Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for September 6, 2023

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUL232308 10 DANCE GN VOL 07 (RES) (MR) (C: 1-1-0) $12.99

JUL232298 100 GIRLFRIENDS WHO REALLY LOVE YOU GN VOL 07 (MR) (C: 0-1-2 $13.99

JUN231740 ALL THE LOVELY BAD ONES HC GN (C: 0-1-0) $24.99

FEB231813 ASCENCIA #19 (MR) $4.99

JUL231073 BAD OMENS CONCRETE JUNGLE #1 (OF 4) CVR A CHUCK P (MR) $4.99

JUL231074 BAD OMENS CONCRETE JUNGLE #1 (OF 4) CVR B SEBASTIAN PHOTO (M $4.99

JUL231075 BAD OMENS CONCRETE JUNGLE #1 (OF 4) CVR C FRENDA (MR) $4.99

JUL231076 BAD OMENS CONCRETE JUNGLE #1 (OF 4) CVR D 5 COPY INCV IZZO ( $4.99

JUL231079 BAD OMENS CONCRETE JUNGLE #1 (OF 4) CVR G LTD SKETCH CVR (MR $4.99

APR231343 BALTIMORE OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2) $29.99

MAY231976 BANSHEES #4 (OF 5) $4.99

JUL231085 BARNSTORMERS #3 CVR A LOTAY $4.99

JUL231086 BARNSTORMERS #3 CVR B FOIL LOTAY $5.99

JUL231390 BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #317 $9.99

JUN231594 BITE SIZED ARCHIE TP VOL 02 GOING VIRAL (RES) $12.99

JUN231867 BLACK PHOENIX GN VOL 02 (C: 0-1-0) $14.95

JUL232195 BLADE OF MOON PRINCESS GN VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

JUL232219 BLUE BOX GN VOL 06 (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

JAN231093 BOOGYMAN TP VOL 01 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

JUL231866 CHLOE 3IN1 GN VOL 01 NEW GIRL - FRENEMIES (RES) (C: 0-1-0) $17.99

JUL231867 CHLOE 3IN1 GN VOL 02 RAINY DAY CARNIVAL PARTY & GREEN THUMB $17.99

JUN231501 CIH PRESENTS AARDVARKIAN SPLENDOUR ONE SHOT $4.00

MAY230371 COMPLETE INSUFFERABLE BY MARK WAID TP (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $39.99

JUN238437 CONAN BARBARIAN #1 2ND PTG SCHWARZENEGGER MOVIE NOVEL REPLIC $3.99

JUN231380 COOKING W MONSTERS VOL 01 BEGINNERS GUIDE TO CULINARY COMBAT $16.99

JUL231917 COWGIRLS & DINOSAURS BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE SPITTLE GN (C: 1- $13.99

JUL231792 CRUSADER #1 (OF 4) CVR A MATT EMMONS (MR) $4.99

JUL231791 CRUSADER #1 (OF 4) CVR B MICHAEL WALSH PX (MR) $4.99

JUN231953 DAHLIA IN THE DARK TP VOL 01 (C: 0-1-0) $17.99

MAR231952 DAMNATION DIARIES GN (C: 0-1-1) $24.95

JUN231381 DARK SPACES GOOD DEEDS #4 CVR A RAMSAY (MR) $3.99

JUN231382 DARK SPACES GOOD DEEDS #4 CVR B BEALS (MR) $3.99

JUN231383 DARK SPACES GOOD DEEDS #4 CVR C FULLERTON (MR) $3.99

JUL232413 DARWIN INCIDENT GN VOL 01 (MR) (C: 0-1-0) $12.95

JUL232328 DEATH MAGE GN VOL 02 (C: 0-1-1) $12.95

APR231422 DF SILVER SURFER #42 STARLIN SGN PERSONAL FILE COPY (C: 0-1- $150.00

JUL232337 DINOSAUR SANCTUARY GN VOL 03 (C: 0-1-1) $13.99

JUL231701 DONA QUIXOTE RISE OF THE KNIGHT GN (C: 0-1-0) $14.99

JUL231702 DONA QUIXOTE RISE OF THE KNIGHT HC GN (C: 0-1-0) $22.99

JUL232407 DONT TOY WITH ME MISS NAGATORO GN VOL 15 (RES) (C: 0-1-1) $12.95

MAR231401 DRAGON AGE WORLD OF THEDAS BOXED SET (C: 0-1-2) $59.99

JUL232197 DRAGON BALL SUPER GN VOL 19 (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

JUN238332 DWELLINGS #1 (OF 3) CVR A 3RD PRT (MR) $9.99

FEB231042 ELLES TP VOL 02 ELLE-VERSE (C: 0-1-2) $10.99

JUL232198 ELUSIVE SAMURAI GN VOL 08 (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

MAR231093 FAMILY TIME TP (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

JAN231096 FAR CRY ESPERANZAS TEARS TP VOL 01 (C: 0-1-1) $16.99

JUN232144 FEEDER #4 CVR A KNICKREHM (MR) $3.99

JUN232145 FEEDER #4 CVR B CORMACK (MR) $3.99

JUL232342 FREE LIFE FANTASY ONLINE IMMORTAL PRINCESS GN VOL 05 (MR) (C $13.99

JUL231721 FRIGHTS FROM FERAL GN LAST EXIT TO FERAL (C: 0-1-1) $13.99

JUN231395 GODZILLA BEST OF MECHAGODZILLA $6.99

JUN231396 GODZILLA HERE THERE BE DRAGONS #3 CVR A MIRANDA $3.99

JUN231397 GODZILLA HERE THERE BE DRAGONS #3 CVR B KIRKHAM $3.99

MAR231404 GROO GODS AGAINST GROO TP (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

FEB239048 HANA & HINA AFTER SCHOOL GN VOL 03 (MR) (C: 0-1-1) $12.99

MAY238748 HEAT SEEKER GUN HONEY SERIES #1 (OF 4) 2ND PTG ARTGERM SKETC $3.99

JUN231217 HEAT SEEKER GUN HONEY SERIES #3 (OF 4) CVR A LEIRIX (MR) $3.99

JUN231218 HEAT SEEKER GUN HONEY SERIES #3 (OF 4) CVR B ROBECK (MR) $3.99

JUN231219 HEAT SEEKER GUN HONEY SERIES #3 (OF 4) CVR C COSPLAY (MR) $3.99

JUN231220 HEAT SEEKER GUN HONEY SERIES #3 (OF 4) CVR D CONTINUADO (MR) $3.99

JUN231221 HEAT SEEKER GUN HONEY SERIES #3 (OF 4) CVR E CARANFA NUDE BA $10.00

JUN239422 HEAT SEEKER GUN HONEY SERIES #3 (OF 4) FOC LEIRIX VIRGIN (MR $3.99

FEB231044 HEAVENLY DEMON REBORN GN VOL 02 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

JUN231514 HEROINE HEAVEN #3 $5.95

JUN232207 HOCUS POCUS COMPLETE COLLECTION HC (C: 0-0-1) $50.00

MAY230360 HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER TP VOL 03 (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

JUL231698 I CAN READ COMICS LEVEL 1 GN PETE THE CAT & SPACE CHASE (C: $5.99

JUL232221 IMA KOI NOW IM IN LOVE GN VOL 07 (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

JUN232038 INFINITY PARTICLE HC GN (C: 0-1-0) $26.99

JUL231959 IT EATS WHAT FEEDS IT #1 SCOUT LEGACY ED $4.99

MAY231897 JOHN TIFFANY GN (MR) (C: 0-1-0) $19.99

JUL230430 KILL YOUR DARLINGS #1 CVR A QUINN (MR) $3.99

JUL230431 KILL YOUR DARLINGS #1 CVR B STEGMAN (MR) $3.99

MAY232313 KILLING SLIMES 300 YEARS SPIN OFF DRAGON ACADEMY GN VOL 01 ( $13.00

APR231360 KOSHCHEI IN HELL HC (C: 0-1-2) $24.99

JUL232220 KUBO WONT LET ME BE INVISIBLE GN VOL 09 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

JUL231821 LIGHTS GN $16.99

JUL232223 LIKE A BUTTERFLY GN VOL 02 (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

JUL231876 LOUD HOUSE 3IN1 GN VOL 06 LOUD & CLEAR - SISTER RESISTER (C: $14.99

MAR231092 LOVECRAFT UNKNOWN KADATH TP VOL 01 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

APR231640 MAGE & THE ENDLESS UNKNOWN GN (C: 0-1-0) $15.00

JUL232353 MAGICAL ANGEL CREAMY MAMI SPOILED PRINCESS GN VOL 05 (C: 0-1 $12.99

JUL232304 MARGINAL OPERATION GN VOL 15 (C: 0-1-1) $15.99

JUL231806 MARVEL BEGINNINGS HULKS BIG FEELINGS BOARD BOOK (C: 0-1-0) $10.99

JUL231102 MASTERS OF UNIVERSE FORGE OF DESTINY #1 CVR A NUNEZ $3.99

JUL231103 MASTERS OF UNIVERSE FORGE OF DESTINY #1 CVR B WILLIAMS $3.99

JUL231104 MASTERS OF UNIVERSE FORGE OF DESTINY #1 CVR C RODRIGUEZ $3.99

APR231366 MEMORIA TP (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $22.99

JUL231536 MERCY SPARX OH S**T SHES BACK 1.99 SPECIAL (MR) $1.99

MAY231289 MOB PSYCHO 100 TP VOL 12 (MR) (C: 1-1-2) $11.99

JUL232411 MOON ON A RAINY NIGHT GN VOL 01 (MR) (C: 0-1-0) $12.99

JUL232329 MULTI MIND MAYHEM GN VOL 08 (C: 0-1-0) $13.95

JUL232382 MY CLUELESS FIRST FRIEND GN VOL 03 (C: 1-1-1) $16.99

JUL232196 MY HERO ACADEMIA GN VOL 35 (C: 0-1-2) $9.99

JUN231431 MY LITTLE PONY #16 CVR A FORSTNER $3.99

JUN231432 MY LITTLE PONY #16 CVR B DUTREIX $3.99

JUN231438 MY LITTLE PONY CAMP BIGHOOF #2 CVR A SHERRON $3.99

JUN231439 MY LITTLE PONY CAMP BIGHOOF #2 CVR B HAINES $3.99

JUN231434 MY LITTLE PONY VOL 02 SMOOTHIE-ING IT OVER $9.99

JUL231491 MYTHOLOGY GRAPHICS 12 LABORS OF HERCULES (C: 0-1-1) $8.99

JUL231492 MYTHOLOGY GRAPHICS PANDORAS BOX MODERN GREEK MYTH (C: 0-1-1) $8.99

JUL231493 MYTHOLOGY GRAPHICS PERSEPHONE & UNDERWORLD (C: 0-1-1) $8.99

JUL231494 MYTHOLOGY GRAPHICS TROJAN HORSE (C: 0-1-1) $8.99

JUL232045 NARWHAL & JELLY SUPER PODS PARTY PACK GN (C: 1-1-0) $9.99

MAR231722 NATURES LABYRINTH #6 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99

JUL232313 NORAGAMI OMNIBUS GN VOL 07 (VOLS 19-21) (C: 1-1-2) $19.99

MAR232252 NORAGAMI STRAY GOD GN VOL 26 (MR) (C: 1-1-1) $10.99

JUL232034 ODDBALLS GN (C: 1-1-0) $17.00

JUL232354 OTAKU ELF GN VOL 06 (C: 0-1-1) $12.99

MAY232415 OUR NOT SO LONELY PLANET TRAVEL GUIDE GN VOL 04 (MR) (C: 0-1 $12.99

MAR231726 PAPER PLANES GN (C: 1-1-0) $14.99

JUL231291 PARKER GIRLS #10 (OF 10) $3.99

MAY231536 PHAZER UNIVERSE #1 CVR A MAIN $3.99

MAY231537 PHAZER UNIVERSE #1 CVR B AGENT THREE ZERO $3.99

MAY231538 PHAZER UNIVERSE #1 CVR C BLACKRAY $3.99

MAY231539 PHAZER UNIVERSE #1 CVR D BLUE SULTAN $3.99

JUL232355 PLUS SIZED ELF GN VOL 02 (MR) (C: 0-1-0) $13.99

JUN232146 POPSCARS #6 (OF 6) CVR A GUILLEN (MR) $3.99

JUN232147 POPSCARS #6 (OF 6) CVR B DIAZ (MR) $3.99

JUN232148 POPSCARS #6 (OF 6) CVR C HILLYARD (MR) $3.99

JUL231299 PROJECT CRYPTID #1 (OF 6) CVR A HOLDEN & PEREZ (MR) $3.99

JUL230499 QUEST #2 $3.99

JUL232185 RECORD OF LODOSS WAR CROWN COVENANT GN VOL 03 (C: 0-0-1) $13.99

JUN231851 RED ROOM CRYPTO KILLAZ #4 CVR A PISKOR (MR) $3.99

JUL231054 REFLECTION CVR A JOK (MR) $7.99

JUL231055 REFLECTION CVR B JOK (MR) $7.99

JUL231056 REFLECTION CVR C KENT BLADE RUNNER HOMAGE (MR) $7.99

JUL231057 REFLECTION CVR D MIGNOLA HOMAGE (MR) $7.99

JUL232330 RISING OF THE SHIELD HERO GN VOL 21 (C: 0-1-1) $11.95

JUL231387 SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR ONE SHOT $3.99

JUN239475 SACRIFICERS #1 2ND PTG $3.99

JUL230504 SACRIFICERS #2 CVR A FIUMARA $3.99

JUN238971 SOARA & HOUSE OF MONSTERS GN VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2) $15.99

JUN231539 SONYA DEVEREAUX RENEGADE ROAD RIDERS 3 #1 CVR A FRAIMS $3.99

JUN231540 SONYA DEVEREAUX RENEGADE ROAD RIDERS 3 #1 CVR B FRAIMS PAROD $3.99

JUL231808 SPIDER-MANS BAD CONNECTION HC (C: 0-1-0) $16.99

APR231044 SPOT IT DOUBLE TROUBLE HC (C: 0-1-2) $12.99

JUN231463 STAR TREK DEFIANT #7 CVR A WARD $4.99

JUN231464 STAR TREK DEFIANT #7 CVR B UNZUETA $4.99

JUN231465 STAR TREK DEFIANT #7 CVR C WOODWARD $4.99

JUL232024 STORM KING COMICS DARK & TWISTED DEATH MASK GN (RES) (MR) (C $24.99

JUL231120 SURVIVAL #5 (OF 5) $3.99

JUL230530 SWAN SONGS #3 CVR A ANDRADE (MR) $3.99

JUL230531 SWAN SONGS #3 CVR B COELHO (MR) $3.99

JUL231912 SWEET VALLEY TWINS DOUBLE TROUBLE HC BOX SET (C: 1-1-0) $27.98

JUL231121 TEAR US APART #1 $4.99

APR231041 TERROR MAN GN VOL 01 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

JUL232361 THERES NO FREAKING WAY BE YOUR LOVER L NOVEL VOL 02 (C: 0-1- $14.99

JUL231895 THIS COUNTRY SEARCHING FOR HOME IN VERY RURAL AMERICA GN (C: $25.95

JUL232363 TOKYO REVENGERS OMNIBUS GN VOL 07 (VOLS 13-14) (C: 0-1-1) $22.99

JUL232364 TRAPPED IN DATING SIM WORLD OTOME GAMES GN VOL 08 (C: 0-1-1) $12.99

JUN232083 TRAVELERS GUIDE TO FLOGORIA #2 CVR A MOORE $4.99

FEB231046 TRESE GN VOL 06 HIGH TIDE AT MIDNIGHT (MR) $16.99

MAY232329 TSUBAKI-CHOU LONLEY PLANET GN VOL 04 (C: 0-1-2) $13.00

JUN231517 ULRIUS JEWELS #1 (OF 2) (MR) $4.99

JUL230536 UNTOLD TALES OF I HATE FAIRYLAND #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

JUL232306 UNWANTED UNDEAD ADVENTURER GN VOL 09 (C: 0-1-1) $15.99

JUL232331 USOTOKI RHETORIC GN VOL 04 (C: 0-1-1) $10.95

APR231225 VAMPIRE MACABRE NOSFERATU SP ONE SHOT CVR C BLANK SGN (MR) $14.99

APR231228 VAMPIRE MACABRE NOSFERATU SP ONE SHOT CVR F NUDE SGN (MR) $34.99

MAY232185 VAN HELSING HORROR BENEATH CVR A BARRIONUEVO $5.99

MAY232186 VAN HELSING HORROR BENEATH CVR B JULIUS ABRERA $5.99

MAY232187 VAN HELSING HORROR BENEATH CVR C RON LEARY JR $5.99

MAY232188 VAN HELSING HORROR BENEATH CVR D DERLIS SANTACRUZ $5.99

APR231042 WAKFU GN VOL 01 QUEST FOR ELIATROPE DOFUS (C: 0-1-2) $12.99

JUN232396 WANDANCE GN VOL 06 (RES) (C: 1-1-2) $12.99

JUL230551 WEIRD WORK #3 (OF 4) CVR A KANE (MR) $3.99

JUL230552 WEIRD WORK #3 (OF 4) CVR B ABLE (MR) $3.99

JUL230553 WEIRD WORK #3 (OF 4) CVR C STAFFORD (MR) $3.99

JUL230554 WEIRD WORK #3 (OF 4) CVR D RYP (MR) $3.99

JUL232365 WHAT HE WHO DOESNT BELIEVE IN FATE SAYS GN VOL 02 (C: 0-1-1) $14.99

JUL231531 WHAT`S FEAR GOT TO DO WITH IT GN (C: 0-1-0) $18.00

JUL231855 WHERE IS ANNE FRANK GN (C: 0-1-2) $25.00

JUL231889 WHO WAS ACCUSED IN SALEM WITCH TRIALS TITUBA GN (C: 0-1-1) $7.99

JUL231914 WITCHES OF BROOKLYN SC GN VOL 04 SPELL OF A TIME (C: 0-1-1) $13.99

JUL231835 WRAPPED UP COMPLETE COLLECTION TP (C: 0-0-1) $19.99

JUN232016 YAHGZ CRAYNOBI TALES GN (C: 0-1-0) $9.99

JUN232017 YAHGZ CRAYNOBI TALES HC GN (C: 0-1-0) $14.99

JUL231490 YAQUI DELGADO WANTS TO KICK YOUR ASS GN (C: 0-1-0) $12.99

NOV211115 ZORRO FLIGHTS #3 CVR A PUGLIA $6.99

NOV211116 ZORRO FLIGHTS #3 CVR B CLASSIC VAR $6.99

NOV211117 ZORRO FLIGHTS #3 CVR C LTD ED PHOTO $9.99

APR238016 ZORRO FLIGHTS #3 CVR D LTD FOC COVER $6.99

MAGAZINES

JUL231520 COMIC SHOP NEWS (100CT BUNDLE) #1881 (NET) $PI

JUN231970 RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #214 (C: 0-1-1) $13.95

JUL232044 TOYCOLLECTR MAGAZINE #7 (MR) (C: 0-1-1) $14.99

BOOKS

JUL231909 A LOT LIKE BATMAN HC (C: 0-1-1) $17.99

MAY232359 ACCEL WORLD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 26 (C: 0-1-2) $15.00

JUL231726 ALICE IN WONDERLAND COOKBOOK GIFT SET W APRON (C: 0-1-1) $39.99

JUL232303 ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM L NOVEL PART 4 VOL 8 (C: 0-1-1) $15.99

JUN232478 BEGINNERS GUIDE TO DRAWING MANGA SC (C: 0-1-0) $24.00

JUL232204 BLEACH OFFICIAL ANIME COLORING BOOK SC (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

MAY232360 CROSS DRESSING VILLAINESS CECILIA SYLVIE SC NOVEL VOL 05 (C: $15.00

MAY231838 DARK SHADOWS COLORING BOOK (C: 0-1-2) $19.99

APR231894 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS COLORING BOOK (C: 0-1-0) $16.99

JUL231668 GREMLINS FUNKO LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC (C: 1-1-1) $5.99

JUL231728 HARRY POTTER TRAVELS THROUGH THE WIZARDING COLORING BOOK (C: $12.99

JUL231729 HOCUS POCUS COOKBOOK GIFT SET W APRON (C: 0-1-1) $39.99

JUL231730 HOCUS POCUS COOKBOOK GIFT SET W STAND (C: 0-1-1) $50.00

JUL231722 LOOK OUT FOR LITTLE GUY HC (C: 0-1-2) $26.99

MAY232355 MAGICAL REVOLUTION PRINCESS GENIUS NOVEL SC VOL 05 (C: 0-1-2 $15.00

JUL231293 MOON KNIGHT AGE OF ANUBIS MARVEL MULTIVERSE MISSIONS ADV SC $16.95

APR231699 MOONSTONE TRIPLE THREAT JUNE 2023 PROSE NOVEL SC (C: 0-1-2) $7.99

JUL232206 NARUTO SHIPPUDEN OFFICIAL COLORING BOOK SC (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

MAY232348 PRINCESS CONVENIENT PLOT DEVICES SC NOVEL VOL 03 (C: 0-1-2) $15.00

MAY232346 SENTENCED TO BE A HERO LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2) $15.00

JUL232305 SLAYERS LIGHT NOVEL COLL ED VOL 04 (C: 0-1-1) $32.99

MAY232361 SPY CLASSROOM LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06 (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $15.00

JUN232043 SQUID GAME OFFICIAL COLORING BOOK (C: 0-1-0) $18.99

JUL230960 STAR TREK II WRATH OF KHAN MAKING CLASSIC FILM HC (RES) (C: $50.00

JUL231539 STAR WARS HIGH REPUBLIC HC NOVEL LIGHT & LIFE (C: 1-1-1) $18.99

JUL232307 TEARMOON EMPIRE LIGHT NOVEL VOL 09 (C: 0-1-1) $15.99

JUL232375 WEAKEST TAMER BEGAN A JOURNEY TO PICK UP TRASH L NOVEL VOL 0 $14.99

JUL232043 WHERE IN WIZARDING WORLD HIDDEN OBJECTS PICTURE BOOK HC (C: $14.99

FEB231013 WITHNAIL AND I FROM CULT TO CLASSIC HC (C: 0-1-2) $50.00

--------------------------

DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for September 5, 2023

DC COMICS:

Batman #137 (Cover A Jorge Jimenez)(Batman Catwoman The Gotham War), $4.99

Batman #137 (Cover B Joe Quesada Card Stock Variant)(Batman Catwoman The Gotham War), $5.99

Batman #137 (Cover C Gabriele Dell Otto Card Stock Variant)(Batman Catwoman The Gotham War), $5.99

Batman #137 (Cover D Rose Besch Creator Card Stock Variant)(Batman Catwoman The Gotham War), $5.99

Batman #137 (Cover E Pablo Villalobos Hispanic Heritage Month Card Stock Variant)(Batman Catwoman The Gotham War), $5.99

Batman #137 (Cover F Salvador Larroca Card Stock Variant)(Batman Catwoman The Gotham War), AR

Batman #137 (Cover G Joe Quesada Card Stock Variant)(Batman Catwoman The Gotham War), AR

Batman Adventures Omnibus HC, $150.00

Batman Justice Buster Volume 1 TP, $9.99

Batman Under The Red Hood The Deluxe Edition HC, $49.99

Birds Of Prey #1 (Cover A Leonardo Romero), $3.99

Birds Of Prey #1 (Cover B Stanley Artgerm Lau Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Birds Of Prey #1 (Cover C Chris Bachalo Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Birds Of Prey #1 (Cover D Blank Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Birds Of Prey #1 (Cover E Frank Cho Triptych Gatefold Variant), $5.99

Birds Of Prey #1 (Cover F Nick Bradshaw Card Stock Variant), AR

Birds Of Prey #1 (Cover G Chris Bachalo Card Stock Variant), AR

Birds Of Prey #1 (Cover H Leonardo Romero Card Stock Variant), AR

Blue Beetle #1 (Cover A Adrian Gutierrez), $3.99

Blue Beetle #1 (Cover B David Lafuente Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Blue Beetle #1 (Cover C Keron Grant Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Blue Beetle #1 (Cover D Pablo Villalobos Hispanic Heritage Month Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Blue Beetle #1 (Cover E Blank Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Blue Beetle #1 (Cover F Emmanuel Valtierra Card Stock Variant), AR

Blue Beetle #1 (Spanish Language Version), $3.99

City Boy #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Minkyu Jung), $3.99

City Boy #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Inhyuk Lee Card Stock Variant), $4.99

City Boy #4 (Of 6)(Cover C Mike Choi Card Stock Variant), AR

DC RWBY TP, $16.99

DCeased War Of The Undead Gods HC, $29.99

Fire And Ice Welcome To Smallville #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Terry Dodson), $3.99

Fire And Ice Welcome To Smallville #1 (Of 6)(Cover B David Nakayama Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Fire And Ice Welcome To Smallville #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Jen Bartel Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Fire And Ice Welcome To Smallville #1 (Of 6)(Cover D David Nakayama Foil Variant), $6.99

Fire And Ice Welcome To Smallville #1 (Of 6)(Cover E Kevin Maguire Card Stock Variant), AR

Fire And Ice Welcome To Smallville #1 (Of 6)(Cover F Amanda Conner Card Stock Variant), AR

Gotham City Year One HC, $29.99

Joker One Operation Joker Volume 1 TP, $9.99

Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing #10 (Cover A Carmine Di Giandomenico), $5.99

Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing #10 (Cover B Francesco Mattina), $5.99

Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing #10 (Cover C Riccardo Federici), $5.99

Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing #10 (Cover D Francesco Francavilla), AR

Justice Society Of America #6 (Of 12)(Cover A Mikel Janin), $3.99

Justice Society Of America #6 (Of 12)(Cover B Yanick Paquette Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Justice Society Of America #6 (Of 12)(Cover C Edwin Galmon Card Stock Variant), AR

Justice Society Of America #6 (Of 12)(Cover D Pablo Villalobos Hispanic Heritage Month Card Stock Variant), AR

Nightwing Fear State TP, $17.99

Peacemaker Tries Hard #5 (Of 6)(Cover A Kris Anka), $4.99

Peacemaker Tries Hard #5 (Of 6)(Cover B Daniel Warren Johnson Variant), $4.99

Peacemaker Tries Hard #5 (Of 6)(Cover C Kris Anka Movie Poster Variant), $4.99

Peacemaker Tries Hard #5 (Of 6)(Cover D Rahzzah), AR

Poison Ivy #14 (Cover A Jessica Fong), $3.99

Poison Ivy #14 (Cover B David Nakayama Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Poison Ivy #14 (Cover C Otto Schmidt Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Poison Ivy #14 (Cover D Rose Besch Creator Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Poison Ivy #14 (Cover E Jessica Fong Bioluminescent Ultraviolet Reactive And Glow-In-The-Dark Variant), $5.99

Poison Ivy #14 (Cover F Serg Acuna Card Stock Variant), AR

Poison Ivy #14 (Cover G David Nakayama Card Stock Variant), AR

Shazam #3 (Cover A Dan Mora), $3.99

Shazam #3 (Cover B Chris Samnee Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Shazam #3 (Cover C John Timms Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Shazam #3 (Cover D Pablo Villalobos Hispanic Heritage Month Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Shazam #3 (Cover E Carla Cohen Card Stock Variant), AR

Shazam #3 (Cover F Edwin Galmon Card Stock Variant), AR

Steelworks #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Eddy Barrows), $3.99

Steelworks #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Sanford Greene Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Steelworks #4 (Of 6)(Cover C Rafael Sarmento Card Stock Variant), AR

Superman ’78 Batman ’89 Box Set, $49.99

Superman Kal-El Returns TP, $16.99

Superman Vs. Meshi Volume 1 TP, $9.99

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Comics Review: CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2 Made Me Say "Ugh! Na Nah Na Nah!"

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2 (2023)

TITAN COMICS/Heroic Signatures

STORY: Jim Zub

ART: Roberto de la Torre

COLORS: Dean White

LETTERS: Richard Starkings of Comicraft

EDITOR: Matt Murray

COVER: Alan Quah

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Roberto de la Torre; Gerardo Zaffino; E.M. Gist, Dan Parent

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

Suggested for mature readers

“Bound in Black Stone” Part II: “Homeland!”

Conan the Cimmerian was born in the pulp fiction of Robert E. Howard (REH), first appearing in the magazine, Weird Tales (1932).  In 1970, Marvel Comics brought Conan to the world of comic books via the title, Conan the Barbarian. With only a few pauses, Conan comic books have been published for the better part of five decades.

Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures are the new producers of Conan comic books, and they start with a new Conan the Barbarian series.  It is written by Jim Zub; drawn by Roberto de la Torre; colored by José Villarrubia; and lettered by Richard Starkings.  The new series finds Conan returned to his homeland of Cimmeria just when it faces a terrible new threat.

As Conan the Barbarian #2 (“Homeland!”) opens, Conan and Brissa of the Pictish Gurian Tribe watch from the shadows as what is left of “Hauler's Roam,” an outpost in Northern Aquilonia, is destroyed by the “Army of the Lost.”  Also known as the “Tribe of the Lost,” this band of undead Picts has unleashed other-worldly carnage … and Conan's homeland, Cimmeria, is next.

It may be too late to save Cimmeria, but Conan will try, and what he cannot save, he will brutally avenge.  However, Conan and Brissa may not be prepared to face the true darkness behind the Army of the Lost when it finally begins to reveal itself.

THE LOWDOWN:  Titan Comics has been providing me with PDF copies of their publications for review for several years now.  Conan the Barbarian #2 is the latest.

Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures' revival of the Conan the Barbarian comic book series is definitely edgier than Marvel Comics' 2019 revival.  I did not find the latter worth the cover price, although the stories were mildly amusing.  On the other hand, Titan and Heroic's revival leaves me stunned.  In Conan the Barbarian #2, writer Jim Zub has composed the best-written Conan comic book that I have read in probably a decade.  This Conan has ripped my bodice in a way not done since Tim Truman, Tómas Giorello, José Villarrubia, and Richard Starkings were putting it down hard on their comic book adaptation of Robert E. Howard's sole Conan novel, Hour of the Dragon, a decade ago.

Zub's script reads like a Conan novel, full of intimate details and pulpy, two-fisted action-adventure.  Boots are knocked, and heads are lopped off; still, the story has depth beyond the obvious thrills.

The art and storytelling by artist Roberto de la Torre brings Zub's script to comic book life with fire and black magic.  De la Torre's art here resembles of mix of the late John Buscema's Conan the Barbarian comic books and the late Joe Kubert's Tor comics.  At this rate, de la Torre will soon be in the pantheon of great Conan comic book artists and storytellers right next to Buscema, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Tómas Giorello, to name a few.  With the lovely colors of Dean White and the hoary lettering of Richard Starkings, this new Conan is visually and graphically savage.

I like Conan enough to have watched three Conan films:  Conan the Barbarian (1982), Conan the Destroyer (1984), and Conan the Barbarian (2011), many times.  So I won't lose interest in this new Conan the Barbarian comic book, and I will keep singing its praises.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Conan comic books will want to try Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures' Conan the Barbarian.

[This comic book includes the essay, “Robert E. Howard and His Ages Undreamed Of,” by Jeffrey Shanks.]

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 reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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"Barbie" Heads to IMAX Screens for Special Event Sept 22nd

 

Think Pink! Tickets Go On Sale Today for “Barbie” as the Year’s #1 Film Heads to IMAX® for 7 Days Only

Audiences who get tickets for the limited engagement beginning September 22 will also see a special address from history-making director Greta Gerwig, along with all-new footage selected just for the IMAX experience

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tickets are on sale now for the limited one-week run of “Barbie” in IMAX®, beginning September 22, 2023 on IMAX screens across North America and in select international markets. The announcement was made today by Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution, and Andrew Cripps, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

As a special treat for IMAX audiences only, a special greeting from director Greta Gerwig will play before the film, and exclusive post-credit footage, selected by Gerwig, will follow. The announcement was made today by Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution, and Andrew Cripps, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Goldstein and Cripps said, “We really wanted to super-serve all the fans out there who made this the Summer of ‘Barbie’ in every way imaginable, and we couldn’t think of a better way than to serve up the biggest film of 2023 and the biggest Warner Bros. film of all time on the biggest, most experiential screens around. Thanks to our terrific partners at IMAX and our incredible director, Greta Gerwig, we went a step further and are offering audiences an added incentive with this special post-credits footage. We encourage moviegoers everywhere, whether they’ve seen ‘Barbie’ or not, to see it in IMAX for a can’t-miss moment in film history.”

To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.

From Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird”) comes “Barbie,” starring Oscar nominees Margot Robbie (“Bombshell,” “I, Tonya”) and Ryan Gosling (“La La Land,” “Half Nelson”) as Barbie and Ken, alongside America Ferrera (“End of Watch,” the “How to Train Your Dragon” films), Kate McKinnon (“Bombshell,” “Yesterday”), Issa Rae (“The Photograph,” HBO’s “Insecure”), Rhea Perlman (“I’ll See You in My Dreams,” “Matilda”), and Will Ferrell (the “Anchorman” films, “Talladega Nights”). The film also stars Michael Cera (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” “Juno”), Ariana Greenblatt (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “65”), Ana Cruz Kayne (“Little Women”), Emma Mackey (“Emily,” “Sex Education”), Hari Nef (“Assassination Nation,” “Transparent”), Alexandra Shipp (the “X-Men” films), Kingsley Ben-Adir (“One Night in Miami,” “Peaky Blinders”), Simu Liu (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), Ncuti Gatwa (“Sex Education”), Scott Evans (“Grace and Frankie”), Jamie Demetriou (“Cruella”), Connor Swindells (“Sex Education,” “Emma.”), Sharon Rooney (“Dumbo,” “Jerk”), Nicola Coughlan (“Bridgerton,” “Derry Girls”), Ritu Arya (“The Umbrella Academy”), Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Dua Lipa and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”).

Gerwig directed “Barbie” from a screenplay by Gerwig & Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story,” “The Squid and the Whale”), based on Barbie by Mattel. The film’s producers are Oscar nominees David Heyman (“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood,” “Marriage Story,” “Gravity”), Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Promising Young Woman,” “I, Tonya”), Tom Ackerley (“Promising Young Woman,” “I, Tonya”) and Robbie Brenner (“Dallas Buyers Club”), with Gerwig, Baumbach, Ynon Kreiz, Richard Dickson, Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich and Cate Adams serving as executive producers.

Gerwig’s creative team behind the camera included Oscar-nominated director of photography Rodrigo Prieto (“The Irishman,” “Silence,” “Brokeback Mountain”), Oscar-nominated production designer Sarah Greenwood (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Anna Karenina”), Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran (“Little Women,” “Anna Karenina”), editor Nick Houy (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird”), visual effects supervisor Glen Pratt (“Paddington 2,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and music supervisor George Drakoulias (“White Noise,” “Marriage Story”), with a score by Oscar winners Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt (“A Star Is Born”), who also contributed to numerous songs on the film’s soundtrack. The soundtrack includes an impressive roster of today’s hottest music artists, including Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice with Aqua, Charli XCX, KAROL G feat. Aldo Ranks, Tame Impala, Dominic Fike, HAIM, The Kid LAROI, Khalid, PinkPantheress, GAYLE, Ava Max, FIFTY FIFTY and more.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Heyday Films Production, a LuckyChap Entertainment Production, an NB/GG Pictures Production, a Mattel Production, “Barbie.” The film is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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A Negromancer September 2023

Welcome to September 2023. Welcome to Negromancer 2.0.  This is the rebirth of the Negromancer, the former movie review site, as a movie review and entertainment and culture news blog.

All images and text appearing on this blog are © copyright and/or trademarks of their respective owners.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 27th to 31st, 2023 - Update #9

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From Variety:  Meg Ryan returns to movie theaters as director, writer, and co-star of the romantic-comedy, "What Happens Later," co-starring David Duchovny. The film is due Oct. 13th.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Hulu has cancelled the Elle Fanning-Nicholas Hoult drama, "The Great," after three seasons.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Another Disney investor suit targets Disney, CEO Bob Iger, and former CEO Bob Chapek over "alleged sleight of hand accounting" used to hide streaming losses.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/25 to 8/27/2023 weekend box office is Sony Pictures' "Gran Turismo" with an estimated take of 17.3 million dollars. That could change because today (Sunday, Aug. 27th) is the second annual "National Cinema Day," in which tickets at participating theaters is $4.

From THR:  Director Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" is now Warner Bros. Pictures' most successful film at the global box office.  It's has passed the 1.342 billion that "Harry Potter and the Death Hallows - Part 2" grossed globally.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney continues the Disney+ content purge.  It is not going forward with "Nautilus," the live-action "Captain Nemo" series from the United Kingdom that it commissioned two years ago.

SCANDAL - From Deadline:  The fall of former Disney Channel child star, Mitchel Musso, continues with an arrest in Texas for multiple charges, including "public intoxication."

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  The hit Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) animated series "Rick and Morty," will return for its Season 7 on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 11 p.m. ET/PT with all new episodes.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  American television game show host and animal rights activist, Bob Barker, has died at the age of 99, Saturday, August 26, 2023.  He is best known for his 35-year stint hosting the CBS daytime game show, "The Price is Right." He also hosted the former CBS/NBC/syndicated game show, "Truth or Consequences," from 1956 to 1975.  He received 43 Daytime Emmy Award nominations. He won the award for "Outstanding Game Show Host" 14 times as the host of "The Price is Right," and he won four "Outstanding Game Show" Emmy Awards as executive producer of "The Price is Right."

From Deadline:  Film and television actress and writer and voice actress, Arleen Sorkin, has died at the age of 68, Thursday, August 24, 2023.  Arleen is best known as the voice actress who originated the role of the character, Harley Quinn, first on "Batman: The Animated Series" (1992-95).  She performed the voice for Harley Quinn in at least 50 times for TV, film, webseries, and videogames.  Harley Quinn's co-creator, Paul Dini, also used Arleen as inspiration for the character.  Sorkin is also known for playing the soap opera character, Calliope Jones, over 400 times over a 26-year period on the former NBC soap, "Days of Our Lives."  Sorkin received two Daytime Emmy Award nominations and one News and Documentary Emmy Award nomination.

WRITERS/ACTORS STRIKE:

From THR:  As talks with the Writers Guild of America stall, the studio trade association, AMPTP, has retained D.C.-based firm, The Levinson Group, to pursue a fresh messaging strategy.

From Deadline:  Regarding the Hollywood writers strike, the AMPTP (representing the studios) released the details of a proposed labor agreement that it made to the WGA (the Writers Guild) on August 11th.

From Deadline:  A pair of former production assistants-turned-assistant directors have created a nonprofit in hopes of providing financial aid to PAs (production assistants) who’ve been put out of work due to the strike.

From Deadline:  Writers Guild (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) will resume strike talks today, Fri., Aug. 11th.

From Deadline:  Meeting for the first time in more than three months, the Writers Guild and the AMPTP on Friday failed to reach an agreement to resume contract negotiations. The Writers Strike will go on indefinitely.

From Deadline:  Hollywood’s superstars are answering the call from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, donating $1 million or more each to help their fellow performers during the ongoing actors and writers strikes.  Among the big donors are Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, and Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.

From Deadline:  If you are interested, here is a list of the film and TV productions SAG-AFTRA has granted waivers to continue filming.

From Variety:  International superstar, Dwayne Johnson, makes a seven-figure contribution to the "SAG-AFTRA Foundation Relief Fund." Foundation president, actor Courtney B. Vance, says the amount will remain confidential.

From Variety:  Why haven't A-list stars joined the SAG-AFTRA picket line?, asks "Variety."

From Deadline:  Author George R.R. Martin, whose works were the basis for HBO's "Game of Thrones," says the strikes will be long and bitter.

From THR:  Production works at Warner Bros. Animation (66) and at Cartoon Network (22) have gone public with their attempt to unionize via The Animation Guild.

From Variety:  Halted film productions due to the writers and actors strikes are costing each Hollywood studio at least 600,000 dollars per week.

From Variety:  Said at a strike meeting: “Without a transformative change in SAG-AFTRA’s current contract with the AMPTP, the acting profession will no longer be an option for future generations of performers, and actors already working in the industry will need to pursue other careers in order to survive.”

From Deadline:  If you are a "social media influencer" who is NOT  a member of SAG-AFTRA, you can be barred from future membership for promoting a film or television series during the actors' strike.

From Variety:  The SAG/AFTRA strike begins in New York and Los Angeles.  Hollywood actors began striking today, Fri., July 14th.

From Deadline:  The site has the video of the powerful strike speech given by SAG-AFTRA president, Fran Drescher, the actress best known for CBS' former sitcom, "The Nanny."

From Deadline:  Concerning the Hollywood writers strike (via the WGA), the Hollywood Studios (as represented by the AMPTP) is to let the writers go broke before resuming talks deep into the Fall.

From Deadline: SAG-AFTRA is already preparing strike picket signs in case the actors' strike begins next week.

From Deadline:  WGA is picketing the New York City filming location of the 12th series of FX's "American Horror Story" (entitled "Delicate") after series co-creator Ryan Murphy threaten litigation against an east coast strike captain.

From THR:  TV super-producer, Ryan Murphy, in a letter from his attorney to the leadership of the Writers Guild of America, threatened litigation against Warren Leight, an East Coast strike captain and Strike Rules Compliance Committee member who has subsequently forfeited those positions.

From Deadline:  The Hollywood studios via the AMPTP has given Canadian actors a new contract, including a 5 percent raise.

From Deadline:  Writers Strike puts the spotlight back on the challenge from writers for animation productions to be covered by the WGA.

From THR:  Studios won't give writers better pay, and now, are laying off janitors.

From Deadline:  The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has reached a tentative new three-year deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). So what does the Writers Guild (WGA), currently on strike and negotiating with the AMPTP, think of that deal.

From Deadline:  Netflix shareholders declined to support the 2023 pay packages of top executives during a non-binding vote at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.  The vote won't prevent these execs from getting their loot (an total of $166 million), but this is a rare public rebuke.  The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has urged shareholders to vote "No" because the pay was "inappropriate" at this time.

From Deadline:  Warner Bros Discovery chief David Zaslav gave the commencement address at Boston University. There he was met with jeers and also chants of "pay your writers" from picketers and from some in the audience.

From Deadline:   President Joe Biden speaks on the Writers Guild of America strike.

From Deadline:  Retaliation! The studios have starting informing writer-producers who have "overall" and "first-look" deals that such deals are being suspended.

From Deadline:  Retaliation!  Prolific HBO creator, David Simon, who is best known for "The Wire," is one of the many writers who have had their overall deals suspended the studios due to the WGA strike.  Simon has been with HBO for 25 years.

From Deadline:  The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is on strike.

From Deadline:  Disney, HBO/HBO Max, and CBS have sent letters to showrunners (the TV equivalent of film directors) instructing them to return to work, inspite of the writer's strike.

From Deadline:  The WGA's chief negotiator, Ellen Stutzman, talks about the state of the writers' strike, including the lack of engagement on the part of the strike's other party, AMPTP.

From Deadline:  What went wrong between the WGA and AMPTP? What could they not agree on that led to a strike?

From Deadline:  The site explains the WGA strike: the issues, the stakes, movies and TV shows affected, and how long it might last.

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Review: "THE EQUALIZER 2" is Brutal and Personal

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 40 of 2023 (No. 1929) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Equalizer 2 (2018)

Running time:  121 minutes (2 hours, 1 minute)

MPAA – R for brutal violence throughout, language, and some drug content

DIRECTOR:  Antoine Fuqua

WRITER:  Richard Wenk (based on the television series created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim)

PRODUCERS:  Antoine Fuqua, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Tony Eldridge, Mace Neufeld, Alex Siskin, Michael Sloan, Steve Tisch, and Denzel Washington

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Oliver Wood (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Conrad Buff IV

COMPOSER:  Harry Gregson-Williams

ACTION/CRIME/THRILLER

Starring:  Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Orson Bean, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Jonathan Scarfe, Kazy Tauginas, Garrett A. Golden, and Sakina Jaffrey

The Equalizer 2 is a 2018 action movie and crime thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Denzel Washington.  It is a sequel to the 2014 film, The Equalizer.”  Both films are based on the television series, “The Equalizer,” which was created by  Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim and was originally broadcast on CBS from 1985 to 1989.  The Equalizer 2 finds Robert McCall out to make the people who murdered someone he loves pay for their crimes with their lives.

The Equalizer 2 opens on a train headed to Istanbul, Turkey.  Robert “Bob” McCall (Denzel Washington) is about to serve his unflinching brand of justice on man who kidnapped his daughter in order to punish his ex-wife.  McCall still lives quietly in Boston, where he works as a Lyft driver and assists the less fortunate, the exploited, and the oppressed.  Among the people he is currently helping include Samuel “Sam” Rubinstein (Orson Bean), a Holocaust survivor trying to recover a painting of his sister, Magda, who died in a Nazi death camp.  Lately, he has taken an interest in Miles (Ashton Sanders), a troubled African-American teen who lives in the same apartment building.  Miles has tremendous artistic talent, but he is also being recruited by a violent, drug-dealing street gang.

However, the big action is in Brussels, Belgium.  There, Robert's friend and former DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) colleague, Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo), is investigating the apparent murder-suicide of DIA “agency affiliate” and his wife.  That investigation costs Susan her life.  McCall begins investigating Susan's murder with the assistance of her colleague and his former DIA teammate, Dave York (Pedro Pascal).  Determined to avenge Susan's murder, McCall will have to go deep into his past and risk endangering people very close to him.

With his Oscar-winning turn in 2001's Training Day, Denzel Washington proved to be a convincing bad guy.  With 2010's The Book of Eli, Washington showed that he could be a bad-ass, kick-ass, action hero with fancy martial arts-styled moves.  The first take on The Equalizer allowed Washington to blend hero and anti-hero in a visceral mix.  So in anticipation of The Equalizer 3, I decided to see The Equalizer 2, of which I have seen bits and pieces on television over the past few years.

In the original film, the screenplay by Richard Wenk had McCall constantly in peril or made it seem as if he were in danger even when he was not.  Wenk returns for the sequel and delivers a script that adds compassion to the standard revenge thriller.  McCall can be a gentle soul helping a teen go through growing pains that are filled with danger, and he can lend a kind ear to an old man whose current quest could be the real thing or the result of a failing memory crashing from the accumulation of data over a long life.  On the other hand, McCall will also break a mutha down to the blood and bone if he deserves such a reckoning, even if it means killing him.

The Equalizer would be a standard revenge thriller if its avenger were portrayed by just any other movie star, but Denzel Washington is a consummate professional and charismatic actor.  That means he can deliver the meat and potatoes and the art to every performance – whether it is Shakespeare on stage or Hollywood entertainment product destined for the multiplex.  In this second film, Washington super-charges his performance in order to make the personal so personal that it is murderous. 

Director Antoine Fuqua plays Washington's skills for everything he can get out of this brilliant actor.  Fuqua is an impressive director in his own right, especially when it comes to dark, violent, dramatic thrillers, such as Shooter (2007).  Together, Fuqua and Washington deliver in The Equalizer 2 a film that slightly surpasses the original.  I find myself endlessly fascinated by it because The Equalizer 2 is a really good thriller.

7 of 10

A-

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

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

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