Blossoms: 666 #1 Archie Comics Writer: Cullen Bunn Artists: Laura Braga & Matt Herms The Archie Horror imprint takes the classic cavalcade of characters and twists them into dark, terrifying exaggerations of themselves. It has yet to deliver an unsatisfying story and this book continues that remarkable winning streak. Blossoms 666 is a stunningly weird, seductive, and horrific take on Riverdale’s most powerful, privileged twins. As the Deadpool Kills… and Venom series show, Cullen Bunn’s writing thrives in outlandish and disorienting worlds. Those skills translate ridiculously well to this twisted version of the Archie-verse. As the name suggests, the…
Author: Victor Benito
Firefly #3 BOOM! Studios Writer: Greg Pak Artists: Dan McDaid & Marcelo Costa My last Firefly review speaks on keeping the world open to new readers and trust in Pak to bring everything together later on. Reading issue 3 keeps me in the same line of thinking as before. It’s a fun story set in the small world that fans want to see fleshed out. There are twists that keep the story going and intriguing reveals, but I can’t help but feel like they’re monotonous. It was a quick read that kept my interest by merely existing and being in my…
Bitter Root #3 Image Comics Writers: David F. Walker & Chuck Brown Artists: Rico Renzi & Sanford Greene I’m repeating this prediction once more; Bitter Root will find its way to movie theaters in a grand fashion. While it’s set during the Harlem Renaissance, the social commentary in the series strikes our current era hard. It shows how hate affects those who use it and those on the receiving end of it; specifically, racial violence. It shows there are degrees of those corrupted by hate and whether they can be reached beyond their ignorance. These are difficult topics we all…
Crowded #6 Image Comics Writer: Christopher Sebela Artists: Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, Triona Farrell An absolute gem of comic book storytelling, Crowded #6 takes pride in its adventure and gorgeous visuals. Far too often, stories involving technology as an antagonistic element are just exaggerated warnings, drummed up to be terrifying (Terminator, Eagle Eye, I, Robot, etc.). Instead of following the typical tropes of evil technology, the series presents us with modern technology and plays with outrageous ideas. It gives readers a world that is both familiar and garish, corrupting what we know ever so slightly. In the sense that we actually…
Firefly #2 Boom! Studios Writer: Greg Pak Artists: Dan McDaid & Marcelo Costa Firefly’s following exemplifies the best of fandom, made from those who carry the torch of a long-gone strike of brilliance. Receiving a premature death, the show manages to remain in the consciousness of nerd culture. Garnering new fans each year, the universe is enrapturing and any new material to that canon shows it. This new comic series breathes life back into the franchise, readying for a spectacular revival. Managing to capture that spark from the show is the first obstacle for anyone hoping to add to…
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Luna Lauren Velez, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, Live Schreiber, Kimiko Glenn Rating: PG Runtime: 117 minutes Spider-Man comics are deeply personal to me, giving thrilling adventures and life lessons since childhood. The mantra of “with great power comes great responsibility” is important, of course, but there’s more to Spider-Man than that. No matter who is wearing the suit, there’s always a lesson to learn about perseverance, understanding, or something deeper. Once the movie starts…
Wizard Beach #1 BOOM! Studios Writer: Shaun Simon Artists: Conor Nolan & Meg Casey Days of olde meet with boardwalk culture in Wizard Beach to make the silliest venture into magic you’ll ever read. The team delivers cooky characters, old-school visuals, and a familiar story anyone can enjoy. Like much BOOM! content before it, Wizard Beach is aimed at younger audiences. This is the perfect gateway to comics for tiny readers and is the start to an enjoyable storybook. Whether you have your own kids, nieces or nephews, work at a daycare or non-profit, this book is the move. The story begins…
Ralph Breaks The Internet Director: Rich Moore & Phil Johnston Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Ed O’Neill Rating: PG Runtime: 112 minutes Disney teed up another home run when they announced Wreck-It Ralph would be getting a sequel. With the film’s release, they’ve officially hit it out of the park. Accepting change is hard, especially when it’s not what you want. The story teaches a lesson on moving forward that kids need to hear early and does it well. Ralph Breaks the Internet will be known…
Archie #700 Archie Comics Writer: Nick Spencer Artist: Marguerite Sauvage Going through a revitalization over the past few years, the Archie Comics line is consistently releasing fun books. The milestone Archie #700 is no exception. With the New Riverdale era bringing serial drama, Spencer fuels that fire while keeping the classic comics feel. Taking a cue from CW’s Riverdale, resident burger-chomper Jughead opens the issue framing the town’s majesty. It’s a simple American small town with countless aesthetic and suburban pleasures, but deep down there’s the twitch of mystery. Summer’s come and gone for the teens in town, with almost…
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Director: David Yates Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Carmen Ejogo, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Jude Law, Johnny Depp Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 134 minutes With hesitance, I step back into the Wizarding World. Going into franchise films, I have a rule that helps keep critiques in line for debating nerd stuff later on. Can a movie stand on its own without the need of a prequel or sequel to explain what’s happening in it? A person shouldn’t need to see another movie…