The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. It is another worthy entry into my ongoing Jack’s Comic Gems playlist. This time, I offer one of the most dramatic and heartbreaking comics I’ve read in the past decade, X-23 Innocence Lost. Enjoy!
Tag Archives: comic books
Jack’s Comic Gems: X-23 Innocence Lost
Filed under comic book reviews, Jack's Comic Gems, Jack's World, Marvel, superhero comics, X-men, YouTube
New Comic Book Day December 8, 2021: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week
Over the course of my life, my love of comics has evolved a great deal. Some of that was just due to pure logistics. When I was a kid, I couldn’t wake up on Wednesday mornings and just dive into my pull list. I had to wait until my comics arrived in the mail and even then, they didn’t always come on time. It wasn’t unusual for a comic that was supposed to come out on Wednesday to not arrive until Saturday.
I don’t miss those days. I don’t know a single comic fan who does.
Then, I lived near a comic shop for a while. That allowed me to keep up better. I would often schedule my day, be it work or class, around when I’d get to a comic shop and how much money I would be able to spend. That was often the most exciting part of my day. Sometimes, it was a distraction. I remember many classes and work days in which I was not fully focused. I was too eager to see what happened with my favorite comics.
Now, thanks to digital comics and Comixology, my love of comics feels like it has achieved its final form. I no longer have to leave my house. I don’t even have to put on clothes. I just wake up, grab my iPad, and download my latest round of books. I don’t even have to leave my bed. It’s a damn good feeling and it has allowed me to really embrace everything comics have to offer.
I’m no longer bound by what a shop has in stock or by which series offer subscriptions. Thanks to digital comics and New Comic Book Day, entire worlds are literally at my fingertips. Over the past couple of years, I’ve only come to appreciate this access even more. It makes every Wednesday morning a true joy and being able to read comics under the light of my Christmas tree just makes it even better.
I say all this to just acknowledge how much digital comics have improved my life as a comic fan and I am deeply thankful for that. Those who never had to live with the agony of waiting for comics in the mail will never know the same rigors I once endured and I would never wish that upon them. We should still be thankful, so please keep that in mind as I share my pull list and pick of the week. Enjoy!
My Pull List
Death of Doctor Strange: Blade #1
Giant-Size Black Cat: Infinity Score #1
Grimm Universe Presents Quarterly: 2021 Holiday Special
Superman: Son of Kal-El 2021 Annual #1
My Pick Of The Week
Superman: Son of Kal-El 2021 Annual #1
Filed under Jack's Quick Pick Comic
New Comic Book Day December 1, 2021: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week
The week after Thanksgiving is often bittersweet, especially if your stomach is still recovering. Between going through all your leftovers and starting on Christmas shopping, at least for those who try to be proactive around the holidays, it can be exhausting. If you had to travel at any point, then that just compounds everything. That’s often why the week after Thanksgiving is often a week of recovery.
How we go about recovering varies from person to person, but as a comic book fan, New Comic Book Day has always been a big part of that process for me. Even though this year wasn’t quite as stressful as others, especially when compared to last year, Thanksgiving was still a stressful time, but for all the right reasons. By now, I’ve finished all my leftovers. I’ve digested all my meals. I’ve done all my Black Friday shopping. I am ready to get back into the swing of things.
A nice batch of new comics on a Wednesday morning just makes that process easier. It’s not just a direct result of awesome comics to start my day, although that is a big part of it. It helps get me back into my routine, of which New Comic Book Day is often built around. Regardless of any holidays, Wednesdays are often special in their own right. It’s a weekly treat that ensures I always have something to look forward to. I hope other comic fans feel the same way and experience the same joy.
Even if you’re done with Thanksgiving and ready for Christmas, the first New Comic Book Day after Thanksgiving can act as the final desert of sorts. It can also help get you into the full holiday spirit with Christmas coming in just a few weeks. In terms of a holiday treat, what more do you need? As always, I’m providing my pull list and pick for the week. Reading them on an full stomach is optional, but encouraged. Enjoy!
My Pull List
Death of Doctor Strange: Spider-Man #1
Detective Comics 2021 Annual #1
Hellboy: The Bones of Giants #2
Red Sonja 2021 Holiday Special
X-Men: The Trial Of Magneto #4
My Pick Of The Week
Avengers #50
Filed under Jack's Quick Pick Comic
New Comic Book Day November 24, 2021: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week
When you love comics as much as I do, every New Comic Book Day feels special. It’s a magical time of week and thanks to digital comics through Comixology, waking up on Wednesday mornings is like waking up on Christmas. It’s a wonderful feeling, getting out of bed and downloading a fresh batch of comics to go along with your morning cup of coffee. It helps make every Wednesday special in its own right.
That said, some New Comic Book Days are inherently more special than others, albeit indirectly.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving has always been special to me. Even before the days of digital comics, it was often the day when I began my Thanksgiving preparations. That usually meant cooking deserts for the family or helping out with relatives arriving from out of town. No matter what it entailed, I always found a way to fit new comics into the mix and somehow, that always made it more special.
That’s very fitting in so many ways. This is the time of year where we step back, count our blessings, and give thanks to the things we value in our lives. I certainly value the friends, family, and loved ones I share this day with. I’m also deeply thankful for the joy that New Comic Book Day brings every week and today, I want to convey that gratitude to everyone who makes it happen.
To the writers, artists, editors, and tech people working at Comixology, I sincerely thank you. On behalf of comic fans like me, we are grateful for everything that you do for us. In that spirit, here is my pull list and pick for the week. Hopefully, it helps everyone work up an appetite in preparation for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Enjoy!
My Pull List
Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #5
X-Force: Killshot Anniversary Special #1
My Pick Of The Week
Hulk #1
Filed under Jack's Quick Pick Comic
New Comic Book Day November 17, 2021: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week
Every now and then, we have one of those weeks that just feel so busy, hectic, frustrating. The reasons vary, but the feeling is often the same. Everything just seems so stressful from the moment you wake up until the moment you fall back into bed.
Naturally, a lot of those weeks tend to coincide with this time of year. The holidays are fast approaching. People are making travel plans, preparing Christmas lists, and organizing how they’ll carry out the festivities. Add work, school, and an ongoing pandemic to the mix and it’s a hell of a shit storm. It’s also weeks like this that help us appreciate New Comic Book Day even more.
When I was in college, this was often the time of year when a lot of projects were due. It was also when the professors often gave us tests and quizzes to make sure we didn’t coax through the holidays. It made for quite a few restless nights and I don’t know how I could’ve managed without new comics to look forward to. I even had a special stack of comics that I would often go back to when I just needed to decompress from it all.
The contents of that stack has changed over time, but every New Comic Book Day has given me a way to supplement it when necessary. For the past couple years, it has definitely been necessary. I get the senese we all need an escape more than usual and for me, new comics are a tried and true method that works. They also help ensure the stress of weeks like this don’t dampen my holiday spirits.
As of this moment, I am in the middle of one of those stressful weeks. I suspect I’m not the only one. As rough as it is now, rest assure we’re halfway through. Let New Comic Book Day help you make it to the weekend, knowing a nice holiday feast awaits us next week. To assist, here is my pull list and pick for the week. Enjoy and hang tough!
My Pull List
The Joker Presents: A Puzzlebox #12
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #5
My Pick Of The Week
Shang-Chi #6
Filed under Jack's Quick Pick Comic
New Comic Book Day November 10, 2021: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week
We’re getting to that time of year in which easy to get stressed out. Once Halloween ends, everyone’s focus turns towards the holidays and the end of the year. Even if you’re not big on holiday festivities, it’s hard to avoid the impact on everyone around us. People aren’t just contemplating Christmas lists. They’re thinking about travel plans during Thanksgiving, Christmas parties, and family gatherings.
I love all of those things. I’ve already made major travel plans for the holidays this year. After being unable to leave my home state last year, I’m eager to make up for it. I don’t deny it’s stressful, but that’s exactly what I value New Comic Book Day even more this time of year.
Today is going to be a stressful day. This week is going to be stressful. This whole month is likely to be stressful in so many ways, some of which have nothing to do with the holidays. However, that feeling I get when I wake up early on a Wednesday morning, pour myself a cup of coffee, and read my new comics on my iPad is still as relaxing as ever. For just a brief moment, I’m as content as I’ll ever be during any time of year.
If you’re a comic book fan, I hope you all experience something similar. For the next couple of months, we’ll all need that more than usual. Don’t let the stress of this time of year damper your holiday spirit. Let a new stack of comics soothe you as only awesome comics can.
To that, here is my pull list and pick for the week. Relax and enjoy!
My Pull List
Deadpool: Black, White & Blood #4
Rick and Morty: Corporate Assets #1
My Pick Of The Week
Eternals #7
Filed under Jack's Quick Pick Comic
New Comic Book Day November 3, 2021: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week
I hope everyone had a great Halloween. I certainly did. It always warms my heart to see so many kids dressed as superheroes. This year, I can confirm that the impact of both Loki and Shang-Chi was quite extensive. The Loki costumes alone warranted extra candy. I made sure they all got their share. I also made sure I still had some left over to enjoy for New Comic Book Day.
It’s one of the underrated joys I’ve come to appreciate over the years. I always make it a point to buy extra candy for Halloween so that the kids know my place is one of the best places to go. I also make sure there’s some left over for the next New Comic Book Day. That way, I can both enjoy new comics and eat some of the leftover candy. It’s a small, but satisfying joy that has become a post-Halloween tradition of mine.
For those who went trick-or-treating and got a nice haul, I encourage you to incorporate that candy into New Comic Book Day as well. Comics are like the ultimate spice. It makes everything you mix it with a little more awesome. Get yourself a bowl of candy, a fully charged iPad, and a Comixology account and you’ve got the perfect post-Halloween trifecta. To those who dress up as their favorite superheroes, I can confirm that this makes the candy taste even sweeter.
I’ve got both my candy and coffee in hand. I’ve got my iPad ready and stocked with comics to start my day. To all those who seek to share in this little tradition, here is my pull list and pick of the week. Enjoy!
My Pull List
Batman: The Adventures Continue #6: Season Two
Batman/Superman #1: Authority Special
Death of Doctor Strange: Avengers #1
Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour #3
Hellboy: The Bones of Giants #1
The Joker Presents: A Puzzlebox #11
Mister Miracle #6: The Source of Freedom
Rick and Morty: Rick’s New Hat #4
Strange Academy Presents: The Death of Doctor Strange #1
My Pick Of The Week
Dark Knights Of Steel #1
Filed under Jack's Quick Pick Comic
Jack’s Comic Gems: Fantastic Four: Books of Doom
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!
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
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
Jack Fisher's Official Publishing Blog 