I’ve been working for a new company since November 2020 and it has been unlike any work experience I’ve ever had. My immediate manager is actually a nice person, something I’m not used to. My day ranges from 6:30am EST phone conferences to 10pm debrief sessions and some of everything in between. I never would have worked hours like this before, I always left work promptly after to putting in 8 hours.
Because I’m working from home, hanging out in my comic cave all day, taking phone calls, addressing issues and proofreading documents; I feel like I’m not working at all. I sincerely hope to have the choice to telecommute for the rest of my working life. I take breaks, read comics and/or post on social media. It’s just so relaxing, so cathartic to be among my “calming” things while still earning a paycheck.
Plus I actually take a lunch break, sometimes to unplug and sometimes to switch to my person computer for a quick game or two of Magic the Gathering Arena. I recently purchased this MTG Kaldheim Bundle because I wanted the oversized life dial and landed this fantastic Vorinclex mythic as well.
Okay enough of that, let’s talk comics. I was thrilled to learn that Netflix picked up Sweet Tooth for production. Jeff Lemire paints a bleak picture of the future in this scifi story about a hybrid deer boy named Gus.
Until the age of nine, Gus lives a sheltered life on a wild life preserve with his father. A plague has wiped out most of humankind and those are left range from jaded to the truly demented. Poor Gus just isn’t prepared for the world but he has to grow up fast.
Assisting Gus in his life journey is Jeppard, a harden survivor who offered to take Gus to a paradise like preserve where other hybrids like him live peacefully. The two set out on a lengthy journey and run afoul of all manner of low life individuals to boot. Sweet Tooth is a dark tale of friendship, innocence, coming of age and redemption.
What if conspiracy theories start off as fiction but gain enough belief to become real, imagine the horrors. That is the premise of The Truth Department, a comic book published by Image Comics. James Tynion introduces us to Connor, a guy who has studies and investigated conspiracy theories his whole life because of a childhood incident. Connor soon learns there are forces at work that not only have him questioning his sanity, he is also presented with moral dilemmas. Fair warning, the artwork take a bit to get used to but the script is pure gold.
Both of these comics are wonderful to read, Sweet Tooth is a 40 issue series that was published under Vertigo. It is available in digital and trade paperback, thus you can read the entire series now. The Truth Department is a new release, we are up to issue 6, I believe and who knows how long the series will last. It doesn’t matter, I’m a long for the ride.
I recently enjoyed Skybound Virtual Expo and picked up these gems (now I’m sitting by the front door waiting on the mail carrier).
I’ve started a new blog so many times this year that it’s laughable. In the end, I don’t complete it, I don’t follow through and I regret letting another week, month go by without posting. I hope to change that today. I have been recovering from the mental abuse at the hands of a former employer. One of the most damaging things that happened to me during that time (2016) was an attack on my love for comics, comic cons and pop culture.
So what have I been reading? Lots of stuff, though I’m still behind in my reading by about 2 months…it happens. I loved the crazy over the top fun of Shirtless Bear Fighter, from his love of pancakes and syrup to his weakness of having clothing put on this comic tale had me laughing and ready to read more. What could go wrong with wrestling bears, family drama and a tragic love story? Plenty of puns and laughs galore, Shirtless Bear Fighter remained on my pull list until the end of its limited run.
If a comic sells out and I neglected to put it on my pull list, I’m out of luck. The first issue of Rock Candy Mountain sold out at my shop, however thanks to one of my Twitter comic bros, I have a copy; signed by Kyle Starks no less. Imagine never losing a fight, any fight but specifically hand to hand combat. Imagine having this unique talent during World War II. Imagine what kind of deal was made to gain said talent. The devil has arrived to collect, can he take on the world’s toughest hobo? So many great one liners and just down right entertaining, Rock Candy Mountain rocked my world. 
There are tons of new books out that I am looking forward to reading here are a few on my pull list. Mark Millar moved his wildly popular franchise to Image Comics and I have to say Patience Lee looks fantastic in Kick-Ass. Definitely #BlackGirlMagic! I’m not sure that Robert Kirkman will ever be able to repeat his success from the Walking Dead however he is writing a new series called Oblivion Song. 
It’s on my list of books to read and I’m hopeful that it’s just a good comic. I tend not to pass up anything with Jeff Lemire’s name on it so Gideon Falls is in my read stack as well. Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl release the most amazingly stunning book I’ve seen since Monstress. Isola is a visual masterpiece that I felt compelled to own once Image Comics recommended it for Studio Ghibli fans. I have yet to be disappointed in any comic book written and drawn by Terry Moore (my hope is, I never will). A new chapter in Strangers in Paradise; I’m on board for that. I’m still reading and enjoying these old faithfuls: Monstress, Descender, Harrow County, East of West, Saga and of course The Walking Dead.
Take for instance this blurb about #GothamCitySirens. I had no idea it was so popular among speculators. Why? Because there’s going to be a movie with the same title, staring Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman. For me, it feels a little bit like The Walking Dead boom all over again (granted on a small scale but still). I picked up the variant back when it first hit the shelves because I liked the way J.G. Jones draw the ladies. Even if the suggested speculation price is inflated, any price over the $5.99 I paid is a bonus.
Giant Days
solicitations are truly unique, ranging from kid-friendly to mature, and much between. I really love the YA drama of Giant Days, and–honestly– some of the funny antics showcased in the book truly remind me of my college youth. Dating, roommates, drama 
fields, lost love, and secret crushes are all tackled in this engaging, ongoing series by John Allison and Lissa Treiman. 
Included in the mix are strong young women who push at social stereotypes, acknowledge self-doubt, and develop strong personal character. Initially solicited as a six-part mini series, Giant Days’ success was rewarded when the creative team was asked to extend the series to 12 issues. The comic was so popular that it’s now an on-going series with an updated creative team. I’m in it for the long haul as I find Giant Days too much fun to pass up.
Harrow County
I instantly recognized this comic book was going to be something I’d love to read. Young Miss Emmy has a mind of her own and a soft heart for the dark souls that inhabit the creepy places of Harrow County. She can speak to the haints (haunts), and what she says to them is typically motivating, if not compassionate. Have a ghoul 
kicking up a fuss in your attic? Emmy will gladly quell the behavior. Just know, she’ll do it by letting the ghoul know it’s welcome, and by inviting it to stay put. Emmy has a strong streak of “right” versus “wrong”, and she condemns those that would use her for something evil. She adheres to the “live and let live” motto, even if it does not always work out for her. The writer, Cullen Bunn solidified his space on my “read everything” list when he penned “The Sixth Gun.” 
He truly is a fantastic writer and I’m a happy fan. I first came across the artist, Tyler Crook, while reading WitchFinder (another Dark Horse favorite). Tyler’s drawing style and color blends match so perfectly with Cullen’s words that their joint work has uncanny flow. They’re a creative combination paired in heaven, I say.
Postal
Throw in several random acts of violence, a dirty FBI agent, a postman with Asperger’s, and dark family secrets, and you have the backdrop for the comic Postal, written by Matt Hawkins & Bryan Hill, drawn by Isaac Goodhart. Mark is 
the local postman with Asperger’s. Actually, he’s the only postman in town. Mark pays attention to who gets what in the mail, and reports this information to the mayor, who “just happens to be” his mother. By way of post, the mayor collects the town secrets and uses what she knows to keep everyone in line. When things don’t go her way, the mayor calls in the sheriff. Can you guess with whom the mayor’s having an affair? Postal is more than family drama though,
the series is on issue… and so far what readers have learned about the townspeople is: there’s a former meth dealer in residence, a cheating federal agent on-site, the murderer of Mark’s sister on the loose, and a suspected child molester in hiding. Oh yeah! There’s so much going on, so many sub-plots in this comic, I can’t help but keep reading it.
indies à la mode 