Month: February 2024

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 2

Frank Drake title season 3Counterpunch – Director: Mina Shum/Writers: John Callaghan, Keri Ferencz

This one starts with a woman (Sarah) looking for her husband (Joe), an amateur fighter who came home acting all weird the night before, sweating and hallucinating before taking off. Sarah wants Frankie and Trudy to check the back alley gym where Joe works out, in case he’s dead or something. On the way, they pass a huckster selling Walcott’s Wonder Elixir and a pharmacist trying to peddle more traditional medicine. When they get to the gym, Sarah is too scared to go in, so Frankie and Trudy head inside to look for Joe. He’s not there, but they do find some bottles of Walcott’s Wonder Elixir. On the way out, they’re stopped by a guy with a rifle. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 2”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 14, Conan the Barbarian 15

Conan 014 coverConan the Barbarian #14 – “A Sword Called Stormbringer” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema

This story guest stars Elric of Melniboné, hero (or anti-hero maybe) of a series of books by Michael Moorcock. (Moorcock plotted this tale, along with James Cawthorn.) It starts in Koth, with Conan rescuing a maiden from some hooded and cloaked abductors. Conan soon realizes his foes aren’t quite human and is felled by the merest scratch of their blades. But some white eagles descend and chase off the weird attackers, leaving Conan to marvel as the bodies of those he killed turn to dust. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 14, Conan the Barbarian 15”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 13, G.I. Joe 14

GIJoe 013 coverG.I. Joe #13 (July 1983) – “Last Plane From Rio Lindo” – Larry Hama/Mike Vosburg/Jon D’Agostino

Last issue, a team of Joes went to Sierra Gordo (a fictional Central American banana republic) to investigate some shady dealings by Cobra. Stalker, Gung Ho, and Breaker ended up getting their boat blasted to pieces by Baroness, who obliterated the island where Snake Eyes, Kwinn, and Dr. Venom were fighting. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 13, G.I. Joe 14”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 1

Frank Drake title season 3No Friends Like Old Friends – Director: Ruba Nadda/Writer: Carol Hay

This one starts with Frankie in London, having a motorcycle race with her old friend Louise Barton, with whom she served as a dispatch rider in the Signal Corps. They reminisce about the War before heading back to Louise’s place. She doesn’t seem to be enjoying married life too much (and her husband James is kind of a dick to Frankie). Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 1”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 13, Conan the Barbarian 16

Conan 013 coverConan the Barbarian #13 – “Web of the Spider God” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema

This one starts with Conan getting jumped by some raiders in a desert oasis. For once they’re not after him, they just want his horse. After a short fight, Conan is outnumbered and left for dead. When he awakens, he swears vengeance on the raiders, especially their leader, Sarkon. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 13, Conan the Barbarian 16”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 11, G.I. Joe 12

GIJoe 011 coverG. I. Joe #11 (May 1983) – “The Pipeline Ploy” – Larry Hama/Mike Vosburg/Jon D’Agostino

This one starts with some new Joes (Doc, Snow Job, and Gung Ho) being brought in to relieve the team during a firefight with Cobra along the Alaskan Oil Pipeline. Hawk explains how Cobra had been sniffing around the pipeline and how they engaged with them and took out most of the Cobra artillery before their own tanks were blasted. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 11, G.I. Joe 12”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Season 2 Overview

Frankie Drake Season 2 titleWell, that’s another season of Frankie Drake finished and I’m still really liking the show. The 1920s setting is great and I love how they bring in real historical characters to interact with Frankie and the gang. This season gave us a bit more insight into the characters, although we still haven’t learned exactly what happened to Frankie during the War. I hope they get to that eventually.

The main development for Frankie is the “will-they-won’t they” thing between her and Detective Greyson. The whole trope of people arguing and then falling for each other is a bit of a cliché, but maybe they can make it work. Frankie’s real nemesis seems to be Bessie Starkman, but they’regals join the dance actually more alike than they’d care to admit, so I hope we see more of that interaction. Trudy’s still a great character, and the only one who can keep Frankie in line when she gets headstrong. I’d like to see more of Trudy’s family, especially her mom. Mary is still my favourite, so I hope she gets to take the spotlight in a few episodes. Flo is probably the one we know least about, but maybe they’ll delve more into her life in Season 3. My first review of the third season will be up next Wednesday and I hope everyone will check it out.

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 11, Conan the Barbarian 12

Conan 011 coverConan the Barbarian #11 – “Rogues in the House” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema

This one starts with Conan chained in a dungeon, taunted by a sadistic guard named Ch’unda. We get a flashback showing how Conan wound up in the dungeons after killing the priest last issue. Jenna (who now has the hots for the thief Igon) betrayed Conan to the guards and Conan was so drunk he knocked himself out during the fight. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 11, Conan the Barbarian 12”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G. I. Joe 9, G. I. Joe 10

GIJoe 009 coverG. I. Joe #9 (March 1983) – “The Diplomat” – Steven Grant/Mike Vosburg/Chic Stone

This one starts with a team of Joes raiding a secret Cobra facility in Nebraska and capturing part of a computer hard drive. A lot of the data has been erased, but there’s enough to make Hawk worry. Cobra is very interested in a diplomat named Brian Hassell, who is involved in delicate talks with the (fictional) Middle East country of Al-Alawi. Since Al-Alawi would be a valuable ally in the Middle East, the talks are very important and Cobra would just love to screw things up. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G. I. Joe 9, G. I. Joe 10”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 10

Frankie Drake Season 2 titleNow You See Her – Director: Ruba Nadda/Writer: James Hurst

This one starts at a magic show, with the warm-up act (Ben Sellers) and his lovely assistant (Winnie Hudson) doing several tricks that wow the audience. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 10”