June is Pride Month and that means a lot to me. It was at last year’s Pride in the CLE (Cleveland) where I presented as Jenny Blake for the first time outside of my therapy sessions or my OutSupport Medina group meetings. It was the first time two of my dearest friends from the Flaming River Con saw me as Jenny. I received several compliments on my outfit, but the most wondrous thing about the event was being with thousands of members of the LGBTQ+ community and our allies.
I’ll be attending multiple Pride events this year. The first is Medina’s Pride on the Square, Thursday, June 5, from 6 to 8 pm. I will be presenting as Tony at this event, but, as you know, I am always Jenny.
Pride in the CLE is Saturday, June 7, from 11 am to 6 pm. I will be presenting as Jenny at the event. I’m checking into the Drury Hotel Friday afternoon and staying through Saturday night.
Last year, on Friday night, presenting as Jenny, I went to the Muze Gastropub at the Fieldhouse Gymnasium in Lakewood. However, this year, unless I can find friends wanting to go with me, I’ll probably hang out at the hotel. The country has become more dangerous for trans women. Rather than go to any clubs solo, I’m going to err on the side of caution.
Finally, on Sunday, June 22, I’ll be a special guest of the Time Travelers comic shop in Berkley, Michigan, the same weekend as the Berkley Pride Block Party. While it’s subject to change, I’m planning to present as Jenny.
I get a lot of questions about my transitioning. While most of them are well-intentioned, many of them are very personal. Let’s just say it’s a long and sometimes difficult journey. Every day, I’m learning new things about being a woman and the steps I must take to achieve my authentic self. It’s not going to be an easy or inexpensive journey, but I work toward my goal every day. The support I have been receiving from the LGBTQ+ and online comics communities means the world to me. Thank you.
Now let’s talk about the things that brought me joy in May.
May 1: A great therapy session, followed by lunch with Barb and our friend Jess, followed by going to Black Cat Books to pick up items I ordered and chatting with our friend Kendra. Our country is in crisis, but there is still joy to be had.
May 2: Batarangs. Based on the classic story “The 100 Batarangs of Batman" [Detective Comics #244; June 1957], my talented pal Dick Pfister created these for me via 3D printer. It was a most welcome and completely unexpected gift.
May 3: My dear pals Martin and Pam Arlt came to my garage sale from Michigan. Afterwards, I took them to the House of Hunan for lunch and Black Cat Books, so I could show off my favorite Indy bookstore. Another great day in Medina!
May 4: Black Lightning by Brandon Thomas and Pico Ossio. It’s no secret I’ve been dissatisfied with much of what DC has done with my creation, but this five-issue series was authentic Jefferson Pierce and family. One of the best comics of 2025.
May 5: Thunderbolts*. I loved this a lot. It has heart, humor and an overriding theme of redemption. If you know my writing, you know that speaks to me. And the revelation of the meaning of the asterisk is perfect. It’s a good time.
May 6: IDW’s 100-page Godzilla 70th Anniversary special. Godzilla is getting monster props of late and this collection of tales by James Stokoe, Matt Frank and others is worthy of the King. Great stories with great variety. I loved it.
May 7: Poker Face is back on Peacock. The second season opener was sensational with Cynthia Erivo playing five characters. Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) was also at her bullshit detecting best. Who do I have to kill to get a part on this show?
May 8: Kardak the Mystic #1 by Joe Corallo and Butch Mapa. I got a kick out of this clever reboot of an Archie Comics super-hero who first appeared in 1939. Good characterization with a solid story and some surprises. More, please.
May 9: Thunderbolts: The Saga of Yelena Belova. In the film, this character (played by Florence Pugh) is a favorite of mine. I’d never read her comic-book adventures until this collection. Some good stuff here.
May 10: Us by Sara Soler. This is Soler’s autobiographical tale of her partner transitioning from male to female and the changes they both faced. It is real, relatable and smart on every level, emotional and physical. A landmark graphic work.
May 11: Bragging Rights on Wheel of Fortune. The hook: the three contestants are friends who work with each other. This made for fun viewing and makes me want to see comics creators competing against one another. Call me, Vanna.
May 12: The Starbucks & PepsiCo remake of the iconic “Eye of the Tiger” ad for the new Iced Energy drink. I first saw the version they did with Seth Meyers and it was hilarious. I can get energy just from watching this ad.
May 13: My new Black Lightning box. Built for me by Akai Coit, it holds my blood glucose testing materials. Blood sugar levels, like lightning, shall ever appear, to some people hope and to other people fear.
May 14: Godzilla vs. Los Angeles is the latest in IDW’s Godzilla Vs. America series of one-shots. 100% of the proceeds support from this comic support BINC’s mission of book people caring for book people, including comic-shop employees.
May 15: Winter Soldier (2019) by Kyle Higgins and Rod Reis. This five-issue series has Bucky struggling with his own past while giving second chances to others. Action and emotion. I liked it a lot. Was there ever a follow-up to this concept?
May 16: Saturday Night Live’s season finale was terrific. Host Scarlet Johansson was wonderful and almost all the sketches were hilarious. I even enjoyed the musical numbers from Bad Bunny. It was a fun ninety minutes.
May 17: Trapped and unable to move for half-a-hour. I’m sore but otherwise uninjured. My SUV was not damaged, save for a $1,600 towing charge. More details soon. For now, know God loves trans people and our journeys to be ourselves.
May 18: The Simpsons: “Estranger Things”. I’ve never much cared for Itchy & Scratchy, but this episode was a poignant commentary on putting aside childhood things and the bond between Bart and Lisa and Homer. Nicely done.
May 19: The Wedding Banquet (2025). Starring Bowen Yang and many other amazing actors, this comedy-romance is a queer remake of a 1993 film. It’s beautiful, emotional, heartwarming and so damned satisfying. I want to hug it and never let it go.
May 20: The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite is an intriguing novel about a Haitian American teen with a passion for cooking and zombie powers. In a world of the ultra-rich, she holds her own.
May 21: Murderbot (Apple+). This mix of comedy and sci-fi stars a security robot hiding its autonomy. It has an affinity for humans, despite our weaknesses, and a Star Trek-like streaming series. I loved the first episode.
May 22: The Atlas Artist Edition No. 2: Al Williamson. Edited by Dr, Michael J. Vassallo, this gorgeous 10.1 x 1.4 x 13.8 inches book collects all of the 99 stories the artist drew for Atlas in the 1950s. It is breathtakingly beautiful.
May 23: I’m in tears as I write this. My comp copies of DC Pride 2025 just arrived. It’s overwhelming to see my real name in the credits and to see my story there. I can’t wait for all of you to read it. Thanks to everyone involved.
May 24: Saintly Wife Barb is back from two weeks vacationing in Ireland with friends. She had the most wonderful time and loves the place. I hope to visit there with her sometime. Until then, I’m just thrilled to have her home.
May 25: Girlmode by Magdalene Visaggio and Paulina Ganucheau. This story of a recently transition girl making a new start in a LA high school covers a lot of teen drama, but ends with a great message about embracing one’s own strengths.
May 26: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath is a battle between anthropomorphic serial killers in a sleepy village that hasn’t previously known such horror. It’s chilling, suspenseful and highly recommended.
May 27: Saint John by Dan Schkade and Brennan Wagner. A cynical NYC reporter goes to Portland, Oregon to write about the title masked dogooder. A fine down-to-earth super-hero series. I’m two issues in and loving it!
May 28: Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett. Just as I learn more about my true self every day, this smart graphic novel is teaching me more about folks like me. We’ve always been with you.
May 29: Victoria Groce is a force of knowledge and nature in the current Jeopardy Masters tournament. There are some truly great players in the tournament, but she dominates in a thrilling way. I could watch her every week.
May 30: Poker Face: “Sloppy Joseph”. It’s Charlie versus a scary sociopath, an elite school student. Eva Jade Halford is amazing as the kid monster and the final scene of this episode made me LOL. It was perfect!
May 31: Call me Jenny. The vast majority of my online friends and my garage sales customers call me Jenny. This fills me with joy every time. I know I don’t often look like a Jenny, but it’s an ongoing process and I thank you for your support.
This month's top picks...
BEST COMIC BOOK OR GRAPHIC NOVEL: Us by Sara Soler
BEST BOOK: The Summer I Ate the Rich
BEST MOVIE OR TV SHOW: Thunderbolts*
BEST PERSON: Peter David. You are missed.
BEST OTHER THING: Seeing my story in the DC Pride anthology
June continues my 2025 Vast Accumulation of Stuff comic books and pop culture garage sales. You can find much more information on my various social media, but, for now, here’s the schedule for June:
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be back with more bloggy things in the near future.
© 2025 Tony Isabella
I had not realized that you'd been dealing with identity issues for so long! I'm glad you've told your personal story in a format that will be seen by many others.
ReplyDeleteAndrew L.