Category: Crime

Beat the Reaper

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The Pitch: Beat the Reaper is like The Sopranos meets ER as written by Charlie Huston and Duane Swierczynski

The Overview: Peter Brown, a mafia hitman,  now in the witness protection program finds his cover as an emergency room physician blown when he is recognized by one of his own associates.  With hitmen in the hospital, Brown will have to use his new skills as a doctor coupled with his hitman abilities if he is to survive.

The Good: Josh Baszell’s writing presents a unique spin on a mafia hitman.  Nothing is as it seems.  Footnotes.  Yes, footnotes.  This book moves.  The characters.

The Bad: Being dumped in a shark tank.  Stuck with a hypo full of **** and another full of infected fluids.  Thrown out of a 6th story window.

The Ugly: What Brown has to do to survive.

The Summary: I loved Beat the Reaper.  I can’t remember the last time I read a book by a first time author that I enjoyed so much.  Bazell has created a winner and I can’t wait for his follow-up.

The Last Days of American Crime

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It was nearly six years ago when I first posted about, the very talented writer and artist, Rick Remender.  It’s funny to note, that even in that very first piece, I was excited to hear about Rick’s proposal for “The Last Days of American Crime.” As the years have rolled by Rick has gone on to write, draw and create some really cool comics [Fear Agent, XXXombies, etc.], but it has always been “The Last Days of American Crime” that I’ve wanted to see.

The great news is the wait is almost over. “The Last Days of American Crime” will debut later this year in a three issue [48 pages each] mini-series with art by Greg Tocchini.

Jim Ivey Says, “Slap ‘Em!”

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Although I try to limit political discussion [this blog is supposed to be about fun stuff], I do love talking art [comics, movie posters, paperback covers, etc.].  President Obama had a series of political posters which made such an impact with their design that the style is being copied everywhere.

I decided that it would be cool to create a “Obamicon” using a vintage photo and favorite saying of my buddy Jim Ivey.

Crime Comics Lookin’ Good

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It’s no secret that I love crime novels, movies and comics. Since 100 Bullets [the partial cover to number 99 is pictured above] is getting ready to end it’s 100 issue run, I was glad to read that DC’s Vertigo line is gearing up to produce a series of crime comics.  You can read all about their upcoming titles by clicking here.  Filthy Rich, by Brian Azzarello and Victor Santos sounds the most promising to me.  I like Azzarello’s writing and after checking out Santo’s blog really dig his art.

Things are looking up for crime comic fans.

Sign Me Up for The Eternal Prison

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Jeff Somers jumped to the top of my MUST READ AUTHORS list with his first Avery Cates novel, The Electric Church.  His second in the series, The Digital Plague was even better.  So you can imagine how much I’m looking forward to his third Avery Cates novel, The Eternal Prison.  Here’s what we have to look forward to:

Avery Cates is a wanted man. After surviving the worst bioengineered disaster in history, Cates finds himself incarcerated – in Chengara Penitentiary. As Chengara has a survival rate of exactly zero, the system’s most famous gunner must do some serious plotting. And a betrayal or so later, he achieves his goal. At a price.

All he has to do now is defeat some new personal demons, forge some unlikely alliances, and figure out why the people he’s killed lately just won’t stay dead.

Since The Eternal Prison won’t be out until this August, if you haven’t read the first two books now is the time to get on it.  If you’ve already read them,  you’ll have to be satisfied with hanging out at Jeff’s Blog or the official site for The Eternal Prison.

Bob May: RIP

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Bob May passed away today.  Many, if not most of you probably don’t recognize the name or face.  I know I didn’t right away.  The reason that I’m noting his passing is because he played an important role in one of my favorite TV shows when I was a kid.  Bob May was the man in the robot suit on “Lost in Space.” Although it was Dick Tufeld who provided the robot’s voice, it was Bob May that made the robot move.  Together they created one of the most memorable tv characters of all time.

Bob May didn’t have a huge list of credits on the Internet Movie Database.  He wasn’t a household or name or have an instantly recognizable face, but he did play a part on one of my favorite shows as a kid and I didn’t want to let his passing go without mention.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

Viking Crime Story?

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I love crime stories.  Movies, comics, novels, it doesn’t matter if it’s well done.  I’ve read modern crime stories, futuristic crime stories, but I’ve never read a viking crime story.  That’s about to change in April.  Check out what writer Ivan Brandon had to say about his project:

“VIKING is everything I love about crime fiction filtered through one of the most violent and fascinating periods of human history.  It’s been in the works for so long at this point that I’m overwhelmed to finally get to show it to people. The overwhelmingly positive response to the teaser alone has Nic and I humbled.”

Mills Premieres Cooke’s Hunter

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Chris Mills made my day when he posted the cover above to Darwyn Cooke’s adaptation of Richard Stark’s novel The Hunter.  If anyone is more excited about Cooke’s plans to adapt Stark’s work than me, it’s probably Chris Mills.  He is not only an author himself, but also an expert in the crime genre… and do I have to remind any ZONErs how much I dig Chris’ character Gravedigger?