Manga Review: Cromartie High School, Vol. 3

Manga Review: Cromartie High School, Vol. 3 by Eiji Nonaka Takashi Kamiyama is a mild-mannered fellow who wants to be a good student. But for…reasons, he finds himself enrolled at Cromartie High School, a den of delinquents and ne’er-do-wells. The other students certainly look like a tough bunch, and it’s hard to believe most of… Continue reading Manga Review: Cromartie High School, Vol. 3

Magazine Review: Judge Dredd Megazine #417

Magazine Review: Judge Dredd Megazine #417 edited by Matt Smith I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned before that Judge Dredd, the breakout character from 2000 AD was so popular that the publishing company spun off a monthly magazine featuring him and his world, which has lasted a remarkably long time. It’s still primarily featuring stories tangentially… Continue reading Magazine Review: Judge Dredd Megazine #417

Movie Review: Metropolis (1927)

The machinery of Metropolis takes on a more sinister appearance once Freder sees the human cost.

Movie Review: Metropolis (1927) directed by Fritz Lang Metropolis is the city of the future; brightly lit skyscrapers connected by sky highways, and grand gardens where the children of the elite play. Metropolis is the city of the future; workers spend half their days working at dangerous machines they do not fully understand the function of,… Continue reading Movie Review: Metropolis (1927)

Book Review: Nova 2

Book Review: Nova 2 edited by Harry Harrison In the introduction to this 1972 anthology, Mr. Harrison talks some about the internationalization of science fiction beyond North America and Western Europe. In recognition of this growing trend, he’s included a Brazilian author’s story. “Oh, and we have one story by a woman.” In reality, there… Continue reading Book Review: Nova 2

Comic Book Review: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2019

Comic Book Review: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2019 edited by Tharg Artist Carlos Ezquerra was a long-time contributor to the 2000 AD comics series, including co-creating the popular Judge Dredd series with John Wagner in 1977. He passed away in October 2018, and this issue is designed as a tribute to him. “Night at the… Continue reading Comic Book Review: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2019

Magazine Review: Galaxy Science Fiction November 1973

For reasons unknown to me, this issue had two different covers. There was a standard painting cover, and the one on the copy I have, which shows the contents with a few of the interior illustrations.

Magazine Review: Galaxy Science Fiction November 1973 edited by Ejler Jakobsson The last issue of this magazine I reviewed was from the 1950s, so there’s a considerable time gap, and we can see some definite changes in the science fiction field. “Think Only This of Me” by Michael Kurland opens the issue. Humanity has gone… Continue reading Magazine Review: Galaxy Science Fiction November 1973

Book Review: The Complete Stories of Robert Bloch Volume 3

Book Review: The Complete Stories of Robert Bloch Volume 3 by Robert Bloch Robert Bloch (1917-1994) was a prolific author of horror, science fiction and mystery works. (You may have seen, read or at least heard of Psycho.) This volume, originally “Selected Stories” and by no means complete, features 39 stories published between 1960 and… Continue reading Book Review: The Complete Stories of Robert Bloch Volume 3

Comic Book Review: Essential Spider-Man Vol. 5

Comic Book Review: Essential Spider-Man Vol. 5 created by various people. It turns out I’ve never reviewed a Spider-Man comic book on this website before, so let’s quickly go over his origin. Peter Parker is a nerdy high school student, bullied by the “popular kids.” One day while visiting a science exhibit, Peter is bitten… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Essential Spider-Man Vol. 5

Movie Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Mr. Carpenter finally explains himself to Helen.

Movie Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) dir. Robert Wise The humans of Earth are a fractious lot. Why, just six years ago, they had an entire World War, as a result of which they created and used atomic weapons. You’d think they would have learned their lesson, but instead they went right into… Continue reading Movie Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Book Review: The Best of R.A. Lafferty

Book Review: The Best of R.A. Lafferty by R.A. Lafferty Raphael Aloysius Lafferty (1914-2002) was one of those “American originals” you hear about every so often. His writing takes some form from the American tall tale, some from Native American yarn spinning, and mixes it into a style all his own. This anthology collects 22… Continue reading Book Review: The Best of R.A. Lafferty