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Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery is a five-issue comic book miniseries from writer Mark Millar. It is a sequel to the miniseries, Nemesis Reloaded (2023) and Big Game (2023). Published by Dark Horse comics, the new series finds the super-killer, Nemesis, on a mission of revenge. Rogues' Gallery is drawn by Valerio Giangiordano; colored by Lee Loughridge; and lettered by Clem Robins.
Nemesis: Rogues Gallery #1 opens in the hospital wing of Colton Brown Penitentiary, California. Nemesis was the world's greatest super-villain. Now, he is merely a paraplegic (as a result of the battle with the superheroes that began in Big Game #1) named Matthew Anderson. However, his former acquaintances, a group lurking in their Temple of Panza, can bring him back to what he was, but is he willing to pay the price?
Meanwhile, someone Nemesis hurt is also getting an offer he won't refuse.
THE LOWDOWN: This is the second time that I have been on any kind of list that provides PDF copies of titles published by Dark Horse Comics. I mark my return with Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery #1.
Nemesis Reloaded #1 was a helluva first issue. This first issue of Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery is a bit more subdued. It's an introduction to Nemesis' situation and how he got there. This is like Millard's quiet before the storm, but oh, what a storm it will be judging by the last page.
The art by Valerio Giangiordano provides the perfectly dark, edgy, and moody storytelling this issue needs. Giangiordano's art is like a mash-up of the graphic stylings of Frank Quietly and of the late Richard Corben, and it perfectly depicts the restrained intensity of Nemesis' utter insanity. Lee Loughridge colors the art by actually dialing back on the colors, and this steeps the story in darkness even more. Clem Robins, as usual, captures the spirit of Millar's ideas with his pitch-perfect lettering.
Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery promises to be a good time. It may also end up being the best Batman comic book in ages.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Mark Millar's comic books will desire Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery.
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Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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TRASH IN MY EYE No. 34 of 2024 (No. 1978) by Leroy Douresseaux
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Running time: 127 minutes (2 hours, 7 minutes)
MPA – R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references
DIRECTOR: Shawn Levy
WRITERS: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, and Zeb Wells (based on Marvel Comics characters)
PRODUCERS: Kevin Feige, Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, and Lauren Shuler Donner
CINEMATOGRAPHER: George Richmond (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Shawn Reid and Dean Zimmerman
COMPOSER: Rob Simonsen
SUPERHERO/COMEDY/ACTION
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfayden, Jon Favreau, Rob Delaney, Morena Baccarin, Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna, Aaron Stanford, and Leslie Uggams with Chris Evans, Jennifer Garner, Dafne Keen, Ray Parks, Channing Tatum, Blake Lively, Matthew McConaughey, and Wesley Snipes
SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW:
--Once again, Ryan Reynolds' comic talent shines as Wade Wilson/Deadpool, making Deadpool & Wolverine the best Deadpool film.
--Hugh Jackman brings dramatic balance and heft to the wackiness of Deadpool & Wolverine, but Jackman also adds a deft comic touch to the strong bloody violence and rapid-fire coarse language.
--There are multiple cameos and short appearances, but the surprise appearances of four particular characters from earlier Marvel films make Deadpool & Wolverine a winner
Deadpool & Wolverine is a 2024 American superhero film and action-comedy directed by Shawn Levy and produced by Marvel Studios. It is the 34th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is also the third entry in the Deadpool movie franchise.
The film is based on two Marvel Comics characters. The first is Deadpool, a character created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza, and that first appeared in New Mutants #98 (cover dated: December 1990). The second is Wolverine, a character created by writer Len Wein and artists John Romita and Herb Trimpe and that first fully appeared in the comic book, The Incredible Hulk #181 (cover dated: November 1974). In Deadpool & Wolverine the movie, a space-time organization has set Deadpool on a mission to save his own universe, so he brings in Wolverine to help him.
Deadpool & Wolverine basically begins on March 14, 2018. That is the day that Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), the smart-mouthed mutant mercenary, approaches the Avengers organization about becoming a member of the Avengers. It doesn't work, and Wade falls into a deep depression that takes a toll on his relationship with his beloved Vanessa Carlysle (Morena Baccarin). It's also time to celebrate Wade's birthday, and his friends gather at the apartment he shares with Blind Al (Leslie Uggams).
In the middle of the revelry, agents of the “Time Variance Authority” (TVA) arrive to take Wade into custody. At TVA headquarters, project head, Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfayden), informs Deadpool that his own Earth/universe, Earth-10005, is scheduled for destruction, but that he can live in another universe. Determined to save his world, Deadpool rejects the offer and goes rogue. He travels throughout the multiverse searching for a version of Wolverine that can help him save his Earth. Eventually, Deadpool finds a variant of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) with a tragic past.
Deadpool and Wolverine spend more time cursing, fighting, and stabbing each other than they do world-saving. However, they end up in a place called the “Void,” where they face its leader, the murderous and ultra-powerful mutant, Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). Now, Deadpool and Wolverine are forced together to save a universe, but luckily, they will find themselves joined by an unexpected, but familiar quartet of heroes.
In preparation for Deadpool & Wolverine, I decided to watch the earlier films: Deadpool (2016), Logan (2017), and Deadpool 2 (2018), that lead up to the new film, to one extent or another. However, viewers may find such films as Blade (1998), X-Men (2000), Elektra (2005), and Fantastic Four (2005) to be of most use, although Deadpool & Wolverine also references other films and television series based on Marvel Comics characters.
Deadpool & Wolverine is very much an R-rated comedy like the earlier Deadpool films, but there is more harshly explicit language and profanity galore. There seems to be more gross sexual language in Deadpool & Wolverine than there has been in any other film ever distributed by the Walt Disney Company. At times, it is a bit too much, but only a bit.
As he does in the other Deadpool films, Ryan Reynolds makes the comedy in Deadpool & Wolverine work, via his schtick. Still, one must say that Reynolds' repertoire of clowning, buffoonery, and jestering have become a refined work of comic performance art. I can honestly say that I never feel as if I have had too much of Reynolds as Deadpool.
On the other hand, in Deadpool & Wolverine, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is the dramatic balance to Ryan as Deadpool. Without spoiling anything, Jackman has some deep, emotional moments that require tears in his eyes. Jackman also gets to be powerful, dark, edgy, and grieving as Wolverine without treading on the mournful Logan/Wolverine he gave us in the film, Logan.
There are some excellent supporting performances in Deadpool & Wolverine. Emma Corrin is maniacally, gleefully wicked and evil as Cassandra Nova, and Matthew Macfayden is perfectly sleazy as the sinfully ambitious TVA functionary, Mr. Paradox. The actors that comprise the quartet which assists Deadpool and Wolverine in their crucial assault on Nova's base are a delight, and one of them proves that his is the defining version of the superhero for whom he is most famous. Many of us want to see him again, Disney.
Deadpool & Wolverine is Marvel Studios' funniest “Multiverse Saga” entry. It is not without its faults, and it isn't the best Marvel multiverse film because that belongs to Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). However, Marvel does with Deadpool & Wolverine what it should have done with some of its post-pandemic films: have more substantial guest appearances from classic MCU characters and stars. Most of the heroic things that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman do in Deadpool & Wolverine are done better with friends.
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 33 of 2024 (No. 1977) by Leroy Douresseaux
Deadpool 2 (2018)
Running time: 119 minutes (1 hour, 59 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong violence and language throughout, sexual references and brief drug material
DIRECTOR: David Leitch
WRITERS: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick and Ryan Reynolds (based on Marvel Comics characters)
PRODUCERS: Ryan Reynolds, Simon Kinberg, and Lauren Shuler Donner
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Jonathan Sela (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Craig Alpert, Elisabet Ronaldsdottir, and Dirk Westervelt
COMPOSER: Tyler Bates
SUPERHERO/COMEDY/ACTION
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Julian Dennison, Morena Baccarin, Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, Leslie Uggams, Eddie Marsan, Shioli Kutsuna, Jack Kesy, Michasha Armstrong, and Stefan Kapicic (voice) with Rob Delaney, Lewis Tan, Bill Skarsgard, Terry Crews, Brad Pitt, Alan Tudyk, Matt Damon, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, Evan Peters, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Robert Wellman
Deadpool 2 is a 2018 American superhero film and action-comedy from director David Leitch. It is a spin-off film in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men film series and is the eleventh film overall in the series. It is a direct sequel to Deadpool (2016) and is also the second entry in the Deadpool movie franchise. The film is based on the Marvel Comics character, Deadpool, that was created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza, and first appeared in New Mutants #98 (cover dated: December 1990). Deadpool 2 finds the wisecracking Deadpool trying to protect a fiery young mutant from a time-traveling cyborg.
Deadpool 2 finds Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), the smart-mouthed mutant mercenary, doing what he likes to do – brutally slaughter bad guys. However, his violent activities catch up with him at home, and tragedy befalls his beloved Vanessa Carlysle (Morena Baccarin). Deep in grief and depression, Deadpool tries to kill himself, but is rescued by Colossus (voice of Stefan Kapicic), the giant mutant who has a body of organic steel. Colossus still wants Deadpool to changes his ways and also wants him to join the X-Men – as a trainee.
On his first mission as a trainee, Deadpool and the X-Men, which includes Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) and her girlfriend, Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna), travel to the “Essex House for Mutant Rehabilitation.” There, they find one angry teenager, Russell Collins (Julian Dennison), in crisis. He is a young mutant with pyrokinetic power, and he has given himself the unfortunate code name of “Fire Fist.” Deadpool's attempt to save the young man has disastrous results, and now, Deadpool has to save Russell from Cable (Josh Brolin), a time-traveling cyborg who has arrived in the present determined to kill the teen. So Deadpool forms his own X-team, called “X-Force,” with tragically hilarious and hilariously tragic results.
We are nearing the release of the latest Disney/Marvel Studios blockbuster movie, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). I decided to watch and review the previous X-Men films: Deadpool, Logan (2017), and Deadpool 2, that lead up to the new film.
Deadpool is humorous and silly, but it was primarily an action movie with drama and humor. It heavily leans into brutally strong violence, frequent profane language, and explicit sexual references. Deadpool 2 also has brutally strong violence, constant profane language, and some explicit sexual references. However, Deadpool is a comedy, and everything serves the comedy, including the drama, superhero action, and even much of the killing.
As he does for Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds makes Deadpool, a film that could not exist without his schtick. He is the spine of this film's comedy and is the reason so much of it works when it would be disastrous for other performers. The supporting cast is good, but not great. Josh Brolin has his moments as Cable, but the Cable is more of a prop than a persona. Zazie Beetz creates moments for Domino to shine which otherwise wouldn't be there. Julian Dennison is mostly convincing as the angry young mutant, Russell Collins, especially in the second half of the film.
I find Deadpool 2 a definite, delightful surprise. I never expected much of it because I really did not care for what I had previously seen. Now, a full and patient viewing makes me think that Deadpool 2 is an occasion when the sequel surpasses the original.
“The Powerpuff Girls” (1998 to 2005) is an animated superhero television series created by Craig McCracken for Cartoon Network. The show centers on Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, who are three kindergarten-aged girls endowed with superpowers. They were created by the scientist, Professor Utonium, who mixed sugar, spice, and everything nice and accidentally added “Chemical X.” The professor would become the girls' father. The girls and the professor live in the fictional city of Townsville, USA. The city's mayor frequently calls on The Powerpuff Girls to help fight criminals using their super-powers against the city.
Going back to 2000, both DC Comics and IDW Publishing have published comic books based on “The Powerpuff Girls.” Dynamite Entertainment now has the license to publish Powerpuff Girls comic books. Their new series is Powerpuff Girls Volume One. It is written by Kelly Thompson; drawn and colored by Paulina Ganucheau; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.
Powerpuff Girls Volume One #1 (“Destiny Detour!”) opens in Townsville, the home of Professor Utonium and his three girls: Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup – the Powerpuff Girls. These heroes have dedicated their lives to fighting crime and the forces of evil using their ultra-super powers.
On the other hand, what if each of the Powerpuff Girls had a different destiny? Well, there is a visitor at their school, Pokey Oaks Kindergarten, who can change destinies. It's a robot named “Highly Intelligent Machine,” and soon it will have the girls on their way to new directions. However, where does that leave Townsville when it does not have its three young heroines to save the day from a most diabolical and familiar foe?
THE LOWDOWN: Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. Powerpuff Girls Volume One #1 is the latest, but it is not the first Powerpuff Girls comic book that I have read.
It is has been five and a half years since I read a comic book featuring The Powerpuff Girls, and that was IDW Publishing's The Powerpuff Girls: Power Up My Mojo. This was a 2017 hardcover book that collected issues #4-6 of the 2016 miniseries of the same title.
Like that IDW book, The Powerpuff Girls Volume One #1 is simply a fun comic book to read. I was a fan of the original Powerpuff Girls animated TV series and of the series' stars, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. Issue #1's story by Kelly Thompson and the art by Paulina Ganucheau perfectly capture both the storytelling styles and visual aesthetic of the Cartoon Network original. It's sugar, spice, and everything nice, and it is a perfect comic book in which to introduce young readers to the comic book medium and to The Powerpuff Girls!
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of the Powerpuff Girls will want to try Dynamite's The Powerpuff Girls Volume One.
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Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGEand BUY something(s).
