Month: November 2023

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Gone Back Through That Door

Like Billy Pilgrim, I am unstuck in time again.

As I write this, I’m lying in a bed in an AirBnB in Scotland, and it’s 10:56pm; I’m also just off the phone with Chloe who’s on the East Coast of the US, and it’s four hours earlier for her — until the clocks go back in the US this weekend (as I write), the usual time differences are lessened by an hour — and also thinking about everyone else back home, who is three hours in the past from that. At the same time, I feel curiously divorced from the place where I actually am; I had a sudden moment of realization that I am in the same time period as my sisters, which I know is clearly true because I spent the evening with them, and yet, almost feels impossible because it’s so rare. In a very genuine sense, I’m not sure what time it is.

A lot of this comes from the fact that this UK trip has been near-constant motion for me so far, something underscored by the fact that, this morning, I wasn’t just in another city, I was technically in another country — England, vs. Scotland — and it took me a coach (that broke down, and had to be replaced), a flight, and then an additional car ride to get where I currently am. I started my journey at 7am (having woken up at 4am, thanks to an errant text from my US healthcare provider), and didn’t arrive anywhere for the next eight hours, somehow. That’s what every day has felt like for the last… nine days? Maybe before that, even, before I even left Portland…?

It’s Friday night as I’m writing this, and I’m grateful for the fact that I don’t have to work and/or go anywhere for the next few days; I’m not working or traveling until Tuesday, so aside from day trips to Glasgow and spending time with family, I have no plans. That last part, the not having to be anywhere part, feels necessary to a degree which feels almost melodramatic to confess; as workaholic as I am, I had to tell my manager this week that I was overloaded and overstressed, and burned out as a result. I didn’t mean it in any sense that required him to do anything, but it felt important to just say it and leave the truth out there. This trip has been filled with many good, fun things; it’s also just been filled, and it’s time to take a break before I break.

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The Comics of September 2023

What was I reading back in September? It feels like a long time ago as I write this, but the answer appears to be “I read Operation: Galactic Storm for some reason.” For those who don’t know, Operation: Galactic Storm is a Marvel crossover from the 1990s that saw all of the Avengers characters go to war in space for reasons that didn’t make any sense, based on the seeming idea that naming something after the real-life Operation: Desert Storm was anything other than a tacky idea. I’d never actually read the storyline, but thankfully Marvel Unlimited exists, and… well, honestly, it’s as bad as it sounds. But somehow, still not the worst thing I read that month. See for yourself!

  1. MPH #s 1-6
  2. Doctor Strange (1974) #s 48-49
  3. Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #1
  4. Hershey: Disease TPB
  5. Hershey: The Cold in the Bones Parts One and Two
  6. Lawless: Ballots Over Babylon
  7. Lawless: Most Wanted eps 1-4
  8. The Out: Book One 
  9. The Out: Book Two
  10. Alpha Flight (1983) #s 28-32, 35-38
  11. Alpha Flight (1983) #s 39-44
  12. Silver Age 80-Page Giant #1
  13. Captain Glory #1
  14. The Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior #1
  15. Doctor Strange (2023) #3
  16. The Punisher (2022) #12
  17. Doctor Strange (1974) #s 50-54
  18. The Out: Book Three
  19. Secret City Saga #s 0, 1-2
  20. Daredevil (1964) #s 292-296 (Start of Chichester run)
  21. Daredevil (1964) #s 297-300
  22. Daredevil (1964) #s 301-314
  23. Superman Adventures #s 1-3
  24. Adventures of Superman (2013) #s 1-6
  25. Superman/Batman #s 79-80 (Chris Roberson DC One Million two-parter)
  26. Daredevil (1964) #s 315-318
  27. Daredevil (1964) #s 319-322
  28. Superman Adventures #s 4-6
  29. Daredevil (1964) #s 323-325
  30. Green Arrow (2023) #4
  31. The Flash (2023) #1
  32. Action Comics #1057
  33. The Penguin #2
  34. Tales of the Titans #3
  35. Superman: The Order of the Black Lamp (Batman: The Brave and the Bold strip)
  36. Harcourt: Second Life eps. 1-2  (Batman: The Brave and the Bold strip)
  37. Stormwatch: Down with the Kings eps. 1-5  (Batman: The Brave and the Bold strip)
  38. Art Brut #s 1-4
  39. Alpha Flight (1983) #s 45-50
  40. Alpha Flight Annual (1986) #s 1-2
  41. Superman Adventures #s 7-13
  42. Scarlet Witch (2015) #s 1-15
  43. Wolverine (1988) #s 69-75
  44. Power Girl (2023) #1
  45. Power Girl strips from Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton and Action Comics #s 1051-1053
  46. Power Girl Special (2023) #1
  47. Daredevil (2022) #12
  48. Spider-Man (2022) #9
  49. Immortal X-Men (2022) #12
  50. X-Men (2021) #23
  51. Fantastic Four (2022) #8
  52. The Invincible Iron Man (2022) #7
  53. X-Men: Before The Fall – Mutant First Strike #1
  54. Wag #1
  55. Batman, Incorporated (2022) #s 8-12
  56. The Green Lantern Corps #s 202-203
  57. Superman Adventures Annual #1
  58. Superman Adventures #s 14-16
  59. Sensational She-Hulk (1989) #s 18-24
  60. Superman Adventures #s 17-21
  61. Birds of Prey (2023) #2
  62. Batman (2016) #138
  63. Shazam! (2023) #4
  64. Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #2
  65. Green Lantern: Legacy OGN
  66. Green Lantern: Alliance OGN
  67. Waller vs. Wildstorm #s 1-3
  68. Avengers, Inc. #1
  69. Blue Beetle (2006) #1
  70. Ant-Man (2022) #s 1-4
  71. Wasp (2023) #s 1-4
  72. Avengers: Ultron Forever #1
  73. New Avengers: Ultron Forever #1
  74. Uncanny Avengers: Ultron Forever #1
  75. Avengers Assemble (2012) #15
  76. Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders #s 1-2
  77. Avengers Assemble (2012) #20
  78. Avengers (2012) #34.1
  79. Contest of Champions (2015) #s 1-6
  80. Rorschach (2020) #s 1-3
  81. Secret Warps: Soldier Supreme Annual #1
  82. Secret Warps: Weapon Hex Annual #1
  83. Secret Warps: Ghost Panther Annual #1
  84. Secret Warps: Arachknight Annual #1
  85. Secret Warps: Iron Hammer Annual #1
  86. Doctor Strange (2023) #4
  87. Moon Knight (2021) #24
  88. Contest of Champions (2015) #s 7-10
  89. Wolverine (2020) #34
  90. The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #27
  91. X-Men Red (2022) #s 10-12
  92. Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War Prelude (Batman Day Edition) #1
  93. New Avengers (2015) #s 1-18
  94. U.S.Avengers #s 1-12
  95. Superman/Batman: World’s Finest #1
  96. The Terrifics #s 1-14
  97. The Silencer #1
  98. Justice League of America (2017) #s 22-24 (Promethea appearance)
  99. Incredible Hulk Annual (1976) #11
  100. Inhumans Prime #1
  101. Royals #1
  102. 2000 AD Prog 2351
  103. Danger Street #10
  104. Batman & Robin (2023) #2
  105. World’s Finest: Teen Titans #4
  106. Green Lantern (2023) #4
  107. Wesley Dodds, The Sandman #1
  108. Peacemaker Tries Hard! #6
  109. 1st Issue Special #12 (Starman)
  110. Manhunter (1994) #0
  111. Royals #2
  112. Royals #s 3-8
  113. Manhunter (2004) #s 1-4
  114. Royals #s 9-12
  115. Inhumans: Judgment Day #1
  116. Captain America (1968) #398 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  117. Avengers West Coast #80 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  118. Quasar #32 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  119. Wonder Man (1991) #7 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  120. Avengers (1963) #345 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  121. Iron Man (1968) #278 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  122. Thor (1966) #445 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  123. Before Watchmen: Minutemen #s 1-6
  124. Captain America (1968) #399 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  125. Avengers West Coast #81 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  126. Quasar #33 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  127. Wonder Man (1991) #8 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  128. Avengers (1963) #346 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  129. Iron Man (1968) #279 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  130. Thor (1966) #446 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  131. Captain America (1968) #400 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  132. Avengers West Coast #82 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  133. Quasar #34 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  134. Wonder Man (1991) #9 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  135. Avengers (1963) #346 (Operation Galactic Storm)
  136. Avengers (2023) #2
  137. Hellcat (2023) #4
  138. Manhunter (2004) #s 5-7
  139. X-Force (2019) #41
  140. Manhunter (2004) #8-14
  141. Terra #s 1-4
  142. Saga #66
  143. Superman (1987) #s 186-187
  144. Adventures of Superman (1987) #s 608-609
  145. Superman: The Man of Steel #s 130-131
  146. Action Comics (1938) #s 795-796
  147. Void Rivals #4
  148. Fantastic Four (2018) #39
  149. Fantastic Four: Reckoning War #1
  150. X-Factor (1986) #43-44
  151. Superman (1987) #s 220-221
  152. Adventures of Superman #s 642-643
  153. Action Comics (1938) #829
  154. Wonder Woman (1987) #s 219-220
  155. Adam Strange (2004) #s 1-8
  156. Parasocial OGN
  157. Oblivion Song #s 1-6
  158. 2000 AD Prog 2350 (Battle Action crossover issue)
  159. The Rann/Thanagar War #s 1-6
  160. The Rann/Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special #1
  161. Proctor Valley Road #1
  162. Treasury of British Comics Annual 2024
  163. Counterfeit Girl TPB (2000 AD collection)
  164. Proctor Valley Road #2
  165. I Hate This Place #1
  166. Something is Killing the Children #s 6-10
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And We’re Back

Yes, the site was down again, and this time for an extended period: a whole month. (Well, just over, as it happened.) I noticed it was down almost immediately, but fixing it kept falling down a list of priorities that had far more important things on it: in the last few weeks, Chloe’s been sick, I’ve been traveling for work a lot — first to New York for a week for NYCC, and I’m currently in the UK for two different conventions and seeing my family once again — and, in between the two trips, sickness and vacations for other people meant that I was running the site at work essentially solo for an entire week, and and and. Things kept happening; fixing the site was something I wanted to do, but didn’t have time at that very moment, no matter when that very moment turned out to be.

The site being down also helped me deal with the fact that, because so much was happening, I probably would’ve struggled to keep up with it even if I’d been able to; on the New York trip — and the start of the UK trip, which was another 3 day convention for work — my days pretty much consisted of getting up, getting ready, and working straight through until dinner, then some more work, then collapsing into bed, with little or no time for reflection or relaxation in between. When I was running the site from home the week in between, my traditional worktime expanded by an hour or so daily, and the idea of spending more time looking at a screen was not a particularly attractive one. So: letting things be quiet here for awhile felt like a plus.

Now, though, it’s back. I’m back, and I have some things to catch up with — two months of comics read, if nothing else! Technology willing, I’ll be here for the long run from now on. As much as I needed the enforced break, I think, I need this outlet all the more. So, hi.