Book Review: THE SHADOW: GRAY FIST. By Walter B. Gibson *** out of four

A fan favorite, Gray Fist is an action-packed if thinly plotted The Shadow adventure, which benefits from a break-neck pace and a villain who almost brings The Shadow to his knees. Twists and turns aplenty.

© Ahmed Khalifa. 2019.

Review: The Society: Season 1 (2019) *** out of four

The Society (2019) begins with a whimper. A bunch of seemingly uninteresting teens return to their idyllic small town from a school trip to find all the grown-ups gone. Further investigation reveals that the town is now surrounded by an endless forest that leads nowhere. Havoc ensues.

The concept reads like Lord of the Flies meets Riverdale, and after viewing the mediocre pilot and the forgettable second episode, you wouldn't be wrong to think so. But then the cast starts to shine, the characters grow dimensions, and the writing gels. And The Society turns into something special.

I won't spoil the twists and turns of the plot for you, but suffice it to say that this is a clever, original, occasionally brilliant drama, that takes the teen-drama format and uses it as a launching pad to address weighty issues, world politics, and examine the things that make any modern society thrive or fail. It also has some of the best written dialogue on TV (or OTT) since forever, and isn't above using some classic tropes like "who shot that girl?" and "who will eat the poisoned pie?", and then spinning them over their heads.

The cast, aside from a miscast Rachel Keller, is terrific, especially Kathryn Newton as Allie, whose character goes through a serpentine and demanding arc that Newton pulls off admirably.

But the show isn't perfect. Sometimes the characters behave in ways that belie their age, with creator Christopher Keyser and co. seemingly forgetting that the characters are supposed to be teens, after all, and not elderly statesmen. And things get a little po-faced every once in a while, threatening to spoil the delicate alchemy that makes the show so unique and smart. Also, the final episode, despite ending with a final kicker of a twist that hints at dark and strange things to come, doesn't pack the punch it should.

But, ultimately, The Society: Season 1 is an original, entertaining, and wonderfully thought-provoking show that warrants your attention.

© Ahmed Khalifa. 2019

Review: THE SHADOW: MOX. By Walter B. Gibson ** out of four

Minor entry in The Shadow cannon, with a couple of interesting twists. But it's more of a standard mystery story, pretty much of its time, with The Shadow making a few appearances. Readable but forgettable.

© Ahmed Khalifa. 2019.

Review: Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Omnibus Volume 1 (2012) ** and 1\2 out of four

When it was announced that Clive Barker was returning to his Hellraiser universe for the first time since Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), fans around the world rejoiced. Barker and co. promised to bring the franchise back to its glory days of the 80s, and deliver something truly special. After finishing the five volumes that make up this saga, I'm left with ambivalent feelings about the whole thing.

The story begins promisingly enough, with Kirsty Cotton, the heroine of the novella The Hellbound Heart and the first two Hellraiser movies (she was also featured in 2002's Hellraiser: Hellseeker in a very minor role) and her team of "Harrowers" searching for all of Le Marchand's toys and devices and destroying them in an attempt to close the gateways to hell, forever. Then we realize that the Hell Priest a.k.a Pinhead is seemingly tired of hell and his mission, and wants to become human again. And the only way to do that is to find a replacement. To say anymore would be unfair.

The story features twists and turns aplenty, some of them terrific, others hackneyed and contrived. But, for me, the story derails completely with the fourth volume, as the storytelling becomes bigger and bigger (or more epic, if you like), and the plot becomes annoyingly convoluted and overblown.

It is obvious that Barker, who likes things "big", uses the comic book format to do things he knows he'll probably never get a chance to do in a feature or TV show: epic set pieces and extravagant special effects. But it's all to the detriment of the storytelling, with the Hellraiser mythos transforming into an epic dark fantasy adventure, replete with battleships and government conspiracies.

There's a lot to like about this series, including some terrific artwork, some neat twists, surprise appearances by characters from the entire Hellraiser universe, and the return of Barker's unique voice, which has been sorely missing from the franchise for decades. But, ultimately, this is a somewhat disappointing experience, with a true letdown of an ending. Also, be warned: it ends on a cliffhanger.

Review: Stranger Things 2 (The Complete Second Season) ** and a 1\2 out of four

I wasn't a huge fan of the first season of Stranger Things. So going into the second season, my expectations weren't that high to begin with.

If you liked the first season, you will like Stranger Things 2. If you didn't, well, you won't like this so one much, either. It continues to be one of the most technically polished and lavishly produced events on TV (or OTT platforms), and the cast is eminently likable. But if you thought the first season was derivative, watch out, Stranger Things 2 is one big ball of cliches and blockbuster cues.

The writing this time around is surprisingly lazy, even by the show's standards, and the plot is paper thin and annoyingly contrived. Yes, the credentials all around are impeccable, but the whole show, from the get go, is pretty directionless. You get monsters, endearing characters with almost nothing interesting to do, and plenty of mindless action (blockbuster quality stuff, for sure, but mindless nonetheless). If that's your thing, then Stranger Things 2 is for you. But I'd rather watch something with a little more originality and heart.

To me, Stranger Things is a show for people who like 80s kitsch, but don't really know or care what made the 80s so special. It wasn't just style and big, loud movies, folks. It was the heart, the writing, and the attitude, all things Stranger Things sorely lack.

Book Review: The Shadow: The Golden Master. By Walter B. Gibson *** out of four

Featuring The Shadow's arch-enemy, Shiwan Khan, and with nonstop action from the first page, The Golden Master is an enjoyable, if forgettable, read, with a fascinating villain with psychic powers, who is strangely underused. It is the basis for the 1994 film adaptation starring Alec Baldwin. Shiwan Khan next appears in the superior Shiwan Khan Returns.

Book Review: THE SHADOW: MOBSMEN ON THE SPOT By Walter B. Gibson. ** and 1\2 out of ****

Fast-paced, action-packed adventure, with plenty of impressive action set-pieces and chase sequences. It also serves as a backstory for Cliff Marsland, one of the most prominent agents of The Shadow. Recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.