NEGROMANCER 2.0

Monday, January 30, 2023

Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for February 1, 2023

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

NOV221166 ANCIENT ENEMIES #2 (OF 6) $5.99

DEC221496 ARCADE WORLD GN CHAPTERBOOK VOL 06 DRAGON FLAMES $9.99

DEC221135 ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #337 $9.99

DEC221134 ARCHIES VALENTINES DAY SPECTACULAR 2023 $2.99

NOV221637 BACK TO FAIRTAYLIA #1 (OF 6) CVR B (MR) $4.99

NOV221636 BACK TO FAIRTAYLIA #2 (OF 6) $4.99

NOV221488 BEYONDTOPIA LEGENDS #2 CVR A SHAH $12.99

NOV221489 BEYONDTOPIA LEGENDS #2 CVR B MARCELLIUS $12.99

SEP222294 BIBI & MIYU MANGA GN VOL 03 $10.99

DEC221163 BLACK TAPE #1 (OF 4) CVR A PANOSIAN (MR) $3.99

DEC221164 BLACK TAPE #1 (OF 4) CVR B DEODATO JR & LOUGHRIDGE (MR) $3.99

DEC221165 BLACK TAPE #1 (OF 4) CVR C HEAVY METAL HOMAGE (MR) $3.99

JUL222075 BONDING PEOPLE & THEIR PARASITES HC VOL 01 (RES) $24.99

NOV221793 CATEGORY ZERO CONFLICT #2 $4.99

AUG222322 CHERRY MAGIC GN VOL 06 (MR) $14.99

DEC220979 CHILDREN O/T BLACK SUN #2 CVR A CADONICI (MR) $3.99

DEC220980 CHILDREN O/T BLACK SUN #2 CVR B BROWN (MR) $3.99

DEC220981 CHILDREN O/T BLACK SUN #2 CVR C RUDY (MR) $3.99

JUL222313 EVIL SECRET SOCIETY OF CATS GN VOL 02 $14.99

AUG222196 FIRE FORCE OMNIBUS GN VOL 02 VOL 4 - 6 $19.99

NOV221865 FIRSTBORNS #2 (OF 4) CVR A VASSALLO (MR) $3.99

NOV221866 FIRSTBORNS #2 (OF 4) CVR B PANTERA HOMAGE COVER (MR) $3.99

NOV221426 FLESH EATING CHEERLEADERS FROM OUTER SPACE #4 CVR A ZANE STA $4.99

NOV221723 FRANK FRAZETTA DEATH DEALER #9 CVR A MANCO $4.99

NOV221724 FRANK FRAZETTA DEATH DEALER #9 CVR B FRAZETTA $4.99

OCT221858 FRANK FRAZETTAS DAWN ATTACK #2 (OF 5) CVR A CASAS $4.99

OCT221859 FRANK FRAZETTAS DAWN ATTACK #2 (OF 5) CVR B FRAZETTA $4.99

SEP221793 GREATEST NAME IN COMICS DAREDEVIL SEASON 1 #2 $5.99

AUG222252 HAPPY KANAKOS KILLER LIFE GN VOL 06 $14.99

SEP222297 HER ROYAL HIGHNESS SEEMS TO BE ANGRY GN VOL 04 $12.99

NOV221765 HOUSECAT TROUBLE GN VOL 02 LOST AND FOUND $13.99

MAR228944 HOW HEAVY ARE DUMBBELLS YOU LIFT GN VOL 10 (MR) $12.99

MAR228982 I AM NOT A SUCCUBUS GN VOL 02 (MR) $13.99

DEC221912 I SHALL SURVIVE USING POTIONS GN VOL 09 $14.99

AUG222257 IM IN LOVE WITH VILLAINESS GN VOL 04 $12.99

OCT221914 KARL THE VIKING TP VOL 02 $32.99

SEP221347 LADY ZORRO FINAL FLIGHT #1 CVR A AVELLA MAIN $3.99

SEP221348 LADY ZORRO FINAL FLIGHT #1 CVR B AVELLA $4.99

SEP221349 LADY ZORRO FINAL FLIGHT #1 CVR C LTD ED $9.99

AUG222317 MY DRESS UP DARLING GN VOL 07 $14.99

NOV221867 NOBODYS GIRLS #3 (OF 3) CVR A SAN JUAN (MR) $3.99

NOV221868 NOBODYS GIRLS #3 (OF 3) CVR B CONNELLY (MR) $3.99

DEC221039 PAIGE PROVES IT GN CHAPTER BOOK SPOOKY STORY $10.99

NOV221963 PHOENIX FILES #1 (OF 3) CVR A VITORINO $5.99

NOV221964 PHOENIX FILES #1 (OF 3) CVR B TOLIBAO $5.99

NOV221965 PHOENIX FILES #1 (OF 3) CVR C GARVEY $5.99

NOV221966 PHOENIX FILES #1 (OF 3) CVR D EL TABANAS $5.99

NOV221882 PLUTO ROCKET GN VOL 01 NEW IN TOWN $9.99

OCT221653 PRINCE VALIANT HC VOL 26 1987-1988 $39.99

NOV221869 PURPLE OBLIVION #3 (OF 4) CVR A SIMONE (MR) $3.99

NOV221870 PURPLE OBLIVION #3 (OF 4) CVR B SIMONE (MR) $3.99

NOV221805 RED WINTER FALLOUT #2 (OF 4) $4.99

DEC221621 REFUGE GN $19.95

NOV221871 SARA LONE #4 CVR A ARLINGTON DAY (MR) $5.99

NOV221872 SARA LONE #4 CVR B ARLINGTON DAY (MR) $5.99

NOV221873 SARA LONE #4 CVR C ARLINGTON DAY (MR) $5.99

AUG222212 SAYONARA FOOTBALL GN VOL 15 $12.99

DEC221913 SEIREI GENSOUKI SPIRIT CHRONICLES GN VOL 01 $15.99

NOV221188 SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT #2 MAIN CVR A MARTINEZ (MR) $3.99

NOV221189 SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT #2 MAIN CVR B HASSON & HAESER (MR) $3.99

NOV221190 SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT #2 MAIN CVR C CLASSIC PHOTO (MR) $3.99

NOV221191 SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT #2 MAIN CVR D 1/350 B&W LTD ED (MR $9.99

DEC221508 TALES FROM NOTTINGHAM #1 (MR) $3.99

OCT221530 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #137 DLX ED (MR) $19.99

OCT221531 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #137 PHOTO CVR (MR) $19.99

OCT221939 THUD DOUBLE VISION MAGAZINE #3 $9.99

OCT221513 TITAN MOUSE OF MIGHT #1 (MR) $4.99

NOV221325 VIGIA #1 (OF 5) CVR B BOGATCH $5.99

AUG222291 YAKUZA FIANCE GN VOL 02 $14.99

SEP222299 YURI ESPOIR GN VOL 03 (MR) $12.99

MAGAZINES

NOV221404 COMIC SHOP NEWS (100CT BUNDLE) #1850 $PI

NOV221405 MONSTER BASH MAGAZINE #49 $8.99

BOOKS

NOV221544 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS BEHOLD SEARCH & FIND ADVENTURE HC $10.99

SEP221794 HERO BUSINESS COMPENDIUM SC $79.99

NOV221893 INTO THE JUNGLE BOYS COMIC STRIP HIST WWII $25.00

AUG222303 LONER LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04 $14.99

SEP222319 MAIDENS BOOKSHELF MOON OVER THE MOUNTAINS $19.95

NOV221100 MARVELS SPIDER-MAN SCRIPT TO PAGE SC $22.95

JUL222370 MUSHOKU TENSEI JOBLESS REINCARNATION LIGHT NOVEL VOL 20 (MR) $13.99

NOV221762 NEIL GAIMAN PIRATE STEW SC $9.99

MAR222245 REINCARNATED AS A SWORD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 11 $13.99

DEC221362 SECRET IDENTITY SC NOVEL $18.99

NOV221766 STAR WARS PRINCESS & SCOUNDREL SC $17.99

DEC221915 UNWANTED UNDEAD ADVENTURER LIGHT NOVEL VOL 09 $14.99

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DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for January 31, 2023

DC COMICS:

Action Comics #1051 (Cover J Dan Mora Foil Variant), AR

Action Comics #1051 (Cover K David Nakayama Foil Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman Legends Of Gotham #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Carmine Di Giandomenico), $5.99

Batman Legends Of Gotham #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Nathan Szerdy Card Stock Variant), $6.99

Batman Legends Of Gotham #1 (One Shot)(Cover C David Nakayama Card Stock Variant), AR

Catwoman #51 (Cover E Joshua Sway Swaby Foil Card Stock Variant), AR

DC Connect #33, AR

DC Power A Celebration #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Jahnoy Lindsay), $9.99

DC Power A Celebration #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Sozomaika Card Stock Variant), $9.99

DC Power A Celebration #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Taj Tenfold Card Stock Variant), $9.99

DC Power A Celebration #1 (One Shot)(Cover D Ken Lashley Card Stock Variant), AR

DC Power A Celebration #1 (One Shot)(Cover E Sozomaika Foil Variant), AR

DC’s Harley Quinn Romances #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Amanda Conner), $9.99

DC’s Harley Quinn Romances #1 (One Shot)(Cover B David Talaski), $9.99

DC’s Harley Quinn Romances #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Elizabeth Torque), AR

Flash One-Minute War Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Serg Acuna), $5.99

Flash One-Minute War Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Serg Acuna Foil Variant), AR

Lazarus Planet Legends Reborn #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Vasco Georgiev), $4.99

Lazarus Planet Legends Reborn #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Rafael Sarmento Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Lazarus Planet Legends Reborn #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Laura Braga Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Lazarus Planet Legends Reborn #1 (One Shot)(Cover D Minkyu Jung Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Lazarus Planet Legends Reborn #1 (One Shot)(Cover E Reilly Brown Card Stock Variant), AR

Lazarus Planet Legends Reborn #1 (One Shot)(Cover F Vasco Georgiev Foil Variant), AR

Milestone Compendium Volume 2 TP, $59.99

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

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

DC COMICS

STORY: Matthew Cody

ART: Erich Owen

COLORS: Erich Owen

LETTERS: Saida Temofonte

EDITOR: Kristy Quinn

COVER: Erich Owen

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

Ages 8+

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

“Night of the Owlful Party!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Saturday, January 28, 2023

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

GREEN HORNET ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK, ONE SHOT

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Shannon Eric Denton

ART: Jethro Morales

COLORS: Jorge Sutil

LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

EDITOR: Dynamite Editorial

COVER: Dan Panosian

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

Rated Teen+

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

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

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

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

THE LOWDOWN: Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Green Hornet One Night in Bangkok, One Shot, the very first Green Hornet comic book that I have read.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Friday, January 27, 2023

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

DISNEY'S GARGOYLES #2

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Greg Weisman

ARTIST: George Kambadais

COLORS: George Kambadais

LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry

EDITOR: Nate Cosby

COVER: David Nakayama

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

Rated “Teen”

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

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

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

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

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

THE LOWDOWN: Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Gargoyles #2, only the second Gargoyles comic book that I have read.

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

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

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

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

B+

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

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Thursday, January 26, 2023

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

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

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

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

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

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Martin McDonagh

PRODUCERS: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, and Martin McDonagh

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

EDITORS: Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

COMPOSER: Carter Burwell

DRAMA/COMEDY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Thursday, January 26, 2023

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Wednesday, January 25, 2023

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

THE MAGIC ORDER 4 #1 (OF 6)

IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar

ART: Dike Ruan

COLORS: Giovanna Niro

LETTERS: Clem Robins

EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin

COVER: Dike Ruan with Giovanna Niro

VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Rafael Albuquerque

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

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order created by Mark Millar at Netflix

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A+

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

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