The Trillion Dollar Kid #2 Cover. Image from Ghost Machine Pro at Image comics.
The Story for ‘The Trillion Dollar Kid’ #2
Thomas Noble Townsend III, AKA Tommy, AKA The Trillion Dollar Kid, kicks off this comic with a recap of previous events. He’s on a mission to find his parents and sister who just vanished one day. A mission he believes “The Unbelievables” can help him achieve. However, he created an even bigger problem in doing so. As this random mash-up of people and other beings attempts to work together, it’s clear how different and how similar they all are. Their problems are all out of the ordinary while still being incredibly basic. Fortunately, they seem to possess powers and/or knowledge unknown to the average person.
As this issue begins to wrap a whole new world with so many possibilities is shown.
The Trillion Dollar Kid #2 Variant Cover. Image from Ghost Machine Pro at Image Comics.
The Trillion Dollar Kid #2 Variant Cover. Image from Ghost Machine Pro at Image Comics.
The Trillion Dollar Kid #2 Variant Cover. Image from Ghost Machine Pro at Image Comics.
The Art
Every single comic book I have read from the world of Ghost Machine has absolutely had amazing art! Each with a bit of a different style. ‘The Trillion Dollar Kid’ #2 continues the tradition. The colors, however, took it to another level. They were absolutely beautiful. The moments with peak action somehow managed to be both incredibly action-packed and beautiful. In an almost soft way (I genuinely mean that as a compliment). Then we wrap with an ending that could not have had more beautiful colors to perfectly capture an incredibly sweet moment.
This issue also warrants a shout-out to the always-hero in the shadows: the lettering. A lot was going on throughout this entire issue. A ton of dialogue and sounds. However, the lettering was done so perfectly that the story continued to flow effortlessly.
Final Thoughts
This ever-growing world continues to expand while not leaving anyone behind. This collab of 3 different comics from the Ghost Machine world perfectly kept all of our characters in sync with the personalities we’ve gotten to know, while simultaneously making it easy to follow for anyone jumping in now. Mrs. Rocketfeller continues to be an amazing mom looking out for the kids, no matter how out of control the problems they create are. Meanwhile, our celestial and demon kids never miss a moment to remind us of their sibling-style relationship.
As someone who has been reading all of these since issue 1, those moments made me smile. I just know that as this world gets bigger and crazier, the characters that started it all will still be there. So whether you’ve read issue 1 of The Rocketfellers, or just picked up this issue today… you’ll fall in love with this “Family Odyssey” world that has found its home at Ghost Machine Pro.
So begins the tale of two Thors. With Hela’s battle against Knull for control of Earth raging, Beta Ray Bill speaks with Tyr in the midst of a timeless world. On Earth, Sigurd Jarlson responds to the damage and devastation with a quest to save others. Both heroes neither truly Thor, yet both heroes still. Will Beta Ray Bill be able to resist an offer to restore his homeland? Will Sigurd taste the cold touch of death?
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Eda and Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Al Ewing Penciller: Sergio Fernández Dávila Inker: Aure Jimenez Letterer: Joe Sabino Color Artist: Ceci de la Cruz Cover Artist: Pasqual Ferry
Writing
Eda: Whenever you go to pick up an Al Ewing comic, you can almost always rest assured you’re in for a good ride. If you’re here reading this, then that almost guarantees you’re either reading his current grand “Queen in Black” event, or you’re interested. If this is your entry point, then what a great way to start! Though I might add, it might benefit you greatly to read some “Mortal Thor” and the recent“Queen in Black #1” to fully understand what’s going on.
Within this issue, we witness as the journeys of Beta-Ray Bill and Sigurd really sort of mirror and coincide with one another. Ewing manages to do this with great aplomb, expertly weaving these two stories together with ebb and flow. One moment, they’re perfectly coinciding with one another through the narrative and sentence structure before mirroring each other the next. This makes for not just a great reading experience, but a fun and entertaining one while driving home a fantastic message. The message here is sure to be one that will resonate with many who feel powerless against something they feel they can’t stop or overcome. A message that’s needed now more than ever.
Shawn: Al Ewing really is crafting a beautiful tale in this Queen in Black series. Queen in Black: Thor #1 does a really great job of filling in some gaps in the early Queen in Black story. It will be a satisfying issue for the folks who always ask “what was X hero doing while this was happening?” Ewing shows us how both Beta Ray Bill and Thor are more alike than maybe we have realized before. This one-shot provides another outstanding example of Ewing’s ability to smoothly move back and forth between two narrative settings. Whether we are seeing Bill questioned or Sigurd tested, we are led through the narrative in a way that is easy to follow and enjoy.
Ewing uses the issue to make us realize that while each hero may not fully be “Thor”, the powers of Thor are present in each of them, most especially in their heart. The dual message of what it is worth getting what you want at the cost of others, and sometimes when your best doesn’t feel like enough, it’s tough to keep going, bookends an amazing story from Ewing. This feels like it would do well as more than a one-shot. The issue is well written. It leaves you feeling satisfied if this was the only issue you got, but you also would love to see more.
Art
Queen In Black: Thor #1 cover by Paqual Ferry. Image from Marvel Comics
Eda: If you’ve been around Marvel comics at all over the last few years, then you’ve most certainly seen the pencils and ink of Dávila & Jimenez. When it comes to “Queen in Black: Thor,” they’ve put in what I think is some of their best work. In terms of the action, they make it feel hot and heavy, and when things go cosmic, they feel grandiose. As for the colors of Ceci de la Cruz, they look infinitely beautiful and vibrant without being too much on the eyes.
Shawn: Sergio Fernández Dávila, Aure Jimenez, and Ceci de la Cruz crafted a truly memorable issue. From the alternate costume of Hela to the worn-down look of a tired and struggling Sigurd Jarlson, everything feels just superb. Dávila’s pencil work is phenomenal, crafting some gorgeous looks for Hela in this issue while also highlighting the detail on the faces of Tyr, Bill, Sigurd, and others. Jimenez leans into the Queen in Black with some killer shading and inks, bringing depth to the pictures. De la Cruz comes behind all of it with vibrant colors that perfectly capture the scene, be it an intergalactic parlay or a bus ride. Joe Sabino ties it all together and helps readers manage the jump back and forth between Sigurd and Bill.
Final Thoughts
Eda:10 /10. Queen in Black: Thor #1 is a fantastic ride from start to finish. This event feels masterful, and this issue is a perfect piece of the puzzle. If you’ve yet to decide if you want to pick this up, do.
Shawn: 9/10.Queen In Black: Thor #1 feels like the kind of issue that could draw someone on the fence about the Queen in Black event into the event. It’s full of powerful narrative that ends with two different but relevant messages in the face of struggle.
Grandma has disappeared into the dark, and Tabby and Thomas try to regroup and catch their breath while understanding what is going on. The two begin to bond while the creature lurks in the darkness, and Tabby is ready to save her grandma, and she isn’t afraid of the dark in Of The Earth #4.
Creative Team: Chris Condon, Charlie Adlard, Andrew Ehrich, Pip Martin, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Of The Earth #4. Credit Image Comics. Cover by Charlie Adlard.
The Story:
I can’t help but feel that Chris and Andrew took some inspiration from Night of the Living Dead in this issue as Tabby and Thomas find themselves barricaded inside the house with an unknown monster outside. We begin to learn some of her backstory, and this one hit home for me as someone who lived with their grandparents briefly as well. We still don’t know what this creature is or its motivations, but there is a layer of possession, and once more the epilogue offers more insight into the story’s inspirations as well. If you’re looking for a badass strong Woman character, Tabby is making herself a name as a fearless final girl in this issue.
The Art:
I love the shift in artwork halfway through this issue as we work with a dimly lit old house, and then suddenly the lights go out, and it’s a whole new game. Martin makes use of the shadows and the darkness as Charlie throws subtle hints and jump scares lurking in the background of the scenes. I still hate Grandma, but it has more to do with how unhinged the team has made her look through the possession. This issue offers us our best look at the mysterious creature swallowing someone whole in a bloody scene, and I love the design. It’s simplistic and feels like it is void of emotion and thought all the same. The lettering switches as the lights go out and aids in the darkness swallowing us whole.
Final Thoughts:
You can feel the various horror genres that inspired Of The Earth #4, and this issue doesn’t shy away from giving us characters who aren’t satisfied with waiting to become victims. In fact, the characters make this story work so well as the team uses the lack of color and darkness to play tricks on our minds, and Chris and Andrew continue to give the reader just a bit more background and explanation. This is a strong horror run that only continues to get better with every issue.
Overall Grade: 9.2/10
How do you feel about the events of this issue?Let us know below and make sure to check out more by Matt!
Basil Karlo is being impersonated by someone whom he has yet to been able to pinpoint; however, they are ruining his life and everything he has worked for. Now he must go undercover and get to the bottom of the mystery himself, but where is the line that shouldn’t be crossed, and how far is Basil willing to go to expose the imposter?
Clayface Celebrity Dirt #2. Credit DC Comics. Cover by Dan Mora.
Creative Team: Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Fran Galan, Patricio Delpeche, Tom Napilotano, Dan Mora, and Rob Levin.
The Story:
This run is a dirty and often unsettling mystery steeped in horror elements, and this second issue really captures this essence. Basil is trying to find out who has stolen his identity because all he wants is to get his life as an actor back. However, there is some interesting questions raised by Jude in that Basil is impersonating an old man who has passed away and even steals phones and pushes the line of unethical in this issue. What I love about this is that Jude is not painting Clayface to be innocent and without faults at any point. It makes us ask ourselves how far we would be willing to go if we were in his shoes as well. Another great point is that Jude is showcasing how people make mistakes and go down wrong paths in life. Does succumbing to things such as addiction or making mistakes make us a bad person? I wasn’t expecting to be met with deeper questions within this issue or run and it’s making for a compelling story.
The Art:
One of the standout features of Clayface is that an artist can play around more loosely in terms of body structures and their various details. In fact, it’s what Fran does extremely well in this issue. There are panels where a character’s eye appears to be melting, or their jaw drops to the floor, lending itself to the unsettling body horror aspect. The use of colors by Patricio offers a grimy feeling as the body parts melt and depicts the underbelly of LA, giving texture to this story and making it stand out to me a lot.
Final Thoughts:
Clayface Celebrity Dirt #2 turns up the dial on body horror and dives deeper into mystery, raising ethical questions along the way. The art team does just enough to deliver the dirty and unsettling vibe while Jude both inputs thought-provoking questions into the story and writes an intriguing mystery. I’m excited to see where this story leads and what the payoff will be.
This comic will be reviewed by Nerd Initiative’s Anthony and yours truly, Megan!
Anthony – There was a period of time when it felt like Marvel just didn’t know what to do with the character and tried too hard to either fix what wasn’t broken or sabotage his popularity to keep him from growing more popular than the original wall crawler. From the Spy-D super spy book that thankfully never saw the light of day to unnecessary costume changes to a vampirism infection, Miles has been through the wringer!
Bryan Edward Hill brings Miles Morales back to basics, and I couldn’t be happier about it! This FEELS right. Instead of relying on guest stars and adventures in space and through different dimensions, Miles gets an opportunity to just be the Family Neighborhood Spider-Man of Brooklyn, NY! He’s back in the iconic Red & Black costume and focused on giving Miles as much energy as he gives to Spider-Man; we finally get back to the things that made him a fan favorite when Brian Michael Bendis introduced us to him in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1!
Cover art by Simone De Meo. Published by Marvel Comics
Hill’s approach to righting the ship is to employ the old KISS method (Keep It Simple Stupid). There is no overcomplicating things or trying to be clever to the point of suffocating the character under the weight of some massive, convoluted event. He simply hits the reset button. Not like a retcon, no. More like just saying “Hold up. There’s too much going on, and there doesn’t need to be, so let’s get rid of all the distractions. Miles is interesting enough.” That’s really it. There are some panels with Miles thinking things through in his head or talking to Ganke where he explains a bit about what’s been going on with him before this story, and that is done to preserve continuity and bridge the gap to the new direction. But Hill does this without beating the reader over the head with heavy exposition. It feels natural and, iykyk, you’ll find yourself smiling and nodding.
The more things stay the same, the more they change. Or something like that. In the midst of all this familiarity, Hill introduces some fresh faces amongst the supporting cast and a new villain that is set to be a major threat to Miles and the people he cares about.
Megan – Bryan Edward Hill starts this new series for Miles Morales with a banger of a first issue. It does a great job showing the different layers of Miles’ life. There’s Miles’ life at school, where he has a new crush on a foreign exchange student named Valentina who is something that Miles finds so compelling: her normalcy. She isn’t in the superhero world; she’s a normal girl with a normal life. After being with Starling, some normalcy sounds pretty good to Miles. He’s also taken a break from working multiversal jobs with the other Spider-Heroes to focus on being a Brooklyn-friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. It seems a more grounded lifestyle is just what Miles needs in his life.
Of course, things can’t stay simple for long when Miles is met with a new villain that’s unlike anything he’s seen before, and somehow, his dad is right in the middle of the chaos.
Bryan Edward Hill brings all the things you love about Miles Morales into a story that is poses the same classic Spidey problem: wanting to be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. I loved how Hill starts this series off on a very grounded note and lets us into the life of Miles, getting to know him without the Spider-Man persona. This first issue has me very excited to see where Hill takes Morales in the issues to come.
The Art
Anthony – Nico Leon is quickly establishing a name for himself as a comic book artist. He’s everywhere. People want to work with him. Miles Morales: Spider-Man is his latest offering and illustrates (pun intended) exactly why he’s becoming a household name! Leon obviously has a background in design, and I’d be shocked if he hasn’t at least studied photography and cinematography also. His panel layouts, composition, and innate ability to include a ton of information in each page and panel without allowing it to become an overwhelming mess is something that needs to be recognized. It’s rare, and not many artists can pull it off. Characters have weight. The kinetic energy of every move can be felt. Perspective is readable and sometimes dizzying. There is an accuracy to his physics. In other words, Nico IS Him.
There is a brief flashback sequence that’s handled by Valentine De Landro that reminded me a lot of a cross between the stylings of Rick Leonardi and Scott McDaniel. There wasn’t enough to really have a strong opinion on it, but it was nice and his heavy use of blacks really separated it from the bright aesthetic of the main story, fulfilling its purpose of letting the reader know “we’re telling a different story here”. I’m definitely going to look up more of his work because I really like his style.
Bryan Valenza’s colors are strong, vibrant, and saturated. One of the coolest things he does is create a feeling of natural light cast on his subjects. It’s not defined by hard lines. It moves with the character, and it moves with the position of the sun, adding motion to an otherwise static scene. TL;DR it’s just beautiful. There is a scene that takes place inside a church where Valenza actually renders highlights on characters as if it were shining through the stained glass windows! It’s little touches like that, and the informed shifts from warm to cool and back again that make the world Miles moves in feel alive.
Megan – When you have a story that gets you excited, it’s only right to have artwork that puts you in the same headspace. That’s exactly what the artists gave the readers in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1. Nico Leon, Valentine De Landro, Bryan Valenza, and Cory Petit band together to bring artwork that gives you the Spider-Man vibes that you crave, with Miles Morales’ personal flavor added to the mix. The action panels feel so classic to Spider-Man, making even the simplest web swinging feel larger than life. Nico Leon and Valentine De Landro brings beautiful linework while making Miles the center focus. Bryan Valenza handles the colors, and it’s pretty clear that he had a lot of fun with it. Valenza gives the pages a lot of vibrancy while working with the more muted tones, which perfectly captures the energy of a Spider-Man comic with the grounded feeling. What I loved was the light reflecting off of Miles, which gave him more of a presence in the panels. Together, the artists really outdid themselves with this and deserve all their flowers.
Final Thoughts
Anthony – 10/10. Bryan Edward Hill is my hero. Every project is handled with care and passion, and if you told me he didn’t love Miles as much as I do, if not more, I would say you were lying through your teeth. I have followed Miles through all of his titles, and I’ve been waiting for a book like this since he stepped into the 616 after Secret Wars 2015. The writing and art are top-notch, and it finally feels like Miles is being treated as a flagship character that can hold his own in a book without guest stars and magic and vampires and all that. Other creators did a great job. No shade intended. But this is the Miles we all deserve.
Megan – 10/10. Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1 was such an easy win with this fantastic creative team behind it. Bryan Edward Hill feels like the exact right person to be behind the writing, with the artists showing they’re exactly where they’re meant to be. This was a phenomenal first issue, and I’ll be anxiously waiting for the next one!
Overall Grade – 10/10.
Let us know in the comments what you thought of Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1!
Absolute Batman #23 brings Bruce to his breaking point as Scarecrow continues to play mind games with him. As Batman begins to push away his friends and family the stakes have become even higher as he’s been framed for the murder of Jim Gordon. Is it truly Batman or are Gotham’s citizens seeing double?
Absolute Batman #23. Credit DC Comics. Cover by Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin.
Creative Team: Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Tom Napolitano.
The Story:
Clayface has arrived and he is an absolute unit! (No pun intended) I love the way Scott has been playing mind games with Bruce and pushing his character to his breaking point. This is a level to which we have never seen from Bruce or Batman. It’s adding a whole new level of depth and layers to a complex character as we see him pushing away his friends. I’m used to Batman creating his own villains to a degree however, Scott is doing it in a very smart and clever manner with this run. Two-Face, Penguin, Riddler, and Croc have come to Bruce’s aid despite not wanting to do so. And it’s the way Bruce is blaming them and almost forcing them to be against him that is creating buy in to when these characters inevitably turn full heel.
The character development for Alfred as well is an aspect that is slowly building and working. He’s becoming the aid to Bruce and the two are a lot similar as to how they push others way. When it comes to Scarecrow less is more and he’s become this background menace in such a terrifying manner as he pushes Bruce to heights never seen before. This issue has boiled over and it’s going to be interesting to see how Batman comes back from these events.
I want to start by highlighting Clayface’s design which we see on the cover of this issue. I love the details the team put into the cover such as the hands coming up from the mud and pulling Batman down and not making it clear as to who is Batman and who is Clayface. There is a particular scene in this issue that made my jaw smash through the floor. It was so shocking and out of left field and the art team let it sit with you on its own splash page. The use of a dark red background and utilizing the sizing with the two characters on the page hit tremendously. Following it up was an incredible use of the colors by Frank as well. Aside from that the teams designs in the fight between Clayface and Batman gets incredibly creative blending the two at times. The art is perfection and to top it off the amount of emotion and anguish Tom lends in his lettering with Bruce puts the exclamation point on it all.
Final Thoughts:
Absolute Batman #23 will leave you stunned and sitting in silence by the time you finish reading it. Batman has become unhinged in a way we’ve perhaps never seen before. The art team beautifully and meticulously crafts the panels and pages to emphasize emotional moments, making this issue a haunting boiling point for Batman.
Imagine, will you, if one took “Kingsmen: The Secret Service” and James Bond and threw it in a shaker. However, this particular cocktail comes laced with chaos and potential romance from the point-of-view of a young spy. It’s also made entirely upside down. That’s what you get with Doug Wagner’s “Yumi: 00-EX #1” and it’s a truly insane ride.
Writer: Doug Wagner Artist: Hoyt Silva Colorist: Kevin Lennertz Letterer: Frank Cvetkovic
Eddie: Yumi has fallen in love with Richard… who is an MI-6 agent… a double “O” James Bond-type spy and Richard has disappeared. Is he on an operation? Has he been captured? Has he just… ghosted Yumi? That’s what Yumi is going to find out and she’s way more than just a girl looking for her boyfriend. She has her own… very particular set of skills, skills that will make her a nightmare for people like… well… other spies.
“Yumi: 00-EX” from Image Comics, written by Doug Wagner, illustrated by Hoyt Silva, colored by Kevin Lennertz, and lettered by Frank Cvetkovic may be a bit different for those fans who have come to know Wagner’s writing through the Plastic-verse. It has his distinct sense of humor, but he is channeling something different for the reader this time. He’s tapping into modern popular culture to give us something we possibly haven’t seen before. In Yumi, we may have our first Gen Z secret agent.
Eda: First thing’s first, let’s take a look at the beating heart of this story: Yumi herself. She’s everything I could want in a fun main character, being cocky, and perhaps a bit unhinged. She’s who everything builds around, with the main plot being her finding her missing MI6 boyfriend. That’s, you know, after she leaves it in flames and steals a car she programs to sound like Cardi B.
Speaking of the Cardi B car, Yumi has arguably the most interesting personality I’ve seen in a comic in a while! On top of the madness, we get a look at who she is through her playlist. As a music lover, this is something I absolutely love, since the music you listen to can say so much about you. Not only that, but the music here frames the story structure, beginning with “Crown” by Billie Eilish and ending with “Problem” by Natalia Kills. When it comes to the story itself, I can’t help but feel like this is all building up to a big reveal. The not knowing of what that might be has me so excited for what’s coming!
Eddie: Her attitude, perspective, and cultural references on top of her skill set create a character that’s tailor made to wreak havoc in a world that would seem to be very set in its ways and not ready for real disruption. That character sets the stage for the visual style with “Yumi: 00-EX” that will appeal to manga readers as well as your standard comic reader. It takes inspiration from popular meme culture, manga and anime as well as Ian Fleming. Hoyt Silva, Kevin Lennertz, and Frank Cvetkovic are more than up for that challenge. They all combine to create something original that’s in kindred spirit with stories like “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”.
The combined work of Silva, Lennertz, and Cvetkovic ground us in a spy story that we think we’ve seen a million times, but also adds a fun layer. While watching Yumi in action, we can almost hear the sound effects of video games and martial arts films at the same time.
Eda: Being new to the art and colors of Hoyt Silva and Kevin Lennertz, I went into this completely not knowing what to expect. Coming out of the book, all I have to say is “wow”! First, the art of Silva matches the vibes of this story perfectly, being extremely varied, explosive and fun. Second, it’s detailed to perfectly encapsulate the real world while looking cartoony and chibi when we’re in Yumi’s head.
When it comes to Lennertz’s colors, they lend a vibrancy that acts as a perfect juxtaposition to the usual intensity of spy thrillers. This combined with the insane letter work of Cvetkovic gives this book so much distinct character and personality, landing perfectly in line with Yumi herself.
Final Thoughts
Eddie: A strong first issue sets the stage for the rest of the story. Readers are in for some laughs and well executed action with “Yumi: 00EX”. A strong creative team is at work here and “Yumi” has a lot of fun dynamics at play. If you were a fan of last year’s “We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us”, give “Yumi: 00EX” a try.
Eda: “Yumi: 00EX” feels like a Zillennial’s day out, if that day included chaotic spy antics with a dash of romance. Wagner gives the genre a rocket fueled injection full of amazing antics and cherry bomb romance. This with the combined efforts of Silva, Lennertz and Cvetkovic make for a truly amazing read.
If you read “Yumi: 00EX” and decide you want to match Yumi’s energy, grab a bag of Bones Coffee and use the redemption code at checkout! My personal favorite right now is Apple Cider Donut, a medium roast that tastes exactly like it sounds.
As humans, we fear what we don’t understand. This has always been our modus operandi. One thing that we clearly don’t understand and are terrified of is the ocean. Just look at early maps where the land is rendered vibrantly while the large swaths of water in between are depicted as wastelands of death with the words “Here There Be Monsters” scrawled within. That’s the general conceit of Netflix’s The Last House, a survival horror wherein the ocean reclaims the land.
The Days the Rain Came
The film opens in Washington state with Jason (Wagner Moura) fishing, though the pickings are slim. A large storm off in the distance tells him it’s time to head home, which he does. He pulls into his driveway, nodding at neighbors and admiring their Christmas decorations. He greets his still-sleeping wife Ann (Greta Lee) with donuts, which rouses the children, Ruth (Riley Chung) and Graham (Noah Alexander Sosnowski). As the family begins their day with the rain falling around the house, the Internet goes out.
Undaunted, they recall that it was their planned day for Christmas tree shopping, so they ready themselves. They go to leave and find they are unable; none of the doors will budge, the windows won’t open, and the glass won’t even shatter. They look out the windows to see that their neighbors are in a similar situation. Everyone, so far as they can tell, is trapped inside their homes.
Jason, an out-of-work engineer, goes into planning mode almost immediately. He tries drilling holes in the door, only to find that the rain, itself, seems to be repairing them. They know something is up, something unexplainable, but they refuse to panic. They try to make the best of this forced staycation. (If you’re getting pandemic vibes, you’re on the right track, except no DoorDash.) Jason finds an old box with a DVD player and two discs: Air Force One and Annie. In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter Egg, he also finds an old Netflix envelope that is, sadly, empty. (If you don’t get the relevance, kids, ask an old person.)
They spotted a woman who was out jogging when the rain started who ran off to get help. She returns days later with a large kitchen knife trying to enter the house, screaming that “they’re all dead” and warning them not to go outside. Right before their very eyes, the rain itself seems to take her, dragging her screaming into the darkness. Yeah, something is most definitely up.
The Danger Within
As the days turn to weeks then months, the family begins to fray, as many of us can relate. Paranoia, claustrophobia, and frustration threaten to turn them against one another and tear their bond apart. Worse yet, when food stores run low, hunger becomes a very real problem. When the power grid finally fails, it seems like all the nails might be in the coffin. However, they have to bet their bottom dollar that the sun will come out tomorrow, even if they’ve had enough tomorrows for a lifetime. It’s through the strength of Ann and Jason that the family remains intact. That and, of course, a common enemy.
Wagner Moura in The Last House / Courtesy of Netflix
The Threat Beyond
The Last House isn’t just a closed-room psychological thriller. There are monsters. The creatures’ design is not anything terrifically new, but Leterrier does a good job of obscuring the beasties until it’s proper time they reveal themselves in full. Even though they’ve trapped our heroes in their home (along with everyone else), they want in. As they’re in control, they can do as they please, opening the door at their whim and waltzing in looking for a snack. It is this final slit in the veil that sets up the film’s tense third act and gives us its conclusion, for better or worse.
Final Thoughts
I’ve seen plenty of worse movies than The Last House, but its claustrophobic minimalism wears thin at times. Between scenes of the Terror from outside trying to get in, we get a bit too much time with the family, none of whom are terrifically compelling. Jason is capable (think MacGyver in a Doomsday bunker) but often too reliant on his engineering skills to face pragmatic truths. Ann is maternal and patient, but it frays as time wears on. The kids are each so one-dimensional that I understand why their parents shortened each of their names to a single syllable: Ru & Gray. Ru is all innocence and little else; Gray is teen angst and little else.
If you’ve ever wanted to see a film by a Doomsday Prepper who also has a big soft spot for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, this is that movie. It attempts to do for creatures of the sea what The Happening did for plants with about the same efficacy. If there’s a deeper environmental message here, I didn’t get it.
Netflix’s ‘The Last House’ Scores a 5 out of 10 from NI Movies
While the acting is at times quite good and director Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk) clearly knows his away around action, the script ties both to some pretty shoddy pacing and scenes so dark we can’t see a thing. Not to leave you hopeless, though, this film reminded me of a much better one: Arcadian, which I saw at the Overlook Film Festival in 2024. That film stars Nicolas Cage as a single father struggling to raise two sons in a post-apocalyptic world which is stalked by creatures at night. Taking place on an isolated farm, the film makes better use of its single location, tension, claustrophobia, and creatures. Be warned: these beasts are straight up nightmare fuel.
The Last House is currently streaming on Netflix, and Arcadian is currently streaming on Hulu. Have you seen either or both of these movies and do you agree with my scores and comparison? Let us know in the comments below and always check back here for more movies, streaming, comics, and books news.
Writer Ashley Allen & Artist Germán Peralta are teaming back up for another series after Magik & Colossus. This time, Magik, Juggernaut & Madelyne Pryor are teaming up with a powerful line-up of mystic heroes in X-orcists.
The book’s full description reads:
“DEMONS, BEWARE… the X-ORCISTS are here!
When a demon escapes Limbo and begins terrorizing humans and mutants alike, Magik and Juggernaut of the X-Men team up with Madelyne Pryor, the Queen of Limbo, to take it down. But this demon is unlike anything they’ve ever seen before, and they’re going to need help to stop its ruinous rampage.”
Writer Ashley Allen had this to say about the new series:
“Round three, baby! In all seriousness, I’m incredibly grateful to continue this journey with Germán and the rest of the Magik team, telling the story of a character so close to my and fans’ hearts. Magik and Madelyne are both women who have been told what their paths should be, only to choose their own destinies. Exploring this has been such a powerful and rewarding experience and I’m excited for fans to see these two characters reclaim their power, evolve from their pasts, and discover what it means to truly wield themselves.”
Meanwhile, Artist Germán Peralta added:
“If you had told me as a kid that I would be drawing X-Men comics, I wouldn’t have believed it. This is a special X-Book exploring the mystical and dark side of the mutant world—what more could I ask for? Well, I think just one thing, and luckily, that happened too: having Ashley Allen again as the writer!
I really enjoy working with Ashley. She perfectly understands the characters, not just their powers and how to use them, but also their emotions and motivations. I couldn’t imagine a better partner to embark on this new journey with our beloved Illyana. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we are making it.”
X-orcists #1 releases November 18th.
X-orcists #1 Main Cover By Ben Harvey (Credit: Marvel Comics)
X-orcists #1 Variant Cover By Russell Dauterman (Credit: Marvel Comics)
X-orcists #1 Variant Cover By Dike Ruan (Credit: Marvel Comics)
X-orcists #2 Variant Cover By Dike Ruan (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories- Liliana is a brand-new book coming this October, and the book’s creative team includes:
Writer: Torunn Grønbekk (Valkyrie: Jane Foster, Red Sonja)
Artist: Nataliia Rerekina (The Witcher)
Colorist: Lauren Affe (Count Crowley, Assassin’s Creed Mirage: A Soar of Eagles)
Letterer: Clayton Cowles (Helen of Wyndhorn, FML)
The book’s official description reads:
“Liliana Vess is the most powerful necromancer in the multiverse, but her power came at a cost. For her strength and her mastery of death, Liliana bargained her soul to four powerful demons: Kothophed, Razaketh, Belzenlok, and Griselbrand. But now, Liliana seeks to regain her freedom and destroy the pact she wears etched into her skin.
Liliana’s journey has brought her to Innistrad, the rumored location of Griselbrand, and a plane rife with corruption, chaos, and suffering. Determined to hunt the demon down and reclaim the piece of her soul he took, her task will not be an easy one—for Liliana Vess is not the only seeker of vengeance upon the plane of Innistrad.”
Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories- Liliana #1 releases October 14th.
Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories- Liliana #1 Cover A By Nataliia Rerekina (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories- Liliana #1 Cover B By Sibylline Meynet (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories- Liliana #1 Cover C By Abigail Larson (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
