DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for July 24, 2024

DC COMICS:

Absolute Power Ground Zero #1 (One Shot)(2nd Printing Cover A Dan Mora), $4.99

Absolute Power Origins #1 (Of 3)(Cover A Irvin Rodriguez), $3.99

Absolute Power Origins #1 (Of 3)(Cover B Dave Wilkins Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Absolute Power Origins #1 (Of 3)(Cover C Alitha Martinex & Danny Miki Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Absolute Power Task Force VII #2 (Of 7)(Cover A Pete Woods), $3.99

Absolute Power Task Force VII #2 (Of 7)(Cover B Simone Di Meo Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Absolute Power Task Force VII #2 (Of 7)(Cover C John Giang Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Absolute Power Task Force VII #2 (Of 7)(Cover D Stephen Platt Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Absolute Power Task Force VII #2 (Of 7)(Cover E John Timms Connecting Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Absolute Power Task Force VII #2 (Of 7)(Cover F Dan Mora Foil Variant), $6.99

Batman Dark Age #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Michael Allred), $5.99

Batman Dark Age #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Chris Samnee Card Stock Variant), $6.99

Batman Dark Age #4 (Of 6)(Cover C Jorge Fornes Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman The Brave And The Bold #15 (Cover A Simone Di Meo), $7.99

Batman The Brave And The Bold #15 (Cover B Khary Randolph), $7.99

Batman The Brave And The Bold #15 (Cover C Dan Hipp), $7.99

Batman Vs. Robin TP, $19.99

DC Connect #51, AR

Detective Comics #1087 (Cover A Evan Cagle), $4.99

Detective Comics #1087 (Cover B Kelley Jones Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Detective Comics #1087 (Cover C Guillem March Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Detective Comics #1087 (Cover D Sebastian Fiumara Card Stock Variant), AR

Flash #11 (Cover A Mike Deodato Jr.), $3.99

Flash #11 (Cover B Javier Rodriguez Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Flash #11 (Cover C Matt Taylor Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Flash #11 (Cover D Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez Artist Spotlight Wraparound Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Green Arrow #14 (Cover A Phil Hester)(Absolute Power), $3.99

Green Arrow #14 (Cover B John Giang Card Stock Variant)(Absolute Power), $4.99

Green Arrow #14 (Cover C Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez Artist Spotlight Wraparound Card Stock Variant)(Absolute Power), $4.99

Harley Quinn #42 (Cover A Sweeney Boo), $4.99

Harley Quinn #42 (Cover B Lesley Leirix Li Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Harley Quinn #42 (Cover C Ben Harvey Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Harley Quinn #42 (Cover D Marcial Toledano Vargas Card Stock Variant), AR

Nice House By The Sea #1 (Of 12)(Cover A Alvaro Martinez Bueno), $4.99

Nice House By The Sea #1 (Of 12)(Cover B Nick Robles Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Nice House By The Sea #1 (Of 12)(Cover C Hayden Sherman Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Nice House By The Sea #1 (Of 12)(Cover D Dani Card Stock Variant), AR

Poison Ivy Volume 2 Unethical Consumption TP, $17.99

Power Girl #11 (Cover A Yanick Paquette), $3.99

Power Girl #11 (Cover B Terry Dodson Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Power Girl #11 (Cover C Inhyuk Lee Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Robin Tim Drake Compendium 1 TP, $59.99

Supergirl Woman Of Tomorrow The Deluxe Edition HC, $49.99

Zatanna Bring Down The House #2 (Of 5)(Cover A Javier Rodriguez), $5.99

Zatanna Bring Down The House #2 (Of 5)(Cover B Jenny Frison), $5.99

Zatanna Bring Down The House #2 (Of 5)(Cover C Ariel Diaz), $5.99

Zatanna Bring Down The House #2 (Of 5)(Cover D Jenny Frison Virgin Variant), AR

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

#IReadsYou Film Review: LOGAN

Logan (2017)

Running time:  137 minutes (2 hours, 17 minutes)

MPAA – PG-13 for strong brutal violence and language throughout, and for brief nudity

DIRECTOR:  James Mangold

WRITERS:  James Mangold & Scott Frank and Michael Green; from a story by James Mangold (based on the characters and stories appearing in Marvel Comics)

PRODUCERS:  Simon Kinberg, Hutch Parker, and Lauren Shuler Donner

CINEMATOGRAHER: John Mathieson (D.o.P.)

EDITORS:  Michael McCusker and Dirk Westervelt

COMPOSER:  Marco Beltrami

Academy Award nominee

SUPERHERO/ACTION/DRAMA

Starring:  Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Richard E. Grant, Eriq La Salle, Elise Neal, Quincy Fouse, Jason Genao, and Bryant Tardy

Logan is a 2017 American drama, action film and superhero movie from director James Mangold.  Starring Hugh Jackman in the title role, it is the tenth film in 20th Century Fox's X-Men movie franchise and is also the third entry in the Wolverine film series.  Logan is based on the Marvel Comics character, Logan/Wolverine, that was created by writer Len Wein and artists John Romita and Herb Trimpe and first fully appeared in the comic book, The Incredible Hulk #181 (cover dated: November 1974).  Logan the movie focuses on a legendary mutant trying to save a mutant child from the evil people determined to capture her.

Logan opens in the year 2029.  Mutants are nearly extinct, and no new mutants have been born in 24 years.  The aging and ailing Logan (Hugh Jackman) works as a limousine driver in El Paso, Texas.  Once upon a time, he was known as “Wolverine,” and he was a member of the legendary band of mutants, the “X-Men.”  Now, he and the elderly founder of the X-Men, Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), live in hiding. Xavier suffers from a degenerative brain condition, and he sometimes has telepathic seizures that render anyone in the vicinity virtually helpless.  A mutant known as “Caliban” (Stephen Merchant) helps Logan care for Charles.

Logan has plans for escape, but a complication arrives in the form of a small girl named Laura (Dafne Keen), also known as test subject “X23.”  She is a mutant and her abilities are remarkably similar to those of Wolverine's.  However, she is being hunted by Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) and his band of killers, the “Reavers.”  They are in service of the research institute, Alkali Transigen, and the scientists there want her back no matter what it costs in terms of lives.  Will Logan become the hero Wolverine, again, and help Laura get to a place called “Eden?”  Or will he run away from his fate, again?

Having seen the first two Wolverine films, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and The Wolverine (2013), I did not go to the theater to see Logan when it was originally released in 2017.  [In my defense, I was knee deep in catastrophic family drama at the time.]  With the impending release of the upcoming Marvel Studios film, Deadpool & Wolverine, I decided it was time.

My was I missing an excellent film.  Logan is by far the best of the Wolverine films, and at the time of its release, it was the best X-Men since 2011's X-Men: First Class.  Truthfully, Logan would end up being the last really good X-Men film produced by 20th Century Fox.

Logan, which was rated “R” by the MPAA, is one of the most violent superhero films that I've ever seen.  Logan, Laura, and a surprise character called “X24” disembowel, dismember, behead, eviscerate, stab, and chop up what seems like a small town's worth of deserving men of various stripes.  Although I can sometimes be a prude about what I see as gratuitous violence in cinema, I love the brutal violence of Logan.  In fact, all the action scenes in Logan are brilliant, from the standoffs to the fights and car chases.

However, director James Mangold, a filmmaker with a hugely diverse filmography, makes Logan turn on dramatic storytelling and performances.  It is obvious that Hugh Jackman as Logan and Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier would give fine performances.  Still, actor and comedian, Stephen Merchant, is simply wonderful in the important supporting role of Caliban, bringing pathos and depth to a role that could have ended up being an extraneous freak character.

Boyd Holbrook also brings range and a variety of moods to Donald Pierce, another character that could have been a generic mercenary type.  Dafne Keen matches the rage and range of Jackman as Logan.  Laura could have been lost in the hurricane that is Logan/Wolverine's story in this film, but Keen makes Laura a force of her own.  Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Eriq La Salle makes the most of his short time on screen as Will Munson.

Logan is a mournful film.  It really is not a sequel to the earlier Wolverine films so much as it is the completion of Logan/Wolverine's tragic, but heroic story arc that buttressed the earlier films.  Logan is both an ending and a beginning, and I wish that the care and effort put into this film had been put into some of the other X-Men films.

A

★★★★ out of 4 stars

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

NOTES:

The mock X-Men comic books that appear in this film were produced by writer Joe Quesada and artist Dan Panosian.

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

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

#IReadsYou Film Review: DEADPOOL

Deadpool (2016)

Running time:  108 minutes

MPAA – R for strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity

DIRECTOR:  Tim Miller

WRITERS:  Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (based on Marvel Comics characters)

PRODUCERS:  Ryan Reynolds, Simon Kinberg, and Lauren Shuler Donner

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Ken Seng (D.o.P.)

EDITOR:  Julian Clark

COMPOSER:  Tom Holkenborg

SUPERHERO/ACTION/COMEDY

Starring:  Ryan Reynolds, Monica Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Ed Skrein, Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, Gina Carano, Leslie Uggams, Stan Lee, and Stefan Kapicic (voice)

Deadpool is a 2016 American superhero film and action-comedy from director Tim Miller.  It is a spin-off film in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men film series and is the eighth film overall in the series.  It is also the first entry in what would become the Deadpool movie franchise.  The film is based on the Marvel Comics character, Deadpool, that was created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza, and first appeared in New Mutants #98 (cover dated: December 1990).  Deadpool the movie focuses on a wisecracking costumed antihero who seeks revenge against the man who left him hideously scarred after a series of experiments.

Deadpool introduces Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), a smart-mouthed mercenary and former special forces operative (“the merc with a mouth”).  Wade's life takes a dramatic turn when he meets and falls in love with Vanessa Carlysle (Monica Baccarin), a prostitute.  However, after a whirlwind romance, Wade discovers that he has terminal cancer, but as he is preparing to accept death, he learns of a lab run by the mysterious Ajax (Ed Skrein).  Ajax promises to not only cure Wade's cancer, but to also give him powers and make him a superhero.  Unfortunately, Ajax is a lying monster.

Although the experiments leave his face and body hideously disfigured, Wade is rendered virtually immortal when his mutant power activates and gives him incredibly accelerated healing powers.  Taking the name, “Deadpool,” Wade goes on a mission of revenge.  On the other hand, Colossus, the mutant who has a giant organic steel body, wants Deadpool to join the X-Men and become a superhero.  Will Deadpool become a good guy, or will he simply keep piling up dismembered and bullet-riddled bodies on the way to his reunion with Ajax?

We are nearing the release of the latest Disney/Marvel Studios blockbuster movie, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).  I had seen Deadpool and Deadpool 2, previously, but I had never reviewed them.  I decided that now is the time to foist my opinions upon you, dear readers.  I'm also going to watch and review, Logan (2017), the one X-Men movie I have been unable to finish. 

Gleefully profane in language and sexual content, Deadpool was a surprise to movie audiences upon its February 2016 original theatrical release.  It was an R-rated superhero movie, and it was proud of it.  At the time, movie audiences had seen plenty of movies featuring superheroes, ordinary heroes, and anti-heroes, in which the lead character brutally kills his adversaries.  None of those films had done it like Deadpool, although 2013's The Wolverine, had tried.

The foul language is in such abundance in Deadpool that there are moments when it all seems like too much, but even in those moments, I started laughing after being repulsed for a few seconds.  I think a movie has to be doing something right when it has even Emmy and Tony-winning actress, Leslie Uggams (as Blind Al), dropping F-bombs.

For all the credit I give director Tim Miller and film editor, Julian Clark, for this film's fast action and eye-popping dances of violence, actor Ryan Reynolds makes Deadpool work.  Yeah, the sex scenes are a bit too long and too over-the-top, but it never seems as if Wade Wilson/Deadpool is talking too much.  Reynolds makes Deadpool different and unique; he makes it work.  Eight years after its original theatrical release, Deadpool and its superhero cinema blasphemy still seem fresh.

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

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

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

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

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for July 17, 2024

BOOM! STUDIOS

MAY240131 BRIAR #7 (OF 8) CVR A LINS $3.99

MAY240134 BRIAR #7 (OF 8) CVR D FOC REVEAL WARD $3.99

MAY240094 I HEART SKULL-CRUSHER #5 CVR A ZONNO $4.99

MAY240095 I HEART SKULL-CRUSHER #5 CVR B INFANTE $4.99

MAR248181 I HEART SKULL-CRUSHER #5 CVR D FOC REVEAL VAR ZONNO $4.99

MAY240098 LAWFUL #2 (OF 8) CVR A KHALIDAH $4.99

MAY240099 LAWFUL #2 (OF 8) CVR B MERCADO $4.99

MAY240122 MANS BEST #5 (OF 5) CVR A LONERGAN $4.99

MAY240123 MANS BEST #5 (OF 5) CVR B OZ $4.99

MAY240125 MANS BEST #5 (OF 5) CVR D FOC REVEAL MORA $4.99

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

Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for July 17, 2024

DYNAMITE

MAY240165 POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 CVR A GANUCHEAU $4.99

MAY240166 POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 CVR B ROMERO $4.99

MAY240167 POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 CVR C DARBOE $4.99

MAY240168 POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 CVR D BALDARI $4.99

MAY240169 POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 CVR E ROMERO FOIL (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

MAY240170 POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 CVR F ROMERO FOIL VIRGIN (C: 0-1-2) $29.99

MAY240171 POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 CVR G BLANK AUTHENTIX $4.99

MAY240313 RED SONJA 2023 #12 CVR A PARRILLO $4.99

MAY240314 RED SONJA 2023 #12 CVR B BARENDS $4.99

MAY240315 RED SONJA 2023 #12 CVR C LINSNER $4.99

MAY240316 RED SONJA 2023 #12 CVR D GEOVANI $4.99

MAY240317 RED SONJA 2023 #12 CVR E COSPLAY $4.99

MAY247275 RED SONJA 2023 #12 CVR M FOC PARRILLO ULTRAVIOLET $4.99

MAY240233 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR A NAKAYAMA (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

MAY240234 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR B PARRILLO (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

MAY240235 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR C SHALVEY (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

MAY240236 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR D LEE & CHUNG (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

MAY240237 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR E TAO (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

MAY240238 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR F ACTION FIGURE (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

MAY240239 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR G PARRILLO FOIL (C: 1-1-2) $9.99

MAY240240 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR H PARRILLO FOIL VIRGIN (C: 1-1-2) $29.99

MAY247281 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR Y FOC OLIVER ORIGINAL (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

MAY247282 THUNDERCATS #6 CVR Z FOC MOSS ORIGINAL (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

MAY240257 THUNDERCATS TP VOL 01 OMENS DM EXC VAR (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

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

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 17, 2024

IMAGE COMICS

MAY240455 ACROSS THE MASSIVE-VERSE TP VOL 01 $9.99

MAY240457 ANTARCTICA TP VOL 02 $19.99

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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 17, 2024

MARVEL COMICS

FEB248691 ALIENS WHAT IF #5 $3.99

FEB248692 ALIENS WHAT IF #5 ANDREI BRESSAN VAR $3.99

MAY240759 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #258 FACSIMILE ED $4.99

MAY240681 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BLOOD HUNT #3 $3.99

MAY240682 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BLOOD HUNT #3 JUNGGEUN YOON VAR $3.99

MAY240774 ANNIHILATION 2099 #3 $3.99

MAY240775 ANNIHILATION 2099 #3 KEN LASHLEY 2099 FRAME VAR $3.99

APR248480 BLOOD HUNT #2 (OF 5) 2ND PTG LEINIL YU VAR $4.99

MAY240659 BLOOD HUNTERS #4 $4.99

MAY240660 BLOOD HUNTERS #4 DECLAN SHALVEY BOOK CVR VAR $4.99

NOV230679 CAPTAIN AMERICA BY MARK GRUENWALD OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $150.00

MAY240710 DAREDEVIL WOMAN WITHOUT FEAR #1 $4.99

MAY240711 DAREDEVIL WOMAN WITHOUT FEAR #1 JOSHUA SWABY DAREDEVIL VAR $4.99

MAY240713 DAREDEVIL WOMAN WITHOUT FEAR #1 SERGIO DAVILA HOMAGE VAR $4.99

APR240717 DEADPOOL ROLE PLAYS MARVEL UNIVERSE TP $9.99

APR240868 DEMON WARS TP $19.99

APR240870 DOCTOR STRANGE FALL SUNRISE TP $17.99

FEB248714 DRACULA BLOOD HUNT #3 $3.99

FEB248715 DRACULA BLOOD HUNT #3 MATEUS MANHANINI VAR $3.99

APR248481 HELLVERINE #1 (OF 4) 2ND PTG MARTIN COCCOLO VAR $4.99

MAY240790 IMMORTAL THOR ANNUAL #1 $4.99

MAY240793 IMMORTAL THOR ANNUAL #1 MIKE MCKONE INFINITY WATCH VAR $4.99

MAY240792 IMMORTAL THOR ANNUAL #1 WALT SIMONSON VAR $4.99

MAY240800 INCREDIBLE HULK #14 $3.99

MAY240801 INCREDIBLE HULK #14 DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE VAR $3.99

MAY240802 INCREDIBLE HULK #14 GABRIELE DELL`OTTO VAR $3.99

MAY240803 INCREDIBLE HULK #14 GARRON WEAPON X-TRACTION TEASER VAR $3.99

MAY240787 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #20 $4.99

MAY240788 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #20 DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE VAR $4.99

MAY240789 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #20 JUAN FRIGERI VAR $4.99

DEC230754 JEPH LOEB TIM SALE CAPTAIN AMERICA GALLERY EDITION HC $50.00

DEC230755 JEPH LOEB TIM SALE CAPTAIN AMERICA GALLERY EDITION HC DM $50.00

MAY240701 NAMOR #1 $4.99

MAY240705 NAMOR #1 (OF 8) ALEX MALEEV VAR $4.99

MAY240703 NAMOR #1 (OF 8) JOSHUA CASSARA VAR $4.99

MAY240704 NAMOR #1 CASSARA DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE VAR $4.99

MAR240884 PEACH MOMOKOS DEMON SAGA DEMON DAYS TP $13.99

FEB248728 PHOENIX #1 $4.99

FEB248732 PHOENIX #1 AKA VAR $4.99

FEB248733 PHOENIX #1 ERICA DURSO MARVEL VS ALIEN VAR $4.99

FEB248734 PHOENIX #1 JOE QUESADA FOIL VAR (NET) $PI

FEB248735 PHOENIX #1 LOGO VAR $4.99

FEB248736 PHOENIX #1 PEACH MOMOKO VAR $4.99

FEB248737 PHOENIX #1 ROSE BESCH VAR $4.99

MAY240755 SCARLET WITCH #2 $3.99

MAY240756 SCARLET WITCH #2 HOWELL DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE VAR $3.99

MAY240757 SCARLET WITCH #2 JESSICA FONG VAR $3.99

APR240873 SHANG-CHI BY GENE LUEN YANG TP $54.99

APR240884 SILVER SURFER EPIC COLLECT VOL 03 FREEDOM NEW PTG $44.99

NOV230683 SPIDER-MAN BY MICHELINIE BAGLEY OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $125.00

NOV230684 SPIDER-MAN BY MICHELINIE BAGLEY OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 DM VAR $125.00

MAY240741 SPIDER-WOMAN #9 $3.99

MAY240742 SPIDER-WOMAN #9 MEDINA DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE VAR $3.99

MAY240825 STAR WARS #48 $4.99

MAY240828 STAR WARS #48 CHRIS SPROUSE PHANTOM MENACE 25TH ANN VAR $4.99

MAY240829 STAR WARS #48 JTC ACTION FIGURE VAR $4.99

MAY240826 STAR WARS #48 RON LIM VAR $4.99

APR240883 STAR WARS LEGENDS THRAWN TRILOGY TP $49.99

MAY240737 THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MEN #5 $3.99

MAY240740 THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MEN #5 DAVID YARDIN HOMAGE VAR $3.99

MAY240739 THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MEN #5 NICK BRADSHAW VAR $3.99

APR248483 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #4 2ND PTG MARCO CHECCHETTO VAR $4.99

APR248485 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #5 2ND PTG CHECCHETTO VAR $4.99

MAY240723 ULTIMATE X-MEN #5 $4.99

MAY240726 ULTIMATE X-MEN #5 MEGHAN HETRICK ULTIMATE SPECIAL VAR $4.99

MAR247116 ULTIMATE X-MEN #5 PEACH MOMOKO VAR $4.99

MAY240724 ULTIMATE X-MEN #5 PEPE LARRAZ VAR $4.99

APR240863 WHITE WIDOW WELCOME TO IDYLHAVEN TP $15.99

MAY240693 X-MEN BLOOD HUNT LAURA KINNEY THE WOLVERINE #1 $3.99

MAY240695 X-MEN BLOOD HUNT LAURA KINNEY THE WOLVERINE #1 MOMOKO VAR $3.99

MAY240694 X-MEN BLOOD HUNT LAURA KINNEY THE WOLVERINE #1 VICENTINI VAR $3.99

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