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REVIEW: Phenomena: Matilde’s Quest
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REVIEW: Phenomena: Matilde’s Quest

Phenomena: Matilde’s Quest (Phenomena Book 2)

By Brian Michael Bendis and André Lima Araújo

Abrams ComicArts/156 pages/$24.99

It has to be said that writer Brian Michael Bendis rarely, if ever, repeats himself. His Ultimate Spider-Man is unlike his New Avengers, which is nothing like his Legion of Super-Heroes, his self-created Takio, or Murder Inc. He is incredibly prolific and highly original, with a gift for dialogue and character that always makes his stories engaging.

Here, he and André Lima Araújo have created a new science fiction world and populated it with all manner of organic and technological wonder. In 2022, we first met the trio of hotheaded Boldon, the outcast Matilde, and Spike and their exploits on a nearly unrecognizable Earth. An event dubbed the Phenomena, something shrouded in mystery, resulted in a towering wall separating two warring cultures.

In book one, The Golden City of Eyes, the protagonists meet and unite for the common good despite their drastic differences. They have traveled through several villages, and with each adventure, their legend begins to grow. As they arrive at Valentia Verona, once London, they must confront their legacy, and here, Bendis explores just whose story it is. Boldon complains that storytellers are stealing his story, but its enduring nature provides some new lessons.

The first volume was a little off-putting and confusing with the races and worldbuilding. Here, everything is put in its proper context, a neat feat considering all the new characters introduced. From the title, you know it’s Matilde’s story, and she proves to be an endearing figure, especially after she crosses the wall and confronts the enemy with a simple question.

Araújo (A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance) provides impressive black-and-white artwork that switches from the intimate to the magnificent, opening up this new Earth in interesting ways. All the characters are well-delineated, and his line work is intricate and appealing.

This clearly is the second volume in a trilogy, with Boldon’s story yet to be explored. This volume works fine on its own, but is a strong second chapter in this series.

One Hundred Tales by Osamu Tezuka
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One Hundred Tales by Osamu Tezuka

It’s tough to be a fan of someone when you’re not quite sure what aspect of their work you’re a fan of. I read a big bunch of Osamu Tezuka books, mostly published by Vertical, more than a decade ago – MW, Ayako , Ode to Kirihito, Apollo’s Song, a few others – and liked them all a lot. They were smart, sophisticated, serious books for adults, with a striking depth of expression and focused imaginative power.

Vertical might have published everything Tezuka did in that vein; I really don’t know. But I haven’t seen anything else similar from Tezuka in my scattered reading since then. The latest attempt was One Hundred Tales , originally published in Shonen Jump magazine in installments in 1971 under the title Hyaku Monogatari and translated by Iyasu Adair Nagata for this 2023 Ablaze edition. (It was part of a series called “Lion Books” that some awkwardly-worded backmatter in the this book attempts to explain, but doesn’t do a great job of – they don’t seem to have been “books” in the first place, but multiple-segment manga stories published in SJ; the narrative slides from talking about this series to other manga projects to anime projects without a whole lot of clarity; and there’s no explanation of what “Lion” is meant to mean in this context.)

Tales is, I think, part of the main flow of Tezuka’s career, the huge flood of stories mostly for teen (and younger) boys that he created for so long at such volume. There are elements that resonate with adults, but it’s mostly an adventure story with minor pretentions of philosophical depth, with the usual random Tezuka comic relief and contemporary cultural references thrown in willy-nilly.

The title makes it sound like a retelling of the Arabian Nights, but it’s actually a loose retelling of Faust, set in a vaguely historical-fantasy Japanese setting. The main character is a mousy accountant/samurai (shades of “Office? Submarine!” ), Ichiru Hanri, sentenced to commit ritual suicide for his very minor role in a coup plot against his feudal lord. He doesn’t want to die, and offers his soul if he can survive – so a demon (yokai, more accurately) in the form of a beautiful woman, Sudama, offers to buy his soul in exchange for three wishes.

Ichiru wishes to live his life over again, to have the most beautiful woman in the world, and to rule his own country and castle. And so the episodic story moves forward – first Sudama makes Ichiru young and handsome, then he visits (in his new face and under an assumed name) his horrible wife and lovely young daughter, then he chases his choice for most beautiful woman (Tamano no Mae, a powerful yokai) with no good result, then has the requisite training montage to become a stronger and better sword-fighter, and finally spends the back half of the story working for another minor feudal lord, massively enriching that lord and then overthrowing him.

It’s all pretty zig-zag. It does add up to a coherent story, but it only maps to the wishes fairly loosely. Sudama is also vastly more “helpful attractive supernatural woman” than she is “powerful scary demon” – the Faust parallels are mostly superficial, and drop away for the required happy ending.

Tezuka was an energetic cartoonist – sometimes too much so, to my eye, since this book starts off with Ichiru in full comic-relief mode, all goofy panic and silly faces, and the tide of comic relief comes in several more times as the book goes on. But, if you think of this as an adventure story made very quickly for publication in a massive weekly comics magazine for boys – which is exactly what it is – it’s admirable and pretty accomplished in that context.

Whether that context is enough to overcome the negatives is up to every reader to decide. Tezuka is a world-renowned creator of stories in comics form, but his standard mode is very idiosyncratic and very tied to the specifics of the Japanese market and audience at the time.

Reposted from The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.

Marvel Unveils The Next Chapter for the X-Men
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Marvel Unveils The Next Chapter for the X-Men

New York, NY — Krakoa is gone…but the X-Men remain, always.

Just now at the Future of Marvel Comics’ X-Men and Digital Comics panel at South by Southwest (SXSW), Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski and VP, Executive Editor Tom Brevoort were joined by writers Jed MacKay and Gail Simone to announce what’s coming next for Marvel’s line of X-Men comics. In the wake of their acclaimed Krakoan Age, witness the X-Men’s latest evolution this summer in X-MEN: FROM THE ASHES!

This new era of X-Men will be centered around three flagship titles written and drawn by some of today’s most influential and acclaimed creators: Jed Mackay and Ryan Stegman’s X-MEN, Gail Simone and David Marquez’s UNCANNY X-MEN, and Eve L. Ewing and Carmen Carnero’s EXCEPTIONAL X-MEN. Each series will offer different explorations of the mutant mythos as they take Marvel’s Merry Mutants into bold and untrodden territory.

Over their 60-year history, the X-Men have been many things. Outcasts. Teachers. Revolutionaries. Heroes. Above all, they’re a species, and the future is still theirs for the taking! Krakoa showed the world what homo superior is truly capable of, and now, the X-Men have to fight harder than ever to keep Professor X’s dream alive. These three core series will approach the X-Men’s vital mission with distinct and relevant perspectives while remaining faithful to the storytelling power of the mutant metaphor!

Read on to discover what awaits! 

X-MEN

Written by Jed MacKay
Art by Ryan Stegman

KRAKOA IS NO MORE…BUT THE X-MEN FIGHT ON!

From their new base in Alaska, the X-Men raise a flag of defiance! Join CYCLOPS, BEAST, MAGNETO, PSYLOCKE, KID OMEGA, TEMPER (formerly OYA), MAGIK and JUGGERNAUT as they assemble against new forces, battling for the destiny and philosophy of the mutant species. Mutant business is their business.

“It’s not just those three titles in this relaunch, there’s a lot!” MacKay shared at the panel. “[My X-Men title] is where we’ll see the first inklings of what the X-Men will look like in 2024. I’m very excited for you guys to see it when it comes out. If you look at that line-up, they’re a group of people who are not well suited to integrating into the world. And in these books, we’ll see what that means and what it looks like going forward.”

UNCANNY X-MEN

Written by Gail Simone
Art by David Marquez

OUTLAW HEROES ONCE AGAIN, THE X-MEN EMBARK ON A NEW MISSION!

Making themselves at home in the Big Easy, the X-Men protect a world that hates and fears them! Join ROGUE, GAMBIT, NIGHTCRAWLER, JUBILEE and WOLVERINE on explosive super hero adventures. Uncanny as ever, the X-Men are back to saving the day mutant-style!

“I think X-Fans are special in that we identify with having something different about us…and you’re going to feel that in this book, and what it means to have that thing about you that’s different, or exceptional. We go deep into the emotional part of that,” Simone told the crowd.

“David Marquez is the perfect artist for this book,” she continued. “He does amazing action, amazing character work, and he’s really excited about getting into the characters appearing in this book. I knew from the very first panel that this book was going to be super exciting and gorgeous. He just knows how to knock it out of the park!”

EXCEPTIONAL X-MEN

Written by Eve L. Ewing
Art by Carmen Carnero

MUTANTKIND’S TWO GREATEST TEACHERS MOLD THE NEXT GENERATION OF X-MEN!

KATE PRYDE has returned home to Chicago following the war with ORCHIS. Having stepped away from the world of mutantdom, she is nevertheless called back into action as she crosses paths with a trio of new young mutants, BRONZE, AXO and MELEE, who clearly need training and guidance. Unfortunately for Kate, EMMA FROST thinks so as well!

“Long-time fans of Kitty Pryde can count on the kinds of adventures you expect from her as a classic favorite, while I hope new and old readers alike will get to love this all-new team of young mutants,” Ewing shared. “Kitty, the one-time kid sister figure of the X-Men, has to reckon with her own memories—good and bad—of being a child of Xavier as she navigates a role as leader and mentor for a new generation of mutants who are trying to make their way in a time of crisis. I always try to strike a chord between appealing to veteran comics fans and new readers, but since so many people fell in love with the X-Men as teens and this book is about a team of young folks, that feels especially important to me here. I hope that for some 13- or 14-year-old readers, this might be the first comic book they pick up. Working on this series has been a ton of fun already, as Carmen Carnero’s art is bringing so much dynamism to these pages and the entire X-team of writers is in a flurry sharing scripts and feedback and ideas.”

“The X-Men are fractured in the aftermath of the end of Krakoa, scattered across the globe without a central base of operation,” Marvel Comics VP Executive Editor Tom Brevoort explained. “What that means in practice is that all three titles carrying the name X-MEN are core X-MEN series—they all center around one of the major aspects of what the team has been about at different points. This is very much by design. We want to field a wide assortment of X-titles with different styles and tones and approaches, an X-MEN book for virtually any taste.”

This is only the beginning, and fans shouldn’t fret if they don’t see their favorite mutant icons just yet! In the coming weeks, get ready for more X-Men title announcements including new ongoing team books, solo series, and more. Catch a glimpse at some of the future titles and stay tuned for full announcements plus the main cover reveals and first looks for X-MEN #1, UNCANNY X-MEN #1, and EXCEPTIONAL X-MEN #1. Check out all three cast lineups on Ryan Stegman and Marte Gracia’s X-MEN: FROM THE ASHES promotional image and get a sneak peek at what’s to come in the X-MEN: FROM THE ASHES trailer, featuring never-before-seen artwork that teases new villains AND the mystery of INMATE X! And don’t forget to take your first steps into the new era on May 4 with a special prelude tale by Gail Simone in FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2024: BLOOD HUNT/X-MEN #1 AND in June’s X-MEN #35, the 700th issue of Uncanny X-Men, which will feature stories by both Simone and MacKay.

Madame Web Swings onto Digital Streaming Today
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Madame Web Swings onto Digital Streaming Today

The underperforming and much-mocked Madame Web has arrived on streaming services for purchase or rent, allowing audiences to make their own decisions.

SYNOPSIS
Madame Web tells the standalone origin story of one of Marvel publishing’s most enigmatic heroines. The suspense-driven thriller stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic in Manhattan who may have clairvoyant abilities. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she forges a relationship with three young women destined for powerful futures…if they can all survive a deadly present.

DIGITAL EXTRAS*
o Gag Reel
o Easter Eggs
o Oracle Of The Page
o Fight Like A Spider
o Future Vision
o Casting The Web
o Deleted Scene

CAST AND CREW
Directed by SJ Clarkson
Produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Based on The Marvel Comics
Story by Kerem Sanga and Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless
Screenplay by Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless and Claire Parker & SJ Clarkson
Executive Producers: Adam Merims, SJ Clarkson, Claire Parker
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O’Connor, Tahar Rahim, Mike Epps, Emma Roberts, Adam Scott

SPECS
Run Time: Approx. 116 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for violence/action and language

Glory makes 4K Debut on June 4
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Glory makes 4K Debut on June 4

SYNOPSIS
Commemorate the 35th anniversary of GLORY: the heart-stopping story of the first Black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War, starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Morgan Freeman. Broderick and Elwes are the idealistic young Bostonians who lead the regiment; Freeman is the inspirational sergeant who unites the troops; and Denzel Washington, in an Academy Award®-winning performance (1989, Best Supporting Actor), is the runaway slave who embodies the indomitable spirit of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts.

DISC DETAILS & BONUS MATERIALS
4K ULTRA HD DISC
Restored from the original camera negative, presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
English Dolby Atmos + 5.1 + 2-channel surround
Special Features:
Visual Feature-Length Commentary
Theatrical Trailer

BLU-RAY DISC™
Feature presented in high definition
English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio
Special Features:
Director’s Commentary
Deleted Scenes with Commentary
Virtual Civil War Battlefield Interactive Map
“The True Story Continues” Documentary
“The Voices of Glory” Featurette
“The Making of Glory” Featurette

CAST AND CREW
Directed By: Edward Zwick
Produced By: Freddie Fields
Screenplay By: Kevin Jarre
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman

SPECS
Run Time: Approx. 122 minutes
Rating: R
4K UHD Feature Picture: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 1.85:1
4K UHD Feature Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible), English, French, Spanish (Castilian) 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English 2-Channel Surround DTS-HD MA

American Hustle Makes 4K Debut as a Limited Edition Steelbook May 21
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American Hustle Makes 4K Debut as a Limited Edition Steelbook May 21

SYNOPSISThe con is on when scam artists and lovers Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) are entrapped by ambitious FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) and coerced into participating in a major sting operation which hinges on snaring politician Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) and his associates. Complicating matters is Irving’s wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), who could bring the whole operation crashing down around them all. From the director of Silver Linings Playbook and The Fighter, AMERICAN HUSTLE is outrageously entertaining and one of the most acclaimed films of 2013.
DISC DETAILS & BONUS MATERIALS 4K ULTRA HD DISCPresented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision, featuring English Dolby Atmos + 5.1 audioHDR and Atmos approved by director David O. RussellSpecial Features:NEW: Nearly 15 Minutes of Additional Never-Before-Seen Deleted & Extended ScenesTheatrical TrailerBLU-RAY DISC™Feature presented in high definitionEnglish DTS-HD MA 5.1 audioSpecial Features:11 Deleted and Extended ScenesThe Making of American Hustle
CAST AND CREWDirected By: David O. Russell
Produced By: Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison, Jonathan Gordon
Written By: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
Executive Producers: Matthew Budman, Bradley Cooper, Eric Warren Singer, George Parra
Cast: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer LawrenceSPECS
Run Time: Approx. 138 minutes
Rating: R for pervasive language, some sexual content and brief violence
4K UHD Feature Picture: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 2.39:1
4K UHD Feature Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible), English 5.1 DTS-HD MA
Red 2-Film Collection Arrives April 2
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Red 2-Film Collection Arrives April 2

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Bruce Willis reassembles his old crew when Red 2-Film Collection becomes available on Steelbook® on April 2 by Lionsgate. This double feature comes with deleted and extra scenes, along with audio commentary and a multi-part documentary. Red 2-Film Collection will only be available at Walmart on Steelbook® for the suggested retail price of $39.99.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
RED: Frank (Willis) is a former black-ops CIA agent living a quiet life alone… until the day a hit squad shows up to kill him. With his identity compromised, Frank reassembles his old team — Joe (Freeman), Marvin (Malkovich), and Victoria (Mirren) — and sets out to prove that they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Stand back and watch the bullets fly in this explosive action-comedy that critics call “A rip-roaring good time” (Kevin Steincross, Fox-TV).

RED 2: Retired black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses (Willis) reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device. To succeed, they’ll need to survive assassins, terrorists, and power-crazed government officials, all eager to get their hands on the superweapon.

CAST
Bruce Willis                                         Die Hard, The Sixth Sense, The Fifth Element
Morgan Freeman                                The Shawshank Redemption, Seven, Bruce Almighty
John Malkovich                                   Being John Malkovich, Con Air, Of Mice and Men
Helen Mirren                                       Golda, The Queen, TV’s “1923”
Mary-Louise Parker                            Fried Green TomatoesR.I.P.D, TV’s “Weeds”
Brian Cox                                            X2, Troy, TV’s “Succession”

4K UHD STEELBOOK® SPECIAL FEATURES:
RED

  • Deleted And Extended Scenes
  • Audio Commentary with Retired CIA Field Officer Robert Baer
  • Theatrical Trailer

RED 2

  • “The Red 2 Experience” Multi-Part Documentary
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Theatrical Trailer

PROGRAM INFORMATION
RED
Year of Production: 2010
Title Copyright: Red © 2010, Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2024 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Catalog Re-Release
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Comedy
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH
Run Time: 112 Minutes
4K UHD Format: 2160p Ultra High Definition • 16×9 (2.40:1) Presentation
4K UHD Audio: English Dolby Atmos • Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Audio • English 2.0 Dolby Audio Optimized for Late-Night Listening
Artist Information: Marko Manev

RED 2
Year of Production: 2013
Title Copyright: Red 2 © 2013, Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2024 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Catalog Re-Release
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Comedy
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH
Run Time: 116 Minutes
4K UHD Format: 2160p Ultra High Definition • 16×9 (2.40:1) Presentation
4K UHD Audio: English Dolby Atmos • Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Audio • English 2.0 Dolby Audio Optimized for Late-Night Listening
Artist Information: Marko Manev

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two   
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Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two   

Available on Digital on April 23

BURBANK, CA (February 21, 2024) – Based on DC’s iconic comic book limited series ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, join DC Super Heroes from across the multiverse in the second of three parts in DC’s new animated film Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two, which continues the trilogy that marks the beginning of the end to the Tomorrowverse story arc.

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC, and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the all-new, action-packed DC animated film features some of DC’s most famous Super Heroes from multiple universes, including Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, who come together to stop an impending threat of doom and destruction. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two will be available to purchase on digital and on 4K UHD in limited edition steelbook packaging and Blu-ray on April 23.

Fans of this superhero adventure will also be able to indulge in a range of bonus features, including interviews with the filmmakers on how they created a comprehensive universe across seven films.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One is available now on Digital, 4K UHD and Blu-ray.The final part of the trilogy will be available later in 2024.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two features returning popular voice cast members: Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, The Boys, The Winchesters) as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Emmy winner Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Glee) as Superman & Earth-2 Superman, Meg Donnelly (Legion of Super-Heroes, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,) as Supergirl & Harbinger, and Stana Katic (Castle, Absentia) as Wonder Woman & Superwoman.

Aside from the returning voice cast, the star-studded ensemble voice cast includes Jonathan Adams as Monitor, Gideon Adlon as Batgirl, Geoffrey Arend as Psycho Pirate/Charles Halstead & Hawkman, Troy Baker as Joker, Zach Callison as Robin, Darin De Paul as Solovar, Ato Essandoh as Mr. Terrific & Anti-Monitor, Keith Ferguson as Dr. Fate & Atomic Knight, Will Friedle as Batman Beyond & Kamandi, Jennifer Hale as Alura & Hippolyta, Aldis Hodge as John Stewart, Jamie Gray Hyder as Hawkgirl, Erika Ishii as Doctor Light/Dr. Hoshi & Huntress, David Kaye as The Question & Satellite, Matt Lanter as Blue Beetle, Liam McIntyre as Aquaman, Lou Diamond Phillips as Spectre, Matt Ryan as Constantine, Keesha Sharp as Vixen, Harry Shum Jr. as Brainiac 5, and Jimmi Simpson as Green Arrow.

Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two is produced by Jim Krieg and Kimberly S. Moreau and executive produced by Butch Lukic, Sam Register, and Michael Uslan. The film is directed by Jeff Wamester from a script by Jim Krieg. Casting and voice direction is by Wes Gleason. The film is based on characters from DC and the graphic novel “Crisis on Infinite Earths” by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez

Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two will be available on April 3 9 to purchase digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. On April 30 23 the film will be available to purchase on 4K Ultra HD in limited edition steelbook packaging and Blu-Ray Discs online and in-store at major retailers. Pre-order your copy now.

SYNOPSIS:

An endless army of SHADOW DEMONS bent on the destruction of all reality swarms over our world and all parallel Earths! The only thing opposing them is the mightiest team of metahumans ever assembled. But not even the combined power of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and all their fellow superheroes can slow down the onslaught of this invincible horde. What mysterious force is driving them? And how do the long-buried secrets of the Monitor and Supergirl threaten to crush our last defense?

SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

Physical and Digital

  • Voices in Crisis
  • The Bat-Family of the Multiverse
  • Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three Sneak Peek

PRICING AND FILM INFORMATION

PRODUCT                                                                             SRP

Digital purchase                                                                      $19.99

4K Ultra HD Steelbook + Digital Version*                           $47.99 USA

4K Ultra HD Steelbook                                                          $54.99 Canada

Blu-ray + Digital Version*                                                     $29.98 USA    

Blu-ray                                                                                    $39.99 Canada

4K/Blu-ray Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

Blu-ray Subtitles: English, Spanish, Dutch, French

Running Time: 95 min

Rated PG-13 for violence, some disturbing images and thematic elements.

*Digital version not available in Canada

Marvel Celebrates Milestone 700th issue of Uncanny X-Men
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Marvel Celebrates Milestone 700th issue of Uncanny X-Men

New York, NY— March 6, 2024 — In July 2019, the world of the X-Men was shattered and reborn on Krakoa in visionary writer Jonathan Hickman’s House of X. In the years since, fans have experienced a golden age of mutant storytelling, filled with bold ideas, astonishing character developments, and revolutionary new takes on the mutant metaphor. Now, the next seminal shift in the history of the X-Men is on the horizon, but first, Marvel Comics proudly presents the final act of the Krakoan Age this June in X-MEN #35!

X-MEN #35 will be the milestone 700th issue of Uncanny X-Men and will feature an epic-length story by acclaimed writers and artists who shaped the Krakoan Age, including Gerry Duggan, Kieron Gillen, Al Ewing, Lucas Werneck, Joshua Cassara, and more. The giant-sized issue will also feature a story of family by X-Men master Chris Claremont and offer a glimpse of things to come in the new X-Men titles launching this summer. It’s a landmark issue for one of pop culture’s most beloved franchises that no comic book fan will want to miss!

All good things must come to an end, and as good of a thing as the Krakoan era has been for mutantkind…its time has come at last. The tragedy and triumph of FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X, the madness and mystery of RISE OF THE POWERS OF X…they have all come to their end and led to this moment that will change the future of mutantkind for years to come.

On closing out this groundbreaking period of the mutant mythos, Senior Editor Jordan D. White shared, “Being a part of the Krakoan experiment has been a true thrill. Honestly—in many ways, it echoed the experience of mutant-kind itself in the era. We worked. Differently, we tried new things, and we survived incredible new experiences. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked with such fantastically talented creators throughout the era, and working on the glorious ending is truly bittersweet. I will miss it with my whole heart, but I do know… Krakoa will live on within us forever.”

REVIEW: Contagion
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REVIEW: Contagion

In 2011, I watched Contagion and found it a gripping thriller with an all-star cast–Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Elliott Gould, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Sanaa Lathan, and Gwyneth Paltrow–then promptly stopped thinking about it. I was, though, reminded of it in 2021 when the global pandemic became a reality.

And yet, Warner Home Entertainment skipped the obvious 10th anniversary in favor of finally releasing the 4K Ultra HD edition. It’s a stunning disc and well worth your attention.

From director Steven Soderbergh and writer Scott Z. Burns, we have a now-eerily familiar situation that a weary world is hardly prepared for. As the camera casually pans across the empty spaces and we see only masked faces, it feels more like memory than fiction. We can admire how accurately they projected what a modern pandemic might be like and you would have thought more people would have paid attention back then and made us all better prepared for what is now clearly the inevitable.

PR executive Beth Emhoff (Paltrow), returns from Asia, and brings with her a disease that was already spreading. A flashback at the end shows how it all innocently started with…a bat. Her husband, Damon, is the character we follow through the various lot threads as the world rapidly spirals out of control. Dr. Leonora Orantes, Cotillard’s WHO epidemiologist, comes from Europe to study the disease and her outsider status rubs people the wrong way and also is discordant with the rest of the narrative.

We’re far enough away from our real-world life-changing circumstances to once again watch the film, but with fresh eyes and knowing nods of the head. Overall, it’s a compelling story with many strong performances.

The studio’s 2160p/HDR10 transfer is superb and an improvement over the previous Blu-ray edition. The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix is fine, although can’t keep up with the visual. Not that most of us would notice.

The release offers just the 4K and a Digital HD code, repackaging the 2012 special features while adding nothing new, which is a missed opportunity.  For the record, these include The Reality of Contagion (11:00), The Contagion Detectives (5:00), and How a Virus Changes the World (2:00).