What You Reading? Invisible Woman #1
by Mark Waid & Mattia De Iulis I typically do not write about first issues of a comic book because – for me – I find the first issue to be the least
What You reading? Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi I am a lover of genre fiction – specifically scifi and fantasy. And in the case of fantasy I feel that it gets a bad rap. I understand that when
I Can Hear the Fireworks Up & Down the Line: 4th of July Memories
It is Independence Day. There is red, white and blue bunting hung from porches and windows. The air has the scent of smoke; it’s there in the background but always present. You almost don’t notice it...
Quick Thought: Is Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings Brilliant or Bad?
I recently re-watched Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings (and mean really recently – like 10 minutes ago) and as I sat blinking at my screen as the credits rolled I thought to
Fearful Symmetry: William Blake’s The Tyger
On the most recent episode of the Collected Edition I and my co-host Brian Reese discuss the classic Spider-Man story Kraven's Last Hunt also known as "Fearful Symmetry" the title of which comes from
What You Watching? Man-Thing (2005)
In 2005 a film adaptation of the comic book character Man-Thing was released from Lions Gate Films. And I can say with full confidence that of all the films released in 2005 –
What You reading? There, There
by Tommy Orange Set in Oakland, California Tommy Orange's debut novel follows several characters creating a multi-generational examination of Native American life in a modem Urban landscape. As the novel progresses we meet
On the Beach with Mars: NASA Image of the Day
Look at that. Look how beautiful. Such a majestic site to behold. It just fills one with wonder and awe. I mean seriously, what an amazing looking dog. Good boy! Oh, and that sky is
Thoughts on Turning 50
I woke up this morning and found myself 50 years old. It is a significant moment, a momentous occasion, a milestone worthy of celebration and revelry. Except that it isn’t. You see I don’t feel
What You Reading? The Philosophy of Horror
by Noel Carroll This book takes a serious look into the aesthetics of horror. Carroll is a philosopher so comes at the material with a philosophical view (obviously) but he is also a
What You Reading? In the Dust of This Planet: Horror of Philosophy (v1)
by Eugene Thacker This is the first of Thacker’s trilogy of the philosophy of horror. It is a fascinating read that seamlessly veers from classical philosophy to modern to occult and mysticism. But
What You Reading? Marvel Comics: The Untold Story
by Sean Howe This is a must for anyone interested in the history of Marvel Comics or just comics in general. As the title would imply (and by “imply” I mean directly states) this is
No Joke: 2019 Resolutions: Honesty & Courage
Today is January 1, 2019. A new year. And as with all new years it is a time to reflect and make plans for the future and to make resolutions for change and to make
Happy Life Day: The Star Wars Holiday Special
Author's note: This was written nearly four years ago and I must admit my opinion of the Star Wars Holiday Special has softened a bit. Oh, I still think it's awful don't get me
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping: Krampus the Anti-Claus
We are all familiar with the benevolent nighttime intruder who once a year indulges in mass breaking and entering to deposit gifts under indoor foliage. You know, the omnipotent fat man dressed in red who
Horse with No Name: A Shining Beacon of Mediocrity for the Ages
I work in a place that plays canned music on the loudspeaker all day. To be fair there is a decent amount of variety (although at the time I write this, in mid-December, there is
Painting Movement: Jackson Pollock: Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)
Back when I was in High school I took an art history class where we studied the life and works of artists from the Renaissance to the modern period. I had by this time
Things I Like: Longbox of Darkness
There are three things I like quite a bit: comics, horror, and podcasts. So imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered someone combined all three! The Longbox of Darkness is a podcast covering horror
A Trip Through the Woods (100 Word Stories)
There was little left of our party when the fire went out and shadows became only darkness. When the whispers got loud and the laughter faded. The music we played became a drone, an echo
Blood Rush (A Short Story by Guest Author Tessa Lee Carr)
We shared our first kiss under the cherry blossom tree. It was perfect, like a scene from the movies. I stared into her eyes and brushed her soft hair from her delicate face. I saw
Reckoning Upon God: Frankenstein (Monster Memories)
Frankenstein is one of the few classic monster movies that I did not see on a Saturday afternoon on a UHF channel. No, this film was played in prime time. It was a special