Well, that’s the first season of Frankie Drake Mysteries done. I thought I would like this show—since I love the 1920s setting and I always enjoy seeing kick-ass women—and I was right. The Twenties (and Thirties) always have a slightly pulpy feel to them, giving off that Indiana Jones/GURPS Cliffhangers vibe that I love. The cars, the guns, the fashions, and the overall feel of adventure only enhances the fun. We’ve already seen Frankie interact with several real-life characters, so I hope we get more of that next season. For me, it helps connect to the characters when they’re dealing with real history. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Season 1 Overview”
Month: November 2023
Comics Reviews: Batman 456, Detective 623, Legends of the Dark Knight 12
Batman #456 – “Without Fear of Consequence” – Alan Grant/Norm Breyfogle/Steve Mitchell
Last issue, an epidemic of so-called “Crimes of Whim” started, where seemingly ordinary, law-abiding people suddenly decided to become homicidal maniacs, all while wearing skull masks. Batman stops the latest one, a department store Santa who went on a killing spree. The cops tell him the perpetrators have nothing in common and don’t seem to be acting under the influence of drugs or hypnosis. When one of the cops mentions Vicki Vale’s investigation of a guy named Marcuse, he goes to check it out. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 456, Detective 623, Legends of the Dark Knight 12”
Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 47, Green Arrow 38
Wonder Woman #47 – “Common Ground” – George Perez/Jill Thompson/Romeo Tanghal
As you can tell from the cover, this story features Donna Troy (aka Troia) as a guest star. In post-Crisis continuity, Wonder Woman had nothing to do with Donna’s origin; in fact, they haven’t even met yet. And we’ll have to wait a while before they do, since they start off on opposite sides of the world. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 47, Green Arrow 38”
Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 11
Once Burnt Twice Spied – Director: Peter Stebbings/Writer: Michelle Ricci
This one starts with Frankie teaching Mary how to develop photos. They’re interrupted by a phone call, which Mary takes. A voice on the phone says “Blue Lemonade” and hangs up and when Mary mentions the cryptic phrase to Frankie, she takes off immediately. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 11”
Comics Reviews: New Titans 70, Legion of Super-Heroes 12, Suicide Squad 46
New Titans #70 – “Clay Pigeons” – Steve Erwin/Will Blyberg
This is a Deathstroke solo story about him getting involved in politics in the (fictional) South American country of San Miguel. Deathstroke is hired by an arms dealer and rebel sympathizer named Ramon Trujillo to destroy some weapons the government planned to use against the rebel forces. Without their weapons, the government is forced to release the rebel leader Jorge Zaxtro, a champion of the poor (and an old friend of Trujillo’s) who’s been in prison for twenty-five years. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: New Titans 70, Legion of Super-Heroes 12, Suicide Squad 46”
Comics Reviews: Justice League America 43, Justice League Europe 19
Justice League America #43 – “If You Play Your Cards Right” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Adam Hughes/Jose Marzan Jr.
This one starts with Sonar pulling off a bank job only to be confronted by the Justice League when he gets outside (including their two newest members, Orion and Lightray). Sonar can’t believe the JLI would show up for a bank robbery, but he uses his sonic gun to keep some of them off balance (which causes Fire to accidentally incinerate the money Sonar stole). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 43, Justice League Europe 19”
Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 10
Anastasia – Director: Cal Coons/Writer: Michelle Ricci
This one starts with Ernest Hemingway asking Frankie to take a case for a friend of his. The friend (Louisa Winchester) is a lover of Russian culture, since her father was once Ambassador to Russia. Louisa is even hosting three Cossacks (Sergei, Sasha, and Misha) at her estate because their loyalty to the Tsar—or his memory—has made them unwelcome in post-Revolution Russia. Louisa then introduces Frankie to another guest, a young girl she names as Anastasia Romanov, daughter of the last Tsar. Unfortunately, the girl is just as surprised as Frankie at Louisa’s declaration and faints dead away. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 10”
Comics Reviews: Batman 455, Detective 622
Batman #455 – “Identity Crisis: Part One” – Alan Grant/Norm Breyfogle/Steve Mitchell
This one starts with Batman hearing gunshots and rushing to the scene of the crime, where someone in a mask is shooting people at random. Batman takes the shooter down but when the mask is removed, it turns out to be an old lady. She shows no remorse for her actions, but says it was just an old woman’s whim. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 455, Detective 622”
Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 46, Green Arrow 36, Green Arrow 37
Wonder Woman #46 – “Chalk Drawings” – George Perez, Mindy Newell/Jill Thompson/Romeo Tanghal
The cover pretty much gives away what this one is about: Vanessa’s friend Lucy Spears kills herself, leaving everyone to wonder why, and if they could’ve dome something to prevent it. The story jumps around in time, from Lucy’s funeral (where Julia wonders how to help Vanessa through this whole mess), to a few weeks ago when Vanessa and Lucy were hanging out and Lucy was preoccupied wondering what God might be like. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 46, Green Arrow 36, Green Arrow 37”
Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 9
Ghosts – Director: Peter Stebbings/Writer: Ian Carpenter
This one starts with a shadowy figure meticulously putting together a homemade bomb. At Frankie’s office, a woman named Elspeth Burton wants to hire Frankie to find out why her husband has been pushing her away lately. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 9”