Blogcritics Category: Books: Action and Adventure

Book Review: Seagalogy by Vern

Aaron Fleming — Sat, 5 Jul 2008 20:14:58 EDT

A glorification of low culture and a mighty political gesture all in one.
Looking back at a distant youth, my mind strains to remember its first encounter with Steven Seagal. Was it the patchwork of naval fisticuffs known as Under Siege? Perhaps. The pugilistic tremble of Nico/Above the Law? Maybe. The virgin trip to a place called Out in Out for Justice? Again, it’s possible. Actually, although I’m hindered...

Graphic Novel Review: Criminal: Coward by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips

Mel Odom — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 10:49:45 EDT

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips carve a dark, ugly road of betrayal and greed in this landmark crime series.
Ed Brubaker is an award-winning comic scripter who has written about superheroes and superheroines. However, the man has a heart carved from the deepest, darkest noir. His criminals and anti-heroes sing with muscle, malice, and desperation, lifting from the pages to hold readers hostage to their own need to know what's going to happen next.My...

Book Review: Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Mel Odom — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 09:00:24 EDT

Part wizard and part private eye, this animated skeleton has a bone to pick with evil-doers.
Another fantasy series geared for the 9-12 crowd (and suitable for adults!) arrived on the shelves last year. I bought Skulduggery Pleasant last year and misplaced it in the jumble of books I constantly cycle through. It wasn’t until I saw (and purchased) the second novel, Playing With Fire, that I remembered the first book in the...

Comic Book Review: DC Comics' 52, Week 50

Vichus Smith — Tue, 1 Jul 2008 12:12:11 EDT

52, a weekly DC Comics series. This week, starring Black Adam, and many other DC Universe characters.
War has never looked so astounding. In a series that has had some cool covers, this is yet another cover I adore completely. The cover has Black Adam standing at the top of rubble with his back to the reader. He is facing a golden collage of everyone who has been involved in 52 so far. Black Adam is in a “come and get it pose” while his...

Interview with Thomas Phillips, author of The Molech Prophecy

Mayra Calvani — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:07:15 EDT

Fans of mystery, suspense and thrillers will enjoy The Molech Prophecy.
Thomas Phillips is the author of The Molech Prophecy, a novel that blends elements of mystery, suspense and religion. In this interview, Phillips talks about this his latest novel, his unexpected success, and the craft of writing, among other things. His story is intriguing -- though he had published five mystery novels in the past, it was not...

Manga Review: Vassalord Vol. 1 by Nanae Chrono

Katie McNeill — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:44:33 EDT

One of the better drawn first volumes that I�ve seen recently
I've just finished the first volume of Nanae Chrono's new series Vassalord. Nanae is better known for his manga series Peace Maker which was turned into an anime that I just loved. I'm sure that Vassalord is headed in that direction as well. Charley is a cyborg vampire, working for the Vatican. Johnny Rayflo is his vampire master and local playboy....

Book Review: The Last Oracle by James Rollins

Mel Odom — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:24:40 EDT

Sigma Force, that secret branch of scientific commandos, tracks down the secrets of the Oracle of Delphi.
The first James Rollins book I ever read was Subterranean. It was a "lost world" adventure, about an underground world that spawned the marsupial creatures that inhabit Australia. The book was a blistering good read and I read it -- held completely in thrall -- in a single sitting. Not many 400-page novels can do that to me these days.Rollins is...

Manga Review: Hellgate: London Vol. 1, Story by Arvid Nelson and Art by J.M.

Katie McNeill — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:01:15 EDT

A prequel to the hit video game.
Hellgate: London is the prequel to the video game of the same name, an RPG in which London is taken over by hordes of demons and humanity must fight for survival. If you play video games on a regular basis, or even just hang around with someone who does, Hellgate might be something you are familiar with. There have been books written in that...

Book Review: The Last Oracle by James Rollins

Megalith — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:12:44 EDT

Rollins' book is one of the top thrillers of the year.
James Rollins has produced one of his most exciting and entertaining thrillers with The Last Oracle. The story revolves around a Russian plot to use the descendants of the Oracle of Delphi in a sinister plot to bring the world to its collective knees. The usual cast of Sigma Force players are present and used to good effect in this gripping...

Beyond Bounds: Paranormal and Fantasy Favorites

Katie McNeill — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:49:18 EDT

Robin McKinley, Patricia A. McKillip, Diana Wynne Jones, Stephenie Meyer, Holly Black and Charlaine Harris
What is it about a favorite book that is so comforting? When I’ve had a bad day or just can’t decide what I want to read next I always turn to the same handful of old favorites- books that over the years have become friends, the covers warn and pages bent but still loved beyond all others. Here are some of mine. What are yours? ...