Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
G.I. Joe #51 (September 1986) – “Thunder Machine” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
This one continues where last issue left off, with the Dreadnoks and Storm Shadow meeting Zartan’s sister (Zarana) in their gas station hideout in New Jersey. They also meet Zandar (Zartan and Zarana’s brother) and another Dreadnok named Thrasher, who used to run with them years ago. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 51, G.I. Joe 52”
Showstoppers – Director: Peter Stebbings/Writers: Peter Mitchell, Rebecca Liddiard
This one starts with Mary going to a theatre while a dance rehearsal is in progress. Mary seems to admire the dancers (especially one of the guys), but is there on business, since the costumes are so scanty they violate several city ordinances. (The outfits just look like regular ballet costumes, but I suppose that was risqué for the 1920s.) Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 4, Episode 9”
Conan the Barbarian #49 – “Wolf-Woman” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Dick Giordano
Last issue, Conan was captured by a bandit lord named Torkal Moh and staked out for some rats to devour. He manages to cut himself free by breaking the ceramic bowl of water Torkal Moh left to taunt him, and he rips the stakes out of the round, scaring the rats away. Conan follows Torkal Moh’s trail and finds water, but he’s beset by wolves. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 49, Conan the Barbarian 50”
G.I. Joe #49 (July 1986) – “Serpentor” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
This one starts with Destro and Dr. Mindbender stealing a mummy from a museum in the Middle East and taking it back to Springfield. The Frankenstein parallels continue, with Mindbender planning to extract the DNA from the stolen remains of history’s greatest warriors, mix it together and put it into an artificial body he’s grown, then fill that new creation with historical knowledge to create the ultimate conqueror. (The idea was Mindbender’s, but Cobra Commander is behind him all the way.) Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 49, G.I. Joe 50”
I just received the latest volume of Ron Randall’s Trekker (with the provocative title of Spice) and it’s another great read. Mercy is forced to work with someone who’s a lot like her in certain ways, yet completely opposite in others. Naturally, complications ensue, but it wouldn’t be a Trekker story if it wasn’t full of action, intrigue, and a few surprises. Ron Randall has done another spectacular job with the art and writing and he’s still giving out plenty of
swag as Kickstarter rewards. This time there are stickers, pins, a poster, and a bookmark … I’m running out of room to keep everything I’ve received in all the recent campaigns. Gulliver enjoyed the story too, although he’s still hoping for an ape hero to show up. Maybe next volume. If you’d like to check out Trekker yourself, go right ahead … maybe you’ll end up falling in love with it like I did.
Sweet Justice – Director: Bosede Williams/Writers: Jennifer Kassabian, Robina Lord-Stafford
This one starts with Trudy and her family moving into their new house (and naturally Mildred recruits Frankie, Mary, and Flo to help move stuff). Trudy is pretty happy, but they hear a disturbance outside and find a woman across the street pounding a fire hydrant with a sledgehammer. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 4, Episode 8”
Conan the Barbarian #47 – “Goblins in the Moonlight” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Dan Adkins
Last issue, Conan was on his way to Phalkar to deliver an amulet to the regent of that city when he got sidetracked by (what else?) a beautiful woman. He saved the woman (Stefanya) from a bloodthirsty mob who accused her of sorcery, but Stefanya told Conan the real sorcerer was her hated master, Zoqquanor. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 47, Conan the Barbarian 48”
G.I. Joe #47 (May 1986) – “Sea Duel” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
This one starts where last issue left off, with the Joes loading the wounded Ripcord into the Killer Whale after finding him on Cobra Island. Of course, we know that this isn’t actually Ripcord, it’s Zartan in disguise hoping to infiltrate Joe headquarters, while the real Ripcord is in the Cobra Firebat plane that just launched from the island. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 47, G.I. Joe 48”
Life is a Cabaret – Director: Bosede Williams/Writers: Keri Ferencz, Sharron Matthews
This one starts with Frankie and Alessandro getting busy in his race car, which is parked in an alley. They’re interrupted by a struggle between a man and a glammed up woman. Alessandro is about to go help the lady when she decks her aggressor and takes off Frankie checks the guy and finds that he’s dead. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 4, Episode 7”
Conan the Barbarian #45 – “The Last Ballad of Laza-Lanti” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Crusty Bunkers
This one starts with Conan drinking in a tavern in Shadizar, trying to forget Red Sonja. A minstrel sings a sad ballad and Conan takes a liking to it, so when local toughs start giving the minstrel a hard time, Conan kicks their asses. The bard (Laza-Lanti) turns out to be a fighter too and saves Conan by tossing a dagger into a thug trying to sneak up on the barbarian. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 45, Conan the Barbarian 46”