Normally at this time of year, I do a blog post chronicling my Comic-Con experience. Well, vlogging is the new blogging, so here’s a visual essay of “Everything I Got at Comic-Con!” including comic books, graphic novels, magazines, and even a Wookie! This is a different kind of Tales From My Spinner Rack! video, focusing... Continue Reading →
The big week is here ... it's time for Comic-Con 2025 and wow, talk about double the pleasure, double the fun (and you know me … fun is my middle name) … I will be on TWO panels this year! The first is Tales From My Spinner Rack LIVE!, based on my YouTube channel, on... Continue Reading →
Here’s what I’ve been up to in my DC Finest reading and collecting. DC Finest: Batman: The Killing Joke and Other Stories by Alan Moore, Mike W. Barr, and Brian Bolland (608 pages)This latest Batman volume of the DC Finest reprint series collects stories from Batman 413 through 422, Detective Comics 580 through 599, and... Continue Reading →
Watchlist is an irregularly scheduled series of posts featuring reviews and observations on streaming TV series I’m watching. Well, Harry Bosch has finally wrapped it all up—in a not so neat little bow—with the third and final season of Bosch: Legacy on Prime. I was pretty much disappointed in this one; it was 10 pounds... Continue Reading →
Tales From My Spinner Rack LIVE! returns to Comic-Con International with a special panel presentation looking back at “Our Favorite Fantastic Four Covers by Jack Kirby” from the artist’s run on the title from 1961 through 1970! The panel will be on Thursday, July 24 at 12:00 PM in Room 9. Moderator Gary Sassaman will... Continue Reading →
It’s hard to believe, but 60 years ago, three of Marvel Comics most famous issues debuted on the very same day, July 2, 1963: Avengers 1, X-Men 1, and Fantastic Four Annual 1. Buying all three issues would set you back 49 whole cents at the time, but you could probably put a child through... Continue Reading →
The first month of summer started with the usual graphic novels and comic book collections, plus two of my favorite authors’ new books; one of them great, the other … well, not so great. Nightshade by Michael Connelly • 5 Stars on GoodreadsWhat a great beginning for a new character by Michael Connelly! Nightshade introduces... Continue Reading →
Jim Shooter died on Monday, June 30 of esophageal cancer. He was supposed to appear at HeroesCon last weekend, but word quickly spread that he was very ill. The one-time editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics was a controversial figure in the industry to say the least, and I’m sure just about every obituary you’ll read about... Continue Reading →
Every time I get a new DC Finest volume, I think of DC’s similar series, Showcase Presents, published from 2005 through 2016. I wonder if the “build” of a DC Finest book was inspired by a similar volume of that earlier series, if someone, somewhere at DC is taking note of those 120+ volumes of... Continue Reading →
With the new Superman movie written and directed by James Gunn about to take off, Tales From My Spinner Rack! Episode 19 takes a loving look back at ten of my favorite Superman artists, influential creators who defined the look of the Man of Steel in his comic book adventures from 1938 through 2000, in... Continue Reading →
Oh, May … we hardly knew ye. The month passed in a blur and I’m pretty sure a day or two after I realized it was May, it was May 31. Still, books were read, and they were all pretty good. Here’s what I read in the merry, merry month of May. Crumb: A Cartoonist’s... Continue Reading →
DC has announced their publlshing plan for the rest of the year for their DC Finest books, and there are quite a few volumes I’m interested in … but we’ll get to that in a bit. First off, let’s take a look at the latest one I’ve read, Superman Family: The Giant Turtle Man, which... Continue Reading →
“WONDER TOT SAVE YOU! The Impossible Tale of the Wonder Woman Family” is episode 18 of Tales From My Spinner Rack! with a look back at that wonder of a woman, Wonder Woman, and her 1960s run of comics featuring her “Family:” Wonder Queen, Wonder Girl, and the Amazing Amazon toddler known as Wonder Tot!... Continue Reading →
Watch the Season 14 premiere of SDConCast, the official podcast of the San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog, kicking off this season with its annual tradition featured special guest, moderator extraordinaire and writer, Mark Evanier (newsfromme.com). But there’s a twist! Also joining iwas returning guest Gary Sassaman (that's me!), former director of multiple departments at Comic-Con... Continue Reading →
Bit of a slow reading month for me … I think I’m in a bit of a slump, but May brings a new Susan Ryeland mystery by Anthony Horowitz (Marble Hall Murders), a new LASD detective character by Michael Connelly (Nightshade), and a new Holly Gibney tale by Stephen King (Never Flinch), not to mention... Continue Reading →
