Comic Strip Review: The Phantom: The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Two 1937-1939 written by Lee Falk, art by Ray Moore Almost five hundred years ago, a sailor named Christopher Walker was accompanying his father on that man’s last voyage when they were attacked by the Singh Brotherhood, a bloodthirsty band of pirates. The pirates killed… Continue reading Comic Strip Review: The Phantom: The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Two 1937-1939
Book Review: A Force So Swift: Mao, Truman and the Birth of Modern China, 1949
Book Review: A Force So Swift: Mao, Truman and the Birth of Modern China, 1949 by Kevin Peraino In 1949, Chen Yong was an idealistic boy in his teens, his military uniform too large for him, cheering in Beijing as Mao Zedong declared that the People’s Republic of China was born. Now, he is an… Continue reading Book Review: A Force So Swift: Mao, Truman and the Birth of Modern China, 1949
Book Review: Complete Speaker’s and Toastmaster’s Library
Book Review: Complete Speaker’s and Toastmaster’s Library by Jacob M. Braude Public speaking is a valuable skill. You may be called upon to say a few words at a friend’s or relative’s wedding. You might have to give a presentation at work. You might even aspire to doing Youtube videos. But it’s also a skill… Continue reading Book Review: Complete Speaker’s and Toastmaster’s Library
Comic Book Review: Snake Tales
Comic Book Review: Snake Tales edited by Mike Howlett Ophiophobia (fear of snakes) is a common phenomenon (Hi Mom!) and has plagued humanity from ancient times, even appearing in the Book of Genesis. Even humans not afflicted with undue fear of the legless reptiles tend to distrust them, and snakes are often cast as villains… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Snake Tales
Magazine Review: Short Stories May 25th, 1939
Magazine Review: Short Stories May 25th, 1939 Edited by Dorothy McIlwrath Short Stories started life in 1890 as a literary magazine, but switched to being a “quality pulp” in 1910, featuring stories of adventure and crime a cut above many of its competitors. Like many of the pulps, it lost sales badly after World War… Continue reading Magazine Review: Short Stories May 25th, 1939
Manga Review: The Birth of Kitaro
Manga Review: The Birth of Kitaro by Shigeru Mizuki Blood bank worker Mizuki (no relation) is sent to investigate a report of tainted blood provided by his business, which has turned a hospital patient into the living dead. Narrowing down the possibilities, Mizuki is startled to learn that the blood donor put down his, Mizuki’s,… Continue reading Manga Review: The Birth of Kitaro
Open Thread: 2017 Wrap-Up
Open Thread: 2017 Wrap-Up That was a rough year, but I read a lot of books and made many posts! As usual with these annual wrap-ups, let’s start with the top tens! Top Ten Posts of 2017 Book Review: The Financial Expert Book Review: The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds Book Review: The Black Tulip… Continue reading Open Thread: 2017 Wrap-Up
Book Review: My Ultimate Super Hero Manual
Book Review: My Ultimate Super Hero Manual by Steve Behling Almost every comic book-loving kid has gone through a phase when they seriously wanted to be a superhero. Wearing a flashy costume, having neat powers, hanging out with people like Spider-Man and Storm; what’s not to love? At the very least, designing your own super… Continue reading Book Review: My Ultimate Super Hero Manual
Manga Review: Skip-Beat! Volumes 4-5-6
Manga Review: Skip-Beat! Volumes 4-5-6 by Yoshiki Nakamura Quick recap: Kyoko Mogami dropped out of school and moved to Tokyo to support her beloved Sho as he tried to break into show business. A couple of years later, the now rising star let slip that he has never liked Kyoko back, just using her as… Continue reading Manga Review: Skip-Beat! Volumes 4-5-6
Comic Book Review: The Complete Voodoo Volume 1
Comic Book Review: The Complete Voodoo Volume 1 Edited by Craig Yoe EC was not the only publisher putting out lurid horror comics during the brief period between the post-World War Two decline of superhero books and the installation of the Comics Code. Others quickly followed in their footsteps. Robert Farrell was one of those… Continue reading Comic Book Review: The Complete Voodoo Volume 1