Book Review: They Lived by Their Guns

Book Review: They Lived by Their Guns by Various Authors Back in the day, Westerns were king. Even pulp magazines like Argosy that weren’t exclusively western-focused tended to have at least one tale set in that genre every issue. Thus this collection of five novelettes reprinted from the magazine from the late 1940s, published in… Continue reading Book Review: They Lived by Their Guns

Book Review: Strange Houses

Book Review: Strange Houses by Uketsu A young couple is in the market for a house, and they’ve found one that might meet their needs. It’s practically new, the exterior is attractive, and it has all the modern conveniences. But something about the interior layout feels off. They decide to consult their friend Uketsu, who… Continue reading Book Review: Strange Houses

Magazine Review: Pulp Review #22: Vulture Coast

The cover does not match any of the stories inside but is closest to "The Grave Gives Up."

Magazine Review: Pulp Review #22: Vulture Coast edited by John P. Gunnison As I mentioned in my review of High Adventure #200, that pulp reprint magazine was known as Pulp Review for its first 23 issues, and I have some of those earlier issues, that I hope to get to before I die. Let’s look… Continue reading Magazine Review: Pulp Review #22: Vulture Coast

TV Review: Human Vapor

The Human Vapor takes on an entire Yakuza gang.

TV Review: Human Vapor (Japanese title “Gasu Ningen”) When Professor Sano is killed by a mysterious mist on live television, it’s a big case. So much so that police detective Kenji Okamoto (Shun Oguri) is pulled off suspension to lead the investigation. He has mixed feelings about running into Kyoko Kano (Yu Aoi), a television… Continue reading TV Review: Human Vapor

Book Review: I, Barbarian

Artist uncredited. That's very clearly not blonde James on the cover.

Book Review: I, Barbarian by Jay Scotland (John Jakes) James the Frank is not called that because of his honesty, though he does have a tendency to tell the truth even when it’s not convenient. He’s called that because his Crusader father got very lost and wound up at a yam station (kind of an… Continue reading Book Review: I, Barbarian

Book Review: Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026

Cover by Jeffrey Ray Hayes

Book Review: Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026 edited by Robert Greenberger Disclaimer: I contributed to the Kickstarter for this book, and there’s an advertisement for this blog on page 44. It’s time for another annual installment of this pulp-style anthology! Some returning authors, some new ones, and some familiar characters to follow. This year, the genres… Continue reading Book Review: Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026

Manga Review: Billy Bat 1

Manga Review: Billy Bat 1 by Naoki Urasawa with Takashi Nagasaki Billy Bat is a private detective in a world of anthropomorphic animals. He’s a hard-boiled type in the noir tradition with a cynical personality who refuses to use his wings unless he absolutely has to. (Or perhaps he can’t fly at all.) His current… Continue reading Manga Review: Billy Bat 1

Comic Strip Review: Blood Orange Volume 1: National Secrets

Comic Strip Review: Blood Orange Volume 1: National Secrets by Tim Avers & Paul Fricke Constanze is a famous fashion model, actress and platinum-certified recording artist. These days she’s the spokesperson for i0, a top fashion house. She’s also got a taste for blood orange mimosas. However, there was a time when she wasn’t any… Continue reading Comic Strip Review: Blood Orange Volume 1: National Secrets

Comic Book Review: Star Trek: Red Shirts

Comic Book Review: Star Trek: Red Shirts written by Christopher Cantwell, art by Megan Levens One of the running jokes among Star Trek fans, especially when talking about the original series, is the “redshirts”, characters whose only purpose in the story is to die to establish that the situation was dangerous and how the danger… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Star Trek: Red Shirts

Book Review: The Complete Max Carrados Volume II

Book Review: The Complete Max Carrados Volume II by Ernest Bramah Disclaimer: I contributed to the Kickstarter for this project. To recap from my review of the first volume, Max Carrados is a blind detective published in stories from 1913-1934. A resident of a ritzy London suburb who’d been blinded in a riding accident, Max… Continue reading Book Review: The Complete Max Carrados Volume II