This compilation of last month’s joyful things is very late. In February, I spent four days in the hospital. Since my release, I have had seemingly endless follow-up appointments covering damn near every cell in my body. There’s no cause for alarm. All the results are coming back good to excellent. My MetroHealth doctors are just being thorough and they probably enjoying spending time with a ray of sunshine like myself.
With apologies for the delay and my general lack of blogging in recent months, let’s get right to the good stuff.
March 1: Saturday Night Live. In a scary world, “The Gentleman’s Code” featuring Connor Storrie, Mikey Day and Kenan Thompson had me laughing out loud. This silly physical sketch resonated with me. SNL remains a national treasure.
March 2: Uncanny X-Men #23. Wouldja believe the Rawhide Kid and the Legion of Monsters in one issue? I feel like writer and dear friend Gail Simone sent me a love letter. Hey, Marvel. I would buy new titles with all these characters!
March 3: Wild Vacation Rentals. I love it when HGTV goes off the rails. Comedians Sherry Cola and D'Arcy Carden travel the states to find awesome, crazy and unique vacation rentals. Sign me up for a trip to Little Talladega!
March 4: Funko Pop! Godzilla ‘65 Victory Dance. This wonderful figure showcases an iconic moment in Godzilla history. An Amazon exclusive, it was released on March 31.
March 5: Jack the Ripper (1959). Written by the legendary Jimmy Sangster, this is more “whodunit” than horror. It has decent acting, false leads, moody camerawork and a satisfying ending. It might be good for a Svengoolie presentation.
March 6: Saintly Wife Barb uncovered this ancient artifact from 1976 while going through old photos and such. She was attending the University of Toledo. I was trying to survive my brief and hellish time as a DC Comics staffer.
March 7: Godzilla Kai-Sei #7 by Tim Seeley with artist Hendry Prasetya. This IDW title was already something special, but this issue has an incredible twist re: Godzilla’s fate and the return of one of the Big G’s most unusual foes. I loved it!
March 8: Water for Elephants (2011). Barb and I had a nice movie night. She wanted to see this before seeing the musical. It was an excellent film about a Depression-era circus with fine acting from Robert Pattinson, Renee Witherspoon and Christopher Waltz. Definitely recommends for your next movie night.
March 9: Bugf#ck: The Worthless Wit and Wisdom of Harlan Ellison (2011). My Tardis of a house has countless treasures waiting to be rediscovered. Today it was the little book of smart words by my dear old friend. Worth looking for.
March 10: Zootopia 2 (Disney). I waited until this could be seen for free. The wait was well worth it. Old favorite characters returned. New friends and foes introduced. Fast-paced action with great heart. I’m crazy eager for Zootopia 3!
March 11: Zootopia and Zootopia 2. These films truly speak to me because they honor the diversity, equity and inclusion that have made America great and can make it great again. They champion becoming who and what you want to be.
March 12: Zootopia 2. I’m wild and I can’t be tamed. The catchy “Zoo” by Shakira has been added to the play list in my head. It’s a place where anyone can be anything and that’s the world I want for all of us.
March 13: Going through a box of unread books, I was delighted to find Direct Conversations: Talks with Fellow DC Comics Bronze Age Creators by my pal Paul Kupperberg. With only one bad egg in the bunch, I plan to read it soon.
March 14: I just learned Oscar-winning director Paul Thomas Anderson is the son of Ernie Anderson who, before becoming the voice of ABC, was the brilliant Cleveland horror host Ghoulardi and an absolute icon in my youth.
March 15: Oscars 2026. I haven’t seen the movies, but am forever drawn to the ceremony because I get to see wonderful people from all over the world sharing art as one. This is my dream for my country and the world.
March 16: Oscars 2026. I was thrilled to see K Pop Demon Hunters and “Golden” win. Both the movie and the song mean a lot to me as someone who’s no longer hiding and trying to shine as my best self. Up, up, up.
March 17: The unexpected benefits of becoming Jenny Blake. As a somewhat older woman, I am often sought out by other trans women for advice. Lately, I’ve been feeling “mom vibes,” something I never thought I’d experience. I like the feeling.
March 18: Jane’s Diner (Medina Square). This is my favorite spot for breakfast. Everyone who works there is so nice. The food is excellent. The service is quick. They know me as Jenny there and I always feel welcome. You must go there.
March 19: Rapper Afroman won a major defamation lawsuit against Ohio sheriff’s deputies who sued him for using footage of their 2022 raid on his home in his music videos. Free speech and parody live and are still protected!
March 20: Space Probe Taurus (1957). How am I feeling nostalgic about an old movie I never saw before? It unfolded slowly, but I enjoyed this low-budget effort. Decent acting and characters. Nice human conflict. Cheap scary monsters. A satisfying ending. I’ll be looking for more like this.
March 21: “Dr. Werthless” by Harold Schecher and Eric Powell reveals Fredric Wertham as a man whose occasionally decency was undone by his massive ego and penchant for distorting reality to “confirm” dubious conclusions. Worth reading by those interested in comics history.
March 22: The crime of the century. Twelve tons of Kit-Kat bars were stolen in Europe en route from Italy to Poland. Where can I pitch my script? I see Adam Sandler, Scarlett Johansson and me as a candy-snatching trouple.
March 23: Margeaux Pepoy. The talented artist and dear friend of mine for many years came out as transgender on her Facebook page recently. She was warmly received by the comics community, which makes me so proud to be part of that community.
March 24: Funko Pop! Movies’ Godzilla ‘65 Victory Dance. Classic kaiju choreography as seen in Invasion of the Astro-Monsters aka Monster Zero. He is the Fred Astaire of giant monsters. Share in his glorious victory over Ghidorah.
March 25: Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The Dog of War by Mike Chen and Angel Hernandez. From 2004, this adventure centers on a rare Corgi. Intrigue, humor, and nice moments for all the DS9 cast. Fun stuff.
March 26: The Pitt. Isa Briones thrills me with her portrayal of Dr. Trinity Santos, “a self-assured and abrasive intern.” It’s a complicated performance, especially in the moments when Briones goes beyond her character’s seeming lack of empathy.
March 27. The Pitt. Gerran Howell is outstanding as first-year resident Dennis Wittaker. Watching him grow from medical student to mentor has been heartwarming. His empathy for his co-workers and patients is next level.
March 28: Hemingway’s Underground. Saintly Wife Barb and I had a wonderful time at Medina’s best cocktail lounge. Cozy atmosphere to die for. Great service. A huge drink menu. Delicious entrees and shareables. Highly recommended. We will be back.
March 29: M&M's Lemon Meringue Pie. Like manna from the heavens. They’re a limited-edition featuring a zesty lemon-flavored white chocolate shell and a crispy rice center. They might kill me, but what a way to go!
March 30: Kaleidoscope Desert. My bucket list has added a trip to this animal sanctuary and vacation spot seen on Wild Vacation Rentals. It’s beautiful with several unique places for overnight stays. Close to Joshua Tree National Park.
March 31: The Atlas Comics Library from Fantagraphics and editor Dr. Michael J. Vassallo. What fascinates me about Atlas is its variety: horror, war, humor and much more. I am in awe of these amazing collections. 3-31-26.
If you noticed fewer books and comics on my March list, it’s due to all the appointments mentioned at the top of the blog. I also had other meetings and have been working on some really cool new comics and other projects. The situation will be repeating itself for the April list.
Here are the “best of show” winners.
BEST COMIC BOOK: Uncanny X-Men #23
BEST BOOK: Bugf#ck The Worthless Wit & Wisdom of Harlan Ellison
BEST MOVIE OR TV SHOW: Zootopia 2
BEST PERSON: Margeaux Pepoy
BEST OTHER THING: Jane’s Diner
I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
© 2026 Tony Isabella
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