Comics Review: THE NINJETTES Volume 2 #1

THE NINJETTES VOLUME 2 #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Fred Van Lente
ART: Joseph Cooper
COLORS: Dearbhla Kelly
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Lesley “Leirix” Li
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2022)

Rated Teen+

The Ninjettes created by Garth Ennis; Jennifer Blood created by Garth Ennis and Adriano Batista.

“The Concrete Dojo”

The Ninjettes are a group of comic book characters created by Garth Ennis in his comic book series, Jennifer Blood (2011).  The Ninjettes first appeared in Jennifer Blood #3 (May 2011) and Jennifer Blood #4 (September 2011).  They are a group of teens trained as black ops assassins.

In 2012, the Ninjettes received their own six-issue miniseries, and now, they are returning in a new self-titled series.  The Ninjettes Volume 2 is written by Fred Van Lente; drawn by Joseph Cooper; colored by Dearbhla Kelly; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.

The Ninjettes Volume 2 #1 (“The Concrete Dojo”) opens with the abduction (of sorts) of 11 girls and young women.  The were apparently snatched before they could snatch up classmates and elders by committing acts of violence.

Now, great careers and great wealth are ahead of them … if they graduate from the “Concrete Dojo.”  The problem is that there only only three diplomas to be had.

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is The Ninjettes Volume 2 #1, which is the first time I have read The Ninjettes.

I had never heard of the Ninjettes prior to receiving the review PDF because I did not read Jennifer Blood back during its original run.  However, I do enjoy writer Fred Van Lente's Dynamite titles, and I like The Ninjettes #1.  Like Van Lente's recent Jennifer Blood series, The Ninjettes #1 is funny and violent, with an emphasis on humor … or violence – depending upon your point of view.  He does manage to make me feel sympathy towards the girls, although some of them might actually be little homicidal maniacs in the making.

Joseph Cooper's art is nice, and it makes for straight-forward graphic storytelling, which in turns serves Van Lente's blunt writing quite well.  Dearbhla Kelly's coloring gives the art a surreal touch, and as he did for Jennifer Blood, letterer Jeff Eckleberry is good at creating the illusion of a soundtrack.

I expect quite a bit from The Ninjettes because of the creative team, especially Fred Van Lente.  I feel confident in recommending it, now.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Jennifer Blood will want to read The Ninjettes Volume 2.

A-

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


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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 11th to 17th, 2022 - Update #14

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Once meant to stream on HBO Max, "Magic Mike's Last Dance," the third "Magic Mike" film, is headed to theaters February 10, 2023 - Super Bowl weekend.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Amazon Studios has ordered a TV series set in the world of "Blade Runner," entitled "Blade Runner 2099."  Ridley Scott who directed the original film, "Blade Runner" (1982), will executive produce the new series.

SCANDAL - From Deadline:  In Chicago, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, R. Kelly was found guilty on 6 of 13 charges related to child pornography and enticing underage girls.  In June, a Brooklyn federal court sentenced Kelly to 30 years on 9 counts of sex trafficking and racketeering.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey has exited the inspiring sports movie, "Dallas Sting," which is based on the true story of a Dallas high school girls soccer team.  Apparently, there is some brewing scandal behind the real story.

ANIMATION - From Inverse:  20 animated series were removed from HBO Max in August.  The creators don't know why and no one has reached out to them.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Director Jordan Peele reveals an innovative technique that cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema used for his recent film, "Nope."

EMMYS - From Variety:  Here is a list of winners at the 2020 / 74th annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

From YahooLife:  Zendaya becomes the first Black woman to win an Emmy for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" twice (for her role in HBO's "Euphoria") and the youngest to win in that category twice. She dedicates her win to people who have been affected by addiction.

From EW:  "Abbot Elementary" actress Sheryl Lee Ralph wins her first Emmy and delivers a rousing acceptance speech.  She is only the second African-American woman to win in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy."

From People:  Actress Jackee Harry celebrates actress Sheryl Lee Ralph's Emmy win.  Harry was the first African-American actress to win in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy" (for the NBC comedy, "227") and, until Ralph's win Monday night (9/12), the only one.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 9/9 to 9/11/2022 weekend box office is 20th Century Studios' "Barbarian" with an estimated take of 10 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, there is big Oscar buzz for Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film, "The Fabelmans."

OBITS:

From Variety:  Veteran film and television actor, Henry Silva, has died at the age of 95, Wednesday, September 14, 2022, one day before his 96th birthday.  "The Washington Post" calls him a "versatile Hollywood villain," and his best remembered roles are as villains.  Among his most memorable roles is  "Chunjin," the houseboy and Communist agent in "The Manchurian Candidante" (1962).  Silva was also the last surviving star of the original "Oceans 11" (1960), in which he played "Roger Corneal," one of the 11 casino robbers.

From Deadline:  Pioneering French film director, Jean-Luc Goddard, has died at the age of 91, Tuesday, September 13, 2022.  He was the leading figure of the 1960s "French New Wave" movement and his 1960 film, "Breathless," helped establish the movement.

From Deadline:  The actor and screenwriter, Mark Miller, has died at the age of 97, Friday, September 9, 2022.  He was a prolific television actor and is best known for starring in ABC's "Guestward, Ho!" and NBC's "Please Don't Eat the Daises."  He wrote the 1982 family film, "Savannah Smiles," and episodes of such sitcoms as "The Jeffersons" "Diff'rent Strokes," and "The Munsters Today," to name a few.  Two of his three daughters are actresses, including the prolific film and TV actor, Penelope Ann Miller.

BRITTNEY GRINER:

From TheDailyBeast:   Legendary NBA bad boy and champion (Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls), Dennis Rodman claims that he has been given permission to go to Russia and help free imprisoned hostage, WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

From Vox:  Vox's Jonathan Guyer talks the Brittney Griner case with Danielle Gilbert, a Dartmouth professor who is writing a book about states and rogue actors that take hostages.

From ESPN:   A Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison Thursday, Aug. 4th.  Griner was arrested Feb. 17 for bringing cannabis into the country and pleaded guilty July 7, though the case continued under Russian law.

From ESPN:  The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

From RSN:  "Will Support From LeBron James, Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and Other Celebrities Help Free Brittney Griner From a Russian Prison?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar via Substack

From ESPN:  Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy.

From CBSSports:  The Brittney Griner situation explained.

From RSN:  According to The Washington Post Editorial Board: "Brittney Griner is a hostage, plain and simple."

Review: "THE WOMAN KING" Delivers a Beat Down for Your Viewing Pleasure

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 53 of 2022 (No. 1865) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Woman King (2022)
Running time:  135 minutes (2 hours, 15 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing material, thematic content, brief language and partial nudity
DIRECTOR:  Gina Prince-Bythewood
WRITERS: Dana Stevens; from a story by Dana Stevens and Maria Bello
PRODUCER:  Maria Bello, Viola Davis, Cathy Schulman, and Julius Tennon
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Polly Morgan (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Terilyn A. Shropshire
COMPOSER:  Terrence Blanchard

HISTORICAL/DRAMA/WAR

Starring:  Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Shelia Atim, John Boyega, Jordan Bolger, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Jimmy Odukoya, Masali Baduza, Jayme Lawson, Adrienne Warren, and Chioma Antoinette Umeala

The Woman King is a 2022 epic war film and historical drama from director Gina Prince-Bythewood.  The film is a fictional account of the all-female military regiment, the Agojie, who protected the West African Kingdom of Dahomey during the length of its existence (from approximately 1600 to 1904).  The Woman King focuses on a woman general who must face the ghosts of her past as she leads her all-female band of warriors in a bid to protect their kingdom.

The Woman King opens in 1823 in West Africa in the Kingdom of Dahomey.  The kingdom has a new monarch, the young King Ghezo (John Boyega), who is ambitious and has plans for a better future for Dahomey,which is currently paying tributes to the Oyo Empire.  His kingdom is protected by the female warriors called the “Agojie,” whose notorious and fearsome reputation has led people to call them the “Dahomey Amazons.”

Agojie leader, General Nanisca (Viola Davis), knows that Dahomey is threatened with destruction from Oyo and its allies.  Her enemy is the fearsome Oyo warrior, Oba Ade (Jimmy Odukoya), so she must recruit new warriors to replace the ones who have died in battle.  Among her new recruits is Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), a stubborn girl who was given away by her father.  Nanisca is running out of time as Dahomey's enemies plot against the kingdom.  Also, the threat of European slave traders means that some of her own warriors could end up in barracoons (cages) before they are carried away as slaves.  Meanwhile, Nanisca must face both a ghost and a demon from her past.

The “Dora Milaje,” the all-female “king's guard” of the Disney/Marvel Studios' film, Black Panther (2018), are based on the Agojie.  Since the Dora Milaje kicked ass in the Marvel film, The Woman King had to depict the Agojie as ass-kickers, and the film does.  The action choreography is quite good – martial arts, historical war epic, and superhero movie good.  The Woman King, in some ways, is similar to films like Braveheart (1995) and Gladiator (2000).  The Woman King manages to be quite the crowd-pleaser by having the female warrior kill their enemies, which includes plenty of white men involved in the slave trade.

I am not surprised that The Woman King reminds me of another Marvel film, last year's Black Widow (2021).  The fight choreography in The Woman King sometimes resembles the techniques used by the character, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow.  Also like Black Widow the film, The Woman King delves into how much it costs the Agojie to be warriors.  Via Nanisca, we see how hard these women work and how much they sacrifice.  As Nanisca, Viola Davis gives her best performance since her Oscar-winning turn in Fences (2016), if not her best performance ever.  Davis' muscular performance makes Nanisca gritty and determined and that defines the rest of the Agojie.  It also defines this film because producers Maria Bello and Cathy Schulman had to show grit and determination as they tried to convince studios to finance this film.

The Woman King also has the distinction of being one of those rare films in which every performance is outstanding – from the largest to the smallest roles, in addition to Viola Davis' superb turn.  John Boyega is surprisingly regal as King Ghezo.  As Nawi, Thuso Mbedu nearly steals this entire film, and as her quasi-paramour, Malik, Jordan Bolger is a light-skinned Mandingo … and his acting is good, too.  Lashana Lynch and Sheila Atim fairly leap off the screen as Nanisca's lieutenants, Izogie and Amenza, respectively.

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood and her cohorts deliver a film that is an absolute blast.  The mix of historical and alternate history feels uplifting, and it's totally fine for us to cheer and celebrate the battles and who gets killed in them.  Thank you, Maria Bello (who should have been Oscar-nominated for her performance in the film, The Cooler) and Cathy Schulman for getting this started.  Thank you, Viola Davis for leading all these goddesses in one of 2022's best films, The Woman King.

9 of 10
A+
★★★★+ out of 4 stars

Friday, September 16, 2022


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Comics Review: "JAMES BOND: OO7 #2" - Old Men Never Die

JAMES BOND: OO7 #2
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
ART: Marco Finnegan
COLORS: Dearbhla Kelly
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nathan Cosby
COVER: Tommy Lee Edwards
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2022)

Rated T+

Based on the characters and stories created by Ian Fleming

“Funeral for a Weapon”

“James Bond” is a fictional British Secret Service agent created by Ian Fleming, a British writer and novelist.  Fleming introduced James Bond in the 1953 novel, Casino Royale, and featured the character in 12 novels and two short-story collections.  Of course, most people know Bond because of Eon Productions' long-running James Bond-007 film series, which began with the 1962 film, Dr. No.

Over the past 50+ years, Bond has made sporadic appearances in comic books, but Dynamite Entertainment has been steadily publishing James Bond comic books since early 2016.  Their latest James Bond comic book is James Bond: OO7.  It is written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson; drawn by Marco Finnegan; colored by Dearbhla Kelly; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  The new series finds OO7 on a most personal mission to uncover the killers of a fellow OO agent and to unravel a conspiracy that threatens England and the balance of power in the world.

James Bond: OO7 #2 (“Funeral for a Weapon”) opens in OO7's memories and at the funeral of Gwendolyn “Gwen” Gann, a former Agent OO3.  But it turns out that she wasn't so former, this mentor and former lover of Bond's.  A meeting of OO agents doesn't really provide any answers to mystery of her murder.  But apparently Bond's boss, “M” does have some answers.

James Bond mourns a lost love even as he closes in on a clandestine organization whose agents would prefer that James die before he gets too close to their secrets.  What or who is Myrmidon?

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is James Bond: OO7 #2, which is one of several Dynamite James Bond comic books I've read.

Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson follows his humdinger of a first issue of James Bond: OO7 with a quieter, more secrets-revealing second issue.  Still, that doesn't make #2 any less exciting.  Bond is angry, but his opponents are relentless.  The result is exciting confrontations, with Johnson creating the atmosphere for even more confrontation.  Johnson gives us reason to come back for a third issue, and, dear readers, I plan to come back … for you, of course.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of James Bond comic books will want to try James Bond: OO7.

A

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


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Comics Review: The Invincible RED SONJA #10

THE INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #10
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
ARTIST: Moritat
COLORS: Sal Monaco
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
EDITOR: Matt Idleson
COVER: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2022)

Rated Teen+

“Ten”

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.  One of those is The Invincible Red Sonja.  It is written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti; drawn by Moritat; colored by Matt Carter and Sal Monaco; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.  In this series, Red Sonja is joined by the wing Tuma; the dispossessed Prince Ederik and Princess Zaria; and the Darklanders, Rok and Kai.

The Invincible Red Sonja #10 opens in the homeland of Princess Zaria, the Kingdom of Belanj Valley.  Red Sonja has returned Zaria and her betrothed, Prince Ederick, of the destroyed Kingdom of Erkhara, to the princess' home.  However, they find that the kingdom is in ruins, with many people dead, including the king, Zaria's father.

The destroyer is Blackwing, and he has taken Zaria's mother, Queen Zahani, whom he has always coveted.  Now, Red Sonja leads Zaria, Ederik, and a woman named Neenia, who lost her husband and sons to Blackwing and his hordes, into the belly of Blackwing's encampment.  Can Red Sonja put an end to the last threat on this incredible journey?  And will Zaria and Ederick finally marry?

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is The Invincible Red Sonja #10, which is the seventh issue of the series that I have read.

Writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti bring their epic Red Sonja series, The Invincible Red Sonja, to a delightful and satisfying end.  I think it will make for a better read in one large trade paperback collection.  This will make it easier for readers to see this vulnerable, yet fierce and ballsy take on Sonja show all her sassy and bold self.

Artist Moritat and colorist Sal Monaco end the series with the prettiest issue of the entire run.  The entire issue seems like a tribute to Frank Thorne, the artist who made Red Sonja worth objectifying.  Dave Sharpe's clear lettering zips the reader through the story, and his work, like that of the rest of this series' creative team, will leave you wanting more.  But for now, Invincible Red Sonja has come to an end, and she is on to her next journey.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Red Sonja comic books will want to read The Invincible Red Sonja.

A

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


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BOOM! Studios Shipping from Diamond Distributors for September 14, 2022

BOOM! STUDIOS

JUL220365 FLAVOR GIRLS #3 (OF 3) $7.99

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Dark Horse Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for September 14, 2022

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR220386 ART OF DEATHLOOP HC $49.99

MAY220500 ASSASSINS CREED VALHALLA FORGOTTEN MYTHS HC $19.99

APR220344 BIRDKING TP VOL 01 ESCAPE FROM FEATHER HILL $19.99

APR220310 BLACK HAMMER OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 $29.99

APR220298 BPRD OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 $29.99

JUL220398 CASTLE FULL OF BLACKBIRDS #1 (OF 4) CVR A BECKERT $3.99

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APR220350 GIANTS TP VOL 02 $19.99

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MAY220442 IYANU CHILD OF WONDER TP VOL 02 $19.99

MAY220439 LOVE AND WAR TP $19.99

MAY220430 MADMAN LIBRARY ED HC VOL 03 $99.99

JUL220370 MASKERADE #1 (OF 4) CVR A  SPRENGELMEYER $3.99

JUL220371 MASKERADE #1 (OF 4) CVR B FRANCAVILLA $3.99

JUL220476 OVERWATCH NEW BLOOD #3 (OF 5) CVR A KOH $3.99

JUL220477 OVERWATCH NEW BLOOD #3 (OF 5) CVR B CLARKE $3.99

MAY220494 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES ZOMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $19.99

MAY220437 POWERS TP VOL 01 $29.99

APR220300 SWORD OF HYPERBOREA HC $24.99

MAY220438 VIRTUALLY YOURS TP $19.99

APR220309 WITCHER LIBRARY EDITION HC VOL 02 $49.99

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