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
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