Monday, July 7, 2025

Image Comics Shipping for July 9, 2025

IMAGE COMICS

Blood Squad Seven #9 (Cover A Paul Fry), $3.99
Blood Squad Seven #9 (Cover B Jim Rugg), AR
Farmhand #23 (Cover A Rob Guillory), $3.99
Free Planet #3 (Cover A Jed Dougherty), $3.99
Free Planet #3 (Cover B Jed Dougherty Ladder Variant), $3.99
Free Planet #3 (Cover C Jed Dougherty Foil Variant), AR
I Hate Fairyland #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover A Skottie Young), $3.99
I Hate Fairyland #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover B Skottie Young Foil Variant), $4.99
I Hate Fairyland #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover C Blank Variant), $3.99
I Hate Fairyland #42 (Cover A Derek Laufman & Jean Francois Beaulieu), $3.99
I Hate Fairyland #42 (Cover B Derek Laufman Black & White Variant), $3.99
I Hate Fairyland #42 (Cover C Skottie Young), AR
Invincible Universe Battle Beast #1 (3rd Printing Cover A Tom Reilly), $3.99
Madi Once Upon A Time In The Future TP, $19.99
Power Fantasy #10 (Cover A Caspar Wijngaard), $3.99
Power Fantasy #10 (Cover B Luana Vecchio), $3.99
Radiant Black #35 (Cover A Marcelo Costa), $3.99
Radiant Black #35 (Cover B Riccardo Robaldo), $3.99
Radiant Black #35 (Cover C Rose Besch Foil Variant), AR
Revival #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover A Jenny Frisson), $3.99
Revival #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover B Jenny Frisson Foil Variant), $4.99
Revival #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover C Blank Variant), $3.99
Savage Dragon #277 (Cover A Erik Larsen), $3.99
Savage Dragon #277 (Cover B Erik Larsen 70s Trade Dress Variant), $3.99
Transformers #22 (Cover A Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer), $3.99
Transformers #22 (Cover B Jorge Corona & Mike Spicer), $3.99
Transformers #22 (Cover C David Nakayama Connecting Variant), AR
Transformers #22 (Cover D Manabu Yashiro), AR
Transformers #22 (Cover E Pye Parr), AR
Transformers Worst Bot Ever Meet Ballpoint GN, $12.99
Unchosen #1 (Of 4)(Cover A David Marquez), $3.99
Unchosen #1 (Of 4)(Cover B David Marquez Aida Variant), $3.99
Unchosen #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Peach Momoko), AR
Unchosen #1 (Of 4)(Cover D Peach Momoko Full Art Variant), AR
Unchosen #1 (Of 4)(Cover E Blank Variant), $3.99
Witchblade #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover A Michael Turner), $3.99
Witchblade #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover B Michael Turner Foil Variant), $4.99
Witchblade #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover C Blank Variant), $3.99

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Marvel Comics Shipping for July 9, 2025

MARVEL COMICS

Amazing Spider-Man #4 (2nd Printing Cover A Pepe Larraz), $4.99
Amazing Spider-Man #4 (2nd Printing Cover B Mark Chiarello Full Art Variant), AR
Conquest 2099 TP, $17.99
Daredevil Cold Day In Hell #2 (Of 3)(2nd Printing Cover A Steve McNiven), $6.99
Daredevil Cold Day In Hell #2 (Of 3)(2nd Printing Cover B Frank Miller Full Art Variant), AR
Deadpool Epic Collection Volume 7 TP Agent X TP, $54.99
Doctor Strange Of Asgard #5 (Of 5)(Cover A Geoff Shaw)(One World Under Doom), $3.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover A Humberto Ramos), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover B Alan Davis), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover C Lorenzo Pastrovicchio Disney What If? Fantastic Four Homage Variant), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover D Alex Ross), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover E Jeehyung Lee), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover F Cliff Chiang), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover G Blank Variant), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover H Ryan Meinerding Marvel Studios Variant), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover I Mahmud Asrar Foil Variant), AR
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover J John Buscema Remastered Variant), AR
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover K Lorenzo Pastrovicchio Disney What If? Fantastic Four Homage Black & White Variant), AR
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover L Jerome Opena), AR
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover M Jeehyung Lee Full Art Variant), AR
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover N Leonardo Romero Retrovision Variant), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover O NetEase Games Marvel Rivals 2-Part Connecting Variant), $4.99
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover P Claudio Castellini Wraparound Variant), AR
Fantastic Four #1 (Cover Q Skottie Young 5-Part Connecting Variant), $4.99
Fantastic Four #7 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover A Jack Kirby), $4.99
Fantastic Four #7 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover B Jack Kirby Foil Variant), AR
Fantastic Four #7 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover C David Yardin), $4.99
Fantastic Four First Steps #1 (Cover A Phil Noto Movie Costumes Variant), $4.99
Fantastic Four First Steps #1 (Cover B Phil Noto Classic Costumes Variant), $4.99
Fantastic Four First Steps #1 (Cover C Mark Buckingham), $4.99
It's Jeff Infinity Paws #1 (Cover A Nao Fuji), $6.99
It's Jeff Infinity Paws #1 (Cover B Chrissie Zullo), $6.99
Laura Kinney Wolverine #8 (Cover A Elena Casagrande), $3.99
Laura Kinney Wolverine #8 (Cover B Nogi San), $3.99
Laura Kinney Wolverine #8 (Cover C Stephen Segovia), AR
Magik #7 (Cover A Pablo Villalobos), $3.99
Magik #7 (Cover B Joe Quinones RetroVision Variant), $3.99
Magik #7 (Cover C Yasmine Putri), AR
Marvel Knights The World To Come #1 (Of 6)(2nd Printing Cover A Dan Panosian), $5.99
Marvel Knights The World To Come #1 (Of 6)(2nd Printing Cover B Joe Quesada Black & White Full Art Variant), AR
Marvel Studios' Captain America Brave New World The Art Of The Movie Slipcase HC, $100.00
Marvel Swimsuit Special Friends Foes And Rivals #1 (Cover A Adam Hughes Wraparound Variant), $5.99
Marvel Swimsuit Special Friends Foes And Rivals #1 (Cover B Russell Dauterman Wraparound Variant), $5.99
Marvel Swimsuit Special Friends Foes And Rivals #1 (Cover C Taurin Clarke), $5.99
Marvel Swimsuit Special Friends Foes And Rivals #1 (Cover D Pablo Villalobos), $5.99
Marvel Swimsuit Special Friends Foes And Rivals #1 (Cover E Terry Dodson), $5.99
Marvel Swimsuit Special Friends Foes And Rivals #1 (Cover F Lucas Werneck), $5.99
Marvel Swimsuit Special Friends Foes And Rivals #1 (Cover G Mark Brooks Wraparound Variant), $5.99
Marvel Swimsuit Special Friends Foes And Rivals #1 (Cover H Russell Dauterman Full Art Variant), AR
Marvel Swimsuit Special Friends Foes And Rivals #1 (Cover I Pablo Villalobos Full Art Variant), AR
Micronauts Epic Collection The Original Marvel Years Volume 1 They Came From Inner Space TP, $49.99
Miles Morales Spider-Man #35 (Cover A Federico Vicentini), $3.99
Miles Morales Spider-Man #35 (Cover B Logan Lubera 5-Part Connecting Variant), $3.99
Miles Morales Spider-Man #35 (Cover C Pere Perez Retrovision Variant), $3.99
Miles Morales Spider-Man #35 (Cover D Paco Medina), $3.99
Miles Morales Spider-Man #35 (Cover E Simone Di Meo), AR
Predator Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Simone Di Meo), $5.99
Predator Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Mahmud Asrar), $5.99
Predator Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Paolo Villanelli), $5.99
Predator Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover D Federico Vicentini), AR
Predator Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover E Simone Di Meo Full Art Variant), AR
Predator Vs. Spider-Man #2 (Of 4)(2nd Printing Cover A Paulo Siqueira), $4.99
Predator Vs. Spider-Man #2 (Of 4)(2nd Printing Cover B Ed McGuinness Full Art Variant), AR
Psylocke Volume 1 Guardian TP, $17.99
Red Hulk #6 (Cover A Paulo Siqueira)(One World Under Doom), $3.99
Red Hulk #6 (Cover B Mike Allred Retrovision Variant)(One World Under Doom), $3.99
Red Hulk #6 (Cover C Dan Panosian)(One World Under Doom), AR
Sentinels Necessary Monsters TP, $17.99
Spider-Man By Michelinie And Bagley Omnibus Volume 2 HC (Cover A Mark Bagley Hulk Book Market Variant), $125.00
Spider-Man By Michelinie And Bagley Omnibus Volume 2 HC (Cover B Mark Bagley Enemies Direct Market Variant), $125.00
Star Wars Ewoks TP, $17.99
Star Wars Legacy Of Vader #6 (Cover A Derrick Chew), $3.99
Star Wars Legacy Of Vader #6 (Cover B Chris Sprouse The Force Awakens 10th Anniversary Variant), $3.99
Star Wars Legacy Of Vader #6 (Cover C Simone Di Meo), $3.99
Star Wars Legacy Of Vader #6 (Cover D Josemaria Casanovas), AR
Superior Avengers #4 (Of 6)(Cover A R. B. Silva)(One World Under Doom), $3.99
Superior Avengers #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Kyle Hotz)(One World Under Doom), $3.99
Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion #2 (Of 5)(Cover A Sara Pichelli), $4.99
Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion #2 (Of 5)(Cover B Cafu), $4.99
Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion #2 (Of 5)(Cover C Sanford Greene), $4.99
Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion #2 (Of 5)(Cover D Giuseppe Camuncoli), AR
Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion #2 (Of 5)(Cover E Cafu Full Art Variant), AR
Uncanny X-Men #17 (Cover A David Marquez), $4.99
Uncanny X-Men #17 (Cover B Ron Frenz Retrovision Variant), $4.99
Uncanny X-Men #17 (Cover C Ejikure Mutina), $4.99
Uncanny X-Men #17 (Cover D Ejikure Mutina Full Art Variant), AR
Uncanny X-Men #17 (Cover E Rod Reis), AR
Wolverine And Kitty Pryde #4 (Of 5)(Cover A Alan Davis), $3.99
Wolverine And Kitty Pryde #4 (Of 5)(Cover B Jan Bazaldua), $3.99
X-Men Onslaught Aftermath Omnibus HC (Cover A Adam Kubert Book Market Variant), $100.00
X-Men Onslaught Aftermath Omnibus HC (Cover B Steve Epting Direct Market Variant), $100.00

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Comic Books, Magazines and Books Shipping for July 9, 2025

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAY251556 ADVENTURE TIME (2025) #4 CVR A NICK WINN $4.99
MAY251557 ADVENTURE TIME (2025) #4 CVR B HICKEY $4.99
MAY251558 ADVENTURE TIME (2025) #4 CVR C MARCELINE GRAY SKETCH $4.99
MAY251060 ARCHIE MEETS JAY & BOB ONESHOT CVR A RUIZ & KOSLOWSKI (MR) $7.99
MAY251061 ARCHIE MEETS JAY & BOB ONESHOT CVR B RUIZ GREYSCALE (MR) $7.99
MAY251062 ARCHIE MEETS JAY & BOB ONESHOT CVR C FRANCAVILLA (MR) $7.99
MAY251063 ARCHIE MEETS JAY & BOB ONESHOT CVR D PHIL HESTER (MR) $7.99
MAY251064 ARCHIE MEETS JAY & BOB ONESHOT CVR E DAN PARENT (MR) $7.99
MAY251065 ARCHIE MEETS JAY & BOB ONESHOT CVR F TY TEMPLETON (MR) $7.99
MAY251068 ARCHIE MEETS JAY & BOB ONESHOT CVR I RUIZ FOIL (MR) $11.99
MAY251069 ARCHIE MEETS JAY & BOB ONESHOT CVR J FRANCAVILLA FOIL (MR) $11.99
APR251317 BLOWTORCH BURY THE PAST SPECIAL COLLECTORS ED CVR B (C: 0-1- $19.99
FEB251891 MEAT EATERS GN (C: 0-1-2) $24.99
APR250837 NEVERLAND SANDS OF ETERNITY CVR A VITORINO $5.99
APR250838 NEVERLAND SANDS OF ETERNITY CVR B TARRAGONA $5.99
APR250839 NEVERLAND SANDS OF ETERNITY CVR C RIVEIRO $5.99
MAY251562 PLAGUE HOUSE #4 (OF 4) CVR A CHISHOLM $4.99
MAY251563 PLAGUE HOUSE #4 (OF 4) CVR B ASH JON $4.99
MAY251292 SIX SHOTS #1 (OF 2) (C: 0-1-1) $4.99

DARK HORSE COMICS
Assassin's Apprentice III #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Anna Steinbauer), $3.99
Blue Book Library Edition Volume 1 HC, $49.99
FML #5 (Of 8)(Cover A David Lopez), $4.99
FML #5 (Of 8)(Cover B Jill Thompson), $4.99
God Of War 20th Anniversary Retrospective, $99.99
God Of War 20th Anniversary Retrospective (Deluxe Edition), $199.00
GWENT Art Of The Witcher Card Game Volume 2 HC, $54.99
Magic Order 5 #6 (Cover A Matteo Buffagni), $4.99
Magic Order 5 #6 (Cover B Matteo Buffagni Black & White Variant), $4.99
Real Ghostbusters A Visual History HC, $54.99
Real Ghostbusters A Visual History HC (Deluxe Edition), $109.99

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
Lilo And Stitch Volume 2 Ohana HC (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $19.99
Lilo And Stitch Volume 2 Ohana TP, $14.99

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Hate Revisited TP (per Lunar Distribution), $19.99

IDW PUBLISHING
Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees Rite Of Spring #1 (Cover A Patrick Horvath), $4.99
Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees Rite Of Spring #1 (Cover B Tony Fleecs Movie Homage Variant), $4.99
Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees Rite Of Spring #1 (Cover C Riley Rossmo Storybook Variant), $4.99
Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees Rite Of Spring #1 (Cover D Skottie Young), $4.99
Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees Rite Of Spring #1 (Cover E Patrick Horvath Full Art Variant), AR
Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees Rite Of Spring #1 (Cover F Tony Fleecs Movie Homage Full Art Variant), AR
Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees Rite Of Spring #1 (Cover G Riley Rossmo Storybook Black & White Variant), AR
Godzilla Here There Be Aliens #2 (Cover A Fero Pe), $4.99
Godzilla Here There Be Aliens #2 (Cover B Angel Hernandez), $4.99
Godzilla Here There Be Aliens #2 (Cover C Fero Pe Ful Art Variant), AR
Neal Adams' Classic DC Artist's Edtion HC (Cover A Neal Adams Batman Variant), $150.00
Neal Adams' Classic DC Artist's Edtion HC (Cover B Neal Adams Green Lantern Variant), $150.00
Star Trek Lower Decks #9 (Cover A Vernon Smith), $4.99
Star Trek Lower Decks #9 (Cover B Jack Lawrence), $4.99
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Nation #8 (Cover A Fero Pe), $5.99
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Nation #8 (Cover B Max Dunbar), $5.99
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Nation #8 (Cover C Patricio Delpeche), AR
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin II Re-Evolution HC, $34.99

KODANSHA COMICS
A Sign Of Affection Omnibus 3 TP (Volumes 7-9)(per Penguin Random House), $22.99
Medalist Volume 9 GN (per Penguin Random House), $13.99
My Noisy Roommate The Roof Over My Head Comes With Monsters And A Hottie Volume 3 GN (per Penguin Random House), $13.99

ONI PRESS
Blood Type #2 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover A Miguel Mercado), $4.99
Blood Type #2 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover B Andrea Sorrentino), $4.99
Blood Type #2 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover C Albert Monteys EC Homage Variant), AR
Blood Type #2 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover D Andrea Sorrentino Black & White Artist Edition Variant), AR
Blood Type #2 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover E Patricia Martin EC Archive Edition Variant), AR
Dark Regards #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Artyom Topilin), $4.99
Dark Regards #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Noah Bailey), $4.99
Dark Regards #3 (Of 4)(Cover C Noah Bailey Full Art Variant), AR
Dark Regards #3 (Of 4)(Cover D Brian Level Album Cover Variant), AR
Meat Eaters GN, $24.99
Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Dave Bardin), $4.99
Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Juan Gedeon), $4.99
Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Troy Little), $4.99
Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #1 (Of 4)(Cover D Blank Variant), $4.99
Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #1 (Of 4)(Cover E Flops Interlocking Variant), AR
Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #1 (Of 4)(Cover F Tom Fowler Event Variant), AR
Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #1 (Of 4)(Cover G Jarrett Williams Prime Variant), AR
Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #1 (Of 4)(Cover H Rian Gonzales Wedding Variant), AR

SUBLIME
Ask And You Will Receive Volume 2 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $12.99
Therapy Game Restart Volume 5 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $12.99

TITAN BOOKS
Black Panther Panther's Rage Prose Novel HC (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $18.99
Conan City Of The Dead Prose Novel HC (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $18.99
Fantastic Four The Coming Of Galactus Prose Novel SC (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $18.99
Ultraman Ultraseven The Official Novel Of The Series SC (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $18.99

TITAN COMICS
Conan The Barbarian #22 (Cover A Dan Panosian), $3.99
Conan The Barbarian #22 (Cover B Riccardo Federici), $3.99
Conan The Barbarian #22 (Cover C Valerio Giangiordano), $3.99
Conan The Barbarian #22 (Cover D Jason Shawn Alexander), $3.99
Conan The Barbarian #22 (Cover F Dan Panosian Full Art Variant), $3.99
Death Sentence The Complete Collection TP (Cover A Martin Simmonds Book Market Variant), $49.99
Minky Woodcock The Girl Called Cthulhu HC, $24.99
Return To Skull Island #1 (Of 4)(Cover A InHyuk Lee), $4.99
Return To Skull Island #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Christopher Jones), $4.99
Return To Skull Island #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Christopher Jones Kong Headshot Variant), $4.99
Return To Skull Island #1 (Of 4)(Cover D Logo Full Art Variant), $4.99
Return To Skull Island #1 (Of 4)(Cover E InHyuk Lee Foil Variant), $14.99
Return To Skull Island #1 (Of 4)(Cover F Color Blank Variant), $5.99
Return To Skull Island #1 (Of 4)(Cover G InHyuk Lee Full Art Variant), $4.99
Savage Sword Of Conan #9 (Cover A Neal Adams), $6.99
Savage Sword Of Conan #9 (Cover B Alex Horley), $6.99
Savage Sword Of Conan #9 (Cover C Neal Adams Full Art Variant), $6.99
Solomon Kane The Serpent Ring #4 (Of 4)(Cover A Jessica Fong), $4.99
Solomon Kane The Serpent Ring #4 (Of 4)(Cover B James Castillo), $4.99
Solomon Kane The Serpent Ring #4 (Of 4)(Cover C Patrick Zircher), $4.99
Solomon Kane The Serpent Ring #4 (Of 4)(Cover D Jessica Fong Full Art Variant), $4.99

TITAN MANGA
Atom The Beginning Volume 11 TP, $12.99
Cosmic Censorship Volume 1 GN, $12.99
Dopeman Volume 2 GN, $12.99
Outsiders Volume 1 GN, $12.99

TOKYOPOP
Emma And Capucine Volume 2 GN (per Penguin Random House), $14.99

TOKYOPOP - LOVE X LOVE
You Can't Live All On Your Own Volume 1 GN (per Penguin Random House), $13.99

VIZ MEDIA
Beyblade X Volume 3 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99
Case Closed Volume 94 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99
Destroy All Humans They Can't Be Regenerated A Magic The Gathering Manga Volume 4 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $14.99
Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Manga Book Of Octavinelle Volume 1 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $14.99
Firefly Wedding Volume 3 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99
Kirby Manga Mania Volume 8 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99
Sleepy Princess In Demon Castle Volume 28 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99
Spider-Man Kizuna Volume 1 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99
Tsumiki Ogami's Not-So-Ordinary Life Volume 1 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99
Ultraman Along Came A Spider-Man Volume 1 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99
Yaiba Samurai Legend Volume 1 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $16.99

MAGAZINES

MAR251276 COMIC SHOP NEWS (100CT BUNDLE) #1977 (NET) $18.99
APR251336 G FAN #147 (C: 0-1-2) $8.95

MERCHANDISE

OCT247765 BEETLEJUICE 2 TOONY TERRORS BEETLEJUICE & DELORES 2PK 6IN AF $34.99
OCT247766 BEETLEJUICE 2 TOONY TERRORS LYDIA AND ASTRID 2PK 6IN AF (NET $34.99
JUL249042 POP VINYL MONSTER HIGH S3 ABBEY FIG (C: 1-1-2) $11.99
JAN257589 SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR KANG PLUSH (NET) (C: 1-1-2) $34.99
JAN257795 TMNT ARCHIE COMICS BELLYBOMB 7IN AF (NET) (C: 1-1-2) $36.99
JAN257072 TMNT LAST RONIN GRAMMY APRIL W/ BABY YI & MOJA 7IN AF (NET) $49.99
JAN257119 TMNT MIRAGE COMICS DLX LEATHERHEAD 7IN AF (NET) (C: 1-1-2) $54.99
JAN257793 TMNT MIRAGE COMICS RED AND BLACK FOOT ASSASSIN 7IN AF (NET) $36.99
JAN257796 TMNT MIRAGE COMICS RED AND BLACK FOOT ENFORCER 7IN AF (NET) $36.99

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Sunday, July 6, 2025

Review: Tyler Perry's "STRAW" Gets the Best of Taraji P. Henson

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 29 of 2025 (No. 2035) by Leroy Douresseaux

Straw (2025)
Running time:  105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
Rating: not rated by the MPA / TV-MA
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Tyler Perry
PRODUCERS:  Tyler Perry, Angi Bones, and Tony L. Strickland 
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Justyn Moro (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Nick Coker
COMPOSER:  Dara Taylor

DRAMA/CRIME

Starring:  Taraji P. Henson, Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, Sinbad, Rockmond Dunbar, Ashley Versher, Mike Merrill, Glynn Turman, Shalet Monique, Diva Tyler, Derek Phillips, Tilky Jones, Katrina Nelson, Justin James Boykin, and Gabby Jackson

SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW:
-- Taraji P. Henson gives a tour-de-force performance in Straw, the third Tyler Perry film in which she has been the lead and her fourth Perry film, overall. It is a treat to watch so skilled and talented an actress in this film

-- However, as good as it is, Straw is very sad and mournful. Straw is not a tear-jerkier. It is a python of sadness that will squeeze the tears out of you, dear readers.


Straw is a 2025 psychological drama and crime film from writer-director Tyler Perry.  The film is a “Netflix Original,” and it began streaming on the service June 6, 2025.  Straw focuses on an African-American single mother who is forced by a series of unfortunate events into inadvertently taking hostages at a local bank branch.

Straw introduces Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson).  She is a single mother living in a dilapidated apartment with her frequently ill daughter, Aria (Gabby Jackson).  Janiyah has been able to hold things together, but one particular day, everything starts to fall apart.  Aria's school is demanding $40 for lunch money, and the landlord at her apartment complex is threatening to evict Janiyah if she does not come up with the rent money.

Janiyah's mean boss, Richard (Glynn Turman), at the “Super Center” grocery store is also threatening to fire her over being late for work and for often having to leave work early.  Then, the unthinkable happens, and Janiyah finds herself at “Benevolent Bank & Trust,” where a misunderstanding becomes a major incident.  Now, the bank's manager, Nicole Parker (Sherri Shepherd), and a female police detective, Detective Kay Raymond (Teyana Taylor), may be the only ones who can save Janiyah from more tragedy.

Straw is the fourth Tyler Perry in which actress Taraji P. Henson has appeared, and the third one in which she has been the lead.  I have seen 2009's I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Henson's first starring role in a Perry film, but I have yet to see her second Perry lead, 2018's Acrimony.  Straw is very different from I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which also has Henson play a desperate single mother, but that film was nowhere near as heavyhearted as Straw.

Straw is so gloomy and mournful that it would not be much of an exaggeration to say that I could cut the sadness with a knife and make sandwiches out of it.  I don't want to spoil the film because as crazy as it seems that everything starts to fall apart for Janiyah on the same day, an even crazier or perhaps surreal ending to the film is in the works the entire time.

For all that is unbelievable about his film's plot, Tyler Perry has made Straw into a statement about and indictment of a system that makes it really expensive for poor African-American women to be poor.  Henson, in another sterling performance, makes Perry's eccentricities in Straw convey both his melodramatic goals and socioeconomic messages.  If people think a film like Straw is beneath Henson's talents, they would be wrong.  The very least one can say is that Tyler Perry is not under-utilizing Taraji P. Henson's talents the way the broader... film industry is.

Once again, I can say of a Tyler Perry movie that there is nothing like Straw.  It is one of Perry's better directorial efforts because for all its intensity, Straw's is less melodrama and more cinema verite-ish.  Perry and Henson make me feel that Straw is reality and that its possibilities and speculations are realistic.  Sure, the film doesn't so much as jerk the tears out of the viewer as it squeezes the tears out of the viewer.  Still, Straw reveals that in the lives of certain Americans, the last straw really has many other straws coming behind it.

7 of 10
B+
★★★½ out of 4 stars

Sunday, July 6, 2025


The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Saturday, July 5, 2025

Review: Ken Colley's "GREETINGS" is Small, But Big on Chills (R.I.P. Ken Colley)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 28 of 2025 (No. 2034) by Leroy Douresseaux

Greetings (2007)
Running time:  72 minutes (1 hour, 12 minutes:
Rating: Not rated by the MPAA / TV-MA
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Ken Colley
PRODUCER:  Ken Colley
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Denis Cullem
EDITOR: Andy Coughlan
COMPOSER: Darren Miller

HORROR

Starring:  Mel Stephenson, Matthew Reynolds, Kirsty Cox, Ben Shockley, John Rackham, Henry Dunn, Maria Long, and Kenneth Colley

Greetings is a 2007 British supernatural horror film from writer, producer, and director, Ken Colley.  The film apparently received some kind of limited theatrical release in the United Kingdom because the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) does not list it as a television movie.  In the United States and Canada, the film was released on DVD.  Greetings focuses on a group of friends who gather for a birthday party and find strange things starting to happen after they play with a Ouija board.

Greetings opens in a English flat where a group of eight friends and acquaintances have gathered for a special occasion.  It is the one-year anniversary of the couple, Cathy (Mel Stephenson) and Matt (Matthew Reynolds), and it is also Cathy's birthday.  Cathy and Matt have been in the flat for about a year.  Also in attendance are another couple, Kirsty (Kirsty Cox) and David (Ben Shockley), and friends Alan (John Rackham), Henry (Henry Dunn), Maria (Maria Long), and Ken (Kenneth Colley).

At some point during the festivities, one of the guys realizes that a small end table in the apartment is actually part Ouija board.  Four of the friends start playing with it, and right from the start, they get a message.  The friends all think that one of the group is playing a prank.  The boys are out for some harmless fun, but when strange things start to happen, they blame each other.  Soon, however, it all starts to seem like a joke that has gone too far.  Then, they realize this isn't a joke because something is with them in the flat.

Recently, the English film and television actor, Kenneth “Ken” Colley (1937-2025), died at the age of 87, Monday, June 30, 2025.  He was part of the repertory of actors who appeared regularly in the works of the late English director, Ken Russell (1927-2011), such as 1971's The Music Lovers.  Colley also played “Jesus” in Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979).  Colley may be best known for the role of “Admiral Piett” in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).  Piett is the only “Imperial officer” to appear in two films in the original Star Wars trilogy and be played by the same actor.

While recently reading Colley biography and filmography, I learned that he directed three films, two short films and one feature film, 2007's Greetings.  I became curious enough to want to see the feature.  I found that Greetings was available via the “Tubi” streaming service, so I gave it a viewing.  The few viewer reviews of the film that I came across on the Internet generally panned the film, but I like it a lot.  Greetings is a micro-budget film – reportedly produced for about ten thousand pounds, but it scares and thrills are not at all small and insignificant.

The setting, apparently a flat, gives the sense of claustrophobia.  Even when the focus is down to four characters, the flat seems too small to hold even a quartet and the unseen menace that is harassing them.

I don't find Greetings as talky as some do because I think the the conversations are what make the actors seem like real friends.  The performances are tight so that the conflicts between the friends have a sense of genuineness; their feelings of offense have a bite to them.  Conversely, their various bonds of friendship also come across as bona fide.  Also, I really like both the cast and the characters they play.  I could watch them all again in another production.

I'm impressed that Mr. Colley got so much out of his small budget.  The film is good, but not great while still managing to be quite entertaining.  I think Colley's screenplay for Greetings could easily be adapted into a larger and pricier horror film.  I generally avoid movies about Ouija boards and seances, because they scare me and make me uncomfortable.  Greetings did exactly that, so I will recommend it to fans of spirit boards and spirit mediums.

6 of 10
B
★★★ out of 4 stars

Saturday, July 5, 2025


The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site or blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 1st to 5th, 2025 - UPDATE #7

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

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 this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

BOX OFFICE - From THR:  Why did Blumhouse's horror film sequel, "M3GAN 2.0" bomb?  The answer is likely that fewer people who saw the original film in theaters wanted to go to a theater to see a sequel. I'm sure it will do well on streaming.

CELEBRITY - From YahooCanada:  Veteran film and television actor and Emmy-winning voice performer, Keith David ("The Thing," Disney's "The Princess and the Frog"), will receive a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame."  The actor, who has over 300 credits on his resume, will receive the star in 2026.

SCANDAL - From Deadline:  Grammy-winning recording artist and music business mogul, Sean "Diddy" Combs, was found guilty of two of the five sex-trafficking counts.  Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges.  He was found guilty on two lesser charges of transportation of former girlfriends for prostitution.  The verdict is seen as a victory for Combs, who was cleared of the most serious charges against him.  The prostitution charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years each.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Viola Davis and Emmy-winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will star in and produce a re-imagining of David Mamet's 1987 film, "House of Games."  MGM released the original, which was Mamet's directorial debut, and Amazon MGM Studios is developing the new version.

OBITS:

From Variety:  American film and television composer, Mark Snow, has died at the age of 78, Friday, July 4, 2025.  A prolific composer, Snow is best known for composing the theme for Fox's former science fiction detective series, "The X-Files," and for composing the music for over 200 episodes of the series.  He also composed almost 300 episodes of the former CBS police drama, "Blue Bloods." Snow also composed the film score for both entries in "The X-Files" films series, "The X-Files" (1998) and "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" (2008).  For his work in TV, Snow received 15 Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

From Variety:  Film and television actor, Michael Madsen, has died at the age of 67, Thursday, July 3, 2025.  Madsen is best known for his roles in several Quentin Tarantino films, "Reservoir Dogs" (1992), "Pulp Fiction" (1994), "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" (2003), "Kill Bill, Vol. 2" (2004), "The Hateful Eight" (2015), and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (2019). He also appeared in such films as "Thelma & Louise" (1991), "Species" (1995), and "Sin City."  Madsen was a series regular or recurring actor in such TV series as, "St. Elsewhere," "Crime Story," "Tilt," "24," and "Powers," to name a few.

From Deadline:  Australian film and television actor, Julian McMahon, has died at the age of 56, Wednesday, July 2, 2025 of cancer.  He had roles in prominent films based on comic books.  He was "Victor Von Doom/Dr. Doom" in director Tim Story's "Fantastic Four" duology, "Fantastic Four" (2005) and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" (2007).  He appeared in the 2010 comic book-based film, "RED" and in both a recurring and regular character in Hulu/Marvel Television series, Runaways (2017-18).  McMahon's most prominent work came via TV.  He was "Christian Troy" in the FX medical drama, "Nip/Tuck" (2003-10).  He had a lead role in CBS's "FBI: Most Wanted" from 2020 to 2022, and he appeared in a few episodes of "FBI" and "FBI: International."  McMahon was also the only son of Sir William McMahon, the 20th prime minister of Australia (1971-72).

From Deadline:  Character actor, Peter-Henry Schroeder, has died at the age of 90, Monday, June 7, 2025.  He appeared in such films as "The Seduction of Joe Tynan" (1979) and the Oscar-winning, "Argo" (2012), as a film producer.  He appeared in two episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise" in 2001 as the "Klingon Chancellor."


Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Comics Review: "DONALD DUCK: MAGIC AND MAYHEM" Has Lots of Magic and Mayhem

DONALD DUCK: MAGIC AND MAYHEM
FANTAGRAPHICS/Disney

STORY: Alberto Savini
TRANSLATION: Daniele Mittica
DIALOGUE: Joe Torcivia
PENCILS: Vitale Mangiatordi; Mattia Surroz; Emilio Urbano; Libero Ermetti; Mario Ferracina
INKS: Tommaso Ronda; Mattia Surroz; Roberta Zanotta; Stefano Porcu; Mario Ferracina
COLORS: Francesca Vivaldi; Annalisa Ferrari; Francesca Dramis; Connie Daidone
LETTERS: Paul Baresh and Ben Horak with Arancia Studio
DESIGN: Justin Allan-Spencer; C. Hwang
EDITOR: David Gerstein
COVER: Libero Ermetti with Arancia Studio
MISC. ART: Francesco D'Ippolito with Arancia Studio; Mirka Andolfo; Marco Mazzarello with Valeria De Sanctis
ISBN: 979-8-8750-0045-4; hardback; 6.9" × 9.3" (February 2025)
116pp, Color, $19.99 U.S.

Donald Duck: Magic and Mayhem is a 2025 hardback graphic novel starring Walt Disney's classic character, Donald Duck.  This book was published in March by Fantagraphics under their line of “Disney Originals.”  I think that “Disney Originals” are collections of new and recent comics starring Disney characters, likely originating from Europe.  This line is different from Fantagraphics' other line, “Disney Masters,” which reprints Disney comic books produced by comic book writers and artists from North America and from around the world who are considered masters storytellers in the Disney comic book tradition.

2024 was the 90th anniversary of Donald Duck's first appearance, which occurred in the 1934 animated short film, The Wise Little Hen, which was part of Walt Disney's “Silly Symphonies” line of animated shorts.  1934 was also the debut of the black and white animated short film, Orphan's Benefit, which introduced Donald as the comic foil of Disney's headline character, Mickey Mouse.

In 2024. a quintet of European Disney modern comics masters (likely all Italian) produced a suite of Donald Duck stories to celebrate his anniversary.  The plots kicks off with Donald finding himself having a hard time, but fate downloads an unusual app onto his smartphone.  When activated, the app frees the “Smartphone XL-Genie,” and this genie tells Donald that he will grant him one wish (and only one wish) each day.  With the words “App-Racadabra!,” Donald can experience his fondest dreams and wackiest wishes.  Will Donald's own foibles and imperfections, however, turn these fondest dreams into one nightmare scenario after another?

The five stories included in Donald Duck: Magic and Mayhem are as follows:

Chapter 1: “App-Racadabra!”
Chapter 2: “The Price of Fame”
Chapter 3: “Keep Perfectly Calm!”
Chapter 4: “How Hard Can It Be?”
Chapter 5: “The Luckiest Duck in the World”

Donald Duck: Magic and Mayhem also stars Uncle Scrooge McDuck, Daisy Duck, Cousin Fethry Duck, and, of course, the nephews:  Huey, Dewey, and Louie.  [I have to add this note.  This graphic novel is my first encounter with “Fethry Duck,” a character that apparently debuted in 1964!]

THE LOWDOWN:  I have been reviewing various Disney comic books produced by American publisher, Dynamite Entertainment, most or all of which I assume are American originals.  I almost always get a lot of visits and even more hits on my blogs when I review Disney films and publications, which is also the case with the Dynamite titles.  I decided to see if I would have similar luck with a Fantagraphics Disney title.  After discovering the existence of Donald Duck: Magic and Mayhem, I used some Amazon gift card credit and purchased it.

Editor David Gerstein offers an excellent short “Foreword” to Donald Duck: Magic and Mayhem.  In it, he talks about the way Disney has portrayed and depicted Donald for the majority of his existence.  Donald wants to lead a normal life, but finds himself involved with adventure that often becomes misadventure.  He is beset by bad luck, but he also usually seeks the easy way out.  He assumes that he can do anything, which inevitably leads to more dramatic disasters.  And as everyone who has ever seen him in film, television, and/or comic books knows, Donald is – as Gerstein puts it – “recklessly feisty and 'wreck-lessly' cranky.”

In the opening story, “App-Racadabra,” Donald gets in trouble merely because he wants to test his pancake-making meddle against the vlogger, “Doug Delish.”  The problem is that Donald is trying to make his magical recipe and Doug's at the same time.  Disaster ensues, and that's where the Smartphone XL-Genie comes into the story.  Afterwards, Donald uses the genie to fix things that he broke or to make himself better.  I am not spoiling things by telling you, dear readers, that this all leads to Donald learning that he really just needs to be himself.  This happens in this graphic novel's final tale, “The Luckiest Duck in the World,” the only one of the five tales that actually pits Donald against Uncle Scrooge.

I feel that I've spoiled enough.  What I want to tell you is that is if you love Donald Duck and/or Donald Duck comic books, this book is a treat that your imagination will want to have.  It's also a steal at the cover price of $19.99.  The creative teams that produced these five tales are true practitioners of the art and magic of Disney comics.  I found myself engrossed in these stories, especially the final one, and the art and colors are superb and look and feel like they belong in classic Disney comics.

I envy the readers in Europe who get to see these comics first, but I am glad that Fantagraphics is brings these “Disney Originals” to North American readers.  Please, support high-quality American graphic novels, and buy this or any of Fantagraphics' other Disney publications.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Fantagraphics Disney books and of Disney comic books in general will want to read Donald Duck: Magic and Mayhem.

A

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


DONALD DUCK: MAGIC AND MAYHEM is available at Amazon.


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The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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