Category: Crime
“Reacher” – The Season 4 Poster is Here!
The poster for the new season of Reacher is here. I’m a big fan.
Deal me in.
“Neagley” starring Maria Sten – The First Season Poster is Here!
The poster for Neagley starring Maria Sten is here. I love her character in Reacher and am looking forward to the new series.
Deal me in.
“Bosch”: Season 1 (2015) starring Titus Welliver / Z-View
Bosch: Season 1 (2015)
Developed by: Eric Overmyer; based on the HARRY BOSCH novels THE CONCRETE BLONDE; CITY OF BONES and ECHO PARK by Michael Connelly
Director:
- Jim McKay (Ep. 1)
- Kevin Dowling (Eps. 2-3)
- Ernest R. Dickerson (Eps. 4-5)
- Roxann Dawson (Ep. 6)
- Alex Zakrzewski (Ep. 7; 9)
- Matt Earl Beesley (Ep.8)
- Thomas Carter (Ep. 10)
Teleplay by:
- Eric Overmyer (Eps. 1)
- Tom Smuts and Eric Overmyer (Ep. 2)
- Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider (Ep. 3; )
- George Pelecanos and Michael Connelly (Ep. 4)
- William N. Fordes (Ep. 5)
- Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner (Ep. 6)
- Joel Gonzalez and Eric Overmyer (Ep. 7)
- William N. Fordes and Tom Smuts (Ep. 8)
- Michael Connelly and T.L. Lankford (Ep. 10)
Starring: Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Annie Wersching, Madison Lintz, Troy Evans, Sarah Clarke, Scott Wilson, Mimi Rogers, Adam O’Byrne, Veronica Cartwright and Jason Gedrick .
Tagline: Based on the best selling novels by Michael Connelly.
The Plot… (beware of spoilers)
L.A. Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch is 47 years old with twenty years on the force. Before becoming a cop, Bosch served in the Gulf War in the Special Forces.
It’s not been a great year for Bosch. Although cleared of criminal charges in a shooting, he now faces a civil trial. Bosch claims the suspect was pulling a gun when Bosch killed him. The prosecution claims the suspect was unarmed. The gun planted. The civil trial has created a lot of bad publicity and renewed interest in Detective Bosch by Internal Affairs.
Still dealing with the trail, Bosch responds to a call. A child’s bones are found in a shallow grave in a wooded area near a nice neighborhood. In short order Bosch discovers leads that implicate several people… including the boy’s father.
The case takes a surprising turn when a routine traffic stop turns out to be anything but. Raynard Waits is driving a van containing a corpse. The dead man was tortured before he was killed. The evidence against Waits is overwhelming. He is a sadistic sociopath. There will be no deals, no plea bargain.
Then everything changes.
Waits claims that he also killed the little boy whose bones were recently discovered. Waits says he’s a serial killer of children. He’ll clear cases and give parents of many missing children peace of mind… but he wants something in return.
Bosch interviews Waits and has several takeaways. One: Waits is lying. Two: Waits is smart. Three: Waits is much more clever than he appears.
So when Waits says he will take the police to where he buried the bodies, Bosch is against it. District Attorny O’Shea (who is up for re-election) approves the field trip. Waits demands that Bosch be one of the officers in the group. Again O’Shea approves.
Bosch was right. Waits had a plan. It results in the murder of the Assistant DA and gravely wounds another officer. DA O’Shea shifts the blame for the murder and Wait’s escape to Bosch.
As Bosch’s civil trial moves forward, Waits killing spree continues. As the bodies pile up, Waits publically taunts Bosch.
Did Waits really kill the child? If not, who did? If Waits is a serial killer of children why was he found with an adult victim? Waits is using secrets from Bosch’s past to get under his skin. How does he know these things?
Bosch needs the answers or more innocent people will die.
Thoughts…
Bosch is excellent in all aspects – writing, directing and acting.
Harry Bosch is a well rounded character brought to life by Titus Welliver who is excellent in the role. Kudos also to Jason Gedrick who plays Raynard Waits. Gedrick is perfect. Other acting standouts include Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Annie Wersching, Troy Evans, Sarah Clarke and Scott Wilson.
Bosch: Season 1 (2015) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“The Whisper Man” starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan and Adam Scott – The Poster & Trailer are Here!
Here are the poster and trailer for The Whisper Man starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan and Adam Scott.
Deal me in.
The deadliest killers can’t be silenced.
Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North. When his eight-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as “The Whisper Man.”
THE ART OF EDUARDO RISSO is Coming!
If you missed out on THE ART OF EDUARDO RISSO Kickstarter, boy are you in luck! THE ART OF EDUARDO RISSO will be released on January 19, 2027. Here’s the lowdown…
Alien Books proudly presents THE ART OF EDUARDO RISSO, a carefully curated hardcover art book celebrating the legendary Argentine comic book artist!
Celebrate award-winning comics artist Eduardo Risso with this glorious new hardcover art book full of sketches, covers, and never-before-seen artwork!
Created in partnership with Eduardo Risso, this must-have volume includes behind-the-scenes looks at many of Risso’s most iconic works from his time at DC and Vertigo, including Batman, Jonah Hex, Flashpoint, Before Watchmen, and 100 Bullets; Marvel favorites such as Spider-Man and Wolverine; Image Comics’ acclaimed noir-horror series Moonshine; Valiant’s Bloodshot; classic adventure icon Zorro and much more!
EVERYBODY KNOWS by Jordan Harper / Z-View
EVERYBODY KNOWS by Jordan Harper
First sentence…
Los Angeles burns.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Mae Pruett is a “black-bag” publicist working for Mitnick & Associates, the most powerful PR firm in LA. Her job is not to spread positive news about clients. It’s to make sure that harmful, incriminating items about clients don’t get out. Hollywood insiders call her PR firm “The Beast”. Everyone working there is good. Mae is one of the best.
Mae learned early on that it’s not that the truth is unimportant — it’s that the truth doesn’t matter.
Dan Hennigan, Mae’s mentor, gives Mae a cryptic message. Dan wants to meet with Mae away from the firm. Before they can meet Dan is gunned down in a failed car jacking.
Or so it seems.
Mae believes that Dan’s murder was anything but random. If Dan was killed for what he knew, those behind Dan’s murder might believe Dan passed the information on to Mae. Mae needs to know, so she begins an off-the-books investigation.
Chris Tamburro used to be Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputy. Chris lost his badge after a controversial shooting. Truth is, Chris and many on his squad could have been fired over other brutal and unethical activities. Chris now works for Black Guard, a security firm that has ties to “The Beast”. Chris is the perfect hire. He’s an ex-cop, unafraid to use his tactical training, knowledge of the law, and willingness to bust heads as needed.
When Black Guard sends Chris to investiage Dan Hennigan’s murder, he crosses paths with Mae. Chris and Mae had history, but it’s been a few years. As Mae and Chris follow leads, they discover they still have chemistry… and Dan’s murder wasn’t random.
Now Mae and Chris have a choice. Walk away and go back to their lives protecting wealthy executives, celebs, politicians and influencers who feel they are above the law. Or follow their leads and try to take down a powerful cabal behind human trrafficking, blackmail, murder and more.
Mae and Chris aren’t going to walk away.
+++
Jordan Harper has another winner. EVERYBODY KNOWS is fast paced and well written. Harper spins a tale that takes us behind the curtain and could have come from today’s headlines. EVERYBODY KNOWS gets my highest recommendation.
Rating:
“Massacre Mafia Style” (1974) written, directed and starring Duke Mitchell / Z-View
Massacre Mafia Style (1974)
Director: Duke Mitchell
Screenplay: Duke Mitchell
Stars: Duke Mitchell, Vic Caesar, Lorenzo Dodo, Peter Milo, Louis Zito, Cara Salerno, Jimmy Williams and George ‘Buck’ Flower.
Tagline: You’re IN… or… you’re IN THE WAY!
The Plot…
Mimi Miceli’s father known as The Padrone, was once a powerful and respected mafia crime boss. That was before The Padrone was tried, convicted and deported. Mimi tried to live a good life. But when Mimi’s wife unexpectantly dies something in him snaps.
Mimi decides to get back into “the life”. He heads to LA where he reconnects with his old time crime partner Jolly Rizzo. Together Mimi and Jolly plan a move to take over west coast organized crime. Step one: kidnap west coast Godfather Chucky Tripoli.
After that it’s top of the world, ma!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Duke Mitchell co-produced, wrote, directed and starred in Massacre Mafia Style. Before this, Mitchell was best known as the cartoon singing voice of Fred Flinstone or one half of the Mitchell / Petrillo nightclub act. Mitchell and Petrillo were a knockoff of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Mitchell sang and Petrillo acted goofy. Mitchell and Petrillo appeared with Bela Lugosi in the low-budget Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla.
Mitchell went on to have a solo nightclub career. Mitchell often crossed paths with many celebrities including Frank Sinatra. Mitchell would use money he saved from singing in an attempt to make low-budget movies. Most were never completed or released. Massacre Mafia Style was the exception.
Duke Mitchell died in 1981. In 2011, a work print of Mitchell’s next film Gone with the Pope, was discovered. It was restored and released on dvd by Grindhouse Releasing. Grindhouse Releasing was co-founded by Academy Award winner Bob Murawski and Sage Stallone (Sylvester Stallone’s son). Grindhouse Releasing also remastered and released Massacre Mafia Style in 2011.
Massacre Mafia Style was released under the following titles: The Executioner, Massacre Mafia Style and Like Father, Like Son. Mitchell preferred Massacre Mafia Style.
Frank Sinatra reportedly responded to Mitchell’s request to appear in his film by saying, “Duke, I love you, but I get real money to make real films.”
Massacre Mafia Style (1974) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Jack Carter and John Wick by Rich Hennemann!
Rich Hennemann is one of the first artists I look to commission each year at HeroesCon (and also a couple of times through the year). At HeroesCon 2026, I gave Rich a request of Jack Carter and one of three other characters. He would make his pick and surprise me at the show.
Rich chose to pair Carter with John Wick and I couldn’t be happier. If you’re a sketch collector, you owe it to youself to have a piece by Rich in your collection.
“Mobland” – The Season 2 Trailer is Here!
The Mobland Season 2 trailer has arrived. I loved season 1. Looking forward to season 2.
Deal me in.
The Harrigans, heads of North London’s largest criminal empire, are on the brink of civil war, and their rivals are starting to notice. As tensions within the Harrigan family intensify, their ‘fixer’ Harry Da Souza is the only one that can keep them from falling apart.
Luiz Tavares presents Sly Stallone as Cobra, The Long Arm of the Law!
Luiz Tavares presents Sly Stallone as Cobra, The Long Arm of the Law!
“I don’t deal with psychos. I put ’em away.” – Marion Cobretti
“The Hollow Point” (2016) starring Patrick Wilson, Ian McShane, Lynn Collins, Jim Belusia and John Leguizamo / Z-View
The Hollow Point (2016)
Director: Gonzalo López-Gallego
Screenplay: Nils Lyew
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Lynn Collins, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo and Jim Belushi.
Tagline: Good men can do bad things
The Plot…
Wallace returns to his hometown of Leland on the Mexico/Arizona border. Wallace comes back as the new Sheriff. Leland, the former Sheriff, was forced out of office after a routine stop ended in tragedy.
What Wallace doesn’t know, but will soon learn, is Atticus, one of the cartel’s deadliest hitmen is coming to town. Atticus has his machette and a list. Everyone on the list is marked for death.
As Wallace tries to figure out who was involved in the event that triggered the hitman’s arrival, Wallace learns his estranged girlfriend, Lynn’s name is on the list.
Leland, the former Sheriff who is old and drinks too much, offers help. But can Leland be trusted?
Atticus has his list. He’s killing people and checking off names. Soon Atticus will come to Lynn’s name.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
John Leguizamo is good as Atticus the relentless killer.
There’s a pretty shocking scene fairly early on. It was a pretty bold choice.
The Hollow Point (2016) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rope” Alt Poster by Sahin Düzgün!
Rope is perhaps Alfred Hitchcock’s most under-rated film. It’s one I love and enjoy revisiting. Sahin Düzgün has created a very cool alt poster tribute to the movie.
Here is what Sahin had to say about his design: A visual exploration of Hitchcock’s classic psychological thriller.
Brandon: Nobody commits a murder just for the experiment of committing it. Nobody except us.
“Trap House” starring Dave Bautista, Jack Champion, Sophia Lillis, Whitney Peak, Kate del Castillo and Bobby Cannavale / Z-View
Trap House (2025)
Director: Michael Dowse
Screenplay: Gary Scott Thompson, Tom O’Connor; story by Gary Scott Thompson.
Stars: Dave Bautista, Jack Champion, Sophia Lillis, Tony Dalton, Whitney Peak, Inde Navarrette, Zaire Adams, Kate del Castillo and Bobby Cannavale.
Tagline: This isn’t a raid, it’s a reckoning.
The Plot…
Ray Seale is a DEA Agent. On one of his drug house raids, they encountered heavy resistance. One of his agents was killed. Ray’s son, Cody, attended high school with the killed agent’s son. Cody was upset that his friend’s family would now face financial hardship and the DEA wasn’t doing anything to help.
When Ray takes Cody to an active crime scene, Cody gets an idea. He and his high school friends will use DEA info and equipment to rip off cartel drug houses. They will give the drug money they steal to his friend’s family.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I like Dave Bautista and Bobby Cannavale. Bautista and director, Michael Douse worked together on Stuber, which I rated 3 of 5 stars. Unfortunately Trap House fell short. I tapped out early on.
Bautista takes his son to an active crime scene and let’s him walk around? The high school kids are smarter than the DEA agents? They are easily able to get DEA equipment? Without any experience they are able to take down cartel houses? Yeah, no.
As always, your mileage may differ.
Trap House (2025) rates 1 of 5 stars.
Sly Stallone is “Cobra” by Mark Stegbauer!
At HeroesCon 2026, I commissioned Mark Stegbauer for two sketch cards: Sly Stallone as Marion Cobretti from Cobra and Stallone as Stanley Kowalski from Lords of Flatbush. You probably think that you’re looking at the Cobra commission.
If so, you’re wrong!
When I went to Mark’s table, he presented me with my two sketch card commissions. Mark then gifted me with the much bigger Cobra drawing above! What an amazing piece of art! When I offered to buy it, Mark said you don’t pay for gifts. He also refused when I tried to tip him. Mark was adamant that he enjoyed doing the drawing and it was a gift.
Since Mark often does drawings and donates a good portion of his commissions to charity, I said I wanted to give him money to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association. Mark agreed to that.
Click on the art above to see a “long arm of the law-sized” version.
I will post the two sketch card commissions Mark did for me in the near future.
In August Mark will once again be doing an Action Against Alzheimer’s art campaign. It’s a great way to pick up cool art and at the same time help a wonderful cause.
