Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for June 22, 2022

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAY221242 303 WRAP 1-6 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

MAR222007 A VISIT TO MOSCOW HC $19.99

APR221981 ALICE IN BORDERLAND GN VOL 02 (MR) $19.99

MAR221734 ALLEY OOP AND INVASION OF MOO VOL 03 $19.99

APR221894 ARMORCLADS #4 (OF 5) CVR A HUTOMO $3.99

APR221895 ARMORCLADS #4 (OF 5) CVR B ROBERTS $3.99

APR221896 ARMORCLADS #4 (OF 5) CVR C SPOT COLOR HUTOMO $3.99

OCT211873 ASCENCIA #12 CVR A DAVID NAKAYAMA $4.99

OCT211874 ASCENCIA #12 CVR B DAVID NAKAYAMA $4.99

APR221984 ASSASSINS CREED BLADE OF SHAO JUN GN VOL 04 $14.99

MAY221314 BELLADONNA BLOOD LUST 0-4 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

APR221257 BETTY & VERONICA BEACH BASH TP $12.99

MAR221811 BLACK SAND BEACH GN VOL 03 HAVE YOU SEEN DARKNESS $12.99

MAY221231 BLACKGAS TERROR CVR BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

APR222068 BLUE LOCK GN VOL 01 $12.99

APR222007 BUNGO STRAY DOGS GN VOL 21 (MR) $13.00

MAR221813 CARLTON CRUMPLE CREATURE CATCHER YA GN CATCH THE MUNCHIES (C $7.99

APR221521 CAT & CAT ADV GN VOL 02 GOBLET OF INFINITY $8.99

APR221522 CAT & CAT ADV HC GN VOL 02 GOBLET OF INFINITY $15.99

DEC211317 CAVEWOMAN MIDNIGHT MADNESS CVR A MASSEY (MR) $3.99

APR222129 CHRONICLES OF ARISTOCRAT REBORN IN ANOTHER WORLD GN VOL 05 ( $12.99

APR221619 CHUNKY GOES TO CAMP GN $12.99

APR221817 CLASSIC PULP SCI-FI (ONE-SHOT) $4.00

APR221824 COROLLARY #3 (OF 4) $3.99

APR221818 COVER OF DARKNESS #6 CVR A HIBLEN (MR) $3.99

APR221819 COVER OF DARKNESS #6 CVR B MCDANIEL (MR) $3.99

JAN221674 COWBOY BEBOP #4 CVR A MARTINEZ $3.99

JAN221675 COWBOY BEBOP #4 CVR B PHOTO $3.99

JAN221676 COWBOY BEBOP #4 CVR C IANNICIELLO $3.99

JAN221677 COWBOY BEBOP #4 CVR D COLOR BLANK SKETCH VAR $3.99

APR221292 CRIMSON CAGE TP (MR) $9.99

FEB221143 CROSS TO BEAR TP $16.99

MAY221232 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES WRAP 1-7 BAG SET (7CT) (MR) $24.99

MAY221233 CROSSED PSYCHOPATH LAST DASH CVR BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

APR221523 CRYPTID CLUB GN VOL 01 BIGFOOT TAKES THE FIELD $8.99

APR221524 CRYPTID CLUB HC GN VOL 01 BIGFOOT TAKES THE FIELD $16.99

APR221668 DAVID BOWIE IN COMICS HC $27.99

DEC211446 DESTINY NY #11 (MR) $3.99

APR221691 DISTURBED DARK MESSIAH #2 (OF 5) CVR A CASAS $4.99

MAR222145 DOES HOT ELF LIVE NEXT DOOR TO YOU GN VOL 04 (MR) $13.99

APR222124 FARMING LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD GN VOL 06 $11.95

MAR221785 FUZZY BASEBALL 3IN1 GN VOL 01 TRIPLE PLAY $14.99

APR222135 GIGANT GN VOL 08 (MR) $13.99

MAR221794 GILLBERT 2IN1 GN ISLAND OF ORANGE TURTLES $14.99

APR221644 GLAMORELLAS DAUGHTER TP $14.99

MAY221236 GOD IS DEAD 13-18 END OF DAYS CVRS BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221234 GOD IS DEAD 1-6 END OF DAYS CVRS BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221237 GOD IS DEAD 19-24 END OF DAYS CVRS BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221238 GOD IS DEAD 25-30 END OF DAYS CVRS BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221239 GOD IS DEAD 31-36 END OF DAYS CVRS BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221240 GOD IS DEAD 37-42 END OF DAYS CVRS BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221241 GOD IS DEAD 43-48 END OF DAYS CVRS BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221235 GOD IS DEAD 7-12 END OF DAYS CVRS BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

APR221326 GODKILLER TOMORROWS ASHES TP VOL 03 (MR) $16.99

JAN221092 GOST 111 HC (MR) $24.99

APR221309 HEAVY METAL DRUMMER #5 (OF 6) CVR A VASSALLO (MR) $3.99

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MAY221320 HELLINA ENFORCER CVRS BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

APR222140 I GOT CAUGHT UP IN A HERO SUMMONS GN VOL 04 $12.99

APR221538 I LIKE TO READ COMICS SC GN KRAKEN ME UP $7.99

FEB221953 IF I COULD REACH YOU GN VOL 07 (MR) $12.99

APR221302 ILLUSION WITCH #1 (OF 6) CVR A ERRICO $3.99

APR221303 ILLUSION WITCH #1 (OF 6) CVR B ERRICO $3.99

APR221304 ILLUSION WITCH #1 (OF 6) CVR C ERRICO $3.99

APR221293 JONESES #3 (OF 5) $3.99

APR221678 JONNA AND THE UNPOSSIBLE MONSTERS #10 CVR A WILSON $3.99

APR221679 JONNA AND THE UNPOSSIBLE MONSTERS #10 CVR B HICKS $3.99

APR221972 JUJUTSU KAISEN GN VOL 16 $9.99

MAY221317 JUNGLE FANTASY VIXENS BIKINI CVRS BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

APR222143 KAGEKI SHOJO GN VOL 06 (MR) $12.99

APR221163 KAIJU SCORE STEAL FROM GODS #3 $4.99

JAN221516 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #294 $6.99

MAY221318 LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE ALT HISTORY 1-5 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221311 LADY DEATH AUXILIARY 11-15 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221309 LADY DEATH AUXILIARY 1-5 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221312 LADY DEATH AUXILIARY 16-20 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221310 LADY DEATH AUXILIARY 6-10 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221319 LADY DEATH BLACKLANDS WRAP CVRS BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

MAY221315 LADY DEATH BLOODY BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

APR221371 LADY DEATH CATACLYSMIC MAJESTY #1 (OF 2) MEGA FOIL EDITION ( $50.00

APR221372 LADY DEATH NIGHTMARE SYMPHONY #1 PREMIERE ED (MR) $20.00

APR221373 LADY DEATH TREACHEROUS INFAMY #1 (OF 2) RAW ED (MR) $25.00

MAY221316 LADY DEATH UNDEAD BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

APR221809 LITTLE TUNNYS SNAIL DIARIES HC (MR) $24.99

MAY221313 LOOKERS EMBER WRAP SET A (4CT) (MR) $19.99

APR221752 MAGIC TREE HOUSE GN VOL 03 MUMMIES IN THE MORNING $9.99

JAN221090 MARIA LLOVETS PORCELAIN HC $24.99

APR221621 MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM GN VOL 02 CURSED BUNNY $12.99

APR221816 MONSTROUS BOOK OF THE DEAD #1 (OF 4) $3.99

APR222146 MUSCLE GIRL NEXT DOOR GN $13.99

MAR221557 MY PERFECT LIFE (MR) $21.95

MAY221229 NIGHT OF LIVING DEAD WRAP 1-5 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

APR221815 NOOK #1 (OF 3) (MR) $4.99

APR221652 NOTTINGHAM #8 (OF 10) CVR A VOLK & ROMANO $3.99

APR221653 NOTTINGHAM #8 (OF 10) CVR B VOLK & ROMANO $3.99

MAR222196 OUR COLORS GN (MR) $32.50

FEB221960 PERFECT WORLD GN VOL 11 $12.99

APR221753 PIZZA AND TACO YA GN VOL 04 TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL $9.99

MAY221230 PLAGUE OF LIVING DEAD TERROR CVR BAG SET (7CT) (MR) $19.99

MAR221435 PRIMOS #4 (OF 4) CVR A JOHNSON $3.99

MAR221436 PRIMOS #4 (OF 4) SPANISH ED $3.99

APR222009 PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA WRAITH ARC GN VOL 03 (MR) $13.00

APR221649 PUP DETECTIVES GN BOX SET #2 $29.99

APR222153 REBORN AS A SPACE MERCENARY GN VOL 03 $12.99

JAN221419 RED ROOM TRIGGER WARNINGS #4 CVR A $3.99

APR221845 RIVERS OF LONDON DEADLY EVER AFTER #2 CVR A BEROY $3.99

APR221846 RIVERS OF LONDON DEADLY EVER AFTER #2 CVR B NEMETH $3.99

APR221847 RIVERS OF LONDON DEADLY EVER AFTER #2 CVR C GLASS $3.99

APR221930 ROBYN HOOD 2022 CVR A VITORINO $7.99

APR221931 ROBYN HOOD 2022 CVR B FAJARDO $7.99

APR221932 ROBYN HOOD 2022 CVR C TAO $7.99

APR221933 ROBYN HOOD 2022 CVR D ABBONDANZA $7.99

MAR222181 SAINT YOUNG MEN HC GN VOL 09 (MR) $23.99

APR221990 SERAPH OF END VAMPIRE REIGN GN VOL 24 $9.99

APR222085 SEVEN DEADLY SINS OMNIBUS GN VOL 05 $19.99

APR221823 SHAM COMICS VOL 2 #3 (OF 6) (MR) $4.00

APR221496 SLOTH SLEUTH HC GN VOL 01 $12.99

FEB221611 SMURF TALES GN VOL 04 $14.99

FEB221612 SMURF TALES HC VOL 04 $22.99

APR221923 SPACE STORY HC (MR) $28.99

APR221497 STICKS AND STONE EXPLORE & MORE HC GN $12.99

JAN221091 TALES OF THE CITY GN (MR) $19.99

APR221378 TALES OF THE COFFINVERSE #1 CVR A PREMIERE ED (MR) $4.99

APR221379 TALES OF THE COFFINVERSE #1 CVR B TRUST EDITION (MR) $20.00

APR221380 TALES OF THE COFFINVERSE #1 CVR C CAPTAIN SKARGRAVE EDITION $20.00

APR221381 TALES OF THE COFFINVERSE #1 CVR D LADY GUNFIGHTER EDITION (M $20.00

APR221382 TALES OF THE COFFINVERSE #1 CVR E CAPTAIN DEATH EDITION (MR) $20.00

APR221974 TO STRIP THE FLESH GN $12.99

MAR221909 TRASH & CAN IT DISPOSABLE HEROES #4 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

FEB221105 TRESE GN VOL 04 LAST SEEN AFTER MIDNIGHT $16.99

APR221989 TWIN STAR EXORCISTS ONMYOJI GN VOL 25 $9.99

MAR221612 ULTRASOUND HC $39.99

APR222158 UNTIL I MEET MY HUSBAND GN (MR) $14.99

APR221526 WARRIORS EXILE FROM SHADOWCLAN HC GN $22.99

APR221525 WARRIORS EXILE FROM SHADOWCLAN SC GN $12.99

APR222052 WHO WANTS TO MARRY A BILLIONAIRE GN VOL 03 (MR) $13.99

APR222093 WITCH HAT ATELIER GN VOL 09 $12.99

APR221261 WORLD OF BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #16 $8.99

APR221189 WRONG EARTH CONFIDENCE MEN ONE SHOT CVR A IGLE $4.99

APR221980 YASHAHIME PRINCESS HALF DEMON GN VOL 01 $9.99

DEC211194 ZEROCALCARES FORGET MY NAME GN (MR) $19.99

MAGAZINES

JAN221704 BACK ISSUE #135 $10.95

APR221386 COMIC SHOP NEWS (90CT BUNDLE) #1818 (Net) $PI

JAN221706 JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #83 $10.95

APR221650 LOCUS MAGAZINE #737 $8.99

APR221800 SCREEM #39 GIANT CLAW PX ED (RES) $9.95

APR221801 SCREEM #39 WEREWOLF NEWSSTAND ED (RES) $9.95

APR221854 STAR WARS INSIDER #211 PX ED $9.99

BOOKS

MAR221729 ARSENE LUPIN GENTLEMAN THIEF HC $24.99

APR221397 BATPIG HC GN VOL 02 TO PIG TO FAIL $14.99

APR221508 COSPLAY HIST BUILDERS FANS MAKERS BRING STORIES TO LIFE $24.99

APR222131 CREEPY CAT GN VOL 03 $14.99

APR221143 DIRTY PICTURES HOW REBELS INVENTED COMIX $30.00

OCT211066 DRAGON UNIVERSE HC (MR) $29.99

OCT211067 FAIRY UNIVERSE HC (MR) $24.99

APR221237 GENERATION WONDER NEW AGE OF HEROES $18.99

APR222169 HAUNTED BOOKSTORE GATEWAY PARALLEL UNIVERSE LN VOL 04 $14.99

APR222173 MODERN VILLAINESS ITS NOT EASY BUILDING EMPIRE SC NOVEL VOL $14.99

JAN221545 MOONSTONE DOUBLE SHOT PROSE SC $5.99

MAR222074 PROMISED NEVERLAND ART BOOK WORLD HC $29.99

SEP211587 STAR TREK SHIPYARDS ALPHA QUADRANT HC VOL 01 ACAMARIAN TO KT $34.95

APR222178 UNTIL I MEET MY HUSBAND SC NOVEL $14.99

APR222034 WORLDS FINEST ASSASSIN REINCARNATED WORLD NOVEL SC VOL 05 (M $15.00

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DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for June 21, 2022

DC COMICS:

Aquaman And The Flash Voidsong #1 (Of 3)(Cover A Jay Anacleto), $6.99
Aquaman And The Flash Voidsong #1 (Of 3)(Cover B Vasco Georgiev), $6.99
Batman Superman World’s Finest #4 (Cover A Dan Mora), $3.99
Batman Superman World’s Finest #4 (Cover B Derrick Chew Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batman Superman World’s Finest #4 (Cover C Freddie E. Williams II Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman Superman World’s Finest #4 (Cover D Riley Rossmo Bizarro Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman Superman World’s Finest #4 (Cover E Dan Mora Card Stock Variant, AR
Batman The Knight #6 (Of 10)(Cover A Carmine Di Giandomenico), $4.99
Batman The Knight #6 (Of 10)(Cover B Riccardo Federici Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Black Adam #1 (Cover A Irvin Rodriguez), $3.99
Black Adam #1 (Cover B Rafa Sandoval Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Black Adam #1 (Cover C Lucio Parrillo Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Black Adam #1 (Cover D Mikel Janin Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Black Adam #1 (Cover E Travis Mercer & Danny Miki Team Card Stock Variant), AR
Black Adam #1 (Cover F Crystal Kung Card Stock Variant), AR
Black Adam #1 (Cover G Cully Hamner Card Stock Variant), AR
Black Adam #1 (Cover H Lucio Parrillo Card Stock Foil Variant), AR
Catwoman #44 (Cover A Jeff Dekal), $3.99
Catwoman #44 (Cover B Jenny Frison Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Catwoman #44 (Cover C Sozomaika Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Dark Crisis Young Justice #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Max Dunbar), $3.99
Dark Crisis Young Justice #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Todd Nauck Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Duo #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Dike Ruan), $3.99
Duo #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Takeshi Miyazawa Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Earth-Prime #6 (Of 6) Hero’s Twilight (Cover A Kim Jacinto), $5.99
Earth-Prime #6 (Of 6) Hero’s Twilight (Cover B TK TK Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Fables #152 (Of 162)(Cover A Qistina Khalidah), $3.99
Fables #152 (Of 162)(Cover B Mark Buckingham Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Flash #783 (Cover A Brandon Peterson & Michael Atiyeh)(Dark Crisis), $3.99
Flash #783 (Cover B Bengal Card Stock Variant)(Dark Crisis), $4.99
Jurassic League #1 (Of 6)(2nd Printing Cover A Juan Gedeon), $3.99
Jurassic League #1 (Of 6)(2nd Printing Cover B Juan Gedeon Foil Card Stock Variant), AR
Milestones In History #1 (One Shot)(Cover A ChrisCross), $9.99
Milestones In History #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Doug Braithwaite), $9.99
Nightwing #93 (Cover A Bruno Redondo), $3.99
Nightwing #93 (Cover B Jamal Campbell Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Nightwing #93 (Cover C Nick Robles Pride Month Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Nightwing #93 (Cover D Serg Acuna Card Stock Variant), AR
Nightwing Fear State HC, $24.99
Scooby-Doo Where Are You #116 (Cover A Derek Fridolfs), $2.99
Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen’s Boss Perry White #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Steve Lieber), $4.99

Review: "LIGHTYEAR" Works Hard, But the Robot Cat Steals the Show

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 37 of 2022 (No. 1849) by Leroy Douresseaux

Lightyear (2022)
Running time:  100 minutes (1 hour, 40 minutes)
MPAA –  PG for action/peril
DIRECTOR:  Angus MacLane
WRITERS:  Angus MacLane and Jason Headley; from a story by Angus MacLane, Matthew Aldrich, and Jason Headley
PRODUCER:  Galyn Susman
CINEMATOGRAPHERS:  Jeremy Lasky (D.o.P.) and Ian Megibben (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Anthony J. Greenberg
COMPOSER: Michael Giacchino

ANIMATION/SCI-FI/ACTION and FANTASY/ADVENTURE/DRAMA

Starring:  (voices) Chris Evans, Peter Sohn, Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, Uzo Aduba, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Angus MacLane, Bill Hader, Efren Ramirez, Keira Hairston, and James Brolin

Lightyear is a 2022 computer-animated, science fiction, action-adventure film directed by Angus MacLane, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.  The film is based on the character and story surrounding the character, Buzz Lightyear, that first appeared in the 1995 film, Toy Story.  Lightyear focuses on a marooned space ranger who takes on an army of robots with only an inexperienced group of recruits to help him.

In 1995, a young Andy Davis (of Toy Story) saw the film that inspired the “Buzz Lightyear” toy line that he loves so much.  Lightyear is that film.

Lightyear introduces Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans), a “Space Ranger” in Star Command and the pilot of “the Turnip,” a space exploration vessel.  Buzz and his commanding officer, Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba), are exploring the habitable planet, Tikana Prime, when a series of accidents occur.  Now, the Turnip is stranded on Tikana, marooning the entire crew.

Lightyear spends the next several decades experimenting with hyperspace crystalline fuel in a bid to get the marooned crew off the planet.  Eventually, he is mostly a forgotten outcast, with only SOX (Peter Sohn), his robotic cat his only companion.  Buzz meets another group of misfits:  Izzy Hawthorne (Keke Palmer), Alisha's granddaughter; Mo Morrison (Taika Waititi), a clumsy recruit in the colonial defense forces; and Darby Steel (Dale Soules), an elderly paroled convict conscripted into the defense forces.  Together, they will take on a ruthless army of robots and their mysterious leader, Emperor Zurg (James Brolin), who has a shocking connection to Buzz Lightyear.

Lightyear is the first Pixar Animation Studios film to receive a wide theatrical release in North America in over two years, the last being 2020's Oscar-nominated Onward.  In that time, among the Pixar films that Disney released on its streaming service, Disney+, is one almost perfect Pixar film, Soul (2020), and one perfect film, Luca (2021).

Lightyear is a good, but not great Pixar film.  Yes, it follows the formula of Pixar films of having likable and lovable characters with engaging story arcs.  The characters have to overcome flaws, such as Buzz's insistence that he go-it-alone; Izzy's determination to be just like her grandmother; and Mo's clumsiness that is always endangering the mission and his compatriots.  Like many Pixar films, Lightyear has a last act filled with peril and near-disaster, if not near-death.  That is the problem with Lightyear, however; it is simply too formulaic.

Lightyear is not a particularly imaginative science fiction film.  Tikana Prime's aggressive plant vines and killer bugs are generic elements that can be found in American comic books, Japanese manga, sci-fi cartoons, etc.  Lightyear does have one great character, the robotic cat, Sox, who is in the great tradition of both Walt Disney and Pixar's memorable and lovable animal and animal-like sidekicks.  Sox is the reason that Lightyear does not fall into mediocrity.  Also, Peter Sohn, the actor who voices Sox, sounds like actor Jason Bateman (which is a good thing), at least, to me.

After seeing it, I realize that Lightyear is the kind of animated film that I usually wait to watch via the home media release instead of going to a movie theater to see it.  But Sox makes the trip to the theater worth it, and he is the reason for the grade I am giving the film.  While the last act is a nice reward for watching the entire film, Lightyear is not a Disney “instant classic,” and that's all there is to it.

7 of 10
B+
★★★½ out of 4 stars

[This film has three post-credit scenes.]

Friday, June 17, 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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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from June 12th to 18th, 2022 - Update #16

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

SPORTS - From YahooSports:  The Golden State Warriors are the 2022 NBA World Champions.  They beat the Boston Celtics 103-90 in Game 6 of the 2021-22 NBA Finals Championship Series to win the best-of-seven series 4 games to 2. This is the Warriors fourth title in eight years.

EMMYS - From Deadline:  Chris Rock and Dwayne Johnson have been approached about hosting this year's Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on NBC this Sept. 1st, although neither is expected to accept the offer.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Melissa McCarthy and Amy Schumer are among the stars appearing in Jerry Seinfeld's Netflix comedy film, "Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story."

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, and Miranda Otto have joined the voice cast of New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation's "The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim."

MOVIES - From Deadline:   "Man on Fire" costars Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning will reunited on Sony's "The Equalizer 3," which is due September 2023.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Wendell Pierce, and Karen LeBlanc will star in an episode of Fox's anthology crime drama, "Accused," which focuses on defendants on trial.

From Deadline:  The syndicated talk show, "The Wendy Williams Show," will officially end Fri., June 17th, with its final original episode after a 13 year run.  Williams will not be present for the final episode.  In the fall, it will be replaced by a syndicated talk show hosted by Sherri Shepherd.

TONY AWARDS - From Variety:  Here is complete list of winners at the 2022 / 75th Tony Awards, held Sun., April 12, 2022.  "A Strange Loop" wins "Best Musical" and "The Lehman Trilogy" wins "Best Play."

From Variety:  Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson has become the 17th "EGOT" recipient.  That is a person who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Hudson won her Tony last night for producing "A Strange Loop."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 6/10 to 6/12/2022 weekend box office is "Jurassic World: Dominion" with an estimated take of 143.3 million dollars.

DISNEY - From Variety:  Chris Evans, star of Disney/Pixar's "Lightyear," talks about the intimidation of voicing a character made famous by the voice of actor, Tim Allen.

OBITS:

From YahooEntertainment:  Actor Philip Baker Hall has died at the age of 90, Sunday, June 12, 2022.  Hall was in his late 30s when his prolific film and TV career began with the film "Cowards."  He played numerous character roles on TV series and in television films.  He may be best remembered for his role as the hard-nosed library detective, Lt. Joe Bookman, on Season 3 Episode 5, "The Library," on NBC's former sitcom, "Seinfeld," in which he was hunting down a book that Jerry Seinfeld had borrowed in 1971 and never returned.  Hall was also known for his lead role in Paul Thomas Anderson's 1996 film, "Hard Eight," and for his supporting role in Anderson's 1997 film, "Boogie Nights."

From THR:  Film and television costume designer, May Routh, has died at the age of 87, June 1, 2022.  Routh began as a fashion illustrator for such magazines and "Elle" and "Vogue" before she began working in film and television.  She is best known for her work on such films as "The Man Who Fell to Earth" (1976) and "Being There" (1979).  Routh also received Emmy nominations for her work on the TV films, "Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter" (CBS, 1991) and "Andersonville" (TNT, 1996).

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UVALDE, TEXAS MASS SHOOTING:

From YahooAP:  An 18-year-old gunman slaughtered 19 children and two teachers on Tues., May 24th, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas.  All 21 victims were in the same 4th grade classroom at Robb Elementary.

From Jacobin:  "The Uvalde Massacre has exposed the lies that once justified police militarization" by Branko Marcetic

From Truthout:  We don’t need more evidence that police can’t be trusted.

From Truthout:   44 percent of GOP voters view mass shootings as part of living in “Free Society”

From ABCNews:  Arnulfo Reyes, a teacher who survived the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, calls the local police "cowards" because of slow response to an active shooter at his school, Robb Elementary.  All of 11 students in his class were killed.

From DallasNews:  Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, one of the two teachers killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, has died of a heart attack two days after the murder of his wife.  They had been married for 24 years and had been high school sweethearts.

From Axios:  Texas gubernatorial candidate, Beto O'Rourke, interrupted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's gaslighting press conference on the Uvalde elementary school mass shooting.

From USAToday:  Beto O'Rourke's outburst at Gov. Greg Abbott's Uvalde news conference shows the spine Democrats need.

From BostonGlobe:  Steve Kerr, head coach of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, asks "When are we going to do something?"

From NBCNews:  A Robb Elementary teacher describes "the longest 35 minutes of my life" and the terror she now feels.

From NBCNews:  The Uvalde school district had an extensive safety plan, but 19 children were killed at Robb Elementary anyway.  Even security plans that appear to be up to the latest research-based standards may have gaps and fall short of preventing the worst-case scenario, experts said.

From MSN:  Angeli Rose Gomez, the mother who was handcuffed outside Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, was able to get inside the school and rescue her two children.

From YahooNews:   Daniel Defense, the maker of the rifles used by the Uvalde massacre killer, has used "incendiary ads" in the past, including one in which a toddler holds one of its rifles.

From TheIntercept:  The police aren't obligated to protect anyone NOT in their custody, as the Supreme Court has ruled twice.

From RollingStone:  Right wing lies about the Second Amendment and why they tell them are killing America's childrne.

From Vice:  The law enforcement personnel in Texas that arrived at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas on Tues., May 24th did the opposite of what their own training documentary videos show.

From Vox:  Uvalde police keep changing their story.

From TheDailyBeast:  The families in Uvalde, Texas who lost loved one in the Robb Elementary massacre say that the cops there are "Nothing more than cowards" and that they need to pay for doing nothing while a gunman rampaged through the school last Tues, May 24th.

From TheNewYorker:  Thoughts and prayers, Uvalde, Texas. This is the America that Republicans and the right wing have being thinking about and praying for all these decades.

From ABC:  Sources say that Uvalde police and school district no longer cooperating with Texas probe of shooting of the May 24th massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

From GuardianUK:  Canada plans to freeze all handgun ownership.

From RSNWashPost:  Is it time to show the true horror of mass shooting - in pictures?

From MSN:  Angeli Gomez, the Uvalde mother who rescued her two children from the Robb Elementary shooting massacre, says that a police officer threatened to arrest her if she did not stop telling her story.

From RSNTheAtlantic:  The Uvalde police chose dishonor. Where was there courage?

From RSNWashPost:  Brenda Bell:  I hid from the Texas Tower sniper (Charles Joseph Whitman) in 1966. His successors have found us all.

From RSNTheIntercept:  "AR-15s Were Made to Explode Human Bodies. In Uvalde, the Bodies Belonged to Children" by Murtaza Hussain

From RSNNPR:  The tragic history of police responding too late to active shooters.

From VICE:  There is likely bodycam footage of the school shooting in Uvalde, TX, but the public may never see it.

BLM-BUFFALO:

From ABCNews:  A 18-year-old white MAN shot 13 people, killing 10 at a Buffalo, New York Tops Friendly Markets supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2021.

From RSNAP:  The white male suspect in the Buffalo Tops Supermarket shooting, Payton Gendron, was charged with federal hate crimes on Wed., June 15th and could face the death penalty if convicted.

From Truthout:  The racist attack in Buffalo at the Tops Friendly supermarket was crafted to terrorize us.  We can fight back, and here’s how we fight back.

From WGRZ:  Who are the victims of the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets grocery store shooting. This comes from local station WGRZ Channel 2 and includes video and some victim photos.

From BuffaloNews:  One of the 10 Black murder victims of the Buffalo massacre was Katherine "Kat" Massey.  She was a leader in her community and civil rights activist and advocate for education.

From NewYorkPost:  One of the 10 Black murder victims of the Buffalo massacre was Andre Mackniel. He was at TOPS Supermaket to pick up a birthday cake for his son.

From Truthout:  The racist attack in Buffalo, NY at the Tops supermarket was crafted to terrorize us, so here is how we fight back.

From CNN:  What is known about the 18-year-old MAN, Payton Gendron.

From NPR:  198 mass shooting this year ... so far.

From Truthout:  White supremacist massacre of 10 people in Buffalo, NY shows that the “Alt-Right” ideology leads to murder.

From RollingStone:  Buffalo rampage killing is "Straight Up Racially Motivated Hate Crime."

From InformedComment:  Rene Binet, the originator the "great replacement" was a French Nazi, and he saw all American as "Negroes," an "impure mestizo 'race'."

From WashPost:  Only 22 people saw the live-stream of a white terrorist kill Black shoppers at the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets supermarket, but millions have seen it since...

From GuardianUK:  Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets shooter may have been motivated by "eco-fascism," a focus on overpopulation and environmental degradation.

From RSN:  "What Lessons Have We Learned From the Buffalo Shooting?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

From Truthout:  “Innocent” White People Are Also Complicit in the Anti-Black Murders in Buffalo by George Yancy.

From Truthout:  "Black Lives Matter" cofounder discovered that Alicia Garza has learned that her name is mentioned in the Buffalo Tops supermarket killer's manifesto.

From GuardianUK:   Cornell West says, "Trump isn't out there with a gun, but he's enabled this war against Black people.

From Slate:  From the Tulsa Race Massacre to the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets shootings: the legacy of anti-Black violence.

From Truthout:  After mass shootings, Republicans shield white supremacists from scrutiny

From MSN:  Angeli Gomez, the Uvalde mom who rescued her children from the school shooting at Robb Elementary, says that local police have threatened to have her arrested if she does not stop telling her story.

UKRAINE:

From TheDailyBeast:  Russian soldiers allegedly raped and killed a 1-year-old Ukrainian boy and have reportedly raped or sexually abused children as young as 9 months old.

HATE WATCH:

From NPR:  31 members of the white nationalist Patriot Front arrested near a "Pride Month" event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  They are believed to have been planning to riot held at a local before moving on to rioting downtown.  They were not the only haters trying to sour the "Pride in the Park" event, which included families with children.

From SpokesmanReview:  The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office released the names and photos of all 31 "Patriot Front" members who are suspects in a planned riot at the "Pride Month" event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Review: "LICORICE PIZZA" is a Dumb Title for a Freaking Fantastic Film

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 36 of 2022 (No. 1848) by Leroy Douresseaux

Licorice Pizza (2021)
Running time:  133 minutes (2 hours, 13 minutes)
MPA – R for language, sexual material and some drug use
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Paul Thomas Anderson
PRODUCERS:  Paul Thomas Anderson, Sara Murphy, and Adam Somner
CINEMATOGRAPHERS:  Paul Thomas Anderson (D.o.P.) and Michael Bauman
EDITOR:  Andy Jurgensen
COMPOSER:  Jonny Greenwood
Academy Award nominee

ROMANCE/COMEDY/DRAMA/HISTORICAL

Starring:  Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Will Angarola, Griff Giacchino, James Kelley, Maya Rudolph, Iyana Halley, Ryan Heffington, Benny Safdie, Joseph Cross, and Bradley Cooper

Licorice Pizza is a 2021 coming-of-age comedy and drama and period film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.  The film focuses on the adventures and misadventures of a teenage boy and a 20-something young woman as their romantic relationship develops.

Licorice Pizza is set in San Fernando Valley, California, circa 1973.  The film introduces 15-year-old Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman), a child actor.  While preparing for “picture day” at his high school, Gary notices the photographer's assistant, Alana Kane (Alana Haim).  Gary is smitten with her and strikes up a conversation, but Alana, who says that she is 25-years-old (although she could be as much as 28-years-old), tries to rebuff him, to no avail.

A kind of romance begins while Gary becomes a budding teenage businessman and while Alana tries to get her life together.  This version of “first love,” however, involves a treacherous navigation as both are attracted to other people.  This includes other teen girls for Gary and actors and politicians for Alana.  Meanwhile, there is an entire San Fernando Valley of adventures to be had and some growing up to do.

The Los Angeles Times described Licorice Pizza as a “family-and-friends-project” because much of the cast of the film is made up of Paul Thomas Anderson's family and friends.  The lead actor, Cooper Hoffman, is the son of the late actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, who appeared in several of Anderson's films.  A former local restaurant that Anderson patronized is recreated for the film.  Living and deceased Hollywood celebrities appear as characters in the film, including legendary television star and studio executive, Lucille Ball, and film producer, Jon Peters.  Gary Valentine and his adventures are based on the life of former child actor turned film and TV producer, Gary Goetzman, a friend of Anderson's and the producing partner of actor Tom Hanks.  The film even takes its title from, “Licorice Pizza” (1969-85), a former Southern California record store chain that, through sales and acquisitions, became part of the “Musicland” brand.

Thinking about Licorice Pizza, I can only regard it as perfect, and I feel that its perfection comes from the fact that the concept, plot, story, setting, and characters come from a place of love and of familiarity for Anderson.  Everything feels natural and real, and there were instances when I was watching this film that it felt like I was staring through a window in time at something that had actually taken place.

To me, Anderson's screenplay is perfect down to the punctuation and indention.  To change it would be to ruin it.  Even the soundtrack is filled with songs that seem as if they were recorded long ago, but were always meant for Licorice Pizza.

Gary Valentine and Alana Kane (love those names) are so well-developed and so naturally developed that I found myself loving them, being annoyed at them, and being worried for them – as if they were my own charges.  As Gary, Hoffman gives one of the best performances of a teenage character that I have ever seen.  Alana Haim is Meryl Streep and Glenn Close good as Alana Kane, and her not receiving an Oscar nomination for this performance is artistic theft.

Well … I love this film, and I demand that you watch it.  Or I'll beg if that's what it takes.  The lives of white kids in 1970s San Fernando Valley is a star system away from when and how I grew up.  Still, I could feel that era and the lives of these people in my heart.  Honestly, Licorice Pizza is a stupid-ass title for a stupendous-ass film.  If the title is what is holding you back from seeing it, ignore that title and see one of the truly great films of the last several years.

10 of 10

Wednesday, June 15, 2022


NOTES:
2022 Academy Awards, USA:  3 nominations: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Sara Murphy, Adam Somner, and Paul Thomas Anderson), “Best Achievement in Directing” (Paul Thomas Anderson), and “Best Original Screenplay” (Paul Thomas Anderson)

2022 BAFTA Awards:  1 win:  “Best Screenplay-Original (Paul Thomas Anderson);  4 nominations: “Best Film” (Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Adam Somner), “Best Director” (Paul Thomas Anderson), “Best Leading Actress” (Alana Haim), “Best Editing” (Andy Jurgensen)

2022 Golden Globes, USA:  4 nominations: “Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy,” “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Alana Haim), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Cooper Hoffman), and “Best Screenplay – Motion Picture” (Paul Thomas Anderson)


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Comics Review: "FARMHAND #18" Knocks the Pollinated Boots

FARMHAND #18
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Rob Guillory
ART: Rob Guillory
COLORS: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
LETTERS: Kody Chamberlain
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Burt Durand
COVER: Rob Guillory
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(June 2022)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Farmhand created by Rob Guillory

Chapter 18: “Allergy Season”

Farmhand is a dark fantasy comic book series from comic book creator, Rob Guillory.  Guillory is also known for his award-winning tenure on the long-running comic book, Chew (Image Comics), with writer John Layman.  Farmhand is written and illustrated by Guillory; lettered by Kody Chamberlain (who also designed the Farmhand logo); and currently colored by Jean-Francois Beaulieu.

Set in and around Freetown, Louisiana, Farmhand focuses on the Jenkins family: Ezekiel “Zeke” Jenkins; his wife, Mae; their children, Abigail and Riley; Zeke's father, Jedidiah “Jed” Jenkins; and sister, Andrea (“Andy”).  Once upon a time, “Jenkins Family Farmaceutical Institute” used stem cell biotechnology to grow plant-based replacement human organs and tissue.  Once upon a time, transplant recipients saw this as a miracle.  Now, Zeke and the rest of the world see the miracle as a curse.

Farmhand #18 (“Allergy Season”) opens in the wake of the shocking ending of Zeke's confrontation with the crazy old man, Joe Thibodeaux.  That was followed by Zeke's horrifying conversation with Monica Thorne.

Now, Zeke is full of secrets to keep, but his wife, Mae, ain't having it.  There is something worse afoot, however, waiting for Mae at work.  She is about to meet the nastiest couple outside of reality television, “The Pollinators.”  Plus, Riley becomes a budding comic book creator.

THE LOWDOWN:  It seems that in the two years since the publication of Farmhand #15, Rob Guillory may have used that time to really think about Farmhand.  The series has gone from being exceptional to being unbelievably great.  Guillory's art – the design and compositions – remains dynamic and imaginative.

The part of Farmhand's creative process that has really exploded is the writing and scripting.  There are many elements in this story that should come across as ludicrous, but Guillory has so thoughtfully developed the concepts, plot, and narrative that make up Farmhand that even the looniest twists and turns and reveals make perfect sense in this context.  Not only that, but they also delight and entertain.  I find myself enjoying even the brutal killings, which might say more about me than about Guillory's prodigious graphical storytelling chops...

Yes, the collaborators – colorist Jean-Francois Beaulieu and Kody Chamberlain – are still humming.  So your harvest of comic books should include Farmhand … if you really mean it when you say that you want “good comics,” dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of dark fantasy fiction and of great comic books will want to be a Farmhand.

A+

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


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Comics Review: The Immortal RED SONJA #3

IMMORTAL RED SONJA #3
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Dan Abnett
ARTIST: Emiliana Pinna
COLORS: Luca Colandrea and Ellie Wright
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: David Nakayama
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Junggeun Yoon; Joseph Michael Linsner; Lesley “Leirix” Li; John McCrea; Ryan Brown; John Royle; David Nakayama; Gracie the Cosplay Lass and Jim Donnelly
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2022)

Rated Teen+

“The Magician's Tower”

Red Sonja is female high fantasy and sword and sorcery hero.  She first appeared in Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated February 1973) and was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith.  Red Sonja was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Conan the Cimmerian's creator, Robert E. Howard.

In 2005, Dynamite Entertainment began publishing comic books featuring differing versions of the character.  The latest is Immortal Red Sonja.  It is written by Dan Abnett; drawn by Emiliana Pinna and Alessandro Miracolo; colored by Luca Colandrea and Ellie Wright; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  The series is set in the Britain of legend and finds Red Sonja (“Sonja the Red”) in possession of two cursed items – a soul-possessed chain mail and an accursed blade (“Gwynbur”). Neither will let her go until she saves the fallen, lost kingdom of “Logres.”

Immortal Red Sonja #3 (“The Magician's Tower”) opens in Logres.  Sonja is kicking some mountain ogre ass, and though she is loathe to admit it, the cursed accoutrements are helping her.  But this is what she has to do reach “the Tower of the Magician.”

Now, it's time to meet Merlyn, right?  Not if one of the primordial titans, a “magog” known as “Gog,” has anything to say about it.

THE LOWDOWN:  In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Immortal Red Sonja #3, which is one of many, many Dynamite Red Sonja comic books that I have read.

Immortal Red Sonja is Dan Abnett's spin on the Arthurian legend, with Red Sonja being the spin.  It is both imaginative and alluring.  With this third issue, however, Abnett moves the narrative forward, while also giving artist Alessandro Miracolo an opportunity to show off his skill at composition and design.  Immortal Red Sonja is a comic book widescreen adventure with big panels and spreads conveying the battle action.

This is an impressive union of a writer and an artist producing a big adventure and even bigger action comic book.  Don't miss Immortal Red Sonja.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Red Sonja comic books must read Immortal Red Sonja.

[This comic book includes “Dynamite Dispatch” June 2022, which features an interview with writer Christopher Priest.]

A-

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


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