NEGROMANCER 2.0

Monday, January 30, 2023

Comics Review: "THE BATMAN & SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES #3" - Twerkin' for the Talon

THE BATMAN & SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES (2022) #3

DC COMICS

STORY: Matthew Cody

ART: Erich Owen

COLORS: Erich Owen

LETTERS: Saida Temofonte

EDITOR: Kristy Quinn

COVER: Erich Owen

32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (January 2023)

Ages 8+

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

“Night of the Owlful Party!”

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries was a 12-issue comic book limited series that DC Comics published in 2021 and 2022. The series brought the characters from both the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? and Batman comic book series together. Over the past five decades, Scooby-Doo and friends have joined Batman and (often) Robin to solve mysteries in various animated television series and comic books.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries sold well enough that DC Comics began a second series in October 2022. The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #3 (“Night of the Owlful Party!”) is written by Matthew Cody; drawn by Erich Owen; colored Erich Owen; and lettered by Saida Temofonte. This issue guest-stars The Talon of the Court of Owls.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #3 opens in Gotham City at one of the city's most haunted old buildings, the abandoned Owl Court Hotel. It is said to be home to the most terrifying ghost in Gotham – The Talon of the Court of Owls, Gotham's most secret of secret societies.

Tonight, however, it is the site of the grooviest celebration, the birthday part of one of the city's richest daughters, Bibi Powers. Well, it was supposed to the grooviest. So far, Bibi's only guests are the members of Mystery Inc.: Fred, Daphne, and Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo. Velma and Bibi were … friends back in Velma's days as a cheerleader.

The guests barely have time to dance before the legendary owl-beast, The Talon, appears. Luckily, Bruce Wayne is also at the hotel on business, so that means The Batman is also nearby.

THE LOWDOWN: As a child, the most important characters in my life were Batman and Robin and Scooby-Doo and company. I am still excited about the worlds of Batman and Scooby-Doo coming together. Obviously, The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries is one of those comic book series that is perfectly made for me.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #3 features the character Talon, an element in “the Court of Owls,” the Batman adversaries that first appeared in Batman (2011) #6. I think the Court of Owls and everything to do with them is ridiculous and contrived, but I like this issue.

I like the art by Erich Owen, which looks like a blend of computer-rendered backgrounds and hand drawn characters in the foreground. It looks kind of weird, but the technique works. The illustration and colors for the first page combine to create one of the best opening pages that I have seen in years. It's pitch perfect for “Night of the Ow1ful Party!”

Speaking of story: in “Night of the Owlful Story!,” writer Matthew Cody offers a one-off tale that feels like an episode of a Scooby-Doo television series. I like the way Cody plays out the party and the action. He makes Bibi a brat, a snob, and a “mean girl,” but she is harmless and kinda cute. The highest compliment that I can give this story is that I did not want it to end.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of the union of the worlds of Batman and Scooby-Doo will want The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries.

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the DC Comics original graphic novel, “My Buddy, Killer Croc” by Sara Farizan and Nicoletta Baldar.]

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

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 22nd to 31st, 2023 - Update #21

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of 1/27 to 1/29/2023 weekend box office is "Avatar: The Way of Water" with an estimated 15.7 million dollars.

From Here: Negromancer's review of "Avatar: The Way of Water."

SUNDANCE - From Deadline: The 2023 Sundance Film Festival has unveiled its Jury and Audience Award winners for 2023. Focus Features' "A Thousand and One" has won the "Grand Jury Prize." "The Persian Version" won the "Audience Award."

TELEVISON - From Deadline: HBO has renewed its hot horror drama, the videogame adapation, "The Last of Us," for a second season.

MOVIES - From Deadline: In the wake of his hit biopic, "Elvis," receiving eight Oscar nominations, director Baz Luhrmann sighs a "first-look" deal with Warner Bros Pictures.

SCANDAL - From Deadline: Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" has announced that it has ended its association with Justin Roiland, co-creator of "Rick and Morty." Roiland is facing two felony counts related to domestic violence in Orange County, CA. The series will continue under the watch of the series' other co-creator, Dan Harmon, with the characters Roiland voiced, being recast.

From Variety: 20th Television Animation and Hulu Originals have announced that they have also ended their association with Justin Roiland. Thus, he has been dropped for the animated series, "Solar Opposites," which he co-created, and the Aussie-animated, "Koala Man," which he executive produces.

From WeGotThisCovered: No voice actor or creator is bigger than his character.

OSCARS - From Deadline: The nominations for the 2023 / 95th Academy Awards have been announced. The winners will be announced Sunday, March 12, 2023. "Everything Everywhere All at Once" leads with 11 nominations.

From THR: Malaysian acting icon, Michelle Yeoh, has become the first "Best Actress" Oscar nominee (for her role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once") to identify as Asian.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Franchise star, Brendan Fraser, stunned fans of his hit series, "The Mummy" (1999), and its sequel, "The Mummy Returns" (2011), by making an appearance at a screening of the two films in London.

TELEVISION - From Deadline: CBS is giving its Monday night sitcom, "The Neighborhood," a sixth season renewal for the 2023-24 broadcast season.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 1/20 to 1/22/2023 weekend box office is "Avatar: The Way of Water" for an estimated take of 19.6 million dollars.

From Here: Leroy Douresseaux's review of "Avatar: The Way of Water."

From Variety: "Avatar: The Way of Water" crosses the 2 billion dollar-mark in worldwide box office, becoming the sixth film to do so. James Cameron has directed three of the films that have done so, including the original "Avatar" and "Titanic" (1997).

TELEVISION - From Deadline: The current season of CBS' long-running drama, "NCIS: Los Angeles" (Season 14), will be its last. The finale is set for May 14, 2023.

OBIT:

From Deadline: Former child actor, Lance Kerwin, has died at the age of 65, Tuesday, January 24, 2023. Kerwin shot to fame in the late 1970s as a teen actor. He starred in "The Loneliest Runner," a 1976 semi-autobiographical made-for-TV movies written and directed by Michael Landon ("Bonanza," "Little House on the Prairie"). Kerwin starred in NBC's controversial drama, "James at 15" (1977-78), and also starred in the TV movies, "James at 15" (1977) the preceded it. Kerwin also starred in the 1979, two-episode TV miniseries, "Salem's Lot," an adaptation of Stephen King's 1975 novel of the same name.

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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 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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TYRE NICHOLS:

From NBCNews: Tyre Nichols' death: A summary and timeline of his encounter with Memphis police officers

From YahooNews: In the 67 minutes of the Tyre Nichols video, brutality followed by nonchalance.

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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."

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Comics Review: "GREEN HORNET: One Night in Bangkok" Pulls No Punches

GREEN HORNET ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK, ONE SHOT

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Shannon Eric Denton

ART: Jethro Morales

COLORS: Jorge Sutil

LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

EDITOR: Dynamite Editorial

COVER: Dan Panosian

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2023)

Rated Teen+

The Green Hornet is a superhero character created in 1936 by radio and television producer, George W. Trendle, and radio and comic book writer, Fran Striker. The character debuted in “The Green Hornet,” a radio program that premiered on January 31, 1936, on Detroit station, WXYZ. The Green Hornet is the alter ego of Britt Reid, the wealthy young publisher of “The Daily Sentinel” newspaper. Clad in a long green overcoat, gloves, green fedora hat, and green mask, The Green Hornet is a crime-fighting vigilante, but the police and public believe that he is a wanted criminal and crime lord.

Over the years, the Green Hornet has appeared in various mediums, including comic books. Dynamite Entertainment has had the license to produce Green Hornet comic books since 2009. The latest is the one-shot comic book, Green Hornet One Night in Bangkok, One Shot. It is written by Shannon Eric Denton; drawn by Jethro Morales; colored by Jorge Sutil; and lettered by Taylor Esposito. The story finds Green Hornet facing a wily assassin seeking revenge against the Hornet.

Green Hornet: One Night in Bangkok opens in Bangkok where the world's foremost assassin who goes by the name, “Snake,” fights a tune-up match. When the Hornet ruled Chicago, he sent Snake's crime boss father to state prison, where he would later die. Two weeks later, Snake is in the Hornet's new stomping grounds, Century City, and he wants revenge.

Descending on Century City, Snake sets out on a bloody campaign to decimate the criminal population, all the while declaring to those he has let live that he is doing this for the Green Hornet. Now, the Hornet must leap into action in order to salvage his reputation and to confront Snake before more lives are lost. To do so, Britt Reid will have to lose his softness and regain the edge of the Green Hornet.

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 Green Hornet One Night in Bangkok, One Shot, the very first Green Hornet comic book that I have read.

Green Hornet One Night in Bangkok reminds me of the 1980s Daredevil comic books written by the late Dennis O'Neil for Marvel Comics. They were not quite up to the stuff of Frank Miller's run on Daredevil, but they were edgy, and O'Neil would always match Daredevil against formidable foes that could hurt him.

Writer Shannon Denton pits the Green Hornet against that Snake, a brutal sociopath who kills and maims as if it were nothing more than an ordinary chore for him. Snake is rather … charming, and I wouldn't mind seeing him in his own comic book. Because of him, I enjoyed read Green Hornet One Night in Bangkok, One Shot, and Denton certainly leaves me wanting more.

Here, Jethro Morales, a stylish artist with a straight-ahead storytelling method, recalls the spirit of artist Klaus Janson's Daredevil and The Punisher comic books for Marvel in the 1980s. The more Morales draws comic books the better he will get. In fact, Jorge Sutil's coloring for this issue is quite good, but Morales' storytelling would still be strong in black and white.

Letterer Taylor Esposito deftly handles what can be, at times, a dialogue heavy issue, and he is the final piece a really good creative team. I'd like to see them tackle more Green Hornet. In the meantime, dear readers, you can enjoy Green Hornet One Night in Bangkok, One Shot.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Dynamite's Green Hornet comic books will want to read Green Hornet One Night in Bangkok, One Shot.

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

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Friday, January 27, 2023

Comics Review: Disney's "GARGOYLES Volume 1 #2"

DISNEY'S GARGOYLES #2

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Greg Weisman

ARTIST: George Kambadais

COLORS: George Kambadais

LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry

EDITOR: Nate Cosby

COVER: David Nakayama

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

Rated “Teen”

“Here in Manhattan” – Chapter Two: “Idyll or Nightmare”

“Gargoyles” was an animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation that ran for a total of 78 episodes over three seasons, from October 24, 1994, to February 15, 1997. The series focused on “gargoyles,” a species of nocturnal creatures that had spent a thousand years in an enchanted petrified state. Reawakened in modern New York City, they are stone by day, but when day falls, they are warriors, the city's night-time protectors.

“Gargoyles” has been adapted into comic books by both Marvel Comics (1995) and Slave Labor Graphics (2006-09). Dynamite Entertainment is the new license holder and begins its publication with Gargoyles Volume 1. The series is written by “Gargoyles” creator Greg Weisman; drawn and colored by George Kambadais; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry. The series will act as a “Season 4” of the original television series, following Weisman's preferred story line.

Gargoyles Volume 1 #2 (“Idyll or Nightmare”) opens at sunset in Manhattan. Night arrives, and the Gargoyles have awakened from their stone sleep! The child of Maggie Reed a.k.a. “Maggie the Cat” and her husband, Derek/Talon, is due. Will Goliath and the clan be in time to save Maggie and her unborn mutate child from Sevarius and David Xanatos?

Meanwhile, Dominic Dracon leaves Bellevue Hospital, pretending to suffer from dementia. However, a gang war is brewing, and he must find a way to deal with Dino Dracon and Tomas Brod, the gangster trying to cut in on Dracon turf.

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 Gargoyles #2, only the second Gargoyles comic book that I have read.

Although I was aware of the “Gargoyles” animated series, I never got around to watching it, but I do remember that it had a substantial fandom. So far, I find the series a little difficult to follow because I am still figuring out this universe, but I am intrigued by the story. I think longtime fans will enjoy the work of series writer Greg Weisman, as he is following up the story lines he developed for the animated series and is moving them forward as he wishes (I assume).

I also immensely enjoyed artist George Kambadais' art on Dynamite's recent John Carter of Mars miniseries. The dynamic illustrations and shimmering colors he brought to John Carter, Kambadais brings to Gargoyles. He deftly captures the intense emotions of Weisman's story and makes this story crackle and hop.

I think that this story arc, “Here in Manhanttan,” will read better as a trade paperback, but fans of the franchise will want to read it now.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of the Gargoyles franchise will want to try Dynamite's new Gargoyles comic book series.

B+

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

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Thursday, January 26, 2023

Review: "THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN" is Entertaining and Artsy, Until It Becomes Tiresome

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 5 of 2023 (No. 1894) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Running time: 114 minutes (1 hour, 54 minutes)

MPA – R for language throughout, some violent content and brief graphic nudity

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Martin McDonagh

PRODUCERS: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, and Martin McDonagh

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ben Davis (D.o.P.)

EDITORS: Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

COMPOSER: Carter Burwell

DRAMA/COMEDY

Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan, Gary Lydon, Pat Shortt, Sheila Flitton, Bríd Ní Neachtain, Aaron Monaghan, and David Pearce

The Banshees of Inisherin is a 2022 black comedy and drama from writer-director Martin McDonagh. The film focuses on two longtime friends who come to an impasse when one abruptly ends their friendship, with alarming consequences for both of them.

The Banshees of Inisherin opens in 1923 on the fictional Irish isle of “Inisherin,” near the end of the Irish Civil War (1922-23). Small dairy milk producer, Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell), and folk musician, Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), are friends … until just this moment. Colm abruptly begins ignoring his longtime friend and drinking buddy, Pádraic. “I just don't like you no more,” Colm tells him.

Colm eventually clarifies, saying that he finds Pádraic to be too “dull” and does not want to waste any more time on him. Colm says that he would instead like to spend the remainder of his life composing music. Pádraic is crushed by the loss of Colm's friendship, and even his sister, Siobhán Súilleabháin (Kerry Condon), can't life his spirits. When Pádraic continues to make attempts to speak to him, Colm gives him a shocking ultimatum – one that could lead to tragic consequences.

A friend of my sister's once said of films like The Banshees of Inisherin, “What's the point?” What kind of film is The Banshees of Inisherin? It is a prestige drama, the kind to which some people refer as “Oscar bait.” The Banshees of Inisherin did recently (as of this writing) receive nine nominations at the 2023 / 95th Academy Awards. It is well-written by writer-director Martin McDonagh, and there are several nice characters.

But what's the point? I had had enough of Padraic and Colm's “war” before the film was over. I would say that I was done with them with about 40 minutes left. At first, I was willing to go along, and I was intrigued by the mysteries and complexities of this friendship gone wrong. Then, I found them tiresome, in spite of the good performances by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, especially the former. Their feud is contrived, and I get that storytelling is basically a contrivance. It's just not supposed to come across as so obviously contrived as this film's friendship turned sour.

The film has two outstanding supporting performances: Kerry Condon as Padraic's sister, Siobhan, and Barry Keoghan as a sweet, but simple young man, Dominic. I wanted to see more of those two actors and get to know their characters better.

One critic unfavorably compared The Banshees of Inisherin to early films of brothers, Joel and Ethan Coen. That is correct, right down to the fact that Carter Burwell has composed film scores for both the Coens and for Martin McDonagh. However, The Banshees of Inisherin lacks the wit, style, and purpose of any of the Coens' films. The Banshees of Inisherin is a very well made film about sadness and despair, seemingly for art's sake. I would never call it a bad film because it is a prestige drama that has indeed become prestigious. I like the prestige of The Banshees of Inisherin, but I'm just not willing to call it one of 2022's best films.

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Thursday, January 26, 2023

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Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Comics Review: "THE MAGIC ORDER 4 #1" - No Time to Catch a Breath

THE MAGIC ORDER 4 #1 (OF 6)

IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar

ART: Dike Ruan

COLORS: Giovanna Niro

LETTERS: Clem Robins

EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin

COVER: Dike Ruan with Giovanna Niro

VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Rafael Albuquerque

36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2023)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order created by Mark Millar at Netflix

The Magic Order was a six-issue comic book miniseries written by Mark Millar and drawn by Olivier Coipel. Published in 2018-19, the series focuses on The Magic Order, a band of sorcerers, magicians, and wizards – with a focus on the Moonstone family. They live ordinary lives by day, but protect humanity from darkness and monsters of impossible sizes by night. Two more six-issue miniseries, The Magic Order 2 (2021-22) and The Magic Order 3 (2022), were recently published.

The Magic Order 4 finds the Order in turmoil. A six-issue miniseries, this fourth installment is written by Millar; drawn by Dike Ruan; colored by Giovanna Niro; and lettered by Clem Robins.

The Magic Order 4 #1 opens immediately following the revelations of The Magic Order 3's finale. The Magic Order is in turmoil because Cordelia Moonstone was forced to expel her brother, Regan, and strip him of his powers because of his crimes. Now, whispers of discontent persist among the other wizards, and a coup is brewing

Some are tired of the rules under which they have all been living. They want to enjoy having magical powers – really enjoy those powers. An old enemy has returned in a shocking new guise, and she may be able to help the discontented become contented.

THE LOWDOWN: My favorite Mark Millar Netflix creation is The Magic Order. It always surprises me, and before I read each issue I wonder not if, but how I will be surprised. Every time I think I might creep away and choose a new Millarworld favorite to love, The Magic Order drags me back.

Dike Ruan, the artist for The Magic Order, has a drawing style that is similar to The Magic Order's earlier artists, Olivier Coipel and Stuart Immonen. This fourth series is dark and filled with explicit violence and brutal murders, as was the first two series, so it is appropriate that Ruan is the artist here. The Magic Order 4 is different in tone from The Magic Order 3, which hopped around dimensions, realities, and time zones, which the third series' artist, Gigi Cavenago, captured with an kinetic style that crackled around the shifts in space-time-magic.

I am determined to spoil as little as possible, but I can say that Millar goes for the readers' nuts and the jugulars in this first issue. As great as Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is, its sequels, which have their good points, lack the intensity of the original. The Magic Order sequels are different because Millar never lets up. He allows each installment to stand on its own as a shocking, but substantial narrative. Each sequel of The Magic Order is complete as a plot, even as it receives elements from previous installments and also sends out elements to what follows it.

So, here we are with the start of The Magic Order 4. It seems to say that power corrupts and the absolute power of reality-altering magic will absolutely corrupt everyone that it touches. Millar and Dike Ruan are a determined pair; they want us to feel the pain this time.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Mark Millar and of The Magic Order will want to read The Magic Order 4.

A+

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

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Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2023 - Update #8

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

NEWS:

OSCARS - From Marvel: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" has received 5 nominations at the 2023 / 95th Academy Awards. The nominations came in the following categories: "Best Supporting Actress," "Best Costume Design," "Best Original Song," "Best Visual Effects," and "Best Makeup and Hairstyling." The winners will be announced Sunday, March 12, 2023.

DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN - From Deadline: Nikki M. James has joined the cast of the Disney+/Marvel Studios series, "Daredevil: Born Again." Her role is unknown.

ANGELA BASSETT - From Variety: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” star Angela Bassett made superhero cinema history on Tuesday as the first woman, the first person of color, and the first Marvel Studios actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for their performance in a comic book adaptation.

From Variety: With her "Best Supporting Actress" win for her performance in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (as "Queen Ramonda") at the 80th Golden Globes, Angela Bassett becomes the first actor in a Marvel Studios film to win a major acting award. She was part of the cast that won "Best Ensemble" for "Black Panther" at the 2019 SAG Awards.

AGATHA - From Deadline: Kathryn Hahn, the star of the Disney+ "WandaVision" spinoff, "Agatha: Coven of Chaos," hints that there may a song or two in the new series. The series is apparently due this year.

BLACK PANTHER - From Deadline: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is among the ten nominees in the category of "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures" at the 2023 / 34th Annual Producers Guild of America Awards. Winners will be announced Sat., Feb. 25th, 2023.

DON CHEADLE - From Variety: Oscar-nominated actor, Don Cheadle, says in an interview that Marvel Studios gave him two hours to decide if he wanted to join "Iron Man 2" and sign a six-movie contract with them. Cheadle would go on to play James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine in six films.

WAKANDA FOREVER - From THR: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" cinematographer, Durald Arkapaw, reflects on “one of the most beautiful endings”

TEASERS & TRAILERS:

From YouTube: This is the second trailer for "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," which was released Jan. 9th. The film is due in theaters February 17, 2023.

From YouTube: This is the first trailer for "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," which is due in theaters February 17, 2023.

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MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (MCU):

Review: Iron Man (2008)

Review: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Review: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Review: Thor (2011)

Review: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Review: Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Review: Iron Man 3 (2013)

Review: Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Review: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Review: Ant-Man (2015)

Review: Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Review: Doctor Strange (2016)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Review: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Review: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Review: Black Panther (2018)

Review: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Review: Captain Marvel (2019)

Review: Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Review: Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Review: Black Widow (2021)

Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Review: Eternals (2021)

Review: Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Review: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

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Click here for the 2022 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama"

Click here for the 2021 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2020 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2019 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2018 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

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