"Beckett's Non-Sport Update," Magazine Was Canceled With No Warning, Thankfully Other Fun Reading Options Exist

As many of you know, I like magazines, newsprint, and so forth. I mean, even with the rise of digital technology and such I will always prefer my comic-books/graphic novels/prose books/etc. in physical form. I do know those who like physical media are a shrinking demographic and besides mini-resurgences such as with vinyl records, digital generally wins the day. I subscribe to some magaiznes about various interesting subjects from, "Rolling Stone," to, "Beckett's Non-Sport Update." Beckett does magazines about baseball cards, hockey, basketball, and so forth, and they used to do one about interesting trading cards that dealt in non-sport subjects. Every two months the magazine would have snazzy articles about old trading cards that dealt with dinosaurs, famous wars, historical flags, and pieces about what was currently trending. Without much fanfare, however, Beckett killed their nonsport mag.

The second-to-last issue (October/November 2025) was a big celebration of the publication achieving 35 years in print. Who knew it would turn into more of a wake than a birthday party as the final issue came out (December 2025/January 2026) and as soon as it was done printing, Beckett seems to have shut-down almost any websites relating to the magazine's existence outside of a nonsport price guide you can access online for a period of time double however much subscription length you had left (so two bimonhtly issues equals four months). How generous, I say as my voice drips with sarcasm.

So, is that it for publications about trading cards that are not sports-related? Well, PSA apparently puts out a pop-culture magazine, but you get it with an expensive membership (which does entitle you to a grading discount if you grade a lot of cards) to get that magazine. Don't despair if you want a print publication about non-sport, however, as there is a great option. Called, "The Wrapper," it is a cool newspaper-style publication with fun articles and classifieds dedicated to non-sport cards. I became aware of its existence not too long ago, got a sample issue for only three bucks, and you can subscribe for a year (a new issue comes out every six weeks) for just 32 smackers. I would encourage anyone who likes to read fun news pieces about non-sport trading cards to check The Wrapper out and offer it their support--Lord knows we don't want another cool publication folding anytime soon.

I'm Digging that New, "The Twilight Zone," Comic

Earlier this year, I discussed how a new comic was on the way, themed for, "The Twilight Zone." Presented as an anthology (different creative teams and stories every issue) with artwork intentionally in black-and-white just as with the original run of the television series, it sounded promising! The first issue was titled, "Blanks," and written by Dan Watters with art by Morgan Beem. It had a creepy premise of a man undergoing a procedure to stay young, but it having a horrific impact on anyone exposed to him. 

The second issue is even more of a trip with writing, art, and lettering by the amazing Tom Scioli. Called, "A World of Your Wildest Dreams," it follows astronauts who land on a planet only to discover their thoughts and memories manifest in surreal and (possibly dangerous) ways. It has a couple of clever twists befitting of a solid, "The Twilight Zone," story, and Scioli's art skills remain impeccable at telling a good story. If this new series can keep giving us great stories, I hope it runs for quite a while!

5 out of 5 Stars (for both of these initial issues).

"Black Friday," is a Lot More Chill Than it Used to Be

Back when I was a young child, I remember the mix of excitement, fear, and dread in a person's voice when they discussed, "Black Friday." A day where amazing deals could be had if you were willing to wait hours in a line, risk being trampled by a stampeding crowd, and fight somebody over a slightly discounted game console. With the rise of the internet we saw, "Cyber Monday," and over time, "Black Friday," has beocme more of a concept of, "The extended weekend we shop after Thanksgiving," as opposed to a single day you have to scrap with a feisty grandma to get a cheap television. Whether you're older or even a high schooler with memories of only a decade ago, we can all agree that things are different with shopping online. Tariffs and other factors wreaking havoc on our economy have an impact as well, with less people trying to, "Bust," down doors for doorbusters (Donald Trump loves to screw up anything he can).

One encouraging shift in all this is that, "Small Business Saturday," has seen a rise in popularity, where folks go and support local businesses/non-chains the weekend of Thanksgiving, helping a shop that truly values their patronage as opposed to a mega-retailer. I'm all for stimulating the economy at a more local level without a doubt, whether it is on a, "Black Friday," a, "Small Business Saturday," or just any general day. Which is kind of what the event that was, "Black Friday," has become. Another day, and I would say that is alright.

Happy Thanksgiving 2025!

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow American readers! I hope everyone who celebrates the holiday has a good time this year! I am thankful for my family, friends, and all of you who read this blog! I hope your Thanksgiving feast is delicious, and that any visiting family get along. Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone!

A Reminder: Comic-Book Page Rates Remain Terrible

Hey, kids/teens/adults, ya'll wanna break into comics? You wanna get paid by a big company to make some comic-books? Do you want a livable wage? Well, it is kind of an either-or situation quite often, friend! No, come back!

In all seriousness, the field of comics remains one that has some incredibly successful big names and a lot of folks just hanging on for dear life as they attempt to scape by a living doing something they love deeply but which pays horrendously. Heidi MacDonald over at The ComicsBeat has a new post discussing how this keeps coming up with little done to fix that page rates (what you get paid per page of comic-book) have stagnated for decades in relation to inflation, costs of living, etc. If we don't pay the people making our comics decent money, they may very well call it quits. You could argue, "There will always be someone else ready to take less money," and that could be true, but I don't like the idea of immense talents giving up on comics for someone with worse drawing skills than even me to get a gig because they'll work for peanuts. 

When we're talking about billion-dollar properties at DC and Marvel, you would think the people who are making the new stories that the companies will turn to for their movies and shows (as the older content dries up) could get paid a bit more. Even indie-level publishers have struggled to pay anything near what they did in the 1980s or so, when you adjust for inflation and such, but it makes a bit more sense as those very companies are themselves sometimes labors of love barely able to keep the lights on and put out a comic or two.

The history of comic-books is a story built on the labor of countless underrecognized or outright unrecognized talents who deserved more respect and money than they received. It is saddening to think that legacy continues all the way into the current day in many respects. Pay comic creators what they're worth, in other words, or there could eventually be no creators.

It's Still Wild the Most Valuable Comic Ever Was Found in an Attic

Recently, a copy of, "Superman, "#1 graded as 9.0 by CGC, sold for 9.12 million dollars at auction. Published in 1939, it is the highest graded copy of that comic possible and while it is not Superman's first appearance, it is probably the best condition comic you'll find for an extremely early appearance. As the story goes, three brothers in Northern California were sorting through their late mom's items in the attic when they stumbled upon a box containing the comic collection she had previously mentioned owning when she was younger. The contents included that minty copy of, "Superman, '#1. From there, they got it graded, sent it to Heritage Auctions, and it sold for $9.12 to a buyer who has chosen to remain anonymous. 

It just boggles the mind to imagine their mother buying this comic all those years ago, tucking it away, and then such a gorgeous copy being unearthed by her children decades later. This shattered the previous record of the highest sale of a comic, Superman's debut in a CGC 8.5-graded, "Action Comics," #1 (which pulled in six million). The superheroic alter-ego of ol' Clark Kent keeps raking in the many dollar bills, clearly!

Donald Glover Has Revealed a Lot about his Health Issues and Recovery

Back in October of last year,  Donald Glover canceled a number of tour dates as his musical alter-ego, Childish Gambino, for unspecified health reasons. I wished him a speedy recovery from whatever the issue was, while noting he was under no obligation to share the concerns with us (we all deserve medical privacy). Now, Glover is back to performing and discussed how he suffered a stroke and had a hole in his heart, which was repaired via surgery as well. I am pleased he is doing better and is comfortable telling us fans what happened. When I had my medical event, they actually checked for if I was having a stroke, and that was quite scary. I wish Donald Glover continued good health and continue to eagerly anticipate an eventual, "Community," movie with him involved!

CRWN Studios Has Entered the Comic Distribution Field

When it comes to comic-book distribution within the United States, we've got Penguin Random House, Lunar, and Universal is entering further into the scene too with DC and Dynamite. Plus, Philbo is doing a lot of cool stuff with indie publishers, of course. Another player is entering the scene now as well, CRWN Studios. Staffed by a number of former Diamond employees (who jumped ship when things got bad or were laid off), a number of plans are in place to distribute to the U.S. and U.K., with CRWN Studios also planning a print as well as digital catalog of publishers who sign with them. Looks like the comic-book distribution field just got another player.

The Spector Club Show Today Was Great Fun!

I attended the last Spector Club Show of the year and had a fantastic time! I saw a number of friends upon my arrival, including Spike of Lost in Space Toys and Collectibles and Dave Schmidt of All-American Collectibles. As some vendors finished setting up and the crowd began entering, I enjoyed browsing the many comics for sale whilst talking with Dave of Callisto Comics and my friend Geoff, who was set up along with my chum Greg! The always-awesome Tim Metzger had a chunk of comics and other cool wares for sale, too.

As I kept looking at comics, I picked up some snazzy, "Ultimate Spider-Man," back issues and some, "Absolute Batman," issues I wanted to catch up on, too. I was able to buy a cool variant of the recent annual from Magnitude 10 Comics! John from Bigfoot Comics and Collectibles had a bunch of comics and coins for sale, which was awesome! I also had a chance to see Drew of CoMo Comic Books and enjoyed hearing how he had been doing as well. In addition, I was pleased to see my friend Bruce Reynolds and look at his comics. I also saw Wayne and was glad to hear he was doing better, considering all the medical stuff he's gone through.

It was a great show and I am excited about how it is moving to the new location. Starting in 2026 for the first show on March 22nd, the event will be held at 4690 Lansdowne Ave, St. Louis, MO 63116. You can expect me to write about the Spector Club Show and this location further as that date approaches!

"Ex Utero," by Charles Forsman is a Creepy and Great Comic

Charles Forsman is a fantastic comic-maker. I've discussed his works before and even interviewed him as well. Lately, I've been digging his series, "Ex Utero." It has been published in physical form by The Mansion Press (a publisher of cool comics located in France, but they publish stuff in English), and you can follow along with the latest entries too if you subscribe to Forsman's Patreon. Set in the 1990s, it follows a teenager named Josh whose whole family has been a fractured mess since his mother died in a car accident (with hints she might have purposely killed herself). Josh finds a mysterious book of magic one day, including a spell to bring the dead back, and wonders if it could actually work. These early chapters are quiet slice-of-life/coming-of-age pieces that set the stage for when everything gets very supernatural and horrific. If you don't mind a spoiler for the early chapters, the spell works! Josh's Mom returns, seemingly better than ever (the family tells everyone she's a visiting Aunt to assuage any possible suspicions). From this point, things only get eerier and a bit bloody at times.

Forsman has always excelled at telling stories that mix quiet everyday moments with surreal or supernatural elements. I've been loving every entry of, "Ex Utero," on his Patreon and the physical printings of the story are a treat to have in-hand as well. If you're looking for a disturbing tale with great art, you should check out the physical copies or join Forsman's Patreon!

5 out of 5 Stars (for what has been released so far).

Flashback Friday: "The Life and Times of Savior 28," Predicted a Lot about the World as We Know it Now

Superheroes and their garish costumes as distractions from the real problems of the World. It is a, "Postmodern," idea being explored more and more, but by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Cavallaro were talking about this back in 2009 with the comic, "The Life and Times of Savior 28," and they absolutely were fantastic on this five-issue mini-series. The whole thing came from an idea DeMatteis had for Captain America way back in the 1980s, but Marvel rejected it. Their loss was IDW's gain, however, as with this comic, we get the story of a man who has lived for decades, realizes the endless fighting and pontificating are getting nowhere, so he pledges to stop. Just stop.

Drawing from a mix of real-world events and lots of fictionalizations, "The Life and Times of Savior 28," touched on the horrors of WWII, 9/11, and how a being who is supposed to protect our planet would react to such things--generally, quite badly. Savior 28 decides to preach peace and nonviolence. It keeps failing, however. Whether he ends up, "Reverting to type," when faced with old foes who want to brawl or confronted by former friends in disbelief at his shift in personality, things keep getting worse up to 28's eventual assassination (not a spoiler, you know he's been killed against all odds at the start of the first issue).

Much of the comic examines what it would be like if someone expected to fly around, fight, and distract the populace from the real problems of the World went against the grain--and how violently those in power would react who benefit from the heroes, villains, and their dramatic events keeping the populace's attention. There is by no means some grand conspiracy in, "The Life and Times of Savior 28," just a World that wants the heroes providing escapist entertainment while they handle the, "Real," business of economics, wars, and so forth. Again, there is a clever metaphor in there about the idea of the superhero as a distraction from the fascist powers who want an entertained and complacent citizenry. 

This wasn't the only comic touching on this subject of, "Heroes as a distraction," in the earlier 2000's as, "The Boys," was making quite a splash around the same time," but I'd argue with almost every hero within "The Boys," being a secret asshole that comic is a lot more cynical than, "The Life and Times of Savior 28." In this book, the protagonist is the opposite of a nihilist and truly has hope for humankind, even if the World has turned its back on him; at least, up until his death. Then, he's suddenly revered again, as often happens when people with iffy histories pass and then randomly get a heroic remembrance.

Even Savior 28's friends can't believe his new ideology.

J.M. DeMatteis is a fantastic writer who has been at the craft of comics for decades, so he knows how to give us a damn good story. Mike Cavallaro does a superb job as well, and actually went on to collaborate on more projects with DeMatteis in the future, in addition to creating a popular comic geared towards younger readers, "Nico Bravo." I feel like you don't see a ton of discussion about, "The Life and Times of Savior 28," and that perturbs me, as this is one stellar comic. Go find yourself a copy of the collected issues in a graphic novel or pick up the individual issues; it has somehow become even more relevant in this World where more and more things now exist to keep us from fighting against injustice and trying to make a change. There is much tragedy within, "The Life and Times of Savior 28," but it does end on a bit of a hopeful note. Looking at how things are these days in 2025, I can only wish that our real World will someday live up to Savior 28's optimistic view of a more peaceful future. One can dream.

Flashback Friday: Alan Moore Wrote Some Fun, "Spawn,"-Related comics Back in the Day

Alan Moore was essentially betrayed by the comic industry multiple times. It is understandable if he'd rather write his (admittedly good and well-reviewed) novels he now does, but the man was a skilled comic-crafter without a doubt. Not everything he wrote was an epic that people talk about with reverence, either. Sometimes he just wrote some zany and fun stuff. I'm especially fond of when Alan Moore did some zany Spawn-related stuff back in the day.

As d. emerson eddy discussed in a recent article on Comicsbeat, Alan Moore wrote a three-issue mini-series for Spawn's foe, "Violator," back in the 1990s. It is absurd, violent, and quite hilarious. Bart Sears contributes art for the first two issues, with a then-less-known Greg Capullo doing the finale. The plot basically involves everyone from the mafia to other demons wanting to kill Violator, and the effort he goes to in order to not end up dead and back in Hell. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it is a hoot and relatively easy to find for dirt cheap as individual issues or in a trade paperback. It wasn't only a baddie Moore wrote either, he was involved in, "Spawn," #8, #32, and the, "Blood Feud," mini-series. My favorite piece of Spawn-by-Moore is a crossover, however.

Back in the late 90's Alan Moore was invited by Jim Lee to write, "WildC.A.T.s." and he did a solid job. For my money, the four-issue crossover he did of, "Spawn/WildC.A.T.s" is the most fun Spawn-by-Moore even if (one should emphasize) none of this is anywhere near his best work--that said, many agree how, "Even Moore's 'not very good' can be interesting when looked at critically." Yes, "Spawn/WildC.A.T.s" is very 90's, very silly, and Moore's writing is underserved by art (sorry, Scott Clark) that seems busier making the female characters look as svelte and sexy as possible than doing anything else, but it is a crazy little read. Spawn is quite evil in the story, which is set in the far-future time of 2015 (I mean, the future for when it came out) and full of epic fighting, monologuing, and general wackiness. I'm not alone in liking it despite its obvious flaws. Lots of folks hate it and say it isn't even, "Canon," to Spawn or WildC.A.T.s, although when it comes to anything, "Spawn," continuity is a loose concept at best. 

The art admittedly leans heavily into the 1990s, "Cheesecake," aesthetic.

For my money, in the same way that almost any random, "Punisher," comic by Garth Ennis is better than 99% of other (newer) Punisher comics, a silly crossover of little consequence by Alan Moore is still a good deal more pleasurable to read than a lot of Image stuff in the 90s (this was before Jim Lee took his Image characters over to DC). We've got the WildC.A.T.s. fighting a demon-possessed Spawn and Alan Moore is having fun and telling an engaging story. Not everything has to be, "Watchmen," or, "From Hell," with Moore, so just chill out, random internet haters.

Whether it was the main, "Spawn," comic, the spin-off series, or crossovers, Alan Moore wrote a lot of Spawn, even though his takes on other heroes get a lot more, "Ink," written about them, be they Batman in, "The Killing Joke," or other popular characters in various books he barely touched. A lot of Moore's stuff with heroes could be more dour/serious like his time with, "Swamp Thing," but the man knew how to have a good time too, as any of his comics involving Spawn make clear. Moore is clearly happier now not doing comics, but at least we have these four-color memories of his work to enjoy for years to come.

"Tough Love at the Office: The Complete Yuri Collection," is an Action-Packed and Steamy Tale

I became aware of the manga, "Tough Love at the Office," when I read a review of it by Tegan O'Neil on The Comics Journal website of the version that collects the whole tale. Created by Sal Jiang, translated by Alexa Frank, and adapted by Asha Bardon, the series focuses on two female office employees, Shirakawa and Kuroda. They start out despising each other, but there can be a weirdly thin line between hate and love, or lust. This is part of the, "Yuri," genre of manga, which focuses on romance between female characters (Yaoi being centered on male characters). I wouldn't describe what Shirakawa and Kuroda have as romance, however. There are literal knock-down, drag-out brawls between the characters that take on a quite erotic tone before shifting into outright angry sex without being too raunchy, as this book is labeled as being suitable for audiences 16 and older--this ain't hentai/porn, in other words, even if it gets a bit steamy at points.

Sal Jiang is a fantastic storyteller. Jing excels at portraying moments of calm in the office with a building intensity you wouldn't normally associate with a bunch of cubicles and computers, leading into the actual crazy fights or bits of corporate intrigue...that often lead to punching, scratching, kicking, and kissing or caressing. It's a quirky read and one that is, as I'd agree with Tegan's aforementioned review stating, quite sexy. It's two terrible people fighting and/or getting freaky, after all, what else would you expect?

This is a thick book, as it collects the entire yarn in amazingly illustrated black-and-white between the covers. Plus, as you keep reading, you really do begin to care about the two leads. As another review by Erica Friedman notes, "The characters are terrible people, but they sometimes do good or kind things, which gives them nuance. Neither of them is a sadist to the pleasant office drones around them. They are, however, two dominant humans fighting for dominance in every way possible." The sheer escalating drama of it all gives things a bit of a dark comedy vibe, mixed with the psycho-sexual aspects to create a superb dish of a story. If you enjoy manga and are looking for an interesting take on the most vicious workplace romance you could imagine, "Tough Love at the Office: the Complete Yuri Collection," is definitely worth a read.

5 out of 5 Stars.

OutKast's First Single, "Player's Ball," Was Released 32 Years Ago

It was 32 years ago on this very day, November 19th, that OutKast released their first single, "Player's Ball." Now, we do need to address the fact that originally a version of, "Player's Ball," was on the, "A LaFace Family Christmas," a compilation album of Christmas tunes. However, it was so good of a song that some tweaks were made to scrub the outright mentions of Christmas, and then it was today, 32 years ago, we got the version of, "Player's Ball," that most folks know. You can listen to it now with nary a clue that it was originally a bit more of a Christmas rap. It was the first single OutKast put out, and the start of a long and wonderful legacy. 

Anyone who has read my blog for some time knows that OutKast is my favorite band/music act/etc. of all time (I mean, I did a series of Flashback Friday posts examining every LP they made), and "Player's Ball," is a lovely way to get to know the earlier era of OutKast. I wonder if anyone who bought and listened to this then-new record/Cassette/CD could have imagined back on this day in 1993 how amazing a future OutKast would have? Could even Big Boi or Dre (as he was known back in the day, before he was Andre 3000) have suspected what amazing things they'd go on to do? Yes, 32 years ago today, "Player's Ball," arrived in record stores, and it is no overstatement (in my opinion, at least) to say from that point on that rap--Hell, music in general--would never be the same. To paraphrase what Andre said when OutKast won best new artist at the Source Awards a bit later on, the South made it clear it had something to say.

"Death Fight Forever," is an Upcoming Image Comic With a Stellar Creative Team

When I saw the announcement of, "Death Fight Forever," a few things caught my eye. First, the pitch of it being themed like a comic-book version of a zany '90s beat 'em up game sounded exciting. Then, the writer is the incredibly skilled Andrew MacLean, and the artist is one I really love the work of, too, Alexis Ziritt. A graphic novel version was apparently Kickstarted, but now a serialized version is coming from Image as a five-issue mini-series starting in February 2026. Just look at this amazing interior artwork by Ziritt:

Yeah, I'm picking this up in February, for sure!

Television Tuesday: "Pluribus," is a Twisty Ride of a Show

 

"Pluribus," can also be written as the stylized, "Plur1bus," but it is hard to remember to do that, so I'll just use the general spelling. It is an intriguing new show from creator Vince Gilligan (X-Files, Breaking Bad, and so forth) and starring Rhea Seehorn. The general plot is that an alien-ish virus of sorts has caused almost all of Earth to have a joyful hive mind. The problem is that 12 or so people did not get assimilated. Seehorn's character, Carol, is one of them. She's infuriated at this alien invasion and even more angered by how the alien hive mind is so damn pleasant and friendly. Three episodes have been released, with the first having almost more of a horror vibe as the virus suddenly takes over the planet, and the other two episodes leaning into the sci-fi elements with a nice dose of dark humor, too.

"Pluribus," asks if peace and safety are worth almost all of Earth losing its humanity. Everybody in the hive mind insists it is wonderful, it/they mean no harm, and so forth. Still, Carol is pissed (rightfully so), and the internet has debated if the virus has a darker motive, if this is a metaphor for using AI to create stories (the hive mind doesn't have individual thoughts, impulses, or a desire to make art), and so forth. We're only three episodes in to a nine-episode first season, so I imagine a lot more will be revealed over time. As it stands, "Pluribus," is an engaging and very wild show so far.

5 out of 5 Stars.

Should They Not Run Horror Movie Trailers Before Non-Horror Movies?

I was on Threads and saw a post/thread by someone named Sydney Bolen. It made me think as she stated, in all capital letters, "THEATERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY HORROR MOVIE TRAILERS BRFORE [sic] A NON HORROR MOVIE." I kind of see where Ms. Bolen is coming from. Imagine you're sitting down to see a fun sci-fi flick, historical drama, or the like. Suddenly, an intense horror movie trailer full of creepy imagery flashes by for two minutes. If you're someone who hates being scared, you'll probably have to close your eyes and cover your ears. 

Not all movies are, "Horror," and just have some intense or slightly scary moments, but if we're talking something straight-up frightening, you're most likely going to upset people who wanted a relaxing romantic comedy as opposed to ghosts, serial killers, evil nuns with bloody mouths, possessed schoolchildren, or anything else that makes the audience jump in their seat. It makes more sense to have trailers for scary films at a horror movie, as you're marketing to a demographic receptive to the message of, "This flick is gonna freak you out!" Otherwise, it is kind of a waste of an advertisement. This is by no means a hard-and-fast rule, but it does make a decent amount of sense, wouldn't you all agree?

Dynamite Entertainment Signs to Also be Sold by Universal Distribution

The new landscape of comic distribution just got another interesting wrinkle. As of now, we have Penguin Random House with Marvel, Dark Horse, IDW, and so forth. There is Lunar with DC, Image, Dynamite, and more too. Philbo handles a lot of indie, and Universal Distribution does a lot with comics in Canada along with games and such in the U.S. Universal recently announced they were going to distribute DC comics in America (nonexclusively as DC would be Lunar still too), and the idea was maybe game stores would carry some DC comics if they otherwise didn't do much with floppies. Well, now Dynamite Entertainment is signed with Universal, again, non-exclusively.

If a big comic shop orders a lot from PRH and Lunar, they don't necessarily need to order books from Universal Distribution. Should it be a game shop that doesn't want to hit the hefty minimum orders for Lunar, however, getting some DC and Dynamite comics to toss up on the shelves from Universal Distribution might be appealing in terms of diversifying comic readership. Now, you could have a hobby shop with trading cards, miniatures, tabletop games, and some comics for fun as well. With the demise of Diamond Comic Distributors (and that was all in this year), the market is still figuring itself out, and it is fascinating to watch.

The Latest Shriners' Collector Fest Was Immense Fun!

I attended the Shriners' Collector Fest and had a great time today. There were a ton of vendors, notable celebrity guests, and everyone was excited and having fun! Popular voice actress Emily Bauer had a long line of fans as soon as the show kicked off, and near the entrance, I saw my friends from Heroes for Kids. They were kind enough to pose for a picture:

My friends from Go Getter Gamez were present with a ton of cool wares, and they were fun to catch up with. I proceeded to enjoy chatting with Magnitude 10 Comics about the various series we'd been enjoying reading and how hard it can be to prioritize what we want to collect! He let me shoot a pic too:

Justin Mosely had cards and comics for sale too, and it was fun to see him as we hadn't bumped into each other for some time. My friend, author Jessica Mathews, had all of her superb works available for attendees to browse and purchase. Here she is with her setup:

As I continued exploring the show, I checked out Mack's 3D Creations and their neat wares and saw a ton of cool comics for sale from The Lions Realm. I snapped an image of their sign:

KMO's Corner was selling a bunch of interesting die-cast cars and collectibles, which were neat to see. Plus, Collector Fest had a ton of folks with trading cards, sports cards, TCGs, and more. One of the vendors had a really neat logo and let me get a picture of it--Blorg's Hobby Shop. Here it is:

After I wound my way around a table full of Funko Pops, I ran into DeathCapStories, who had a bunch of interesting horror-themed books for sale; their stuff was cool! Then, I met Car'Bored, a business of two fellows where one is skilled at fixing cars and the other loves trading cards. I loved the name, with a doubt. Here is that table:

Mr. Makebelieve was present with his immense array, "Kiss Kollectibles," for sale. I always enjoy speaking with him. I then saw Larry from Bug's Comics and browsed his wares. Plus, The Hero Initiative is always doing fantastic work for comic creators in need, and they had a table with wares raising funds for the non-profit:

There were even more vendors I did not get the name of (the area was packed with awesome stuff), and tons of friendly folks at the show. The Shriners' Collector Fest today was highly enjoyable, and I can't wait for when the next one occurs!

A So-Called Social Media Influncer Caused a Security Scare at the, "Wicked: For Good Premiere," and is Emblematic of a Bigger Problem

There is someone who is, "Famous," on social media, and their whole M.O. seems to be running up to celebrities so they can harass/scare/assault them. Pyjama Man is his name, and he's done this kind of idiotic behavior at a Katy Perry concert as well as to The Weeknd. Whether someone is famous or a regular person, they deserve to be left alone in peace in public. When a celeb is sitting at a table to sign autographs or such, go up and say hi! When they're shopping at the grocery store, however? It is probably best to leave them alone or simply compliment their work if they notice you staring at them, and then leave them alone. A random person who isn't famous doesn't deserve these weird social media trends where so-called, "Influencers," pull pranks or embarrass somebody. Should someone consent to being filmed for one of those silly videos where they get a suitcase with $1,000 or can give a suitcase with $10,000 to a stranger, that's okay, they gave consent! Running up on somebody and harassing them for your TikTok or Instagram, "Likes," is awful behavior, whether it is a lady shopping for apples or a celebrity. Which brings us back to Pyjama Man.

Ariana Grande was at the, "Wicked: For Good," premiere in Singapore, and a random man charged at her, grabbed her by the shoulders, and was quickly shoved off by Cynthia Erivo and others. It was Pyjama Man. I am impressed by how Cynthia did not hesitate for a second to help her friend and that she moved faster than security! Grande has already spoken previously about having PTSD and anxiety in large social situations after the 2017 bombing of her Manchester concert, which killed 22 people. Whether she has previous trauma or not, however, she isn't a prop for Pyjama Man to use in the interest of getting famous for being an idiot. Whether he's assaulting celebs, streaking on soccer fields, or otherwise being a menace, this fool is rewarded with internet, "Likes," and followers. How he has avoided extensive time in jail astounds me (for this incident, he was charged with being a public nuisance), but this isn't just about Pyjama Man. He is a symptom of the disease. That disease? A desire to be famous at any cost for any reason.

This idiot repeatedly getting past security is alarming, not funny.

People will post the dumbest, silliest, and most inane things in hopes of going, "Viral," and getting rich. The attention span of the internet and social media seems to have only shrunk over the years so if you don't strike a nerve hard and fast, and then keep striking nerves, you'll fade away from people's minds quickly, it seems. This leads to desperation and people acting like a menace in the name of winning the internet in some fashion. Why do something cool and harmless that gets 100 likes when you can run up to strangers and smash a pie in their face (or anything else) for 100,000 likes? It is sad, but that's how people think. At what point does it get dangerous, however? 

Pyjama man didn't have a knife or a gun, but he was able to run right up on Grande and physically touch her roughly before he was stopped. What if the next Pyjama Man wannabe thinks it would be a hoot to punch someone famous? They could very well end up hurting a celebrity or getting tazed/shot/etc. themselves. Pestering or assaulting anyone in the name of getting, "Known," on the internet is moronic, full stop. Getting permission to film people or doing a gentle prank with your friends is fine, but leave strangers alone, whether they're popular (a little, "Wicked," pun there for you all) or not.

Marvel and DC Surprise-Launched Digital Crossover Comics on Both of Their Web Platforms/Apps

In an interesting occurrence, DC and Marvel both launched digital-first comics on each of their platforms/apps that involve crossovers between their characters. There was no announcement this would happen, but as of yesterday, those who go to Marvel Unlimited with the code, "CROSSOVER25," can read, "Thor/Shazam," and on DC Universe Infinite, you can read, "Flash/Fantastic Four," for free. 

I appreciate that you don't have to have a subscription to check these out, and it is a bit of a hoot to know Shazam is on a Marvel app and the Fantastic Four are on a DC site. According to Bleeding Cool, "Two more crossover webcomics, one from each publisher, are slated for digital-first vertical-scroll releases in 2026," so this isn't just a one-off thing. These stories will (I imagine at some point) be collected in a comic or included in a deluxe collection and published in collaboration between Marvel and DC. Considering how frosty relations used to be between, "The Big Two," it is both exciting and bewildering to see crossovers happening in printed and digital comics these days. You almost wonder if we'll ever get a "DC VS Marvel/Marvel VS DC," movie someday? One can always dream!

Funko in Freefall

Funko's finances are apparently quite bad. "How severe?" you may ask. The company owes so much money and has hemorrhaged a lot of funds to the point that it could go bankrupt in 2026, allegedly. It is, "The Fall of the Funko Empire." It isn't the fault of a single thing, but lots of culprits. Overproduction, bad quality control, the rise of Labubu as a competitor, tariffs, and the like leading to $240 million of debt.

Whether Funko weathers this storm, gets bought out and absorbed into another company, or simply crashes and burns remains to be seen. I have always had a fondness for Funko Pops, whilst also not being a die-hard fan by any means. I have some Funko products, and it makes me smile to look at the ones I like--mainly the Pops, which helped the company achieve new levels of success upon that product entering the scene in 2011. I've never thought of them as some kind of investment or such, however. I lived through the Beanie Baby craze and crash, even if Funko has managed to last longer and appear more stable...at least, until now. I like Funko and their stuff. I hope they recover. Right now, things are worrisome, however.

Thank you to our Veterans, on this Veterans' Day

November 11th marks Veterans' Day. Once known as Armistice Day, the name was changed in 1954 to honor all American Veterans of the military. People sometimes get confused, as Memorial Day is for soldiers who died defending our nation, but Veterans' Day is a day of honor for all Veterans, including those still with us. Even at those times we don't personally agree with the conflicts/wars our military troops get sent into, we always thank them for their service and recognize them. Happy Veterans' Day!

BOOM! Studios Acquires the Rights to "My Little Pony," Comics/IDW Loses Another License

Popular comic-book publisher BOOM! Studios has acquired the rights to publish, "My Little Pony," comics in partnership with Hasbro. This is interesting to read as the rights used to be with IDW (who have had financial troubles at points over the years), and they also got the rights to, "Jem and the Holograms," recently, which was also, you guessed it, with IDW for years. IDW seems to be doing okay as of late, with some new hit series and such. That said, they have lost a number of licenses to various publishers (Skybound swept up Transformers and G.I. Joe rights a while ago). For some time, IDW had a ton of licensed properties, but things have clearly changed--they seem to be holding onto, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," for dear life still, however. 

I'm quite happy for BOOM! Studios as they put out a ton of great comics. I am also curious if how IDW has pivoted more towards original works (including a lot of horror series) will pay off in a profitable manner. I know it is normal for licensed properties to bounce around publishers, it just is interesting how many over the last five years, "Bounced," away from IDW. I also know that BOOM! makes good stuff, however, so I know any future comics with the ponies are bound to be great. Basically, I just want all the publishers to succeed, I suppose!

The November 9th ToyMan was a Great Show

Today was the November 9th ToyMan Show, and I had an immense amount of fun! It was packed to the gills, as usual, with tons of awesome stuff to shop for. Some holiday-focused shoppers were there, as there is just one more show before Christmas and the New Year, as well as plenty of folks after the usual awesome comics, toys, Lego, Funko, DVDs, statues, vinyl, magazines, and more!

I began the show by chatting with my friend, John, of Bigfoot Comics and Collectibles. I also had a chance to greet Spike from Lost in Space Toys and Collectibles and talk about how life had been. Tim Metzger was present with a lot of cool stuff as well. My chum, Jack Thomas of Fortress Comics, had a display loaded with awesome books, and I picked up this lovely, "Wolverine," from him:

Tatertot Comics and Collectibles' booth featured a bunch of video-games and toys, and Tom Milister had some cool goodies too. Upstairs, I ran into my friend from Tri Fox Shoppe, and they were selling some awesome creations! Lindsay Hornbsy had some really neat items and I bought her new comic of, "Dinosaur-Headed Teenage Girls." Give it a look:

I had a lot of fun browsing around today. I also picked up some cheap, "Blood Bowl," comics, which is basically a Warhammer-styled version of football that is ultraviolent and silly. I also made the acquaintance of Dan Dillion who published, "The Ultimate St. Louis Trivia Quiz," which is a book full of fun facts and information. As I love trivia, I made sure to get a copy, which he was kind enough to sign. Here it is:

This November 2025 ToyMan Show was immensely enjoyable, and I look forward to the next one on December 14th to close out the year! Mark your calendars for the event and be sure not to miss it! As always, it will be at the Machinist Hall--12365 St. Charles Rock Rd, Bridgeton, MO, 63044.