Decent Americans, which I will define as people who didn’t vote for Trump or any of his vile Republican henchmen, had a terrible start to the month of November. If you had any hope he might be a better President the second time around, just look at who he’s nominated for some of the highest offices in the country. A collection of billionaires (over a dozen as I write this) and lunatics who want to destroy the very departments they will be running. It’s going to be a very hard two years for Americans, especially those minorities and political rivals he’s targeted. I am hoping that two years of this, two years of watching their healthcare and Social Security stripped to the bone, two years of higher prices, two years of watching the Constitution and the most basic human rights trampled on, will lead to the Democrats winning both the House and the Senate in 2026.
A bright spot just a few days after the tragedy was the always amazing Akron ComiCon. I got to spend wonderful time with some great fans and fellow creators. My sales were as good as my best garage sales weekends. It was a big success all around.
Unfortunately, December started off with another hard kick to my balls. I came down with some sort of flu or virus on December 1. I thought it would blow over in a couple days. It didn’t. I just got sicker. I soon realized I would not be in any kind of shape to attend GalaxyCon Columbus...and I certainly didn’t want to infect the fans and the other guests. I cancelled my appearance with regrets.
I’m on the mend, feeling better each day. It’s going slow, but I am doing all the rest and other things it will take to get back up to my usual bubbly self. I’ve received many e-mails and notes of concern and support. I appreciate them. Just as I appreciate the things that made me happy in November...
November 1: The Mighty Marvel Calendar Book: A Visual History by Chris Ryall with intro by Roy Thomas. I love this big beautiful book which has the mildly wacky 1976 Bicentennial one I edited. Fun times. Good memories. A great Christmas gift.
November 2: Black Lightning or Tigra for President? That’s a hard call. My pal Phil sent me these very cool pins. I did not wear them when I voted on account of I’m not a moronic jerk like the one who fought with poll workers over his MAGA hat.
November 3: Kamala Harris on Saturday Night Live. It was a great opening. It was dignified, fun and joyful, a stark contrast to the perpetually angry Trump, a vile man with only selfish goals who truly deserves to face justice and soon.
November 4: Geiger #6 by Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Brad Anderson & Rob Leigh. “Wounded Animals” spotlights Barney the two-headed wolf in a contender for best single issue of the year. It gave me the happy feels.
November 5: Dazzler #1 by Jason Loo and Rafael Loureiro. This is a fine start to a new series. Not your usual mutant comic book. Marvel’s relaunch of the X-Men has gotten off to an great start. I’m looking forward to those I haven’t read yet.
November 6: House of Hunan. Our favorite Medina restaurant has a sinfully delicious new dessert created by our friend and manager Dean. It’s an apple cheesecake spring roll. I’ve sinned and will certainly do so again.
[NOTE: This tasty treat will return to the menu sometime in 2025. Dean is working on a new one.]
November 7: Barb’s and my 50th “Meetaversary.” We met in 1974 at the wedding rehearsal for Nora and Terry Fairbanks. It was love at first sight for me. She took ten years of convincing, but was worth the wait.
November 8: In his intro to The Mighty Marvel Calendar Book, Roy Thomas wrote: “Truth be told, I like Tony’s calendar the best.” I’m over-the-moon thrilled the guy who launched my career thinks so highly of my work. Thanks for everything, Roy.
November 9: Amazing-Man. From PS Artbooks, this first volume collects A-Man stories from 1939-1940. Created by Bill Everett, the tales are action-packed and wild. I’m enjoying the heck out of them. Good crazy entertainment.
November 10: The 2024 Akron Comicon was a great success on every level. I got to hang with old friends and meet new ones, some of whom will come to my garage sales in the spring. Sales were also great. One of my favorite conventions.
November 11: George Broderick’s Mayhem Inc. 80-Page Gnormous. I am in awe of my pal George’s ability to craft wonderfully goofy comic books for all ages. Heroes, cosmic villains, crazy action. It’s all here! I love it madly.
November 12: Sick to Death, the new Andy Hayes mystery by Andrew Welsh-Huggins. This series about a Columbus-based investigator is a favorite of mine. Lots of surpises in this one, right up to the last page of the book. Recommended.
November 13: Hyde Street #1 by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Danny Miki, Brad Anderson and Rob Leigh. A scary start to another fine title from Ghost Machine. It’s become my favorite comic book imprint. Every issue is well worth reading.
November 14: A Man and His Cat Volume 9 by Umi Sakuria. A lonely widower and his cat. From this simple beginning, Sakuria weaves an ever-expanding down-to-earth series with great characters and the heart to go with them. I love it!
November 15: Avengers by Jeb McKay Volume 1: The Impossible City with various artists. It started out a lot too cosmic menace for me, but McKay brought it down to earth with human heroes and a solid satisfying ending.
November 16: William Russell’s Psycho Sal #1 by Chris Hays and Marcelo Salaza. 1986. A fiendish serial killer is on the hunt in New Orleans. This first issue is a scary start to the series with crisp writing and moody art.
November 17: Noir is the New Black is noir comics stories from some of the finest Black creators. 16 stories. 40 creators. An amazing anthology to enjoy leisurely, a few stories a day, even though each story makes you want to read the next one.
November 18: Drafted by Rick Parker. This is the cartoonist’s first graphic novel. It’s the memoir of his Army service during the Vietnam War. It’s a look at the dysfunctional war machine of the era. Frightening at times, but recommended.
November 19: Delivery workers. Amazon, UPS, USPS, etc. Very few people work harder at this and other times of the year. Whenever you see them, please greet them with a smile and thank them for the incredible service they provide.
November 20: Dumbo. I don’t buy many Funko figures of late, but I couldn’t resist one of my favorite Disney characters. And, yes, I still want to write a Dumbo comic book series, including the crows.
November 21: America’s Greatest Comics #1 (PS Artbooks). Having been introduced to the original Captain Marvel in the sanitized version from DC Comics, I loved these more pulpish and violent tales of Cap, Bulletmn, Minute-Man and others.
November 22: Perfect World Volume 9 by Ale Aruga. The wedding of Tsugumi and Itsuka was one of the most beautiful and moving chapters I’ve ever read in a manga series. I’m not going to lie. I did happy tears.
November 23: Spider-Man Octo-Girl Volume 1 by Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court. Doctor Octopus escapes death by transferring his mind into...a middle school girl in Japan? This mixup leads to a delightfully wacky manga. Recommended.
November 24: A Man on the Inside. A widower (Ted Dawson) goes to work for a private investigator to solve a theft in a high-end senior citizens home. It’s a fun comedy and a solid mystery. Just the thing to binge these cold winter nights.
November 25: Red One. Santa has been kidnapped. His straight-arrow head of North Pole Security teams up with a naughty list hacker to find him and save Christmas. It’s garish and silly, but a fun night at the movies.
November 26: Love Hard (2021). An amazingly unlucky with dating apps writer travels across country to meet the man she thinks could be the one. He’s not what she expected. With delightful performances by Nine Dobrey and Jimmy O. Yang, this rom-com is surprisingly entertaining and satisfying.
November 27: The World According to Beaver: The Official Leave It To Beaver Book by Irwyn Applebaum. Jerry Mathers signed this 1984 book for me at Akron ComicCon. As I read it, it brought back some wonderful memories of my youth.
November 28: Lin Peterson. I’ve been buying Australian Phantom comics from Lin for decades. His service has always been first-rate, He’s retiring at the end of the year. I wish him a happy and long retirement.
November 29: Get Millie Black. Starring the remarkable Tamara Lawrence and streaming on Max, this gritty Jamaican police drama about a former Scotland Yard detective is intense. It’s as gutsy as any crime series in recent memory. Recommended.
November 30: Chia Pet Godzilla. Holy Tokyo! How did I not know about this before now? Can even the King of the Monsters survive my utter lack of green thumb? I guess we will find out if I get one for my birthday or Christmas.
Finally, here’s my pick for the best of the best from the things that made me happy in November,
BEST COMIC BOOK/GRAPHIC NOVEL: Perfect World Volume 9
BEST BOOK: The Mighty Marvel Calendar Book
BEST MOVIE OR TV SHOW: A Man on the Inside
BEST PERSON: Delivery workers.
BEST OTHER THING: Akron Comicon 2024
Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
© 2024 Tony Isabella
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