Image Comics from Lunar Distributors for February 26, 2025

IMAGE COMICS:

Department Of Truth #28 (Cover A Martin Simmonds), $3.99

Department Of Truth #28 (Cover B Nimit Malavia), AR

Department Of Truth #28 (Cover C Malachi Ward), AR

Dust To Dust #3 (Of 8)(Cover A JG Jones), $3.99

Dust To Dust #3 (Of 8)(Cover B Paul Renaud), AR

G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #314 (Cover A Andy Kubert & Laura Martin), $3.99

G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #314 (Cover B Andy Kubert Black & White Variant), $3.99

G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #314 (Cover C Francis Portela Camouflage Variant), AR

Hack/Slash Deluxe Edition Volume 5 HC, $49.99

Hornsby And Halo #4 (Cover A Peter Snejbjerg & John Kalisz), $3.99

Hornsby And Halo #4 (Cover B Ivan Reis/Danny Miki/Brad Anderson), $3.99

Hornsby And Halo #4 (Cover C Kyle Hotz & Dan Brown), $3.99

Image Scene #5 (May 2025), AR

Monstress #55 (Cover A Sana Takeda), $3.99

Nights #13 (Cover A Luigi Formisano), $3.99

Nights Season One Volume 2 TP, $16.99

Radiant Black #31 (Cover A Eduardo Ferigato), $3.99

Radiant Black #31 (Cover B Riccardo Robaldo Connecting Variant), $3.99

Radiant Black #31 (Cover C Marcello Costa Foil Variant), AR

Scorched #38 (Cover A Kevin Keane), $2.99

Scorched #38 (Cover B Von Randal), $2.99

Seasons #2 (Cover A Paul Azaceta), $3.99

Seasons #2 (Cover B Ramon K. Perez), AR

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Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 26, 2025

MARVEL COMICS

DEC240654 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #68.DEATHS $3.99

DEC240655 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #68.DEATHS FEDERICO VICENTINI VAR $3.99

NOV240752 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY ZEB WELLS TP VOL 12 DEAD WRONG $29.99

NOV240765 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EPIC COLLECT TP VOL 11 NINE LIVES $44.99

DEC240806 BLADE RED BAND #5 (OF 5) (POLYBAG) $4.99

DEC240661 CAPTAIN AMERICA & VOLSTAGG #1 $4.99

DEC240663 CAPTAIN AMERICA & VOLSTAGG #1 BERNARD CHANG VAR $4.99

DEC240664 CAPTAIN AMERICA & VOLSTAGG #1 BROOKS ANIMATED-STYLE VAR $4.99

DEC240774 DAREDEVIL #1 FACSIMILE ED $4.99

DEC240776 DAREDEVIL #1 FACSIMILE ED FOIL VAR (NET) $PI

DEC240625 FANTASTIC FOUR #29 $3.99

DEC240628 FANTASTIC FOUR #29 EM GIST VAR $3.99

DEC240626 FANTASTIC FOUR #29 MOTTURA WHAT IF DISNEY FANTASTIC FOUR VAR $3.99

DEC240770 HELLHUNTERS #3 (OF 5) $3.99

DEC240771 HELLHUNTERS #3 (OF 5) ROD REIS VAR $3.99

DEC240761 HELLVERINE #3 $3.99

DEC240762 HELLVERINE #3 DAVE WACHTER VAR $3.99

NOV240756 INCREDIBLE HULK TP VOL 04 CITY OF IDOLS $19.99

DEC240800 IRON MAN #5 $3.99

DEC240802 IRON MAN #5 MARK BROOKS ANIMATED-STYLE VAR $3.99

DEC240801 IRON MAN #5 WHILCE PORTACIO VAR $3.99

DEC240054 MARVEL PREVIEWS VOL 6 #42 MARCH 2025 (BUNDLE OF 10) (NET) $1.25

AUG240935 MMW THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 18 $75.00

AUG240936 MMW THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 18 VOL 374 DM VAR $75.00

NOV240766 NEW MUTANTS EPIC COLLECT TP VOL 04 FALLEN ANGELS $44.99

DEC240630 RED HULK #1 $4.99

DEC240631 RED HULK #1 ADAM KUBERT FOIL VAR (NET) $PI

NOV247108 RED HULK #1 FRANK MILLER VAR $4.99

DEC240632 RED HULK #1 JACOB EDGAR MARVEL STUDIOS VAR $4.99

DEC240633 RED HULK #1 JOHN ROMITA JR VAR $4.99

DEC240637 RED HULK #1 MARVEL STUDIOS VAR $4.99

NOV247237 RED HULK #1 PX EXCLUSIVE JOSHUA CASSARA VAR (NET) $PI

DEC240638 RED HULK #1 RED BLANK COVER VAR $4.99

DEC240635 RED HULK #1 TODD NAUCK ICONIC VAR $4.99

NOV247787 ROGUE THE SAVAGE LAND #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG 25 COPY INCV VIR VAR $4.99

NOV247786 ROGUE THE SAVAGE LAND #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG ADAM HUGHES VAR $4.99

DEC240697 ROGUE THE SAVAGE LAND #2 (OF 5) $3.99

DEC240698 ROGUE THE SAVAGE LAND #2 (OF 5) AMANDA CONNER VAR $3.99

DEC240700 ROGUE THE SAVAGE LAND #2 (OF 5) J SCOTT CAMPBELL VAR $3.99

DEC240718 SABRETOOTH THE DEAD DONT TALK #3 (OF 5) $3.99

DEC240720 SABRETOOTH THE DEAD DONT TALK #3 (OF 5) BROOKS ANIMATED VAR $3.99

DEC240719 SABRETOOTH THE DEAD DONT TALK #3 (OF 5) PACO DIAZ VAR $3.99

DEC240737 SENTINELS #5 (OF 5) $3.99

NOV240758 SPIDER-MAN REIGN 2 TP $17.99

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DEC240830 STAR WARS RISE OF SKYWALKER ADAPTATION #1 BLACK HISTORY MONT $4.99

DEC240831 STAR WARS RISE OF SKYWALKER ADAPTATION #1 JODIE MUIR VAR $4.99

DEC240833 STAR WARS RISE OF SKYWALKER ADAPTATION #1 MOVIE VAR $4.99

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DEC240764 TVA #3 (OF 5) $3.99

DEC240765 TVA #3 (OF 5) DAVID YARDIN VAR $3.99

DEC240693 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #14 $4.99

DEC240696 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #14 MAHMUD ASRAR VAR $4.99

DEC240694 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #14 SANDOVAL ULTIMATE SPECIAL VAR $4.99

DEC240689 ULTIMATE X-MEN #12 $4.99

DEC240691 ULTIMATE X-MEN #12 JIM MAHFOOD VAR $4.99

DEC240690 ULTIMATE X-MEN #12 PEACH MOMOKO VAR $4.99

SEP240831 ULTRAMAN X THE AVENGERS #4 (OF 4) $4.99

NOV240760 VENOM BY AL EWING TP VOL 08 VENOM WAR $15.99

DEC240810 WEST COAST AVENGERS #4 $3.99

DEC240815 WEST COAST AVENGERS #4 ANAND RAMCHERON VAR $3.99

DEC240813 WEST COAST AVENGERS #4 MARK BROOKS ANIMATED-STYLE VAR $3.99

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DEC240777 WOMEN OF MARVEL SHE-DEVILS #1 $4.99

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DEC240732 X-MEN #11 RB SILVA CONNECT VAR $4.99

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DEC240742 X-MEN #12 DAVID YARDIN VAR $4.99

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DEC240743 X-MEN #12 NIMIT MALAVIA PHOENIX VAR $4.99

DEC240741 X-MEN #12 RB SILVA CONNECT VAR $4.99

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Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for February 26, 2025

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

DEC241710 ALLEY OOP AND MAGIC STAFF COMPLETE SUNDAYS 1997-1999 GN $34.99

DEC241711 ALLEY OOP AND THE NEANDERTHALS GN (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

DEC241570 BADGER MAD MONKEY SHOCK N ROLL #2 (OF 5) $6.99

NOV241010 BLACK HAMMER SPIRAL CITY #4 CVR A KRISTIANSEN $3.99

NOV241011 BLACK HAMMER SPIRAL CITY #4 CVR B CHIANG $3.99

DEC242070 BLESS GN VOL 04 (C: 0-1-2) $13.99

DEC242071 BLUE LOCK GN VOL 17 (C: 0-1-2) $12.99

DEC242072 BLUE WOLVES OF MIBU GN VOL 04 (C: 0-1-2) $13.99

DEC241745 CALAVERA PI #4 (OF 4) CVR A FINNEGAN (MR) $4.99

NOV241013 CARLYLE SCHOOL FOR KINGS #4 $3.99

OCT241152 CAT GAMER TP VOL 07 (C: 1-1-2) $11.99

NOV242085 DANGERS IN MY HEART GN VOL 10 (C: 0-1-1) $13.99

SEP242270 DELICIOUS IN DUNGEON COMPLETE BOX SET (C: 0-1-2) $225.00

DEC241276 DINOSAUR COMICS SKETCHBOOK ONESHOT (C: 0-0-1) $4.99

NOV248036 DISNEY MANGA PIXAR FINDING NEMO GN (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

NOV242089 EAT GN (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

DEC241870 EULES VISION #4 (OF 4) CVR A CHAD HEINRICH (MR) (C: 0-1-0) $4.99

DEC241829 FALLEN TP VOL 01 $24.99

NOV240360 FAREWELL MY ODIN GN VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2) $12.99

DEC241464 FERAL STAR #1 (OF 4) (C: 0-1-2) $8.00

DEC241400 FIGHT GIRLS DIRECTORS CUT EDITION TP (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $17.99

NOV241019 FML #4 CVR A LOPEZ $4.99

NOV241020 FML #4 CVR B VALERO OCONNELL $4.99

DEC241465 FRANKIE BOY MONSTER #2 (OF 5) (C: 0-1-2) $10.00

JAN251418 FREAKIER THAN NORMAL #6 (C: 0-0-1) $4.99

DEC241061 GODZILLA VS AMERICA CHICAGO #1 CVR A BROWNE $7.99

DEC241062 GODZILLA VS AMERICA CHICAGO #1 CVR B SEELEY $7.99

DEC240955 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #93 CVR A  IGOR VITORINO $4.99

DEC240956 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #93 CVR B CAIO CACAU $4.99

DEC240957 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #93 CVR C SANJU NIVANGUNE $4.99

DEC240958 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #93 CVR D SONIA MATAS $4.99

DEC241789 GUINEVERE & DIVINITY FACTORY #5 CVR A MARCIO ABREU $5.50

DEC241790 GUINEVERE & DIVINITY FACTORY #5 CVR B SCOTT HARBEN SUCCUBUS $5.50

DEC242205 HAUNTRESS GN (C: 0-1-2) $13.95

NOV242095 HOW DO I TURN MY BEST GN VOL 03 (C: 0-1-1) $13.99

DEC241635 HUMAN FLY #3 CVR A SCHERPENHUIZEN $4.99

DEC241636 HUMAN FLY #3 CVR B GALLAGHER $4.99

NOV242050 I CROSSED DRESSED FOR IRL MEETUP GN VOL 03 (RES) (C: 0-1-2) $16.99

DEC242079 I WAS REINCARNATED AS 7TH PRINCE GN VOL 14 (C: 0-1-2) $12.99

OCT247713 ICE GUY & COOL GIRL GN VOL 09 (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

NOV247300 INCONVENIENT LIFE OF AN AROUSING PRIESTESS GN VOL 01 (C: 0-1 $13.99

NOV247171 IT TAKES MORE THAN PRETTY FACE GN VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2) $13.99

DEC241853 JOHN CARPENTERS TALES OF SCIENCE FICTION PAUSE #1 (OF 6) (MR $4.99

NOV241029 JUMPSCARE #1 $3.99

DEC241652 KILLTOWN #3 (OF 3) CVR A ROB PRIOR (MR) $5.99

DEC241653 KILLTOWN #3 (OF 3) CVR B DARYL MATTHEW DAVID (MR) $5.99

DEC241654 KILLTOWN #3 (OF 3) CVR C DARYL MATTHEW DAVID HOLOFOIL (MR) $19.99

DEC242210 KISS BET GN VOL 01 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $18.99

NOV242100 LETS BUY LAND & CULTIVATE IT GN VOL 07 (C: 0-1-2) $13.99

DEC241551 LIFE DRAWING HC (C: 0-1-2) $24.99

NOV242102 LOVE IS AN ILLUSION QUEEN GN VOL 02 (C: 0-1-2) $29.99

NOV241037 MAGIC ORDER V #5 CVR A BUFFAGNI (MR) $4.99

NOV241038 MAGIC ORDER V #5 CVR B B&W BUFFAGNI (MR) $4.99

DEC241286 NEW ZODIAX PISCES GN (C: 0-1-2) $8.00

NOV241039 NIGHT CLUB II #6 CVR A RAMIREZ (MR) $4.99

NOV241040 NIGHT CLUB II #6 CVR B B&W RAMIREZ (MR) $4.99

DEC240968 NINE LIVES OF SALEM ONESHOT CVR A DAN SCHOENING (RES) $4.99

DEC240969 NINE LIVES OF SALEM ONESHOT CVR B ROBERT HACK (RES) $4.99

NOV242110 PLUS SIZED ELF SECOND HELPING GN VOL 04 (MR) (C: 0-1-0) $13.99

DEC241740 POWER LORDS #2 CVR A WEAVER $4.99

DEC241741 POWER LORDS #2 CVR B LARROCA $4.99

DEC241742 POWER LORDS #2 CVR C PORTELA $4.99

NOV242111 REINCARNATED AS DRAGON HATCHLING GN VOL 07 (C: 0-1-2) $13.99

NOV248037 REINCARNATED COUNTESS ESCAPE HER PRINCE GN VOL 02 (C: 0-1-2) $13.99

NOV241041 RIPPERLAND #2 $4.99

OCT241162 RUTHLESS RENDER TP VOL 02 $12.99

NOV248038 SANCTIFY GN VOL 03 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

DEC240381 SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #7 CVR A HORLEY (MR) $6.99

DEC240382 SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #7 CVR B JOYCE (MR) $6.99

NOV247665 SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #7 CVR C FOC JOYCE VIRGIN (MR) $6.99

NOV242114 SERVAMP GN VOL 21 (C: 0-1-2) $12.99

DEC242087 SHANGRI LA FRONTIER GN VOL 15 (C: 0-1-2) $12.99

DEC241462 SINK #15 (MR) $4.99

NOV241741 SOMA TP (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

OCT241095 SPECTREGRAPH HC (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $35.00

OCT241096 SPECTREGRAPH HC DM EXC (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $75.00

DEC241081 STAR TREK DEFIANT #24 CVR A UNZUETA $4.99

DEC241082 STAR TREK DEFIANT #24 CVR B BEEM $4.99

NOV241113 STAR TREK SECTION 31 #1 CVR A LEVENS $5.99

NOV241114 STAR TREK SECTION 31 #1 CVR B POSTER VAR $5.99

NOV247170 TAMAMORIS FANTASIES NEVER STOP GN VOL 01 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

DEC241085 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2024 #7 CVR A FORNES $4.99

DEC241086 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2024 #7 CVR B EASTMAN $4.99

DEC241087 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2024 #7 CVR C FERREYRA $4.99

NOV247784 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2024 #7 CVR D $4.99

NOV247785 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2024 #7 CVR E $4.99

DEC241536 TEX & ZAGOR OMENS OF WAR HC SIGNATURE ED (C: 0-1-1) $17.99

DEC241097 TMNT SATURDAY MORNING ADV #22 CVR A MYER $3.99

DEC241098 TMNT SATURDAY MORNING ADV #22 CVR B FRIDOLFS $3.99

DEC241128 TOXIC AVENGER #5 (OF 5) CVR A HARPER (MR) $3.99

DEC241131 TOXIC AVENGER #5 (OF 5) CVR D HARPER BAGGED W TC CARD (MR) $4.99

OCT241166 TRIGUN MAXIMUM DLX ED HC VOL 04 (C: 0-1-2) $49.99

NOV242125 VALIANT MUST FALL GN VOL 04 (C: 0-1-2) $15.99

NOV240992 WARM FUSION #2 CVR A PONTICELLI (MR) $8.99

NOV240993 WARM FUSION #2 CVR B PONTICELLI (MR) $8.99

OCT248521 WARM FUSION #2 CVR F WARD (MR) $8.99

DEC240974 WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #148 (C: 0-1-1) $9.99

SEP241710 WORLD WITHIN THE WORLD HC COLL MINICOMIX & SHORT WORKS (MR) $39.99

DEC242093 YOUR LIE IN APRIL OMNIBUS GN VOL 03 (C: 0-1-2) $22.99

MAGAZINES

OCT241538 COMIC SHOP NEWS (100CT BUNDLE) #1958 (NET) $18.99

AUG242149 SCREAM MAGAZINE #87 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

DEC240413 STAR WARS INSIDER #230 NEWSSTAND ED (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

DEC240411 STAR WARS INSIDER #230 PX ED (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

BOOKS

NOV242135 FAILURE FRAME LIGHT NOVEL VOL 11.5 (C: 0-1-2) $15.99

DEC242067 FATHER I DONT WANT THIS MARRIAGE GN VOL 02 (C: 0-1-0) $20.00

DEC241830 I AM SALLY RIDE YR HC (C: 0-1-0) $16.99

OCT248376 MARVEL COMICS FOR DUMMIES SC (C: 0-1-1) $29.99

DEC241538 MOON MAID CENTENNIAL ED (C: 1-1-2) $350.00

NOV242137 MOST HERETICAL QUEEN VILLAINESS L NOVEL VOL 08 (C: 0-1-1) $15.99

DEC242209 SAVING 80K GOLD IN ANOTHER WORLD L NOVEL VOL 07 (C: 0-1-2) $14.95

NOV241597 STAR WARS A BATUU ADVENTURE LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC (C: 1-1-2) $5.99

OCT247708 TAYLOR SWIFT SUPERSTAR HC (C: 0-1-0) $16.99

DEC241808 TAYLOR SWIFT SUPERSTAR SC (C: 0-1-0) $5.99

NOV242144 TRAPPED IN A DATING SIM SC NOVEL VOL 03 (C: 0-1-2) $15.99

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Lunar Distribution to Begin Distributing Archie Comics Beginning May 2025

ARCHIE COMICS SIGNS WITH LUNAR DISTRIBUTION

New partnership gives retailers an additional option for stocking Archie's line of comic books, digests, and graphic novels 

Archie Comics has signed a deal with Lunar Distribution to distribute its publications to the comic book Direct Market. The new partnership is in addition to Archie's existing relationship with Diamond Comic Distributors. Archie titles will go live with Lunar on March 21, 2025 for product shipping in May 2025.

The move is a response to Diamond's declaration of Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. In a letter to retailers sent this week, Archie said, "While we value our decades-long partnership with Diamond, and sincerely hope that they pull through this in time, we've also been fielding questions, and requests for an alternate distribution channel."  

While comic shops can continue ordering Archie products from Diamond, all Archie single issues, digests, and graphic novels will be available from Lunar, as well. Retailers who have questions about stocking Archie Comics titles can reach out at info@archiecomics.com.

###

 

ABOUT ARCHIE COMICS:

Archie Comics is one of the most influential, successful, and longest-running brands in the comics industry. With over two billion comics sold and books published in dozens of languages, Archie characters are immediately recognizable worldwide. It is home to an extensive roster of characters—including The Archies, Little Archie, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Josie and the Pussycats, and Katy Keene—and the critically acclaimed Archie Horror imprint. The CW series Riverdale and the hit Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina have captivated the hearts and minds of countless fans, a trend that continues with The Archies, the first comics-based Hindi language feature film, now streaming on Netflix. Archie characters have been featured in animation, television, film, and music throughout its more than 85-year history. Follow Archie Comics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and online at archiecomics.com.

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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You #130

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #130

DC COMICS

STORY: Sholly Fisch; Scotty Beatty

PENCILS: Valerio Chiola; Robert Pope

INKS: Valerio Chiola; Scott McRae

COLORS: Valerio Chiola; Heroic Age

LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Dezi Sienty

EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Kwanza Johnson (reprint)

COVER: Valerio Chiola

32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2024)

Ages 8+

“Mayor May Not!”

Welcome, dear readers, to my continuing journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series, which began publication in 2010.  I continue to renew my subscription so that I can continue to review this series for you, dear readers.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #130 opens with “Mayor May Not!,” which is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Valerio Chiola.  The story finds Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma attending a costume ball thrown by Mayor Flowers.  The party is also a campaign event for the mayor's reelection campaign.  It seems as if the mayor has invited the whole city to this event, but did he also unknowingly invite a werewolf?

As usual, the second story, “Paranoidal Activity,” is a reprint story.  It is written by Scott Beatty and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You #19 (cover date: May 2012).]  The story opens as the Mystery Machine drives up to “the Spectral Silk Mill.”  Mystery Inc. has been called to this old silk mill by its current owners, Mr. Stanislaus and Mr. Oliveri, to discover if the place really is haunted.  For their latest case, the gang has decided to test their new high tech equipment in the detection of ghosts.  Will that work, or will it just get in the way of the ghost-busting?

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #130 doesn't really have a theme so much as it finds its ghostly instigators in suspects that manage to be both surprising and expected.  This isn't a particularly good issue, but like #129, the lead story is drawn by Valerio Chiola.  I really dig Chiola's quirky and funky illustrative style which brings some needed freshness to the pages of this series that is well into its second decade.  Chiola's squashed and stretched art reminds me of legendary cartoonist and Plastic Man creator, Jack Cole, and it looks like some of the graphical storytelling frequently found in kids' comics and graphic novels.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #130 may not be top of the line, but it is still a Scooby-Doo comic book.  So grab your “Scooby Snacks” and read this issue, and maybe watch a Scooby-Doo movie, later.  And until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

C

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the DC Comics original graphic novel, “Deadman Tells the Spooky Tales” by Franco and Sara Richard, Isaac Goodhart, and others.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a."I Reads You"

https://www.dccomics.com/

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The text is copyright © 2024 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------

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#IReadsYou Movie Review: VENOM: THE LAST DANCE

Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

Running time:  110 minutes (1 hour, 50 minutes)

MPA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, bloody images and strong language

DIRECTOR:  Kelly Marcel

WRITERS:  Kelly Marcel; from a story by Kelly Marcel and Tom Hardy (based on the Marvel Comics)

PRODUCERS:  Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, Matt Tolmach, Tom Hardy, Kelly Marcel, and Hutch Parker

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Fabian Wagner (D.o.P.)

EDITOR:  Mark Sanger

COMPOSER:  Dan Deacon

SUPERHERO/FANTASY/ACTION

Starring:  Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu, Clark Backo, Alanna Ubach, Hala Finley, Dash McCloud, Cristo Fernandez, Jared Abrahamson, Jack Brady, Reid Scott, and Andy Serkis

Venom: The Last Dance is a 2024 superhero fantasy-action film directed by Kelly Marcel.  The film is based on the Marvel Comics super-villain/anti-hero characters, Eddie Brock/Venom.  Several comic book writers, artists, and editors contributed in the development of this duo, and artist Todd McFarlane and writer David Michelinie are the creators of Venom.  This is also the third entry in the Venom film series.  In Venom: The Last Dance, Eddie Brock and Venom are on the run from both an alien monster and a mysterious military officer, and they may be forced to break up their symbiotic partnership.

Venom: The Last Dance opens on Klyntar, the home world of the symbiotes.  Knull (Andy Serkis), the creator of the symbiotes, seeks a way to escape the prison made for him by his rebellious creations.  To that end, he has discovered a key – some thing called a “Codex” – that will free him.  What and where is the codex?

Well, it is on Earth, and the Codex exists because of the relationship between the symbiote, Venom, and his human host, the former investigative reporter, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy).  They have just returned to Earth after their short stay in the multiverse (as seen in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home) and has landed in the Mexico of their own Earth.  While there, Eddie and Venom learn that Eddie is being blamed for the death of Detective Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham).

Mulligan is not dead.  He was infected by a symbiote (as seen in 2021's Venom: Let There Be Carnage).  He has been imprisoned in an underground facility at “Area 55” (which is beneath “Area 51”), and is being held in captivity by the “Imperium Program.”  There, Mulligan and his symbiote are under the watchful gazes of Imperium scientist, Dr. Teddy Paine (Juno Temple), and the Imperium's military commander, General Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

Eddie and Venom are headed for New York City in a bid to clear Eddie's name, unaware that General Strickland is hunting them.  The duo, however, is soon made aware of an even more dangerous hunter.  Knull has sent a creature known as a “Xenophage” to capture the Codex within Eddie and Venom.  Now, a year into their symbiotic relationship, Eddie Brock and Venom may have to make a most devastating and heart-wrenching decision in order to save the Earth and at least one of their lives.

Venom: The Last Dance is the fifth film in “Sony's Spider-Man Universe” line of films.  It follows Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), Morbius (2022), and Madame Web (2024).  The Last Dance arrived in movie theaters a little more than a month before the series' sixth film, Kraven the Hunter (2024).  This film series stars characters and properties commonly associated with Marvel Comics' character, Spider-Man.  Sadly, media reports indicate that Kraven the Hunter will be the last entry in Sony's Spider-Man Universe.

Anyway, just before the halfway mark in Venom: The Last Dance, the Venom symbiote enters a horse, and “venomizes” it, creating a “Venom horse.”  The sequence featuring Venom as a horse, which becomes a wild ride across the desert with Eddie on its back, is probably the liveliest moment in this movie.  Venom does not venomize any more animals the rest of the way, but strangely, the beginning of the film's end-credits is a montage of venomized animals, everything from insects and birds to mammals and amphibians.  A Venom movie featuring the Venom symbiote venomizing countless different insects and animals?! – now, that would be a Venom movie I'd love and a lot of people would watch.  Sadly, that is what we get in Venom: The Last Dance.

Yes, there are some genuine character moments – such as Eddie/Venom's relationship with the Moon family – but even that is overwhelmed by Venom: The Last Dance's need to end.  Yes, this isn't so much a movie as it is an execution or suicide pact.  Venom is a trilogy and Venom: The Last Dance must be the end of it:  that's what this movie feels like – a race to the end.

I found myself unable to really enjoy this movie.  I really didn't connect with the film's best action scenes, and there were a few really good ones.  Also, I feel like the Knull subplot was woefully underutilized.  There are some good moments here, and by the end of the film, I thought the good things had been downplayed in favor of this movie's fatalistic mood.  Ultimately, I think Venom: The Last Dance is only for fans of the series who will want to see it through to the end.

C+

★★½ out of 4 stars

[This film has one mid-credits scene and one scene that occurs at the end of the credits.]

The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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