The Briar Patch

 Old as balls, thats what I am.... Well not yet only 45 recently but man looking back on the mid 80s until now, wow things have changed. Not the point though, I had a "birthday party" recently at the Canadian Brew House by my house. It became clear I no longer "party". First we were there by 5PM and out by 745. In younger years, usually couldnt actually afford to go out like that so it was a back yard BBQ that started around 6. It would be noisy and last half the night, hell most years the sun would be up by the time I laid down. Now the loudest thing is my friends kids running around. No one gets out of hand. My friends are amazing and assholes at the same time. Most other Bdays we just have a nice meal, same with mine but they still buy me shots for some reason when they dont with others. Maybe not having children makes them think I can still handle it. I actually did a decent job, only cause it ended early! A bunch of shots, plus wine and vodka doesnt sit in the ...

I started this before I decided I needed to concentrate on one thing. So this is my last focus pop culture / comic blog for a while. Pretty happy I have been doing travel writing, but I want to get this posted, so I have no distractions. Comics, I love them. I have loved them since grade 3-ish?? So, 8 years old, 35-year love affair. I mean, it started before that. What are comics besides still cartoons, and what kid doesn't like cartoons? I guess I am gonna go on about my comic history in this blog. (This was started before I decided to focus more on my writing. So for real, last non-travel blog for a bit) Saturday morning cartoons are the start of it. It is true that back in the 80s and 90s, we had Saturday morning cartoons. There wasn't just a network dedicated to cartoons; you had to slot them in! It was a treat to see them, and we all loved them. It would make sense that a generation raised on cartoons would enjoy comics, a physical copy to hold in your hand and reread anyt...

 I am a grown ass man, 40. I have a good job and do have hobbies that get me out of the basement like hockey, walking my dogs and hopefully a lot of golf and fishing this summer. I enjoy gardening, what I am getting at is I dont think I am what a ton of people think of when I say this I LOVE ME SOME COMICS! (Not 100% true my wife did send me a link to Weird Als White and Nerdy recently and said it was me) Well thats not fair with the rise of the MCU I think a million more people are into comics that may not have been 15 - 20 years ago. It really boggles my mind the MCU has been around for over a decade, I do think we all have some super hero hang over but this entry isn't about movies just pointing out the success of movies that I think has helped comics sales overall. Anyways a bit about what I am into these days and a few trends I hate....... First off I got into comics in the late 80s early 90s. My babysitter had 2 sons, the oldest had a comic collection he didn't like us to...

So we re-watched Infinity War and Endgame again. Then started on X men First Class. This opening isn't anything I haven't said before. I don't know how the MCU will make Phase 4 work. Tony and Steve were the heart of it all. Robert and Chris made these characters amazing and I am so not sure where they will go from their. Phase 4 I am sure will be a transition phase to be honest. They seem to be throwing a lot of "B" grade and down material at the wall to see what sticks. Some might, some I am sure won't. I am honestly excited for Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. I never thought I would say I was excited for a Doc Strange movie. However all my hopes lie in the fact hopefully this can open good plot lines for Phase 4 OR it will simply be a phase to introduce the rights Disney acquired to round out the MCU. That's right, the Xmen and FF. Iron man and Cap are gone. Thor has 1 decent movie. The guardians are good but not a heart and soul. Cap Marvel ...