Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 63
February 21, 2024
February 21, 2024: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Spider-Woman #4 – cover art by Greg Hildebrandt, Tim Hildebrandt
X-Force #49 – cover art by Daniel Acuna
Batman #144 – cover art by Rahzzah
Catwoman #62 – cover art by Lesley “Leirix” Li
Green Lantern: War Journal #6 – cover art by Rahzzah
Zero Point – cover art by Augustin Graham Nakamura
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post February 21, 2024: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 20, 2024
February 20, 2024: Things percolating!
About to close a development deal on a pilot that, if all goes well, should trigger a series pick-up which would see us shooting in Portugal this summer. Anyone been? I hear the food is good.
Whenever someone on Top Chef complains about the dessert being too sweet…
Akemi and I are catching up on the seasons we missed during the pandemic. Season 19, Top Chef Houston, was the absolute worst. Possibly THE worst ever season. Season 20, however, is a grand return to form. Looking forward to Season 21 that kicks off next month…
When I may be in L.A. pitching a show. Or, possibly, canceling plans to pitch a show in L.A. because I’ll be in a writers’ room spinning the first season of this Porugal-shot series.
Talent! https://t.co/OU2g3hXsok
— Joseph Mallozzi
(@BaronDestructo) February 20, 2024
What's a comic book panel that had a profound impact on you?
The final panel of Avengers Annual #7 was a gut-punch that still resonates whenever I see it. https://t.co/LcrQ9BFYbM pic.twitter.com/jGl1dcLq4q
— Joseph Mallozzi
What's a comic book panel that had a profound impact on you?
Also, the final reveal of Thunderbolts #1. This one had a huge influence on my show #DarkMatter. https://t.co/mntwG53s6Q pic.twitter.com/CtumWZj7A7
— Joseph Mallozzi
Had lunch the other day with writers/podcasters Jason Inman and Ashley Robinson who were in town on Star Trek-related matters.
We ordered two desserts at the restaurant, then made the three block walk over to Geste Bistro & Boulangerie where we split three more (which I washed down with a mocha.
A good time was had by all.
The post February 20, 2024: Things percolating! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 19, 2024
February 19, 2024: Recent best Yes/No’s!
Green Takoyaki? Yes/No
Green takoyaki puts a new spin on classic Japanese street food https://t.co/JBrisVvsPK via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Cheese Volcano Pizza? Yes/No
Domino’s Japan’s New Cheese Volcano Pizza is a game-changer that’s about to go global https://t.co/YNnXdxPJKN via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Black-bun Squid Devil Burger? Yes/No
Black-bun Squid Devil Burger set to shock Japan with tokusatsu-inspired delicious evil https://t.co/hMg5PjLueN via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Burger Latte? Yes/No
Thanks(?) to @Quoylette for the tip!
Would you try a burger-flavored latte? One shop is drawing curious customers https://t.co/EESKt0ol37
— Joseph Mallozzi
Giant Sukiyaki Burger? Yes/No
Japan’s giant sukiyaki burgers pair beef with beef for hot pot flavor in sandwich form https://t.co/efulnSyD6w via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Kokuryu black dragon sake-infused chocolate? Yes/No
Ring in the Year of the Dragon with fancy chocolates infused with Kokuryu black dragon sake https://t.co/EcFIpet1Ji via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Final Fantasy XIV wine? Yes/No
Final Fantasy XIV wine is here to let you raise a glass to celebrate the RPG’s 10th anniversary https://t.co/l4srByeJdv via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Beer Mints? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/tuEfZ6v6pV pic.twitter.com/qE3W3TudJn
— Joseph Mallozzi
Pizza Pot Pie? Yes/No https://t.co/D7JzSh7XQH
— Joseph Mallozzi
Ultra-Expensive Amaou Strawberry Parfait? Yes/No
Is Denny’s Japan’s new ultra-expensive Amaou strawberry parfait worth it?【Taste test】 https://t.co/Hr9DLj2X0z via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Best: Kokuryu black dragon sake-infused chocolate
Worst: Burger latte
The post February 19, 2024: Recent best Yes/No’s! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 18, 2024
February 18, 2024: Sharky Sunday!
Ready to head off on vacation. Preferably somewhere warm.
Couch potato
Chef’s assistant
Today’s Sharky Sunday is dedicated to Ponytail, Drea, and all of our extended blog family members going through a rough time right now.
The post February 18, 2024: Sharky Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 17, 2024
February 17, 2024: The Crime Binge continues!
A Murder at the End of the World (2023)
Darby Hart, a Gen Z amateur sleuth, attempts to solve a murder at a secluded retreat.
My thoughts: Drab “high-tech thriller” featuring an imitation Girl with the Dragon Tattoo heroine and one disappointing A.I.
2.5/5
Better Call Saul (2015 – 2022) Seasons 2-5
The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill in the years leading up to his fateful run-in with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.
My thoughts: A worthy successor to Breaking Bad. One of the better crime shows I’ve watched for this binge and certainly among the Top 50 overall crime shows.
4/5
Better Call Saul (2015 – 2022) Season 6
The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill in the years leading up to his fateful run-in with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.
My thoughts: An enormously disappointing final season feels like it could have trimmed a few episodes, particularly in the back half. Perhaps its biggest mistake is in alienating its two leads. Where once I rooted for them despite their faults, here I found their actions reprehensible and the show lost its charm.
3/5
Landscapers (2021)
A devoted and mild-mannered British couple become the focus of an extraordinary investigation when two dead bodies are discovered in the back garden of a house in England.
My thoughts: Mixes a rather mundane and straightforward story with pointless fantasy elements. Felt like a vanity project.
2.5/5
A Nearly Normal Family (2023)
The world of a seemingly perfect family shatters when a shocking murder proves that they’re willing to make desperate moves to protect one another.
My thoughts: A pretty solid thriller that keeps you guessing, but the ineptness of the police work was, at time, annoyingly plot convenient.
3.5/5
The post February 17, 2024: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 16, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024: Your thoughts on the news media?
Which of the following do you hold most responsible for the decline of news media…
– Disruptive technology like A.I.
– Increasing alternatives to traditional media
– Reluctance on the part of consumers to pay for news
– Loss of trust in the media
— Joseph Mallozzi
A small sample size, but the results don’t surprise me – and I don’t believe would have been all that different with a bigger sample size. Your thoughts?
What is your go-to most trusted news source?
– Big media (ie network news, newspapers, radio, websites)
– Regional media (ie local news, newspapers, radio, websites)
– Social media (facebook, twitter/X, tiktok)
– Podcasts or other disrupters
— Joseph Mallozzi
I no longer own a t.v., so I’m definitely with the majority here. And you?
For those citing a "lack of trust in the media" as a reason for their decline, was there a precipitating incident – news coverage (or lack thereof) – that led YOU to reassess their standing? If so, what was it?
— Joseph Mallozzi
For me, the past couple of years have been a real eye opener.
What do you say?
The post February 15, 2024: Your thoughts on the news media? appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 14, 2024
February 14, 2024: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Fall of the House of X #2 – cover art by Pepe Larraz
Action Comics #1062 – cover art by Jorge Jimenez
Batman: City of Madness #3 – cover art by Patric Reynolds
Batman: City of Madness #3 – cover art by Christian Ward
Batman: City of Madness #3 – cover art by Bill Sienkiewicz
Outsiders #4 – cover art by Kelley Jones
Outsiders #4 – cover art by Nikolas Draper-Ivey
Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5 – cover art by Rafael Albuquerque
The Infernals #1 – cover art by John Pearson
Vampirella #666 – cover art by Lucio Parrillo
Vampirella #666 – cover art by Carla Cohen
Blue Book: 1947 #1 – cover art by David Mack
The Hunger and the Dusk #6 – cover art by Christian Wildgoose
Lip Stick Cliqa # 2 – cover art by Todd Skull, Rob Prior
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post February 14, 2024: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 13, 2024
February 13, 2024: The Crime Binge continues!
Ozark (2017 – 2022) Season 4
A financial advisor drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder money to appease a drug boss.
My thoughts: The final season is a little more scattered, a little less narratively cohesive than the previous ones, but it’s still solid and compelling story-telling, making Ozark one of the top shows I watched for this Crime Binge.
4/5
Slow Horses (2022 – ) Season 3
Following a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents — and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb — as they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.
My thoughts: With the exception of season one’s opening stage-weight action sequence, this series has been tightly scripted, engrossing, character-driven show.
4.5/5
Suburra: Blood on Rome (2017 – 2020) Season 2
While Cinaglia schemes, Samurai seeks to gain a new ally — and silence an old one; Aureliano turns ruthless to regain control of Ostia’s underworld.
My thoughts: While it isn’t always effective in hitting its more emotionally resonant moments, the twists and turns did keep me engaged enough.
3.5/5
Suburra: Blood on Rome (2017 – 2020) Season 3
In 2008, a fight over land in a seaside town near Rome spirals into a deadly battle between organized crime, corrupt politicians and the Vatican.
My thoughts: A disappointing end to a good-but-not-great series.
3/5
Vigil (2021 – ) Season 2
When a prototype Air Force combat drone is compromised and kills several soldiers during a joint demonstration in Scotland, Silva’s team are tasked with finding the perpetrator.
My thoughts: The series loses more than its original claustrophobic setting in season 2 as the action shifts from a submarine to Scotland and the Middle East, failing to recapture the first season’s taught, compelling story-telling. All in all, not bad – but it pales in comparison.
3.5/5
The post February 13, 2024: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 12, 2024
February 12, 2024: Thoughts?
Came across this interesting article the other day:
Is the Media Prepared for an Extinction Level Event?
The article explores the gradual erosion of traditional media over the past few years citing, among other reasons, a shift in consumer preference, the deterioration of the subscription model, and a general loss of trust in big media. The latter is particularly interesting as a recent poll showed a mere one third of respondents asked say they actually trust the media. The article blames Trump’s repeated “Fake News!” attacks on the media for this, I feel this is either wishful thinking or willful distortion of fact on the part of the writer. While Trump’s attacks certainly didn’t help, I think big media has lost the public trust because they’ve been proven deceptive – in the stories they cover just as much those they do. Gone are the days of the truth-seeking journalists depicted in the Hollywood of yore. Now, it’s all sensationalism, fluff pieces, and publicity and propaganda disguised as news while the real news goes unignored.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.
Also came across this article…
Beware: the Apple Vision Pro May Rewire Your Brains in Unexpected Ways
Much like today’s technology – iPhones and video games – have done to this most generation.
How do you think the technology introduced in your lifetime has changed you?
Meanwhile, on the home front: The Orange is a little sour…
The post February 12, 2024: Thoughts? appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
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