Matthew C. Funk

An entertaining quick read. Sometimes trying to write a pastiche of a genre (men's macho adventures) that is almost a parody of itself to begin with is pretty tough. But the best of these stories, particularly the one that gives the collection (and ongoing series) its name, are very enjoyable. "Blood and Tacos" features the "World's Deadliest Mexican"--someone who needs to turn up right now. It is over the top, stylish, and very very funny. The story of a Russian invasion of Texas is also well done, as is "Bonds of Blood" about an ex-Special Forces team out for revenge against drug dealers and former colleagues who betrayed the team. And who can forget about the Albino Wino?… (altro)

The first edition of "Blood and Tacos" is published by Creative Guy Publishing and is the brainchild of writer Johnny Shaw. The concept behind "Blood and Tacos" is a brilliant one harking back to the era of grubby men's adventure / action hero paperbacks featuring characters like The Executioner, The Destroyer and The Death Merchant. These books were violent, racist, misogynistic and very much of their time. They offered simple solutions and were full of macho posturing and ultra-violence; there was no problem that a man with a big gun couldn't cure and no woman was able to resist the lure of that big gun – the symbolism was never buried deep. They could be read as a reactionary and anti-counter culture (beatings for hippies being a staple of the genre), very much in tune with the expanding political right wing violence of the Thatcher / Reagan politics and the growth of violent monetarist economic policies. They also had a strange wide-eyed innocence and plenty of men sporting big, bushy moustaches. "Blood and Tacos" takes us back to that time, to these books and to that style. Each issue of the quarterly magazine features five or so stories by a modern crime writer written as either homage or satire of the genre, with each story presented as a recently rediscovered lost work from a writer from that politically incorrect time. The stories in this first issue are all excellent and hugely evocative, brilliantly capturing the tone, lunacy and excess of the men's adventure paperbacks. First up is "The Silencer Strikes" by Mal Radcliff (rediscovered by Gary Phillips) which features the black hero "Booker Essex, aka "The Silencer", so called for his silent guns and his ability to permanently silence the bad guys. In best Blaxploitation/ grindhouse style he goes up against local mob bosses in order to save innocent youngsters being exploited by the mob. The Albino Wino features in a tale called "Longhair Death Farm" by Clifton Wetzel-Bulinger (rediscovered by Cameron Ashley). The Wino must be one of the bizarre story creations ever – a destitute albino alcoholic with ass-kicking fighting skills. In this tale he's kidnapped by a Manson Family like cult that kills albinos, grinds their bones down and snorts the resulting powder in the belief that it gives them occult powers. Can the Wino recover from the DTs quick enough to take down the cult? In "Battleground USSA: Texasgrad" by Max Auger (rediscovered by Christopher Blair) the United States has been overrun by the Soviets. When Captain Mike McCreary and his recon team learn that his hometown has been overrun by the Commies he’s soon on his way home, along with a band of Comanche’s, to protect wife and church from the barbarous, godless Reds. "Tiger Team Bravo in Bonds of Blood" by Lance Matrix (rediscovered by Matthew C Funk) sees a rogue former special operations military unit (they had previously been abandoned by the military deep in the Cambodian jungle) taking on the South American cocaine cartels and their sinister American backers. Saving the best 'till last, the final story is "Chingon, The World's Deadliest Mexican in Blood and Tacos" by Brace Godfrey (discovered by Johnny Shaw). Chingon, the hard-loving, tough-nut mercenary is hired to infiltrate a deadly Mexican biker gang to rescue the beautiful daughter of a U.S. senator. As well as being full of over-the-top two-fisted action the story is hysterically funny; a brilliant satirical achievement by Johnny Shaw. To top it all off the magazine comes with short overviews of "The Penetrator" and "Raker" serials. Overall this first edition of "Blood and Tacos" was magnificent: crazy characters, over-the-top situations; ludicrous dialogue; biting satire, with a totally politically incorrect current running throughout. It’s jammed full of ridiculous he-man characters blasting away with heavy weaponry, knives and fists at anything that moves, while seducing curvaceous women and firing off killer quips with aplomb. "Blood and Tacos" is a brilliant concept, with every story in this first issue an absolute winner. I look forward to getting stuck into the subsequent issues.… (altro)