Monday, August 2, 2021

DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for August 3, 2021

DC COMICS:

American Vampire 1976 #10 (Of 10)(Cover A Rafael Albuquerque), $4.99
American Vampire 1976 #10 (Of 10)(Cover B Mateus Santolouco Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Batman #111 (Cover A Jorge Jimenez), $4.99
Batman #111 (Cover B Gabriele Dell Otto Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Batman #111 (Cover C Lucio Parrillo The Suicide Squad Movie Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Batman #111 (Cover D Riccardo Federici Card Stock Variant), AR
Crime Syndicate #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Howard Porter), $3.99
Crime Syndicate #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Evan Doc Shaner Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Crush And Lobo #3 (Of 8)(Cover A Bernard Chang), $3.99
Crush And Lobo #3 (Of 8)(Cover B Khary Randolph Card Stock Variant), $4.99
DC Horror Presents The Conjuring The Lover #3 (Of 5)(Cover A Bill Sienkiewicz), $3.99
DC Horror Presents The Conjuring The Lover #3 (Of 5)(Cover B Ryan Brown Movie Poster Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Dreaming Waking Hours #12 (Of 12)(Cover A Marguerite Sauvage), $3.99
Green Lantern #5 (Cover A Bernard Chang), $4.99
Green Lantern #5 (Cover B Juliet Nneka Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Green Lantern #5 (Cover C Felipe Massafera The Suicide Squad Movie Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #1 (Of 7)(Cover A Chip Zdarsky), $4.99
Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #1 (Of 7)(Cover B Riccardo Federici Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #1 (Of 7)(Cover C Christopher Mooneyham Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #1 (Of 7)(Cover D Jesus Merino Card Stock Variant), AR
Justice League #66 (Cover A David Marquez), $4.99
Justice League #66 (Cover B Alexander Lozano Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Justice League Infinity #2 (Of 7)(Cover A Jorge Corona), $3.99
Last God HC, $49.99
MAD Magazine #21, $5.99
Nice House On The Lake #3 (Of 12)(Cover A Alvaro Martinez Bueno), $3.99
Nice House On The Lake #3 (Of 12)(Cover B Christian Ward Card Stock Variant), $4.99
OMAC One Man Army Corps By Jack Kirby TP, $19.99
Sandman The Deluxe Edition Volume 3 HC, $49.99
Sensational Wonder Woman #6 (Cover A Belen Ortega), $3.99
Sensational Wonder Woman #6 (Cover B Kael Ngu Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Suicide Squad #6 (Cover A Eduardo Pansica), $3.99
Suicide Squad #6 (Cover B Gerald Parel Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Suicide Squad #6 (Cover C Jorge Molina The Suicide Squad Movie Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Suicide Squad Get Joker #1 (Of 3)(Cover A Alex Maleev), $6.99
Suicide Squad Get Joker #1 (Of 3)(Cover B Jorge Fornes), $6.99
Supergirl Adventures Girl Of Steel TP, $9.99
Swamp Thing #6 (Of 10)(Cover A Mike Perkins), $3.99
Swamp Thing #6 (Of 10)(Cover B Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), $4.99


Saturday, July 31, 2021

I Reads You Juniors: July 2021 - Update #101

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS:

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Writer Jason Aaron will be launching a new "Punisher" comic book in the fall, apparently.

DYNAMITE - From ComicFrontLine:   Writer David Avallone talks about the Kickstarter for his "Elvira" one-shot comic book, "Elvira: The Wrath of Con."

DC CINEMA - From Variety:   In a Twitter letter, director David Ayers disavows the 2016 film, "Suicide Sqaud" as "not my movie."

From Variety:  Here is a roundup of early reviews of James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad."

COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Ablaze announces three new titles in its line of comic books based on Robert E. Howard's "Conan the Cimmerian."  To avoid trademark trouble, Ablaze calls its Conan line, "The Cimmerian."

EISNER AWARDS - From BleedingCool:   If you care, here is a list of winners at last night's 2021 / 33rd annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  The site has made a list of agents who sell graphic novels to the book publishers.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From IReadsYou:  My review of the new "Black Widow" film.  

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   The new "DC Universe" explained ... and it's a doozy.

comiXology - From THR:   Scott Snyder and his Best Jackett Press have signed a deal to co-create eight titles for ComiXology Originals. The titles will first debut via the Amazon-owned digital comics service and Kindle, and then appear in print via Dark Horse Books.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   A profile of former Charlton Comics character turned DC Comics IP, "The Peacemaker."

COMICS - From ICv2:   Writer Cullen Bun has been hired to create a shared universe based on some of the comic books created by the late writer-artist Barry Blair.  Bunn will do this for Outland Entertainment, which acquired the Blair comics.

ARCHIE - From ICv2:   Archie Comics has announced the long-awaited arrival of "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #9."  The eighth issue was released in August 2017.  Archie has also announced the debut of "The Occult World of Sabrina," a new series that will continue the continuity of the Netflix series, "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina," which ran for four seasons.

BOOKS - From Deadline:   Amazon has ordered a six-episode adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel, Anansi Boys.  Gaiman is writing the series with Sir Lenny Henry, British comedy legend.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:   Sources tell the site that Warner Bros. and DC Films have chosen "In the Heights" actress, Leslie Grace, to play Batgirl/Barbara Gordon in their HBO Max film, "Batgirl."

FANTAGRAPHICS - From TheBeat:  The site has a five-page preview of Ed Piskor's "Red Room #3" (Fantagraphics Books), which is due July 28th.  The site also previews the cover art for the first reprint collection.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   It really would be nice if legendary X-Men scribe, Chris Claremont, really was teasing a new "Gambit" comic book that he would write.

DYNAMITE - From BleedingCool:  Rodney Barnes of "Killadelphia" is writing a new James Bond comic book.  "James Bond: Himeros," drawn by Antonio Fuso and coloured by Adriano Augusto, will find Bon entering the world of sex-trafficking.

DC COMICS - DCBlog:  Cliff Chiang is the writer-artist of a new "DC Black Label" four-issue miniseries, "Catwoman: Lonely City."

DC TV - From DCBlog:   Nine new cast members have been announced for HBO Max's TV adaptation of "DMZ," the acclaimed comic book from writer Brian Wood and artist Riccardo Burchielli.  The new cast includes actors Mamie Gummer (Meryl Streep's daughter) and Nora Dunn.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   The blog offers more details on upcoming three-issue "DC Black Label" series, "Batman: The Impostor," written by Mattson Tomlin, one of the screenwriters of next year's film, "The Batman."

DC CINEMA - From Variety:   Actresses Leslie Grace and Haley Lu Richardson have reportedly emerged as the favorites to play "Batgirl" in the character's HBO Max film.  Actresses Isabela Merced and Zoey Deutch have reportedly already tested for the role.

DARK HORSE - From BleedingCool:   There is a new five-issue Hellboy miniseries.  "Hellboy: The Silver Lantern Club" begins in October 2021.

YAOI MANGA - From ANN:  SuBLime Manga, VIZ Media's imprint for boys-love manga, announced on Twitter on Sunday that it has licensed Natsuki Kizu's "Links" manga and Aya Sakyo's "Scattering His Virgin Bloom (Takane no Hana wa Chirasaretai)" manga. SuBLime will release both titles on April 12, 2022.

MANGA/DC COMICS - From ComicBook:   Superman will take on food in the manga, "Superman vs. Meshi," another Kodansha/DC Comics joint.

MANGA/DC COMICS - From ScreenRant:  Batman is a baby ... that Joker is racing(!) in the manga, "One Operation JOKER," from Kodansha.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  Actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announces that production on his DC Films superhero movie, "Black Adam" has wrapped.

IMAGE COMICS - From GamesRadar:  Image Comics turns 30 next year, so "Newsarama" looks ahead at what's coming and what could be coming.

COMICS TO FILM - From BleedingCool:   Reginald Hudlin is set to direct a film adapation of the French graphic novel, "Black Cotton Star," which was releaed in English last year by Pegasus Books.

BOOM STUDIOS - From BleedingCool:   "House of Slaughter" is the spinoff from the hit comic book, "Something is Killing The Children."

DC COMICS - From EW:   Horror novelist Joe Hill's DC Comics imprint, Hill House Comics, will return for Halloween with a new series, "Refrigerator Full of Heads," a sequel to "Basketful of Heads."

AWARDS - From TheBeat:   The nominations for the 2021 Harvey Awards have been announced.  There are six categories and voting is now open until Sept. 6th.  Winners will be announced in October.

DC CINEMA - From YahooMovies:   James Gunn, director of the upcoming "The Suicide Squad," talks for the first time about being fired by Disney three years ago.

BOOM STUDIOS - From BOOM:   "Dark Blood #1" arrives next week, but is already sold out at the distributor level.  BOOM has announced a second printing of the first issue. It will arrive August 11th, 2021 with a new cover by Paris Alleyne.

MILLARWORLD/IMAGE - From BleedingCool:  Mark Millar releases a four-page preview with cover art of "The Magic Order 2 #1," which goes on sale Oct. 27th.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  In October, DC Comics will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Wonder Woman's debut with the publication of 12 titles that month.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Mattson Tomlin, one of the screenwriters of the upcoming film, "The Batman," is writing a three-issue Batman comic book miniseries, "Batman: The Imposter."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   The popular and critically acclaimed Hulk comic book series by writer Al Ewing, artist Joe Bennett, and colorist Paul Mounts, "Immortal Hulk" will come to an end with its 50th issue in October.

DC CINEMA - From People:   Dwayne Johnson shows off the set for his DC Films movie, "Black Adam."

MILLARWORLD - From THR:   Writer Mark Millar ("Kick-Ass," "Jupiter's Legacy") and Netflix's next comic book project is the original graphic novel, "King of Spies," Millar's first OGN.  The story focuses on the greatest secret agent facing his mortality by saving the world.

MCU RUMORS - From GeekFeed:   "Ant-Man" villain, "Yellowjacket" (played by actor Corey Stoll), may return for the third film in the series, "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania."

DC CINEMA - From EW:   Dwayne Johnson shares a look at his "beautiful textured" costume for the DC Films' movie, "Black Adam."

MANGA - From FilmDaily:   "What are the differences between light novels and manga?"

IMAGE COMICS - From GamesRadar:   Top Cow Productions is reviving "The Darkness" for a new comic book series from co-creator Marc Silvestri, artist Christopher Mitten, and colorist Bryan Valenza.  This relaunch will arrive January 2022.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   Tom King and Greg Smallwood's "DC Black Label" comic, "The Human Target," to feature the Justice League International.

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Brazilian comic book artist, Robson Rocha, has reportedly died from complications of COVID-19.  He had worked for DC Comics for the past decade, most recently on the "Aquaman" revamp.

BOOM STUDIOS - From BleedingCool:   The site has a 7-page preview of this week's "Mouse Guard Owlhen Caregiver #1" from series creator, David Petersen.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics already has the license to publish "Ultraman" comic books, but next year, it will publish "Ultraseven" comics.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   This articles talks about "Warner Bros. Studios Tours'" newest attraction, the "Batcave" replica.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   DC Comics has announced the writers and artists that will appear for the publisher at "Comic-Con@Home 2021," which be held July 23-25, 2021.

DC TV - From TNT:   The HBO Max series, Titans, based on DC Comics' "Teen Titans" franchise is coming to cable network, TNT.  See a clip from the show at the link.

MOVIE REVIEW - IReadsYou:   A review of Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" by yours truly.

DC TOYS - From TheBeat:   McFarlane Toys' action figures from DC Film's "The Suicide Squad" film are now available for pre-order from Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

BLACK WIDOW - From Newsarama:   In Marvel Studios' new "Black Widow" film, Oscar-nominated acress Florence Pugh plays "Yolena Belova."  Newsarama's Andrea Ayres tells you who she is in the comics.

DC COMICS - From Newsarama:  DC Comics will launch a new "Human Target" comic book, written by Tom King and drawn by Greg Smallwood, via its "Black Label" imprint.

DC CINEMA - From YahooLife:   Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has posted a photo of his extremely toned body.  He said is training for the film, "Black Adam," has been the toughest of his career.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale are reunited for a one-shot special based on their popular 1996 Batman comic book, "Batman: The Long Halloween."  "Batman: The Long Halloween Special" arrives October 12th. 

IMAGE COMICS - From GamesRadar:  "The Walking Dead" co-creator, Robert Kirkman, will launch his next new comic book property in "Skybound X #5."  Entitlted "C.O.D.E.," it is drawn by Jason Howard.

MANGA - From CBR:   "Persona 5's Phantom Thieves" are on their way to the printed page this December with the announcement of their three-volume manga, "Persona 5: Mementos Mission."

IDW - From TheBeat:   IDW Media Holdings, the parent company of IDW Publishing, makes a bid to get listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  The new comic book, "Godkiller: Tomorrow's Ashes #1" has turned out to be Black Mask's most ordered comic book yet.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From THR:   Actor Stephen Dorff, who played "Deacon Frost" in the original "Blade" (1998) film, has a few choice words about the current crop of superhero films, especially "Black Widow."

COMICS - From DailyJSTOR:   The proganda of World War II era comic books: learn about the "Writers' War Board."

COMICS - From GamesRadar:   AdHouse Books will collect Stuart and Kathryn Immonen's webcomic, "Grass of Parnassus."

EUROCOMICS - From BleedingCool:   According to France's publishers association, SNE, book sales are down, but comics sales are up six percent.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   Veteran comic book artist, Whilce Portacio, will be one of the artists whose work appears in "Marvel Voices: Identity #1," which celebrates Asian-America and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage characters.

DC CINEMA - From WeGotThisCovered:   Helen Mirren, who will play the villain, "Hespera," in the sequel, "Shazam: Fury of the Gods," praises her co-star, Zachary Levi (Billy Batson/Shazam).

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   Writer Brandon Thomas talks about the six-issue miniseries, "Aquaman: The Becoming," which stars DC's newest Aqualad, the non-binary Jackson Hyde.

DC TV - From DCBlog:   This weeks "DC Pride" profile is actress Caity Lotz, who plays "White Canary" on The CW's "DC's Legends of Tomorrow."

AWARDS - From TheBeat:   Six writers have been honored at the 2021 Bill Finger Awards, all of them posthumously.  The "Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing" is given annually to writers who contributed to the history of comics.  The award is named after the late Bill Finger, who created Batman with artist Bob Kane but was until recently not publicly acknowledged as such by DC Comics.  Robert Bernstein (1919–1988), Audrey “Toni” Blum (1918–1973), Vic Lockman (1927–2017), Robert Morales (1958–2013), Paul S. Newman (1924–1999), and Robert “Bob” White (1928–2005)

DC CINEMA - From WeGotThisCovered:   A set of newly leaked photos from director Matt Reeves' "The Batman" reveal more of actor Robert Pattinson as Batman.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From NYPost:   Cartoonist Glenn Head talks about his new graphic novel/memoir, "Chartwell Manor," which details the sexual abuse he faced at a now-closed boarding school.

MANGA TO ANIME - From NME:   There is a trailer for "Chainsaw Man," the anime based on the manga.  The anime is expected to debut this year in Japan.

COMICS - From CBR:   Comic book and graphic novel sales spiked in the pandemic year of 2020 with a six percent increase over 2019.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   Marvel Comics is apparently killing off big characters like Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and the Scarlet Witch in the coming months

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Comic book grading service CGC's parent company, Certified Collectibles Group, is set to be acquired by an investment group led by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and including Jay-Z's company Roc Nation.

DC TV - From Deadline:   "The Flash" original cast members Jesse L. Martin, Candice Patton and Danielle Panabaker have closed new deals with series producer Warner Bros. Television to continue on The CW drama in its upcoming eighth season.

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Todd McFarlane has provided a preview of the art for two interior pages from his upcoming comic book, "King Spawn #1," which is due in September 2021.

MANGA - From TheWrap:   Junji Ito, an icon of Japanese horror comics, will produce a manga adaptation of the cult horror film, "The Lighthouse" (2019).  Starring Robert Pattison and Willem Dafoe, the film focused on two men trapped in a lighthouse and facing supernatural forces.

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JULY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Artists, Writers & Artisans for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Bad Idea for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collectors for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for July 2021
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for July 2021

AUGUST 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Free Comic Book Day for August 14, 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Action Lab for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Artists, Writers & Artisans for August 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Bad Idea Comics for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth for August 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for August 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  It's Alive for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Second Sight Publishing for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for August 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for August 2021
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for August 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Action Lab for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for September 2021 
From BleedingCool:  AWA for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for September 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal Magazines for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for September 2021
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for September 2021

OCTOBER 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Aardvark Vanaheim for October 2021
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for October 2021
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for October 2021
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for October 2021
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for October 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for October 2021
From CBR:  DC Comics for October 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for October 2021
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for October 2021
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for October 2021
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for October 2021
From CBR:  Marvel Comics for October 2021
From BleedingCool: Oni Press for October 2021
From 2000AD:  Rebellion for October 2021
From BleedingCool: VIZ Media for October 2021

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

#IReadsYou Movie Review: "SNAKE EYES: G.I. Joe Origins"

Snake Eyes (2021)

Running time:  121 minutes (2 hours, 1 minute)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and brief strong language
DIRECTOR:  Robert Schwentke
WRITERS:  Evan Spiliotopoulos, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse; from a story by Evan Spiliotopoulos (based on the characters from Habro's G.I. Joe)
PRODUCERS:  Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Brian Goldner, and Erik Howsam
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Bojan Bazelli (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Stuart Levy
COMPOSER:  Martin Todsharow

ACTION/SUPERHERO/FANTASY

Starring:  Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Haruka Abe, Takehiro Hira, Eri Ishida, Iko Uwais, Peter Mensah, Ursula Corbero, Samara Weaving, Samuel Finzi, Steven Allerick, and Max Archibald

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is a 2021 action and superhero fantasy film directed by Robert Schwentke.  It is the third film based on characters from Hasbro's G.I. Joe media franchise.  Snake Eyes is an origin story for the title character and a G.I. Joe spin off film.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins opens in the past.  We meet a boy (Max Archibald) who watches a group of men kill his father (Steve Allerick).  The leader of the men uses a pair of dice to decide the father's fate, and the dice come up “snake eyes.”

Years later, the boy has become a mysterious lone underground fighter known only as “Snake Eyes” (Henry Golding).  He falls in with Kenta (Takehiro Hira), a gang leader and gun smuggler who says he can help him.  Kenta claims to know how to find the man who killed Snake Eyes' father, and Snake Eyes has spent years seeking revenge.  After he falls out with Kenta, Snake Eyes befriends Thomas “Tommy” Arashikage (Andrew Koji), the presumptive heir of the Arashikage ninja clan.  Tommy takes Snake Eyes to Japan and offers him a chance to join the clan – if he can past the “three tests.”

However, Snake Eyes finds his loyalties constantly being tested and his motives questioned, especially by Akiko (Haruka Abe), who is in charge of security at the Arashikage compound.  Snake Eyes will soon find that his secrets and lies have him caught between two competing covert organizations, the counter-terrorist G.I. Joe and the terrorist Cobra.

I am not a big fan of the G.I. Joe media franchise although I have read a few of the comic books published by both Marvel Comics (1982-1994) and IDW Publishing (2008-present).  I watched a few episodes of the syndicated animation television series that ran from 1983 to 1986.  I have even watched the two live-action G.I. Joe films, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013).  However, I have always been curious about the rival characters Snake Eyes (G.I. Joe) and Storm Shadow (Cobra).

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is an origin film, acting as the story of Snake Eyes.  It is also a reboot film, restarting the G.I. Joe film franchise, and it even includes the appearance of both the G.I. Joe and Cobra organization and the appearance of new versions of a few of the characters.

I can keep this simple.  Snake Eyes is for G.I. Joe fans.  I'm not sure that even people who were or are causal fans of the earlier G.I. Joe films will like this.  The fight scenes are good, with a few (the car chase fight) being quite spectacular.  The character drama is junk, and even the opening section about the murder of Snake Eyes' father fails to really resonate the way the killing of a protagonist's parent should.  None of the characters' motivations and few conflicts seem genuine; everything seems contrived or, at least, badly written.  It does not help the drama that most of the acting is … let's say “average” to be nice.

Like the previous G.I. Joe films, I think Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins will have a long life on cable television or however long cable TV has left as a viable medium (which is another story).  In fact, I like the fight scenes and actions enough to kind of like this movie.  I think that there is a great story to be told of the origin of Snake Eyes, but that great story just isn't in this movie.

C+

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


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved.  Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Tuesday, July 27, 2021

#IReadsYou Movie Review: WONDER WOMAN: Bloodlines

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019)

Running time:  83 minutes (1 hour, 23 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of fantasy action and violence, and some bloody images
DIRECTORS:  Sam Liu and Justin Copeland
WRITER:  Mairghread Scott (based on characters appearing in DC Comics)
PRODUCERS: Amy McKenna and Sam Liu
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Sam Register and James Tucker
EDITOR:  Frederik Wiedmann
COMPOSERS:  Christopher D. Lozinski
ANIMATION STUDIO:  Digital eMation, Inc.

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION/FANTASY

Starring:
  (voices)  Rosario Dawson, Jeffrey Donovan, Marie Avgeropoulos, Kimberly Brooks, Michael Dorn, Mozhan Marnò, Adrienne C. Moore, Cree Summer, Courtenay Taylor, Nia Vardalos, Ray Chase, and Constance Zimmer

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines is a 2019 straight-to-video animated superhero film from Warner Bros. Animation and directors Sam Liu and Justin Copeland.  The film features classic DC Comics character, Wonder Woman, and is the 36th film in the “DC Universe Animated Original Movies” line.

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines opens several years in the past before the main story begins.  United States military pilot, Captain Steven “Steve” Trevor (Jeffery Donovan), is engaged in an aerial battle with Parademons.  He crash lands his fighter jet near Themyscira, the island home of the warrior race, the Amazons.  Princess Diana (Rosario Dawson), daughter of the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta (Cree Summer), rescues Trevor.  After he is healed, Trevor is taken prisoner because no men are allowed on Themyscira.  However, Diana sees Trevor's arrival as a sign that she needs to leave the island because it is her duty to protect man's world from a great evil she believes is coming.  This decision causes Hippolyta to disown her daughter.

In Washington D.C., Diana finds a place to stay in the home of geologist Julia Kapatelis (Nia Vardalos) and her daughter Vanessa (Marie Avgeropoulos).  Julia's hobby is the study of Amazons, so she is happy to have Diana live with them.  Vanessa, who already has issues with her mother, however, begins to resent Diana's presence in the home.

Five years later, in the present, Diana is the superhero, Wonder Woman.  Julia asks her help in finding Vanessa, who has stolen an artifact from Julia's employer, Veronica Cale (Constance Zimmer), of Cale Pharmaceuticals.  Vanessa has apparently fallen in with a cabal of villains lead by Dr. Cyber ( Mozhan Marnò) and Doctor Poison (Courtenay Taylor) and become part of their diabolical plot.  Now, Wonder Woman, Steve Trevor, and his friend, intelligence officer Etta Candy (Adrienne C. Moore), race to stop Cyber and Poison, but can Wonder Woman save Vanessa Kapatelis?

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines is standard DC Universe animated fare in terms of fights scenes, action, and animation.  In that, the film is entertaining enough.  Where it stands out is that writer Mairghread Scott offers a story that delves deeply into mother-daughter relationships – from love and war to rebellion and reconciliation.  At the point in which I finally realized that the strife between Julia Kapatelis and her daughter, Vanessa, mirrored the discord between Diana and Hippolyta, I suddenly became interested in a film that was, for the most part, boring me.

I also like the fact that the film is almost entirely driven by female leads and female supporting characters, with Etta Candy being most appealing to me.  Adrienne C. Moore delivers a standout voice performance as Etta, and I hope that Moore gets to reprise her performance if Etta appears in another DC Universe animated film.

Steve Trevor is good not great, which I can also say about Jeffrey Donovan's performance as Trevor.  On the other hand, Michael Dorn, best known as “Worf” on the the former television series, “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” makes the most of his small role as Ferdinand the Minotaur.

I heartily recommend Wonder Woman: Bloodlines to fans of Wonder Woman.  While it is not a great film, I think fans of animated films based on DC Comics characters will also like this.

B+

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


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved.  Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.


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Monday, July 26, 2021

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for July 28, 2021

BOOM! STUDIOS

APR211246    BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #4 (OF 12) CVR A GRAMPA (MR)    $3.99
APR211247    BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #4 (OF 12) CVR B WARD (MR)    $3.99
APR211248    BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #4 (OF 12) CVR C GRAMPA FOIL (MR)    $4.99
APR211249    BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #4 (OF 12) CVR D WARD FOIL (MR)    $4.99
MAR210869    BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER TP VOL 06    $14.99
MAY210952    DUNE BLOOD OF THE SARDAUKAR #1 CVR A DEKAL    $7.99
MAY210953    DUNE BLOOD OF THE SARDAUKAR #1 CVR B GORHAM    $7.99
MAY210977    FIREFLY #31 CVR A BENGAL    $3.99
MAY210978    FIREFLY #31 CVR B PAQUETTE    $3.99
MAY210991    GOOD LUCK #2 (OF 5) CVR A CORONA    $3.99
MAY211005    SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN #18 CVR A DELL EDERA    $3.99


Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 28, 2021

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB210248    AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER SUKI ALONE TP    $12.99
MAY210279    GRENDEL DEVILS ODYSSEY #8 (OF 8) CVR A WAGNER (MR)    $3.99
MAY210280    GRENDEL DEVILS ODYSSEY #8 (OF 8) CVR B SHAVLEY (MR)    $3.99
MAY210268    GROO MEETS TARZAN #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
MAR210305    HEART IN A BOX TP (2ND ED)    $24.99
MAY210288    PARASOMNIA #2 (OF 4) CVR A MUTTI    $3.99
MAY210289    PARASOMNIA #2 (OF 4) CVR B WARD    $3.99
MAR210309    PLANTS VS ZOMBIES HC CONSTRUCTIONARY TALES (RES)    $10.99
MAR210258    RAPTOR LTD ED HC    $99.99
FEB210267    SHAOLIN COWBOY START TREK TP    $19.99
MAY210304    WITCHER WITCHS LAMENT #3 (OF 4) CVR A DEL REY    $3.99
MAY210305    WITCHER WITCHS LAMENT #3 (OF 4) CVR B FINNSTARK    $3.99
MAY210306    WITCHER WITCHS LAMENT #3 (OF 4) CVR C KOIDL    $3.99


Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for July 28, 2021

DYNAMITE

APR211052    BETTIE PAGE & CURSE OF THE BANSHEE #1 LINSNER SGN ATLAS ED (    $49.99
MAY210865    BETTIE PAGE & CURSE OF THE BANSHEE #2 CVR M LINSNER LTD VIRG    $50.00
MAY210866    BETTIE PAGE & CURSE OF THE BANSHEE #2 CVR N MYCHAELS LTD VIR    $50.00
MAY210867    BETTIE PAGE & CURSE OF THE BANSHEE #2 CVR O MOONEY LTD VIRGI    $50.00
MAR210762    GEORGE RR MARTIN A CLASH OF KINGS #14 CVR A MILLER (MR)    $3.99
MAR210763    GEORGE RR MARTIN A CLASH OF KINGS #14 CVR B RUBI (MR)    $3.99
MAY210746    RED SONJA BLACK WHITE RED #1 CVR L PARRILLO LTD VIRGIN    $50.00
MAY210747    RED SONJA BLACK WHITE RED #1 CVR M LUPACCHINO LTD VIRGIN    $50.00
MAY210748    RED SONJA BLACK WHITE RED #1 CVR N TAN LTD VIRGIN    $50.00
APR211132    SACRED SIX #11 CVR A PARRILLO    $3.99
APR211133    SACRED SIX #11 CVR B OHTA    $3.99
APR211134    SACRED SIX #11 CVR C BERMUDEZ    $3.99
APR211135    SACRED SIX #11 CVR D MAINE    $3.99
APR211136    SACRED SIX #11 CVR E LOUW    $3.99
MAY218863    SACRED SIX #11 PREMIUM MUSABEKOV FOC VAR    $3.99
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MAY210888    SONJAVERSAL #6 CVR A PARRILLO    $3.99
MAY210889    SONJAVERSAL #6 CVR B LINSNER    $3.99
MAY210890    SONJAVERSAL #6 CVR C LEE & CHUNG    $3.99
MAY210891    SONJAVERSAL #6 CVR D YOON    $3.99
MAY210892    SONJAVERSAL #6 CVR E COSPLAY    $3.99
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