Sony is Killing Disc-Based Games, Physical Media Continues to Disappear

Sony has announced that, come 2028, games will no longer have physical disc releases. Everything will be digital on the PlayStation store or those little download codes in boxes at retailers. This will, in essence, kill the resale market for any new video-games games and really makes it look like the PlayStation 6 could be coming in 2028, and will be digital-only. We've had the option of digital-only consoles for some time (Xbox Series S springs to mind), but that being the sole option is worrisome for reasons I have outlined in various posts. You don't truly own that digital content, after all, and it could get harder to access at any point in the future. As if to drive this point home, Sony also announced it was shutting down the virtual stores for the PS3 and Vita--so download any games or updates while you still can! The internet is, to put it simply, enraged/pissed/big mad. 

In this day and age, even if a ton of sales are digital, having physical options makes it easier to rent a game, check it out from the library, borrow it from a friend, or otherwise do things that save consumers money. Then again, I suppose that costs companies some extra bucks they want to squeeze from people. Between AI chatbots that almost seem eerily self-aware and spew misinformation, the rise of science denial or political faelshoods (an alarming number of people insist the Earth is flat, vaccines cause autism, and any election their candidate didn't win was rigged), everything becoming a subscription service, and basic human rights being under attack (marriage equality, the right to an abortion, trans rights, and the list goes on), this future we're rapidly speeding towards seems more like a brick wall of destruction than an open road of progress. You know, Marion Stokes spent decades operating many VCRS so that she could tape hundreds of hours of television. She was a librarian, T.V. producer, and activist who was concerned that if we didn't have a record of what really happened in history, lies and falsehoods would be easy to spread with zero proof to counter them. Now, everything may end up digital and easy to alter without anyone noticing. My point is, she had a pretty solid argument.

The, "Mad Dog Magic BBQ Spice," From Max Mix is Delicious

Longtime readers of the blog are aware that I generally am not a fan of sauces. I didn't enjoy ketchup until I was in my 20s, and was astonished when I enjoyed Freddy's Fry Sauce. That said, I have always loved a good spice mix/dry rub/etc. I often keep my eyes peeled for new ones, and when I was at Dierbergs the other day, my attention was immediately drawn to a display with an assortment of spices. I approached and saw they were a brand named, "Max Mix," after their founder, Max Crawford. From childhood to now being a young adult, Max was into spices and BBQ, which led to him launching Max Max in 2023. As his company's website discusses, "The dream is that Max Mix will provide independence for Max, provide employment and job training for others with special abilities, create awareness about the lack of meaningful and respectful employment in our special needs community, and all while helping people spice up their life with flavorful food." The Mad Dog Magic BBQ Spice that can be put on anything looked intriguing, so I figured a tasty-sounding spice from a company dedicated to helping others was something I wanted a bottle of!

So, how was the Mad Dog Magic? I assume you read my headline where I declare it was delicious, because that stuff is fantastic. The name is, "..a heartfelt tribute to a beloved friend, Mad Dog Maddox Truitt," and I adored the smoky and sweet flavor, as well as the slightly spicy kick it carried. I put it on some chicken I had, and it took it to a new level of flavorocity, and yes, I did make that word up just now. My point is, I loved the Mag Dog Magic BBQ Spice and plan to try other flavors of Max Mix in the near future. If you live somewhere Max's products are easy to acquire, I'd encourage you to grab some at the store, or you can always buy them online!

Disclaimer: As I always like to make clear with these kinds of posts, Max's Mix did not reach out to me or request an article be written about them. They are not even aware of my blog's existence, but I will be emailing them about my article so that they know how much I dig their Mad Dog Magic!

"Supergirl," Had a BAD First Weekend at the Box Office...

"Supergirl," is the second big film in James Gunn and Peter Safran's new take on the DC cinematic Universe. "Superman," did quite well, and the second season of, "Peacemaker," which altered its continuity to take place in the same universe, was a hoot as well. "Supergirl," earned raves for Milly Alcock's performance, muted praise for Jason Momoa's Lobo, and was otherwise given a critical, "Meh," by many outlets. It proceeded to land roughly in theaters.  I mean, it made less than, "Morbius," did in its opening weekend. "Supergirl," isn't the worst cinematic bomb ever despite dramatic headlines, but the indifference of reviewers and theatergoers is evident.

Some people have begun discussing whether a general toxicity in fandom is to blame. Other's have said it is proof female superheroes don't sell/Hollywood keeps failing them. Every superhero movie that struggles results in discussion of, "Superhero movie fatigue," and plenty of folks have already begun writing this off as, "Not a big deal." The argument already is going, "Supergirl was never a big thing, the real test is how that Green Lanterns show, and Clayface movie do!" which feels like a big example of, "Moving the goalposts," but whatever.

I do want to check out the new, "Supergirl," movie. That said,  just I didn't see the latest, "Superman," until it had been out a couple of weeks, and I had the chance to view it, that'll probably be the case with, "Supergirl," for me too. At least if I go in with average-to-low expectations, I may very well conclude that it is better than people have been saying. Sure sounds like I will have much of the theater to myself when I do make it over there.

"The Serpent of the Sea," is a Great Tale Full of Creepy Vibes

"The Serpent of the Sea," is a new comic by writer Finlay Miles and illustrator Lyndon White. It's a highly enjoyable one-shot story with a delightfully unreliable narrator who might be suffering from madness or could have simply stumbled into knowledge no human should learn of, and found the Universe prefers anything he discovered be rendered forgotten. Set in 1882, we read the diaries of Captain Edward Bartholomew Pierce as a seemingly straightforward search for missing shipping vessels morphs into a fight for his life against all manner of strange creatures and beings.

Miles does a superb job of filling readers with dread and White's illustrations are imposing and scary without a doubt. They cram a lot of impressive storytelling into their comic, and I do wonder if we'll someday get a sequel exploring how much of what Captain Pierce believes occurred is real or imagined. If you desire a good serving of horror, "The Serpent of the Sea," should help satisfy that craving! You can buy it on White's website, and I rate it...

5 out of 5 Stars.

Sony Has Reaffirmed You Don't, "Own," Those Digital Movies You Bought. I'm Not Surprised

I discussed almost exactly three months ago my concerns with how physical media disappearing could lead to issues due to how we never really seem to, "Own," digital media--even if we, "Buy," it. Some folks argue that if you outright bought something, of course you own it! Well, they are oh so very wrong sometimes, as recent news at the PlayStation store makes evident. John Walker at Kotaku breaks it all down:

Sony is contacting PlayStation Store users who bought movies from the platform that were distributed by StudioCanal—like Terminator 2, Total Recall, and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind—to say that “you will no longer be able to access your previously purchased content from Studio Canal, and it will be removed from your video library.” There’s no mention of any refunds or make-goods for the affected users. Sony simply says the films are going away “due to our content licensing agreements,” once again reaffirming the fact that you are never truly buying anything that’s digital, just temporarily renting it.

You bought a movie to stream on your PlayStation or maybe even took the step to download it for some form of safekeeping. Sony comes along and says, "Nah, you didn't," before pointing to some fine print tucked away in a massive EULA document. Things like this are why I get nervous hearing, "GTA VI," won't have a disc in the physical boxes upon release, just a download code. When you don't have the DVD, comic, or even a DRM-free download of something, it could very well disappear someday from wherever you thought it was secure.

Society seems to be moving more and more towards a model where nothing is owned, and everything has a membership plan. The subscription economy has its cheerleaders and those fatigued by it. In some ways, it is the logical evolution of capitalism--arguably for the worse. Just remember that you own nothing and you're going to love it!

"Absolute Batman," is Getting an Animated Adaptation and Absolute Funko Pops Are Incoming

Back in April, I discussed my slight astonishment at how DC hadn't fully capitalized on the success of their Absolute Universe and, "Absolute Batman," in particular, with a ton of tie-ins. Well, DC has had enough time to gear up and get some stuff made, as recent announcements show. The biggest one is that out of DC's upcoing slate of animated projects, an adapatation of, "Absolute Batman," is planned. It'll be a series aimed to older/adult viewers, and it remains to be seen what network/streamer it ends up on, but it has been announced! Plus, a limited number of Absolute Universe-themed Funko Pops shall be for sale at Comic-Con International/San Diego Comic-Con, with doubtlessly more Absolute Pops planned. I'd bet DC has a lot more in the works with the massive success of everything-Absolute and will be interested in seeing what comes next.

Fare Co-op Sets off My MLM Alarm Bells

I've got some familiarity with pyramid schemes. When I was looking for work years ago I almost joined an insurance one. I've had friends and, "Friends," try to sell me on them at various points as well. For those unaware, pretty much anything where you can make more money recruiting people than selling the actual product is, by its nature, a pyramid scheme/multilevel marketing. It can be insurance, Mary Kay Cosmetics, CutCo Knives, True Romance sex toys, Herbalife, Avon, Pampered Chef, or basically anything. My point is, if a major aspect or even the main point of the business is to recruit others so you get money for referrals, downstream/upstream, or any other fancy phrasing, you're in a MLM. If you're okay with that, cool. Some people do very well in such a business as with any prymaid there are, "Levels," above others, making plenty of money...the thing is, a vast majority of folks are there at the bottom. I say all this to bring me to the point of how, when I heard radio ads for something called Fare Co-op, I looked into it. Then, my MLM alarm bells went off.

As with lots of MLM stuff, Fare Co-op sounds absolutely great at first blush. It is a rideshare service that the drivers own a part of, not some big Wall Street company. Co-ops can be great. I was a member of a grocery store co-op when I lived in Upstate New York and would frequent it in Ithaca. You could pay a membership fee, volunteer your time to help the store for membership rights, go to meetings to vote on things where everyone had a voice, and so forth. Fare Co-op makes itself sound like a co-op (I mean, it is in the name), but the more you dig, it becomes abundantly clear that a pyramid is buried under the seemingly green grass. To use another metaphor, even if some aspects do have co-op bones, the lifeblood is strictly MLM.

You tell people who hitch a ride with you via Uber or Lyft that if they were to use Fare Co-op, they can get rides cheaper. You also can recruit other people to drive via Fare Co-op, with all your referrals drawing a percentage back to you (sound the warning klaxon). When the customers or drivers you recruited get new people to try Fare Co-op, you even earn a slice of that, thanks to the tiers (the klaxon is getting louder). If you are there on the ground floor, getting people to use Fare Co-op as it begins to operate in your state, you might theoretically be able to do pretty well. Recruit enough folks and you'll be able to just sit at home watching as the money rolls in thanks to your, "Referrals." That's what MLMs are truly selling, however, and the amount of work you'd need to put in to climb these tiers and make all this money can very well end-up being the same as or less than if you just started your own private transportation company you hyped-up while doing Uber or Lyft, with its own elite fleet of chauffers or such; as I saw people point-out on Reddit, why do all this work for something that at the end of the day, even if you're doing well, you only have a piece?

This is all just my opinion. I've seen people doing Fare Co-op in their states where it is currently operating, being quite pleased with the process/growth/etc. I have noted folks who hated trying it. I am not here to tell anybody driving for Uber or Lyft that they should do Fare Co-op or be sure to avoid it. All I can say is that back when I was sitting in that, "Seminar," about selling insurance which was followed by an, "Interview," where they said how much they wanted to bring me aboard, a little voice inside me was whispering, "Run." I listened to that voice before losing a ton of my time to make very little money. I heard the ads for Fare Co-op, and for a split second, I started to think about how, if it is going to be around here, and I had the time to do something like that, it could be a good opportunity. Then, the little voice spoke up. It went, "Oh, Hell no," and was not even whispering. It did more of a holler that continued, "Come on, man, you've dodged these before." I'm gonna listen to the voice.

Disclaimer: As I repeatedly have said, this is an opinion. I've criticized businesses before to the chargin of some, and one even threatened to sue me for libel before they shut down due to countless customer complaints. I doubt a seemingly big company such as Fare Co-op cares what I have to say, but in the interest of CYA, I've added this disclaimer.

Some, "Grand Theft Auto VI," News Dropped Today. Then, All Hell Broke Loose

"Grand Theft Auto VI," is the most anticipated game of this year, that is not an overstatement. From leaks about the game as it was in development for quite some time, to how it was delayed repeatedly, and it seeming all-but-certain November 19th is set in stone as the release date, there has been a lot of hype. One thing everyone wondered, and Rockstar (the developer) or Take-Two (the Publisher) would not reveal was what the game could cost. Most new games are $70, some are $80, and there were rumors for such a huge game, the price could be $100. A bunch of news came out today, and they chose to go in a direction that makes everyone angry. "GTA VI," will ostensibly cost $80 at launch, but an, "Ultimate Edition," with more outfits, weapons, cars, and content, will cost $100. Just making it $80 would have been accepted by a lot of folks. Pricing it at $100 would have upset a ton of people, but probably had apologists too. This weird two-level system just upsets anybody involved and is a terrible idea. Oh, and there is no physical disc, either. Yes, seriously.

If you buy, "GTA VI," at a store, you simply purchase a box with a download code inside. You can buy it a week early to preload the game when it goes live the 19th, but it is essentially an empty box, unless a cool little map comes with it. This has perturbed a number of people, and some smaller chains won't be selling the game as a form of protest without actual discs involved. We've got no discs with the, "Physical," edition and a bunch of content that costs extra. It isn't like this is DLC being worked on and added to the game months/years later, this is stuff that is done and being placed beyond an extra 20 bucks if you want the, "Complete," experience. For a game as massive at, "GTA VI," is bound to be will this content probably be less than 1% of the whole experience? Quite possibly, yes, but in line with that argument, why even fence it off? Much of the internet collectively groaned in displeasure at this news today, even if a bunch of cool new screenshots accompanied these unwelcome details. Will, "GTA VI," still sell an absurd amount of copies and be one of the biggest game releases ever? Yes, that is quite likely. I, at least, won't be buying it on release date purely out of principle due to this absurd pricing system/scheme. I've waited this long to play, "GTA VI," and I can give it a few more months for an inevitable, "Ultimate Edition," sale.

The Ultimate Universe, "Ends," Tomorrow

 

The current Ultimate Universe, as we know it, ends tomorrow. We will get, "Ultimate Endgame," #5 and a, "Finale," special. I've seen some spoilers that make it abundantly clear how, even if Marvel is concluding the current run of, "Ultimate," books, there are ways it will, "Return," in some fashion. Plus, the latest Ultimate Universe has had an impact on the regular Marvel 616 Universe already, with those little boxes of powers ending up jumping around the multiverse. That said, Marvel is essentially ending the latest iteration of the Ultimate Universe tomorrow (for now), and it does surprise me to a degree they actually went through with it--especially considering that, "Ultimate Spider-Man," was a license to print money for a hot minute. 

The original Ultimate Universe remains a fascinating piece of history (I'd highly recommend Ted Adams book, "The Ultimates (Marvel Age of Comics)," for an in-depth examination) and the success of its pseudo-return/reinvention will go down as pretty intriguing, as well. Between DC's Absolute Universe (and its continued massive success) and this most recent Ultimate Universe, unique takes on seemingly-familiar concepts worked out quite well. I really enjoyed a lot of this Ultimate Universe and while I'll miss a number of the series from it, at least this publishing cycle of an, "Ultimate," Marvel World did not wear out its welcome.

Music Mondays: Some Bands Are Just Ahead of the Times

Some music sounds like a throwback to the past. Other jams sound eerily apt for the moment. Then, there is the stuff that sounds straight-up from the future in some fashion. Bands that are ahead of their time, experimenting sonically in some wild fashion. Perhaps it is a new technique with technology that nobody else has attempted--think of the KLF and how they were doing sample-heavy mash-ups before, "Mash-Ups," were even a trend. The Pet Shop Boys feel like they were beamed straight from the future to our eardrums with the epic and space-age sound. OutKast took Hip-Hop places few could have expected with their blending of genres from space funk ("ATLiens,") to sounding a bit like a live rock band ("Aquemini,") to essentially transcending rap as a form and just doing damn good music that refused to fit into an exact genre ("Speakerboxx/The Love Below"). Hell, some people argue that Blondie and their New Wave tunes invented techno as we know it today--which, okay, but give Kraftwerk some credit!

Sometimes a group that is ahead of its time isn't recognized properly until later on (The Velvet Underground) or dismissed at first as a gimmick, even though, if you dig a little, you'll find a surprising amount of substance (Devo). It is wild to think you can sometimes play someone's music from decades ago, and you recognize that other groups have finally caught up with what the OGs were doing all those years earlier. Some bands are just ahead of the times, and I thank them all for being forward-thinking and supplying us with a glimpse of just where music could possibly be going before it even knows it wants to metaphorically get there.

Happy Father's Day 2026

I want to wish a happy Father's Day to all the dads and father figures out there! I love my boys, Clarkson and Gibson, so much and am excited to have another holiday to celebrate with them. Being a father is among the things I enjoy the most in life, and having kids was (for me) one of the best life choices ever. Having biological or adopted children isn't for everyone due to various circumstances they may face or their own personal choices, but if you've ever served in a role that is Father-ish, then you can be proud today! Oh, and I don't want to forget I owe a great deal of thanks to my wife, Samii, for helping birth these stinky boys. Without her, I wouldn't even be a dad, so much love to her and my kiddos on this special day!

ArchRivals Collector Fest was Superb Fun!

The latest ArchRivals Collector Fest took place today, and it was an extremely fun time! There were tons of vendors with trading cards, comics, toys, and other collectibles. The guests were very snazzy as well; I definitely enjoyed myself.

Jessica Mathews

Early Bird entry kicked off at 8AM with a crowd eager to check the show out. I immediately said hello to my good friend Jessica Mathews. She had many of her awesome books, and we discussed how at the upcoming ToyMan show (July 12th) she would have some new titles for sale! I then spoke with Bruce Renyolds and met his brother, Alan, who was visiting Saint Louis and had brought a wildly cool mix of comics, both older and newer. There were a ton of card vendors and one with neat creations I was impressed by. This is their sign:

Guest of the show and popular colorist, Alex Sinclair, was speaking with fans and working on various pieces at the show. We nerded out together over fun history facts about Saint Louis, as we both love interesting trivia. He was kind enough to pose for a picture:

My chums from Go Getter Gamez brought a ton of awesome video games and consoles that many attendees enjoyed checking out. Mr. Makebelieve's Kiss Kollectibles were a hoot to look at, as he always has tons of neat things. Heroes for Kids was raising funds for charity and promoting their own upcoming show on July 18th & 19th! A company called STL Slots was selling real slot machines that had been tweaked to be legal for home use, so people could put them in a little basement bar area or such to have fun games to play (without losing any real money). They let me snap a picture of their sign:

John Gremillion is a voice actor for a number of popular shows (including the, "One Piece," anime) and we talked about voice acting and how he was enjoying the show. He was cool with me taking a picture of him and his banner:

As I continued navigating the show, I caught up with Brian Lan, who was helping promote the Hero Initiative, which assists comic creators in need. I ran into my friend Caitlyn McCarthy, who had some cool crafts for sale at a booth with her friend and skillful crocheter, That Crafty Witch. They posted for some photos:

A cool artist named, "The Wobbly Duck," was selling fun artwork and prints, and I chatted with my friend Nate Nauert and browsed his cool comics. I ran into Naked Man Creations again and admired his fascinating creations. Here he is with some of his works:

This Archrivals Collector Fest was packed with cool vendors, awesome guests, and was a great way to spend this Saturday! I want to thank the show for inviting me to attend as press and look forward to future events!

I Saw Lindsey Kraft and Ben Folds at The Factory Yesterday

Last night I went with Samii to see a delightful concert. It was Ben Folds with Lindsey Kraft as his opener. The show started right at 8PM with Ms. Kraft doing an assortment of really cool songs (I especially like the Mom-centric one) and discussing how she had a musical coming out this August in SoHo--which Ben Folds was a producer on! After her performance, she met with fans and was really pleasant to speak with. I'd highly recommend checking her website out and following her work!

Following a brief intermission, Mr Folds took the stage and played a variety of tunes from his older hits to recent great songs such as, "Exhausting Lover," which was on a recent LP. The story of how that song came about over a period of years was quite hilarious.

Watching Mr. Folds play the piano was incredible. His hands moved with lightning speed, and he was straight-up jamming! With his relaxed demeanor, it was fun to listen as he spoke between tunes about the history behind his songs. Whether singing with his piano playing or sharing a humorous aside, Mr. Folds was engaging the entire time he performed. When the show seemed done, the audience roared and he was kind enough to come back out and do a couple more tunes.

The show wrapped at approximately 10:45 PM, and everyone made their way out of the stadium with impressive speed. At some concerts, the crowd seems to dilly-dally, but I guess many of those in attendance were fellow Millennials (and Gen-Xers) who had kiddos to return home to. I had a fantastic time listening to Lindsey Kraft and Ben Folds. Look and see if their tour will be anywhere nearby so you can go and see a great show!

Juneteenth 2026

Today is Juneteenth. Juneteenth is about how some of the last, formerly, "Legally," enslaved people within the United States were freed on this day in 1865 when troops forced slave owners in Texas to free their human beings from illegal ownership. It has existed for some time as a holiday, but became a Federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. America has had quite some time to observe and reckon with its disturbing legacy of enslavement, yet many still choose to try to frame slavery as if it were, "Not that bad," as opposed to a stain on our Nation's history. 

Having a day to commemorate the end of slavery as we knew it (the idea of how prisoners are treated as slaves within the modern-day prison industrial complex is a lengthy post for another time) is a wonderful thing. A way to celebrate the end of something dark and disturbing as our nation inched a little closer to, "Liberty and justice, for all." America is still quite far from actually achieving such a lofty goal, but it remains a work in progress--and there is a lot of work to be done.

Teenagers are Being Banned From Going in Public Alone, it Makes Sense They're Cooped Up On Their Phones

When I was a teenager in the now apparently olden days of the early 2000's, we had a variety of tech, but it was a bit less ubiquitous. Cell phones weren't the smartphones we now know. Downloading music via the internet happened, but was more of a dirty little illegal thing compared to buying CDs or burning a mix of songs for your friends. Plus, we often just...hung out. We'd just lounge around a park, sit at a coffee place, aimlessly wander the Mall, lounge at an arcade, or otherwise go out and do random stuff. We Millennials weren't exactly like when Generation X were kids or teenagers, as they'd literally get thrown out of the house by their parents for hours upon hours (told to just come back by the time the streetlights flickered on), but we definitely were out and about more than a lot of Gen Z or younger kiddos. Some people say the ability of teenagers to sit at home and talk with all their friends online, play games with them, and so forth has created less desire to go out and be together in person. However, columnist Rikki Schlott over at the, "New York Post," of all places, hits the nail on the head with her opinion piece, "Teens are being banned from bowling alleys, skating rinks, malls, and theme parks — no wonder they’re on their phones all day."

The NY Post tends to be one of the most intentionally provocative, scandal-focused, tabloid-adjacent papers and websites out there, but when somebody's right, they're right. So many places that used to be hot spots for teenagers to just chill and spend time together now won't even allow anybody under 18 without a parent/legal guardian to be present at certain times (or all the time). Theme parks forbid a small group of teens. Malls will let a sixteen-year-old work in a store, but not go shopping around by themselves. Teens might have a couple of friends with a license and a car they can borrow to drive...but where is there to go? Some movie theaters don't want unaccompanied minors, and even something as simple that I did with friends when I was a teen, like tooling around our town's massive Walmart (there really wasn't much to do in Cortland) might be forbidden in some cities if those teens lack a grown-up by their side.

Yes, teenagers can get in trouble or cause a ruckus. They can be rude, loud, disruptive, or cause a scene. That said, there are plenty of adults doing that all the time (whether sober, drunk, or whatever). Plenty of teenagers are perfectly behaved and polite, and maybe would love the chance to spend a couple of hours at a roller rink with friends, aimlessly zooming around. More and more places don't want teens present, and bluntly, plenty of parents are paranoid about their kiddos going out and doing something without constant supervision or checking in with home on their phone every 15 minutes. When I was a teenager, we at least had the opportunity to choose between staying home and playing a PlayStation 2 or going and killing a couple of hours at Frank and Mary's diner--eating some cheap all-day breakfast--and paradoxically having a lot of fun doing basically nothing. God, I miss that place, and I'm glad it existed long enough that I was able to introduce Samii to it on a couple of visits back to Cortland.

Teens today have a lot fewer opportunities to simply go out and socialize with each other (unless a parent is essentially standing nearby). Sometimes older folks will complain about, "Kids these days," and how easy they have it. That is true in some regards when it comes to how simple it is to access information (asking an AI about an old news story is a lot simpler than scrolling through microfilm), but when it comes to opportunities for social interaction beyond the internet, the youth definitely have a lot fewer opportunities available. I feel bad for, "The kids today," in that regard. I may have had to flip through a phonebook to get the number for a local pizza joint instead of asking Siri, but at least my friends and I could chill at the park, eating that pizza and not get in trouble for just being present there, minding our own business. Times have definitely changed.

Clever Marketing: USA Today and Spider-Man Team Up For a New Comic

"USA Today Play," is an aspect of the newspaper you can find online. It is free (with ads) or has a subscription option that makes those advertisements go away. There are games, quizzes, puzzles, and now comics (although you can only get so many for free). Yes, thanks to a deal with Marvel, USA Today has some slightly older Marvel stories folks can read along with a brand-new Spider-Man series titled, "Spider-Man TODAY," which will run for 47 weeks. Written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Todd Nauck, that is a pretty great creative team. Marvel has been struggling a lot lately, but this is a clever marketing idea as now those who frequent USA Today Play can read a new Marvel comic and sample highlights of other ones--with the idea being they will then seek out more Marvel, I imagine.

I am all for anything that helps expand the readership of comics. Without new readers (young or old) the format could very well find itself dying out. By getting some, "Younger blood," injected into comic-book fandom we can keep comics around for years to come, hopefully.  Many people have been giving Marvel grief (myself included) for seeming to struggle in regard to new, good ideas. This is cool and I applaud Marvel for trying something different.

Roku to be Bought by Fox

You know, the movie, “Network,” really called a lot of things decades in advance, didn’t it? Mega corporations controlling all of politics, smaller entities being swallowed up by bigger ones, and the rise of a news media that relies more on sensationalism and scaring viewers than informing them. Whenever I read certain kinds of announcements, I think of, “Network." Seeing that Fox (the chunk not owned by Disney) plans to buy Roku for 22 billion smackers definitely sparked memories of that flick. Netflix was going to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery until Paramount's unending effort to undo that and be the one who acquired WBD resulted in Netflix calling it a day and letting them do it. Now Fox can buy Roku and use it as a way to push their sports broadcasts and so-called, "Fox News," channel into more homes.

The usual claims have been made about how nothing-to-very-little will change, so everyone should just remain calm. Too often, a company finds itself acquired by another, and within a short period of time, a lot changes, despite claims that won't happen. I will forever be contrite about my post claiming Amazon buying Comixology wouldn't, "Be a big deal." I guess I should've predicted a small number of years later, Amazon would kill the service and rip out any useful parts to use in other projects like some kind of Frankenstein's monster-meets-zombie-cyborg. Perhaps I'm worrying too much, and everything will be fine. Oh, speaking of, "Fine," the beloved gaming studio Double Fine Productions, which was bought out and acquired by Microsoft in 2018/2019 or so, might be shut down. The Xbox brand went on a buying spree only to realize its metaphorical account was Hellishly overdrawn, I suppose. Big corporations, they don't have to balance a budget like regular folks!

Ned Beatty as Arthur Jensen in, "Network."

In closing, Fox plans to buy Roku, everything is going to work out fine, and the billionaires (plus, now one trillionaire) surely have the best interests of everyone else on their minds as this all happens. Right? I'd like to think everything is going to be okay with Roku, because I really like the Roku televisions and would prefer they don't suddenly all shut down and turn into a big worthless monitor screen with zero other capabilities in the future due to some other merger/sale/acquisition/whatever. To return to, "Network," Ned Beatty as Arthur Jensen put it well when he said, "The World is a Corporation."

The Continued Fear of a Black First Lady, All These Years Later

I want to talk about June 14th, 2026. However, in order to do that, I feel a need to take us back to 1990, then 2008. Bear with me.

It's April 10th, 1990. Public Enemy has released their third studio album, "Fear of a Black Planet." The title is a metaphor for the growing anxiety of white folk--specifically in America--about the growing economic, political, and social power of black people. A critical and commercial hit, it was controversial, edgy, and is found now on many, "Best albums ever,"-type lists.

It's November 8th, 2008. Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States. Everyone thought Hillary Clinton would crush him in the primaries, but Obama's amazing speeches, easy-to-like personality, laid-back demeanor, and general magnetism assisted him in beating John McCain for the office of the President. Some people use this occasion to remark that racism is somehow over. That remains wholly false. It shows that sometimes, racism can be overcome. If the person running for President is black, America will overlook/"Allow," it if he's super-smart, one of the best public speakers ever, has little to no skeletons in his closet. After all, "At least he's still a guy." 

Barack's wife is a beautiful, smart woman named Michelle who has spent her life committed to various causes aimed at helping others. Obama will serve two full terms, and before leaving office in January of 2016, will receive some of the most vicious, hateful treatment from the media and general populace any political figure could imagine. Arguably, the only person to get it worse during those eight years is Michelle.

Inauguration Day, January 20th, 2009

It's June 14th, 2026. Donald Trump is President, again, after serving from 2016 to 2020. He's only the second person to ever serve two nonconsecutive terms (the other is Grover Cleveland). It is the 250th birthday of America, and it also happens to be Trump's 80th birthday. The White House lawn is featuring a number of UFC bouts. The head of the UFC happens to be friends with Trump. The event is streaming exclusively on Paramount+, with its owner also happening to be a chum of Trump. 

A man named Josh Hokit wins his fight against Derrick Lewis, and during his post-match interview with Joe Rogan (because, of course, he has to be in this story somehow), Hokit randomly declares, “And lastly ‒ Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right, America?” It's 2026, but somehow it is simultaneously 2008, 1990, the Jim Crow era, and all the way back to the past when a white person first decided that a black person was somehow, "Less than," them. "Fear of a Black Planet," shifts into a smaller-scale but just as potent fear of a black First Lady. Almost ten years later, Barack and Michelle somehow still take up so much space in many conservatives' heads.

I sit here, now, on June 15th. I am not surprised in the least that Donald Trump had a bunch of people pummel each other on the lawn of the Capitol as a birthday gift to himself. I am also not surprised that someone said something horrific about the Obamas because even though it's nearly been a decade since Barack has held office with his wife as First Lady, Donald Trump and others just can't--as Elsa would sing, "Let it go." Let it go Obama was a good (but not great) President. Let it go people will always like him more than Trump. Let it go that he's just genuinely a better human than Trump, which might be part of the problem.

Barack and Michelle were too perfect for conservatives. There must be some dark secret. A popular conspiracy theory that started to spring up was that Michelle was somehow formerly a man, or still secretly a man. This rose to prominence along with the other old chestnuts that Barack was born in Africa or a secret Muslim. This way, you could also throw in some homophobia and transphobia with the racist/religious attacks. None of these ideas are rooted in facts, but to some people they just feel true. Falsehoods don't care about facts; they thrive on half-truths and imaginings.

Michelle Obama once said, "When they go low, we go high." A wonderful sentiment, a thought I respect. That said, I sadly disagree. I am more with popular radio personality Lenard McKelvey AKA Charlamagne tha God, who counters that statement with the idea that when they go low, sometimes you have to go down to the floor with them. Democrats and their philosophy that they are too good to, "...get down in the mud with the fucking elephants," (a great quote from the movie, "The Ides of March,") has resulted in the party looking weak, ineffective, and capable of earning defeat in situations where victory should all but be assured. 

The first time Trump, "Won," against Hillary Clinton, he lost the popular vote. That is true, despite Trump's loud protestations otherwise. The second time he ran, Trump lost to Joe Biden. On the third occasion, he handily defeated Kamala Harris (if America can barely stand a black first lady, it seems it will all but surely decline a black and female President), with Trump saying awful things and showing awful tendencies the whole time he was running. America wanted the (supposedly) rich, loud, angry fool--as long as he was white.

We're still here, June 15th of 2026. I still am not surprised at how bad things have become politically. I hold some hope, and a lot of rage. Rage can lead to destruction or simply feeling defeated. It can also inspire action to make things better. I've worked with political groups on smaller scales and larger scales quite recently in an effort to focus the anger positively. It is 2026, and America has a fear of a black planet, an LGBTQ planet, or frankly, any kind of planet with equality and diversity. That doesn't mean we'll stop fighting for it. We will go high, low, or any direction necessary to bring about positive change.

Sick and Exhausted

I was unable to attend Tatertot Con Jr. due to being extremely congested and too tired to leave the house much at all. I heard it was a fantastic event, however. For me, today was spent feeling generally lousy and resting. I hope to improve tomorrow and as the week progresses.

I'm Excited for a Fun Comic Show Tomorrow and Another Next Week

There are two awesome comic shows that are now set to occur within the next two weeks! Tomorrow, June 14th, will have the Tatertot Con Jr. It will feature free entry for the entire show's event time of 10AM-4PM and this, "Junior," convention will be taking place at the Rock Roll-O-Rena. Found at 4153 Jeffco Blvd in Arnold (Missouri), there will be 40+ vendors with comics, collectibles, and all other kinds of goodies.

A week from today, on June 20th, the Arch Rivals Collector Fest shall happen at the Moolah Shrine Center (12545 Fee Fee Rd, Maryland Heights, Missouri). The doors will open at 8AM for early bird entry and then at 9AM for general admission, with the show running until 2PM. Early bird entry is $10, general admission is only $5, and kiddos get in free! There is going to be a slew of vendors and some really snazzy guests, including popular voice actor John Gremillion, comic colorist Alex Sinclair, and artist Baldemar Rivas. I look forward to attending Tatertot's show tomorrow and Arch Rivals Collector Fest in seven days!

Flashback Friday: Seven Years Ago the Saint Louis Blues Won the Stanley Cup

This week in 2026 has a lot of sports events occurring. The NBA Finals are ongoing with the Knicks having completed an astonishing comeback in the most recent game. The World Cup has kicked off, and the Stanley Cup Finals are five games in, with the Hurricanes one win from clinching it and the Knights needing to push things to a Game seven if they want the cup. Funny enough, with so much going on now, my mind on this day specifically wanders back to seven years ago. You see, on this day in 2019, the Saint Louis Blues went from starting January of that year dead last in the NHL standings to winning the Stanley Cup in game six. Things have changed quite a lot since then, with Saint Louis having had some solid seasons and some stinkers. That game, though, it was an event.

I've been forthright on this blog about how the only sport I follow much is hockey, and that was such a wild thing to witness when Saint Louis hoisted the Cup. Afterwards, I remember the parade here in STL (which I watched on television because I wasn't about to brave traffic to get over there) and just how happy everyone was--and drunk, a lot of people were quite gleefully drunk. I do not have a strong preference regarding whether the Carolina Hurricanes or the Vegas Knights win. It would be pretty exciting if there were a game seven as an excuse for one more opportunity to watch the NHL this season. Of course, it isn't as exciting as back when the region I happened to live in managed to win it all, but one can always imagine that day coming again. Hopefully, not too many years from now.

Surprise: ROM Has Joined the Energon Universe

The Energon Universe involving Transformers and G.I. Joe was a bit of a surprise that leaked shortly before the release of the debut Energon-set comic, "Void Rivals," #1. Since then, the involved comics have been quite popular in their use of assorted beloved properties (and original creations) to tell some epic tales. "M.A.S.K." #1 came out today and takes place in the Energon-verse, but a big surprise was held within some of this new issue's blind bag variant option. A first issue of a completely separate comic, "ROM," #1 could be found among the other covers and such. Yes, another retro property with many fans will be in the Energon Universe as well!

I tip my hat to the main architect behind much of this, Robert Kirkman. He pretty much set off the latest blind bag craze with that first issue of, "Battle Beast," so it is fitting he would help give the trend--that seems to be running out of steam--a shot in the arm with this clever stealth-announcement and debut-into-Energon of ROM. This was definitely a clever way to get some extra buzz!

Marvel's Mangaverse Rises From the Grave for it's 25th Anniversary

Marvel has done a variety of interesting things in its publishing history. Some things were interesting ideas but misfires (New Universe). Others were generally cool, like their, "MAX," line with mature-leaning stories (plus, uncensored swearing). Then there is the Mangaverse, which was relatively popular at the time, but is vaguely remembered these days. Marvel didn't totally forget it, however, as in honor of this year apparently being the 25th anniversary of the line's debut, they're doing five one-shots that link thematically. Kicking off at the start of September with, "Web of Blood," it will be followed by, "Iron Knight," "Arcane Avengers," "Ghostlocke," and wrap at the end of the month with, "Web of Destiny."

I, honestly, never really read much of the Mangaverse. Frankly, I didn't read any manga until a bit later in my life when I discovered a number of great stories in that storytelling medium. I am curious about this revisitation of the Mangaverse. Plus, considering how the popularity of manga in America has only grown over the years, it will be interesting to see if the Marvel Mangaverse's return is a hit or lands with a thud.

"Crazy Taxi: World Tour," Looks Fun, but the Use of Any Generative AI Makes Me Worry

Back in 2024, I discussed how, "Crazy Taxi," was a franchise that I had many fond memories of--and which was possibly going to get a new game at some point in the future (as per rumors). Well, "Crazy Taxi: World Tour," is official! However, there is a troublesome catch. The good stuff is how it looks like, "Crazy Taxi." You've got the big yellow cab, it does tricks, you speed around to get people where they need to go, and there is some quality vintage punk music. Plus, it is not just an arcade-style game, there is a story mode, which gives a reason for the globe-spanning adventure. An irritating concern that has been pointed out, though, is the disclosure of generative AI being used. 

Supposedly, AI stuff is being used for, "reference," with nothing ending up in the game. Hearing it has involvement is always discomforting, as a game using generative AI is a proces which has faced, "...widespread criticism as the tech must be trained on existing work by human artists, thus making any assets made with it essentially plagiarized without credit or compensation of the original creators. That’s not even factoring in that the tech, while often producing shoddy work no one with a modicum of taste would pay money for, is often being positioned as a threat to creative jobs by corporate suits looking to reduce human labor costs across several industries, including film, books, and video games," as Kotaku puts it. When I hear generative AI is, "Only being used," for this or that, I do still hear it is being used by a company in some manner. 

AI can have its uses, but I see a metaphorical light drizzle of, "We just used AI for some reference images," turning into a drowning downpour of, "Our game is basically entirely AI besides the guy/gal who put in a bunch of prompts!" with it (obviously) being the biggest piece of disjointed, unenjoyable slop. I am potentially excited for, "Crazy Taxi: World Tour," but I remain guarded against the growing sentiment of, "Let's use AI for everything and put it in anything we can!" Things are only going to get crazier regarding AI, that's for sure.

"The Matron," #1 is a Great Start to a Horrific Tale

Drew Edwards is the main creator behind, "Halloween Man," and when I made him aware of how much I enjoyed the trade paperback collection of a number of the character's stories, he offered me a free digital copy of, "The Matron," #1, which I could read and review if I saw fit. Written by Edwards along with David Bowles and featuring art by Monica Gallagher, I found the first issue of, "The Matron," to be quite creepy and intense. The comic jumps around between 2021 and back in the 1970s. A family that engaged in ritualistic cannibalism was taken down by a police officer (who was also a relative) and in the, "Present," we follow various generations of offspring trying to live normal lives despite the disturbing familial history. 

The comic's flashbacks to the past feature lots of gruesome horror but it never feels over-the-top or unnecessary--if a family is full of cannibals, you should probably give readers a look at their, "Unique," dinner setup, after all! In the present, it is strongly hinted that violence may soon resume with one seemingly, "Normal," older family member primed to soon take up the family legacy of ritualistic violence. This was a stellar first issue that excels at giving us some backstory and setting up tension for the issues to come. I look forward to seeing just how crazy things get!

Some People Are Mad at the new, "God of War: Laufey," Because You Play as a Female Character. Wait, Seriously?

“God of War,” is a long-running game series. The earlier ones were extremely over the top and followed a protagonist named Kratos as he killed a bunch of Gods who had wronged him. The series restarted its numbering for a new thematic era but kept the continuity, focusing on Kratos and a young son, Arterus, whom he had later in life. Those games also involved Kratos mourning the death of his wife (and Mother of their child), Faye. All the GOW games are extremely popular (especially the more mature and thoughtful ones with Kratos as a Father). I have to be honest and say that I have never played them but have watched clips and find the assorted entries interesting to learn about. I’ve aimed to play some of them eventually, but my backlog of games is truly ever-growing. To get to the point of this article, a spin-off game focused on Krato’s deceased wife, Faye, was just announced. It takes place concurrently with the other games and follows her working to navigate the afterlife. It does not appear to have any political message or anything but some people immediately made it another lightning rod in the internet’s unending culture wars.

People have argued that Faye looks dirty or ugly and needs to be prettier, with it some kind of concession to liberals that she isn’t a smoking hot big-breasted MILF. The most generic statements I've seen basically say that it is somehow, “Woke,” to tell a story with a lady as the protagonist. I am a very politically active person who holds many opinions, but even I know that sometimes a game about a woman slaying demons in the afterlife on an epic quest is just meant to be fun without any super-secret sociological statement. Some video-games do have a particular big message, whether it is, “War never changes,” even with a nuclear apocalypse (Fallout) or weird metaphors about racism via robots (Detroit: Stay Human). Not every game is trying to spark a complex dialogue, however.  Even the latter, “God of War,” games have a lot of drama about how hard it is to be a parent while grieving (Kratos loved and misses his wife), and that’s not a controversial statement! It is a relatable topic for many. The idea of Faye missing her husband and son while slicing up foes could be covered in the game, but that’s hardly anything to spend hours arguing about online as if this game asked to be the new poster child for all that is great and/or awful about games and politics. Just chill, everyone.

The, “Avengers,” Comic Has a Relaunch Incoming

When it was recently announced that a relaunch of the, "Avengers," comic was happening with Chip Zdarsky writing, my first reaction was, “Wasn’t this declared months ago?” You see, in my apparent ignorance, I thought the new, “Avengers: Armageddon,” comic which Chip Zdarsky is doing with artists Delio Diaz and Frank Allier, was the latest ongoing book about the Avengers, hence, you know, the book’s name. Apparently, it is merely a five-issue miniseries that will lead into the actual relaunch of, “Avengers,” this Fall. It will continue to have Zdarsky writing it but will feature Marco Checchetto on art. Why they did not make the Armageddon mini-series simply the first arc of this new series, I am unsure; comics, they never make sense, and that’s so fun!

Anyways, the latest true run of, “Avengers,” hits stands this November. Zdarsky is among a relatively small number of writers over at Marvel who are putting out stuff I dig (much of Marvel’s output lately is weak), so I am a bit excited to check this out along with its lead-in, “Avengers: Armageddon." I’ll put up with nonsensical series orders if the talent is solid, I suppose.