Shōgun Special Presentation at the El Capitan!

Last night, the El Capitan Theatre was packed for the presentation of the first episode of Shōgun! It was free offered to D23 members a few days ago, on February 8th. The mini-series is set to debut on Hulu and Disney+ on February 27th. It is of course based on the James Clavell 1975 novel. This was his first novel in his Asian Saga, a six book series that finished with Whirlwind (1979). 

It was recently published as Shōgun Part 1 (699 pages!) and Shōgun Part 2 (856 pages!) tying into the mini-series. The book led to a mini-series in 1980 that won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series. It starred Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne, Japanese acting legend, Toshirō Mifune, played Lord Toranaga, and John Rhys-Davies starred as Vasco Rodrigues. The night started with a performance by Taikoproject, the group of musicians led by Bryan Yamami and Masato Baba. Info on the group is at: https://taikoproject.org. It was an energetic performance with the taiko drums that is my favorite thunder making instrument. 

Next, a panel of the Shōgun cast and crew walked on stage; co-creators and writers, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, Anna Sawai who plays Mariko, the actor who portrays John Blackthorne, Cosmo Jarvis, and finally the actor for Lord Toranaga, Hiroyuki Sanada. The first actor to speak was Sanada who was asked about working on the limited series, he is also a producer for it, “We had a long, long journey and worked together, East meets West, dream team, created this show. We tried to make it as authentic as much possible. We could hire Japanese actors from Japan and also Japanese crew who had experience creating samurai drama.” The next speaker was Cosmo Jarvis who said, “Firstly, I hope people will become acquainted with a vast array of very endearing characters across the board and they will serve as a catalyst to explore Japanese history for which there is a lot.” The last part got some laughs from the audience. 

Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Rachel Kondo, and Justin Marks on stage at the El Capitan Theatre, author’s photo. 

Sawai spoke a challenging part of filming, “I think something specific to this show is that we are obviously wearing period garment, kimonos, at times I would be wearing seven layers of clothing and that’s a lot of weight when added with a long wig. The higher rank you were, the longer hair you had, and Mariko is pretty up there. I was carrying so much weight and by the end of the show I really had muscular shoulders.” Her last comment also had some laughs. The first episode was screened. It begins with Blackthorne, Pilot-Major of the ship, Erasmus. 

The ship ends up in Japan which is divided with the death of the ruler. Lord Toranaga is now captive to the Council of Regents, his rivals, while the heir is at his castle. The novel was told entirely from Blackthorne’s perspective so this opens up the wider political landscape in Japan. The politics and adult content makes me think it is Game of Thrones meets The Last Samurai (2003). The mini-series has some incredible production design from the sets, costumes, and also the stunning cinematography. Shōgun is a powerful look at Japan of the 16th century adapting Clavell's novel with stunning visuals and acting! 

#Shogun, #ElCapitanTheatre, #Hulu, #DisneyPlus, #JamesClavell, #RichardChamberlain, #ToshiroMifune, #JohnRhysDavies, #Taikoproject, #RachelKondo, #JustinMarks, #AnnaSawai, #CosmoJarvis, #HiroyukiSanada

Re:tro Re:view - Captain America #3!

Captain America #3 enters dark territory with the killer, Cavenaugh, but Steve Rogers shows his mettle! Re:cap - issue #2: Steve questioned the speaker of the American Bund rally and then faced two bullies. Mr. Lane’s private island in the Pacific had cutting edge computer systems installed and kills the contractor. In the past, Steve encounters the woman, Tiffany, and offers to be a handyman. At the island base, a computer tech finds strange magical symbols in the programs. Then, he leaps to his death! In the past, there was a meeting between Baron Zemo and Baron Strucker! Steve encounters the bullies threatening two Jewish men. Tiffany with the other women in the apartments throw buckets on them of what is not exactly water! 

Stevensville, Montana, Travis Lane sees Henry Cavenaugh enter a house in his workman fatigues. He knows that there are fourteen people buried by the serial killer, Cavenaugh!  Lane tells Cavenaugh to look in the window at the demonic Asmoday possessing him!Asmoday wants to stop Captain America from being a “change agent” forever! Captain America #3 sports a cover by Jesus Saiz with cards spread on a table; Captain America and Asmoday as Aces, Steve Rogers and Rolf with a card down, an Ace?, possible Full House? There are four candles smoking around the cards. “Stand” is by J. Michael Straczynski with artists, Saiz and Lan Medina. This issue is very gruesome so pay attention to the T+ rating! 

It begins with flashbacks of Cap emerging from the ice, looking at his apartment, his mother giving birth to him, and being transformed into Captain America! Steve is thinking back to his thoughts on time being a man out of time. He mentions the other Avengers and finally that he is about to die facing to shadowy persons with his steel-gray shield! Cap thinks back to meeting Misty Knight at a Booklyn Heights apartment. Knight is the hero with a bionic arm and now working for the Aberrant Crimes Division. She first appeared in Marvel Premiere #21 (1975) and appeared in the Netflix Marvel shows played by Simone Missick. Mystic symbols are written along the walls. Also a burned body that was wrapped in bandages to the wall! 

Misty says that there were eight murders and this was the first one outside of Europe. It flashes back to Cavenaugh in a black and red uniform. Time shifts from the present to the victim talking to Cavenaugh. This is clever, very cinematic, and surreal. The killer has a spray can and tells about the Shadow Equations that determined the man is important to stopping a war! Misty has brought Cap in because he has dealt with A.I.M. A sister of a A.I.M. researcher sent some of the codes seen on the wall. Misty continues that the woman killed herself walking off a pier with a weighted rock! She says the same has happned to two code-breakers and the codes are supernatural. Misty places a figure of Doctor Strange and says the magic words, “There’s no place like home”, funny! 

Strange communicates by the figure through astral projection. We see Cavenaugh lay out blades on a table. In the future, we have Strange say that the symbols are for summoning circles to trap human spirits! Cavenaugh has his hand against the wall of symbols like the much smaller astral form of Doctor Strange. He takes out a long knife mentioning he usually takes souvenirs from bodies. Cavenaugh’s twisted trophies didn’t give him the moment of his victim’s death. Misty explains that the man was a peace advocate who was about to speak at a rally. 

This shifts to Cavenaugh calls himself The Emissary. We see a closeup of him, almost smiling as he checks the blade. His eyes suddenly blazes and the man screams as he starts to burn! From the body, Cavenaugh takes an intriguing pink crystal. He admires the screaming that he feels from the crystal and puts it in his box of a total of twelve crystals! Strange tells Misty about the other part of the mystery, a wall section blow the window, a symbol of the shield, Cap is next! We see a closeup of Steve Rogers, different art, it must be Medina. He is at another American Bund rally driving up hatred of immigrants and noting the alliance of “corporations and banks” to the Reich. 

Steve questions the speaker, Fritz Kuhn, saying that diversity makes steel strong and iron with only one element is weak. Love this comparison! Steve is pointed out to Meyer Lansky, a gang leader. Steve walks away to the crowd throwing bottles and trash at him. Lansky’s car pulls up to Steve and takes him to his home. He is impressed at Steve standing up and says he was weak, but could outhink his bullies. Steve says he defies the bullies because they are cowards. He says wearing the same uniforms, forming groups, makes them think they are strong, Lansky says they have something planned called Operation Garden and needs Steve’s help. This part is so powerful that it almost saves the violent, supernatural beginning. Captain America #3 opens the mystery seen with Cavenaugh's victim and contrasts it with Steve Rogers’ strength! 

Four Shields out of Five! 

#CaptainAmerica, #Stand, #JMichaelStraczynski, #JesusSaiz, #LanMedina, #HenryCavenaugh, #MistyKnight, #DoctorStrange, #MeyerLansky, #FritzKuhn 

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1 Review!

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1 is a great tribute to the show, characters, the actors, and fans! The show has been running since its debut in 1993 and it also has been continuing in comics form by Boom! Studios. There has been excellent explorations with the fan favorite characters, introducing new characters, and other parts of the Power Rangers universe. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Special #1 introduced the alternate world with “Re-Imagine” by Amy Jo Johnson, who played Pink Ranger, and Matt Hotson with art by Francesco Mortarino. It starts with the premiere, “Day of the Dumpster”, and the formation of the Power Rangers. 

This is the original team of Billy Cranston, Jason Lee Scott, Trini Kwan, Zack Taylor, and Kimberly Hart given the Power Coins to transform them into Power Rangers! Tommy Oliver, the new Ranger, is introduced in the seventeenth ep of season one. A year later, Lord Zedd arrives in “The Mutiny” (1994). Almost mirroring Tommy and Kimberly’s relationship, he falls for Rita. Another year and we get the fateful change. In “The Power Transfer” (1994), Jason, Zack, and Trini are chosen to go to the Peace Conference in Switzerland. Their powers are transferred to Rocky, Adam, and Aisha. Billy brings up that they can teleport from anywhere in the world. Kimberly is happy that the team is staying together. 

Five years later, Kimberly and Tommy marry. Zedd and Rita marry in second season’s “The Wedding” (1995). Rita and Zedd use a Serpentera to destroy the Command Center along with Zordon and Alpha! Tommy says they should attack the Moon Palace base for Rita and Zedd! This shifts to the present with a familiar looking Emma Phillips about to take a flight with a shattered moon above her. Chapter One of The Return, is entitled “No More Power Rangers”, a nice twist on the theme song. It is by the writing team of Johnson and Hotson with Nico Leon providing the art. Leon worked on the Catwoman title to issue #58 (2023). The cover by Goni Montes has a very somber Kimberly dressed in a black coat, the Power Rangers around her and a closeup of her Pink Ranger helmet with the kiss with Tommy. 

The opening has the moon as we are told that about the defeat of Rita and Zedd by the Power Rangers, “twenty-two years ago”! We see their colors streak from the moon and then the location of the Moon Palace shattering the moon as we are told the team broke up! “Today” at the deserted Command Center, we hear the fall of a dark figure onto a console. There is some panting as he assembles his Blade Blaster and the Red Power Ranger with poncho and belt starts shooting! The blasts are a great visual. A portal is formed and he is struck down. There is a mysterious figure who looks down on him as his Power Coin lifts from his Power Morpher! The bearded, scarred Jason wonders about this powerful villain. He is told that this person comes from the past and is the future! Leon's artwork reminds me of the simple pencil lines of artist, Brian Stelfreeze. 

This goes to the Angel Grove celebration in the day of the Trini Kwan Memorial Park and Youth Center. It is presented by the older Billy who mentions she was the High Commissioner of Human Rights for the United Nations. Also the mayor of Angel Grove, incredible tributes to Trini and also actress, Thuy Trang, who died in 2001. I like this outcome more than what was in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always (2023) film. Still, this is an alternate world so both versions can exist! In the audience is Kimberly. Also there is Ernie, owner of the juice bar that was the usual hang out, and the goofy bully duo of Skull and Bulk. Billy looks over to see Zack and turns over the presentation to him. The crowd cheers the Black Ranger, but Kimberly withdraws. 

She walks over and smiles seeing a photo of herself and Trini in 1994. Kimberly thinks back to the moment learning kung fu from Trini. Tommy leaps kicks over Jason, all in red, with Billy learning dance moves from Zack behind them. I like the color coordinated outfits. We also see to the side, Bulk blindfolded with Skull behind him, also with Ernie. Jason and Tommy are busy lifting barbells as Kimberly and Trini decide to leave for other places. There is a closeup of Kimberley’s eyes as she says she misses her friend. We see the cloudy skies as Kimberly is holding flowers in a cemetery. Zack walks up to her and she notes the cheering for the “famous Power Ranger.” He asks her to a restaurant with Billy and himself.

Kimberly places the flowers at a gravestone as she corrects Zack on how many times she saved him. She agrees to the restaurant, but wants him to call her Emma Phillips. Then, we see the gravestone of Tommy Oliver, and the saying, “His spirit lives on.” This is another tribute, a way for fans to say farewell to Jason David Frank whom we lost in 2022. Could the hooded man who Jason encountered be the return of Tommy? There is laughing at Chet’s diner. There is a Chet, owner of Astro Alley, in Power Rangers Astro Voyage. The conversation turns to the time since Kimberly was with them. Billy adds that “she”, Trini, missed her. Zack struggles that everyone should know about Trini and her heroism as a Power Ranger. Kimberly is stern with Zack about his tell-all book. 

 

Zack says that the agreement was to tell that he was Angel Grove’s only Ranger and the others were from the rest of the world. Kimberly comes back with if anyone else was revealed to be a Ranger, then all of their identies would be discovered. A tense scene. Zack says the publicity could Billy’s telecom company and Kimberly is in Canada as Emma. It seems like Johnson is putting in some of her own life into her character. Kimberly slams her fist on the table which disturbs a customer and waitress! Billy changes the subject mentioning that Zack’s book led to his Clean Power Hip Hop Kido Festival. We see the festival which looks great that was in Tulum, Mexico with djs, dances, and martial artists! 

The stage also has screens in the diamond shapes of the Ranger uniforms. Clever design. Billy starts to talk about his company, we see a closeup of Billy setting his glasses with a finger, a great character detail. He brings up his secret project. He used Alpha-5’s databankds, we see Alpha’s head on a pedestal with a white rose, the small touches are incredible. Billy has been working on making “safe teleportation.” He says it could be used to transport food to the hungry and move people from hurricanes. Billy mentions teleporting hurricanes, that is dangerous tampering with weather. We see a closeup of his Power Morpher. He brings up that he could have teleported away sick cells from a person. Trini died from an illness and Kimberly tries to reassure Billy. Then, she realizes he was tapping into the Morphin Grid thinking he broke the agreement from twenty-two years ago. 

Billy clarifies he hasn’t morphed and just used the Power Coin like Zack using it for his clean energy festival. Zack grabs his forehead, funny! Kimberly brings up Jason. Billy explains that he worked as a firefighter and then there was an arson. A destructive crime, the hooded person must have started the fire setting up the events. Jason agonizes next to a fire truck as a body is taken away. Jason morphed as the Red Ranger, Zack said to help people at first, we see him rescue people from a fire, then fighting crime, to finally counter-terrorism. Billy tells Kimberly that Jason wanted to use Morphin Grid to permanently become the Red Ranger! We see Jason in his Red Ranger uniform altred with poncho, patches, and belts. Billy says that the Morphin Grid was used by someone else. Billy thought it was Kimberly, but now Zack says they have to find Jason as Power Rangers. I love the mystery and the surprise ending! Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1 takes the Tokusatsu action show premise and focuses on character moments that are dramatic! 

Five Power Coins out of Five! 

#MightyMorphinPowerRangersTheReturn, #NoMorePowerRangers, #AmyJoJohnson, #MattHotson, #NicoLeon, #KimberlyHart, Billy Cranston, Jason Lee Scott, Trini Kwan, Zack Taylor, #RitaRepulsa, #LordZedd, #Ernie, #Bulk, #Skull 

Ghost Machine #1 Review!

Ghost Machine is a new shared universe imprint from Image Comics introducing characters and titles! The name of course refers to a mind in a machine. The term began with philosopher, Gilbert Ryle’s Concept of Mind (1949), which has the mind apart from the body. It is a 64 page anthology with eight titles and about twelve creators! The cover by Gary Frank has the time traveling hero of Redcoat with signature redcoat and modern gas mask, center is the heroine, Dire Wolf, the Warden in Rook Exodus, with black suit, wolf mask that controls animals, and guandao-like weapon, and then the black-hooded Geiger with skeletal head and hands burning green!  

There is a one page intro, “The Unnamed”, that is set “twenty-five years from now.” This splash page by Gary Frank has four little ones around a campfire asking their grandpa about the “Glowing Man.” They have blankets and all wear the helmets of NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) suits. Grandpa narrates that the man became a monster to save his family. He shifts into a flaming green skeleton. This is written by Geoff Johns, who is the writer for five of the eight titles, with Gary Frank art. They created the character of Geiger in the six issue limited series in 2021. The look is similar to the Batman villain, Doctor Phosphorus, who was introduced in Detective Comics #469 (1977), but with a cloak. 

He takes out two dampening rods to attack men in yellow radiation suits with automatic rifles. Grandpa mentions the Wastelands so this must be an apocalyptic world. One of the men, who is in medieval knight plate armor with a sealed visor and blue gloves, asks for mercy from Geiger’s two-headed wolf. There was a DC hero named the Atomic Knight from Strange Adventures #117 (1960). In Greek myth, there was a two-headed dog, Orthrus, and a similar creature, Dioskilos, in Clash of the Titans (1981). Here it looks like a mutated, black wolf. The man says he can help with a cure. The man who has turned into a monster on the run is something out of the Incredible Hulk tv show. In a splash page, Geiger pauses his attack as the dog gnaws at the man’s armor. 

The man says there was someone like Geiger who was radioactive, but has become human. An interesting sci fi premise with a radioactive man in a post-apocalyptic world. Geiger has lost everything and the man says that people are after him including President Nash, to debut in First Ghost #1, and Redcoat. This leads to Redcoat’s story by Johns and artist, Bryan Hitch, which introduces the many historical figures he had met. This includes Benedict Arnold, Redcoat says he is also an immortal, Albert Einstein who wants to know about magic, Davy Crockett whom Redcoat says is known by the Sasquatch! There is also the The Northerner, who he had met in the Civil War, and Annie Oakley! The Northerner first appeared in Junkyard Joe #6 (2023).

 Then, we get the smiling face of Simon Pure, Redcoat! There is of course an immortal that live across time with Highlander (1986). Redcoat is more of a hapless, almost comedic figure which is like the immortal Armstrong who debuted in Archer & Armstrong #0 (1992). Still, he has the devil-may-care attitude of Captain Jack Harkness from Torchwood. We get a long panel of Redcoat facing a commander, Washington?, wielding lightning and a sword, he faces the rifles of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. Redcoat tries to be glib with the rifles almost at his face, but still he is shot! He says he sees things after his death. In this case, it is his father who is drunk, saying he will die without anyone noticing. Maybe it is Redcoat’s destiny to make his mark. Love the cinematic touches with Hitch's art. 

He was a young boy in the shack with flies swarming around and his father slaps him. Redcoat moves through time, 1776, 1846, with people surprised at his awakening, but finally he wakens in 1892 in trouble! Grandpa picks up the story with the man in armor telling that the evil men do comes back to them. Geiger leaves, but “Nuclear Knight” would follow him. Grandpa by the campfire says that “men and women of myth” are connected by war. We see Redcoat about to attack Washington, his weakness, attacking people who are set in history?, the Northerner, and a robot, Junkyard Joe, in current military fatigues simliar to G.I. Robot from Star Spangled War Stories #101 (1962). Muddy Davis was introduced in the Junkyard Joe 2022-2023 limited series. Grandpa calls these unknown heroes, The Unnamed. 

There is two pages of The Unnamed showing the timeline of their stories that are in The Unknown War confronting the Great Evil. The next world is Rook: Exodus by Johns and Jason Fabok.  A brief title page explains that on the terraformed planet, Exodus, a farmer is a Warden, controlling animals. I do like the animal power like Beastmaster (1982), but more sci fi here. The “world’s engine” stopped and a war broke out. A splash page introduces Rook, his Warden helmet with red eyes, and guns. Next to him is another Warden, Swine. He wears tusks and spikes with his helmet and rifle and runs with his pigs turned warthogs. Rook blames Swine for their predictament and the Warden says his pigs found the wreck. 

They leap off a cliff edge before a sabertooth tiger-like beast. Great action shot with moody sunset colors by Brad Anderson. I like the squealing sound of the pigs. Rook shoots at the predator that just growls for some reason as he falls. The duo plunges into a river and then reach on dry land. Rook inspects the cockpit hinge that is cracked. He says that this will be dangerous when they get to the atmosphere. Swine says that he wants to stay on Exodus. He says he wants to look after his drift of pigs. Swine also adds that Dire Wolf is building a community if the Wardens join together. I like Swine’s hopeful outlook. For some reason with sci fi and pigs, I think of Pig Killer in Mad Max: Thunderdome (1985). Rook dismisses the idea, the reluctant hero-type, and instead looks out to ruined city. We see the sign for the city, New Home, as flocks of rooks fly overhead! One page sets up a villain wearing a Warden helmet about ot begin the War of the Wardens! A great set up for a sci fi tale and I like the animals. There are ten animal Warden helmets in the Rook: Exodus teaser page. This title interests me the most from this story and the characters. 

The next group of titles, Family Odysseys, is by writer, Peter J. Tomasi. The first story, The Rocketfellers, has art by Francis Manapul. It begins with the father, Roland, asking about the safety of his family. He is communicating with his brother, Reggie, in the future as a hologram. Reggie tells about the search for a villain named Vertex. Roland and his family have to stay in the past until Vertex is found. He turns from the futuristic canopy in his garage as Reggie brings up the Time Zone Protection Program. A fun twist on the witness protection program with the change of identity made sci fi with an escape into the past. I have a feeling Vertex will find them in the past Terminator-style! Roland walks up the stairs to tell his family, the Rocketfellers, that he is ready to grill some burgers. This includes his son, Richie, who is working on a jet boot, and his wife, Rachel who hangs upside down working on a star map! Also, his father, with bionic leg, and mother, who has a blue hologram projector, they are playing Call of Duty! 

Finally daughter, Rae, who is busy with a handheld game as the family dog, Rex, pulls her on a wagon. All of them want different types of burgers. A family all with names starting with R! Roland collects all of the devices so the family can have a proper dinner. He doesn’t get happy looks from everyone, funny!  He packs the fam into the VW van, they all want to go to different restaurants, so Roland decides on an Italian place. Typical family moments! Roland checks the side mirror to see a red car behind them. Rae asks about Gammie Rosie and Roland distractedly says her battery was low, she interacts through the android since Rosie is still in the future! I like goofiness of the Rocketfellers. He suddenly speeds up and mentions that they are being followed! Roland leaps the VW bus from some trees, grandfather Rodney throws a basketball at the car!, and Rachel has to help stop the van! They stop right before a passing train! The man from the car walks up. Rachel is ready to send him to the 25th century with her ray gun! This is a fun sci fi comedy! 

Hornsby & Halo is by Tomasi and artist, Peter Snejbjeg, which is about two families, but with a supernatural twist! It is set in Warwick, New York where we se the home of the Hornsbys. The upbeat father tries to wake up his twelve year old daughter Rose. She is still groggy with sleep. Her dog, Tucker, is there. She had nightmares of every batter hitting a home run from her pitches! He goes over their rules about baseball. Rose crosses her fingers with a flame behind her back. A little demon in her. At the Halo house, Zachary , the same age as Rose, is practicing his swing. His cat, Pepper, watches. Zack breaks the neighbor’s window which makes his shouting mother happy. She wants him to change into his uniform and will leave him at the field if he doesn’t hit a home run. The switching of good/evil children with evil/good parents is something that was in Jack Kirby’s Fourth World. It first appeared in New Gods #1 (1971). I like the heaven and hell twist on it. Rose is about to pitch with Zack at bat. 

She throws a fastball streaking with flames. This warps and melts Zack's bat! Zack strikes out and then Rose is up at bat. She hits the ball like a demon and Zack leaps in the air like Angels in the Outfield (1994)! The umpire, Sidney, has a secret. Hornsby & Halo is a funny, childhood rivalry that is stretched to supernatural levels! Hyde Street is the last installment that has two pages of advertisements that was in Silver Age comic books. I do like the name of the horror collection hinting at Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novel. This was a technique used by Alan Moore in his 1963 Image Comic limited series from 1993, the 30 years seem like an interesting mirror. They do hint at sinister charaters and concepts in the Hyde Street titles like Mr. X-Ray glasses and The Devour Diet Plan. Hyde Street is by Johns with art by Ivan Reis. A boy scout is reading the ads in The Rocketfellers comic book. On a Dallas, Georgia street, a businessman, Mr. Green, is ranting about the small town. 

The boy scout offers to help him since he had helped an elderly woman find the baby she orphaned as a teenager, very creepy. Mr. Green walks away, closeup on the boy scout’s silver amulet with a boy’s face, then he blows on a whistle. It causes his dog’s eyes to turn red! The dog follows Mr. Green, as we see a city with dark clouds overhead, and then hideous creatures shambling from the darkness! The narration points out that at everywhere there is a Hyde Street. Something like a Twilight Zone, a twisted version of reality. Devour follows next by Maytal Zchut and Reis. It has a small Fat Free shop in Dorian, Colorado, 1983. A full figured women enters the shop and the owner promises to help her get to her “true self.” The woman says nothing has helped her since she had her daughter. The shop owner shows her a jar of Devour. Is this simliar to Stephen King’s Thinner (1984)? It returns to Mr. Green where he tries to chase off the dog and meets a dark fate! Ghost Machine presents many entertaining visions of sci fi, time travel in action and comedy, plus horror! 

Four Warder Helmets out of Five! 

#GhostMachine, #ImageComics, #TheUnnamed, #Geiger, #GeoffJohns, #GaryFrank, #NuclearKnight, #Redcoat, #BryanHitch, #SimonPure, #TheUnknownWar, #GreatEvil, #RookExodus, #JasonFabok, #Rook, #swine, #DireWolf, #FamilyOdysseys, #PeterJTomasi,

#TheRocketfellers, #FrancisManapul, #Roland, #Rachel, #Richie, #Rae, #Reggie, #Vertex,    

#HornsbyAndHalo, #PeterSnejbjerg, #RoseHornsby, #ZackHalo, #HydeStreet, #MrGreen, #Devour, #MaytalZchut

Cal Comic Con!

Today was Cal Comic Con, one day, two rooms packed with dealers and tables for artists!  This was located the Hotel FERA in Orange. Nice venue. The strangest part was that was actually comic books at a comic book convention! This is comic book dealers who don’t have the latest issues, more of a concentration of back issues with Silver and Bronze Age. At the con was the Golden Apple table, a well known L.A. comic store, they were fundraising for their Golden Apple Comic & Art Foundation. It is working with the University of Pennsylvania to preseve comic collections. Filmmaker, Kevin Smith, is an Advisory Board Member. They had available the JLA/Avengers trade paperback Hero Initiative variant! 

Today at Cal Comic Con, photo by the author. 

Always ask dealers for what you are searching. You can go to a box and flip through it to get a good idea about the prices and selection. Probably, the highlight was the artists at the tables. The artist with a long line was Kelley Jones, he was sketching and signing comics. I didn’t have my copy of Frankenstein Alive, Alive! #4 (2018) that had Jones complete the artwork for Bernie Wrightson on that issue. Jones said that he had planned to returrn to the area next year. The first season of Sandman adapted various issues up to #18 “Dream of a Thousand Cats.” Issue #19 is part three of Dream Country, one of my favorite issues, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” #22 is the first chapter of Season of Mists with art by Kelley Jones.  I loved this storyline which had the gods from many parts of the world, including Thor, and also Lucifer. Most likely recast from the Lucifer series. 

It is always fun to go to Howard Chaykin’s table. I brought him the Comics For Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds trade paperback to which he wrote and provided art for “American Flagg: The Children’s Crusade.” I brought him a few Shadow comics that he wrote and drew and Chaykin mentioned three Shadow films, which I believe was The Shadow Strikes (1937), The Shadow (1940), and The Shadow Returns (1946). Another artist that was fun to have a conversation was Thomas Yeates. He had a print of Prince Valiant, Yeates is currently working on the comic strip with Mark Schultz. There are several mini-graphic novels in the Graphic Myths and Legends series including Atalanta: The Race Against Destiny (2008) and King Arthur: Excalibur Unsheathed (2007). These are great ways to introduce myth to young readers or to return to them with some incredible art. Lastly, there was Mike Vosburg who had copies of Lori Lovecraft, an adult series with a starlet who opens the Necronomicon! Vosburg also had available his Retrowood Omnibus that has a noir private investigator! There were a number of great artists and dealers at Cal Comic Con! 

#CalComicCon, #HotelFERA, #GoldenApple, #KelleyJones, #FrankensteinAliveAlive, #SandmanSeasonOfMists, #HowardChaykin, #ComicsForUkraineSunflowerSeeds, #AmericanFlaggTheChildrensCrusade. #TheShadow, #ThomasYeates, #PrinceValiant, #GraphicMythsAndLegends, #MikeVosburg, #LoriLovecraft, #RetrowoodOmnibus 

 

Argylle Review!

Argylle is another Matthew Vaughn directed, crazy action movie with spies, questions about identity, and laughs! Elly Conway is the mysterious author of the Argylle: A Novel (2024). Vaughn launched his spy action series with Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) which also had a comic book series, The Secret Service, which had a concept by Vaughn and writer, Mark Millar, with art by Dave Gibbons. The film is written by Jason Fuchs, who has a cameo in the film, he co-wrote Wonder Woman (2017). We see the Argylle logo and then Agent Argylle appearing with the sun shining behind him. He of course is played by Henry Cavill played August Walker in Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018). 

Cavill has all of the style of a secret agent, but the part is a satire of James Bond. The character is perfectly absurd that Bond would be limiting for Vaughn. Argylle makes his way through the club and sees a woman in a gold dress, Lagrange (Dua Lipa). The singer was also in Barbie (2023). She is perfect as the femme fatale. Argylle asks her to dance and they have a special dance. Then, the entire club pulls guns on the agent and Lagrange gestures for his gun. Argylle on his wireless asks for help from his fellow agent. Keira (Ariana DeBose) is working to patch into the club’s systems. DeBose also stars in this year’s sci fi thriller, I.S.S. She is the tech personnel for missions like Q. 

Keira activates the extinguishers that covers the room and Argylle shoots out the gunmen. Vaughn handles action scenes with one person taking on dozens of enemies with a fun style and great music. In this case, it is Barry White’s “You’re My Everything.” Vaughn working with composer Lorne Balfe put together a vibrant soundtrack. It also has the Beatles unreleased song, “Now and Then” that is part of Bryce Dallas Howard’s character and the end credit song, “Electric Energy” by Boy George, de Bose, and Nile Rogers. Argylle walks out to join Keira in her yellow mini-car. They find Lagrange with a machine gun. She shoots on them and then drives away. 

There is a tracking shot as Lagrange weaves the street down the mountain. Argylle has recovered and checks on Keira. Argylle is ordered by a mysterious boss to capture Lagrange. The mini-car does remind me of the chase in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), but Vaughn takes it to whole new level! Argylle starts on the chase plowing through buildings to cut the curve of the road. Also, he drives on the space between the rooftop of houses to pursue Lagrange! He contacts another agent, Wyatt (John Cena) that Lagrange is getting away. Cena starred with Jackie Chan in the action movie, Hidden Strike (2023), and also co-starred in Barbie. He is busy sipping his coffee. 

Wyatt stands up and then pulls away Lagrange from her motorcycle! At the cafe, Argylle and Wyatt ask Lagrange about how she knew about them. Wyatt has his gun pointed to her and Lagrange unlocks a recovered phone with a retina scan. Instead she takes a drop of poison from her necklace. This goes to a clever dissolve to Bryce Dallas Howard’s Elly Conway! Howard has been in action roles as Claire Dearing in Jurassic World Dominion (2022), but gives her the spy angle. Elly is a shy, quiet person, but her brilliance is her knowledge of spies. She is at an Argylle book launch reading in Colorado. Elly has read from her latest, fourth book. 

It is interesting to see that statues of her book characters. Elly mentions taking elements of her life like a skating accident. She is asked about predicting “real life events” by a fan, Zoe (Alaa Habib) which Elly says is due to her research. Another fan, Carlos (Tomás Paredes), mentions that John le Carré, author of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974) and Ian Fleming, the writer of James Bond novels, were real life spies. Paredes is a stunt man who also did stunts in The King’s Man (2021) directed by Vaughn. Elly says she is just a writer. The talk about the identity of the real Elly Conway is amusing, Vaughn has stated that there is a real Elly Conway. 

The director wanted the author to “come out of the shadows.” Apparently, the identity was revealed by the Daily Telegraph, the UK newspaper. Elly is asked if she is available for a date and she says she already has a date. This shifts to Elly kissing her cat, Alfie, which led to the Taylor Swift rumors. The cat is in real life, Chip, who belongs to Vaughn’s daughter. Elly’s lakeside house is nestled in the mountains. She writes about the key to the world’s master file. Elly takes a break going into a yoga position whn she gets a call from her mother, Ruth, played by Catherine O’Hara. In her kitchen, Ruth says she has read the last book, but wants Argylle to find the master key. 

Elly says it ended on a cliffhanger, but her mother says it is a cop out. Her daughter says the ending is set in London. She is going to wok on the book with only one more chapter to write. The writing continues to Hong Kong where Agent Argylle meets with Ms. Li Na (Jing Lusi). The actress was in Heart of Stone (2023), a spy action movie. Argylle and Ms. Li are looking at the night skyline as fireworks are about to begin. His line to Ms. Li is disliked by Elly and she attempts to try to give her character another line of dialogue. Elly can’t get past this scene. I like the struggle of a writer seen in film. She calls her mother to tell her that she is on the way to see her in Chicago.  

#Argylle, #MatthewVaughn, #JasonFuchs, #BryceDallasHoward, #SamRockwell,  #CatherineOHara, #BryanCranston, #HenryCavill, #DuaLipa, #JohnCena, #SamuelLJackson, #ArianaDeBose, #DuaLipa, #JingLusi, #SofiaBoutella, #TomasParedes     

Re:tro Re:view - Wonder Woman #3!

Wonder Woman #3 has Diana facing Sgt. Steel, but then faced with a truth that is tied to the Sovereign! Re:cap - Wonder Woman #2! Diana, in her half-mask, duels a helmeted Amazon in an  arena! Her opponent is a champion who fought in a number of battles. In the present, Wonder Woman faces the legions of armed forces sent by Sargent Steel with Colonel Steve Trevor next to him. The narrator, the mysterious Sovereign, knows of Diana’s original origin made of clay and New52 origin as daughter of Zeus. He mentions that there is a hint of truth in the fables. The veteran Amazon asks for Diana’s name, but she refuses to give it and is struck through by the Amazon’s sword! Wonder Woman shouts at the attack of tanks and riflemen. Steel is amused. Diana pulls the sword free and now wields both of them pointing at the Amazon’s neck. She asks for her opponent’s name.  

Steve Trevor reports that all of the forces are defeated by Wonder Woman. The Amazon is about to remove her helmet. Steel screams in frustration. The Amazon says her name, Emelie, this is the Amazon that sparked the Amazon Safety Act at the beginning of Wonder Woman: Outlaw! The cover of Wonder Woman #3 has Diana before the image of her shield punched with bullet holes as she swings her Lasso of Truth. The cover artist is Daniel Sampere who is also the interior artist. Wonder Woman: Outlaw Part 3 is by Tom King and Sampere. A large panel of the Southhide Defense Industries building looms as Wonder Woman walks towards the entrance. The narration by The Soverign says they understimated her. We see the company’s motto as to the side Wonder Woman asks for Sargent Steel. 

The receptionist is busy working on a crossword puzzle made up of past Wonder Woman comic artists! She knows that this is the headquarters of the Amazon Extradition Entity (A.X.E.) led by Steel. He mentions their security and then looks up stunned. Diana is very calm and formal and the receptionist gives up Steel’s office number. At the mansion of The Sovereign, his narration notes that “we”, another person in the elderly body?, were once in the White House? Luthor was once president. Doctor Psycho tried to take the identity of George Washington. He mentions the Sun King, a super villain, but I think this is just a pseudonym for another character. The elderly, bald man wears a blue suit and yellow scarf. Ares had blue and yellow armor. His butler, Campbell, announces Private Delgado. 

The Marine private is looking at an antique gun, his host says it was the gun that killed Lincoln! His host explains that their (speaking in plural) grandfather was given the by their great grandfather. He mentions that Private Delgado will be also remembered by history. In a series of similar panels, Wonder Woman ascends in an elevator with a security guard whom she easily knocks out as the muzak plays. Men in tactical suits with M-16 rifles ready for the elevator’s arrival. The Sovereign boasts that they have ruled for three centuries. Wonder Woman takes off her tiara and then throws it! 

More similar panels as the tiara strikes the armed team, Wonder Woman yawns, deflects a bullet with her bracelet. Then, she walks out with the men unconcious on the floor. A last gunman threatens her and then is knocked out by her tiara and she walks on. This is the Neo and Trinity office fight from The Matrix (1999), but with a superhero! She has defeated an army of jets, tanks, and soldiers, a few riflemen are not a threat. Private Delgado takes hold of a baton that The Sovereign says he was a prince in the 60’s and his father used it as punishment. He asks Delgado about facing Wonder Woman in the last battle. 

Delgado replies that he didn’t have problems retreating from a superhero. He takes out his “most prized possession”, the Silver Lasso, one of the Three Lassos of Fate that we first saw with Trinity in Wonder Woman #800! The Sovereign says they must both hold it. We go from a closeup to pull back of Steel’s office door with more unconscious soldiers at the broken piece of door as Wonder Woman says she is there to talk. We see in a splash page Wonder Woman casually sitting as Steel has a gun to her! The narration has The Sovereign talking to Trinity and poses questions about her father. This leads to the greatest mystery about the new hero! 

The back-up story, “World’s Finest” Part 1 is by Tom King and Belén Ortega. The artist provided the cover art for Sensational Wonder Woman #6 (2021). At Wayne Manor, we have the argument of Damian Wayne, son of Batman, and Jon Kent, son of Superman. They were previously the duo, the Super Sons of Tomorrow. Jon says he can hear a dam breaking, but Damien tells him about their promise. Meanwhile, we have the unhappy Lizzie dealing with the crumbs in her mac and cheese. This is Trinity as a five year old girl. She demands cheese pizza from her guardians. 

She throws her Mac and cheese splattering on Damian’s face! Lizzie happily repeats his swear word. Damian is of course worried what Lizzie’s mother would think, Jon super speeds away, and Damian curses. In the Batcave, Damian is restless and wants to take out the Batmobile while Batman is in “another universe.” Lizzie is there as Wonder Robin! They encounter Killer Croc which was also mentioned in Trinity's first appearance! I really like the Adventures in Babysitting (1987) hijinks with our favorite superhero kids. Wonder Woman #3 gets closer to The Sovereign’s plan with Trinity at the center of it. Plus, Wonder Robin! 

Five Lassos of Truth out of Five! 

#WondeWoman, #WonderWomanOutlaw, #TomKing, #DanielSampere, #Sovereign, #SargentSteel, #SteveTrevor, #Emelie, #Campbell, #PrivateDelgado, #SilverLasso, #WorldsFinest, #BelenOrtega, #DamianWayne, #JonKent, #Lizzie, #WonderRobin, #KillerCroc