June Highlights

Back From Vacation...And Some Other Plans

Sorry about this coming a week late. I guess I should’ve left a message for a weeklong vacation for the 4th of July. Especially since I’m getting a lot more interest my way. Partly thanks to two Substacks that I’m back on monthly paid subscriptions.

Michael Nimmo

and

Comical Opinions: Comic Reviews for Indie & Alt Comics

are some people I plan to stay connected for a long time, especially with some plans to get more eyes on my main website.

Despite my best efforts, I just can’t seem to get too many people over. I’ve seen my stats and I’ve only be getting over 600 views a month. This year hasn’t been that great with a huge dip in views in January. As well as some changes in website structure like an actual homepage to plant one of these:

Or something of the like. I didn’t even realize my website had a subscriber function of its own. Not that many people notice. And I can’t access it because of stuff involving Wordpress, Bluehost, and the service I got when I bought the domain called Jetpack. Not that it stopped people from signing up to get notifications on there. Like the father of the creator of one of the best indie comics I’ve read Joe Hero. All I had to do was share the link on Instagram Stories and it got slightly more traffic.

Same with one of the only books from Mad Cave that doesn’t feel like it’s trying to flood the market. A sequel to a Netflix show called Fate: The Winx Saga. I didn’t even need to watch the show to get the context of what’s going on. It was structured to be that accessible. I even got to have back and forth conversations through Instagram with a Winx franchise superfan. Which is really saying something when the posts I’ve been wanting to cover’s traffic doesn’t show up. Probably because of some stupid code errors or other stuff that goes over my head. Because that post’s data came up without much trouble.

Thing is I know that people like the posts of stuff that I enjoyed doing because of how they reacted to the niche joints I left the links on. Like Zack The Zombie Exterminator with Coffin Comics’ and the Kamen America fans. I made that last one as a followup to one of my more popular posts.

And yet Gatchaman: Ken Deathmatch shows up on the radar? I guess Instagram is the place to promote comics when you circle a people. Especially when they can share it around.

Now I just feel embarrassed that I made this post:

And yes, I’ll be sharing stuff on X. Not that some insights from a real person says it’ll help. I’m bound to agree with her, considering sharing a City of Blank post did squat. And I put a Webtoon on there because this one was the most popular soft sci-fi comic on the platform. Not even Final Fantasy fans seem to be interested and that’s the crux of the post.

New Policies

Honestly, reviews aren’t doing much unless they react to big franchises like Winx. In fact most days, visitors prefer to browse through post categories. With my Diamond in the Rough archives being the most visited. Still I wonder if those are people or just algorithms scoping out the joint.

In any case, I’m going to continue prioritizing posts I actually want to do more than requests. Fortunately, I can and still will take requests but if people want that to be a priority, they’re going to have to donate to my Ko-Fi. My first was with David Wilburn to advertise the Kickstarter for the next issue of his cyberpunk comic The Ghost System. Not a review, just leave links and recommendations that can connect with people on the concept. Including Wilburn’s first issue he left out for people to read for free to know what’s going on.

Make no mistake, I will still take requests without charges but only if I feel that it’s worth the time. Especially since most of my Mad Cave requests are starting to get boring. It’s like there’s no quality control, and that Mad Cave is making the same mistake as bigger companies. Namely trying to flood the market with so many titles, that editors are burning out and quiet quitting. Soul Taker and The Last Wardens just felt so half-baked that I was prepared for the worst when I read Fate: The Winx Saga. On a related note, I’m A Mess had a fine structure, but I am not it’s target audience. Not for being unmessy, I am a mess! But it just felt so boring to read an illustrated guidebook.

I Need To Guest Post More

I can’t remember the last time I made a guest post. People have requested to make guest posts on my website and I told them okay. But they never got back. It can’t be catphishing because they never asked for any information or access to my website. They probably left considering what my niche is. Not everybody can get lucky and get their website as a source on Wikipedia. Even if I did change the name of the post.

As for me, I need more backlinks leading to my website. And now I need to reach out to people in my niche without being a pest to them. From guest posts, reworking some old posts, and… podcasts. Sigh… being neurologically focused to be an introvert can be the worst.

I recently read

Russell Nohelty

’s newsletter that you have to work hard at this stuff to keep everything going. But I hope this doesn’t feel like work.

Reading Comics Should Inspire Not Be More Work

So many opportunities to make posts after some inspirations like the Dead Boy Detectives after reading the maxi-series and the show. Not to mention the Predator VS comics.

I even considered a New Teen Titans post to look at what made it into the 2003 show. It’s basically about why Donna Troy and Kid Flash didn’t make the cut for the opening; they don’t have daddy issues like the rest.

But some comics that I’ve read really put into perspective on how just because of historical importance, that doesn’t mean modern audiences would enjoy them. Because when I read the Golden Age Batman “Bat-Man”(?) there were times when I just got bored. Not just cuz of narrations but the awkward dialogue that looked like it was made in a rush. For such a brutal vigilante Batman is supposed to be, he also sounds like a cliche smart aleck. Sounds like I relate with Joshua Sy a lot more than I realized.

Except I have a Golden Age Batman omnibus that will probably only get valuable as it yellows. I regret buying that so much.

Honestly the Phantom from last month was a better read with more character in him. Which is extremely ironic because he and Batman are mirrors to one another. A rich playboy with a secret identity created to follow up someone with real powers. Not to mention Lee Falk and Wilson McCoy had way better art with the show-by-telling methods.

Nothing against Bill Finger, but he and Bob Kane just aren’t for me. Not to mention, I recently found out that before Robin and the detective mysteries, my favorite parts came from Gardner Fox. The utility belt, the Batplane, the Bat-a-rang, even his pre-Joker rogues: Doctor Death and Mad Monk.

As for other decisions I wonder why I make, I found out that I am not a fan of literary comics. Including Neil Gaiman’s comics like Sandman and the beloved My Favorite Thing Is Monsters’ second volume. I guess I was too curious to see where it was going when I got that off Hoopla.

Not to mention gag-a-week strips like Bizarro. These feel like things you only need to see once-at-a-time.

Kind of like most Archie comics really. Hence why Mark Waid’s opening with the New Archie universe feels like a good way to get into the whole franchise.

Honestly, Mark Waid is one writer I’m going to keep following for each new book. Because between World’s Finest Teen Titans and his collaboration in the 90s with JLA Year One, he hasn’t lost his touch. Now if only I could find a newsletter, since his website hasn’t been updated in years. And this is the place to check out completely accessible digital comics from his old Thrillbent service when that website was taken down.

Accessibility, now there’s something everybody could use more often. I mean Minecraft has great experiences people can recreate to share with others.

Not to mention dialogue that isn’t awkward. Invisible Kingdom from G. Willow Wilson uses prose writing to get through things so much easier. I can’t remember how many times I got tired because of text going for too long.

Finally the long awaited return of Kamen Rider Kuuga’s next trade stateside. After an awkward stage of clunky dialogue, this series is really worth getting into. Especially since some new intrigue comes up in this 6th trade.

Plus it’s always good to have a palate cleanser with Star Wars Adventures. All three volumes and less room to take up. Glad I got to read this after IDW’s license expired. Sigh… really been sitting on a lot of these things.

Which Comics Should Take Up More Of My Time?

Besides just the great stuff, it helps to read stuff that people talk about that aren’t just complaints about events or stupid character developments. I mean the reason I read Zack The Zombie Slayer was because I wanted to get in on Coffin Comics’ popularity. Now it’s high time I do what I planned long ago and post about the best of its mascot series Lady Death.

Honestly I prioritized a lot of things that came up on X’s #comicbooks trend. Including one series I’ve been reading nonstop called Rob Hanes Adventures. It’s simple pulpy swashbuckling at its finest in the 21st century. Got caught up with it on Globalcomix.

Then I ought to do something with Jack Irons: The Steel Cowboy, Mavrics, and Time Corps. All very entertaining and available on Globalcomix. At this point, I’m wondering if I should prioritize spotlighting comics on accessible platforms.

Other Post Ideas

Whether on my blog or as a guest, I ought to do something to make time well spent on something I enjoy. Funnily enough, the evolution of Amanda Waller is something on my mind a lot of the time. I first saw her as this hard nosed agent willing to get her hands dirty and getting humbled by her screwups. These days, she’s become a full-on villain.

Including on one show I’ve been enjoying, My Adventures With Superman. Not just for its originality, but for being a seat gluing experience despite what flaws it might have. I’m sure a lot of people comment on America’s military and the moral panics for security. But the part that catches my interest is how Krypton and the reactions to it echo North Korean defectors.

Ironically both of the above deal with the effect of AI through Brainiac. Both in the Superman show and DC’s latest event Absolute Power. In that through someone’s hands, AI can be used by parties to attack and maintain their worldview. Often by just collecting data while offering no solutions other than create hollow knockoffs.

Not to mention someone should comment about the Image satire in Local Man, How to Hero at 50, The Schlub, Dutch, and Blood Squad 7.

All things to consider for posts anywhere.