Matthew Henson and the Ice Temple of Harlem

October 19, 2020
Launching a genre-mashing adventure series set in the 1920s, Phillips (The Movie Makers) drops a historical Black explorer who was part of Robert Peary’s Arctic expeditions into a pulpy battle with ambitious gangsters and sinister cabalists. Matthew Henson was the first man to set foot on the North Pole, but his race kept him from getting the recognition he deserved. Now he’s a freelance bodyguard protecting beautiful Destiny Stevenson from kidnappers hired by mobster Dutch Schultz. Schultz hopes to manipulate Destiny’s father, charismatic Black religious leader Daddy Paradise, and seize control of the thriving Harlem numbers racket. He’s also in cahoots with Fremont Davis, a financier and part of the mysterious Medusa Council. In its quest to rule the world, the Council seeks a mysterious meteorite that Henson brought back from one of his expeditions, hoping to use it to activate a death ray developed by Nikola Tesla. This breathless plot plays out in snappy scenes populated with flashy characters, though many won’t get much play until future installments. The result is a tropey and diverting adventure, distinguished by its Jazz Age Harlem setting and unflinching depiction of 1920s race relations.

November 1, 2020
Phillips, the author of the acclaimed Ivan Monk mystery series, draws on his deep knowledge of pulp fiction in this rollicking tale that spans multiple genres, adroitly mixing thriller elements with a Doc Savage-style adventure set in Harlem in the 1920s. Noted explorer (and real-life character) Matthew Henson, the first Black man to reach the North Pole, is hired to find the kidnapped daughter of controversial radical and spiritual leader Daddy Paradise. That task accomplished, Henson must then protect Paradise as he prepares to deliver a major address. Ah, but the stakes are much higher, as Henson soon finds himself battling major-league villains and, ultimately, attempting to save the world from catastrophe. In addition to Henson, various other historical figures play roles, including gangster Dutch Schultz, inventor Nikola Tesla, and America's first Black aviator, Bessie Coleman. Along with the rampaging retro action, Phillips smoothly incorporates biting social commentary on the racism of the era. Henson is a terrific character, larger-than-life in a movie-serial way, and the story's pacing is exquisite. The first installment in a projected series, this is a rousing adventure in the grand pulp tradition, a wildly entertaining extravaganza that almost demands to be filmed.

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