TRASH IN MY EYE Reviews

Monday, August 18, 2025

Comic Books, Magazines and Books Shipping for August 20, 2025

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

FEB251894 GOAT MAGIC GN (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS

Archie Comics Digest #1 2025 Halloween Special, $9.99 (locate on eBay)

AWA STUDIOS

Kill Or Be Killed #1 (One Shot), $8.99

They Choose Violence #3 (Of 5)(Cover A Rahzzah (Mature), $3.99

They Choose Violence #3 (Of 5)(Cover B Chris Ferguson & Mauricio Campetella Blaxploitation Film Homage Variant), $3.99

BOOM! STUDIOS

Grim #24 (Cover A Flaviano), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

Grim #24 (Cover B Baldemar Rivas), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

Grim #24 (Cover C Rebeca Puebla BOOM! 20th Anniversary Variant), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

Grim #24 (Cover D Baldemar Rivas Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

Grim #24 (Cover E Rebeca Puebla BOOM! 20th Anniversary Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

Grim #24 (Cover F Suspiria Vilchez Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #1 (2nd Printing Cover A Dan Mora), $4.99

VR Troopers #1 (Cover D BOOM! Studios Intermix Polybagged Variant), $7.99

VR Troopers #2 (Cover A Taurin Clarke), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover B Goni Montes), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover C Taurin Clarke Foil Full Art Variant), $6.99 (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover D Taurin Clarke Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover E Chris Jones Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover F Tom Scioli Reveal Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover G Simona Di Gianfelice Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover H Tom Scioli Reveal Variant), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover I Goni Montes Full Art Variant), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover J Sina Grace Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

VR Troopers #2 (Cover K Goni Montes Reveal Full Art Foil Stamp Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

CSN PRESS

Comic Shop News #1983, AR

DARK HORSE COMICS

Arkham Horror The Terror At The End Of Time TP, $19.99

Art Of Star Wars Outlaws HC, $54.99

Critical Role Vox Machina Origins I #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Babs Tarr), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

ElfQuest The Original Quest Volume 3 Wolf Blood Caged HC, $29.99

Iyanu Child Of Wonder Library Edition Volume 1 HC, $49.99

Los Monstruos #4 (Of 4)(Cover A Jesus Merino), $4.99

Resident Alien The Book Of Changes #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Steve Parkhouse), $4.99

Star Wars The High Republic Adventures Phase III Volume 4 TP, $19.99

Umbrella Academy Plan B #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Gabriel Ba), $4.99

Umbrella Academy Plan B #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Roger Cruz), $4.99

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

Barbarella Volume 3 #5 (Cover E Joseph Michael Linsner Full Art Variant), AR

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #1 (Cover H Mark Spears)(David Pepose Atlas Comics Signature Edition), AR

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #2 (Cover F Chad Hardin Full Art Variant), AR

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover A Tad Stones), $4.99

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover B Mark Bagley), $4.99

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover C Ted Brandt & Ro Stein), $4.99

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover D Nicoletta Baldari), $4.99

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover E Ciro Cangialosi), $4.99

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover F Ciro Cangialosi Line Art Variant), AR

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover G Nicoletta Baldari Full Art Variant), AR

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover H Ciro Cangialosi Line Art Full Art Variant), AR

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover I Ted Brandt & Ro Stein Full Art Variant), AR

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover J Ciro Cangialosi Full Art Variant), AR

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover K Mark Bagley Full Art Variant), AR

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #5 (Cover L Tad Stones Full Art Variant), AR

Gargoyles Demona #2 (Cover F Meghan Hetrick Limited Full Art Variant), AR

Herculoids #4 (Cover E Francesco Mattina Metal Premium Variant), AR

Herculoids #4 (Cover F Francesco Mattina Full Art Variant), AR

Red Sonja Attacks Mars #3 (Cover D Joseph Michael Linsner Full Art Variant), AR

Red Sonja Vs. The Army Of Darkness #4 (Cover F Tom Raney Full Art Variant), AR

SilverHawks #5 (Cover I Mark Spears Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost #12 (Cover E Francesco Mattina Metal Premium Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #3 (Cover G Joshua Middleton Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover A Mark Spears), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover B Joshua Middleton), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover C Derrick Chew), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover D Ben Oliver), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover E Chad Hardin), $4.99 (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover H Mark Bagley), AR (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover I Chad Hardin Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover J Mark Bagley Line Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover K Ben Oliver Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover L Mark Bagley Line Art Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover M Derrick Chew Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover N Mark Bagley Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

Space Ghost/Jonny Quest Space Quest #4 (Cover O Mark Spears Full Art Variant), AR (locate on eBay)

Terminator #1 (Cover A Declan Shalvey)(CGC Graded Edition), AR

Terminator #10 (Cover A Declan Shalvey), $4.99

Terminator #10 (Cover B Edwin Galmon), $4.99

Terminator #10 (Cover C Cat Staggs), $4.99

Terminator #10 (Cover D David Cousens), $4.99

Terminator #10 (Cover F Declan Shalvey Line Art Variant), AR

Terminator #10 (Cover G Cat Staggs Full Art Variant), AR

Terminator #10 (Cover H Declan Shalvey Line Art Full Art Variant), AR

Terminator #10 (Cover I David Cousens Full Art Variant), AR

Terminator #10 (Cover J Edwin Galmon Full Art Variant), AR

Terminator #10 (Cover K Declan Shalvey Full Art Variant), AR

Terminator #7 (Cover E Declan Shalvey Metal Premium Variant), AR

Terminator #8 (Cover E Declan Shalvey Metal Full Art Premium Variant), AR

ThunderCats #17 (Cover L Lucio Parrillo Limited Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats Lost #3 (Cover F Declan Shalvey Metal Premium Variant), AR

ThunderCats Lost #3 (Cover G Declan Shalvey Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats Lost #4 (Cover G Declan Shalvey Limited Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover A Declan Shalvey), $4.99

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover B Clayton Henry), $4.99

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover C Meghan Hetrick), $4.99

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover D Marco Failla), $4.99

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover E Jae Lee & June Chung), $4.99

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover H Declan Shalvey Line Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover I Jae Lee & June Chung Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover J Declan Shalvey Line Art Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover K Marco Failla Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover L Meghan Hetrick Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats Lost #5 (Cover M Clayton Henry Full Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #1 (Cover L Francesco Mattina Full Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover A Francesco Mattina), $4.99

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover B Lesley Leirix Li), $4.99

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover C Joseph Michael Linsner), $4.99

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover D Lauren Delorean Cosplay Variant), $4.99

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover E Francesco Mattina Foil Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover F Francesco Mattina Foil Full Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover G Lesley Leirix Li Foil Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover H Lesley Leirix Li Foil Full Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover K Joseph Michael Linsner Line Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover L Lauren Delorean Cosplay Full Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover M Joseph Michael Linsner Full Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover N Joseph Michael Linsner Line Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover O Lesley Leirix Li Full Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover P Joseph Michael Linsner Foil Variant), AR

Vampirella Armageddon #2 (Cover Q Joseph Michael Linsner Foil Full Art Variant), AR

Vampirella Volume 7 #2 (Cover K Lucio Parrillo Metal Premium Variant), AR

Vampirella Volume 7 #4 (Cover G Lucio Parrillo Full Art Variant), AR

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS

Buff Soul HC, $29.99

Evergreen Review Dispatches From The Literary Underground Covers And Essays 1957-1973 HC, $34.99

IDW PUBLISHING

Event Horizon Dark Descent #1 (IDW Dark)(Cover A Jeffrey Love), $4.99

Event Horizon Dark Descent #1 (IDW Dark)(Cover B Christian Ward), $4.99

Event Horizon Dark Descent #1 (IDW Dark)(Cover C Martin Simmonds), $4.99

Event Horizon Dark Descent #1 (IDW Dark)(Cover D Blank Variant), $4.99

Event Horizon Dark Descent #1 (IDW Dark)(Cover E Joshua Hixson), AR

Event Horizon Dark Descent #1 (IDW Dark)(Cover F Christian Ward Foil Full Art Variant), AR

Exorcism At 1600 Penn TP, $21.99

Godzilla 70th Anniversary Foil Classics Godzilla In Hell #1 (Cover A James Stokoe), $9.99 (locate on eBay)

Ionheart GN (Top Shelf Productions), $24.99

Jack Kirby's Forever People Artist's Edition HC, $150.00

Mothra Queen Of Monsters #5 (Cover A Sophie Campbell), $4.99

Mothra Queen Of Monsters #5 (Cover B Jake Smith), $4.99

Mothra Queen Of Monsters #5 (Cover C Jake Smith Full Art Variant), AR

Sonic The Hedgehog Volume 19 Collision Course TP, $16.99

Star Trek Strange New Worlds Omnibus Volume. 1 TP, $24.99

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Journeys #1 (Cover A Peter Laird & Michael Dooney), $4.99

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Journeys #1 (Cover B Kevin Eastman), $4.99

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Journeys #1 (Cover C Peter Laird & Michael Dooney Foil Variant), AR

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Nation #9 (Cover A Declan Shalvey), $5.99

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Nation #9 (Cover B Vitor Cafaggi), $5.99

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Nation #9 (Cover C Fero Pe), AR

KODANSHA COMICS

Go Go Loser Ranger Volume 14 GN, $10.99

I See Your Face Turned Away Volume 4 GN, $13.99

Issak Omnibus Volume 2 TP (Volumes 3-4), $22.99

My Instructor Won't Yield GN, $13.99

Noragami Omnibus Volume 9 TP (Volume 25-27), $19.99

Rent-A-Girlfriend Volume 32 GN, $12.99

Saving 80000 Gold In Another World For My Retirement Volume 12 GN, $12.99

Senpai Is An Otokonoko My Crossdressing Classmate Volume 2 GN, $15.99

Shangri-La Frontier Volume 18 GN, $12.99

ONI PRESS

Catacomb Of Torment #2 (EC Comics)(Cover A Ariel Olivetti), $4.99

Catacomb Of Torment #2 (EC Comics)(Cover B Lukas Ketner Variant), $4.99

Catacomb Of Torment #2 (EC Comics)(Cover C Jay Stephens EC Homage Variant), AR

Catacomb Of Torment #2 (EC Comics)(Cover D Lukas Ketner Black & White Artist Edition Variant), AR

Catacomb Of Torment #2 (EC Comics)(Cover E Patricia Martin EC Archive Edition Variant), AR

Goat Magic GN, $14.99

TITAN BOOKS

Doctor Strange Dimension War Prose Novel SC (per Diamond Distribution), $17.99

TITAN COMICS

Conan The Barbarian #23 (Cover G Greg Staples Glow In The Dark Variant), $13.99

Star Wars Insider #233 (Cover A Newsstand Variant), $9.99 (locate on eBay)

Star Wars Insider #233 (Cover B Direct Market Edition Variant), $9.99 (locate on eBay)

Star Wars Insider #233 (Cover C Foil Full Art Variant), $19.99 (locate on eBay)

TITAN MANGA

Somali And The Forest Spirit Volume 3 GN, $9.99

TOKYOPOP - DISNEY MANGA

Disney Pixar's Toy Story Manga 30th Anniversary Edition HC, $19.99

TOKYOPOP - LOVELOVE

Desert Butterfly Yearns To Be Caught GN, $13.99

World's End Blue Bird Volume 4 GN, $15.99

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT

Valiant Beyond Tales Of The Shadowman #1 (Cover A Damian Connelly), $3.99 (locate on eBay)

Valiant Beyond Tales Of The Shadowman #1 (Cover B Bella Rachlin), $3.99 (locate on eBay)

Valiant Beyond Tales Of The Shadowman #1 (Cover C Dennis Calero Connecting Variant), $3.99 (locate on eBay)

Valiant Beyond Tales Of The Shadowman #1 (Cover D Andres Ponce Design Variant), $3.99 (locate on eBay)

Valiant Beyond Tales Of The Shadowman #1 (Cover E Damian Connelly Full Art Variant), $3.99 (locate on eBay)

Valiant Beyond Tales Of The Shadowman #1 (Cover F Bella Rachlin Full Art Variant), $3.99 (locate on eBay)

Valiant Beyond Tales Of The Shadowman #1 (Cover G Dennis Calero Connecting Full Art Variant), $3.99 (locate on eBay)

VIZ MEDIA

Battle Royale Enforcers Volume 4 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $14.99

Cosmos Volume 2 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $14.99

Hirayasumi Volume 6 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $14.99

Hunter x Hunter 3-In-1 Edition Volume 3 TP (Volumes 7-9)(not verified by Diamond Distribution), $16.99

Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 27 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. Volume 9 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $14.99

Mission Yozakura Family Volume 18 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Rooster Fighter Volume 8 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $14.99

Show-ha Shoten Volume 8 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Snowball Earth Volume 6 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $14.99

Way Of The Househusband Volume 14 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $14.99

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Saturday, August 16, 2025

Review: Kurosawa's "HIGH AND LOW" Remains a Superb Police Thriller

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 35 of 2025 (No. 2041) by Leroy Douresseaux

Tengoku to Jigoku (1963) – Black and White

High and Low – English title

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Japan; Language: Japanese

Running time: 143 minutes (2 hours, 23 minutes)

Rating: Not rated

DIRECTOR: Akira Kurosawa

WRITERS: Hideo Oguni & Ryuzo Kikushima and Eijiro Hisaita & Akira Kurosawa (based on the novel by Ed McBain)

PRODUCERS: Ryuzo Kikushima and Tomoyuki Tanaka

CINEMATOGRAPHERS: Asakazu Nakai and Taiko Saito

EDITOR: Akira Kurosawa

COMPOSER: Masaru Sato

DRAMA/CRIME/THRILLER

Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Kenjiro Ishiyama, Kyoko Kagawa, Tatsuya Mihashi, Isao Kimura, Yutaka Sada, Takashi Kato, Takashi Shimura, Jun Tazaki, Nobuo Nakamura, Yunosuke Ito, Masahiko Shimazu, Toshio Egi, and Tsutomu Yamakazi

Tengoku to Jigoku (Heaven and Hell) is a 1963 Japanese drama and crime thriller from director Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune. The film is best known by its English release title, High and Low (which is the one I will use for this review). The film is a loose adaptation of the 1959 novel, King's Ransom, which was written by Evan Hunter (a pen name of the American crime and mystery fiction author, Ed McBain). In High and Low, a Japanese businessman becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom.

High and Low introduces wealthy Japanese businessman and executive, Kingo Gondo (Toshiro Mifune), who lives in an elegant hilltop house with his wife, Reiko (Kyoko Kagawa). He is currently engaged in a struggle to gain control of the company where he works, National Shoes. The board of the company is split between executives seeking to make cheap and low-quality shoes and the “Old Man,” the company's largest shareholder who who wants sturdy but unfashionable shoes. Gondo rejects both sides. He has envisioned a strategy of requiring high production costs for long-term profitability by producing high-quality shoes. Gondo has secretly set up a leveraged buyout to gain control of the company, mortgaging all his property for the money he will need for the buyout.

Just as he is about to put the plan into action, Gondo receives a phone call from someone claiming to have kidnapped his elementary school age son, Jun (Toshio Egi). The kidnapper demands a ransom of 30 million yen, which Gondo is prepared to pay, but he soon dismisses the call as a prank when Jun returns home from playing outside. However, Gondo learns that the kidnapper has mistakenly taken Shinichi (Masahiko Shimazu), the child of Gondo's chauffeur, Aoki (Yutaka Sada).

The kidnapper has realized his mistake, but he still wants the ransom. Gondo is forced to make a decision whether to use his millions to complete the buyout of National Shoes or to pay the ransom to save Shinichi. Meanwhile, the police arrive, led by Inspector Tokura (Tatsuya Nakadai), who becomes the chief investigator of the kidnapping case, and who is ably assisted by his partner, Chief Detective “Bos'n” Toguchi (Kenjiro Ishiyama). Can the police discover the identity of the kidnapper before Gondo is forced to pay the ransom, which would lead to his financial ruin?

High and Low apparently was and still is a big influence on films belonging to the crime sub-genre known as the “police procedural,” which focuses on the investigative procedures of law enforcement officers and agencies with them also being the protagonists. [This genre excludes private investigators (P.I.).] High and Low has been remade and adapted into other films and has also influenced other films and televisions series. It is currently the subject of a reinterpretation by director Spike Lee in his upcoming film, Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington.

High and Low are like two mini-movies joined into one longer feature film. The first half of the film focuses on Toshiro Mifune's Kingo Gondo and his conflicts and struggles. Most of the first half takes place in the living room of his home, with Gondo stalking the space like a caged lion or besieged king. Akira Kurosawa constructs this part of the film like a stage drama, and here, he shows a remarkable sense of staging and in film blocking (facilitating performances in a film via the precise arrangement of the actors). Kurosawa seems to be composing his action as if each moment is a painting.

The second half of the film fully embraces the police procedural. Kurosawa moves Gondo a little to the side and the police's chase and hunt of the suspect kicks into high gear. Lead by Inspector Tokura and Chief Detective “Bos'n” Toguchi, the police attack the case at every angle they can imagine. They race across the region, working a series of clues involving geographical vistas, background sounds and noises, and a variety of locals connected to the street life and roads in and around the city. I got the biggest kick out of watching this part of the film. I followed the the lead investigators as they pound the pavement and as the young police officers chase the suspect, who wears one of the eeriest pairs of reflective sunglasses I have ever seen in film. There is a trip into the underground lair of zombie-like heroin addicts that is as chilling as any found in a horror movies and as breathtaking as a jaunt through the most sumptuous set.

I loved the actors' performances which emphasize action, procedure, and personality more than narrow characterization. As usual, I adore seeing Toshiro Mifune, especially when paired with the great director, Akira Kurosawa. I have seen Kurosawa's great films, such as Rashomon (1950) and The Seven Samurai (1954), which also star Mifune. I think High and Low should join these two films as being among the great Kurosawa's best works.

9 of 10

A+

Friday, August 15, 2025

The "Criterion Collection" Blu-ray of HIGH AND LOW is available at Amazon.

NOTES:

1963 Golden Globes, USA: 1 nomination: “Best Foreign Film” (Japan)

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Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 10th to 16th, 2025 - UPDATE #6

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:

MOVIES - From Deadline: Core "Scary Movie" actresses, Regina Hall and Anna Faris, are coming back as "Brenda" and "Cindy," respectively, for the Wayans Brothers’ restart of the early millennium comedy franchise. The new Scary Movie, a Miramax production, is a big reunion, bringing the Wayans brothers back together for the first time in 18 years to write an all-new original script for the series, co-writing the script with Rick Alvarez. "Scary Movie" is prepping for an October shoot in time for a June 12, 2026 global theatrical release via Paramount. Miramax has a first-look deal with Paramount.

MOVIES - From THR: NBCUniversal announced today that it has acquired all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s popular "Jason Bourne" and "Treadstone" book series, in perpetuity. As The deal fortifies the future of the "Bourne" franchise across NBCUniversal, paving the way for new installments from the universe of Ludlum’s beloved character and the spy world he inhabits.

ANIMATION - From Deadline: The writing-producing team of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who created Netflix's "Wednesday" series, are working on a new animated film based on "The Addams Family," for Amazon MGM Studios. It will be a reboot and will not be connected to Wednesday.

BOX OFFICE - BoxOfficePro: The winner of 8/8 to 8/10/2025 weekend box office is Warner Bros Pictures' "Weapons" with an estimated take of 42.5 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Pedro Pascal is circling a starring role in Tony Gilroy's next film, "Behemoth!," from Searchlight Pictures.

OBITS:

From Deadline: The American actor, Danielle Spencer, has died at the age of 60, Monday, August 11, 2025. Spencer was best known for playing the role of "Deadra 'Dee' Thomas," the sarcastic sister of the lead character, "Roger 'Raj' Thomas" in the former ABC sitcom, "What's Happening!!" (1976-79). Spencer appeared as Dee in a recurring role in the syndicated sequel series, "What's Happening Now!!" (1985-88). After her acting career, Spencer became a veterinarian.

From Deadline: American actor and photographer, Dan Ziskie, has died at the age of 80, Monday, July 21, 2025. A journeyman actor, Ziskie appeared in 18 episodes of the former HBO series, "Treme" (2011-13), and he had a recurring role on Netflix's "House of Cards" as the Vice-President of the United States. Some will remember Ziskie as the character, "Frank Niggar" on the former Comedy Central sketch comedy series, "Chappelle's Show." In 2017, Ziskie released a book of photographs taken in the New York City area entitled, "Cloud Chamber."

Friday, August 15, 2025

Comics Review: "RED SONJA NOIR ONE-SHOT" - The Crone, the Thief, Her Partner and His Killer

RED SONJA NOIR ONE-SHOT (2025)

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Avallone

ARTIST: Edu Menna

COLORS: Adriano Augusto

LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry

EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt

COVER: Lesley “Leirix” Li

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Joseph Michael Linsner; Lesley “Leirix” Li; Molly Stewart cosplay

40pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (July 2025)

Rated: Teen+

Red Sonja created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith

Red Sonja Noir: “The Crimson Calypso

Red Sonja is female high fantasy and sword and sorcery hero. She first appeared in Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated February 1973) and was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith. Red Sonja was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Conan the Cimmerian's creator, Robert E. Howard.

In 2005, Dynamite Entertainment began publishing comic books featuring the character. One of the recent titles is Red Sonja Noir One-Shot. It is written by David Avallone; drawn by Edu Menna; colored by Adriano Augusto; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry. The one-shot finds Red Sonja dealing with a murdered partner and the hunt for a priceless artifact.

Red Sonja Noir One-Shot (“The Crimson Calypso”) is one of many stories of Red Sonja, but this one is not like many others. Red Sonja, usually a lone wolf, has a partner, Tamsin, an archer. Together, Sonja and Tamsin form the mercenary duo, “Blade and Archer.”

Now, they have a new client, Shauna. She wants Sonja and Tamsin to help save her sister from the slaver, Zander Thor. However, when Tamsin is found murdered, Sonja finds herself drawn into the feverish hunt for a priceless and mystical artifact known as “the Crimson Calypso.”

THE LOWDOWN: In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Red Sonja Noir One-Shot, which is one of several Dynamite Red Sonja comic books that I have read.

Red Sonja Noir One-Shot is the first long-form Red Sonja story written by David Avallone that I have read, though it is not my first Avallone Sonja. I have previously praised Avallone for being an imaginative writer, and he shows that with this story. However, “The Crimson Calypso” (a funny title and name) is more than just sword-and-sorcery hack-and-slash designed for our prurient interests. Avallone gives the story an emotional angle; every character here, including Sonja, has skin in the game. There is more to lose than to gain, and the stakes and desires seem very personal.

Artist Edu Menna is an underrated storyteller. His art is certainly stylish, but emotional content and context run throughout, which makes him perfect for translating Avallone's comic mayhem and subtle flourishes into sometimes gripping and sometimes emotional comic book storytelling. I would like to see Avallone and Menna run through a good twelve-issue stretch of Red Sonja.

Adriano Augusto's colors give the story a powerful punch; in fact, Augusto's coloring on the pages that depict death come at me like a punch. As always, Jeff Eckleberry's classic-style lettering and effects bring the clashing of swords and sounds of battles and duels to life.

I expected Red Sonja Noir One-Shot to be good, but I must say I got more than I expected. Encore! Encore!

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Red Sonja comic books will want to read Red Sonja Noir One-Shot.

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

A "Kindle" edition of RED SONJA NOIR ONE-SHOT is available at Amazon.

https://x.com/DynamiteComics

https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/

https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w

https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment

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Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Review: Shocking and Astonishing "BARBARIAN" Screams "Get Out!"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 34 of 2025 (No. 2040) by Leroy Douresseaux

Barbarian (2022)

Running time: 102 minutes (1 hour, 42 minutes)

Rating: MPA – R for some strong violence and gore, disturbing material, language throughout and nudity

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Zach Cregger

PRODUCERS: Roy Lee, J.D. Lifshitz, Raphael Margules, and Arnon Milchan

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Zach Kuperstein (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Joe Murphy

COMPOSER: Anna Drubich

HORROR/THRILLER

Starring: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Justin Long, Jaymes Butler, Matthew Patrick Davis, and Richard Brake

Barbarian is a 2022 American horror thriller film from writer-director Zach Cregger. The film focuses on a woman who discovers that her Airbnb has not only been double-booked, but is also a house that has deep, dark secrets within it walls and foundation.

Barbarian introduces a young woman named Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell). She arrives at an Airbnb on 476 Barbary Street in a rough-looking neighborhood in Detroit. It is the evening before a big job interview, and Tess is ready to relax in the home. However, she finds the Airbnb has been double-booked and is already occupied by an odd young man named Keith M. Toshko (Bill Skarsgard). Although, she is initially wary, Tess decides to take Keith up on his offer that they share the house, at least for the night while he sleeps on the couch.

Although she is unnerved by a peculiar incident during the night, Tess goes for her interview where her potential employer warns her about the neighborhood where she has the Airbnb. Upon her return to 476 Barbary Street, a series of upsetting situations leads Tess deeper into the house where she discover the unbelievable – all the while not knowing that the house's supposed owner is heading her way.

I had planned on seeing Barbarian a long time ago, but had been putting it off. Surprisingly, I pretty much ignored any articles about the film that I came across, and I don't really remember reading much about it on Twitter/X, which is where I often come across spoilers about films. Thus, I am going to do you a similar favor, dear readers. I will post a relatively short review about this film that will be scant on details.

Barbarian is the kind of film that benefits from a novel and unusual script, which is what writer-director Zach Cregger fashioned for this film. However, what it really needs is strong directing, which it gets from Cregger, and also superb film editing, which the film definitely gets from editor Joe Murphy. Barbarian also deals bluntly and cleverly with a familiar theme of horror films: characters – especially female characters – not being more trusting of their intuition that something is wrong where they are and so they should “Get out!”

Barbarian also gets a number of fresh or unusual performances, especially from Georgina Campbell, who reminds me of recent Oscar-winner, Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez). Campbell is a star in the making, as far as I'm concerned, and I hope to see more of her.

I think Barbarian is a treat that moviegoers who are dedicated to films will certainly want to see. It is pure shock cinema, one of those visionary horror films that arrive to ignore the status quo and to also wreck expectations of what a horror film should be. This is just what Jordan Peele's Get Out (2017) did five years before Barbarian was released. Barbarian actually holds onto a number of mysteries, things that don't quite add up or make sense in its story. That's okay because Barbarian is meant to unsettle the viewer before, during, and after the experience of watching it.

9 of 10

A+

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

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