Jon Wick's third installment was released for barely one weekend before a fourth was announced. The success of this franchise is due in large part to both lead actor Keanu Reeves and the director of the entire franchise, Chad Stahelski. This pair first met working together on The Matrix trilogy where Stahelski worked as both a stunt man and a stun coordinator. This deep understanding of martial arts and action, in the way of performing and shooting, leads to more creative fight choreography and better editing. All of these components enhance the artistic value of the franchise. With each film, the scale and style of the action has increased. The character content and the raw emotional honesty Reeves brings to the titular role is what keeps the audience invested in the story beyond the surface-live entertainment value of exquisite cinematography and exciting action.

Chapter 3 broadens the world-building so the audience can gain deeper insight into the many mysteries surrounding the John Wick's past and the assassin-world he spent so long working in. Though many action films have built their male protagonists off the dead bodies of the women they're said to have loved, the John Wick franchise maintains the emotional impact of his loss. His wife is not an after-thought beyond an initial death scene. The nihilistic component of the neo-noir genre is never so heavy as to make the audience swallowed whole by it, but instead strengthens the insight into John's psychology and how the toll of loss can linger.

Watch my full John Wick 3 review here:

In the ever-expanding landscape of cinematic universes, Warner Bros. is now kick-starting a new Pokémon film series. Pokémon Detective Pikachu may not offer anything groundbreaking as far as story-telling goes but it more than makes up for that with an exquisite visual world-building of many creatures that fans will have grown up adoring and trading. Ryan Reynolds brings an age-appropriate voiceover performance as the titular character which is further enhanced by meticulous work by the animators for this and all the Pokémon. This is a film that hits all the right beats for a family outing of parents and young children.

Justice Smith makes for an endearing lead, Tim Goodman, who is introduced as being in search of his father. Enter Detective Pikachu and shenanigans ensue. The story is strongest when it focuses on the mystery. The emotional beats are stronger than the film's marketing would lead viewers to expect. The expressive range from Pikachu's visage is impressive, as are the most large-scale action sequences. To hear more feedback regarding this film, watch my video review:

Image Comics is pleased to announce that Middlewest #7 by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona—which hit stores on the heels of the newsbreak of the series’ 2019 Eisner Award nomination in the “Best Publication for Teens” category—is being rushed back to print to keep up with rapidly growing demand for the hot new series. Perhaps best described as I Kill Giants meets classic Don Bluth and Miyazaki animations, this dark fantasy series follows Abel, a young boy who must navigate an old land in order to reconcile his family’s history. The lands between the coasts are vast, slow to change, and full of hidden magics. The town of Farmington has been destroyed, sending an unwitting adventurer and his vulpine companion in search of answers—and to quell a coming storm that speaks his name. Now, just as the chance for a new life was starting to come together, Abel spirals out of control again and his adoptive family gets caught in the storm. Middlewest #7 is also available for purchase across many digital platforms, including the official Image Comics iOS app, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play. Middlewest #7, second printing (Diamond Code APR198591) will be available on Wednesday, June 26. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, June 3.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has six individuals on the Board of Directors: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and Eric Stephenson. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

Watch the trailer here:                                                  #RAMBO                                 IN THEATERS SEPTEMBER 20TH

     

DOCTOR MIRAGE #1 (of 5)
Written by MAGDALENE VISAGGIO
Art by NICK ROBLES
Cover A by PHILIP TAN
Cover B by ROBERTA INGRANATA
Cover C by NICK ROBLES
Haunted Variant Cover by MJ KIM
Pre-Order Edition Cover by JEFF DEKAL
Blank Cover Also Available

• How do you solve the case of your own death?
• Paranormal expert Doctor Shan Fong Mirage was born with the ability to see and speak to the dead—an ability that has mysteriously stopped working. Have her powers failed or is something far more sinister at work?
• Will she figure out her fate and the fate of the one she loves the most? Valiant's gripping supernatural mystery starts here!

$3.99 | 32 pages | T+ | On Sale AUGUST 28th

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KILLERS #2 (of 5)
Written by B. CLAY MOORE
Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO
Cover A by JONBOY MEYERS
Cover B by SANFORD GREENE
Cover C by FERNANDO DAGNINO
Cover D by JOHN K. SNYDER III
Pre-Order Edition Cover by WHILCE PORTACIO

• What’s mightier, the superninja or the rocket launcher?
• Ninjas are virtually fearless, but what can cut straight to their core and make them tremble? Enter: Ninja-F!
• Featuring the first appearance of the mysterious woman named Snapdragon!

$3.99 | 32 pages | T+ | On Sale AUGUST 28th

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PSI-LORDS #3
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art by RENATO GUEDES
Cover A by NIC KLEIN
Cover B by ROD REIS
Cover C by SCOTT FORBES
Pre-Order Edition Cover by PAULINA GANUCHEAU

• The cosmic Quartet begins to master their jaw-dropping powers and unlock deeper meanings to their newfound abilities!
• Dangerous aliens have targeted the Quartet, and they’ll stop at nothing until they’ve eliminated the team.
• Plus, the lost history of the Psi-Lords revealed?!

$3.99 | 32 pages | T+ | On Sale AUGUST 21st

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FALLEN WORLD #4 (of 5)
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by ADAM POLLINA
Cover A by RICK LEONARDI
Cover B by CHRISCROSS
Cover C by BEN HARVEY
Pre-Order Edition Cover by DAVID MACK

• Rai’s greatest enemy has returned in a whole new form, and he’s got an army with him!
• Can the cyborg samurai save innocent people from the powerful foe?
• What roles will fan-favorite characters Eternal Warrior, Geomancer, and War Mother play in the battle?

$3.99 | 32 pages | T+ | On Sale AUGUST 7th

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PUNK MAMBO #5 (of 5)
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by ADAM GORHAM
Cover A by DAN BRERETON
Cover B by ZU ORZU
Cover C by CRIS DELARA
Pre-Order Edition Cover by ADAM GORHAM
 

• Punk Mambo’s final boss battle pits her against an enemy who has stolen phenomenal powers—there’s no way she can win!
• In this spellbinding series finale, can Punk Mambo make the ultimate sacrifice to repay her debt?
• Find out the final fate of this fan-favorite character.

$3.99 | 32 pages | T+ | On Sale AUGUST 14th

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THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #6 (of 6)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by CAFU, DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Cover A by MICO SUAYAN
Cover B by DAN BRERETON
Cover C by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Pre-Order Edition Cover by CAFU

• Everyone dies?!

$4.99 | 40 pages | T+ | On Sale AUGUST 14th
 

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LIVEWIRE #9
Written by VITA AYALA
Art by TANA FORD
Cover A by STACEY LEE
Cover B by RAÚL ALLÉN
Cover C by KRIS ANKA
Pre-Order Edition Cover by JEN BARTEL

• “Hero” begins here!
• Wanted fugitive Livewire has been on the run for months from the authorities for shutting down the country’s power in an effort to protect people gifted with powers.
• Will a shocking offer to go public pull Livewire into a political spotlight?

$3.99 | 32 pages | T+ | On Sale AUGUST 21st

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THE FORGOTTEN QUEEN TPB
Written by TINI HOWARD
Art by AMILCAR PINNA
Cover by DAVID AJA

• An immortal, so-called "witch" who can infect those around her with a thirst to kill—a War-Monger—returns to wreak havoc once again.
• From rising star Tini Howard (Assassinistas) and powerhouse artist Amilcar Pinna (Generation X) comes a brand-new saga of honor, love, and savagery that’s centuries in the making!
• Collecting the complete THE FORGOTTEN QUEEN limited series, #1–4.

$9.99 | 112 pages | T+ | On Sale AUGUST 14th | TRADE PAPERBACK | ISBN: 978-1-68215-324-6

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BLOODSHOT SALVATION DELUXE EDITION HC (Advance solicited for November)
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by LEWIS LAROSA, MICO SUAYAN, RENATO GUEDES, DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Cover by GREG SMALLWOOD

• Bloodshot, a.k.a. Ray Garrison, wants to lead a normal life with his love, Magic, and their daughter, Jessie, but there's no storybook ending for the unstoppable hero.
• New York Times best-selling writer Jeff Lemire (Black Hammer, Descender) and extraordinary artists Lewis LaRosa (SAVAGE), Mico Suayan (BLOODSHOT REBORN), Renato Guedes (PSI-LORDS), and Doug Braithwaite (X-O MANOWAR) come together for a deluxe edition hardcover of the series.
• Collecting the complete BLOODSHOT SALVATION series #1-12 along with more than 20 pages of rarely seen art and extras!

$49.99 | 320 pages | T+ | On Sale NOVEMBER 6th | HARDCOVER | ISBN: 978-1-68215-334-5

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and ValiantEntertainment.com. For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

Early interior artwork revealed

Image Comics is pleased to announce that the critically-acclaimed Daredevil writer Chip Zdarsky and beloved Runaways artists Kris Anka and Matt Wilson will team up for a tautly-woven, eye-popping new fantasy miniseries, The White Trees. The series will be comprised of two oversized issues—which will tell a complete story—with the The White Trees #1 hitting shelves this August. “I’m beyond thrilled to be working with Kris and Matt again!” bellowed Zdarsky. “Are they thrilled to be working with me again? It really doesn’t matter as I tricked them into signing a contract by using the words ‘hot fantasy.’ Legally, they have to illustrate this tale of fraught relationships forged in war and the complexities of fatherhood. “Or suffer the consequences.” The White Trees is set in the fantastical world of Blacksand, where peace was hard-won, and three unbending warriors carry the scars to prove it. Now, almost twenty years later, their children are missing and war is on the horizon. Can they put aside their memories of the war—and each other—for one last adventure? Anka added: "This book has everything: action, suspense, romance, Daddies." The White Trees #1 (Diamond Code JUN190031) will hit comic shops on Wednesday, August 14. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, July 22.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has six individuals on the Board of Directors: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and Eric Stephenson. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

DIRECTED BY Tim Miller SCREENPLAY BY David Goyer & Justin Rhodes  and Billy Ray  STORY BY James Cameron & Charles Eglee & Josh Friedman  and David Goyer & Justin Rhodes   PRODUCED BY James Cameron David Ellison  EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Dana Goldberg Don Granger Edward Cheng Tim Miller John J. Kelly Bonnie Curtis Julie Lynn STARRING Linda Hamilton Arnold Schwarzenegger Mackenzie Davis Natalia Reyes Gabriel Luna Diego Boneta Watch the trailer here: #Terminator IN THEATRES NOVEMBER 1ST   CLICK BELOW TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL!

 

Livewire's one of the most powerful psiots on the planet, but she doesn't need powers to kick butt. As she searches for the truth, she's brought face to face with Jada, and what happens next is a real jaw-dropper. Get ready for melee mayhem in LIVEWIRE #7!

Written by VITA AYALA
Art by KANO
Letters by SAIDA TEMOFONTE
Cover A by KENNETH ROCAFORT
Cover B by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover C by BECCA FARROW

• The masterminds behind the Psiot Security and Education Program uncovered!
• Can Livewire save Phoebe and avoid being captured?
• Phoebe’s backstory is revealed!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale JUNE 19th

Cover A by Kenneth Rocafort

Cover B by Francis Portela




Cover C by Becca Farrow



Art by Kano



Art by Kano



Art by Kano




Art by Kano

Art by Kano

 

For more information on Valiant, visit them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and ValiantEntertainment.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.