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Monday, March 18, 2024
DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for March 19, 2024
Monday, November 6, 2023
DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for November 7, 2023
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Tuesday, October 31, 2023
I Reads You Juniors: October 2023 - Update #60
You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.
NEWS:
DISNEY - From BleedingCool: "KugaliInk" is a new graphic novel imprint that is the joint project of Disney Hyperion and Kugali, a pan-African entertainment company. The imprint will celebrate African voices and be focused on middle-grade readers. KugaliInk's first graphic novel will be "Akanni" by Jessica Tagbajumi (2025), to be followed by "Runeless" by Bill Masuku.
EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool: Comic book artist Steve Erwin has died at the age of 63, Wednesday, October 25, 2023. Erwin was best remembered for co-creating DC Comics' "Checkmate" with writer Paul Kupperberg and the DC Comics' character, "Gunfire," with the late writer, Len Wein. In 1991, he joined writer Marvel Wolfman to launch the "Deathstroke the Terminator" comic book series, with Erwin drawing 23 of the series first 34 issues and the series second "Annual" issue.
COMICS - From GamesRadar: Comic book maestros Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones are teaming up for a series of graphic novels about the secret history of Dracula. They are currently crowdfunding "Dracula: Book One: The Impaler."
IMAGE - From BleedingCool: Todd McFarlane announces 10 more Spawn-related comic book titles for 2024.
MOVIES - From Variety: Author and comic book writer, Benjamin Percy ("Wolverine"), has sold the film rights to his novella, "American Criminal," to Amazon MGM Studios.
DC COMICS - From GamesRadar: DC Comics will celebrate Black History Month 2024 with a new installment of its "DC Power" anthology, a one-shot dedicated to showcasing Black characters and creators. Black History Month is observed all February long, with "DC Power 2024" arriving just a bit early at the tail end of January.
MARVEL STUDIOS - From Variety: Director Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class) reveals that he quit X-Men: The Last Stand when he discovered that Fox was going to trick Halle Berry into signing to appear in the film with a fake "Storm" script that the studio would later discard.
NYCC - From BleedingCool: At New York Comic Con 2023, Yen Press announced 15 upcoming manga and light novel publications.
NYCC - From AIPT: Writer Rick Remender's Image Comics' label, "Giant Generator," has signed several big name comic book artists to exclusive contracts, including J.G. Jones, Daniel Acuna, and Bengal, to name a few.
NYCC - From THR: Director Matthew Vaughn revealed that he is working on a reboot of the "Kick-Ass" film franchise. It is based on the Mark Millar-John Romita, Jr-created comic book franchise that has yielded two films, Kick-Ass (2010) and Kick-Ass 2 (2013).
NYCC - From BleedingCool: Korean-American actor, Don Lee, is joining writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jae Lee for the comic book, "Project Sterling North." Just as the BRZRKR comic book uses co-creator Keanu Reeves' likeness so will "Project Sterling North" uses Lee's likeness.
NYCC - From ComicBook: Comic book writer, J.M. DeMatteis, who co-created "Creature Commandos" (with artist Pat Broderick), says that he met with DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn about Gunn's animated "Creature Commando" series.
NYCC - From ComicBook: Action Comics will be kicking off a brand-new storytelling initiative in 2024. DC announced "Superman Superstars," a year-long string of stories that will be told in the pages of Action. From January through December of 2024, the book will feature a rotating array of writers and artists, who will be teaming up on mini arcs, including comic book stars Jason Aaron and Joshua Williamson.
NYCC - From ComicCon: Mad Cave Studios is moving into publishing comic books based on licensed properties. At NYCC, Mad Cave announced the creative teams for those series. Cullen Bunn and Chris Batista on "Gatchaman" and Steve Orlando and Tommy Lee Edwards on a spin-off series. Writer Jeremy Adams tackles "Flash Gordon."
NYCC - From THR: Comic book creator, Rob Liefeld, has joined Philip J. Silvera, the stunt coordinator for "Deadpool" (2016) to produce a proof-of-concept trailer featuring his character, "Bloodstrike." The hope is that the trailer will revive interest from filmmakers and studios in a "Bloodstrike" film.
NYCC - From ComicBook: Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products announced that they have partnered to release a range of comic books and graphic novels inspired by some of Warner's most popular franchises and characters. The initial slate of titles are planned to be released across multiple formats and will be based on "The Flintstones," "Jonny Quest," The Powerpuff Girls," "Space Ghost," "ThunderCats," "We Bare Bears," and The Wizard of Oz.
NYCC - From ComicBook: After 14 years, DC Comics is reviving the "Elseworlds" imprint (beginning in 2024) with the following titles:
EN MEMORIAM - From THR: Comic book writer and artist, Keith Giffen, has died at the age of 70, Monday, October 9, 2023. Giffen may be best known for his work on DC Comics' "Legion of Super-Heroes," working on various LoSH series from 1982 to 1998, with the most famous work being "The Great Darkness Saga" storyline. Giffen also co-created several characters, including Marvel Comics' "Rocket Raccoon," DC's "Lobo," and the "Jaime Reyes" incarnation of the character, "Blue Beetle," which appeared in the 2023 film, Blue Beetle.
NYCC 2023 - From THR: Oscar-nominated actor, Tom Hardy, is joining acclaimed comic book writer, Scott Snyder (Batman), in the creation of a new 12-issue comic book series, "Arcbound." Hardy has the title of "creative collaborator" and will work on developing characters for the broader "Arcbound" universe. Veteran writer Frank Tieri and artist Ryan Smallman. Hardy and the creative team will appear at New York Comic-Con 2023 on Saturday for a signing.
BRITISH COMICS - From 2000AD: The legendary English comics artist, John M. Burns, has retired after seven decades of creating and drawing comics. He has drawn for over 20 different publishers, and he may be best known for his work on such characters as "Judge Dredd," "Nikolai Dante," and "The Order" to name a few.
DC CINEMA - From Variety: The website chronicles the latest drama surrounding "Aquaman 2" and the emerging cinematic DC Universe.
COMICS - From OhDannyBoy: Australian blogger, Daniel Best," takes a look at the history of art theft at Marvel Comics, this time looking specifically at the theft of the art produced by the late Jack Kirby.
IMAGE - From BleedingCool: Todd McFarlane will reveal Liam Sharp's "Barbarian Spawn" comic book at the upcoming New York Comic-Con 2023 (Oct. 12 to 15).
BRITISH COMICS - From BleedingCool: Scottish comics publisher, BHP Comics will begin shutting down its operations.
DC COMICS - From DCBlog: Writer Joanne Starer talks about her new "Dawn of DC" series, "Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville."
COMICS - From BleedingCool: Apparently, after 88-year-old, Portland-based collector, James Strand, died, his house was ransacked for his collection of rare comics, signed books, and pulps. The collection was worth an estimated two million dollars, and the FBI is investigating.
ONE PIECE - From Deadline: The site has a long Q&A with Matt Owens, series writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner of Netflix's "One Piece" live-action series. He talks about Season 2, about how personal the series is to him, and about how the series got Jamie Lee Curtis to join the cast.
MANGA - From BleedingCool: Although Vol. 34 was the end of the worldwide hit manga, "Attack on Titan," there will be a 35th volume, which will be released in 2024.
COMICS - From ComicBook: Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise) talks more about his upcoming science fiction graphic novel, a hybrid of prose and comics which will be crowdfunded for a 2024 release. His wife and publisher, Robyn Moore, says that they may be done with publishing single issues.
IMAGE/SKYBOUND - From ScreenRant: Robert Kirkman explains why his new G.I. Joe/Transformers shared continuity is called the "Energon Universe."
MARVEL STUDIOS - From GamesRadar: Marvel Studios is reportedly about to begin the process of choosing a writer for the "X-Men" movie.
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Friday, June 30, 2023
I Reads You Juniors: June 2023 - Update #71
You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.
NEWS:
DC STUDIOS - From Deadline: DC Studios has its Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane, actors David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, respectively. They will be the leads in "Superman: Legacy," the first in a new series of films based on DC Comics characters.
From DCBlog: Benjamin Wallfisch talks about scoring "The Flash."
COMICS - From BleedingCool: Frank Miller will draw "Ronin Book II #4" entirely by himself. That issue may arrive in late September 2023.
MANGA TO TV - From CBR: Netflix's live-action adaptation of "One Piece" costs 18 million dollars per episode, the most expensive per episode series ever for Netflix. It surpasses the 15 million dollars per episode that "Game of Thrones" costs.
COMIC-CON - From Variety: Apparently, Disney, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Netflix, Sony Pictures, HBO, and Universal are skipping San Diego Comic-Con 2023.
SONY MARVEL U - From Variety: Sony debuts its first trailer for its next Marvel-based film, "Kraven the Hunter," and it is a "red-band trailer." The film is due in theaters Oct. 6th, 2023.
From Deadline: Sony Pictures has pulled "El Muerto," it Marvel Comics character film starring recording artist, Bad Bunny, from its release schedule.
BOOKS - From NPR: Author Rachel Swarns talks about her new book, "The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church," which details how the Catholic Church profited from the slave trade and the enslavements of Africans and their descendants in America.
JACK KIRBY/MARVEL - From Deadline: Neal Kirby, the son of the legendary comic book writer-artist and creator, Jack Kirby, has publicly challenged the narrative of the new Disney+ documentary, "Stan Lee."
From TheBeat: Journalist and comics historian, Heidi MacDonald, shares some thoughts about the recent documentary, "Stan Lee," and how it relates to the late artist and co-creator of much of the Marvel Universe, Jack Kirby.
DC ANIMATION - From Variety: Warner Bros. various animation divisions are showing at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market. Among the highlights is a "sizzle reel" of the upcoming Bruce Timm "Batman: Caped Crusader," described as a darker version of Timm's beloved "Batman: The Animated Series." Warner Bros. has licensed "Caped Crusader" to Amazon Prime.
MARVEL - From TheFHQ: Former Marvel EiC, Joe Quesada, answers fans' questions in this Q&A with "Fan Expo HQ." The page also includes a video of a longer interview with Quesada
SONY MARVEL U - From Deadline: Sony Pictures has reserved to future theatrical release dates: November 8, 2024 and June 27, 2025, for two of its movies based on Marvel Comics characters.
TOKYOPOP - From BleedingCool: TOKYOPOP has announced its slate of panels, special guests, special booth activities and premiums for Anime Expo 2023. The event will be held July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA.
DC TV - From Deadline: The CW did renew "Superman & Lois" for a fourth season, but seven cast members are not returning. There is hope that some or all of them can appear in guests or recurring roles.
EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool: Legendary comic book artist, John Romita, Sr., has died at the age of 93, Monday, June 12, 2023. Romita's career is too long and significant to summarize, but he may be best known for his run on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, on and off, from the 1965 to 1977. Replacing the artist who co-created and drew Spider-Man, Steve Ditko, Romita established an entirely new look for the series. Romita also co-created or designed such the characters Mary Jane Watson, The Punisher, and Wolverine. Romita was also the father of acclaimed comic book artist, John Romita, Jr.
#ComicsBrokeMe:
From BleedingCool: More tales of abuse from #ComicsBrokeMe.
From BleedingCool: #ComicsBrokeMe stories mostly about DC Comics, but also some Marvel... tales.
IMAGE COMICS TO TV - From FilmUpdates: Film director and Oscar-winning screenwriter Jordan Peele and actress Selena Gomez are adapting the Image Comics series, "Coyotes" "2017-18) for Amazon's Prime Video.
DC TV - From CBR: The CW has renewed "Superman & Lois" for a 10-episode fourth season. It is the last DC Comics-inspired series on the broadcast network.
From CBR: That means that The CW has cancelled "Gotham Knights" after one season.
SPIDER-VERSE - From Variety: On Monday, at the Annecy International Film Festival, Sony Pictures Animation gave a world premiered its boundary-pushing short, "The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story," which tackles mental health. Spinning off the world of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and "Spider-Man: Across The Spider Verse," the short shows its protagonist Miles Morales/Spider-Man suffering from an anxiety attack as he feels overwhelmed by school work, exams and relationships.
EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool: Comic book writer and artist, Ian McGinty, has died at the age of 38, Thursday, June 8, 2023. He worked on such licensed comic books as "Adventure Time" and "Rick & Morty." His original comics included "Welcome to Showside" and "Hello My Name is Poop."
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Marvel Characters Inc. has settled lawsuits brought by Larry Lieber (the late Stan Lee's younger brother) and the estates of late creatres: Don Heck, Gene Colan, and Don Rico. However, no settlement has been reached in the case of the estate of Steve Ditko, which seeks to reclaim his share of Doctor Strange and Spider-Man copyrights.
COMICS - From BleedingCool: Legendary illustrator and comic book artist and creator, 73-year-old Barry Windsor-Smith, is now at home recovering from the Ischemic stroke he suffered on May 20th.
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: A new "Ultimate Comics Universe" will spin out of Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch's "Ultimate Invasion."
MANGA TO ANIME - From CBR: Henry Thurlow, an American animator living in Japan, is the first American to direct an episode of the "One Piece" anime. His episode of One Piece, "Episode 1066," will debut in Japan on June 25th.
DC PRIDE - From DCBlog: Author Jadzia Axelrod talks about choosing the over fifty LGBTQIA+ characters that appear in "The DC Book of Pride."
DC ANIMATION - From YouTube: Here is the trailer for the latest DC Comics animated film, "Justice League: War World." The film is due for release July 25, 2023.
MILLARWORLD - From CBR: Image Comics reveals three variant covers, from Frank Quitely, Jae Lee, and Danny Earls, for the upcoming "Big Game #1," which arrives July 19, 2023.
DC STUDIOS - From Deadline: Warner Bros. and writer-director James Gunn are apparently closing in on choosing the actors to play Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane for the film, "Superman: Legacy." They are reportedly about to begin a second round of screen tests.
DC STUDIOS - From EW: In an interview to promote the documentary film, "Translators," actress Leslie Grace talks about the loss of "Batgirl," the film in which she starred and what it means for representation.
DC COMICS - From CBR: A CBR roundtable of writers: Joshua Williamson, Mark Waid, G. Willow Wilson, and Matthew Rosenberg, talk about DC Comics' big summer event, "Knight Terrors."
COMICS - From IGN: The editor/publisher of the most excellent "Kolchak the Night Stalker 50th Anniversary" anthology graphic novel, James Aquilone/Monstrous Books, has just launched a Kickstarter for another horror comics anthology, "Dead Detectives Society."
From ComicBook: Launching on "Kickstarter" with the "Dead Detectives Society" anthology is a new magazine, "Monstrous."
SPIDER-VERSE - From Variety: "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" tops the weekend box office with an estimated gross of 120.5 million dollars.
From Marvel: The directors of the new film, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," talk about the cultural important of Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy.
SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From Deadline: Current Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Tom Holland, says that his favorite Spider-Man film is the Oscar-winning "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018). The social media and media landscape seems obsessed with the fact that he says that he also thinks that it is the best Spider-Man movie.
MANGA TO LIVE-ACTION - From CBR: The site is investigating a possible cast list for Netflix's live-action movie adaptation of the wildly popular manga, "My Hero Academia."
MARVEL - From CBR: Frank Castle/The Punisher is no more... or at least has become something different.
DC ANIMATION - From CBR: Actor Mark Hamill reflects on his time on "Batman: The Animated Series," and how he was sure his role as "Luke Skywalker" in the "Star Wars" films would keep him from getting the role he eventually won, providing the voice of "The Joker."
SONY SPIDER U - From CBR: Actor Andy Samberg provided the voice of "Scarlet Spider" in the upcoming "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."
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Friday, February 17, 2023
#IReadsYou Movie Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Thursday, December 1, 2022
#IReadsYou Review: FANTASTIC FOUR: Full Circle
FANTASTIC FOUR: FULL CIRCLE
ABRAMS COMICARTS
STORY: Alex Ross
ART: Alex Ross
COLORS: Alex Ross and Josh Johnson
LETTERS: Ariana Maher
EDITORS: Charles Kochman and Tom Brevoort
COVER: Alex Ross and Josh Johnson
ISBN: 978-1-4197-6167-6; hardcover with dust jacket (also an eBook); 8 1/2 x 11 (September 6, 2022)
64pp, Color, $24.95 U.S., $31.99 CAN, £17.99 U.K.
Fantastic Four created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee
The Fantastic Four #1 (cover dated: November 1961) is the comic book that basically started what we know of today as Marvel Comics and the “Marvel Universe” of superheroes. The Fantastic Four was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, with Lee writing the story for the first issue and Jack Kirby drawing that first issue.
Returning to the Lee-Kirby era, Fantastic Four: Full Circle is a new original graphic novel from writer-artist Alex Ross. Published in an oversize format, 8½ x 11, Full Circle features the Fantastic Four (FF): Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), the Invisible Woman (Susan Storm Richards), the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and the Thing (Ben Grimm). In a story that is a sequel of sorts to a classic issue of the Fantastic Four, the members of the team find themselves fighting for survival in the Negative Zone, an alien universe composed entirely of anti-matter. The rest of Full Circle's creative team is comprised of Josh Johnson, who colors this comic book with Ross, and letterer Ariana Maher.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle opens on a rainy night in the Baxter Building, the Manhattan home of the FF. Ben is making himself a sandwich when an intruder suddenly appears in the team's living quarters. Upon investigation, they discover that the intruder is a man who once masqueraded as Ben Grimm. They soon discover that the man is a human host, used to deliver a swarm of invading parasites – carrion creatures composed of “Negative Energy.”
What is the purpose behind this invasion, and who is behind it? Now, the Fantastic Four have no choice but to journey into the heart of the Negative Zone, an alien universe that is parallel to Earth's universe and is composed entirely of anti-matter. They not only risk their own lives, but also the fate of the cosmos? Is there any hope for this journey, or will they discover hope?
THE LOWDOWN: I like that Fantastic Four: Full Circle has a direct connection to the Fantastic Four's vintage era (as I call it) when it was produced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Full Circle directly connects to and is a resolution of Fantastic Four #51 (cover dated: June 1966). Entitled “This Man... This Monster!,” the story pit Reed Richards against an unnamed scientist who gives himself the powers and appearance of The Thing. The scientist's plan is to kill Richards, but those plans ultimately force him to save Reed's life while condemning himself to a sorry fate.
Full Circle returns to “This Man... This Monster!” in a deeply intimate way, or, at least, that is the way it comes across to me. In terms of graphics, illustrations, and colors, Full Circle is a direct descendant of the Lee-Kirby Fantastic Four. If Fantastic Four #51 is the parent, then, Full Circle is the child. Jack Kirby's dynamic, cosmic infused compositions are newly infused with the modern flourishes of the techno-marvels of software graphics and colors. Alex Ross even gives Stan Lee's chatterbox expositions new life simply by multiplying them in Full Circle, and Ross' take feels authentic. When one of the Fantastic Four speaks, their dialogue reads as if it were written by Stan the Man himself.
Alex Ross’s art in Full Circle is a combination of impressive line work and layers of brushwork that seems to sway like drapery. Ross and Josh Johnson color Full Circle in fluorescent shades: blues, greens, oranges, and purples. Their color choices also recalls the visuals and graphics of the “Pop Art” comic book movement (or moment) of the 1960s, somewhat similar to writer-artist Jim Steranko's work for Marvel, such as Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., in the late 1960s.
For a long time, I have described the comic books published in the 1960s by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, especially Marvel, as having a sense of wonder and mystery, of science/magic and hope, and of discovery and exploration. The modern comic book series that best exemplifies that is the late Darwyn Cooke's 2004 comic book miniseries, DC: The New Frontier.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle is both an homage and a return to a time when Marvel's comic book titles were about discovering the new. [Now, they are about IP maintenance and continuity, which is mostly fractured.] I love Ariana Maher vintage-styled lettering and the throbbing coloring that Josh Johnson commits with Alex Ross. All of it connects past and present.
I love that Alex Ross has presented Fantastic Four in this larger than usual format. Here, Ross' big, almost widescreen art both captures and replicates the big spirit and cosmic yearnings of Jack Kirby's best work on the Fantastic Four. I want to avoid spoilers, but I love Full Circle's ending, with its emphasis on hope, reconciliation, and peace.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle is published as the launch of “MarvelArts,” a new collaborative line of books between Marvel Comics and Abrams ComicArts. Abrams tells us that in MarvelArts “nothing is impossible and anything can happen.” I hope that this means that Abrams ComicArts will not just publish anything. Future publications should be as ambitious and as classically Marvel as this debut.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of the Fantastic Four and of Silver Age Marvel Comics will want Fantastic Four: Full Circle.
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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Friday, November 11, 2022
#IReadsYou Review: BLACK PANTHER: Wakanda Forever
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Running time: 161 minutes (2 hours, 41 minutes)
MPA – PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, action and some language
DIRECTOR: Ryan Coogler
WRITERS: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole; from a story by Ryan Coogler (based on the Marvel Comics)
PRODUCERS: Kevin Feige and Nate Moore
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Kelley Dixon, Jennifer Lame, and Michael P. Shawver
COMPOSER: Ludwig Göransson
SUPERHERO/ACTION/SCI-FI/DRAMA
Starring: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Martin Freeman, Dominique Thorne, Florence Kasumba, Michaela Cole, Alex Livinalli, Mabel Cadena, Richard Schiff, Robert John Burke, Lake Bell, Manuel Chavez, Maria Mercedes Coroy, Divine Love Konadu-Sun, Trevor Noah (voice), Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael B. Jordan
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a 2022 superhero, fantasy-drama, science fiction, and action movie directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Marvel Studios. The film is a direct sequel to the 2018 film, Black Panther, and is the 30th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is based on the Marvel Comics character, Black Panther, that first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (cover dated: July 1966) and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. Wakanda Forever finds Wakanda in mourning following the death of its king while also facing a threatening world and a mysterious new adversary.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens in the African nation of Wakanda as King T'Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) dies from a mysterious illness. One year later, his mother, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), must face the United Nations, as world powers demand access to Wakanda's most precious resource, the metal Vibranium. One particular nation even hires mercenaries to invade a Wakandan outpost in order to steal its vibranium, but they are foiled by Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje, the King of Wakanda's personal guard.
However, the American CIA's attempt to find vibranium on its own draws the attention of a mysterious new adversary, known by many names, but is called “Namor” (Tenoch Huerta) by his enemies. Namor leads the forces of his kingdom, Talokan, in a strike against the Americans. He confronts Ramonda and Shuri (Letitia Wright), Ramonda's daughter and T'Challa's younger sister, as they grieve. He demands that they find the scientist who created the Americans' vibranium detecting device and kill him. The him turns out to be a her, a Chicago-based teen named Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne). Now, Shuri and Ramonda must gather allies, including T'Challa's ex-lover, Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), and M'Baku (Winston Duke), leader of the Wakandan border tribe, the Jibari, in order to fight off the forces of Namor, which are more than capable of destroying Wakanda and perhaps, the world. Can Wakanda survive without its champion, the Black Panther, or must another arise?...
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a triumphant – a poignant triumphant and a superhero action movie triumph. It is much better than I expected and that I could have hoped for. Wakanda Forever is the most emotionally honest, genuine, and heartfelt Marvel Studios film since Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The fight scenes are some of the best outside of martial arts films, and the action and battles scenes are Avengers-level.
Angela Bassett stands astride this film, which is both a eulogy to Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa/Black Panther and also a powerful and successful attempt to forge ahead with the franchise. Bassett, as regal and as dramatically potent as she has ever been, is glorious, and it time for her to receive the Oscar win she should have had ages ago. She exemplifies the grief in the film for half its narrative.
Letitia Wright exemplifies that grief the rest of the way. Wright also shows impressive range – playing Shuri as obstinate and angry in the face of her brother's death. [That death is depicted in Wakanda Forever's opening moments, and the audience with which I saw this film was stunned into silence.] Wright plays Shuri's turn to the “dark side” with the depth of performance that usually earns actors some award season notice. She is truly the lead in Wakanda Forever, and she carries it with the flair of a veteran, accomplished actor.
I also had high hopes for Tenoch Huerta as Namor, and he easily surpasses them. Huerta makes Namor seem so real that his murderous inclinations come across as entirely appropriate for that which Namor is fighting and defending. Huerta's performance also works to uplift the other actors playing denizens of the kingdom of Talokan.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is filled so much good stuff. The costumes, art direction, make-up and hair, cinematography, and editing are all … well, Oscar-worthy. Ludwig Göransson's score is a masterpiece of tones both subtle and tremendous and is easily on the level of Hans Zimmer's award-winning score for Dune: Part One (2021).
I don't want this review to run-on too long... If I could speak to Ryan Coogler, I would tell him that already loved him for his film, Fruitvale Station, and that he made me love him even more after the first Black Panther. I don't have the words to describe how great an accomplishment Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is. Coogler honored his friend and partner, Chadwick Boseman, as well as he could, and he made a truly great and magnificent film. It honors Boseman and reveals how much respect Coogler has for his audience via the film art he creates. I am giving Black Panther: Wakanda Forever my highest recommendation.
10 of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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