"Who Killed Nessie?" is a Charming Mystery Comic With a Cryptid Twist!

Cryptozoic creatures are those we aren't sure exist. From urban legends to Greek Myths, and other technical entries too, you've got such concepts as Bigfoot, Medusa, Mermaids, Jackalopes, Stink Apes, Slender Man, and Mummies even--just not space aliens (you've gotta draw the line somewhere). Imagine if many of these creatures could teleport and, every once in a while, had a big conference at a remote hotel that valued their privacy? Now, imagine the Loch Ness Monster gets murdered at said event, with the one human employee left to monitor things stuck trying to solve this (literally) big mystery. Well, imagine no more because that is the main plot of, "Who Killed Nessie?" by Paul Cornell (writer) and Rachael Smith (artist).

Yep, it is Lyndsay Grockle’s first day as the manager of the Lakeview Hotel, as the other employees prefer skipping out on this event of, "Unusual," guests that Lyndsay is told involve unique, "Cosplay." Soon enough she learns the truth and has to help figure out who killed have killed Nessie before the weekend wraps and humans return to the hotel. We learn a lot about Lyndsay through this whole mess, and there is a satisfying answer to the mystery--I figured it out just a tiny bit before the big reveal, thanks to some useful clues. It isn't all about the murder, however, because these Cryptids are at the hotel to party! We meet all kinds of weird creatures throughout, "Who Killed Nessie?" and it is a who's who of strange beings for sure! If you can think of a big name or slightly obscure creature, it may very well appear in this original graphic novel.

I loved, "Who Killed Nessie?" and expected to be a fan as I've enjoyed the writing of Paul Cornell for years now, having first read his stuff some time ago when he did a fantastic Pete Wisdom-focused mini-series for Marvel under their now mostly-defunct, "Max," line. Rachael Smith's art is superb as well, emphasizing the unique appearances of all the strange Cryptids inhabiting the hotel. Some creatures are cute, others imposing, and all are fun to look at! Cornell and Smith make a great team, in other words I loved, "Who Killed Nessie?" and would encourage you to buy this stupendous book or get a copy from your local library. See if you can solve the mystery yourself!

5 out of 5 Stars.

Note: I want to offer my thanks to Avery Hill Publishing for being willing to send me a copy for the purpose of review upon my request.

Nearing the End of September with Bits of News

I started September with one of my articles that combines links and pieces of interesting news. I have some more stuff that maybe doesn't warrant a whole article, but deserves a mention. How about we do something for the first time ever in nearly 15 years of blogging and have a second news & links post in the same month--one to start it and one to end it? It's my website and my rules, so let's do it!

EA is a publicly traded company, but thanks to 55 billion dollars, it will now be going private. Various entities, including Saudi Arabia and a Jared Kusher (Trump's son-in-law) private equity group, are going to buy out everyone's shares. It is the largest-ever private equity buyout, and people have mixed feelings about very questionable folks buying EA--Saudi Arabia especially has been eager to try and clean-up its bad image relating to human rights via, "Sportswashing," and now this.

It is National Coffee Day. Coffee is arguably my favorite drink, and a number of stores still have promos to celebrate if you hurry.

Diamond Comics continues to be a zombie of a company as moments here and there of legal filings keep the shambling corpse occasionally jolting. Image Comics seems to have decided that settling is easier than this unending legal debacle and has reached some semblance of an agreement with Diamond.

A new, "Simpsons," movie is coming, like, a second one--due in 2027. The last, "Simpsons," flick was in 2007, believe it or not, so 20 years later, we get a film sequel to a television show that has been going since about 1989 (not counting the 1987 shorts). It is wild the program has been on the air that long and managed to be either amazing or at least decent.

Bleeding Cool sometimes spreads dumb gossip and sometimes has surprisingly juicy news scoops. If you can wade through the unending barrage of ads on the site, one of the latest articles admits it is gossip, but I want it to be true--a new Superman and Spider-Man crossover for 2026. That would be so fun!

Finally, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco just got married, proving that no matter how weird a guy you are, if you're emotionally open, caring, and kind, you will find love--so shut up, all you internet incels who claim, "Getting," a woman is impossible. Oh, and being funny helps!

Concluding September With an Excellent ToyMan Show!

As September comes to a close, I attended the ToyMan Show today (in addition to stopping by the GAS Card Show as I blogged about earlier). It was, as always, a great time, and I found some cool things!

The show's first floor as it began.

I started the show off by saying hello to Tim Metzger and the fellow from Tatertot Comics and Collectibles (who have their own show coming up this October 18th). I also had a chance to chat with John from Bigfoot Comics about how he'd been doing. My good friend, Jack, of Fortress Comics was at the show and had a ton of great comics too! I picked up a cool, "Spectacular Spider-Man," issue featuring the first appearance of Tombstone, as can be seen right below:

During the show, I enjoyed browsing a bunch of Hot Wheels one vendor had brought in addition to the latest Pokémon release. I ran into my chum, Spike, and he had some awesome promotional pins from when, "Alien Vs Predator," came out back in 2004. I picked them up to add to my pins on my tote bag I often carry around at shows. Take a look:

As I continued exploring the show, I enjoyed seeing Brian Lan and discussing how I'll see him with other folks representing the Hero Initiative at the upcoming Galaxy Con St Louis. I enjoyed looking at Bruce Reynolds' comics as well and had the chance to say, "Hello," to Tom Milister, too! In the upstairs area, I caught up with author Debbie Manbe Kupfer about her latest book and enjoyed seeing Lindsay Hornsby and hearing about her latest art creations! I enjoyed seeing the latest creations of Cayd from Tri Fox Shoppe, as well! I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Wise, AKA The Tentacle Monster artist. His creations were very cool! Lastly, I bought the latest book from my friend, Jessica Mathews, and she was kind enough to write a note for Clarkson and Gibson in it! Here it is:

Today's ToyMan Show was a delight, and I am happy to have been able to attend. There is always so much stuff to examine, dig through, and (potentially) purchase! I always say to people, if there is a collectible item you're looking for and you didn't find it at ToyMan, you must not have looked hard enough, as it is most likely there! I am excited for the next show on November 9th and encourage you to put it on your calendar to attend as well--I'll see you there!

The GAS Card Show in Saint Louis Was a Hoot!

GAS Card Show held an event at the Saint Charles Convention Center from Friday to Sunday, and it was a cool show! Referred to as their St. Louis Expo, I had the chance to swing by on Sunday when vendors were setting up for the last day and as the initial crowd arrived.

A number of people I know from Saint Louis were at the show, including 314 Sports Cards, the Fan Cave, and Trading Card Market. It was fun to see them and catch up.

I also enjoyed meeting and conversing with some people who were new to me, including Smash Sports Cards. There were too many vendors to name them all, however. It was a cool show, and I look forward to any future events the GAS Card Show may hold!

The Xbox Handheld is Going to be Pricey

Game consoles in general are going up in price due to tariffs/the economy/etc. With that in mind, you may have hoped the previously announced handheld-style Xbox wouldn't cost too much, but you also realize it could be costly. Officially called the ROG Xbox Ally, it can now be preordered and costs a pretty penny/tens of thousands of pennies. According to Kotaku, "There are two models of the Xbox Ally, the ROG-made handheld console that’ll either play or stream not just Xbox games, but also games via multiple other storefronts, including Steam," and the prices are $599.99 for the ROG Xbox Ally 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD and $999.99 (so a grand after tax) for the ROG Xbox Ally X 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD. A portable Xbox (that does play Steam too, to be fair) costs more than the standard option, in other words.

If you've got money to burn and love video-games on the go, this could be a spectacularly fun time. For many folks, however, that is a high price tag. You could get a decent gaming PC for that price or practically two Xbox Series X consoles. If you squint at it a bit and think of this more as a portable PC that can play Xbox games (like a fancier Steam Deck) as opposed to a portable Xbox, it sounds a bit less abhorrent in terms of price...maybe? I suppose, come the release date of October 16th, we'll see if these sell out, sit on the shelves, or the result is somewhere in between.

The Kickstarter for, "Widow Unleashed," #21 and #22 is Live!

Longtime friends of the blog, Mike Wolfer and Natalie Jane, have been hard at work for some time re-releasing a remastered, "Widow," series. Titled, "Widow: Unleashed," it has been collecting the fantastic series over a bunch of individually numbered issues with a bunch of art tweaks, lettering changes, dialogue tweaks, and so forth to make it an even better reading experience than before! All of that leads to how the campaign just launched for issues #21 and #22!

As always, previous issues are available in print or digital form for those who want to catch up on everything--or if you've been following along from the start, you can always just grab the two latest issues! These new entries focus on exploring Emma/Widow's origin and how exactly she came to be--plus these issues are presented in a cool "Cinegraphic" format, as Wolfer calls it--each page consists of four, "Widescreen," panels, creating the feel of motion picture storyboards, and that sounds really fun!

The campaign for, "Widow Unleashed," #21 and #22 just started today, so you've got a bit of time to back it--just make sure you don't forget to do so, as Wolfer and Jane's series is a consistently superb read! I am excited to back this latest project by my chums, and I am always excited to see what they're working on! Here is that link again for this campaign--go show it some love!

"It's (Almost) Always Sunny in Philadelphia," is a Superb History and Examination of the Fantastic Show

Readers of the blog are well aware of my affinity for the television program, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." I just recently ranked all the episodes from the most recent season (17th), and right before the season commenced, a superb book examining the history, social impact, and so forth of the program was released. Written by Kimberly Potts, "It's (Almost) Always Sunny in Philadelphia," examines the origin of the show, its early years, how the cast we know and love came to be, and the whole story behind Danny DeVito joining in the second season--becoming that last puzzle piece that made it all gel (mostly) perfectly to today.

Through extensive research, interviews, and tons of fun anecdotes, Potts gives us fans of the show a delightful peek behind the scenes. Whether talking about the one episode, the cast would maybe rewrite a bit (when the gang fools Dee into thinking the rapper she's dating is a man with special needs), to discussing the epic showdown between Dayman and Nightman, or highlighting all the superb guest stars the show has had, there is a much to disuss and in about 300 pages Potts does a stupendous job covering it all and keeping each chapter fresh and engaging. I got my copy of, "It's (Almost) Always Sunny in Philadelphia," from the library after I requested it, and I'd encourage you to procure a copy from your own library/bookstore/etc. if you are a big fan of, "Sunny," too!

5 out of 5 Stars.

Coffee Report Card: Roesmary Coffee Co.

My friend, Emily AKA The Koze Pantry, and I went to another coffee shop recently in the region, and you know I'm going to share my thoughts! Known as Rosemary Coffee Co., it is located at 1316 Big Bend Road in Manchester, Missouri. The space looks small from the outside, but once you step in, the area actually winds around and is quite spacious while still feeling comfy! 

I had some regular black coffee, which hit the spot perfectly, and Emily had some various flavored drinks she loved. I also got a delicious ham and cheese roll-type thing and a cinnamon roll that was also yummy. 

Between the relaxed feeling, welcoming atmosphere, and the tasty food & drink, I loved Rosemary Coffee Co. for sure! I'd recommend checking it out anytime you're nearby!

5 out of 5 Stars.

Television Tuesday: "Peacemaker," Season 2 Has Been a Wild Ride so Far

I have been quite enjoying James Gunn's work for DC. His, "Superman," movie was a hoot and the second season of, "Peacemaker," tweaks the continuity of the first season a bit to make it work in the new DC but keeps everything that works--edgy humor, wild fights, and a bit of heartfelt sincerity. Considering a lot of the plot involves an alternate universe where I'm guessing things aren't quite what they seem, it is crazy to say this season is a breath of fresh air, seeing as how--you know--exhausted the whole, "Alternate Universe," plot has become. John Cena is amazing as Chris AKA Peacemaker, though, and the supporting cast is amazing as well, from Danielle Brooks to Frank Grillo and the CG Eagly.

A lot of the main story is Chris stumbling on an alternate universe where his brother never died, his dad loves him, and things seem to be going 10X better than in his life in the regular/"Real," universe. It would be tempting to want to stay somewhere else where everything seems to have gone, "Right," while your life went, "Wrong," but I'm still 99% sure something is awfully wrong with this other Universe that hasn't been revealed yet. The vibe of, "Peacemaker," is where a lot of the fun comes from. This is in the same Universe as, "Superman," but if that was the strictly PG-13 side, this is the lesser-seen Hard-R-Rated side full of swearing, nudity, drugs, and things that might make ol' Superman blush but Chris/Peacemaker is right at home in. The first season was great, but the second has been firing on all cylinders. I can't wait for some lingering questions to be answered in the three remaining episodes, and I will be tuning in to the sixth this Thursday!

5 out of 5 Stars (for the season so far).

The First Day of Fall 2025

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, as I do, today is the first day of Fall! Depending on where you live, it may not feel like Fall, considering how hot it has been off-and-on. I know Fall is here as my seasonal allergies have been terrible. I do love the Fall, however, with October being my favorite month. It has been my favorite month as long as I can remember, thanks to my love of colorful leaves, pumpkins, cool-but-not-cold weather, Halloween, and more. Plus, it solidified itself even more as the best month when I met and got married to Samii within October (in different years, of course). I hope everyone has a lovely Fall!

Music Mondays: The Phone is Ringing

It is funny how fun songs about phones and phone calls can be. From New Edition telling the telephone man something must be wrong with your line because your baby keeps hanging up on you, to Young Thug and Travis Scott knowing you should pick up the phone because you're home, and Drake's Hotline Bling or Nokia...that's just a little bit of ditties with phones. A new song, "Ring Ring Ring," by Tyler, the Creator puts phones front and center, with Tyler seeming to call and ex and discuss how much he misses her physically and emotionally. 

The lyrics in, "Ring Ring Ring," aren't wildly creative, but they're fun and go with the incredibly catchy tune, beat, and reptition of, "Ring ring ring," in the chorus, simulating a phone going off with Tyler insisting, "Operator, can you pick that phone?" among other comments about how it can't be a dead line, she's just not picking up (presumably tired of Tyler calling). The whole song is fun, peppy, and continues the longtime trend of enjoyable songs about phones.

Whether Lady Gaga is talking about her, "Telephone," Blondie is requesting you, "Call Me," or there is that famous phone number, "867-5309/Jenny" by Tommy Tutone, there are a lot of songs with phones. We don't always talk on our phones these days, often texting. That said, a song about texting someone your feelings of love, anger, or so forth just doesn't hit as hard compared to that phone ringing and someone saying, "Hello?" Bruno Mars is, "Calling All My Lovelies," Soulja Boy needs you to, "Kiss Me Through the Phone," and Ed Sheeran isn't even making a call, he's just looking through his, "Old Phone," because this list goes on. Songs about phones are just fun, whether its a new hit like with Tyler, the Creator, something older, or even just straightforwardly being told, "Shut Up, My Mom's Calling," as with Hotel Ugly. So yes, let's celebrate phones in songs and instead of always texting, call me, maybe (as Carly Rae Jepsen would request)?

Happy Batman Day 2025

Today is Batman Day! Why September 20th? No clue, it has randomly changed in different years. Whatever the case, a lot of comic shops will have fun little events, deals, and giveaways today in honor of Batman. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for the, "Recalled," Gotham sampler as it technically shouldn't be given out due to featuring the now-cancelled, "Red Hood," comic. That makes it kind of fun curio. Have a fun Batman Day, everyone!

James Gunn Appearing on, “Big Brother,” Was Oddly Fun

I have not blogged a ton about the current season of, "Big Brother," the 27th. Part of this is because there have been many other interesting things to write about, and also, last season, the 26th, was among my recent favorites. I was worried that the following season would feel like a bit of a letdown. This current season has been no means been bad but it has definitely been a bit flat. Outside of a handful of quite intriguing personalities like Keanu, Kelley, Ava, Will, and some other folks who were fun but went home early (Jimmy), it has been a dull season. One veteran returned, Rachel Reiley, but she was a big element of the show before I started watching in season 14, so I don’t have as many strong feelings about her as the longest-time fans of the show. There was some controversy about how she went home due to a competition that was difficult, but outside of that, it’s been a relatively tame and enjoyable but bland-ish season. 

This season is like a slice of cheese pizza without much seasoning. It’s pizza, so you’ll eat it, but you wouldn’t mind a little bit more flavoring or even some toppings, maybe. At least it’s not a rancid pizza which is something we’ve arguably had in some seasons! Possibly the strangest thing to come out of this season, however, has been the BB Unlocked show that has aired every other Friday (usually), featuring former winners Derrick and Taylor chatting--along with various other former contestants and celebrity guest stars. The celebrity guest stars have ranged from likeable people who are by no means huge (Bobby Moynihan, Jerry O’Connell) to interestingly notable (Matt Berry, Lance Bass). For the final episode, James Gunn of all people was revealed to be a huge Big Brother fan who co-hosted the Friday episode.

James Gunn is currently one of the most powerful people in Hollywood as the co-head of DC Studios, writer and Director of the recent, "Superman," flick, writer and Director of many episodes of, "Peacemaker," and so forth. The man also apparently just loves, "Big Brother," and was excited to appear on the show and get zinged by Zing Bot. His presence seemed to inject the sometimes lackluster pseudo-talk show with a bit of energy because I don’t think anyone would accuse Taylor or Derrick of being especially full of gumption (their laid-back personalities arguably are why they were able to win the show in the first place). 

Having James Gunn on was strange but fun and gave this episode of, "Big Brother/BB Unlocked," a lot more personality than a number of the contestants this season have had. I don’t know if, "BB Unlocked," will, in fact, return for a new season or if it was a one-off experiment that did not get enough viewership to continue. "Big Brother," will be back for a 28th season next summer, however, and as always, I’ll be pleased as long as it’s entertaining, regardless of whether it’s amazing or not. Still, I always enjoy a really good season as opposed to a perfectly fine one. At least, I can always hope we don’t get trainwrecks like season 15 or 19.

The Main Story of, "Marvel/DC: Deadpool/Batman," is Actually the Weakest Part

It has been over two decades since a new (official) story has occurred where Marvel and DC crossover. This resulted in a lot of hype and high expectations for, "Marvel/DC: Deadpool/Batman," which was just released and will soon be followed by, "DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool," which is confusing with the names, I know, just run with it. The debut of the crossover was released on Wednesday with the headliner story and a bunch of back-up yarns...and the main story is actually pretty weak.

Did I expect too much from Deadpool and Batman teaming up? I mean, Greg Capullo is an amazing artist and does a fantastic job with the strip, and Zeb Wells is generally a solid writer with a good handle on comedic-ish characters (such as Deadpool). The resulting comic is just a bit...meh. One bit where James Gordon dresses down Deadpool's schtick as a masked psycho being nothing new to Gotham is clever, but the actual interplay between Wade Wilson and Bruce Wayne in or out of costume is lacking. Obvious jokes are told about billionaires being scuzzy, Batman being imposing with his gravelly voice, and so forth. Even the way Deadpool ended up in the DC Universe is only vaguely explained as the Joker screwing with some dimension-altering machinery. It is the lowest-hanging of fruit that Wells chooses to pluck for this story, and it is by no means bad, but when you have a comic event this big, I expected more, and a lot of the internet seems to agree. Frankly, the back-up stories are all either better or at least a great deal more interesting.

The Wonder Woman/Captain America team-up story is a great deal more intriguing. Featuring the writing of Chip Zdarsky and Terry Dodson's artwork, it imagines a Universe where Marvel and DC have been united from the start, with various characters from both publishers on famous teams or taking part in epic events (it seems Wonder Woman sided with Cap in the popular, "Civil War," comic of the early 2000s). It's nothing remarkable, but it at least does something fun.

An adorable story featuring Jeff the Landshark and Krypto is bound to be the highlight of this issue for folks who are into cute animals. Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru do a lovely job on it, and I chuckled. I was also intrigued by the sheer weirdness of Frank Miller's comic, where the Dark Knight Returns-style Batman and the Old Man Logan version of Wolverine fight and hurl insults. It isn't exactly good, but it is fascinatingly abstract and strange. Another brief strip where Rocket Raccoon and Green Lantern trade teams (Guardians of the Galaxy and Green Lantern Corps) as part of a cultural exchange is hilarious and gorgeously illustrated, thanks to writer Al Ewing and artist Dike Ruan.

My favorite story was, honestly, the one written by Kevin Smith and featuring art by Adam Kubert. Smith is a man whose films vary between, "Amazing," and, "Terrible," with his comic work doing much of the same. That said, he did solid work on both Daredevil and Green Arrow at various points in his career, so it is a real hoot to watch the characters meet up, size each other up, and work together. Just a gas of a strip! We do end the book with an interesting throwback to the Amaglam era, where we meet, "Logo," who is a blend of Wolverine and Lobo. The strip is so short I can't be sure if the idea has legs beyond a handful of pages or is best served as a one-and-done joke. As the Amaglam characters are a messy shared copyright, we may never see him again to find out anyway. I at least appreciate the effort writer Ryan North and artist Ryan Stegman put into the little surprise strip at the end of the comic.

I've clearly had a lot more to say and compliment about the back-up stories, which is strange considering we were talking about two huge names being used to, "Sell," this crossover! I do wonder if the DC-headlined end of things will have a stronger take on Batman and Deadpool squaring off. I look forward to finding out and reading more intriguing back-up stories in November. As it stands, however, this comic is overall a good-but-not-great...

3 out of 5 Stars.

About Jimmy Kimmel, Fascism, and the Power of Speech

Jimmy Kimmel, as a late-night television host, has had a couple of different personas. When he and Adam Carolla were co-hosts of, “The Man Show,” he was a bit edgy. Now, in retrospect, there are a couple of cringeworthy elements in every episode of that program. It has not aged well overall, but some segments are still funny. Yet, when Kimmel started hosting a late-night show on ABC, he came across as a lot more mellow, mature, and honestly a bit milquetoast. The thing about fascism, however, is that it cannot stand any resistance, even if it’s moderate and minimal. Hence, Jimmy Kimmel has found himself in the crosshairs of the Trump administration via the FCC.

I honestly did not have Jimmy Kimmel on my bingo card for 2025 as becoming the sudden late-night champion of free speech against Trump. Colbert has definitely stood against Trump and his show was canceled after this last season in response (supposedly it was all for financial reasons CBS claims). however, on Monday’s show Kimmel pointed out in his monologue that MAGA has continued to try to claim the person who killed Charlie Kirk was somehow a far left-wing person which does not seem to be the case. Still, the right wing has continued to exploit this idea. It’s not an especially controversial statement, and it did not even dismiss the tragedy of anyone dying from gun violence, be they Charlie Kirk or anyone else. Trump and his allies seem to have taken this death and run with it as some sort of excuse, however, to go after anyone who doesn’t paint Charlie Kirk as anything but a saint. 

As I said in my previous post, I did not really follow Kirk because whenever I saw clips of him, his views seemed to be a complete 180 from mine. From the bits I’ve seen, he seemed quite rude towards those who debated him, and he said some really racist, homophobic, transphobic, and anti-feminist things. He had every right to his views, but to paint him as some sort of civil rights hero that we should be honoring is silly. He was a man with opinions, and he stated them often via his Turning Point USA platform. The fact that Trump has been grifting on this idea of him as some sort of martyr says more about MAGA opportunism than anything else. We as a nation have a chance for a sincere reaction to Kirk’s death, but politicians have said, “Nah.” Enacting some common-sense gun reform would be a smart choice, for example. Yet, conservatives are choosing to go after anyone who doesn’t say only glowing things about Kirk. One big irony is that this is the complete opposite of the free speech absolutism that many conservatives claim to believe in. I guess when all that freedom of speech is questioning the right-wing, then they want to go after people for their words. Hence, even someone whose comedy is a bit bland,  Jimmy Kimmel, becomes a target merely for stating facts that are inconvenient for a would-be fascist empire that is the Trump administration.

After Kimmel made his obvious and unquestionable observations about Republicans taking advantage of Kirk’s death, the FCC threatened ABC. A number of ABC affiliates are trying to get approval from the FCC for various things, so they reacted by pulling Kimmel and replacing his show with other programming, one planned thing being a big Charlie Kirk memorial special. Apparently, Kimmel cannot plan on having his show reinstated until after he meets with ABC, pens some sort of apology to Kirk‘s family, and donates money to Turning Point USA. I honestly don’t think Kimmel lacks enough of a spine to do any of that, especially because he didn’t do anything wrong! He pointed out how MAGA is engaging in their time-honored tradition of taking advantage of something tragic, like a death, and using it to their advantage to go after any political enemies, even if it doesn’t make sense. 

As I said, I would not have expected Jimmy Kimmel to become the symbol of standing against Trump’s fascism and the Administration’s quashing of speech that goes against Trump’s fascist empire, but here we are in 2025. God help us, this year just keeps getting weirder. Even the smallest bit of speech against someone who wants absolute power has to be crushed, that is power of words. Kimmel has become a victim of a tyrant (Trump) and his tools (the FCC). It is disgusting, but as I just said, that's 2025 for you. God help us get through this year without a World-ending war breaking out, too, please.

"Dogtangle," is Chock-Full of Abstract Art, Dark Humor, and Clever Takes on Corporatism

Veron and Caressa are two people who fall in love. Veron is an activist of sorts who has been fighting in vain against zoning laws that result in quality buildings continuously being torn down and replaced. Caressa works in pharmaceutical marketing. They get married and come up with the idea of the Hypermutt, a mass of dogs that grows with every individual dog it absorbs--a modern-day cerebus of sorts. That is the plot of, "Dogtangle," by Max Huffman. It is weird, and good!

It is a silly concept, and it quickly gets out of hand (encompassing much of the state of Florida). The Hypermutt is a bit of a metaphor, clearly, for corporatism run amok. A lot of, "Dogtangle," features incredibly abstract and intriguing art as well as pitch-black dark humor and a lot of piss being taken out of how we as a Nation seem to be in a state of end-stage Capitalism. A politician jokes that his favorite thing when it comes to holding office is insider trading. A comment is made about how even if the Hypermutt keeps growing, it will eventually run out of steam due to, "built-in obsolescence," that any new product has.

"Dogtangle," has such bizaare and intriguing art that you'll find yourself studying pages as you work to fully absorb the weirdness. Huffman's style is all his own, but it does remind me a bit of the stranger pieces by Michael DeForge--and that's a compliment. Between the peculiar art, clever plotting, and general kooky vibe, Max Huffman has created a surrealist masterpiece. Due to be published by Fantagraphics this November, make sure to ask your local store/library/etc. about getting a copy!

5 out of 5 Stars.

An advance copy of, "Dogtangle," was provided upon my request by Fanatgarphics for the purpose of review.

Zombie Tale With a Twist, "Everything Dead and Dying," Has a Stellar Debut Issue

"Everything Dead and Dying," is a new comic series published by Image. Written by Tate Brombal (who did a fantastic, "Barbalien," series) and featuring art by Jacob Phillips (I loved his work on the, "Newburn," comic), it is a horrific zombie tale with a clever twist. Jack Chandler is the only person who survived a strange virus that quickly turned everyone in his rural Canadian farming town into a zombie. He found himself bitten, scratched, and everything else, but didn't change. So, he just kept life going and made sure the town, "Survived," thanks to how he was immune.

He gets up, cares for his zombie husband and adopted daughter, drives through town, tends to the crops and (living) animals on his farm, goes home, and keeps the zombies fed with some of the ground-up animals when he isn't cooking food for himself or eating his crops. The zombies seem to almost have some kind of built-in muscle memory, so they go about their days paying Jack little mind. It is an interesting take on the post-post apocalypse, AKA what happens after the World ends and life settles into a new rhythm. Without giving away too much (although even the solicitation for the series itself spoils a lot), Jack may not be the only one who survived the end of the World, and I definitely look forward to the next issue and its exploration of whether Jack is less alone than he initially believed.

Brombal's writing makes us really care for Jack and see the mix of emotions he has being essentially left behind when everyone else got sick and suddenly changed. A town full of people that didn't accept or like him now is solely reliant on the one immune person present to keep stuff running (including a hydroelectric water mill that powers everything). Jack knows his family aren't human anymore, but he still loves them and the town. Phillips' artwork is superb as well, flashing between the happy past and the dreary present with clever touches that give a weird calm to both the, "Before," and the, "After," of everything going wrong. It is surreal how Jack's life didn't change too much, through a lot of effort for sure, even if everything else went to Hell. Phillips really sells the quiet and eerie horror of going through the motions day after day when there is nothing else left to do.

"Everything Dead and Dying," #1 is an excellent start to this series. It establishes everything we need to know, gives us the routine, and then ups the stakes at the issue's end so as to make it clear we're in for wild ride. In this day and age, when you'd think every possible take on zombies has been done, it is exciting to get a new twist on the formula!

5 out of 5 Stars.

Coffee Report Card: Six North Cafe is Lovely

Time for my second Coffee Report Card! I am doing these with my friend Emily, AKA The Koze Pantry, where we check out a coffee spot and review it! I've been to Six Noth Cafe a number of times and am a fan, but it was Emily's first visit.

I had a breakfast sandwich as well as a cherry Italian soda and some coffee. A breakfast item I used to get was no longer available (a big tasty bowl of eggs and bacon and such) so I got the sandwich and it was perfectly fine--I was just a bit bummed. That said, the Italian soda really hit the spot, and the coffee was solid as well. Emily had some waffles that she said were, "Okay," but not her favorite. She also wasn't vibing with the coffee as much as me.

The decor is chill, and the employees were really nice as always (Emily noted how nice everyone was as well). I've had lunch sandwiches at the Six North Cafe as well and quite often love them, but as it was breakfast time, we didn't have any of those this visit. The store was hopping with a steady stream of people in and out, but it never felt too busy or crowded. As I often visit the Six North Cafe, it is obvious I am a fan, but Emily said, despite the lovely employees, she wasn't too into her food or drink. Our reviews differ this time, it is evident, and that will happen sometimes with the Coffee Report Card! I, however, grade the Six Noth Cafe as 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

Today's Spector Club Show Was Wonderful

I attended the Spector Club's Comic Show today and had a fantastic time. A number of my friends were there selling goods at tables or attending and having a gas finding good reads. Many folks asked how I had been, as it was the first time they'd seen me since my hospital stay; I greatly appreciated their concern. I began the show chatting with my friends (and showrunners) Dave Schmidt and Spike Forester. I had a lot of fun chatting with Magnitude 10 Comics about the latest news in the hobby as well. They were kind enough to pose for a photo:

I had the chance to enjoy conversing with John Chaffee and bought some comics from him as well as my friend Thomas Milister. Bruce Reynolds had a booth full of great books and the always affable Tim Metzger had a good mix of items too! There were many more vendors whose names I don't know or have forgotten (sorry), and the show, actually, has plans to grow! Disregard any previous flyers, as in 2026 (some shows in the future), the Spector Club Comic Show will be relocating to 4690 Lansdowne so as to have space for even more vendors--further details will be provided as we near 2026!

The Virtual Boy is Back, Kind of. Yes, for Real

The Virtual Boy was Nintendo's biggest flop. It was a console where you could play games in black-and-red 3D. I remember the first time I tried it out, actually. I was in Sears back in 1995 and they had a demo of it set up. I was so excited to try it out and...it was terrible. It had weird visuals, gave me a headache, all of that. Still, nostalgia is a funny thing and Nintendo announced yesterday how all the old Virtual Boy games will be coming via the Switch Online service. Plus, according to Polygon, "Nintendo's releasing a new Virtual Boy headset to use with the retro games. You'll insert your Switch 1 or Switch 2 screen directly into the accessory in order to get the stereoscopic 3D effect. There will also be a cardboard headset to allow dabblers to experience Virtual Boy games." The throwback console will run you a cool hundred bucks, but the cardboard option is only 25 smackers.

The Virtual Boy was always more interesting as a concept than in practice. It wasn't even really ahead of its time as we still are struggling as a society to figure out what to do with these so-called virtual reality/augmented reality headsets (even Apple couldn't crack it). If you have a Switch or Switch 2 and want to fiddle around with the old games that could be fun for an hour or two. Just get ready to possibly have an awful headache afterwards if you're anything like me.

"The Hero Complex," in Saint Peters is a Cool Spot!

I had a friend who knows I like comics mention to me that they had visited a cool place and they thought I would like it, so I went there today. Called, "The Hero Complex," it is in Saint Peters and a really neat place! I stopped by today, right as they were opening, and was impressed by their mix of being both an arcade and a comic shop. 

The arcade had a lot of cool options and a prize booth for once you're done playing. I didn't play any games today, but I did see some folks enjoying themselves. In the comic store section, there are tons of cool pieces of decor, a variety of new releases for sale, some back-issues, trades/hardcovers, toys, and more! There was a nice little section of kids' comics and books, as well, for little ones--a nice touch. 

The employees were incredibly friendly and eager to answer any questions I had about whether various issues were in stock. I had a lot of fun browsing around and checking, "The Hero Complex," out. If you're ever near 100 Jungermann Road in Saint Peters, I would recommend visiting their store/arcade as you'll have a great time!

"Orla!" #1 is a Romantic Comedy and Monster Thriller All in One

"Orla!" is a new comic published by Mad Cave. Written by John Lees and featuring art by Sally Cantirino, it follows a woman named Orla. She restores antiques for a living, enjoys reading romance novels, and has been on the dating scene in Seattle--and it's been rough. Oh, and she has a man-eating monstrous creature inside her she nicknamed the, "Ick," because it is a manifestation of all her sadness and rage that, as stated, literally eats people. Yes, this comic is a weird mix of genres for sure, and I loved it!

Combining the plot of a romantic comedy with a creature-feature sounds odd when you write it down, but with, "Orla!" it works very well. Much of the comic has us really feeling for Orla, a perfectly kind, thoughtful, and pleasant woman who gets along with her friends and other folks, but she just can't find love. Is Orla going on dates with, "Bad," men so she has an excuse to have her Ick devour them, or is she truly struggling to meet anyone deserving of anything besides her rage and hunger? It's a good question, and when a potential guy who actually is just a nice person Orla knows asks her on a date at the end of the issue, it definitely raises the stakes--along with how some governmental agency seems to be surveilling Orla with suspicions about her powers/curse.

Having a cute romantic comic thrown in a blender with gory monsters is not an idea I ever would have come up with, but I'm so glad John Lees and Sally Cantirino have brought us this stellar first issue of, "Orla!" I eagerly await the second, which is due September 17th, last I checked. Ask your comic shop to order you a copy of, "Orla!" if you'd like to join in on the equally cute and horrific fun, or you can even preorder the whole collected TPB if you don't mind waiting for the whole yarn to be completed.