Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 12

May 22, 2025: The Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards longlist – Twisted category!

The Crime Writers’ Association (@The_CWA) Twisted Dagger Award longlist titles.

My favorites…

The Stranger in Her House by John Marrs

When handyman Paul begins to insinuate himself into the life of her widowed mother, Connie suspects he is up to no good. In time, she and Paul will clash, vying for the trust and affection of the elderly Gwen in a rivalry that will result in murder.

I don’t want to say too much about this one at the risk of giving anything away, but suffice it to say it pleasantly surprised me with its late first act twist.  A lot of fun.

The Neighbour’s Secret by Sharon Bolton

After moving to the village of St. Abel’s Chapel, Anna Brown begins to suspect there’s something going on beneath the surface of this seemingly idyllic community.

Missing girls, strange local traditions, and multiple surprising twists and turns made this one an utter delight.

The rest…

Look in the Mirror: What starts off as a creepy and incredibly compelling mystery turns into a cheesy Squid Game-ish riff.

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe: Suspect logic and an annoyingly unreliable narrator mar this one for me.

Nigthwatching: The pointless flashbacks ruin the tension.

The Perfect Couple: Tries to follow in Gone Girl’s footsteps and fails miserably.  Character logic is out the window in this one.

Playdate: After the opening incident, it’s a huge stage weight flashback until the third act.  And then they kill a dog.

Emma, Disappeared: Pretty engaging until the final twist that hinges on a disconnected murder.  What a letdown.

DNF: The Search Party, Five Bad Deeds, Beautiful People, Missing White Woman.

Tomorrow, we move on to twelve more books in the Gold Dagger category!

The post May 22, 2025: The Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards longlist – Twisted category! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

May 21, 2025: The Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards longlist – Whodunit Category!

The Crime Writers’ Association (@The_CWA) Whodunit Dagger Award longlist titles.

My favorites…

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen

Ex CIA agent Maggie Bird’s retirement is upended when a corpse is dumped on her driveway. With the help of some friends, all post-spook retirees, she endeavors to find out who left her the grisly message and why.

I’m not a huge fan of espionage thrillers and didn’t think expect much out of this one going in but, holy smokes, was this a riveting read. Not only did it upend expectations, but it ended up being one of my top reads of this entire 80+ book marathon.

The Mystery of the Crooked Man by Tom Spencer

Archivist Agatha Dorn sets out to uncover the connections between a forged version of Gladden Green’ The Empress of Golden Age, a scrap of the bogus manuscript, and the murder of her ex-lover.

A little verbose but I did love our delightfully reprehensible heroine, Agatha. A pretty funny book with a great final reveal.

Murder at the Christmas Emporium by Andreina Coronado

Guests attending a Christmas soirée at The Emporium, an upscale London gift shop, are treated to an evening of tinsel and terror when the doors are locked and the bodies start dropping.

It’s Willy Wonka meets And Then There Were None in this high-concept murder mystery that runs out of steam near the end but nevertheless offers a lot of fun along the way.

The Rest…

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson: This one is a hilarious, cleverly written ride for the most part but about two-thirds of the way through veers into action territory before segueing into an exposition-heavy denouement. I thought the set up tremendous but didn’t love the way the various pieces of the puzzle came together in the end.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd: This one is told across two timelines and while I found the historical timeline fascinating, the contemporary arc was less successful for me. I was also not a fan of the late introduction of a almost magical facial recognition software that felt a little convenient.

A Good Place to Hide a Body by Laura Marshall: This one was fine domestic thriller. Solid final twist.

Murder at the Matinee by Jamie West: This one kicks off with a positively harrowing account of an incident that claims the lives of multiple children, setting up as a surprisingly dark tale before giving way to an airer narrative.

A Matrimonial Murder (by Meeti Shroff-Shah, The Mystery Guest (by Nita Prose), A Death in Diamonds (by S.J. Bennett): I have nothing negative to say about any of these outside of the fact that they weren’t ultimately for me. But they may be for you!

DNF: The Case of the Singer and the Showgirl, A Case of Mice and Murder: In the case of the former, it’s a cross-genre (time travel) story and they’re not my cup of tea, while I ultimately wasn’t engaged by the latter’s writing style.

Tomorrow, we move on to twelve more books in the Twisted category!

The post May 21, 2025: The Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards longlist – Whodunit Category! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

May 20, 2025: The Crime Writers’s Association Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation longlist – my favorites!

When the Crime Writers’ Association announced their longlist Dagger Award contenders, I decided I would read them all ahead of the May 29th shortlist announcement, figuring a mere 12 books was eminently doable.

However, I soon realized that the 12 books I had set out to read represented only ONE of multiple Dagger Award categories. So, what I at first assumed would be a 12-book goal turned out to be closer to an 80+ herculean endeavor.

Now this may seem like a lot and, I can assure you, it is. But I had plenty of free time on my hands and I do like a challenge. And, to be fair, I didn’t end up reading all of them. I was unable to track down nine titles (Emma Disappeared, D is for Death, The Bell Tower, A Curtain Twitcher’s Book of Murder, All Us Sinners, Dr. Spilsbury and the Cursed Bride, The Three Deaths of Justice Godfrey, Murder in Harrogate, and Midsummer Mysteries). Hoping I can rectify that between now and year’s end.

Out of every six books I started, I DNF’d (Did Not Finish) two (for varied reasons). Three of every six books failed to win me over. But one in every six read did impress, and these particular books are worthy of an enthusiastic recommendation – which is ultimately why I set out on this literary journey: to bring some attention to these exceptional books and authors.

I checked out 80+ crime novels released in 2024 across various sub-genres and, in the coming days, I will run down my recommended favorites starting with The Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Award for Crime Fiction in Translation longlist titles.

My favorites…

The Silver Bone by Andrey Kurkov (translated by Boris Dralyuk)

In post-WWI crime-ridden Kyiv, young Samson Kolechko is drafted into the fledgling police force and tasked with investigating a double murder. An unusual tailored suit and a silver-cast femur are two of the clues that will lead him on a wild and winding pursuit.

Loved the characters and the touches of humor that really bring them to life, especially Kolechko who, after having his ear severed by a sword-wielding cossack, acquires surprisingly sharpened listening skills. The 1919 West-European setting is a character in itself, an evocatively atmospheric backdrop to an engaging mystery.

Dogs & Wolves by Hervé Le Corre (translated by Howard Curtis)

After his release from prison, an ex-con looks up his brother only to be told he is away on business. Cooling his heels at a rundown cottage owned his brother’s volatile girlfriend and her loopy parents, he is gradually drawn into a turf war where he’ll be hard-pressed to differentiate between friend and foe.

This French noir gets off to a slow start but picks up the pace in its back half, delivering a grimly compelling crime story.

Going to the Dogs by Pierre Lemaitre (translated by Sophie Lewis)

63-year-old Mathilde is a widow, a mother, and a contract killer whose slowly progressing dementia begins to complicate her profession.

This one is deliciously dark in its humor and would have been my favorite in this category if it weren’t for its instances of animal violence played for laughs. It’s a pity because, aside from those off-putting moments, I really loved this book.

The Simple Act of Killing a Woman by Patrícia Melo (translated by Sophie Lewis)

A young lawyer escapes her abusive partner for an Amazonian border town where she joins a local prosecutor in investigating the rampant attacks on women in the area.

Unrelentingly devastating, this one is a difficult but provocative read about domestic abuse and femicide.

The rest…

The Lover of No Fixed Abode by Carlo Fritter & Franco Lucentini (translated by Gregory Dowling): Interesting characters, mystery, and romantic entanglement against a rich Venetian backdrop, but I found the ambiguous ending underwhelming.

Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán (translated by Sophie Hughes): Those going in expecting something along the lines of Leila Slimani’s The Perfect Nanny are in for a disappointment. Clean is less a mystery than it is a slow burn study of class stratification. And if you’re expecting an answer to the central mystery, prepare for another disappointment.

Butter by Asako Yuzuki (translated by Polly Barton): This one felt like a bit of a bait-and-switch as well, setting up as a Japanese Silence of the Lambs but ultimately ending up as a rumination on food and feminism. It does, however, do a great job in its gustatory accounts. I’ve been dying to try Échiré butter on steamed rice since reading this book.

The Clues in the Fjord by Satu Rämö (translated by Kristian London): I love a good Nordic thriller but this one felt a little too simplistic, particularly in its description of its Icelandic setting and cultural traditions.

Artifice by Claire Berest (translated by Sophie Lewis): Of all the books on this list, this was the one I was most looking forward to reading given its description as “an astonishing French thriller with a jaw-dropping twist”. I found it less so.

DNF: The Night of Baba Yaga, Hotel Lucky Seven, Ruthless
I don’t know if it was the translations or an honest reflection of authorial form but I found these three too awkward in tone and style. It’s a pity because I hear Ruthless has a killer twist ending.

Tomorrow, we move on to twelve more books in the Whodunit category!

The post May 20, 2025: The Crime Writers’s Association Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation longlist – my favorites! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

May 19, 2025: The Columbo rewatch continues with “Negative Reaction”!

Our Columbo rewatch continues with…

“Negative Reaction”

This episode aired October 15, 1974

Danny Kaye was considered for the role of Paul Galesko but Peter Falk shot down the idea. Peter Sellers was offered the role but he demanded $360,000 which was eighteen times more than the show had ever paid for a guest star. Other actors who were approached but priced themselves out of the running included Omar Sharif (asked for $100,000) and Glenn Ford (who asked for $50,000). Not sure how much they ended up paying Dick Van Dyke, but I thought he was excellent in the role.

Eagle-eyed viewers may have recognized Antoinette Bower, who played the harpyish Frances Galsesko, from her portrayal of Eve Nora in the Twilight Zone episode “Probe 7, Over and Out”.

JoAnna Cameron, who played assistant Lorna McGrath, would later star as Isis in the Saturday morning series “The Secrets of Isis” and attempt to get her raven co-star fired because he was a pain in the ass to work with. She was considered for the part of Jenny in Love Story (1970), a role that launched Ali McGraw’s career.

Peter Falk and Dick Van Dyke hit if off during the filming of this episode and became good friends. In 2013, Van Dyke unveiled Falk’s posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

The only thing worse than your wife interrupting you while you’re trying to write a script is your wife interrupting you when you’re trying to assemble a ransom note.

Noon is apparently happy hour at the Galesko residence.

That is some hairdo on Mrs. Galesko.

She is demanding to the end: “Untie me. Untie me!”

The leggy Lorna!

“Just go out and get yourself a passport.”
“Will this afternoon be quick enough?
If this was set in Canada it would be more like “They said they’ll send it when it’s ready. We should be good to go by this same time next year!”

Uh oh. Setting up this poor, hapless ex-con.

“Tomorrow morning I’d like to look at that abandoned junkyard.” Hmmmm. “Just for fun, see if you can fit into that trash compactor.”

“By the way, someone broke into my motel and took the camera you told me to buy.”
“Oh, that’s okay.”
This poor patsy.

He’s intentionally suspicious with the housekeeper, and then allows her to overhear his phone conversation.

Wait, is this the second time he’s breaking into that motel room?

“Gee, looks like somebody took your wife.” Shucks, looks like your prints or on the ransom note.

Poor Al.

Isn’t he dangerously close to hitting an artery with that self-inflicted gunshot?

Boy, that’s some classic drunk acting.

“Go back. Go back. Out of business.” The cop warns Columbo as he drives past the “We Buy Junk Cars” sign. And of course Columbo’s car won’t start. Nice day for a walk!

Columbo is not buying the evidence at scene: “Because if he left that camera and that newspaper and that glue laying around like that he’s stupid.”

Dust on the mantel but not on the clock. Suspcious!

This scene with the nun mistaking him for homeless is probably my favorite scene in all of Columbo.

“I’ve had this coat for seven years.”
“Oh, you poor man.”

““I’m from the police force, ma’am. My name is lieutenant Columbo.”
“All are welcome here, lieutenant.”

“Oh, I see. You’re working undercover.”
“And don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul about your disguise. Oh, it’s good. It’s really very good.”

Love Vito Scotti as the erudite drunk.

“After a touch of the grape to induce slumber…”

Love this bit of Columbo searching for an ashtray, briefly considers the dish, no doubt reminded of Mrs. Peck chewing him out for doing the same thing in “Double Shock”, elects to use his pocket instead.

Aha! The timing of the gunshots were off.

The powder burns on Galesko’s leg are a dead giveaway.

Poor Dog. The love of his life, the cocker spaniel next door, has moved.

“I don’t suppose you have a picture of a cocker spaniel around, do you?”
“Something he could look at. Kinda like a pinup?”
“Nah that’s a terrible idea. The dog is dumb but he wouldn’t fall for that. I mean the dog would know it wasn’t her. Forget I mentioned it.”
And this is probably my favorite run of dialogue in a Columbo episode. According to writer Peter S. Fischer: “I wrote that line thinking “He’s never going to do this.” He did it exactly as I wrote it.”

Columbo visits the camera shop and learns Deschler traveled by cab. He also learns about reverse negatives!

Columbo unsubtly snapping photos at the funeral. “Okay, now a fun one!”

Columbo suspects Deschler had an accomplice.

Ah, ye olde “I wasn’t thinking straight” to explain why he didn’t write down the details of the ransom demand.

Columbo compliments the discarded photo found in the fireplace and Galesko breaks down exactly why it isn’t a great photo. He may as well have said: “It didn’t meet my rigorous standards so I couldn’t use it.”

“He must have been a perfectionist like you,”says Columbo. Yes, exactly like him.

Love this beat of Columbo trying to hire Galesko to take photos at his brother-in-law’s party.

“Oh, there’s one other things, sir. A bit of a problem.” The maid cleaned the room so it’s pretty obvious the incriminating evidence was planted in the motel room.

Aha! He worked as San Quentin for 7 years – where he no doubt met Alvin Deschler.

“You’re like a little shaggy-haired terrier who’s got a grip on my trousers and just won’t let go.” Perfect.

Love this sequence with Larry Storch as Mr. Weekly, the driving instructor. He gets picked up at the scene of an accident and then white knuckles throughout the ride as Columbo questions him.

“And you’re willing to sign an affidavit to that effect?”
“Certainly. Unless of course it means you have to drive me to police headquarters.”

Aha! If Deschler had made that ransom note collage, he would have left clippings behind.

Columbo presents Galesko with a reverse print, clearly goading him.

Oh no! He destroyed the first print! Or did he?

“The negative will serve the same purpose.”

“Were you a witness to what he just did?” Yes. Galesko is cooked.

“You just incriminated yourself, sir. You’ve identified the camera.”

Wow. This was a near perfect episode, and the fact that it was one of the longer entries makes it all the more remarkable. Yes, one could argue that certain scenes felt somewhat extraneous to the plot, but I thought they all went to character – specifically our lovable Columbo in his scenes with the nun, the drunk, and the driving instructor. Great lines and exchanges sprinkled throughout and some great investigative work by our rumpled hero who puts together the pieces in expert fashion on his way to setting up one of the show’s top-tier Gotcha moments. Dick Van Dyke was terrific as Galesko and all of the supporting players were in top form as well. Absolutely loved this one from start to finish.

My revised episode rankings: 1. Negative Reaction, 2. Any Old Port in a Storm, 3. Double Exposure, 4. A Friend In Deed, 5. Double Shock, 6. A Stitch in Crime, 7. Death Lends a Hand, 8. Suitable for Framing, 9. Publish or Perish, 10. Dagger of the Mind, 11. Requiem for a Falling Star, 12. Prescription: Murder, 13. Murder by the Book/Ransom for a Dead Man (tie), 14. Swan Song, 15. Lady in Waiting, 16. An Exercise in Fatality, 17. Etude in Black, 18. The Most Crucial Game, 19. Blueprint for Murder, 20. Lovely But Lethal, 21. The Most Dangerous Match, 22. The Greenhouse Jungle 23. Dead Weight, 24. Short Fuse, 25. Candidate for Crime, 26. Mind Over Mayhem.

Finally, it’s time to consider the evidence Columbo has gathered and decide whether it will be enough to secure a GUILTY verdict or will Paul Galesko be looking at an ACQUITTAL. In this case, I think the evidence is pretty damning. Galesko will be returning to his old stomping grounds of San Quentin. GUILTY!

The post May 19, 2025: The Columbo rewatch continues with “Negative Reaction”! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

May 18, 2025: Sharky Sunday!

Meditations…

“Mom!  I love you!”

Fly-catcher…

Out and About with Sharky – Victor Rose!

Rainbow poop!

Sharing with Caramel…

Living the good life…

The post May 18, 2025: Sharky Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

May 17, 2025: Random Thoughts and Stargate Questions!

[image error]

[image error]

[image error]

I’m more of a Sweden guy.

Asked Grok “If Stargate: SG-1 was shot in the U.S. instead of Canada, which American actors would have likely been cast for the roles of Samantha Carter and Daniel Jackson in late 1996?” Which American actors would you have cast alongside Richard Dean Anderson and Chris Judge?

More Stargate questions…

What is the one thing you most look forward to in a new Stargate series?

What is the one thing you fear most about a new Stargate series?

Congratulations! You have been appointed the new leader of SG-32.5 after the old team stepped through an active space gate and was obliterated by a passing asteroid. Which three Stargate veterans will you draft to venture off-world with, have your back, and enjoy some laughs?

Tell me what happens after the Stargate program goes public. How will people react? What would be the future of gate travel? Do you believe it will fracture or unite humanity?

[image error]

The post May 17, 2025: Random Thoughts and Stargate Questions! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

May 16, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with “An Exercise in Fatality”!

Our Columbo rewatch continues with…

“An Exercise in Fatality”

This episode aired September 15, 1974.

Peter Falk lobbied for, and got, a 6 episode fourth season (as opposed to 8). Said Falk: “The fewer you make, the better they are.”

He also secured himself a nice little raise, going from 100k to 132k an episode and averting a rumored walk-out.

The beach where Columbo meets Milo is the same beach where Jim Rockford lived on The Rockford Files.

In another Rockford Files connection, actress Gretchen Corbett, who played secretary Jessica Conroy in this episode, portrayed Rockford’s lawyer and girlfriend.

Robert Conrad’s character, Milo Janus, is an impressive 53 – but Conrad was 39 at the time this episode was shot. Conrad reflected back fondly on the episode: “There’s one great memory I have of working on that show. Peter Falk, as you know, is a very meticulous actor. I can’t speak for that style, although I am a great admirer of it. Well, my character was supposed to be drinking a particular juice because he was a health addict. And Columbo was supposed to just taste what I was drinking. Well it started to create an uncomfortable acidity in his stomach so I said “Now we have something that looks just like the juice, Peter. I’m up here with this juice.” He just said “Well I’m not.” His method, whatever it was, was to use the real juice. So I was stuck drinking something I had had more than enough of.”

Columbo tells Milo he has a new boss, likely a replacement for the jail-bound Deputy Commissioner Halperin he arrested for murder last episode.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

Top marks for the clever episode title!

Uh oh. Another maxi episode.

Janus was running expenses through the companies he owned and then charging the parent company like a shifty line producer.

Milo opens the door. Cue naked 70-year-old man strolling by in the background.

He’s going to sic the SEC on him. The SEC?! Oooooh. Scary.

I do like the fireworks between Milo and his secretary.

“I plan to live a long long time,”says Gene Stafford. Famous last words.

Them’s some pretty light-looking “heavy” barbells.

The 70’s home theater experience!

“Where are you? Still at the gym? Don’t do anything too strenuous. Wouldn’t want you to pass out.” And kill yourself!

Columbo can’t operate without his morning coffee.

The unnecessary call to his wife. Let’s make a game of identifying the extraneous padding scenes.

“You can keep talking, but I’m going to hang up.” Lol

Okay, I get that he finds the Chinese takeout suspicious, but is it really necessary for him to fish the containers out of the trash?

Mystery of the Missing Brown Heels!

Why would he lock up if he was alone? Good point.

A crushed windpipe! What a way to go.

Columbo clearly skips back day.

His show saved Columbo’s marriage! Getting a sense it’s not all sunshine and chili with Mrs. Columbo.

Jessica answering the door in her bikini. Va va va voom! I get a bit of a Claudia Christian vibe from her.

Columbo likes a woman with girth.

Always searching his pockets for that elusive pencil.

Columbo notices the burn mark on his hand. Hmmmm.

Kinda digging the heavy drinking, chain-smoking bereaved widow, Ruth Stafford.

“No, I’m afraid not, sir. I can’t swim. I don’t even like a deep tub.” Brilliant.

Of course he had a huge Chinese meal before his workout. You gotta carb up!

The scene of Columbo joining Milo on his run, trotting behind him in his raincoat, is great fun.

He’s pretty damn good on that speed bag.

Love the sequence of Columbo surreptitiously emptying the sand from his shoes into the flower bed.

Love Columbo’s priceless reaction to being informed lunch IS the handful of pills.

“Sir, there’s something wrong with this orange juice.”
“It’s carrot juice, lieutenant.”
Great exchange.

“Lieutenant, the pills.”
“Yeah, I’ll save these for lunch.”
A lot of good lines in this episode.

Columbo floats the idea that someone may have changed the victim into his gym clothes. Hmmmm.

Okay, this silly information request scene is interminable – and wholly unnecessary. Again, it feels like the writer wrote a nice tight 1 hour and 15 minute episode and then production decided to pad it out by requesting a bunch of useless scenes. This one is particularly egregious.

Columbo awkwardly leaving the message reminds me of me.

Love him popping back out of the elevator to retrieve his discarded cigar.

Good point, Columbo. Why wasn’t Gene surprised to have secretary Jessica answer the phone at Milo’s home?

Oh, Ruth is on to him.

And he offers to take her back to his place!

She responds by throwing a glass of wine in his face. Nicely done, Ruth!

Columbo hitting the treadmill. The sign behind him says: “One mile running limit when other customers are waiting.” Just my luck I get one of those out-of-shape strollers hop on before me.

What the hell is with this gym? It’s full of 70-something old men walking around shirtless. And it closes at 6 pm! No wonder the business is floundering.

“Oh no. I wasn’t accusing anyone.” I always love when Columbo does this.

Oh, man, that takes me back. What ever happened to the Bunco Division? Did they successfully eradicate Bunco crime back in the 70’s along with acid rain?

Booze, pills, a deadly combination. He tried to take out Ruth!

Boy, Columbo is surprisingly direct and confrontational here. And it’s all the more powerful because it’s atypical of him.

Aha! He notes mom tying the kid’s shoelaces.

Aha! He initially didn’t realize he was speaking to a voice recording.

Aha! He found the section of the tape that was edited out.

Aha! The shoelaces were tied in reverse!

Why would the police take a photo of the dead man’s sneakers? Oh, never mind!

The fourth season opener is solid, but not as strong as that third season closer. This episode felt a little flabby and could have stood to lose 15-20 minutes. Still, Milo Janus was a great adversary who really got under Columbo’s skin. The supporting players were great, especially Gretchen Corbett and as Jessica Conroy and Colin Wilcox Paxton as Ruth Stafford. Columbo is refreshingly focused in this episode but still delivers some wonderfully amusing moments like all of the health-related scenes.

My revised episode rankings: 1. Any Old Port in a Storm, 2. Double Exposure, 3. A Friend In Deed, 4. Double Shock, 5. A Stitch in Crime, 6. Death Lends a Hand, 7. Suitable for Framing, 8. Publish or Perish, 9. Dagger of the Mind, 10. Requiem for a Falling Star, 11. Prescription: Murder, 12. Murder by the Book/Ransom for a Dead Man (tie), 13. Swan Song, 14. Lady in Waiting, 15. An Exercise in Fatality, 16. Etude in Black, 17. The Most Crucial Game, 18. Blueprint for Murder, 19. Lovely But Lethal, 20. The Most Dangerous Match, 21. The Greenhouse Jungle 22. Dead Weight, 23. Short Fuse, 24. Candidate for Crime, 25. Mind Over Mayhem.

And now let’s consider whether Columbo has enough evidence to get a GUILTY verdict or is Milo Janus looking at an ACQUITTAL. This is the toughest one yet as the evidence is all circumstantial, but there IS a lot of it. Ultimately, I think enough for a jury to find him GUILTY. What do you think?

The post May 16, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with “An Exercise in Fatality”! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

May 15, 2025: 100 Supervillain Stories – #38-40 (Man-Bat! Electro! The Wrath!)

#38. Man-Bat #1-5 (2021)

For years Kirk Langstrom has struggled with his monstrous alter ego, Man-Bat, and the serum that transformed him. But he’s finally hit rock bottom following a devastating setback, and he’s going to take his anger out on every single citizen of Gotham City.

Writer:Dave Wielgosz

Artist: Sumit Kamar

Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Another take on the classic Jekyll and Hyde tale but, unlike Venom: The Hunger that centers on Eddie Brock’s psyche and struggle, this one focuses on Langstrom’s deteriorating relationship with his wife, a woman who, strangely, has little sympathy for a husband fighting to save his own life. As as result, it’s comparatively less interesting and emotionally resonant.

#39. “The Gauntlet: Power to the People” (Amazing Spider-Man #612-614)

Destitute and desperate, conned out of his life’s meaning and worth, Max Dillon becomes the voice of the common man against the brutal injustice of a system overloaded by greed. With Spider-Man already looking over his shoulder.

Writer: Mark Waid

Penciler/Inker: Paul Azaceta

Colorist: Dave Stewart

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

The classic “villain as people’s hero/hero as people’s villain” reversal has been memorably explored in many other stories, but here we’re missing the connective narrative tissue that evolves Max Dillon from perennial loser to people’s champion. As a result, it’s all a little too perfunctory and contrived, resulting in a tale that feels underdeveloped.

#40. “The Player on the Other Side” (Batman Special #1)

On the same night Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered, another child was left an orphan, his parents murdered by a police officer as they committed a crime. Since that night, both children dedicated their entire lives to become the ultimate avengers. Bruce Wayne became Batman while the other kid became Wrath, a force for evil against law and order.

Writer: Mike W. Barr

Artists: Michael Golden & Mike DeCarlo

Colorist: Adrienne Roy

Letterer: Todd Klein

The fascinating premise is given short shrift as we never really delve into the psychology of Wrath, the anti-Batman, beyond his quest for vengeance. There are suggestions of more, like a burgeoning romance denied, but it’s hardly touched on and, in the end, we never really get to know this anti-Batman who, appropriately enough, remains unnamed throughout.

The post May 15, 2025: 100 Supervillain Stories – #38-40 (Man-Bat! Electro! The Wrath!) appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

May 14, 2025: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye…

One World Under Doom #4 – cover art by Adi Granov

The Immortal Thor #23 – cover art by Alex Ross

Captain Planet #1 – cover art by Mark Spears

Space Ghost #12 – cover art by Bjorn Barends

Batman and Robin #2 – cover art by Danny Earls

Batman: Dark Patterns #6 – cover art by Ashley Wood

DC vs Vampires: World War V #9 – cover art by Bjorn Barends

DC vs Vampires: World War V #9 – cover art by Dani

The Surgeon #5 – cover art by Omar Zaldivar, Hedwin Zaldivar

So, which were YOUR favorites?

The post May 14, 2025: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

May 13, 2025: The Mom Update!

Thanks for all the well-wishes.  Mom had her operation on Friday and it went well.  Now she has an implanted rod in her right hip to match the one implanted in her left hip 15 years ago.  She is in a fair bit of pain, but the hospital feels confident that they can release her to a convalescent home within about a week. There, she’ll spend another four weeks rehabbing before, hopefully, returning home.

As a special Mother’s Day gift, and to motivate her to start walking again, sis arranged for her dog Caramel to pay her a surprise visit yesterday.

She was, of course thrilled to see him.

The night nurse takes over Monday to Thursday, offering us a break from hospital duty, cutting our rounds in half from 12 hour shifts to 6 hour shifts.  This will allow me a little free time for a coffee outing with Akemi and Sharky (who have been holding down the fort, aka mom’s place, feeding a dog-sitting my sister and mom’s pooches).  We’ll go shopping for much-needed produce and then enjoy a nice lunch.

Downtime at the hospital has proven fruitful in terms of reading.  I’m blazing through two, sometimes three books a day and looking forward to giving you all the Crime Binge breakdown in the coming days.  When all is said and done, I should have about 95 books under my belt.  Spoiler alert: There was a lot I didn’t like.  But there WERE a few I did.  Stay tuned!

The post May 13, 2025: The Mom Update! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.