"Marvel Knights: The World to Come," #1 is a Fantastic Read--and Generating Spec Heat as Well

Sometimes a new comic generates speculation heat due to movie rumors, controversy, or such. Sometimes, a new comic comes out that is an absolutely fantastic read. It isn't too often we get a comic that accomplishes both of these bullet points, but the first issue of, "Marvel Knights: The World to Come," pulls it off. I was excited for the series when I first heard amazing writer Christopher Priest was teaming up with skilled artist (and former Marvel EIC) Joe Quesada for the new mini-series set in a possible future for Marvel. Having read the debut, my elation was well-placed as between Priest's way with words and Quesada's art abilities, it is a fantastic first issue.

"Marvel Knights: The World to Come," jumps around in time. It starts far in the future and comes closer to the present at points as well. It discusses events we haven't yet seen that sound quite bad, and one scene in time focuses on the Black Panther, T'Challa, and a son named Ketema, challenging him for the rule of Wakanda. Oh, and Ketema appears to be lighter-skinned/possibly white or capable of white-passing if he's biracial. How exactly he is T'Challa's son will be explored in future issues, of course, but right now, the internet got itself into a tizzy. Clickbait sites started making jokes/assertions that this is somehow going to impact the Marvel movies and give us a, "White Black Panther," and people who don't understand this is an alternate timeline with plenty of nuances to the story (Christopher Priest works many layers and such into his work) are confused/mad/excited/all the emotions. 

This has also resulted in many copies of the comic selling, and it is going for above cover price on eBay (a one-per-store surprise variant is especially getting hot). Some sites have explained why this is interesting, but not controversial by any means. Still, plenty of other sites peddle manufactured outrage, and it has gotten the issue attention. But hey, sales are sales, and the comic actually being fantastic is great too. I look forward to future issues and any potential headlines they generate!

5 out of 5 Stars.

Shout-out to my Friend Ryan at Attix Comics

As you all know, I try to support my local comic shops as much as possible. However, sometimes when you're after certain comics, you need to turn to comic-book retailers on the good ol' interwebs. One of my friends I met via the internet, a fellow named Ryan, has a cool shop called Attix Comics. I've bought from him a number of times, and he always is nice, prices things fairly, plus ships stuff with excellent care. I wanted to give him a shout-out as I bought a handful of stuff from him recently, and I am always impressed with his stellar customer service. Check out Attix Comics if you need some comics shipped your way in the near future!

"Fully Loaded," #1 is a Kick to the Face of Sci-Fi Fun

When I saw the solicitation for Jimmy Broxton's new comic, "Fully Loaded," it sounded pretty fun. Set in the year 2065 with a 100-year-old former special forces operator-turned-mobster-turned-retired fellow getting caught up in trouble, I figured it was worth a read. Set to be four big issues, I greatly enjoyed the debut featuring Broxton's writing, art, and letters (he did basically everything)! Carson Blake is the, "Hero's," name in this grim cyberpunk future. He's not someone to be trifled with, but one of his only friends has had their family abducted specifically to get Blake's attention, so now he's going to (hopefully) save the day.

Broxton beautifully illustrates everything from barren deserts to jam-packed cities. His comic has the snarky tone you'd expect someone fed-up with the World's bullshit to have (Blake is narrating evertying that happens), but that dash of sincere despair mixed into the proceeding keeps everything from feeling overly cynical and sarcastic. Watching Blake tell us how the World fell apart but then managed to keep chugging along due to how us humans refuse to quit--for better or worse--and then witnessing the surreal future with all its strange tech is disorienting and disturbing--but all in a good way. I want to give extra plaudits to Broxton for the hilarious little faux-advertisements and historical excerpts at the end of the comic that help ground us further in this desperately awful future.

The first issue of, "Fully Loaded," is harsh, edgy, and just plain fun. I had a great time reading it and look forward to future issues from Brotxon and his publisher, Scratch Comics. I wasn't especially familiar with Scratch Comics before now, but if they put out stuff such as, "Fully Loaded," I'm going to explore them more, too!

5 out of 5 Stars.

The Switch 2 Officially is for Sale

The Switch 2 is (theoretically) available in stores now. I previously discussed that it looked powerful and pricey at its $450 price point. That assessment still stands. Plus, many--including myself to a degree--are wondering if we're even nearing seeing the end of consoles (as we know them at least), considering almost any console can play any game these days (except with Nintendo only sharing stuff with other companies a little bit). That said, besides one store accidentally stapling through the screen of the new console on any copies they sold, this seems to be a relatively chill launch. Some folks waited in line, and a number had success even without a preorder. I haven't read of any absurd fist-fights breaking out or thefts occurring. 

Not everybody who wants a Switch 2 on day one is succeeding at getting the console, while some folks got multiples to flip for a profit (as always happens). Still, initial glitches or quirky system rules aside, this seems to have been a pretty relaxed debut of the new console without being so laid-back as to create the impression of a flop (the Wii U tried so hard but failed so epically). I'm in no rush to purchase a Switch 2. Cost of it aside, I have plenty of games I need to get into via my Game Pass on my Xbox Series S, as well as some PlayStation 5 titles I want to sample still. I don't need to add another console with fun games into the mix when I'm as behind on trying titles as I already am. That said, I wish anybody who has already acquired a Switch 2 hours upon hours of fun with the new, "Mario Kart World," or whatever they choose to play.

"Tedward," and his Misadventures Make for a Hilariously Dark Comic

Tedward is his name and, "Tedward," is the title of the hardcover Fantagraphics book collecting an assortment of his adventures, which I was able to acquire (some stuff was previously published in individual comics or such). Tedward has a lot of awful stuff happen to him, but he kind of has it coming. Tedward is a loser, but thankfully, he is entertaining to watch in his misadventures that occur due to how much of a dud of a human he is. Created by Josh Pettinger, we laugh at much of, "Tedward," because it is funny and because of how glad we are the awful things witnessed aren't happening to us.

Within the, "Tedward," book a variety of vignettes occur, some end up forming an over-arching story with consequences and some just portray how amazing a job Tedward does at achieving nothing but failure. He gets roped into a job that sounds more like an MLM by the minute and involves him using a pressure washer on attendees at sex parties. He drives away a first date with off-putting comments and extreme acts of love-bombing (this comic is guest-illustrated by the fantastic Simon Hanselmann, a friend of Josh Pettinger). Oh, and the one woman he may have a chance of a relationship with due to shared interests and her being patient with his awkwardness, ends up falling apart when he tells the police he thinks she altered a television that requires quarters to operate. 

I especially enjoyed the story with a fellow Tedward meets who eagerly proposes they become best friends due to their shared interest in mopeds, but that whole ordeal ends violently when the man is more degranged than friendly (that incident is maybe a little less Tedward's fault, one could argue). Still, Tedward gets himself into bad situations and, through his own actions, makes them a lot worse. If Tedward were a real person, he'd be someone you look at with both disdain and pity. He's a pretty shitty guy, but his only skils are paper machie and saying the worst possible thing in a social situation so you almost feel guilty expending any energy disliking him--the guy sucks so why pile-on him?

Pettinger's art helps impart a great deal of the, "Vibe," we feel when reading about Tedward. He's both metaphorically a square and a literal blockhead with his awkward haircut. His fashion sense (or lack thereof) stands out amongst everything else. The world around Tedward pops with life--but he's a black hole of a human being. During a moment towards the end when Tedward has a near-death experience, the sudden shift of art into a fantastical and sci-fi look for a number of pages helps to only further emphasize how dull and dreary Tedward is when he's alive in our World--if you can call Tedward's existence living. 

Pretty much everyone else around Tedward has something (good or bad) that makes them interesting. Tedward, however? His biggest claim to fame is he once invented faulty, "Sex trousers," that make it easer than with regular pants with a zipper to take your penis out. Then, without having to take off your pants, you can have intercourse and avoid what Tedward believes is the worst part--legs touching. As I said, he is a black hole of a human, but watching him negatively impact the lives of anyone he encounters is fascinating--I highly recommend buying/getting from the library/etc. a copy of, "Tedward." He might be awful, but the book about him is great!

5 out of 5 Stars.

"Ugh! As If! Clueless," is a Fantastic Literary Exploration of a Superb Movie

I have a weird affinity for the movie, "Clueless." Advertised towards teenage girls when it was released and developed a significant LGBTQ audience, I don't seem like the targeted demographic as a cisgender, white, heterosexual man. However, as the author, Veronica Litt, extensively explores, one thing sticks out heavily with, "Clueless." Namely, its optimism. It is a movie you watch to feel good. There is drama, and there are conflicts, but at the end of the day, the main character (Alicia Silverstone's Cher) makes up with her friends, gets the guy (Paul Rudd), and becomes a better person by looking inward. "Clueless," hit theaters in 1995 and it is funny to think that before and after its release, there are just so many cynical and sad movies that don't assume the best of people or how we can grow as individuals. I'm a pessimistic and cynical person sometimes too, but a cheery and hopeful flick like, "Clueless," holds a special place in my heart, and it clearly does for Litt as well.

"Clueless," is by no means a flawless movie. Litt gives it the flowers it is metaphorically due while also interrogating some of the more questionable elements. Yes, Cher is portrayed as a chunk younger than her ex-stepbrother (a former step-sibling from one of her father's many marriages) she ends up falling for in a plot point that is a little iffy but mainly saved by how damn charming Rudd was (and still is). Yes, the movie's race-blind casting is admirable, but its total ignorance of touching upon racial politics intersecting with wealth at all is a big missed opportunity. The fact a movie in 1995 has an out gay character who isn't reduced to a stereotype or the butt of jokes (Justin Walker as Christian) is incredible. Still, that character is given little to do in the plot or shown with a boyfriend, whilst everyone else is hooking up, which is also a notable issue. Plus, the movie comes this close to criticizing how Cher wants the rich people to end up with rich people romantically and the lower-class with lower-class without outright stating as much, but at the conclusion, everyone is partnered up with their wealth, "Equal." These are all flaws that Litt has zero hesitation about diving into, while still making it clear she unequivocally adores, "Clueless," despite its issues, an opinion I share.

The famous yellow blazer.

Litt also digs into the rich irony that a movie critical of consumption and materialism ended up having a ton of merchandise by the time the television spin-off of the movie occurred, and ample tie-in goodies in the years since as our nostalgia for the film has been preyed upon by advertisers. Clearly, each chapter does a fantastic job examining different elements of, "Cluess," and where it succeeds or stumbles. This isn't an apologetic softball defense of the flick or a brutal take-down, it is a piece that isn't afraid to offer constructive criticism of, "Clueless," and honor how stellar a movie it is despite any issues. I loved reading, "Ugh! As If! Cluess," and would recommend you ask your bookstore/library/etc. to get you a copy. It just released into stores now (I was provided an advance copy for the purpose of review by ECW Press) and is a perfect companion to read between numerous rewatches of the film. Plus, with it announced a Peacock series following the characters in adulthood might be on the way the movie is fresh in everyone's mind too.

5 out of 5 Stars.

Music Mondays: A Parody of Kidz Bop That Actually Hits Pretty Hard, Who Would Have Thought?

Kidz Bop is a long-running franchise that takes popular songs and gets permission/pays money to do unique covers. Kidz Bop versions of songs feature children singing the tunes and on occasions where it is called for, changing lyrics. This can be vaguely hilarious as some songs have to be heavily altered to be more G-rated lest the kiddos listening be exposed to sex, drugs, violence, or other, "Adult," subjects. I don't know about you, but witnessing, "Hot to Go!" on the mega-television at Chuck E. Cheese when I take Clarkson there cracks me up--"Dancing here with me," instead of, "Doing it with me," indeed. That said, what happens if a song were so clearly not meant for children that to make it Kidz Bop-workable, you had to just change the whole song? That results in a Kidz Bop parody that slaps more than it has any right to.

JonFlëtch took, "Not Like Us," by Kendrick Lamar and made his own Kidz Bop-esque ditty, "We Ride the Bus." It alters the entirety of Lamar's song to make a young ears-friendly jam that is both intentionally funny and still quite catchy. Instead of pointing out Drake's questionable romantic interests with, "A-Minor!" the lyrics now discuss getting a good grade in school, "A-Minus!" and otherwise sound like what would happen if Kidz Bop actually tried to do ,"Not Like Us," for the youth--the deadpan near-authenticity of how it could work makes it even funnier. Much respect to JonFlëtch, he probably made the Godfather of parody songs, Weird Al Yankovic, proud!

"Paranoid Gardens," Was a Great Comic, as a New Review Reminded Me

Back in August of 2024, I reviewed the first issue of the five-issue mini-series, "Paranoid Gardens." I loved it and greatly enjoyed the whole thing when it was done. Teagan O'Neil has posted her review of the mini-series on The Comics Journal and she reminded me just how damn good a comic it was. Gerard Way of, "Umbrella Academy," and Young Animal imprint fame (he's also been in a band lots of folks like called My Chemical Romance, but I only know like one song) wrote it with Shaun Simon and the amazing Chris Weston provided art. Weston was the artist on one of my favorite comics/books/publications of all time, "The Filth," so anything they're involved in deserves attention--so combine that with how I love Gerard Way's comics and yeah, "Paranoid Gardens," is worth a read.

As I discussed and Teagan talks about too, the comic is very quirky with its strange medical facility that helps everyone from space aliens to superheroes and more. It is surreal and full of metaphors (a bit like, "The Filth," honestly) but at its heart is a story about healing from trauma. As Tegan notes, " It is definitely a good comic." Can't be more concise than that! I'd encourage folks to seek out, "Paranoid Gardens," for sure.

There is a Sandal With a Bottle Opener in the Bottom

Samii and I had finally gotten around to watching the first season of, "Fallout," on Amazon Prime (it was really good), and we had to put up with some ads. One ad that I at first thought was some kind of joke involved REEF sandals. These shoes apparently have a bottle opener on the bottom. Why? I suppose if you're at the beach and wanna have a bottle of soda/beer/etc. the idea is that it is helpful. The whole thing seemed odd, and my wife was so annoyed having to put up with ads, she decided she already hated the sandals for interrupting our show. That said, I wondered, were these sandals a silly gimmick or any good?

 From my looking around online, REEF sandals are apparently quite high quality and have great reviews. The bottle opener on the bottom is more a of, "Bonus," or calling card, than the main feature. People find them sturdy, comfortable...and they have a random bottle opener. The only complaint I noticed from digging around on the internet is that if you step in something soft and gross, it can get stuck in the bottle opener area--don't wear these on the farm unless you like manure in your shoes! Still, that qualm aside, REEF sandals are a bit pricey, but worth it after all--gimmick or not. Samii is still annoyed we had to watch the ad 50 or so times while we binged the season, however.

My Usual Disclaimer: REEF did not pay me to compliment their shoes or is even aware of my blog; I just felt like writing a post about them. That said, I as will always email them a link to the article to share my thoughts with them.

Clipse Has a New Album Coming After Years of Waiting

Pusha T and No Malice have not released an album as the sibling duo Clipse since 2009. They did solo projects and even reunited for some guest tracks and appearances as Clipse, but it has been over 15 years since an actual LP. That changes in 2025, however. On July 11th, "Let God Sort Em Out," will be released, with the single, "Ace Trumpets," being the first off the album to be released for our eager ears. With Pharellel Williams involved, it is bound to be good. Give it a listen...

That's some good stuff right there, riffing on various subjects from infamous Oscar slaps, to A$AP Rocky and Rihanna's relationship, to Mario and Luigi video-games, to Lion King movies. I look forward to the full album hitting the streets on 7/11/25.