Finally A Good Story, No Joke.
This Showcase book has three stories. They deal with the Joker, Gunfire and Blue Beetle. The first two are the second and final parts to their stories and the Blue Beetle story starts here and has a nice cliff hanger. The stories got better as they went. The Joker story was terrible and I am a Joker fan. The story had the Joker get out of a sticky situation in a campy way. The dream sequence is good if you like 1980's hair band album art. It just had no suspense or real story. It was basically Joker hates Batman and he is evil. If you already know that this story did not have anything you need to read.
The second story dealt with Gunfire. It was alright but it did not make me want to buy the series it was advertising when it came out, and I'm not really interested in the character still today. Not to rip on the 1980s but this hero just looks like he was created ten years before this book came out. He has giant shoulder pads and big terminator glasses not to mention a purple costume. I also think he is a weak Gambit rip-off. The story was just a recap of his origin story with a less than exciting attack at Gunfire's company. It was not bad just not that entertaining. I read this book when it came out and I completely forgot about him when I reread the book. That will give you an idea of how good it was.
The Blue Beetle Story was good. It sucks that it was the last story considering how much better it was the the other two. This is about the Ted Kord, Blue Beetle and it is really enjoyable. Not a lot happens but that is normal for Showcase stories. That said it sets up a nice story. It also has some tidbits of humor. That is good considering the first two stories. I would recommend this comic if you have an interest in the Blue Beetle. If not keep it on the shelf. I gave it three-and-a-half stars or seven out of ten.