Pulp Culture

One of the most-licensed franchises ever, The Simpsons has yielded more than 50 video games, the vast majority of which aren’t really any good. Now along comes Hit & Run, which is a nice spin on the whole idea: The Simpsons meets Grand Theft Auto. You play a variety of characters from the show who grab whatever car’s in sight and embark on a series of reckless driving missions and urban mayhem. On the upside you’ve got strong vocal performances from everyone in the regular cast, and a meticulously detailed rendition of seemingly every square inch of Springfield. My favorite is the long tunnel leading to the secret lair of the Stonecutters. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the same intense replay value as the Grand Theft Auto series. The secrets in each level are basic and not that interesting; most of them are in-gags from specific episodes of the series. But the gameplay is hellaciously fun while it lasts, and it’s an entertaining rental.
— Paul F. P. Pogue

Artificial Flowers, self-published by Indianapolis’ Tony Consiglio, tells the life story of singing legend Bobby Darin. Consiglio’s spare black-and-white art style is oddly deceptive, luring the reader in with unassuming images and then hitting in the gut. The cover, a silhouette of Darin slumping at a microphone, says it all. Consiglio rolls through Darin’s tragic and complicated life with surprising ease and precise editing; like a film montage, it covers years at a time in single panels. Consiglio’s work embraces dark comedy and tragedy in equal measure, right up until the nervous laughs evoked by the final panel. Artificial Flowers and other works by Consiglio are available at local comic shops.
—PFPP

Full Metal Panic! 01
3 1/2 stars

One of the first releases from ADV Films’ spankin’ new manga imprint is Full Metal Panic! ADV Films is also releasing the anime on DVD and putting out a very well-done series guide. Part of the reason for the big push is that FMP! stands out as one of those rare stories with a bit for everyone. Combining high-school humor with spy thriller subterfuge and giant robot action, FMP! pretty much covers the bases. Overzealous undercover agent Sosuke Sagara is wrecking Kaname Chidori’s social life, but she doesn’t realize that he’s there to protect her from terrorists that want to kidnap her for her heretofore unrevealed special powers. By turns goofy and action-packed, this one has lots of places to go.
—Troy Brownfield

William Friedkin: Films of Aberration, Obsession and Reality
By Thomas D. Clagett
3 stars

Considering the time of year, I figured it was appropriate to discuss this rumination on the director behind one of the greatest scary movies of all, The Exorcist. The book paints Friedkin as a singularly driven talent, but one whose personality conflicts often result in flaws in the work. Still, for every Deal of the Century in his repertoire, the man has given us the aforementioned classic, The French Connection and the underrated yet brilliant To Live and Die in L.A. Clagett may not make Friedkin likeable, or help us understand the choices in The Guardian or Jade, but he paints an interesting picture of the creative mind.
—TB

Enemy Ace: War in Heaven
4 stars

Few comics writers grasp the intricacies of World War II as well as Irish crazyman Garth Ennis. Ennis, the talent behind Preacher and Hitman, and artist Chris Weston update Hans Von Hammer, DC’s honorable German fighter pilot. Von Hammer has grown increasingly disgusted with the Nazi agenda; his loyalty is to the enlisted men under his command and the higher ideals that he’d like to serve. The volume contains a special bonus: an old-school Enemy Ace tale by two giant talents, original writer Robert Kanigher and artist Joe Kubert. Fans of solid war films or history in general should truly enjoy War in Heaven.
—TB