last week's comics this week, 2023w41-42

in

  • If, as Wells says, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN No. 35 sets up the next 25 issues, I'm not intrigued. Gave the three black-costume issues (with a concept that was beyond fascinating and had deep potential and should have been far more than a filler between arcs – I mean, Slott had Doc Ock in Peter's body for how long?) a try but eh: I'm out. At least that JRJR cover was creepily fantastic / fantastically creepy

  • Debut issue of WESLEY DODDS: THE SANDMAN fine but ultimately forgettable: a shame, as he's one of my favorite characters. Glad I read it, but I won't be continuing; at least we'll always have SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE, one of the greatest series of all time (and I did appreciate the nod to the first arc in here).

  • Late pickup, but after three issues, I'm fully "in" on Taylor & Scott's TITANS; I rarely like team books yet I love this. And, because of my lateness in getting the third issue, I only have to wait a week until the fourth. Win win.

  • NIGHTS: wasn't sure at first, but intrigued me enough by the end to make me want to pick up the next issue. Feels like something special brewing here.

  • Debut of DESTINY GATE was a neat premise that failed to hold in execution.

  • While BATMAN & ROBIN No. 2 was beautiful to behold, something's not working for me. Done.

  • Late to the game, but I will buy anything Stan Sakai makes. SPACE USAGI: YOKAI HUNTER one shot was so good. Can’t wait for the next series (and the next issue of USAGI).

  • Take more of my money, Black Label: Christian Ward's BATMAN: CITY OF MADNESS, No. 1 = oh my. One of my favorite writer/artists working today.

in

Finding my way back to a drumming practice, letting myself have fun again (even though I'm working through the brain/hand coordination warhorses of Chester's THE NEW BREED and Stone's STICK CONTROL – if I'm going to do relearn this beloved instrument, I'm doing it with the best foundational texts out there). Wish the iPad'd been around when I was gigging and in music school: would’ve saved me more than a few embarrassing page-turn crashes.

Bandcamp death rattle(?)

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Sad to witness Bandcamp's slow unraveling: they had – have, until they go dark, I suppose – something so good, so special – and now, well, I don't know. Something… less. I've become reticent to post new EarBliss here because I've a growing fear I'm going to be left with pages of broken players. Whole situation seems like a golden opportunity for... something / someone – though I'm not sure who: Etsy's the first one that springs to mind, but there has to be a better option. Patreon? Really shouldn't be this hard.

Excellent article summing up the whole thing and reasons for skepticism about Songtradr, via Pitchfork:

There are reasons to doubt that Songtradr will be able to pull off its business goals. Founded in 2014, the Santa Monica company has raised roughly $101 million in financing, much of which it has put toward an aggressive strategy of mergers and acquisitions—that is, driving growth by bringing other companies under its umbrella. CEO Paul Wiltshire claims that the company nearly doubled revenue in 2020, but Songtradr’s revenue appears to have flattened out for the past three years. So far, the company’s communications regarding its acquisition haven’t been totally on the level. When announcing this week’s job cuts, Songtradr said that “50 percent of Bandcamp employees have accepted offers to join Songtradr.” In fact, only half of Bandcamp’s employees were offered employment in the first place; the other half were summarily let go.

seven years ago today my blood sugar was 877 and i was ten minutes from dead

in

But now it's doing fine – unless NuHerbie and I have marital issues – and, barring freak turns of nature and/or anvils falling on my head, so am I.

Short recap: lost 40 pounds -> always thirsty, always pissing -> angular face, couldn't move, fire breath -> ER, guess what youve got T1D, ICU for two days, ice chips (motherfucking ice chips), regular hospital for two days -> homecoming, handling 2016 election and Leonard Cohen's death sober, four months of retraining myself to run again (yoga FTW: I'd be lost without my 13 years of it) back in the swing of things -> move forward, one foot at a time, into the years ahead that were nearly gone in ten minutes.

Regular posting marking this personal holiday duly posted and marked. I still hate motherfucking ice chips.