Comic Book Review: Holmes: The Bento Cases

Cover by Myung Hee Kim

Comic Book Review: Holmes: The Bento Cases by various creators Bento Comics was an artist collective that allowed fans to select stories from their members to put together in bespoke anthologies. At conventions, they’d sell themed volumes to demonstrate the concept; I reviewed their Peter Pan anthology some years back. This collection is on the… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Holmes: The Bento Cases

Movie Review: Risky Business (1983)

That was the first mistake.

Movie Review: Risky Business (1983) directed by Paul Brickman Joel Goodson (Tom Cruise) is an upper-middle class kid in his last year of a Chicago high school. He’d like to get into Princeton like his father, but his grades are only okay, his SAT scores are mediocre, and his extracurriculars aren’t very shiny. Even his Future… Continue reading Movie Review: Risky Business (1983)

Manga Review: Whoever Steals This Book #1

Manga Review: Whoever Steals This Book #1 story by Nowaki Fukamidori, art by Kakeru Sora Yomunaga is a town of books. This began with Mifuyu Mikura’s great-grandfather, a bibliophile and collector who founded Mikura Hall, a splendid private library. This drew other book-lovers to the vicinity and bookstores to serve them. His daughter kept up… Continue reading Manga Review: Whoever Steals This Book #1

Book Review: Frank Merriwell’s School Days

Book Review: Frank Merriwell’s School Days by Burt L. Standish This is the first of the long-running and once-famous Frank Merriwell series of exciting books for teenaged boys. These were written by Gilbert Patten under the pen name of Standish, and the first few volumes are actually compilations of stories originally published in Tip-Top Weekly,… Continue reading Book Review: Frank Merriwell’s School Days

Movie Review: Beverly Hills Cop

Movie Review: Beverly Hills Cop (1984) directed by Martin Brest In Detroit, small-time grifter Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is making a deal to unload a truckload of dubiously sourced cigarettes. One of the people he’s negotiating with makes an insultingly low offer, and the ensuing argument allows some uniformed police officers to sneak up on them.… Continue reading Movie Review: Beverly Hills Cop

Book Review: Ginny Gordon and the Broadcast Mystery

Book Review: Ginny Gordon and the Broadcast Mystery by Julie Campbell Virginia “Ginny” Gordon is a 14-year-old high schooler in Harristown, a suburb in Westchester County, New York. She belongs to a club called the Hustlers, who start various business ventures and pass them on when they become successes. The other members are 15-year-old John… Continue reading Book Review: Ginny Gordon and the Broadcast Mystery

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September/October 2021

Cover by Brian Stauffer

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September/October 2021 edited by Janet Hutchings “The years keep coming and they just keep coming.” It seems like just a few months ago I reviewed a 75th anniversary issue of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, but in fact it was five years ago, and here’s the 80th anniversary issue. It’s… Continue reading Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September/October 2021

Movie Review: Dragon Lord (1982)

Cowboy and Dragon make plans.

Movie Review: Dragon Lord (1982) directed by Jackie Chan Dragon (Jackie Chan) is a boy in his late teens who is a talented but undisciplined martial artist, and disappoints his wealthy father (Feng Tien) by blowing off his literature studies to hang out with his buddy “Cowboy” Wa (Mars). Cowboy’s father (Paul Chang Chung) is also… Continue reading Movie Review: Dragon Lord (1982)

Comic Strip Review: Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon 1948

Comic Strip Review: Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon 1948 by Milton Caniff Prior to World War Two, Milton Caniff’s primary claim to fame had been his popular adventure comic strip, Terry and the Pirates. Due to recurring phlebitis, Mr. Caniff was rejected from military service, and while having his characters joint the war effort, he also… Continue reading Comic Strip Review: Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon 1948

Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 36 & 37

Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 36 & 37 by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: Rinne Rokudo is a human-shinigami (death spirit) crossbreed who works as a psychopomp, delivering lost spirits to the afterlife. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Rinne is very poor and never seems to get ahead. Rinne’s closest allies are his black cat familiar Rokumon, and… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 36 & 37