Between Tatertot Con and the Trunk or Treat Event at Variety, We Had a Busy Saturday

Today was quite busy and full of excitement! We went to a bunch of activities and had a ball! The day kicked off with Clarkson and me going to a carnival event for his school, where he was excited to go on some bounce houses. Then, we drove over to the Tatertot Con Year 3 I had just recently discussed being excited about. When it officially kicked off at 12 PM, it became busy quite quickly! A number of vendors and creators were there. 

Near the entrance was Go Getter Gamez with their usual assortment of fantastic games and gaming-related items. Plenty of comic sellers were there, including my friends from Nerd Fury and Nate Nauert. They both had a ton of awesome books! Replicon Radio had an assortment of goodies, and Austin of Stark & Arrow was selling many intriguing wares too. I met Kevin House from House of Collectibles 1611 and chatted about a cool, "X-Men: Apocalypse vs. Dracula," series he had for sale. The show floor was hopping without a doubt! Here are some photos from the show:

After spending some time enjoying the Tatertot Con, we went home to prepare for the Trunk or Treat event at Variety. They are a great charity that assisted Clarkson with the expenses for his Talker device some time ago. They do a lot to help with empowering those with disabilities via helping with needed items/tech/etc. We always love their Trunk or Treat Event and how it is designed to be inclusive, fun, and full of treats! 

Clarkson and Gibson both went to the Trunk or Treat, they were excited to get candy and especially loved how the EMTs had decorated an ambulance with a prosthetic, "Patient," who I recognized as Michael Myers from, "Halloween," but Gibson thought he simply, "Looked tired." Check out some photos I took while we were there:

Clearly, we did a lot today, and it was quite the happening occasion anywhere we went. We don't have nearly as busy a schedule tomorrow and plan to relax a bit. After all, some days you're doing a bunch and others you're doing as little as possible; it's all about balance.

Flashback/Film Friday: "Iron Man 3," Was Shockingly Realistic in How it Portrayed Anxiety and Panic Attacks

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is not exactly realistic. We have billionaires in our reality, but instead of flying around in high-tech armor saving the day, they usually just tweet ignorant tripe or share their weird opinions on podcasts. We don't have any ancient Gods hanging around (besides claims of such from grifters and/or people suffering from mental illness) with cool superpowers. We haven't been invaded by aliens (as far as we know), and I’d bet anyone who has been exposed to extreme radiation or been bit by experimental spiders has become quite sick and possibly died as opposed to turning into a superhuman. That said, there has always been a vibe that Marvel's comics and movies kind of reflected, "The World outside your window," more than the DC Universe. I know, "Iron Man 3," has divided many a fan's opinion since it came out in 2013 due to its twist about Ben Kingsley's portrayal of the Mandarin. It turns out he is a drug-addled British actor named Trevor who doesn't realize people are actually getting hurt. I'm not discussing that in relation to the movie today, however. No, I want to touch upon how, "Iron Man 3," does a surprisingly good job portraying PTSD, anxiety disorders, and panic attacks, at least to a mainstream audience.

When real people go through horrible events, it sticks with them. A lot of comic-book superheroes have been through Hell (sometimes a literal Hell) and keep trucking along with nary a concern. In, "Iron Man 3," Tony Stark finds himself struggling to come to terms with just how much he has been through. Trauma is a complex thing everyone experiences differently; that said, I have experienced panic attacks before. You feel like you can't breathe, your chest gets tight, and when Tony Stark experiences an extreme sensation of anxiety early in, "Iron Man 3," he's convinced he's dying and someone must have attacked him, poisoned him, or otherwise done something to knock the, "Iron Man," off-kilter. Here's that scene:

Much of, "Iron Man 3," follows Tony as he experiences a bunch of loss, stress, and thanks to his hard work and friends manages to defeat the evil tech businessman behind the faux-terrorist known as The Mandarin (later movies brought in the, "Real," Mandarin, but that is a whole different story). He isn't, "All cured," however. Stark still has challenges he'll face personally and professionally throughout the future flicks and has arguably the best character arc in the MCU all the way from the debut, "Iron Man," to, "Avengers: Endgame." A big message of, "Iron Man 3," is arguably how even in a Cinematic Universe full of folks with superpowers fighting epic battles, we still can have our own personal struggles--ones that feel world-ending to us. 

"Iron Man 3," has fans and detractors due to all the Mandarin business, but I'd think everyone can applaud a big Hollywood flick for at least making some effort to seriously examine and discuss mental health in a manner that doesn't reduce it to a joke or make it villainous/evil. I would think that Robert Downey Junior having gone through so much in his life before he became Iron Man resulted in him relating to the material to a degree as well. I just hope Downey's return in the upcoming, "Avengers: Doomsday," as Doctor Doom isn't too wild an idea to work. We'll see.

"Tatertot Con Year 3" is this Saturday, October 17th!

The good folks over at Tatertot Comics & Collectibles have a fantastic store and know how to put on a great comic show.  That is why I'm excited for, "Tatertot Con Year 3," this Saturday, October 17th! Held at the Fox C-6 Service Center (849 Jeffco Blvd, Arnold, MO, 63010), it will run from 12PM-6PM. Entry is only $5, with kiddos 12 and under getting in for free! With over 50 vendors, food trucks, and some snazzy guests, I'm pumped to check the show out in just two days! I encourage anyone in the area (or able to get out here in the next 48-ish hours) to come to the show as well. I'll see ya'll Saturday!

"Fantasy Online 2," Looks Like a Cool Retro-Styled MMORPG

 

Jeromy Stroh, the creator behind, "Fantasy Online 2," saw my posts about other indie games I found snazzy and thought I might enjoy learning about his own game. It is a pixel-art MMORPG that takes place in a persistent World (a bit like Ultima Online, World of Warcraft, and so forth). It has a mix of adventuring, crafting, combat, and so forth. It can work within STEAM, on a PC's browser, and on a number of Android devices. No matter which format players use, they exist within the same, "World."

I told Jeromy I would love to play it on my iPhone when iOS compatibility is ready (it is in the works), as my other devices he currently has his game compatible with are a bit too outdated to do much of anything relating to games. The retro-styled look reminds me of playing other old-school games. Plus, I definitely also have fond memories of my time logging on to Ultimate Online and old-school WoW long ago. There is currently a temporary event, "Season of Screams," that goes from October 10th through December 5th with a zany Halloween-style feel.

Marvel's Midnight Universe--Early Impressions

It has been almost a week since the three initial comics set in Marvel's new Midnight Universe were released. I've had time to read them, mull over what I think, and shall now share some insights. In the order I happened to read them, we shall begin:

Midnight Fantastic Four #1

This was a treat, but I already expected this book to be pretty snazzy. Benjamin Percy is a fantastic writer and Kev Walker is a stellar artist. The characters have a slightly recognizable foundation too, but are incredibly different to a degree I appreciate. Reed Richards is a genuis, but he's addicted to assorted pills and extremely foohardy. Sue Storm is focused and driven, but also an eccentric billionaire with dangerous aspirations to reshape our very Universe through tech she hasn't considered the dangers of (she gives off shades of Elon Musk, honestly, and that's not a compliment). Johnny Storm seems like he once was a peppy jokester, but a recent tragedy has him quite dour. Ben Grimm is a bodyguard for Sue and simply seems like a sociopath, only keeping his worst tendencies in check so he keeps getting paid. There are tons of allusions to Lovecraft-style monstrosities, and hints of a Cthulhu-type nightmare that could be this Universe's Galactus. This debut issue hooked me and had me excited for the next.

Midnight X-Men #1

Jonathan Hickman brings us a comic focused on a bunch of complex and shifting alliances. This is a World that has dealt with vampires for some time but keeps them secret. Also, mutants seem to be known of, but the fact that many have turned into vampires is on the hush-hush. Non-vampiric mutants have an extremely uneasy truce with the bloodsuckers, but mutant vampires are at war with the regular creatures of the night. Plus, the Catholic church is okay with normal mutants but plans to go hard on killing the vampiric ones. There is a lot going on within this first issue, which isn't surprising. I mean, Hickman loves to craft massively complex plots full of metaphorical moving plots (in some of his works, he literally supplies infographics to help readers make sense of everything). My curiosity is quite piqued, and I genuinely hope Hickman is able to tell the full story he wants; by all accounts that did not happen with his plan for the Krakoan era. Regardless what happens story-wise, Matteo Della Fonte does a damn fine job illustrating this book. The vampires (human or mutant) are imposing and terrifying in their appearance, with even quiet moments that have anyone vampiric carrying a massive sense of unease. As long as all the aforementioned metaphorical moving parts can stay balanced, this could become quite an epic tale.

Midnight Spider-Man #1

Credit where credit is due, this title is by far the most disturbing of the trio, with a degree of body horror that goes harder than I ever would have guessed Marvel could dare in this day and age with the House of Mouse as their owner. The illustrations in this comic remind me of some of the more gore-heavy, "Marvel MAX," titles from years ago in just how much viscera there is.  Unfortunately, besides how gruesome the comic gets, the plot feels a bit stagnant. It's another Spider-Man origin story with Peter Parker. There's various tweaks, but nothing too wild. Peter seems a bit more cynical and angry in this take. Felicia Hardy works for Oscorp, as does Hank Pym. Uncle Ben appears to die pretty quickly, and as far as I noticed, there is no Aunt May...so that's kind of different? I dunno, ya'll, it just feels like underneath all the ghastly blood and guts there isn't much substance, just an extra-bitter (understandably, at least) Spider-Man whose adventures will be accompanied by tons of lurid imagery. It's surprising as Phillip Kennedy-Johnson has written some great comics. I offer my accolades to the artist, Scie Tronc, for crafting such disturbing imagery, however.

Final Thoughts

I am eager to read the second issues of the, "Midnight," iterations of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men. The former sets out to do something different enough that I was quite enticed and I see a ton of potential for these vampiric X-Men, even if every decade or so we seem to get mutants-and-bloodsuckers as a plot point. "Midnight Spider-Man," was a big swing-and-a-miss for me, however. It just felt like Marvel simply garnished another familiar Spidey origin with a bunch of gross-out visuals and called it a day. Even with one misfire, I see a lot of potential with this new Universe. Hopefully, Marvel gives it a chance to breathe and grow. In conclusion...

Midnight Fantastic Four #1: 5 out of 5 Stars.

Midnight X-Men #1: 4 out of 5 Stars.

Midnight Spider-Man #1: 2 out of 5 Stars.

The Three Most Interesting Things From NYCC 2026 (In My Opinion)

I followed the news as it trickled out from this year's New York Comic-Con. Three things stuck out to me the most. Let's discuss...

1. In terms of comics, DC looks like it keeps firing on all cylinders; Marvel appears to be struggling.

Marvel generally is doing fine in the comic-book sales market. However, it doesn't feel that way. With the insane success of its Absolute line, a vibe that DC is letting creators be creative with cool mini-series/one-shots, and there is an air of excitement with the publisher. Then, Marvel talked more about how it incorporated Miracleman into its main continuity, will be doing that Star Wars crossover that is getting lots of trepidation from fans, and has an anniversary issue planned for, "Daredevil," hitting 700-ish issues when you add them all up. There is an appearance that Marvel's comic division is aimless beyond going, "Let's reboot the Avengers comic again," and even if Chip Zdarsky is a great writer and will be doing that, Chip can only carry so much of the weight of Marvel on his shoulders. Would the upcoming, "Avengers: Doomsday," flick help fix some of the image problem the film division has and assist the comics a bit because a rising tide lifts all boats? Perhaps, but even if the MCU is, "Saved," this December by the latest Marvel movie, the comics might benefit from some kind of shot in the arm of creativity/energy/etc. At least Jed Mackay's work on, "Moon Knight," remains fantastic (as long as it doesn't get canceled). Perhaps if the, "Midnight Universe," does well, there's some hope to fix the optics?

2. "Something is Killing the Children," escapes development Hell.

"Something is Killing the Children," became a massive breakout hit over at BOOM! Studios. It got optioned, but seemed to be stuck in some kind of limbo. Was it going to be a Netflix show? A streaming movie? Go to theaters? Animated? Well, at NYCC the plan was finally made clear. Blumhouse is producing a theatrical (live-action) movie with Craig Zobel set to direct. SIKTC is probably one of the biggest non-Marvel or DC properties within comics in some time, so I am curious if its movie can cut through the, "Noise," of many other comic-book adaptations and strike a nerve that few comic-book flicks outside DC or Marvel have managed--there have been some, of course (Ron Pearlman's Hellboy remains beloved).

3. Grant Morrison is writing a, "James Bond," comic for IDW.

One of my favorite comic creators of all time, Grant Morrison, is no stranger to tackling epically popular franchises with their own unique take. "New X-Men," remains my favorite run on the team ever and, "All-Star Superman," ranks high on many, "Best Superman Stories," lists. Now, we'll be getting their version of, "James Bond," via publisher IDW. I've seen some great Bond stories in various forms, and some pretty messy takes too. I'm excited for Morrison to be at the writing helm of a Bond story, however. The Bond franchise can be grim or gritty as well as quite outlandish and wacky. Morrison is already promising we'll get something quite strange, and I'm totally here for it.

Clarkson and I Had Fun at the October 2026 Spector Club Show!

The Spector Club Show was held today, with a sizeable and excited crowd! I was there bright and early, with Clarkson accompanying me. He's been quite enjoying going with me to comic shows lately! We spent a good chunk of time there, chatting with a bunch of awesome folks, browsing comics, and having fun. It was held at 4690 Lansdowne, here in Saint Louis. A lot of great folks I always enjoy seeing at comic conventions were there, and the main topics of discussion were the various announcements from NYCC, everyone's thoughts on Marvel's new Midnight Universe titles, and who had any, "Absolute Batman," for sale!

Clarkson and I kicked off the show by greeting Dave Schmidt of All American Collectibles and Spike Forester from Lost in Space Toys and Collectibles. They always work hard to put on such a stellar show! Following that, we browsed John Chaffee's (of Bigfoot's Comics) snazzy stuff. I caught up with David of Callisto Comics, and browsed some exciting comics Jeff from Magnitude 10 Comics had brought. He had an assortment of intriguing Golden Age comics someone had traded with him. It was wild to think that as the years keep going by, some vintage superhero comics will soon be a century old! Bruce Reynolds had a mix of old and new goodies as well, then one vendor who I didn't have the chance to get the name of cut me an awesome deal on some, "Dungeons and Dragons," comics that looked fun. Observe:

As Clarkson and I noodled around, I saw my friend, comic creator Lorenzo Lizana. We gabbed about how life had been, and I inspected some fun wares Geoff had on offer too. Some of the Tatertot crew was there too; I let them know how I was excited for their show on the 17th! Before we left in the late morning, I was able to greet Thomas Milister, and then we navigated through the bustling show floor to head home. It was a fantastic Spector Show, and I eagerly anticipate the next one on November 22nd!

I'm Having Great Fun With the "Final Fantasy VII Remake," Game

I loved the original, "Final Fantasy VII," when I played it decades ago on the first PlayStation console. When I heard they were remaking it as three(!) separate games, that sounded intriguing but also a bit like overkill. That said, when I did play the OG game, some of my favorite memories were the opening within the city of Midgar and much of the latter half of the game when a bunch of climactic story beats occur. I had heard that the first, "Remake," spent the entirety within Midgar and decided I'd try it out sometime. Well, I finally rented the, 'Intergrade," edition, as it is called for the Switch 2 (it adds some more bonus elements), and I love it! Seeing the city of Midgar as I pictured it in my mind is a hoot. The original game was blocky polygons, a handful of NPCs tooling around, and some cool dystopian vibes, but this feels like a place. Midgar seems alive, full of characters, and just looking beautiful. I know the story, but so much more is being added and tweaked in all kinds of interesting ways. It is great! Plus, the combat is a clever mix of real-time action and pausing for strategizing. The whole thing is a good time.

One thing I must confess is that in the original, "Final Fantasy VII," I found the adventure after I left Midgar a bit of a drag up until--spoilers for an ancient game--Aeris/Aerith dies at the end of Disc 1 (yes, kids, these games used to come on a bunch of discs). However, following that, the game kicks into overdrive and is just fantastic. Still, knowing that made me a bit nervous how, "Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth," is the next step in the remake that covers all of the story up to Aeris/Aerith getting killed by Sephiroth. According to folks I asked on social media, a lot is expanded upon and quite fun, so even once I finish, "Remake," I'll be ready for, "Rebirth." Then, the upcoming third and final game in the remake trilogy, "Final Fantasy VII: Revelation," is due in 2027. If I'm lucky, I might have enough free moments between everything else in life to finish playing, "Remake," and then rent, "Rebrith," so that I'll be prepped for, "Revelation."

People Are Paying Absurd Prices for an Advance Copy of, "Midnight Spider-Man," #2

New York Comic-Con is in full swing. Various comics, movies, and shows have been announced. When it is done, I'll probably highlight the news I (personally) find most interesting. One thing that often happens at these major conventions is exclusive comics, variants, and so forth. A unique or rare variant can go for big bucks on the aftermarket. That said, one thing has me befuddled for getting, "Hot." At Marvel's Midnight Universe Panel--held to discuss the new alternate continuity that just started--attendees were given a polybagged advance copy of, "Midnight Spider-Man," #2. Besides being in a little polybag, it appears to be the regular #2 issue that will hit stands in a month or so. People are paying 80-ish bucks for something that will have plenty of copies available in 30 or fewer days. It isn't a rare variant, key issue, or anything...just an advanced copy. Huh?

Is the FOMO so bad that people will pay $80 for something that--quite soon--will be everywhere for $5? No special cover, unique content, or anything...just a month early. This reminds me of when a video-game has pricier editions that allow you to play games a week early or so for extra money without any bonus goodies included (not to be confused with in-development, "Early Access," games). Why would I pay extra for a brief window to enjoy something I'll be able to enjoy for an unlimited amount of time a smidgen later? There are countless other comics/games/movies/shows I could enjoy for the extra week or month. I just ask...why is anyone that desperate for the second issue of a new random Spider-Man comic? Bragging rights that will be meaningless in a month? Timed exclusivity has never been a big deal to me. If I read the first issue of, "Midnight Spider-Man," and absolutely adore it, I have zero problem waiting a bit for the second issue. Should someone be chomping at the bit for issue #2 and find themselves unable to wait much longer, however, I guess they have options.

On Lane Johnson and How People Say They Support Others Prioritizing Mental Health, Yet Don't Mean It

There are certain things many people like to pay lip service to but don’t actually believe. “I care about the environment,” they'll declare until they have to put even the most minimal effort into separating recycling versus garbage. “I believe in barely any screen time for my kids,” until they need just 10 minutes of quiet to drink some coffee and the kiddos won’t stop brawling with each other whilst the television sits ready to cue up a show. “I think mental health is important,” until someone actually prioritizes their own mental health and it inconveniences another in some manner. Mental health and focusing on our own psychological well-being is somehow controversial. It, sadly, often is not okay to say, "I'm not okay."

Lane Johnson has spent over a decade playing Football as an offensive lineman, spending his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He never hesitated to throw himself right at a 300-ish-pound man on the field, but for years he was terrified to share with friends or family his diagnosis of anxiety and depression. He has won Super Bowls and found himself regarded as one of the best offensive linebackers in the NFL. He still struggled with mental health and has been public in the past about raising awareness. He has announced that he is immediately retiring from the sport for his mental health. He feels he needs to be done and is taking care of himself so he can continue to be there for his family; that's his choice. That said, a number of fans and sports commentators are beside themselves at this. “The Eagles need him!” some shout. “He can't quit now!” others may declare. Stephen A. Smith offered a take that was so especially vicious that he later apologized and attempted to clarify his wording.

This morning on, “The Breakfast Club,” radio show, host Charlamagne tha God offered a fantastic breakdown of why men are often so hesitant to declare, “Hey, even if I seem to be functional, I really don’t feel right.” I would encourage everyone to listen to that segment, which I have posted above. World Mental Health Day is this Saturday, which makes it all the more fitting that Lane Johnson’s openness about his mental health is a topic of discussion. I support him doing what he needs to be his best self. Oh, and yes, we can still talk about how this could impact the Philadelphia Eagles season and so forth. That said, let's not do so in a manner where Johnson is somehow solely at fault for anything that now could go wrong. Plenty of players find themselves out of the game for physical injuries or retire due to a number of factors during a season. Just because we can’t visually see what Johnson is possibly going through does not diminish the validity of any choices he makes for his own health—body and/or mind. 

Lane Johnson did what he thought was best for himself. We (generally) know ourselves better than anyone else, so second-guessing his own health choices comes across as tone deaf at best and maliciously ignorant at worst. Let’s all just try to support each other in times of need. Be there for each other physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and so forth. It’s a goal that sounds reasonable but is clearly so hard to put into practice.