THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY IN JANUARY

This January was one of the worst starts to a new year I’ve ever experienced. Because I was recovering from my December hospital stay, I had to cancel my appearance at a convention in Honolulu. I could have had a break from the frigid weather in Ohio. Saintly Wife Barb and I had planned a mini-vacation following the convention. Too depressing.

Then the United States suffered from out-of-control wildfires, deadly arctic storms and the impending inauguration of the most criminal, evil president in U.S. history. I don’t need to tell you how quickly Trump started committing illegal acts, putting crooked, unqualified and even insane people in cabinet positions, and allowing our government and our democracy to be dismantled by a racist from South Africa. If you voted for Trump and other Republicans and still support their vile actions and hate, then your souls beyond redemption.

“Stand by your trans” remains my rallying call for 2025. I hope and expect my readers will make it theirs. And now, here are the things that made me happy in January…

January 1: Godzilla the Official Cookbook by Kayce Baker. Start the new year with tasty treats like Rodan Claws, Godzilla Loaf and Anguirus Rice Balls. Wash it down with the refreshing Oxygen Destroyer. Fine dining for kaiju lovers everywhere.

January 2: Rose Bowl: Ohio State 41, Oregon 21. It wasn’t always relaxing, but watching this game with my son Eddie was huge fun. The lad loves his Buckeyes football and his exuberance here was downright infectious. .

January 3. Con and On by Paul Cornell and Mariksa Cresta follows comics pros and hopeful pros at the Vista Al Mar Comics Festival at five-year intervals. Characters and incidents are not too far removed from actual events.

                                                               

January 4: Yishow Vintage Bookshelf Book Socks. With winter upon us and my dressing warmer even indoors, I’m upping my socks game with more striking and personal designs.

January 5: Emilia Pérez. This musical crime drama about a cartel boss seeking a new life is one of the most gripping movies of the past year. Actresses Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldana are deserving of all the accolades they’ve received.

January 6: Golden Age Classics: Black Terror Volume One. I got a kick out of these early stories of the fighting pharmacist whose “formic ethers” give him powers. I plan to do something with him in the very near future.

January 7: Conclave. My aversion to the Roman Catholic Church kept me from this film until several friends insisted I see it. I’m grateful to them because it’s one of the best movies of 2024 with a compelling story and incredible acting.

January 8: Visitations by Corey Egbert. This graphic novel about (as I see it) children taken by their criminally insane mother, religious zealotry and misplaced faith is a true-to-life horror story. Highly recommended.

                                                                  

January 9: From DC’s Black Label, The Bat-Man: First Knight by Dan Jurgens, Mike Perkins and Mike Spicer is a terrific take on Bruce Wayne’s early crime-fighting days. Grim and gritty without being excessive. One of the best Batman tales in years.

January 10: Ohio State vs. Texas. Jack Sawyer’s strip, scoop and score 83-yard touchdown run was one of the most exciting plays I‘ve seen. Just a perfect conclusion to the Buckeye victory over Texas.

January 11: Justyna. After my recent hospital stay, my insurance provider sent this very nice “transitional care home coach” to my house to see how I was doing and acquaint me with some of the benefits I didn’t know I had. So cool.

January 12: Mom’s Meals. A perk from my insurance that I did not know about was 24 heat-and-eat meals delivered to my home free of charge. They were healthy, low-calorie and tasty meals. I may continue to order from this company.

January 13: After blogging on my medical woes and stay at the Glick Center (12/23/24), I received a very kind letter of thanks from MetroHealth’s President and CEO, Christine Alanander-Rager, MD. What a wonderful surprise!

January 14: I started 2025 by creating and writing a pitch for a trans super-hero. I haven’t felt so close to a character and her mentor since I created Jefferson Pierce. I think this can be as impactful in 2025 as Black Lightning was in 1977.

                                                                        

January 15: Going Dutch. Dennis Leary is joined by Tailor Misiak and Danny Pudi in a father/daughter sitcom with the same insane vibes as Beetle Bailey. If Dell was still around, I’d sign up to write a comic-book version in a heartbeat.

January 16: Shifting Gears is another new father and daughter sitcom, this one starring Tim Allen and Kat Dennings. I’ve never cared for Allen, but his character isn’t hateful in this one. Demmings, of course, is a goddess..

January 17: Biology. Available on YouTube, trans comedian Alok Vaid-Menon’s stand-up special is challenging, funny, serious and even poetic. I hope we see more of Alok in the coming months. They are an exceptional talent.

January 18: Back in Action. Former CIA spies and parents Jaime Fox and Cameron Diaz are pulled back into espionage after bring exposed. Lightweight but entertaining with fun performances from Glenn Close and Jamie Demetriou.

January 19: Perfect World 11 by Ale Aruga is another reason why the title has become not just my favorite manga but my favorite current comics title. Tsugami and Itsuki want to adopt a child and I cried huge happy tears. You must read this series!

January 20: The DC Ultimate Character Guide by Melanie Scott. I have now finished reading this volume and enjoyed it a lot. I don’t know if it’s current with the ever-changing DC Universe, but it’s a fun book nonetheless.

January 21: Ohio State Buckeyes 34, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 23. Two amazing Midwestern teams made for an exciting national championship. Take that, coastal elites!

January 22: Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. It’s emotionally difficult for me to follow the news in these dark times, but Maddow brings her historical and insightful knowledge to the news. It actually gives me hope for tomorrow.

                                                                              

January 23: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. Seeing to this amazing woman preach Christian values to Donald Trump left me in awe of her courage and touched with hope other Christians might return to those values and oppose that cruel criminal.

January 24: No Mistaking Death by Shelley Costa. On a routine job for the National Landmark committee, Marian Warner returns to the Ohio town where she once lived to find bitter conflicts, challenging reunions and deadly secrets. A solid read for these winter nights.

January 25: Kaiju Unleashed: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Strange Beasts by Shawn Pryor. I give high marks to this. It’s beautifully-made, fun and informative. A monstrously cool gift for the kaiju-lover in your life.

January 26: Al Madrigal. I didn’t realize how much I missed this former Daily Show correspondent until he recently appeared on the show with Ronny Chieng. He’s a funny guy with a great delivery. I hope he makes more returns to TDS. 

                                                                     

 

January 27: Derec Donovan’s Trigger Mortis. It’s Colorado 1876, and there are zombies. I’m not a big zombie fan, but this 14” by 9” hardcover has solid writing and gorgeous art. Published in 2020, it’s worth looking for.

January 28: Watson. Morris Chestnut is great in the title role. I like the premise. I’m not wild about the ongoing Moriarty sub-plot – Randall Park? – but, overall, I’ll be watching this show when it continues its debut season. 

                                                                     

 

January 29: Sometimes it’s the simple things, like these Zomake Long Handle Shoe Horns that have been useful on those days when my ailing knees are less cooperative than usual. I even got over feeling old when I use them.

January 30: I have created a new trans super-hero and am more in love with her every day. I think she can be a Peter Parker for today’s queer and straight kids, and as ground-breaking as my Black Lightning was in the 1970s.

January 31: Harley Quinn. The fifth season of this frequently obscene cartoon series has just launched. It is not suitable for children of any age from birth to 100...and I love it so much it scares me. Not for the faint of heart.

Finally, here are the winners of my January awards...

BEST COMIC BOOK/GRAPHIC NOVEL: The Bat-Man: First Knight

BEST BOOK: Kaiju Unleashed: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Strange Beasts

BEST MOVIE OR TV SHOW: Conclave

BEST PERSON: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde

BEST OTHER THING: Zomake Long Handle Shoe Horns

My next convention appearance is the always incredible Pensacon, February 14-16 in Pensacola, Florida. I’ll give you a preview in my next bloggy thing.

Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be back soon with more stuff.

© 2025 Tony Isabella