Cover Cavalcade

That's the oddest designed robot I've ever seen. I WANT ONE!!!!

Friday's Favorite OTR

Suspense: “The Pasteboard Box” 1/17/46

A wonderful episode in which Joseph Cotton plays a guy who fakes a suicide, then murders and replaces his wealthy twin brother. He dismembers the body and manages to dispose of most of it. But getting rid of the head proves to be annoyingly hard.

I thought I had figured out the twist at the end, but the story manages to go in a different direction.

Click HERE to listen or download.

THAT'S the Chicago way!!

Read/Watch ‘em in order #5

The Shadow had been in Chicago once before, smashing the local mobs in retaliation for their murder of one of his agents. But the November 15, 1938 issue of The Shadow Magazine (titled “Chicago Crime”) shows us that new crooks had taken up the slack.

The Shadow is in the Windy City to track down Long Steve Bydle, the third of the five Fingers of the loosely-knit criminal organization known as the Hand.

Long Steve’s racket is a prosaic one—he stages car accidents and uses an unlicensed doctor to exaggerate the injuries in order to collect insurance claims. But he has a number of ruthless gunmen in his employ and he’s not above ordering a murder if that will increase his profits.

The Shadow needs to find Long Steve. He starts by trying to capture the one member of the gang he knows about, but that scheme degenerates into a nightclub brawl, which ends when the gangster is riddled with police bullets.

But our hero is nothing if not persistent. He’s soon able to make contact with a chauffeur who is being used as a dupe by the gang, talking the guy into becoming an inside man.

But, unlike the Shadow’s regular agents, this guy proves to be initially unreliable, knocking back a few too many drinks just before he was supposed to help the Shadow put the kibosh on the gang’s latest faked accident.

That lands the Shadow in hot water—leading to a wild gunfight on the streets of Chicago that involves several car crashes as well as a lot of gunplay. The Shadow drops a number of henchmen, but only barely escapes with his own life.

Did I mention the Shadow is persistent? By the end of the novel, he has given his temporary agent a chance to redeem himself and driven Long Steve and his gang into hiding inside a private hospital. It looks as if there’s no way to sneak inside the heavily guarded facility without alerting the villains and getting a hostage killed, but the Shadow, as usual, has a clever plan for bypassing the armed guards. He’s also already arranged for a surprise or two once he gets inside. And, heck, if there’re too many thugs for even him to shoot personally, he’ll arrange things so that they shoot each other.

Needless to say, there’s a lot more gunplay at the climax, with the Shadow, the gangsters, the Shadow’s allies, and the cops all getting to blaze away in a riotous melee.

I never would have figured that a novel about insurance cheats would be this action-packed, but Gibson manages to shove in a number of exciting gun battles, using his enormous skills as a storyteller to make each battle unique and exciting. He also adds several nifty twists at the end. Of the three Hand novels we’ve covered so far, I think this one might be the best yet.

But there’s still two more fingers left on the Hand. It won’t be long before the Shadow takes on modern-day pirates in “Crime Rides the Sea,”

The World's Finest Detective meets THE Great Detective

Detective Comics #572 (March 1987)

In the DC Universe, Batman is generally considered to be the greatest detective (though some recent writers—and film directors--seem to occasionally forget that.) But, in the Silver Age DC Universe at the very least, there was one man who was an even greater detective.  Batman himself acknowledges this within the pages of this issue, so there’s no sense in arguing about it. 

This was Detective's 50th Anniversary issue (not the 50th Anniversary of Batman, which was still a couple of years away. It’s the 50^th anniversary of Detective Comics, in which Batman did not appear  until issue #27.)

To celebrate the occasion, the double-sized issue featured a multi-chapter story involving Batman and several other detective characters from the DC Universe. We start with Slam Bradley, a hard-boiled P.I. character who appeared in Detective Comics #1,  brought back now after a long absence. Older but still tough, he becomes involved in a kidnapping case that turns out to involve several descendents of Sherlock Holmes’ arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty. He gets an assist from the Dynamic Duo along the way.

The story then shifts to London, where Ralph Dibney--the Elongated Man--encounters some bad guys attempting to steal something from 221 B Baker Street. Ralph foils this, finding some papers containing the history of a previously unknown Holmes case.

This leads us smoothly into a flashback that gives us the details of that lost case, where Holmes and Watson foil a plot by Moriarty to assassinate Queen Victoria.

Back in the present, all the various characters meet in London. Through detective work and deductive reasoning, they uncover a modern plot by a descendent of Moriarty to assassinate the present-day Queen. The Moriarty family is a deucedly determined bunch.

The climax involves Batman getting a bit of help from a certain famous detective--now very old but still the best there is.

The whole story is very well-done. The plot moves along briskly, with plenty of action, but with each of the characters given a chance to show their respective skills as detectives. (The Holmes flashback is more action-oriented than the majority of the original Conan Doyle stories, but Holmes still shows off his powers of deduction and the addition of more action is appropriate to the comic book format.)

It's all balanced very nicely, with the themes of classic detective work and superhero action meshing together smoothly, with a dash of the hard-boiled detective style tossed in for good measure. Batman, Ralph and Bradley all get their moments to shine, with no one of them overshadowing the others.

A different artist drew each chapter, something that has been distracting in other comics. But here, each chapter is sufficiently self-contained to make the different artistic styles work effectively in terms of drama and the overall flow of the story.
 

And, of course, the greatest detectives in the DC universe helping out THE Great Detective can’t help but be super-awesome!!!!!

I've been interviewed!!

I was interviewed last night by Gary Shapiro for an NPR podcast called "From the Bookshelf." 

It was a fun time. Gary was kind enough to read through much of this blog as well as Radio by the Book: Adaptations of Literature and Popular Fiction on the Airwaves and he asked me a lot of great questions about old time radio and comic books. I appreciated his interest and his professionalism.

My interview will be appear in a couple of weeks or so. I'll post a direct link to it when it's available. No need to hide the women and children for this one since my visage isn't visible and my voice isn't TOO grating.

Cover Cavalcade

Gene Colan's visual style was perfect for Tomb of Dracula. And Blade, in his early appearances, was much cooler than what he eventually morphed into. The whole idea of carrying around a bandoleer of wooden throwing knives to take out vampires is brilliant and made Blade unique among monster hunters.

Friday's Favorite OTR

Favorite Story: "Joan of Arc" 12/6/47

A good script and a strong lead performance give us a sincerely emotional version of Joan's short, tragic life.

Click HERE to listen or download.

The second best pirate movie EVER!!!!

I know that for my blog, recommending something as recent as 1990 is a rare and notable event. But, just as was the case  with a Charlie Brown animated special not long ago, I find that the extraordinary quality of this particular movie force me to make an exception.  Besides, though this movie was made in the post-CGI age, it didn't use CGI. That's a real ship in a real ocean.

Anyway, the 1990 version of Treasure Island FINALLY came out on DVD last month. And, gee whiz, this might actually be the second-best pirate movie ever made, coming in behind Captain Blood. but beating out all other challengers. It scores a 9.7 on the Karloff/Bogart Coolness chart.

It stars Charlton Heston as Long John Silver and Christian Bale as Jim Hawkins. Bale was in his mid-teens when this was made--a bit older than most film versions of Jim. But that's one of the strengths of this version. We have a Jim Hawkins who is just the right age to believably make the transformation from boy to man.

Heston is pitch perfect as Long John. Other cast members include Oliver Reed as Billy Bones and Christopher Lee as Blind Pew. The movie seemed to be deliberately casting the few living actors who can be mentioned in the same breath as Bogart and Cagney with a clear conscience. (Well, living in 1990. Heston and Reed are no longer with us.) Heck, if they'd figured out a way to fit Leonard Nimoy and Sean Connery into the film, it would have scored a perfect 10.



But the rest of the cast does a bang up job. Clive Owen, as Captain Smollett, is particularly notable for bringing a real sense of strength and personality to the role.

The script is faithful to the classic novel, expertly directed with some beautiful location photography. Even the sound track by the Chieftains is a perfect fit. It's a movie that really has to go on your must-see list.

Treasure Island staring Moses, Batman, Athos and Dracula. How can you go wrong with that?

History of the Marvel Universe: January 1968

FANTASTIC FOUR #70

I’m not sure how long its been since I’ve last read through this particular story arc, but I’d forgotten just how cool it is. The story continues moving along at emergency warp speed, with Reed and Johnnie leading a squad of police in a raid on one of the Mad Thinker’s hideouts.

They fight through killer androids and super-scientific traps until Reed ends it all by simply beating the snot out of the Thinker. The scientist the Thinker had impersonated is rescued (though not before saving Reed’s life just before the climatic fist fight).

In fact, all the good guys—both title characters and extras—come out looking pretty good. One of the many enjoyable things about this particular action sequences is that the cops get in on the action as well, gunning down their share of killer androids.

Reed is battered and bruised, but there’s no rest of the heroic. Ben, still brainwashed, busts in to have it out with his former best friend. Reed lures him back to the Baxter Building and manages to zap him with a “menta-ray.” As the issue ends, Sue finds Reed and Johnnie unconscious, Ben apparently dead and a big android busting in through the wall.

The android was sent by remote control by the Thinker, who used a device hidden in his wrist watch to activate the artificial being.

As wonderful as this issue is, that bit does come across as a contrivance. Come on—you live in a comic book universe; you’re throwing a mad scientist into a jail cell; and you DON’T take every single device he’s carrying—not matter how harmless it might be---away from him? For gosh sakes, you take wrist watches away from guys you’re tossing in the drunk tank!

Oh, well, still a great issue, leading up to an equally action-packed conclusion next issue. Despite a weak plot point or two (how Ben finds Reed is also a bit weak), the combination of great action with strong characterizations make this another high point of the Lee/Kirby era.

SPIDER MAN #56

Once again, I realize that an amnesia plot is one of the biggest clichés out there, but this is a fun story nonetheless. Doc Ock, along with Spider Man and a henchman (whose job seems to be shouting out expository dialogue) get away from the cops and arrive at one of Ock’s hideouts.

The Nullifier overheats and the villainous scientist realizes a sample of rare isotope needs to be stolen from an army base to repair it. He sends Spider Man to do the job.

Spidey isn’t sure he really is a crook, but goes along with it until he can get his memory back. He manages to get the isotope, but subconsciously leaves behind a clue that brings the army to the hideout. Doctor Octopus and his men are captured after Spidey refuses to help him any longer. The webslinger slings off, still without his memory.

There’s a few minor plot holes along the way, but nothing that really interferes with the fun. And it’s nifty to see the army unit that raids Ock’s hideout acting effectively and intelligently. Between them and the cops in Fantastic Four, it’s an impressive month for government employees.

The issue also includes a scene with Aunt May and Peter’s friends, all of whom are beginning to get worried about the fact that no one’s seen him in days. Gwen calls her dad, a police captain who has just come out of retirement to help deal with Doctor Octopus. And so we meet Captain George Stacy for the first time—a man who’ll be playing an important role in Spider Man’s life.


THOR #148

Last month’s lightning bolt from Odin takes away the powers of Loki, Balder and Sif, since all three are on Earth without permission. The threat of having to face Thor on equal terms convinces Loki to slink away.

We get a great scene in which Thor and his two Asgardian comrades take refuge in Dr. Blake’s office, eating food delivered from a local deli.

Loki, in the meantime, tries to summon up the Norn Queen, an old ally of his, to get zapped with magic power.

I don’t think the Norn Queen’s been given a proper name yet, but this is Karnilla, the sometimes villain with a crush on Balder. We first met her in a “Tales of Asgard” feature some 39 issues ago. I’m pretty sure this is the first time we’ve seen her since then.

She only hangs out for a couple of panels, though, taking part in a bizarre supervillain origin that somehow manages to be goofy and awesome at the same time.

Follow along closely. Loki summons Karnilla. But before she arrives, a crowbar-wielding crook named the Wrecker breaks into Loki’s hotel room. (By the way, did Loki have some Asgardian gold on him to pay for the room, or does he take the precaution of carrying a credit card with him just in case?)

The Wrecker knocks out Loki and decides to try on the god of mischief’s weird helmet. Karnilla pops in, sees the Wrecker, thinks he’s Loki, zaps him with magic and pops out.

I love it.

Anyway, the Wrecker gets the hang of superpowers pretty quick, zapping Loki “back where ya came from, fink!” He goes on a power-mad rampage, zapping Balder and Sif back to Asgard as well when they put in an appearance.

That leaves Thor alone to fight the super-powered thug. The Thunder God still has his strength, but the Wrecker gradually manages to get the upper hand. Back in Asgard, Balder and Sif are pleading with Odin to interfere, but the All-Father is still in idiot-mode and refuses to intercede.

Gee whiz, I hope Odin isn’t looking down from Asgard, watching me write this. I’ve been pretty hard on him in the last few reviews. It’s been years since I’ve read this particular story arc and I’m writing the review for each issue without reading ahead. If it turns out Odin has had some clever plan all along that I’ve simply forgotten about, I’m likely to get myself exiled to Jutenheim.

So if I suddenly stop posting on this blog, you’ll all know why.

Besides, Odin’s poor decision making skills doesn’t stop this from being an exciting story with some typically awesome Jack Kirby action scenes.

That’s if for now. Next week, we’ll visit the DC Universe again to see just how many detectives you can fit into a single issue of Detective Comics. In two weeks, we’ll get to February 1968, as the Fantastic Four battles a whopping big android; Spider Man battles a whopping big saber tooth tiger; and Thor gets hit with a whopping big crowbar.

Cover Cavalcade

Jack Kirby always made Cap look too cool for words.