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
Tag: police corruption
Book Review: Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026
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
Movie Review: Meera (1992)
Movie Review: Meera (1992) directed by P.C. Sreeram When we first meet Meera (Aishwarya), she is heavily pregnant and has returned to her college to give birth. She addresses the camera and asks if we want to hear her story. Meera was once a pretty young university student from a wealthy family, who met Jeeva (Vikram)… Continue reading Movie Review: Meera (1992)
Book Review: Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2025
Book Review: Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2025 edited by Robert Greenberger Disclaimer: I contributed to the Kickstarter for this book. A lesser known aspect of pulp fandom is the creation of new stories in the tradition of the pulp magazines of old, action-packed and exciting. Thus this series of books which feature modern authors trying their… Continue reading Book Review: Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2025
Manga Review: Tomorrow the Birds
Manga Review: Tomorrow the Birds by Osamu Tezuka Once upon a time, birds did not rule the Earth. That role was taken by the ape-creatures who called themselves “humans.” The humans enslaved birds, killed them for sport, even ate them! But then one day benevolent aliens saw our plight, and arranged to redress this injustice… Continue reading Manga Review: Tomorrow the Birds
TV Review: Batman: Caped Crusader
TV Review: Batman: Caped Crusader To each new generation there shall come…a new animated Batman series! Caped Crusader is the 2024-on version of the story. In this version, traumatized millionaire Bruce Wayne and his dark-costumed alter ego are at the beginning of their career. He and the police don’t trust each other, largely because Gotham… Continue reading TV Review: Batman: Caped Crusader
Comic Book Review: Uptown Girl: The Lazarus Heart
Comic Book Review: Uptown Girl: The Lazarus Heart by Bob Lipski Thirty years before “now”, three men were exploring a South American jungle, Alvarez Tuesday, Billy, and Mack. They found the hiding place of the legendary Lazarus Heart, but the cave collapsed and only Alvarez escaped. Ten years later, Billy caught up with Alvarez in… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Uptown Girl: The Lazarus Heart
Book Review: The Hills of Homicide
Book Review: The Hills of Homicide by Louis L’Amour Before he landed the contracts that were to make him America’s most beloved Western writer, Louis L’Amour tried his hand at various other genres of pulp fiction. But the pulp magazine market was drying up, so it was generally a good thing he found other work.… Continue reading Book Review: The Hills of Homicide
Movie Review: The Hunter
Movie Review: The Hunter (1980) directed by Buzz Kulik Frank “Papa” Thorson (Steve McQueen) is an old-fashioned kind of guy. He collects antique tin toys, struggles to show his emotions, and is a bounty hunter, going after those who have jumped bail to bring them back–usually alive–for a reward. Right now, he seriously needs the money… Continue reading Movie Review: The Hunter
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