Lisa Frankenstein

A horror comedy set in the 80s, Lisa Frankenstein stars Kathryn Newton as an outcast who befriends and then falls in love with a reanimated corpse played by Cole Sprouse. Zelda Williams, in her feature-length directorial debut, crafts a fun and quirky film aided thanks to Diablo Cody's writing. Their work manages to take a rather simple and overplayed story and gives it a very unique identity with how the plot goes from start to finish. The movie knows how to perfectly balance terrifying and bloody moments with absolutely hilarious ones right after. Newton and Sprouse not only give strong performances but their chemistry is what truly cements this movie. Under lesser filmmakers and actors, Lisa Frankenstein would no doubt be a forgettable droll, but thankfully the strong work of its cast and crew make it worthwhile. Over all: 89%

2024 top list so far:

1. The Book of Clarence

2. Lisa Frankenstein

3. Argylle

4. Mean Girls 2024

Argylle

Matthew Vaughn's latest foray into the spy comedy genre is Argylle, in which a spy novelist gets involved in the real deal. Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell lead in this, as usual for Vaughn, over the top and energetic romp. While a lot of Jason Fuchs's writing doesn't offer anything too new, the plot is rather predictable from the start, and so much relies on obvious coincidences, he still manages to make it entertaining despite that. Being a Vaughn film, the action and fight scenes are of course incredibly inventive, wonderfully unique, and high octane. However, due to its PG-13 rating there's so much of the action that feels rather tame compared to his previous work. Howard and Rockwell not only play well off of each other, but you also get Bryan Cranston and Catherine O'Hara as highly memorable villains as well as Henry Cavill and John Cena who often steal the movie as fictional spies from the books that take part in similar escapades as the leads. However, for such a big budget film, some of the effects do feel a bit jarring, even if it adds to the fun appeal at times. Despite being an incredibly fun movie, Argylle does tend to feel like it's both trying too much and not enough. Over all: 78%

2024 top list so far:

1. The Book of Clarence

2. Argylle

3. Mean Girls 2024

Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #18

The original iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy was introduced in Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #18  back in 1968. Consisting of Jupiterian soldier Charlie-27, American astronaut Vance Astro, the crystalline Plutonian Martinex, and archer Yondu Udonta, the four strangers have to learn to work together to defeat the Badoon who plan to invade the Solar System in the 31st century. This introduction to the original version of the Guardians is interesting, with only a few things similar to the most well known incarnation made famous by the James Gunn films. A few things off note include having a member be from Earth but unable to go back, Yondu and his choice of weapon, how the team initially started fighting each other before finding common ground, and fighting against enemies wanting to conquer all. Arnold Drake's writing gives each of the characters the feeling of not just being stock sci-fi characters but giving them their own backstories and motivations. It often over relies on narration and exposition, but considering this is the start of a new franchise for Marvel, it's needed to let us understand this futuristic setting. With Gene Colan, Mike Esposito, and Stan Goldberg each providing the initial artwork, inking, and coloring to the comic, you have pages and panels with incredible visuals. Good use of shadows, vibrant backgrounds, and detailed character designs all add to the biggest strength of this issue. One small complaint is Charlie-27's design is overly rotund, though him being from a planet with much stronger gravity does explain it but could have been better. Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #18 is not only a fun comic to read, but a good start for what was considered one of Marvel's most obscure character. Over all: 100%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:

1. The Complete Peanuts Vol. 15: 1979-1980

2. Daredevil Vol. 1 #170

3. The New Teen Titans Vol. 1 #1

4. Green Arrow Vol. 1 #1

5. Star Wars: Dark Empire #1

6. Deadman: Love After Death #1

7. Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Vol. 1

8. Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441

9. Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #18

10. Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection (Eternals (1976-1978))

11. Hulk Vol. 5 #1

12. Avnegers: War Across Time #1

13. The Yellow Kid

14. Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 #8

15. Archie and Me #132

16. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1

17. Action Comics Vol. 1 #674

The Book of Clarence

Set during the time of Jesus Christ's rise in 33 A.D. Jerusalem, The Book of Clarence is a biblical comedy starring LaKeith Stanfield as a man who, due to owing large debts, sells himself off as a messiah to earn money. Jeymes Samuel's writing and direction gives this movie a very unique approach that mixes atypical biblical storytelling from the 50s with modern sensibilities and often trippy visuals. The sudden shift between the comedy of Clarence's antics and the stark drama of him being judged and crucified can be jarring, but it's a rather bold decision. Rob Hardy's cinematography, most of the score from Samuel himself, and the production values really capture the feel of the era perfectly. The performances from everyone involved are strong, but especially Stanfield who makes Clarence's change from cynical con man to absolute believer of Jesus seem believable. If there's one negative I do have to give is that while it's only about two hours there are times when it can feel a bit slow and sluggish. Regardless of its pace, The Book of Clarence is not only entertaining but does a better job at sending messages about belief than most other movies that center around similar subjects. Over all: 92%

2024 top list so far:

1. The Book of Clarence

2. Mean Girls 2024

Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 #8

Archie Comics has been home to many other franchises besides its signature Riverdale teens, including Sonic and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but it's a comic like Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 #8 that shows why the young witch is one of their strongest mascots. The issue is an anthology depicting Sabrina in some fun situations and adventures alongside her friends and family. Stories include turning Harvey, Sabrina's boyfriend, into a dog while at the beach, Aunt Hilda messing with Sabrina's friends after they mocked her, and Della telling a ghost story. Much of the writing for most of the comic is pretty simple, depicting atypical hijinks, but the ghost story at the end is definitely the best with good tension and a brilliant twist. The art is pretty typical for an Archie Comic title for most of it, but once again the ghost story absolutely shines compared to what came before. It's style is pretty much the same, but adds more shadow and lighting to certain panels as well as giving more details towards both the characters' faces and the backgrounds to really give you a dark horror story and the characters involved really show fear. Even without that final story, Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 #8 is still a pretty delightful read nonetheless. Over all: 100%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:

1. The Complete Peanuts Vol. 15: 1979-1980

2. Daredevil Vol. 1 #170

3. The New Teen Titans Vol. 1 #1

4. Green Arrow Vol. 1 #1

5. Star Wars: Dark Empire #1

6. Deadman: Love After Death #1

7. Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Vol. 1

8. Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441

9. Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection (Eternals (1976-1978))

10. Hulk Vol. 5 #1

11. Avnegers: War Across Time #1

12. The Yellow Kid

13. Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 #8

14. Archie and Me #132

15. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1

16. Action Comics Vol. 1 #674

Mean Girls 2024

Mean Girls 2024 is the feature film adaptation of the stage musical which was inspired by the original non musical from 2004, itself adapted by Tina Fey from a non comedic self-help book about high school cliques. Similarly to the stage musical and original movie, it centers on Cady Heron, a teenage girl who learns to go to high school in America after spending years of being home schooled in Kenya. As she tries to fit in, Cady learns about many of the school's cliques including the popular mean girl and leader of the rich Plastics, Regina George. With Fey returning to write, this version stays true to the story of the 2004 version but focusing much of the comedy on straight forward comedy rather than the original's over the top style. For the most part it works, but certain jokes that come back don't fit this movie's style and often feel like an unneeded leftover. The cast all provide not only strong performances but perform the musical performances well, though some of the early song performances do feel a bit stiff and too quick. Angourie Rice as Cady is certainly great, but Reneé Rapp absolutely steals the whole movie as Regina, which is helped by the fact that Rapp played the role on stage. While the musical numbers themselves are mostly well done, it's the music and songs that are great but often feel a bit lacking. Regina's introduction, Revenge Party, and the secrets of the Burn Book coming out are all incredible songs, but certain songs at the start and middle feel like they go to fast and lack a bit of the strength of the other ones. 2024 starts its release of movies with Mean Girls 2024 and for the most part is pretty good, but here's hoping there's improvement as the year goes. Over all: 74%

2024 top list so far:

1. Mean Girls 2024

Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441

With only two entirely new stories at the start and end and having everything in the middle be reprints of older stories ranging from the 40s to the 60s, 1974s Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441 is certainly an interesting read. The first story sees Batman take on a criminal named the Judge who puts traps in an abandoned building that the Dark Knight has to go through to find Robin. Reprints from older DC stories, and even from other companies that DC eventually acquired, include Plastic Man solving a murder, two stories wherein Batman investigates murders foreshadowed by paintings, the magical Ibis the Invicible keeping the god of destruction from escaping, an experiment made to try to turn Eclipso good, and an adventure with The Spider. While the last story sees the Paul Kirk II version of Manhunter and Christine St. Clair investigating a terrorist organization in Istanbul. Overall this issue has a good collection of stories that showcase the strengths, and a bit of the weaknesses, of comics from the four decades. The story and writing for them are very imaginative and tells their story well, but also suffer from overuse of exposition. Dialogue can also go for way too long and has a tendency to fill in the artwork, thus keeping the reader from actually seeing what they're saying. As fun as the stories can be, the older they are the more obvious it is that logic wasn't always a key factor to how the stories continue and ended. And that's fine as even without the logic, their writing does keep you invested and entertained throughout. The artwork for all eight stories are pretty good and showcase the evolution of how comics were drawn from the 40s to the 70s. One thing that's consistent for the most part in the four decades is the attention to detail of the characters and locations. Although one thing that the newest stories have over the older ones is that more panels are used to showcase action rather than having things happen off screen and being exposited. But all in all Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441 is a great collection of comic book stories with not a single one being a chore to get through. Over all: 100%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:

1. The Complete Peanuts Vol. 15: 1979-1980

2. Daredevil Vol. 1 #170

3. The New Teen Titans Vol. 1 #1

4. Green Arrow Vol. 1 #1

5. Star Wars: Dark Empire #1

6. Deadman: Love After Death #1

7. Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Vol. 1

8. Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441

9. Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection (Eternals (1976-1978))

10. Hulk Vol. 5 #1

11. Avnegers: War Across Time #1

12. The Yellow Kid

13. Archie and Me #132

14. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1

15. Action Comics Vol. 1 #674