Netflix Unveiled an (Official) Big Look at, "Grand Theft Auto VI," Today

It was annouced awhile ago that on August 27th, Netflix would host a special 26-minute-ish release of, "Grand Theft Auto VI," footage. It would feature actual gameplay and the like running on a PS5. Then, someone started leaking a bunch of videos under the name, "Cyberleek," whilst hyping up a new cryptocurrency. That only vaguely hurt the momentum for the reveal today, with Cyberleek just dumping a bunch of the memecoin--another cryptocurrency grift, what a shock--with the footage going live at 3PM Eastern and resulting in a lot of excited folks. Oh, and if you lack Netflix but want to see the, "Special Preview," it will hit YouTube later today (9PM Eastern).

I didn't bother watching much of the randomly, "Leaked," footage over the past couple of weeks, but did log onto Netflix at 2PM (Central Time, represent), and enjoyed what I saw of the game that Rockstar did want to showcase. I mean, it looks like GTA, as one would hope. There are fast cars, gunfire, drugs, explosions, some satirical digs at American society, and what looks to be a lot of sidequests/optional activities. There were glimpses of riding around on a pontoon boat, shooting some basketball, scuba diving, cars racing on a track, skydiving, playing tennis, and lifting weights in the gym (there is doubtlessly more). It all seems fun and insanely good-looking with some celebrity voices clearly evident even if Rockstar won't confirm them yet (I swear that was John Leguizamo and Bobby Moynihan I heard), but what actually piqued my interest had to be the quiet moments. 

I wrote some time ago in response to the first trailers that the, "Grand Theft Auto," series is not really known for subtlety or people behaving in a manner other than, "Terrible." Seeing the two main characters you'll play as--Jason and Lucia--appearing to have a relationship that is supportive, loving, and non-toxic was a bit of a shock then and remains surprisingly encouraging still. In the bits of the game Netflix/Rockstar unveiled, we witness a cute little place owned by Jason and Lucia; they talk in a thoughtful manner, do little flirty jokes, and otherwise seem to really be in love. Others and I seem to truly hope there is a way to play GTA VI where they both reach the game's conclusion alive and happy, as opposed to turning on each other or ending up like some tragic Bonnie and Clyde situation. I also appreciated a subdued scene where Jason speaks with a retired(?) criminal who tells a story from his youth about a malfunctioning carnival ride he was smart enough to leap off of while a friend who held on ended up cracking their skull and dying--the moral seems to be you need to know when to, "Get off," the ride/crime lifestyle. Between a dedicated couple and a wisdom-filled older dude, these oddly thoughtful and introspective moments illustrated to me how, "Grand Theft Auto," might just be growing up a bit with the fanbase. There's still plenty of juvenile humor and mayhem, however, because this is still GTA.

The game is clearly going to be massive, whether you just stick to the main story or try to explore every nook and cranny. I remain annoyed about certain stuff, such as the lack of a physical disc option and the mini-fiasco of it being $80 or $100 with, "Extra," features as opposed to a single version of the game. Still, I'm sure this is going to be a huge release, and there are many people excited to finally play GTA VI. I, for now, remain committed to waiting a bit longer for a possible disc release and/or an edition that includes everything without as much of a premium--like those, "Game of the Year," editions we'll see sometimes. I'm sure a lot of people are going to be up late/still awake early on November 19th, however.

In Remembrance of Tim Curry

Well, this has already been a week, hasn’t it? Yes, in incredibly upsetting news for any fans of his immense body of work, Tim Curry has died at the age of 80. To list all his amazing roles would take up a whole article in itself. I will say it astounds me that one of his most famous parts was his film debut (“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,”). Plus, his presence in, “Home Alone 2,” is a big reason I actually enjoy that movie more than the first one. Curry did a ton of voiceover work too (Nigel Thornberry was a hoot), shifting mainly into that as opposed to live-action work after a stroke in 2012 limited his mobility to a degree. Whether he was terrifying us as an evil clown ("It,") making us laugh in, “Clue,” or shockingly brutal as a con artist named Rooster in, “Annie,” Curry was an amazing talent. We have a lot of great stuff to enjoy thanks to him, and plenty of joyous memories are held by those who saw him on the stage, screen, or knew him personally. He will be missed.

This is Not a Drill, McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets Are Coming Back!

Back in September of 2020, I provided an in-depth review of McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets. I thought they were utterly delicious thanks to avoiding being too spicy, but still having some zip to them. They've been gone from the menu for some time as they were a temporary promotion, until now. Starting September 1st, McDonald's spicy nuggets will be available nationwide. This is for a limited time, just like six years ago. Therefore, if you have a hankering for spicy nuggets, you'd best make haste on the first! I've been eating a bit healthier and working on my weight, but I'll confirm I'm going to at least get a pack of ten with some sweet and sour sauce (the Mighty Hot Sauce is a bit too much for me) as soon as I can.

Dolly Parton Has Passed

Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. I know she had been facing health challenges, but it is still saddening to hear of her passing. She was loved by basically everyone, which you don't see that much, especially these days. Christians loved her as much as atheists. She helped with causes for people of color, she was an ally to LGBTQ community, she founded the Imagination Library to help with childhood literacy, and even folks who didn't normally dig country music were fans--she was simply a good person. I mean, there was so much she did without any fanfare that it sometimes took a while to learn she had helped. Disaster relief, medical research, and she was hilarious, smart, caring, and she definitely could sing. It sucks she's died, to put it bluntly. She leaves behind an amazing legacy and is going to be missed by countless people. Dolly Parton seemed to genuinely love everyone and wanted to help the World be a better place in any manner she could; she was someone to aspire to be like. I send her family and close friends healing energy during this difficult time.

The "Grave Brigade," Series is a Stupendous Blend of War Comic and Supernatural Tale, With a New Kickstarter Coming Soon

"Grave Brigade," is an indie comic that has already had successful Kickstarter campaigns for the first two issues. One of the writers, Tim Radecki (who co-writes the series with Mike Dean), reached out to ask if I were interested in reading the initial issues and checking out a preview of the third. It will have its Kickstarter campaign launching in early September, he mentioned. I always love supporting independent comic creators, so I said, "Sure." The series is an awesome World War II yarn mixed with a bunch of supernatural elements. Perhaps picture Nick Fury's Howling Brigade if they were more dysfunctional and went up against such threats as werewolves and demons--then you've got an idea of the zany fun these comics contain!

The comics have art by Debora Lancianese, and her illustrations are superb at showcasing the "Usual," explosions or gunfire as well as the surreal stuff (creepy cultists covered in blood and the like)! The first issue lays a lot of the groundwork and introduces the concept.  The second one is quite scary, with an aforementioned demon possessing someone who knows important mission info. When I delved into the upcoming third issue, I found it quite action-packed. It features the team attempting a rescue mission of Dr. Olga Frankenstein, the granddaughter of the infamous Victor Frankenstein. She has been abducted by the Nazis in an effort to force her to craft undead soldiers from fallen troops. It was my favorite issue yet, thanks to some surprise threats the team faces. If this sounds fun, you can visit the Kickstarter campaign here to make sure you're notified when it launches in the near future! There will be methods to get the earlier issues with Kickstarter as well, allowing newer readers to catch up easily. I'd highly recommend backing it to anybody who likes war comics, horror comics, or a blend of both genres!

5 out of 5 Stars (for all three issues).

Music Mondays: Leo Waters' Song, "Smoke + Mirrors," is Quite Enjoyable

I'm always checking out new music and seeing what's trending. Sometimes I agree that an artist/song sounds good and am pleased when they start taking off and I hear their music on the radio (Dominic Fike has continued to grow on me). There are occasions I scratch my head and am amazed that something I think was awful goes on to be huge. I, clearly, prefer when something new surprises me with its quality, and Leo Waters is fresh-ish to the music scene with a great tune, "Smoke + Mirrors." It's got a nice melody, his voice floats over the beat with a relaxing smoothness, and its a bit of a love song, yet it hints at a faint annoyance that gives it a little bite. I somehow missed when it first dropped in 2023, and I really like it. I plan to listen to more of his music, as he's got newer stuff that dropped too, such as, "Stuck Like Chuck," which also has a great vibe.

Ending Summer 2026 with a Lovely ToyMan Show

The Summer of 2026 is drawing to a close, and while many of us won't miss the insane heat we had on a number of days, I know plenty of schoolkids (and some teachers!) are bummed to return to the classroom. At least we have Fall flavors to look forward to--a number of places already have busted out the pumpkin spice! Plus, this late August brought with it another ToyMan show. Just as you can always count on the heat index in the Midwest to be terrible, you can plan for a ToyMan show to be stellar fun!

I always like to get to the show earlier than later and just marvel at how much cool stuff there is before the crowd picks up and starts cutting deals. I recently told the showrunner, Chris McQuillen, how I tell folks that if they're looking for something and can't find it at ToyMan, they probably aren't looking hard enough! I he laughed and added, "Yeah, or you didn't ask the vendors! The chances are someone has what a person might want; they just might not have it at the show." Such a statement is on display at every ToyMan, with people selling everything from old toys to new, comics, Legos, Funko Pops, movies, CDs, DVDs, trading cards, movie posters, and the list goes on--this show I spied a new vendor with a ton of awesome vintage lunchboxes! Speaking of vendors, upon my arrival to the show with Clarkson in tow (he woke up early and wanted to join me), we said howdy to Spike of Lost in Space Toys and Collectibles, then made our way to the table of my friend, Tim Metzger. He had recently acquired a lot of cool modern books and I was able to buy some, "Absolute Batman," for great prices. Observe:

John Chaffee from Bigfoot Comics had brought a number of fun comics, vintage toys, and coins. Dustin and Tammy were selling comics for two bucks each, and there were some great deals to be had in their longboxes! I also had the chance to catch up with my chum, Jack Thomas, of Fortress Comics. As Clarkson and I walked about the show, we saw the fine folks from Tatertot had brought a bunch of goodies, and I was pleased to chat with Tom Milister and browse the comics he had brought. This was the first time Go Getter Gamez has been a vendor at a ToyMan Show (I've seen them at other events), and they were excited to be there! I also had the chance to meet a nice woman named Mary who sold me some 90s Image action figures for a great price; I thought maybe Clarkson and definitely Gibson would enjoy opening them up and playing with them. Indeed, as soon as Clarkson and I got home that morning, Gibson had just woken up and was eager to play with the toys. Here is a picture of that:

Before we went upstairs to see some of our friends there, we checked out Larry (of Bug's Comics) items and saw Nate Nauert as he was setting up for the show with all of his snazzy wares. Mr. Make Believe's Kiss Kollectibles was present, and 573 Collectibles had brought some comics as well as a number of other fun collectible items! Once we were upstairs, I was pleased to have a chance to talk with my friends, authors Jessica Mathews and Lindsay Hornsby, who were set up next to each other with all their fun books and items. Cayden from Tri Fox Shoppe was selling a bunch of cool apparel, and Heroes for Kids from Perryville was hard at work raising money for good causes! I snapped a picture of their table:

There was a lot of enjoyment to be had at the ToyMan show that occurred today. I asked Clarkson if he had fun going with me as well, and he affirmed with his hand gesture for, "Yes," that he did! I eagerly look forward to the next ToyMan on September 27th and already wonder what treasures I'll find next month there!

Upper Deck ePack, Trading Card, “Breaks,” and the Question of Just What the Future Holds for Sport and Nonsport Cards

It started in early 2024, or so. I didn’t follow any sports besides Hockey, and figured I would dabble in hockey sports cards. I’d mainly collected some nonsport cards at other times in my life, such as superheroes (I’ve always loved comics) or things that were funny, such as the Garbage Pail Kids. I saw on some internet forum/Reddit/Twitter/whatever that because Upper Deck was the sole company with a hockey license, you could buy the physical boxes and packs in stores or do this thing called, “ePack.” It was a way to buy the cards online–but not some weird digital card/currency. You couldn’t do much with, “Base,” cards, but could always mail any inserts home. Plus, you could easily trade with anyone on the site–no more waiting for mail or worrying someone will flake and rip you off! Plus, besides the hockey, there was nonsport from X-Files to James Bond, Marvel (then, when Topps got Marvel, Upper Deck started doing DC-themed stuff), and more. Almost any boxes in stores (that were Upper Deck-branded) could also have packs, boxes, or a whole case bought online; how great! Right?

A great infographic from a Nova Scotia organization.

Let’s take a step back and talk about slot machines. They are designed to make you want to keep playing. You get a bad spin and mumble to yourself, “One more try.” You get a big win and say, “Well, now I’m on a hot streak!” It is gambling, and the lights, sounds, and so forth make you want to keep playing as well. Trading cards are gambling-adjacent to a degree, no matter what some claim. People buy a pack or box, rip it open, and hope they get something good. Perhaps to trade, sell, or keep. Unless you only buy singles or sets online, if you ever buy a pack or box with nothing more than the hope some odds are in your favor, you’re engaging in a gamble. Once you open up your cards, however, you’re done. Now, what happens when you combine the thrilling sights and sounds of the slot machine with trading cards? A perfectly addictive and patented process (Topps can't do it) cocktail known as ePack.

If you pull a card most would subjectively consider, “Good,” on ePack, it will glow red and make a sound effect. With hockey, it is the horn of a goal; with nonsport cards,  it is a bit like a triumphant symphony. It is easy for some to buy a pack or back, digitally, “Rip,” it and be done. However, what if you rip a pack or two and get nothing? All you have to do is charge your credit card the price of another pack (which can vary immensely depending on the set) and see what happens. Then again. Maybe once more, because at this point you’re chasing something, anything. Perhaps you do get a, “Flasher,” and a sound effect, but it is not that great of a card. You could keep going, and before you know it, about an hour has passed where you just dropped a few hundred dollars on thirty bucks worth of cards–that you’d have to ship home to then list! That, or you can transfer the cards to a digital storefront also associated with ePack, who takes a cut of your profits as well, of course.

It adds up quickly.

If you’re not big on using the internet for much more than checking in on family or reading the news, this all sounds complicated and unwieldy to have these digital-but-physical cards, and it is! When you sit and think about it logically, the only benefit to ePack is that you’re saving space with thousands of cards in some warehouse instead of your house, and trading stuff is a bit easier with its little trading marketplace. Otherwise, it is a hassle to get the cards in your actual hands. That’s logic, however. Once you get that first amazing, “Grail,” card, sensibility melts away. You put another twenty in the trading card slot machine and hope luck is on your side. As with all gambling, however, the, “House,” eventually wins.

Spend even more money and get extra bonus cards as thanks for the debt!

You don’t end up totally empty-handed when you do ePack. You always get some trading cards, and you can get cool ones! Autographed cards, sketch cards, and so forth. The thing is, outside of a small number of ePack-exclusive sets and pricey, “Achievements,” for acquiring certain cards…you generally can buy a physical pack/box/whatever of the thing you like for cheaper. It is the ease of access where you just hop on your computer and smartphone that is the, “Blessing,” that is more of a curse for those with an addictive personality. You don’t have to find a liquor store like with booze. You don’t need to be 21 and go to a casino, or be in a state with legal online gambling, because this is totally not gambling, right? I mean, never mind the sounds and flashing when you, “Win.”

Bye bye money.

From 2024 through 2025, I spent more than I should have on ePack. I didn’t drive my family to bankruptcy, but I was irresponsible. I had to talk with my wife and other loved ones about how it was becoming an issue. I quit at the start of 2026 for a good six months, and tried to dabble in it just a little this Summer, but saw there was no way for myself to just barely engage in it when there was always some sale, promotion, or cool new metaphorically shiny thing to pursue. I am not opposed to ePack for those who find it easier to do or like the social aspect of it. I met some really nice and cool folks I am still friends with whilst doing ePack–and some of them quit it as well eventually or still enjoy it with healthy moderation of their spending. For me, however, ePack doesn’t make sense. I don’t have the funds for it, it takes up a ton of my time, and the fact that it is so easy (too easy) to open a browser and rack up a big ol’ credit card bill in less than an hour is worrisome too–for me at least. 

"Breaks," are getting to be a big thing.

One thing that nags at me about ePack, though, is whether it's a niche of the trading card industry or a sign of what is to come with the gamification of sports cards, especially, but nonsport to a degree as well? For those of you who seek out the newer releases of stuff and aren’t just buying the older sets, you’ve probably seen, “Breaks,” on Facebook, the Whatnot app, eBay Live, or other spots online. People buy dibs/a reservation of sorts on a specific character/insert/whatever, and when the, “Breaker,” opens a box or case, should that person/character get pulled, the person who purchased the mere chance of such a card gets it. Yes, someone could spend a bunch of money to guarantee they get any cards with, say, Wolverine in a new Topps Marvel set, only to find nothing gets pulled they put up all that cash towards. I, personally, think breaking is inane, even more equivalent to gambling (it is currently a legal gray area), and even worse than ePack. You may as well simply throw your money down a sewer drain. Some card companies, the aforementioned Topps especially, have really embraced this, “Trend,” however. 

He makes some good points.

We’ve got Upper Deck with ePack, Topps with breakers, and the whole idea of trading cards has become less about, “Trading,” to make a fun little set and more about, “Winning,” some notable card that you can sell for a big payday. It all starts to sound more like buying a lottery ticket and praying for the best than it does a hobby about actually, you know, collecting! Is this how sport and nonsport card collecting changes with the times, or does it create a new bubble reminiscent of the, “Junk Wax,” era of the 90’s–for all cards, not just sports? Some may say, “Card collecting needs to evolve, sports and nonsport.” Sure, but is this an evolution, or does it put the hobby on a path to extinction?

Shoutout to Jesus for getting me a pack!
I'm not making a silly joke either; it is his name.

I still enjoy buying a pack or box of nonsport cards when they’re inexpensive (getting rarer and rare these days) and something that interests me. I was excited when a friend picked up a promotional pack of, “DC Absolute Universe,” cards at the latest Comic-Con International/SDCC and sold them to me for retail plus shipping. It was something I liked, for a good price, with little worry about it having any kind of big resale value or such. Is buying a card/some cards for cheap simply because you enjoy them an outdated idea now, however? Will sports cards manage to, “Flourish,” in this new gaming-styled ecosystem, but us nonsport folks will see our hobby fade away except for the handful of fandoms (superheroes)  that lend themselves to gambling-style methods of breaks or ePack? 

Is a market like this sustainable?

As for me, I quit ePack and refuse to ever, “Invest,” in a break. I know that I would love to see more people in their teens or twenties getting into nonsport cards (besides Pokémon) and picking up a publication like, “The Wrapper,” as I've discussed before, to learn fun facts about nonsport cards, do physical trades, and build relationships with other collectors. There has to be a happy medium in all this where everybody enjoys the hobby in their own way; I just have no clue how that happens. Do you? 

Film Friday: Superhero Movie Actors Who Did a Good Job With Weak Material

On occasion, I will think of an actor who nailed their role as a superhero or villain but just didn't have the best material to work with. They're great, but everything else around them is just not at the same level. From past to more recent...

Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin in, "Daredevil."

"Daredevil," is a mediocre movie. You are forgiven for forgetting it came out back in 2003. Even the R-rated Director's Cut edition is merely an improvement upon an already, "Meh," foundation. That said, Duncan was always an incredible actor whether being comedic, serious, or coming across as one of the most imposing and intimidating Marvel villains around. A number of amazing actors have shown their skill with the Kingpin, and I'd argue Vincent D'Onofrio deserves his accolades for what he did with great material and Duncan should be applauded for all he did with so little to work with. If we'd gotten a sequel and Duncan were still with us perhaps they could've built on how great he was and had less of Ben Affleck's so-so Mattt Murdock. More on Affleck in a minute, however.

William Hurt as, Thaddeus, "Thunderbolt," Ross in Various Marvel Productions

This one isn't exactly Marvel's fault so much as it is our own human mortality. William Hurt was fantastic as Thunderbolt Ross in one of the decent-but-weaker early Marvel films, "The Incredible Hulk," in 2008. When Edward Norton's Bruce Banner was recast with Mark Ruffalo, a lot of that movie seemed to be disregarded for years. However, eventually Hurt did reappear as Ross in a new role working with the UN during Marvel's, "Captain America: Civil War," and had a small presence in, "Infnity War," "Endgame," and all the way up to the 2021 prequel, "Black Widow." Clearly, Marvel had further plans for Ross, but in 2022, William Hurt passed due to complications from cancer. Hence, when Ross popped back up again with a major role (President of the United States) in, "Captain America: Brave New World," he was now portrayed by Harrison Ford. Ford is an amazing actor, but I wish the slow-burn that had been Hurt as Ross could have truly paid off with him still as Ross all those years later.

Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman in, "Batman V. Superman," "Justice League," and so forth

I did not hate Zack Snyder's take on the DC Universe; I enjoyed it to a solid degree. I also see it had immense flaws, and I look at the so-called Snyderbros who hate anything done with the DC Universe since Snyder left (or was fired, depending on whom you ask) and wonder what they see in these flicks to consider them masterpieces. That said, Ben Affleck did a remarkably solid job with a shaky interpretation of Bruce Wayne AKA Batman. He had a good mix of pathos, snark, and calculated rage. He just lacked much to do with it.

Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in Various Marvel Productions

Marvel and the general fandom really did Brie Larson dirty. This woman had won an Academy Award for the superb (but terribly depressing) movie, "Room," and was scooped up by Marvel to star in the first female-starring solo production in the franchise. The movie was fine. Then, besides having a remarkably small role in, "Infinity War," and, "Endgame," plus being relegated to serving as part of a trio with the first MCU box-office bomb, "The Marvels," she hasn't been given much to do. She tried, ya'll. I think between not being given that great of material and the astounding amount of hate and harassment she received from, "Fans," that Larson could very well be ready to wash her hands of any Marvel movie business. I wouldn't be surprised if she requested to be quickly killed off in, "Avengers: Doomsday," so she can go perform where her talents are appreciated.

Advance Review: "Santos Sisters," Volume 2

I am a big fan of the, "Santos Sisters," and their tales. Created by Greg and Fake, this creative duo crafts a weird hodgepodge of superheroics, slice-of-life moments, and generally zaniness to bring us a stellar series. I adored the first volume, and the second is on the way (releasing on October 7th). This will collect the further Adventures of Ambar and Alana as originally published by Floating World Comics and now put in a gorgeous hardcover released by Fantagraphics. It's good stuff.

If you pictured a vaguely absurd blend of Archie-esque artwork, silver age-styled baddies, a bit of raunchy humor, and some topical riffs (cryptocurrency and memecoins get called out repeatedly), you'd begin to visualize the, "Santos Sisters." That said, you really need to read their adventures to totally absorb the twisted brilliance of Greg and Fake! I will compliment how this second volume stands alone pretty well, with any references to previous adventures given a little footnote. I was quite into a Halloween special that features appearances by other popular horror-styled characters that the creators were willing to let pop up, including the awesome Cassie Hack of, "Hack/Slash." Especially wild was the multi-part tale of Todd (the boyfriend of Alana) being wrapped up into a strange combination of prymaid scheme-meets-global-spy-conspiracy that the Santos Sisters help rescue him from. It is very silly as well as clever.

This second volume collection of the "Santos Sisters," is an utter delight. I continue to be a huge fan of Greg and Fake's superb creation, and would encourage you to purchase a copy of this book on October 7th, or you can always ask your library to order a copy!

5 out of 5 Stars.