What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – July 1st, 2025

A Minecraft Movie

Well, it’s always a notable week when you have the biggest box office hit of the year so far hitting shelves! Add to that some new special edition catalogue titles and a veritable plethora of new graphic novels, and there’s a lot to dig into! Enjoy!

In This Week’s Column:

• A Minecraft Movie (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
• The Invisible Swordsman (Blu-ray)
• Palindromes (Blu-ray)
• The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost (Blu-ray)
• Exit City (Graphic Novel)
• God Tier: Volume 1 (Graphic Novel)
• The Last Session (Blu-ray)
• Prairie Gods (Graphic Novel)
• Nothing Special: Volume 3 (Graphic Novel)

A Minecraft Movie (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

The Movie: 

I’m going to say what I’m going to say about A Minecraft Movie, and then I’m going to point out quickly how none of what I have to say about it matters at all. (Bear with me, this will make sense eventually.)

A Minecraft Movie is a film based on the incredibly popular world-building video game. In it, a quartet of friends (including a pair of siblings) get transported to a strange world where they can build anything they need, but it’s populated by weird creatures and unusual physics.

I had one major, massive problem with the movie, however: Jack Black, who plays Steve, the resident expert on the Overworld. Normally I like Jack Black, but here, it’s like director Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) just said, “Jack, you’re perfect, just do whatever you want,” and then Black went on to give his most Jack Black performance ever. Imagine a hobo-bearded Jack Black yelling “SKA-DOOSH!” at you for two hours while waving his hands around your face and you might have some idea of how annoying his performance is. And what makes it even more frustrating is how much I actually liked the rest of the movie. While the movie was a huge box office hit (grossing almost $1 billion worldwide), critics weren’t overly kind to it. I actually enjoyed the movie… except for any scene in which Jack Black played a large role. Which, unfortunately, is a lot of them.

Now, why does none of this matter? Because the film was a gigantic worldwide success. And honestly, the audience for it isn’t adults, it’s kids. And from that perspective, I suspect most of them didn’t mind Jack Black being a spastic nutjob for the entire film. But for me, it took what could have been a really fun movie down a few notches. Simply put, though, an inevitable sequel is coming no matter what I think of the film.

The 4K Video/Audio:

The visuals and special effects in A Minecraft Movie are outstanding, and the 4K Ultra HD transfer properly reflects that. The colorful world of the Overworld (and the darker Nether realm) are captured brilliantly, with vibrant colors that pop off the screen. Black levels are strong, contrasts are sharp, and image clarity is outstanding. There’s nothing to complain about from a visual standpoint. The surround soundtrack doesn’t really have any flaws, either. It might not be the single most nuanced audio soundscape I’ve ever heard, but it fills your viewing area with sound and activity during the action scenes while not falling flat during the dialogue scenes. All in all, a terrific effort.

The Bonus Features: 

• Building the World of Minecraft: Block Party (14 minutes)
• Creepers, Zombies and Endermen Oh My! (13 minutes)
• A Minecraft Movie: Pixel Pals: (14 minutes)
• A Minecraft Movie: Block Beats (9 minutes)
• Marlene + Nitwit (5 minutes)

Digital Copy Included: Yes

The Wrap-Up:

Overall, I liked A Minecraft Movie more than not, and I liked it more than I expected to. I just wish somebody could have reined Jack Black in a bit; then this movie would have been a lot more well-liked by a wider range of audiences in addition to being incredibly successful.

The Invisible Swordsman (Blu-ray)

The Movie: 

I’ll be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for The Invisible Swordsman. After all, this is a movie from 1970 that features special effects of an invisible character; and not just an invisible character, but an invisible samurai. I mean, how is that not going to be cheesy?

Well, let me be the first to admit to being surprised at how wrong I was. The Invisible Swordsman is a terrific little film from Japan that works way better than it should. In the film, Sanshiro is a young man studying to be a samurai, but he isn’t very good at it, nor is he particularly brave. When his father is murdered and Sanshiro yearns for vengeance, he is met by a mysterious spirit who offers him a potion that turns him invisible. With the ultimate stealth superpower, Sanshiro sets out to avenge his father.

While this movie obviously predates CGI or more sophisticated special effects, the movie utilizes practical invisibility effects that have been around since the early days of film, and somehow it works. There are some humorous scenes right beside more serious action scenes, but somehow it all blends together for a fun experience.

This week Arrow Video, one of my favorite home video distributors, releases The Invisible Swordsman to Blu-ray for the first time, and it comes with remastered picture and new special features.

The Bonus Features: 

• Brand new audio commentary from author and Asian culture expert Jonathan Clements
• The Invisible People, a brand new interview with film critic Kim Newman
• Phantom Fighter, a brand new interview with film critic and Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp
• Image gallery
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Zack Davisson

Digital Copy Included: No

The Wrap-Up:

There’s no shortage of home video releases of Asian action cinema from the ‘70s and ‘80s, but The Invisible Swordsman stands a cut above many other genre mates of the time period. This excellent special edition is worth tracking down.

Palindromes (Blu-ray)

The Movie: 

Todd Solondz has probably given up on becoming a household name director. After his early critical successes with movies like Welcome to the Dollhouse and Happiness, he eschewed the mainstream and continued down the path of making the movies that he wanted to make rather than what Hollywood wanted to see. One of the results of that mindset is 2004’s Palindromes, a challenging and polarizing drama.

The film follows 13-year-old Aviva, who wants to be a mom more than anything in the world. When her parents shut that idea down, she runs away and goes on a cross-country trip to discover herself and the world around her. Now, on the surface, that sounds like a pretty straightforward plot. But in the hands of Solondz, it’s anything but. Aviva is played throughout the course of the movie (and her life) by eight different actresses, most notably Jennifer Jason Leigh. It can be jarring when you get used to one version of Aviva only to have her suddenly transform into someone who looks and sounds nothing like the actress before her. I’m not sure it’s a device that I personally loved, but I know Solondz has his fans who will be happy to see this new home video release of the film.

This new special edition is brought to us by Radiance Films, and it comes as a limited edition 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray with new extra features and gorgeous packaging.

The Bonus Features: 

• New interview with Todd Solondz by critic Hannah Strong (2025, 26 mins)
• New interview with actor Alexander Brickel (2025, 14 mins)
• Todd Solondz and His Cinema of Cruelty, a new video essay by critic Lillian Crawford (2025, 12 mins)
• Trailer
• Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Bence Bardos, extracts from the original press book, plus archival interviews with Solondz and composer Nathan Larson
• Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

Digital Copy Included: No

The Wrap-Up:

I love Radiance’s new version of Palindromes; even though I’m not particularly a Solondz fan and this movie didn’t really do it for me, this is still an excellent home video edition of a movie that got a long-forgotten release 20 years ago. If you’re a fan of this movie, don’t miss out on this one while it’s still available.

The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost (Blu-ray)

The Movie: 

Also from Radiance Films this week is The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost, a haunting supernatural drama from Japan. Based on the famous Japanese folk tale Yotsuya Kaidan, the story sees a down-on-his-luck samurai become the object of affection of a wealthy townswoman. There’s only one problem: he’s already married. Wanting to move up in society, he murders his wife and courts the wealthy woman. But on his wedding night, his vengeful wife returns as a horrifying spirit and… well, you’ll have to see what happens after that on your own.

The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost was released in 1961 and was directed by Tai Kato and stars Tomisaburo Wakayama as the samurai. He’s probably best known to western audiences for his role in the Lone Wolf and Cub movie series, but he was a renowned actor and a big star in Japan for many, many years.

This version of the famous story is a solid one. It is from the early 1960s, so it is a bit clunky in places. It was also apparently filmed entirely on soundstages (even the exterior scenes), which wasn’t unusual for the time period, but it does sometimes make it feel like you’re watching a stage play. Still, the acting and the story itself carry the movie more than effectively.

The Bonus Features: 

• Introduction by Mari Asato
• Interview with Mari Asato (2025)
• Visual essay on tormented female ghosts by Lindsay Nelson (2025)
• Trailer
• Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Tom Mes and an archival review of the film

Digital Copy Included: No

The Wrap-Up:

Another terrific limited edition Blu-ray release from Radiance Films, The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost should be of interest to anyone who has an affinity for Asian cinema.

Exit City (Graphic Novel)

The Book: 

Newly collected from Mad Cave Studios is the four-issue miniseries Exit City, a futuristic sci-fi mystery from writer Mark London and artist Karl Mostert (who sadly passed away last year.) In it, we meet Detective McCormick, an enigmatic city detective with a secret who gets paired with Detective Miller, another city employee who has a little bit of a past of her own. When they are assigned the investigation of something that is clearly more than just a routine car accident, it leads them into a web of danger and conspiracy.

I really liked Exit City. McCormick is one of those characters who appears like he might be slightly insane but never goes so far you don’t like him, and there’s a clever sci-fi tool he uses to help him investigate (I don’t want to spoil it here) that was a really neat concept. Also, writer Mark London has a way with dialogue that makes this book futuristic and noir-ish at the same time, while never becoming confusing or hard to decipher. Karl Mostert was a terrific artist whose style leaned towards a Frank Quitely-esque look, and I was sad to hear of his passing. I believe this book marks his final work, but his artistic prowess was in fine form.

As with previously reviewed graphic novels Revolution 9 and Hour of the Wolf, this book is part of a bigger universe. From the publisher: “Exit City is the third thrilling title in Underworld, an all-new universe created by Mark London which also includes Revolution 9 and Hour of the Wolf. Each miniseries set within can be savored as a standalone serial, while serving as a stepping stone towards Endless Night, the must-read crossover guaranteed to blow your mind in 2025!”

The Specs: 

• Publisher: IDW Publishing
• Format: Softcover
• Page Count: 88 pages
• Cover Price: $17.99

The Wrap Up:

Exit City is a great read for anyone who likes science fiction, mysteries, or just a cool, fun comic. The artwork and colors make this one a visual treat in addition to having a great story, so definitely check it out.

God Tier: Volume 1 (Graphic Novel)

The Book: 

Nakama Press is a newer publisher that is bringing manga (and other international graphic novels) to western audiences through a new line of graphic novels. These books are printed in the more traditional manga format, meaning they’re quite small (about the size of a postcard) but hefty (well over a hundred pages each, on average.) They’re also made to recreate the true manga experience, so while they have been translated into English, they are printed in the right-to-left format, which admittedly took me a little while to get used to.

Their newest offering is God Tier: Volume 1, which I absolutely loved! Now, I’m not a manga fan per se, meaning a manga project has to be really good to win me over; I’m not just going to automatically love a book because it’s in the manga format. But God Tier is a story on a huge scale of storytelling and it blew me away. Basically, on an alternate earth, the gods had imprisoned the Titans back in ancient times, and now the Titans have escaped their imprisonment… but in modern times. So what we get is the mayhem of giant Titans raining havoc down on modern cities while gods and humans try to overcome them. Caught up in all of the chaos are brother and sister Pablo and Anna, who are just trying to survive.

God Tier is written by Mario Long with artwork by Kuroi, Pablo Rey, and Yufo. It’s in traditional black-and-white, but the larger than life action scenes still leap off the page, while the quieter character moments ring true as well. Fans of Godzilla movies, Attack on Titan, or any Kaiju story will probably really like this one.

The Specs: 

• Publisher: Nakama Press
• Format: Softcover
• Page Count: 144 pages
• Cover Price: $10.99

The Wrap Up:

I’m not gonna lie, God Tier surprised me. I enjoyed the first few offerings from Nakama Press, but this is the first one I can truly rave about. Track it down and check it out!

The Last Session [Compact Edition] (Graphic Novel)

The Book: 

Maverick Studios released The Last Session graphic novel last month as a traditional comic-book sized trade paperback. This month, we get a second version of it in the popular digest size (approximately 6 ½ x 10 inches), but the interior contents of the book are exactly the same as the previously released version. It’s just smaller.

Imagine you’ve been playing Dungeons and Dragons (or in this case, Dice & Deathtraps) with the same group of friends for four years. Then, on the last night of the campaign, the dungeon master brings their new girlfriend to enter the game. That’s the basic premise of The Last Session, a trade paperback from Mad Cave Studios that collects the hit five-issue miniseries from writer Jasmine Walls and artist Dozerdraws.

The comic sort of tells two stories concurrently. One is the story of this group of friends and how they cope with the addition of a new player (hint: some handle it better than others.) The other half is the story being told within the game, a fantasy tale with wizards and bards and dragonkin and dungeons and quests and magic. The characters are avatars for the players, so the story is both separate and related. Honestly, it’s an effect that really works and I think it makes the story much more interesting than if it just happened in the real world. The overall narrative progresses through the Dice & Deathtraps adventure, and you learn more about the characters as they progress on their quest. But it also works as a fantasy adventure in its own right, complete with its own conclusion. It’s a really good read whether you’re a gamer or not, and the LGBTQ+ and POC representation ensures that the book will be a good read for everyone and anyone.

The Specs: 

• Publisher: Maverick
• Format: Softcover
• Page Count: 136 pages
• Cover Price: $17.99

The Wrap Up:

The Last Session is a really fun graphic novel that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Obviously, if you are a role-playing gamer, you’ll get the most out of it, but I think it will be a great read for you no matter what.

Prairie Gods (Graphic Novel)

The Book: 

This five-issue series from Mad Cave Studios is an anthology series of sorts, although it’s all thematically connected. Created by Shane Connery Volk (the lead singer and songwriter for Canadian rock band One Bad Son), Prairie Gods tells different stories all centered around the town of Broadacres. Throughout these tales, we are treated to war stories, crime stories, tales of lost treasure, cowboy action, and more. The Mad Cave press material for the book compares it to The Twilight Zone, and that’s a pretty apt comparison.

Volk made his comic debut as the artist of Mad Cave’s super-popular Nottingham series, and now he takes on writing duties as well. I really liked the stories he’s created here, and the way the stories are separate but connected works really well. Every story basically stands alone but there are little bits and pieces that connect one story to another; almost more like easter eggs than because you have to understand any connection between them. As you might have guessed, I really enjoyed this collected trade paperback.

The Specs: 

• Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
• Format: Softcover
• Page Count: 128 pages
• Cover Price: $17.99

The Wrap Up:

If you don’t like anthologies, don’t worry; Prairie Gods feels like a book with a lot of connective tissue and not just a random collection of stories. If you do like anthologies, I think you will really enjoy what Shane Connery Volk has cooked up here!

Nothing Special: Volume 3 (Graphic Novel)

The Book: 

There are three books in the Nothing Special series so far, but unfortunately I’ve only reviewed two. Which means I was a little behind the eight ball in this third and final volume, as not all of the story elements were ones I was familiar with. Overall, though, Katie Cook is one of the great original talents working in comics today, so I still really enjoyed it.

Since I missed a few installments, I’m going to do the official synopsis get you up to speed: “Laurel Poppyfield, matriarch of the fairy Poppyfield family, is dying. She holds the majority of the Poppyfields’ magic, and has no heir to give it to. Or so she thought until Callie, Declan, Lasser, and Radish walked into the family estate trying to find someone to heal Declan’s wing. It turns out Declan is Laurel’s grandson and practically fairy royalty, and the timing of his arrival could not be more perfect. Not everyone is happy about Declan’s sudden appearance, though. Leir, one of Lasser’s older brothers, has worked for years to become a trusted presence in the Poppyfield home. He was Laurel’s top choice to inherit the family’s magic before Declan showed up, and he’s not about to let his plans get ruined. It’s up to Callie, Declan, Lasser, and Radish to thwart his nefarious schemes before the Poppyfield magic falls into the wrong hands.”

So what you get here is a fantasy adventure series with humor, heart, and friendship (plus no small amount of magic), all told through the lens of Katie Cook, who is a singular voice in the modern comic book world. This is the third volume in the series, and it collects the final 25 episodes of Season 2 of the webcomic. It’s a whopping tome, coming it at almost 400 pages, and there isn’t a page that’s wasted.

The Specs: 

• Publisher: Ten Speed Graphic
• Format: Hardcover or Softcover
• Page Count: 384 pages
• Cover Price: $29.99 (hardcover) or $22.99 (softcover)

The Wrap Up:

I would definitely start with Volume 1 of Nothing Special, but once you read that, the good news is that you have instant access to Volumes 2 and 3, giving you over a thousand pages of fantasy fun ready for you to devour. Dig in!