𦑠i've seen trouble all my days β s3e7
not blue people, a royal hillbilly, video games in your sleep, and some dolls
this is...
/ΛfoΝofΙΛrΓ΄/
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a great deal of fuss or attention given to a minor matter
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The Media Guide - a weekly report out of all the new tv, albums, comics, and movies worth checking out
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Weekend Edition - a weekly zine featuring contributions of criticism, essays, webcomics, fiction, art, and more
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Review of Links - a twice weekly analysis and commentary of the news across tv, albums, comics, and moviesΒ for paid [+] subscribers
Published by The Independent Variable
Quite the intersting week ahead of us. Way too much TV, a weaker week of albums, an eclectic mix of comics, and one movie, maybe even the first, that might actually be truly worth watching this year.
Some minor formatting changes to hopefully make it easier to read through and understand where there is and isn't commentary.
Been thinking of introducing an errors section where I mention things worth checking out that I missed (in error of course). This will be heavily reliant on hearing from other folks though. So if you think of something, please let me know and I'll include you in the next issue. To kick things off, I'll mention I completely missed the return of Tokyo Vice with S2 on HBO. It's a show I couldn't get my wife to watch with me during S1, so it's fallen to my queue of things to catch up on. I had no idea it was already back for a second season. Apologies for this error.
New Shows
πΊ Constellation S1 (Apple) β 20 Feb
As mentioned, Apple seems to be finding it's way into sci-fi with a decent amount of success since entering the streaming wars. This is their next attempt and you can color me intruged. Apple also has quite an amazing slate of new shows coming out throughout the first half of 2024 that I'm incredibly excited for. This is just the beginning.
β½ Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend (Apple) β 20 Feb
No surprise here that Apple capitalizes on their relationship with Messi via MLS and gets a four episode docuseries about arguably the greatest to ever do it (as much as it pains me to say it as a Brazil supporter...). All four episodes drop at once.
πΊ Star Wars: The Bad Batch S3 (Disney) β 21 Feb
Animated shows seems to be the one things Star Wars can consistely pump out with some quality. Hopefully that trend continues for all the Clone Wars fans out there.
πΊ Avatar: The Last Airbender S1 (Netflix) β 22 Feb
This feels like another big swing from Netflix. The M. Knight movie got absolutely pulverized by fans, critics, and everyone in between. Now Netflix is adapting the beloved cartoon into a live-action series. I'm here for it.
πΊ The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy S1 (Amazon) β 22 Feb
The creativity in this animated show from Amazon looks top tier. I can't say it has quite this level of creativity, but it feels a bit like Scavengers Reign meets Tuca & Bertie.
ποΈ Formula 1: Drive to Survive S6 (Netflix) β 23 Feb
And for those F1 fans, the great docuseries is back.
The Schedule
Days based on streaming availability for the majority of people
Tuesday
Criminal Record (Apple) 1:8
Death and Other Details (Hulu) 1:7
Constellation (Apple) 1:1-3
Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend (Apple) S1
Wednesday
The New Look (Apple) 1:4
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney) 3:1-3
Thursday
Feud (Hulu/FX) 2:5
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix) S1
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy (Amazon) S1
Friday
The Woman in the Wall (Showtime) 1:6 [Season finale]
Masters of the Air (Apple) 1:6
Genius (National Geographic/Hulu) 4:7-8 [Season finale]
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Netflix) S6
Sunday
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) 12:4
Last Week Tonight (HBO) 11:2
Release of the Week
π½ PRATTS & PAIN by Royal Otis
What do you get if you sprinkle together some indie pop with some surfer rock? I don't know, but it probably sounds a bit like this. There is a dreamy laid back vibe to the vocals, accompanied by some Dehd-like instrumentation, if the amps were turned to "surfs up".
Favorite Tracks: "Fried Rice", "Foam", and "Big Ciggie"
Runner-ups
π½ Souvenir by Omni
This Atlanta-based group has the funniest British sound going on here. Blur meets late stage MGMT with some herky-jerk rhythms.
π½ Wait, What. Now? by SHYGUY
Debut album from SHYGUY is weird and I love it.
π½ TANGK by IDLES
I'm honestly not an IDLES fan. I view them as a mix between Imagine Dragons and The National, both of whom I dislike. That being said, I thought "A Gospel" was beautiful and "Dancer" featuring LCD Soundsystem was
the rest
π½ Andy, or: The Four Horsegirls of the Apocalypse by Pelvis Wrestly
π½ Psychedelic Anxiety by Frances Chang
π½ Love Songs by Zimmerman
π½ LAFANDAR by Heems & Lapgan
π½ Springs Eternal by William Doyle
π½ Arms by San Fermin
No. 1s
π Cemetery Kids Don't Die (Oni) #1
Zac Thompson is likely most known for his writing at Marvel, specifically around X-Men properties, but he has been circling creator-owned for awhiole with AfterShock, Vault, Mad Cave, and now Oni. This book, with art from Daniel Irizarri, who had a story in last years Xino, looks like the first that might really capture my interest. The cover art alone is enough to get me intersted, but this line from the solicit says everything you need to know:
Enter the Dreamwave: the first gaming console played entirely while you sleep.
π The Six Fingers (Image) #1
From writer Dan Watters and artist Sumit Kumar (along with Lee Loughridge and Aditya Bidikar), The Six Fingers joins last months The One Hand, from Ram V & Laurence Campbell in a new shared universe. I really dig this idea and anything tangentially related to Ram V is worth reading in my book.
π Blasfamous (DSTLRY) #1
Mirka Andolfo is such a unique talen in comics, both with her work as an artist, but also as a writer and the subjects she chooses to tackle. I picked up Sweet Paprika a couple years ago on a whim and it became the first romance comic I ever read, finished, and enjoyed. Blasfamous definitely seems to be carrying over the beautiful art style, but taking it in a horror comedy direction, likely in a way only Andolfo can.
the best
π The Bone Orchard Mythos: Tenement (Image) #9
π Cobra Commander (Skybound) #2
π Fire Power (Image) #30
π Animal Pound (Boom) #2
π Blitmap (Titan) #3
the rest
π G.O.D.S. (Marvel) #5
π Rise of the Powers of X #2
π Batman #144
π Ultimate Spider-Man #2
π Superman #11
π Nightwing #111
π The Incredible Hulk #9
π Catwoman #62
π X-Force #49
bigger books
π Curses by Kevin Huizenga (Drawn and Quarterly)
π₯ Drive-Away Dolls
Ethan Coen tackles writing and directing duties without his brother on this one starring Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan. Qualley has been kicking around for awhile now since The Leftovers. While I'm not sure this movie has the legs to really elevate her, it looks like the first real chance she is getting to really stretch her legs in a big leading role.
That's it! I admit, I ran out of steam writing the music section so it's time for me to get back to my real job. Will try to write more and add songs for all of the featured albums moving forward.
Stay sane,
βhumdrum