Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Conan 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 #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”
Well, 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’re
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 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 #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”
Now 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 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 #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”
Dealer’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 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”