The Golden Age Spectre Archives, Vol. 1 by Jerry Siegel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Spectre has always been a favorite of mine. Specifically the mid-1970s comic stories written by Michael Fleischer and drawn by Jim Aparo. So, I thought I’d dash through this collections of the very first Spectre stories.

The forward well details the start of the series and the oddities of the character. All to point out, something forgotten in today’s comics, that this is all in fun. It’s silly science fiction.

The 13 tales are all good guy versus bad guy. With the bad guy able to do whatever the imagination of the writer concocts. All simple stories with outrageous ghostly marauding revenge to those who lurk in evil. All fun. These are really all comics should ever be.

The artwork is primitive to what was later seen in the late ’60s through the early ’80s. The effort to good storytelling is obvious and done as new ground is broken in comics artistry.

Note: I’m adding books of comics to my reading lot trying to keep my head in my work as a storytelling illustrator.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of ten points.



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A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Hill is building upon his effort to make more and more convoluted stories. Though, well written, this mystery could have trimmed 50 pages and been a tighter and stronger mystery. The fun is Dalziel.

The heavy handed politics in his books increases here. That would be fine if Hill included objectivity, but it’s more a matter of pounding views and any other side is not to be considered.

He does treat his stories differently from his politics. There is a tremendous amount happening with scores of people involved and way too much background of all. Hill shuffles all of this over and over again. Much like a shell game. This helps in making very difficult figuring out the ending.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 6 out of ten points.



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An April Shroud by Reginald Hill

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


An odd trail for the author to take one his main characters, Dalziel. Author Hill does it only partly successfully. but compromises a lot of the character to do it.

Sadly the plot is pretty flimsy. The typical murder a Hill reader might expect is not clear until deep into the book. At that point it was obvious to me what was going on, but Hill strung it out to the a rather ridiculous ending that really didn’t make sense.

Hill had the entire structure of a very interesting story of a family. He should have set aside his policemen and just focused on the family and fleshed out the underlining family tale. There are so many characters into that part of the story, Hill could have developed another series.

To me, the marriage of the family story and the policemen doesn’t work well.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book: 5 out of 5 points.



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Preacher’s Fortune by William W. Johnstone

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book falls into the top 20 best Johntone Clan books. This is a great adventure with the usual excellent Johnstone characters. Even better than usual. A rather complicated plot, dialogue, setting are all very well thought out.

This tale has been told in other Johnstone Clan books. This is the best. The layering of sets of characters and getting them together, apart and together and apart and then adding in more is extremely hard to pull off successfully. especially of such well defined characters. Excellent work by the Ghost Writers.

Bottom ;line: i recommend this book. ten out of ten points.





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Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars by Robert V. Remini

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is an excellent chronicle of Jackson and his obsessive efforts to rid lands of the U.S. of indians. The book would’ve been even better if author Remini wasn’t being P.C. and acting as apologist to the sensitive readers far too often throughout the book. So, again, comes the trouble of recent books as authors weaken the writing with apologies. Of all books histories should have no apologies from the writer. History is history.

The bulk of the book is very well constructed with dates that are often left out of most histories, so the reader can know when they are in the book. The histories of the various packs of indians and soldier encounters are detailed well with motivations and results. Added are adjacent happenings in the U.s. and abroad providing a very well rounded view of the history included. This, in my opinion, is best parts of teh book: Remini’s expertise shining through as he gives various perspectives though out the book.

The last few chapters were not as keenly written as the early bulk of the book. The book wraps quickly with questions left unanswered and truncated resolutions to issues.

Bottom line: I recommend the book. 8 out of 10 points.



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As I continue to insert cartooning into my reading material. I thought it would be easy to do this, but it is tough. I have a history of Andy Jackson and indians book I’m reading and want to keep reading. It’s tough enough to add fiction. Cartoon fiction is even tougher. But I really need to take in more cartooning collections.

Shazam!: The Greatest Stories Ever Told VOL 01 by Bill Parker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A mostly great collection of the comic book stories of Captain Marvel. This collection begins with the earliest story by C.C. Beck in 1940 to 1998. This also chronicles the deterioration of the comic book industry. The stories start off as light good guy vs. bad guy and transform into a muddled soap opera. I cared about the earlier stories and couldn’t care less about the later, despite all of the bleeding heart mess.

So, I would not define these as “the Greatest Stories” or even the “Greatest” mediocre ones. The first half of the stories fit the title.

The incredible work of C.C. Beck is the best reason to pick up this volume. He had so much fun with his stories. From crazy creatures of the past to talking worms and tigers. Today there is some weird idea that all of this must be explained, as if explanations make any of it more real. It’s just fun and fun is hard to find these days.

Bottom line: i half recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.



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More entertaining today! Today in the community of Lakeville, north of Orlando and south of Apopka.Celebrating an 80th birthday!

Entertaining for a wedding rehearsal in Tampa.Still not feeling my best, but my creative side was working really well.I admit to really liking how a lot of these turned out.

Preacher’s Quest by William W. Johnstone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another tale of Preacher leading a group of Easterners west. This one much better plotted than most. There are all sorts of incidents that get in the way of the path Preacher is taking throughout the book and many well written exciting encounters. Otherwise, the dialogue is standard. As usual the characters are the greatest strength in the book. The settings are lightly covered and atmosphere well done.

Bottom line: i recommend this book: 7 out of ten points.



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Another wedding had me out performing in north St Johns County, south of Jacksonville tonight.

A History of Fort Jefferson by U.S. National Park Service

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A short bit that crams a lot into too few pages. The history is well laid out from construction to the point of publication. The information is direct and specific.

I like this booklet. Most short booklets created in the past 30 years are leaden with graphics with the writing lost. However, the National Park Service has been specifically good at producing materials of parks and this very early one is no exception.

Bottom line: I recommend this booklet. 8 out of ten points.



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