My comic picks for 12/26/19

My comic picks for 12/11/19

My comic book picks for 11/27/19

The new X titles from Marvel

Marilyn Manson - The End

My comic picks for 11/14/19

My comic picks for 11/20/10

My comic picks for 11/6/19

My comic picks for 10/23/19

My comic picks for 10/16/19

My comic picks for 10/9/19

My comic picks for 10/2/19

My comic picks for 10/9/19

My comic picks for 8/14/19

Stumptown, Vol. 1: The Case of the Girl Who Took Her Shampoo by Greg Rucka
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When you owe thousands of dollars to the casino you can expect that your chips will get called in. This is the case of P.I. Dex Parios who finds herself working for the head of casino operations. The granddaughter of Sue-Lynne has disappeared and if Dex can find the girl, her debts will be written off.

Dex soon discovers that the girl might not want to be found that there are other folks looking for her as well. A Portland, OR crime boss offers to pay Dex to let him know when she finds the girl, plus there are two other thugs who warn her off. Since Dex can be hard to convinced, she ends up being roughed up and even shot. While this might cause others to drop the case, Dex is even more determined to discover where the girl might be and why so many others are looking for her.

Greg Rucka is a great writer and he brings his skill at writing thrillers, as well as comics, to this book. Artist Matthew Southworth is a great choice for the art, making the characters recognizable and making even the quiet scenes interesting. The muted coloring used in the book help with the atmosphere.

I believe the series (or at least the character of Dex) has been picked up for television later this Fall. There are more books in the series and I'm interested in picking them up as well.


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Venus in Heat by Edward Detetcheverrie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In an alternate history, aliens made contact with Earth in the late 1940s. They did not come to conquer, but to negotiate trade and technological exchanges. Over the years the number of alien races known to mankind has increased. Some use Earth as a tourist spot, but some have come to settle. While many don't have much contact with humans when there are these interactions are under the jurisdiction of the members of StarNet, when problems occur. While generally the alien offenders are sent back to the home worlds for disciplinary action, sometimes more aggressive action if needed. A special group of these officers work with AI called Quasar who assist them.

When the remains of small boys are discovered, they seem to indicate that evidence of being eaten. It soon becomes possible that it may be aliens abducting and using these children for food. Captain Haines Geiko, a member of Quasar Force, probably not the best example of a good cop is paired a new partner, a former veterinarian, Geoff McKenna, to investigate the abductions and murders. Both Geiko and McKenna bring their own personal baggage into the situation and tensions soon arise.

The book contains violence, drug use and sex, as well as the possible exploitation of children, so you should be aware of this ahead of time if any of that bothers you.

The author doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of the case and Geiko isn't always the most likable of characters. There is a lot of humor in the book, along with the examination of an Earth becoming part of a wider galactic order. Personally, I'd like to see some of these characters again, as things are left hanging on a couple of plot threads.


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Astérion, the minotaur, walks through the streets of Toulouse

My comic picks for 8/7/19

My comic picks for 7/10/19

Panic by Harold Schechter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Was there an epidemic of child predators in America. Men driven to horrible desires by listening to swing music. As usual in these situations politicians, the media and others seeking a platform try to.find someone or something to blame for events that are often hard to explain.

One of the more disturbing books in this
series of historical crimes. The author focused on a brutal number of child murders that caused a panic until the more enormous issued taking place around the world in the lead up to WWII drove the issue from the headlines.


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My comic picks for 7/3/19

The Pirate by Harold Schechter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harold Schechter is one of my favorite True Crime writers. His focus is mainly American serial killers of the 19th & 20th century. This is the first of a series of shorter works that focus on little known murders that were major events at the time, but have been forgotten.

This deals with the event leading to the conviction and execution of Albert W. Hicks, who was charged with "piracy on the high seas", despite the murders taking place in the waters off New York on an oyster boat. Hired as a mate, Hicks killed the other three members of the crew, for what amounted to less than two hundred dollars, a pocket watch and several items of clothing. As the bodies were never recovered the prosecutor went with the piracy charge.

P.T. Barnum even makes an appearance here as he paid to be allowed to make a 'life mask' of Hicks and purchased from him the clothes he wore while imprisoned. These Barnum put on exhibit in his NY hall for public display. I found it also interesting that in earlier years Hicks moved to my hometown of Norwich, CT where he was arrested and confined for a series of robberies.

Shechter also spends time discussing not only the rise of the oyster industry in NY, but the social and political tone of the era, which helped to make what Hicks did into a huge event. His execution being witnessed by thousands along the shore of what would one day be the island where the Statue of Liberty now stands.


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My comic picks for 6/26/19

My comic picks for 6/19/19

My comic picks for 6/12/19

My comic book picks for 6/5/19

Negative Man Singing in a Karaoke | People Like Us DOOM PATROL 1x08 [HD]...

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by James Tynion IV
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first of three crossovers between these very popular characters. There is even an animated film being made, but not sure if it adapts any of the existing books.

Tracking down Shredder and his Foot Clan, who have used a transporter to move from their Earth to that of Batman's Gotham, the Turtles and Master Splinter attempt to prevent their arch enemy from creating chaos. Meanwhile, Batman is trying to discover who the mysterious ninjas are who are stealing scientific devices around the city. Naturally, as is the case in initial hero meetings Batman and the Turtles battle each other until their common purpose is discovered.

Not a great story, but entertaining as writer Tynion is able to capture the underlying characters of close to a dozen different characters. Batman isn't quite as dark as he is sometimes portrayed, while the Turtles maintain their humor, but take the situation seriously, as they discover what could happen to them if they remain on this Earth.

Easy to see why this was popular when initially published and why there were follow-ups.


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My Comic Picks for 5/29/19

Leon Redbone - "Walking Stick" Live at the 1973 Buffalo Folk Festival

My comic picks 5/8/19

My Free Comic Book Day picks

May 15th Picks

My Comic Picks 5/22/19

The Legend of Caleb York by Mickey Spillane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Collins has taken a screenplay written by the late, Spillane for John Wayne, but never produced. He has turned into a complete novel, more Zane Grey than Louis L'Amour in style. This is the first in a series of books that the author will be writing based on the same character.

The town of Trinidad, NM is under the control of outlaw turned sheriff Harry Gauge, who rules the area with his former gang now deputized. Seeking to expand his holdings to the ranches of the surrounding area, Gauge has bought our or forced out many of the smaller landowners. One major obstacle is George Cullen, a now blind ranch owner, and his beautiful daughter, Willa. Gauge will stop at nothing to get both the ranch and Willa.

Into this situation comes a sharply dressed stranger who quickly becomes the focus of Gauge's hate and Willa's infatuation. In typical Western fashion we're soon involved in gun play and high drama.

This is an old fashion western and Collins easily takes up in the tradition of the better Western writers. You can easily envision Wayne or a number of other classic Western heroes filling the role of the hero in this book. A quick read of under 200 pages.


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pete seeger which side are you on

My Comic Picks for 5/2/19

My Comic Picks for 4/24/19

My comic picks 4/3/19

All Systems Red by Martha Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Security Bots are made up of a combination of organic and robotic elements. Like other bots they can be programmed for a variety of skills, in this case to act as bodyguards/protectors for survey teams as they explore planets for minerals, fauna or other valuable items. Having been involved in an incident that caused it to kill a number of humans, this bot has been reprogrammed. At some point it was able to hack into its programming and become self aware. It has also decided to call itself Murderbot, and all it wants to do is to watch the entertainment serials it has downloaded between its necessary duties.

Contracted out by the corporation to provide security to a survey team working on a little known planet, Murderbot discovers that things are not as they should be. Technical glitches and gaps in the information the team has on the planet leads the team to discover why and who might be behind this. In order to perform his duties, it might become necessary for Murderbot to reveal his own secret. If he does, what will be the reaction and will he simply be deactivated and reprogrammed.

Wells introduces a fascinating new SF character and we see the story unfold from his perspective. I'm looking forward to reading the further adventure of the character and where he goes from this point on.


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My Comic picks for 3/6/19

Deadly Class, Volume 1: Reagan Youth by Rick Remender
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rick Remender, has been writing for Marvel and other American publishers for years. His creation Deadly Class is now an on-going TV series on the SyFy channel. This first TPB collection was adapted into the first season of the TV show, with some minor in the timeline and the appearance of some characters. I heard of this book but didn't pick it up until I was already a fan of the show.

Marcus is an orphan, whose parents were killed during the suicide of a released mental patient. Marcus has decided that this was caused by the Federal government cutting funding to institutions which lead to this tragedy, so decides that Ronald Reagan is to blame. His goal is to kill the then President. Wrongly believed to have caused the death of a number of children in a fire that destroyed the orphanage, Marcus is living on the streets and trying to keep away from the police. One night while escaping he finds himself rescued by other teens that he discovers are students of Kings Dominion, a secret high school that trains the children of elite families to become assassins. As he begins his studies he finds himself becoming friends, something he has never had before, with other students who are also seen as outcasts (called Rats). Eventually it becomes clear that neither Marcus or his fellow students can every truly escape their pasts, nor the hidden agendas of their families and the school administration.

The book ends at a point about mid-season in the TV series, so you'd have to decide if you want to continue from here as some plot elements in the show are given away in the graphic novel. I'm a fan of both and look forward to the show and future collections of the series.


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My comics picks 2/28/19

Thriller (metal cover by Leo Moracchioli feat. C.J Pierce)

Comics Review - Murder Falcon #1-4 from Image.

Murder Falcon, Volume 1 by Daniel Warren Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I first heard about this book in Comic Shop News prior to the initial release. While this is the TPB collection, I read the title as it was released monthly. Johnson created, wrote & drew this book with the assistance of Mike Spicer. Really love the art and the look of the creatures that Jake and Murf (the nickname Jake has given his partner) fight.

Creatures of chaos have invaded the Earth and Murder Falcon has come here to fight them. He receives his power from the energy of the metal music that Jake plays on hit guitar. Jake himself, had gone through a personal tragedy (which we learn about slowly through the first four issues) and had given up on the idea of being a member of a metal trio just getting ready to hit is big. We get Jake's backstory, as well as MF's in bits and pieces, along with meeting the two other members of the band. Each group member has the power, through their instruments, of calling forth a creature to aid them in their battles.

I admit my knowledge of metal is limited, so only a few of the real groups and musicians mentioned in the book (and letters page) are familiar to me. One thing it has done is to be me searching YouTube for videos and the music of some of these folks. That's certainly not a bad thing.

Even if you aren't a fan of the music, the story and art are interesting enough to carry you along. I recommend you give it a try. I'm looking forward to see where the band goes from here. Hey, they even have cowbell now!


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Review - Stranger Things: The Other Side

Stranger Things: The Other Side by Jody Houser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dark Horse brings us a graphic novel, written by Jody Houser, that takes us back to the first season of the show. What was Will Byers doing in the Upside Down, while his family and friends searched for him?

Nice art by Stefano Martino, shows how Will was able to survive as well as some flashbacks to the gang playing Dungeons & Dragons. How did those times help Will and shape his understanding of the events happening around him.

This is really aimed at folks who are already familiar with the show and its characters. Not a good jumping on point for anyone new to the show, but rather a little bonus for those of us waiting for the next season.


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Review of Marvel Tales #1 - Featuring Venom

Marvel Tales: Venom (2019) #1 (Marvel Tales by David Michelinie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Marvel Tales, beginning in the '60s, was a reprint title sometimes focusing on Spider-Man. It ran until it was cancelled in '94 with #291. Marvel has brought it back, again as a reprint title, initially featuring important issues of particular characters. The first one contained three issues of the Fantastic Four from various eras of that title. Each issue begins with an essay by former Assistant Editor and writer, Ralph Macchio discussing the history of the character featured.

This one focuses on the anti-hero Venom, currently one of Marvel's most popular characters. The first issue is actually about Peter Parker, when he was still wearing the black costume, prior to it being separated from him. This is Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #119 and showcases Black Cat (the thief who was in love with Peter) and the X-Men villain, Sabretooth.

Next is The Amazing Spider-Man #316, with art by Todd McFarlane (prior to his split to co-found Image). Venom is now bonded with Eddie Brock, who is seeking Spider-Man. Unfortunately, Black Cat again ends up getting in the way of the symbiote.

Finally, we have the first part of a Carnage story from TAS-M #361. Peter has tricked Eddie Brock into thinking he has killed Spider-Man, so he and Venom are not living on a small Caribbean island. Meanwhile, a portion of the symbiote attached itself to serial killer, Cletus Kasady, who is now calling himself Carnage. With increased power, Kasady has escaped prison but continues to kill randomly as Spider-Man and the police seek to stop him.

Not great stories, but if you are a fan of Spider-Man or the symbiote (in its various incarnations) this is a nice way to check in on its history.


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My Comic Picks 1/23/19

My comic picks 1/16/19

Shinobi Ninja - Post No Bulls (Official)

My comic picks 1/2/19

"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" - Gordon Lightfoot (HD w/ Lyrics)

Passing of Ray Sawyer, lead singer of Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show