Comic books are a bit of an obsession with me. My favorite is X-Men. I love Marvel for the characters and DC for the storylines. 

All that being said, I am a little obsessed with anything superhero related. And, lucky me, there’s a lot of it.

I also have a twisted side. No surprise, I’m sure some of you have read my books. So as soon as I saw an ad for The Boys on Amazon Prime, I realized I was going to need to see it.

It did not disappoint. Let me say it again; it did not disappoint.

Now, let me first give you a warning. This is a gory, bloody show with a ton of adult content. Not for little ones or those who are sensitive to such things. And the older I get, the more sensitive I get to such things. But this didn’t bother me too much at all. Well, the rather graphic sexual assault scene near the beginning is a bit much. Just as a fair warning. 

The story is about Hughie Campbell, who is a completely normal person in a world with superheroes. He’s beloved girlfriend is killed when the superhero, A-Train, literally runs through her. He’s left holding only her hands. He soon falls in with our anti-hero, Billy Butcher. (Has there ever been a more comic book name than that?) They intend to make the superheroes pay for what they did to Hughie’s girlfriend. And, as we later discover, Billy’s wife.

I love the twisted hero motif. The heroes that we all admire have a dark side. They’re not just like you and me; they’re far worse. Power corrupts, we all know this. And these heroes are the perfect example.

A lot of the show revolves around the character’s relationships. One relationship that made my skin crawl was the one between Homelander and Madelyn Stillwell, an executive at Vought, the company that controls the supers. His weird obsession with her is cringy. He wants all her attention, he wants her to like him. He wants her to love him. He’s straight-up jealous of her relationship with her infant son.

This show reminded me a little bit of the Amazon version of The Tick. The same sort of setup, but with a far darker feel of course.

I loved the main character, Hughie, played by Jack Quaid. He’s capable without seeming like he falls into stupid luck. He’s endearing, without being sappy. He makes some decisions I’m not comfortable, especially when he starts to fall for a superhero named Starlight. But he is, overall a good person trying to remain good during a bad time.

Billy Butcher is the poster child for an anti-hero. He’s angry, bitter, hurting. He does not give a damn about the well being of anyone, literally anyone. He will do whatever it takes to get vengeance on Homelander for what he did to Billy’s wife.

While Billy and Hughie are trying to take down the superheroes, a bright young woman named Starlight joins the superheroes. She’s wanted this her whole life. But, of course, she soon finds out that the company wants to use her for her appearance. Her heroes are molesters, drug addicts and cynical. Kind of a snoozefest. It’s an old story.

What’s a less than old story is Starlight struggling with her faith, as she sees more of the world and realized that the morals she was brought up with aren’t necessarily the ones she finds value in now. That was nice to see.

The most surprising thing about The Boys was the way characters developed. There was at least one character that I despised and wanted to die in a fire. By the end of the season, I felt so bad for them! It was a remarkable character development.

Overall, I’d say that The Boys is worth a watch. 

Have you seen The Boys? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below.

In Devon’s world, magical work is as common as turning a pot or fletching an arrow. What isn’t common is a man with thread magic. When Devon finds that he is a seer, weaving prophetic tapestries, his family tries to keep it a secret.
But the family can’t hide Devon’s visions after he predicts a devastating plague in the dragon lands of Coveline. He travels there to help the dragon queen save her people.
Meanwhile, Devon’s sister Lenore joins the Church of Singular Light. As Lenore learns to serve, and falls in love with her city, she discovers a dark underbelly to the church.
Lenore fights for her city, and Devon rushes to find a cure to the plague, while an unseen enemy raises an army to destroy Septa from within.

Download your copy today

Spoiler alert! If you haven’t seen Stranger Things Season 3, click away now because I’m going to ruin it for you. You’ve been warned, don’t yell at me in the comments.

I’m late to this party, but it seems like it’s still raging so whatever.

After rebelling against it for years, because I’m secretly a hipster and despise anything too popular, I finally sat down and watched all three seasons of Stranger Things. And I mean, I watched all three seasons in four days. Now, I’ve had this curse for years, that I’m usually able to predict most plot twists and endings long before they happen. I have been repeatedly punched while watching movies with friends for guessing the ending before the movie starts. I think it’s because I spend so much time reading and writing, nothing surprises me anymore.

Maybe I’m just magic. 

At any rate, having marathoned all three seasons, I’m ready to give my predictions for the next season. 

Prediction One, Will is going to snap crackle and pop.

Poor Will has been through a lot. He’s been trapped in the upside-down, coughed up a baby monster and had two of his best friends abandon him for girls.

Worse, his mom and brother have been being super overprotective. I don’t blame them if it was my kid he’d never be out of my sight again. But he’s going to crack right down the middle and do something cataclysmically stupid.

Prediction Two: El’s going to need her siblings to get her powers back.

I’d guess it’ll probably be Kali/Eight. But it might also be someone else. It would be a fun way to throw in a new character or guest star.

Prediction Three: Steve is still not going to get a girlfriend.

Not that he doesn’t really, really want one. That boy wants to be in love. But I think he’s going to figure out that that isn’t what he wants.

Prediction Four- El’s father is still alive. I am sure that he’s alive, and he’s probably still torturing little kids. I’m almost sure that she won’t be able to kill him, either. Not that she’s not capable. But that she emotionally can’t.

But Eight can.

Prediction Five- Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I don’t think it is. I don’t think for one second that Hopper is dead. I think he’s the American that was alluded to in the stinger at the end of the last episode.

Again, maybe I just really want this to be true. but I’m okay with that, I still think I’m right.

When Season 4 comes out I’ll revisit this list and see how many predictions came true. In the meantime, what predictions do you have for Season 4? Let us know in the comments below.

It’s Banned Books Week. I remember when this used to be a whole month, do you remember that? Maybe it’s just me. Anyway, I love Banned Books Week. Why? Because I hate banning books. Here’s the thing. No one who tries to ban a book has your best interest at heart. The only reason to ban a book is to limit the reach of information and stifle education. Basically, if you want to ban a book, I think you’re a dick.

Some of the best books ever written have been banned for some of the most ridiculous reasons. Some of my favorite books. So today, I wanted to share with you my favorite books that landed on the banned book list. And I want to hear from you! What’s your favorite banned book? Let us know in the comments below!

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

So, when I start a list off of favorite books and Harry Potter is at the bottom, I hope that tells you something about what I think of the other books. The excuse given for banning Harry Potter is always that it involves witchcraft. But lots of books have witches, and no one ever puts up a fuss. In my opinion, the real sin is getting kids to read. A kid who reads is a kid who thinks. And some people just can’t have that.

Bone by Jeff Smith

Bone is one of the most creative, beautifully drawn, entertaining comic books I’ve ever read. If you haven’t read it, take some time to sit down and enjoy it this week. It’s a wild ride that starts with getting lost in the woods and ends with a queen retaking her throne. 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Look, I’m not one to like a classic for classic’s sake. But this book was damned entertaining. It dealt with some hard topics and emotions. And while I would say this one is a little more appropriate for teenagers than little kids, I’ll accept a not yet instead of a no.

Maus by Art Spiegelman

This one straight up upset me. I read this comic without fully realizing what it was going to entail. I was expecting a version of the Holocaust story for children and teens. Seeing as how it’s, you know, a comic book. But no, this is totally for adults. And it made me sob. And we need to never forget what happened there. Especially since, you know, Nazis are making a comeback. Do you remember when calling someone a nazi was the worst thing you could call someone online? I miss that.

Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz

Has anyone seen this movie yet? I haven’t gotten a chance to, but I am so excited. And no, I don’t think there’s a child this book is bad for. It’s creepy, sure, but that’s kind of the point. Now the artwork, man the artwork made these books!

A Light In The Attic by Shel Silverstein

There’s a light on in the attic, and it’s me still reading this book as an adult. These poems were so funny, so sweet, so creative, so universally adored. I would consider any childhood that doesn’t include these books to be a poorer one. 

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Okay, I know how this book ends. I know because I’ve read this book several times. And yes, it made me cry every single time. But here’s the thing. Kids die, and that’s about the worst thing I can imagine. But with the number of school shootings always on the rise, not to mention the hundreds of other little and large demons waiting to snatch away a child’s life, kids sometimes have to deal with the fact that their friend isn’t coming back to school, can’t come out and play, and is now gone forever. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a book or two that talked about how heart-wrenching that is? How it feels like the pain will never stop, never get any better? And then, how loss doesn’t get lighter, but we get stronger and more able to carry it? Wouldn’t it be nice if a book like that was readily available?!

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Funny story, I read this book first because it was a banned book. I fell in love with it right away. The story is rich, deep. In some ways, it’s way out of my realm of understanding and experience. In other ways, it was as though she’d taken a part of my life and lived it herself. Or, as she’s older than me, it was as though I’d taken part of her life, and lived it again without realizing who I’d taken it from. Everyone and I mean everyone should read this book. It should be in every library, every home, every school, every store. It should come free with existence and be required reading to be part of the human race.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Probably one of the best book written of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird talks about the struggles of a time most of us never lived through. That some of us would like to forget ever happened at all. As a little girl, I saw myself as Scout. I guess maybe I still do. I’m aspiring to be like Atticus, standing up for what’s right and just no matter the hell I’ve got to walk through to do it. It’s a wonderful book, and one who’s messages and morals still echo today. I cannot imagine the soul who doesn’t think everyone should read this book. (Personal note, I might be biased. I love this book so much that I named my cat Harper, after the author. I wept when Mrs. Lee died, broke down into tears right at my day job.)

The Giver by Lois Lowry

I wrote a blog post recently about how I’ve literally read The Giver 20 times since I’ve read it on my birthday every year since I was thirteen. So I don’t think I need to tell you how significant I find this book, its lesson, and its continued need in our society. Because damned if I can’t see the seeds of this sort of life starting. I can see how people, scared and hungry, would give up their rights, their freedom of choice, their life, just to live. But that sort of life, without choice, without meaning, without love, it’s not any kind of life at all.

It’s just all the sad little bits of existence that we have to do to support the wild dreamy sweet and scary things that are really, truly, living. And that’s what that book taught me. That’s why I am who I am. And that’s why that book needs to be in the hands of everybody.

Point blank, it’s never a bad investment of money to buy a book. It’s never a bad investment of time to read a book.

It is always a bad, horrible, cruel, ignorant idea to ban a book.

We’re all aware I’m a liberal, right? Like a total left-wing liberal, worried about global warming, not a fan of guns, big fan of gays and women’s right to chose, follow AOC and Rashida Talib on social media voting for Bernie Sanders liberal. We know that, right?

Cool, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let me tell you what I thought of Showtime’s The Loudest Voice.

It’s a mini-series based on the book The Loudest Voice in the Room, by Gabriel Sherman. I haven’t read the book yet, but it’s on my list. But I did watch every episode of this mini-series.

It was difficult to watch, to put it mildly. I mean, first off it’s just hard to see Russell Crow looking that, well, disgusting. Here’s a picture of Crow looking like a hottie to make us all feel better.

But it was also difficult to watch because if even a tenth of this is true, then Roger Ailes was a monster who took advantage of and destroyed everyone he came in contact with.

Now, full disclosure, I don’t know and cannot confirm how much of this is true. That’s not my intention here. Just based on the way everything shook out there’s no way to know if any of the things discussed were true or not. I understood that going in. I advise you to keep it in mind as well.

I don’t know how much of it was true, but I know how much made my skin crawl. All of it. The answer is all of it. Every time Ailes rubbed his creepy hands on any woman, I just want to squirm. 

For those of you who don’t know, Roger Ailes was known for being more than handsy with his female employees. He’s known for expecting sexual favors from women for positions. He’s also known for being a completely crazy person who expected blind loyalty from everyone and would go into a blind rage if not obeyed.

Frequently when I watch one of these docudramas, I find some humanizing, compelling feature to the subject. There was none of that with Ailes. If anything, I hate him more. He was not a good husband, a good father or a good boss. He certainly wasn’t a good friend or neighbor. He seemed to exist only to do exactly as he pleased.

I have to say, I’m a bit of a news junkie. I don’t consume as much as some people, but probably more than most. And I’d never heard most of these stories. Like buying the newspaper in his town because he didn’t like the news they were putting out. 

After watching The Loudest Voice, I think I hate Fox News even more than I did before. I also dearly want to read the book.  If you watch The Loudest Voice, may I advise having something cute and cuddly to watch after? I’ve been watching Secret Life of the Zoo for like a week now, just as an emotional cleanse. Some things can only be cured by cheetah cubs. 

Have you seen The Loudest Voice? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below.

Station Central has been touted as the vacation destination in the stars. Its success and popularity as not only a great place to vacation, but a great place to live was the start of mankind moving off of Earth and into the stars.
Sennett, Godfrey and Liam head there in search of a much-needed vacation. Instead, they find a council at war with each other, a population starving and an accused murderer lurking in the shadows. Sennett and Godfrey fight to keep April safe as family secrets threaten to destroy them, even as the Hollow Suits come out of hiding and attack. Will they survive the fourth installment of Station 86?

Get it now on Amazon!

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking recently, about where I am in life and, more importantly, where I want to be. I’ve taken a good hard look at my goals and I’ve realized that some things need to change. 

I also realized that it’s been years since I’ve done any sort of update or improvement to this here site. 

Since 2014, a lot has changed in blogging. Sadly, many bloggers that I used to love are no longer writing. People who used to be a weekly inspiration, who’s blogs posts I waited for and checked for and stopped everything else to devour just aren’t writing anymore. I stumble upon blogs on Pinterest that I would love to read, but haven’t updated in years.

In one hand, that sucks for me and the other loyal fans of those blogs. We were reading, we were taking our time to come to the site or pull up the posts because we got something out of them. 

On the other hand, some of the people who left the blogging world did so for completely understandable and valid reasons. One, Lisa Jacobs, left because she wanted to get a more traditional job so she could focus on her family more. Some leave because they want to devote more time to their other work, or because they’re not getting the same thing out of blogging that they used to. 

Some people find that they simply no longer have anything to say about a topic. Many bloggers have switched to podcasts or vlogging. Some bloggers should have stopped writing, or at least changed subjects a while ago because at this point they’re on repeat. Not naming any names here. They know who they are.

Before we go any further, I’m not closing down Paper Beats World. I like it here and I still feel like I’ve got plenty, plenty, to say. I’ve been on this earth for thirty-three years and I don’t think I’ve ever run out of things to say. But I might be out of things to say about writing. 

I also want to commit more time to work on fiction writing. I have some big, shiny, scary goals that I want to reach in the next ten years, and I need to take a look at my habits and make some changes.

So, with all this being said, I’m announcing today that Paper Beats World will be going through some changes. The new and (hopefully) improved PBW will launch on October 4th. It’ll have a whole new look, and hopefully a slightly new feel. 

Here’s what you can expect from me, starting then.

1. We’re going down to one blog post a week, on Fridays. 

2. Those blog posts are going to deal with topics concerning speculative fiction, fun things that are happening in my life and sometimes world and political events. I’ll be as respectful as possible.  3. I’m going to have the time to work more with the PBW Update. It will start going out again as of Monday. If you’re not signed up yet, here’s a link.

4. The site will have a whole new look, whole new color scheme, and just be all new and spiffy. 

I’m a big believer that if we stay still, we get stagnate. I’m not down for that. I’m very excited about these changes, and I hope you are too.

One thing that’s not going to change is that I always want to know what you think. If you have anything you want to see here, please let me know. Honestly, if you have any suggestions or questions at all, let me know in the comments below.

Station Central has been touted as the vacation destination in the stars. Its success and popularity as not only a great place to vacation, but a great place to live was the start of mankind moving off of Earth and into the stars.
Sennett, Godfrey and Liam head there in search of a much-needed vacation. Instead, they find a council at war with each other, a population starving and an accused murderer lurking in the shadows. Sennett and Godfrey fight to keep April safe as family secrets threaten to destroy them, even as the Hollow Suits come out of hiding and attack. Will they survive the fourth installment of Station 86?

Download Station Central today.

It had been a beautiful school once when Taylor had gone there. He stood in what used to be the playground, kicking rocks. The building was still beautiful, an architectural marvel. He wondered what ghosts awaited. And if he could exorcise them.

The previous headmaster hadn’t been able, or perhaps willing to tell Taylor why the school had closed down. Perhaps it was simply a staffing issue. No one seemed to work there, except Taylor himself. He was having a hell of a time finding teachers.

Taylor made his way inside, awash with memories. The time he’d spent there. This had been his home as a child, more than his parents home.

It was cold, inside, colder than he would expect on a warm day. He pulled his jacket closed.

Taylor’s footsteps echoed in the empty building. He had never had the place to himself before. It was odd.

Perhaps that was why he thought he heard another set of footsteps behind him. He turned but saw nothing of course. But there was a sound.

The sound was coming from the end of the hall where there was a set of doors that led to the maintenance area. Taylor sighed. There was probably some animal trapped in there. This lovely building’s neglect was criminal. He headed for the door.

Taylor opened the door to the maintenance area, trying to be as loud as possible. He hoped that the animal camping in there would decide to leave simply because the place was now occupied. But the sound, which now was clearly scratching, continued.

Angry, Taylor headed further into the maintenance area. This was too much. He hadn’t been just how run down the place was. Now he’d have to hire an exterminator and how much would that cost? The scratching continued. Bold creature, whatever it was.

Whatever it was living in there was large. It was making a good deal of noise now that Taylor was focusing his attention. He was a patient man, but he felt his temper rising. Why had this beautiful building been left to fall apart like this?

Taylor stormed forward. He stepped in something sticky that caught his foot. He tried to pull free to no avail. As he struggled, the sounds came closer. It was moving faster. Taylor looked around. He saw claws, teeth, and glowing red, hungry eyes.

Soon Taylor was gone. The creature left not even a drop of blood on the cement to tell where he’d been. Satisfied, it slunk out into the hall of it’s hunting grounds. There would be other meals. After all, it was such a beautiful building.

Station Central has been touted as the vacation destination in the stars. Its success and popularity as not only a great place to vacation, but a great place to live was the start of mankind moving off of Earth and into the stars.
Sennett, Godfrey and Liam head there in search of a much-needed vacation. Instead, they find a council at war with each other, a population starving and an accused murderer lurking in the shadows. Sennett and Godfrey fight to keep April safe as family secrets threaten to destroy them, even as the Hollow Suits come out of hiding and attack. Will they survive the fourth installment of Station 86?

Download Station Central now!

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but in case you missed it, I’ll talk about it again. V for Vendetta is the best comic book of all time. And if you get your hands on the paperback collection, you’ll be treated to a great story from the author, Alan Moore.

He found himself sitting in a pub one day, which seems like a pretty nice way to spend the day. He was watching the news while he enjoyed a meal and a few pints. When the pub owner’s wife came in near supper time, she turned the tv to some game show or another. According to Moore, she apologized and explained that she didn’t like the news, it was too depressing.

Yeah, she hadn’t seen anything yet. This was back in the eighties. 

Man, I feel her. It hurts so damn much to be aware of what’s going on right now. At least once a day, I’m consumed by rage over something I’ve seen on the news. 

It freaking hurts to know how many people are hurting. Those people at the border in concentration camps break my heart every single day. Children ripped away from their parents, innocent people who are seeking asylum (which is totally legal by the way) are being housed in the most inhumane way as possible on purpose. It hurts to know that women are losing our rights to decide what happens to our bodies. 

And let’s be real, the news is also scary as hell. I am worried, daily, about a long list of things that I can’t do anything about! I’m worried about the bees. I’m worried about housing costs, and how stupidly expensive it is to even live. I’m worried about what we’re doing to our planet, and if we’re going to be able to keep it habitable. I’m worried about the polar bears, the tigers, the lions. All of the endangered animals. I’m worried about the fire ants infesting America. (Why are polar bears endangered and these damned little fire ants are flourishing. How is that fair?) I’m worried about getting shot at a garlic festival because apparently, that’s a thing that could happen to anybody. I’m a little worried someone might find me for my anti-church and pro-gay opinions, and try to shoot me. I’m worried about a whole slew of other things, too, but there’s only so much room. And you’re probably worried about all the same shit anyway, so it’s not like I’m telling you anything you don’t already know.

It hurts, it hurts so damn much, to be aware. And there are days when I just want to put my head down and keep my eyes on my own work.

But that’s how things got so bad in the first place. Because too many of us are doing just that. We’re not taking action, because we’re not aware, because it hurts too bad. 

Look, I get it. But there are things you can do that will help you stay aware, but not break your heart. One thing I do is to have one day a week, Sunday, where I don’t read or seek out the news. I stay off social media altogether on Sundays. I don’t check my email, either. Those who follow me on social media will note that I don’t post anything, even though I use an automatic poster and could easily schedule posts and not have to look at social media to do it. But still, I don’t. That day is kept sacred. That day I permit myself to look away.

I also try to focus on what I can do, rather than what I can’t. I can call and write my elected officials. I can put political pressure on them. I can send money to candidates that are supporting the changes we need to make. I can share things on social media that help other people be more aware, too. Kind of like what I’m doing right now. 

If we focus on what we can’t do, it’s easy to sink into depression. But there’s always something we can do. We can always use our voice. But we can’t do that if we don’t know what’s going on. 

And as Alan Moore says, don’t turn off the news. Even when it hurts.

A few months back I did a post about the podcasts and blogs I’ve been reading. I like to update that from time to time because they change. I give up on some podcasts, start listening to new ones. Blogs that I live switch to Newsletter only, and I find new ones. Or not. Honestly, a lot of blogs I love just aren’t around anymore. This saddens me. I feel like blogging had a big surge, and now is sort of going downhill. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been here for five years, and you’ll pry this blog from my cold dead hands.

Anyway, since I’ve been listening to so many podcasts, I wanted to introduce you all to three fictional podcasts I’ve been devouring recently. They’re all spooky and mysterious, and absolutely life absorbing. If you haven’t listened to these yet, you’ve got to take some time.

Limetown

I’m warning you now that the third season isn’t out yet, and we’re all waiting patiently for it. There’s also a show coming out on Facebook of all places.

At any rate, the story is about the mysterious Limetown, a company town where something terrible happened. In one night almost all of the inhabitants vanished. I say almost because the remains of one man were found. He’d been burned at the stake in the middle of town. The story is told in a found-footage style, guided by a young journalist named Lia Haddock. As she digs further and further into the story, she finds that she’s more connected to Limetown than she thought.

After you listen to the first two seasons and hate me for introducing this to you, you can read the prequel book while you wait for season three like the rest of us. 

The Black Tapes

Straight up, I’m only sharing this one because I’ve heard rumors of another season. It’s sorely needed. 

The Black Tapes is about a paranormal investigator that considers it his mission in life to prove that the paranormal isn’t real. It starts as a one-episode interview of Richard Strand and his black tapes, paranormal experiences that he hasn’t yet been able to explain with science. He’s being interviewed by a journalist named Alex. Her one episode about Strand quickly turns into an obsession with his black tapes. And the realization that there’s something that wants her to keep right on digging. What she finds is a demonic conspiracy that involves her.

As I said, the ending as it stands right now is terrible. But there is much hope that they’re going to make another episode. So, fingers crossed.

Tanis

From the same group, and including some of the same characters as The Black Tapes, Tanis is less demons and ghosts, and more an adventure story about finding a lost city that manifests at random places all over the world. Information is found in random radio frequencies, and it all goes back thousands of years. There’s a cabin that’s bigger on the inside but is far from benevolent. I haven’t finished this one yet, but I’m eager to do so.

Seeking Tanis, Runner wanted.

Have you listened to any of these podcasts? Are there other awesome scary podcasts I should check out? Let me know in the comments. 

Station Central has been touted as the vacation destination in the stars. Its success and popularity as not only a great place to vacation, but a great place to live was the start of mankind moving off of Earth and into the stars.
Sennett, Godfrey and Liam head there in search of a much-needed vacation. Instead, they find a council at war with each other, a population starving and an accused murderer lurking in the shadows. Sennett and Godfrey fight to keep April safe as family secrets threaten to destroy them, even as the Hollow Suits come out of hiding and attack. Will they survive the fourth installment of Station 86?

Available now on Amazon