012: A quick one to close out the year
Hello, hello. Happy December! I’m sorry this one’s a little late.
My November had three Thanksgiving dinners and three Absolute Batmans. That’s too many. Also, I voted, and every person who I voted for won, and that felt great. Shoutout to Mikie Sherrill, the governor-elect of New Jersey. I used to live in her congressional district (NJ-11), which was represented by an old money Republican for the duration of my residence. Despite everything, it’s still wild to see a Democrat take over in 2019 and rise to the governorship six years later.
I wrote a few anecdotes for Behind The Panels of Marvel’s SECRET WARS. I straight-up forgot that I lettered three issues of the main series, so I gave the most words to the Marvel Zombies series I worked on. I know it’s clichéd, but it’s hard to believe the summer of Secret Wars was ten years ago—back when my main beats were Fantastic Four (now lettered by Joe Caramagna) and Inhumans (now lettered by no one). I guess time flies when you letter comic books every day.
I also contributed a quick year-in-review thinger for House of Ideas, Powers of Secrets, so keep an eye out for that around the holidays.
Gary “Mani” Mounfield passed away at the age of 63. He played bass for Primal Scream and the Stone Roses. The Stone Roses’ self-titled LP is the one album I listen to the most, and Mani’s bass is the first instrument you hear. He gave great interviews, and by all accounts, he was a friendly guy who everyone loved (particularly Liam Gallagher, who called Mani his hero). I feel like if I’d met him at a pub and really needed to leave, he’d make me stay until he told me every last one of his stories about 1980s Manchester—and I’d be okay with that. If anyone was going to tell me about Morrissey crashing his bicycle into a lamppost, I’d want it to be Mani. He was a damn good bassist, too. He really shines on Primal Scream’s “Kowalski” and the Roses’ “Fool’s Gold.”
Sound Effect of the Month:
Community:
Kieron Gillen did two SKTCHD things—an Off Panel interview, and The Moment, in which he discussed when he knew his big things were going “to work.” The man is smart, as usual.
Kelly Sue DeConnick did a couple of interviews—one written and one spoken. The Boss is smart, as usual.
Portland, OR comic book shop Books With Pictures could use some help! I went there once during a visit to PDX, and it’s a damn impressive operation. It’s already surpassed its funding goal, but if you can, consider giving There are rough waters ahead, especially for small businesses.
Recommendations:
Comic: Escape. Rick Remender, Daniel Acuña, and the great Rus Wooton make a war comic (with animals). It’s as great as you think it is. If you’re waiting for the trade, I recommend switching to the single issues. Rick and Daniel are sharing stories and photos of their ancestors who fought in World War II and the Spanish Civil War (respectively), and readers are sharing their own in the letter column. You can’t miss it.
Non-comic: The Great North - “Xmas with the Skanks Adventure.” This is my favorite piece of Christmas media of the 2020s. Beef Tobin is the best single dad on television, especially when he hates something that his kids love. I see much of my own artistic, Rochesterian father in this burly, Alaskan woodsman. Now streaming on Hulu.
Stuff With My Name In It (December 2025):
12/1:
X-Men: Age of Revelation Infinity #5
12/3:
Amazing X-Men #3
Batman #4
Birds of Prey #28
Predator: Badlands #1
Venom #252
12/8:
X-Men: Age of Revelation Infinity #6
12/10:
Absolute Batman #15
Adventureman vol. 2: A Fairy Tale of New York TP
DC K.O.: Wonder Woman vs. Lobo #1
Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories - Elspeth #2
Star Trek: Lower Decks #14
Unbreakable X-Men #3
X-Men by Gerry Duggan Omnibus HC
12/15:
X-Men: Age of Revelation Infinity #7
12/17:
Alien vs. Captain America #2
Batman and Robin: Year One TP & HC
DIE: Loaded #2
The Human Target by Tom King and Greg Smallwood: Deluxe Edition HC
The Power Fantasy #14
Star Trek: The Last Starship #3
Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone vol. 3: Murder Me, Mutina TP
Wonder Woman #28
X-Men by Jed MacKay vol. 3: The Hellfire Vigil TP
X-Men: Book of Revelation #3
12/22:
X-Men: Age of Revelation Infinity #8
12/24:
Star Wars #8
Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman #6
12/29:
X-Men: Age of Revelation Infinity #9
12/31:
Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #5
Secret Wars: Battleworld vol. 2 Omnibus HC
X-Men: Age of Revelation Finale #1
And finally, the cat photo:
Now I’m off to choose a more affordable health insurance plan. Capital system we have here, folks. I hope you all have a safe and restful holiday break! Don’t spend it working!
If you have a question you’d like me to answer in a future edition, ask away in the comments section!
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