Book Review: Widows Wear Weeds

Book Review: Widows Wear Weeds by A.A. Fair (Erle Stanley Gardner) Erle Stanley Gardner became famous thanks to his Perry Mason stories, featuring a defense attorney whose client is always innocent (of the particular murder the story is about.) But not every one of his story ideas fit that mold, so under the pen name… Continue reading Book Review: Widows Wear Weeds

Movie Review: Anatomy of a Psycho

Pat patches Chet up after a fight.

Movie Review: Anatomy of a Psycho (1961) directed by Boris Petroff Years ago, Duke Marco’s parents died suddenly, leaving him as sole support for his much younger siblings Chet (Darrell Howe) and Pat (Pamela Lincoln). He kept his remaining family together, but his only skill set was petty crime. Recently, Duke was condemned to the gas… Continue reading Movie Review: Anatomy of a Psycho

Movie Review: Golden Swallow

Silver Roc leaves the neighborhood's newest abattoir.

Movie Review: Golden Swallow (1968) directed by Cheh Chang “Golden Swallow” Hsieh Wo Yeh (Pei-Pei Cheng) is happy living in an isolated valley with her new friend and protector “Iron Whip” Han Tao (Lieh Lo). One day they learn of a wandering warrior called “Silver Roc” (Jimmy Wang Yu) who ruthlessly exterminates criminals with his swooping… Continue reading Movie Review: Golden Swallow

Comic Book Review: Essential Captain America, Vol. 2

Comic Book Review: Essential Captain America, Vol. 2 written by Stan Lee, art by various. In 1941, war raged in Europe and Asia. Though the United States was not yet directly involved, it was preparing for the day when it might be pulled in to World War Two. Among other things, this meant recruiting many… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Essential Captain America, Vol. 2

Movie Review: Volcano High

Our hero introduces himself to a very noisy class.

Volcano High (2001) dir. Tae-gyun Kim Kim Keyong-Su (Jang Hyuk) has been expelled from nine schools for trouble-making. It’s not so much that he goes looking for trouble, as that he’s always targeted by jerks who want to pick on him, and he winds up using his superhuman powers in response. Kim got them in an… Continue reading Movie Review: Volcano High

TV Review: Lupin: Dans l’Ombre d’Arsene Part 1

Assane receives some words of encouragement.

TV Review: Lupin: Dans l’Ombre d’Arsene Part 1 Twenty-five years ago, Babakar Diop (Fargass Assande), Senegalese immigrant and chauffeur to the wealthy Pellegrini family, was convicted of stealing the fabulous “Queen’s Necklace”, a crime he almost certainly did not commit. In prison, he allegedly hanged himself. Now the jewel has reappeared, once more in the… Continue reading TV Review: Lupin: Dans l’Ombre d’Arsene Part 1

Book Review: The Further Adventures of Solar Pons

Book Review: The Further Adventures of Solar Pons by Basil Copper Wisconsin teenager August Derleth was a huge Sherlock Holmes fan. When he learned that there would apparently be no further Holmes stories forthcoming from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he wrote a letter to the great man asking if he could write the stories from… Continue reading Book Review: The Further Adventures of Solar Pons

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 1953

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 1953 edited by Ellery Queen Since this has floated to the top of my TBR pile, let’s look at another vintage issue of this classic mystery magazine. The cover depicting an aerialist falling to presumed death after being stuck with a dart has nothing to do with any… Continue reading Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 1953

Movie Review: Summer Wars

The clan gathers around the family computer.

Movie Review: Summer Wars (2009) directed by Mamoru Hosoda High schooler Kenji Koiso is a math whiz who almost qualified for Team Japan in the Math Olympics. But almost won’t get you a good summer job, so he’s a low level maintenance admin for the OZ online service. OZ is the most popular online virtual world,… Continue reading Movie Review: Summer Wars

Manga Review: Deadman Wonderland #2

Manga Review: Deadman Wonderland #2 by Jinsei Kataoka &Kazuma Kondou Ganta Igarashi’s life sucks. First, his entire junior high classroom is murdered by a being called “Red Man”, then Ganta as the sole survivor is framed for the crime. He’s sentenced to life imprisonment in Deadman Wonderland, a for-profit prison built on the ruins of… Continue reading Manga Review: Deadman Wonderland #2