Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 7/19/25
As expected, this busy week has come to an end and we can all relax and enjoy some comics. Except that I didn’t enjoy a lot of this week’s comics! For possibly the first time in a long time, there are some real stinkers in my review column!
But not Comic Book of the Week Absolute Batman #10, for some truly excellent, Batman-themed horror.
Meanwhile, I continue to slowly make my way through Death Stranding 2. I’m very much enjoying the game. Or maybe I just enjoy giving myself virtual busy work? Who’s to say. Other than that, I’m excited for Fantastic Four: First Steps this week, and do hope to get my Superman review up sooner rather than later.
Comic Reviews: Absolute Batman #10, Absolute Flash #5, Exceptional X-Men #11, Imperial #2 and Wonder Woman #23.
Read the rest of this entryWill this darn week ever end? Maybe with some trailers
Man, this week. I’ve had a busy year and summer already, but this week takes the cake! But I’ve mostly made it through, and finally have something to post and share! Trailers! Movie and TV show trailers! I love trailers, I love having new things to watch, and I love sharing them with you lovely people who read this blog still.
First up is the first look at Mortal Kombat II, the sequel to that mostly bland Mortal Kombat movie from a few years ago.
All I can mostly say is…they seem to be leaning into the Mortal Kombat of it all just like the original Mortal Kombat sequel, Annihilation. That would be pretty wild. Mostly, I’m excited that they’ve brought back actor Josh Lawson as Kano. He was the only good character from the first film, and it was a damn travesty that they killed him off. Let us hope he has a big role in this sequel.
Mortal Kombat II comes to theaters on Oct. 24.
Next up is Tron: Ares, a movie I don’t care about, but looks very good.
I’ve never cared about the Tron franchise, and I don’t have any particular interest or anticipation for Tron: Ares. But some people might, so I’m sharing. And, honestly, that trailer looks fascinating. I love the visuals. I love the computery Tron stuff placed up against a real world city. So I might actually watch this in theaters.
Tron: Ares comes to theaters on Oct. 10.
How about Hoppers, the next Pixar film.
I haven’t seen Elio, but I probably will when it comes to Disney+. Pixar just isn’t the same. And, while Hoppers doesn’t strike any particular chord, I did like the idea of a human confronting the starkness of the animal kingdom. So that’s neat, at least.
Hoppers comes to theaters on March 6.
Lastly, a TV show trailer for Alien: Earth.
I’ve never been a big fan of the Alien franchise. I just don’t care for horror. But I’ll watch a prestige TV show when it’s good. And hopefully Alien: Earth will be good! I’ve got high hopes and can make room in my schedule.
Alien: Earth comes to FX and Hulu on Aug. 12, which is pretty darn soon.
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I’m Still Into Stranger Things
It’s been a whole week since I last posted, and for that I’m sorry. That might be the longest I’ve ever gone without posting something on this silly little blog of mine. But let me tell you, it’s been a busy damn week. And with no obvious easy posts, until this trailer. I just couldn’t find the time to write my Superman review. It’s still coming. Maybe next week.
Anyway, we got a new Stranger Things trailer yesterday, so that’s something!
I’m still into Stranger Things. I’ve simply come to accept that TV shows take years between seasons. It sucks, but that’s life. And I’ve enjoyed every season of Stranger Things. I’ve got no doubt they’ll nail the landing and we’ll all have a lot of fun.
The new season starts off around Thanksgiving, then continues on Christmas and we get a big finale on New Year’s Eve and/or Day.
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My 6 Preferred Superman Canons
I don’t know if I’ve ever done this article before, but I’m doing it now because the new Superman movie comes out this week! I’m very excited to see the new movie in theaters — though a timely dentist appointment means I won’t be at the very first showing on Thursday. I’ll have to avoid all spoilers until at least Friday or Saturday evenings. I’m in a tough bind!
Anyway, Superman has been around for nearly 100 years and has dozens of reinventions over the years. The current big comic is Absolute Superman with a truly wild new origin story for the Man of Steel, and there’s no doubt that James Gunn’s new Superman movie will have its own quirks and tweaks to the classic tale. And I think it would be fun to lay out my own preferred canon ideas for Superman’s origin and basic foundation.
I don’t know what any of these ideas are built around. I never watched the original Superman movies growing up. I never read Superman comics as a kid. I loved the animated series of the 90s, I think my family watched some Lois and Clark, and I was a big Smallville fan. So wherever they come from, these ideas are just ingrained into my preferred takes on Superman and his world.
Join me after the jump for the full list and feel free to share your own ideal Superman canons or head canons in the comments below.
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