Maximum An ’80s Action Anthology is crammed with everything that made ’80s action/sci-fi movies fun. From cybernetic super soldiers, cops with vendettas, cities blasted by gang wars, mutated creatures from other worlds, and lone-wolf commandos eliminating entire armies, Slaughterhouse Press brings you back to the glory days of trash action films. With twelve stories packed inside, you’ll be smelling the blood coming off the pages.
I really enjoyed this, although I didn't expect the big dose of nostalgia it would bring! I'm old enough to remember the weekly visits to blockbusters video with my grandparents. I wasn't allowed to get horror, so I'd always pick action movies. The cheesier the better, the bigger the explosions, the better, and in the 80's, every action movie was like that. This book was the equivalent of walking into that video shop and picking movies. It brought it all back, how the carpet would stick to my feet, the sheer horror of my favourite not being in stock and the huge Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee display they had ( who wouldn't love that)
All of the stories were true 80's action style and I liked every single one. My personal favourites were Goliath 4579, Alien Swine Invasion, Battlefield Beach and Extinction Mankind. That's not to say the other tales weren't great, because they were. It's a fantastic collection. It really made me miss that era with the retro feel of it all. Excellent
This is a rack of VHS action at your old video store in book form. What more could you ask for? Fast as a bullet, wicked as a blade, and all wrapped in battle-blasted chrome.
Time to dive fist-first into my most anticipated book of the year! I will update this review as I decimate each story.
First up:
CYBORG VS. MANIMAL 2: ARENA OF DEATH by Steve Stark
I knew this one had the potential to jump straight into my all-time favorite list . . . and holy sh!t it did not disappoint! Steve Stark, my favorite badass horror author, went ahead and chucked Joe R. Lansdale's "The Pit"--my all-time favorite short story--into a meat blender with ALL my favorite '80s action, sci-fi, and horror influences, then used that f*cker as a cybernetic fist-weapon in cage fight to the death! It's as if he wrote this one specifically for ME. The Running Man, Bloodsport, Rocky, Jaws, Predator, Alien, Full Metal Jacket, and quite possibly SLEDGE HIMSELF, all get their glorious homage in this epic tale of gladiatorial badassery. Sorry, I gotta go read this bad motherf*cker again! I'll be baaaaack!
LIVE LIKE A COP, DIE LIKE A MAN by David Irons
Damn this one was BRUTAL! I got strong That Yellow Bastard vibes. The snuff film our battered cop had to watch of his own family was one of the most disturbing things I've read in a long while. Wish this one had a full length novel follow up!
VIGILANTE NINJA OF VAN NUYS by Michael August
Oh hell yes. This one reminded me of the glorious Troma romps from the 80s. Over-the-top gore, silliness, midget biker gangs, and a Walmart ninja. What's not to love? An absolute blast from word one. August has a truly funny prose style that had me in stitches as the chucked saw blades decapitated asshole after asshole. Pitch perfect 80s shlock.