Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Here’s another piece of art that somehow never was posted here. Way back in 2003, I met Jeff Parker at HeroesCon. He had his book THE INTERMAN on display and I was hooked. Jeff not only wrote THE INTERMAN but also pencilled, inked, colored, and even published it!
When I asked Jeff to do a piece for my Stallone sketch collection, he said he wanted to do Sly from Victory. Jeff went on to pencil, ink and color the art [shades of THE INTERMAN].
Banshee: Season 2 (2014)
Created by: Jonathan Tropper, David Schickler
Director:
Teleplay:
Stars: Antony Starr, Ivana Miličević, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, Hoon Lee, Rus Blackwell, Matt Servitto, Demetrius Grosse, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Matthew Rauch, Rus Blackwell, Ryann Shane, Lili Simmons, Anthony Ruivivar and Ben Cross.
Tagline: Good Town. Bad Blood.
The Plot…
After 15 years in prison a man went to the small town of Banshee to reunite with his crime partner and Anna, his girlfriend. They ripped off a Ukrainian crime boss known as Rabbit for millions. He was caught and she escaped with the loot.
Rabbit still wants both… and revenge on the man.
In Banshee the man finds Ana. She’s taken on a new identity as Carrie Hopewell. The new identity was expected. Her married to the town’s D.A. with two children was not.
Through a series of events, the man takes on the identity of Josh Hood – the town’s new sheriff.
This season…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Banshee was created for Cinemax and therefore doesn’t hold back on filming nudity and sexual situations.
Banshee has always played out like a really fun crime comic with larger than life characters combined with over the top action. This kicks up even more in season 2.
Hoon Lee continues to be a favorite character.
If you’re willing to go with the concept of an ex-con taking the identity of the new sheriff (that nobody has ever met), you’re in for a fun ride.
Banshee: Season 2 (2014) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Now THAT is one cool Joker! Bravo! Well done Javier Hernandez Guerrero!
Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso are coming back, and they’re bringing Lono from 100 Bullets with ’em. Here’s the scoop.
Happy 250th, America. Lono’s back. You won’t survive the year. Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso reunite for an all-new 100 Bullets story!
Not many people made it out alive from the fall of the Trust in 100 Bullets.
Lono did — just barely — and it sent him spiraling on a years-long international odyssey. His one-time protégé, Loop Hughes, was the only one smart enough to walk away clean. But now tragedy has come knocking on Loop’s door, and the scent of blood has attracted a dangerous stray dog. Lono’s back in the USA, and he’s on the hunt… through a network of good ol’ boys and militias, megachurches, millionaires, and madmen.
In Brother Lono, Lono unsuccessfully tried to save his own soul; in The US of Anger, he’ll play Satan to a host of demons tempting America to sell hers. The multi-Eisner Award-winning team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso have returned to their most famous creation, unleashing a new chapter in Vertigo’s greatest crime saga—told for the first time in stunning black and white!
Collects 100 Bullets: The US of Anger #1-7.
Pre-orders are available now.
Sly Stallone as Rambo by Nate Niles. Nate’s a young artist to watch for. Nate was “introduced” to me by Jarrod Alberich, The Yard Sale Artist. The two of them created Hamilton Vs. Burr: A Werewolf Tale!
The Widower: ‘Til Death Do Us Part (2026)
Director: Chris Smith
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Thomas Randolph called 911. He said that his wife, Sharon Causse, was killed by a home invader. Randolph said that he then shot and killed the intruder. It turned out that Randolph knew the man. His name was Michael Miler. Further, it was proved that Randolph conspired with Miller to kill his wife and then Randolph killed Miller.
As a reporter looked into this case it was discovered that Sharon Causse was Randolph’s sixth wife. Four of his wives had died of suspicious circumstances. As Randolph’s case became known he was dubbed the “Black Widower“.
Get this –
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If Randolph hadn’t been released early from prison for his first attempted murder charge, he couldn’t have killed all of these women.
Later, when he was charged for conspiracy to commit murder which could result in his second life sentence, he was allowed to plead down to up to five years behind bars… and served less than two. That is a sad commentary on our justice system.
Many documentaries would have made Randolph’s story a mini-series. I applaud the filmmaker(s) for just needing one and a half hours.
The Widower: ‘Til Death Do Us Part (2026) rates…
I’ve known Bill Black for over forty years. Bill began his professional comics career in 1969 illustrating horror stories for Warren Publications’ CREEPY and EERIE magazines. Since then Bill worked in advertising and in film production and illustrated comics for Marvel.
Bill’s real claim to fame came when he started AC Comics, one of the first 5 Independent comic book publishers in America and the only one of that group still in business. Over the years Bill has done it all — writer, penciler, inker, painter, publisher. What an amazing career!
I’ve been fortunate to know Bill as a friend. I say fortunate because Bill is one of the most positive, fun people I’ve ever met. In 2022, Bill gifted me his take on Sly Stallone as Cosmo Carboni from Paradise Alley. We were sitting and talking at his table during a Daytona Beach Comic Convention and he whipped this out.
CRONE by Keith Rosson
First sentences…
The van is blue.
Okay, Hannah thinks the van is blue, with the rain beading her glasses, and the way, even in the best of times, that nighttime diminishes her vision, presses everything into vague smears of flattened color, it’s hard to tell.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Eli Lamp used to be a respected police detective. But that was years ago. Before his wife died in childbirth. Before he began drinking too much. Before he started using. Before he lost his job.
Eli loved his daughter Hannah, but his parenting sucked. Then when Hannah was fifteen, walking home at night from a party with a friend, she got into a van… and was never seen again.
That was thirteen years ago.
Eli spent every penny he had in his search for Hannah. But it was his run-in with the Brother Night motorcycle gang that cost Eli the most. Dave Novak, the leader of a rival gang, the Crooked Wheel motorcycle gang helped Eli. Now to pay off his debt Eli works as an enforcer and bag man for Novak. Eli busts heads, makes the weekly drop to the corrupt Sheriff and whatever else Novak needs done.
When Novak’s grown son is found brutally murdered with his body mutilated, Novak wants revenge. He orders Eli to use his detective skills to find the killer. Eli reluctantly agrees when Novak says Eli’s debt will be cancelled if he finds the killer.
Eli’s investigation leads to Avery Bryant. Avery was his daughter Hannah’s best friend. As Eli digs deeper, he uncovers a conspiracy that goes back decades. It may provide the key to his daughter’s disappearance and something that defies rationale explanation.
+++
Keith Rosson is a relatively new author to me. Earlier this year I read his FEVER HOUSE, followed it with the sequel DEVIL BY NAME and now CRONE. Each book has been a winner. His other books are now on my to be read list. If you haven’t already, consider giving him a look.
Rating:
This Rocky IV alt poster was created for a special screening by Tom Ralston.
“He is not human, he is a piece of iron.” – Drago
Desperado (1995)
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez
Stars: Antonio Banderas, Joaquim de Almeida, Salma Hayek, Steve Buscemi, Cheech Marin, Carlos Gómez, Carlos Gallardo, Danny Trejo and Quentin Tarantino
Tagline: He came back to settle the score with someone. Anyone. EVERYONE.
The Plot…
A man known as El Mariachi arrives in a small Mexican border town. He’s come to kill the drug cartel crime lord Bucho. As Mariachi works us way up the chain of command, it becomes clear, he’ll kill anyone and EVERYONE who gets in his way.
As one of the taglines says, “When the smoke clears, it just means he’s reloading.”
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Antonio Banderas directed the bathroom scene that takes place before the second tavern shootout.
Robert Rodriguez and Danny Trejo are second cousins.
Desperado is a remake of Robert Rodriguez’s earlier film El Mariachi. Rodriguez self-financed El Mariachi using credit cards and his personal finances. The budget was just $7,000.00.
Carlos Gallardo played the title role in El Mariachi and also plays one of the two musicians who comes to assist El Mariachi in Desperado.
Desperado (1995) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Tulsa King Season 4 has started!
This is the latest (and my favorite so far) poster for I Play Rocky.
The poster and trailer for The Greatest is here!
Deal me in.
The Greatest is an intimate exploration of the incomparable life of the boxing champion, humanitarian and global icon.
Executive produced by Ben Watkins, Michael B. Jordan, Shawn Carter, and Lonnie Ali, the widow of the late luminary, The Greatest is the first authorized scripted series about the life of Muhammad Ali, offering unprecedented access and going beyond the amazing victories and defeats that made Ali a legend, both in and out of the ring.
Arriving November 4 only on Prime.
The poster and teaser trailer for Frisco King is here!
Lee Washington (Samuel L. Jackson) lands in Frisco, Texas and discovers a hustler’s playground hidden beneath the polished surface of American suburbia.
New series streaming December 18, only on Paramount+.
Animal Crackers (2017)
Director: Scott Christian Sava, Tony Bancroft
Screenplay: Scott Christian Sava, Dean Lorey
Stars: Emily Blunt, Danny DeVito, John Krasinski, Ian McKellen, Sylvester Stallone, Patrick Warburton, Raven-Symoné, Harvey Fierstein, Wallace Shawn, Gilbert Gottfried, Tara Strong, James Arnold Taylor, Kevin Grevioux and Lydia Rose Taylor.
Tagline: A magical adventure in every bite!
The Plot…
Owen and Zoe meet at Owen’s family circus as children. Years later, they marry. Owen leaves the circus to work at his father-in-law’s dog biscuit factory as a taster. When Owen inherits the circus, Zoe decides to give it a go.
The circus has seen better days. Then Owen and Zoe find a box of magical animal crackers. Eating an animal shaped cracker turns the person into the real animal! Owen eats different crackers and becomes the circus’ star attraction.
Owen’s evil uncle, wants the circus and plans to steal the magic animal crackers.
And now if I can direct your attention to the center ring… the show is about to start!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Animal Crackers is based on a graphic novel that co-Director Scott Christian Sava wrote for his two children. He set the story in his hometown of Franklin, Tennessee.
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, who voice the married couple, Zoe and Owen, are married in real-life.
I watched this with my grandchildren (ages 3 and 7), they loved it. Their laughter was contagious!
Animal Crackers (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.
