In Adventures in the DC Universe Issue #02 – Bombs Away, Flash combats “The Bomb Squad”, who are attempting to extort money from a wealthy businessman.
Title: Bombs Away!
Writer: Steve Vance
Pencils: John Delaney
Inks: Ron Boyd
Letters: Tim Harkins
Colors: Bob LeRose
Assists: Frank Berrios
Editor: K.C. Carlson
Description:
After helping out at the scene of a second suspicious fire, Wally West is summoned by his girlfriend, reporter Linda Park, to appear in his Flash guise at a press conference she is currently covering. Apparently Winston McKinney, your stereotypically greedy businessman who is currently attempting to purchase WKEY (The station which employs Linda Park), is the victim of an extortion scheme by a group called “The Bomb Squad”, who claim responsibility for the two previous explosive fires. If their demand of $50 million dollars by midnight is not met, they will start to target McKinney. McKinney refuses to cave in to terrorists, so the Flash and Mrs. Park decide to investigate.
Through their sleuthing they deduce the Bomb Squad’s next target, the historic Keystone Theater which is adjacent to the McKinney Building. Rushing to the rescue, the Flash thwarts the Bomb Squads evil plan, but was it theirs? Segue to McKinney’s penthouse apartment, where Linda Park surprises Mr. McKinney with some information she uncovered during her investigation. As the Flash speeds in to join them, Mrs. Park explains how she and the Flash discovered McKinney’s plan to build a huge office complex around the McKinney Building was being stymied by the fact that the Keystone theater was a historical landmark. Though they can’t prove McKinney’s involvement, Mrs. Park and Flash get McKinney to drop his attempt to purchase WKEY in exchange for Linda dropping the story. Still McKinney gets the last laugh, by purchasing WKEY’s main competitor instead.
Quote of the Story:
Flash: “..,we made McKinney sweat and we saved the Keystone! Now if I could just get the bubble gum and JuJubes off my boots..”
Review:
This is an improvement over the first issue, but still a poor story. I enjoyed the retelling of Wally’s origin; it was concise and helped introduce new comers to the current incarnation of the Flash. The main problem with the story, is flatness. The characters are one-dimensional and most of the plot points are comic clichés. Still I enjoyed Delaney’s artwork, and he continues to add nice little touches in the background. If not for Delaney’s handiwork, this would be a one star issue.
Rating: 
In Adventures in the DC Universe Issue #02 – Catwoman in “Catch as Cat Can”, Catwoman sets her sights on a rare jewel at a Gotham museum.
Title: Catwoman in “Catch as Cat Can”
Writer: Steve Vance
Pencils: John Delaney
Inks: Ron Boyd
Letters: Tim Harkins
Colors: Bob LeRose
Silent Partners: Frank Berrios & K.C. Carlson
Description:
In this short story, devoid of any character dialogue, the reader follows the exploits of the Catwoman as she plies her trade, burglary. Starting at a newsstand, where she sneers at the hardworking youth and smiles at his non-working delinquent friends, Catwoman reads an article about a upcoming museum fundraiser featuring the “Cat’s Eye” diamond. Using her extraordinary acrobatic skills, Catwoman races off to promptly best the museum security and the police, steals the diamond and begins to make her escape. But as she takes flight over the rooftops with the constabularies in close pursuit, the diamond falls from her grasp and lands at the feet of the hardworking newsstand attendant. Without the time to retrieve the diamond and escape pursuit, Catwoman takes off. The next day she approaches the newsstand looking to reclaim her ill gotten gains from the attendant, but is surprised to see his delinquent friends now diligently manning his post. After angrily buying a Gotham Gazette, she deposits it in the trash after reading the headline “Kid foils Catwoman, gets $10,000 reward.”
Pages: 7
Review:
A very nice secondary story, more enjoyable than the primary one. Without a word being uttered throughout, the plot unfold by way of the characters expressions. Catwoman’s amusement with the delinquent children and disdain for the hard worker at the beginning of the story gives way to the ironic humor of the ending in which her actions unwittingly set the delinquents on the straight and narrow. A nice add on.
Rating:
½
Review By: Brian Mills