Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 2, 2022

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUN211798 24 HOUR HISTORY COLLECTED GN $12.95

DEC211742 AGGRETSUKO OUT OF OFFICE #3 CVR A HICKEY $3.99

DEC211743 AGGRETSUKO OUT OF OFFICE #3 CVR B MURPHY $3.99

JAN221212 ARCHIE SHOWCASE DIGEST #7 BATTLE OF BFFS $8.99

NOV211644 BLACK COTTON TP $19.99

NOV211773 BLUE FLAME #7 CVR A GORHAM $3.99

NOV211774 BLUE FLAME #7 CVR B YOSHITANI $3.99

MAY211894 BOFURI DONT WANT TO GET HURT MAX OUT DEFENSE GN VOL 02 $13.00

OCT211749 BOSTON METAPHYSICAL SOCIETY TP VOL 01 2ND PTG $19.99

OCT211759 BROKEN GARGOYLES VOL 2 SIN AND VIRTUE (MR) $11.99

OCT211699 CARRIERS #2 $3.95

JUL219568 CARRIERS #2 CVR B MARTIN MONTIEL $3.95

DEC211746 CASAGRANDES GN VOL 02 ANYTHING FOR FAMILIA $7.99

DEC211747 CASAGRANDES HC GN VOL 02 ANYTHING FOR FAMILIA $12.99

OCT211396 CHARLIES SPOT #3 CVR A ALPI & LAXTON (MR) $3.99

OCT211397 CHARLIES SPOT #3 CVR B LAXTON (MR) $3.99

MAR211751 CHASING AFTER AOI KOSHIBA GN VOL 02 (MR) $12.99

OCT212028 CHASING AFTER AOI KOSHIBA GN VOL 03 (MR) $12.99

NOV211193 CHEAP TRICKS #1 (OF 8) $4.99

DEC212095 CLASSROOM OF ELITE GN VOL 01 $13.99

OCT211711 COUNT DRACO KNUCKLEDUSTER LEGENDARY ED $19.99

DEC219045 COWBOY BEBOP #1 2ND PTG ARTGERM LINE ART $3.99

NOV211712 COWBOY BEBOP #2 CVR A TONG $3.99

NOV211713 COWBOY BEBOP #2 CVR B PHOTO $3.99

NOV211714 COWBOY BEBOP #2 CVR C IANNICIELLO $3.99

NOV211715 COWBOY BEBOP #2 CVR D COLOR BLANK SKETCH VAR $3.99

NOV218143 COWBOY BEBOP #2 FOC DURSO $3.99

DEC211202 DEFECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL ONE SHOT $8.00

JUL211458 DESTINY NY TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99

OCT211416 DF HULK #1 MOMOKO VAR CGC GRADED $89.99

DEC211843 DIEGO RIVERA GN (RES) $22.99

AUG212385 DISNEY MANGA BEAUTY & BEAST BEASTS TALE COLOR ED GN $19.99

AUG212386 DISNEY MANGA BEAUTY & BEAST BELLES TALE COLOR ED GN $19.99

NOV211565 DJANGO HAND ON FIRE GREAT DJANGO REINHARDT HC $19.99

NOV211928 DOES HOT ELF LIVE NEXT DOOR TO YOU GN VOL 03 (MR) $13.99

JAN221797 DRAGON QUEST ADV OF DAI GN VOL 01 $19.99

DEC219112 DUEL #1 (OF 10) 2ND PTG $4.99

NOV211791 ENGINEWARD TP COMPLETE SERIES $19.99

NOV211675 EVERYTHING SUCKS #1 $5.99

SEP211246 EXCITING COMICS #18 $4.99

OCT211377 FEW AND THE CURSED CROWS OF MANAOLANA HC $50.00

DEC211654 FITZ AND CLEO GET CREATIVE YR GN $12.99

DEC211866 FITZ AND CLEO YR GN $6.99

DEC211404 FOLLOW ME INTO THE DARKNESS #1 (OF 4) CVR A CONNELLY (MR) $3.99

DEC211405 FOLLOW ME INTO THE DARKNESS #1 (OF 4) CVR B CONNELLY (MR) $3.99

DEC211406 FOLLOW ME INTO THE DARKNESS #1 (OF 4) CVR C CONNELLY (MR) $3.99

DEC211407 FOLLOW ME INTO THE DARKNESS #1 (OF 4) CVR D CONNELLY (MR) $3.99

DEC211409 FOLLOW ME INTO THE DARKNESS #1 (OF 4) CVR F CONNELLY SKETCH $3.99

DEC211410 FOLLOW ME INTO THE DARKNESS #1 (OF 4) CVR G CONNELLY LTD ED $3.99

DEC211752 GERONIMO STILTON 3IN1 GN VOL 04 $14.99

DEC211647 GIRL ON FIRE GN $19.99

JAN221236 GOD IS DEAD 19-24 ICONIC CVRS BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

JUL211456 GODKILLER DLX HC BOOK 02 TOMORROWS ASHES $29.99

DEC211585 GRAND ODALISQUE & OLYMPIA BOX SET (MR) $59.99

NOV211649 HEADLESS SEASON 2 #2 (OF 3) $3.99

SEP211821 HORIZON ZERO DAWN LIBERATION TP VOL 02 $17.99

JAN221923 I GOT CAUGHT UP IN A HERO SUMMONS GN VOL 03 (RES) $12.99

DEC212020 IM THE VILLAINOUS SO IM TAMING FINAL BOSS GN VOL 03 (RES) (C $13.00

JAN221798 IMA KOI NOW IM IN LOVE GN VOL 01 $9.99

JAN221311 JUNGLE FANTASY FAUNA #1 INTENSE MOONLIGHT NUDE VAR (MR) $19.99

JAN221310 JUNGLE FANTASY FAUNA #1 INTENSE STRIPPING NUDE VAR (MR) $19.99

JAN221306 JUNGLE FANTASY FAUNA #4 BONDAGE NUDE VAR (MR) $9.99

JAN221305 JUNGLE FANTASY FAUNA #4 BONDAGE VAR (MR) $9.99

NOV211663 JUNIPER #1 $1.99

DEC211422 KNIGHT JANEK #3 (OF 3) CVR A WOLSKI (MR) $3.99

DEC211423 KNIGHT JANEK #3 (OF 3) CVR B WOLSKI (MR) $3.99

DEC211424 KNIGHT JANEK #3 (OF 3) CVR C SIENICKI (MR) $3.99

DEC211455 LADY DEATH BLACKLANDS PRISM BAG SET (3CT) (MR) $17.99

JAN221313 LADY DEATH SULTRY LEATHER CVRS BAG SET (3CT) (MR) $37.99

OCT211863 LAST BOOK YOULL EVER READ #5 CVR A LEIZ (MR) $3.99

OCT211864 LAST BOOK YOULL EVER READ #5 CVR B HICKMAN (MR) $3.99

OCT218821 LAST BOOK YOULL EVER READ #5 CVR C BLACK BAG (MR) $5.99

DEC211448 LAST SONG TP (MR) $24.99

DEC211781 LEGEND OF BRIGHTBLADE GN $13.99

DEC211782 LEGEND OF BRIGHTBLADE HC GN $23.99

NOV201687 LIVING ROOM MATSUNAGA SAN GN VOL 06 $12.99

JUL211650 LOVE & ROCKETS MAGAZINE #11 (MR) $4.99

AUG201821 MAGUS OF LIBRARY GN VOL 04 $12.99

JAN221789 MASHLE MAGIC & MUSCLES GN VOL 05 $9.99

OCT211660 MELOWY GN VOL 05 MELOWEEN (RES) $7.99

OCT211661 MELOWY HC GN VOL 05 MELOWEEN (RES) $12.99

JAN221787 MY HERO ACADEMIA GN VOL 30 $9.99

DEC211764 NIGHTMARE BRIGADE GN VOL 01 CASE OF THE GIRL FROM DEJA VU (C $9.99

DEC211765 NIGHTMARE BRIGADE HC VOL 01 CASE OF THE GIRL FROM DEJA VU (C $14.99

NOV211654 NORTH BEND SEASON 2 #2 $3.99

NOV211443 OLYMPIANS BOXED SET VOL 7-12 $77.94

NOV211441 OLYMPIANS GN VOL 12 DIONYSOS NEW GOD $12.99

NOV211442 OLYMPIANS HC GN VOL 12 DIONYSOS NEW GOD $21.99

JUL212183 ONE PIECE GN BOX SET VOL 04 DRESSROSA TO REVERIE $185.99

DEC211738 ORCS IN SPACE #8 $3.99

JAN221804 PLATINUM END GN VOL 14 (MR) $9.99

MAY211912 RE ZERO SLIAW CHAPTER 4 GN VOL 02 $13.00

DEC211740 RICK AND MORTY CORPORATE ASSETS #4 CVR A WILLIAMS $3.99

DEC211741 RICK AND MORTY CORPORATE ASSETS #4 CVR B WILLIAMS $3.99

JAN221743 ROBYN HOOD SHADOWS OF PAST ONESHOT #1 CVR A CHEN $5.99

JAN221744 ROBYN HOOD SHADOWS OF PAST ONESHOT #1 CVR B VITORINO $5.99

JAN221745 ROBYN HOOD SHADOWS OF PAST ONESHOT #1 CVR C LOMOV $5.99

MAR211761 SAINT YOUNG MEN HC GN VOL 06 (MR) $23.99

DEC212111 SAINTS MAGIC IS OMNIPOTENT GN VOL 05 $12.99

DEC211652 SAVAGE CIRCUS #9 (OF 10) (MR) $2.99

DEC211726 SEEDS OF SPRING #3 (OF 15) $4.95

JUL211950 SEIS CUERDAS DEFENDER OF MEXICO TP (MR) $11.99

NOV211602 SMURFS 3IN1 GN VOL 05 $14.99

DEC211847 SPY SCHOOL HC GN VOL 01 $21.99

DEC211821 STAKE TP VOL 01 $19.99

DEC211372 STAR RUNNER CHRONICLES ORIGINS ONE SHOT $5.95

NOV211659 SWAMP DOGS #2 CVR A SAMMELIN $3.99

JUL212308 THAT TIME GOT REINCARNATED AS SLIME BOX SET SEASON 01 PART 1 $77.94

OCT211911 THE CRATER GN (MR) $29.95

SEP211651 TO DRINK & EAT HC VOL 03 (MR) $24.99

DEC212031 TO SAVE WORLD WAKE MORNING AFTER DEMI HUMAN GN VOL 04 (RES) $13.00

DEC201832 TOPPU GP GN VOL 05 (RES) $12.99

JAN221788 UNDEAD UNLUCK GN VOL 06 $9.99

JAN221297 USHER OF THE DEAD #1 CVR A SIMAO (MR) $3.99

JAN221298 USHER OF THE DEAD #1 CVR B GRAY HOMAGE VAR (MR) $3.99

JUN212016 VAL X LOVE GN VOL 10 (MR) $13.00

DEC211514 WALK ME TO THE CORNER (MR) $29.95

DEC211698 WHITE BIRD A WONDER STORY SC GN $14.99

NOV211999 WHITE ROSE IN BLOOM GN VOL 02 (MR) $12.99

DEC211783 WINGBEARER GN $12.99

DEC211784 WINGBEARER HC GN $22.99

OCT211601 WITCHY VOL 02 $14.99

JAN221790 WORLD TRIGGER GN VOL 23 $9.99

JAN221157 WRONG EARTH TRAPPED ON TEEN PLANET #1 CVR A IGLE $4.99

JAN221795 YAKUZA LOVER GN VOL 04 $9.99

DEC212084 YURI IS MY JOB GN VOL 08 (MR) $12.99

MAGAZINES

DEC211505 COMIC SHOP NEWS (90CT BUNDLE) #1802 $PI

OCT218455 RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #205 $12.95

NOV211658 SARTORIAL GEEK #1 $3.99

DEC211611 TOYROBOT MAGAZINE #3 $12.99

DEC211612 TOYROBOT MAGAZINE #4 $12.99

DEC211943 VAMPIRESS CARMILLA 2023 ANNUAL #1 $9.95

BOOKS

OCT211825 ALIENS VS PREDATOR ULTIMATE PREY SC NOVEL $15.95

AUG218342 ART OF STAR WARS MANDALORIAN SEASON 2 HC $40.00

DEC212119 BERSERK OF GLUTTONY LIGHT NOVEL VOL 05 $14.99

DEC211723 BLACK PANTHER SPELLBOUND HC NOVEL (RES) $16.99

JUL211562 COLORS & CAPES SIZES & SHAPES BOARD BOOK $11.99

NOV211625 DISNEY ENCANTO GN (RES) $12.99

OCT211768 LITTLE BOOK OF LEGS SC (MR) $15.00

JUL201269 LUPINA GN $17.99

JUL211563 SUPER HEROES OPPOSITES BOARD BOOK $11.99

DEC211508 TRUE BELIEVER RISE AND FALL OF STAN LEE SC $18.00

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DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for March 1, 2022

DC COMICS:

Absolute Wonder Woman Gods And Mortals HC, $125.00
Arkham City The Order Of The World #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Sam Wolfe Connelly), $3.99
Arkham City The Order Of The World #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Kaare Andrews Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batman #121 (Cover A Jorge Molina), $4.99
Batman #121 (Cover B Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Batman #121 (Cover C Lee Bermejo The Batman Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Batman #121 (Cover D Jay Anacleto Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman #121 (Cover E Jock Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman Killing Time #1 (Of 6)(Cover A David Marquez), $4.99
Batman Killing Time #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Kael Ngu Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Batman Killing Time #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Carlos Danda The Batman Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Batman Killing Time #1 (Of 6)(Cover D Alex Garner Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman Killing Time #1 (Of 6)(Cover E Peach Momoko Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman Vs Bigby A Wolf In Gotham #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Brian Level & Jay Leisten Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Catwoman #39 (2nd Printing Cover A Sozomaika), $3.99
Dark Knights Of Steel #5 (Of 12)(Cover A Dan Mora), $3.99
Dark Knights Of Steel #5 (Of 12)(Cover B Joshua Middleton Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Dark Knights Of Steel #5 (Of 12)(Cover C Ejikure Card Stock Variant), AR
Dark Knights Of Steel The Gathering Storm TP, $6.99
Detective Comics #1055 (Cover A Irvin Rodriguez), $4.99
Detective Comics #1055 (Cover B Lee Bermejo Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Detective Comics #1055 (Cover C Jorge Fornes Card Stock Variant), AR
Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey The Hunt For Harley TP, $16.99
Justice League #73 (Cover A Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn), $4.99
Justice League #73 (Cover B Kyle Hotz Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Justice League Incarnate #5 (Of 5)(Cover A Gary Frank), $4.99
Justice League Incarnate #5 (Of 5)(Cover B Jorge Fornes Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Justice League Incarnate #5 (Of 5)(Cover C Andrei Bressan Card Stock Variant), AR
Monkey Prince #2 (Of 12)(Cover A Bernard Chang), $3.99
Monkey Prince #2 (Of 12)(Cover B Ejikure Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Monkey Prince #2 (Of 12)(Cover C Michael Cho Card Stock Variant), AR
Nice House On The Lake #7 (Of 12)(Cover A Alvaro Martinez Bueno, $3.99
Nice House On The Lake #7 (Of 12)(Cover B Javier Rodriguez Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Nice House On The Lake Volume 1 TP, $19.99
One-Star Squadron #4 (Of 6), $3.99
Static Season One #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Khary Randolph), $3.99
Static Season One #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Nikolas Draper-Ivey Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Suicide Squad #13 (Cover A Rafa Sandoval)(War For Earth-3), $3.99
Suicide Squad #13 (Cover B Gleb Melnikov Card Stock Variant)(War For Earth-3), $4.99
Superman The Man Of Steel Volume 4 HC, $49.99
War For Earth-3 #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Rafa Sandoval), $5.99
War For Earth-3 #1 (Of 2)(Cover B Gleb Melnikov Card Stock Variant), $6.99
War For Earth-3 #1 (Of 2)(Cover C Liam Sharp Card Stock Variant), AR
War For Earth-3 #1 (Of 2)(Cover D Guillem March Card Stock Variant), AR
World Of Krypton #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Mico Suayan), $3.99
World Of Krypton #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Aud Koch Card Stock Variant), $4.99

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Comics Review: "KING SPAWN #7"

KING SPAWN #7
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane
PENCILS: Javi Fernandez with Thomas Nachlik
COLORS: FCO Plascencia with Ulises Arreola
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER:  Bjorn Barends
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Javi Fernandez
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2022)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

Spawn is a superhero/antihero character that stars in the long-running comic book series, Spawn.  Created by writer-artist Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1 (cover dated: May 1992).

Spawn was Albert Francis “Al” Simmons.  A career military man who becomes a highly capable assassin and dies a violent death.  He makes a deal with the devil, Malebolgia, in order to return to the living realm to see his wife one last time.  However, Al returns with almost no memories accept that his name is Al Simmons, and he learns that he is now a “Hellspawn” in service of Malebolgia.  Rebelling, Al Simmons, now “Spawn,” finds a new purpose in stopping evil.

A year ago, (February 2021), Todd McFarlane announced his plans to build a larger, multi-character, interconnected, comic book universe based around his Spawn comic book – a “Spawn Universe.”  McFarlane also announced four new comic book titles coming out in 2021, with three of them continuing as regular monthly titles.

One of them is King Spawn.  This series is written by Sean Lewis; drawn by Javi Fernandez; colored by FCO Plascencia; lettered by Andworld Design.  King Spawn finds Spawn battling the members of a dark conspiracy that wants to force him to accept his crown.

King Spawn #7 opens in the wake of the terrible battle between Spawn and the “Disruptor,” who Jason Wynn, the late director of the U.S. Security Group … and Al Simmons' former boss … who betrayed him.  Spawn and Terry have arrived in New York City, where Spawn's journey began.  Now, he's here to kick some ass.

But NYC is exactly where the Court of Priests wants Spawn to be.  Here is where they will scheme Spawn into ascending the “Godthrone” and become the King of this world and others.  But first, they will force Spawn to relive one of the worst moments of his existence – the death of Wanda Blake, who was Al Simmons' wife … before she became Terry's wife.

THE LOWDOWN:  King Spawn continues to be the best Spawn spin-off comic book to date.  This hybrid of dark fantasy, the supernatural, and superheroes is a king of a comic book.

Writer Sean Lewis continues to spin his wicked webs of violent action and occult-infused plots.  Lewis makes King Spawn true to the heart of darkness that is the Spawn concept.  In the world of Spawn, no ass is too innocent for a capping, and Lewis has the Hellspawn balls to pull the narrative trigger.

Also, the art of Javi Fernandez evolves into a lovely combination of straight-forward storytelling with a stylish sense of design that recalls early Spawn Todd McFarlane and Sin City Frank Miller.  Plus, Fernandez offers some eye-popping graphic design in the design of the pages and in the contents of the panels.  Some pages even look like graffiti, protest street art, and geographical maps, which give the story a sense of breath and depth.

King Spawn #7 has the narrative hellfire to keep your imagination warm.  You know you want it.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Spawn will want to read King Spawn.

[This comic book includes “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” which is entitled “What They Wanted You to Believe...” and is about the death of Wanda Blake.]

A

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


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https://www.linkedin.com/company/image-comics/


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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Netflix's "The Lost Daughter" and Hulu's "Dopesick" Top 2022 Scripter Awards

“The Lost Daughter,” “Dopesick” Win USC Libraries Scripter Awards

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The writers behind the feature film “The Lost Daughter” and series “Dopesick” won the 34th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards at an online ceremony on the evening of Feb. 26, 2022.

“Adaptation from a book to film or book to series is a dialogue, a murmuring, and adaptation is a translation from one language into another”

The Scripter Awards honor each year’s most accomplished adaptations of the written word for the screen and, uniquely, recognize the screenwriters and the authors of the source material.

This year, screenwriter Maggie Gyllenhaal and author Elena Ferrante won in the feature film category for Netflix’s “The Lost Daughter,” based on Ferrante’s 2006 book (published in English in 2008). Gyllenhaal, who directed, wrote, and produced “The Lost Daughter,” acknowledged the deep connection between screenwriters and the original authors in her acceptance speech.

“I think only writers know how intimately a screenwriter is connected to the work they’re adapting,” Gyllenhaal said. Describing her relationship with Ferrante’s work, “She and I have made something new together. It’s like a love affair of the mind.”

In the episodic series category, writer/director Danny Strong and author Beth Macy won for Hulu’s “Dopesick,” based on Macy’s nonfiction book “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America.”

“A third of all American families have been touched by addiction,” Macy said. “My biggest thanks to all the families who helped us tell this story, and there are thousands of them.”

Strong acknowledged the impact of the book in shining “a light on this crisis and the people who were most affected by it on the ground in a way that really captured the nation in such a powerful, beautiful way.”

The Scripter Awards are usually presented at a black-tie gala in USC’s Doheny Memorial Library. However, both this year and last year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was streamed online. USC Libraries Dean Catherine Quinlan referenced the extraordinary year in her opening remarks.

“I truly hoped that we’d be celebrating the 34th year of Scripter where we celebrated its first—in the beautiful Doheny Memorial Library,” Quinlan said. “While it didn’t quite work out that way, I’m delighted to be with all of you online. We are so fortunate to be able to connect this way, to come together as a community in support of writers, storytelling, and our excellent Trojan libraries.”

A selection committee comprising 52 writers, producers, journalists, and other distinguished members—including several past winners—determined this year’s awards.

Howard Rodman, a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and a former president of the Writers Guild of America West, chairs the committee. In his remarks, Rodman noted that the art of adaptation requires the screenwriter to strike a delicate balance.

“Adaptation from a book to film or book to series is a dialogue, a murmuring, and adaptation is a translation from one language into another,” Rodman said. “It’s no accident that in so many languages, the words for ‘translator’ and ‘traitor’ are so similar. And the person who adapts a work of fact or fiction always has to balance, with poise and finesse, an opposing set of obligations.”

Earlier in the evening, Rodman presented Barry Jenkins with the Literary Achievement Award. Jenkins, a nominee this year for “The Underground Railroad,” previously won the 2017 Scripter for “Moonlight” and was a finalist in 2019 for “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

In accepting the award, Jenkins thanked the authors whose works he’s adapted and described the importance of cinema in reaching audiences with their language. “We’re living in a time right now when people are watching more than they are reading,” Jenkins said. “I think in a way, translating these works from the medium of literature or playwriting into the screenplay format and ultimately into feature films and television is very crucial, very vital to continuing the spread of this language these authors have put into their works.”

The 2022 Scripter Award was presented by the USC Libraries Board of Councilors, with sponsorship support from Apple Original Films, Amazon, Disney+, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, and Warner Bros.

For more information about Scripter, visit scripter.usc.edu.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 20th to 28th, 2022 - Update #26

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

AWARDS - From Deadline:   The winners at the 2022 / 28th annual SAG Awards. "CODA" wins the top prize, "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:   The winner of the 2/25 to 2/27/2022 weekend box office is Sony Pictures' "Uncharted" with an estimated take of $23.25 million.

NAACP - From Variety:  Here is a complete list of winners at 2022 / 53rd NAACP Image Awards in the film, television and music categories.  Jennifer Hudson was named "Entertainer of the Year."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Quentin Tarantino is in early talks to direct one or two episodes of "Justified: City Primeval," the FX limited series that brings Timothy Olyphant as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens from FX's long-running series, "Justified" (2010-15).

MOVIES/NETFLIX - From BET:  Tyler Perry talks to BET about his new Madea movie, "A Madea Homecoming," which is streaming on Netflix.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Steven Spielberg is attached to direct a new original story based on "Lt. Frank Bullitt," the character the late Steve McQueen played in the 1968 film, "Bullitt."

AWARDS - From Deadline:  "Lost Illusions" and "Annette" top the 2022 Cesar Awards in France.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney has set the release date for its film, "Haunted Mansion," for March 10, 2023.  Justin Simien is directing stars Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, and LaKeith Stanfield.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Universal Pictures will release its monster movie, "Renfield" on April 14, 2023.  The films focuses on Count Dracula's lackey/aide, Renfield, played by Nicholas Hoult with Nicolas Cage playing Dracula.

NEWS - From Variety:  Oscar-winning actor, Sean Penn, is in Ukraine filming a documentary about the Russia's invasion of the country.

STREAMING - From Deadline:   Sacha Baron Cohen has joined the cast of director Alfonso Cuaron's film, "Disclaimer," for Apple TV+.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Paramount Pictures has acquired "80 For Brady." NFL legend and Super Bowl champion, Tom Brady, will produce and star in the film with Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda,  Rita Moreno, and Sally Field.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Director James Mangold and 20th Century Studios are developing a biopic of Hollywood legend and icon, the comedian and filmmaker, Buster Keaton.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  The site has a first look at actor Daniel Radcliffe as "Weird" Al Yankovic in the biopic, "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."

OSCARS - From THR:  During this year's Oscar telecast, for the 94th Academy Awards, eight categories that are usually presented live during the ceremony will not be this year.  The categories of "documentary short," "film editing," "makeup/hairstyling," "original score," "production design," "animated short," "live action short," and "sound" will take place inside the Dolby Theatre an hour before the live telecast commences, will be recorded, and will then be edited into the subsequent live broadcast.

From Deadline:  The changes to this year's Oscar telecast for the 94th Academy Awards have created a backlash.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  "The Wendy Williams Show" is ending for now, and will be replaced by a daytime syndicated talk show headline by Sherri Shepherd, a former co-host on "The View," slated to debut Fall 2022.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Universal Pictures has released a moody first image of actor Cillian Murphy as "J. Robert Oppenheimer" in director Christopher Nolan's film, "Oppenheimer." The film has begun principal photography and is due July 2023.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 2/18 to 2/20/2022 weekend box office is Sony Pictures' "Uncharted" with an estimated take of 44.16 million dollars.

From Deadline:  "Uncharted" scores 139 million dollars in global box office.

From BuzzFeed:  Actor Tom Holland worked as a bartender while making "Uncharted."

MOVIES - From VogueUK:  Here is the first look of actor Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in director Baz Luhrmann's biopic, "Elvis."

OBITS:

From Variety:   Film and television actress, Sally Kellerman, has died at the age of 84, Thursday, Feruary 24, 2022.  Kellerman was nominated for a "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar for her role as "Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan" in director Robert Altman's 1970 film, "MASH."  From 2014 to 2015, she had a recurring guest role on the CBS soap opera, "The Young and the Restless," which earned her a 2015 Daytime Emmy Award nomination.

From Deadline:  American singer-songwriter and rock musician, Mark Lanegan, has died at the age of 57, Tuesday, February 22, 2022.  He was one of the leading figures in the development of "grunge music" as the vocalist for the band, "Screaming Tress," and recorded seven albums with them.  He also released 12 solo studio albums.  He was also a member of the rock band, "Queens of the Stone Age."

From Deadline:  British music entrepreneur and YouTube star, Jamal Edwards, has died at the age of 31, Sunday, February 20, 2022.  He was known for founding "SBTV," a YouTube music channel dedicated to breaking emerging music acts in the United Kingdom.  Edwards helped launch the careers of artists such as Ed Sheeran and Jessie J, to name a few.  Edwards and SBTV are also credited with helping to popularize "grime music" in the UK and beyond.

From Deadline:   American film editor, David Brenner, has died at the age of 59, February 17, 2022.  Brenner was known for editing blockbuster films of noted directors like Roland Emmerich, Oliver Stone, and Zach Snyder, to name a few.  He won an Oscar with Joe Hutshing for editing Stone's 1989 film, "Born on the Forth of July."  Brenner was the editor on the "Avatar" sequels.

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94TH ACADEMY AWARDS:

OSCARS - From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 94th Academy Awards have been announced.  "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 nominations.  The winners will be revealed March 27th.

From Deadline:    With his "Best Actor" nomination for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," Denzel Washington is the most nominated Black actor is Oscar history.  He has been nominated in two acting categories a total of 10 times with two wins total.

From Variety:   With her "Best Director" Oscar nomination for "The Power of the Dog," Jane Campion becomes the first woman nominated twice in that category. She was previously nominated in that category for "The Piano" (1993).

From Variety:  With his three nominations today, Kenneth Branagh of "Belfast" becomes the first person to have been nominated in seven individual categories over his career.

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MOVIE AWARDS:

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 9th annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards were announced.  The Amazon film, "Coming 2 America" (the sequel to the 1988 film, "Coming to America"), led with three wins.

From Deadline:  The 2022 BAFTA Film Awards nominations have been announced.  "Dune" leads with 11 nominations.  The winners will be announced March 13th.

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 33rd annual Producers Guild of America Awards nominations have been announced.  The winners will be announced Saturday, March 19th.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 74th annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced March 12th.

From COFCA:  The Columbus Film Critics Association name "The Power of the Dog" the "Best Film" of 2021.

From Deadline:  Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," was named the "Best Picture" of 2021 at the 13th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards.  The Western tied with "King Richard" for most wins with four.  Will Smith was named "Best Actor" for "King Richard."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.

From Variety:  The snubs and surprises in the nominations for the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

From Variety:   At the 2022 / 79th Golden Globes, "The Power of the Dog" wins "Best Motion Picture-Drama" and "West Side Story" wins "Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy."

From Variety:  The National Society of Film Critics names the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the best film of 2021.

From AwardsWatch:  The nominations for the 22nd Annual Black Reel Awards were announced a few weeks ago. Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," has a record 20 nominations.  The winners will be announced February 27, 2022.

From AwardsWatch:  The Columbus Film Critics Association announced the nominations for their annual film awards.  Director Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 noms.  The winners will be announced Thurs., Jan. 6th, 2022.

From Deadline:  The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the "Best Picture" of 2021.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominations. "Zola" leads with six nominations. The winners will be announced Sun., March 6, 2022.

From THR:  The 2022 / 79th Golden Globes Awards nominations have been announced.  "Belfast" and "The Power of the Dog" lead with seven nominations each.  Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From GoldDerby:   The 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations have been announced. "Belfast" and "West Side Story" leads with 11 nominations each. Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

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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"RUST" ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING DEATH:

From Deadline:  This link will take you to Deadline's Halyna Hutchins page, which articles related to everything about her shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  Matt Hutchins, the husband of Halyna Hutchins, blames Alec Baldwin for Halyna's accidental shooting death on the set of the doomed Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  The family and estate of Halyna Hutchins has filed suit against Alec Baldwin (who accidentally shot Hutchins), a slew of production companies and entities, producers, and key crew members involved in the Western film, "Rust," for her death.

From THR:   A Republican New Mexico legislator, State Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell, on Monday introduced a bill that would require all film set personnel who handle firearms to complete a safety course offered by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.  This is in the wake a cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, being fatally shot on the set of the Western, "Rust," last year by Alec Baldwin with a weapon he says he thought was not loaded with live ammunition.

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin and the other producers of the doomed Western film, "Rust," want a California judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed against them by the script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell.

From Deadline:   Alec Baldwin has finally turned over his cell phone to police for their probe into the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Baldwin's Western film, "Rust," last October in New Mexico.

From Variety:  One of the producers of tragic Western film, Rust, Emily Salveson, pushes tax shelters and hid income.

From THR:  "I let go of the hammer and 'Bang,' the gun goes off" says Alec Baldwin says in his first interview of the moment when a gun he was holding accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin will sit down with ABC's news-reading clown George Stephanopoulos for a one hour special tomorrow night to talk about what happened on the set of the movie "Rust."  It will be Baldwin’s first extensive interview about the shooting.

From Deadline:  Industry veteran, Thall Reed, the father of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the Western, "Rust," may have handed the police a tip on why the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot to death on the set.

From THR:  A search warrant affidavit filed Tuesday for a prop shop sheds light on how alleged live ammunition ended up on the set of the Western film, "Rust," where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in October.

From Deadline:  A month after cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot and killed on the New Mexico set the movie Western, "Rust," by a prop gun “discharged” by Alec Baldwin, those closest to the cinematographer held a private ceremony and interred her ashes at an unknown location.

From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Baldwin defends his brother, Alec Baldwin, in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film, "Rust."  "Someone loaded that gun improperly," Daniel says.

From Deadline:  The newest lawsuit involving the tragic shooting on the set of the Western film, "Rust," has been filed by the film's script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell, against Alec Baldwin, the producers, the production company, armorer Hanna Gutierrez Reed, and others.

From Deadline:  Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer on "Rust," has filed a lawsuit against several parties related to the film, including the production, the financiers, star Alec Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and first Assistant Director David Halls.

From THR:   In the wake of the tragic accidental shooting on the set of his film, "Rust," Alec Baldwin on Monday took to social media to urge Hollywood to employ a police officer on every film and TV set that uses guns.

From THR:   The budget for "Rust" - Alec Baldwin was set to earn $150,000 as lead actor and $100,000 as producer, while $7,913 was earmarked for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and $17,500 was set aside for the rental of weapons and $5,000 for rounds.

From Deadline:  Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film, "Rust," said that they’re looking into whether a live bullet was placed in a box of dummy rounds with the intent of  “sabotaging the set.”

From THR:   Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film, "Rust," released a statement through her lawyers.  She says she had “no idea where the live rounds came from” that were recovered by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's during the investigation of the accidental on-set shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.

From Jacobin:  An opinion piece says that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death on the set of the film, "Rust," was not a freak accident, but was about Alec Baldwin and his fellow producers' cost-cutting decisions.  Baldwin accidentally fired the gun that killed Hutchins.

From Deadline:   Two of executive producers on "Rust," Allen Cheney and Emily Salveson, disavow responsibility for the film's troubled production.

From THR:   Iconic "Ghostbusters" actor Ernie Hudson is reeling from the news of the death of Halyna Hutchins, like the rest of Hollywood. Hudson also appeared in the film, "The Crow," the film in which its star, Brandon Lee, was killed because of an on-set accidental shooting.  He also agrees with the call to ban real guns from movie sets.

From THR:  The Sheriff of Sante Fe County says that his office has recovered three guns and 500 rounds of ammunition from the set of the movie "Rust" where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed.

From Deadline:  Regarding criminal charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis, "all options are on the table - no one has been ruled out."

From THR:  Does Hollywood Need Guns? Will new regulations lead to an overreactions to a tragedy.

From Deadline:   "Rust" producers have opened an internal investigation into the fatal shooting on the set of the Western film.  They have hired outside lawyers to conduct interviews with the film's production crew.

From Deadline:  "Rust's" AD (assistant director), Dave Halls, has come under scrutiny in the wake of the on-set shooting death of the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The affidavit of Sante Fe Sheriff's Department Detective Joel Cano has been made public. It can be read at "Deadline."  The affidavit was for a search warrant from the property were the Western, "Rust," was being filmed.

From THR:  The production company behind "Rust" has shut the film down until the police investigation into the fatal, on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is through.  The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office has also revealed a timeline of the shooting.

From Deadline:  The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday night that Alec Baldwin “discharged” a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the movie, "Rust."  As a result, one crew member, director of photography Halyna Hutchins, was killed and director Joel Souza was injured and remains in a local hospital - his condition unknown.

From THR:  "Rust" director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the accidental on-set shooting, says that he is "gutted" by the death of his cinematographer on the film, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" may have been "recorded" according to detective for Santa Fe Sheriff's Department.

From Deadline:  The production company behind the film, "Rust," will launch an internal safety review after the fatal accident that killed Halyna Hutchins; possible prior gun incidents; and a camera crew walkout.

From CNN:   Crew member yelled "cold gun" as he handed Alec Baldwin prop weapon, court document shows.

From Variety:  Actor Alec Baldwin releases statement on the death of Halyna Hutchins: "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness."

From Variety:  The prop gun that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on during an on-set accident on Thursday contained a “live single round,” according to an email sent by IATSE Local 44 to its membership.

Review: "THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2" is a Truly Disappointing Sequel

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 9 of 2022 (No. 1821) by Leroy Douresseaux

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 Foundation.  Cyrus 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.

4 of 10
C

Wednesday, February 23, 2022


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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Review: "JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: Apokolips War" - As Endings Go, This One is Good

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 8 of 2022 (No. 1820) by Leroy Douresseaux

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War – video (2020)
Running time:  90 minutes (1 hour, 30 minutes)
MPAA – R for bloody violence, language, and some sexual references
DIRECTORS:  Matt Peters and Christina Sotter
WRITERS:  Ernie Altbacker and Mairghread Scott; from a story by Mairghread Scott (based on characters appearing in DC Comics)
PRODUCER:  Amy McKenna
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Sam Register and James Tucker
EDITOR:  Christopher D. Lozinski
COMPOSER:  Frederik Wiedmann
ANIMATION STUDIO:  Tiger Animation

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION/FANTASY

Starring:  (voices) Matt Ryan, Camilla Luddington, Taissa Farmiga, Jerry O'Connell, Rebecca Romijn, Rosario Dawson, Jason O'Mara, Stuart Allen, Hynden Walch, Rainn Wilson, Liam McIntyre, Ray Chase, John DiMaggio, Roger Cross, Shemar Moore, Christopher Gorham, and Tony Todd

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is a 2020 straight-to-video animated superhero film from Warner Bros. Animation.  It is the thirty-eighth film in Warner Home Video's line of “DC Universe Animated Original Movies.”  This film features the marquee DC Comics superhero teams:  Justice League, Teen Titans, and Suicide Squad.  The title of the movie references the supernatural-leaning version of the Justice League, the “Justice League Dark.”  In Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, the Earth's remaining superheroes engage in an epic battle to save what is left of Earth from Darkseid.

As Justice League Dark: Apokolips War opens, Superman (Jerry O'Connell) has devised a plan in which the Justice League will lead a first-strike attack on the all-powerful New God, Darkseid (Tony Todd), who has made two failed attempts at conquering Earth.  The plan is also for the Teen Titans to stay behind and protect the planet.  Unfortunately for the heroes of Earth, Darkseid has learned of their plans and overwhelms them with his “Paradooms,” a genetic hybrid creature made from combination of Darkseid's Parademons and Doomsday, the alien creature that once “killed” Superman.

Two years later, Earth is in ruins, and Darkseid has placed three devices, known as “Reapers,” on Earth to mine the planet's core of its magma.  Some superheroes, such as Cyborg (Shemar Moore), Wonder Woman (Rosario Dawson), and Batman (Jason O'Mara), are now Darkseid's slaves.  Many of the surviving heroes blame Clark Kent/Superman for leading them into failure, and worse, Superman has been forcibly de-powered after Darkseid tattooed his chest with liquid kryptonite.  Still, the Man of Steel has not given up on saving Earth.

Supeman and Lois Lane (Rebecca Romijn) have hatched a new plan to stop Darkseid.  Clark recruits the remaining Teen Titans, Damian Wayne/Robin (Stuart Allen) and Raven (Taissa Farmiga), who is struggling to maintain her father, Trigon's (John DiMaggio) imprisonment.  But everything may hinge on the troublesome con man and sorcerer, John Constantine (Matt Ryan).

Within the “DC Universe Animated Original Movies,” there is the “DC Animated Movie Universe.”  The line began in 2013 with the straight-to-video release of Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox and is comprised of 15 feature length films.  The point of the “DC Animated Movie Universe” was to make animated films that were loosely based on “The New 52.”  Started in 2011, “The New 52” was the publishing initiative in which DC Comics relaunched its entire line of superhero comic books.

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is the last film in the “DC Animated Movie Universe.”  That factoid is second in importance to the fact that Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is a really good DC Comics animated film.  The film probably uses the “Justice League Dark” title rather than simply “Justice League” because of the tone of the story and because, in many ways, John Constantine, the star of 2017's Justice League Dark animated film, is the lynch pin of Apokolips War.

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War takes the viewers in some inventive and intriguing directions in regards to characters, relationships, and mythologies.  The film offers a surprising amount of emotionally fulfilling character drama and arcs, including the usual Lois Lane and Clark Kent relationship.  However, John Constantine and Zatanna (Camilla Luddington) offer a poignant pairing, but the most surprising is the romance between Damian Wayne and Raven.  They're good enough to be the stars of their own animated film.

The surprising turns and compelling directions in which this film travels are matched by some high quality animation, a strong script, and some surprisingly lean and mean directing.  Such a large cast and so many subplots could have dragged on Apokolips War.  Instead, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is an exciting and riveting film, and it is a great way to end one universe in the DC Comics multiverse.

8 of 10
A

Wednesday, August 18, 2021


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

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