Magazine Review: Hooded Detective January 1942

Magazine Review: Hooded Detective January 1942 The Black Hood was one of the superheroes created for the MLJ (later Archie) Comics line, first appearing in Top-Notch Comics #9 in 1940. Matthew Kipling “Kip” Burland was originally a rookie cop who was framed for grand larceny and injured to near death by a criminal known as… Continue reading Magazine Review: Hooded Detective January 1942

Movie Review: Tampopo

Our heroine introduces herself.

Movie Review: Tampopo (1985) directed by Juzo Itami Truck drivers Goro (Tsutomu Yamazaki) and Gun (Ken Watanabe) get hungry on a long haul, and stop at Ramen Lai-Lai, a failing restaurant. To be honest, the food’s not all that good, but Goro gets into a fight with local drunk Pis-Ken (Rikiya Yasuoka), who’s being rude to… Continue reading Movie Review: Tampopo

Comic Book Review: Forbidden Worlds Vol. 15

Comic Book Review: Forbidden Worlds Vol. 15 edited by Richard E. Hughes Forbidden Worlds started as a horror anthology comic book series from American Comics Group in 1951. In 1955, it ran foul of new restrictions on horror in comics, but soon retooled as “stories of strange adventure” which conformed with the Comics Code and… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Forbidden Worlds Vol. 15

Book Review: Widows Wear Weeds

Book Review: Widows Wear Weeds by A.A. Fair (Erle Stanley Gardner) Erle Stanley Gardner became famous thanks to his Perry Mason stories, featuring a defense attorney whose client is always innocent (of the particular murder the story is about.) But not every one of his story ideas fit that mold, so under the pen name… Continue reading Book Review: Widows Wear Weeds

Magazine Review: Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine May/June 2021

Magazine Review: Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine May/June 2021 edited by Linda Landrigan In 1956, HSD Publications wanted to create a new mystery story magazine. To boost sales, they licensed the name of Alfred Hitchcock, a famous director who was then the host of a popular television show. While Mr. Hitchcock otherwise had nothing to do… Continue reading Magazine Review: Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine May/June 2021

Manga Review: Iron Wok Jan! 2

Manga Review: Iron Wok Jan! 2 by Shinji Saijyo, with supervisor Keiko Oyama Jan Akiyama’s grandfather Kaiichiro was one of the two greatest chefs of Chinese cuisine in Japan. He took Jan into the mountains for years to train him in the culinary arts. But Kaiichiro Akiyama died, and his final instructions were for Jan… Continue reading Manga Review: Iron Wok Jan! 2

Manga Review: Case Closed, Volumes 74, 75 & 76

Manga Review: Case Closed, Volumes 74, 75 & 76 by Gosho Aoyama Time for three more volumes of our favorite manga about a teen genius detective stuck in the body of a little boy! Volume 74 begins with the conclusion of the hostage situation in Kogoro Mouri (Richard Moore in the American version)’s office. After… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed, Volumes 74, 75 & 76

Manga Review: Case Closed, Vol. 73

Manga Review: Case Closed, Vol. 73 by Gosho Aoyama Recap: Shinichi Kudou (Jimmy Kudo in the dub) is a teen genius detective who has been shrunk by a poison and now poses as grade-schooler Conan Edogawa, but still solves crimes. Thus the Japanese title that translates as “Detective Conan.” See my earlier reviews. This volume… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed, Vol. 73

Manga Review: Ratman, Vol. 3

Rio Kizaki is the cover feature character for this volume.

Manga Review: Ratman, Vol. 3 by Sekihiko Inui On an alternate Earth, methods have been found to give ordinary humans superpowers, and “superhero” is a profession. However, the processes involved are very expensive and out of range for the average working person. So most superheroes are sponsored by businesses and act as mascots for them.… Continue reading Manga Review: Ratman, Vol. 3

Manga Review: The Brave-Tuber #1

Manga Review: The Brave-Tuber #1 story by Takahito Oosake, art by Ikuro It has been over five thousand years since the Demon King Neidvin was destroyed, bringing an end to The War of Heaven’s Edge and ushering in an era of relative peace in Wizdaregidor. Now, it is said, the Demon King has been resurrected,… Continue reading Manga Review: The Brave-Tuber #1