Author Archive: Laurence Boyce
Laurence Boyce is a film journalist who likes Bond, Batman and Doctor Who (just to prove the things he enjoys things that don't just start with a 'B'). He is also a film programmer for various film festivals in the UK and abroad.
Marvel Platinum: The Definitive Ant Man And The Wasp (graphic novel review).
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the characters Ant Man and the Wasp have become something of a symbol of light relief. The epic and heavy events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ contrasting with the subsequent and relatively comedic and intimate Ant Man and the Wasp. This latest Marvel Platinum collection shows the insect-monikered duo in a […]
Star Wars – A New Hope: The 40th Anniversary by Stuart Immonen, Adi Granov and Kevin Wada (graphic novel review).
Marvel and ‘Star Wars’ have always had a strong relationship. In 1977, a comicbook adaptation was based on ‘A New Hope’ and swiftly followed by a monthly title that continued the adventures of Luke Skywalker and friends. Massively successful, ‘Star Wars’ continued at Marvel until 1986. A popular run for the title followed by the […]
Marvel Platinum: The Definitive Deadpool Reloaded by Fabian Niceieza, Joe Kelly, Daniel Way, et al. (graphic novel review).
‘The Definitive Deadpool Reloaded’, the ‘Reloaded’ part meaning it’s another collection, so even more ‘Definitive’ then before, is something of a cheat. It should really be called ‘the Definitive Cable’. Sadly for the futuristic, time travelling, funny-eyed son of Cyclops, he’s not as famous as the ‘merc with a mouth’. So, unless recent hit film […]
Doctor Who: Land Of The Blind by Scott Gray, Dan Abnett, Lee Sullivan, Martin Geraghty, Graten Roberts & Nick Briggs (graphic novel review).
After being off the air for four years, ‘Doctor Who Monthly’ changed its approach to its traditional comic-strip which, at the time, were continuing the adventures of the Seventh Doctor and often tied into the range of Virgin ‘New Adventures’ stories. With Virgin about to debut the ‘Missing Adventures’, it was time to dip the […]
The Originals – The Essential Edition by Dave Gibbons (graphic novel review).
Dave Gibbons’ has been one of the most prominent names in sequential art history. He was a regular contributor to ‘2000AD’ since Prog 1 (co-creating ‘Rogue Trooper’, 4 years later) and an important part of ‘Doctor Who Weekly/Monthly’ working as its lead artist for many years from the magazine’s inception. Most famously, his aesthetic, which […]
Star Wars: From A Certain Point Of View, by various (book review).
Alan Dean Foster started it all with ‘Splinter In The Mind’s Eye’. After ghost-writing the original Star Wars novelisation and before the idea of a ‘franchise’ was even born, he crafted a follow-on story for Luke Skywalker and co. that involved Darth Vader, mysterious force amplifying crystals and a rather-unfortunate-in-hindsight kiss between Luke and Leia. […]
Forever And A Day by Anthony Horowitz (book review).
After crafting a ‘sequel’ to Ian Fleming’s ‘Goldfinger’ (see more at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/trigger-mortis-by-anthony-horowitz-book-review/), Anthony Horowitz continues to extend the literary Bond universe with a prequel to Bond’s first literary outing ‘Casino Royale’. The pleasures promised by ‘Forever And A Day’ are, aside from the usual heady mix of sex, sadism and sensory overload, in seeing how […]
The 007 Diaries: Filming Live And Let Die by Roger Moore (book review).
As ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ faded into the cinematic past, and Sean Connery walked off into the sunset with a large amount of EON Production’s cash, it was time for a new era in the Bond franchise. Enter Roger Moore, who had made his name on TV shows such as ‘The Saint’ and ‘The Persuaders’ who […]
Punisher: Suicide Run by Steven Grant, Chuck Dixon and Larry Hama (graphic novel review).
While it’s easy to dismiss ‘The Punisher’ as little more than a right-wing fantasy writ large, those who followed the character’s titles during his late 80s/early 90s heyday would find that there was a little more substance. Some stories dealt with important issues of the day, an issue dealing with flag burning, at the time […]
Doctor Who Vol. 25: Doorway To Hell by Mark Wright (graphic novel review).
There was a certain ‘old school’ feeling to Peter Capaldi’s portrayal of the Doctor. Eschewing the youthful air of his recent predecessors, Capaldi was a throwback to the gruff air of William Hartnell alongside the genuine ‘alien-ness’ of Tom Baker. This collection of ‘Doctor Who Monthly’ comicstrips, published just after the strip and the TV […]
