TRASH IN MY EYE Reviews

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Review: "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING" is a Long Goodbye

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 23 of 2025 (No. 2029) by Leroy Douresseaux

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)

Running time: 169 minutes

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

DIRECTOR: Christopher McQuarrie

WRITERS: Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen (based upon the television series created by Bruce Geller)

PRODUCERS: Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Fraser Taggart (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Eddie Hamilton

COMPOSERS: Max Aruj and Alfie Godfey

ACTION/ADVENTURE/SPY/THRILLER

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, Rolf Saxon, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Charles Parnell, Mark Gatiss, and Henry Czerny and Angela Bassett

SUMMARY OF REVIEW:

-- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a Mission: Impossible film, and fans of the franchise will like it to one extent or another

-- However, even as a fan, I find it to be too long and not as good as the previous film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

-- I think that the possibility of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning being Tom Cruise's final Mission: Impossible film (at least as a lead) added to my desire to like it more than I probably should

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a 2025 action-thriller and espionage film directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise. It is the eighth film in the Mission: Impossible film series which began with the 1996 film, Mission: Impossible, and is based on the American television series, “Mission: Impossible” (CBS, 1966-73), that was created by Bruce Geller. This film is also a direct sequel to 2013's Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. In The Final Reckoning, Ethan Hunt learns that our lives are the sum of our choices as he and his IMF team race to stop an assassin from gaining control of a rogue AI that wants to destroy humanity.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning opens in the wake of the events depicted in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. The IMF (Impossible Mission Force) has failed to put an end to the machinations of either “The Entity,” the most powerful ever AI (artificial intelligence), or the assassin, Gabriel (Esai Morales), who wants to control The Entity. The Entity is plotting global nuclear annihilation against humanity.

IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) turns himself over to authorities and is brought before President of the United States Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett), who was once the Director of the CIA. He asks her for the resources to find the sunken advanced Russian submarine, the “Sevastopol.” There, he hopes to obtain the “the Rabbit's Foot,” the core module that contains the original source code for The Entity. IMF computer technician, Luther Stickwell (Ving Rhames), has created malware in the form of a kind of flash drive that when inserted into the core module will help imprison The Entity where it can no longer be a threat to humanity.

President Sloane gives Ethan permission to act independently, and he brings together a new ragtag IMF team that includes technical field agent, Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg); a professional thief, Grace (Hayley Atwell), a French assassin, Paris (Pom Klementieff), a U.S. intelligence agent, Theo Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis); CIA agent William Donloe (Rolf Saxon); and Rolf's wife, Tapeesa (Lucy Tulugarjuk). Ethan and his IMF team head to South Africa for an epic showdown while the world's nuclear powers await nuclear Armageddon.

I divide the six Mission: Impossible movies into two trilogies. Mission: Impossible (1996), Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), and Mission: Impossible III (2006) make up the first trilogy. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), and Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) form the second trilogy. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning are, for the time being, the two-part conclusion to Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible franchise.

And let's be honest, unlike the original “Mission: Impossible” TV series, which was an ensemble espionage drama, the Mission: Impossible films are a Tom Cruise vehicle / espionage action movies. The Final Reckoning is all about Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt. Heck, the theme of this film is that Ethan's life is the sum of his choices. Yes, the other characters all get their moment or, in some cases, moments to shine, but this film is about Tom/Ethan.

Like Dead Reckoning Part One, The Final Reckoning is a non-stop thrill machine full of heart-pounding races, chases, standoffs, last-second escapes, and near death experiences with Tom Cruise running more than he ever has. I initially balked at Dead Reckoning's runtime of two hours and forty-three minutes, but the film didn't feel that long. The Final Reckoning feels too long at two hours and forty-nine minutes.

I don't really have anything else to say. Like all the previous films, The Final Reckoning is a perpetual thrill-machine. If it were any other film, I'd give it a grade of “B.” However, I am a sucker for both Tom Cruise and for his Mission: Impossible films, which I still, for the most part, re-watch. I will watch Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning again – many times, so it gets a preferential grade.

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

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Comics Review: "VATICAN CITY #2" - Fear of a Vampire Planet

VATICAN CITY #2 (OF 3)

DARK HORSE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar

ART: Per Berg

COLORS: Per Berg

LETTERS: Per Berg

EDITOR: Daniel Chabon

EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin

COVER: Per Berg

VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Per Berg

32pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (May 2025)

Rating: 18+

Vatican City created by Mark Millar at Netflix

Vatican City is a new three-issue Millarworld miniseries from Dark Horse Comics. It is created and written by Mark Millar and drawn, colored, and lettered by Per Berg. Vatican City is set in a world overrun by vampires, except for Vatican City, which is the main target of the vampires.

Vatican City finds the vampire race revealing itself for the first time in ages. Their goal is “Vatican City,” the independent city-state within Rome, Italy that is the government of the “Holy See” (the Pope and the Papacy). Now, Guido Cavelti, recently of the Swiss Air Force, leads the human resistance to an invasion of monsters determined to get something that is buried deep beneath Vatican City.

Vatican City #2 opens in Russia and China, which seem to be among the last strongholds of human resistance against a vampire takeover of the world. Meanwhile, the siege of Vatican City continues as legions of vampires wait outside, afraid of the holy relics with the city.

This is something buried beneath the Vatican itself, and the vampires want it more than they want the human blood inside. What they don't know is that Guido Cavelti has decided that the humans inside need to make a last stand, and he is going to use the vampire's prize to make that stand.

THE LOWDOWN: This is the second time that I have been on any kind of list that provides PDF copies of titles published by Dark Horse Comics. The latest received is Vatican City #2.

Millar continues to throw his readers right into the action with this second issue. As always, Millar's action is a bracing action – filled with equal parts thrills and chills. I don't want to spoil anything, but, of course, there was a shocking surprise to close out the first issue, and Millar also offers the shocking retaliation that defines this second issue.

The art, colors, and letters by Per Berg (also known as Per Darwin Berg or by the pen name, “Narwhal”) are both representational and impressionistic, possibly because Berg is depicting a world that is rapidly shifting from the natural to the supernatural. One thing that Berg's storytelling certainly does is create the sense of rapid breakdown and hopelessness, which are perfect modes for apocalyptic fiction. Berg wants the reader to guess at what is happening more than know what is happening. In this second issue, Berg's impressionistic and psychological storytelling wants readers to feel humanity's struggle and resistance.

Millar and Berg gave readers a reason to come back for the second issue, and now, they've given us a reason to come back for the bloody third and final issue. I suggest that you do so, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Mark Millar, of vampire comic books, and of horror apocalypse will want to read Vatican City.

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

https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/

https://x.com/mrmarkmillar

https://x.com/netflix

http://www.millarworld.tv/

https://www.darkhorse.com/

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 18th to 24th, 2025 - UPDATE #11

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?: There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

CANNES 2025:

From Variety: Iranian director, Jafar Panahi, won the top prize at the 2025 / 78th Cannes Film Festival, the "Palme d'Or," for his film, "It Was Just an Accident." This is the sixth consecutive year that U.S. distributor, Neon, has the distribution rights to the "Palme d'Or" winner.

From Deadline: Oscar-winner Denzel Washington arrived at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 for the premiere of his collaboration with director, Spike Lee, the upcoming film, "Highest 2 Lowest." There, he was surprised with an "Honorary Palme d'Or."

MOVIES - From Deadline: There are updates on the third "Downton Abbey" feature film.

STREAMING - From Deadline: Prime Video will not be renewing its fantasy series, "The Wheel of Time" for a fourth season. This announcement comes over a month after the Season 3 finale debuted April 17th, 2025.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Andrew Koji, Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo, and Roman Reigns are in talks to star in Legendary Entertainment’s live-action "Street Fighter" movie, based on the Capcom video games, sources tell Deadline. There have been three previous live-action "Street Fighter" films, including the infamous 1994 movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

TELEVISION - From Deadline: Shemar Moore addressed the fact that he is the only actor from CBS' recently ended series, "S.W.A.T." (2017-25), that will be moving over to the new series, "S.W.A.T. Exiles." Moore says, "I'm the quarterback."

SCANDAL - From Deadline: Stunt performer, Casey Michaels, was working on the final season of "Game of Thrones" when she shattered her left ankle performing a stunt she argues was not designed competently by the coordinators on-set. Her career ended, Michaels sued HBO, claiming she had been robbed of a promising career. HBO eventually paid her $9.3 million, including legal costs, as part of a settlement in 2023, with the company’s lawyers apologizing. Michaels has given an interview to "Deadline" because she believes her experience exposes everything that’s wrong with her profession.

DISNEY/ANIMATION - From ComicBook: The Cartoon Network's former animated series, "The Amazing World of Gumball," is returning in a new animated series, "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball." It will debut on Disney+ and Hulu later this year and on Cartoon Network internationally.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 5/16 to 5/18/2025 weekend box office is Warner Bros./New Line Cinema's "Final Destination: Bloodlines" with an estimated take of 51 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline: A new Tom Cruise project with director Doug Liman and costar Ana De Armas looks to be pricey.

OBITS:

From Deadline: American television producer and director, Jeff Margolis, has died at the age of 78, Friday, May 23, 2025. He was a prolific producer and/or director of numerous award shows, live events, specials, and variety show. His career as a TV director began in the mid-70s and including directing two episodes of the former CBS variety series, "Tony Orlando and Dawn." Margolis was nominated for eight "Primetime Emmy Awards," and won twice: "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special" for "Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration" and "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Music or Variety Program" for "The 67th Annual Academy Awards."

From Deadline: American film and television actor, George Wendt, has died at the age of 76, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Wendt was best known for the role of "Norm Peterson" on the former NBC sitcom, "Cheers" (1982-93). He was nominated six times in the Primetime Emmy Awards category, "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series." Wendt's passing reportedly coincides with the 32nd anniversary of the "Cheers" finale episode.

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A "Star Wars" Link-O-Rama 2025 by Negromancer - UPDATE #17

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?: There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS AND RUMORS:

OBITUARY - From Deadline: Welsh art director and production designer for films, Leslie "Les" Dilley, has died at the age of 84, Monday, May 20th, 2025. Dilley won the Oscar for "Best Art Direction" for "Star Wars" (1977) and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), sharing both honors with the late Norman Reynolds. He also received "Best Art Direction" Oscar nominations for his work on "Alien" (1979). "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980), and "The Abyss" (1989).

DARTH VADER - From THR: SAG-AFTRA files unfair labor practice charge over "Darth Vader" AI voice in the game, "Fortnite." The union claims that Llama Productions failed to notify the labor group and negotiate when it began employing a "James Earl Jones" voice that replaced the work of members. Jones, who died last year, granted Disney rights to use his voice posthumously.

ANDOR - From IGN: The website explains the ending of the Disney+/Lucasfilm series, "Andor" Season 2.

COMICS - From Here: Leroy Douresseaux has reviewed Marvel's new "Star Wars #1."

PRINCESS LEIA - From MensJournal: "Star Wars" actress, Billie Lourd, offers a touching post of her children watching Lourd's late mother, actress Carrie Fisher, in her iconic Princess Leia role in the film, "Return of the Jedi."

GEORGE LUCAS - From Variety: At a 45th anniversary event for "The Empire Strikes," George Lucas explains why "Yoda" speaks backward.

COMICS - From BleedingCool: Marvel has released solicitation information concerning the "Star Wars" titles that it will publish in July 2025.

STARFIGHTER - From StarWars: The "Star Wars" film to be directed by "Deadpool & Wolverine" director Shawn Levy and to star Ryan Gosling has a title, "Star Wars: Starfighter." The film, which is set five years after the events of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," the film will go into production this fall with an anticipated theatrical release date of Memorial Day 2027.

PUBLICATIONS - From StarWars: "Star Wars Celebration Japan" offered fans a look at covers for upcoming "Star Wars" comic books, manga, novels, artbooks and reference books.

RUMORS - From Variety: Oscar-winner Mikey Madison ("Anora") has reportedly past on a reported offer to appear in director Shawn Levy's rumored "Star Wars" project starring Ryan Gosling.

EPISODE III - From WorldofReel: The 20th anniversary release of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" is on April 25th. The opening weekend at the domestic box office looks to be around 15+ million dollars.

JOHN BOYEGA - From Variety: John Boyega addresses the Sith elephant in the "Star Wars" room. To racist white fans of "Star Wars," there is no room for a black heroes

OBIT - From Variety: New Zealand actor of the stage, musical theater, and film and television, Clive Revill, died at the age of 94, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. He provided the voice of "The Emperor" in the original theatrical release of 1980s' "The Empire Strikes Back." Revill was twice nominated for a Tony Award, "Best Featured Actor for a Musical" for his role in the original 1961 Broadway production of "Irma La Douce" and "Best Actor in a Musical" for his role in the original 1963 Broadway production of "Oliver!"

ANDOR - From THR: The acclaimed Disney+ "Star Wars" drama, "Andor," is now also available on Hulu. The first three episodes are free on the Disney+ "YouTube" channel. The 12-episode second season debuts exclusively on Disney+ April 22nd.

REY SKYWALKER - From Variety: The planned "Rey Skywalker" movie now has a writer, George Nolfi, ("The Bourne Ultimatum"). Daisey Ridley will reprise her role as Rey.

FUTURE - From THR: Ryan Gosling is reportedly in talks to be the star of director Shawn Levy's ("Deadpool & Wolverine") planned "Star Wars" movie.

MARVEL COMICS - From BleedingCool: Marvel is launching a new flagship "Star Wars" comic book series in May 2025. This new "Star Wars #1" will debut stories set after the events depicted in the 1983 film, "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi." It will be written by Alex Segura and drawn by Phil Noto. According to the press information: "It's the dawn of the New Republic, and as the dust settles after the Battle of Jakku our rebel heroes — Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and Han Solo — find themselves forging a new order as pirates and thieves swarm to fill the power vacuum left behind by the fallen Empire." The series will reintroduce characters like Mon Mothma and Beilert Valance, among others.

MARVEL COMICS - From BleedingCool: To celebrate "Black History Month," Marvel Comics will celebrate Black "Star Wars" characters with variant covers featuring them on four "Star Wars" titles published in February 2025.

NEW TRILOGY - From Deadline: Lucasfilm has hired writer-producer-director Simon Kinberg to develop a new "Star Wars" trilogy - Episodes 10, 11, and 12.

From THR: Related to the Simon Kinberg news, the new trilogy will supposedly focus on the the sequel trilogy star, "Rey Skywalker."

MARVEL COMICS - From BleedingCool: Marvel will publish a "Star Wars" one-shot comic book, "Star Wars: A New Legacy," in 2025. It will set up the relaunch of Marvel's ongoing "Star Wars" flagship comic book and also celebrate the tenth anniversary of Marvel regaining the license to publish "Star Wars" titles from Dark Horse Comics. Since then, however, Dark Horse gained a new license to publish "Star Wars" comics for juvenile readers.

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STAR WARS Movie Reviews:

From Negromancer: "Star Wars"
From Negromancer: "The Empire Strikes Back"
From Negromancer: "Return of the Jedi"

From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace"

From Negromancer: "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones"

From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"

From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2008 animated film)
From Negromancer: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"
From Negromancer: "Solo: A Star Wars Story"

I Reads You "Star Wars Central" comics and graphic novel review page is here.

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Friday, May 23, 2025

Comics Review: Disney's "DARKWING DUCK #3" Unveils a Secret History

DARKWING DUCK VOLUME 2 #3

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Daniel Kibblesmith

ART: Ted Brandt & Ro Stein

COLORS: Dearbhla Kelly

LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry

EDITOR: Nate Cosby

COVER: Tad Stones

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Ted Brandt & Ro Stein; Ciro Cangialosi; Nicoletta Baldari; Tad Stones

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (April 2025)

Rated “All Ages”

“Year One” Part Three of Twelve: “Where Did Darkwing Learn Martial Arts?”

“Darkwing Duck” was an animated superhero comedy television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. It originally aired for three seasons (for a total of 91 episodes) from 1991 to 1992, both as part of the syndicated programming block, “The Disney Afternoon,” and as part of ABC's Saturday morning lineup. “Darkwing Duck” focused on a suburban duck, Drake Mallard, and his superhero alter-ego, “Darkwing Duck.” The character was a parody of the pulp fiction vigilante character, The Shadow, and his alter-ego, Kent Allard.

A little over two years ago, Dynamite Entertainment launched a new Darkwing Duck comic book series. Now, it has recently relaunched the series with Darkwing Duck Volume 2. It is written by Daniel Kibblesmith; drawn by Ted Brandt & Ro Stein; and colored by Dearbhla Kelly; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry. The new series revisits Darkwing Duck's first year as a superhero.

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #3 (“Where Did Darkwing Learn Martial Arts?”) opens as Darkwing Duck (“DW”) decides to share with his adopted daughter, Gosalyn, the first chapter of his book, “The Secret History of Darkwing Duck!” As a costumed crimefighter with years of experience safeguarding the streets of St. Canard, Darkwing Duck is, of course, a seasoned master of hand-to-hand (or wing-to-wing) combat. So how did DW become proficient in the exquisite arts of combat?

Now, Darkwing Duck is transporting (or will attempt to transport) Gosalyn back to his earliest days at the Training Temple of the Venerable One, an old master who imparts wisdom and verbal take-downs in equal measure. Will DW learned the value of patience or self-control? Or will standing up to bullies cause the Venerable One to expel him? “The Ancient Book of Ancientness” may have those answers and more.

THE LOWDOWN: Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Darkwing Duck Volume 2, Issue #3, one of a few Darkwing Duck comic books that I have ever read.

I continue to find myself drawn to the work of the new Darkwing Duck comic book's creative team. Writer Daniel Kibblesmith continues to spin delightful, imaginative yarns, this time featuring a glimpse into Darkwing's formative years. Kibblesmith offers enjoyable characters while operating the mechanics of a superhero's past in an even earlier time than a “Year One” story arc.

The art team of illustrators Ted Brandt & Ro Stein and colorist Dearbhla Kelly once again offer a spry chapter of storytelling that sparks on the page with adventure and humor. Brandt & Stein continue to capture the Disney graphical aesthetic via genuinely entertaining storytelling. Kelly's coloring hints at the faraway nature of this chapter's setting. Letterer Jeff Eckleberry keeps the energy going with battery-charged sound effects, captions, and word balloons.

I hope that Dynamite can find continued success with its Darkwing Duck comic books. There is an audience for this title, and it could be you, dear readers. It is pure comic book fun.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Darkwing Duck will want to try Dynamite's new Darkwing Duck Volume 2 comic book series.

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

https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/

https://bsky.app/profile/dynamitecomicshq.bsky.social

https://x.com/DynamiteComics

https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w

https://www.tiktok.com/@dynamiteentertainment

https://www.instagram.com/dynamiteentertainment/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment

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Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2025 - UPDATE #18

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

TREATS: Looking for a delicious treat? Try AnotherCookie.

NEWS:

AVENGERS - From Variety: Disney has announced that "Avengers: Doomsday" is moving from May 2026 to December 2026. Consequently, "Avengers: Secret Wars" is moving from May 2027 to December 2027. As of now, after "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" debuts this July, there won't be another Marvel Cinematic Universe film until July 2026's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."

DAREDEVIL - From Variety: Actress Krysten Ritter, who played the character "Jessica Jones" in several Netflix/Marvel Television series, will return as the character for Season 2 for the Disney+/Marvel Studios series, "Daredevil: Born Again."

THUNDERBOLTS* - From Here: Leroy Douresseaux reviews "Thunderbolts*"

From Variety: Marvel Studios' "Thunderbolts*" tops the 5/2 to 5/4/2025 weekend box office with an estimated total of 76 million dollars domestically and 86.1 million dollars internationally for a global total of 162.1 million dollars.

FANTASTIC FOUR - From Marvel: Marvel Studios has released the first full trailer for "Fantastic Four: First Steps," which is due in theaters, July 25, 2025.

AVENGERS - From Variety: Halle Berry says fans should not expect to see her name among the actors appearing in "Avengers: Doomsday."

SPIDER-MAN - From THR: "Spider-Man 4" is untitled no longer. The fourth "Spider-Man" film starring Tom Holland has a title, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." It is set to hit theaters July 31, 2026 and will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton ("Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings").

IRON FIST - From Variety: At a recent anime convention, actor Finn Jones, let the world know that he wants a second chance to play the Marvel Comics' character, Danny Rand/Iron Fist, although the character has come under heavy criticism in recent times. Finn played Iron Fist in two seasons of the Netflix/Marvel series, "Iron Fist" (2017, 2018) and in the Netflix miniseries, "The Defenders" (2017), and one episode of Netflix's "Luke Cage" Season 2.

BLADE - From WorldofReel: According to a well-placed source, Marvel Studios has cancelled its plans for a "Blade" movie. Apparently, Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali will appear as Blade in a supporting or costarring role in other planned Marvel films.

AVENGERS - From THR: In a four-hour long livestream, Marvel Studios' revealed the cast of "Avengers: Doomsday," although the names revealed are reportedly not the only stars who will appear in the film.

From ComicBookMovie: The site has the full cast list of the 27 actors set to star in Marvel's 2026 Avengers event movie, "Avengers: Doomsday."

THUNDERBOLTS - EmpireOnline: The website, "Empire Online" previews "Empire" magazine's "May 2025" issue, which goes in depth on Marvel Studios' next film, "Thunderbolts" (May 2nd). The film's director, Jake Schreier, sits "Toy Story 3" as an influence.

DOOMSDAY - From Variety: Brothers Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of "Avengers: Doomsday," had some news about Oscar-winning actor Robert Downey Jr.'s intense preparation for the film. They said that Downey, who is playing Doctor Doom, is already writing backstory for the character and is coming up with costume ideas. Downey previously played Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

BLACK PANTHER - From Variety: Angela Bassett says that she was deserving of winning the "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar for her performance in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Although she was nominated, she lost to Jamie Lee Curtis.

CAPTAIN AMERICA - From Variety: "Captain America: Brave New World" tops the 2/14 to 2/16/2025 weekend box office with an estimated total of 88.5 million dollars. The film is estimated to gross 100 million dollars over the four-day Presidents Day weekend (2/14 to 2/17/2025).

THE FANTASTIC FOUR - From Deadline: Disney/Marvel Studios has released the first teaser trailer (Feb. 4th) for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." There's a glimpse of Galactus, and "H.E.R.B.I.E." the robot is featured. The film is due in theaters July 25th, 2025.

AVENGERS: - From Variety: In a candid interview, Benedict Cumberbatch says that he will not appear as "Doctor Strange" in Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Doomsday" (2026), but that he will be all over "Avengers: Secret Wars" (2027). He also says that there will be a third stand-alone Doctor Strange film.

SPIDER-MAN 4 - From Deadline: Anderw Garfield, "Spider-Man" in "The Amazing Spider-Man" and in "Spider-Man: No Way Home," denies that he has been cast in Sony/Marvel's "Spider-Man 4."

THUNDERBOLTS - From EW: "Entertainment Weekly" has an exclusive preview of Marvel Studios' "Thunderbolts," including new images from the film. Also, in the article, actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus says that all the schemes of her character, Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, will be revealed.

GOLDEN GLOBES - From CBR: Kathryn Hahn has been nominated for her role of "Agatha Harkness" in the Disney+ series, "Agatha All Along." Hahn received a nomiation in the category of "Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy" at the 2025 / 82nd Annual Golden Globes. Hahn is the fourth actor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to received a Golden Globe nomination following Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen in the Disney+ miniseries, "WandaVision," and Angela Bassett in the 2022 film, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Hahn's nomination that "Agatha All Along" received.

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MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (MCU):

Review: Iron Man (2008)

Review: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Review: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Review: Thor (2011)

Review: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Review: Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Review: Iron Man 3 (2013)

Review: Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Review: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Review: Ant-Man (2015)

Review: Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Review: Doctor Strange (2016)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Review: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Review: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Review: Black Panther (2018)

Review: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Review: Captain Marvel (2019)

Review: Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Review: Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Review: Black Widow (2021)

Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Review: Eternals (2021)

Review: Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Review: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (2023)

Review: The Marvels (2023)

Review: Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Review: Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Review: Thunderbolts* (2025)

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Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Comics Review: "SPACE GHOST #12" Ragnaroks to the End

SPACE GHOST VOL. 1 #12

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Pepose

ART: Jonathan Lau

COLORS: Andrew Dalhouse

LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt

COVER: Francesco Mattina

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jae Lee with June Chung; Bjorn Barends; Anthony Marques

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (May 2025)

Rated “Teen”

“The Siege of Ghost Planet!”

Space Ghost is a superhero character created by the American animation studio and production company, Hanna-Barbera Productions. The character first appeared in the Saturday morning cartoon series, “Space Ghost,” which was originally broadcast on CBS from September 1966 to September 1967 for 20 episodes.

In his original incarnation, Space Ghost was a superhero whose base of operations was a small world known as “Ghost Planet.” He fought super-villains in outer space with his teen sidekicks, Jan and Jace, and their monkey, Blip. His main weapons were power bands he wore around his wrists and lower arms; the bands fired off multiple energy beam-based attacks, including heat, cold, and force, to name a few. Space Ghost could also fly, survive in space, and turn invisible (his “Inviso Power”). He also had a space ship known as “the Phantom Cruiser.”

Space Ghost sporadically appeared in various comic book publications over a fifty year period. Dynamite Entertainment has just launched a new Space Ghost comic book as part of its licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Entitled Space Ghost Volume 1, it is written by David Pepose; drawn by Jonathan Lau; colored by Andrew Dalhouse; and lettered by Taylor Esposito. In the new series, twins Jan and Jace Keplar and their pet monkey, Blip, meet that legendary cosmic vigilante known as “the Space Ghost.”

Space Ghost Volume One #12 (“The Siege of Ghost Planet!”) opens at Robo Corp. Doctor Xander Ibal, the CEO OF Robo Corp, has finally obtained Blip because he is the “Binary Language Integrated Prototype.” Now, Ibal can use this to initiate the “Ultima Protocols” What is that, and how will it affect the galaxy... and even the universe?

Meanwhile, Ghost Planet lies in ruins and on the verge of total collapse. The “Council of Doom”: Zorak, Moltar, General Metallus, the Creature King, the Widow, and Brak, stands triumphant, while Space Ghost clings to life and the very edge of oblivion. Can Jan and Jace find a way to get Space Ghost back on his feet? Or is this the end of our heroes?

THE LOWDOWN: Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. Space Ghost #12, Volume One is a recent issue that I have received.

This twelfth issue of the 2024-launched Space Ghost comic book series brings the series to a close. There is a new relaunch scheduled for July 2025.

Meanwhile, I can give this series a review send-off by simply saying that writer David Pepose and artist Jonathan Lau have ended it the way they began it – on fire. They have liberated their Space Ghost from every previous iteration. It is as if Pepose and Lau have gone back to the beginning and forged their own path. Can I also the blazed that own path?

Andrew Dalhouse's lovely colors are still a raging inferno, matching Lau flame for flame. He deserves some award notice for his work here. Letterer Taylor Esposito brings the sounds of battle to life with more of his strong lettering. As he closes this issue out, I'm sure Esposito is ready to bring the noise again for the next series.

I had a blast reading Space Ghost Volume One, dear readers. I want you to enjoy this, too, and you can via current and future trade paperback editions.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Dynamite Entertainment's Warner Bros. comic book series will want to read Space Ghost Volume One.

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

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