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

THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY IN OCTOBER

 

October was crazy time. I can’t even begin to even briefly speak to all the absolutely vile things Trump and his fellow monsters inflicted on our country and the world. So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go straight to the things that brought me great joy even in the midst of madness.

October 1: Wheel of Fortune. Christina Derevjanik won a million dollars plus on the October 1 episode. That exciting moment was also Ryan Seacrest’s first million dollar winner. He and Vanna White were visibly moved. Tears all around.

October 2: The Lost Films Fanzine Presents Movie Milestones #4. Edited by John LeMay, this issue covers three legendary creature features: Gorgo, Konga and Reptilicus in movies, comic books and novels. Entertaining and informative.

                                                                                     

                                                                               

October 3: The Franken-Candy Sundae. From Burger King’s “Monster Menu,” it’s soft serve vanilla ice cream with Oreo crumbles, purple syrup and purple and green chocolate popping candy. Just the right size for a delicious treat.

October 4: The Lowdown (Disney/Hulu). Ethan Hawke is great as a financially struggling bookseller and investigative reporter who is up against a rich, powerful and murderous family. A somewhat tarnished hero for our times.

October 5: Riverdale. After someone I respect suggested I give this blasphemous take on the Archie characters a second chance, I binge-watching the first season. I found it intriguing enough to continue watching. That was a surprise.

October 6: The A.I.M. Collection: Artifacts, Memorabilia, and Ephemera from Across the Universe is a silly entertaining faux-auction catalog offering Marvel doodads from a Black Widow Sting to a Statue of Knonshu. It made me smile.

                                                                               

      

October 7: Sleuth Comics #2 spotlights writer/editor Christopher Mills’ terrific takes on public-domain heroes Black Owl, Ms. Fury, Green Giant and Zip-Jet. It’s like finding an issue you missed of an old favorite. Great fun.

October 8: Taylor Swift getting truly excited about baking bread on tonight’s Late Night with Seth Meyers. As the daughter of a baker, her joy warmed my heart.

                                   

 

October 9: This Halloween dress was a huge hit at my OutSupport Medina adult group meeting. Now I have to find an equally cute Thanksgiving dress for our November meeting. I’m most definitely feeling the pressure here.

October 10: Barb and I shared the Burger King Monster Menu for lunch: Jack-O-Lantern Whopper, Vampire Nuggets, Mummy Mozzarella Fries, Franken-Candy Sundae. Just #17. Burger, fries and sundae were tasty and enough for both of us.

October 11: My 2025 comic books and pop culture garage sales are concluded. A lot of bargain-priced items were sold to some great customers. I made decent money and reduced the Vast Accumulation of Stuff. See you next year!

October 12: Mark Consuelos. I knew him as the friendly co-host of Live with Kelly (Ripa) and Mark. It was a shock to see him as Hiram Lodge on Riverdale, reaching an almost Tobias Whale level of pure evil. Someone should warn Kelly.

                                                                               

October 13: Gordon Ramsay provides the foreword for the way cool Idiot Sandwich: 100+ Recipes to Elevate Your Sandwich Game. Some of these strange creations look dangerous, but all of them also look delicious. I’m working up the nerve to make them.

October 14: Sid Gerson. I’ve been reading this writer’s stories in DC Finest: Science Fiction: The Gorilla World. They’re clever and original, equal to those of John Broome and Gardner Fox. Not much is known of him, but he’s now a favorite of mine.

October 15: Primitive War (2025). Black Ops. Dinosaurs. Vietnam. A solid creature feature with good special effects, an exciting story and excellent acting from Ryan Kwantan, Tricia Helfer and the rest of the cast. Recommended.

October 16: Cristella Alonzo: Upper Classy (Netflix). An amazing profound stand-up special. She connects with all people fighting for themselves in this Trumpian hellscape. She’s funny and an inspiration.

October 17: Berni Wrightson. When Collector’s Call featured Phil Meehan’s Frankenstein collection, the first item was a bust of the Monster based on Wrightson’s epic graphic novel. It reminds us what a singular talent Berni was.

                                                                                   

October 18: Elvira's Cookbook from Hell by Cassandra Peterson. I have become something of a fiend for oddball cookbooks and this one fits the bill. I’m already drooling at the thought of eating the “Swamp Monster Fritttata.”

October 19: Scariest House in America. In the season finale, the former Gatehouse to a Pennsylvania cemetery was renovated into a grand Victorian mansion. Considering its quiet neighbors, I’d move into that gorgeous house in a heartbeat.

October 20: Lewis Black. One of the funniest smartest comedians around. His appearances on The Daily Show are always a highlight of any episode. His latest on adding protein to all manner of food and drink was a brilliant and hilarious cautionary take on commercial excess.

                                                                                    

October 21: Kohl’s Mom. It’s no secret I’m a fan of commercials, especially ones with good characters. Ellie Kemper plays a funny helpful woman with a hint of mischief in her. I wish she shopped at my Kohl’s here in Medina. I could use her advice.

October 22: YouTube: White noise, black screen, no ads. I had a hunch there was something like this and I found several choices. They were relaxing and soothingly put me to sleep. Sleep doesn’t come easy in this Trumpian hellscape, so they are a very welcome discovery.

                                                                               

                                                                              

October 23: Fightin’ Five #41 (January 1967) was an unexpected treasure from my Vast Accumulation of Stuff. It’s the last new Gorgo appearance in a Charlton comic. While they don’t call him Gorgo, there’s no mistaking his identity.

October 24: DC Finest. I’m a huge fan of this format. It gives the reader lots of great stories at a reasonable price and goes well beyond the usual (relatively) recent comics reprinted time and time again. I have a stack of them.

October 25: Howard Chaykin’s Black Kiss Omnibus. This beautiful tome collects the original and second series, two prequels, and a brand-new story. Challenging, but worth reading, especially the Black Kiss XXXmas Special from 2014. Adults only.

                                                                                

October 26: The Mombies. They are a group of mothers who perform zombie-themed dances to raise money for metastatic breast cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kittering Cancer Center. This is our country at its best.

October 27: Amber Ruffin. “Amber Says What?” is a recurring bit on Late Night with Seth Meyers in which the brilliant comedian recaps the latest pop culture news. I loved her calling out gay icon Gloria Gaynor for donating to Republicans.

October 28: The Kit-Kat Break Squad. Four large men in suits who make sure folks enjoy their Kit-Kat breaks without interruption. I’m not sure paying four guys to protect a candy bar worth two bucks is cost-effective, but it makes me smile.

October 29: “Martha Kent” has complied Superman: The Official Cookbook: Recipes from Smallville to the Hall of Justice and Beyond. The recipes are fairly down-to-Earth, but the commentary is fun. A great gift for any Superman fan. 

                                 

       

October 30: Lost Tales of the Golden Age #1 features five never-before published stories from the 1940s. Introducing the Great Gazabo, it’s a serial that’s fun, quirky, and very entertaining. This is the first of eight issues.

October 31: Space Adventures #34 [June, 1960]. “The Second Man in Space” by Joe Gill and Steve Ditko. Though Cold War tensions are seen here, we also see Captain Atom act with compassion towards a Russian cosmonaut and the cosmonaut show honesty and integrity. A cool little story.

Here are the “best of show” winners.

BEST COMIC BOOK/GRAPHIC NOVEL/MANGA: DC Finest: Science Fiction: The Gorilla World

BEST BOOK: Idiot Sandwich: 100+ Recipes to Elevate Your Sandwich Game

BEST MOVIE OR TV SHOW: Scariest House in America

BEST PERSONS: The Mombies

BEST OTHER THING: The Franken-Candy Sundae

Before you go...

Akron Comicon is my final convention appearance of 2025. It’s Saturday and Sunday, November 9-10, Emodio’s Expo Center, 48 E Bath Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Hours are 10 am-6 pm on Saturday, 10 am-4 pm on Sunday.

I’m available to appear at conventions and other events. However, I will need the events to cover my hotel and travel expenses, and, as I sometimes need a cane, provide me with a booth that’s easy to get in and out of. Interested promoters should e-mail me sooner rather than later.

I’m also available for paying acting and writing gigs. Interested parties should also e-mail me for these.

That’s all for now. Stay well, be strong and be kind to others. If we stick together, we can create a better country and world. I’ll be back soon with more stuff.

© 2025 Tony Isabella