Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 1952

This cover does not depict any of the stories within. Make up your own mystery!

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 1952 edited by Ellery Queen This is the last issue of EQMM I have to hand, but someday I hope to get out to garage sales again…. “Homecoming” by Veronica Parker Johns was inspired, so the introduction says, by the Kefauver hearings and the author getting a much… Continue reading Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 1952

Book Review: The Time Bender

Book Review: The Time Bender by Keith Laumer Lafayette O’Leary’s life is not exactly going well. He’s an underpaid draftsman at a small town foundry, whose diet consists largely of sardines and the cheapest grade of taffy. His entertainment is books from the library, viewed with suspicion by his nosy landlady and sponging neighbor. Tonight,… Continue reading Book Review: The Time Bender

Movie Review: Death Wish (1974)

Kersey's heart grows cold.

Movie Review: Death Wish (1974) directed by Michael Winner Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) has a pretty good life. He’s a respected architect at a large firm, he’s married to a beautiful woman (Hope Lange), has a pretty daughter (Kathleen Tolan) and a respectful son-in-law (Steven Keats). Kersey is well-off enough to afford a winter vacation in… Continue reading Movie Review: Death Wish (1974)

Comic Book Review: Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2

Comic Book Review: Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2 by various creators. Carl Lucas, a juvenile delinquent, straightened himself out and was trying to become a respectable citizen when he was framed for heroin possession. An unruly prisoner, he eventually ended up at Seagate Prison, where he volunteered for medical experiments conducted by Dr.… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2

Manga Review: Shonen Jump (2020)

Manga Review: Shonen Jump (2020) It’s the eighth anniversary of this blog, and time once again to look at the online version of Weekly Shounen Jump! There haven’t been any major changes to the format since last year. One Piece is still the longest-running feature, and is closing in on 1000 chapters! There was a… Continue reading Manga Review: Shonen Jump (2020)

Book Review: The Diamond Cave Mystery

Book Review: The Diamond Cave Mystery by Troy Nesbit Chuck Bennett’s father runs the Trading Post near Carlsbad, New Mexico, home of the famous Carlsbad Caverns. Being out in the sticks, Chuck doesn’t normally have kids his own age (fifteen) to hang out with, but this summer he’s joined by Hal Cassidy, son of oil… Continue reading Book Review: The Diamond Cave Mystery

Manga Review: Ratman, Vol. 3

Rio Kizaki is the cover feature character for this volume.

Manga Review: Ratman, Vol. 3 by Sekihiko Inui On an alternate Earth, methods have been found to give ordinary humans superpowers, and “superhero” is a profession. However, the processes involved are very expensive and out of range for the average working person. So most superheroes are sponsored by businesses and act as mascots for them.… Continue reading Manga Review: Ratman, Vol. 3

TV Review: Unriddle Season One

Bun and Officer Hu

TV Review: Unriddle Season One Fifteen years ago, five Singapore police officers were investigating a drug smuggling case. Some of the money from that case went missing, and one of the officers was killed. The incident was covered up, but now it’s coming back with a vengeance. Who can unriddle this conundrum? ASP Hu Xaioman… Continue reading TV Review: Unriddle Season One

Comic Book Review: Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes 1

Comic Book Review: Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes 1 edited by Cory Sedlmeier As has been mentioned on this blog before, by the late 1940s, superheroes had become passe in comic books. A handful continued to be published over at National Publications (DC) on a regular basis, and there was the odd minor publisher title,… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes 1

Comic Strip Review: Batman: The Sunday Classics 1943-1946

Comic Strip Review: Batman: The Sunday Classics 1943-1946 by various creators Batman was a big success in the comic books, so it wasn’t long at all before it was decided that he’d probably be a hit in the newspaper comic strips as well. Once that was decided, the problem of Sundays had to be considered.… Continue reading Comic Strip Review: Batman: The Sunday Classics 1943-1946