Robin Marx's Writing Repository

This review originally appeared on Goodreads on July 27, 2020.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Minicomic Collection Volume 2

By Various – Dark Horse Books – November 3, 2015

Review by Robin Marx

Like the first volume, this collection delivers a fun look at the mini comics included with the Masters of the Universe toy line. In addition to the later He-Man mini comics not included in the first volume, this book contains the She-Ra: Princess of Power mini comics, the few that were produced for the more space opera-oriented New Adventures line, and some fun fan service-filled comics that were created for the recent Masters of the Universe Classics toy line for adult collectors.

While the volume itself is assembled with every bit as much care and attention to detail as the first, it suffers a bit in that the stories included aren’t quite as entertaining as those contained in Volume One. While the entire line was conceived as a marketing instrument to promote toy sales, the earlier comics had more of a “wild and wooly” feel. As the comic line progressed, the formula became a bit more repetitive and the commercial aspect slightly more obvious. This book is still a fun read and a worthwhile companion to the first, but I missed the weirdness and mystery of the first comics, where the setting of Eternia was less developed.

★★★☆☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #ComicReview #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #DarkHorse #HeMan #MastersOfTheUniverse #MOTU

This review originally appeared on Goodreads on July 3, 2020.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Minicomic Collection Volume 1

By Various – Dark Horse Books – November 3, 2015

Review by Robin Marx

The Masters of the Universe toy line was an imaginative mix of fantasy and science fiction, with wildly unique character designs. While the premise has a clear delineation between good and evil (“these guys fight those guys”), it was thought that kids could benefit from a bit more backstory. Knowing more about the characters and the setting they lived in would provide inspiration for children to come up with their own stories, and thus the bonus pack-in mini comics were born.

While the comics were quickly produced and tended to have simplistic, linear plots much like the subsequent Filmation cartoon, they have their own charm. Many of the people that worked on the mini comics were either established pros doing some quick work on the side for extra money, or newcomers who later went on to greater success and fame. It was also interesting to see how the Masters of the Universe setting developed over time. Backstories change, characters are given different roles, etc.

First of a two-volume series, this book was clearly assembled with care. The artwork is presented in a larger format than originally used, allowing the readers to see both fine details and artistic goofs. Footnotes are sprinkled throughout the book, drawing attention to trivia, errors, first appearances, and other interesting aspects of the comics. There are also a number of interviews with members of the shifting teams behind their creation.

All in all, this is a fun look at a part of many kids’ childhoods. The comics were marketing instruments thrown together in haste, but the characters and stories are enjoyable and nostalgia-filled. It’s also an interesting look at the early work of a number of comic creators who would go on to bigger and better things.

★★★★☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #ComicReview #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #DarkHorse #HeMan #MastersOfTheUniverse #MOTU

This review originally appeared on Goodreads on September 5, 2019.

The Ballad of Black Tom

By Victor LaValle – Tordotcom – February 16, 2016

Review by Robin Marx

This novella is a companion piece to H. P. Lovecraft's “The Horror at Red Hook.” While the original story focused on a New York detective named Malone and his investigation of the rich, aging occultist Robert Suydam, this book introduces a new character named Charles Thomas Tester to the mix. “The Horror at Red Hook” is one of the more racist Lovecraft stories—full of “swarthy” types of various ethnicities up to no good—and Victor LaValle counters this by centering the African American perspective. The result is sort of an inversion of the original tale, elevating racism as one of the multiple horrors in the story and turning the original protagonist into one of the villains.

The writing was generally fine, but the story was a bit sleight. “The Horror at Red Hook” isn't particularly interesting as Lovecraftian source material, so it's a little baffling why it was chosen as a story. The above-average racism is basically the only element recommending it for use in a progressive reaction to Lovecraft. And while Cthulhu doesn't play a role in “The Horror at Red Hook,” he's been shoe-horned in here. His inclusion seems more like fan-service, or something especially blatant to clue in those unfamiliar with Lovecraft's work of the connection. It just seemed a little extraneous to me.

“The Ballad of Black Tom” interweaves interestingly with “The Horror at Red Hook,” providing a more intimate view of events elided in the original story, but it's also lacks subtlety in places. The racist abuse faced by Charles Tester is horrific, but it also felt that the story lacked the page count to handle his descent into villainy in a realistic manner. I see it singled out for praise in other reviews, but the “Every time I was around them, they acted like I was a monster. So I said goddamnit, I’ll be the worst monster you ever saw!” line is so cheesy and on-the-nose.

Overall I liked this story and thought the confrontation of racism in Lovecraft's work was interesting, but I can't help feel there was a missed opportunity. By all means, confront retrograde elements in Lovecraft's work, but “The Horror at Red Hook” is one of the lesser works in the canon. Deconstructions tend to work best when they target a great piece of art, not one that even die-hard Lovecraft fans are lukewarm on.

★★★☆☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #BookReview #Horror #CosmicHorror #TheBalladOfBlackTom #VictorLaValle #HPLovecraft #CthulhuMythos

This review originally appeared on Goodreads on September 6, 2021.

Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction

By Grady Hendrix – Quirk Books – September 19, 2017

Review by Robin Marx

This is a brisk, thoroughly entertaining look at the heyday of straight-to-paperback horror fiction. Grady Hendrix is often snarky about the books and the over-the-top excesses of their plots, but his affection and enthusiasm for the subject material comes across loud and clear. This book also deserves praise for the attention devoted to lurid cover artwork and skilled artists that played such a critical role in moving these books off the shelves. This book is an easy recommendation for any horror fan. It will make you want to scour your local used bookstore.

★★★★☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #BookReview #Horror #PaperbacksFromHell #GradyHendrix

This review originally appeared on Goodreads on November 6, 2021.

The Only Good Indians: A Novel

By Stephen Graham Jones – S&S/Saga Press – July 14, 2020

Review by Robin Marx

Brisk and thoroughly entertaining, this horror novel centers on four Native American men stalked by a vengeful spirit ten years after shooting a pregnant elk.

The pace and narrative are both extremely engaging, but the highlight for me was the characterization. The characters grapple with their ethnic identity, poverty, lifestyle choices, and feelings of obligation to and entrapment by the reservation from which they all originate. Their view of the world vividly comes across through the prose and choice in metaphors.

The only real issue I had was close to the end of the book, where an incredibly tense and bloody sequence is followed by…an extended one-on-one basketball tournament. While I understand what the author was trying to do, it wasn’t very interesting for this non-sports fan and killed much of the momentum built up during the preceding chapter. The book still has a satisfying conclusion, but the basketball stuff felt tedious and extraneous.

Overall, this book was exceptionally well done and I look forward to reading more by the author.

★★★★☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #BookReview #Horror #TheOnlyGoodIndians #StephenGrahamJones

This review originally appeared on Goodreads on April 17, 2021.

The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet

By Jeremy R. Moss – Captain's Row Books – September 15, 2020

Review by Robin Marx

“Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” (H. L. Mencken)

This biography tells the tale of one such normal man, an English plantation owner from Barbados who decides to buy a small ship, outfit it with cannons, and take to a life of piracy. The reasons for the change in vocation are absent from the historical record and unclear. The author suggests sympathies with the Jacobite rebellion or an unsatisfying home life; he leaves his wife and small children and never returns.

While it gets off to an intriguing start and the book seems effectively researched, throughout it I couldn't shake the feeling that Stede Bonnet was not a very apt selection for full length biographical treatment.

He didn't seem like a very successful pirate, for one. Because he lacked any experience with shipboard command he quickly gets critically injured in an ill-considered battle with a Spanish Man-of-war. Perhaps recognizing that Bonnet has no idea what he's doing, famed pirate Edward “Blackbeard” Thatch quickly usurps command of his ship, relegating Bonnet to a passenger on his own vessel. Bonnet remains in this situation for roughly half the book, lacking any apparent agency. He is quite literally “along for the ride.”

After he parts ways with Thatch, Bonnet does manage to take some ships and engage in some plunder, but his exploits didn't seem particularly noteworthy compared to the other pirates mentioned in passing. He is a “Gentleman Pirate” because of his breeding, not due to any particular gallantry on the high seas. He doesn't seem to have been a particularly violent pirate, but then again most historical pirates weren't as bloodthirsty as literature and Hollywood would suggest.

Towards the end of his piratical career, Bonnet halfheartedly angles for a royal pardon but continues to board and steal from passing ships. Inevitably he gets captured and put on trial, and without spoiling things too much, he does not comport himself in a particularly manly or defiant way.

I have no complaint about the book's writing, just the choice in subject. Apart from the inciting mystery (i.e., what made this man drop everything to become a pirate?), he doesn't seem to have done enough to justify a whole book written about him. There doesn't seem to be enough historical documentation to make him anything more than a cipher. It seems like he was in over his head throughout his piratical career, but without diaries or other records of his thoughts and motivations it's difficult to come away from this book with any kind of moral or other instructive lesson.

This book is brief and competently written, but I wish I had spent my time reading about a more interesting and fully documented pirate.

★★☆☆☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #BookReview #Nonfiction #History #JeremyRMoss #TheLifeAndTryalsOfTheGentlemanPirateMajorStedeBonnet

This review originally appeared on Goodreads on October 22, 2012.

Thieves' World: First Blood

Edited by Robert Lynn Asprin and Lynn Abbey (Editor) – Tor Books – December 1, 2003

Review by Robin Marx

The volume collects the first two Thieves' World anthologies, Thieves' World and Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn. While it was great finally having a chance to read these (previously long out of print) stories, I don't think many of them lived up to the great premise.

The Thieves' World I expected was quite similar to what was described in the Making of Thieves' World essay included in the book: a massive slum various sword & sorcery heroes call home, their adventures tangentially intersecting and their paths crossing. While there are some stories that deliver—those stories tend to be the highlights—there are surprisingly few actual thief protagonists, and far too much high fantasy mucking about with competing gods. Fritz Leiber is cited as an influence, but Thieves' World's city of Sanctuary is nowhere near as lush, decadent, and dangerous as Lankhmar, and few of the adventures found here have the same kind of personal stakes and gritty, street-level action of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser tales. The Making of Thieves describes a teeming hive of corruption that could play home to Conan, Elric, Karl Edward Wagner's Kane, etc., but then it has too many stories about humans acting directly as pawns for interventionist, physically manifested gods. This felt like a bait and switch to me. For something called “Thieves' World” there were surprisingly few heists; perhaps “Prophet's World” would have been a more appropriate title.

Perhaps it can be said that Thieves' World shows the fantasy genre in transition. It was released in 1979, when pure sword & sorcery was on the decline and Tolkien-inspired high fantasy (as embodied by Terry Brooks's The Sword of Shannara, released in 1977) was becoming increasingly commercially successful. I suspect that's the reason for the tension between the few gritty street-level tales and the more high flying epic stories. This is interesting from a genre history perspective, but not really what I was looking for. I don't think I'll go out of my way to seek out the sequel anthologies, as it appears that the competing pantheon aspect of the stories only grows more prevalent.

As a final note, the Kindle edition of this book is probably the most poorly formatted commercial e-book I've seen to date. There are numerous cases of OCR errors (spelling errors are particularly obnoxious in jargon-prone fantasy), several instances of strangely hyphenated words, and even a few snippets of missing text. While I didn't factor this into my rating, I expect better from a major publisher like Macmillan/TOR.

★★☆☆☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #BookReview #SwordAndSorcery #Fantasy #RobertLynnAsprin #LynnAbbey #ThievesWorld

This review originally appeared on Goodreads on August 25, 2016.

Gloriana

By Michael Moorcock – Allison & Busby – April 1, 1978

Review by Robin Marx

This is an incredibly lush story about an idealized England. Albion has emerged from tyranny and into a Golden Age, brought about by its perfect queen, the titular Gloriana. As with most empires, there's corruption behind the scenes, however: the queen's advisor, Montfalcon, breaks quite a few eggs making the omelets necessary to keep Albion running while protecting her from his scheming. A careless mistake leads to hurt feelings and a growing sense of enmity that threatens to topple the whole kingdom.

The novel is tightly-plotted and evocative. Everything ties together and the twists and turns keep the reader guessing until the satisfying end. Even more than the plot, the richly described world is the main draw for this book, however. Moorcock crafts a world that I enjoyed visiting immensely. And although there are a few allusions to his Eternal Champion series, this novel stands alone, serving as an approachable introduction to his work. Highly recommended.

★★★★☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #BookReview #Fantasy #MichaelMoorcock #Gloriana

This review originally appeared at Grimdark Magazine on December 13, 2024.

Conan the Barbarian: Battle of the Black Stone #3

By Jim Zub (Writer) and Jonas Scharf (Artist) – Titan Comics – November 6, 2024

Review by Robin Marx

Conan the Barbarian: Battle of the Black Stone #3 begins with the Heroes of Man reeling from the loss of two of their own. The giant, many-armed creature now known as the Beast of the Black Stone has demonstrated that it’s capable of pursuing and killing its victims across time and space, and that there is no safe refuge for Conan and the other gathered champions.

The Pictish scout Brissa guides them through the wilderness using a fragment of the Black Stone that harbors a remnant of the immolated Texan author James Allison’s soul. Thrown together by circumstance, the six survivors react differently to their task and their companions. Conan and Brissa relish their unexpected reunion. Dour Puritan adventurer Solomon Kane and hot-tempered swordswoman Dark Agnes de Chastillon—both displaced from the 16th century—are skeptical of their companions but face the struggle against the Beast with grim resolve. Conrad and Kirowan remain fascinated by the occult implications of their plight. A disastrous encounter with another shard of the Black Stone leads to an unplanned confrontation with the Beast, however.

From a narrative and characterization standpoint, Conan the Barbarian: Battle of the Black Stone #3 is a mixed bag. The interactions and dialogue between Conan and Brissa are well done. Years have passed since Brissa’s presumed death at the climax of Conan the Barbarian #4 (with her supernatural escape revealed in The Savage Sword of Conan #4); the two were intimate when they traveled together, but Conan is older now, battle-scarred and experienced. This story takes place after Conan has loved and lost his pirate queen Bêlit, perhaps the most impactful relationship in his life, but thrown together with Brissa again he rediscovers his attraction for the Pict. While apparently little time has passed for Brissa, for her part she finds the more mature Conan to still be “burning bright,” subtly echoing Atali’s appraisal of the barbarian’s vitality in the Frozen Faith story arc (Conan the Barbarian #16). Their scene together is a nice bit of character work in a largely rushed-feeling miniseries.

Unfortunately, the other characters in the story continue to be mishandled or neglected. While the bonding scene between Solomon Kane and Dark Agnes is entertaining, both characters’ subsequent individual portrayals either feel inauthentic or fail to communicate their appeal as original author Robert E. Howard created them. Last issue Solomon Kane attacked Conan without any real justification (apart from to provide an eye-catching cover illustration), and this issue he randomly and inexplicably accuses Brissa of responsibility for a companion’s death. Dark Agnes fares even more poorly. After being mostly sidelined for two issues she finally gets some screentime, only to make a bizarrely rash decision that has catastrophic consequences for her and her companions.

Jim Zub began the Battle of the Black Stone miniseries with eight characters and issue #3 concludes with—to the best of the reader’s knowledge—three surviving heroes. The intent seems to be to create a high-stakes atmosphere where any character can die, but so little time has been spent with the non-Conan characters that their deaths fail to have much narrative impact. Even worse, those who are killed have, thus far, not experienced the most dignified or heroic deaths. Multiple characters have been isolated in time and space from their companions and slaughtered by the Beast, and one of the miniseries’ two heroines loses her life in a situation that feels less like a desperate last stand than it does a pointless, ill-considered and avoidable fight. Put bluntly, watching classic Howard characters go out like punks hasn’t been a great time. From the beginning, this miniseries felt like a blatantly commercial attempt to launch a Robert E. Howard comic universe for Titan Comics (a solo Solomon Kane miniseries has been announced), so the likelihood of these characters’ deaths being hastily reversed in the final issue means their demises have even less weight than an X-Men hero dying in a Marvel title.

Throughout Conan the Barbarian: Battle of the Black Stone #3, the spirit of James Allison mutters portentously about “heroes and fools,” but it feels like there are more fools than heroes in this issue. There’s still time for the final issue to stick the landing, but my optimism is waning.

#ReviewArchive #ComicReview #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #JimZub #JonasScharf #TitanComics #ConanTheBarbarian #BattleOfTheBlackStone #GrimdarkMagazine #GdM

This review originally appeared at Grimdark Magazine on December 4, 2024.

The Savage Sword of Conan #5

By Jason Aaron (Writer), Geof Isherwood (Artist), Jim Zub (Writer), Roberto De La Torre (Artist), Michael Kogge (Writer), and Dan Parsons (Artist) – Titan Comics – October 30, 2024

Review by Robin Marx

While previous issues have included at least one entry spotlighting a different Robert E. Howard character, the fifth issue of Titan Comics’ bimonthly magazine The Savage Sword of Conan delivers three stories exclusively focusing on Conan at different stages in his life.

The issue opens with “The Ensorcelled” by Jason Aaron, with art by Geof Isherwood. Bearded King Conan is visiting the chaotic Brythunian borderlands, trying to help the local royalty secure their demesnes, lest their upheaval affect Conan’s neighboring kingdom of Aquilonia. While hunting with the foppish King Fabiano Conan encounters the infamous Witch of Graaskal, blamed for a host of misdeeds including child-murder. While Conan witnesses her powerful sorcery firsthand, he soon grows skeptical of the litany of crimes of which the witch is accused. King Conan intervenes on the witch’s behalf, even though it brings him into conflict with King Fabiano. “The Ensorcelled” features some interesting twists along the way, and Isherwood’s detailed artwork is pleasantly reminiscent of the classic Hal Foster Prince Valiant comics. Frustratingly, however, “The Ensorcelled” is just the first half of a two-part story. At 53 pages in length, “The Ensorcelled” dominates this issue’s 64-page page count, yet readers are still expected to wait two months for a resolution. This reviewer believes strongly that serialized stories are best left to the primary Conan the Barbarian title; The Savage Sword of Conan is at its best when it delivers standalone narratives that can be enjoyed fully by occasional readers of the magazine.

Next is a two-page vignette entitled “Damn Thing in the Water,” by Jim Zub and illustrated by Roberto De La Torre. Conan is set upon by a tentacled beast when stopping for a drink at a watering hole. While De La Torre’s John Buscema-inspired artwork always pleases, the story feels like an abbreviated retelling of Alan Quah’s “Lure of the Pit Creature” from The Savage Sword of Conan issue #3. Overly familiar seeming, perhaps the space for this micro-story could have been better occupied by a Jeffrey Shanks essay or additional full-page pin-up illustrations.

The final story is “Forged,” by Michael Kogge and Dan Parsons. Where “The Ensorcelled” depicts an older Conan, “Forged” presents Conan as a child, apprenticed to his blacksmith father in their Cimmerian village. The story shows young Conan chafing under his father’s strict guidance, but treachery by visiting Zingaran entertainers gives Conan an opportunity to prove himself. My complaint with this story is identical to my criticism of Conan the Barbarian #16: young Conan tales are profoundly uninteresting compared to those featuring the fully-fledged barbarian. Seeing Conan as a boy learning harsh life lessons does not enhance the character’s mystique. Much like a meal, Conan is better with some seasoning. Artist Dan Parsons is also capable of better artwork than what he turned in for this story.

The standard cover for this issue features amazing new Joe Jusko artwork of Conan and a panicked companion struggling to avoid being devoured by a “dragon” (likely some type of dinosaur, in classic Sword & Sorcery tradition). It was disappointing that no such scene appears within this issue. Way back in the first issue, Jim Zub’s editorial gave the impression that the creative team would endeavor to ensure that the cover artwork would reflect the contents of the magazine, and it’s unfortunate that, just five issues in, that loose assurance to the reader no longer holds. (In the interest of fairness, the alternate cover by Alex Horley DOES depict a scene from the opening of “The Ensorcelled.”)

While it’s nice to see a return to original, non-event stories after the Battle of the Black Stone prelude issue, The Savage Sword of Conan #5 doesn’t quite match the standard set by the series’ first three issues. Less devoted Conan fans might be better off waiting to see the reception to issue #6 and the conclusion of “The Ensorcelled” before going out of their way to pick up this issue.

#ReviewArchive #ComicReview #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #JasonAaron #GeofIsherwood #JimZub #RobertoDeLaTorre #MichaelKogge #DanParsons #TitanComics #ConanTheBarbarian #TheSavageSwordOfConan #GrimdarkMagazine #GdM