Sunday, February 27, 2022

I Reads You Juniors: February 2022 - Update #87

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS:

MARVEL - From ScreenRant:  With the "Reckoning War," Marvel basically admits that its event comic book crossovers usually don't matter.

DC COMICS - From ScreenRantHawkgirl's new costume might make her the Justice League's Wolverine.

MARVEL - From StarWarsMarvel Comics has announced a comic book adaptation of the Disney" series, "The Mandalorian."  The eight issue series will adapt each of the first season's eight episodes.  Rodney Barnes ("Killadelphia") will write and Georges Jeanty will draw.

SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From RadioTimes:  Actor Charlie Cox went to a theater near where he lives to see how people react to his appearance in "Spider-Man: No Way Home" as "Matt Murdock/Daredevil" was not pleasantly surpised.  But he says he will reprise Matt Murdock in a future Marvel Cinematic Universe project.

MANGA - From ABCNews:  Graphic novel imprint, First Second, will publish an English-language edition of Oscar-winner Hayao Miyazaki's 1983 graphic novel, "Shuna's Journey," on November 1st, 2022.

SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From WeGotThisCovered:  Visual effects company, Digital Domain, was still working on VFX for "Spider-Man: No Way Home" a month after the film was released to theaters.

DARK HORSE - From BleedingCoolDark Horse will collect writer Roy Thomas and artist Pablo Marcos's Tarzan webcomics in the hardcover, "Tarzan of the Apes Volume 1," in August 2022.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Writer Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad and artist Liam Sharp will launch the new series, "X-O ManoWar: Unconquered," from Valiant Comics in November 2022.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Author Margaret Atwood and author/comics scribe Neil Gaiman are among the contributors to a comic book anthology, "Little Earthquakes: The Graphic Album," which will contain 24 stories inspired by the 12 songs from "Little Earthquakes," the 1992 album by Tori Amos.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From WeGotThisCovered:  The site claims to have set photos from the upcoming Disney+ series, "Secret Invasion," starring Samuel L. Jackson.  The photos reveal a "Skrull" character.

DC MILESTONE - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' "Milestone Universe" is now known as "Earth-M," and it is expanding with "Duo," a new comic book from writer Greg Pak and artist Khoi Pham.

From DCBlog:   In a Q&A, the creative team of Greg Pak, Khoi Pham, and Scott Hanna introduce "Earth-M" title, "Duo."

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EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Comic book writer, novelist, and poet, Tom Veitch, has died at the age of 81.  He was best known for his work on "Animal Man" and "The Nazz" for DC Comics; "The Light and Darkness War" (Marvel); and Dark Horse Comics first "Star Wars" comic book, "Dark Empire" and its sequel, "Dark Empire II."  His brother was comic book creator, Rick Veitch.

DC TV/SANDMAN - From EmpireNeil Gaiman talks about the Netflix adaptation of his legendary comic book series, "The Sandman."

From ScreenRant:  Netflix's Sandman show is dark, traumatic, and feel-good, says Neil Gaiman.

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THE BATMAN - From EW:  Actress Zoe Kravitz's says her first screen test with Robert Pattison for director Matt Reeves' "The Batman" was intense.

From WeGotThisCovered:  Director Matt Reeves says that there are already sequel talks for his upcoming film, "The Batman."
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COMIXOLOGY - From Gizmodo:   Amazon's overhaul of comiXology sucks. Amazon's closer integration of comiXology comes with lost features, bad storefronts, and a truly woeful browser reader. 

From AppleInsider:  Amazon's comixology migration is a disaster - here's what you need to know.

MANGA - From CBR:  42-year-old manga-ka Atsushi Okubo, the creator of such manga as "Soul Eater" and "Fire Force," says that he has just turned in the last chapter of "Fire Force," the final manga of his career.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Writer Chris Claremont's five-issue "Gambit" miniseries will be drawn by Sid Kotian, and the first issue will arrive May 2022.

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCoolSkottie Young and Kyle Strahm are launching a new fantasy comic book series, "Twig," in May from Image Comics.

DC TV - From THRHBO Max has ordered a second season of James Gunn's DC Extended Universe TV series, "Peacemaker," starring John Cena in the title role.

GEORGE PEREZ - From ComicsBeat: In March, The Hero Initiative will publish a limited edition trade paperback edition of Kurt Busiek and George Perez's seminal crossover comic book, JLA/Avengers.  The publication, which will be limited to 7,000 copies, will benefit Perez who has Stage 3 pancreatic cancer.

From Newsarama:   This is an interview of George Perez posted Dec. 10th, 2021, posted a few days after he announced his cancer prognosis.

COMICS TO ANIMATION - From THRFox is developing a primetime animated series based on cartoonist Berkeley Breathed's iconic and beloved newspaper comic strip, "Bloom County."

SONY SPIDER U - From WeGotThisCovered:  "Spider-Man: No Way Home" has passed "Avatar" at the all-time domestic box office.

MANGA - From ANN:   Shueisha announced that its MANGA Plus app will allow users to read all the English chapters of its simul-release manga series for free for one year.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics' "Blade Runner 2039" could be the end.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  The upcoming comic book, "Punisher," will supposedly do for "The Punisher" character what the 1980s story line, "Born Again," did for "Daredevil."

MARVEL TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Disney is set to get the rights to the six TV series produced for Netflix by the now-defunct Marvel Television.  However, Disney is being quite about what the new streaming home will be for the "Defenders" universe shows: "Daredevil," "Jessica Jones," "Luke Cage," "The Punisher," "Iron Fist," and "The Defenders."

DC CINEMA - From Variety:  Warner Bros. releases a social media video clip that contains the first footage from "Aquaman and the Lost City" and clips from "Black Adam," "The Flash," and "The Batman."

SONY SPIDER U - From VarietyKevin Smith says that 2022 Oscar nominations' snub of "Spider-Man: No Way Home" in the "Best Picture" category proves why no one watches the ABC television broadcast of the Oscars ceremony.

DC CINEMA - From IGN:  Actor Paul Dano, who plays "The Riddler" in the upcoming film, "The Batman," says that the Riddler sees himself as a vigilante like Batman.

DARK HORSE COMICS - From BleedingCoolGeof Darrow's comic book series, "Shaolin Cowboy," will return in 2022 from Dark Horse Comics.

DC CINEMA - From WeGotThisCoveredDwayne "The Rock" Johnson teases a "Super Bowl LVI" ad that previews 2022's DC Films: "The Batman," "Black Adam," "The Flash," and "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom."

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  DC Comics' big event after "Death of the Justice League" will be "Dark Crisis."  The seven-issue monthly miniseries will be written by Joshua Williamson and drawn by Daniel Sampere and begin June 2022.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  Marvel has provided a first look at Jonathan Hickman and Chris Bachalo's story for "Moon Knight: Black, White and Blood #1."

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  DC has released preview images from the upcoming "Batman/Catwoman: World's Finest #1," which is due March 15th.

SONY MARVEL U - From THR:  Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe is joining Sony's "Spider-Man" spin-off movie, "Kraven the Hunter."

EN MEMORIAM - From 2000AD:  British illustrator and comic book artist, Ian Kennedy, has died at the age of 89, Tuesday, February 7, 2022.  He may be best known for his comics work for the Scottish media company, DC Thompson, especially "Hotspur" and the war comic, "Commando," for which he drew of 1600 covers.  Kennedy also helped launch the 1980s "Dan Dare" revival for "Eagle" magazine.

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DC CINEMA/THE BATMAN - From IndieWire:  "The Batman" star Robert Pattinson says that "The Batman" is a "sad movie" and that Bruce Wayne is a "weirdo."

From VarietyRobert Pattinson guarantees comic book movie fans will know Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” is unlike any other Batman movie ever made as soon as they see the opening shot.
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SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From TheDirect:  "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part One" producers Chris Miller and Phil Lord talk about the possibilities of a crossover with the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe multiverse.

DARK HORSE COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Dark Horse will collect the first eight chapters of the Kickstarter-funded comic, "The Winds of Numa Sera," in June 2022.  The series is from creators and writers Morgan Rosenblum and Jonny Handler, and artists Eduard Petrovich, Filipe Andrade, Eduardo Mello, Alessio Moroni, and Valentina Taddeo, and lettered by Ismail Nihad.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From HuffPostChanning Tatum is apparently too traumatized to watch Marvel movies.  The trauma comes from the fact that Disney cancelled his planned "Gambit" film after it bought 20th Century Fox, which was originally developing the film.

BLACK COMICS - From BloodyDisgusting:  Rap music legend, Snoop Dogg, and television writer-producer and comic book writer, Rodney Barnes ("Killadelphia") are united for a horror graphic novel, "Tales from the Crip."  The graphic novel will be published by Barnes' Zombie Love Studios in association with Snoop's Snoopadelic Films and is due Fall 2022.

DC TV - From DCBlog:  Actor Tyler Hoechlin, who plays "Clark Kent/Superman" on The CW's "Superman & Lois," talks about Clark's struggles in Season Two.

SONY MARVEL U - From THR:   Dakota Johnson is in talks to play the title character in "Madame Web," the Sony spinoff centered on the Spider-Man character first introduced in 1980’s "The Amazing Spider-Man No. 210."  Madame Web is a clairvoyant mutant who specializes in predicting the future of Spider-themed superheroes.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  "Deadman Tells The (Spooky) Tales" is a new young reader graphic novel that is also a comic book anthology from DC Comics.  Due Sept. 27th, 2022, it will feature DC Comics character "Deadman" telling spooky tales and ghost stories.

MARVEL - From FanboyPlanet:  The House of Ideas is reviving "Savage Avengers" with a new creative team, writer David Pepose and artist Carlos Magno.  The new series is scheduled to arrive May 4th.

MANGA TO ANIME - From YahooNextShark:  "Uzumaki" creator Junji Ito will voice a character in the anime adaptation of Uzumaki. The series is set to debut October 2022 on Adult Swim's "Toonami" block.

ARCHIE - From BleedingCool: Meet Mike Pellerito is the new editor-in-chief of Archie Comics Publications.

MARVEL - From CBR:    From the House of Ideas, the "New Fantastic Four" returns May 25th, 2022.  That would Logan/Wolverine, Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Daniel Ketch/Ghost Rider, and Bruce Banner/Hulk, as first seen over 30 years ago in "Fantastic Four #347" by the legends Walt Simonson and Art Adams.

BANNED BOOKS - NBCNews:  Banned: Books on race and sexuality are disappearing from Texas schools in record numbers.

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Comic book editor and writer Brian Augustyn died this past weekend at the age of 67.  Many will remember him as the writer of the 1989 Batman one-shot comic book (or graphic novel), "Gotham by Gaslight."

MARVEL - From Gizmodo:   The X-Men, Avengers, and Eternals come together in the Marvel Comics' event series, "Judgment Day," which also sees the X-Men once again participating in the events of the Marvel Universe.

DC CINEMA - From Variety:  Actor Robert Pattinson says that his agent was shocked that Pattison would be taking over the role of "Batman" in director Matt Reeves' "The Batman."

DC TV - From Deadline:   HBO Max's "Titans" Season 4 has added new cast members.  Joseph Morgan as "Sebastian Blood/Brother Blood" and Franka Potente as "May Bennett/Mother Mayhem" have been cast as series regulars. Lisa Ambalavanar as "Jinx" is recurring.

BANNED COMICS - From BBCNews:  Various editions of Art Spiegelman's seminal graphic novel, "Maus: A Survivor's Tale," have topped Amazon sales charts after in the wake of the news that a school board in Tennessee banned the book from school libraries.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:  Yen Press announces three manga titles, five light novels, and a "Delicious in Dungeon" guidebook.

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JANUARY 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Action Lab for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for January 2022
From Archie:  Archie Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Bad Kids Press for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Blacktooth Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Comix Experience for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  ComixTribe for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Legendary Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for January 2022
From CBR:  Marvel Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for January 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for January 2022

FEBRUARY 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  AWA for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for Feburary 2022
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for February 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for February 2022

MARCH 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Aardvark-Vanaheim for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Humanoids for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vertical Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for March 2022
 
APRIL 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Aardvark Vanaheim for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics Batman's "Shadow War Crossover" for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for April 2022
From GamesRadar:   Marvel Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Star Wars" for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for April 2022

MAY 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  AWA Upshot for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Hulk Vs Thor: Banner of War" for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "X-Men" solicitations for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for May 2022

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Friday, February 25, 2022

#IReadsYou Review: RED ROOM: The Antisocial Network #3

RED ROOM: THE ANTISOCIAL NETWORK #3
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS

CARTOONIST: Ed Piskor
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Ed Piskor
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Ed Piskor; Jim Rugg; Takashi Okazaki; Johnny Desjardins; John Gallagher
MISC. ART: The Baumanator; Sam Majkrzak; Jeff Manley; Birds of Sadness; Jorge Paz; Ben Perkins; Bill McEvoy; John Ashton Golden; Adam Lemnah; Sean Hollenhors; Tyrone Meijer; Barry Tan; Colin Sims; Matt Conover; Chris Anderson
24pp, B&W with some color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2021)

Red Room: The Antisocial Network is a 12-issue new comic book series from cartoonist Ed Piskor.  Piskor is best known for Hip Hop Family Tree, a comic book that chronicles the early history of Hip-hop culture and that has been published in both graphic novel and serial comic book form.

Publisher Fantagraphics Books describes Red Room: The Antisocial Network as “a cyberpunk, outlaw, splatterpunk masterpiece.”  Red Room focuses on a murderous, dark web subculture in which a secretive audience pays with cryptocurrency so that it can view “murder for entertainment” in real time via webcam.  A “Red Room” is a place on the Internet with an encrypted I.P. address.  Each Red Room is a webcam stream where viewers can watch a “torture star” murder another human being in the most brutal, savage, vile, and stomach-turning ways.

Red Room: The Antisocial Network #3 introduces Levee Turks.  Once upon a time, he was an encryption software prodigy.  Now, he's serving a life sentence for creating an online drug empire, and he has been in prison for six and a half years.  In that time, however, the dark web has made use of  what Levee created:  the suite of encryption software he made for the black market; the “Chat” client; the bitcoin trading app; and the “Anonymous” video streaming.  Hell, all his creations are in service of the Red Rooms' multi-billion dollar snuff industry.

Enter the FBI, led by Agent McNamara, proposing a deal.  McNamara wants Levee Turks to infiltrate the Red Rooms and help the FBI crack Red Room software, so that it can crack down on the deepest corners of the dark web. Reunited with his girlfriend, Rita, Levee discovers how much as changed.  Does he really know what he is getting into?

THE LOWDOWN:  I don't have much to say about Red Room #3.  Of course, it is a damn good comic book, and I've already made this clear in reviews of previous issues.  The Red Room isn't dystopian science fiction; I believe that it is actually prescient – if not now, sooner than we would like to believe.

Ed Piskor does also offer a nice change of pace with Red Room #3.  Thus far, he has proven quite skilled and deft in creating interesting characters that are cogs in the Red Room gore-covered wheels, such as issue #1's David Fairfield and issue #2's Doctor Daniels.  It would be great to see Levee Turks and Rita again … before they're chopped up.  It is funny that they are both clueless and in deeper than they could ever imagine.

Red Room #3 proves that Red Room was both one of the best debuts of 2021 and one of the best comic books of the year.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Ed Piskor's work and of alternative comics as science fiction will want to read Red Room.

A
9 out of 10

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


Buy and/or subscribe to Red Room here: https://www.fantagraphics.com/collections/red-room

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https://www.youtube.com/c/cartoonistkayfabe
https://www.instagram.com/ed_piskor/
https://linktr.ee/edpiskor

https://www.fantagraphics.com/
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The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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Thursday, February 24, 2022

#IReadsYou Movie Review: THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2

The Addams Family 2 (2021)

Running time:  93 minutes (1 hour, 33 minutes)
MPAA – PG for macabre and rude humor, violence and language
DIRECTORS:  Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon
WRITERS:  Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, Ben Queen, and Susanna Fogel; from a story by Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (based on the characters created by Charles Addams)
PRODUCERS:  Gail Berman, Alison O'Brien, Danielle Sterling, and Conrad Vernon
EDITOR:  Ryan Folsey
COMPOSERS: Jeff Danna and Mychael Danna

ANIMATION/FANTASY/COMEDY/FAMILY

Starring:  (voices) Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Javon “Wanna” Walton, Nick Kroll, Snoop Dogg, Bette Midler, Conrad Vernon, Bill Hader, Wallace Shawn, Brian Sommer, Cherami Leigh, and Ted Evans

The Addams Family 2 is a 2021 computer-animated supernatural comedy from directors Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan.  The film is a sequel to the 2019 animated film, The Addams Family.  Both films are based on the characters created by The New Yorker cartoonist, the late Charles Addams (1912-1988).  The Addams Family 2 focuses on the Addams Family as take a road trip, during which a scientist pursues Wednesday.

The Addams Family 2 opens at a school science fair.  There, Wednesday Addams (Chloe Grace Moretz) presents her experiment, in which she uses DNA from her pet squid, Socrates, on her Uncle Fester (Nick Kroll) to show how humans can be improved.  Wednesday is somewhat put off that her family:  father, Gomez Addams (Oscar Isaac); mother, Morticia (Charlize Theron); and her brother, Pugsley (Javon “Wanna” Walton) have decided to attend the science fair, which is sponsored by the Cyrus Strange FoundationCyrus Strange (Bill Hader) himself appears at the fair as a 3D hologram, and he is instantly drawn to Wednesday experiment and hopes to recruit her to work for him.

Back at home, Gomez Addams worries that the children are drifting apart from him and Morticia.  He decides that a family vacation is just what is needed to keep the family together, so he declares that they are going on a road trip across the United States.  Uncle Fester, Thing (the sentient hand), and Lurch (the butler) join them on the vacation, with everyone packing into an huge, odd-looking camper.  Gomez even takes the family to Miami where he hopes Cousin Itt (Snoop Dogg) can help with the family dilemma.

There is a complication in these vacation plans, however.  Cyrus Strange is determined to have Wednesday, and sends a shady lawyer, Mr. Mustela (Wallace Shawn), and a brutish henchman, Pongo (Ted Evans) to trick Gomez and Morticia into believing that Wednesday might be Cyrus' child.  Wednesday is already having doubts about her connections to the Addams Family, so which family will she decide to choose, the Addams or Cyrus Strange?

Charles Addams' macabre cartoon characters first became “The Addams Family” in the former ABC television series, “The Addams Family” (1964-66).  I have been a fan of that series since I was a child.  As a child, I was also a fan of NBC's former Saturday morning cartoon series, “The Addams Family” (Hanna-Barbera, 1973).  That series depicts the Addams Family on a cross-country road trip, exploring the United States in their “Creepy Camper” that resembles their Victorian-style mansion home.  The Addams Family 2 is not a remake of that old cartoon series, but it does borrow a few elements from it.

The Addams Family 2019 was enough of a hit that producing a sequel probably seemed obvious to MGM, which holds the rights to produce Addams Family film and television series.  The end result is something that looks and feels like a sequel that was rushed into production.  The idea of Wednesday not being an Addams is a ridiculous plot.  I can certainly accept the notion of a precocious child wondering about her parentage and lineage.  However, if she is different from the rest of her family, it is because each member of the Addams Family is different from all others.  That is the point this film makes at end of the story, but we didn't need an entire mediocre movie to tell us that.  Raising questions about Wednesday's family is just a lame plot line.

So, it goes without saying that I did not like this film.  The Addams Family 2 ends up being the latest in a long line of pitiful Hollywood road trip movies.  I will say that the last 17 minutes of the film – before the end credits – are actually good.  It is the only time that the film has any real conflict, melodrama, or action, and what happens in these seventeen minutes is actually consequential to the both the Addams Family and a few other supporting characters.

The Addams Family 2019 is my favorite media adaptation of “The Addams Family” characters outside of the 1960s and 1970s.  It manages to be sweet, charming, heartwarming, and, of course, macabre – the way it should be.  I gave it a B+, but The Addams Family 2 bored the hell outta me until the last seventeen minutes.  I'm being generous giving it a C.

C

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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Monday, February 21, 2022

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for February 23, 2022

BOOM! STUDIOS

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DEC210807 HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #5 CVR A SHEHAN $3.99
DEC210808 HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #5 CVR B DELL EDERA $3.99
DEC210809 HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #5 CVR C BLANK SKETCH VAR $3.99
DEC210769 KILLER AFFAIRS OF STATE #1 (OF 6) CVR A JACAMON (MR) $4.99
DEC210770 KILLER AFFAIRS OF STATE #1 (OF 6) CVR B MEYERS (MR) $4.99
DEC210774 KILLER AFFAIRS OF STATE #1 (OF 6) CVR F BG VAR YOON (MR) $4.99
DEC210822 POWER RANGERS UNIVERSE #3 (OF 6) CVR A MORA $4.99
DEC210827 POWER RANGERS UNIVERSE #3 (OF 6) CVR F FOC REVEAL VAR $4.99

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Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 23, 2022

DARK HORSE COMICS

DEC210406 BLACK HAMMER REBORN #9 (OF 12) CVR A YARSKY $3.99
DEC210407 BLACK HAMMER REBORN #9 (OF 12) CVR B CONLEY $3.99
OCT210263 BLADE OF IMMORTAL DLX ED HC VOL 05 (MR) $49.99
OCT210261 CATS GIRLFRIENDS & CATFRIENDS TP $14.99
DEC210383 JOY OPERATIONS #4 (OF 5) CVR A BYRNE $3.99
DEC210384 JOY OPERATIONS #4 (OF 5) CVR B MARQUEZ $3.99
OCT210257 LEGEND KORRA ART ANIMATED DLX ED HC BOOK 03 CHANGE 2ND ED (C $79.99
OCT210256 LEGEND OF KORRA ART ANIMATED HC BOOK 03 CHANGE 2ND ED $39.99
DEC210422 ORPHAN & FIVE BEASTS #4 (OF 4) (RES) $3.99
SEP210298 PARASOMNIA TP VOL 01 $19.99
SEP210264 SIN CITY DLX HC VOL 03 THE BIG FAT KILL (4TH ED) (MR) $100.00
SEP210263 SIN CITY TP VOL 03 THE BIG FAT KILL (4TH ED) (MR) $25.00
OCT210205 SNOW ANGELS TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99

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Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for February 23, 2022

DYNAMITE

DEC210625 BARBARELLA #7 CVR A COHEN $3.99
DEC210626 BARBARELLA #7 CVR B CHEW $3.99
DEC210627 BARBARELLA #7 CVR C GUICE $3.99
DEC210628 BARBARELLA #7 CVR D CELINA $3.99
DEC210629 BARBARELLA #7 CVR E COSPLAY $3.99
DEC218995 BARBARELLA #7 CVR L FOC TMNT HOMAGE HAESER ORIGINAL $3.99
DEC218996 BARBARELLA #7 CVR M FOC MUSABEKOV ORIGINAL $3.99
DEC210570 DRACULINA #1 CVR N TURNER LTD VIRGIN $50.00
DEC210571 DRACULINA #1 CVR O BESCH LTD VIRGIN $50.00
DEC210641 EVIL ERNIE #3 CVR F SUYDAM LTD VIRGIN $50.00
DEC210670 JENNIFER BLOOD #5 CVR J PARRILLO LTD VIRGIN (MR) $50.00
DEC210671 JENNIFER BLOOD #5 CVR K LINSNER LTD VIRGIN (MR) $50.00
DEC210702 PURGATORI #5 CVR A FUSO $3.99
DEC210703 PURGATORI #5 CVR B STA MARIA $3.99
DEC210704 PURGATORI #5 CVR C FOX $3.99
DEC210705 PURGATORI #5 CVR D COSPLAY $3.99
DEC219004 PURGATORI #5 CVR J FOC TMNT HOMAGE HAESER ORIGINAL $3.99
DEC219005 PURGATORI #5 CVR K FOC MAINE ORIGINAL $3.99
DEC219006 PURGATORI #5 CVR L FOC SARRASECA ORIGINAL $3.99
DEC210681 RED SONJA (2021) #6 CVR A ANDOLFO $3.99
DEC210682 RED SONJA (2021) #6 CVR B LI $3.99
DEC210683 RED SONJA (2021) #6 CVR C LINSNER $3.99
DEC210684 RED SONJA (2021) #6 CVR D DURSO $3.99
DEC210685 RED SONJA (2021) #6 CVR E COSPLAY $3.99
DEC219013 RED SONJA (2021) #6 CVR L FOC TMNT HOMAGE HAESER ORIGINAL $3.99
DEC219014 RED SONJA (2021) #6 CVR M FOC CASTRO ORIGINAL $3.99
DEC210736 SHEENA LUCIO PARRILLO GOLD COIN $29.99
DEC210737 SHEENA ROSE BESCH GOLD COIN $29.99
FEB210756 SKY CAPTAIN & ART OF TOMORROW HC $34.99
OCT210504 SKY CAPTAIN & ART OF TOMORROW HC DLX ED $99.99
DEC210604 VAMPIRELLA DRACULA UNHOLY #3 CVR A PARRILLO $3.99
DEC210605 VAMPIRELLA DRACULA UNHOLY #3 CVR B BESCH $3.99
DEC210606 VAMPIRELLA DRACULA UNHOLY #3 CVR C MAER $3.99
DEC210607 VAMPIRELLA DRACULA UNHOLY #3 CVR D HUGHES $3.99
DEC210608 VAMPIRELLA DRACULA UNHOLY #3 CVR E COSPLAY $3.99
DEC219020 VAMPIRELLA DRACULA UNHOLY #3 CVR M FOC TMNT HOMAGE HAESER OR $3.99
DEC219021 VAMPIRELLA DRACULA UNHOLY #3 CVR N FOC LACCHEI ORIGINAL $3.99
DEC219022 VAMPIRELLA DRACULA UNHOLY #3 CVR O FOC STA MARIA ORIGINAL $3.99

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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for February 23, 2022

IDW PUBLISHING

AUG210540 ANIMAL STORIES GN $19.99
OCT210376 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #289 CVR A WILLIAMS II $3.99
OCT210377 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #289 CVR B CASEY MALONEY $3.99
DEC210528 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #48 CVR A GRAY $3.99
DEC210529 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #48 CVR B BULMER $3.99
DEC210520 STAR TREK KLINGONS ONESHOT CVR A GREEN $7.99
DEC210533 STAR WARS HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES #13 CVR A TOLIBAO $3.99
DEC210532 STAR WARS HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES TP VOL 02 $12.99
NOV218531 TMNT THE LAST RONIN #1 (OF 5) 5TH PTG $8.99
NOV218530 TMNT THE LAST RONIN #2 (OF 5) 4TH PTG $8.99
DEC210546 TRANSFORMERS WARS END #1 (OF 4) CVR A HERNANDEZ $3.99
DEC210547 TRANSFORMERS WARS END #1 (OF 4) CVR B JACK LAWRENCE $3.99
DEC210552 USAGI YOJIMBO LONE GOAT & KID #2 $3.99

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