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Monday, December 13, 2021
Image Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for December 15, 2021
Marvel Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for December 15, 2021
Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for December 15, 2021
DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for December 14, 2021
Batgirls #1 (Cover A Jorge Corona), $3.99
Batgirls #1 (Cover B InHyuk Lee Batgirls Masked Left Side Connecting Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batgirls #1 (Cover C InHyuk Lee Batgirls Unmasked Right Side Connecting Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batgirls #1 (Cover D Yoshitaka Amano Team Card Stock Variant), AR
Batgirls #1 (Cover E Rian Gonzales Card Stock Variant), AR
Batgirls #1 (Cover F Dan Hipp Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #9 (Of 12)(Cover A Scott Jeralds), $2.99
Batman The Adventures Continue Season II #7 (Of 7)(Cover A Christian Ward), $3.99
Batman The Adventures Continue Season II #7 (Of 7)(Cover B W. Scott Forbes Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batman The Imposter #3 (Of 3)(Cover A Andrea Sorrentino), $6.99
Batman The Imposter #3 (Of 3)(Cover B Lee Bermejo), $6.99
Batman Urban Legends #10 (Cover A Belen Ortega), $7.99
Batman Urban Legends #10 (Cover B Riccardo Federici), $7.99
Batman Urban Legends #10 (Cover C Bengal), $7.99
Black Manta #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Jorge Fornes), $3.99
Black Manta #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Sanford Greene Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Future State Gotham #8 (Cover A Simone Di Meo), $3.99
Future State Gotham #8 (Cover B Kim Jacinto Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Harley Quinn The Animated Series The Eat Bang Kill Tour #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Max Sarin), $3.99
Harley Quinn The Animated Series The Eat Bang Kill Tour #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Valentine De Landro Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Harley Quinn Volume 1 No Good Deed HC, $24.99
I Am Batman #4 (Cover A Gerardo Zaffino), $3.99
I Am Batman #4 (Cover B Rafael Sarmento Card Stock Variant), $4.99
I Am Batman #4 (Cover C Max Dunbar Card Stock Variant), AR
Joker #10 (Cover A Guillem March), $5.99
Joker #10 (Cover B Francesco Francavilla), $5.99
Joker #10 (Cover C Jay Anacleto), $5.99
Joker #10 (Cover D James Stokoe), AR
Nightwing Volume 1 Leaping Into The Light HC, $24.99
Pennyworth #5 (Of 7)(Cover A Jorge Fornes), $3.99
Robin And Batman #2 (Of 3)(Cover A Dustin Nguyen), $5.99
Robin And Batman #2 (Of 3)(Cover B Rafael Albuquerque), $5.99
Rorschach HC, $34.99
Strange Adventures HC, $39.99
Teen Titans Academy #9 (Cover A Rafa Sandoval), $3.99
Teen Titans Academy #9 (Cover B Philip Tan Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Tis The Season To Be Freezin’ #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Jen Bartel), $9.99
Tis The Season To Be Freezin’ #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Pop Mhan), $9.99
Titans United #4 (Of 7)(Cover A Jamal Campbell), $3.99
Titans United #4 (Of 7)(Cover B Kael Ngu Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Wonder Girl #6 (Cover A Matteo Scalera), $3.99
Wonder Girl #6 (Cover B Stanley Artgerm Lau Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Wonder Woman #782 (Cover A Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson), $4.99
Wonder Woman #782 (Cover B Will Murai Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Wonder Woman Volume 1 Afterworlds TP, $24.99
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Review: "THE CANNONBALL RUN" Can Still Run
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 70 of 2021 (No. 1808) by Leroy Douresseaux
The Cannonball Run (1981)
Running time: 95 minutes (1 hour, 35 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Hal Needham
WRITER: Brock Yates
PRODUCER: Albert S. Ruddy
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Michael Butler (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Donn Cambern and William D. Gordean
COMEDY/ACTION/SPORTS
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jack Elam, Adrienne Barbeau, Tara Buckman, Terry Bradshaw, Jackie Chan, Bert Convy, Jamie Farr, Peter Fonda, George Furth, and Michael Hui
[I am working my way through the films that I first saw in a movie theater for which I have not previously written a movie review. The first time I saw a movie in an in-door theater (as opposed to a drive-in cinema) was in 1980 – likely The Empire Strikes Back. However, I am starting this process in the year 1981, and it turns out that there are only two movies left from that year that I saw in a theater for I which I have never written a formal review. The Cannonball Run is one of them.]
The Cannonball Run is a 1981 action-comedy and car-racing film from director Hal Needham. The film was produced by the Hong Kong film company, Golden Harvest, and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The movie's plot was based on the 1979 running of an actual cross-country, outlaw road race, the “Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash,” which was also known as the “Cannonball Run.”
The film features an all-star ensemble cast, led by Burt Reynolds and featuring Dom DeLuise, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr., to name a few. It was also the second Hollywood film appearance for Hong Kong martial arts legend and international movie star, Jackie Chan. The Cannonball Run movie focuses on an illegal cross-country race and its oddball contenders who will use every dirty-trick-in-the-book to evade the law and to screw over their opponents.
The Cannonball Run opens in Connecticut were several teams of racers have gathered for the latest running of the illegal, cross-country road race, the “Cannonball Run.” The goal of the racers, who are called “Cannonballers,” is to reach Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, California. Some of them hope to break the Cannonball's speed race record of 32 hours and 51 minutes.
The race teams that have gathered in Connecticut are an odd lot. The most eccentric is the team of JJ McClure (Burt Reynolds), a famous racing driver and team owner, and Victor Prinzi (Dom DeLuise), his chief mechanic and co-driver. There racing vehicle is a “Transcon Medi-Vac” ambulance outfitted with a NASCAR engine. In order to convince any law enforcement officers that might stop them that they are a real ambulance and medical team, McClure and Prinzi draft a wacky physician, Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing (Jack Elam), into their plans. For a patient, they kidnap a beautiful young woman, a tree-loving photographer named Pamela Glover (Farrah Fawcett).
Their competitors are right behind them and are almost as weird. Scotch-swilling Jamie Blake (Dean Martin), an F1 racing icon, and his gambling-obsessed teammate, Morris Fenderbaum (Sammy Davis Jr.), dress as Catholic priests, and drive a red Ferrari. Jill (Tara Buckman) and Marcie (Adrienne Barbeau) are two attractive women who use their good looks and impressive cleavage against traffic officers while driving a black Lamborghini. Two Asian racers (Jackie Chan and Michael Hui) race in a high-tech, computer-laden Subaru hatchback. Seymour Goldfarb, Jr. (Roger Moore), the heir to the “Goldfarb Girdles fortune,” identifies himself as the actor Roger Moore, and he even drives a silver Aston Martin DB5.
Chasing after these teams and determined to stop the race because of its effects on the environment is Mr. Arthur J. Foyt (George Furth), an agent of the federal government's “Safety Enforcement Unit.” But can Mr. Foyt really stop all the racers, or will their dirty tricks stop each other?
I know why 15-year-old Leroy loved The Cannonball Run when he saw it in a theater in 1981 (the Vista Village Twin Cinema). He liked the fast cars, the cool-looking cars, the pretty White women with big boobs, and he was a fan of the actors and celebrities who appeared in the film, such as Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett, Mel Tillis, and Terry Bradshaw, to name a few. I was and still am a huge fan of the NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and legendary Steelers quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, was and still is my favorite NFL player, even though he is now a fat, old White man who supports Donald Trump.
But why did AARP Leroy, who recently watched The Cannonball Run again for the first time in 40 years (via Netflix's DVD.com), still find himself loving the movie? Maybe, it is because I like speedy, high-end, foreign sports cars. Maybe, it's because I still like amble breasts on White women. Maybe, it is because I still like many members of the film's cast, and I certainly appreciate Adrienne Barbeau, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin more than I did back then. And maybe, it is because now I appreciate the way actor Alfie Wise and former NFL defensive lineman, Joe Klecko, who both appeared in The Cannonball Run, once looked in tight jeans.
I also noticed that some of the larger profile stars in this film are best known for what they did in the 1970s. Some continued to be star actors into the 1980s and beyond, such as Burt Reynolds. Others, like Terry Bradshaw, found new careers. Bradshaw has acted and appeared in numerous films and television shows, and he has had a four-decade career in sports broadcast that has earned him three Sports Emmy Awards, and he is still do that as of this writing.
Maybe, part of my enjoyment of this film is nostalgia. I am a fan of at least ten performers who appeared in The Cannonball Run and who are now deceased, including Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise.
That aside, the film is genuinely funny, at least I think so. It has a simple plot – win the race, trick the police, and lie-cheat-steal your opponents. The setting is also simple, the highway and byways of the United States. Sadly, because the film has a short-running time, it can only provide a cursory glance at the many unique places across the USA through which the Cannonballers have to travel. Honestly, I think this concept would make for a good television series, at least a miniseries.
The characters are actually interesting. Most of the actors are playing themselves or are playing character types, like Jack Elam's goony Dr. Van Helsing. I'm pretty sure that Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. were each playing a character they played many times before this film, both on television and in film. Farrah Fawcett's whispery-voiced Pamela Glover is a mostly pointless character, but Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman make better use of their “sex appeal.”
In the case of Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise, their playing to type was and still is fine with me. Reynolds smile and his wit shine through in The Cannonball Run, which is by no means one of his better performances. Reynolds popularity lasted so long because he was a true movie star. As for DeLuise, if you liked what he usually did, well, he gave all of himself here. I have always found him likable, even when the material was not top notch, which it is not here.
I think what really sold The Cannonball Run, both to teenage me and to old me, is that everyone in this movie seems to be genuinely having fun. Back in 1981, those good feelings crossed over to the audience; The Cannonball Run was one of the year's biggest box office hits. In a way, those good feelings have crossed over through time to me, and I found myself really enjoying this movie all over again.
7 of 10
B+
Saturday, December 11, 2021
The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
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Friday, December 10, 2021
Comics Review: "BLUBBER #5": Screwing Your Way to a 2-Day Pass
BLUBBER #5
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
CARTOONIST: Gilbert Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER/BACK COVER: Gilbert Hernandez with Paul Baresh
24pp, B&W, $4.99 U.S. (January 2019)
Gilbert Hernandez is the cartoonist, comic book creator, and graphic novelist best known for being one-half of the duo referred to as “Los Bros.” Gilbert and his brother, Jaime Hernandez, are Eisner Award (Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards) winners, and they have produced the seminal, alternative comic book series, Love and Rockets (Fantagraphics Books), for the last four decades.
As a “solo act,” Gilbert (a.k.a. “Beto”) has also produced numerous original graphic novels and several comic book miniseries for publishers like Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, and Drawn & Quarterly, as well as for his original publisher, Fantagraphics. In 2015, Fantagraphics launched Beto's comic book series, Blubber.
This black and white comic book series offers short stories and vignettes featuring a cast of misfits, monsters, and anthropomorphic types. Beto also presents his usual mix of bizarre characters, strange stories, and outlandish sex and sexual acts, all hallmarks of his comic book output going back to the beginning of his early work.
Blubber #5 (which was released in 2019) is comprised of seven stories of one or two pages in length and three stories that are three pages and longer. It also opens with the one-page comic inside the front cover (frontispiece) and ends with another story inside the back cover. I'll discuss each story individually, to one extent or another.
THE LOWDOWN: The inside the front cover story is entitled “Atom Baby Crunchers.” It is about guys with balloon-like musculature, who are also well endowed in the penis department. The one thing I like about this story is that everyone receives sexual pleasure, one way or another.
“Corazon”:
The first interior story stars a young character who appears to be female, has large breasts, and a penis (well-endowed) and a scrotum. Corazon is always naked, even at work, where this story is set. Corazon and a co-worker, Gronsky, must find their boss' old ink pens, which are missing, because he hates the new ones. A co-worker, Cristobol, joins them. The search involves dreams, remote viewing, water, a cult, and, of course, masturbation. “Corazon” is one of Beto's usual surreal gems, which I generally enjoy, but I like this one especially because Beto isn't afraid to depict one guy sucking another guy's penis.
“Der Nimmy”:
Is this one-pager technically a furry story? Well, it involves sex and a human in a costume that resembles a large furry creature. There is apparently also an appearance by Corazon. No, honey. Ain't nobody mad.
“Maximiliano's Huge Fuckin' Choad”:
This one-pager is about a guy, Maximiliano, with a long schlong who only enjoys satisfactory sex in a particular way. Maximiliano also likes to have sex with “cryptids,” including the one that is featured on the cover of Blubber #5. The fact that his story featured a form of coercive sex made me a little uncomfortable … but I got over it because it's Beto.
“Shitter”:
This two-pager features an office worker who enjoys clubbing, necrophilia, and coprophilia. I like that Beto draws the gentleman's pubes as being neatly trimmed.
“It's Better to Die”:
In this six-page story, Corazon and two other balloon-breasted women travel through a land of faerie creatures such as fauns, kekeppy, and doogs. They screw them and are screwed by them. In this story, Beto shows off his incredible touch with figure drawing – human females and otherwise – and also his precise inking. I don't know if he uses a brush to ink his art, but whatever he uses, he shows incredible dexterity with it. “Tiki,” a diminutive, balloon-breasted woman, appears in this story.
“This Man, This Monster!”/”The Good Life”:
The cryptid featured on the cover appears in this story. Blubber #5 has as a recurring plot element which indicates that having sex with a cryptid will earn someone a “2-way pass,” allowing them to travel between this world and the “Other Realm.” “This Man, This Monster!” is a one-page comic that shares the page with a five-panel comic strip at the bottom of the page, entitled “The Good Life.”
“Tiki's Delivery Service”:
This two-page story features Tiki, the short of stature slash balloon of breasts woman. She and Juevencio (who first appears in “Atom Baby Crunchers,” the story on the inside front cover) visit a place where men with low self-esteem are paid to allow others to alter, abuse, and use their penises. Once again, Beto impresses with his ability to cartoon the penis – human and otherwise – in a variety of shapes, sizes, and lengths.
“See What You Made Me Do?”:
A woman named “Kolchak,” who has thick, muscular thighs has sex with a cryptid, hoping to earn herself a “2-way pass.” However, taking it from a cryptid compels her to tell a secret – about a former boyfriend who was a serial killer. Beto throws in a surprise with this story that makes the three-page “See What You Made Me Do?” rather delightful.
“Pupusi's Butthole”/Pupusi and Her Belly-Swelling Fetish”:
This is actually the title of a TV show that stars a Beto regular, Pupusi, who has appeared in a number of Beto's other works. Beto introduces a new fetish, the love of “belly-swelling.” The one-page comic shares its space with a five-panel strip at the bottom of the page, entitled “Pupusi and Her Belly-Swelling Fetish.”
“The Janx and the Ingrate”:
First, we get two more four-panel comic strips about Pupusi's fetish. Then, it's on to the one-page comic that shares the space. In “The Janx and the Ingrate,” we learn that the cryptid featured on the cover of Blubber #5 is called “The Janx.” This creature has a foot fetish, and it has a surprise for the ingrate who does not appreciate the pleasure it gives.
“John Dick”:
This inside the back cover, one-page comic features a guy named “John Dick.” John appears in the inside front cover story, “Atom Baby Crunchers” and also in “Maximiliano's Huge Fuckin' Choad,” but those are only cameos.
He is the star of the show in “John Dick,” in which he shows off his erect penis, which is somewhere between two to three-feet long. “John Dick” asks the question: what do you do when your erect cock is so long and large that no human orifice can service it? Is the answer to suck it yourself?
Right now, Gilbert Hernandez seems to be the only cartoonist doing true modern Underground Comics. Blubber recalls the classic erotic/porn comics of R. Crumb, but Hernandez's work is more purely surreal. I treasure Blubber #5, as I do every issue, because I see it as a gift from the rebellious spirit of a master of alternative comics.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Gilbert Hernandez must have Blubber.
A
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from December 1st to 11th, 2021 - Update #30
by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:
ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:
HARRY POTTER - From Deadline: HBO Max released the first image of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint reunited for the "Harry Potter" 20th anniversary special, "Return to Hogwarts."
TELEVISION - From Variety: According to sources, HBO is developing a reboot of its acclaimed TV series, "Six Feet Under" (2001-05).
BLM - From HuffPost: "I'm Black But Look White. Here Are The Horrible Things White People Feel Safe Telling Me." by Miriam Zinter. “There is a strategic force dedicated to segregation and racism,” Zinter says.
SCANDAL - From THR: Former "Empire" actor, Jussie Smollett, has been convicted on five of the six charges he faced because of an alleged hoax he staged three years ago.
TYLER PERRY - From Deadline: BET is expanding its Tyler Perry originals slate with the greenlight of "Zatima," a spinoff series of "Sistas," on BET+. The 10-episode hour-long series will see Devale Ellis and Crystal Renee Hayslett reprise their roles as "Zac" and "Fatima," respectively.
CELEBRITY - From THR: Jennifer Aniston talks about the "Friends" reunion, her career, upcoming projects, and life.
AWARDS - From Deadline: Disney/Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" was chose "The Movie of 2021" at the "2021 People's Choice Awards." Halle Berry also accepted "The People's Icon" award.
MOVIES - From Deadline: Jordan Peele's screenplay for "Get Out" just topped the Writers Guild of America's list of "101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (So Far)."
TELEVISION - From Deadline: AMC has renewed "Fear the Walking Dead" for an eighth season. Actress Kim Dickens, a regular on Seasons 1 to 4," will return as a series regular in Season 8 after appearing in the current Season 7.
MOVIES - From Deadline: Dave Bautista ("Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3) is in negotiations to star in writer-director M. Night Shyamalan's secret project, "Knock at the Door."
TELEVISION - From Deadline: Sylvester Stallone is in negotiations to star in and exec produce "Kansas City," a drama series from Taylor Sheridan and Terence Winter for Paramount+. It will be Stallone's first major foray into television.
MOVIE NEWS - From THR: Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" has been banned from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States, likely because the film has a transgender character.
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 12/3 to 12/5/2021 weekend box office is Disney's "Encanto" with an estimated gross of 12.7 million dollars.
SPIDER-MAN - From Variety: CCXP Worlds 21 (Brazil Comic Con), Sony Pictures Animation debuts a two-minute "first look" teaser for "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)," which is due in theaters October 7, 2022. A sequel to the Oscar-winning hit, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," the teaser features eye-popping graphics.
BREAKING NEWS - From Deadline: CNN said today that anchor Chris Cuomo, host of the network's "Cuomo Prime Time" political talk show, has been “terminated” by the network, “effective immediately.” The move comes as an outside law firm was retained to discover how much Cuomo aided his brother, former New York state governor Andrew Cuomo, when he faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment.
NETFLIX - From Deadline: Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry has signed a multi-picture deal with Netflix in the wake of her directorial debut, "Bruised," which is a massive hit on Netflix.
MOVIES - From Deadline: Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage will play "Dracula" in Universal Pictures film about the count's henchman, entitled "Renfield." Nicholas Hoult will play Renfield."
ANIMATION/NETFLIX - From IGN: The animated virtual band, Gorillaz, is getting a full-length animated film from Netflix, confirms the band's co-creator Damon Albarn.
MOVIES - From TheAVClub: The site has a list of movies coming out to theaters or streaming for the month of December 2021.
AWARDS:
From Deadline: The American Film Institute announced the "2021 AFI Awards" Top 10 list, and the list includes "Dune," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "West Side Story."
From THR: Director Aleem Khan's "After Love" tops the 2021 British Independent Film Awards, winning six awards, including "Best Film of 2021."
From Variety: The New York Film Critics Circle has named the Japanese drama, "Drive My Car," as the "Best Film of 2021."
From Deadline: The National Board of Review hands director Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" it "Best Film" and "Best Director" awards. Will Smith picks up the "Best Actor" award for "King Richard."
From THR: Netflix’s "The Lost Daughter," directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, dominated the 2021 Gotham Awards in New York on Monday night (Nov. 29th). The film won in four of the five categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Feature."
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OBITS:
From Deadline: American musician and songwriter, Michael Nesmith, has died at the age of 78, Friday, December 10, 2021. Nesmith was best known for being the wool-capped singer and guitarist of the pop-rock band, "The Monkees" and for also being one of the stars of "The Monkees" television series that ran from 1966 to 1968 on NBC. In 1981, Nesmith also won the first Grammy Award given for "Video of the Year," which he won for his hour-long television show, "Elephant Parts."
From Deadline: American film producer, Martha De Laurentiis, has died at the age of 67, Saturday, December 2012. She was the wife of the legendary Italian-born American film producer, the late Dino De Laurentiis. Until 1995, she was known by her birth name, Martha Schumacher. She produced such film as "Silver Bullet" (1995), "Breakdown" (1997), "U-571" (2000), and "Hannibal" (2001), to name a few.
From Deadline: Former U.S. Senator, Republican from Kansas (1969-96), Bob Dole, has died at the age of 98, Sunday, December 5, 2021. Dole ran for president in 1988, losing the nomination to eventual President George H.W. Bush, and in 1996, when he won the Republican nomination before losing to President Bill Clinton.
From Variety: American actor and stuntman, Tommy Lane, has died at the age of 83, Tuesday, November 30, 2021. He played the villain, "Adam," in the 1973 James Bond film, "Live and Let Die." he was both an actor and a stuntman in the 1971 film, "Shaft." Lane was also a jazz musician.
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"RUST" ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING DEATH: