3.5 Razors

Lullaby

/ / Books & Magazines

spenser-lullabyWriter Ace Atkins delivers the first novel of the Spenser series to be published by anyone other than the character’s creator Robert B. Parker. Lullaby is akin to listening to a really good tribute band who play all the same notes and manage to recapture most, although certainly not all, of the magic they themselves obviously love.

The novel begins when Boston P.I. is hired by 14 year-old Mattie Sullivan who four years after the death of her mother still believes the police locked up the wrong man for the crime. Immediately taking a shine to the tough young woman, Spenser accepts the case which will entangle him with an ongoing investigation by the FBI, an old enemy, and all the usual kinds of trouble.

Atkins gets the feel of the basic relationships of the Spenser universe mostly right, including Spenser and Hawk’s bullshitting, and Spenser’s spirited relationships with Susan Silverman, Rita Fiore, and Martin Quirk. Atkins also brings back Frank Belson, Vinny Morris, and baddies Joe and Gerry Broz in order to make longtime fans of the series feel more at home.

…

LullabyRead More »

Lullaby Read More »

Super Dinosaur #16

/ / Comics

super-dinosaur-16-coverI have four words for you: Super Dinosaur in space! If that isn’t enough to pique your interest than I don’t know what else to say.

When trouble arises on the moon Derek Dynamo and Super Dinosaur are sent to the secret “Inner-Moon” colony of the Kalish who include two races, the Krill and the Sloon, whose differences have led to an all-out civil war inside the heart of the moon.

Finally getting the two sides to stop fighting, Derek uncovers the reason for the recent heating up of the long-dormant feud. The son and daughter of both leaders have vanished, secretly traveling to Earth, sparking the renewal of the hostilities. To keep the delicate temporary truce, Derek and SD will have to return to Earth and find the pair and bring them home.

Fun stuff. I especially like seeing Super Dinosaur in his own space suit. The comic seems to foreshadow a Romeo and Juliet tale between the offspring of the warring tribes, but we’ll have to wait until next month to see if that’s case. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

Super Dinosaur #16 Read More »

Les Misérables

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Les Misérables
  • IMDB: link

les-miserables-poster

As someone who has never read Victor Hugo’s novel nor seen the musical adaptation on stage I was hardly going in to Les Misérables completely blind, but I was certainly coming from a different perspective from that of people who know either version of the source material by heart.

Clocking in with a running time of more than two-and-a-half hours, Les Misérables refuses to skimp in big set pieces (such as the opening sequence set in the Bagne of Toulon), large themes (faith, freedom, liberty, and morality), or filling out its roster with several big name stars.

…

Les MisérablesRead More »

Les Misérables Read More »

Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #20

/ / Comics

snake-eyes-and-storm-shadow-20-coverTarget: Snake Eyes comes to and end as Snake Eyes and Helix‘s recuperation comes to a screeching halt when Storm Shadow shows up to destroy an entire aircraft carrier just to get his hands on his traitorous sword brother whose recent actions have gutted the once proud Arashikage Clan.

There’s a little too much of everyone else here including Scarlett and a whole host of various other JOEs as the comic is at its best when it stays with the fight we’ve been waiting to see ever since the crossover began: Snake Eyes vs. Storm Shadow. The fight itself is good, I just wish the rest of the story didn’t keep encroaching on it.

The fallout leaves the JOEs minus one aircraft carrier and another apparent “death” for our title character. It also, in an interesting choice by writer Chuck Dixon, gives Storm Shadow the smallest semblance of victory. With the crossover now finished and Snake Eyes once again missing in action, it will be interesting to see what new direction the comic takes next month as it appears the comic will continue to give both characters title credit. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #20 Read More »

Winter Soldier #13

/ / Comics

winter-soldier-13-coverIt takes the combined efforts of Daredevil, Captain America, Hawkeye, and Wolverine to take down down the Winter Soldier who has been brainwashed by the Soviet sleep agent Novokov to kill Daredevil.

If you didn’t know writer Ed Brubaker’s near insane love for the character of the Winter Soldier you’ll certainly get the message loud and clear here as the combined efforts of three pretty damn formidable Avengers (and Hawkeye) struggle to prevent the brainwashed Bucky from carrying out his mission.

The fight has its moments, and it’s certainly well told, but by the end of the issue we’re right back to where we were an issue-and-a-half ago with no movement on the search for the brainwashed Black Widow or the ultimate goal of Novokov. Even if Brubaker seems to be milking a story that doesn’t make any sense with what’s going on with the rest of the Marvel Universe (as Black Widow isn’t reprogrammed in The Avengers or other titles in which she’s also appearing), it’s still worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

Winter Soldier #13 Read More »