Dread

Amazing Spider-Man #1: ok, this is the Zeb Wells/JR Jr run, and I thought I'd give it a shot. The last time I tried to read monthly SM books, he was the CEO of his own tech company. That isn't SM to me. SM is a guy whose life is the shits and being SM is the only thing he can do to escape it. And even that sucks sometimes. This issue was perfect for that. Great establishing of the status quo and brilliant art. Knights of X #1: haha! No! Newburn #6: so fucking good. Punisher #2: still fucking great. Rogue Sun #3: pretty decent. Sabretooth #3: I'm out. Starward #1: definitely not for me. Something is Killing the Children #22: still great. Archer & Armstrong Forever #1: was really looking forward to this, but the tone...yuck. A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance #7: This series rules. Avengers Forever #5: the only place Marvel seems to be doing the Multiverse right these days. Dogs of London #1: I'm intrigued. Fire Power #20: excellent Flashpoint Beyond #1: this is great. Giant-Size X-Men Thunderbird #1: not very good. Iron Man #19: great issue Maestro: World War M #3: pretty solid. One-Star Squadron #6: this ended up being a treatise on how the world treats people who don't know what they're supposed to do with their lives. Lost weirdos. I loved it. Project Superpowers Fractured States #2: this was ok. I'll give it one more. Radiant Black #14: great issue. Spider-Man 2099 Exodus; Alpha: this was a decent start Suicide Squad #15: also decent The Panic #1: interesting first issue. I'll do one more. Task Force Z #7: this is just fine. I'm getting over it. Blood Syndicate Season One #1: not the best, but I'll do one more. Bunny Mask: The Hollow Inside #1: really enjoyed this. Captain America: Symbol of Truth #1: did not like this at all until the last few pages. I'll do another. Cold Iron #1: nope. I'm out. Crossover #13: holy shit. This is fucking nuts. Eight Billion Genies #1: What an incredible idea. All of a sudden, everyone on earth gets their own personal genie that gives them one wish. This issue basically covers the first 8 seconds of that happening. Haha! Wild stuff. G.I.L.T #1, 2: this was incredibly clever. A feminist time-travel comedy. They don't even tell you what the name means until the last page of issue one, and then they alter the logo for issue two. Grim #1: this was ok, if a little typical. I'll do one more in case I've got it wrong. Hulk Vs. Thor Banner of War Alpha: this was...fine. Moon Knight: Black, White & Blood #1: I guess I just REALLY don't like Hickman anymore. Only one decent story in this one. Suicide Squad: Get Joker! #3: crazy good. The Cimmerian: Hour of the Dragon #3: oof...they didn't bring this one home. So wordy and talky which is not what you're supposed to get in a Conan story. Swamp Dogs: House of Crows #3: solid issue. The Joneses #2: ok, this turned good. The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country #2: fuck, this is great. Dark Crisis Special Edition #0: A fun little Flash story as a prelude to the crossover event. Vampirella Strikes #1: not good. I'm out. Break/Out #2: this rules What If...Miles Morales #3: this was solid. A real What If... story finally! It isn't a very good one (partially because we see no effects; the best part of WI? is seeing what the Marvel universe looks like after this change. Still, beats the lame Multiverse nonsense they've been trying in this book (that I'm sure is coming back around) because if the new Marvel tells me anything, these characters are all going to team up for some incomprehensible adventure. Elektra: Black, White & Blood #4: this had two good stories. Not the best mini. A Town Called Terror #2: this premise goes all the way back to the first comic book project I ever tried to get off the ground. It is also pretty good. Batman/Superman World's Finest #3: fun! Immortal X-Men #2: that's enough for me. I Hate This Place #1: this is a great first issue. DUO #1: oh...so I guess that there won't be any new version of Xombi in the new Milestone universe, but I guess maybe this is it. Nyx #6: funny ending. Wasn't expecting that. Rain #5: great ending to a great miniseries based on a great novella. Haha Batman: The KNight #5: this series is great. Black Hammer Reborn #12: great last issue. Savage Avengers #1: Conan is back with a new team of misfits and this time they're going back to the Hyborian Age! I am so fucking down. Thor #25: great continuation of the Hulk/Thor thing. Sun Eater Act 1: nahhh...not for me. Venom Lethal Protector #2: This is nowhere near as good as the other Venom stuff going on. I'm out. Wolverine Patch #2: this is a lot of fun. X-Force #28: nope, I'm out. DC vs. Vampires Hunters #1: this was fine. Task Force Z #8: I've pretty much liked this series from the start to varying degrees, but this is the best issue of the run. Basically the Bat-family has to stop Red Hood but he's only distracting them from his undead Task Force Z's activities. Good stuff. Smart and funny thorughout while still being serious and intense. Great example for comic writers. Teen Titans Academy #15: I read this and finished it with tears in my eyes. Chupacabra meets his Uncle Jorge who is very obviously an analogue for George Perez and it's a truly beautiful single issue story that pays tribute to one of the founders. Hulk #7: also part of the Hulk/Thor thing. This last page is something we've never seen before. At least not in a What If issue. Blood Stained Teeth #2: this is turning into something quite good. Devil's Reign Omega: great ending. Hellboy and the BPRD Night of the Cyclops: fun little story Moon Knight #11: still great. Legion of X #1: man, it should come as no surprise that I found this to be unreadable. I'm at the point now that I actually think it's weird that so many people like this new X-Men status quo because I can't imagine a world where I like it. Newburn #7: Fucking fantastic Punisher #3: Holy shit, this series is wild. Radiant Red #3: good. Easily the worst of the Supermassive stuff now. Rogue Sun #4: this is second best of three of the Supermassive universe. Haha! Someone is Killing the Children #23: still great. Spider-Man 2099: Exodus #1: man...this is lame. The British Paranormal Society #2: Pass on anymore of these. Too "cozy" for me. The Collector: Unit 731 #2: decent second issue. Amazing Spider-Man #2: ok, Zeb Wells, you've got me on the hook. I'm in. Last Book You'll Ever Read #8: given where the story was going, this ending isn't a surprise at all. I still really liked it. Right up my alley. Justice League: The Road to Dark Crisis #1: It is kind of nice to see Nightwing mentoring Jon Kent. The Nice House on the Lake #9: fucking ABOUT TIME. That's all I'll say. The world of this series is crazy. A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance #8: this fucking ruled. Avengers Forever #6: so good. Carnage #3: Fucking excellent. Fire Power #21: great issue Ghost Rider #3: good issue NewThink #1: I think this was a oneshot. I hope so, anyway. Strange #3: this was solid. The Closet #1: man, Tynion is the new Bunn. The guy has a million little indie horror series along with his Big 2 work and most of them are good. This one is. The Phalanx: I oneshot homaging Youngblood, basically. It isn't very good. Shocker. X-Men '92: House of XCII #2: man, the stench of Krakoa pervades everything, including this series, unfortunately. This was the last X-book I was reading. Was being the operative word. Where Starships Go to Die #1: woof. Almost unreadable. That Texas Blood #14: this fucking ruled. Skybound Presents Afterschool: this is an anthology series of oneshots. This one is a cool little horror/sci fi thing about an alien dog written by Benson and Moorehead. Decent. Bunny Mask The Hollow Inside #2: great. Justice Warriors #1: goofy dumb fun. A Town Called Terror #3: snail's pace this plot is. Project Superpowers Fractured States #3: this was...fine. Blood Syndicate Season one #2: another example of not vibing with this modern Milestone stuff. Plenty of the old ones still to reread for me, anyway. The Sandman Universe Nightmare Country #3: this rules. Nyx #7: this also rules. Would NEVER have guessed this story direction in a million years. A Calculated Man #1: interesting first issue. Flashpoint Beyond #2: I LOVE Thomas Wayne Batman. Captain America Sentinel of Liberty #1: ok, I'll give it another. Dark CRisis #1: awesome. Can't wait for more. Aquaman Andromeda #1: not for me. Do a Powerbomb #1: ok, I'll do one more. GILT #3: still good. Thor #26: this is freaking nuts. I love it. Hulkling& Wiccan #1: Just can't get past the art. Multiversity Teen Justice #1: this was kind of fun. This is the Teen Titans of Earth 11 (the one where the male heroes are female and vice versa). Grim #2: hmmm...if I read another, it will be a mercy. Dogs of London #2: I'm not sure if this book knows its supernatural in nature or not. I mean, none of the characters seem to realize it. I'm still intrigued. Iron man #19: ok, this was also good. Savage Avengers #2: fuck yes. Radiant Black #15: great issue. Jane Foster & The Mighty Thor #1: I'll do one more of this. Not my favourite tone. Amazing Spider-Man #3, 4: this has quickly become one of my favourite Spider-Man runs. It's certainly the best run in probably 20 years. Romita Jr. is doing the work of his career on this book. Moon Knight: Black, White & Blood #2: not very good. One ok story. Seven Sons #1: intriguing. I'll do another. I enjoy the art, but I wish Jae Lee did more than the covers. The Rocketeer The Great Race #3: fun! The Cimmerian Hour of the Dragon #4: good ending. Venom #8: this is fucking nuts. What If...Miler Morales #4: hooo boy....I almost didn't make it past page two. However, they stopped presenting the narration in rhyme after those pages, but the book remained as obnoxiously annoying throughout. Can one walk out of a comic book? I almost did. Astronaut Down #1: wow, this was cool. Batman/Superman World's Finest #4: good issue Aquaman/The Flash: Voidsong #1: intrigued. Two characters I wouldn't go to normally, but I'll stick around. Beware the Eye of Odin #1: not my favourite art, but the story is intriguing. I'll do one more. Batman The Knight #6: fucking fantastic. Bone Orchard: The Passageway: wow. incredible graphic novel. Black Adam #1: great first issue. Blood Stained Teeth #3: I think I might be done with this one. Didn't upset me or anything, but I just kind of find it boring. Dark Crisis Young Justice #1: I didn't like Young Justice the first time around and didn't really enjoy this I might skip the rest. DUO #2: man, this is pretty great. Still bummed there won't be a Xombi in this new version of Milestone, but this is a consolation. I Hate This Place #2: still pretty good. Maestro: World War M #4: great issue Moon Knight #12: this might be the worst issue of the run so far. Still halfway decent. Moth Hill #1: intriguing first issue. New Fantastic Four #1: oh this is a fun little treat. Newburn #8: officially the best comic book of 2022. HAS to be. Punisher War Journal Blitz #1: fantastic. Truly a great era to be a Punisher fan. First Rosenberg restored the character to prominence and now this insanity. Love it. Radiant Red #4: this has definitely improved. I'm even coming around on the art. Rogue Sun #5: this one kind of slipped, but the end of this issue is fantastic. Issues: 1312 Trades: 24 Omnibus: 5 Graphic Novel: 16

Ok...I am still in the category of "Madame Web? What? Why?" and I have zero knowledge of the young MW character, but I have to say: this looks more exciting than any superhero movie trailer I've seen in a very long time. Those girls look AMAZING in those Spider-costumes. What little we saw. I'm down to check this out.

Two things I noticed about this month's Previews: 1. It looks like DC has found a suitable way to finish the Bwahaha era with respect, while also including a certain writer's work without mentioning his name at all in the solicitation. 2. I would have been the first in line for this release if I haven't spent the last FIVE YEARS collecting epic collections to complete Gruenwald's run on my own. Not sure how many copies of the omnibi they are going to sell at the 150 dollar price point when there's probably going to be four or five volumes. Especially since all the Gruenwald fanboys (see: me) have already completed the run.

X-Men Legends #12: I got a real blast of nostalgia with the Alan Davis cover. This issue is what Kurt and Kitty were up to inbetween the Fall of the Mutants and the first Excalibur special. Decent. Scot Eaton does a fine job, but for great artists, an amazing way to highlight the weaknesses in your art is to try to ape Alan Davis' work. Basilisk #8: ok, this is going the way I kind of thought. Batman/Superman World's Finest #1: really fun first issue. Blue & Gold #7: even Jaime Reyes has enough experience to know he shouoldn't hook up with these two for too long! Batman The Knight #3: great issue. Great ending to the first mini-arc, too. Armorclads #1: nawwww...I'm good. Carnage #1: ok, this is good. Eternals The Heretic #1: this was a great issue. Black Hammer Reborn #10: good issue Avengers Forever #4: fucking greeat issue! Justice League #74: another great issue. Last Book You'll Ever Read #6: I thought this was going to be the last issue. It is not. Captain America/Iron man #5: great little miniseries. Devil's Reign - X-Men #3: this turned around just fine. Rain #3: great adaptation. Devil's Reign: Villains for Hire #3: great still, but TWO big moments in this were also included in Devil's Reign #5 which is kind of a bummer. Nyx #5: great last page. Elektra Black, White & Blood #3: one of three stories worth reading. Reckoning War The Trial of the Watcher: this is obviously heading in one direction very slowly, but I did like the idea that Uatu is punished by being made to watch what would have happened if he never intervened when Glaactus first came to earth. Ghost Cage #1: nawww... Regarding the Matter of Oswald's Body #5: excellent. Godzilla vs. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #1: this ain't it. Refrigerator Full of Heads #5: excellent. ONe mroe to go. Slumber #1: this is just Monsters Inc. for adults, and it isn't as good. Iron Man #18: I really thought this was the last one, but there's more! The Crimson Cage #4: good issue Maestro World War M #2: doing the alternate character version thing right. No multiversal bullshit needed here. My Bad #5: look, it's funny and cute, but the joke doesn't stay fresh past a few issues. The Cimmerian Hour of the Dragon #1: wow, this is a story I'm homaging in a WIP. It's also probably the best of these little miniseries. Maniac of New York The Bronx is Burning #4: this mini ends with a banger. The Sword of Hyperborea #3: this is excellent. Rogues #1: i didn't like the tone at first. Art and story give off a The Pro vibe, but then it sort of quickly swerves. I'll check another. The Silver Coin #10: awesome. Titans United #7: this was...fine. Of all the classic Titans villains, Blackfire never seems to bring the best out of the stories. Swamp God #4: cool issue. We Only Kill Each Other #5: holy shit. What an ending! Task Force Z #6: still crazy. Teen Titans Academy #13: good. Mike Mignola The Quarantine Sketchbook: these are a lot of fun. He did this for most of 2020 to raise funds for that famous chef who was feeding people in need during the pandemic when shelters and soup kitchens were forced to close. There's a lot of variation. There's a fish people section. And several sections that feature a man's torso with an animal skull as a head. and even flowers and live animals for heads. Weird fun stuff. I guess this is where Giant Robot Hellboy got its start as well. Destroyer Duck Graphite Edition: I've never read anything other than the first issue of this series. Turns out Kirby did extremely detailed pencils and Two Morrows presents them beautifully. This is the five issues that Kirby and Steve Gerber did together to raise money for Gerber's lawsuit against Marvel Comics over credit and royalties based on his creatorship of Howard the Duck. Good shit. Kirby is clearly at his most creative and Gerber is mad as fuck and kicking ass. Great run. The Marvels Vol 1, 2: these are pretty good. The recent and mostly unacknowledged fix to the sliding time scale. Busiek tells a pretty classic Marvel Avengers story here with some new characters and the return of classic forgotten ones (the original Vision!). Decent. The X-Cellent vol 1: X-Statix returns! Always love to see Allred's work. Don't care about the story. Probably the only artist alive I can say that about. The Human Target #6: this is beyond good, surprising. Smart storytelling. Venom Lethal Protector #1: kind of a throwback series. I might give it one more, but it isn't up to snuff as far as the new symbiote stories. Until My Knuckles Bleed #3: fantastic little arc. Wolverine Patch #1: I'ma mark for Larry Hama Wolverine, but REALLY did not like his pull on X-Men Legends, but this is a great first issue. Hulk #5: this was fine. DC vs. Vampires #6: great issue. Great reveal. A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance #6: excellent Dark Ages #6: this ended in kind of a fun way. Astro City That Was Then Special: a great return to AC from the original creative team now at Image...again. Immortal X-Men #1: I kind of liked it. I'll give it another issue or two. Newburn #5: new arc starts. It already fucking rules. Radiant Black #13: great issue Rogue Sun #2: fantastic Something is Killing the Children #21: so happy I'm reading issues of this again. War for Earth-3 #1, 2: this was ok. The Heathens #5: kind of a dry fart of an ending. X-Men unlimited Latitude #1: this was just a fun space rescue mission with Wolverine. Enjoyed it. Batman Beyond Neo-Year #1: pass. Awful. Batman Killing Time #2: yeah, this is mediocre at best. I'm out. Flashpoint Knight of Vengeance #1: this is last years sequel to Flashpoint which sort of begins here, giving an origin for the Thomas Wayne Batman but by the 100 Bullets team of Risso/Azzarello, and it's pretty delightful. One-Star Squadron #5: this is kind of an interesting way to go with this. Four straight issues of goofy losers and then an issue of stark, bleak death. Suicide Squad #14: Decent issue. Apache Delivery Service #4: great ending Firepower #18, 19: this series is still so damned good. Devil's Reign #6: great ending. Moon Knight #10: Having some issues with the art, but the story is great. Project Superpowers Fractured States #1: I was worried this was a multiverse thing, but no, just a possible future thing. Pantha #2: decent. But not sure I'll continue. Radiant Red #2: still have issues with the art, but the story has made itself distinct from the others in the universe enough to continue. Strange #2: interest is kind of waning here. Spider-Punk #1: nope The Joneses #1: what passes for one of the worst comic covers of all-time, amounts ot a halfway decent book. I'll do one more. The Cimmerian: Hour of the Dragon #2: so good. The Ocean Will Take Us #1: absolutely can't get past the art. I'm out. The Thing #6: easily one of the best comic miniseries of last year. West of Sundown #1: tired vampire stuff, uninspired art. I'm out. X-Men Red #1: incomprehensible dreck. Can't say I'm not trying... A Town Called Terror #1: hmmm...I'll give it one more. Flashpoint Beyond #0: awesome. Break/Out #1: intriguing sci fi idea. I'll read more. Captain Carter #2: liked the last issue, but half of this is her arguing with a young POC neighbor that is just an awful conversation with dialogue that feels like something a high school kid did in class. I'm out. Daisy #5: so, most of this series was pretty grounded, but this one was fucking nuts and cosmic and fantastical. Not sure how well it would all hold together in a single read. Evil Ernie #5: decent. Immortal Red Sonja #1: lame. I'm out. Green lantern #12: crazy good. Of course, if The Source is going to take a human form to have a conversation with someone, it should look like Jack Kirby. And it does. It looks like Jack Kirby crossed with Eternity, and that's awesome. Image! 30th Anniversary #1: I thought this would be inventive stories from Image creators new and old. It is in fact, a preview book for creators new only. Such a disappointment. I'm out. Walt Simonson's The Lawnmower Man Artist's Edition: this is the entire Stephen King adaptation presented as facsimile original art pages in an envelope format. If you've only seen the movie adaptation, or somehow even weirder, its sequel, the story has nothing to do with the movie at all. It's a crazy, bizarro piece of depraved weird fiction. Simonson's art is peak here. Maybe my favourite release of the year. Captain America Epic Collection Fighting Chance: this is almost the end of Grunewald's run, and while the stories are pretty solid (other than the storyline that this trade takes its name from) there is a ton of Image apery in the art. Pretty rough. Last Book You'll Ever Read #7: man, I never thought they'd wring 7 issues out of this, but now I wish it was ongoing. Great series. One more to go? Radio Spaceman #2: Great little two issue mini. Fun weirdness like the early days of Mignolaverse. Rain #4: Sombre, beautiful. Suicide Squad Blaze #2: Fun. Swamp Dogs House of Crows #2: yeah, I'm still intrigued. The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country #1: I'm intrigued enough to read one more. The Sword of Hyperborea #4: fuck, this series rules. Talk about the Mignolaverse: this is a top 5 story in that universe. Maybe top 3. Venom #7: great What If...Miles Morales #2: I know Mike is excited for me to get to issue four, but after this, the only reason I'll get there is for Mike's enjoyment. This is not a What If? story or series. This is Elseworlds, and it makes no sense. Just like the stupid Doc Ock bullshit from Devil's Reign, this is just some mediocre sandbox playing. If Miles become Wolverine, his uncle becomes Sabretooth? Fuck off. I'm sure he will be Uncle Loki in the Thor one. Because THAT makes sense. X-Men '92 House of XCII #1: you know, this was kind of fun. Probably because I'm amking my way through the animated series again, but it is certainly more readable than other modern X-books. Batman/Superman World's Finest #2: really fun. Batman The Knight #4: great issue. I guess this "Anton" character is someone who pops up in the Bat-books to get Bruce Wayne back for something? Seems DC is incapable of coming up with new villains that have any substance in favour of those from our heroes' childhoods. Blue & Gold #8: Great ending. Night of the Ghoul #6: great ending. Refrigerator Full of Heads #6: great ending. The Nice House on the Lake #8: Good issue, but I really have to wonder if they ever get anywhere in this story. Black Hammer Reborn #11: great issue Hulk #6: I'm intrigued. The Collector Unit 731 #1: funny to read this right after plotting a WIP about 731...and receiving the trilogy of films about it. Man...if you thought the Nazis were bad, the Japanese TRULY defied the natural order and became evil with this shit. It's true too. Except this story isn't. I'll read more. My main character isn't American, so maybe it will work out. Justice League #75: kind of weak actually. Teen Titans Academy #14: same as above Blood Stained Teeth #1: decent first issue. Not too interested in vasmpires right now, but I'll do one more. Interesting premise. Rogues #2: decent. Carnage #2: fucking great. The Joker #14: man, this is all leading to a pretty fucking spectacular last issue, I imagine. Hope it lives up to my expectations! Issues: 1168 Trades: 24 Omnibus: 5 Graphic Novel: 16

oh boy...

Rewatching the 90s X-Men series still. Season 2 rules (love the Alpha Flight episode and the Russian one especially). But season 3 really is the all-time banger. Watched the two-part opener versus the Reavers in the Morlock tunnels. Tonight begins the Phoenix Saga!

Hit Me #1: eww...no. This is just someone living out their secret kink to be tied up and beaten. Gross throughout. Seek help, Christa Faust. Little Monsters #1: love the art. Couldn't find the will to give a shit about any of it though. King of Spies #4: now that it's done, it might be the best thing Mark Millar has ever written. Solid. Punisher #1: this is not the one that debuted today, but the first issue of the Jason Aaron run and it was fucking spectacular. WILD last page. Radiant Red #1: this is the least of the Supermassive verse books as far as quality, but they're really good, so this was just sort of mediocre. I'll give it another. Sabretooth #2: ok, look at me. I kind of enjoy a modern X_men thing. The Joker #13: Didn't really see the book swinging this way. Still interested to see where the story ends next issue. Venom #6: this series is pretty great. Issues: 1044 Trades: 19 Omnibus: 4 Graphic Novel: 15

Wow...I forgot how BRUTAL Invincible is. Watched the first episode of season 2 tonight. I'm glad it's back.

Insomnia: I visit this from time to time as it was shot in my hometown. Stacy had never seen it, so we watched it. Good shit, as always. 2Moebius: Adventures in Monsterland/The Demoniacs: features for the festival. Head of the Family/Children of the Corn: reviews forthcoming Clash of the Titans (original and remake): reviews forthcoming Blue Beetle: this was...fine. For a first/origin movie it was ok. Took way too long to get going. The whole conversation with Dad in the back yard was completely unnecessary. It is the rare superhero movie that is better in the second half than the first. Xolo is a far better actor in this movie than he is in Cobra Kai and the girl who plays his sister is great too. What the hell is with Ted Kord's daughter being Brazilian with a thick accent? Isn't that a little weird? They're trying to set up a dichotomy between the poor Mexcian neighborhood and the high and mighty corporate leeches across town, but they made the corporate lady a latina with a heavier accent than even Jaime's grandmother? Seems like a weird casting decision to me. George Lopez on the other hand, saved the movie. Wrath of the Titans: review forthcoming Suitable Flesh/Opera: reviews forthcoming Children of the Corn (remake): forgot to count this one. Review forthcoming. Skinned Deep/Jug Face: a couple other ones I forgot to log over the past few weeks. Reviews forthcoming. Monsters Within: feature for the festival Features: 121 Shorts: 5 Documentaries: 9 Rewatches: 7

Yesterday and today, I put away all five episodes of an independent reality show on youtube called Musician Mansion. Gimmicky guitar YouTuber Jared Dines stepped away to do actual music production and in his wake, a bunch of other younger music youtubers took his place and they have been invited to a challenge show at a mansion.A lot of fun. Watched a bunch of the other contestants videos shot at the week away thing. Fun.

My guess is by the end of Secret Wars, we'll see Chris Evans' Captain America (maybe even his Human Torch too), Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, Jackman's Wolverine, and Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man as members of the Multiversal Avengers. It all kind of makes sense. Of course, Hemsworth and Ant-Man/Wasp, a Marvel or two, maybe Michael B. Jordan as a different universe's Black Panther and some representative of GOTG will also probably be represented. I mean, if you're gonna do the thing, DO THE THING. Right?

The Fall of the House of Usher might be Mike Flanagan's TV masterpiece. Brilliant. Watched the first episode of 30 Coins season 2. Nothing can compare to the premiere of season one, but a continuation of this story is all I really want. Good way to establish the status quo. Also...some of the characters are in Hell, and that's wild.

The Heathens #4: this is such a great series. Two Moons #9, 10: not the best ending. Still a great series overall. The Human Target #5: so fucking good. Until My Knuckles Bleed #1, 2: this is basically Frank miller's Sin City, but the characters are retired Youngblood agents. If that makes any sense. It's fun so far. Avengers Forever #2, 3: so fun. Black Panther #3, 4: the last thing I wanted in a BP book is a trip to Arakko. I might quit this series. Captain America/ Iron man #3, 4: great little mini. Batman: Killing Time #1: this was...fine. Crossover #12: crazy Devil's Reign: X-Men #2: this was also fine. The more this crossover involves multiverse or X-men, the more it sucks. Devil's Reign: Spider-Man #1: Was confused for a few minutes but Ben Reilly apparently also dates a redhead. Justice League #70-73: Thought I'd check out Bendis' final run from last year's JL book. It's not bad. Justice League 2022 Annual: this was a great one issue story. DIE!namite Never Dies! #1: I think I'm done here. Hell Sonja #3: I feel the same way about this. Black Hammer Reborn #8: forgot to count this one. Justice League Incarnate #5: crazy Monkey Prince #2: i'm ok with Monkey Prince as a DC hero, it really works. But not in Gotham City. Moon Knight #9: great issue! Newburn #4: fuck, this series rules. One-Star Squadron #4: there's a line in this issue that has to be a) the best joke in a comic book in years, or b) a perfect mistake. The premise of this series is much like JLI...more particularly, Formerly Known as the Justice League. Great overall. I like a bunch of these characters but doin't mind them being used for comedy. Radio Spaceman #1: crazy and fun. Strange #1: Dr. Strange is dead but Clea is sorceress supreme in his absence. Decent. I'll read more. Suicide Squad #13: pretty good issue. Rogue Sun #1: holy shit. This is wild. The Thing #5: how did this series get even better in the fifth issue? Fucking nuts. I love this. The Nice House on the Lake #7: pretty decent. What If...Miles Morales #1: a fun what if Miles Morales became Captain America. But, it looks like we're just going to do the mulitverse shit for the following issues. Oh, next he's Wolverine? Fucking great... Apache Delivery Service 33: crazy. Ant #3: fine. Captain Carter #1: hmmph...could have done a lot better establishing this world. Devil's Reign: Moon KNight #1: fuck, this was awesome. Daisy #4: also fucking AWESOME. Devil's Reign #5: see both above. Evil Ernie #4: nothing happened in this issue. Shock Shop: Cullen Bunn's flipbook anthology series. Fun that it's a flip trade paperback. I started skipping the intro pages after the first one. Long-winded bullshit. But both stories kind of ruled. Issues: 1036 Trades: 19 Omnibus: 4 Graphic Novel: 15

The Sentinels 1: July-August 1914 - The Iron Harvest: this is a euro graphic novel series featuring world war 1 French supersoldiers. Great body horror stuff. Beautiful art by Enrique Breccia reminds me of Romita Jr. meets Yanick Paquette. It's written by Xavier Dorison who wrote that submarine horror gn I love, Sanctum. The Sentinels 2: September 1914 - The Marne: even better than the first volume. I'll probably give it a bit of a rest before reading the next part. Justice League 3000: Yesterday Lives: read this because of Keith Giffen's passing, but it is not my jam. Werewolf: this is the Del Rey collection of Richard Corben's werewolf-themed work prior to the mid-80s. Some of it is rudimentary, some of it is classic pulpy and painted in color. It's a real survey of his artistic output in his early years. The Mask: I Pledge Allegiance to the Mask: what a great miniseries. Written by the Halt and Catch Fire guy, this is a political take on The Mask that is barely satire and it's delightful. The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom: this is the Mark Waid/ Chris Samnee run. It's fun as hell, but worth the read just to stare at Samnee's cover compositions. Beautiful work. Makes me want to reread the Daredevil stuff. Black Hammer Reborn #9: this is fun Blue & Gold #6: this series really turned out pretty great so far. Two more to go. Dark Ages #4, 5: digging this mostly for the other versions of heroes and villains. #5 has a great final panel. Carnage Forever #1: holy shit. Haha! Bolero #2: ok, with this one, I'm out. Too space-y in several meanings. Devil's Reigh: Villains for Hire #2: this is awesome. House of Slaughter #4: I figured it out. I can't stand the characters. So bland and full of "ooh mysterious" that they forgot to be memorable, distinct or even interesting. I'm out. I'll pick back up with SIKTC. Elektra: Black, White & Blood #2: this was pretty good. Liked all three stories. DC vs Vampires #5: this is going along nicely. Iron Man #16, 17: Top notch storytelling. It's intense, massive, ingenious, and funny. Fantastic few issues. Night of the Ghoul #5: Crazy, pulpy fun. Out #5: great ending to this one. Refrigerator Full of Heads #4: still fucked up and fun. Step by Bloody Step #1: for a long issue without dialogue, this definitely aped some Moebius, but without reading the back of the book, you're missing a chunk of the story. Now, I know you're supposed to read it, but there should be enough story to tell me what's going on when I read fifty odd pages of interiors. I'm out. Supermassive #1: this is the big Massive universe crossover thing. It basically introduces two new characters to team up with Radiant Black. It was...ok. I'm particularly intrigued by the Roge Sun character. He looks like Darkhawk engulfed in flames, and that's pretty cool, I guess. haha Telepaths #5: weird to quit a series on the fifth of six issues, but here we are. It actually infuriates me that they can call someone an asshole in this book but they also use "frick" instead of fuck. Like, are we 12? Are we Mormon? What the fuck are we doing here? I say, when you've narrowly avoided a psychokinetic holocaust, that perhaps saying "fuck" would be ok. Otherwise, don't insult us. Task Force Z #5: this was a great issue. Teen Titans Academy #12: good ending. Issues: 993 Trades: 18 Omnibus: 4 Graphic Novel: 15

Fantastic creature performer as well. He was incredibly imposing in both House and Sword and the Sorcerer. And two serious roles in Night Train to Terror. He was definitely a lot more than Bull from Night Court.

rabbit.: short for the festival When Evil Lurks: watched this on Shudder. An Argentinian possession film that has fuck-all to do with Catholicism, so I am here for it. The Last Voyage of the Demeter: review forthcoming. Renfield: rewatch because NOW review is forthcoming. Features: 107 Shorts: 5 Documentaries: 9 Rewatches: 7

Skeet Ulrich and Cuba Gooding Jr. right? I remember that being a mess.

Hell Sonja #1, 2: as far as multiverse stories go, and they are bountiful, this is pretty good from the Dynamite universe. I don't know where these different Sonjas come from, but they are certainly more interesting than the Vampirella variants in Vampiverse. Fantastic Four: Reckoning War Alpha #1: oop! This was good, so now I have to track down all those FF issues. Geiger 80 Page Giant #1: this was good. Redcoat is a character right out of my notebook, so I'll be interested in his series. Justice League Incarnate #4: crazy shit. The first ten pages basically retells all of the sotry of reality through the crises. Interesting. Ka-Zar: Lord of the Savage Land #1: Ka-Zar is Animal man now. How dumb... Newburn #3:fucking wild. Love this book. Nitro: euro graphic novel sci fi nonsense. Clearly influenced by Corben. Monkey Prince #1: this is pretty much exactly like American Born Chinese except it's set in the DCU. Primos #1: I'm out. Terrible. One-Star Squadron #3: pretty great. Sabretooth #1: hmm...I'll give it one more. I think Hickman basically ruined the X-Men, but this is Victor Lavalle and Leonard Kir on Sabretooth, so I'll give it one more. Savage Spider-Man #1: this is a follow-up to non-stop Spider-man? Not good. Suicide Squad #12: great! The Thing #4: fuck, this is good. I have my suppositions about the kid, but I look forward to the reveal. X-Men Legends #11: the Simonsons on New Mutants! Lovely. Devil's Reign #4: this is awesome. Apache Delivery Service #2: ok, this became something completely else. Great! Daisy #2, 3: Fucking wild. Good stuff. Evil Ernie #3: dumb fun. A little maudlin, but fun. Hellboy and the BPRD 1957: Forgotten lives: a lovely little oneshot. King of Spies #3: this series is fucking nuts. Life Zero #1: not sure I want to read anymore zombie books right now. Maestro: World War M #1: this is fun. Moon Knight #8: great issue Radiant Black #12: least liked issue thus far. Suicide Squad Blaze #1: ok, this is kinda crazy. The Fourth Man #2: the story is alright, but damn near every character is made to look like a Hollywood actor and it's incredibly distracting. I'm out. The Joker #12: great issue. Great reveal. The Secret X-Men #1: Jesus, this shit is almost unreadable. Titans United #6: Blackfire is a least favourite villain and I don't tend to enjoy cosmic Titans very much (unless the Greek Gods and Titans are involved) but this is fine. Seems weird that it ends next issue. Batman The Knight #2: ok, this is pretty damned good. Green Lantern #11: this is crazy wild cosmic stuff and I am here for it. Also here for the Tom Raney art. A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance #5: did not expect this to get crazier. So good. Devil's Reign: Superior Four #1, 2: Man...there has yet to be a misstep in the DR story. It's a PERFECT street-level event that includes the bigger heroes. They made it work! And then they had to inject some multiverse bullshit into it. I can't continue with this. Hellboy: The Bones of Giants #4: this is the best HB series in a long time. GI Joe: ARAH Saturday Morning Adventures #1: this was really fun. Drawn EXACTLY like the show (perhaps an idealized version) and while I may not read any more, I love the fact that Cobra Commander has found Aladdin's Lamp. Amazing. Hulk #4: fuck, this is nuts. Maniac of New York: The Bronx is Burning #3: crazy. My Bad #4: I have to say, Acid Chimp rules. Nyx #4: fun issue. Primordial #6: fucking mindblowing shit. Beautiful. Rain #2: incredible issue. Regarding the Matter of Oswald's Body #4: it is entirely possible (if they stick the landing) that this could end up being the best piece of JFK conspiracy fiction ever told. Brilliant! The Crimson Cage #3: this is cool. The Sword of Hyperborea #2: this is fucking excellent. The Silver Coin #9: also fucking excellent. Vampiverse #6: ugh...this kind of sucked, but it's over. Venom #5: holy shit, this is nuts. We Only Kill Each Other #4: awesome. Edison Rex vol 1, 2: I think Mike and I reviewed the first issue of this back in a First Issue Special. I liked it then, but I never got around to reading more. Now I did. I see there's a third volume, so I'll have to hunt it down. Aquamen #1: nope, I'm out. Issues: 977 Trades: 14 Omnibus: 4 Graphic Novel: 13

The Pocket Film of Superstitions: my friend Greg Lamberson dissolved his joint film festival (Buffalo Dreams) and started his own called Amazing Fantasy Fest. Of course, I wanted along for the ride. This was the first submission. Kind of a pseudo-doc in the vein of a cheeky Haxan. Hinter-Land: an animated short from Canada. Slasher/Night Feeding: shorts for the festival Baby J: John Mulaney's post treatment special. Pretty funny. Features: 105 Shorts: 4 Documentaries: 9 Rewatches: 6

I think I only really remember part 2...that's the one with the guy hung upside down with a burlap sack of rats tied onto his head right? Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem - A Klok Opera: I finally saw it. As the title says, this is an opera, rather a rock opera, but it is a new thing in the world of Metalocalypse. There's always been death metal songs as part of the show, but it's never been a musical. What a fucking accomplishment from Brendon Small who composed the whole damn thing. Funny that they really limited the voice actors on this one to the regular show cast, Jack Black, Mark Hamill and Corpsegrinder from Cannibal Corpse. I also get the criticisms, because it's a real departure from the show. Having the show end on this would be absolutely heretical. So... Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar: ...when they release a feature length Metalocalypse film that has the look and feel of the show, I should be happy right? No. Reused plots, hardly any jokes and the plot of a twenty minute episode stretched over an 80-something minute runtime make this the heretical ending. Too bad. Renfield: review forthcoming Features: 104 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 8 Rewatches: 6

Dude. I feel like we should review it. Spiral: From the Book of Saw: my friend Mo put it best: "this is like a gore film version of Bad Boys." Chris Rock is great, but without him, this is a turd. Features: 102 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 8 Rewatches: 6

Rejuvenator: review forthcoming The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster: review forthcoming, but wow. Pretty good. Features: 101 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 8 Rewatches: 6

It's very much a "hey, the first one was successful in its brutality and stark, unrelenting nihilism. Let's make the sequel for kids! Then, they would continue that slide with a Saturday morning cartoon. I too enjoy "...The Destroyer" as well as "Red Sonja" (he's not Conan in that but he might as well be). But nothing in the sword and sorcery genre touches the first film. Also probably the best DVD commentary ever.

Just watched all six episodes of MONSTER FACTORY on Apple TV and I think I enjoyed it a lot more than Wrestlers. The character work is better. It feels realer. There isn't the spectre of "the business is going under unless we can..." in this and it works for the better. We have more character time. And their stories are compelling. This is the wrestling docuseries of the year, methinks.

Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead: still action-y but gets the franchise back on track. Phantasm: OblIVion: now we're fucking talking. Phantasm: RaVager: hoo boy... V/H/S/1985: review forthcoming, but we have a franchise worst on our hands. Features: 99 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 8 Rewatches: 6