Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
50 Shades of Greyson – Director: Cal Coons/Writer: Jessie Gabe
This one starts in the Krazy Kitten Club with a dancer (C.C. Storm) doing a fan dance. She keeps her breasts covered (which really bothers a loudmouthed guy in the audience) until she notices a red light at the foot of the stage go out, then she drops the fans to show off her charms. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 7”
Conan the Barbarian #3 – “Twilight of the Grim Grey God” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema
This story begins with a manacled Conan making his way through the wilds of Hyperborea. He runs into a grey-haired warrior, who tells him Hyperborea and Brythunia will soon be embroiled in a border war. Conan gets snotty with the guy, who tells him to respect his betters and shows him some Valkyrie-type maidens riding through the sky. It’s obvious this is some kind of god, but Conan doesn’t seem too impressed. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 3, Conan the Barbarian 4”
G.I. Joe #1 (June 1982) – “Operation: Lady Doomsday” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Bob McLeod
This is my first G.I. Joe review, but I’ve actually read quite a few of these issues before so this isn’t completely new territory to me. It has been a long time since I’ve read them, but I remember liking the series overall, at least until it turned into Snake Eyes and His Amazing Friends. Don’t get me wrong, I like ninjas as much as anyone (and Larry Hama came up with some great stories about Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Zartan, Firefly, and the rest), but I prefer when they’re just part of the story, not the sole focus. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 1, G.I. Joe 2”
Extra Innings – Director: Sudz Sutherland/Writer: John Callaghan
This one starts with the ladies attending a baseball game featuring the Toronto Sparrows (a woman’s team). Mary is really into it (she plays in a recreational league), while Flo doesn’t seem too interested. Frankie and Trudy are casual fans (although Frankie seems to enjoy flirting with Brody, the concession stand guy). Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 6”
Conan the Barbarian #1 – “The Coming of Conan” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Dan Adkins
Welcome to my first review of Conan, a comic I’ve read only sporadically over the years, so a lot of the issues will be new to me. This issue was originally cover-dated October 1970 (a couple years before I was born), but I have read it before in the first Chronicles of Conan collection (which is what I’m using to do these reviews since I like reading Roy Thomas’s comments about the various issues). Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 1, Conan the Barbarian 2”
I’ve finished my 1990 comics reviews, but I’ve decided to take a break from DC. I’ve been reviewing DC stuff from 1977 right through 1990 and I’ve seen some great stories (and a few not so great), but I’m feeling a little burnt out 
on DC stuff. I may come back to it in the future, but for right now I’d like to try something a bit different. I thought about doing some classic Marvel superhero stuff, but I’ve already read a lot of Silver/Bronze Age Marvels, so there wouldn’t be too many surprises for me. So I think I’ll go with Marvel but switch genres a bit by reviewing two series that I’m somewhat familiar with: Conan and G.I. Joe. I’ve read a fair number of issues in both series, but it’s been a long time
so I think I’ll have fun delving into these two classics. I’ll be doing two Conans and two G.I. Joes per week, which means I can get through the first run of G.I. Joe in about a year and a half. Of course, I might get burnt out on these after a while too and switch to something else, but I am a fan of both franchises, so I think the genre change will keep me interested. I hope you’ll all join me as I check out these two cool titles and don’t be shy about leaving comments.
Dressed to Kill – Director: Sudz Sutherland/Writer: Jessie Gabe
This one starts with an adoring Toronto crowd waiting to greet Coco Chanel as she arrives at her hotel. But there’s someone who’s not such a fan of Coco and takes a shot at her with a rifle. Later, she gives the cops shit for not being able to find the shooter and when Mary overhears that, she suggests to Coco that she might know someone who can help her. A local gossip columnist called Lipstick uses the incident as fodder for her column, but Coco is more concerned with finding out who wants her dead, so she hires Frankie. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 5”
New Titans Annual #6 – “Starfire’s World” – Marv Wolfman/Paris Cullins, Curt Swan, Tom Grindberg/Al Vey
This one starts on Tamaran, with the Citadel forces attacking the planet and demanding the eldest daughter from each ruler’s house. Starfire’s father turned her over, but another ruler preferred to send his daughter (Xyannis, who is Karras’s sister) out in a rocket to avoid her being enslaved, kinda like Superman. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: New Titans Annual 6, Legion Annual 1”
Justice League America Annual #4 – “What’s Black and White and Bl” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Mike McKone/Bob Smith
This story chronicles the (ever-so-brief) career of Justice League Antarctica. It takes place after Justice League 36 (where G’nort meets Scarlet Skier) but before the JLI Special (where Oberon and Mr. Miracle leave Earth). The story starts with former members of the Injustice League (Major Disaster, Big Sir, Clock King, Cluemaster, and of course the Mighty Bruce) running into each other at the unemployment office. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America Annual 4, Justice League Europe Annual 1”
Emancipation Day – Director: Ruba Nadda/Writer: Andrew Burrows-Trotman
This one starts with Trudy singing at a rally for the UNIA (United Negro Improvement Association). Her mother (Mildred) harangues her and Frankie into collecting donations for orphans, including an adorable moppet named Esme. Nearby, a couple of guys (Wesley and Lionel) are arguing, with Lionel trying to convince Wesley not to do something. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 2, Episode 4”