Thursday, December 31, 2020

The best of days


2020 has been horrible for so many people, and so many people are glad to see the back of it, and we know things aren't going to get magically better because of an arbitrary numeric system that we've all agreed on, but we'll take all the symbolic ritual we can get right now, if it can help get us out of this funk.

But I've had a fucking great 2020 - I'm fortunate enough to live in a country not ruled by murderous toddlers, and can go to the movies or the supermarket or the rugby without worrying if some prick isn't going to cough me to death, and this country's lockdown had a zen calm that was really effective, in my neighborhood at least.

And, best of all, I've cut back on the job to three days a week, and spend the rest of the week taking care of the cutest goddamn 1-year-old on the planet. I love my work and the people I work with, but nothing compares to taking care of a toddler who is right on the cusp of proper walking and talking. It's freaking great. It's so freaking great.

It's a weird feeling, knowing that you are living in the absolute best days of your life, without question. The love and humour that gets thrust into your life at this stage by a new human is moving beyond words and I know beyond doubt that I will look back on this period as the best of all days.

I've had a health issue or two this year (but they're all cleared up for now), we went on a massive emotional rollercoaster with another pregnancy (a very fast and scary rollercoaster that gets stuck halfway through a 360-degree loop) and you've always got to feel some sympathy for the rest of the world and all the shit they are going through (my love and sympathy to you all).

But I'm living the best of time of my life, and look forward to many more days in the immediate future. See you in 2021.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

This is still the Tearoom of Despair: Writing about comics


A life of comic books


Mark Millar wants to know what you are talking about


Baby's first year of comics

The speed of Dillon


Lone Wolf and Cub: Walking the white path

Kyle nearly has all the X in the world

Here comes Jim Lee!


Bob Temuka has come unstuck in time



Eight things I learned selling comics


Action Force, action figures


Ambush Bug: So silly, so quickly


I'm trashing my comics


Carlos is the man


Don't forget me, Animal Man


The night I met the Big Red Cheese


My head is not yet full


No such thing as a blank generation


Wonder girls, shadow cats and magpies

How good is Brett Parson

Surfing the skies with Kenny Who


I still miss you, Dave Cockrum


I live my life to a Love and Rockets beat


Slaine versus the El Women


He's the goddamn Batman


Shade, The Changing Man: Mad, mental, crazy


You can do it


This is my most-read post ever


Moving out of home with Marvels


Consider the McCarthy Dredd


I still hate you, Captain Sunshine


Doomed Patrolling


Bringing death and terror to the masses


Thanos!


The Chaos Monsters: Too cute to live


Hitman good


Sheer bloody perfection.


In Barry Linton's Auckland, everything was hot, heavy and horny


The Fantastic Four's greatest adventure


The Biz


Footrot Flats: Down on the farm for Christmas


The adventures of Nikolai Dante


All around the world


Last night the Invisibles saved my life


Still Uncanny, after all these years

The humanity of Watchmen

Harvey's kinda town


Prophet: Food of the future makes me sick


Justice League Awesome



Justice League Amazing


Oh no he didn't.


Who the hell is John Constantine?

I didn't want to college, I just wanted the comic books

My codename would be Redundant Lad


The peak of geek


Talking with Dylan Horrocks


Total crush on the New Warriors


Horror on the battlefield


Free your comics


What the world needs now...


I AM a wanker


Warren comics freak me out


Scream! Scream like you mean it!


Thrillpower overload on dull suburban streets

My one big DC multiverse idea

The big books of Bolland


Silver Surfer: Blinded by the gleam of his heavenly arse


Love and Rockets: Something's gonna explode


Hero of the Beach