Pride

I don't typically express my political opinions openly, and I definitely don't express my feeling on personal sexual preferences, but I will always support my friends who identify as part of a marginalized community.

This year, with all the major strife that has been going on in America, I felt the need to make a statement of some kind. That's why I am openly supporting those of the LGBTQ+ community alongside those who would identify as gamers.

I remember a time where being known as a gamer put you in a marginalized and outcast light. I grew up in the shadow of The Satanic Panic. I had a couple of friends in high school that questioned my reasons for choosing to associate myself with cults and evil. I always responded with the fact that gaming isn't evil, it's what you do in real life that makes that determination. Yes, there are devils and demons in Dungeons & Dragons, but they are primarily there as antagonists to be overcome by the players and not necessarily forces to be joined.

The parents of one of my high school girlfriends were so against my gaming that they had my GF ask me to quit playing D&D. I agreed to do that, but failed to inform them of the other games my group and I were playing at the time; Robotech and Rifts to name just 2. Since these weren't Dungeons & Dragons, I didn't break my promise. It also helped that I actually decided to foreswear D&D at that time because I firmly believed that the 2nd edition was nothing but a cash grab and would not support it.

Beyond that, I always felt like a square peg in a round hole when it came to my sexual feelings. While I always felt a strong attraction to females, I would occasionally find myself being attracted to males as well. For so many years, society would be the determining factor of keeping my personal preferences secretive. It wouldn't be until the mid-90's where I would (at least partially) break that character trait as I would enter into my first (and to date only) relationship with another male. It also helped that he was a part of a gamer organization that I was joining; The Camarilla.

There was no confusion about my feeling towards him. I loved him. The odd things was that he was also a drag queen. I'm not sure if that didn't play a big factor in my initial attraction towards him. While we continued to LARP, I would also support him by attending his drag shows and meet his fellow drag friends. None of them were gamers so our encounters were limited to the shows.

We spent the better part of about 4 years together. He would occasionally attend my family holiday gatherings and would also be invited to our birthday celebrations. I never told my family of our real relationship status. Looking back, I'm sure some of them knew but didn't care to say anything.

I don't remember a lot about our years together except for the fact that I was usually happy. I can't remember why our relationship eventually ended, but I did have a journal that I used to write in that helped to fill in some of those blanks... unfortunately, they didn't always paint a pretty picture of the relationship I once cherished. I have since decided to discard that journal in lieu of living with the good times still in my head. We both had relationships after we split up. I even got married and he helped my bride to be get ready for the ceremony.

Last September (2025), he passed away due to complications of his diabetes. When I hear the news, even though we had grown apart and lost touch, my heart sank and I felt an emptiness in my life. His name was Gene and I loved him.

Gene on the left. Me in the middle.

And that I the reason why I will be finally openly supporting my friends and fellow allies of the LGBTQ+ community. I'm sorry it took the passing of a wonderful soul to get me to this point.

Stranger Things: The Other Side

Title: Stranger Things: The Other Side

ISBN: 9781506709765

Price: $17.99

Publisher/Year: Dark Horse, 2019

Artist: Stefano Martino

Writer: Jody Houser

Rating: 4/5

Stranger Things is massively successful. It’s probably Netflix’s biggest hit in the past five years, or so. So, it was only a matter of time before it started branching out into other mediums. Earlier last month, the first official novel – Gwenda Bond’s Suspicious Minds (my review of it here) – was released, but prior to that, Dark Horse Comics released a limited series – written by Jody Houser and illustrated by Stefano Martino – telling the unseen story of Will Byers during the events of season 1. It’s a great idea for a tie-in comic, but is the execution as good as the concept? Mostly, yeah.

When Will Byers finds himself in the Upside Down, an impossible dark parody of his own world, he’s understandably frightened. But that’s nothing compared with the fear that takes hold when he realizes what’s in that world with him!

As I said, this graphic novel follows Will during his experience in the Upside Down during the events of season 1. Much of the story is told through word bubbles from the point of view of an omniscient narrator. This is a tactic that works surprisingly well as it allows the reader to get inside of Will’s mind while also being clued into the grander scheme. There’s very little dialogue in this series as Will wouldn’t really have anybody to talk to in the Upside Down. To compensate for this, Houser utilizes a number of flashback sequences to D&D games Will played with his friends prior to his disappearance. These flashback sequences serve multiple purposes; the first being a way to develop season one Will Byers into more of a three-dimensional character than he was in the show and the second being a metaphor for what Will is currently going through during his stay in the Upside Down. Houser perfectly captures the voices of the characters and the feeling of the Stranger Things universe while crafting a story that elaborates on things seen – and unseen – in season 1. Frankly, it’s nice to spend some more time in the Upside Down as it’s one of the more interesting aspects of the series and Houser depicts the Upside Down really marvelously. She makes it feel suitably spooky and interesting.

The real highlight of this graphic novel, though is Stefano Martino’s brilliant artwork. In this series, he is able to take Houser’s already spooky script and make it spookier. He perfectly captures the likeness of the actors while still bringing his own style to the look of this graphic novel. His style differs depending on if he’s depicting the Upside Down or one of the D&D Flashbacks, and each style perfectly works for the sequence being told. He’s clearly following the blueprint of how the Upside Down looked in the TV series, but he really fleshes it out and makes it look and feel more like a real place than season one ever did. His artwork for the Demogorgon is also extremely spooky, giving us our best look at the creature yet. It’s immediately identifiable as the same monster from the show, but it looks and feels a bit more detailed. It’s horror at its finest and I loved his artwork here. Every single panel elevated the story and drew me further into what was going on.

Ultimately, Stranger Things: The Other Side is an immensely enjoyable tie-in graphic novel. Nothing particularly new or major is revealed in this series, but it does elaborate a bit on what all happened to Will during his time in the Upside Down. Houser’s excellent script mixed with Martino’s haunting, creepy illustrations makes for an enjoyable, creepy experience. It’s a quick read, but it’s one that any fan of Stranger Things will likely enjoy. The four issues tell a complete story, all set during the events of season one of the show. I’m interested to see if Dark Horse, Houser, and Martino will do further volumes in this series and, if so, what stories they will tackle. I’d definitely be interested in seeing more from this team.

Doctor Strange Vol 1: The Way of the Weird

Title: Doctor Strange Vol 1: The Way of the Weird

ISBN: 9780785195160

Price: $24.99

Publisher/Year: Marvel, 2016

Artist: Chris Bachalo

Writer: Jason Aaron

Rating: 4/5

When Marvel relaunched Doctor Strange yet again in 2015 it was in the knowledge of  there being slightly more at stake this time. A Doctor Strange movie was due the following year, and this was the material that would be available as graphic novels for the curious who’d enjoyed the movie but possibly never encountered the character before. Let is be said The Way of the Weird is a complete head rush and a contender for the best Doctor Strange ever. Seriously.

The book opens with Strange’s origin overlaid in narrative captions on faded panels drawn by those who defined the character in the 1960s. It’s clever, sentimental and respectful, but turn the page to the sample illustration and it’s immediately apparent this is not Grandad’s Doctor Strange. Chris Bachalo leaves us in no doubt this is an otherworldy mystical realm, but after decades of Doctor Strange and a dozen first rate artists he still achieves something new and memorable. In the opening chapter there’s a scene of Strange walking home through Greenwich Village and we see the world as he perceives it with his third eye. It’s a breathtaking piece of work, helped by Bachalo choosing to color his pages, yet leaving much of this spread monochrome, a trick he repeats to good effect. The second chapter’s opening page is just Strange’s brownstone building seen from the front, a little of the surrounding area and dark skies passing above. It’s ordinary, yet excellent. It’s legitimate to ask whether a regular Doctor Strange series has ever looked better, and this is despite a platoon of inkers. Want to know how Bachalo does it? There’s a sketch section in the back.

The pictured scene is part of an exorcism, a house call Strange is making to heal a disturbed child. It instantly establishes a humanity for Strange that’s often forgotten amid the cosmic and mystical threats he sees off on a daily basis. Strange’s world as seen by outsiders is perpetuated throughout to good effect, which is just the requirement for anyone relatively new to the character. Writer Jason Aaron places wonder at the core of what we’re reading, and for someone better known for his down to earth grittiness he manages it effortlessly.

We’re past the halfway point before the main threat kicks in. This is a sort of technology based cosmic inquisition determined to root out all sorcery. The rage of the opposite is such an obvious idea – once Aaron came up with it – it beggars belief that it’s not been previously attempted. There are elements that can be quibbled with, such as the title of ‘Sorcerer Supreme’ surely indicating by definition there is only one, but overall Aaron sneaks us in through the back door toward an absolute terror. And along the way there’s a horrific revelation.

Some may feel cheated by a cliffhanger ending, but as sure as hell it’s served its purpose and is going to leave you panting for The Last Days of Magic. What an ominous title.

G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: The Silent Missions Vol. 1

Title: G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: The Silent Missions Vol. 1

ISBN: 9781534333505

Price: $16.99

Publisher/Year: Skybound, 2025

Artist: Larry Hama, Phil Hester, Dani, Dan Waters, Leonardo Romero, Andrew Krahnke, Wes Craig

Writer: Leonardo Romero, Dan Watters, Wes Craig, Andrew Krahnke, Larry Hama, Dani, Phil Hester

Rating: 4.5/5

If you are a fan of the original G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Marvel series, then you know what the "Silent Interlude" is. This groundbreaking 1984 comic features a complete, action-packed story told entirely through sequential art, without any dialogue, thought bubbles, or captions. It is a landmark in comic book history, proving that a complex narrative with action and emotion could be effectively conveyed through visual storytelling alone.

Skybound decided to not only reprint this classic issue, but expand on it in a series on one-shots that featured Beach Head, Jinx, Spirit, Roadblock and Duke.

I'll admit, this was a very quick "read" through. In all honesty, this is the first time I have read a trade and written a review on it in the same day. I wanted to make sure that my thoughts were expressed while they were still fresh in my mind.

When I was a kid, I missed out of the original silent issue, but was able to get it after I became a more avid collector and reader of the series. The story impressed me back then, and it still has that same effect on me so many years later. Here's a link to an interview with Larry Hama regarding the original Silent Interlude. 

I feel that the writers from Skybound did an excellent job in their attempt to recapture the feeling that Hama brought to readers back in the 80's.

Each chapter focuses on a different Joe in a visual, cinematic style that relies solely on art and action rather than speech bubbles:

• Beach Head battles to survive in a demilitarized zone while protecting innocent war orphans.
• Jinx must fight and escape from a deadly Cobra base in a sequence of tense, real-time panels. 
• Spirit and Freedom uncover a sinister Cobra experiment amid a mysterious forest disappearance. 
• Roadblock brings overwhelming firepower to bear against a Cobra convoy. 
• Duke stalks a traitor across hostile terrain, pushing himself to the limit. 

Together these stories form a dynamic, wordless narrative experience that highlights the combat prowess, grit, and silent heroism of the G.I. Joe team, letting the art tell the story of each mission without a single line of dialogue. 

Daggerheart Corebook Set

Title: Daggerheart Corebook Set

Price: $29.99 (PDF), $59.99 (Hardcover Set)

Publisher/Year: Darrington Press, 2025

ISBN: 9798991384100

LEAD GAME DESIGNER: Spenser Starke

ADDITIONAL GAME DESIGNERS: Carlos Cisco, Rowan Hall, John Harper,

Matthew Mercer, Alex Uboldi, Mike Underwood

ADDITIONAL WRITING: Layla Adelman, Meguey Baker, Banana Chan, Chris

Davidson, Rue Dickey, Felix Isaacs, Erin Roberts, Deven Rue, Rogan Shannon,

Mark Thompson, Eugenio Vargas, Chris Willett

System: Daggerheart

DriveThruRPG Link

Rating: 3.5/5

Daggerheart is a standout tabletop roleplaying game that puts narrative, emotion, and collaboration front and center. Developed by Darrington Press, it offers a fresh fantasy experience powered by a unique system designed to create cinematic moments, meaningful choices, and shared storytelling. Everything about the game—from its mechanics to its physical components—supports dramatic, character-driven play.

At the heart of Daggerheart is its dual-dice resolution system, which uses a Hope die and a Fear die. Instead of simple pass-or-fail results, every roll creates narrative momentum. Rolling higher on Hope grants players advantages, heroic twists, or extra narrative control, while Fear introduces complications, consequences, or opportunities for the Game Master to escalate tension. This system ensures that even setbacks push the story forward in interesting ways rather than bringing play to a halt.

The boxed set includes a richly illustrated core rulebook that explains the system, setting, and play philosophy in a clear and welcoming manner. Character creation is guided and flexible, allowing players to define not just abilities but also relationships, motivations, and emotional stakes. Characters are built using modular domains and abilities, giving players room to customize without overwhelming complexity.

A major highlight of the system is its use of cards and tokens. Ability cards, domain cards, and condition trackers help keep mechanics visible and easy to manage at the table. Physical tokens represent Hope, Fear, Stress, and other narrative resources, reinforcing the game’s emotional economy and making abstract concepts feel tangible and intuitive.

The set also includes custom dice, quick-reference materials, and Game Master tools focused on scene framing, pacing, and collaborative worldbuilding. Rather than positioning the GM as an adversary, the system encourages them to act as a facilitator of drama, responding dynamically to player choices and the flow of Hope and Fear.

Overall, Daggerheart is an innovative, story-forward RPG system that excels at creating memorable moments and emotionally resonant adventures. With its elegant mechanics, strong thematic focus, and high-quality components, it’s an excellent choice for groups seeking a more narrative-driven alternative to traditional fantasy roleplaying games.

YouTube Recommendation - Pointy Hat

I don't have traditional television at home. The only reason we pay Xfinity is for internet access. Fortunately, my TV is smart and allows me to access YouTube, and this is how I am able to find and watch the great "DungeonTuber" videos of so many creators such as Pointy Hat.

Pointy Hat, and his "human familiar", are a great resource of TTRPG ideas and information. I especially enjoy his video series entitled "D&D with a Twist". These videos are always very informative, imaginative and give me ideas.

I highly recommend giving Point Hat's videos a watch. As always, like and subscribe to their channel as well. You'll be glad you did.

Dungeons & Dragons – Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands

Title: Dungeons & Dragons – Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands

Price: $49.99 (Boxed Set) / $19.99 (Digital)

Publisher/Year: Wizards of the Coast, 2025

System: Dungeons & Dragons 5E

Rating: 4/5

Dungeons & Dragons – Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands is a fantastic entry point into tabletop roleplaying, offering everything you need to start playing with confidence and excitement. Designed with new players and first-time Dungeon Masters in mind, this set delivers a polished, welcoming introduction to the world of D&D while still being engaging for more experienced fans.

Inside the box is a clearly written, beginner-friendly rulebook that walks players through the core mechanics of the game step by step. It explains character actions, combat, spellcasting, and roleplaying in a way that feels approachable without sacrificing the depth that makes D&D so rewarding. The included adventure book provides a complete, story-driven campaign set in the classic Borderlands, filled with exploration, memorable NPCs, and exciting encounters that naturally teach the flow of the game as you play.

The set also includes a collection of pre-generated character sheets, allowing players to jump right into the adventure without the complexity of building characters from scratch. Each character is distinct, flavorful, and well-suited to help players learn different playstyles. A full set of polyhedral dice is included as well, so there’s no need to purchase anything extra to get started.

Additional components, such as maps, reference materials, and helpful player and Dungeon Master aids, make running the game smooth and intuitive. These tools do a great job of reducing setup time and helping new groups stay focused on storytelling and fun rather than rules lookups.

Overall, Heroes of the Borderlands succeeds brilliantly at what a starter set should do: lower the barrier to entry while capturing the magic of Dungeons & Dragons. It’s an inviting, well-designed box that encourages creativity, teamwork, and adventure, making it an excellent choice for families, friends, or anyone curious about stepping into the world of D&D for the first time.