When we last saw our heroes in the 1992 summer event "Eclipso: the Darkness Within" (you know, back when Booster Gold actually appeared in comic books), the situation was looking grim. But in in Action Comics Annual #4, things get downright ugly.

If you read the issue, the first thing you will probably notice is that the art is, well, it's not good. Chris Wozniak is credited as sole penciller, but there are four credited inkers. This probably means that the issue was behind schedule and the finished product was rushed to meet a deadline. The bloated page count required of the double-sized, double-priced seasonal annuals isn't doing it any favors, either.

That's a real shame, as it is written by one of my favorite Justice League writers, Dan Vado, who had the bad fortune of working with many—um, how to say this politely?—awful artists during DC's EXTREME nineties. Vado was always respectful of his characters and especially good at building melodramatic character moments that felt authentic and organic. That skill is certainly evident in this issue, even on page 30, where Ice gets to be both competent *and* deliver the punchline.

I know that I rate this issue poorly here at Boosterrific (2 out of 5 stars), but I really don't hate it. If you're a fan of the classic JLI, you'll find enjoyment in Booster, Fire, and Ice's struggle against an entire Eclipso-ed village... and Superman. It's just a shame you can't read it with your eyes closed.

Comments (2) | Add a Comment | Tags: dan vado favorite pages ice justice league international

Think things are bad now? Well, back in the summer of 1992, Eclipso was on the warpath in the "Darkness Within" summer event, and he had his sights set on killing Booster Gold's best bud Ted Kord in Justice League America Annual #6!

See, Eclipso has infiltrated the League and realized that the Blue Beetle's solar powered Flash Gun represents a real threat to his plans for world domination. So he does what any villain worth his black diamonds would do: he sows discord among the heroes.

Which was actually pretty easy considering that this incarnation of the League was never exactly one big happy family. Sometimes bad team chemistry is too much even for Superman to manage.

This story spends a lot of time on the Superman-Wonder Woman-Ice-Maxima love rectangle, but I don't think that's how Ice was expecting Superman to sweep her off her feet.

Speaking of romance, this is the same issue that has Booster Gold unwisely fondling Wonder Woman's hair then later punching her in the face (under Eclipso's control by way of Maxima—it's complicated) before having his equipment destroyed by Maxima (or Eclipso, like I said: complicated).

A lot happens in this one action-packed issue, but for me, nothing tops Superman losing his cool like an overwhelmed preschool teacher. That's good comics!

Footnote tangentially related to the above post: After I had written this post but before I published it, Booster booster J notified me that this issue is included in the Superman and Justice League America reprint collection, which I had been identifying in the Boosterrific Database as "Superman and the Justice League of America." The latter is the copyrighted name of the book in the publishing indicia, but as J reminds me, it is the policy of this site to reflect the name on the cover as the title for each issue, so the entry has been revised. Thank you for your diligence, J.

Comments (2) | Add a Comment | Tags: favorite pages justice league international superman

Considering that Maxima is the planetary-invading bad girl in this week's Superman Treasury 2025: Hope for All #1, I find it interesting to look back to June 1992 when it was her planet being conquered by outside enemy forces in Justice League America #65 (also written by Dan Jurgens).

Who saved the day then? Hint: it wasn't Superman....

Fzzzam. Speowww.

Ah, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle! Is there anything they can't do?

Comments (4) | Add a Comment | Tags: blue beetle dan jurgens favorite pages justice league international maxima superman

What can I say about Justice League America #64?

There's a big fight with Starbreaker, a legacy Justice League villain, and writer Dan Jurgens does his best to establish subplots with League newcomers Maxima and Bloodwynd. But artist Dan Jurgens' emphasis on dramatic poses and Keith Giffen-style extreme closeups makes the action feel somewhat claustrophobic, even when literally an entire planet is threatened.

Oh, well. They can't all be perfect.

At least Booster Gold comes out looking good.

Comments (0) | Add a Comment | Tags: favorite pages justice league international

In Justice League Quarterly #7, we learn that Ted Kord graduated from Marquette (Illinois) High School in 1977 when he attends his high school reunion with his teammates and friends Booster Gold, Fire, and Ice.

Of course things wouldn't get interesting until the Lord High Reacquisitor Vinic arrived to abduct the entire reunion back to their native planet Klaarsh.

Which is how Ted Kord learned that he went to a high school populated entirely by aliens.

High school reunions are just the worst.

Comments (10) | Add a Comment | Tags: blue beetle favorite pages justice league international