TRASH IN MY EYE Reviews

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Comics Review: "BATMAN #5" Goes on a "Date Night"

BATMAN (2025) #5

DC COMICS

STORY: Matt Fraction

ART: Jorge Jimenez

COLORS: Tomeu Morey

LETTERS: Clayton Cowles with Jorge Jimenez

EDITOR: Rob Levin

COVER: Jorge Jimenez

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair; Julian Totino Tedesco; Leirix; David Aja; Mitch Gerads; Jorge Jimenez

36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S., (March 2026)

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Rating: 13+

“Date Night”

DC Comics recently relaunched its Batman flagship comic book series – the third time in 14 years. It is written by Matt Fraction; drawn by Jorge Jimenez; colored by Tomeu Morey; and lettered by Clayton Cowles. DC is pushing the series as the dawn of new era in Batman comic books.

Batman #5 (“Date Night”) opens in the Harborview district of Gotham City at the “Wayne Experimental Sciences Building.” A “date night” for Bruce Wayne and Dr. Annika Zeller goes off the rails when the legendary 000 Gang marks the good doctor for death. Meanwhile, the sinister assassin known as “The Ojo” awaits. Plus, a Batman ally arrives in the nick of time.

THE LOWDOWN: For years, I had a subscription to DC Comics' Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? ongoing comic book series. It was quietly canceled within the last year, but I had 14 issues left in my subscription. Midtown Comics in NYC, which manages DC Comics' subscriptions, gave me the option of choosing any new DC title I wanted to continue my subscription, so I chose Batman – just in time for this new era, and this is my fifth review of this new series.

I highly praised the first two issues of Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez's Batman. The Fraction-Jimenez team offered third and fourth issues that each seemed to be in a holding pattern. Now, the fifth issue brings back at least some of the intensity that had me comparing the first two issues of the Fraction-Jimenez's Batman to Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

Meanwhile, Tomeu Morey keeps coloring the hell outta the storytelling, and Jimenez joins Clayton Cowles to offer energetic lettering that gives this story an extra bump. That's it. Keep reading this new Batman, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Batman comic books will want to read Batman 2025.

A-

[This comic book includes a six-page preview of “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” from writer Tom King; artist Bilquis Evely; colorist Matheus Lopes; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.]

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

The first trade collection of Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez's "Batman" is entitled "BATMAN: DAYLIGHT" and is due in June in both hardcover and paperback editions, which will be available at Amazon.

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Saturday, March 14, 2026

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 8th to 14th, 2026 - UPDATE #8

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:

DISNEY/PIXAR - From Newsweek: Director Joseph Kahn, best known for his work in music videos, has publicly called out Disney after the company scrapped a Pixar movie that Kaha says reflects Disney's broader rollback of LGBTQ+ representation. Kahn calls this shift the "De‑Gayification" of the studio. The name of cancelled Pixar film is "BeFri." Directed by Kristen Lester, this original film looks at the "platonic break-up" of two girls' longstanding friendship. "BeFri" was three years into its development.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning for "King Conan," a new Conan the Barbarian movie. It is in development at 20th Century Studios and has the "Mission: Impossible" franchise’s Christopher McQuarrie attached to write and direct, sources have confirmed to the movie news website, "Deadline." Although representatives for 20th Century Studios declined to comment for Deadline, Schwarzenegger broke the news himself in an appearance at the "Arnold Sports Festival" in Columbus, Ohio this past weekend (March 5th-8th, 2026).

From SlashFilm: In additions to a new Arnold Schwarzenegger Conan film ("King Conan"), there will supposedly be a new Schwarzenegger "Predator" film, the first since his starring role in the 1987 original. There is also reportedly a script for "Commando 2," which be a sequel to the 1985 film, "Commando."

DISNEY - From Variety: Disney has apparently confirmed that Kathryn Hahn will play "Mother Gothel" in its live-action remake of his hit animated film, "Tangled" (2010).

MOVIES - From Deadline: Original "Rambo" actor, Sylvester Stallone, will be an executive producer on Lionsgate, Millenium Media, and AGBO' prequel film about the life of "John Rambo" before his original appearance in the 1982 movie classic, "First Blood." Actor Noah Centineo has taken over as John Rambo, and Jalmari Helander ("Sisu") is directing the film which is currently filming in Bangkok, Thailand.

AWARDS - From Deadline: The winners at the Writers Guild of America's 2026 / 78th annual WGA Awards have been announced. Writer-director Ryan Coogler took the "Original Screenplay" for "Sinners," and Paul Thomas Anderson won "Adapted Screenplay" for "One Battle After Another." The link leads to an article with the WGA Awards complete winners list.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 3/6 to 3/8/2026 weekend box office is Disney/Pixar's "Hoppers" with an estimated take of 46 million dollars.

STAGE - From WorldofReel: Quentin Tarantino has reportedly written a play. It is described as a "classic British-style farce comedy, filled with slapstick chaos, awkward mishaps, and characters constantly mistaken for someone else." Tarantino is eyeing a 2027 debut in London's West End, maybe even a late 2026 debut.

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OSCARS:

From Variety: "Variety" offers its final Oscar winner predictions in every category at the 2026 / 98th Academy Awards.

From THR: The nominations for the 2026 / 98th Academy Awards have been announced. Director Ryan Coogler's Sinners leads with history-making 16 nominations, including for "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Coogler), and Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan). The winners will be announced March 15, 2026.

From Truthout: Directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, the 2025 documentary film, "The Alabama Solution," is one of five nominees in the category of "Best Documentary Feature." The film chronicles the horrific conditions inside the state of Alabama's prisons. The incarcerated men who produced footage for "The Alabama Solution" were abruptly transferred to solitary this month (January).

From TheGuardian: Director Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" earned 16 Oscar nominations at the 98th Academy Awards, the most in the 98-year history of the awards. The previous record is 14, held by "All About Eve" (1950), "Titanic" (1997), and "La La Land" (2016).

From Variety: With her fifth Oscar nomination, for "Best Costume Designer" for "Sinners," Ruth E. Carter is now the most Oscar-nominated Black woman in the history of the Academy Awards.

From Truthout: One of the five nominees for this year's "Best International Feature" Academy Award is "The Voice of Hind Rajab." Representing the nation of Tunisia, the film is a mix of drama and documentary, and it tells the story of Hind Rajab, a five-year old girl who was killed January 29, 2024 by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza strip.

From YahooEntertainment: At the age of 73, actor Delroy Lindo finally gets his first Oscar nomination - in the category of "Best Supporting Actor" for "Sinners." The actor also talks about being "profoundly disappointed" by previous Academy snubs.

From EW: Oscar-nominee Kirsten Dunst is not pleased that her husband, previous Oscar-nominee, Jesse Plemons, was not Oscar-nominated for his work in the recent acclaimed film, "Bugonia."

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Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Comics Review: "SPACE GHOST Volume 2 #5" Has Somethin' Fishy

SPACE GHOST VOL. 2 #5

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Pepose

ART: Jonathan Lau

COLORS: Andrew Dalhouse

LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt

COVER: Francesco Mattina

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jae Lee with June Chung; Bjorn Barends; Michael Cho; Francesco Mattina

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2025)

Rated “Teen”

“Assault on Planet Glasstor!”

Space Ghost is a superhero character created by the American animation studio and production company, Hanna-Barbera Productions. The character first appeared in the Saturday morning cartoon series, “Space Ghost,” which was originally broadcast on CBS from September 1966 to September 1967 for 20 episodes. Space Ghost shared his television series with a second feature, entitled “Dino Boy in the Lost Valley.” Space Ghost was designed by cartoonist and comic book artist, Alex Toth (1928-2006), who created the character with Hanna-Barbera's founders, William Hanna (1910-2001) and Joseph Barbera (1911-2006).

In his original incarnation, Space Ghost was a superhero whose base of operations was a small world known as “Ghost Planet.” He fought super-villains in outer space with his teen sidekicks, Jan and Jace, and their monkey, Blip. His main weapons were power bands he wore around his wrists and lower arms; the bands fired off multiple energy beam-based attacks, including heat, cold, and force, to name a few. Space Ghost could also fly, survive in space, and turn invisible (his “Inviso Power”). He also had a space ship known as “the Phantom Cruiser.”

Space Ghost sporadically appeared in various comic book publications over a fifty year period. Dynamite Entertainment has just launched a new Space Ghost comic book as part of its licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Entitled Space Ghost Volume 2, it is written by David Pepose; drawn by Jonathan Lau; colored by Andrew Dalhouse; and lettered by Taylor Esposito. In the new series, The Space Ghost and his surrogate children, the twins Jan and Jace Keplar, and their monkey, Blip, fight the forces of darkness across the vastness of space.

Space Ghost Volume 2 #5 (“Assault on Planet Glasstor!”) opens with the ongoing war between the Shard-People of the Crystalline Empire of Glasstor and the Kingdom of the Space Sharks from the blood-red waters of Planet Liquo now at its hottest heat. The conflict was seemingly about to come to an end with a peace deal when an assassination attempt on the Space Sharks' King Remora reignited the war into a blood feud.

Jace has been blamed for being an ally of Emperor Glasstor and for being the assassin. Now, King Remora plans to unleash his mysterious planet-killing weapon, “Neptune's Wrath” against Glasstor. Space Ghost must convince Glasstor's Emperor to hold the peace, but the cosmic vigilante also has his other troubles. Meanwhile, Jan has taken matters into her own hands – some very capable and pugnacious hands.

THE LOWDOWN: Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. Space Ghost #5, Volume Two is one that I have received, but it is not the first Space Ghost comic book that I have read.

This fifth issue of the second volume of Space Ghost gives us the conclusion to the thrilling two-part story of interplanetary war between a water world and a world of crystal. Last issue's cliffhanger was sure to bring readers back for more, and if those readers did return, their reward is more of writer David Pepose's space opera intensity. Kudos to him for giving Jan the chance to let the thug out in the middle of this very busy chapter.

Series artist Jonathan Lau delivered a pot boiler in the first chapter, and this issue, he throws gasoline on fire. Why boil the narrative pot when you can burn down the kitchen? The result is that this issue seethes like an epic tale of war and betrayal should. Andrew Dalhouse's colors are the perfect accompaniment to this tale of Space Ghost's gritty determination of the twins' fierce and fighting spirit. As expected, Taylor Esposito's lettering creates a sense of a thunderous soundtrack for this closing chapter of this excellent two-part tale.

I highly recommend Space Ghost Volume 2, dear readers. If you want good, you want this.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Dynamite Entertainment's Warner Bros. comic book series will want to read Space Ghost Volume Two.

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

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Saturday, March 7, 2026

Review: "WEREWOLVES" is a Crazy Good Monster Movie

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 5 of 2026 (No. 2053) by Leroy Douresseaux

Werewolves (2024)

Running time: 93 minutes (1 hour, 33 minutes)

Rating: MPA – R for violence, some gore, and language

DIRECTOR: Steven C. Miller

WRITER: Matthew Kennedy

PRODUCERS: Jim Cardwell, Craig Chapman, Sevier Crespo, James Michael Cummings, Steven C. Miller, Myles Nestel, and Luillo Ruiz

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Brandon Cox

EDITOR: Greg MacLennan

COMPOSERS: James Burkholder and The Newton Brothers

SCI-FI/HORROR/ACTION

Starring: Frank Grillo, Katrina Law, Ilfenesh Hadera, Kamdynn Gary, James Michael Cummings, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lydia Styslinger, Daniel Fernandez, Yessenia Medina, Omalik J. Rosado, Travis Johnny Ware, and James Kyson

Werewolves is a 2024 American science fiction, horror, and action film from director Steven C. Miller. Werewolves is set on the day a lunar event that changed the world the previous year is about to happen again, while a small group of scientists attempts an experiment to save humanity.

Werewolves opens as the world prepares for the return of a devastating incident. One year earlier there was a “supermoon” event, but it was unlike any other known supermoon event. Over one billion humans that were exposed to the light from the supermoon were transformed into werewolves after the moonlight triggered a rapid DNA mutation in them.

A year later, Dr. James Aranda (Lou Diamond Phillips) and his Aranda Corp. believe that they have created a cure for the mutation in the form of chemical spray called “Moonscreen.” The spray creates a barrier (of sorts) between moonlight and human DNA. At Aranda's side is Dr. Wesley “Wes” Marshall (Frank Grillo), Aranda's lead molecular biologist and the head of the “Global Rapid Response” team.

As the day winds down, the world prepares for the return of the supermoon, Wes helps his late brother's widow, Lucy Marshall (Ilfenesh Hadera), and daughter, Emma (Kamdynn Gary), fortify their home. Will the home hold? And is “Moonscreen” the salvation that Dr. Aranda hopes? The answer may be behind the howling that will begin as soon as the moon rises.

Artist and illustrator, Carter Allen, my collaborator on the graphic novel, The Wrath of Karapace, likes to say that all movies cannot be hits, which is certainly true. However, director Steven C. Miller's hair-raising, 2024 film, Werewolves, deserved better than it got at the box office.

Werewolves is a true science fiction and horror action movie. It has more in common with sci-fi monster movies like Alien: Romulus (2024) and Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) than it does with most werewolf movies. Miller delivers werewolf action with the same kind of cap-popping audacity and flesh-rending madness as Underworld (2003) and its howling progeny.

With its persistent score, virtuoso editing, and sterling werewolf costumes, make-up, and effects, Werewolves delivers monster madness with the confidence of a major studio big budget event pic while also proudly waving its indie creature feature flag. And I say that as someone who is hella persnickety about werewolf visual effects. Also, I like how this film's script gives the werewolves character and personality. They're shrewd and conniving and move with intelligent purpose like Jurassic Park (1993) and its sequels. It is refreshing that Miller and his collaborators realized that seeing the whole werewolf is cool, but that they could also thrill the audience by focusing on various body parts. They make especially good use of the snout, creating an effect that reminded me of the keen close-ups of the raptors in the original Jurassic Park trilogy.

Werewolves' cast, led by Frank Grillo, Katrina Law, and Ilfenesh Hadera, are all-professional all the time. The cast made me believe that time was indeed running out, that Hell is hot, and that werewolves have brought their hearty appetites to this party.

I have previously stated that 2006's Skinwalkers and 2014's Wolves would have been better off as television series. I think we would be better off with at least a sequel to Werewolves. When it comes to werewolf films, I recommend it without reservation.

8 of 10

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Dear readers, you can stream "WEREWOLVES" on Hulu via the Disney+ app. You can also stream it on Amazon Prime Video via rental or purchase.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 1st to 7th, 2026 - UPDATE #6

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

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

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NEWS:

HULU - From WorldofReel: Ryan Coogler's reboot of "The X-Files" will begin shooting its pilot in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from May to June. The series is slated for Hulu. The early seasons of the original, the former Fox sci-fi drama "The X-Files," was also shot in Vancouver. Danielle Deadwyler is expected to co-lead the new series.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel: Director Andy Serkis' "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" starts production in May. The film, which reunites much of the original cast of the LOTR films could be the first in a series...

NETFLIX - From WorldofReel: Oscar-winner Denzel Washington will star in a biopic about the legendary general and statesman of the empire of Carthage, Hannibal. Frequent Washington collaborator, Antoine Fuqua, will direct for Netflix. Production is slated to begin in June 2026.

CELEBRITY - From Variety: Actor Bruce Campbell, best known for his role in director Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" films has announced that he has cancer that is "treatable," but not "curable."

AWARDS - From Variety: The winners at the 2026 / 32nd Actor Awards have been announced. "Sinners" won the night's top prize, "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture." The film's lead actor, Michael B. Jordan, also won "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 1/27 to 3/1/2026 weekend box office is Paramount Pictures' "Scream 7" with an estimated gross of 64.1 million dollars.

IMAGE AWARDS - From Forbes: Director Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" dominates at the 2026 / 57th Image Awards. The film wins 13 awards, including "Outstanding Motion Picture" and "Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture" (Ryan Coogler). Michael B. Jordan, who won "Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture" for "Sinners" also won "Entertainer of the Year."

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OSCARS:

From Variety: With her fifth Oscar nomination, for "Best Costume Designer" for "Sinners," Ruth E. Carter is now the most Oscar-nominated Black woman in the history of the Academy Awards.

From EW: Oscar-nominee Kirsten Dunst is not pleased that her husband, previous Oscar-nominee, Jesse Plemons, was not Oscar-nominated for his work in the recent acclaimed film, "Bugonia."

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Sunday, March 1, 2026

Review: "SCREAM 7" Will Make You Laugh... and Scream

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 4 of 2026 (No. 2052) by Leroy Douresseaux

Scream 7 (2026)

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

Rating: MPA – R for strong bloody violence, gore, and language

DIRECTOR: Kevin Williamson

WRITERS: Kevin Williamson and Guy Busick; from a story by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick (based on characters created by Kevin Williamson)

PRODUCERS: Paul Neinstein, William Sherak, and James Vanderbilt

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ramsey Nickell (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Jim Page

COMPOSER: Marco Beltrami

HORROR/MYSTERY/THRILLER

Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, Ethan Embry, Mark Consuelos, Jeremy Connor, Matthew Lillard, and Roger L. Jackson (voice)

SUMMARY OF REVIEW:

“Scream 7” is pure entertainment,a truly scary movie that is also a genuinely funny in all its mayhem and gore.

Neve Campbell makes a welcome return as Sidney Prescott, and dominates the film in a way that recalls that old “Scream” feeling.

I highly recommend “Scream 7” to fans of the franchise and also to people who just want to enjoy a good movie.

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Scream 7 is a 2023 slasher horror film from director Kevin Williamson. It is the seventh film in the Scream film series and is a sequel to Scream VI. In Scream 7, Sidney Prescott is living in a new town, but she cannot escape her past as a new Ghostface killer has emerged to target her teenage daughter.

Scream 7 finds original Woodsboro victim, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), living in Pine Grove, Indiana with her husband, Police Chief Mark Evans (Joel McHale), and their two daughters. Now known as Sidney Prescott-Evans, she has her own small business, tea and coffeehouse, “The Little Latte.”

Despite her new life, Sidney is still vigilante, always expecting “the Ghostface Killer” to invade her life again. Then, it happens; Sidney gets a call from Ghostface, and he is requesting a video call. And right before Sidney's eyes is a ghost from the past, and this time, he declares that he is targeting Sidney's older daughter, teenager Tatum (Isabel May). Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and her new assistants, siblings Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding), come to rescue. Before they can stop this new Ghostface, however, Sidney and company must discover how many Ghostface killers there are and who they are.

Personally, I believe that the previous film, Scream VI (2023), is the best Scream film since the original trilogy of films, and is closest to the original Scream (1996) in terms of entertainment value. So I am surprised by how much I really enjoyed the new film, Scream 7, and I'll say the same for it as I did for the sixth. Director Kevin Williamson, the who created Scream over three decades ago with his original screenplay for the first film, finally got his shot at directing a Scream film. Scream 7 is so good that it makes me think that Williamson should have directed a film in this series long ago.

I saw this film with a predominately Black audience, and we all enjoyed talking to the screen the entire time (Girl, don't put the gun down!) simply because Scream 7 is so freaking entertaining. It is as if Williamson deliberately has his characters do nonsensical things while in the throws of panic and terror in order to give the audience a reason to yell at them. I can't say for certain that Williamson did that, but, if he did, it is like an ultimate meta experience.

Neve Campbell makes a killer return as the ultimate survivor. Isabel May is good as her daughter, Tatum, but she can't help but be in the fearsome shadow Sidney/Neve casts. Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding provide excellent support and comic relief in a film that is, at times, as shockingly gory and gruesome as Final Destination (2000) and its progeny.

I don't want to spoil Scream 7 by talking about all the scenes that held me, thrilled me, kissed me, and killed me. Instead I will tell you, dear readers, that like Scream VI, Scream 7 is easily one of the series' best entries.

7 of 10

A-

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Sunday, March 1, 2026

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A Negromancer March 2026

Welcome to March 2026. 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.

While you're at it, have AnotherCookie.

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Also, my first original graphic novel, THE WRATH OF KARAPACE: A BIG SPIRITS EPIC, which is published by Candle Light Press. Co-created by Carter J. Allen, (Warning Comics), The Wrath of Karapace is now on sale at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.

Other online shops that are selling "The Wrath of Karapace" include the following:

- AmazonUK;

- Bookshop.org;

- ElmStreetBooks;

- the German book shop, OrrellFussli;

- Powells.com;

- Russell Books.com;

- SuperBookDeals.com;

- Walmart online.

Of note, The Wrath of Karapace is also available on eBay from a few different sellers.

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"The Wrath of Karapace" also a "Google Books" listing.