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1989s Batman, directed by Tim Burton, was a landmark film for a number of reasons, and its legacy is such that the film continues to spawn comic book sequels that continue the story of Michael Keatons Dark Knight to this very day. Yet there was an earlier comic book sequel that has been nearly forgotten these days, but which saw several Bat-characters make their debut in the world of Batman 89.

The comic book sequel in question was actually a comic strip, running from November 6th, 1989 to August 3rd, 1991. Intended to capitalize off the massive success of the Batman movie, the syndicated strip was the first time Batman appeared in the newspaper comic section since the early seventies.

With a dream team of artist Marshall Rogers and uncredited writer Max Allan Collins in place, the strip loosely follows the events of the film, albeit with some changes. Batman wears his classic blue-and-gray costume from the comics,...

While Batman puts every Robin through training, Dick Grayson's first night as Robin was so impressive that it earned him the role outright and proved he'll always be Batman's greatest sidekick. While Batman would still put him through training, it honestly doesn't seem like it was needed - unlike the other Robins.

The impressive first showing of Dick Grayson's Robin takes place in the iconic Batman: Dark Victory #13 by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. While Batman is out fighting crime, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Solomon Grundy, Poison Ivy, and the Joker find their way into the Batcave. The group is completely unaware of what they've almost found, and they never realize it thanks to Dick Grayson's intervention.

Seeing the group of supervillains coming within feet of seeing the Batcave, Dick immediately springs into action. In his first night as Robin, Dick Grayson ends up having to fight off some of Batman's most powerful villains,...

Spoilers for "The Penguin" follow.

"The Batman" ended by suggesting that Oz Cobb/Penguin (Colin Farrell) would be stepping into the shoes of his late boss, Carmine Falcone. "The Penguin" shows that his ascension won't be that simple.

The series opens on Oz meeting with the Falcone princeling Alberto (Michael Zegen) — and killing him. Now, he has to dispose of the body, or the remaining Falcone forces will kill him. When Oz heads back to his car, he finds some teens trying to tirejack it; he scares most of them off with a gun (hitting his car in the process), then drafts one named Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz) to help him dump Alberto's body.

Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) instantly pins Oz as her brother's killer, noticing the bullet holes in his car's purple (or "plum") paint job and tracking down one of Victor's friends to disprove Oz's alibi. However, Oz...

A few weeks back, we caught up with the voice cast of True Noir: The Assassination of Anton Cermak during Sdcc. The blockbuster cast included Kris Carr, Anthony Lapaglia, Don McManus, and Bill Smitrovich, and they were very excited about the project. This project is the first in a series of adaptations of Max Allan Collins’ Nathan Heller novels.

On Thursday, July 25, at the Sdcc panel, producers and special guests introduced “True Noir: The Assassination of Anton Cermak,” a new audio drama series from co-creators Robert Meyer Burnett, Max Allan Collins, and Mike Bawden. Based on the award-winning novel “True Detective,” explores the end of Prohibition, Al Capone, the Great Depression, and the assassination of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. It is being produced by Imagination Connoisseurs Unlimited, LLC (ICU), with Burnett and Bawden at the helm.

True Noir: The Assassination of Anton Cermak is a ten-episode, fully immersive audio drama...

Tom Hanks’ versatile talent has seen him play many diverse and challenging characters across many decades. Through these varied roles, the Oscar winner has portrayed protagonists who have mostly been some of the most upstanding and inspiring people with towering virtues and qualities.

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (image credit: Paramount Pictures)

2002’s Road to Perdition was a shift from this image for Hanks. The film based on Max Allan Collins‘ graphic novel of the same name, saw the celebrity channel negative shades as a mob enforcer and a father who shares a complex relationship with his son. The Forrest Gump star was well aware though, that it wasn’t all that easy for fans to forget his quintessential ‘nice guy’ image.

Playing An Anti-Hero Still Made Fans See Tom Hanks In a Positive Light

In the 2002 film Road To Perdition directed by Sam Mendes, Tom Hanks plays a killer who along with his son,...

When one talks of artistic collaborations in Hollywood, the duos of Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves, and Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy come to mind immediately for their successful partnerships together. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are not far behind, having shared a memorable association in 5 films and being co-producers on 2 miniseries, Band of Brothers and its spin-off show, The Pacific.

Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan directed by Steven Spielberg (image credit: DreamWorks Pictures)

Spielberg who has done films in almost every genre, had the opportunity to work with Hanks in the comic book space when he was offered to Max Allan Collins‘ graphic novel, Road To Perdition. The director who was impressed with the idea, unfortunately could not commit to it owing to a busy schedule of films under his belt.

Steven Spielberg Came This Close To Helming Road To Perdition

In 2002, Tom Hanks and Paul Newman starred...

Producer Robert Meyer Burnett and marketing executive Mike Bawden have launched Imagination Connoisseur Media Unlimited, a production company for original genre content for dedicated fandoms.

The company’s debut project is “True Noir: The Assassination of Anton Cermak,” a six-and-a-half-hour audio drama based on the Max Allan Collins novel “True Detective.” The ten-episode series is set in Chicago in 1932 and follows the murder of the city’s mayor while attending a Franklin Roosevelt campaign rally in Miami, Fla.

Burnett, who directs and produces “True Noir,” describes it as “a cinematic audio drama, combining traditional storytelling with modern production techniques.” The cast features more than 25 voice actors, including Jeffrey Combs (“The Frighteners”), Pj Byrne (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Jesse Spencer (“House”), Anthony Lapaglia (“Without a Trace”) and Katee Sackhoff (“Battlestar Galactica”).

Alexander Bornstein composed an original score for the series. Michael McDonald oversaw the sound design.

“We’re focused on...

DC Finest introduces new readers to essential stories of iconic characters with paperback collections. The collections are character and genre-focused, spotlighting a range of issues from historical moments. Priced from $34.99, DC Finest features characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and more with legendary creators.

DC Comics has revealed plans for DC Finest, a new line of paperback collections starring some of the most well-known characters in pop culture. With DC Finest, the publisher aims to introduce new readers to a range of essential stories for characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and more, all while satisfying long-time fans itching for hard-to-find reprints of classic issues.

DC announced its plans for the DC Finest collection line at 2024's ComicsPRO Industry Conference, where the publisher also revealed plans for its 2024 summer event series and the upcoming Elseworlds relaunch. Unlike comic book collections that focus on specific stories or runs by creative teams,...

Stephanie Brown's death as Robin was revealed to be fake, protecting her from being a victim trope. Superboy's DNA was revealed to have come from Lex Luthor, creating an internal conflict for the character. Jason Todd's new origin differentiated him from Dick Grayson and made him a more unique character.

There have been plenty of retcons in the DC Universe’s long history, but only a few have actually pleased fans. Changes to comic book history aren’t uncommon but more often than not, they leave a bad taste in fans’ mouths.

As time goes on, creative teams reveal new information that changes a character’s history or personal connection to someone or something. But not every retcon is necessarily bad. Many DC Comics retcons have helped characters grow or even salvaged characters who were hampered by previous developments. Read on to discover 10 DC Comics retcons that...

Gangsters, mobsters, thugs, and mugs. Organized crime holds the upper tier of the international cinematic commission. “Crime pays,” Edward G. Robinson, who played Rico Bandello in the seminal gangster film Little Caesar (1931), is famous for saying. “But only in the movies.” When a good mob movie is on the table, it is an offer no filmmaker can refuse. There is more intrigue, suspense, violence, mayhem, and madness to be found in the criminal element than any other genre.

“Gone are the days of the gangsters,” audiences heard for years, usually in movies about mobsters. They always rise up, even if they are splattered across the ornate fountains of their gangland mansions in the last frame, like Al Pacino’s Tony Montana in Brian DePalma’s Scarface (1983), or rolling down the steps of a church, dead from a hail of bullets. That’s how James Cagney’s Eddie Bartlett went out in The Roaring Twenties (1939). Now,...

There have been many people who have taken on the role of Robin over the decades, so it's not absurd to think that Batman has a favorite. Though most people assume that favorite is none other than Nightwing, it turns out that's not the case at all.

Every Robin has brought something unique to the role: Dick Grayson was the first in the role and continues to be one of DC's most prominent heroes, Jason Todd brought a sense of hopefulness, and Tim Drake is an outstanding detective who approached things from a smarter angle. All of these things made each Robin unique — including Stephanie Brown and Damian Wayne — so it's not unreasonable to assume that Batman would have a favorite iteration. Usually, Dick is known to be the best Robin — but he's also one of the only Robins to be fired from the role, and for seemingly no reason.

While fans may think of Jason Todd's Red Hood as the inevitable result of his troubled perspective, his time as Robin doesn't bear out this idea. There have been many people to take the role of Robin, and they're often put into boxes by fans (and even each other.) Dick is the original Robin, Tim the genius detective, Stephanie the outsider, Damian the "true" heir, and Jason Todd the rage-filled vigilante. But just labeling Jason as the angry one does a great disservice to the original tragedy of him becoming Red Hood.

All the Robins had some major defining event in their lives that shaped their character history and where they would go moving forward. For Dick, it was when he moved out of the role of Robin and into Nightwing, Tim's major event was when his parents died after he took the role of Robin, and for Jason Todd,...

The Mime, who appeared in Batman #412 in 1987, predates Harley Quinn as a clown-themed woman terrorizing Gotham City. The Mime was a one-off villain but set the precedent for the creation of Harley Quinn, who became a major character in Batman's rogues gallery. Bringing back The Mime could create an interesting dynamic and strong foil for both Harley Quinn and Punchline, showcasing the influence of Harley on subsequent generations of characters.

Harley Quinn is one of DC's most popular villains, but the idea of a clown-themed woman that terrorized Gotham City predates Harley Quinn by five years. Half a decade before Harley hit the TV screen, a woman known as The Mime terrorized Gotham City and tried to silence its citizens forever.

Harley first appeared in Batman The Animated Series, and was such a hit that DC introduced her in the comics, and she has been a major character in Batman...

Known as the black sheep of the Bat-Family, Red Hood is the former Robin who went 'bad.' Jason Todd originally had a tragic end as the Boy Wonder, later followed by a shock resurrection that has turned him into DC's most beloved antihero. But what moments in Jason's life shaped him into this different breed of hero?

Here are 10 moments that truly defined the man Jason Todd has grown up to be, from his time on the streets to becoming Robin, turning villain, and finally finding his place as part of DC's Dark Trinity of heroes.

Jason Todd's First Appearance

First appearing way back in Batman #357 by Gerry Conway, Don Newton, Alfredo Alcala, Ben Oda and Adrienne Roy, Jason Todd was completely unlike what people know him as today. Instead of being the tough street kid, Jason Todd's first origin was as a circus acrobat with a loving family.

Brutal and violent, Mike Hammer is a no-holds-barred private investigator created by Mickey Spillane and featured in novels, movies, TV shows, comics, and more. Mike Hammer is set to return to the big screen as Skydance has acquired the rights to the franchise and is planning to develop a movie based on the iconic character.

No writers, directors, or actors attached to the new Mike Hammer movie at this time, which is hardly a surprise given the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes. The rights to the character have been in dispute for quite some time. Mickey Spillane died in 2006, just one month after the death of his manager. The manager’s estate tried to claim ownership of Mike Hammer, but following years in court, those rights reverted to Spillane’s estate.

Starting with the novel I, the Jury, Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer novels have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.

The rights to Mickey Spillane’s and Max Allan Collins’ “Mike Hammer” franchise have been acquired by Skydance, an insider with knowledge of the project said Wednesday.

Skydance intends to adapt and produce the bestselling book series into a feature film, centered around the iconic character.

At this time, the studio has not enlisted any writers, directors, or talent for the project.

The Mike Hammer franchise is an iconic and enduring series of detective novels and films created by the renowned American author Mickey Spillane.

The franchise centers around the character of Mike Hammer, a tough and hardboiled private investigator with a no-nonsense approach to solving crimes. First introduced in the 1947 novel “I, the Jury,” Mike Hammer quickly became a beloved figure in the noir fiction genre.

The franchise comprises numerous novels, short stories, and comic books, as well as several film adaptations and a television series. Throughout the years,...

On the JoBlo Movies YouTube channel, we will be posting one full movie every other day throughout the week, giving viewers the chance to watch them entirely free of charge. The Free Movie of the Day we have for you today is the mystery thriller The Last Lullaby, starring Tom Sizemore. You can watch it over on the YouTube channel linked above, or you can just watch it in the embed at the top of this article.

Directed by Jeffrey Goodman from a screenplay written by Max Allan Collins and Peter Biegen, The Last Lullaby has the following synopsis: A retired hit-man can’t pass up one last high-priced contract. In his final job, he is directed to kill the beautiful and intriguing librarian Sarah, but his violent ways begin to fail him as he falls for this totally unsuspecting mark.

Sizemore is joined in the cast by Sasha Alexander,...

While recently talking about the movies which would make up his retrospective, Tom Hanks, the star of Big, Splash, Philadelphia, and Saving Private Ryan, told CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend Podcast: “For one reason or another, no one references Road to Perdition.” It’s a curiosity he can’t really explain, but he makes a strong argument for the 2002 film, emphasizing how it features “two guys who turned out to be two of the biggest motion picture presences in the history of the industry with Jude Law and [Daniel] Craig.”

Hanks is only saying what mob movie aficionados have been whispering because of omerta laws for years. Road to Perdition is a gangster film classic even if it is based on a graphic novel.

Cinema legend Paul Newman was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in his final feature film performance, here as crime family boss John Rooney. It was also director...

Legendary Hollywood star, Tom Hanks, recently revealed the one movie people rarely ask him about. Hanks began his career in the early 80s with small roles in film and television before scoring a lead role in the gender-bending sitcom, Bosom Buddies. He soon made a name for himself in the 1984 Ron Howard-directed romantic comedy, Splash, where his character Allen Bauer falls in love with a mermaid. Hanks went on to star in a number of prominent comedies of the decade before transitioning to powerful dramas in the 90s including Philadelphia, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, and The Green Mile.

During an interview on the ReelBlend podcast, Hanks revealed that no one asks him about his crime drama Road to Perdition.

The actor called the film one of his most "important" to date and singled out the film's cast as a particular strong point. Released in the summer of 2002, Road to Perdition...

There’s something inherently seductive about the glitz and glamour of Old Hollywood. Perhaps it’s the backstage intrigue and the tawdry tales of showbusiness hedonism that draws us in again and again. Or maybe it’s the romanticized image of smokey rooms, silken gowns and stylish fedoras that we find so endlessly alluring. For many, however, it’s the larger-than-life figures from silver screen history that remain irresistible decades later.

Whatever the reason, films, books and television shows about Hollywood’s Golden Age continue to captivate new generations year after year. Look no further than Oscar-winners like “The Artist,” bestsellers like Shawn Levy’s “The Castle on Sunset,” acclaimed documentaries like “Tab Hunter Confidential,” and a host of recent TV series from Ryan Murphy if you have any doubt. Each of these attempt, in some way, to simultaneously celebrate the era while pulling back the curtain on the studio system.

The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers (Iamtw) recognizes the wide range of authors who work on media tie-ins. Often overlooked, these writers craft exciting tales using beloved characters and settings of franchises including the likes of Mike Hammer, Firefly, Murder She Wrote, James Bond, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Star Trek. These stories can be original adventures, or adaptations of movies or television episodes. They include all genres and a wide range of lengths and formats.

To recognize the accomplishments of the unsung authors in this particular field, the Iamtw sponsors the annual Scribe Awards. This year’s awards have six categories to highlight excellence in Novels, Short Stories, Audio Dramas, Young Adult/Middle Grade works, and Graphic Novels.

Congratulations to all the nominees.

Audio Drama:

The Enemy of My Enemy by Tracey Ann Baines

He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not by Carrie Thompson...

900 numbers for polling purposes, charging users for each call placed, was a 1980s fad that seemed perfect to employ in comic books for some sort of stunt. Editor Denny O’Neil and DC’s Marketing team, led by Bruce Bristow, conceived of the stunt and Jim Starlin wrote the four-part “Death in the Family” storyline to accommodate the stunt. Jason Todd, the second Robin, never was accepted by fans, either under his father, writer Gerry Conway or the post-Crisis writers Max Allan Collins and Jim Starlin. Callers got to say he would live or die.

It went on to become a media sensation, and a closer than expected vote. It also brought down the wrath of Warner Bros who was unaware of the event and the press attention because, back then, DC was a pimple on the conglomerate’s butt and no one considered telling them.

Still, the strong storyline...

The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers announced their 2020 Scribe Award winners yesterday. Normally announced during Comic-Con International, this year’s pandemic forced the organization to make a virtual announcement.

Additionally, novelist Jean Rabe was the latest tie-in author to earn a Faust Award, making her a grandmaster of tie-in fiction.

Adapted Novel–General & Speculative

Alita: Battle Angel by Pat Cadigan — Winner

Batman: The Killing Joke by Christa Faust and Gary Phillips

Doctor Who: Scratch Man by Tom Baker and James Goss

Godzilla: King of the Monsters by Greg Keyes

Audio Dramas

Diary of River Song – Concealed Weapon by Scott Handcock

Doctor Who – Companion Chronicles – Daybreak by John Pritchard

Doctor Who – 10 Doctor Adventures – The Creeping Death by Roy Gill — Winner

Torchwood – Sargasso by Christopher Cooper

Warhammer – Watcher in the Rain by Alex Worley

Graphic Novel

Blade Runner 2019: Los Angeles by Michael Green and Mike Johnson –Winner

Doctor who—the...

The character of Dick Tracy has been around since 1931, appearing daily in newspaper comic strips almost continuously since his debut, and achieving a level of popularity during his heyday that few other characters could aspire to. In just his first 20 years of existence, there were four Dick Tracy movie serials, four feature films, a TV series, and countless items of merchandise.

But many modern fans know the character best thanks to his portrayal by Warren Beatty in 1990’s big budget summer blockbuster movie. That film attempted to kick off a wave of Tracymania unseen since the 1940s. It never quite took hold.

Despite being one of the highest grossing movies of 1990, and garnering a slew of Oscar nominations, Dick Tracy was a victim of expectations. The film that had once been envisioned as a gritty ode to 1930s gangster movies became a giant blockbuster with a merchandising bonanza meant to...

The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers released their nominees for the 2020 Scribe Awards, recognizing the best in media tie-in writing. Winners will be announced on July 15 in a manner to be announced.

Adapted Novel–General & Speculative

Alita: Battle Angel by Pat Cadigan

Batman: The Killing Joke by Christa Faust and Gary Phillips

Doctor Who: Scratch Man by Tom Baker and James Goss

Godzilla: King of the Monsters by Greg Keyes

Audio Dramas

Diary of River Song – Concealed Weapon by Scott Handcock

Doctor Who – Companion Chronicles – Daybreak by John Pritchard

Doctor Who – 10 Doctor Adventures – The Creeping Death by Roy Gill

Torchwood – Sargasso by Christopher Cooper

Warhammer – Watcher in the Rain by Alex Worley

Graphic Novel

Blade Runner 2019: Los Angeles by Michael Green and Mike Johnson

Doctor who—the Thirteenth Doctor: Old Friends by Jody Houser

Pet Noir by Anne Toole, Christie Yant, and Pati Nagle

Star Trek—Year Five:...

When Dick Tracy burst onto screens in June 1990, it was heralded as the heir to the previous summer’s comics-to-page blockbuster throne, Batman. While the Disney film boasted similar star power (Warren Beatty and Al Pacino), intricate production design that evoked both colorful Sunday comic strips and classic gangster films, and even a tie-in album by one of the biggest pop music stars of a generation (Madonna’s I’m Breathless), characters like Dick Tracy and Flattop were hardly the pop culture mainstays that Batman and the Joker were, even before that 1989 film revitalized their fortunes. Nevertheless, Dick Tracy made a box office splash (albeit not a Batman-sized one), and racked up three Oscars as well as nominations for Best Supporting Actor (for Al Pacino’s scenery-chewing turn as Big Boy Caprice), Cinematography, Costume Design, and Sound Design.

But Dick Tracy had a difficult journey. Bouncing around between studios and...

Written by Max Allan Collins | Art by Marcelo Salaza, Marcio Freire | Published by Titan Comics

This has been something of a romp, albeit a noir romp, and has been very enjoyable because of that. No high brow entertainment here, Collins has gone for crowd pleasing guns, fights, dames, and sex. Can’t really go wrong with that I guess. I’ve been a little torn between enjoying the delights spread out before me each month, and wishing for that little bit extra to distinguish this from the crowd, to add a little cherry on top of a decent dessert. This series of course was never meant to reinvent the wheel, just showcase Mike Hammer and to an extent Mickey Spillane, and that it does extremely well.

So, where were we? Mike has got caught up with client Helen Venn, on the run from gangster boss Carmen Rich who thinks she has $10 million of his money.

Written by Max Allan Collins | Art by Marcelo Salaza, Marcio Freire | Published by Titan Comics

Before jumping into the review proper, a quick observation about recap pages or ‘what’s come before’ text in the front of books. As readers, we both like and need them. I reviewed the first issue of Mike Hammer a couple of months ago, but managed to miss issue 2 along the way, real life intruding as it does on your time. So, I sit down to start reading Issue 3, expecting a few brief lines of recap on Page 1. Nothing. Nada. As I read quite a few comics every month, I’m not really able to pick up everything from two issues ago, then fill in the gaps as to what happened last issue, and jump in to this issue. As a consequence, I can review the issue in front of me, but may be missing some ongoing plots.

Written by Max Allan Collins | Art by Marcelo Salaza, Marcio Freire | Published by Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics

I’m guessing pretty much everyone has heard of Mickey Spillane, even those not really fans of the hardboiled detective genre, which he practically invented. When Mickey Spillane’s most famous character, Mike Hammer, first hit the stands it ramped up the levels of sex and violence previously seen and became a huge success. Although mainly a comics guy, I do dabble a little in genre fiction, sci-fi, horror, detective noir etc and have always had a soft spot for Mickey Spillane and Mike Hammer. The soft spot for Mickey Spillane comes from the fact he got his start in comics, where he wrote a ton of stuff for a lot of publishers in the early 1940′s. My soft spot for Mike Hammer? Two reasons.

Firstly, I remember watching, and loving, that...

Titan Comics' imprint 'Hard Case' will release "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" #1, June 27, 2018, written by Spillane, Max Allan Collins ("Road To Perdition") and illustrated by Marcelo Salaza, with covers by Robert McGinnis, Alex Ronald and Mack Chater:

"...in 1946, Mickey Spillane, an established comic-book writer, worked with illustrator Mike Roy to create the private-eye character 'Mike Danger' for a proposed comic-book or comic-strip publication. Unable to sell the project as a comic, he reworked the story as the novel 'I, the Jury', converting Mike Danger to 'Mike Hammer'.

"While other hardboiled heroes bend and manipulate the law, Hammer often views it as an impediment to justice, the one virtue he holds in absolute esteem. Hammer nevertheless has a strong respect for the majority of police, realizing they have a difficult job and their hands are frequently tied by the law when trying to stop criminals..."

Click the images to enlarge...

The Titan Comics' imprint 'Hard Case' will release "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" #1, June 27, 2018, written by Spillane, Max Allan Collins ("Road To Perdition") and illustrated by Marcelo Salaza, with covers by Robert McGinnis, Alex Ronald and Mack Chater:

"...in 1946, Mickey Spillane, an established comic-book writer, worked with illustrator Mike Roy to create the private-eye character 'Mike Danger' for a proposed comic-book or comic-strip publication. Unable to sell the project as a comic, he reworked the story as the novel 'I, the Jury', converting Mike Danger to 'Mike Hammer'.

"While other hardboiled heroes bend and manipulate the law, Hammer often views it as an impediment to justice, the one virtue he holds in absolute esteem. Hammer nevertheless has a strong respect for the majority of police, realizing they have a difficult job and their hands are frequently tied by the law when trying to stop criminals..."

Click the images to...

By Giacomo Selloni

Published for the first time anywhere, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Mickey Spillane's birth, come two short novels in the same book. "The Last Stand" (Spillane's final novel) is preceded by "A Bullet for Satisfaction," an unfinished manuscript that was finalized by Spillane's long-time collaborator Max Allan Collins. Both stories are satisfying reads. The book has been published by the Hard Case Crime imprint from Titan Books.

Mickey Spillane is best known for his character Mike Hammer, the fictional P.I. that redefined the "action hero" and spawned countless imitators. Unlike private investigators before him, Mike Hammer was a merciless executor of villains who slept with countless beautiful, willing women. Sound like anyone we know? The first Mike Hammer novel, "I, The Jury," was published in 1947, six years prior to Ian Fleming's James Bond debut, "Casino Royale." It may be argued that if Fleming...

Titan Comics' "Quarry's War" #4, available March 14, 2018, is written by Max Allan Collins ("Road To Perdition") and illustrated by Edu Menna, with covers by Menna and Mack Chater:

"...when his latest target turns out to be an old acquaintance from his military days...

"...a former soldier battles against his own conscience, as secrets from the past slowly reveal themselves..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Road To Perdition"...

Hard-boiled Hammer

By Raymond Benson

As 2018 is the official centenary of Mickey Spillane, we at Cinema Retro thought it would be a good idea to examine this excellent digest of the author’s works on the silver screen and on television.

Author and filmmaker Max Allan Collins (probably best-known for writing the graphic novel Road to Perdition, the basis of the 2002 film, but also author of 100+ other books) is the literary executor for the estate of Mickey Spillane. Not only has he co-written this excellent “bedside companion” on Spillane’s big-and-small screen adaptations, Collins has co-authored/finished manuscripts originally begun by Spillane before his death in 2006 at the age of 88. Co-author James L. Traylor has also had a long career of writing critical analyses on crime authors and novels. One can be confident, then, that in Mickey Spillane on Screen, the authors know what they’re talking about.

Mickey Spillane...

To celebrate the centenary year of Mickey Spillane, Titan Comics have announced Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, a brand-new Hard Case Crime comic book series, based on a story originally written by Mickey Spillane and adapted by Max Allan Collins (Road To Perdition, Quarry’s War) – coming in June 2018.

Following his debut novel, I, The Jury in 1947 (which was also made into a fantastic movie in 1982), Mickey Spillane became one of the best-selling novelists of all-time, with more than 225 million copies of his books sold internationally. Famed, yet controversial for the depictions of sex and violence in his novels, Spillane created Mike Hammer, one of the most famous of all fictional detectives, and even starred as Hammer in one of the many movies made from his books.

Entitled “The Night I Died,” Titan’s new comic series is based on an unproduced 1950s Spillane screenplay. Now, with this new comic book series,...

Written by Max Allan Collins | Art by Szymon Kudranski | Published by Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics

When the Hard Case Crime imprint arrived on the scene, it wasn’t a question of if, but when, they published something by Max Allan Collins. Collins is something of a star in several fields, but is probably best known for writing the graphic novel Road to Perdition, which later became a pretty good film with Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. Me, I love him for his stint writing Batman, his comic book private eye, Ms Tree, and his work on Dick Tracy. He’s also written for TV shows like CSI, there’s no doubting the man loves his crime fiction. All that being said, I have never read the novels or seen the TV show Quarry on which this is based, so am going into this review blind. Let’s take a look.

Titan Comics and Hard Case Crime have announced that Babylon Berlin, the original graphic novel that inspired this Autumn’s hit TV show – available on Netflix – arrives in comic book stores on January 3rd 2018.

Written and illustrated by Arne Jysch, based on the original novel by Volker Kutscher, Babylon Berlin is set in the 1920s, at the birth of the Weimar Republic, amid great economic and political difficulties. Babylon Berlin is a tale of corruption, trafficking, and scandal. Following an unfortunate incident of manslaughter and at a moment of radical change in Germany, Detective Inspector Gereon Rath moves to Berlin. He stumbles upon an ever-growing criminal investigation into a sex ring, discovering that he can trust no one, not even the police.

Perfect for fans of crime thrillers, world history and political satire, Babylon Berlin will fall under Titan Comics’ Hard Case Crime imprint, whose previous publications include Peepland, Triggerman,...

This November, acclaimed comic writer/novelist Max Allan Collins’ smash hit Quarry series makes the leap to comics for the first time ever – from Titan Comics and Hard Case Crime – in an all-new series titled Quarry’s War.

Titan Comics’ new Quarry series marks the first time that the franchise explores the comic book medium. The comic follows the lead character from the critically acclaimed Cinemax TV show, which The Washington Post said had “a heart-breaking sense of soul.” Penned by Collins, whose other work includes Batman, Dick Tracy, Ms. Tree, and the groundbreaking graphic novel Road to Perdition, which inspired the Academy Award-winning film starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, Quarry’s War is illustrated by artist Szymon Kudranski (Batman: Streets of Gotham, Spider-Man, Spawn).

From the press release:

In Quarry’s War, former U.S. Marine sniper Quarry has recently returned from the horrors of the Vietnam War,...

I’m still reeling – in a good way – from Syracuse’s Salt City Comic-Con. It was a fantastic comic convention where I had way too much fun. And I’ve got some observations to share with you about it, but they’ll have to wait until next week.

This week I like to share some of the treasures I found at the show.

Let’s start with the “full disclosure” routine. I’m at the point where my comic collection is way too large, and I’ve been taking the steps to prune it back over the last few years. I’ve found this process difficult to adjust to, but my wife and I are in that downsizing mode. Surprisingly, I’m finding that maybe I am not that much of a hoarder after all. I actually feel better when I get rid of stuff.

But… I can’t help...

I’m a sucker for crime fiction, whether it’s served up by Raymond Chandler or by Harlan Coben. As a kid, my passion for adventure stories started it all. But like a Chevy Impala on a rain-soaked highway, my interest slid all over the road. I’d devour mysteries, detective novels, pulps and crime thrillers.

In the world of comics, lately we’ve been treated to outstanding fantastic crime thrillers. Ed Brubaker leads the way, of course, with his various crime noir and spy series. Greg Rucka’s stuff is always fun and I hope Oni publishes more Stumptown soon. And other publishers, like Dynamite, Idw, and Boom! Studios have been providing strong contributions as well.

In the traditional book world, Hard Case Crime has been on the forefront of hardboiled crime fiction. Charles Ardai is the man behind it all, and he combines his love for this genre...

Network: Cinemax Episodes: Eight (hour)Seasons: OneTV show dates: September 9, 2016 -- October 28, 2016Series status: CancelledPerformers include: Logan Marshall-Green, Jodi Balfour, Peter Mullan, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Edoardo Ballerini, and Damon Herriman.TV show description: Based on the novels of Max Allan Collins, this crime drama takes place in Memphis and follows the story of Mac Conway (Logan Marshall-Green), a Marine who returns home to Memphis from Vietnam in 1972. He finds himself shunned by those he loves and demonized by the public. Read More…...

It's official. The Quarry TV show has been cancelled by Cinemax. Michael D. Fuller, who created the post-Vietnam War drama with Graham Gordy, announced the Quarry cancellation on his blog. Apparently, they've already tried to shop the TV series to other outlets, but were not successful. Based on the Max Allan Collins novels, Quarry stars Logan Marshall-Green as Marine Mac Conway, who returns to Memphis in 1972. The Cinemax drama also stars Jodi Balfour, Peter Mullan, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Edoardo Ballerini, and Damon Herriman. Read More…...

Quarry will not be returning for Season 2 — on Cinemax or any alternative outlet, series co-creator Michael D. Fuller confirmed on Wednesday.

RelatedCable/Streaming Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Cancelled? What’s On the Bubble?

Based on the novels of Max Allan Collins, the drama starred Logan Marshall-Green as Mac Conway, a Marine who after being shunned upon his return from Vietnam in 1972 gets drawn into a network of killing and corruption. TVLine readers gave the September premiere an average grade of “B+.”

“After a protracted and agonizing process, we have final confirmation that Quarry will not be returning to television,...

Our pal, Max Allan Collins, has been writing stories about Quarry, the Vietnam veteran turned cold hitman, since 1976. Now Quarry is also a Cinemax series and our friends at the premium channel have given us a copy of Quarry the Complete First Season to give away.

To be considered for the prize, tell us what you find most appealing about the series, its premise and characters. We’re looking for interesting, well-considered commentary about the show not just a dashed off one-liner.

We want your entries no later than 11:59 p.m., Friday, February 10. The contest is open to United States and Canadian residents only and the decision of ComicMix‘s judges is final.

Set in and around Memphis during the early 1970s, Quarry is a thrilling action drama that centers on the character of Mac Conway, a Marine who returns home from a second tour of duty in Vietnam.

In December I (foolishly) jumped into the latest Nate Heller detective story, Better Dead, by Max Allan Collins. This book has nothing to do with the Holiday Season. This book has nothing to do with making oneself better or preparing for the New Year’s challenges. In fact, this book is so enthralling it distracted me from my Yuletide tasks and annual planning. Better Dead is just a fun book. As with other adventures in this series, the author places his hero in a real-life historical hotspot, bringing to light a fascinating true-life story with new insights.

Kind of like the musical Hamilton without the rap musical and colonial wigs.

ComicMix’s “Grand Poobah”, Mike Gold, once famously quipped “if you only read one Max Allan Collins book this month, make it this one.” He was teasing about the author’s prolific writing. The talented ‘true crime’ and detective scribe produces so many books.

New York, N.Y., December 12, 2016 – Season 1 of the “wildly entertaining” (TV Guide) Cinemax® series Quarry, loosely based on the novels of Max Allan Collins set in and around Memphis, is set to make its home entertainment debut on February 14, 2017. Starring Logan Marshall-Green as Mac Conway, this “impressively flawless” (Washington Post) series follows two soldiers’ return home from a second tour of duty in Vietnam. Quarry: The Complete First Season will be available to own on Blu-rayTM ($34.98) and DVD ($24.98), packed with bonus content including more than two dozen deleted scenes and new footage of interviews where Mac and his comrades testify to the events that led up to their discharge from the Marines. DVD and Blu-rayTM will also include a Digital Download copy.

Set in and around Memphis during the early 1970s, Quarry is a thrilling action drama that centers on the character of Mac Conway, a Marine who returns...

Louisa Mellor Dec 12, 2016

We’ve taken a pen to the UK Christmas TV and radio schedules and circled the shows we’re looking forward to. Add yours below!

Amid the cosy repeats, big movies and inescapable cranberry-stuffed cookery shows on TV this month are a few original gems. Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s Inside No. 9 festive special The Devil Of Christmas (Tuesday the 27th of December, 10pm, BBC Two) is top of our must-watch list. Hot on its heels is Yonderland’s family friendly Yonder Yuletide (Saturday the 24th of December, 6.30pm, Sky One). Another for families on Sky is the Christmas Day Jasper Fforde adaptation The Last Dragonslayer, while Channel 4 has the non-festive-but-essential-for-fans-of smart-sci-fi Humans series two finale (Sunday the 18th of December, 9pm).

See related James Cameron's Avatar: five years on Avatar review

Not to forget, of course, the Doctor Who Christmas Special, a brand-new series of Sherlock,...

As of last Monday night, Warner Bros grew a Superman problem. That’s the night that Supergirl started its second season on its new home, the CW… where one could argue that it always belonged anyway. The show guest starred Supergirl’s cousin, Superman, embodied on TV by Tyler Hoechlin.

If you don’t already know, DC – unlike Marvel – does not link its movie universe and its TV universe. Since DC Comics is currently in the Multiple Universe concept once more, it might help to think of their TV and movie universes as alternate dimensions. So we can have two Flashes, two Wonder Women – and two versions of Superman.

The DC movie version of Superman, as shown in Man of Steel and Superman vs. Batman: Dawn of Justice Whaddee Do Dah, is played by Henry Cavill and is a darker, more brooding, somewhat more Batman-ish Superman. His costume is also darker,...

Fans of Max Allan Collins have enjoyed a dozen stories of Quarry, the Vietnam veteran who becomes a hit man in the ’70s, with another on the way. This fall, they can see the charater come to life in their own homes with Cinemax’s new series Quarry. Logan-Marshall Green plays Mac Conway, dubbed Quarry by the […]

The post Interview: ‘Quarry’ Showrunner Greg Yaitanes on the One-Take Shot That Will Top ‘True Detective’ appeared first on /Film.

In an interview with Filmmaker Magazine, Dean Fleischer-Camp described the tone of his 2014 web series “Catherine” as “The New Banality.” With “David,” he adds yet another gem to his self-described banal canon.

The five-episode series premiered yesterday on Super Deluxe and stars Nathan Fielder (“Nathan For You”) as David, a recently-fired divorcee, as we learn from an uncannily accurate Tarot reader (Sally Berman). David’s vacantly concerned psychic tells him that he has a “black stone, like a rock, growing every minute” in his chest. If he doesn’t get rid of it, his body will de-compose in five weeks — hence the five episodes.

Read More: Comedy Studio Super Deluxe Signs Stephen Gaghan As Executive Producer

His search for answers leads to a therapist (who stuffs David’s last bill into an overflowing money drawer), an unhelpful priest (“Sometimes the Bible is really vague”) and a small-time baseball game. After...