THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY IN DECEMBER

 

Call me an incurable optimist, but I always have a little extra bounce in my step at the start of a new year. No matter how dire my country and my world appear to be, there’s always going to be a part of me that thinks “this is the year we turn it all around and be the people and the nation we should be.”

In that hopeful spirit, let’s pass on any litany of people and things that were not as they should have been in the previous month and cut straight to those things that brought me joy in December...

December 1: The Luminous Fairies and Mothra. The joint effort of three Japanese authors, this is the original story that was the basis for the movie. Includes a great afterword by translator Jeffery Angles. Kaiju fans will love this book.

December 2: Adventures into the Unknown #147 [March 1964]. “I’ve Got to Protect Nettie!” by Richard Hughes and Paul Reinman. Though it’s problematic that the protagonist is a Confederate officer, this tale has a lot of heart. It’s why I love this era of ACG comics so much.

December 3: Chic Stone. I loved his inking Jack Kirby at Marvel. But, as I read ACG's Adventures into the Unknown from the 1960s, where he’s usually drew the lead story, I’m bowled over by his ability to draw action, drama and humor with amazing skill. He’s truly an underappreciated comics talent.

December 4: Paul Reinman. I’m gaining a new appreciation for the work of this comics legend as I see his art in ACG’s Adventures into the Unknown. He worked with ghost pencillers from time to time, but the final results are full of life.

December 5: Wheel of Fortune. On the December 4 episode, Medina resident Kari Deeks won $23,921, which total included a Disney Wish Cruise. It’s always great to have a contestant from my home town to root for.

                                                                           

 

December 6. Saturday Night Live.Weekend Update’s Colin Yost is deliciously hilarious as Secretary of War Crimes Pete Hegseth. I would very much enjoy watching Yost stretch his comedic chops in other sketches as well.                                                                           

December 7: Viewing online photos of joyful trans women becoming their authentic selves and living full lives. No matter how much hate we face, we all deserve to be ourselves and find our happy endings.

December 8: The Daily Show. Jon Stewart presented an incredibly concise exploration of similarities between our ill-conceived war on Iraq and Trump’s new war on Venezuela. The cherry on this smart sundae was an appearance by Rob Corddry.

December 9: The Daily Show. Activist and author Malala Yousafzai returned to the Daily Show for a simply wonderful chat with Jon Stewart. Her new book is Finding My Way: A Memoir. She is what a hero looks like.

December 10: Stephen Colbert and Taylor Swift. It was one of the best late-night interviews I’ve ever watched. There was obvious chemistry and mutual respect between them, making for a terrific conversation. The more I see them, the more I know these are two of our finest Americans.

December 11: My Perfectly Imperfect Body by Debbie Tung. This is an incredible graphic memoir in which the cartoonist shares her story of her teenage body issues. Frank, honest, vulnerable, it is worthy of Eisner nomination and highly recommended.

                                                                     

 

December 12: A Christmas Murder Mystery (Amazon). Great fun as a quirky puzzle creator is invited to visit a wealthy family, just in time for the family patriarch to be murdered. I want to see more of Vera Vexley (Morgan Bradley). Recommended.

December 13: Secret Mall Apartment. A group of artists discover an unused space and make it a home of sorts. They live there for four years. It’s a documentary about art, community connection, creative and gentrification. Brilliant.

December 14: Today is the second anniversary of when I started gender-affirming therapy at Cleveland Sex & Intimacy Counseling. Therapy has been of enormous benefit to me as I learn about and reveal who I was all along.

                                                                           

 

December 15: Newly elected councilperson Ed Isabella (my son) talked to the fourth graders at Sidney Fenn Elementary School where he went to school. He got a glowing review from the Medina City Teachers Association.

December 16: Rain by Jocelyn C. DiDomenick was an impulse buy. How so? I bought all six volumes in this series about a teen male-to-female transsexual. It’s compelling and funny in places. I’m enjoying the heck out of it and recommend it to all of you as well.

December 17: Wheel of Fortune contestant Chantel won $60,200 in the bonus round. However, the solve that made my evening was the main game puzzle. The category was “Who’s Keeping Score?” and the answer was “Superman or Batman?”

December 18: DC Finest Horror: The Devil’s Doorway. I have just started reading this year-long gathering of comics from May 1969 to April 1970. What fun revisiting these tales by great creators like Gerry Conway, Marv Wolfman, Alex Toth and more.

December 19: I Wish I Didn't Have to Tell You This by Eugene Yelchin. This graphic memoir relates the creator’s scary journey from making art in Leningrad to a mental health “asylum” in Siberia to America. It’s an amazing work that goes deep into Yelchin’s despair and determination. Recommended.  

                                                                               

 

December 20: Bowen Yang. For the past few years, he has been my favorite Saturday Night Live performer. Immensely malleable. he could take on any role in any sketch. His farewell was funny and moving. I look forward to what he does next.

December 21: My Svengoolie trading cards have arrived. Each box had three pack of ten cards each. I’m opening a pack a day. My first one had a card drawn by Bill Morrison and a shimmer variant (136 of 700 printed) by Jeff Carlson. So much fun.

December 22: If we go by Tony years, I turned 74 today. If we go by Jenny years, it’s two. Either way, I’m still badass, feisty, fun to be around and kinda cute. I hope to travel to a bunch of conventions and stores in 2026.

December 23: Flip by bestselling author Ngozi Ukazu is a tale of high-school body swapping between a brainy black girl and a very tall white guy. There is humor, but the emphasis is on two teens trying to navigate a crazy situation. Recommended.

December 24: Getting birthday and Christmas cards addressed to my preferred name is always joyful, especially when the friends who send them know me so well. 

                                                                 

 

December 25: The Isabella’s 2026 Calendar was my favorite gift of the season. Now my great family can keep me company in my office every day of the year.

December 26: HGTV’s Junk or Jackpot. We get an accumulator whose treasures jeopardize their relationship and a designer who will use the money the collector gets from selling these treasure to renovate their home to make it work for both partners. It’s more heart-warming than you would think.

December 27: Flaming Love (Quality; 1949-1950). I’m reading and enjoying the Retro Comic Reprint of this six-issue series. The art is terrific, The writing is top-notch and more respectful of women than most romance comics of the era,

December 28: Doctor Doom. I got the Doctor Doom Epic Collection on Christmas. The character has evolved in ways unexpected, but I love these earliest adventures and am enjoying rereading them one at a time.

December 29: Last month, I gave the “happy” to the TrueVision storytelling of Harry Lazarus in Adventures into the Unknown. Today, it goes to an article on the process by Peter Normanton in his Cryptology #4. Great article, great magazine.

                                                                   

 

December 30: Twist Social Club and Landmark Smokehouse were the locations for a girls night out with two friends from my support group. Twist is the neighborhood LGBTQ+ bar I wish was in Medina and the Smokehouse food is terrific. I’ll be back.

December 31: New Year’s Eve and my new tradition. I am recording Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest so that I can still watch the ball drop after I fall asleep in the couch. Please...no spoilers! 

                                                                         

 

Here are the “best of show” winners.

BEST COMIC BOOK: Rain by Jocelyn C. DiDomenick

BEST BOOK: The Luminous Fairies and Mothra

BEST MOVIE OR TV SHOW: A Christmas Murder Mystery

BEST PERSON: Bowen Yang

BEST OTHER THING: Twist Social Club

My first convention appearances of the year will be Akronomicon on Saturday, February 7 and Pensacon, February 22-24. I’ll have more to say about them soon.

Note. If you’re a convention promoter and would like me to be a guest at your event, email me and we can work out the details. I would like to do no more than two events a month.

Happy New Year, friends. I’ll be back soon with more stuff.

© 2026 Tony Isabella

THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY IN NOVEMBER

 

Before we get to my happy list, I’ll talk briefly about a trio of things that loom large in my life.

My son Ed was elected Medina’s Council at Large at the start of the month. Even allowing for my being his proud father, he was clearly the best candidate running. I’m talking all the races. He studied the concerns of the citizens and, as a professional engineer for many years now, put forth solid proposals to answer those concerns. At 37, I think he’s the youngest office-holder, which also sets well with me. In this state and country, we have enough senior citizen politicians. We need young folks and fresh ideas. Eddie brings both to the table.

                                                                           

The 2025 Akron Comicon was my first mainstream convention where I presented as Jenny Blake. It was a wondrous experience for me. Nearly 100% acceptance from promoters, guests, vendors and fans. There were only three open naysayers. There was the shady comics store owner walking by my table to call me “Tony” and a couple which I’ll kindly refer to as minor-league guests.

The distaff member of the couple told people that I shouldn’t even be invited to conventions because a trans woman like me was likely to shoot the place up. Talk about not merely drinking the right-wing fruit punch, but bathing in it.

However, the absolute worse thing in November was Trump and his hand-picked goons, in addition to their countless civil and human rights violations, committing clear war crimes. I believe we must recognize Trump and his vile supporters are bloodthirsty killers who revel in murder. I pray justice visits all of them sooner rather than later.

Let’s escape from that darkness and list the things that brought me joy last month...

                                                                   

 

November 1: Black Lightning: The Standard by Brandon Thomas and Fico Ossio collects the five-issue series of which I wrote “This is authentic Black Lightning, honoring the creator’s basic vision while going into new, exciting and respectful territory.” I liked it a lot.

November 2: Black Cat Books in Medina. Tatum’s Top Five appears on their web page every month. Rarely do I not find at least one book on her list that catches my eye. This month it’s Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell.

November 3: DC Finest Superman Family: The Giant Turtle Man. I’m enjoying these 1960s tales of Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. But editor Mort Weisinger was cruel to these characters and, often they were cruel to each other. I’d recommended therapy for all of them.

November 4: My son Ed is the winner in the election for Medina City Council-at-Large. I’m so proud of him and all the folks who worked their asses off to help him get elected, especially the tireless Saintly Wife Barb. Medina chose wisely.

November 5: DC’s Jonah Hex: All-Star Western Omnibus offers a thousand pages of terrific Hex stories by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray plus other features. I’ll try to be strong and read just one story a day.

November 6: Brandon Thomas. If I can’t write Black Lightning, he would be my choice. His “This is Why” from DC’s Saved by the Belle Reve #1 is the only time a DC writer made me believe Jeff Pierce joining President Luthor’s cabinet wasn’t insanely out of character for my creation.

November 7: Akron ComiCon. Walking into the venue to set up for the convention and seeing the new Jenny Blake Isabella banner the promoters made for me was an emotional moment for me. I felt seen and accepted and supported. 

                                                                         

 

November 8: Akron ComiCon. I introduced Jenny to old friends who only knew me as Tony. I met new friends. There was much hugging from people who said they’d never seen me happier and many vows to have my back if I was harassed. A darn good day.

November 9: Svengoolie: The Valley of Gwangi (1969). This one is an all-time favorite of mine. It has cowboys versus dinosaurs, the scary Tia Zorine, the even more scary Gwangi, a redemption story for James Franciscus and special effects by the legendary Ray Harryhausen.

November 10: The Turducken Holiday Feast. One of the best things about seeing George Broderick, Jr. is getting his new comics. This one introduces “The Fowl Foe of Foul Felons.” Hilarious fun for readers of all ages. I love it a lot!

                                                                             

 

November 11: DC Finest: War: The Big Five Arrive. I have five of these trades to read. This latest reprints 1957 issues of the DC war titles plus Blackhawk. I will be sure to wear my steel pot when I get around to enjoying them.

November 12: The Simpsons. “Bart & Frink”, an episode about the unlikely friendship between Bart and Professor Frink, shows, even in its thirty-seventh season, the series can still deliver humor, character growth and heart.

November 13: Late Night with Seth Meyers. I’m a fan of “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell” in which writers Amber Ruffin (black) and Jenny Hager (lesbian) tell jokes Seth, as a straight white male, can’t tell. It’s always hilarious. 

                                                                         

 

November 14: Sully’s Irish Pub. Medina has many fine restaurants and this traditional Irish pub is one of the best. The décor is charming. Their drink menu is extensive. They serve great Irish-American pub grub. Always a wonderful experience.

November 15: Detectives These Days are Crazy! Vol. 1 by Igarashi Masakuni. The title sold me on this quirky manga about a once-great detective and the brilliant high school girl who wants to be his assistant. Fun stuff.

November 16: Hey, Mary! By Andrew Wheeler and Rye Hickman. Mark is a devout Catholic trying to navigate his awakening as a gay teen within his non-supportive church. It’s intense and moving, but also hopeful. Suitable for teens.

                                                                     

 

November 17: Hogan’s Alley #24. Another great issue with amazing articles. Bob Hope’s comics career. Tijuana Bibles. Cartoon restaurants. The first black super-hero. The Barbie comic strips that never were and much more.

November 18: Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell. The title protagonist is not entirely loathsome as he strives to rise up the corporate ladder of Dark Enterprises. This novel is quite a page-turner. Thanks to Tatum of Black Cat Books for recommending it.

                                                                     

 

November 19: Adventures into the Unknown #163 (March 1966). “The Curious Case of Kayo Casey” by Richard E. Hughes and Chic Stone. The ghostly super-hero Nemesis. His still-living girlfriend. The devil fixing boxing matches. I’m having a ball rediscovering ACG comics from the 1960s.

November 20: DC’s Saved by the Belle Reve was published in 2022, but is new to me. It has eight tales of academic adventures with some excellent stories of Black Lightning, the Suicide Squad, and Green Arrow and Speedy. This one is worth hitting the back-issue bins for.

November 21: Roofman. Channing Tatum is brilliant as an escaped convict who spends months living unseen in a toy store. Based on a true story, this film has great performances, emotional scenes and more. It is not a feel-good movie, but it is one well worth watching.

November 22: Vampire Cleanup Department (Amazon; 2017). A young man immune to vampires bites joins a secret task force. He spares the life of a lovely vampire and brings out her humanity, Good characters, comedy and emotion. Worth a look.  

                                                                                   

 

November 23: Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #1-5 by Gerry Duggan and Javier Garron. This series ranks among the most epic Godzilla tales and Marvel free-for-alls ever. The action is big and the characterization is spot-on. A perfect holiday gift for fans of both legendary franchises.

November 24: The Christmas Movie Cookbook by Julia Rutland shows readers recipes from beloved films like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Lethal Weapon. The recaps are fun and the recipes are fairly easy to make. A great pre-holiday gift.

November 25: Man on the Inside (Netflix). The second season was even better than the first. Beautiful writing. Wonderful moments and performances from the incredible cast. Satisfying stories for every character. It’s what quality TV looks like.

November 26: Godzilla Minus One. Written by director Takashi Yamazaki and translated by Evan Ward, the novelization of the movie does a solid job with the characters and situations seen in the already classic movie. A perfect gift for the Godzilla fans in your life.  

                                                                         

 

November 27: Zootopia. Imagine my surprise when, after viewing this terrific film on Disney+, I realized it’s about transition. People becoming their authentic selves. Maybe the makers didn’t intend that, but it spoke to me. Highly recommended.

November 28: Blue Beetle #51 [August 1965] by Joe Gill, Bill Fraccio and Tony Tallrico. “Mentor the Magnificent” stands out from the usual goofy stories of this era with a tragic villain driven by low self-esteem. It’s sort of moving.

November 29: Adventures into the Unknown #51-58 (January-August 1954]. With 3-D comics enjoying a brief boom, ACG artist Harry Lazaurs launched "TrueVision" a process including black borders and zipatone to create a 3-D effect without glasses. It made for an interesting look.

November 30: When a reader responds to one of these things that make me happy recommendations by telling me they loved it or they’ll check it out because I recommended it. I take that trust very seriously and with considerable gratitude.

Here are the “best of show” winners.

BEST COMIC BOOK: Black Lightning: The Standard

BEST BOOK: The Christmas Movie Cookbook

BEST MOVIE OR TV SHOW: Zootopia

BEST PERSON: Ed Isabella

BEST OTHER THING: Sully’s Irish Pub

Christmas is next on my schedule of activities. I’m in the midst of my holiday shopping. I’ll be having lunch or dinner with dear friends. It’s a long shot, but I am hoping Santa puts some gifts for Jenny under our tree. Shortly after I came out as trans, one of my creative friend made me a snow woman ornament with the name Jenny on it. It’s been on my desk ever since and I’ll put it on our tree when we start decorating.

I don’t have any convention or other appearances until February. I have two such appearances and will talk about them when we get closer to them. In the meantime, promoters who’d like to invite me to their shows should e-mail me and to work out the details. At a minimum, I do require hotel and travel expenses.

My Vast Accumulation of Stuff comics and pop culture will resume in the spring. These sales support the expenses that are coming in my transition.

I remain interested in paying writing gigs. If you’d like to work with me, e=mail me.

Happy Holidays to all my friends and readers. I’ll be back soon with more stuff.

© 2025 Tony Isabella

AKRON COMICON 2025

 

Akron ComiCon is always one of my favorite events of any given year. This year it was even more so since it was my first comics convention as myself. I believe I’ve been a guest of this event for the past nine years, but this one was a milestone in my life and transition.

Welcome to Akron ComiCon, Jenny Blake Isabella. Hope you survive the experience.

I didn’t have any concerns in that regard. The fans, vendors, guests, volunteers and promoters of the convention are some of the best they are at what they do. Which is make everyone at the convention feel welcome and part of the family.

The convention was Saturday and Sunday, November 8-9 at Emidio’s Expo Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. I drove in Friday afternoon to set up my tables. I was bringing mostly hardcovers and trades as well as copies of the DC Pride 2025 comic book and the exclusive-to-me Misty Knight reprint from Marvel Comics.

It was an emotional moment for me when I saw the new Jenny Blake Isabella banner the convention had created for me. I felt seen. I felt accepted. I felt loved.

As I usually do, I was traveling in boy mode. As safe as comics conventions can be, the world outside them isn’t always safe for gay and trans folks. But I was rocking my new hair style and the auburn color that is now my natural hair. I’ll be donating most of my wigs to a “trans closet” in the near future.

As I was setting up, I chatted with several people I knew from previous Akron conventions. One woman asked respectful questions about my transition and why cross dressing wasn’t enough for me. I explained that I’m not a cross dresser. I’m Jenny. Even when I’m in boy mode, I’m Jenny. I enjoy and feel comfortable in feminine clothing, but they do not define me.

Sidebar, I am almost always willing to answer questions as long as they are respectful and not too personal. A girl’s got to have some secrets, don’t you know.

One old friend had trouble calling me “Jenny” instead of “Tony.” It wasn’t malicious. He’d just been used to calling me by my old name for decades. I don’t take offense at such things. Heck, I still misgender myself on occasion. But I do appreciate the fans and friends who get it right from the get-go.

I’m an honorary member of the USS Lagrange Star Trek group. Though my transitioning certainly came as a surprise to them, they were every bit as accepting as you would expect Star Trek fans to be. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

After that, I headed to the Marriott Courtyard Akron-Stow. I had a very comfortable room with a thermostat that kept me toasty warm. Since starting on HRT last April, I’m get cold much easier than I used to.

I went to the hotel’s Bistro for a good meal: a bacon and cheese quesadilla with french fries and a margarita. I watched some TV and slept soundly.

Saturday was a busy and happy day with a few bumps in the road. The dress I wore received many compliments, but it wasn’t very warm. I was freezing my ass off. Though I received hugs aplenty,

I was cold most of the time and lost my voice by the end of the day.

One thing that amused me was how many friends told me they would have my back if anyone harassed me. I wasn’t worried. As I said above, the Akron ComiCon folks are some of the best in the land. But it was nice so many friends expressed their support in that manner. My heroes.

Sales were brisk. As usual, I was assisted at my booth by Denine the Wondrous. I was asked more questions about my transition and even more about comics.

There was one older woman, two years younger than me, who I love dearly. She’s very conservative. She told me up front that, while I could to whatever I wanted, she’d continue to call me Tony. No malice. It’s just how she knew me. However, by the last hours of the show on Sunday, she was calling me Jenny. I like to think my truth is obvious.

My next door neighbor was actress Tara Buckman, who you’ve seen in countless movies and TV shows. The Cannonball Run. The first three Silent Night, Deadly Night movies. Kojak. Quincy, M.D. The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. Buck Rogers.

Tara was a boon companion. She is beautiful, friendly and truly interested in people. I overheard her having great conversations with fans and fellow guests. She had questions about transgender matters, which I answered as best I could. We bonded and hope to see each other at future conventions.

I had little voice left when it came time to do “Mid-Afternoon with Jenny Blake.” Akron ComiCon’s first-ever talk show. It had a monologue, an interview with my guest Ted Sikora, “The Isabella Questionella,” which allowed Ted to be fully known, and then the usual Q&A session. My ragged voice notwithstanding, I thought it came off well.

Since I know you’re wondering, here are the fifteen questions, with apologies to Stephen Colbert, that I asked Ted:

1) What’s the best sandwich?

2) What was the first comic book you bought?

3) What’s the scariest animal?

4) Ditko or Kirby?

5) Since becoming a comics creator, have you ever asked another creator for their autograph?

6) What do you think Comic Book Heaven will be like?

7) What do you think Comic Book Hell will be like?

8) Favorite comics-inspired movie?

9) Favorite smell?

10) Least favorite smell?

11) Color or black-and-white?

12) Not counting proper names, what’s the most used word in your comics?

13) You get one comic book to read for the rest of your life; what is it?

14) What comic-book character am I thinking of?

15) Describe the rest of your life in five words.

When I’m invited to other conventions, I will offer them my talk show. I think it’s a fun feature.

Dinner at the hotel was leftover pizza and quesadilla. Plus lots of sleep. I wanted to be at my best, or at least better, for Sunday at the convention.

I was much improved on Sunday. I dressed more warmly. It was a slower day so I had time to wander around the show floor and have good conversations with dear friends.

My son Ed, who was elected councilman-at-large in our home town of Medina, came to show. He also bonded with Tara and received congratulations from many people.

I was drafted to appear on a panel with the great artist Steve Geiger by his wonderful wife Krissy. Dandy Don Simpson was also there for part of the panel. It was a nice finish to one of the most enjoyable conventions ever.

Ed loaded the SUV for my drive home. It was an uneventful drive, as they all should be. I arrived home happy, hungry and tired in pretty much that order. And firm in my conviction that I’ll be a guest at however many events the ComiCon guys ask me to be a guest at. Because they put on great shows and, if you have the chance, you should also go to as many of them as you can.

What’s next for me? I’m still unloading and unpacking from the convention. My immediate goal after that is to clear the garage so we can park both Barb’s car and my SUV in it. Barb’s car is already there.

I have things I want to write and will be keeping you informed on those in future blogs. I’m clearing all my boxes of books and other things from my daughter’s Kelly’s old room so we can turn it back into a functioning bedroom. Maybe we’ll rent it out as a B&B&B (Bed and Breakfast and Books). But not really.

I hope to bring this blog to you more frequently because I have so much to write about. But, first and foremost, I want to thank the many many comics fans and professionals who have embraced my transition to my authentic self. I have a long path ahead of me, but it’s wonderful to know I’m not walking it alone.

Stay safe, love one another harder than you’ve even loved before and have hope for better days. We all bring to much to the world for us to be minimized.

I’ll back soon with more stuff.

© 2025 Tony Isabella