Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 15, 2023

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JAN231744 A LA BRAVA LATINA SUPERHERO TEAM TP VOL 01 $14.99

AUG221793 AGENT OF WORLDE #4 (OF 4) $4.99

DEC221015 ANCIENT ENEMIES THE DJINNI #1 $3.99

DEC221016 ANCIENT ENEMIES THE DJINNI #1 MONSTER VAR $3.99

JAN232152 ANIMAL CROSSING NEW HORIZONS GN VOL 04 $9.99

JAN231452 BATPIG HC GN VOL 03 GO PIG OR GO HOME $14.99

DEC221358 BEA WOLF GN $19.99

JAN231444 BEOWULF #1 (OF 6) $3.99

JAN231236 BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #312 $9.99

APR221211 BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR CHRONICLES 50TH ANNIV #2 CVR A KREN $3.99

APR221212 BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR CHRONICLES 50TH ANNIV #2 CVR B B&W $9.99

JAN231156 BILLIONAIRE ISLAND CULT OF DOGS #5 (OF 6) (MR) $4.99

NOV228261 BROOKLYNS LAST SECRET TP (MR) $29.95

NOV228257 BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #12 (OF 12) CVR I FOC REVEAL (MR) $6.99

NOV228258 BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #12 (OF 12) CVR J FOC REVEAL (MR) $6.99

DEC221861 BUNGO STRAY DOGS WAN GN VOL 04 $13.00

JAN231801 BY THE HORNS DARK EARTH #7 $4.99

JAN232161 CALL OF THE NIGHT GN VOL 11 $9.99

JAN231802 CATEGORY ZERO CONFLICT #4 (OF 5) $4.99

NOV221178 CAULDRON OF HORROR #1 $5.95

OCT221477 CHEAP TRICKS #4 (OF 8) $4.99

JAN231566 COLIN KAEPERNICK CHANGE THE GAME $14.99

JAN231223 COSMIC ADV OF ASTRID & STELLA GN STAR STRUCK $12.99

JAN231574 CRYPTID CLUB GN VOL 02 NESSIE SITUATION $8.99

JAN231575 CRYPTID CLUB HC GN VOL 02 NESSIE SITUATION $16.99

DEC221061 DAN PARSONS JADE VAMPYRE #1 CVR A PARSONS (MR) $3.99

DEC221062 DAN PARSONS JADE VAMPYRE #1 CVR B HASSON & HAESER (MR) $3.99

DEC221063 DAN PARSONS JADE VAMPYRE #1 CVR C 1/350 LTD ED B&W (MR) $9.99

DEC221323 DEAR BODY TP $24.99

NOV221444 DF ACTION COMICS #1050 JOHNSON SGN $38.00

NOV221446 DF ACTION COMICS #1050 RAHZZAH SGN $38.00

MAY211399 DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800 HAESER COSTUME SKETCH $80.00

OCT221596 DF DEADLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDERMAN #2 RAHZZAH SGN $34.99

NOV221460 DF DEADLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDERMAN #3 RAHZZAH SGN $34.99

JUN229006 DINOSAUR SANCTUARY GN VOL 02 $13.99

JAN232107 DRAGONS BETROTHED GN VOL 01 $12.99

OCT221505 EMO GIRL #4 CVR A  MARTIN $4.99

DEC221632 ETERNUS #3 (RES) $5.99

DEC221334 EVITA THE LIFE AND WORK OF EVA PERON $19.99

JAN231103 FAMILY TIME #4 CVR A ASIAH FULMORE $3.99

JAN231104 FAMILY TIME #4 CVR B ZULLO $3.99

JAN231105 FAMILY TIME #4 CVR C BIGGS $3.99

JAN231569 FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDYS GN COLL VOL 02 FAZBEAR FRIGHTS $14.99

JAN231570 FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDYS HC GN COLL VOL 02 FAZBEAR FRIGHTS $24.99

JAN232165 FLY ME TO THE MOON GN VOL 16 $9.99

DEC221633 FOREVER MAPS GN NEW PTG $14.99

DEC221563 FRANK FRAZETTA DEATH DEALER #10 CVR A BIANCHI $4.99

DEC221564 FRANK FRAZETTA DEATH DEALER #10 CVR B FRAZETTA $4.99

JAN231131 FRANK MILLERS PANDORA #3 CVR A EMMA KUBERT $3.99

JAN231132 FRANK MILLERS PANDORA #3 CVR B THERESEA KUBERT VAR $3.99

SEP222212 GIRL WITH SANPAKU EYES GN VOL 04 (RES) $15.95

JAN232106 GOLDEN SPARKLE GN (MR) $12.99

OCT222183 GREAT CLERIC GN VOL 02 $12.99

JAN231693 GUARDIANS OF HORSA GN VOL 02 NAYSAYERS $9.99

JAN231694 GUARDIANS OF HORSA HC GN VOL 02 NAYSAYERS $19.99

JAN232162 HELCK GN VOL 02 $9.99

JAN231766 HIDDEN SYSTEMS GN $17.99

JAN231415 HOOPS GN $12.99

JAN231695 HOUSE ON FIRE TP $16.00

JUN229007 I GET FEELING THAT NOBUKUNI LIKES ME GN VOL 02 (MR) $13.99

JAN231886 ILLUSION WITCH TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99

JAN231877 JOHN CARPENTERS TALES OF SCIFI INTERFERENCE PATTERN TP (MR) $24.99

DEC221636 JUNCTION JONES #1 $4.99

JUN228993 KAGEKI SHOJO GN VOL 08 (MR) $12.99

OCT221479 KATIE BLACK DRAGON #1 CVR A VON GORMAN (MR) $4.99

JAN231808 KILLCHELLA #4 (OF 4) CVR A ACUNA $4.99

JUN229003 KIRURU KILL ME GN VOL 04 $12.99

NOV221414 KITARO JAPANS CLASSIC MANGA COLLECTION GN $29.95

JAN231718 LINK AND HUD GN VOL 01 HEROES BY A HAIR $16.95

DEC221664 LITTLE RED RONIN #1 RONIN EDITION $9.99

JAN232166 MAO GN VOL 10 $9.99

JAN232156 MASHLE MAGIC & MUSCLES GN VOL 11 $9.99

JAN231586 METABARON HC BOOK 04 BASTARD & PROTOGUARDIANESS (MR) $29.99

JAN231520 MS DAVIS HC $24.99

JAN231509 MY BROTHERS BLOOD MACHINE #4 (OF 6) (MR) $4.99

JAN232154 MY HERO ACADEMIA TEAM-UP MISSIONS GN VOL 03 $9.99

OCT221481 NOWHERE MAN #1 (OF 10) (MR) $4.99

JAN231362 OJJA WOJJA GN $13.99

JAN231363 OJJA WOJJA HC GN $22.99

JAN231778 PANDORA PERFECT TP $16.99

JAN231149 PARKER GIRLS TP VOL 01 DEAD QUIET $16.99

JAN231857 PEEPEE POOPOO #69 ONESHOT (MR) $9.99

JAN231661 POKEMON TRAINERS MINI EXPLORATION GUIDE TO JOHTO $11.99

JAN231662 POKEMON TRAINERS MINI EXPLORATION GUIDE TO KANTO $11.99

JAN231576 POPULARMMOS PRESENTS INTO OVERWORLD GN $12.99

JAN231982 QUESTED #4 CVR A MICELLI $3.99

JAN231983 QUESTED #4 CVR B WALLIS $3.99

JAN231984 QUESTED #4 CVR C HAND OVER THE HERO VAR $3.99

JAN231985 QUESTED #4 CVR D RICHARDSON VIDEO GAME HOMAGE $3.99

DEC222012 RAGNA CRIMSON GN VOL 08 $14.99

DEC221684 ROCK & ROLL HELL #1 (OF 1) CVR D CASSETTE LTD ED (MR) $19.99

OCT221257 SHERLOCK SCANDAL IN BELGRAVIA PART TWO TP $13.99

JAN231571 SQUISHED GN $12.99

JAN231572 SQUISHED HC GN $24.99

DEC221195 STRAY SHEEP #2 (OF 5) $3.99

DEC221650 SUGAR AND OTHER STORIES ONESHOT (MR) $21.99

JAN231355 TROJAN #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

DEC221776 VAN HELSING ANNUAL SINS OF THE FATHER CVR A VITORINO $7.99

DEC221777 VAN HELSING ANNUAL SINS OF THE FATHER CVR B BARRIONUEVO $7.99

DEC221778 VAN HELSING ANNUAL SINS OF THE FATHER CVR C KEITH GARVEY $7.99

DEC221779 VAN HELSING ANNUAL SINS OF THE FATHER CVR D MARISSA POPE $7.99

NOV221775 VERY BRITISH AFFAIR BEST CLASSIC ROMANCE COMICS HC $55.00

DEC221318 WINTER EMBER #0 $3.99

JAN231910 WORLD OF ANDONG AGIMAT GN MYSTERY OF TALISMAN $17.99

JAN232163 YAKUZA LOVER GN VOL 08 $9.99

JUL229248 YORHA PEARL HARBOR DESCENT RECORD NIER AUTOMATA GN VOL 02 (C $14.99

MAGAZINES

JAN231439 COMIC SHOP NEWS (100CT BUNDLE) #1856 $PI

JAN231443 COMIC SHOP NEWS (100CT BUNDLE) SPRING PREVIEW $PI

JAN231584 HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #66 $12.95

JAN231697 LOCUS MAGAZINE #746 VOL 90 NO 3 $12.50

JAN231963 SHUDDER #10 (MR) $6.99

JAN231088 STAR WARS INSIDER #217 FOIL ED $19.99

JAN231087 STAR WARS INSIDER #217 NEWSSTAND ED $9.99

JAN231089 STAR WARS INSIDER #217 PX ED $9.99

BOOKS

JAN231795 ADV OF CAPT UNDERPANTS W DOG MAN COMIC COLOR ED $12.99

DEC220975 ALIEN ENEMY OF MY ENEMY HC $16.95

AUG222296 ARIFURETA FROM COMMONPLACE ZERO LIGHT NOVEL VOL 06 $14.99

SEP222316 AS A REINCARNATED ARISTOCRAT APPRAISAL SKILL SC NOVEL VOL 01 $14.95

JAN231710 CENTER SEAT 55 YEARS TREK UNAUTH HIST OF STAR TREK $27.95

SEP222317 DAWN OF WITCH SC NOVEL VOL 02 $14.95

JAN231455 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS LEGEND OF DRIZZT VISUAL DICTIONARY $30.00

MAR228927 MOST HERETICAL QUEEN VILLAINESS L NOVEL VOL 03 $14.99

JAN231698 RETRO GAMING BYTE SIZED HIST OF VIDEO GAMES ATARI ZELDA $16.95

OCT221275 SCORN ART OF THE GAME HC $50.00

DEC221993 THOUSAND AUTUMNS QIAN QIU L NOVEL VOL 01 $19.99

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DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for March 14, 2023

DC COMICS:

Adam Strange Between Two Worlds The Deluxe Edition HC, $49.99

Batgirls #16 (Cover A Jorge Corona), $3.99

Batgirls #16 (Cover B David Marquez Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batgirls #16 (Cover C Robbi Rodriguez Card Stock Variant), AR

Batgirls #16 (Cover D Lynne Yoshi International Women’s Day Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #6 (Cover A Erich Owen), $2.99

Batman And The Joker The Deadly Duo Enemy Of My Enemy Edition TP, $8.99

Batman Incorporated #6 (Cover A John Timms), $3.99

Batman Incorporated #6 (Cover B Jorge Molina Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman Incorporated #6 (Cover C Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #3 (Of 7)(Cover A Baldemar Rivas), $3.99

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #3 (Of 7)(Cover B Matteo Scalera Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #3 (Of 7)(Cover C Sweeney Boo Villain Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #3 (Of 7)(Cover D Hayden Sherman Title Card Card Stock Variant), AR

Bruce Wayne Not Super TP, $12.99

Danger Street #4 (Of 12)(Cover A Jorge Fornes), $4.99

Danger Street #4 (Of 12)(Cover B Joelle Jones Card Stock Variant), $5.99

DC Power A Celebration #1 (One Shot)(2nd Printing Cover A Sozomaika), $9.99

Deathstroke Inc. Volume 2 Year One HC, $24.99

JSA By Geoff Johns Volume 5 TP, $39.99

Justice Society Of America #3 (Of 12)(Cover A Mikel Janin), $3.99

Justice Society Of America #3 (Of 12)(Cover B Yanick Paquette Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Justice Society Of America #3 (Of 12)(Cover C Stephen Sadowski Card Stock Variant), AR

Justice Society Of America #3 (Of 12)(Cover D Mikel Janin Foil Variant), AR

Justice Society Of America #3 (Of 12)(Cover E Maria Laura Sanapo International Women’s Day Card Stock Variant), AR

Lazarus Planet Revenge Of The Gods #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Guillem March), $4.99

Lazarus Planet Revenge Of The Gods #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Simone Di Meo Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Lazarus Planet Revenge Of The Gods #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Michael Cho Card Stock Variant), AR

Lazarus Planet Revenge Of The Gods #1 (Of 4)(Cover D Daniel Sampere Foil Variant), AR

Looney Tunes #271 (Cover A Robert Pope), $2.99

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Amanda Conner), $4.99

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Logan Faerber Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Riley Rossmo Card Stock Variant), AR

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #1 (Of 6)(Cover D Chad Hardin Card Stock Variant), AR

Poison Ivy #10 (Cover D Simone Di Meo Card Stock Variant), AR

Poison Ivy #10 (Cover E Joshua Middleton Foil Variant), AR

Superman Lost #1 (Of 10)(Cover A Carlo Pagulayan & Jason Paz), $4.99

Superman Lost #1 (Of 10)(Cover B Joe Quesada Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Superman Lost #1 (Of 10)(Cover C Lee Weeks Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Superman Lost #1 (Of 10)(Cover D Joe Quesada Black & White Card Stock Variant), AR

Superman Lost #1 (Of 10)(Cover E Carlo Pagulayan & Jason Paz Foil Variant), AR

WildC.A.T.s #5 (Cover A Stephen Segovia), $3.99

WildC.A.T.s #5 (Cover B Dan Hipp Card Stock Variant), $4.99

WildC.A.T.s #5 (Cover C Chuma Hill Card Stock Variant), AR

WildC.A.T.s #5 (Cover D Rebekah Isaacs International Women’s Day Card Stock Variant), AR

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35th Annual Scripter Awards Honor Film "Women Talking" and Apple TV+'s "Slow Horses"

Writers of ‘Women Talking,’ ‘Slow Horses’ Win 35th-annual Scripter Awards

Scripter emcee Glenn Sonnenberg, screenwriter Will Smith, writer Miriam Toews, writer Mick Herron, screenwriter Sarah Polley (Photo: Business Wire)

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The writers behind the film “Women Talking” and the series “Slow Horses” received the 35th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards at USC’s Doheny Memorial Library.

“You remained engaged, committed, and invested during a time of uncertainty and change, and I thank you for staying so connected to our libraries.”

The Scripter Awards recognize the year’s most accomplished adaptations of the written word for the big screen and episodic series.

Glenn Sonnenberg, who co-founded the Scripter Awards in 1988 with Marjorie Lord Volk, served as master of ceremonies. In his opening remarks, Sonnenberg acknowledged that this was the first year the Scripters were presented in person since January 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic upended normal life.

“I’m grateful for the support of the Scripter community, particularly since 2020,” Sonnenberg said. “You remained engaged, committed, and invested during a time of uncertainty and change, and I thank you for staying so connected to our libraries.”

In the episodic series category, novelist Mick Herron and screenwriter Will Smith took home Scripters for the episode “Failure’s Contagious,” from the Apple TV+ series “Slow Horses,” which Smith adapted from Herron’s book of the same name.

“It’s an absolute privilege to be on the short list tonight,” Mick Herron said, “these are some of the best books you’ll ever read, made into some of the best TV you’ll ever see.”

“The only real test for me in fiction is do I believe it,” Will Smith said, “I love it when I read a book and feel the characters have a life before and after, and I always feel that with Mick’s writing.”

In the film category, the winners were screenwriter Sarah Polley and novelist Miriam Toews for “Women Talking.”

“There’s not another person, another writer, another filmmaker, that I would entrust my book to other than Sarah Polley,” Toews said.

Sarah Polley described Toews’s work as “searing, uncompromising, funny, and wise,” commenting that “with this book she offered the world an offramp from grief and rage toward what true democracy might look like.”

Earlier in the evening, longtime USC Libraries Board of Councilors member Jim Childs received the Ex Libris Award, which honored his exceptional commitment to the libraries.

In-kind donors included Andrew Murray Vineyards, Bloomsbury Publishing and Penguin Random House.

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Review: Disney's "ENCANTO" Spins Its Own Special Magic

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 12 of 2023 (No. 1901) by Leroy Douresseaux

Encanto (2021)

Running time:  102 minutes (1 hour, 42 minutes)

MPAA – PG for some thematic elements and mild peril

DIRECTORS:  Jared Bush and Byron Howard with Charise Castro Smith (co-director)

WRITERS:  Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith; from a story by Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith, Jason Hand, Nancy Kruse, and Lin-Manuel Miranda

PRODUCERS:  Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino

CINEMATOGRAPHERS:  Alessandro Jacomini, Daniel Rice, and Nathan Warner

EDITOR:  Jeremy Milton

ORIGINAL SONGS:  Lin-Manuel Miranda

COMPOSER:  Germaine Franco

ANIMATION/FANTASY/FAMILY/DRAMA

Starring:  (voices) Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Mauro Castillo, Jessica Darrow, Angie Cepeda, Carolina Gaitan, Diane Guerrero, Wilmer Valderrama, Rhenzy Feliz, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Adassa, Maluma, Rose Portillo, Alan Tudyk, and Noemi Josefina Flores

Encanto is a 2021 computer-animated fantasy film from directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard and produced Walt Disney Animation Studios.  It is the 60th animated feature film in the “Walt Disney Animated Classics” line.  Encanto focuses on a teenage girl who must deal with being the only member of her family without magical powers even as the family's magic begins to fade.

Encanto introduces Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz), a teen girl who is part of the multi-generational "la familia Madrigal" (the Madrigal family).  Fifty years ago, her grandfather and grandmother, Pedro and Alma Madrigal (Maria Cecilia Botero), were forced to flee their home village in rural Columbia.  They took their infant triplets, Julieta, Pepa and Bruno, and escaped into the countryside, but their pursuers killed Pedro, but Alma had a candle that suddenly released magic and repelled the attackers.  The magic also created, “Casita,” a living or sentient house for Alma and her children.  The home is located in “Encanto,” a magical realm bordered by high mountains.  A village of newcomers now thrives under the candle's protection, shining its light from an upper room in the Madrigal home, “La Casa Madrigal.”

But all is not well.  The children and grandchildren of Abuela Alma were all granted magical gifts that each one uses to serve the villagers.  For instance, Mirabel's oldest sister, Isabela (Diane Guerrero), can make flowers grow anywhere, and her second oldest sister, Luisa (Jessica Darrow), has superhuman strength.  However, Mirabel did not receive any powers from the candle, and her Abuela Alma seems to act as if Mirabel is an obstacle in the way of the rest of the family.  Mirabel is almost as cursed as her mysterious uncle, Bruno (John Leguizamo), who disappeared years ago.  When Mirabel learns that her family members are losing their magic, she is determined to find out what is happening, although everyone else is in a state a denial about it.

I won't waste too much time telling you, dear readers, how beautiful Encanto looks.  That is standard for animated films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.  The art direction yields beautiful sets and environments, and the costume designs results in colorful costumes that are dazzling, colorful, and imaginative.  The visual effects go off like fireworks, and it makes the magic seem … well, really magical.  Even the character design stands out, making Encanto one of the few mainstream American films set in Latin American or are Latino-themed that actually recognize that there are dark-skinned and black Latinos.  Not every Latino has light skin tones, light enough to front as white.

Encanto plays with notions of “magical realism,” a story that is realistic, but is infused with magic and the supernatural.  However, the world of Encanto barely looks realistic, as many animation films don't.  In fact, Encanto is one of the most magically-infused Disney films in years.

However, Encanto is like many Disney animated films – a coming of age film that focuses on the lead character, in this case, Mirabel.  The film's first dominant theme involves the struggle between tradition and change, the former embodied by Alma, who holds onto Madrigals' tradition of magic, and the latter by Mirabel, who clearly and correctly senses that something is wrong.  The second main theme is the conflict between family obligations and individual desires.  I think audiences will enjoy that, through Mirabel, Encanto shows that the family and the individual can work together for the benefit of everyone and each one.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's lively song score makes Encanto's narrative flow like an energetic stream, and the hit, “We Don't Talk About Bruno,” isn't the only excellent song.  Encanto stands out because it celebrates people overcoming suffering and life's trials and tribulations.  Also, one should take notice of the film's diversity and representation.  That makes Encanto stand out as special and as a place worth visiting time and again.

8 of 10

A

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Thursday, March 9, 2023

NOTES:

2022 Academy Awards, USA:  1 win: “Best Animated Feature Film” (Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino, and Clark Spencer); 2 nominations: “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Score” (Germaine Franco) and “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Song” (Lin-Manuel Miranda-music and lyric for the song “Dos Oruguitas”)

2022 BAFTA Awards:  1 win: “Best Animated Feature Film” (Clark Spencer, Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Yvett Merino)

2022 Golden Globes, USA:  1 win: “Best Motion Picture – Animated;” 2 nominations: “Best Original Score-Motion Picture” (Germaine Franco) and “Best Original Song - Motion Picture” (Lin-Manuel Miranda for the song “Dos Oruguitas”)

The text is copyright © 2023 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 March 1st to 11th, 2023 - Update #20

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

OSCARS - From EW:  EW.com interviews four anonymous assholes who also happen to be Oscars voters about their "brutally honest ballots" - how and why they made the choices they did.  What they say reflects why the Oscar have always been overrated and why they are becoming trashier.

From Deadline:  Lady Gaga will not perform her "Best Song" nominee “Hold My Hand” from "Top Gun: Maverick" at Sunday’s 95th annual Academy Awards.  She will, however, attend the ceremony.

From Variety:  Goldie Hawn was not in attendance at the 42nd Academy Awards on the night of April 7, 1970. So Raquel Welch had to accept the "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar on her behalf for her win for the film, "Cactus Flower."

AWARDS - From Deadline:  The winners/losers at the 2023 / 43rd annual Razzie Awards have been announced.  The controversial "Blonde" is "Worst Picture," and Tom Hanks "wins" two Razzies.

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  Fox is moving head with "Bedrock," an adult animated comedy series that is a spinoff of the classic prime time animated TV series, "The Flintstones" (ABC, 1960-66).  Elizabeth Banks will lead the voice cast.

TELEVISION - From Variety:  “Act Your Age,” the Bounce TV sitcom starring Kym Whitley, Tisha Campbell, and Yvette Nicole Brown, is now Bounce's most-watched half-hour series debut.  It opened to an audience of 2.14 million total viewers with its two-episode back-to-back premiere on March 4th on Bounce TV, according to figures from Nielsen.

STREAMING - From THR:  Nick Kroll talks about getting a call from Mel Brooks and on helping to put together "History of the World, Part II" 42 years after the Brooks film, "History of World, Part I."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 3/3 to 3/5/2023 weekend box office is "Creed III" with an estimated 58.6 million dollars.

From Here:  A review of "Creed III" by Leroy Douresseaux.

From Deadline:  The success of "Creed III" at the box office is a game changer for Amazon, which owns MGM, the film's studio.

From Variety:  Why is Sylvester Stallone not in "Creed III?"  Part of it has to do with him not getting his way.

SCANDAL - From GuardianUK:  According to recent reports, in 2018, the FBI interviewed Oscar-winning actor, Leonardo DiCaprio, concerning his friendship and business connnections with fugitive Malaysian financier, Jho Low, who is believed to be hiding in China.

MOVIES - From Variety:  A new "Alien" film, the ninth one in the series, will begin filming March 9th under the direction of Fede Alvarez.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  In an interview with Stephen Colbert for CBS' "The Late Show," legendary director, Steven Spielberg, describes only one of his films as "pretty perfect," 1982's "E.T. the Extraterrestrial."

STAR TREK - From Deadline:  The upcoming fifth season of "Star Trek: Discovery," which arrives in 2024, will be the series' last.

SCANDAL - From Deadline:  Actress Jena Malone talks about being sexually assaulted while she was filming one of "The Hunger Games" sequels.

NETFLIX - From Variety:  Netflix has released a teaser trailer for the action-comedy, "Fubar," the first TV series for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

OBITS:

From Variety:  Film and television actor Tom Sizemore has died at the age of 61, Friday, March 3, 2023.  Sizemore was taken off life support Friday. He had suffered a brain aneurysm on February 18.  Sizemore was best known for his supporting role in some of the biggest films of the 1990s and early 2000s, including "Heat" (1995), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), and "Black Hawk Down" (2001). He was also the star of one of my favorite short-lived TV series, "Robbery Homicide Division" (CBS, 2002-03).

From Variety:  American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, Wayne Shorter, has died at the age of 89, Thursday, March 2, 2023.  He was considered one of the most distinctive voices of his generation and one of jazz's greatest composers.  In the late 1950s, he was the primary composer for bandleader Art Blakey's "Jazz Messengers." He was an important collaborator of Miles Davis, and then founded the jazz fusion band, "Weather Report."  Shorter was nominated for 23 Grammy Awards and won 12, including a win at the most recent ceremony, the 2023 / 65th Grammy Awards.

From THR:  Actor, director, underwater cinematographer, and stuntman, Ricou Browning, has died at the age of 93, Monday, February 27, 2023.  Browning was best known for wearing the costume and playing the titular "Gill-man" in the underwater sequences of "Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954) and he did the same for the film's sequels, "Revenge of the Creature" (1955) and "The Creature Walks Among Us" (1956).  Browning also with Jack Cowden the former NBC series, "Flipper" (1964-67), and he directed at least 37 of the series 88 episodes.  Browning and Cowden had written the screen story for the 1963 film, "Flipper," upon which the series was based.

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AWARDS:

From Oscar:  The nominations for the 2023 / 95th Academy Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Sunday, March 12, 2023.

From THR:  The winners at the 2023 Writers Guild Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" (original screenplay) and "Women Talking" (adapted screenplay) were the top winners.

From Deadline:  The winners at the 2023 / 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" won six trophies, including "Best Feature."

From Deadline:  The winners at the 2023 / 29th annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the big prize, "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture," one of four awards the film won.

From Deadline:  The winners at the 2023 / 34th annual Producers Guild Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the top prize, "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding  Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures."

From Deadline:  At the 2023 / 50th annual Annie Awards (for animated productions), "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" wins the "Best Feature" award, one of its four wins.  "Best Indie Feature" goes to "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On."

From Variety:  The winners of the 2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards have been announced.  The French film, "All Quiet on the Western Front" wins a record seven awards including "Best Film."  "The Banshees of Inisherin" won four, including "Best British Film."

From Deadline:  The winners of the 75th annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  The top honor, "Outstanding Directorial Achievment in a Theatrical Feature Film," went to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

From Deadline:   The winners at the 2023 / 21st annual VES Awards, handed out by the Visual Effects Society, have been announced.  "Avatar: The Way of Water" topped the night with 9 wins.

From Deadline:  "Top Gun: Maverick" wins "Best Picture" at the "AARP Movies for Grownups Awards" held Saturday night in Beverly Hills.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2023 Writers Guild Awards have been announced.  Winners will be announced Sunday, March 5, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2023 EE BAFTA Awards have been announced. The Netflix World War I drama, "All Quiet on the Western Front," leads with 14 nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, February 19, 2023.

From Deadline:  The winners were announced at the 2023 / 28th annual Critics Choice Awards.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" was named "Best Picture."

From Deadline:  The nominees for the 2023 / 34th Producers Guild of America Awards have been announced in both film and TV categories.  The winners will be announced Sat. Feb. 25th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Sun., Feb. 26th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The National Society of Film Critics has named "Tar" its "Best Picture" of 2023 and its star, Cate Blanchette, as "Best Actress."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards have been announced.  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "The Woman King" have tied for the lead in nominations with 14 apiece.  The winners will be announced February 6, 2023.

From Deadline:  The Black Film Critics Circle named "The Woman King" the "Best Film" of 2022.

From Deadline:  The winners of the 2022 Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "Tar" tie for "Best Picture" award.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 80th annual Golden Globes Awards were announced today (Mon., Dec. 12th).  "The Banshees of Inisherin" led the film field with eight nominations. ABC's "Abbot Elementary" lead the TV side with five nominations.  The winners will be announced January 10, 2023.

From Deadline:  The American Film Institute (AFI) has named its "AFI Awards Film" list of "Top 10 Films of 2022."  The list includes "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Top Gun: Maverick," and "The Woman King."

From THR:  The African-American Film Critics Association name "The Woman King" the "Best Film of 2022."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the "2023 Critics Choice Awards" in the television categories have been announced.  ABC's sitcom, "Abbot Elementary" leads the nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, January 15, 2023 and broadcast on The CW.

From Variety:  The 2022 / 88th Annual New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) Awards have been announced.  Todd Field's "Tar" wins "Best Film" and "Best Actress" (Cate Blanchett).  Keke Palmer wins "Best Supporting Actress" for her performance in "Nope."

From Deadline:  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the "Best Feature" award at the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards, one of two wins for the film.

From IndieWire:  The nominations for the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.   "Everything Everywhere All at Once" leads with eight nominations.  The winners will be announced March 4th, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards were announced a month ago.  Todd Field's "Tar" leads with five nominations.  The winners will be announced Monday, November 28th.

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BRITTNEY GRINER:

From CBSNews:  WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from her Russian imprisonment in a one-for-one prisoner swap for notorious international arms dealer, Viktor Bout.

From NBCNews:   Brittney Griner will enter a system of isolation, grueling labor and psychological torment when she is transferred to a penal colony, the successor to the infamous Russian gulag, to fulfill a nine-year sentence handed down Tuesday in Moscow, former prisoners and advocates said.

From NBCNews:  A Russian court has rejected Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year prison sentence on (fake) drug charges.

From Reuters:  Russia says that it is ready to talk prisoner swamp for Brittney Griner and U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, but also scolds the U.S. Embassy.

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."

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Comics Review: "Unbreakable RED SONJA #3" Reveals the Series is Still Strong

UNBREAKABLE RED SONJA VOL. 1 #3

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Jim Zub

ARTIST: Giovanni Valletta with Adrian M. Garcia

COLORS: Francesco Segala with Agnese Pozza

LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual

EDITOR: Matt Idelson

COVER: Lucio Parrillo

32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2023)

Rated Teen+

Red Sonja created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith and Robert E. Howard

“The Fury in Lhasiri”

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 Unbreakable Red Sonja Volume 1.  It is written by Jim Zub; drawn by Giovanni Valletta; colored by Francesco Segala; and lettered by Carlos M. Mangual.  This series finds the She-Devil with a Sword teamed up with what is apparently a younger version of herself.

Unbreakable Red Sonja Volume 1 #3 (“The Fury in Lhasiri”) opens in the wake of the massacre of Blard's Bleeders, with whom Red Sonja and her younger self sought shelter.  Wounded, Red Sonja sees but one hope, and that is to travel to the city of Lhasiri, where she hopes mystics will tell her why a monster is after her and the girl.

To get to the city however, the duo will have to travel through the mountain range known as “Reiner's Ridge.”  And nothing will be what the warrior and child expect.

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 Unbreakable Red Sonja #3, which is one of many, many Dynamite Red Sonja comic books that I have read.

Once upon a time, I read several comic books from writer Jim Zub because he frequently sent me PDF review copies … until he hit the big time and didn't need to send out review copies.  Now, PDF review copies of his work are once again available to me through another source, Dynamite Entertainment.  The Unbreakable Red Sonja is allowing me to enjoy Zub's entertaining storytelling anew. 

The combination of Zub and artist Giovanni Valletta recalls the Conan the Barbarian comic book series of the Marvel Comics of yesteryear.  Francesco Segala's atmospheric colors perfectly convey the change of pace in the action and drama.  Even letterer Carlos M. Mangual, who has done some Marvel work, gets in on the vintage Marvel vibe.

I have been intrigued by The Unbreakable Red Sonja from the beginning.  Zub's story and Valletta's art create a sense of mystery that permeates every corner of this narrative.  That creates a sense that the reader cannot afford to miss what is next, and I certainly feel that way.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Red Sonja comic books will want to try Unbreakable Red Sonja.

A-

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

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The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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