Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Sly Stallone is Jack Carter by Rags Morales!
I was able to get this awesome piece through a mail order commission. It was one of my best commission experiences ever. I was kept in regular communication as to my place on Rags list and the progress of the completed piece. It was mailed in secure packaging… and of course the piece itself is a beaut.
One of my favorite authors is S.A. Cosby. I highly recommend everything he’s written. Anyway, I was doing a search to see if Cosby’s next book had been announced. It has. I was surprised to find out it’s the third book in the Marvel Crime novel series. I wasn’t even aware that there was a Marvel Crime novel series.
Ah, but there is.
Here’s the lowdown on S.A. Cosby’s TRUTH TO POWER: A LUKE CAGE MARVEL CRIME NOVEL…
Luke Cage plays detective and super hero when he uncovers a conspiracy turning vulnerable Americans into unwitting pawns of a madman.
New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby (KING OF ASHES) writes an original crime novel starring Harlem’s unbreakable hero for the Marvel Crime thriller series for adult readers.
With advanced cybernetics showing up in the possession of low-level criminals, Luke Cage is hired to investigate a factory manufacturing medical devices in rural Virginia. Leaving Jessica Jones during a delicate moment in their relationship, he makes plans to travel south but is devastated to learn that a cousin who scoped out the plant for him has been found dead. The police report states it was an accident. But Luke has long known that official words are just that: words.
Fueled by guilt and vengeance, Luke arrives in Virginia and promises his aunt he’ll get to the bottom of things. But danger lurks in every living room, barroom, and country road of Majestic, and the local sheriff’s barely concealed prejudices are ready to boil to the surface. Even ordinary people seem to have no qualms about testing their might against the hero from New York City.
As Luke uncovers a conspiracy reaching to the county line and beyond, an persistent evil begins to take hold of the town, leaving Luke to hope that his unbreakable skin will protect him long enough to protect others and bring an end to the hate threatening to engulf the nation.
TRUTH TO POWER continues the Marvel Crime series that began with Lisa Jewell’s BREAKING THE DARK and Alex Segura’s ENEMY OF MY ENEMY. Bringing fans into a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, Marvel Crime novels build on one another but can be enjoyed as stand-alone reads and will thrill even those new to the Marvel Universe.
TRUTH TO POWER: A LUKE CAGE MARVEL CRIME NOVEL Hardcover
TRUTH TO POWER: A LUKE CAGE MARVEL CRIME NOVEL Kindle
TRUTH TO POWER drops on September 22, 2026.
I love this Wolverine by Rudy Ao. I’ll bet you do as well.
Cross: Season 2 (2026)
Created by: Ben Watkins; based on the ALEX CROSS novels by James Patterson
Director:
Teleplay:
Stars: Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Caleb Elijah, Melody Hurd, Jennifer Wigmore, Eloise Mumford, Ryan Eggold, Stacie Greenwell, Sharon Taylor, Karen Robinson, Mercedes de la Zerda, Siobhan Murphy and Johnny Ray Gill.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
D.C. Detective Alex Cross (Hodge) and (his best friend since childhood) Detective John Sampson (Mustafa) are placed on a task force to find a serial killer who has threatened to kill billionaire Lance Durand and is systematically murdering Durand’s business associates. The killer leaves clues and collects fingers of the victims.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Cross benefits from a great cast. Standouts are Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa (who plays my favorite character), Ryan Eggold and Johnny Ray Gill (who is a scene-stealer).
I am looking forward to season 3.
Cross: Season 2 (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)
Director: Nia DaCosta
Screenplay: Alex Garland
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry, Maura Bird, Robert Rhodes, Emma Laird, Sam Locke and David Sterne.
Tagline: Fear is the new faith.
The Plot…
At the end of 28 Years Later Spike was saved from a zombie horde by Jimmy Crystal and his followers. Spike feels lucky until it becomes clear Jimmy Crystal is psycho Satan-worshipper. Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, as he calls himself, feels he is part of Satan’s plan in this zombie-plagued world. To that end, the terrorize, mutilate and kill any people they come across… unless the are able to become one of Sir Lord Crystal’s followers.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kelson has made progress with his work to find a cure for the rage virus. If successful, it could mean a chance to free the world of the rage virus’ effects.
When Jimmy Crystal spots Dr. Ian in the distance, Sir Lord decides he and his followers will pay the good doctor a visit.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The final scenes of 28 Years Later had a comic bent that seemed out of place. I was worried that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple would have the same feel. I shouldn’t have been concerned. We learn that Jimmy Crystal and his followers are nothing to laugh about.
While I enjoyed 28 Years Later and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, both fell short of 28 Days Later (which I consider a classic). With that said, I think both 28 Years Later and Bone Temple work better when viewed as a whole.
There’s a scene at the end of Bone Temple that could set up the next movie in the franchise. I hope that that film gets made.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars
Doaly came up with this very creative alt poster for A Quiet Place: Day One. I love it. Hope you do as well. Click on the art to see a bigger version.
Stay quiet. Stay alive. – Tagline
Although I’m a huge fan of Interview with the Vampire (both the Tom Cruise movie and the AMC series), I was a bit concerned when I heard that the next season would be titled The Vampire Lestat. A rock-and-roll vampire? Not sure how that could work. (And no, I’ve never read the novels.)
After seeing this trailer, I think my concerns were misguided. Time will tell.
Deal me in.
It’s time to set the record straight.
#TheVampireLestat debuts June 7 exclusively on AMC and AMC+.
Primitive War (2025)
Director: Luke Sparke
Screenplay: Ethan Pettus, Luke Sparke; based on PRIMITIVE WAR by Ethan Pettus
Stars: Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, Anthony Ingruber and Jeremy Piven.
Tagline: This ain’t no walk in the park.
The Plot…
1968. Viet Nam. A squad of Green Berets has gone missing while on a mission deep in the jungle. The Vulture Squad led by Sergeant Ryan Baker, second-in-command Sergeant Xavier Wise, snipers Keyes and Stovall as well as soldiers Verne, Taylor and Miller are sent in to find the missing Berets.
What they find instead seems impossible. Dinosaurs. Living, breathing and very hungry dinosaurs.
This mission won’t be a walk in the park.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Primitive War is based on a self-published book by Ethan Pettus.
Soldiers vs dinosaurs, cowboys vs dinosaurs, heck anyone vs dinosaurs should be fun. Primitive War is good, but I was hoping for better. Still, it’s not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.
Primitive War (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have a Marv by Jason Shawn Alexander.
Primate (2025)
Director: Johannes Roberts
Screenplay: Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera
Stars: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Troy Kotsur, Stuart Whelan and Ben Pronsky.
Tagline: Something’s wrong with Ben.
The Plot…
Lucy Pinborough is heading home with some girlfriends from college. Home is a remote Hawaiian house owned by her father. Her dad is a famous novelist who is going to be away for the weekend on a book tour. Lucy plans to have a party at her house with her girlfriends and some guys they met on the plane. Oh, and Ben will be there as well.
Ben is a chimp that Lucy’s family adopted when he was just a baby.
What nobody knows is that Ben has contracted rabies. And is about to become murderous.
Party on!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Here’s a little known fact: Hawaii is the only state in the US that maintains rabies-free status due to its strict rabies vaccination and quarantine requirements.
I had never seen Johnny Sequoyah before this. She was excellent.
Primate (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Leo Leibelman is a freelance artist who has provided art for comics, trading cards, novels, instructional materials, film storyboards and more. Leo Leibelman takes commissions.
How cool is that that Leibelman chose to paint Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes? Such a cool, underated movie, that deserves more recognition!
“Listen to me John. How many other white apes have you seen? You’re like me, not them. You have another family, far away, one you have never seen.” – Capitaine Phillippe D’Arnot
I dig everything about this werewolf art by J. Beers. When I was a little kid, the wolfman was my favorite movie monster. I was also a fan of the Werewolf by Night comics — often with great Mike Ploog art. Turns out that J. Beers is as well.
Source: J. Beers Instagram.
Paradise: Season 2 (2026)
Created by: Dan Fogelman
Director:
Teleplay:
Stars: Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin, Percy Daggs IV, Krys Marshall, Enuka Okuma, Charlie Evans and James Marsden.
Tagline: The truth lies outside.
The Plot…
As Xavier searches for his wife outside the bunker, he is met with several challenges, dangers and takes responsibility for the life of an innocent.
Inside the bunker, efforts continue to bring down the current administration. Sinatra fights for her life as an assassin proves she is willing to kill anyone who gets in her effort to gain more power.
Outside the bunker, a group of heavily armed survivors march toward a showdown with those in the bunker.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If you thought that Paradise: Season 1 had a surprising plot twist, Season 2 says, “Hold my beer.”
Paradise continues to be one of the best written, best directed and best acted shows on television.
Bring on Season 3.
Paradise: Season 2 (2026) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Creepy Duck Design is a fan of The Mist and is also looking forward to Frank Flanagan’s version. Here’s a cool tribute poster to the reboot.
“Now listen people. We are experiencing some kind of disaster. I don’t know whether it’s man-made or natural, but I do know that it’s definitely not supernatural. Or biblical. And no offense Mrs. Carmody, but the only way we’re going to help ourselves is to seek rescue. We’re going out.” – Brent Norton
