The Case of the Silent Partner by Erle Stanley Gardner

This is the second of 2 Perry Mason novels that I found during my family's annual 301 Endless Yard Sale Scavenger Hunt. That first book was so unlike what you would expect from an episode of the classic 60s TV show starring Raymond Burr. There was no courtroom scenes! Not so with this book. But The Case of the Silent Partner also wasn't my favorite compared to The Case of the Dangerous Dowager!

A woman who owns a trio of successful flower shops gets visited by her competitor; a somewhat nice fellow who owns a conglomerate of floral businesses. The flower tycoon shows the small business owner that he now owns 5 shares of her company. This triggers the woman to check with the husband of her invalid sister if their 50% shares of stock are still in their possession. The hubby is a bit of a gambler and the florist has never really trusted the bum. 

Brother-in-law promises that he still has the stock. But he refuses to produce it. He has a meeting with the guy he accidentally sideswiped in an automobile accident. This leads the lady to make some phone calls and she learns that a grifter and a mysterious woman were in the car with her in-law at the time of the wreck.

The woman somehow figures out that those 2 have possession of her sister's stock certificate. She goes to the nightclub that they frequent and learns that they gave the stock to one of the owners of the nightclub. She also manages to get the mystery woman to help her get the stock back. To do such, she must have representation. Enter Mr. Perry Mason.

Mason agrees to meet with both women at 1am at his office. But at around 12:30, the mystery woman calls his office, claiming to have been poisoned. On top of that, it's revealed that the club owner with the stock certificate has been murdered! The woman claims that her sister committed the crime. The invalid sibling... who has been at death's door for the first 4 chapters of this book! To save her sister from a life and early death in jail, the woman admits to the crime while hiring Mason to now defend the handicapped sister. 

Balancing both sisters as clients, the woman about the hostile takeover of her floral shops and the sickly sister for murder, Perry Mason and his legal team must save a third woman's life, untangle California business law and solve a murder! 

I'm struck by how different the world was in 1940. Newspapers and radio were your only sources of information. If a person wasn't listed in the phone book directory, you had to scour voter records, question landlords and grease a few palms in order to find them. It makes for thrilling reading, like the chapter where Perry must find his poisoned witness before its too late. For me, growing up in the 70s and 80s before the coming of the internet, it's almost nostalgic. I can imagine for someone born in the 2000s, such a scene might be a living nightmare. Or maybe such privacy would be considered a dream come true...

However, it is due to the lack of information that I didn't like this novel as well. I already mentioned that I have no idea how the main character figured out who had her sister's stock certificate. But she did. Then, the woman goes to the very nightclub where these 2 ne'er-do-wells frequent and just happened to find the mystery woman on the very first try, sight unseen! Remember, there's no Facebook or Instagram. So unless you were a famous person, the odds of knowing what somebody else looks like without much description had got to be an astronomical number! It just felt implausible in a pre-World War II America .

The dialogue was rapid paced and exciting. This is the first novel where I encountered Detective Tragg, the guy who always investigated the crimes of which Perry Mason's clients are accused of. He's supposed to be Mason's 'antagonist', as Tragg is the one trying to arrest the bad guys Perry Mason defends. But I thought he was a great character. Way smarter than Lestrade in so many Sherlock Holmes novels. Tragg is kinda prickly, but in a likable Tommy Lee Jones sort of way.

There's still no Hamilton Burger, the district attorney that never seems able to beat Perry Mason. Technically, we still haven't visited a criminal defense court of law. The courtroom we visit in this story is a civil court, where Mason does his darnedest to make sure that his client doesn't lose her business to her wealthy, and rather intimating rival.

This book was a first edition from 1940. At 278 pages and almost 2 inches thick, I don't understand how those tiny paperbacks my mom read were unabridged and yet, all research that I find states that those are the complete manuscripts. My favorite used book store has got a bunch of those novels and I expect to pick up a few more in the very near future. I might rank this book lower than my first Erle Stanley Gardner read. But I enjoyed it enough to keep on reading more.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Simpsons Comics Colossal Compendium: Volume 1

There were two reasons that I ordered this book new. 1) It advertised as an anthology series that offers many of the later issues of Simpsons Comics that had never been collected before. 2) Each book was to include a papercraft model of popular establishments from the town of Springfield. Characters included. Being involved in the miniature dollhouse and book nook hobby, I was really excited about that. Yes, I know that would mean cutting up a page or two from this book but I wasn't planning on this thing becoming so rare that it would one day pay for a month or two of retirement. What I didn't expect was to learn upon delivery of this book that it wasn't a new release!

When I opened this compendium, it listed the publishing year as 2013. With a couple of bad creases on the cover and a couple interior pages, I was a tad confused, thinking that maybe I was sent the wrong book. So I went all over the Internet, scouring comic book store websites, used book sites, and even Amazon. I even went to the Library of Congress. What I discovered is that despite being sold as a new release, nothing changed. Nothing. The advertising blurb from earlier this year was the same as the year that it was first published! Same ISBN. Same everything. But for some reason, HarperCollins didn't add that this was second print, despite retailers selling this book as a completely new release. 

I'm wondering if Amazon had a few leftover issues on hand and that's what I was sent instead of the new print because nothing had changed. Sure, I am glad that I own this book. I needed those missing issues. It just that had I known that I could have bought a used issue way cheaper than what I did new, I would have gone that route. 

I expect that the other 6 volumes are going to be the same way. Unfortunately, HarperCollins never published the last 20 or so issues in any collection. I'm hoping that possibly once the publisher re-issues the original 7 compendiums that they'll issue an 8th that wraps up the series.

One thing that is maddening is how HarperCollins published the Simpsons books out of order. Sure, very few issues had a cliffhanger and you don't really have to read them in order as they're not canon. I do appreciate that these editions include issues from the spin-off books like the Ralph Wiggum one-shot and issues from the Bart Simpson title.This volume includes the Simpsons Summer Shindig special and the Radioactive Man: The Official Movie Adaptation. Unfortunately, my wishlist/inventory is a giant mess right now. But once I complete the total Bongo run, it should be much cleaner. 

The Radioactive Man faux movie adaptation was great. If you loved the Tim Burton Batman films, you'll love the Springfield themed parody. A joining of the various incarnations of Bart over the multiverse was pretty cool. It was also pretty violent and bloody for a Simpsons story that wasn't from the Treehouse of Horror. 

Keeping with the multiverse theme, 'Crime Spree on Springfield 2' was fantastic. It has Batman and Milhouse as House Boy, finding a shortcut to Shelbyville and discovering their slightly off, yet strangely familiar counterparts.

I enjoyed reading the book immensely. I was very confused when I received it. But I think that I have figured out that I can save money seeking out the first edition volumes. So I won't be waiting on the re-releases. I just hope those missing issues get the Omnibus treatment real soon.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Captain Action: The Classic Collection

In the late 1960s, in answer to the massive popularity of G.I. Joe, Ideal Toy Company introduced Captain Action. If you bought the traditional 12-inch figure, Captain Action was dressed in a paramilitary type outfit, and accessorized with weapons and a working 4-foot diameter parachute. 

So far, this sounds like pretty basic stuff and not something that's going to eat into Mattel's G.I. Joe sales. What made Captain Action different were the extra wardrobes you could purchase for the action figure. You could increase CA's wardrobe, including facial masks, transforming the character into Superman, Batman, The Lone Ranger, Buck Rogers and even Sgt. Nick Fury! Even sidekick Action Boy got into the act, transforming into Robin, the Boy Wonder, Superboy and Aqualad!

An immediate hit, DC Comics was quick to cash in on the craze. Obtaining a license from Ideal, editor Mort Weisinger tasked wunderkind Jim Shooter with writing up the first issue. Given a set of parameters, Shooter had to include all of the characters, vehicles, and accessories. Superman was also to make an appearance in the first issue. But other than that, Shooter had carte blanche over the storyline. That's not saying much.

Wally Wood illustrated the first issue. It would have been amazing to see him draw Captain Action as Flash Gordon or Spider-Man. But as those characters were licensed by competitors, DC had to scrap that popular concept of the Ideal toy line. Instead, Captain Action and his sidekick obtained their powers from several magical coins that boasted powers from a famous mythological god. In the first couple of issues, Action was trying to gather all of the coins before his arch nemesis Krellek did. 

Don't know who Krellek is? Don't feel bad, as readers didn't either. Captain Action's true antagonist, Dr. Evil, didn't appear until the 3rd issue. By then, Shooter and Wood were essentially gone. Gil Kane took on pencil duty with the 2nd issue, religating Wood to inks through issue #3. Gil took over scripting in issue #3. As Dr. Evil didn't have a set origin either, it was determined that Evil was Captain Action's father-in-law. This also made him Action Boy's grandfather. After finding a mysterious amulet, the elderly man was possessed by an alien being. 

Having familiar connections, Captain Action and son wanted to end Dr. Evil's reign of terror while hopefully saving their relative. Unfortunately, actions like enslaving a race of aliens and stealing a nuclear bomb that destroys most of the California coast by earthquake made any sort of redemption nearly impossible. Dwindling sales in both the toy line and the comic book cancelled the series after issue #5 ceased any further attempts at turning Dr. Evil into Professor Good.

In my opinion, Krellek was the better bad guy. The whole alien possessing an old dude and then suddenly looking like a blue alien wearing Space Hippie Jesus mask was preposterous. The story for issue #4 where Dr. Evil enslaves a race of aliens that look like him was the best issue. There is one of those morality tale elements to the story that you see in sci-fi anthologies of the time period. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the story was originally written for insertion in an issue of House of Mystery and that the characters were changed to fit those in the Captain Action line. 

Mark Waid writes a compelling history of the toy line and the terrible decision to remove both Shooter and Wood from the series as this volume's foreword. Not being able to have the protagonist change into any of his superhero personas should have shelved the title from the get go. Yet despite all of the missteps Ideal made with the Captain Action toy line, it has a strong cult fan following to this day. Case in point, this 2022 hardcover collection of DC books was published by IDW and the franchise lives on as a high end toy line featuring new superhero and villain wardrobes that is coveted by collector's young and old!

An interesting read that is more a visually appealing work than a masterpiece of comic book literature. 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Live Like a Vulcan, Love Like a Wookiee, Laugh Like a Hobbit: Life Lessons from Pop Culture by Robb Pearlman

A gift from my wife, I had packed this in a box of books to read and somehow overlooked said box until very recently. The 2021 book is about a guy attending some sort of con being held at a hotel. Getting hungry, he stops in at the establishment's tavern. It is here that he stumbles across a Vulcan, a Wookiee, a  Hobbit and an elder. They're actually fellow attendees who are in full cosplay. While waiting for their food and drinks, the quintet examine life through the eyes of pop culture, in particular geek pop culture.

Topics include:

* What does Blade Runner teach us about corporations that manipulate beneficial science?

* Who are the real monsters in works such as Frankenstein and The Walking Dead?

* Why has pop culture made us so afraid of quicksand when its so incredibly rare?

And of course what does it mean to live like a Vulcan, Love like a Wookiee and laugh like a Hobbit?

Obviously, much of the philosophical observations made are through a secular lens. And yet Christianity, nor most world religions are scarcely mentioned. Okay, maybe saying that these philosophies fit under the category of what some would call 'woke' is more accurate. In other words, this book might not be for everyone. There's several comments among the characters about abolishing the patriarchy, living your truth, the evils of white colonialism, and systemic racism. While there's a lot of righteous indignation that is warranted, it's just amazing how much imperfections can be forgiven, as long as you're on these 5 sci-fi and fantasy fans side of things. 

As a Christian, I am guilty of this too. I get sickened when I learn that somebody cheated on their spouse or murdered someone. But like it or not, serial killer Ted Bundy is in Heaven right now. Christ's forgiveness is for everyone. Society's grace is only for those who are liberal it seems.

I think my wife thought that this was going to be a book about life's lessons learned through the eyes of geek culture. It kinda was. But it was more like Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven or John Travolta's Propeller One-Way Coach. More fiction than fact. More questions asked than actually answered. Enjoyable to a fault; this just wasn't my cup of tea. As much as the characters say that they enjoy franchises that enlighten without being preached at, I felt like I was sitting through a 100-page sermon on being politically correct by the author. Maybe someone else will get something deeper out of it than I did after I take it to the used bookstore for trade credit. 

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

This 1939 crime noir is Raymond Chandler's first novel. After 6 years of developing his perfect detective in short story form, Chandler branched out to introduce private investigator Philip Marlowe. The Big Sleep is perhaps the most well known of Chandler's works as Humphrey Bogart would play Marlowe opposite Lauren Bacall. 

But don't expect that iconic 1944/46 film (its release was delayed nearly 2 years because of the war) to be anything like the book. At least in terms of pornography. See Marlowe discovers that the youngest daughter of a wealthy oil magnate is being blackmailed into taking dirty photos for a low level pimp. The pimp is claiming that the girl has gambling debts tied to a big shot casino owner by the name of Mars. 

Marlowe is hired to put the kibosh on the debts, which technically can't be legally claimed upon. Older daughter Carmen thinks that the shamus is being hired to find her missing husband, who presumably ran off with Mars' estranged wife. When the pornographer is bumped off, Marlowe starts to make more connections to Mars and the missing husband, all the while being tempted by both sisters, one of which is psychotic as hell. 

You've got the porn. You've got nudity and sex. There's bisexuality and homosexuality. There's even a hint of cross-dressing or some other kink. Dirty cops, murder, Mickey Finns, and a whole bunch of boozing and gambling. Considering what I know about the Hays Code, I am surprised that this film was made during WW2. While some areas were changed to fit the code, there was a whole heck of a lot of implied depravity in the film. 

This is the story that famously, when Howard Hawks was filming the movie adaptation, neither he nor the producers could figure out who killed one of the characters and Chandler replied 'Damned if I know.' So while written by a master of 20th century American literature, this is not a book without its flaws. But he does get better. The Lady in the Lake and The Long Goodbye are both nearly flawless. But this one seems to do too much in just a short amount of time. At 230 pages, I think this might be the shortest Philip Marlowe novel. This is definitely a case of 'less is more' not working so well.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Batman/Deadpool #1

I think every series comic book collector gets to this point in their hobby: you buy so many comics that you get behind on cataloging and such that you forget to actually read them. I'm currently doing some consideration of letting go of a few books. With an collection of over 12,000 comics and graphic novels, I can afford to let go of a few. But this one that I read isn't going to be one of those books.

This is the second of the Batman and Deadpool crossovers from 2025. This is DC's entry. It starts of with the main work, written by Grant Morrison. Right off the bat, that should tell you that this book is going really play with your brain. Like Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore often do, Morrison really explores the relationship of the creative writer and his characters. Plus, as it seems that DC has made Morrison the official keeper of the keys to the multiverse, there's a real bend in the fabric of reality that keeps the reader on high alert but is entertaining as all get out.

There are 4 backups in this special that pits a character or two from the DC Universe with one from the Marvel Universe. The first one has John Constantine showing up on Doctor Strange's doorstep. While I love the classic Ditko look of Doctor Strange by Hayden Sherman and the standard crossover banter between the two masters of the arcane arts was very good, it is a different pairing that steals the show. Ghost Rider vs. Swamp Thing! It's more of a MacGuffin in the background showing the conflict of having both the DC and Marvel universes collide. But if the big two publishers ever wanted to get more of my money, a pair of one-shots starring the former Dr. Alec Holland and stuntman Johnny Blaze would be a sure fire way to get it!

Story #2 has the Laura Kinney Wolverine in Gotham looking for help from the Dark Knight in finding her missing sister. Instead, she recruits Nightwing and the pair bond over what it means to be a legacy hero. Featuring one of the best closing pages in comics history, that image by Bruno Redondo is currently my FB icon.

Story #3 is a goofy adventure with Harley Quinn and the Incredible Hulk and a vat of toxic waste. Cute but not really doing anything to advance either characters needles.

Story #4 had me going up and down. G. Willow Wilson and Denys Cowan team up the Kamila Kahn Ms. Marvel with that electrifying teen, Static. Good story. But the art was all over the place. Some panels were masterpieces. Others look like something I'd draw. (That poor woman in the power suit and massive goiter...) You know it could have been the inks and colors that looked like they were markers. I know it's trying to emulate how the Milestone imprint books looked back in the 90s. I just don't think it works when applied to a Marvel character. 

I also thought that for a Batman and Deadpool book, some of the pairings just didn't fit within these two comic families. Nightwing and Laura Kinney make sense. Harley Quinn's inclusion does too. I've never thought about a Hulk-Deadpool connection. Neither does that apply to Doctor Strange. And Static would fit better in a Green Lantern crossover because of his relationship with Jon Stewart. So, there needed to be more theme appropriate teamings.

I hope that the Marvel/DC experiment isn't over. Technically, it wasn't as a pair of Superman and Spider-Man specials came out earlier this year. But I want more. Wonder Woman and Captain America would be epic. I've already proclaimed a desire for Ghost Rider and Swamp Thing. What about Amanda Waller vs. Nick Fury?! There's so many more pairings that just scream for a chance to make it to paper.  

Come on Big Two! I'll make room in collection for any more crossovers that you might have in mind!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Summer of Supergirl Special #1

Despite what some of you may think, this really has been the Summer of Supergirl. Unfortunately, a lot of you decided to forgo a really fun movie. May I just say that I am disappointed in you. Kidding. Kidding. Maybe Supergirl would have been better received if done as a series. Maybe if there was more Krypto. Maybe if Supergirl actually wore her costume in the film. Maybe if James Gunn wasn't involved.

I can see reasons to hate the film. But deep down, it was freaking entertaining to this fan of the Girl of Tomorrow. I stocked up on Supergirl merch. My office is going to look amazing this school year! While I don't buy everything with Supergirl on it, I always buy the comics. But if it wasn't for the guys at my favorite comic book store, I would have missed out on this summer special.

With my mystery blood disease, I get brain tired a lot more often than I want. One casualty in my comic book collecting hobby is that I haven't been checking out the new releases like I used to. A lot of times, I just plain forget. Others, I'm just too mentally and physically exhausted to check at the end of the day. Thankfully, Books Furnish a Room in Durham NC were looking out for me and they ordered this knowing how much a fan of Kara Zor-El I am. 

There's 3 stories in this oversized release. The main story features the main man himself, Lobo. Makes sense as he's making his silver screen debut in Supergirl. The tale opens with Supergirl and Lobo in space court. Apparently in Lobo #4, the two got into a massive brawl and were apprehended for the damage. Thankfully, you don't have to have that issue in order to follow what happens here. But I am interested enough in seeing if my LCS has a copy and getting the inside scoop.

Tale #2 is written by Gail Simone. It has Supergirl and Mary Marvel meeting for the very first time. The pair bond over the fact that both are orphans and essentially grew up in the foster care system. Dedicated to all children and families who have fostered and adopted, this is my pick thus far for story of the year! It was so poignant and sweet. And not saccharine sweet either. I loved it!

The final story is probably the most massive undertaking in Supergirl history. It sees Superboy, Jonathan Kent and the female Steel attempting to unravel the tangled history of Supergirl. Along with the real deal, you've had the Matrix Supergirl and that one that was an Angel, after a girl named Linda Danvers bonded with the shape-shifter in the 90.s You've got multiple origins. Tons of different costumes. The multiverse. Plus, a surprise for me, everyone seems to know that she died fighting the Anti-Monitor! Confessionally, I haven't been really up-to-date with DC's Crises in the past 15 years like I probably should. 

The last story was educational. But I feel like it gets hijacked towards the end by J'onn J'onnz. The middle story was the best. The opener was very funny. If you are a fan of any incarnation of Supergirl, you will want to add this one-shot to your Supergirl collection. As for the judges of the Eisners and other comic book awards, I employ you to give serious, SERIOUS consideration to Gail Simone and her story 'Lost Girls' for story of the year and writer of the year, if the nomination process for this cycle of publications are still open. It's really that excellent of a work!

Worth Consuming!

Rating 9 out of 10 stars.

Birding Is My Favorite Video Game: Cartoons about the Natural World from Bird and Moon (Updated Edition)

Here's another book I was able to get this book on Amazon, and while not compensated by the company except for getting it for free, I did post this review on their listing for the book. Rest assured, this is my honest opinion and rating of the book.

Create Your Own Comics!: Everything You Need to Know (Family Comic Friday)

I know its been a while since I posted a Family Comic Friday review. With my blood disease (we just don't know which one I have), I'm always tired or wearing out quickly. So I don't venture out as much as I would like. Thus, I haven't been to the library in quite a while. But I was able to get this book on Amazon, and while not compensated by the company except for getting it for free, I did post this review on their listing for the book. Rest assured, this is my honest opinion and rating of the book.

Killer Ribs: Mouthwatering Recipes from North America's Best Rib Joints by Nancy Davidson

This tome on the art of smoking ribs was published in 2006. It details some of the best rib eateries in all the 50 states and in Canada. Yes, Canada! Turns out that our friends to the North are known for taking culinary tours of American BBQ and some have brought the all-American meal of ribs, beef, pork and everything in between, back across the border with them!

If you are using this book as a travel guide, you might be rather disappointed. Of the 3 locations listed in my home state of North Carolina, 2 of them are now defunct. More often than not, BBQ joints are a family run business. So unfortunately death, divorce or old age has caused for quite a few rib joints to close. COVID-19 did a number on the restaurant industry as well. My advice, utilize a Google search when using this book as your next culinary travel guide.

Thankfully, there's more to this book than locales. In every 2 page spread, along with a history of the restaurant and its pit masters, you get a recipe and tips for selecting the right cut of meat and the best wood for the job. I was surprised that many of the recipes were provided by the pit masters. I always thought such information was treated with more care and confidentiality than an American President with Top Secret documents. 

Some of the recipes are for the rub. Some are for making sauces. Fewer are about actual cooking of ribs. Surprisingly, there's a recipe for making alligator ribs and another one for mutton. And if you are thinking about skipping the rub, DON'T! You might think that the salt is unnecessary sodium in the formula. But it's needed to help break down the proteins and impart the other spices and smoke deep down all the way to the bones. If you are worried about your blood pressure, find ways to cut it in the sauce. I was surprised to find how many pit masters thumb their nose at BBQ sauce! It's naked ribs or nuthin'!

So why did I read this book? Well, recently, my wife ordered me a smoker. We got a fantastic deal that I don't think I am at liberty in mentioning here. (Feel free to PM me if you want the details.) Now that the smoker has arrived and I am setting it up, I realized that I had this book, which I got as a prize for participating in last year's summer reading program at our local library. It felt as good a time as any to get some further learning on the subject. 

Here's a few highlights:

* Remove the back skin. Or don't. Some pit masters think that elastin keeps the ribs from falling apart. 

* Use the smoker to primarily impart the flavors. Going at a temp no higher than 250F, a lot of pit masters get the ribs up to temp by finishing in the oven.

*Speaking of ovens, that's the time for the sauce. Not while in the smoker. That's the #1 way to ruin a smoker. Not to mention, burning the ribs.

*Lastly, the amount of celery seeds and celery salt used by rib joints... It's a wonder that I have made it to 48. I'm very allergic to stuff. Yet I would say 3 out of every 10 recipes didn't call for the stuff! I eat ribs a lot. How have I not succumbed to a batch of saucy hidden dangers?!

If anything, I learned the process. I've got my own ideas for the blend mixture of wood chips to use. Same goes for the sauce. Just about every pit masters in here has firm guidelines for how to smoke their meats. But when it comes to flavors, spiciness and taste, they almost always say to adjust with what you prefer. 

I've got nearly 2 decades of culinary education and experience, so with exception of the mutton recipe, I'm going to experiment. But if you are a newbie to cooking, definitely start out with what the experts say on the first go-round. Then adjust to your preference as you repeat the recipe. 

Oh, and one more thing, if you are going to become the next great pit master, get a high quality smoker. But don't break the bank. The cheapest of smokers often are not worth the materials that they are constructed from. In fact, the greatest smoker I ever encountered was my grandfather's and it was made from an old drum and ample amounts of solder. If you know how to build it yourself and you can do the job right: do it! Size doesn't necessarily matter either as the 2nd best one was a tiny little number my other granddad got at Lowe's. 

If there's one thing that I know about BBQ, not grilling barbecue, but BBQ'd beef, pork, chicken and gator, apparently, it's that while all these championship pit masters claim that they know how to make perfect smoked grub, there is NO definitive way to smoke meat. So, go with what you know and love and you'll enjoy the lengthy process of low and slow for some killer ribs!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

I took my god son to see Spider-Man: Brand New Day and I have got to say that it was really good.

The world may have forgotten Peter Parker. But it hasn't forgotten about Spider-Man. This includes best bud Ned Leeds and girlfriend MJ who have fractured memories of being rescued by the superhero. Crime in New York is at an all-time low. That is except for at the Department of Damage Control. That federal office has been attacked by an unknown assailant 4 times in the last month and now with attack #5, Spider-Man is involved. Whomever is behind the attack is possessing people in order to free Mac Gargan, the Scorpion, in hopes of discovering the secret of V-Max. 

When the entity attempts to enter Spider-Man, his Spidey senses push the intruder out of his mind. But in doing so, Spider-Man triggers his latent abilities, organic web shooters for one thing, that is causing Peter Parker to go insane. After almost killing both the Scorpion and a cop, Parker seeks out help in the form of Dr. Bruce Banner, who has developed a device that keeps his mean, green side in check. 

As Spidey develops an inhibitor to his new powers, the unknown entity has learned the webcrawler's secret identity. To keep Spider-Man from interfering with their quest to discover what Damage Control is hiding with V-Max, the entity has taken control of someone very near and dear to Peter's heart and he must turn to the one guy he'd never trust in a million years to protect them; one Frank Castle, the Punisher.

My god son wanted to see it in 3-D. I was wary because I wear glasses and the last time we went to a 3-D flick, I got the biggest headache. Not this time, however. There must have been some improvements since the last time I did 3-D, which I think was Venom...

Marvel Studios has gotten some flak for poor CGI and special effects in recent films. But I think they must have made some improvements as well. The scenes of Spidey swinging through the New York skyline was stunning. I felt like a kid again, living a childhood dream to be like Spider-Man in the parts where the movie was shot from the heroes point of view. With the classic blue, red and black costume, this is how I wish Spider-Man '77 could have been like.

Once again, Tom Holland is the definitive Peter Parker. Jon Bernthal as the Punisher was perfect. This is what I expect Frank Castle to be like if he was a real person. The guy playing the Scorpion, Michael Mando, has that kind of face that I swear that I have seen before. I got the actor who played Damage Control's head honcho, Bill Metzger wrong. He's played by Tramell Tillman, not Jason Derulo. And I really bombed on my guess as to the mystery character Sadie Sink was playing. I didn't even hit the target, much less a bullseye.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day was the first film since last year's Superman where I would have paid movie to see it again, right then and there. Though I don't think my ever falling apart body could have stayed seated for another almost 150 minutes of run time. But this was a great movie that really sets some things up for Avengers: Doomsday this Christmas. Just don't expect too much from the extra scene at the very end of the credits. Seeing the various webheads of the Spider-verse is not happening just yet. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return

According to Alex Winter, Mr. Bill S. Preston, Esq. in the flesh, in this book's foreword, when the creative team of Brian Lynch and Jerry Gaylord was crafting this miniseries, Bill and Ted creators Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon were working on the third film in the series, Bill & Ted Face the Music. Secretly, Winter, along with the creators as well as Keanu Reeves were on massive pins and needles. If 2015's Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return sucked, it could very much upset the whole thing. Studio execs could warrant that if a comic book sequel to the first 2 Bill & Ted movies was a giant flop, why would they want to pump millions of dollars into another live action flick to could potentially go belly up as well? Thankfully, this canon comic book epic didn't wreck the franchise!

Taking place after the events of Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, the boys having some massive writer's bock. The world is demanding another rock epic from Wyld Stallyns and the fear of failure has paralyzed the guys. It's also really bugging them as to why Chuck De Nomolos, the villain from the 2nd movie, hated Bill and Ted so much. Into the time machine for the fellas...

Appearing in the future, they meet a teenaged De Nomolos who is ostracized by friends and family alike. Turns out being the foretold killer of your society's messiahs really carries a stigma. Bill and Ted really feel bad for the kid and they attempt a personality makeover. However, their good deeds don't go unpunished as when Bill and Ted return to their time, they find themselves replaced by De Nomolos and his future cronies! If you thought making robot Bill and Ted to kill the real McCoy was sinister, you haven't seen anything yet as Chuck De Nomolos not only strands the boys in prehistoric times, but he also allegedly kills off both members of Station, turns Rufus into a wanted fugitive and steals Death's Grim Reaping powers!

I thought this was a fantastic midquel that doesn't do anything to harm the flow between Bogus Journey and Face the Music. If you're having trouble visualizing what a midquel is, think about how Rogue One now sits in-between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Lots of great historical cameos. I won't spoil anything. But I do want to complain just a pinch that Cleopatra and ancient Egypt is nowhere in this book despite being featured on the front cover. 

Speaking of the cover, there are tons- TONS, of variant covers. Plus there are several shorts that explore the B&T universe. They were great reads featuring art and story by special guest-stars. I wouldn't mind another helping of these tales; they were that great.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1: Squirrel Power

There's not many superheroes out there that can claim that they defeated Thanos, Deadpool and Doctor Doom. Oddly enough, Squirrel Girl can. And she's about to add a few more villains to her list, including the biggie of them all: Galactus! But first, she's got to move into her dorm, meet her roommate and her roomie's cat, attend freshman orientation and catch the eye of the freshman hunk that she ran into during her first day of college. Armed with her best friend, Tippy Toe the squirrel, some borrowed Tony Stark tech and a nauseating amount of optimism, Squirrel Girl just might be able to save the world.

Written by Ryan North and illustrated by Erica Henderson. Although, it really seems to me that Erica Henderson should receive co-plotter credits based on the amount of work she's credited for by Ryan North in the letters column of each issue. When's the last time you could say that a trade paperback included the letters columns? Tongue is very much in cheek all around. However, there's a certain degree of reverence to the lead character, which you have to admit is one of Marvel's odder creations. 

Almost every page has a secret message around the bottom margin. You'll need a microscope to read the ones in issue #1. It gets a little bigger on issue #2 but it doesn't help much that the font color appears to be this dijon mustard beige hue. The messages are mostly funny. A couple are interesting factoids. But they also gave me a bit of a headache, and that's with reading glasses.

I don't think that I am going to keep this book. I wouldn't be opposed to reading volume 2 if I found it for cheap or at my local library. As a bonus feature, Squirrel Girl's first appearance from 1990's Marvel Super-Heroes Winter Special is included. Those early 90s seasonal specials are on my wish list and I have quite a few in my collection. Considering how expensive a copy is, I wouldn't mind owning a reprint or facsimile edition of that issue. But only her story is included in this book. It's just not enough to get me to want to hold onto it.

Be mad at me if you want, but Tippy Toe is the best character and excellently drawn. I just hope she doesn't meet the same grisly fate of her predecessor Monkey Joe.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Case of the Dangerous Dowager by Erle Stanley Gardner

I have a fairly extensive knowledge of the character Perry Mason because of my mom. She owned a copy of every one of the books written by Erle Stanley Gardner and when growing up, there was a good chance that Perry Mason, played by Raymond Burr was on in either rerun or as a 2-hour movie of the week.

For about the past year now, I have been enjoying mystery novels. Mostly the crime noir tales of private detective Philip Marlowe written by Raymond Chandler. I've always loved a mystery and with me about to have run the gambit of works by Chandler, I felt that it might be time to seek out another classic mystery writer. 

During our family's annual scavenger hunt during the 301 Endless Yard Sale, I decided to put a Perry Mason novel on the list. Hopefully, somebody would find one and since you didn't really have to start with book #1, I was open to whatever might be available in just about any condition except severely water damaged and mildewed.

I got lucky at my first stop, a thrift store that supports a pet rescue called Street Dogs and Stray Cats. Minus the dust jacket, I found this 1937 first edition of The Case of the Dangerous Dowager. It's the 10th book in the series and it's about as far away from episode of the golden age of television series as I think you could get. 

Here's a quick rundown of the case. There is this rich grandma who knows that her granddaughter is over $7000 in debt to a pair of 'legitimate businessmen', who own a casino ship, legally 12 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. The husband of the granddaughter is about to file for divorce and if he could get his hands on the IOU slips, it would strengthen his case to become sole guardian of their infant child and executor of a rather large trust fund. 

The grandmother hires Perry Mason to buy up the IOUs before the husband can. It's not really the sort of thing Mason does. But the grandmother feels that the lawyer is a very trustworthy soul and she authorizes him to include a bonus to prevent the casino owners from blackmailing the granddaughter and keep the inheritance in the family. 

Mason takes a speedboat to the casino. With money in hand, Mason is prepared to buy the IOUs and then wash his hands of the entire affair. However, when he goes to visit the co-owner who oversees the financial side of things, he finds the man shot through the temple. Only, there's no gun! The IOUs are right there at the deceased man's desk. The granddaughter was spotted on the boat. As was the husband. Grandma too! 

So Perry Mason finds himself implicated for the murder. Instead of going to trial, the lawyer goes on the run. As the story breaks in the newspapers and radio, Perry runs through the suspect list in hopes of clearing his name and finding out just who the murderer is. 

With exception of a scene that takes place in a conference room with the Los Angeles County District attorney and all of the suspects rounded up about to testify before the grand jury, there is no actual court proceedings! Perry manages to wrestle control of the pre-jury meeting from the D.A., and through extensive questioning, gets to the bottom of things. But in this book, he's more of a P.I. than a lawyer. 

I know that on the 2020 HBO reboot series, Perry Mason starts out as a private detective, working his way up to becoming a defense attorney. So having him trying to solve the crime by beating the pavement by working over leads might be in line with the character. But I don't remember an episode of 1957-1966's Perry Mason not ever taking place in a court of law. Where's Hamilton Burger, the most unlikely assistant D.A. in history? Where's the judge threatening contempt of court? This is so unlike what I grew up with.

There's a rule in my family that we never judge a TV series by the first episode. We always give shows at least 2 more episodes before we decide whether or not to cut bait. I luckily was able to get a second book at the same time as this one. I'm just wondering if all of the books are like this one or is The Case of the Dangerous Dowager the exception to the rule?

I'll find out shortly.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Slimer #1

I started this book over a month ago. I had gone to a local comic book store to stock up on some reads for my annual family vacation, which is where I came across this book. I was really excited to get it because I had seen it advertised on FB the week prior and was convinced that it was going to be sold before I got there. But it was my lucky day. 

Anyways I read the first half of the comic and then went on my vacation the next day and we'll, wouldn't you know it's the end of July before I remembered that I still had half of the book left to read. The comic, a spinoff of The Real Ghostbusters starred everyone's favorite ghost, Slimer. Published in 1989, the book had 2 stories, both written by Hilarie Staton. 

First, Slimer accidentally frees a ghost from a containment unit and the ghost could not be any more of a brat. Trying to get Slimer to embrace the mischief that comes with being a ghost, the new spook ends up continuously getting the green ghostie into trouble he didn't ask for. Then while seeking out a really large cake, Slimer unknowingly causes trouble for a hotel full of attendees of a plumbers convention.

In both stories, Slimer can speak full sentences. When did this happen? All I remember as a kid from the animated Ghostbusters cartoon was that Slimer mostly spoke gobbledygook with maybe a 2 year old's vocabulary.  So having him speak so eloquent in this book was a bit of a shock. 

At the beginning of this book, the editing team pat themselves on the back for finally earning the CCA stamp. Sadly, it's really too little, too late for NOW Comics as they'll be filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in just a another year or so and both Ghostbusters comics will be cancelled! I understand that obtaining the stamp was done in order to make NOW Comics more marketable nationwide. But I would have appreciated it more if the folks at NOW would have spent all that time and effort instead on making the artwork look better. Okay. The artwork was spot on. But the coloring was atrocious. It looked like something my mom could have colored with her beloved markers instead of by a seasoned professional

Despite earning the stamp, I was very surprised of the content of the second story because the giant cake Slimer wants to eat will eventually contain a stripper, who shows up to the plumbers convention wearing nothing but a bikini and F-Me pumps. To be fair, the girl is never called a stripper and she never gets into the cake. But man, the Comic Code Authority really let just about anything pass during their waning years it seems.

Deadpool Team-Up, Vol 1: Good Buddies

I got on the Deadpool Team-Up band wagon way too late. I'm taking about the 2009-11 series, by the way. I bought issue #884 which has the Merc With a Mouth teaming with Oatu the Watcher. A sucker for a team-up title, I was thrown off by the high numbering. It turns out that as a joke, Marvel decided to spoof the now meaningless legacy numbering by having each issue of this series go backwards from #899, after releasing a special 900th issue of Deadpool!

With Deadpool Team-Up getting cancelled with issue #883 and finding it a financial nightmare trying to collect the rest of the series, I quietly put the series on my wishlist and went on to collect other, more affordable titles. For nearly 15 years, I searched and searched for issues that wouldn't break my bank. Wanna guess how many issues I found? If you guessed zip, zilch, nada; give yourself a cookie. That was until this past week. I had a box full of stuff to take to a used bookstore for trade credit and got lucky finding not just this hardback edition, but the other 2 volumes that round out the run. Being premium editions, each book was still pricey. But at a little bit less than half of original cover price, AND considering how difficult it's been to get this series off my wishlist, I scooped up all 3 books and merrily went about my way. Besides, the trade credit covered the price, meaning that the cash in my pocket could be spent on other things!

With the numbering going backwards, I wouldn't have been surprised if you were supposed to read volume 3 first. But I can attest that is not the case here. In the opener, Wade Wilson finds himself stuck in the wandering labyrinth of legend with none other than Hercules! Deadpool then attempts to collect bounties for successful hits with a pair of lucha libre hitman siblings called the Zapata Brothers, legendary big rig trucker US Ace, and a pair of Ghost Riders. Wade then helps a woman locate the missing behemoth, IT!, the Living Colossus before accepting a hit to rub out the Punisher, who at this moment in time has been reanimated into a Frankenstein monster!

The Punisher issue has a ton of fantastic cameos. It's a real treat if you are a fan of Marvel's monsters, of which I definitely am. You could consider me gobsmacked when I learn that the old Jim Shooter lead series US1 is actually pronounced US Ace! There are no numbers to be said when speaking about the title! Plus, I didn't realize that the trucker had adventures in outer space. I'm going have to revisit that staple of dollar boxes nationwide...

Featuring a different talent team each issue, I really dug this series. A good rule of thumb about team-up books is that the more obscure the guest star, the better the story. And with IT!, the Living Colossus and the hermanos Zapata, I do not think you could get much more obscure. The only thing I wasn't such a fan of was the inclusion of the bonus material of an issue of Marvel Spotlight focusing on Deadpool. It's mostly a 30 page commercial for other Deadpool titles and if you've read 1 interview with a comic book creator, you really have read them all. I mostly read it for the pictures...

Come on volume 2!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #36

Eric Koenig begins his commando training as a member of the Howlers. While Stan Lee leaves the readers wondering if Eric has defected as a double agent for the Nazis, the Howlers seem to welcome the German with open arms. Captain Sawyer and Fury are ready to have Eric posing as a German officer in their upcoming mission with full confidence in Koenig's abilities.

The Howlers continue to worry over their recently fallen comrade. I won't reveal who the injured Howler is yet for spoilers sake. However, the early prognosis is not good. The commando took a massive beating in the last issue and opened up a slot for Koenig to join the squad.

The major excitement takes place aboard a speeding train along a snowy Alpine mountain range. If it brings back memories of that scene in Captain America: The First Avenger, you are not alone. I'm wondering if this issue was the inspiration for that very dramatic and important scene in the movie. 

As for the mission itself, it has the Howlers boarding the train which is secretly transporting a German officer to Italy to help Mussolini who's losing his battle with anti-fascist forces and the Allies. The train is disguised as being a hospital transport allowing the Nazis to pass through neutral Switzerland. Fury's men are supposed to  prevent this and hopefully capture the officer while posing as neutral safety inspectors.

It's here where the reader is supposed to be skeptical of where Eric Koenig's loyalties lie because the target is someone who Koenig has known for a very long time and loves like a brother. 

Not the best issue. It's really slow in getting started as the first 10 pages are more filler and mission prep. In other words, it's like a soap opera set during WW2 with the Howlers worrying about the injured commando, Eric reminiscing over his relationship with the mission's target and Nick Fury exposing his soft side for his Howlers. It's all done internally and really bogs the story way down.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

America the Edible: A Hungry History, from Sea to Dining Sea by Adam Richman

Written in 2010, Adam Richman was riding high as the host of Man V. Food. The Travel Channel series saw Richman going to various cities, exploring the food culture. He'd close out each episode by going to an eatery that boasted a ridiculous food eating challenge. I remember on our first anniversary, I ate a 64 oz Sundae in less than 10 minutes. Unfortunately, you didn't get it free unless you finished it in 4 minutes or less. But hopefully, you get the picture of what Adam Richman was doing.

This book isn't tied into his Travel Channel travels. However, Richman does go on to review the culture and history of almost a dozen cities in the United States. Being July and the sesquicentennial, this seemed like an appropriate read. Cleveland, Ohio, Austin, Texas, and Savannah Georgia are some of the foodie destinations Richman explores. Only St. Louis, Missouri and Brooklyn were the places that the author chronicles that I have been to. So I learned a lot. Plus I made notes of places to check out the next time I travel to the Show Me State to visit my wife's family. 

Before Man V. Food, Adam Richman was a struggling actor either trying to survive in Hollywood or travelling the nation as part of a theater troupe. In those cities, he made notes of the eateries he had listed as well as the various tours of food markets and manufacturing. As an actor, its a common practice to give recommendations to other thespians when they are in a city for their next acting gig. Plus, being on the road can feel like a blur, so Richman would journal of the places he visited, and take pictures, in order to keep memories both good and bad. When it came to the bad, there was usually a woman involved.

I like Adam Richman now. He's really insightful and funny on shoes like The Foods That Built America and Hazardous History with Henry Winkler. But during his stint on MVF, I could take him or leave him. I liked his tour guide persona at the beginning of the show. His Jewish Michael Jordan persona when he would partake in during the food competition parts of the show, not so much... This book reflects Richman as a struggling, young actor. He was also kind of a slut. 

In every city, he's got a girl that he's either in a doomed relationship with or he's hooking up with or failing misery despite giving it everything he's got. There's a fair amount of sex. Thankfully, it's not raunchy, locker room accounts of his conquests. And I will admit, he's got charisma. But it's really annoying. 

I also don't understand the whole sexy food culture. Being in the culinary industry for nigh 21 years, I have never understood it. I'm more of an addict than a lover. But Richman gets down right orgasmic with the food. I do commend that when he finds a meal that was lackluster, he doesn't hold back. I critique the food I eat too. But having taught culinary high schoolers and college students, I'm a bit more forgiving when it comes to poor service and mistakes as long as you don't try to kill me by not properly addressing my food allergy when I ask if celery seeds are in the cole slaw 

Like I said earlier, I learned a lot about each city. Though the 3rd through about the 6th page of every chapter read like a student's report on major city. The climate. The natural resources. The breakdown of the ethnic population. I felt like I was grading my Culinary II students annual projects on Popular American Soups. It's not Richman's fault. He does a good job. It's just those sections felt very familiar to me...

This book is 16 years old. Richman, I see, has been happily married for about 3 years now. While hosting MVF, he gained nearly a 100 pounds. Famously, he quit the show to take better care of himself. He has probably matured lots as he got older. It was just a shock to see how candid he gets about food, travel, acting, his love life... It's like seeing your high school math teacher in public somewhere. It's awkward. And it's not something I can add to my office bookshelf for my students to borrow. 

I'll probably keep it until Christmas. That's when we're supposed to go to St. Louis. It'll be interesting to see if some of the places he ate at 20 years ago are still there. And you better believe, I'll be getting some Imo's pizza when I am there. It's amazing stuff with a unique, creamy cheese calld Provel and something of which both Richman and myself can agree.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #35

After having Happy Sam Sawyer recount how Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan formed the Howlers, the attack on Pearl Harbor sees the death of a friend that was closer than a brother to Nick. In my review of the issue before, I stated that I hoped for the next issue (this issue) to provide the origins of how Izzy Cohen, Gab Jones and the rest joined the team. But I guess seeing several random Joes get draft notices from their local postman isn't very exciting storytelling. Surely one of them signed up voluntarily. Could there be an interesting story about that? 

Instead of going backwards, Stan Lee and Dick Ayers both move forward with the current events of 1942-43. With exception of Fury, the rest of the squad were captured by Nazi forces during a pre-D-Day invasion mission that took place in Greece. Transferred to Berlin, the Howlers undergo torture and questioning by the Gestapo. 

In order to rescue his men, Nick has to team up with his arch rival, Sgt. Bull McGiveney. Normally the Howlers are busting heads with Bull's bunch of soldiers in a macabre sort of friendly rivalry. If you can call fists, chains and 2x4s friendly rivalry.

When the action is over, a Howler will be seriously injured, a Nazi will defect and McGiveney and his men will earn a little bit of the respect of the Howling Commandos.

A really exciting issue that opens up some interesting possibilities with a German defector on the Howlers. For one, can Eric Koenig be trusted? And while I hate to see the injured Howler go, I appreciate the level of realism that the creative team put in this series. Sure, there's a level of comic book grandiosity to the villains. But with at least 2 former Howlers dead, countless injuries, and now another facing a medical discharge, Lee and Ayers really don't hold back on the fortunes of war.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman '66, Volume 5

You look at the cover and you're probably saying 'Batman '66 never fought against Solomon Grundy or Clayface!' However, you have to remember that this DC comics webseries turned comic book is supposed to be an imagining of what could have been if ABC never destroyed the sets and NBC picked up Batman for a fourth season!

Plus, you would be wrong in your assumptions about Grundy and perhaps Clayface. If you are like me and you remember the awesomely terrible Legends of the Superheroes and the even worse sequel, the Adam West Batman along with the Burt Ward Robin went up against Solomon Grundy, played by character actor Mickey Morton. Plus, it's a fan theory that the one-shot villain False Face, played by heavy Malachi Thorne, was in fact Basil Karloff, the first Clayface! Well, thanks to Jeff Parker, that theory became reality with a story that sees False Face falling into a polluted swamp and becoming the Matt Hagen version of Clayface!

This volume is sadly the last volume collection of Batman '66 stories. Thus, I think with cancellation on the horizon, the creative team got a chance to give their wildest wishes a chance to get the Batman '66 treatment. Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Bane all make debuts. I loved every page, though there was just a little too much of Marsha, Queen of Diamonds. She's in 2 issues!!! I'd rather give Shame or the Minstrel another chance to shine.

There's a great story where Barbara Gordon takes a temp job at an ad agency that gets held hostage by the Big Four: Catwoman, Joker, Riddler and the Penguin. They want the ad execs to create a campaign, changing their reputation as villains. Unable to change into Batgirl, Barbara has to use her wits and the baddies' hubris to play the antagonists against each other. It's a brilliant story that doesn't see any capes!

Unfortunately, we never get a Batman '66/Superman '52 team-up. Though we come really close in the last issue! The Allred Family wrap up the series with a brilliant tale that reveals true story behind the battle Batman and Robin undertake in the animated sequence performed every episode, during the show's theme song. Towards the very end, we get an amazing cameo of George Reeves' Clark Kent, as well as several other appearances by characters who might have existed in the '66 universe. 

This volume wraps up my having read everything tied into the classic 60s TV version of the Caped Crusader.  I still have a Wonder Woman '77 team up with the Bionic Woman and some of the other more recent releases to go. But hopefully we'll get some more adventures of the Gothamites of 1966. I can understand DC wanting a cooling off period to not over-saturate the brand. But the number of devotees to that show are dwindling. We're not getting any younger. Here's to hoping we don't have to wait until 2066 for further adventures...

Worth Consuming!

Rating 9 out of 10 stars.

The Tall Stranger by Louis L'amour

Yes, I read Westerns. Mostly in comic book form. But I have been known to enjoy them in paperback format. Louis L'Amour is my favorite. Probably because of my grandfather who probably owned a copy of every work the American author ever wrote.

It's been a very long time since I read one of L'Amour's works. At least 25 years, I'd say. The Iron Marshall, the first work of his I read is still my favorite. With me being on Summer break and a desiring some literary comfort foods, I ordered this book with the intention of reading it while at the beach. However, the novel I started right before I went on vacation took me a bit longer to read than I expected. So The Tall Stranger would have to wait a bit.

The book is about a drifter named Rock Bannon. A wagon train heading to the Oregon trail found Rock dying from a gunshot wound. Nursed back to health, he's caught the eye of the girl who cared for him. But for the other single fellas hoping to make their play with the girl, they despise Rock as an interloper.

During a rest stop right before the beginning of the Oregon split, a smooth talking gentleman named Mort Harper persuades the train to veer South through Utah territory with promises of the lushest valley ever seen this far West. Rock knows that this land has already been claimed by a cattle rancher named Hardy Bishop. But no matter what Rock says, the men of the wagon train will not listen to him. 

Bannon also knows that their presence in Bishop's Canyon could start a land war. Deep down, Rock suspects that Mort is going to make a play for the valley as the legality of land ownership rights at this point in American history is more about who's settled on the land than who in fact owns the title deed.

Rock is torn. Should he help the wagon train settlers and hopefully win the heart of the girl once and for all? Or does Bannon respect the bond of blood, because Hardy Bishop is in reality Rock's father?

The Tall Stranger was written in 1957. L'amour's first novel, Hondo, was written 4 years earlier. So this is early in the author's career. There are still some rough spots in L'Amour's writings that will be polished up by the time he writes The Iron Marshall in 1979. Take the names for example Rock Bannon? Mort? Clearly, the author was basing some of dashing matinee idol Rock Hudson in the moniker and description of the protagonist. But never in the history of the world had a bad guy ever gone by the name Mort? (Although, morte is French for death and dying and everywhere Mort goes, the Geim Reaper surely follows. So maybe his name is a pun.)

Another issue is that Louis L'Amour rambles. Despite a page count of only 150 pages, this book could have been 15-20 pages less if the author wouldn't wander off topic to present to the reader interesting facts and mysteries about the old West which have nothing to do with the plot. When if comes to painting a picture of the scenery or interior of one of the settler's cabins, there's no equal to the author, even at this early stage of his career. But  writer for the Western edition of Ripley's Believe It or Not, L'Armour is not

Lastly, I'm left to ponder the subject of this book's title. The Tall Stranger; who is it that the author is referring to? At first, you'd think it's Rock, having been involuntarily integrated into the wagon train by being saved from the nearly fatal gunshot wound? Or is it the Snidely Whiplash of the story, Mort, who joins the caravan after he makes his pitch for heading further south? I guess it's left up to the reader to decide? Personally, I think it refers to Mort, the fork-tongued con man who's planning on literally enslaving the settlers so that he can become the next cattle baron of Bishop's canyon. 

I enjoyed the book. It was a short read that I wouldn't exactly call a quick read. But it's close. Flawed? Yes. But it's still quintessential Louis L'Amour. I might go for another of his works. Just not right at the moment as I have several mysteries and a food journal on my to-read pile at the moment.

Worth Consuming!

Rating; 7 out of 10 stars.

X-Men #1 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

1991's X-Men #1 by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee holds the Guinness World Record for the best selling single issue of all-time. The total number of copies sold is around the 8 million mark. However, I don't think it's a fair attribute. 8 million people didn't buy this book. There were 4 different variant covers that revealed a massive battle scene between the X-Men and Magneto. Add the fervor of speculators who gobbled up first issues by the long box full, and in reality, X-Men #1 was probably only purchased by 2-3 million individuals. 

The new series was a restructuring of the X-Men franchise. Seeing that there were just too many mutants to keep track of,  first, Marvel killed off a few fan favorite characters with a massacre in Genosha. Then they split the roster in half and blue some of the all-time greats together in a sister series. Then, Magneto, who had become an ally of the Xavier's School for Gifted Children, renounced his membership and fled to the ruins of his asteroid compound to create a refuge for mutants. In return, Charles Xavier returned to lead the X-Men after years away. 

Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Beast, Storm, Gambit, and Rogue. Plus support from the mechanic genius Forge. If this sounds like the lineup for Fox's classic X-Men: The Animated Series, you're almost right. Only Jubilee is missing. But over time, she'll be recruited by Cyclops to join what will soon be dubbed 'the blue team.'

As Claremont was winding down his lengthy run as the X-Men's scribe, co-plotter and artist Jim Lee's star was rising. In just a couple of issues, Lee would also become the new writer of the series. But his tenure would be short. Feeling undervalued by Marvel, Lee and about a half dozen other writers and artists from the bullpen broke free from the publisher and founded Image Comics. 

A rotating lineup of talent would write on the new X-Men title, including Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, and Grant Morrison. After a brief 2-issue fill-in by Art Thibert, before eventually setting on Andy Kubert as the regular penciler from issue #14-59. As for the series itself, beginning with the Morrison run, issue #114, it was retitled New X-Men. Issue #157 lost the 'New' moniker before another change at issue #208. Becoming X-Men: Legacy, the title went back to just X-Men in 2012 for the milestone 300th issue. Never cancelled due to dwindling sales, X-Men #300 concluded many storylines and paved the way to seasonal relaunches in hopes of streamlined numbering of titles.

 However, if you have ever read any of my reviews of the more recent Deadpool series with a nearly annual reset back to issue #1, you'll know that I hate this new way Marvel numbers it's books. It's a leading reason that I have stayed away from most Marvel series of the past decade. But I don't seem to be the only one who hates this new method of doing business. However, despite how much we hate it, it doesn't seem like Marvel will be ceasing this way of conducting business any time soon.

Completing this review completes Task #36 ( Work by Jim Lee, Fiona Staples or Alex Ross) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

And with this review, my 2026 Reading Challenge is COMPLETE!

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.