"Jesusland: Stories from the Upside Down World of Christian Pop Culture," Provides a Look into the Past and a Warning for the Future

Time for another review of a book that just came out today! First, a bit about me, however. You see, in the early 2000's I lived in a more metropolitan area of West Virginia, followed by a significantly rural area of Upstate New York. Living in these areas exposed me to folks who weren't just Christian, they were Christian. Their religion was a major part of their identity, and they wanted a culture that backed up their beliefs. They liked Christian music, television shows, movies, argued for, "Intelligent Design," and eagerly ignored any paradoxes or hypocrisies in their beliefs--if money is the root of all evil, why do many purveyors of Christian-influenced content get so rich and eagerly flaunt it? There is much to examine. Hence, "Jesusland: Stories from the Upside Down World of Christian Pop Culture," digs into all of that. This meaty book by Joelle Kidd contains nine assorted essays that examine everything from purity rings (you may recall those) to Christian lifestyle magazines for girls (you gotta dress modest to keep that boy you're into closer to Jesus than your genitals), to Kidd's own personal battles with her faith. She often grapples with how a religion that likes to act so persecuted also seems desperate to control much of the personal lives of others and force its way into popular culture in any manner it can. As I am someone who grew up somewhat parallel to those with fundamentalist/heavily conservative beliefs in the same time Kidd heavily examines (the early 2000's) I found, "Jesusland," intriguing as Hell, pun intended.

All of, "Jesusland," is a stellar read, with each chapter digging into varying aspects of Christianity and its weirdly siloed-off version of popular culture. There is one exact passage that really stuck with me in the book, however. It is on page 184 and it reads, "But no, as my teacher told it, if every word in the Bible was divinely inspired, then any one error would cause the entire thing to crumble. If scientists were able to prove that it wasn't true that the entire Earth was destroyed in a flood or that Jesus didn't really rise from the dead, then the whole of Christianity had lost its foundation. (Luckily, both these things were provable--we watched documentaries about them.) This is what really shook me to my core. What kind of faith was so tenous that had to be gripped so tightly?" 

Noah's Ark isn't a metaphor; it 100% happened. Right?

That section sums up the, "All or nothing," view some Christians have perfectly. We have to avoid sex until marriage (and only heterosexual stuff), the Earth has to only be 6,000 years old, and every single word of the bible is meant to be taken literally as opposed to being a parable because if one single part of the bible isn't 100% true, it has to all be false, and our religion falls apart. Many folks can accept a bible is a product of interpretations, translations, and that there are various holy scriptures for many religions, but those Christians whose whole identity is being Christian as opposed to a part of their life? They can't roll with that. That said, what kind of faith is so tenous that is has to be gripped onto for dear life or else it crumbles into pieces? A flawed take on theology, I'd argue, and Kidd clearly agrees.

"Jesusland," is by no means anti-Christian. It is anti-extremist and provides an enligtening deep-dive into Christianity-focused culture. Scratch that, Christianity-obsessed culture is more accurate. When you're more worried about converting others to your faith than your own personal love for God (or love you get from God), you're doing religion wrong. When you blame victims for sexual assualt because they, "Tempted," a man with immodest dress, you're doing religion wrong. When you...you know what, I'm going to stop because this list could take hours. Within, "Jesusland," Kidd provides a superb mix of academic examination and personal anecdotes of those who took their Christianity to the extreme, and clearly were (and many still are) doing religion wrong. 

Still making movies (and loads of cash) in the name of Christ!

We are now in 2025, and the book often points out how things have evolved or shifted from the earlier 2000s. Extremist Christian pop culture hasn't gone away. It has evolved (as ironic as that is to say) and changed itself in ways that ingratiate it with regular culture. Now it is about rebelling against things that are politically correct or woke, because Christians are the ones getting picked on...somehow. Maybe gay marriage isn't as much of a hot-button issue, but you can draw people slowly toward right-wing Christian Nationalism if you get them worried about transgender people playing sports. The little tweaks the far-right has made go on and on--right now diversity has become a dirty word with, "DEI," thrown around like a slur anytime someone who isn't a white male ascends to a position of power, as if being a minority somehow got them a job. "Jesusland," looks to the past, but is quite cognizant of how the successes and failures of extremist Christianity and its pop culture resulted in the ways it morphed itself for the present day.

"Jesusland: Stories from the Upside Down World of Christian Pop Culture," both evaluates a messy past and warns us about a dangerous future. The extremist aspects of Christianity have only gained more traction in the United States and even in parts of Canada. If people don't fight against hateful rhetoric or regressive thinking, both of those things will worm their way into society even more than is already quite apparent. The world of Christian Pop Culture is a twisted funhouse reflection of the real world. It is scary to think that a significant chunk of the population keeps pushing for that warped view of actuality to become accepted as fact and rule over our everyday lives. I appreciate Joelle Kidd writing this book to look back at a metaphorical yesterday and make us aware of the fight against a very upsetting possible tomorrow. Hell, it could literally be tomorrow in America, considering how fast things are going from bad to worse. I give, "Jesusland," a heavenly (pun intended, again)...

5 out of 5 Stars.

An advance copy was provided by ECW Press for the purposes of review.

"Playback," is a Fantastic Novel About How (Literally) Living in the Past Can't Fix Your Present

"Playback," is the latest novel from writer Carla Malden. It follows a 34-year-old named Mari who, in a previous book, "Shine Until Tomorrow," traveled to the 60's when she was 17. I did not read, "Shine Until Tomorrow," but to the credit of, "Playback," anything you'd need to know about Mari's previous journey is expertly imparted in the text. Mari now lives in the present, 2025, and she isn't sure if her memories of traveling in time even really happened, but her present-day life is a bit messy and has her yearning for a potential past. She's divorced, but does love her young daughter, Joni. She didn't achieve success photographing concerts or such, but has a successful career as a real estate photographer. Things aren't bad, but they aren't perfect. Pretty early on in the book, however, Mari finds herself inadvertently shooting backwards into 1967 when someone she cared about then has died in the, "Now."

Much of, "Playback," is spent examining how the more things change the more they stay the same--the window-dressing is just different. Whether it is 1967 or 2025, we live in times of protests, scandals, war, social upheaval, and with it all, a mix of people full of optimism as well as an unending stream of cynics. Whether Mari is somehow back in the 60s and still looks 17 even though she now feels 34, or is in the present dealing with all the B.S. we encounter there, life has complexities. A running theme of, "Playback," is both the love of nostalgia and the danger of embracing it too closely. We talk about, "The good old days," with fondness, and it can be tempting to want to live in them both metaphorically or in Mari's case, literally, but having rose-tinted glasses (the book makes a fun joke with that, actually) about times gone by won't fix your present.

The exact mechanics of why Mari travels in time aren't explored too heavily. She figures out how it is happening on this occasion and starts to realize that if she isn't careful, things can go really wrong. This becomes quite apparent later in the book when she considers trying to mess around with time via moving other people forward or back with her. I enjoyed all of, "Playback," but I really loved the last third where things get incredibly screwy as Mari realizes just how much little things can alter her future in ways she might not like.

Author Carla Malden

Mari spends much of her time in, "Playback," hanging with a band called Neon Dream (whom it is mentioned she assisted heavily in the first book). Music is a big element of the story, with the power it holds over us and within our hearts and memories, resulting in many sweet moments. While Mari is in the 60s, "Playback," both examines and makes some funny jokes about certain time-travel wackiness. Her first love, who used to be older than her and is named Jimmy, is now younger as he's still 22, but she's truly 34 (even if she doesn't look it). Also, one of my favorite running gags is Mari's tendency to ramble when upset, also has her mentioning future technology or ideas, but her anachronistic terminologies are written off by others who assume she's just quirky or possibly tripping on drugs.

"Playback," is a nice and brisk read at just a bit over 200 pages. It doesn't waste any time, with every moment feeling important to the story. There is nothing wrong with a longer yarn, but I love it when a book avoids ever feeling like it is treading water. Even though Mari wants to whittle away her time in 1967, I never felt like Malden was squandering our time with, "Playback," and I appreciate that. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, this book is a bit of a follow-up to another title, but it stands alone with ease.

I found, "Playback," to be a fantastic story thanks to its clever take on time-travel, superb characterization (Mari is a great protagonist and Neon Dream's members are all a hoot), and astute observations about sentimentnailly and the, "Trap," of wanting to live in the past (mentally or in actuality). I was provided a copy for the purposes of review by the publisher, but would encourage anyone interested in the book to get a copy at their local bookstore/request it from their library/bum it off a friend, as it officially hit stores today, August 12th. I give Karla Malden's latest novel....

5 out of 5 Stars.

People, Please Don't Drink Raw Milk

Some things are dangerous to eat or drink raw. Beef needs to be cooked to some degree, with even a rare steak getting some sear. Flour and eggs can carry foodborne illness without proper care taken to turn your raw cookie dough into actual cookies. Then there is milk, which, through a process invented by Louis Pasteur, is a lot safer to drink via pasteurization than untreated. There is no health benefit to drinking raw milk, just as there would be zero benefit to eating a raw chicken breast. Somehow, however, ingesting milk that hasn't been made safe for humans has become a political issue. Now, folks are getting sick as Hell just to make an ideological point.

I'm not joking about the getting sick part, by the way. Just this month, at least 21 people got ill in Florida due to E. Coli that was in raw milk they drank--a chunk of the sickened are children. There are tons of myths about raw milk, from it curing lactose intolerance to helping with asthma or boosting your gut health. These are all the claims of metaphorical snake-oil salesmen/women, but in this case literal snake oil would probably be less dangerous than raw milk! The thing about pasteurizing your milk is that it literally just kills bacteria. It doesn't add anything to the milk--no preservatives, processed stuff, or anything else. When milk is made safe to drink, literally just the germs (ones that can make you very sick) are killed.

Even New Jersey knows raw milk isn't safe--and you know how New York mocks New Jersey!

Regardless of how much medical proof there is about how raw milk has zero benefits for your health, certain people always want to drink it because, "Those in power," must be lying about its dangers/how it can help. This isn't a purely political thing where conservatives are drinking raw milk to, "Own the Liberals," either. There is a weird cross-section of people who swear by raw milk, from folks on the far left to those on the far right who distrust authority and/or vaccines and/or general modern medicine for one reason or another. I can tell you, however, big agriculture or big pharma aren't getting rich off pasteurizing your milk--they are merely following laws in place that they have to make milk safe for human consumption so an item you buy from your grocery store won't make you possibly die of illness. Raw milk isn't safe. There is no benefit to drinking it. Please, everyone, don't drink raw milk.

"Widow: Unearthed Volume 1," is Live on Kickstarter!

Friend to the blog, Mike Wolfer, has been in the field of comics for decades. One of his snazziest creations would have to be his spider-human hybrid creature, Widow. With the amount of time Wolfer has been in the comic field doing, "Widow," works or other projects, he's built up a ton of great artwork. This brings us to the new, "Widow: Unearthed Volume 1." A pin-up comic-book featuring Wolfer's Widow, it has everything from work going back to the 1990s to pieces he crafted as recently as this year. The, "Widow," series has always been fantastic for fans of more mature-oriented horror (lots of scary elements and nudity, it is good stuff) and, "Widow: Unearthed," will feature everyting from tame to more risque pieces. 

Whether you're a longtime fan of the Widow character or just enjoy good scary/sexy art, "Widow: Unearthed," looks like another fantastic project from Wolfer. Plus, unlike some Kickstarters I have backed, which never fulfilled their pledges with the creators vanishing into the ether, Wolfer has always come through, and on one rare occasion where a project didn't work out, he refunded everyone, in full. I like that I can back a Kickstarter by Mike Wolfer and know I'll get my comics, and they'll be fantastic reads too. I'd encourage you to check out, "Widow: Unearthed Volume 1," and back it--I plan to get myself a copy!

A Clone of a Clone? Really, Marvel?

Remember earlier this year when Marvel made a big deal out of Gwen Stacy (the real, original one) coming back from the dead? It was going to happen in a new, "Gwenpool," mini-series where Gwen Poole (she's kind of like Deadpool but even more prone to meta-antics) would confront a newly alive and suddenly evil Gwen Stacy. Well, after all the hubbub that caused online the fourth issue this week revealed that the Gwen Stacy we've been watching get up to no good is a clone...of a clone. Yes, really.

Gwen Poole was killed by Gwen Stacy earlier in the series but has managed to exist as a spirit, possessing folks. She goes into the mind of Gwen Stacy and we see how a different Stacy clone from a previous comic event called the, "Clone Conspiracy," (Poole knows she's a comic character and everyone else is too) had a clone made of that clone. Gwen Poole commenting on how absurd this is doesn't excuse how lame this is--pointing out your own lazy writing in a book does not make up for said lazy writing. If you kinda squint, it is a clever commentary on the lack of ideas in comics, but we got to that point through a lot of B.S.

Perhaps if Marvel hadn't promoted this as the, "Real," Gwen Stacy coming back from the dead, it would feel less like a bait-and-switch (which, again, the text itself admits). Saying from the start, "There is a mystery about this Gwen Stacy and her claims," would have made this less annoying than Marvel trumpeting, "The OG Gwen is coming back, guys/gals, totally for real!" I get that Gwen Poole's whole gimmick is being meta about comics and making fun of their tendency to do silly storylines, but this is a serious case of a comic wanting to have its cake and eat it too, as the weird old saying goes. I'm perturbed by this messy plotting and the bizarre way it was promoted, clearly.

Film Friday: I Saw the New, "Superman," Flick

I know it came out a bit ago, but I had the chance this week to see, "Superman," in theaters--so I'm gonna give you my thoughts, now! In short: I quite liked it! I saw a chunk of the twists coming (spoiler: there's a clone), but that did not lessen my enjoyment at all. The casting is spot-on, with every single person doing a stellar job from David Corenswet as Superman to Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. I especially loved Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane as well as Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, plus Edi Gathegi gives us an amazing Mister Terrific. For real though, Krypto (the dog) steals the show.

An interesting thing about, "Superman," is how it emphasizes despite Superman's alien nature, he is one of the most human people around. He gets sad, he struggles, he gets mad, but he keeps trying to do the best he can because he 100% wants to see the best in people. Martha and Jon Kent ( Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince, respectively) are only in the movie a smidgen, but their impact is massive in showcasing just how Clark ended up being the person he is as a grown-up. There are plenty of fights, jokes, and special effects, but the people make this movie special--via Superman trying to be the best example of a person, or Luthor showcasing a lot of our worst tendencies of envy and rage. 

Superman just wants to do good with all his power, which seems crazy in 2025 when we see those with wealth/power/etc. often being terrible. It is funny to think that now it is edgy to tell a story about a person with incredible might not choosing to be a jerk about it. "Superman," does a fantastic job kicking off this new take on the DC Universe. It is a much more optimistic view of the DCU than we previously had with Zack Snyder, and that's okay! I liked some of those movies, and I really enjoyed this one too. I look forward to what comes next from James Gunn (who is the new DC architect as well as this movie's director) and Peter Safran with their take on DC!

5 out of 5 Stars.

A Cryptocurrency Group is Throwing Neon Green Sex Toys onto the Court at WNBA Games...What?

In proof we live in possibly the dumbest timeline possible, some weird group of cryptocurrency promoters has been engaging in so-called "Pranks," where they throw neon green sex toys onto the court during WNBA games. As if Crypto couldn't be any more annoying, now it's dabbling in clear misogyny despite any claims otherwise. Now copycats are doing it too, so it's losers all around. Putting aside the clear danger of a player tripping on any object thrown on the court, this also illustrates a clear security issue. 

If those in charge of the safety of players and attendees can't stop someone from bringing a massive neon green dildo into a game, that means the chances of a small firearm being snuck in are probably pretty high. You missed the big ol' sex toy, after all, so what hope do we have you'll catch a smaller pistol? It is worrisome from multiple angles of thought, clearly. Plus, it is just stupid to disrupt a game that other people want to enjoy just to promote the latest pump and dump Crypto scam--which is practically all Crypto. 

In closing, should you want to throw any object onto a court/rink/field that you're not supposed to throw, for any reason, don't do it. I mean, you can throw a hat out during a hockey game if there is a hat trick, but that is a rare situation--and still not a neon green dildo! Come on, people, this reality we live in is getting ridiculous.

Roku Launches, "Howdy," a New Paid (but Inexpensive) Streaming Option

Say, "Hello," to, "Howdy," is the first line/introduction I thought up regarding Roku's new streaming service--which is named, "Howdy." I tried to concoct other snappy openers, but that was the best one. That said, "Howdy," does seem kind of neat. Roku makes devices and televisions that are great for streaming various apps or television services. They have their own channel with ads accompanying the programming as well. With the launch of Roku's new app, "Howdy," you can stream various movies and shows for $3 a month. Yes, it is that cheap.

Roku has emphasized that this new streaming service is meant to complement other ones and not replace them, hence being less expensive than a large cup of coffee at Starbucks. The price is a bit astounding in an era where everything seems to be costing more. Now, "Howdy," doesn't have everything, but it has something you're bound to like, is the idea. You can get it on any Roku device/television or stream it on a computer, so it isn't like it is hard to access, either.

I tried, "Howdy," out because it is only three smackers and was pleased with what I found. The menu screen is pretty straightforward, like your other streaming apps. It has various themes, and you can always search for something specific or, "Like," something to watch later/presumably help the algorithm know more stuff to recommend. I watched a chunk of, "Malibu's Most Wanted," because it is hilarious and clever--the app worked perfectly. This app is not going to replace your big names, but it has zero intention of doing so. If anything, "Howdy," could be an interesting first step towards a category between expensive streaming services and the increasingly popular FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming Television) options. Not a deluxe resource for new movies or high-budget original content, but for a small fee, a little more is provided than with PLUTO or Tubi. We shall see if people are into, "Howdy," or say, "Goodbye," to it. I'm sorry, my brain really is fried with the end of Summer.

Charlamagne Tha God/Lenard McKelvey Has Never Suffered Fools

Charlamagne Tha God AKA Lenard McKelvey, is a co-host of my favorite radio show, "The Breakfast Club." He is incredibly smart and thoughtful as well as hilarious. I don't agree with him on everything, but he always says what is on his mind and explains why he believes what he does. When Biden was still running for President, McKelvey continuously pointed out how it was a bad idea and held Biden's feet to the fire. With Trump in office, McKelvey has continued to criticize the President. I guess he struck a nerve, recently.

McKelvey was a guest on a Fox News program called, "My View with Lara Trump," recently. McKelvey will appear on liberal or conservative shows, and--as I said--speak his mind. When asked by Lara Trump (who is married to Eric Trump, hence the last name) how he thinks Trump's presidency is going, McKlevey offered a measured and accurate response. “I wouldn’t give it a good rating, simply because the least of us are still being impacted by the worst.” McKelvey went on to say those in a high tax bracket such as himself will benefit from Trump's policies but, “There’s going to be so many people that’s hurt by that bill...anything that takes away Medicaid from people and will put people in a worse financial situation than they were previously in, I’m not for.” He didn't insult Trump or anything, but gave an honest assessment of Trump's failings. Obviously, Trump got pissed.

Donald Trump went on his Truth Social platform to share how he felt McKelvey was a sleazebag, racist, had a low IQ, and otherwise ranted and raved about how awful McKelvey was. On the Monday edition of, "The Breakfast Club," McKelvey responded that he never said anything about race and had never even taken an IQ test. Plus, "I looked up the definition of sleazebag, says it’s a disgusting or despicable person.' Depending on who you ask, that may apply to me.” McKelvey went on to point out that Trump was using an, "Authoritative strategy," against people, as always. He continued, "With his reaction to what I said on Lara Trump shows how authoritarians will attempt to bully people into pushing false narratives." McKelvey finished a segment of his show discussing Trump by pointing out Trump needs to focus on the economy and making good on releasing the list of Epstein's clients he suddenly hates anyone bringing up. It was a funny little way to needle the President back.

When Donald Trump insults someone, that just proves their words had an impact on him. Lenard McKelvey should be proud that he pissed Trump off, because that means McKelvey is doing something right. McKelvey or his radio personality of Charlamagne Tha God, has never suffered fools. He's had liberals, conservatives, and everyone in between on his show. When someone has a good idea, he'll discuss that. When their ideas are terrible, he won't hesitate for a second to point it out. McKelvey is the kind of person a man like Trump hates, someone who thinks before they speak and is willing to consider evidence that might counter their own views in order to grow as a human. As long as McKelvey keeps doing his radio show and any other ventures (he writes some great books and did a comic, too), I'll be there to support him!

Music Mondays: "Taste," by Coco Jones Samples, "Toxic," in a Clever Manner

I often talk about the concept of weaponized nostalgia. We have something new that purposely takes something old and tweaks it just a bit so it is something new-ish but evokes our fond memories for the past item (be it a song, show, or so forth). The latest tune, "Taste," by Coco Jones has a bit of that vibe, but is a solid song on its own.

For, "Taste," the song, "Toxic," by Britney Spears is a heavy inspiration, with pieces taken wholesale from the original tune for the chorus. It seamlessly blends in, however, somehow. It tickles that part of the brain that goes, "Oh yeah, I liked the, 'Toxic,' tune back in the day," but is different enough that we aren't talking a cover/remix by any means. I may even like this more than the mash-up of, "Toxic," with, "Pony," and that was quite a hoot. Give it a listen here with the official music video (which I will warn you is vaguely NSFW):

See what I mean? "Toxic," doesn't overpower, "Taste," and it all works together wonderfully. I offer my compliments to Coco Jones and her production team for taking a fast-paced pop song and making it a slow-groove R&B bop.

Just a Quick Reminder: Jed MacKay's Work on, "Moon Knight," Has Continuously Been Great

Jed MacKay has been the writer of assorted, "Moon Knight," comics for a good chunk of time now, and I hope he doesn't stop anytime soon. His, "Run," of sorts has been split-up between various series due to assorted events resulting in re-titlings (like when the main Moon Knight, Marc Spector, was dead for a bit). Over the series of, "Moon Knight," "Vengeance of the Moon Knight," and, "Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu," we have witnessed an epic tale from MacKay, however. He's taken bits and pieces of continuity from long ago to recent and woven it all together beautifully. 

From taking the messy business of when Moon Knight fought the Avengers and somehow making that work, to salvaging a lot of forgotten elements from, "Marc Spector: Moon Knight," to fun allusions to how Taskmaster is terrified of Moon Knight (after what happened in Huston's run in the early 2000's), the past is brought up in clever ways along with brand new elements. MacKay's work on the series has brought us a bunch of great new characters who are a part of Moon Knight's, "Midnight Mission," to reinvigorating other characters (8-Ball is a hero now, just run with it). One villain who seemed mostly forgotten--Zodiac--has become a fun baddie now too. Older story elements as well as new stuff have melded the disjointed and sometimes confusing continuity of Moon Knight into a fine-tuned machine.

MacKay has had some amazing artists working with him, too, and that has doubtlessly helped a great deal. We've seen much of Alessandro Cappuccio absolutely killing it, and Domenico Carbone has been superb on recent issues as well. Over these assorted Moon Knight series, we've been witnessing the creation of quite an epic yarn. I hope Marvel lets MacKay write Moon Knight as long as he wants to do so, because his stuff is among my top/favorite Moon Knight comics I've ever read.

Depressing News: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Shut Down

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a federal entity that helps fund NPR, PBS, and other services, is shutting down. Yet another victim of our idiotic President, Donald Trump, who seeks to dismantle any media format he can, which isn't solely complimentary to him. As this article from, "The Guardian," discusses, "The closure ends nearly six decades of federal commitment to public broadcasting. The corporation was established by Congress in 1967 to ensure educational and cultural programming remained accessible to all Americans." Clearly, Trump doesn't want an educated populace that ask questions, have empathy/culture, or are anything but mindless slaves to his cult of personality.

The CPB doesn't provide NPR or PBS with all their funding, so some affiliates will be okay, but others (especially in rural regions) could face massive staff cuts or an outright shutdown. It is not like this will save our Nation any money, either, with Trump's so-called, "Big Beautiful Bill," worsening or nation's deficit thanks to absurdly massive tax cuts to corporations and those in the top 1% economically. This is yet another example of Trump destroying something that helps citizens for no valid reason (beyond his ego/spite, and so forth). This administration's efforts to strip the United States of anything good are simply enraging.

Film Friday: "Happy Gilmore 2," is Stuffed with Cameos and Absurd Jokes that Mostly Land

Nearly three decades since the debut film, "Happy Gilmore," we have the arrival of, "Happy Gilmore 2." Starring Adam Sandler at the titular golfer, this is by no means an Oscar-bait flick, but it is better than some would expect when looking at Sandler's less beloved flicks. I, personally, have always been a fan of Sandler's work, even if it can be hit-or-miss, and enjoy his dramatic turns as much as his comedic presentations. "Happy Gilmore 2," is definitely Sandler going all-in on silliness, however. Oh, and celebrity cameos, there are many.

Many golfers and other random friends of Sandler appear. Some have blink-and-you 'll-miss-it moments, while individuals such as Bad Bunny get a significant chunk of screen time. I don't mind the many guests whether they're Steve Buscemi as a neighbor who enjoys peeing in mailboxes, John Daly as himself living in Gilmore's garage, or Travis Kelece as a jerkish waiter. Some reviewers feel the jam-packed number of folks is a bit much, however. The plot follows Gilmore, having sworn off golf to now giving it another try, so he has funds to help a family member with school expenses. Oh, and he fights off an opposing golf league that is trying to make the sport more engaging through gimmicks. Clearly, the plot is relatively basic, but we're here for the jokes! Speaking of contrived story elements, however, some folks online have had an issue with what happens to one character within the movie before even five minutes have passed, but it did make sense for the flick's plot in terms of Gilmore not wanting to golf until it's absolutely necessary. The humor is absurd, but it mostly works. From gross-out gimmicks to a running gag of Gilmore using seemingly normal objects as flasks, it is silly fun.

Audiences clearly were into, "Happy Gilmore 2," as it received a ton of viewers on Netflix (where it debuted). I liked it, even if at almost 2 hours, some jokes felt run into the ground by the time the credits rolled. If you have Netflix and want a relatively chill comedy to enjoy, "Happy Gilmore 2," fits the bill. I would hope that if they make a third, we don't have to wait 29 years for it, though!

3 out of 5 Stars.

A, "Captain Underpants," Manga Sounds Adorable and Fun

When I was a young lad in grade school, I loved the, "Captain Underpants," books that Dav Pilkey released. Full of hilarious artwork, clever plots, and a dash of toilet humor, he released a ton of entries in the series (he currently is putting out books in another hit series, "Dog Man," which is a cute line too). Now, Pilkey and Japanese manga creator Motojiro are creating a manga adaptation of the original book. Called, "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga," it will combine the joy of a Captain Underpants story with the very popular format of manga. It breaks a big rule of manga, reading left-to-right, but that's understandable, so the American kiddos don't get befuddled. Due to arrive April 6th of 2026, I could see it selling lots of copies and being quite popular.

There is Only One Notable Thing I Have an Issue with at IKEA, as a New Article Discusses

I love IKEA. It is fun to walk around, the food court is a treat, and almost everything is priced at a reasonable/inexpensive level. There is one thing that has always rubbed me the wrong way about IKEA, however, and a new article on Huffpost by Holly Kearl discusses it too. Basically, there is a children's play area, but you can only drop your kid off and leave. You can't have even one parent supervise a child, regardless of whether they have disability or anything else.

Ms. Kearl's article covers how IKEA lacks an exact policy beyond, "Talk to a manager if there is an issue regarding playplace access," and I fully understand how she felt upset about being unable to monitor her son's safety in a playplace at IKEA. When we have gone there in the past, we inquired about Clarkson enjoying the playspace with Samii or me supervising--only to be told it was hard, "No." Unless Clarkson is at his school (which has trained professionals and ample safeguards) or with an incredibly small number of trusted adults who know how to work with him, we always have one of us with him. 

The risk he could simply run off or not understand something is dangerous to touch/climb on is too great to simply drop him off with an unprepared employee at IKEA--that is unfair to said employee and Clarkson. We want Clarkson to enjoy playplaces with peers and take him to many--but we are always sure to supervise him and inform the locations we are at of his autism should any issues/emergencies arise. I imagine IKEA has its own concerns about adults who don't work at the store around a bunch of children in the playzone, but one would think if it is apparent a kiddo could need their parent's assistance, they can have parameters/rules/whatever in place for adults to supervise their child with needs. As I said, I love IKEA, but this is the one big thing I don't like about going there, which could (I assume) easily be corrected. Perhaps with articles like Ms. Kearl's drawing attention to this issue, things can be fixed.

Mark Spears + Blind Bags = Inevitable Mayhem!

Comic-book blind bags have become a thing. Image/Skybound did it with the debut issue of, "Battle Beast," to immense success. Now online stores are doing them with exclusives, DC is going to have expensive ones with their, "Batman," relaunch, and everybody wants in on the latest gimmick. When done well (the bags aren't a bunch of money extra, they're a fun bonus and not the whole point as the comic is good too) blind bags are fine. Mark Spears and his monster-focused comics, "Mark Spears Monsters," have been a hit as well. Hence, when you combine two ideas that are currently red-hot, you're bound to get something wild. Well, a new mini-series, "Mark Spears Monsters: The Monster and the Wolf," will have a first issue featuring blind bags that boast many different covers. This is gonna get crazy.

"The Monster and the Wolf," will not price its blind bags higher than a standard issue of the series. His monster-focused comics have always been $5.99 and will remain that way. Plus, his comics are great along with his various covers. Therefore, I'm supportive of this blind bag promotion compared to how bad it could've been (DC with its $9.99 blind bags for the aforementioned new, "Batman," series). I will definitely grab a pack/issue or two so I have one to read and an extra just to try my luck upon release on October 1st. Even though I'm sure a ton of these will be produced, it will likely sell out, considering both Spears and blind bags are at nuclear-hot levels of popularity at this moment. Make sure to pre-order some from your local comic shop while you still can!

Marvel Might Actually Destroy the Latest Ultimate Universe At the Height of its Popularity

In June, it was rumored that the current Ultimate Universe could very well end after two or so years, as it counted down in real-time to the return of its creator, The Maker (currently locked in a time-bubble). It sounded a little outlandish as this newest Ultimate Unvierse is a hit (Ultimate Spider-Man in particular), but during CCI/SDCC, Marvel revealed, "Ultimate Endgame," and how it spins out of all the current Ultimate books as they conclude. 

Will, "Ultimate Endgame," bring us a surprising conclusion to this Ultimate Universe, with some elements perhaps spinning off into the regular Marvel Universe? Could it not be an end so much as a leading into a relaunch of books as the heroes (possibly) prevail over The Maker and enter a new era of Ultimate books? I don't know, but we'll start getting answers at the end of December when all the other Ultimate books end and, "Ultimate Endgame," #1 brings us the beginning of the end of the beginning...or something like that.

The St. Louis Comic Book & Collectible Show by the Spector Club Was Full of Fun Today!

I missed the last St. Louis Comic Book & Collectible Show the Spector Club put on due to Clarkson being sick, but I was able to go today and had a gas/swell time/other phrase for enjoying myself. There were vendors with expensive comics and plenty with cheaper books--I got myself a nice stack of inexpensive Spider-Man, New X-Men, and a bit of Deadpool! I began the show having a lovely conversation with Dave and browsing his wares from All-American Collectibles. Then I saw my good friends Spike (of Lost in Space Toys and Collectibles) and John (of Bigfoot Comics). It was great catching up with them and browsing their wares. I hadn't seen David from Callisto Comics in some time, and he was at the show too--a superb guy as always.

Drew Stewart of CoMo Comics had a ton of goodies for sale and my chum Bruce Reynolds was present too. The incredibly friendly Dan Yezbick had some awesome vintage books that were outside my price range but lovely to look at. Tons of other vendors were present as well and I spent a good deal of time digging in shortboxes and eyeballing collectibles. The next show will be September 14th, followed by one on November 23rd, with the dates announced for 2026 as well! Check those out below in this handy picture of the flyer:

I'm excited for the next show on September 14th and am eager to visit 7300 Lansdowne Ave for early bird entry at 9AM for just $6 (regular entry for only $3 from 10AM on, with kiddos under 13 free)! If you can attend, I'll, hopefully, see you there!

"Battlefield 6," Announced, Has Many Explosions

I've enjoyed the, "Battlefield," series of games since the first one (not the one set in WWI, I mean the literal initial game, although that one is great too). In real life, war is a terrible and painful thing. In video-games, however, it is full of impressive visuals and ample explosions. The latest game in the franchise is set to be, "Battlefield 6," it looks to be packed full of things going, "Boom." It will have an over-the-top single-player campaign, and the immensely popular multiplayer mode/modes will be revealed further on July 31st. Give the initial trailer a look below:

No specific release date or price has been given to the public, but the scuttlebutt is that we'll be getting, "Battlefield 6," in October. The exact single-player mode's story is a bit of a mystery outside of it featuring NATO going against a rogue private military company known as Pax Armata. The trailer is quite the technical showcase, however, as many agree. I guess come July 31st we'll know a bit more!

Hulk Hogan/Terry Bollea is Dead and Leaves a Messy Legacy

Hulk Hogan was the character. Terry Bollea was the real person. Hogan was an over-the-top hero-turned-villain-turned hero who got a lot of people into wrestling. Bollea was the man who betrayed Jesse Ventura when he was discreetly trying ot unionize wrestlers by going to the head of the then-WWF, Vince McMahon, and ratting out Ventura and his plan. Bollea got caught saying racial slurs, and Hogan barely apologized for it. The whole fiasco of the sex tape lawsuit that killed Gawker famously involved the question of how Hogan and Bollea had differently sized members if they're the same person--it was a big, stupid trial. Hogan spent a lot of his life beloved by many; Bollea was, by all accounts, a terrible human being. Hulk Hogan/Terry Bollea leaves a complicated legacy, clearly.

As Hogan would've said, "Let me tell you something, brother." When I was a kiddo and got into wrestling, Hulk Hogan was the first big name I knew and loved watching. I got into the other guys and gals over time, too, as I enjoyed the sport/art, but he was a gateway for many folks, myself included. He was a huge name. The problem is Hulk Hogan seemed invincible, and Terry Bollea made it clear--by the accounts of many--that he was not. I was a big fan of the Hulkster, then the more I learned about him, the more I realized there were some real problems with the person behind the character. Some people will deeply miss Hogan/Bollea, and I extend my sympathies to those folks (friends, families, and so forth). Other people seem to have said nothing or basically stated, "Good riddance," due to how much bad blood there was. I wish them healing energy for the hurt Hogan/Bollea caused them. 

Hulkamania once ran rampant through the nation, for better or worse. Now, we quietly observe the good and bad of Hulk Hogan/Terry Bollea. We owe him a great deal of thanks, but also, he passed having owed many folks a lot of apologies they never got (and now never will). Hogan's impact on wrestling will probably render him immortalized in the form, even if Bollea was clearly human. No matter how big the character gets, there is always someone behind the mask. It seems Bollea preferred the metaphorical mask, and wished it got more attention than who was wearing it. Sadly, once you die, that's the end of you controlling your story--you can only hope that when everyone else gets a turn, there are more accolades than insults.

Industry Coffee is Scrumptious!

I've discussed, "Grow a Garden," before and have it to thank for discovering a new coffee, funnily enough. Samii was playing with someone who mentioned being a part of, "Industry Coffee," and as we love a brewed cup of joe, that caught our attention. We looked into the Pennsylvania-based company, and ordered some of the, "Gold Standard Medium Roast." The darker roast sounded interesting, but we worried an espresso blend would be a bit too strong for us. The medium roast arrived quickly via UPS, and I've now brewed it two mornings in a row. My thoughts? It is lovely!

This blend is delightfully smooth, whether you pair it with a bit of sweetener and milk (Samii does that) or drink it black (that's my style). There is a nice earthy tone to every sip, but it never feels too harsh. It reminds me of the nice cozy vibe of other breakfast blend/blonde roast coffees I enjoy, but a bit darker--just extra enough. I also want to offer props to the bag's design--it is resealable and that keeps the freshness intact, unlike some bags you fold over and which can get stale. I really enjoyed the medium roast I bought from Industry Coffee and will be sure to order more as soon as my bag gets low. They do Keurig-compatible cups as well if that's your thing, as well as whole bean and ground coffee.. I'd recommend trying them out!

"South Park," Still Has Bite 27(!) Seasons In

"South Park," has never given a hoot. It insults everyone. If it holds anything dear, it would be a love of dark cynicism. When it happens to land some blows on liberals, the right-wing chuckles and says they can't take a joke. On occasions, it puts conservatives in its crosshairs, with lefties cheering and the right saying, "Eh, it hasn't been relevant for awhile." It is a show that wants to offend and go as far as possible. Sometimes it seems to struggle with a clear message, and other times it offers incredibly sharp satire. It's been a chunk of time (two and half years or so) since an actual season, with some scattered specials but little more. As of yesterday, however, season 27 premiered, and the show didn't shy away from anything.

Donald Trump was relentlessly mocked on, "South Park," last night. He was portrayed as a thin-skinned, sue-happy, narcissist with a tiny penis who regularly seduces the Devil. No longer was Mr. Garrison used as a Trump stand-in (which the show commented upon), it's Donald Trump in all his so-called glory. The town had shifts too. "South Park," riffed on how Cartman is despondent now that the fact he used to be offensive barely ruffles any feathers due to how everyone around him says slurs with nary a fear of consequences. The PC Principal, who used to pride himself on being, "Woke," is now the, "Power Christian Principal," who has embraced the New Testament and espouses a love Jesus. Jesus himself appears, warning the town that Trump sued the supposed Son of God, and they ought to be careful if they don't want to get canceled, "Like Colbert." This leads to the most insane conclusion I recall in a, "South Park," episode since that time Cartman tricked a kid into eating his parents as chili. A faux pro-Trump PSA.

The Pro-Trump PSA that ends this episode of, "South Park," is a work of twisted genius. An actor with Trump's face somehow deep-faked on stumbles in a desert, gets naked, and has a tiny penis with googly eyes appear endorsing the segment of how, "He Gets Us/He Trumped Us," like in those Christian TV ads. It's wild. I was giggling at it but the, "He Gets Us/Trumped Us," had me cracking up. The White House has made its displeasure with the latest episode quite apparent. Considering Paramount just paid 1.5 billion for, "South Park," to keep making new episodes (and hold the streaming rights), I guess they figured it was worth any ire/lawsuits they get from Trump.

I don't always agree with, "South Park," because sometimes it targets topics I hold differing views about--but that's the point. It jokes at the expense of everyone, and sometimes you take your licks because before too long, the other guy/gal is gonna get some damage too (and it'll be your turn to laugh). I was laughing last night for sure, with a mix of shock, delight, and because some jokes are simply clever (a gag about carbon monoxide and electric cars not producing it gave me a solid chuckle). It's going to be a wild season 27 with, "South Park," bursting out of the gate full-speed in terms of being ready to offend. I wouldn't have it any other way.

5 out of 5 Stars (for the debut episode of Season 27).

"Avengers: Secret Wars," Will Indeed Lead to a Cinematic Reboot

I believe I have written on this ol' blog before about how I felt Marvel's cinematic universe was leading up to a big reboot. It would epically wrap up everything that had happened since 2008 and bring us a singular fresh Universe with elements of the past stories, but still totally new. That would make it easier for anybody to get into Marvel flicks who doesn't want to spend over a hundred hours watching movies or shows, and have a new starting point. Even though, "Reboot," is a loaded term, that has basically been confirmed by Marvel's movie head, Kevin Feige, as the plan. We could get a new universe with a recast Tony Stark,  Captain America, teenage X-Men, and so forth. It'll all happen after, "Avengers: Secret Wars."

I'm all for Marvel wiping the slate (mostly) clean and giving us a brand new continuity to play with. Even hardcore fans will admit the current MCU can be a messy and bloated now with all the universes, shows that didn't seem to matter a ton (I did adore, "Wandavision," however, for what it was), and so forth. A fresh-ish start couldn't hurt, I'd imagine. I mean, starting over seems to have served DC well with the latest, "Superman," flick being a hit. In the end, it is a little funny to think just as how the comics often seem to resort to reboots, now the films are too.

Ozzy Osbourne Has Passed

Ozzy Osbourne has passed at the age of 76. He had been battling Parkinson's among other health concerns. What's interesting about Osbourne is that he was extremely famous for different reasons with varying folks. Many called him the Godfather of Heavy Metal thanks to his time with Black Sabbath and revered his musical skills. Other people discovered Ozzy thanks to his family's reality show, "The Osbournes," which premiered in 2002. It gave him a whole new fanbase who adored him as a reality star, yet could not name a single song he'd sung. Talk about a mix of fandoms.

With, "The Osbournes," Ozzy went from a scary and edgy rocker to a warped version of Ward Cleaver, who was strangely cuddly and endearing (but still a bit scary and edgy). After all, he spent a lot of his life dealing with drug addiction with family, friends, and Ozzy himself discussing how bad it could get. He got clean in 2006 with some relapses before achieving total sobriety with no backslides (according to articles I read) from 2013 onward. No matter how you felt about Ozzy, you undoubtedly at least knew of him due to how enmeshed in culture he'd become, whether via his music, television work, or just being Ozzy freaking Osbourne! His impact on our popular culture cannot be understated, and now he is indeed, "Coming home," now.

Comic-Con International/San Diego Comic-Con is This Week

The biggest comic show of the year runs a chunk of this week and into the weekend. Yes, Comic-Con International AKA San Diego Comic-Con has the press night on Wednesday and officially runs the 24th-27th. There are sure to be many movie, television, and comic-book related announcements. Some news will barely garner notice, while other reveals could get big ol' headlines. Diamond Comic Distributors still has a big booth reserved that could very well be desolate. Publishers/movie-makers Marvel, as well as DC have panels and will probably do cool giveaways that flip for absurd amounts of money online. Heck, even if you can't make it inside the show, there is plenty of fun to be had in San Diego.

I won't be there as even if I could get a press pass (don't laugh, some decent-sized shows have been willing to give me one in the past) I lack time/ability/hotel reservations. I'll be following updates, however! I hope anyone who does attend CCI/SDCC has a great time and picks up some cool swag.

Is it a Comic? Is it a Card Game? It is, "Ice Cream Man: The Mortal Coil Shuffle!"

Let's talk about something vaguely related to ice cream, as it is National Ice Cream Day. "Ice Cream Man," is an anthology comic series published by Image, which comes out somewhat sporadically. It has a strong horror focus and was at one time going to be a Quibi show (remember Quibi) before later getting a film option. Issues can be hit-or-miss because it is anthology style, but overall it is a fun and weird comic. Well, there is going to be a special, "Issue," of sorts that intentionally pushes the boundaries of what could be a comic. Called, "Ice Cream Man: The Mortal Coil Shuffle," it features 55, "Playing," cards, including narrative cards that tell a story along with, "Spell," cards. It's a one-shot experiment that will supposedly have no second printings or be collected in comic form/a collection, "When it's gone, it's gone."

I am a fan of anything that pushes the comic-book form, and this sounds fun. You put the cards in a narrative order but with the, "Spells," and other wild things, you can tweak how the story plays out/your understanding of it. It's a comic and a card game all at once, reminding me a bit of those, "Choose Your Own Adventure," stories of old, as well. Assuming it isn't too pricey, I'd love to, "Read," this latest Ice Cream Man-related yarn with its unique format--the comic/deck hits shops on October 1st.

Labubus Are Incredibly Popular, Kind of Ugly

Labubu is the brand name of a new collectible toy.  A bit of a plush doll, a smidgen of a bag charm, they're in the news more and more. Depending on who you ask, they are so ugly they're cute, or they're just ugly. People do agree they are popular, very popular. People are spending absurd amounts of money on these, with comparisons being made to the Beanie Baby craze as folks wonder if Labubus are heading for a similar crash or will be more like Funko Pops and stabilize a bit in the market, sticking around.

Based on storybook characters, they really started taking off around 2019, and one big selling point is that they come in blind boxes, AKA you buy a box and don't know if you'll get a more common or rarer Labubu. This has resulted in a healthy resale market like you see with Pokémon cards (you never know what could be in those packs, after all) and the rise of counterfeits. Kids and adults love them, and I'll admit there is a weird charm. Will they have long-term success or crater? Nobody knows, but I'll suggest that as with any hobby, people should view them as something fun to enjoy as opposed to an investment. That way, whether they explode or implode, at least you can love what you own.

"The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," is Cancelled and that Sucks. Plus, the Optics Look Bad

Paramount owns CBS (as well as being behind the streamer Paramount+, of course) and just recently announced that as of May 2026, "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," would be no more. He isn't being replaced with another host; it is just being shuttered. Paramount stressed this decision was purely financial and had nothing to do with anything else...which itself looks like an admission of something everyone has observed--the optics for this are terrible. Colbert is a vocal critic of the Trump administration and how CBS just settled a lawsuit with Trump. Paramount also wants to merge with Skydance, and the FCC needs to approve that--something Trump could screw-up as he's a petty narcissist with thin skin who hates Colbert. Paramount can say the Late Show is ending because there isn't much money to be made in late-night talk shows (which has some truth), but the timing is so, so bad. Donald Trump already took some form of credit for the cancellation and claimed Jimmy Kimmel would be next over at ABC, somehow.

Colbert is #1 in late-night rankings and was just nominated for another Emmy. Besides maybe John Oliver (on HBO) and John Stewart (who does the "Daily Show," part-time on a Cable channel), he goes the hardest at Trump of shows on late in the day, and he definitely is the staunchest critic on network television. Trump is no fan of Kimmel, either, or even Fallon (he did not recently name Fallon so much as saying he was, "That moron," on NBC). Right now, however, he's been patting himself on the back about Colbert and probably feels emboldened, regardless of if this was just a money-matters issue or something politically driven. If Kamala Harris were President now, would Colbert still be canceled? I don't have a magical dimension-hopping machine because if I did, I'd get rich selling folks tickets to happier realities, but one wonders.

I'm upset Colbert will no longer have, "The Late Show," but do imagine other entities will be eager to hire him--that may be a silver lining to this big old shitstorm cloud that is Donald Trump. I do imagine Colbert will refuse to tone down any rhetoric before the last episode in May because he has nothing to lose in terms of his CBS gig. This news sucks for fans of the program, Colbert, and anyone who works on, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," regardless of the reasons behind the show's cancellation.