Author: anarchyinsk

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 4, Episode 2

Frank Drake title season 3Prince in Exile – Director: Eleanore Lindo/Writer: Peter Mitchell

This one starts with Frankie and her new boyfriend (Alessandro Contento) arriving at a club with a bunch of reporters clamouring to take Alessandro’s photo. They don’t really care too much about Frankie, especially one obnoxious reporter who pisses Alessandro off by being rude to Frankie. Inside the club, we learn that Trudy’s fiancé Bill has gotten a job offer in Ottawa, which means Trudy will be moving there after the marriage. It’s obvious she’s still having doubts about marrying Bill, but she won’t admit it. Frankie and Trudy notice a guy aggressively questioning another customer and force him to leave. The guy says he’s looking for a missing Prince, so they decide to help. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 4, Episode 2”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 35, Conan the Barbarian 36

Conan 035 coverConan the Barbarian #35 – “The Hellspawn of Kara-Shehr” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one starts with Conan and his new companion Bourtai (who he met last issue) travelling across the desert on their way back to Aghrapur. They come upon some desert warriors harrying a lone man and Conan rides in to help. The raiders try to kill the loner, who apparently holds some kind of valuable secret. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 35, Conan the Barbarian 36”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 35, G.I. Joe 36

GIJoe 035 coverG.I. Joe #35 (May 1985) – “Dreadnoks on the Loose” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham, Mark Bright, Bob Camp/Andy Mushynsky, Mike Esposito

This one starts with the Dreadnoks(Buzzer, Torch, and Ripper) admiring Zartan’s new motorbike. Buzzer demonstrates the holographic projector that allows the bike to look like something else (a van, a car, a semi-truck) and explains that it’s the same technology Zartan uses to make himself look like someone else. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 35, G.I. Joe 36”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 4, Episode 1

Frank Drake title season 3Scavenger Hunt – Director: Eleanore Lindo/Writer: Mary Pedersen

This one starts with Frankie, Mary, Trudy, and Flo tramping around the woods taking part in a scavenger hunt. We get some updates on everyone’s lives: Flo is getting ready to enter medical school, Trudy and Bill are engaged, and Frankie has a new guy in her life. Frankie’s man is supposedly rich, adventurous, and European, which makes the others think she might be lying about how great he is (or about his very existence). Frankie and Mary spot one of the items on their list (a carved wooden moose) and Frankie climbs up an escarpment to get it. From her vantage point, she sees something that’s not on the list … a dead body. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 4, Episode 1”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 33, Conan the Barbarian 34

Conan 033 coverConan the Barbarian #33 – “Death and 7 Wizards” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

Last issue, Conan was sent to the city of Wan Tengri in Khitai by a Turanian commander who wanted him to gather information for a possible invasion. The city is ruled by seven mysterious wizards who fill the skies with flames from a high tower. Conan ran afoul of one of the wizards and ended up fleeing the city guard, swimming through a watery tunnel where he fought an octopus-woman (which may or may not have been an illusion) before crawling out of a pool in the garden and collapsing. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 33, Conan the Barbarian 34”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 33, G.I. Joe 34

GIJoe 033 coverG.I. Joe #33 (March 1985) – “Celebration” – Larry Hama/Frank Springer/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with General Austin arriving at the Pit before the big opening ceremony. We see Snake Eyes, Airborne, and Spirit in the infirmary recovering from their adventure in the High Sierras last issue. When Scarlett comes in to talk to Snake Eyes (after having a long conversation with the Soft Master), Airborne figures he and Spirit should give the two lovebirds some privacy … but Spirit is already gone. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 33, G.I. Joe 34”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Season 3 Overview

the gals on the beachWell, that’s another season of Frankie Drake finished. I like this show a lot, so I wish there were more episodes per season. We learned a bit more about the main characters (finally finding out what happened to Frankie during the Great War) and saw some favourite guest characters (Joe Perry, Tickles Malone, Moses Page) return, along with perennial favourites Mildred and Nora. We also met Frankie’s brother, as well as a few real-life characters like Agatha Christie and William Hubbard. I like how the show throws in topical issues (medicine shows, the lost Debussy concerto, Trudy’s friendreconstructing the crime running for office) that are still relatable. In fact some of the issues, like sexual harassment or the land scam, are still happening today. Flo seems to be getting closer to realizing her dream of being a doctor, and Mary has finally learned to stand up for herself, which should help her become a cop. Mary is still my favourite character (and I love how well she and Flo work together), so I hope we get plenty of her in the next season, which I’ll start reviewing next week.

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 31, Conan the Barbarian 32

Conan 031 coverConan the Barbarian #31 – “The Shadow in the Tomb” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one starts with Conan serving as a mercenary with a cohort of Turanian soldiers. They’re looking for rebel hill tribes and find them soon enough, when the hill-men ambush them near some rocky cliffs. Conan is in the middle of the fight (naturally), but the Turanians are badly outnumbered so their captain (Malthuz) orders a retreat into the rocky hills. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 31, Conan the Barbarian 32”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 31, G.I. Joe 32

GIJoe 031 coverG.I. Joe #31 (January 1985) – “All Fall Down” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with the Joes moving a bunch of vehicles (a Mobat, Vamp, RAM, and Wolverine) out of Fort Wadsworth, which isn’t exactly inconspicuous but doesn’t seem to raise suspicion in the suburban neighbourhood surrounding the base. One guy who might be suspicious is Fred Broca, the Cobra Crimson Guardsman who’s been re-assigned to watch Fort Wadsworth for anything out of the ordinary. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 31, G.I. Joe 32”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 10

Frank Drake title season 3A Sunshine State of Mind – Director: Ruba Nadda/Writers: Jennifer Kassabian, Keri Ferencz

This one starts with the gals gathered at Frankie’s office, complaining about the heat wave gripping the city. Trudy’s mom (Mildred) comes in to tell them she’s bought a place down in Florida, in a resort called Miami Springs. Mildred admits she spent a lot on the place (and some of Trudy’s aunts and uncles bought in as well), but she’s happy to have a nice vacation property and Trudy seems quite thrilled too. Frankie gets a call from her mom (Nora), who tells her she bought property in Miami Springs as well, and is the one who talked Mildred into investing. Unfortunately, Miami Springs is a scam; Nora isn’t worried about the money she lost, but she does feel bad for getting Mildred (and her family) mixed up in a fake deal. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 10”