Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Once Burnt Twice Spied – Director: Peter Stebbings/Writer: Michelle Ricci
This one starts with Frankie teaching Mary how to develop photos. They’re interrupted by a phone call, which Mary takes. A voice on the phone says “Blue Lemonade” and hangs up and when Mary mentions the cryptic phrase to Frankie, she takes off immediately. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 11”
New Titans #70 – “Clay Pigeons” – Steve Erwin/Will Blyberg
This is a Deathstroke solo story about him getting involved in politics in the (fictional) South American country of San Miguel. Deathstroke is hired by an arms dealer and rebel sympathizer named Ramon Trujillo to destroy some weapons the government planned to use against the rebel forces. Without their weapons, the government is forced to release the rebel leader Jorge Zaxtro, a champion of the poor (and an old friend of Trujillo’s) who’s been in prison for twenty-five years. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: New Titans 70, Legion of Super-Heroes 12, Suicide Squad 46”
Justice League America #43 – “If You Play Your Cards Right” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Adam Hughes/Jose Marzan Jr.
This one starts with Sonar pulling off a bank job only to be confronted by the Justice League when he gets outside (including their two newest members, Orion and Lightray). Sonar can’t believe the JLI would show up for a bank robbery, but he uses his sonic gun to keep some of them off balance (which causes Fire to accidentally incinerate the money Sonar stole). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 43, Justice League Europe 19”
Anastasia – Director: Cal Coons/Writer: Michelle Ricci
This one starts with Ernest Hemingway asking Frankie to take a case for a friend of his. The friend (Louisa Winchester) is a lover of Russian culture, since her father was once Ambassador to Russia. Louisa is even hosting three Cossacks (Sergei, Sasha, and Misha) at her estate because their loyalty to the Tsar—or his memory—has made them unwelcome in post-Revolution Russia. Louisa then introduces Frankie to another guest, a young girl she names as Anastasia Romanov, daughter of the last Tsar. Unfortunately, the girl is just as surprised as Frankie at Louisa’s declaration and faints dead away. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 10”
Batman #455 – “Identity Crisis: Part One” – Alan Grant/Norm Breyfogle/Steve Mitchell
This one starts with Batman hearing gunshots and rushing to the scene of the crime, where someone in a mask is shooting people at random. Batman takes the shooter down but when the mask is removed, it turns out to be an old lady. She shows no remorse for her actions, but says it was just an old woman’s whim. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 455, Detective 622”
Wonder Woman #46 – “Chalk Drawings” – George Perez, Mindy Newell/Jill Thompson/Romeo Tanghal
The cover pretty much gives away what this one is about: Vanessa’s friend Lucy Spears kills herself, leaving everyone to wonder why, and if they could’ve dome something to prevent it. The story jumps around in time, from Lucy’s funeral (where Julia wonders how to help Vanessa through this whole mess), to a few weeks ago when Vanessa and Lucy were hanging out and Lucy was preoccupied wondering what God might be like. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Wonder Woman 46, Green Arrow 36, Green Arrow 37”
Ghosts – Director: Peter Stebbings/Writer: Ian Carpenter
This one starts with a shadowy figure meticulously putting together a homemade bomb. At Frankie’s office, a woman named Elspeth Burton wants to hire Frankie to find out why her husband has been pushing her away lately. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 9”
New Titans #69 – “House of Cards” – Barbara and Karl Kesel/Steve Erwin/Bob Smith
Last issue, the Joker put together a new Royal Flush Gang to work for him, but what none of them realize is the “Joker” is really the Gambler tracking them into doing his bidding. Wanting to prove how great he is, Danny Chase let himself get recruited by Ten to join her own band of street thieves (colourfully referred to as Ten’s Little Indians), but the Gang figured out Danny is a friend of the Titans. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: New Titans 69, Legion 11, Suicide Squad 45”
Justice League America #42 – “Solicitations” – Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis/Mike McKone/Jose Marzan Jr.
This one starts with J’onn J’onzz and Gypsy contemplating what’s left of Despero after last issue. J’onn used his mental powers to make Despero think he’d destroyed the Justice League (and the Earth), after which Despero regressed himself to an embryonic state and went into some kind of coma. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Justice League America 42, Justice League Europe 18”
The Pilot – Director: Leslie Hope/Writer: Carol Hay, Michelle Ricci
This one starts with Frankie and Trudy at an air show, where Frankie is fascinated by the planes while Trudy is more interested in the beautiful baby contest. Frankie meets an ex-RFC pilot (Greg Mills) and gets a bit flirty with him. Continue reading “Frankie Drake Mysteries Reviews: Season 1, Episode 8”