Weaned on the images of Kirby and Steranko in comics, and Hammett and Himes in books, Gary Phillips also draws on his experiences ranging from community organizer, union rep, teaching incarcerated youth, to delivering dog cages in writing his tales of chicanery and malfeasance. One reviewer said of his Astonishing Heroes collection, “It’s a book for anyone who remains nostalgic for the golden age of Toei films, blaxploitation movies, and lusty grindhouse cinema.” He has short stories in Asian Pulp and Jewish Noir, and his graphic novel The Rinse about a money launderer was optioned for TV -- he also co-edited the sci-fi anthology Occupied Earth.