Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 4

Frank Drake title season 3A Brother in Arms – Director: Mina Shum/Writer: Karen Hill, Ley Lukins

This one starts with Frankie and Trudy hanging out at Wendy Quon’s new speakeasy. They notice a newspaper headline about a local Chinese factory worker (Li Chang) who’s been sentenced to hang for murdering his boss and Wendy speculates that it’s racism more than facts that got him convicted. Flo comes in and complains about her new morgue assistant, Bart, who’s blessed with neither brains nor looks. When Frankie and Trudy return to the office, they notice a light and go inside to find a guy making himself at home. He claims to be Jack Drake, Frankie’s brother. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 4”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 19, Conan the Barbarian 20

Conan 019 coverConan the Barbarian #19 – “Hawks From the Sea” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Dan Adkins

Last issue, Conan and Fafnir were picked up by a Turanian war galley commanded by Prince Yezdigerd. He’s leading a force against a city across the Vilayet Sea and allowed (or forced) Conan and Fafnir to join his army. As the ship makes its way across the Sea, Conan sees a soldier (Balthaz) lashing a broken wooden statue to the mast. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 19, Conan the Barbarian 20”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 17, G.I. Joe 18

GIJoe 017 coverG.I. Joe #17 (November 1983) – “Loose Ends” – Larry Hama/Mike Vosburg/Jon D’Agostino

Last issue, Hawk was shot in the back by Cobra Commander while struggling with Destro and left for dead. Turns out Hawk was wearing Kevlar but the impact of the bullets still did some damage, possibly internal, because Cobra Commander was so close. While Doc works on Hawk, Scarlett fills the others in and Gung Ho trashes the car of an annoying commuter (who has the misfortune to be driving a Shelby Cobra). Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 17, G.I. Joe 18”

Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 3

Frank Drake title season 3School Ties, School Lies – Director: Ruba Nadda/Writer: Jennifer Kassabian

This one starts with Flo giving a talk to a class at Briarlane Girls’ School. She shows them some preserved bodily organs and lets them know that medicine isn’t an easy profession for women, but urges them to stick with it if that’s what they love. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 3, Episode 3”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 17, Conan the Barbarian 18

Conan 017 coverConan the Barbarian #17 – “The Gods of Bal-Sagoth” – Roy Thomas/Gil Kane/Ralph Reese

This one starts with Conan as a captive aboard a Turanian galley sailing the Vilayet Sea. The ship is attacked by pirates, led by Fafnir, the redheaded rogue Conan tangled with in Shadizar (in issue 6). The galley is taken and Conan wakes up tied to the mast of the pirate ship. Fafnir spared him because he needs a strong arm to help steer his ship through a storm, but when Conan realizes Fafnir is from Vanaheim, he refuses to help. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 17, Conan the Barbarian 18”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 15, G.I. Joe 16

GIJoe 015 coverG.I. Joe #15 (September 1983) – “Red-Eye to Miami” – Larry Hama/Mike Vosburg/Jon D’Agostino

Last issue, Snake Eyes and Dr. Venom escaped from a sunken bunker at the bottom of a river in Sierra Gordo only to run straight into some Cobra troops disguised as local renegades. The Cobras are ready to kill the prisoners until Dr. Venom mentions that he’s a pilot and can get them out of the country. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 15, G.I. Joe 16”

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”