drive off The Army of Darkness. Still Burnham, the Galvans, Wright and Mangual wrap things up with a fiery bang. The resolution leaves behind permanent scars.

Archie x The Army of Darkness wraps up with four stars. 

    

Facing the Dark Mirror - The Archies of Darkness! Archie x The Army of Darkness 4 Review!

At Riverdale's new S-Mart, Ash and the Archie gang must face - The Archies of Darkness! Evil, undead, zombie dark mirror reflections bent on annihilation! How can good overcome evil? Betty bludgeons Evil-ronica with a weight. Veronica dispatches Evil Betty with a shotgun. Ditto for "Evilheart" Reggie. Ash downs Evil Archie with an arrow through the head. Jughead clobbers his own evil twin with a salami! Ash puts the final touches with his chainsaw, whittling away at Wicked Juggie.

While this is not necessarily for Archie's younger, more impressionable audience, it feels more played for comedy and laughs than blood and guts horror. It's thriller and suspense, Archie style. That's kudos to Erik Burnham's writing and the Galvan's art, with Ellie Wright colors and Mangual's lettering. It's all fun and games even when somebody puts out an eyeball.

All this is happening while Ash is trying to find the right passage for Archie to recite to end The Army of Darkness.

Can. They. Do. It. In. Time?!?! Only time will tell...

Archie x Army of Darkness 4 earns four stars!    

The Chilling Adventures of Archie and the Gang! The Archie x The Army of Darkness 3 Review!

Erik Burnham has got this down.

This latest installment opens with Ash saving Archie and the gang from a pair of possessed stuffed Stormy Dogs! It's "groovy" to see Bill and Ben Galvan along with Ellie Wright bringing the look of Archie and The Army of Darkness. It's like a darker version of Scooby Doo. Where the Deadites seem to play for keeps! The visuals are pretty dark. A cabin the deep dark woods at night and after hours at the Riverdale S-Mart.

One is more familiar with the Archie gang than Ash, however, everyone is acting very much in character. Even Jughead comes off as Shaggy! The kids are delightfully hilarious. Ash is pretty grim 'n' gritty. It meshes pretty well.

Burnham sets up the suspense. There doesn't seem to be any predictability. There's somewhat of a familiar sequence when the leader of the Deadites creates evil doppelgangers! Jinkies!

What horrors await Archie and the gang next?!?!

Archie x The Army of Darkness 3 earns five stars!  

Beware The Hounds of Riverdale! Archie x The Army of Darkness 2 Review!

It's the Grand Opening of Riverdale's S-Mart! Ash is showing Archie the ropes. Archie's done pretty well handling customer service. The best part is the First Paycheck! The whole point of Archie working at the S-Mart is to be able to afford a couple Stormy Dogs - one for Betty and one for Veronica.

Cashing his check and buying the stuffed animals leaves Archie broke and with a broke down jalopy! Ash to the rescue again. He gives Archie a ride out into the dark woods to the party at Reggie's lake house. Ash declines an invite to the party, however, all four of his tires blow out and he ends up stuck.

Good thing he just happens to be around when Archie accidentally reads from the Necronomicon!

Burnham keeps things light-hearted for a horror story. Horror comedy is much more enjoyable than bloody and gory horror. Your mileage may vary on that. I'll take a Scooby Doo or Tremors version over Michael Meyers or Freddie Krueger any day. The Army of Darkness seems cut from a wacky suspense horror mold. A highlight is when the pair of Stormy Dogs come to evil, murderous life!

Archie x Army of Darkness earns four stars for a bloody goody thrill!