Hellfire Trigger (Executioner, 237)

Rating:
Summary: The most James Bondian of any Executioner book I've read.
Review: I now have a new favorite author of the Bolan series. Along with David Robbins, Mel Odom and (with the exception of his third book in the Power Trilogy) Chuck Rogers, now I can definitely add Mark Ellis to the list. I wish there wasa way to tell what other books an author wrote in the series. Pity Gold Eagle doesn't seem to care if any individual writers are preferred; they barely acknowledge the writer's existence at all as an individual in the first place, with only a little mention on the page right above the copyright notice. But I digress... This Bolan book was great fun. I suppose many fans might think the plot was a litle too sci-fi-ish or comic-bookish, but that's precisely what I loved about it. Rather than go for the standard Bolan idea of "Let's-see-how-many-descriptions-of-Bolan-shooting-someone-we-can-put-in-this-book" which sacrifices good plotting or suspense for high body count, Ellis took an approach I've been hoping someone would take fora long time. I heard the Executioner series described as the closest thing to an American James Bond inus te women, and this book even has a woman in it! No sex, but a woman nonetheless. This book has everything...a great plot, suspense, narrow escapes, fascinating gadgetry, and even (Gasp!) a memorable villain! I wish I could say something about the ending, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Suffice it to say that the book even has a nontraditional ending for the Executioner series, but one that's perfectly traditional for a comic book. Keep 'em coming, Mark! I'll definitely keep reading 'em!