Dazzler #27 (1983)
by Frank Springer
cover by Bill Sienkiewicz
Regular artist Frank Springer takes over writing duties for a few issues, replacing Fingeroth; we’ll see if he keeps the old level of insanity.
The series is also visually relaunched with Sienkiewicz covers; they’re as gorgeous as you’d expect, but the new logo is less than dazzling.
Still on the run to cover her sister, Dazzler is thinking back of the insanity of the previous 26 issues.
I probably shouldn’t count the “GO FOR IT!” in the flashback… both the other scenes she’s thinking about DID happen, and while it looks like she’s using it on stage… I’m still counting it.
But Dazzler’s daydream is interrupted by Rogue, who is sitting right in front of her on the bus!
(yep, that’s Dazzler wearing her Beyonder wig)
I know you’re expecting Dazzler to stand no chance against Rogue, but trust me this is going to be funnier than usual in a moment.
Since these are the 80s, Dazzler has no trouble getting her hands on another passenger’s boombox and use it for a quick powerup.
Sometimes, Dazzler manages to almost turn into a badass.
ALMOST, but still!
Rogue takes Dazzler’s sister hostage, which of course means she ends up stealing her still vaguely defined powers.
We’ve seen the sister’s power can be lethal, so Dazzler can consider herself lucky.
OR NOT!!!
Okay, Dazzler, calm down… this is your crappy series, I’m sure this will be just a minor HOLY CRAP!!!
Well… uhm… Dazzler knows a lot of superheroes, so maybe she can ask for help.
Perhaps Thor’s secret identity can help, as per Thor #182.
This is the moment where Dazzler demonstrates her worth as a superhero.
By which I mean she demonstrates she really, REALLY sucks at this.
And after that buildup… it was all just a nightmare!!!
Yep. In case you were worried the new run would be better… we just spent TEN PAGES in a 22 page comic in a dream sequence.
Which also means Dazzler gets her butt kicked by everyone EVEN IN HER DREAMS.
Once they get to a hotel, Dazzler is STILL obsessing over the idea that her sister didn’t actually commit murder.
(also: real classy with that pose, Springer, I’m surprised she’s not in lingerie)
Her sister’s power is quite something. At first I thought it would only work on living beings, but nope, it looks like she can destroy anything.
What a tragedy: not only she has an extremely dangerous power that she has trouble controlling, but she’s also been gaslighted by her sister into believing she knows what she’s doing.
As if things couldn’t get any worse: turns out someone took pictures of the murder.
Which happened in another city days ago and this is a hotel in the middle of nowhere, so whoever is stalking them is quite persistent!
I guess it would’ve been too hard to call other superhero.
After all, aside from the X-Men which are believed dead, you only know personally Beast, Angel, the Fantastic Four, Captain America, Wasp, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Spider Woman, Spider Man, She-Hulk, Thor, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Wonder Man, Hellcat, the Valkyrie and Hercules.
Even calling freaking Blue Shield would’ve been a better option!!!
The man answering the call wants Dazzler to murder someone in Los Angeles.
Which is on the other side of the country, but he wants the murder to be “tonight”.
Our mystery man is taking orders from ANOTHER man in the shadow, who apparently has been looking for Dazzler’s sister Lois.
Normally I wouldn’t trust Dazzler with anything, but she HAS stumbled upon the solution to mysteries but sheer dumb luck before, so who knows?
Dazzler takes the assignment, but *gasp* she IS calling a superhero for help!!!
Too bad it’s Angel.
Not because he’s a terrible superhero… I don’t find him interesting but he’s not THAT bad… no, the problem is that this series utterly refuses to let him do ANYTHING useful, so he just misses the call.
Without getting an answer, Dazzler and Lois get into their target’s house. And I begrudgingly have to admit that the scene is suitably tense and well executed.
You just cannot do anything right, isn’t it Dazzler?
Surprise: Angel DID get the message after all!
Come on Angel, this is your chance to redeem yourself in this series!
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?!?
Dazzler manages to take down the stalker…
…and don’t worry too much about Angel, he’s fine.
And so we close with the revelation of the identity of the guy Dazzler and her sister were asked to murder.
Yes, that’s exactly… uhm… who is this guy again? We’ll see next issue.
Dazzler significance: 7/10
Still in the middle of what is probably Dazzler’s most significant storyline.
Silver Age-ness: 3/10
Ironically it would’ve been higher if Angel really DID completely miss the call.
Does it stand the test of time? 4/10
The nightmare scene being by far the best one is not exactly encouraging, since it’s basically pointless. The mystery is needlessly complicated and I’m not entirely sold on the logistics.
Dazzler is her usual dumb self in the way she treats the whole thing; I can give her some slack for being worried about her sister, but come on!
This might’ve been a 5/10 since the story ALMOST works, but I’m detracting a full point for the utter waste of Angel as a character… AGAIN. In can only imagine how painful this series must be for an Angel fan.
Every time that Dazzler starts becoming a good series… EVERY TIME… she drops the ball.
GO FOR IT!: 17
Obligatory underwear shot: 33
While tame when compared to earlier issues, I’m still counting Dazzler’s being in her bathrobe for five pages as one continuous scene (even though it’s technically two).
Interesting letters: the series is now bi-monthly because Dazzler is “a special book”.
Which I think we can all agree, but not exactly in a positive sense.
