Our end-o’-week roundup of what you missed while working for The Man!
Reading through The New York Times’ Sunday Book Review today, I can’t help but draw comparisons between that venerable institution and our humble (but better) site. Really, what would you rather read: an overlong look Allen Ginsberg’s life and work, or Bruce Grossman’s savaging of L. Ron Hubbard’s SLAVES OF SLEEP? (This week was like Christmas, Halloween and President’s Day combined for L. Ron followers, but Grossman just doesn’t care. He’s that much of a badass.) Sure, the NYT reviewed books about SCREW magazine, Alice Denham’s sexual romp through the 1950s literary scene and Charles Bukowski, but SHANNA, THE SHE-DEVIL is strangely absent. What a bunch of stuffed shirts.
HOLY SHE-DEVIL!
I don’t know what crossroads Frank Cho used to sell his soul to Satan, but it sure paid off. Rod Lott can’t stop thinking about Cho’s SHANNA, THE SHE-DEVIL, and for good reason. You see, Shanna is a primitive (but sexy) woman created in a Nazi lab. When U.S. troops manage to rescue her (but not her clothes) from said lab, it becomes clear that, primitive ways aside, there’s something we can learn from Shanna: namely, how to kill the dinosaurs left over from hideous Nazi experiments! Shanna, in turn, learns the ins and outs of sexual harassment from the U.S. troops, and hilarity ensues. In the end, I get the impression that the story might not matter that much to Rod, because Cho’s artistry has long since turned him into a slobbering fool. That’s a good thing, BTW.
FRED UP
We’re nothing here at BOOKGASM if not classy, thanks in part to Marvelous Mark Rose, who acts as a conduit between classy and crass in more ways than one. Last week he schooled us on the ins and outs of work translated into English, and the gist of it is this: If you aren’t a superstar, it ain’t happening, mon ami. Beyond that is his review of SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR, which involves:
• Dour Frenchmen
• The possibility of werewolves
• A girl named Fred
Spooky, eh? Well, Rose liked it, and a recommendation from him is a sure sign that this book transcends normal crappy pretentiousness and is actually readable and good. Plus, the title is totally bitchin’.
‘TOSS’ OFF
Americans constantly are reviled for being the lowbrow chimps of global society, so why is it that the lowest of the lowbrow always comes from across the pond? Case in point: MODERN TOSS, a “comic” that makes SOUTH PARK look like MAUS. Rod hated the majority of it, and, having seen it before, I have to agree. It’s tangential humor at best, and words like “simple” and “stupid” give it too much credit. There’s the distinct possibility that the whole concept is a joke on the general public, and if that’s true, it’s hilarious. Otherwise, keep the gratuitous swearing to yourselves, assholes.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Say “Stark House double edition” in Bruce Grossman’s vicinity, and see what happens. He’ll act casual at first. “Oh, did you mention Stark House? They’re great. New double edition, you say? WILD TO POSSESS / A TASTE FOR SIN? By Gil Brewer? Interesting.” As the conversation progresses, his pupils will dilate and veins will pop out of his forehead as he slavers over the possibility of more noir excellence from one of his favorite publishing houses. But don’t tease him: You’d better give up the goods at that point, or he’s likely to give you a Berlin Necktie with his straight razor.
IT’S HARD OUT THERE FOR A PULP
It’s really nice when the things you have been a secret geek about for years finally get some time in the public eye. Thanks mostly to BOOKGASM and THE CHINATOWN DEATH CLOUD PERIL, there’s been a resurgence in interest among the general reading public for the pulp magazines of the early 20th century. Doug Bentin recommends Peter Manning’s THE CLASSIC ERA OF AMERICAN PULP MAGAZINES as an excellent primer to the pulp phenomenon, and I for one can’t wait to get my hands on it. Chock-full of interesting historical tidbits and pictures of women chained up and destined for diabolical deaths, this is a great addition to the coffee table of the BOOKGASM devotee close to your heart this Christmas (hint). Bentin manages to use the phrase “cornucopia of delights,” which is the first time I’ve seen that phrase used describing something other than a strip club.
As you’ve seen, we do a lot of slavering and/or slobbering here at BOOKGASM, and I’m no apologist. You want us out there every day, slavering and slobbering, looking for the best books for today’s BOOKGASM reader. Have a happy holiday this week, and remember: Every Thanksgiving feast is better with SHANNA, THE SHE-DEVIL. –Ryun Patterson
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