Bottalk Reviews

Who was that smartly-dressed reporter gracefully swimming around NYC? It was our very own always effervescent Bottalkian, Bounce, and she bravely fought cataclysmic flash floods and heavy rainstorms to bring us pictures from the Hasbro Showroom Tour at New York Toy Fair 2023. We would like to thank: Whitney Spencer, Jennifer Cruz Santos and Witney Williams for their invaluable assistance. Thanks a million, Bounce! Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Rise of the Beasts Movie Beast Alliance, Rise of the Beasts Command & Convert Animatronic Optimus Primal, Bumblebee, Transformers: EarthSpark, Marvel Avengers Epic Hero Series, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man Web Splashers, Mixin' Moods Grogu, Star Wars: The Black Series, Star Wars: The Vintage Collection, Star Wars Mission Fleet, Droidables and more.

Wolverine, unlike Benjamin Percy, is very well versed in Predator movies. A big fan! The diminutive Canadian has streamed them all on small screens, multiple times. He also clearly read all the Dark Horse comics, even the unpublished Predator: The Original Screenplay adaptation by Jeremy Barlow and Patrick Blaine. Logan knows everything about the demons who make trophies of men, even that they are called the Yautja and Marvel's favourite son is not impressed. LOL. What I did like: Old Painless makes an appearance. Kinda. Krull (1983) homage. The Predator (1987) score by Alan Silvestri was playing in my head. Predator vs Wolverine #3 will feature art by Japanese Transformers artist superstar Kei Zama! What I did not like: A big cat would stay clear from a weird 7 foot tall alien wearing fishnet and a metal codpiece. A dead Predator still holding his own weapon? AND the weapons that killed him are still stuck to him? LOL No Peter Cullen cameo! No Anna Gonsalves! No Franco Columbu med

Don't look for this Marvel Masterworks that is masquerading as an Omnibus. You may not like what you find. But, all joking aside, if you are a fan of extremely lurid colours in your comics you'll be in bronze age ape heaven. The direct market edition with the Gil Kane cover has Dr. Zaius on its spine while the standard edition with the new E.M. Gist cover has a Dr. Zira spine. Pick your spine doctor wisely for your bookshelf. The scripts, not the actual movies, of Planet of the Apes (1968) and Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) are expertly adapted by Doug Moench, George Tuska and Alfredo Alcala. This means that both adaptions feature many altered, extra and cut scenes not seen on screen. Note that you will find absolutely no physical likenesses to actors. Charlton Heston (1923-2008), Robert Gunner (1931-2001), Jeff Burton (1924-1988), James Franciscus (1934-1991), Victor Buono (1938-1982) and Linda Harrison are completely unrecognizable. The Omnibus collects the complete el

aka La Planète des Singes: La fin des Hommes Collecting Planet of The Apes (2023) #1-5. Planet Of The Apes #5 finishes with the following epitaph: "This is the end for now..." And I say: Good! A repetitive, repetitive, nasty, boring comic book that went nowhere finally comes to its merciful end. The disappointing Planet Of The Apes comic from The House of Ideas featured 2 tales: a much too coordinated Militia murdering apes AND the story of a Gorilla soldier leading his guerrilla comrades. What I did NOT like: NO James Franco! NO Dr. Zaius! Disrespecting the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France. A pandemic thriller with no thrills that fixates on fanaticism and hate. Mainstream heavy metal bands referenced too many times. The frequent time hopping. Trained soldiers unaware that apes can communicate via sign language. Incompetent people in power. Executions without due process of law. A multitude of simians with toilet seats around their necks. No letters page!