The BEST Part About Comics
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Sunday, November 9th marked our 5th channel anniversary. 5 years of me talking to a camera about comic books. Telling everyone which books I'm buying and why I love them. Interviewing creators to get more insight into their works. Building a community of over 20,000 comic book lovers to celebrate all the best aspects of the hobby. But the best part of this hobby isn't the books at all. It's all the people who love them. Meet Onyx This is Onyx. I met his dad, a local rap artist, back when I was still managing Hip Hop acts in 2016. I remember Onyx's birth because his dad was SUPER excited to be a father, when most people I know at that age are just nervous. He posted about how he was going harder with his music because he really wanted to support his son with it, and I sent him some cash for diapers as a gift. Idk why it sticks out in my brain so much. Last year, just before his 4th birthday, Onyx was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. Recently, the doctors found 2 more tumors on his brain and started a new round of radiation treatments. His family has been told to prepare for the worst. In response, his father put out a call to the community to help provide cool experiences for him. Onyx has been the guest of honor at a UNC Mens Basketball game (courtesy of NCCU Coach Levelle Moton), sat courtside for the Hornets vs Knicks game, and has received an outpouring of love from our local community. Then came the comics. I asked a few publishing friends if they'd be willing to send Onyx books to read with his dad. I'm really grateful for Gregg at IDW and David at Marvel for answering the call. But then Marvel overdelivered. They commissioned a piece of original art -- a Miles Morales/Onyx team up and sent it to him! I shouldn't be surprised by the kindness of the comics community, as I've been on the receiving end several times. But every day, something happens that makes me even more proud to be a part of it. This was one of those things. Being honest, sometimes showing up is really hard. Especially on camera. Real life happens outside of my studio, and can impact how I show up in it. What keeps me on YouTube isn't free books (I'm out of shelf space) or money (there isn't much). It's people like you. Thank you for being you. If you'd like to support Onyx, I'll link to his GoFundMe below.
It's Finally Done To follow up last month's Ultimate Universe Deep Dive, I promised a detailed ranking of all the Digital Comics subscription services. I started this evaluation back in late June, and I'm pleased to say each service made serious improvements during the testing period. But there can only be one winner, and it's probably not who you expect. Click the thumbnail to check it out. At Year's End I'm usually not one for Year End lists. I feel like I don't read enough variety to crown the best stories of a given year. But my friends Sean of The Comics Pals and David Harper of Off Panel have both offered the same encouragement -- Don't crown the best. Crown your favorites! So all December long, I'll be running down Kicks' Favorite Things on the channel. My favorite ongoing series, mini series, Indie comics submissions from the PO Box, Action Figures and more! Keep an eye on your YouTube subscription box to see them all, as there will be lots of hidden gems I haven't covered on the channel yet. Parting Gifts A few parting gifts with this message. It's Cyber Monday, and my friends at Panel Bound Comics are having a sale of 50% off lots of collected editions! A great time to stock up, or grab something to put under the tree for the comic lover in your life. If you're in the Raleigh area, visit Fight or Flight Comics inside Triangle Town Center! Until Sunday, 12/7, you can browse a huge selection of comics for $1 each, or your can fill a short box full of Dollar Comics for just $100! Lastly, the Comics Are Dope web shop is closing. I've been managing influx of Spam orders since the Equipment Fundraiser sale started, and it's become too much to keep up with. Moving forward, I'll open the shop for special occasions, perhaps a week or two at a time with capsule collections. Use coupon code LASTDAY to get 15% off books and art pieces left over from the Fundraiser. Sorry, Print on Demand merch items are excluded. Read Something Dope Today, BJ KICKS |
Comics Are Dope
Celebrating everything Dope about comics. Curated by BJ KICKS.
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