Walmart stores recently recalled more than 12,000 cartons of chicken broth amid concerns that the product’s packaging was compromised.
The recalled product is the Great Value brand of chicken broth, which was sold in 48-ounce containers, according to a release from the Food and Drug Administration.
The recall was initiated on Dec. 11, but the notice was published on the FDA’s website on Jan. 8.
The recalled cartons were sent to stores in Alabama and Arkansas, according to the FDA’s announcement, but Walmart said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Friday that a total of 242 stores in nine states were impacted.
Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas were the other states.
The reason for the recall is “potential for packaging failures that could compromise the sterility of the product, resulting in spoilage.”
A total of 2,023 cases were included in the recall.
Walmart recalled more than 12,000 cartons of Great Value chicken broth. AP
Each case includes six products, meaning 12,138 cartons of broth were recalled.
The recalled products had a “best used by” date of March 25, 2026.
They carry the UPC code “007874206684.”
The recall notice did not indicate if any illnesses had been reported from consumption of the chicken broth.
“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement. “As soon as we were made aware of the issue, we took action to remove all impacted products from the select, impacted stores. We are continuing to work with the supplier to investigate.”
The recall was initiated on Dec. 11 but wasn’t published on the FDA’s website until Jan. 8. REUTERS
Anyone who thinks they may have a recalled item should discard it and request a full refund, a company spokesperson said.
Unopened, shelf-stable cartons or cans of chicken broth can last for years in a pantry, the website Southern Living said.
The recall notice didn’t mention if anyone got sick from consuming the chicken broth. AP
Once these items are opened, however, any leftover broth should be stored in the refrigerator for about three to four days, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s website.
Alternatively, leftover chicken broth can be frozen and kept in the freezer for two to three months, the USDA said.
Any leftover chicken broth that emits a strange odor or appears to be discolored or moldy is spoiled and should not be consumed, Southern Living added.
Eating spoiled chicken broth can trigger food poisoning.
The Issue: MTA CEO Janno Lieber stating the increase in subway crime is in riders’ heads.
Janno Lieber, all MTA bosses and elected officials should be mandated to use the “safe” subway system for one year, no exceptions and no bodyguards (“Ride Janno out on a rail!” Jan 9). Let them see first-hand how safe the subways are.
These people are all delusional and need a wake-up call to the rising crime in the system.
Think of the additional money that could be saved and infused into the MTA with the savings if you took away their chauffeured rides and made them use the subway for their daily trips.
Veronica Kwiecinski
Maspeth
Lieber’s delusional claim that New Yorkers need not fear riding the subways after two riders were stabbed, another set on fire and another pushed onto the track is criminal.
He should be held accountable, and make sure the slashers and people arrested for these crimes are held without bail and jailed until a court date.
His statement that the system is safe “overall” is the reason he must be held accountable for the release of these felons.
Bonnie Giordano
Florham Park, NJ
New Yorkers are not as incompetent as Lieber makes them out to be with such an asinine assertion.
Crime is rampant in the system, and I personally don’t believe the COMPSTAT numbers from the NYPD regarding transit crime statistics.
Felony assault can be reduced to misdemeanor assault with a change of a word or two on the UF61 form — or considered “accidental” or “unintentional.” Pickpocketing can be reduced to “lost property” if you didn’t see or feel someone take your wallet or purse.
Give all of us a break, Lieber — New Yorkers are far from gullible, let alone stupid. Enjoy your congestion toll money while it lasts.
Ralph Manente
Yonkers
Instead of claiming the systems are safe and charging the hard-working folks of New York City with congesting pricing, they should use some of the MTA funds to study the subway systems of England, Japan and Amsterdam.
Those systems are well-run, safe and clean. Anyone who has traveled to these countries and used the systems, including myself, knows what I am talking about.
Donna Skjeveland
Holbrook
The Issue: President Biden’s last-minute offshore-drilling ban and other anti-drilling moves.
President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to drill was meant to give the American people cheaper gas prices. Biden’s decision to ban offshore drilling is an attempt to stop Trump from keeping promises, so he fails.
Nevertheless, Trump is a fighter and no doubt will find a way to reverse Biden’s ban.
The mean-spirited and spiteful actions of Biden are only more reason for Americans to vote Republican in future elections.
JoAnn Lee Frank
Clearwater, Fla.
Right off the bat, Biden showed his disdain for energy production by canceling the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada. He later significantly restricted considerable US energy production.
Additionally, Canada, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has stymied pipeline projects to get our oil to tidewater.
This year, Canada will see a new government, amenable to natural-resource development, and Trump will unleash America’s energy capability.
These initiatives will benefit the United States, Canada and the free world.
Larry Sylvester
Ontario, Canada
Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
Over the last five years, the FTSE 250‘s fallen by almost 6%. But one stock in particular has managed to outperform the likes of Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft.
It’s up 393%, which is enough to turn a £5,000 investment in 2020 into something worth more than £24,000. And the company isn’t involved in artificial intelligence (AI) or even technology.
What’s the stock?
The stock in question is Premier Foods (LSE:PFD) – a manufacturer of both branded and non-branded food products. And there are three reasons the stock’s up so much over the last five years.
One reason is that revenues have grown. Since 2020, sales are up 35% in the firm’s branded foods division and 16% in its non-branded unit, resulting in overall revenue growth of around 33%.
On top of this, margins have expanded. This is partly due to branded sales growing faster than non-branded ones, but also the result of Premier Foods reducing its long-term debt from £500m to £326m.
Premier Foods Revenue & Operating Margin 2020-24
Created at TradingView
The last reason is the stock now trades at a higher multiple. The firm made a loss in 2019, complicating the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. But on a price-to-book (P/B) basis, the stock’s gone from 0.3 to 1.12.
The outstanding returns for investors have therefore been driven by the underlying business as well as the stock market. The big question for investors though, is whether or not it can continue.
Outlook
I think it’s hard to see how shares in Premier Foods can do as well over the next five years as they have over the last five. A number of the catalysts pushing the stock along seem to have worn off.
The firm’s balance sheet is much stronger than it was in 2020 and the stock’s trading at its highest P/B multiple in a decade. As a result, I don’t think either of these is likely to keep pushing the shares higher.
Premier Foods Total Debt & P/B ratio 2020-24
Created at TradingView
Despite this, there are still encouraging signs. In its latest update, Premier Foods reported revenues continuing to climb, with management indicating consumers are trading up to branded products.
As a result, margins are still expanding, leading to headline profits continuing to grow faster than sales. This is being masked to some extent by amortisation costs, but the underlying signs are very positive.
Investors would be unwise to overlook the risk of consumers trading up further – to fresher products. But for the time being, a shift away from non-branded products continues to help Premier Foods.
A missed opportunity?
For me, Premier Foods is something of a missed opportunity. Back in 2020, I anticipated a strengthening balance sheet leading to higher margins and the return of its dividend – but I didn’t invest.
That’s been a big miss on my part. However, with the share price having climbed 393% in the last five years, attempting to make up for the error by buying the stock now might well be a mistake.
I expect Premier Foods to be a durable business going forward. But with some of the major catalysts behind the stock having run their course, I also think there are better opportunities for me at the moment.
Warren Buffett famously said, “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die”.
While this can specifically apply to retirement, its broader meaning is about aiming for financial security at any point through income-generating assets like dividend stocks. In other words, passive income, which can flow in even when one is sleeping.
Here’s my simple plan geared towards achieving this goal.
Focus on the long term
Rome wasn’t built in a day, as the old cliché goes. It’s going to take time to construct a portfolio large enough to generate sizeable passive income.
To me, then, 2025 is just another year of building up my portfolio. This Foolish perspective helps me avoid taking unnecessary investing risks.
The opposite to this approach is to try and make as much money as quickly as possible. But this might lead me towards meme stocks, pre-revenue penny shares, and other high-risk/high-reward ideas.
Ironically though, following this get-rich-quick strategy means I could end up with far less than I started with. As Buffett also famously said, “Rule number one: never lose money. Rule number two: Never forget rule number one“.
Diageo on the rocks
The ‘Sage of Omaha’ invests in dividend-paying companies with strong brands, healthy profit margins, and pricing power. One FTSE 100 stock that I think ticks these boxes is Diageo (LSE: DGE).
A global leader in premium spirits, the company owns timeless brands like Tanqueray, Johnnie Walker, Gordon’s, and Guinness. Diageo has been able to steadily raise the price of these drinks over many years, supporting its healthy profit margins.
However, the firm has been impacted by a slowdown in the global spirits market, with many consumers cutting back on restaurants and nights out (thereby drinking less). There’s also been some downtrading to cheaper brands in its Latin American markets.
We don’t know how long this will last and things could get worse before they get better.
Meanwhile, weight-loss drugs have been shown to supress the desire for alcohol. Veteran fund manager Terry Smith (aka ‘Britain’s Warren Buffett’) dumped his Diageo shares last year partly because of this fear.
Over three years, the Diageo share price has dropped 39% due to this unpleasant cocktail of issues.
Buying the fear
Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.
Warren Buffett
Recently, there’s been above-average share price volatility when companies report some operational or earnings setbacks. I’ve seen this with the stocks in my own portfolio.
For example, Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, suffered a 28% share price plunge in December after disappointing late-stage trial results for its next-generation weight-loss treatment. This was Novo stock’s sharpest drop ever! The month before, AstraZeneca stock fell 13% in a couple of days.
However, I still view these companies as high quality, including Diageo. The spirits supremo is now offering a 3.6% forward yield and I think the long-term income growth prospects remain strong (though dividends are never nailed on). The concern about weight-loss drugs looks a tad overblown to me.
My plan this year is to buy the fear whenever my favourite dividend-paying stocks suffer big share price pullbacks. By doing so, I hope to maximise passive income over the long run.
You may have visited the sunny beaches of Croatia or marvelled at the renowned Buda Castle in Budapest, but have you ever considered Serbia as a tourist destination?
Unlike some neighbouring countries grappling with the strains of overtourism, Serbia is charting a different path.
With a focus on sustainable development and a commitment to preserving its natural beauty, the country is gaining traction among travellers who crave unique, culture-rich experiences away from the masses.
Serbia specialist adviser at Cox & Kings, George Colvin-Slee, told the BBC: “In Serbia, people see the word ‘tourist’ as a positive thing.
“It’s an undiscovered place for a lot of people – we send more people to Albania and Bosnia – but it’s got some really impressive spots.”
Colvin-Slee suggested visiting the country’s second biggest city, Novi Sad, for its charming, crowd-free atmosphere and historical sights including the Petrovaradin Fortress, also called the ‘Gibraltar of the Danube’ due to its rich history.
The ‘Gibraltar of the Danube’, located at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers atop a hill, has served as a key military stronghold and defence point for various empires, including the Romans, Ottomans, and Austrians.
Serbia wants to develop its sustainable tourism, working with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to promote culture-oriented, low-impact travel to emphasise rural tourism and mountain getaways rather than mass tourism.
Locations like the Tara, Kopaonik, and Zlatibor mountains are famous for their serene environments and high-quality wellness resorts, where visitors can enjoy spa treatments, thermal baths, and outdoor activities like hiking and skiing.
Serbia is a year-round destination offering activities for every season, from hiking and mountain biking to cultural events like the Belgrade Dance Festival in March and Bitef Theater Festival in October.
Summer invites visitors to enjoy rafting, kayaking, and lively music festivals, while winter offers skiing in Kopaonik and the Küstendorf Film Festival in the scenic snowy mountains.
Serbia offers a unique blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes, making it a must-visit destination for travellers.
During the 1980s, the horror genre reached a fever pitch. Audiences were craving new and terrifying cinematic experiences and directors and production houses were coming up with iconic movies to satisfy this hunger. Legendary slasher franchises like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th were born in the 1980s. Sci-fi horror hybrids like John Carpenter’s The Thing and David Cronenberg’s The Fly redefined what was possible on the big screen. And who could forget the unfiltered thrill of watching movies like Fright Night and The Lost Boys?
With so many instantly recognizable titles and classics dominating the decade, it’s easy to forget the numerous other frightening films of the ‘80s that unfortunately flew under the radar. They were either a little too weird, a little too obscure, or simply overshadowed by their successful peers. This list shines the spotlight on 10 ‘80s horror movies that people have not heard much about, but they’re cult classics either way.
10
‘Celia’ (1989)
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Celia
Release Date
May 18, 1989
Runtime
102 minutes
Cast
Nicholas Eadie
, Rebecca Smart
, Mary-Anne Fahey
, Victoria Longley
, Margaret Ricketts
, James Newman
, Alexander Hutchinson
, Adrian Mitchell
, Callie Gray
, Martin Sharman
, Clair Couttie
, Alex Menglet
, Amelia Frid
, William Zappa
, Feon Keane
, Louise Le Nay
, Shannon McNamara
, Luke Mathews
, Deborra-Lee Furness
, Irene Inescort
, Myles Sharpe
, Phillip Holder
, Peter Lindsay
, Robin Cuming
, John Arnold
A psychological thriller that remains undiscovered by many, Celia is set in the 1950s rural Australia, where young Celia Carmichael is plagued by disturbing visions. The movie opens with the tragic death of her grandmother and Celia discovering the corpse, which sets the stage for her disillusionment. It doesn’t help that her parents don’t let her play with the neighbors’ kids. Resorting to isolation, Celia finds herself growing obsessed with mysterious creatures.
An Overlooked Australian Gem
Celia is a unique horror movie that combines psychological elements with unsettling coming-of-age themes. Directed by Ann Turner, and anchored by a stunning performance from Rebecca Smart, it weaves a hypnotic take around a young girl, her surroundings, the darker aspects of her childhood, and her eventual descent into darkness. Despite its intriguing storyline and surreal imagery, Celia failed to achieve widespread acclaim.
9
‘Stage Fright’ (1987)
Directed by Michele Soavi, Stage Fright is an Italian slasher horror that takes place in a secluded theater. The plot goes like this: a group of actors are rehearsing for a new musical when one of them, Alicia, sprains her ankle and rushes to the nearest hospital, which happens to be a mental asylum. On her way back, a psychopathic killer escapes from the establishment and is locked in the theater with the rest of the crew.
Stands Out in the Slasher Genre
Stage Fright takes one masked maniac intent on picking the characters off one by one and escalates the suspense and tension gradually. The climax features a brilliant showdown between the relentless murderer and the final girl. But that’s not all that makes this slasher a must-watch. The well-executed direction, inventive death scenes, eerie atmosphere, and stylish visuals, all add to its fast-paced and horrifying experience.
The horror movies on this list exceeded expectations at the box office in at least some way.
8
‘Anguish’ (1987)
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Release Date
November 10, 1987
Runtime
86
Cast
Zelda Rubinstein
, Michael Lerner
, Talia Paul
, Àngel Jové
, Clara Pastor
, Isabel García Lorca
Anguish, directed by Bigas Luna, is a genuinely clever Spanish-produced horror movie that leaves behind the concept of reality and fiction. It follows John, an optometrist’s assistant whose controlling mother uses hypnosis to compel him to commit murders. The film takes a meta turn when it’s revealed that this is actually a movie being watched by an audience in a theater. They’re disturbed by the violence on screen, and it doesn’t help that a real-life killer is targeting them all.
Visually Stunning Meta Horror
Offering a singular cinematic experience, this mind-bending horror is worth watching because of its innovative storytelling and psychological depth. The visuals are unsetting, and the camerawork is dizzying, which creates an evocative atmosphere. But it’s Luna’s direction that effectively combines the film-within-a-film concept with real-world terror, adding layers of richness and appeal to the film.
7
‘The Gate’ (1987)
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Release Date
April 21, 1987
Runtime
86 minutes
Cast
Christa Denton
, Stephen Dorff
, Louis Tripp
, Kelly Rowan
, Jennifer Irwin
, Deborah Grover
, Ingrid Veninger
, Linda Goranson
, Scot Denton
, Sean Fagan
, Carl Kraines
, Andrew Gunn
, Andrew Gunn
A refreshing demonic horror that refuses to cut down on the gore, The Gate centers around two young boys, Glen and Terry, who discover a portal-like thing in Glen’s backyard and accidentally open the gate to Hell. As hordes of tiny, grotesque creatures emerge from the hole to the sinister underworld, their suburban neighborhood falls under the threat of supernatural events. The boys must find a way to close the gate before the darkness consumes everything.
Thrilling and Chilling
The Gate is as weird and wild as it is entertaining. As a horror movie from the ‘80s, it combines classic creature-feature elements with a coming-of-age narrative and captivates as a whole. The practical effects, imaginative designs, the parade of demons, and the shock they deliver are all surprisingly scary. Directed by Tibor Takács, the movie is a joint production between American and Canadian creators.
6
‘Slaughter High’ (1986)
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Slaughter High
Release Date
November 14, 1986
Runtime
91 minutes
Cast
Caroline Munro
, Simon Scuddamore
, Carmine Iannaccone
, Donna Yeager
, Gary Martin
, Billy Hartman
, Michael Safran
, John Segal
, Kelly Baker
, Sally Cross
, Josephine Scandi
, Mark Ezra
, Dick Randall
, Jon Clark
Slaughter High follows a group of former high school misfits, once the faces behind a cruel April Fools Day prank, who find themselves invited to their now-abandoned alma mater for a class reunion. But instead of being an ordinary nostalgic affair, the reunion turns out to be a trap set by Marty, a bullied student who seeks revenge by systematically hunting his tormentors down one by one.
Offers an Oddly Good Time
Directed by George Dugdale, Mark Ezra, and Peter Litten, Slaughter High is a quintessential ’80s slasher that features several plot twists and darkly comedic undertones, all of them driving the plot towards a satisfying, blood-soaked finale. Set within the school building, the movie’s campy dialogue and over-the-top death scenes are probably what earned it a niche status. It received a mixed response and the limited release made it a forgotten horror flick.
5
‘Sole Survivor’ (1984)
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Sole Survivor
Release Date
March 16, 1984
Runtime
85 minutes
Cast
Anita Skinner
, Kurt Johnson
, Robin Davidson
, Caren L. Larkey
, Andrew Boyer
, Daniel Bryan Cartwell
, Brinke Stevens
, Al Valletta
, Toni Lawrence
, Leon
, Richard Bosworth
, Peggy McClure
, Roberta Kay
, Kathleen Blyth
, Steve Krause
, Dominic Manano
, Randy Stripling
, Laurie Wendorf
, Rudy Challenger
, Brian Ann Zoccola
, Linda Rose
, Cynthia Weislogel
, Jennifer Sullivan
, Wendy Dake
Directed by Thom Eberhardt in his feature film debut, Sole Survivor follows Denise Watson, a television commercial producer who is the only person to survive a mysterious plane crash. But as she tries to move on with her life, Denise finds herself haunted by visions and feels an ominous presence trying to get her. She also starts seeing other dead passengers as zombie figures.
Unique Spin on the “Final Girl” Trope
A slow-burning chiller that keeps the suspense going for a really long time, Sole Survivor stands out because it explores survivor’s guilt and juxtaposes the theme with twisted supernatural horror. The movie unfolds at a stunning pace but like a puzzle and Anita Skinner’s traumatized protagonist anchors the brooding scenes as well as the more poignant ones with ease. The subtle, low-key, cerebral elements make it a must-watch.
4
‘Vampire’s Kiss’ (1988)
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Vampire’s Kiss
Release Date
June 2, 1989
Runtime
103 Minutes
Cast
Nicolas Cage
, MarÃa Conchita Alonso
, Jennifer Beals
, Kasi Lemmons
, Bob Lujan
, Elizabeth Ashley
, Jessica Lundy
, Marc Coppola
Vampire’s Kiss is a dark comedy horror that centers on Peter Leow, a high-strung Manhattan literary agent who is having a very, very bad day. After a one-night stand with a beautiful woman named Rachel, Peter is convinced that he has been turned into a vampire. He showcases erratic behavior and vampire-like traits, such as avoiding sunlight and craving blood. He even becomes delusional enough to put on fake vampire teeth and attack people.
Nicolas Cage’s Wild Transformation
Best known for Nicolas Cage’s delirious and over-the-top performance, Vampire’s Kiss is a horror-comedy that could only have emerged from the anything-goes spirit of ’80s cinema. Some of the scenes are so unhinged and downright mad that one forgets they’re watching something terrifying. But at the same time, Peter’s psychological breakdown draws a line between reality and insanity that’s fascinating.
3
‘Next of Kin’ (1982)
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Next of Kin
Release Date
April 30, 1982
Runtime
89 minutes
Cast
Jacki Kerin
, John Jarratt
, Alex Scott
, Gerda Nicolson
, Charles McCallum
, Bernadette Gibson
, Robert Ratti
, Vince Deltito
, Tommy Dysart
, Debra Lawrance
, Kristine Marshall
, Simon Thorpe
, David Allshorn
, Alan Rowe
, Matt Burns
, Isobel Harley
, Eunice Crimp
, Irene Hewitt
, Myrtle Woods
, Vic Gordon
, Peter Lord
, John Bishop
, Mitchell Faircloth
, John Strahan
, Nora Toohey
Next of Kin is an Australian horror film set in an old, rural rest home called Montclare, which a woman named Linda inherits from her deceased mother. When she moves into the house, Linda finds her mother’s diary and learns about the downright terrifying events that occurred in the estate. The more she reads, the more these events are recreated.
Chilling Mystery in an Old Estate Home
Despite being publicly praised by Quentin Tarantino and holding a 100% approval rating based on nine critics reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, Next of Kin woefully flew under the radar in the ‘80s. The movie is directed by Tony Williams, who combines the plot’s slow-burning suspense with genuinely terrifying scares. The strong performances, particularly by Jackie Kerin as Linda, and the film’s unique take on haunted house tropes made it a cult favorite.
You don’t need millions of dollars to make a horror hit, and the ’80s had an abundance of B-movie gems.
2
‘The Funhouse’ (1981)
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Release Date
March 13, 1981
Runtime
96 Minutes
Cast
Elizabeth Berridge
, Shawn Carson
, Jeanne Austin
, Jack McDermott
, Cooper Huckabee
, Largo Woodruff
, Miles Chapin
, David Carson
The Funhouse begins with what’s supposed to be a fun, if slightly spooky, night out at the carnival for a group of curious teenagers. But the pranks and the fun soon take a deadly turn when the friends witness a murder and get trapped in the funhouse. They’re stalked by a deformed carnival “freak,” who won’t stop until he’s gotten each of them.
Mines Creepiness From a Carnival
An old-school slasher that makes the most of its carnival setting, The Funhouse has some hidden twists and turns that make it all the more exhilarating. Like the fact that the stalking monster is under the control of his sadistic father and that the funhouse is a labyrinth of misleading clues. The unsettling vibe and the excellent performances from the young cast couldn’t save the film from being overshadowed by more famous works of the year.
1
‘Just Before Dawn’ (1981)
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Just Before Dawn
Release Date
November 27, 1981
Runtime
90 Minutes
Cast
George Kennedy
, Mike Kellin
, Chris Lemmon
, Gregg Henry
, Deborah Benson
, Ralph Seymour
, Katie Powell
, John Hunsaker
The final film on the list to get blindsided by the bigger horror franchises of the ‘80s is Just Before Dawn. A slasher film, it centers on a group of friends that venture into a remote, wilderness-laden mountain area for a camping trip. They’re simply enjoying their getaway when the friends find themselves targeted by a pair of deranged backwoods killers.
A Tense and Atmospheric Thriller
Just Before Dawn is paced really well. It’s the ideal example of how a backwoods horror can benefit from a gripping storyline and atmospheric direction. Speaking of which, Jeff Lieberman makes sure the viewers are entirely immersed in the claustrophobic nightmare and the desperate battle for survival. Despite it all, the movie did not gain enough recognition and became a true forgotten classic.
Warning: Contains spoilers for Uncanny X-Men #8!I’m finally feeling the hype around the X-Men’s big bad of their new era, and it’s all thanks to Cyclops’ last defeat. Though their new villain is just a human with no powers, Dr. Corina Ellis has demonstrated her ability to make even the most powerful heroes of the X-Men back down in a fight, and I can’t wait to see what big moves she makes next in Marvel Comics.
Uncanny X-Men #8 – written by Gail Simone with art by Javier Garrón – marks the end of the mini-event Raid on Graymalkin, where both Rogue and Cyclops’ current X-teams find themselves at odds when finally facing off against their major new villain. When Dr. Ellis manages to threaten both the Alaska and Louisiana X-Men into submission, I find myself wildly entertained by her ruthlessness.
Cyclops is one of the mutants’ greatest leaders, and he’s been pretty aggressive since the X-Men rose From the Ashes after the Krakoa era, so Ellis being able to scare him off has certainly piqued my interest.
I Wasn’t Sure At First, But the X-Men’s Defeat in Graymalkin Sold Me on Dr. Corina Ellis As Their Next Major Villain
Uncanny X-Men #8 – Written by Gail Simone; Art by Javier Garrón; Colors by Matthew Wilson; Lettering by VC’s Clayton Cowles
When Dr. Corina Ellis debuted as the Warden at Graymalkin, I wasn’t excited about the X-Men’s new villain being another anti-mutant human without powers, but Uncanny X-Men #8 finally sold me. Though Ellis has been making some brutal power moves since her first appearance on Free Comic Book Day in 2024, I wasn’t convinced of the Warden’s power until she stared down the likes of Cyclops, Rogue, Wolverine, and more, and actually got them to blink. With the ability to send two of the X-Men’s strongest teams home defeated at this pivotal moment, Ellis is proven as a major threat.
The latest era of X-Men comics has quickly reached a breaking point, as Rogue and Cyclops’ rival teams come to blows in a “Civil War”-style crossover.
Dr. Ellis leads a small army and holds a huge gun while at odds with the X-Men, but it still seemed to me that the combined efforts of so many iconic heroes would easily overpower the Warden. However, Corina is surprisingly able to take on so many superheroes by threatening their new home bases, other civilians, and ultimately making the X-Men feel unprepared to face her wrath. Flexing that she has other powerful threats under her control, like the mysterious group of Avian telepaths, and Sarah Gaunt aka The Hag, I see Ellis as a leader among current X-Men antagonists.
When Cyclops Backs Down at a Pivotal Moment, I’m Convinced of Ellis’ True Power
The Villain Shows the X-Men Her Cards, But Leaves An Ace Up Her Sleeve
Custom Image by Logan Silva
Another thing that’s intriguing to me about Dr. Ellis is her unique ability to manipulate the X-Men, and she’s using their most divisive figure to turn mutant allies against one another. Not only has she unfortunately made mutants like Blob and Siryn her prisoner, but she has control over Charles Xavier, and it’s not surprising that the controversial Professor has become the reason behind Cyclops and Rogue’s reinvigorated rivalry. Rogue and Cyclops have their falling out when Cyclops agrees to leave Xavier as Ellis’ prisoner, and although I understand the move, it’s wild to see Cyclops cowering to anti-mutant villains.
The tumultuous X-Men #9 reveals that Xavier is not Inmate X, opening up a slew of fan theories on who the dangerous mutant could possibly be…
Cyclops has his own reasons for being alright with leaving Xavier behind, but I’m interested in the rift it causes between him and Rogue, and where their feud could possibly lead in the future. After Raid on Graymalkin, it seems the X-Men will have an even bigger comic crossover in X-Manhunt, which should directly follow up the devastating ending for the team and Xavier here. Dr. Ellis has teased that she still has her biggest gun to be revealed, the mysterious Inmate X hiding behind closed doors, and I’m excited to see what the manipulative strategist has planned going forward.
With Her Latest Win, I Think Dr. Corina Ellis Has The Chance to Become the Mutants’ Most Fearsome Human Foe
Her Strategic Ruthlessness Leaves the X-Men’s Powerhouses Defenseless
There’s still plenty of mystery surrounding Dr. Corina Ellis and her backstory, but Uncanny X-Men #8 teases more details surrounding the mutants’ new big bad that has me curious about the character and intrigued by her potential as the most important villain of the X-Men’s new era. I usually can’t stand Marvel’s anti-mutant antagonists, but Ellis’ fierce attitude and cruel, cutthroat demeanor make her a fascinating addition to the franchise’s villain lineup. With her brother’s death allegedly caused by mutants, I can’t wait to see more about how Corina went from being a podcaster to the terrifying foe she’s become.
Now I wouldn’t root for the character or anything, but after delivering a major blow to Cyclops and many other powerful X-Men heroes, Dr. Corina Ellis has become a villain that I love to hate. Since she’s also now getting control of the new version of the Sentinels, I’m finally seeing the vision for Corina to become an iconic nemesis for the mutants, if she’s given the opportunity to stick around long-term in Marvel Comics. With the ability to send Cyclops running scared, Dr. Ellis has officially leveled up as a major threat to the X-Men.
Uncanny X-Men #8is available now from Marvel Comics.
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
Friday marked the beginning of a stretch when the Lakers truly can unpack and get comfortable, the rigors of the NBA and its travel schedule about to slow down for the longest stretch of their season. Beginning Saturday against Sacramento, 11 of their next 14 games are in Los Angeles. Ten will be at home (one will be the Lakers’ Intuit Dome debut against the Clippers).
Heading into Friday’s games around the NBA, the Lakers (17-13) had played a conference-high 17 road games, tied with the Utah Jazz for most in the West. Only the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers had played more road games.
“We’ve played together, tried to play the right way,” coach JJ Redick said after practice. “I think our game plan discipline has been really good. So I like where our team is at. I like where our team is trending. I’m going to really like it when we’re completely healthy.”
Hachimura and James are questionable for Saturday because of illnesses. Davis also will be listed as questionable because of the ankle injury he suffered in the first quarter on Christmas. He told The Times after the game that he expected to be “fine.”
Russell, who missed that win over the Golden State Warriors, was able to take part in the noncontact portions of Friday’s practice with his sprained thumb and seemed on track to return against the Kings (13-18). And Hayes, who has played just once since Nov. 10 because of consecutive injuries to his right ankle, also participated in some noncontact portions of practice. He appears close to returning after Redick termed him “day to day.”
Redick said Hayes “moved well” in practice Friday, the Lakers close to adding a dynamic big man back to their bench lineups.
“Offensively for us, just the rim running, the pace with which he’s able to get from one action to the next as a big. He’s really good in the half court at screening, rolling, getting back to a second action. And [Russell], with some of the lob stuff, he just, he puts pressure on the rim as a roller,” Redick said of what the Lakers have missed without Hayes. “And then defensively, he had his best stretch for us prior to being injured. He had a four- or five-game stretch where he was great on both ends and he was also crashing. He was getting offensive rebounds for us. So we’ve missed him.”
The Lakers don’t have timetables for Christian Wood and Jared Vanderbilt, who both have yet to play this season. However, Redick said he hoped both would be back during this stretch of home games.
Asked about potential evaluations of the roster prior to the Feb. 6. trade deadline, Redick said he thinks a complete Lakers roster is good enough to fight.
“Rob [Pelinka, GM] and I, we talk all the time, but my focus is on coaching this group and trying to maximize this group,” Redick said. “Frankly, I have belief that when this group is healthy, we can compete. If there’s a move to be made, there’s a move to be made, but I’m focused on this group.”
Sabonis is the first player with 20 points and 25 rebounds in a game at the Celtics since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971, according to ESPN Research.
The victory extended Sacramento’s season-high win streak to six games. It was Sabonis’ 33rd double-double of the season and 24th game of his career with 20 or more rebounds. Entering Friday, the NBA’s previous high for rebounds in a game this season was 23 by San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama.
It was Sabonis’ second career 20-point, 25-rebound contest.
DeMar DeRozan added 24 points and nine assists, and Malik Monk finished with 22 points and eight assists.
Bob “Slim” Dunlap, who joined the Replacements as lead guitarist in the late 1980s after the pioneering rock band fired founder Bob Stinson, died Wednesday at his home in Minneapolis. He was 73.
His death was announced in a statement from his family to the Minnesota Star Tribune, which said the cause was complications from a stroke he’d suffered in 2012.
Nicknamed Slim by Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg to avoid confusion with the guy he was replacing, the tall and gangly Dunlap played guitar on the Replacements’ final two studio albums, 1989’s “Don’t Tell a Soul,” which spawned a No. 1 alternative-rock radio hit in the chugging “I’ll Be You,” and its 1990 follow-up, “All Shook Down,” which earned a Grammy nomination for alternative music performance. Dunlap’s style drew out the rootsy influences in Westerberg’s songwriting, as in the twangy “Achin’ to Be.”
“I wanted someone bluesier, who was hip to country music, ’cause that’s where I envisioned the band going,” Westerberg told author Bob Mehr in Mehr’s 2015 biography, “Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements.”
The son of a Minnesota state senator, Dunlap was born in 1951 and grew up in the farming community of Plainview in the state’s southeastern corner. His older sisters exposed him to rock ’n’ roll, and he moved to Minneapolis in his late teens to pursue music.
“I played in every little band I could play in, every band that would have me,” Dunlap told The Times in 1993, not long after he’d embarked on a solo career following the Replacements’ breakup in 1991. “Slowly but surely, I got this reputation as a guy who could play anything. One night you’d see me play bluegrass in a little pizza shop, the next night it would be hard rock.”
For the record:
2:50 p.m. Dec. 20, 2024An earlier version of this article said that Slim Dunlap met his wife, Chrissie, at Minneapolis’ First Avenue nightclub, where they both worked in the 1980s. The couple met before that.
In addition to his gigs as a musician, Dunlap worked as a cab driver and as a janitor at Minneapolis’ storied First Avenue nightclub, where the Replacements played during the band’s famously rowdy come-up and where Dunlap’s wife, Chrissie, also worked as a talent booker. In 1987, the Replacements booted Stinson — the band’s other founding members were drummer Chris Mars and Stinson’s younger brother Tommy on bass — as a result of the guitarist’s drinking and drug use. (Bob Stinson died in 1995 at age 35.)
Dunlap’s audition for the Replacements “consisted of an afternoon of drinking beer,” Spin magazine wrote in a story in 1987. “Slim is more like a fourth member of the band than a hired gun,” Westerberg told Spin. “We originally thought that it would be a good idea to get a hot guitar player and be the Replacements and … Joe Blow. As it is now, it’s like the Replacements with a new guy who isn’t a great guitar player, isn’t a great singer, just as we are not great at what we do, and he fits in perfectly.” Dunlap joined the band in time to tour behind 1987’s “Pleased to Meet Me.”
After the Replacements split, Dunlap toured with Dan Baird of the Georgia Satellites and made a pair of solo albums that drew the admiration of Bruce Springsteen and Steve Earle, among others. The first LP, 1993’s “The Old New Me,” featured a song called “The Ballad of the Opening Band,” which he based on his memories of grinding it out on the club circuit in relative anonymity before he was tapped for the Replacements.
“People see [the scenario in ‘Opening Band’] as a sad thing, but the guy in the song gets to play,” he told The Times when “The Old New Me” came out. “There are so many great musicians in America who didn’t get attention. They haven’t gotten any acclaim, but there’s a specific thing they do that nobody can touch. No one gives them the time of day, but they’re still out there doing it. That’s what I love. This business is all about the little eccentrics out there who get lost in the shuffle.
“That’s the sad thing about so many young bands now. They become players after they see Nirvana or the Replacements, because they think, ‘If we’re lucky, that could happen to us.’ You’re better off buying lottery tickets than trying to make it in the music business. I’m not a person who’s made or broken by [my] status in the business. That’s a big joke, because all the wrong people make it.”
In 2012, Westerberg and Tommy Stinson reunited for a tour under the Replacements name that included a performance with Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong at the Coachella festival; in 2013, artists including Jeff Tweedy, Lucinda Williams, Frank Black and Jakob Dylan teamed up to record a tribute album to Dunlap, whose stroke had left him unable to play music. Dunlap released a live album in 2020 that documented a 2002 performance at St. Paul’s Turf Club. According to the Star Tribune, Dunlap’s survivors include his wife, their three children, six grandchildren and Dunlap’s three sisters.
