Author: anarchyinsk

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”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 9, Conan the Barbarian 10

Conan 009 coverConan the Barbarian #9 – “The Garden of Fear” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema

This one starts with Conan and Jenna still fleeing after last issue’s troubles. They run into some primitive hill people who (after a brief fight) turn out to be friendly. Conan and Jenna notice a couple of nearby valleys separated by a pass, but the tribesmen are too afraid to even look in that direction. As Conan and Jenna are leaving, she’s grabbed by a winged creature and the hill tribe seems to think she’s as good as dead. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 9, Conan the Barbarian 10”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 7, G.I. Joe 8

GIJoe 007 coverG. I. Joe #7 (January 1983) – “Walls of Death” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Chic Stone

Last issue, a team of Joes (Stalker, Scarlett, Flash, Breaker, Clutch, and Steeler) was sent to Afghanistan to retrieve a crashed Russian experimental plane and get it to a ship waiting in Karachi. Naturally, the Russians wanted their plane back and sent their equivalent of the Joe team, the Oktober Guard, to get it. After a running fight, the Joes and Oktober Guard were surprised by Cobra, who also want the plane. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 7, G.I. Joe 8”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 9

Frankie Drake Season 2 titleDealer’s Choice – Director: Ruba Nadda/Writer: John Callaghan

This one starts with a young guy (Sean Murphy) hiring Frankie and Trudy to find his stolen silver pocket watch. The watch obviously means a lot to Sean, as he gives them a fifty dollar advance and promises another fifty when they find it. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 9”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 7, Conan the Barbarian 8

Conan 007 coverConan the Barbarian #7 – “The Lurker Within” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Dan Adkins, Sal Buscema

This one starts with Conan on the Road of Kings outside Numalia, second-largest city in Nemedia. He saves a high-born lady (Aztrias) from wolves and agrees to drive her chariot to the city (since he probably would’ve been refused entry otherwise). Inside the teeming city, Conan runs the chariot into another, driven by Kallian, owner of the Hall of Relics. A guard captain (Dionus) intervenes and Conan is ready to fight until Aztrias smooths things over. (She’s the governor’s niece, so the other two defer to her.) Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 7, Conan the Barbarian 8”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 5, G.I. Joe 6

GIJoe 005 coverG.I. Joe #5 (November 1982) – “Tanks For the Memories” – Larry Hama/Don Perlin/Jon D’Agostino, Mike Esposito

This one starts with Steeler, Breaker, and Clutch showing off the Mobat (Mobile Armored Battle Tank) to Scarlett. She’s not impressed by all the sophisticated hardware, saying that a tank is a tool not a toy. (Kind of ironic, since Marvel’s deal with Hasbro meant that Larry Hama was forced to introduce all the toys and action figures into the comic.) Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 5, G.I. Joe 6”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 8

Frankie Drake Season 2 titleDiamonds Are a Gal’s Best Friend – Director: Peter Stebbings/Writer: Carol Hay

This one starts with Frankie and Trudy out in the country, investigating a stolen horse. The farmer (Sommers) complains about the missing horse then casually mentions his daughter Camille has disappeared too. Camille only goes into town (with the horse) twice a week to deliver produce, but today’s not her day to go. Sommers claims Camille is an innocent, god-fearing girl, but Trudy finds some booze and a trashy romance novel hidden in the barn. They find a man’s shoeprints, a Turkish cigarette butt, and a torn scrap of Camille’s dress. They wonder if she ran off with a lover, or if she was running from someone else. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 8”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 5, Conan the Barbarian 6

Conan 005 coverConan the Barbarian #5 – “Zukala’s Daughter” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Frank Giacoia

This one starts with Conan passing through a village in Zamora on his way to the debauched city known as Shadizar the Wicked. As Conan talks to a weaponsmith, the skies darken and the smith freaks out, telling Conan the local warlord (Zukala) has sent someone to collect a tribute in gold from the villagers. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 5, Conan the Barbarian 6”