Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 2

October 8, 2025: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye this week…

C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #2 – cover art by Mattia Del lulis

DC K.O. #1 – cover art by Dan Mora

DC K.O.#1 – cover art by Jim Lee

Joker/Harley: Malicious Intent #1 – cover art by Martin Simmonds

Geiger #19 – cover art by Christian Alamy & Morry Hollowell

Space Ghost #4 – cover art by Michael Cho

Red Book #1 – cover art by Dani

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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October 7, 2025: The Horrorfest continues with The Monkey, Exit 8, and Sinners!

Movie #4: The Monkey

When twin brothers Bill and Hal find their father’s old monkey toy in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths follow.

This one gets off to a tremendous gloriously gruesome and darkly humorous start before running out of gas and sputtering to its not wholly surprising conclusion.

My rating: 3.5/5

Movie #5: Exit 8

A man becomes increasingly desperate when he realizes he is trapped in a subway station, needing to complete a mission to get out.

This movie’s video game roots are apparent but, so far as adaptations goes, it’s probably one of the better ones in its exploration of free will and fatherhood – but it can’t escape its all-too-repetitive game play narrative.

My rating: 3/5

Movie #6: Sinners

Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

I’m in the minority here given that this film has made many Best Of lists, but I found the first 45 minutes of set-up interminable and the various song and dance sequences equally so.  Once the action finally kicks in, it doesn’t really add anything to vampire lore beyond its unique setting.  Meh.

My rating: 2.5/5

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October 6, 2025: Catching up on my 2025 Crime Read recommendations!

Including the titles I’m giving a shout out to in today’s blog entry, I’ve recommended 25 crime books (released in 2025) – which may seem like a lot, but not when you realize I’ve checked out roughly 240 books (and counting).  Thus, I am recommending a rate of roughly 1 in 10 which should give you some indication of how tough a reader I am.

Fine Young People by Anna Bruno

When a high-school senior investigates the death of a star hockey player at her elite Jesuit school, she discovers the rot at the heart of the institution—and the truth about her own past.

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown

A young woman leaves her isolated, off-the-grid upbringing to find answers about her past and her mother’s death, only to discover her life is a lie.

What About the Bodies by Ken Jaworowski

Three lives collide in a gritty rust-belt town—a single mother covering up a deadly mistake, a young man on a mission to honor a dying wish, and a musician racing to escape a violent debt.

P.S. This one is my overall favorite so far this year.

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October 5, 2025: Sharky Sunday!

Coffee with dad…

Out and About – Three Dots Coffee Lab…

Ticklish…

Begging for treats…

Goat and pear treat…

Unboxing…

sharky-unboxing-mp4

Sharky vs shark…

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October 4, 2025: Choose your ride (and crew) and tell me why – Rounds 8 and 9 [Aliens and Villains]

Round 7 –

I’m going to have to go with the two ships NOT from a show I worked on.  As much as I love the wraith hive ship and the Galactic Authority destroyer, I love the design of both the Romulan Warbird and Shadow Vessel.  In the end, the Shadow Vessel wins for its nightmarish design.

Round 8 –

Actually not a fan of the Cylon Basetar and the Dalek saucer ship is a little staid.  This one’s  a tough one but, in the end I have to give the Borg Cube the edge over the Goa’uld mothership simply for its “out there” concept and design.

And you?

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October 3, 2025: The October Horrorfest Begins with 3 movies – Weapons, Final Destination: Bloodlines, and 28 Years Later!

Movie #1: Weapons

When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

My rating: 4.5/5!

Halfway through this movie I had no idea where it was headed but it eventually came together in dramatically satisfying fashion, capped by a completely bonkers highly memorable climax.

Movie #2: Final Destination: Bloodlines

Plagued by a recurring violent nightmare, a college student returns home to find the one person who can break the cycle and save her family from the horrific fate that inevitably awaits them.

My rating: 4/5!

From its visually spectacular opening massacre at the Sky View Tower to its inspired domino death sequences, this latest installment in the franchise delivers equal parts dark humor and gratuitous gore. Great fun!

Movie #3: 28 Years Later

A group of survivors of the rage virus live on a small island. When one of the group leaves on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors.

My rating: 3.5/5

Tense, terrifying, heartfelt, and compelling, but ultimately feels like a dramatically unsatisfying piece of a much larger narrative puzzle.

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October 2, 2025: Choose your ride (and crew) and tell me why – 5 and 6 (Aliens and Villains)!

Round 5 –

Round 6 (Aliens and Villains)

Group 5, I’ve got to go with the Daedalus because I’m very familiar with the ship.  The others not so much.

Group 6, I’m going Vorlon.  Love that squid design.

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October 1, 2025: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye this week…

Absolute Evil #1 – cover art by Dustin Nguyen

Absolute Green Lantern #7 – cover art by Jahnoy Lindsay

Absolute Green Lantern #7 – cover art by Taurin Clarke

Birds of Prey #26 – cover art by Kyuyong Eom

Poison Ivy #37 – cover art by Nathan Szerdy

Heat Seeker: Exposed #1 – cover art by Tehani Farr

Kill All Immortals #1 – cover art by Tula Lotay

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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September 30, 2025:Choose your ride (and crew) and tell me why – Parts 3 and 4!

Round 3 –

Tough one for me. Didn’t watch BSG or Enterprise, but did watch Firefly and have a passing familiarity with SGU. As much as I love both ships, Serenity and Destiny, I do love the fact that Destiny offers so many secrets yet to be revealed and the fact that it has an active stargate onboard. But I might be biased.

Round 4 –

I’m going to have to go with the only one of these shows I’ve actually watched, that bulldog of a ship, and the best crew in outer space – Raza!

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September 29, 2025: Choose your ride (and crew) and tell me why – Part 2!

Over on the X platform, I’ve asked this same question and have been surprised by all of the love Andromeda Ascendant has received.  It’s a show that is totally off my radar.  As is Lexx but, damn, gotta love that dragonfly design.  I know, I know, there are those that will argue it’s actually phallic and, given the show, I wouldn’t be surprised, but I’m still going with Dragonfly.  For me, it comes down to spending time with 7 of 9 and the Doctor or the John and Aeryn and the gang and, after much consideration, I’m afraid I’m going to have to go with Moya.

And you?

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