Review: Buck Danny Volume 7 Missing in Action
Tom Hanks is one of the most iconic actors of recent memory, who fits a type of actor, who rarely get celebrated, the character actor. Very few including Hanks com to mind other than Samuel L Jackson and Luis Guzman. All these actors blend right into heir character without any expectation for fanfare, yet that is where their star quality lies, in the life they give their characters. One of Hanks’ most memorable characters just so happens to exist in real life, Charlie Wilson.
The movie, Charlie Wilson’s War was about a sly politician who took a special interest in the war in Afghanistan, one that would have an adverse effect. The full force of that effect would not bee seen for years what was used as a weapon became the biggest reason no one has been successful against the insurgents for years to come. Much of what makes it difficult to fight in that country, is the terrain. The seventh volume of Buck Danny goes undercover in Afghanistan to rescue an agent lost behind enemy lines.
We catchup with our heroes, back stateside, as they enjoy being back home and keeping up their flight qualifications. They get pulled into the base commander’s office to take on a n undercover mission, one that would test their skills and their humanity. Tumb becomes embedded in another part of the country, not knowing the very person the crew was looking for was right beside him all along. By book’s end, Buck uncovers secret double agent and the CIA agent is recovered.
Overall, both a fun and fast paced installment to this underrated series about fighter pilots. The story by Francis Bergese is action packed and entertaining. The art by Bergese is joy to look at. Altogether, so far, the best book in the series, as Bergese shows his expertise as both the artist and writer of this book.
Story: Francis Bergese Art: Francis Bergese
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
When I was in the military, one of the most interesting experiences I had a chance to do was work alongside foreign military. This happened on a few occasions where we had to pull into the that country’s military base or some other occasion. I remember when we pulled into Toulon, France, our counterparts there treated us better than if we pulled into an American base. I remember going onto their version of an aircraft carrier, a ship called Charles De Gaulle, where me and my Chief were both surprised at their hospitality, as they gave us wine to drink while eating chow on board their vessel.
I remember growing up, I loved history, so basically consumed everything history related. Especially American History, as every day, historians are finding out new facts every day, as I pretty consumed with everything American Revolution related and Civil War related. Eventually I would branch out to other countries histories, and to what I have come to call, self-knowledge. Knowing where your family is from and your family’s roots to those places, became part of identity, much like every child.
Tom Cruise is one of those actors, where his movies always make san impression on you. Who could not forget his memorable turn in Tropic Thunder, playing a character, who looks nothing like him. Then there is his turn as an uppity Public relations officer he played in Edge of Tomorrow, which some may say is the natural progression of the character he played in Top Gun. There is also the rebooted version of Ethan Hunt, in Mission impossible movies, something is really either hit or miss.
“Dereliction of duty” is one of those things when I was in the military, I never heard anyone getting in trouble for. People would get in trouble, but not for the things they would in the movies or television. In fact, movies like Top Gun although entertaining are not very realistic. I remember joining the Navy, 20 years after that movie, and I would work with officers who said they went to flight school because of that movie.
The Americans on FX, is one of those shows that both interesting and nostalgic. The storyline revolves around two planted USSR agents in 1980s Virginia, much like the brilliantly under watched Little Nikita. It romanticizes an era in our country and really in our world, that many movies and tv shows tend to parody, but really it was kind of magical. Growing up in that era, I think back on how much of how the times was just leaving the style and rational of the 1970s and the much more liberal philosophy of the 1980s.
Being someone who grew up loving and watching movies, I can honestly say there are few actors, where most of their movies were good. In fact, for the most part, most actors I have watched up to this day, barely make 50% their films to be decent. One of the most iconic performers of our time, Denzel Washington, is around that 50th percentile, and I can count on my hands and toes, how many movies I loved him in. Some actors, even in their short time around, exceeded this threshold, and did so exceedingly well.