Destroyer #141: Frightening Strikes by Tim Somheil (2005)
Tuesday, 28. March 2006, 11:40:33
With Gold Eagle cancelling The Destroyer, their supply of books to overseas shops has been sporadic at best. Which means that living in Australia as I do, I don't get my Destroyers very often.
So to go to my bookshop and find a new Destroyer waiting for me was pretty exciting. Sadly I was left disappointed by this book. Don't get me wrong I don't mind Tim Somheil's writing, brings a certain pulp sensibility to the table, which is a good thing but in this installment he fumbles the most important part of The Destroyer - Remo and Chuin. Neither felt "right" to me. There was no bickering, Chuin feigns being a senile old man. Ugh, Chuin would never lower himself to playing senile, the brilliance of Chuin is that people assume that he is this weak little old man and act accordingly and whammo Chuin gets them. Chuin never has to put on an act, his appearance is enough.
Which brings us to the Koh-Mo-No. I have no issues with Chuin hawking this fashion statement but Somheil does it for the wrong reasons. Apparantly, Smith has been on Chuin's case about how his kimono stands out. Chuin's been wearing his Kimonos for the last 30 years, what's changed all of a sudden? If Chuin was doing this to get Remo to wear the proper attire for an assassin, or an attempt to enlighten the people of America, I could understand.
But these are diversions, Remo and Chuin face off against the offspring of Sa Mangsang (also known as Cthulhu) and they give the Masters of Sinanju a run for their money but I was disappointed where the Squid and their protectors battle two dolphins only to have the Dolphins make fools of them. Remo and Chuin don't make an appearance nor do they find out about this battle. I failed to see the point of the entire scene.
So to go to my bookshop and find a new Destroyer waiting for me was pretty exciting. Sadly I was left disappointed by this book. Don't get me wrong I don't mind Tim Somheil's writing, brings a certain pulp sensibility to the table, which is a good thing but in this installment he fumbles the most important part of The Destroyer - Remo and Chuin. Neither felt "right" to me. There was no bickering, Chuin feigns being a senile old man. Ugh, Chuin would never lower himself to playing senile, the brilliance of Chuin is that people assume that he is this weak little old man and act accordingly and whammo Chuin gets them. Chuin never has to put on an act, his appearance is enough.
Which brings us to the Koh-Mo-No. I have no issues with Chuin hawking this fashion statement but Somheil does it for the wrong reasons. Apparantly, Smith has been on Chuin's case about how his kimono stands out. Chuin's been wearing his Kimonos for the last 30 years, what's changed all of a sudden? If Chuin was doing this to get Remo to wear the proper attire for an assassin, or an attempt to enlighten the people of America, I could understand.
But these are diversions, Remo and Chuin face off against the offspring of Sa Mangsang (also known as Cthulhu) and they give the Masters of Sinanju a run for their money but I was disappointed where the Squid and their protectors battle two dolphins only to have the Dolphins make fools of them. Remo and Chuin don't make an appearance nor do they find out about this battle. I failed to see the point of the entire scene.
WIDGETIZE
How to use Quote function: