Yeah, apparently NC is in the direct path of Hurricane Debby. I have to admit, that's a fun name for a storm. It could be a rapper's stage name. Anyways...

It's been an interesting week. My oldest daughter started High School yesterday, and the new carpool routine has thrown me off completely. I'm up an hour earlier, and have lost about an hour of my afternoons. I'm probably a bit sleep deprived, because I'm struggling to even organize my thoughts for this e-mail.

Two weeks ago, I went to GalaxyCon Raleigh and met my favorite living comic writer, Christopher Priest. Of course, we've spoken before. But being able to sit at his table and discuss everything from Tech YouTuber salaries to shady record deals is a bucket list experience I'm still coming down from. In my honest opinion, the con was a bit overpriced. But I'd pay double to relive that afternoon.

Let's Review a Comic

Yes, I'm still working my way through the Marvel stack. This weekend, I read Spider-Man: Reign by Kaare Andrews and Jose Villarubia. The 4 issue series came out in 2006, but there's a sequel coming out in single issues right now. Perfect time to get caught up, wouldn't you say?

At this point, there's no shortage of stories in the vein of The Dark Knight Returns, the classic Batman story by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. TMNT: The Last Ronin and Avengers: Twilight both come to mind as recent examples (more on that second one next week). But Spider-Man: Reign is clearly meant as an homage to that series, down to the issue count, the use of news reporters for exposition, and the names of those reporters.

The elderly Peter Parker has been out of the game for quite some time due to a traumatic event I don't want to spoil. (Jokes on me, because that spoiler is probably the ONE THING you already know about this book). New York City has outlawed all masked activity, and has secured safety at the cost of individual freedoms. When the mayor rolls out plans for The Webb, an invisible fence that will dome off Manhattan forever, Peter gets called into action one last time. Can he get over his grief and save the city he loves?

What I love about this book is the emotional struggle at the center of it. In TDKR, Bruce Wayne wants to quit because he's old, and that makes sense. But Spider-Man is a superhuman. Getting old wouldn't stop him in the same way. Though it's become a bit of a punchline over the years, having Peter lose the people he loves most simply by existing makes for a great story setup. And the way it unfolds over the 4 issues, with incredible stylized art from Andrews, is -- dare I say it -- amazing.

In my opinion, this is great as a standalone tale, and doesn't need revisiting. But that doesn't mean I'm not curious about Spider-Man: Reign 2. Issue #1 is available now wherever comics are sold, and issue 2 comes out tomorrow. If you're reading it, let me know what you think!

On The Podcast

Last week, I resurrected The Hangout to bring back friend-of-the-channel Geoffrey Thorne. His debut issue of X-Force dropped last Wednesday, and let's just say it more than earned its place on the Pull List. In our conversation, he talks about his favorite mutants, his love of deep comic lore, giving John Stewart a happy ending, and how continuity shouldn't get in the way of the fun train. Check out the interview if you haven't already, then race to your LCS and pick up X-Force #1.

As I type this, I'm preparing to interview DJ Ben Ha Meen about his graphic novel debut, Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze. I JUST finished reading my review copy, and it's a high recommend, especially for Hendrix fans. Look for that interview in about 2 weeks.

Random Thoughts

Today's e-mail is going to end with a point of gratitude. Comics Are Dope is not a profitable venture. In fact, I'm lucky if I pay for my monthly supply of comics with my YouTube revenue. But on a weekly (if not daily) basis, I find myself asking how this is the life I get to live. Gail Simone tweeted out my video today and told me I'm 'always awesome'. Denys Cowan once shouted me out in an interview. I've had behind-the-scenes conversations I'm not allowed to share, but that I can't believe I participated in. I went to a convention to meet comic pros and it felt like I was catching up with old friends. All because of you and this awesome community. From the bottom of my heart, I'm grateful to you for your support of my silly hobby, and my constant need to share it with others.