Red Sonja Review!

Red Sonja is a powerful sword and sorcery film highlighted by the strength of actress Matilda Lutz and the vision of director, M.J. Bassett! The film had a brief theaterical run on August 13th, and has just had a VOD release today, August 29th. It has been a long history to get the She-Devil with a Sword back on screen. The inspiration for the character came from Conan creator, Robert E. Howard’s story, “The Shadow of the Vulture” (1934). Set in the Ottoman Empire, it featured Red Sonya of Rogatino. Writer of the Conan the Barbarian comic books, Roy Thomas and artist, Barry Windsor-Smith brought Sonja into Conan’s world. This was in Conan the Barbarian #23 (1973). Her infamous chainmail bikini (actually scale mail) was designed by Esteban Maroto in the black and white magazine, Savage Sword of Conan #1 (1974). 

Sonja spun off into her own series with incredible art by Frank Thorne. She was on film with Red Sonja (1985). The 1998 episode of Conan the Adventurer, “Red Sonja” featured actress Angelica Bridges. In 2013, Dynamite Entertainment started a new Red Sonja series with writer, Gail Simone, and artist Walter Geovanni. Also important is the 2019 run written by Mark Russell with artist, Mirko Colak. Recently, Simone wrote her novel, Red Sonja: Consumed (2024). The film is directed by M.J. Bassett. She also directed Solomon Kane (2009), one of my favorite movies based on a Robert E. Howard character. The film is written by Tasha Guo who also wrote the animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024). The movie is not a reboot, it is a fresh take that would be closest to the Dynamite Entertainment runs of Gail Simone and Mark Russell. 

The sun dawns on the mist shrouded forests, beautiful shots by cinematographer, Lorenzo Senatore. Wonder Woman (2017) had Senatore as 2nd unit director of photography. We get narration about Hyborian Age, the time of Conan, and the land of Hyrkania, the country for Red Sonja. The Hykanians follow the Goddess of the Earth, Ashera. The village is pastoral and simple with roofs covered with greenery. The narrator explains about the reign of the barbarian King Anzus. A woman is preparing food, Red Sonja’s mother, Danara (Veronica Ferres), and she watches her ginger haired daughter, Young Sonja (Sofia Weldon).  and her friend, Young Draygon (Skye Saw). Sonja sees the village gate with a storm rumbling in. Raiders break through the gate! This is just a brief scene, but the filmmakers avoid the regular film opening of the attack on the village. 

Red Sonja, now an adult played by Matilda Lutz, rests against her horse, Vihur. Lutz was In the horror film, Revenge (2017). Sonja is in a simple tunic like a forest huntress. She tells Vihur gently that they are headed west. Sonja checks her trap and finds a rabbit giving it a blessing for its sacrifice. It is interesting to see Sonja at first as a gentle, soft spoken huntress. Later, she rides through the forest, and finds a tree to rest in. This is at the top of the tree overlooking the valley. Sonja takes Vihur to an ancient tree in the middle of a pool feed by two streams. There is a wooden figure of Ashera carved in the tree. She prays to the goddess for finding her people. Vihur pushes her forward into the pool to bathe. Three prehistoric beasts , Fantatherium, with ridged snouts, a family, enter the sacred pool. Then, Sonja hears hunters riding to capture the beasts! She draws back her horse to the roots of the tree as they chase after the Fanatherium.

Sonja halts Vihur to see the corpses of the beasts, killed for their ridges bloodily ripped off their heads, very sad. She prays to ease the suffering of a dying beast, Sonja is a very gentle person here, respectful of animals and the forest. Sonja tracks the killers and then pulls up to a grassy hill to look down on a fortification. She arms herself with a bow and other weapons while telling Vihur to stay in the forest. Night at the fort, the killers look at the captured Fantatheirum ridges as Sonja watches them. She also sees a giant scorpion prodded into a wooden box. A horn sounds with the approach of the emperor. The caravan has horses next to a wagon, a powerfully built man with a mandrill-like face (Martyn Ford), rides with the caravan. Ford played Squatterbloat in the Sandman episode, “A Hope in Hell” (2022). 

General Karlak opens the door to a an armored Emperor Draygan the Magnificent (Robert Sheehan). Klaus Hargeeves was played by Sheehan in The Umbrella Academy. Draygan was introduced in Red Sonja #1 (2019). Commander Artran (Simon Feek) reports to the emperor that they are clearing away forests half a league a day. This is due to Draygan’s machines. Walking up in furs is a woman with pale hair, Annisia, played by Wallis Day. Kate Kane in the Batwoman series was another part played by Day. Annisa debuted in Red Sonja #1 (2013). Artran tells Draygan that they captured beasts for the arena. The emperor says he is getting a cyclops and asks Minister Coltar (Tim McMullan) to confirm it. He should be excited about the cyclops, great nod with the giant scorpion to Ray Harryhausen! Draygan then asks Karlak about the prisoners. 

They are Turan rebels, suffering people in cages, Draygan walks up to a elderly, bearded man (Tihomir Vinchev). This is King Anzus! The emperor says that as a slave boy he had poured ale for the king. Anzus says that he is looking for the Book of Secrets. Draygan asks about the Hyrkanians and Anzus replies that they were defeated by his predecesor. He says the gods will protect the forest. Emperor Draygan says that he will defeat the gods through knowledge. An interesting progress by a villain, but also his machines are changing the order of this world. He shouts at King Anzus that he is the future. Draygan calls over General Karlak and says the king is of no use anymore. He walks off to check his machines while Karlak has the king on his knees. Sonja watches as he screams from Karlak’s sword! 

Two hunters check on the caged beasts and she kills them quick and then goes to unlock the cage. 

A blade slides under Sonja’s neck. Annisa threatens Sonja for attempting to take Draygan’s property. Sonja backs away, then batters the sword from her. Annisa questions her and Sonja says she has no tribe. She hears voices repeating, “Liar!”, in her head. Sonja says Annisa is mad and they start the duel! Sonja reaches down to throw Annisa to the ground and starts beating her. Draygan notices as well as several guards and claps at their battle. Sonja has an arm bar around Annisa’s neck and then sees Vihur riding into the camp before she is knocked unconscious. There is a very distorted, echoing sounds that is the pov of Sonja. Draygan and Annisa are talking and then Draygan walks up to Sonja tied to a cross! He asks her if she is Hyrkanian. Karlak is ordered by the emperor to make Sonja talk. He cuts a dagger across Sonja’s wound and she yells in pain!

The emperor looks at Sonja’s map of the Hyrkanian forest. She has a bloody face and swollen right eye, but manages to pull free and grab Draygan. Annisa extends her sword at Sonja to free the emperor. Draygan is smugly amused and sends her to the arena as a Damnati, a word for gladiator. He adds to Annisa that Sonja may become a champion like her. Sonja fades back to the memory of her village. Danara calls her Sonja, the first time that we hear her name, and tells her to take the children to the forest. Pieces of this memory is threaded through the movie. We see a caravan on a dusty road to the mountains. Sonja is unconscious in chains. The memory returns with Sonja taking the hand of a young boy with dark hair, Dralagoon (Skye Saw). Sonja loses Dralagoon’s hand and he falls by the hooves of the horses! 

Then, we see the city, epic with walls, a single bridge path to the castle, towers, a ziggurat, all smashed into a mountain side. Sonja is pulled out of the wagon by armored guards. Sonja sees her horse being led away. Vihur is whipped and Sonja struggles with two guards, knocking them down! She slings a chain around the neck of the fool who whipped her horse! Sonja starts to beat him before taken by the guards to a caged wagon. Village flashback, Sonja sees a raider cutting down her mother with a sword!, it seems like Vihur has been her only family. She hears the voice of her mother, but this resolves face of an elderly woman who says she is not her mother! Sonja leaps up and takes a dagger to the woman’s neck, the captain shows her the Damnati pits, and says there is no escape. The other warriors are casually eating at tables including the bearded Hawk (Michael Bisping) sharing the table with Petra (Rhona Mitra). 

Bisping was in the action movie, xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017) also as a character named Hawk. Currently, he is in this year’s action movie, Den of Thieves: Pantera. Mitra was Varinia in Spartacus show. Also, she played Sonja in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009). Walking past them in a towel is Osin the Untouched (Luca Pasqualino) as he calls himself. Pasqualino voiced Wulf in Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024). He also played the young William Adama in the tv movie, Battlestar Galactica: Bloood & Chrome (2012). His name in the comics is Osric and he first appeared in Red Sonja #10 (2014). Petra notes that Osin has been Damnati the longest of all of them. Hawk feeds on a bowl and says no one cares if the woman healer dies. Another Damnati, Amarek (Eliza Matengu), looks at them. She has the same mandrill-like face as General Karlak so we get another member of this unknown species.

Also observing Sonja is the blond haired Damnati, Daix (Ben Radcliffe). Osin, now dressed, slips next to Petra and says that he is far better than Hawk. She rejects him. The captain announces the training. Night, we pan across the city, lighting from Draygan’s machines lights some of the buildings. Crudelis enters the emperor’s lab and asks about the search of the Hyrkanian forest. Drotheraygan explains that Anzus drove the survivors into the forest along with the other half of the Book of Secrets. He holds up his half of the book! Draygan is the only one who knows the code to read the book. He reads a prophecy, “The child who holds the knowledge within shall hold the world in their hands.” Prophecies can be confused. Draygan says to Crudelis that the book is his story. He is obsessed to find the other half to provide his story’s ending. Osin says Sonja is effective in the training. 

Hawk turns to see her scaling the rocky walls. Osin remarks that no one has reached the top. Very much like Bruce Wayne scaling Bane’s prison in The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Petra says Sonja reached her farthest point. Sonja reaches the top fights some guards, but then others capture her again. Sonja now has her wrists bound and Petra says all she has to do is defeat everyone as a Damnati. Another adds this is like Annisa, Sonja says she talks to herself, and Petra explains that she is haunted by the people she has killed. Sonja admits that she lost to Annisa, but will be ready next time. In her room, Annisa searches for a flask and then downs it. There is a curved scar on her face. Draygan enters sending away attendants and guards. He asks if she is ready for the banquet. Annissa wants to share a bed with him, asking if he wants a empress, and Draygan shrugs her off. 

He says they were slaves who found freedom. Annissa says that the voices trouble her and Draygan doesn’t have a cure. He says when he finds a cure, she will be complete, and become his empress. Draygan offers another flask which Annissa quickly finishes and then he leaves. At her mirror, the faces of her ghosts appear and call her “Murderer”!  The captain announces the games which wakens Hawk holding Petra. At the training ground, Osin asks Sonja’s name and tribe, she says she has no tribe, and he calls her “Sonja who is alone in the world.” He introduces himself and explains his name is Untouched because he was never touched by a blade. Sonja has a wooden dagger, but Osin catches her wrist and holds her close. Other women remark that he is royalty. Petra answers Sonja’s question about the arena that may have creatures or other Damnati. 

The arena is built around a massive carving of helmeted warrior built from a steppe, his arms enclosing the sandy arena. The ancient remnants of a civilization lying around this time makes me think of the forgotten statues and ruins in the Lord of the Rings films. Hawk is bloody, having killed three opponents, and then he forces off a Damnati off the cliff! The emperor watches on his throne with Annissa and Crudelis at his side. Petra asks Dane the Blacksmith, Ashman (Tony Way), for her weapons. Hawk finishes off the last Damnati. Hawk returns and puts a necklace around Peta and tells her, “For love.” Sonja walks up to the blacksmith and points out armor and weapons. Instead, he gives her a wooden sword, buckler, and the chainmail bikini! He holds it up, she asks what it protects, Dane says "nothing, but the crowd will love it”, very funny! Matilda Lutz brings complexity with the She-Devil with a Sword. The world building is fantastic as well as the pacing and cinematography. Red Sonja is one of the finest Robert E. Howard inspired adaptations! 

Five+ Chainmail Bikinis out of Five! 

#RedSonja, #MJBassett, #TashaGuo, #MatildaLutz, #LucaPasqualino,   #RobertSheehan, #WallisDay, #MartynFord, #VeronicaFerres,#MichaelBisping, #ElizaMatengu, #BenRadcliffe, #RhonaMitra, #TonyWay, #TrevorEve, #TihomirVinchev   

Happy Birthday Jack Kirby!

Happy Birthday to the King of Comics! The best way to celebrate Jack Kirby’s birthday is to buy comics! There are currently facsimile edition, reprints that copy the style of the original comics, of Fantastic Four. This covers Fantastic Four #1, #4 the introduction of Sub-Mariner to the FF, #5 first appearance of Doctor Doom, and #48, “The Coming of Galactus!”There is also trade paperbacks, omnibus’, and maybe find that rare back issue! Also, watch (again) Fantastic Four: First Steps! Lastly, there is the exhibit, Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity, at the Skirball Cultural Center. It opened on May 1st and runs to March 1st of next year. To understand how comic books, superhero comics, the work and its appeal, you have to understand Jack Kirby. 

His extreme poses and action exploding out of the panels are the language of superhero comic books today. The King of Comics, started as an in-betweener at the Fleischer Studios working in animation. Then, he started work at the Eisner & Iger studio creating artwork working in many genres for Wild Boy Magazine. Kirby moved to Fox Feature Syndicate working with writer Joe Simon on the Blue Beetle comic strip. The duo worked together on Captain Marvel Adventures #1 (1941) for Fawcett Comics. They joined Timely Comics, which later became Marvel Comics, and created Captain America Comics #1 (1941). It sold out and became an iconic character for Timely/Marvel. Captain America was the subject of a movie serial in 1944, some movies in 1979, a film in 1990, and entered the MCU played by Chris Evans in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). 

The Simon and Kirby duo created romance comics with Young Romance #1 (1947). Kirby then worked for DC creating the Challengers of the Unknown, a quartet of explorers who survive a jet crash to investigate strange dangers in Showcase #6 (1957). In Challengers of the Unknown #3 (1958), written and drawn by Kirby, the group gets super powers including projecting flame and invisibility. He worked with Stan Lee introducing monsters like Groot in Tales to Astonish #13 (1960). The tree-creature was featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (2023). What launched the Marvel Age of Comics in the Silver Age was Fantastic Four #1 (1961). Jack Kirby and Stan Lee even cameo trying to crash the wedding of Sue Storm and Reed Richards in Fantastic Four Annual #3 (1965)! 

This year, Fantastic Four: First Steps, opened in theaters. It featured Marvel’s First Family, Silver Surfer, and Galactus besides many other cameos! The film is a love letter to Jack Kirby and his work. The creative duo turned a monster into a hero with The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962) who was in the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) series. Then, Thor first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962). The God of Thunder's latest solo film is Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). Lee and Kirby co-created Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish #35 (1962) with Larry Leiber. Also, the Wasp in Tales to Astonish #44 (1963) with Ernie Hart. Their latest film is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). Next, the team co-created Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #39 (1963). 2008's Iron Man started the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Lee and Kirby brought the heroes together in The Avengers #1 (1963). The blockbuster, Avengers: Endgame, featured the characters. They also created Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52 (1966).  The character was featured in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). The Lee and Kirby duo created the X-Men and villain Magneto in X-Men #1 (1963). Professor Xavier, leader of the X-Men, had a cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. When Kirby went to DC Comics, he created the Fourth World drawing and writing New Gods #1 (1971) and also their nemesis Darkseid, who Kirby introduced in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #134 (1970). Darkseid appeared in Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021). Jack Kirby returned to Marvel and wrote and drew Captain America with issue #193 (1976). He also crafted Captain America #200 (1976) which was the also Bicentennial l of America! 

Jack Kirby created The Eternals in The Eternals #1 (1976). Their film was out in 2021. Kirby worked in animation reuniting with Stan Lee on The New Fantastic Four (1978) series. One of the most clever comics Kirby wrote and illustrated What If? #11 (1978) which had Stan Lee as Mr. Fantastic, Flo Steinberg as Invisible Girl, Sol Brodsky as Human Torch, and the character that was mirror to Kirby, The Thing. Kirby had some creative titles with Pacific Comics starting with Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #1 (1981). The work of Jack Kirby is found in issues of Jack Kirby Quarterly. Jack Kirby was pioneering in comic books, animation, he created film concept art that was used by the CIA seen in Argo (2012). He died in 1994, but his legacy will always be remembered by fans and audience members who love comic books on the screen! Happy Birthday Jack Kirby! 

#JackKirby, #JackKirbyHeroesAndHumanity, #SkirballCulturalCenter, #JoeSimon, #CaptainMarvelAdventures, #CaptainAmericaComics, #CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger, #YoungRomance, #ChallengersOfTheUnknown, #Groot, #TalesToAstonish 

#GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3, #FantasticFour, #FantasticFourFirstSteps, #DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness, #IncredibleHulk, #SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw, #Thor, #JourneyIntoMystery, #ThorLoveAndThunder, #AntMan, #Wasp 

#AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania, #TalesOfSuspense, #TheAvengers, #AvengersEndgame, #BlackPantherWakandaForever, #XMen, #FourthWorld, #NewGods, #Darkseid, #SupermansPalJimmyOlsen, #TheEternals, #TheNewFantasticFour, #WahtIf, #CaptainVictoryAndTheGalacticRangers, #JackKirbyQuarterly

Re:tro Re:view - K-Pop: Demon Hunters!

A phenomenon, K-Pop: Demon Hunters, has exceeded boundaries of animation, film, and soundtracks! K-Pop: Demon Hunters accomplishes an incredible feat; great as an anime movie, K-Pop, and telling a very sophisticated story. In this way it reminds me of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) in perfectly balancing genres and styles. The film is directed by Maggie Kang who also provided the story and part of the screenwriting team. Kang was head of story for The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017). Her co-director is Chris Applehans who also wrote and directed Wish Dragon (2021). The screenplay team also includes Danya Jimenez and Hannh McMechan. They are a writing team that also worked on writing episodes of the teen comedy show, Gabby Duran & The Unsittables (2021).

It started streaming on Netflix on June 20th and reached the top of its releases. The two day release, August 23 and 24th. They are sold out screenings so Netflix is leaving money on the table not extending the run. Faint crowd sounds are heard before the crowd noise builds. A giant neon-lit stage with a three walkways extending into the crowd. In the center is a flower shape like a hibiscus  main stage. The crowd roars for Huntr/x and they carry wands with light up hibiscus tips. We hear narration, this is Celine (Yunjin Kim). Sun-Hwa Kwon on the series, Lost (2004-2010) was a well known role for Kim. “The world will know you as pop stars, but you will be much more than that- ”, and we see the group in shadow with a pink mist. “-you will be Hunters!” Glowing pink lines weave from a night forest towards villagers, out of the pink crevices emerge demons! 

A bulky demon with a club and a small demon with a cyclops eye, and a mysterious demon in black robes. They are dokkaebi in Korean mythology with different forms. We see inside a house a demon opening its mouth to steal a woman’s soul! These souls, glowing blue, streak back to the demon king, Gwi-Ma. He is a jagged mouth of pink and fiery colors. A mother protects her child holding up a rake as the narrator explains that heroes appeared with “voices that could drive back the darkness”! One Hunter touches the hand of a child and his chest lights up with the blue of his soul. The first Hunters dance and create a shield to protect people from the demons. Everything and words are explained, but I looked for a little cultural context thanks to the Youtube channel, Talk to Me in Korean, recommended. He is making a guess thinking that Honmoon means “soul door.” 

Then, the narrator says that there is a new trio of Hunters for every generation; we see flappers, and then World World II singers, a trio with 60’s clothes. Then, the Sunlight Sisters, which look like singers from the 70’s. One of the singers, Mi-yeong Ryu, to the right side of the lead singer, has a long braided pony tail. They are looking to form a barrier to keep out Gwi-Ma and the demons out forever, the Golden Honmoon! We pull back to the narrator, Celine who was the lead singer of Sunlight Sisters. She meets the Hunter/x group under a tree with ribbons. Celine says that they will bring the Golden Honmoon. A billboard shows Hunter/x has their World Tour Final Show! The fans start walking in with purple shirts and hats with Hunter/x logos. The Magical Girl Trio is a manga and anime trope, KPDH makes the concept fresh with its characters. 

Fans are interviewed, one says she likes Mira with long, pink hair, who is the leader dancer. Mira has a sullen look. Another says she is the black sheep of a wealthy family. A guy says she is the only one who could wear a sleeping bag to the Met Gala! Another group loves Zoey who is the lyricist for the group. Zoey has short, black hair and seems eternally perky. A guy notes that she grew up in Burbank, USA! These parts are so funny! Another fan says she’s the cutest maknae, this is the youngest member, the others are eon-ni, older sisters. Lastly, is Rumi, with her purple hair like her mother who was in Sunlight Sisters. A fan explains that her mother died when she was a baby and Celine raised her. We see three guys crying over Rumi’s voice, also funny! Then, the music starts and the fans go crazy. Getting ready is manager, Bobby, I did not realize that Ken Jeong voices him. Jeong voiced Gobi in the animated film, Over the Moon (2020). 

He has everything set, but his group is not there! Bobby checks his phone and sees Hunter/x is flying overhead in a jet! On board, Rumi, voiced by Arden Cho gets the group ready for the concert. She played June in the live action, Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024) series. Eijae is her singing voice who also wrote songs in the film. She also wrote songs for the South Korean girl group, Red Velvet. Also in the group huddle is Zoey, her voice actor is Ji-young Yoo. The lead, Hayoung, was played by Yoo in the drama, Smoking Tigers (2023). Rei Ami is the singing voice of Zoey. She is known for singing on “Freak” with Sub Urban. Lastly, is May Hong who voices Mira, she played Margot Park in the dramatic series, Tales of the City (2019). Mira’s singing is provided by Audrey Nuna. One of her musical projecxts was A Liquid Breakfast (2021). They ready for the last concert by “carb loading”, shouting in unison, “for the fans!” Funny plus the Chibi expressions, exaggerated anime looks. This is wildly munching on a table filled with snacks! 

The stewardess and flight crew are stunned at their eating! They toast each other with Pre-show ramen, pronounced “ra-myeon”, with their names labeled on them, but they find no water in the ramen! Bobby calls the group and uses his phone so that they can see the show is going on. Hunter/x sees out the jet’s window that they are leaving their fifty thousand fans! Rami walks up and says that they are all demons. The stewardess, voiced by director Kang!, has been watering plants with coffee and the other crew is equally strange. Rami holds up the stewardess arm to show patterns, purple tatoos. They shift into demons and the head demon threatens them, interrupted by Mira’s burp! He continues saying they are going to eat their fans. Mira says they are going to make it hurt. The lights flow on the cabin’s ceiling, cutouts of Hunter/x, as they sing, “How It’s Done” while pounding the demons. Great first song! They summon their weapons; Sumi with a Saingeom Sword, Mira uses a gokdo polearm, and Zoey wields six shin-kai throwing knives. 

Love the multi-colored lights of the jet windows with splattered demons! Plus music video scenes of the fight. The tail of the jet is torn apart by the demons like gremlins of legend, see William Shatner in the "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" (1963) of Twilight Zone! A brief pause as Huntr/x gobbles down their ramen. Then, they skydive straight down to do a brief make-up touchup, batter the demons, all to streak down at the concert arena! The concert begins with fans thinking the demons are in costume. Eijae as Rumi hits the high note with the last part of "Til the dark meets the light!", wow. The lip synch is not perfect with closeups. At the finish, a blue light flows from the concert. We see a dark world with a hexagonal building that reminds me of the Jedi Temple in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999). The stewardess nervously shuffles past the crowds of demons. The massive, jagged mouth, of Gwi-ma voiced by Lee Byung-hun! Billy Rocks was a powerful performance for Byung-hun in the Western remake of The Magnificent Seven (2016). The demon stewardess is lifted up and screams as the other demons cower! 

He rages that the Honmoon will be the end of the demons, then we hear the strumming of the bipa, we see a dark figure float upwards. He wears a dark robe and traditional hat called gat, sings of the demon king, "Will he let the fire go out?" This is Jinu, Ahn Hyo-seop provides his voice, he is in this year's fantasy movie, Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy. Andrew Choi is Jinu's singing voice and his first album is Love is Enough (2013).   

Five+ Honmoons out of Five! 

#KPopDemonHunters, #MaggieKang, #ChrisAppelhans, #DanyaJimenez, #HannahMcMechan, #ArdenCho, #Ejae, #AhnHyoseop, #AndrewChoi,#MayHong, #AudreyNuna, #JiyoungYoo, #ReiAmi, #KenJeong, #YunjinKim, #LeaSalonga,   #DanielDaeKim, #LeeByunghun 

Peacemaker, Season Two, “The Ties That Grind”, Review!

Peacemaker returns from one universe to another with the release of Superman! The character of Peacemaker is himself unusual, he was a pacifist hero in his first appearance, The Fightin’ 5 #40 (1966). Then his own series by creators, Joe Gill and Pat Boyette. He entered the DC Universe with other Charlton Comics heroes in Crisis on Infinite Earths #6 (1985). Then, he had his own 1988 limited series where he was recreated as a violent anti-hero. In James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad (2021), Peacemaker kills Rick Flag, Jr. He is shot in the neck by Deadshot. He recovered, Chris Smith was “not quite dead yet”, to appear in the first season of Peacemaker. The government group, A.R.G.U.S. (Advanced Research Group Uniting Super-Humans), has recruited Peacemaker. 

A movie spoiler ahead! The group includes Emilia Harcourt and John Economos, both debuting in The Suicide Squad. Chris also reunites with his bald eagle buddy, Eagly. James Gunn explains what is canon in his Peacemaker: The Official Podcast with James Gunn. He intended that Peacemaker had died, but returned him for the show. Also, a new agent is Leota Adebayo whom he discover is the daughter of A.R.G.U.S. leader Amanda Waller. Another addition is the bizarre crimefighter, Vigilante, who just attaches to the group. Chris flashes back to his childhood where his father, Auggie, arranged a fight with his brother, Keith, and he finds he has killed his brother! Leota reveals Task Force X. We last saw Peacemaker interviewed in Superman. 

“The Ties That Grind” is written and directed by Gunn. We get a short recap with Leota (Danielle Brooks) asking Chris if he is calling in the Justice Gang.At the end after defeating the alien Butterflies, the 11th Street Kids as they dub themselves, walk a misty field. From the nighty sky, descends the five figures of what was called the Justice Gang, the profile of Mr. Terrific is seen, a caped figure, Gunn identified in the podcast as Superman, Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and another caped figure, Gunn said she was Supergirl. Peacemaker says they are late. Hawkgirl (Isabel Merced) calls him a meathead. Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) says Peacemaker calls him a “puke freak.” Hawkgirl laughs. Some reshoots to fit the show with the new universe. At Peacemaker’s bed at his home, Eagly pecks at him. Chris (John Cena) throws off his blanket and sees the snow fall from his window. 

He enters the code to the room he called a “quantum unfolding chamber” where he stored his gear and weapons last season. This was a hint of the pocket universe in Superman. Chris sends Eagly out to fly in the endless chamber. A door in one of the gateways opens and an alien, four red eyes, drops a rodent into a cage. The alien incinerates the animal. Chris greets the alien, but it just walks to its portal. He goes to call for Eagly and walks over where it is in front of another portal. Chris notices the case of Peacemaker helmets and also his door with code pad, he walked, but found himself in the same place! He puts the code in again, eerie music, and finds he is in a trophy room. Chris sees a plaque, a key to the city, and a newspaper heralding the Top Trio; Peacemaker, White Dragon, and another hero which is like a family united. 

Then, he sees his father, Auggie Smith (Robert Patrick), whom he killed last season when he wore the White Dragon armor! An alternate universe or Peacemaker is haunted by the ghosts of his past? Chris runs and closes the door behind him. The title sequence has another dance scene with the whole cast, new characters including Rick Flag, Sr. (Frank Grillo), and also the alien. This is all to "Oh Lord" by Foxy Shazam whom also had the song for the dance intro in the first season. There is Judomaster. We some in uniform and also in regular clothes. Chris spins Emilia, they touch each others' faces, and it ends with Emilia and two villains including White Dragon. Then, Eagly hopping over a dogpile of the characters. It is “Six Months Later”, a daytime street, waiting in a car is Leota waiting for Peacemaker in full uniform. She notes that it is strange he is living at his father’s house. This season seems to be about consequences with Christopher Smith. 

He brings up her partner, Keeya, but she says she can’t handle being an agent. Peacemaker says Keeya is probably worried that she might die and everyone could die. His mellowness is probably from the encounter with Auggie in the chamber. Leota shows him her business card, Adebayo Security Consulting. He brings up Harcourt, Jennifer, and Leota says they hung out and she has almost forgave her for exposing Task Force X. Peacemaker thanks her for the ride and says the metahumans think he is stupid with the “disco ball on his head”, funny! They pull up to an abandoned strip mall with Krank Toys having two guards in black covering the entrance. One guard opens the door at Peacemaker’s approach and out of it is a woman in a white and pink bunny uniform, White Rabbit (Brey Noelle), crying!

PEACEMAKER  -- “The Ties That Grind” --  JOHN CENA -- Jessica Miglio/HBO Max. 

Jaina Hudson, White Rabbit, was introduced in Batman: The Dark Knight #1 (2011). He enters the abandoned building and on the other side is a security room. He is welcomed by Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn) who also had a cameo in Superman. Lord points out the founding members, Green Lantern, Guy, and Hawkgirl, Kendra, who are silent. He is asked which name he prefers Peacemaker or Chris, Peacemaker says either, and Lord leaves on the mic, hot mike. He says to Hawkgirl, “Mark that as indecisive.” Peacemaker seems nervous under the light like an interrogation. He says his violence was “indiscriminate”, but goes honest and says he is getting over the trauma of his father. Hawkgirl is more interested in the popcorn. Peacemaker interrupts them to ask if he is supposed to hear them. 

Lord switches on and off his mic, but the off only has a little static, Guy laughs. Hawkgirl says the mic has been broken all day and that Guy has supposed to fix it. Lord tries to apologize and finds the chair is empty. Peacemaker returns to the car, slamming the door, and says he didn’t want to join the Justice Gang as they drive away. Another interview, the man mentions intelligence work for 18 years and interviews, but concludes it is “toxic masculinity.” Jennifer Harcourt is not happy. She argues with the NSA interviewer. Finally, saying that it is Amanda Waller even under investigation, who is blocking her hire. She is escorted out and Jennifer punches the dashboard of her car repeatedly. This is the regular high point of saving the world and then starting at the bottom like Ghostbusters II (1989). 

Jennifer pulls up to her house and sees Chris waiting outside. They walk in the house, Chris sees the past due bills on her table, as Jennifer washes her bloody knuckles. She says she was turned down by an “alphabet of intelligence agencies.” Chris has ice in a towel to wrap around her hand. He was dominant with her first season, but now just kind. It is a welcome change to his character, still blunt, and a little low in the intelligence department, but still a fun character. There may be a turnaround. Chris brings up their night on a boat, awkward conversation, and Jennifer says she was drunk. Then, she says it was a mistake. This makes him angry, she drops on her couch, he storms out of the door. Chris slumps on his couch to take drugs and then flashes into a fully nude party. He stumbles over to the keypad. John Economos (Steve Agee) is at his van monitors.

John gets a call from Vij, Adrian (Freddie Stroma) in work clothes for Italian restaurant, Fennel Fields, saying he moved back to Belle Reve. Adrian holds up his phone to capture the hooting of an owl. Yes, the band has to get back together again. John humors him by quizzing him with owl facts. He of course gets it wrong and Adrian’s boss has him return to his station. John gets an alert and then a call from A.R.G.U.S. Sasha Bordeaux (Sol Rodriguez) talks to John and told to investigate a house. John takes a gun from a drawer. On tv is The Sphere with host, Cleavis Thornwaite (Michael Ian Black) from Superman. The headline is “Metahuman Breakouts Continue.” Thornwaite reports that it is third metahuman escape from Arkham Asylum or Belle Reve. This is watched by General Rick Flag Sr. on his computer. He also made his live action appearance in Superman. Sasha says they have picked up a glitch from Christopher Smith. 

Five Peacemaker Helmet out of Five! 

#Peacemaker, #TheTiesThatGrind, #JohnCena, #DanielleBrooks, #JenniferHolland, #SteveAgee, #FreddieStroma, #RobertPatrick, #SolRodriguez, #FrankGrillo, #SeanGunn, #IsabelMerced, #NathanFillion, #MichaelIanBlack, #BreyNoelle 

Re:tro Re:view: Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor Book Three!

Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor concludes with book three and brings an epic ending for Superman and Lex Luthor! Superman flies over to Themyiscra and finds that the science of the Purple Healing Ray didn’t work. He decides to use magic and has Lex put on a deep sea suit in Superman style. He flies Lex now in his suit to the deepest part of the sea. Lex counters Superman saying that Aquaman tried to drop him in the Marinas Trench. Superman says he warned him. A stunning splash page has Superman take Luthor to Tritonis, the second city on the Atlantis continent. It was introduced in Superman #129 (1959). 

We see dark shelves of rock looming in the dep blue and covered almost like decoration, multi-colored bubbles. Superman is greeted by the merpeople including one in partcilar who takes his hand. Then, eyes closed, they touch noses. Lori Lemaris is the mermaid who met Clark as Superboy, his memory of her was erased, and he discovered her again as Superman proposing marriage! Lori made her debut in Superman #129 (1959). Lex can’t believe that his rival has another love interest besides Lois. He is interrupted by a telepathic voice. This is King Ronal, he first appeared in Superman #135 (1960), who helped heal Lori and they married to Lori Lemaris. 

Ronal explains that they are “dear friends” and he was explaining his request. Closeup of their faces, Lori looks melancholy and says Lex is “not worth saving.” Lori then explains that the cure could be the Magical Garden of B’eltre which contains the Fruit of Arion. High Mage Arion first appeared in Warlord #55 (1982). Lori descends, Ronal warns that is also called the Garden of Death, and Superman follows her. He reaches the garden, great black inks by Kevin Nowlan!, he reaches out for one of the red fruits. Then, tentacles wrap around him by a sea beast Kaiju with several orange, glowing eyes and fangs! It is about to crush Superman in its fangs, then Lex gets its attention! 

                                                  

I think this more than just Superman as the path to his cure, Lex’s greatest opponent is also the only person who can challenge him. As Darkness says in Legend (1985), “What is light without darkness?” Superman uses the distraction to blast the beast’s gullet with heat vision! It swims away as Superman and Lex return to Tritonis. Superman analyzes the fruit with his vision and thinks it may be a change eating it. Lori and Ronal watch and closeup as Lex chomps on the fruit. His only reaction is he hears a noise inside his head. A silent panel as we see the countless people, Clark with Lori in her wheelchair, Lois holding Clark, and tears pour from his eyes. Lex vomits out the magical fruit. Lori says that the fruit’s cure is psychiatric, it had stopped the Mad King.  

Luthor is horrified that he had empathy with all of the Tritonians who see honor in Superman. Lori explains that she was the great love of Superman and every time he returns he feels the heartbreak. Lex only wants to be taken away. Next, we get a two page spread, the Guardians of the Universe, who oversee the Green Lanterns, the Spectre, Adam Strange, Maxima, Mister Mxyzptlk!, Superman is desperate!, Highfather of the New Gods opening his hand, Darkseid to the side, and Metron watching Lex spread out in pain, Hawkman at Thanagar, but it all ends in disappointment. I’m hoping that all of these glimpses could be detailed in a novel. 

Night at the Fortress of Solitude, Superman mentions what “gifts to humanity” Lex could bring with his genius. Lex snarls that it must be some “secret guilt” that makes Superman snaps one of the crystals! Lex lashes out saying what he would have been without Superman. Superman agrees and says that he tried everything with Lex. Then, he reveals himself as Clark Kent! This is a reason to print this story under Black Label, it has the scope of the Kingdom Come (1996) mini-series also written by Waid. Lex looks worn with pink-rimmed eyes calling him by his childhood name, “MacDonald?” Clark responds giving his usual response, “E-I-E-I-O”, this has come full circle. Lex can’t believe it and Clark says he and Smallville are Lex’s blind spot, what he chooses to ignore. Great writing bringing Lex Luthor, Clark Kent, and Superman together. 

Clark says it was his greatest mistake, not telling Lex he was an alien. Lex mocks Clark until he smashes his hand on the crystals on the floor. Looking at his palm, the crystals have cut him! Clark is stunned that he has lost his powers. He screams at Lex pinning his arms. A roundhouse knocks Lex Luthor across the Fortress, angry at the betrayal. Lex tries to talk reason to him, like he did with Wonder Woman, and says he doesn’t know what happened. An explosion, in the darkness is a villain whose silhouette has glowing, pink lights. This is Brainiac, the long time foe of Superman, from Action Comics #242 (1958). He gained a robotic form with a skull-like head in Action Comics #544 (1983). Finally, we have reached the climax, book three, with writing by Mark Waid, and the art team of penciller, Bryan Hitch, and inker, Kevin Nowlan! 

We had regular covers by Hitch of an almost god-like figure in the sky with sun beams, Superman flying above city streets while citizens watch him in awe, and now a closeup of Clark Kent lowering his glasses, with the Daily Planet in the background. Brainiac tells his origin about the planet Colu with the bald, green-skinned Coluans like the Legionnaire descendant, Brainiac-5. They invented an A.I. in the form of skull ships on a tilted angle panel. It reminds me of the harvester machines of The Matrix (1999). An “emissary” is formed, a thin, robotic body and a skull head like The Terminator (1984)? The difference is that he shrinks and collects worlds! He only fears the “ruthlessness” of one person. We see Lex Luthor’s disbelieving face. Then, Brainiac towering over Lex and Clark in new black metal armor and cables. 

Lex is angry that Brainiac fooled him with the accident that used his “altered cells” to take Superman’s solar energy! Lex says he is impressed, but said the plan would work better if it was used on someone close, Lois or Jimmy. Clark is stunned to see the Phantom Zone projector shorting out. Lex doesn’t understand why Brainiac chose him. He is told that he always wanted to destroy Superman so this was his gift. Lex says to Clark about a backdoor to the Fortress. Clark tells him to distract Brainiac. Lex tells Brainiac that turning Superman human is not destroying him. A blast sends Clark back. Brainiac tells them that humanity is the “ultimate poison” and can only be useful modified by his drones. Then, hordes of large and tiny drones start to swarm them! Clark fights them off with his remaining strength and in a closeup we see the Legion flight ring has fallen! Clark snarls saying that his friends will protect the Earth. 

Brainiac looms over the tubes of the Justice League; Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Metamorpho, Supergirl and many other tubes! Then, Brainiac notices they are gone! Clark has flown them out of the Fortress and sees that Lex has his universal translator, a gold tube-like device. Lex tells Clark that he is building an "Anti-Brainiac weapon." Closeup as Lex says he is mad and can use his weapon to track Brainiac's drones. The massive mecha-like drones move through Metropolis, next to the Daily Planet. The robot drones begin herding citizens into the skull drones. One of them suddenly sends out a blast at another drone. The citizens run and Superman as Lex wrecks havoc on the drones with his weapon. Superman thinks that he is fighting the infection with his power while Lex is taking his anger out on Brainiac. They fight, Superman using heat vision blasts and Lex his weapon, to move up the ramp of the drone ship. 

Inside the ship, both men are repulsed by Brainiac's captive reduced to a brain with eyeballs!, this is something out of EC Comics! A large panel has several more such jars and the drones piercing humans with their sharp appendages! Brainiac boasts that they are reduced to "data storage units"! We see the robotic drones on the street with one's skull and crystal face moving close. He is harvesting the entire Earth. Luthor's device doesn't last with Brainiac's programming.  They are surrounded, Superman thinks that Brainiac made his drones self-healing. Luthor looks desperate holding his golden weapon. A large two page panel has Superman fights off the waves of Brainiac drones, Superman is struck, and Luthor begins to hack into the drone's skull! Lex sends out a blast that drops the drones. Superman sees the victims and Lex convinces him to leave for his lab. We see the large drones occupying a city, also London at dusk with the London Eye and Big Ben. 

This is an epic story, why Superman is a hero, also the question of Lex Luthor as a villain and his possible redemption. Almost every part of Superman's history compressed in a loving tribute to the ultimate hero. The only part is needed is for Waid to write a novel for what I sense are missing scenes and others that need to be expanded. I hope there would be more of Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White. Especially the love between Lois Lane and Clark Kent. She shows him what is special about humanity and a beauty that he could search galaxies and only find with Lois.  Also her strength and confidence. Maybe include the rest of the Daily Planet staff. I didn't miss him, but I would like to see Batman involved especially since they are the World's Finest duo. Waid currently writes Batman/Superman: World's Finest. I hope that a novel would maybe have cover and some illustrations by Hitch and Nowlan. One of my favorite comics novel is The Life and Death of Superman (1993) by Roger Stern. A novel of Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor would fit nice on that bookshelf! For now, the three issue graphic novels of Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor is one of the greatest stories about Superman with art that is worth the wait! 

Five+ Kryptonite Cells out of Five! 

#Superman, #TheLastDaysOfLexLuthor, #MarkWaid, #BryanHitch, #KevinNowlan, #LexLuthor, #LoriLemaris, #KingRonal, #GuardiansOfTheUniverse, #TheSpectre, #AdamStrange, #Maxima,

#MisterMxyzptlk, #Highfather, #Darkseid, #Metron, #Hawkman, #ClarkKent, #Brainiac, #WonderWoman, #Flash, #Aquaman, #Green Lantern, #Metamorpho, #Supergirl