Book Review: Dick Tracy: The Secret Files

Book Review: Dick Tracy: The Secret Files edited by Max Allan Collins and Martin H. Greenberg In 1990, the venerable Dick Tracy comic strip got a movie adaptation, Dick Tracy, starring Warren Beatty and Madonna. To cash in on the publicity, the then-writer of the strip, Max Allan Collins, was asked to do both a… Continue reading Book Review: Dick Tracy: The Secret Files

Manga Review: Orochi: The Perfect Edition 2

Manga Review: Orochi: The Perfect Edition 2 by Kazuo Umezz Quick recap: Orochi is a seemingly immortal being in the shape of a young woman who can pass anywhere from high school to college age. While her name evokes the eight-headed serpent of Japanese folklore, Orochi does not appear to be of ill intent. She’s… Continue reading Manga Review: Orochi: The Perfect Edition 2

Movie Review: Sudden Impact (1983)

Harry contemplates the difference between justice and revenge.

Movie Review: Sudden Impact (1983) directed by Clint Eastwood San Francisco is a dangerous city, as seen when a man is given a “.38 vasectomy” and a head shot in his car by his passenger. The next morning, Police Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) is not initially investigating that case. He’s in court, where a… Continue reading Movie Review: Sudden Impact (1983)

Movie Review: Serenity (2005)

The Serenity's crew doesn't always agree on the best course of action.

Movie Review: Serenity (2005) directed by Joss Whedon This is what we are told: It is around 500 years in the future. Life on Earth That Was became unsustainable, so humanity went looking for new worlds to live on. At least one place they found was a trinary star system with multiple planets and planetoids in… Continue reading Movie Review: Serenity (2005)

Book Review: Catlow

Book Review: Catlow by Louis L’Amour (A)bijah Catlow and Ben Cowan grew up together, fighting together and against each other. As so often happens, their lives have taken different paths since. Ben is now a deputy U.S. Marshal, and Bijah is an outlaw rustler. Now, admittedly, Bijah was initially framed for rustling by a crooked… Continue reading Book Review: Catlow

TV Review: The Adventures of Long John Silver

Captain Silver exults at returning to the sea.

TV Review: The Adventures of Long John Silver Ye’ll likely be familiar with the basic plot of Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. ‘Tis a fine tale of the sea, with adventure and pirates a-plenty. But if by some sad mischance ye are not, feast your eyes on me review of the book! There have… Continue reading TV Review: The Adventures of Long John Silver

Magazine Review: High Adventure #169: The Fort Terror Murders

This scene does not appear in the story.

Magazine Review: High Adventure #169: The Fort Terror Murders edited by John P. Gunnison The main feature in this pulp reprint originally appeared in Complete Detective Novel Magazine in December 1931, but the text comes from its reprint in Mystery Novels Magazine Quarterly in Summer 1932. Both magazines had relatively short runs, so it is… Continue reading Magazine Review: High Adventure #169: The Fort Terror Murders

Magazine Review: High Adventure #98: The Crimson Mask

Magazine Review: High Adventure #98: The Crimson Mask edited by John P. Gunnison When Robert Clarke was young, he watched his police officer father be gunned down by criminals. The image of his father’s blood-soaked face never left him. So after training himself in disguise, hand to hand combat, criminology, and becoming a PhG (Graduate… Continue reading Magazine Review: High Adventure #98: The Crimson Mask

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September/October 2021

Cover by Brian Stauffer

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September/October 2021 edited by Janet Hutchings “The years keep coming and they just keep coming.” It seems like just a few months ago I reviewed a 75th anniversary issue of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, but in fact it was five years ago, and here’s the 80th anniversary issue. It’s… Continue reading Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September/October 2021

Movie Review: Raw Deal (1948)

Pat, Ann and Joe share a very uncomfortable front seat.

Movie Review: Raw Deal (1948) directed by Anthony Mann Pat Regan’s (Claire Trevor) man is in jail. Joe Sullivan (Dennis O’Keefe) took a fall for Rick Coyle (Raymond Burr) for robbery. Rick owes Joe $50,000 as his cut for taking the rap. Joe could make parole in two, or more likely three years if he keeps… Continue reading Movie Review: Raw Deal (1948)