The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is both a review and a retrospect of Jason Aaron’s Heroes Reborn, a major crossover event from 2021, which is also the same name of a major mini-series from the late 90s. It was a strange event and one with a title that carried a lot of baggage. I know because I remember that mini-series and it was forgotten for a good reason.
As a result, I freely admit I was very skeptical about this series. But I still gave it a chance. Much to my surprise, it exceeded my expectations in so many unexpected ways. And since it’s release, I think it’s worth exploring and celebrating. Enjoy!
The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is a mini-documentary of Avengers vs. X-Men, one of Marvel’s most ambitious crossovers ever. It was set up to be the most epic hero-versus-hero clash of all time. But ultimately, it turned into a battle that nobody truly won the grand scheme of things. In this video, I attempt to explore the why, how, and what we can learn from this ambitious, but misguided event. Enjoy!
Growing up, there were many benefits to being a comic book fan. Yes, there were some drawbacks. It wasn’t that long ago that superhero comics were the exclusive domain of nerds, geeks, and kids. The fact that superheroes now regularly make billions at the box office proves that more people liked them than anyone dared admit.
Even before they became mainstream, comics and superheroes had plenty of upsides. For one, they were relatively cheap. When I was a kid, a comic book cost just a couple of bucks at most and didn’t require an extra summer job to get into. I could get by just by mowing lawns and collecting my allowance. Compared to other hobbies that required investment, that’s a hell of a bargain.
I had some friends that loved cars, golf, and fashion. I guarantee they spent way more money on accessories than I ever did on comics. Hell, I knew girls who spent more money on boy band merchandise than I spent on comics. I doubt many of those same girls have that stuff. I still have comics that I bought while I was in high school.
These days, it’s never been easier to get into comics. Now, all you need is an Amazon account and Comixology. Plus, with services like Comixology Unlimited, you can basically read hundreds of books a month for the cost of a latte. I challenge anyone to find a better deal.
In the meantime, another New Comic Book Day is upon us and with it comes more benefits of being a comic fan. Here is my pull list and pick of the week. Enjoy!
The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This is actually a video I’ve been planning to make for quite some time now. I always wanted to release it alongside the release of the “Black Widow” movie, but if you followed the news last year, you understand why that was such a challenge.
As frustrating as the wait has been, it’s finally happening. This movie is coming out and that means it’s a great time to get back into Black Widow comics. As it just so happens, last year brought us one of the best gems featuring Black Widow in years, courtesy of Kelly Thompson and Elena Casagrande. I rarely make such a statement for a comic that’s not even two years old, but this one definitely warranted an exception. Watch this video to find out why. Enjoy!
I’m a firm believer that when you love something, you can combine it with damn near anything and make it inherently better. If you love chocolate, then it’ll make peanut butter better. If you like watching baseball, then watching baseball while naked will make it better. There are plenty of other examples I could give, but I’d rather not get too personal about what I do on a Sunday afternoon.
With comics, I’ve learned over the years that you can find many combinations to enhance the experience. I’ve woken up at 4:30 a.m. to read comics with a nice cup of coffee while sitting in my recliner. I’ve slept in, gone outside, and read comics on my iPad in a swim suit while I got a little sun. I’ve even read comics with a glass of whiskey before bed. I can safely attest that both experiences were enhanced considerably.
Now that we’re in the middle of summer and pandemic lockdowns are ending, we have an opportunity to enjoy things in new ways. If you love comics as much as I do, you’ve got a lot to work with, especially on Wednesday mornings. The only limit is your imagination, decency laws, and how your willingness to spend extra money on things that may seem wasteful later on.
Dare to be creative.
Dare to be a little crazy, even.
Comics give you that flexibility. With the 4th of July just a few days away, I have a few ideas as to how I’ll supplement my comic reading experience. I won’t share all the details. Just expect them to involve beer, hot dogs, and speedos. I don’t know how much that’ll inspire you. All I can offer is my pull list and pick of the week. I hope that helps. Enjoy!
Growing up, I learned an important lesson about habits. We all develop them. We all have some that can be a vice at times. It’s just a matter of nurturing healthy, enriching habits while avoiding the ones that can be more destructive. In that sense, I think I made a good choice in nurturing my love of comics.
Instead of smoking crack, playing golf, or some other habit that required way too much money or frustration, I pursued a habit that involved spend a couple bucks a week on some books that gave me regular joy. As a habit, it was both healthier and offered greater value in the grand scheme of things.
Even today, as an adult, I find waking up early on New Comic Book Day and enjoying a stack of new comics offers a tremendous value. Granted, there are some weeks where I’ll spend upwards of $50 on new comics, but that’s still less than the cost of maintaining other, more damaging habits. Again, just look at how expensive crack and golf lessons are.
It certainly helps that I don’t need to wait for the mail or go to a comic shop once a week. Thanks to Comixology, the value I get from my comic habit has never been greater. I no longer need go out of my way too much to enjoy this habit that I’ve come to love. The joy of comics is just so easy and accessible. Plus, you can enjoy them with coffee and/or alcohol. What more could you want?
To that end, I’d like to help others like me enjoy that habit. Here is my pull list and pick of the week. Enjoy!
Sometimes, the days of the week just line up perfectly. Like the years in which Halloween is on a Saturday or the 4th of July is on a Friday, everything just falls into place perfectly. For me, who identifies as both a comic book fan and a Star Wars fan, a year when new comic book day falls on or the day after May 4th is just too perfect.
For those of you who don’t know, May 4th is also known as Star Wars Day. It’s an annual celebration of the stories we love about a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. If you were on social media at any point yesterday, you likely saw people saying something like “May the 4th be with you.” That’s just Star Wars fans celebratory and being coy. It’s a beautiful thing.
The fact this is happening right before new comic book day this year just makes it even more special. Like many other Star Wars fans, I have more than my share of Star Wars comics in my collection. I also rarely need a reason to go back and watch my favorite episodes of shows like “The Mandalorian” or “The Clone Wars.” If I can do that and read a new stack of comics, then that’s a day well spent.
So, if you’re either a Star Wars fan or a comic book fan, today is a special day. If you happen to be a fan of both, it’s extra special. Find a way to celebrate and enjoy it. It’s not often the calendar works out this way. Cherish it as best you can. May the Force be with you all and here’s my pull list for this extra special new comic book day. Enjoy!
It’s the first week of 2021 and while things are still awful, they haven’t gotten considerably worse just yet. By 2020 standards, that counts as progress. That’s just how low the bar is these days. I hope it raises at some point, but I’m not getting my hopes up just yet.
In the meantime, I won’t let that stop me from enjoying the first New Comic Book Day of the year. In my experience, comic companies often use that first Wednesday to set the tone for the kind of year they’re going to have. That usually involves setting up or furthering stories that began late in the previous year and launching new titles to help set up events in the new year.
In addition, these efforts also mean I tend to spend a lot more than average on the first week of the year. That usually works out because I use the money I got from generous relatives over Christmas. So the first New Comic Book Day of a new year are usually very special for me and this year promises to be no exception.
New characters are being introduced.
New titles are launching from top tier talent.
New storylines are set to pick up.
These are exciting times for the world of comics. The world is still a mess and I’m still frustrated by it to no end. Even so, an extra large pile of new comics helps make it more awesome and that’s exactly what we need right now. As such, here’s my pull list and pick for the first of many New Comic Book Days in 2021. Enjoy!
Every now and then, we need something simple, uplifting, and wholesome to boost our spirits. Whether you’re a child, an adult, or a teenager struggling through the rigors of puberty, we just need something positive to cling to, if only briefly.
I certainly need that from time to time. I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t. The world can be a chaotic, ugly place. It’s easier than ever to focus on the bad and overlook the good. However, that good is still out there and, in the spirit of sharing that good, I’d like to present a small comic strip that always brings a smile to my face.
I’ll give everyone a minute to wipe the tears from their face or manage their “allergies.”
Yes, that was a comic strip featuring Thor and Fred Rogers.
There are already many unbelievably wholesome stories about Fred Rogers and the impact he had on countless children. The legend of this man’s uncanny kindness, empathy, and compassion is certainly a story worth telling and it has in a number of recent movies.
Like many, I grew up watching Mr. Rogers’ show. In recent years, I’ve rediscovered his remarkable story and his amazing acts of humility. When you need something uplifting to boost your spirits, those stories just find a way to touch my heart on a profound level.
This comic strip doesn’t just reaffirm that. It makes a perfect case that, regardless of how you define worthiness, Mr. Rogers shows just how far true humility will take you. It’s a message I think we can all appreciate right now.
We made it through Election Day. I understand that can still change, but we still made it. That’s progress, in my book. I also doubt I’m alone in being relieved that we’ve finally made it through.
Now, I realize that there’s still plenty of post-election drama to unfold here in the United States. I may end up talking about that at some point. For now, I’d rather focus on something that brings objective joy to the world, namely comics.
The day after such a contentious election is the perfect day to indulge in some comic fueled awesome. I am not just ready. I need this and I suspect many others burned out on politics feel the same. The real world has been objectively awful on so many levels in 2020. An escape has never been more necessary.
That’s exactly what comics provide us. They are a simple, inexpensive joy that takes us out of this crazy world for a brief moment and into one full of wonder. I love every New Comic Day, but this particular day has never been more cathartic. To that end, here is my pull list and pick for the week. Enjoy!
Jack Fisher's Official Publishing Blog 