The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. It is another entry in my ever-growing Jack’s Comic Gems playlist. This time, I highlight a gem from the lands of Latveria with Fantastic Four: Books of Doom. Enjoy!
Honest Question: Do Political Ads Convince Anyone Of Anything?
It’s that time of year again for my fellow Americans. It’s election season. Now granted, it’s not a Presidential election, which have a tendency to get messy, ugly, heated, and hostile. The last two Presidential elections have sadly demonstrated that. However, democracy is still an important part of the American tradition. That means we have elections every year.
Years like this are what we call “off-year elections.” We don’t elect a President, but we do elect senators, representatives, governors, and various other officials. It may not be as glamorous or high-stakes as a Presidential election, but it’s something I encourage every American to take seriously.
Even if you hate politics and politicians, you should still vote.
If you’re not sure how, depending on where you live, check out this website and follow the steps. It’s not just a civic duty. It’s the lifeblood of democracy.
That being said, I do have one major bone to pick with election season. It has to do with the political ads that seem to run every five minutes on every channel I watch, as well as every video I stream online. Chances are, my fellow Americans are seeing plenty of those ads too. I have a feeling they’re as sick of them as I am.
With that in mind, I have a simple question to those who make these ads, as well as those who can’t avoid seeing them.
Do these ads actually convince anyone of anything?
I promise I’m not being facetious. I’m asking an honest, sincere question.
Has anyone actually been swayed by these ads? Have they ever affected your voting habits in any meaningful way?
I know people tend to be exceedingly partisan about everything these days. There are people who will vote for alleged sexual predators over someone of the opposing party. I know people who are registered republicans or democrats. Their candidate could run over puppies in the street and they would still vote for them.
It’s sad, frustrating, and antithetical to core American principles, but that’s the current situation we live in. It also makes these political ads all the more irrelevant. Seriously, if people are this partisan and dogmatic about their political affiliations, is an ad going to change that? If not, why spend money on them in the first place?
It’s not an insignificant sum of money, either. Running ads on TV and online make up a sizable chunk of campaign costs for aspiring politicians and that cost is only increasing. If they don’t work, then why spend all that money in the first place? What’s the point if it doesn’t change a single voter’s mind?
I suspect that’s not entirely the point of these ads. It might just be the case that these ads are just reminders for people who planned to vote a certain way to get out there and vote. After all, voter turnout has been historically low in the Untied States. While I agree that’s an issue, are these ads really the best way to address it?
Again, it’s an honest question. I’m not trying to come off as jaded or cynical, although I don’t blame anyone for feeling this way after the past five years of American politics. If these ads aren’t helping, though, then I think these questions are still worth asking.
Jaded or not, I still fully intend to vote and I already know who I’m voting for. I encourage every registered voter in America to do the same. Try not to vote blindly, either. Look into each candidate. Get a feel for who they are and decide for yourself whether you want them representing you. It can be tedious, I know, but that’s how you do democracy. That’s how you preserve the core values that make the Untied State of America what it is. Put in that effort, even if you find these ads insufferably annoying.
Filed under Current Events, politics
New Comic Book Day October 27, 2021: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week
Every New Comic Book Day is awesome in its own right. I like to think I’ve made that abundantly clear on this website. It’s not like I hide how excited I get every Wednesday when I wake up to read all the new comics from my pull list. That being said, some New Comic Book Days are just more inherently awesome than others.
This week is definitely one of them because it’s the same week as Halloween.
Now, the reason for that is largely personal. I just find the act of reading new comics the same week as Halloween a lot more enjoyable, mostly because there’s often an abundant supply of candy nearby. In addition to my morning coffee, I plan on getting a handful of candy to enjoy as I read new comics. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, there’s just no getting around it. Candy makes something better.
That might not improve the reading experience for everyone, but let’s not overcomplicate this. Halloween is a holiday built around dressing up in costumes and getting free candy. Not everyone can dress up in a costume on a Wednesday morning, but they can enjoy a little candy while they read comics. If that doesn’t make your day better, by default, then you’re just being difficult.
Halloween is still a few days away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start enjoying some candy. Combine that with a stack of new comics and your week is that much more enjoyable. I already have some candy right next to me as I type this. Here’s my pull list and pick to show what I’ll be reading as I eat it. If you have any Halloween candy nearby, I encourage you to do the same. I’m sure he trick-or-treaters will understand. Enjoy!
My Pull List
Batman: The Long Halloween Special #1
My Pick Of The Week
Inferno #2
Filed under Jack's Quick Pick Comic
Recounting My Fondest Halloween Memories: When Johnny Bravo Met Han Solo
Halloween is almost upon us. Unlike last year, we might actually get to enjoy it this time. Even if you’re not a big fan of dressing up or hearing The Monster Mash every five minutes, I encourage everyone to get out there and enjoy this holiday.
Whether it involved dressing up, trick-or-treating, passing out candy, or watching horror movies, I say go the extra mile this year. Be a little more elaborate with your costume. Drink a little extra pumpkin ale. Give out more candy than usual. Seriously, after last year, we all need it.
I certainly have plans this year. I really do want to make the most of Halloween this year. In the spirit of inspiring others, I’d like to share one of my fondest Halloween memories from when I was a kid. This is a memory my parents and siblings probably know, too. I hope they are just as fond of it as me.
For this particular Halloween, I was still in grade school. I was also finally at an age where I could go trick-or-treating without my parents having to be chaperones. The only stipulation they gave was that, if I went out trick-or-treating, I had to go with a friend. Thankfully, I had that covered, courtesy of a friend who lived three houses down.
We both made it a point to be ambitious this year. We were going to try and get to as many houses as possible and maximize our haul of candy. I distinctly remember us plotting out how we would cover every block in our neighborhood. It was probably the most excited I’d ever been for Halloween.
In terms of costumes, my friend and I kept things simple. He dressed up as Han Solo, complete with a vest, boots, and a fake blaster. Him being a Star Wars fan, that was hardly surprising. For me, I dressed up as Johnny Bravo. If you had been watching Cartoon Network at all during this time, as I had, chances are you were familiar with him.
His style was simple, but his personality was what stood out. He basically carried himself like Elvis Presley, Bruce Lee, and the Fonz. Since I wasn’t the most extroverted kid in the world, it was a stark contrast from my usual persona. I still embraced it in the spirit of Halloween.
Like my friend, my costume was simple. I just put on a pair of blue jeans, a tight black shirt, and a pair of sunglasses. To fully complete the look, I doused my hair with hair gel and slicked it back so that I had that distinctly Bravo look.
It wasn’t perfect or in the mold of a professional cosplayer, but it was still serviceable for a kid my age. It also gave me an excuse to talk like Elvis for an entire night. I’m not gonna lie. I had a lot of fun with that. Remember, I was a pretty shy kid growing up. Me being that outgoing was a major shift. It was jarring, but in a good way.
With our costumes ready, my friend and I ventured out as soon as the sun set. It certainly helped that the weather that night was perfect Halloween weather. It was cool and crisp. There weren’t any clouds in the sky and we had a full moon. It was as perfect a Halloween setting as you could get without a psycho in a hockey mask.
My friend and I took full advantage of that weather. We started hitting houses as soon as we could, starting on our own block and working our way out. We were thorough, but efficient. We didn’t linger too much. We just showed off our costumes, got our candy, and moved on.
It was as perfect demonstration of just how effective trick-or-treating could be for a couple kids our age. I’m genuinely proud of how much ground we covered and how much candy we got.
We still found time to have a bit of fun. Most of the houses we visited recognized my friend as being Han Solo. They weren’t as sure about me. I had to explain to them who Johnny Bravo was, which often involved me dropping some lines from the show.
At times, I was a bit more animated than necessary, but I make no apologies for that. I also like to think those people still know who Johnny Bravo is to this day. They may have never seen the cartoon, but they remember the trick-or-treater who visited them that night.
Overall, my friend and I were out for nearly two hours that night. We ended up almost entirely filling our pillowcases with candy. I don’t remember how much of it we ate that night, but I remember it being extra delicious. The fact that we worked so hard to get so much out of Halloween that year just made it so much sweeter.
After that, there were other Halloween festivities. There were other costumes and other elaborate trick-or-treating efforts. However, none were quite as successful as that fateful night. On a night when Han Solo teamed up with Johnny Bravo, we created the ultimate Halloween experience and for that, I am proud and thankful for my friend.
He knows who he is. I don’t know if he’ll read this, but I hope he remembers that night as fondly as I do. I also hope that inspires others to make the same effort for this Halloween that my friend and I did all those years ago. Also, I can safely say all that candy went to good use.
Filed under funny, Jack Fisher's Insights, real stories
Jack Fisher’s Sexy Sunday Thoughts: Slutty Costumes 2021 Edition
October is a magical month for those who love to dress up in elaborate costumes. At the start of the month, you have the New York Comic Con, which I eagerly attend every year. Even if you’re not a fan of comic books or anime, it’s a huge event that allows people to dress up in whatever costumes they see fit.
Seriously, I saw someone dressed as Charlie Brown and the entire cast of Rugrats. The only limit is your willingness and ability to wear a costume.
Then, at the end of the month, you have Halloween. For kids and adults alike, it’s a national holiday that gives you another reason to dress up however you see fit. It doesn’t have to be fancy or elaborate. It just has to be a costume you really want to wear and show off.
As a kid, I certainly enjoyed the act of dressing up and trick-or-treating. As an adult, though, I’ve also come to enjoy those who use this opportunity to flaunt their sex appeal. That often means people using Halloween or New York Comic Con as a chance to dress extra slutty.
Some may not like the use of that term or what kind of slutty costumes people use, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. Being a fan of all things sexy, I wholly support anyone’s desire to dress extra slutty at any point during the month of October. Whether you’re going to Comic Con or a Halloween party, this is your time to flaunt your sex appeal. I say use it!
There will always be those who are against anything slutty. These people are also against fun, joy, and everything that makes life worth living. Don’t listen to them. Just enjoy dressing slutty and have fun. Here are some Sexy Sunday Thoughts to help inspire whatever slutty costume you have in mind. Enjoy!
“Being seductive requires that you be polite while horny to some extent.”
“Good manners and good sex cannot be entirely separated.”
“A man who frequently loses his car keys is ill-equipped to find a woman’s G-spot.”
“The prevalence of incest porn has made family reunions a lot more awkward for certain people.”
“Ideally, you’d like to know your lover’s weirdest kink before your honeymoon.”
“There’s no polite way to explain the usage or appeal of anal beads.”
“In general, relationships become less complicated when more orgasms are exchanged.”
Filed under Sexy Sunday Thoughts
Marvel Studios’ What If: Five Scenarios I Want To See In Season 2
The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is me sharing five scenarios I’d love to see in the next season of Marvel Studios’ “What If.” Enjoy!
Why Do Preachers Need/Deserve Private Jets? (A Sincere Question)
Whenever I talk about religion on this site, I try to be as respectful and tactful as possible. I don’t seek to offend or insult anyone who identifies as religious. I also don’t seek to denigrate certain religious practices, although I do believe a few warrant extra scrutiny. I’m sure I’ve overstepped those bounds in the past and for that, I do apologize.
All that being said, I have a serious question I’d like to present to those who are genuine and sincere with their faith.
Why do preachers need, let alone deserve, private jets?
I promise I’m not being facetious. I’m also not trying to make a larger point about certain religions. I would genuinely like someone who identifies as religious to explain this to me. Don’t just throw bible quotes at me. Explain it to me like I’m a child.
I know preachers having private jets isn’t new. However, recent events have made preachers and their spending habits a lot more noteworthy. Some make elaborate excuses as to why they have private jets. I still don’t get it.
These are not CEOs who run multi-billion dollar companies.
These are not heads of state who have to be able to travel the world at a moment’s notice.
These aren’t even celebrities who have achieved a level of success that affords them the option of some added luxury.
These are preachers who, for the most part, make their living giving sermons to adherents. I’m not saying that isn’t a noble profession. I went to church as a child. I remember the preachers and priests who led the sermons. They were genuinely nice people and they didn’t have private jets. One of them didn’t even own a car.
Now, I know these kinds of religious leaders are in a different hemisphere compared to the charismatic televangelists who have their own megachurches. I also know that more than a few adherents who utterly despise these people. One of them once told me, “That jet won’t help them escape where they’re going.”
Regardless of whether or not you believe that, I would still like someone to explain this practice to me. I get that charismatic people will attract crowds, money, and power. I get that those same people will abuse that power in one way or another. That’s just human nature.
What I don’t understand is how the adherents who believe, support, and send money to these people can accept this sort of thing and not have it clash with their faith somehow. Nearly every major religion has strict condemnations of greed and excess. How can this be justified?
Again, this is a sincere question. I hope to get a sincere answer because the absence of an answer is every bit as revealing.
Filed under Current Events, politics, rants, religion
New Comic Book Day October 20, 2021: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week
There are a certain group of people, many of them pundits, trolls, and wannabe celebrities, who whine about adults who love comics. They’ll frequently tell them to grow up or that comics are for children and that clinging to them is akin to clinging to your childhood.
These people are wrong, misguided, and have a general antipathy towards anything fun or fulfilling.
Fuck those people. Fuck them with an adamantimum dildo.
Comics aren’t just for kids anymore. There was a time when they were mostly marketed towards children, but their appeal has never been that narrow. Many of the stories they tell have messages and appeal that transcend age, gender, race, creed, and background. They embody values, ideals, and emotions that impact everyone on some level. We shouldn’t whine about that. We should celebrate it.
That’s what I do every Wednesday with New Comic Book Day. I might have been a kid when I first got into comics, but the joy they give me is every bit as important to me as an adult. Plus, knowing that this enjoyment pisses off the likes of Martin Scorsese and Bill Maher just makes it all the more fulfilling.
Again, fuck those people and fuck their hatred of anything fun and enjoyable.
I encourage all my fellow comic book fans to share in that sentiment. Use today to give those who say comics are for kids an omega level middle finger. Below is my pull list and pick of the week. Enjoy!
My Pull List
Grimm Spotlight: Cinderella vs Zombies
Red Sonja: Black, White, Red #4
Star Wars: The High Republic #10
The United States of Captain America #5
X-Men: The Trial Of Magneto #3
My Pick Of The Week
Nightwing #85
Filed under Jack's Quick Pick Comic
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