This weekend was pretty busy. My grandmother turned 88 last week, and I was recruited to throw a bunch of ribs on the smoker for Saturday's party. Since smoking meat is usually an hours long process, I took the time to bring a whole stack of Fantastic Four trades down to my kitchen table.

The trades span several key eras, and I was supposed to be reading a small sample of each. Instead, I was captured by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo's run and never came up for air. While the Sci-Fi bend of FF comics usually makes them harder for me to stick with, I REALLY love the family dynamic here. Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm's friendship plays more like sibling rivalry. Reed Richards would be Dr. Manhattan if he didn't have Sue and the kids to bring him down to earth once in a while. Speaking of Sue, she really carries the burden of leader well, and has the respect of the whole team, unlike her early portrayals.

Speaking of early portrayals, I also FINALLY read Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's classic Galactus Trilogy from Fantastic Four issues 48-50. While the dialogue, on par for the era, was a bit of a slog to get through; I was surprised at just how much of the bones of modern FF were there so close to the beginning. Alicia Masters plays a prominent role as we're introduced to the Silver Surfer. Johnny Storm gets taken on a cosmic journey to beat Galactus, and it's teased his character is changed forever as a result of what he sees. It made me want to read more, but I know that's a long game I don't have time for right now.

Fun Fact: The Galactus Trilogy is immediately followed by "This Man, This Monster" -- often lauded as the greatest single issue in FF history. Right after that? The first appearance of T'Challa, the Black Panther. Stan and Jack were COOKING in this run.

While these didn't get me as hyped for Fantastic Four: First Steps as I was for Superman based on the comics that inspired them, I think it has potential to be a solid flick. If not, we can always return to the comics.

So Long, Hot Dog

One of my favorite channels to watch on YouTube is The Comics Pals. Their flagship show sees its panel of hosts, Sean, Marco, Tyler and Cale take on a myriad of could-be controversial topics. Is Marvel better than DC? Is DC ruining Superman? Is Diamond trying to kill the Direct Market on its way out of business? I can't tell you how many Saturdays I've spent glued to their livestreams when I should have been reading, cleaning or making videos of my own. A few weeks back, Cale announced his departure from the show. After 8 years of grinding it out, he wanted to focus on his physical health and free up some time for other creative pursuits. I'm gonna miss his voice on the show, and now I'll have to be more active in their Discord server to see what he's up to.

If you're coming to GalaxyCon Raleigh this weekend, I'd love to see you! I'm hosting a panel with my good friend Dan, owner of Fight or Flight Comics! The panel is all about helping comic newcomers find their first read. The only catch? We can't use any Marvel or DC superheroes. Maybe you liked Invincible on Amazon Prime, or you just streamed Sinners on HBO Max. If you loved those, you're gonna love the comics we recommend. Come to panel room 301A on Friday at 2:45pm to see the presentation!

And Finally, Patreon

Being a content creator isn't an easy job. It's time consuming, strenuous, and can get really expensive when you count hosting fees, equipment and all the software tools that bring it together. To offset, most creators film exclusive content to put behind paywalls for their most loyal (read: highest paying) fans. I'm not much for paywalls, because I don't have the bandwidth to make 'extra' content, and I never want to slight anyone by putting their materials in front of a limited audience. The best I can do is turn on channel memberships and use them as a virtual tip jar.

But lately, social algorithms are forcing my hand. Interview videos seem to underperform, then make it tougher for the next video to get a fair shot. Even my subscribers don't see them. Facebook doesn't show your posts unless you pay them. Ideas I'm the most passionate about get lost in a sea of rage bait and reaction videos. Then there's Threads. Twitter. BlueSky. Lately, trying to talk to my audience feels like a massive game of whack-a-mole.

So I'm starting a Patreon. While the Facebook and Discord groups will always be the best way to connect with the community (I'm active in both), Patreon will be the best way to stay connected to me. I'll be posting polls, sneak peeks at things I'm working on, and full interview videos from the Podcast. Membership is Free, but subscribers of the $5 paid tier will join our YouTube Members in getting weekly shoutouts, and first dibs at any giveaway prizes I have to offer.

Also, thanks to a pretty snazzy integration, new Patreon members automatically get this newsletter in their inbox. Just another reason to join the party. I hope to see you there!

Read Something Dope Today,

BJ KICKS