You Are Vengence and I Don't Care
The Batman Trailer
So...I guess this looks good. I just can't bring myself to care.
I am so sick and tired of everything Batman. Literally, one-third of the wall of DC new releases at my local comic shop is filled with Batman, Bat Family, and Bat adjacent books. Look, I know the Caped Crusader sells, but how can anything have a chance when you are drowning the market with one set of titles?
Everything was so promising with DC Rebirth in 2016. Heck, that event is why I am buying comics again. But things have really gone downhill since around the beginning of Dark Nights: Metal. It’s all so disappointing.
Now that having been said...this looks AWESOME!!!
Dammit, BuzzFeed...
Thanks for making me feel old.
Headline: 30 Things That Were Once So Normal To ‘90s Kids, But Would Be Incredibly Weird To Do Today
One Band, 5 Songs
This week the podcast focused on the Dallas, TX band The Staggers. I first discovered the band in the mid-90s when they were known as Riot Squad. I remember devouring their self-titled album and loving their mix of great hooks with huge choruses and rockabilly guitar. A few years later they dropped an incredible 7 inch EP Scary Picture Show and while recording their third album, changed their name to The Staggers. In 1999 they released the excellent The Sights, The Sounds, The Fear, and The Pain album, and in 2003 followed that up with the even better One Heartbeat Away from Hell.
It was during these years that I got to see the band on a number of occasions when they would play OKC (usually at The Green Door). But more than that, I got to know them as well, especially singer/guitarist Joe Blow and lead guitarist Billy Blitz. Both were always exceptionally kind to me and the shows were out of this world. Sadly, Billy passes away earlier this month. To say that the news was a shock would be an understatement. This episode was my attempt to honor his memory and the legacy of a band that never got the notice or attention that they deserved. Rest well, Billy, and thank you.
Pick of the Week: Forward by Andrew Yang
Former presidential and NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Yang recently made some waves with the release of his new book Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy and his official exit from the Democratic Party.
I’ve followed Yang since he started his podcast Yang Speaks last year. My son was a big supporter of Yang during the 2020 election and I liked what I heard but it wasn’t until I started listening to his ideas through his podcast, that it started to click.
Then I listened to the audiobook of Forward and now I am all in on the Forward Party and their message. The book itself is a fun and intelligent breakdown of Yang’s experience on the presidential trail, what it taught him about just how broken our systems truly are, and his ideas and vision for a better tomorrow.
That’s All I Got…
I hope you all are well. Please be safe, and...