Keeping Track 2026

 Graphic Novels / Collections

 JANUARY 2026

- All Princesses Die Before Dawn (2024) by Quentin Zuttion LGBTQ

- Silver: Unearthed (2025) by Michael Carroll and Joe Currie

- Gaysians (2025) by Mike Curato LGBTQ

FEBRUARY 2026

- Rare Flavours (2025) by Ram V and Filipe Andrade 

JUNE 2026

- Our Dreams At Dusk Vol. 1 (2019) by Yuhki Kamatani LGBTQ 

- Our Dreams At Dusk Vol. 2 (2019) by Yuhki Kamatani LGBTQ 

- Our Dreams At Dusk Vol. 3 (2019) by Yuhki Kamatani LGBTQ 

- Our Dreams At Dusk Vol. 4 (2019) by Yuhki Kamatani LGBTQ 

- Monsters In Love: A Pride Anthology (2026) by Jacoby Salcedo, Lee Knox Ostertag, Jadzia Axelrod, James Tynion IV, Josh Trujillo, Tate Brombal, Vita Ayala, Lilah Sturges, Zoe Tunnell, Miquel Muerto, Isaac Goodhart, Noah Dao, Bailie Rosenlund, Claudia Aguirre, Ed Luce, Vash Taylor and Tench LGBTQ

- Dogs On Dates (2026) by Luke Healy (2026) LGBTQ

- The Impending Blindness of Bille Scott (2020) by Zoe Thorogood LGBTQ

Books

JANUARY 2026

- Why Dylan Matters (2017) by Richard F. Thomas (AUDIO - read by Nick Landrum)

- Cities of the Red Night (1981) by William S. Boroughs (AUDIO - read by Ray Porter) LGBTQ

- The John Nathan-Turner Memoirs Volume 01-02 (2000) by John Nathan-Turner (AUDIO - read by John Nathan Turner LGBTQ

- In The Lives Of Puppets (2023) by TJ Klune (AUDIO - read by Daniel Henning) LGBTQ

- The Adventures Of Pinnochio (1883) by Carlos Coliodi (AUDIO - read by Frank Phillips) 

- The Little Mermaid (1837) by Hans Christian Anderson (AUDIO - read by George Irving)

- A Horse and His Boy (1954) by C.S. Lewis (AUDIO - read by Alex Jennings) 

FEBRUARY 2026

- The Folding Star (1994) by Alan Hollinghurst (AUDIO - read by Samuel West LGBTQ

- A Sword of Bronze and Ashes (2023) by Anna Smith Spark LGBTQ

- A Rogue's Tale: A Memoir (2024) by Lenore Zann (AUDIO - read by Lenore Zann)

- The Last Real World Champion: The Legacy of 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair (2023) by Tim Hornbaker (AUDIO - read by Joe Hempel) 

- The Coral Bones (2023) by E.J. Swift (AUDIO - read by Anna Burnett, Brigid Lohrey and Kate Winter)

- The Secret History of Wonder Woman (2014) by Jill Lepore (AUDIO - read by Jill Lepore) 

MARCH 2026

- The Demolished Man (1953) by Alfred Bester (AUDIO - read by Gerard Doyle)

- Comic Book Punks: How a Generation of Brits Reinvented Pop Culture (2023) by Karl Stock (AUDIO - read by Liam Gerrard)

- When There Are Wolves Again (2025) by E.J. Swift (AUDIO - read by Olivia Darnley and Rebecca Norfolk)

APRIL 2026

- A Desolation Called Peace (2021) by Arkady Martine (AUDIO - read by Amy Landon) LGBTQ

- Folk Music: A Bob Dylan Biography in Seven Songs (2022) by Grell Marcus (AUDIO - read by Ian Porter)

- All Systems Red (2017) by Martha Wells (AUDIO - read by Kevin R. Free)

- The Lottery (1948) by Shirley Jackson (AUDIO - read by Shirley Jackson)

- We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962) by Shirley Jackson (Abridged AUDIO - read by Bryony Hannah)

- Shards of Earth (2021) by Adrian Tchaikovsky (AUDIO - read by Sophie Aldred) LGBTQ

- This Is How You Lose the Time War (2019) by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (AUDIO - read by Cynthia Farrell and Emily Woo Zeller) LGBTQ

- The Empress of Salt and Fortune (2020) by Nghi Vo (AUDIO - read by Cindy Kay)

MAY 2026

- Tales from Outer Suburbia (2008) by Shaun Tan

- Fruit Fly (2026) by Josh Silver (AUDIO - read by Camilla Rockley and Jack Ayres) LGBTQ

- On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (2019) by Ocean Vuong (AUDIO - read  Ocean Vuong) LGBTQ

- Orbital (2023) by Samantha Harvey (AUDIO - read by Sarah Naudi)

- The Life & Times of Beethoven: The First Angry Man by Robert Greenberg (2019) (AUDIO - read by Robert Greenberg) 

- We Burned So Bright (2026) by TJ Klune (AUDIO - read by Kirt Graves) LGBTQ

- Piranesi (2020) by Susanna Clarke (AUDIO - read by Chiwetel Ejiofor)

- Eyes Of The Void (2022) by Adrian Tchaikovsky (AUDIO - read by Sophie Aldred) LGBTQ

JUNE 2026

- Big Daddy Versus Giant Haystacks (2026) by Steven Bell (AUDIO - read by Steven Bell)

- Greenland: A Novel (2022) by David Santos Donaldson (AUDIO - read by Theo Solomon) LGBTQ

- How Queer Bookshops Changed the World (2026) by A.J. West (AUDIO - read by A.J. West) LGBTQ

- A Song Of Achilles (2011) by Madeline Miller (AUDIO - read by Frazer Douglas) LGBTQ

- The Employees (2018) by Olga Ravn, translated by Martin Aiken (AUDIO - read by Hannah Curtis)

JULY 2026

- Autistically Me: How to Understand and Celebrate our Unique Minds (2026) by Bradley Riches (AUDIO - read by Bradley Riches) LGBTQ

- Emperor of Gladness (2025) by Ocean Vuong (AUDIO - read by James Aaron Oh) LGBTQ

- How The Music Had To Change (2026) by Jim Windolf (AUDIO - read by Gibson Frazier

Films

 JANUARY 2026

- Aniara (2018)

MARCH 2026

- Multiple Maniacs (1970) LGBTQ

APRIL 2026

- Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

MAY 2026

- Pillion (2025) LGBTQ

JUNE 2026

- The Green Knight (2021)

- Masters of the Universe (2026)

JULY 2026

- A Bigger Splash (1973)

- Chris & Don: A Love Story (2007) LGBTQ

- Demon Twink (2025) LGBTQ short film

- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

TV Series

 MARCH 2026

- Heated Rivalries (2025)

- Dorohedoro Season 1 (2020)

MAY 2026

 - Dorohedoro Season 2 (2026)

JULY 2026

- Bob's Burgers Season 1 (2011)

Bibliography

 Comics

- "Specimen" (with art and lettering by Brian Burke), Specimen anthology, The Comics Lab, 2016 (UNCREDITED)

- "#Aengus Og" (with art and lettering by Brian Burke), Turning Roads anthology,  Limit Breaks Comics, 2021

- "Real Boy" (with art and lettering by Anna Fitzpatrick), Irish Comics Dot IE, 2023

- "Strings" (with art by Donna A. Black), Irish Comics Dot IE, 2023

- "Steal Good Inc" (with art and lettering by Jaime Lalor), Irish Comics Dot IE, 2024

- "The Faithful" (with art and lettering by Jaime Lalor), Galactic Comics Dot IE, 2025

Down The Tubes

- Review of Irish Conflict In Comics by James Bacon, 2025

- In Pictures and Review: Comics in focus at The National Library of Ireland, 2025

- Five Jack Kirby DC Comics Characters That Should be on the Big Screen, 2025

- Five Dystopian Future Comic Stories You Should Not Miss, 2025

- Five Weird Comic Book Crossovers That Worked, 2025

- Five Graphic Novels To Give As Presents, 2025

- Five Comics That Should Come Back, 2026

- Five Comic Creators who worked on Doctor Who, 2026

Journey Planet

- "Three Stories", Issue 39 - Judge Dredd, 2018

- "If My Calculations are Correct, the Fairy Tree Did It", Issue 51 - Magical Places, 2020

- "Police-For-Hire: Doctor Who's Judoon", Issue 53 - The Future of Policing, 2020

- "Dark Empire: The Original New Trilogy", Issue 56 - Star Wars and The Mandalorian, 2020

- "Baze and Chirut", Issue 65 - Rogue One, 2022

- "What the War Left Behind", Issue 76 - The American War in Vietnam, 2023

- "Dylan in Watchmen", Issue 77 - Watchmen, 2023

- "Killing Time", Issue 78 - Jack the Ripper in Fiction, 2023

- "The Woman In Room Four", Issue 79 - V for Vendetta, 2024

- "Introduction", Issue 85 - LGBTQ+ Comics, 2024 (also co-editor)

- "Mina and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", Issue 87 - Mina: Dracula's Destroyer, 2024

- "The Doctor and The Tailor: The Friendship of Bashir and Garak", Issue 88 - Friendship!, 2024

- "Chester Beatty Library", Issue 90 - My Favourite Museum, 2025

- "Are the Androids Made of Carbon?", Issue 91 - San Francisco, 2025

- "Andor and America", Issue 93, Andor Season, 2025 

Other

- GCN Magazine contributor (2021 - Present)

Keeping Track 2025

Graphic Novels / Collections

 JANUARY 2025

- Descender Compendium (2024) by Dustin Nguyen and Jeff Lemire

- Ascender Compendium (2024) by Dustin Nguyen and Jeff Lemire

- Bags (Or A Story Thereof) (2019) by Gavin Fullerton and Patrick McHale 

MARCH 2025

- Scarenthood (2020) by Nick Roche

- The Deviant Vol. 1 (2024) by Joshua Nixon and James Tynion IV LGBTQ

APRIL 2025

- Adrian and the Tree of Secrets (2014) by Marie Caillou and Hubert. Translated by David Homel LGBTQ

- In Actuality Issue One (2025) by Paddy Lynch

- Cats of the Louvre (2019) by Taiyo Matsumoto

- Thundercats Vol 2: Roar (2025) by Drew Moss, Joe Mulvey and Declan Shalvey

- Bibi (2025) by Pa-Luis LGBTQ

- Kinky Robot (2025) by Jan Blum LGBTQ

- Desolation Jones: The Biohazard Edition (2024) by J.H. Williams III and Warren Ellis

- Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees (2024) by Patrick Horvath

MAY 2025

- Dreadnoughts Vol 2: The March of Progress (2025) by John Higgins and Michael Carroll

- Judge Dredd: A Better World (2025) by Henry Flint, Jake Lynch, Boo Cook, Rob Williams and Arthur Wyatt

JUNE 2025

- Constellations (2023) by Kate Glasheen LGBTQ

- LURE (2021) by Lane Milburn

JULY 2025

- KYLOOE (2025) by Little Thunder. English translation by Montana Kane 

- THE WICKED + THE DIVINE Book One (2016) by Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen

- THE WICKED + THE DIVINE Book Two (2017) by Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen

SEPTEMBER 2025

- w0rldtr33 Vol. 1 (2023) by Fernando Blanco and James Tyrion IV LGBTQ

- The Deviant Vol. 2 (2025) by Joshua Nixon and James Tynion IV LGBTQ

- Exquisite Corpses Vol. 1 (2025) by Marianna Ignazzi, Valentine de Landro, Michael Walsh, Pornsak Pichetshote and James Tynion IV.

NOVEMBER 2025

- Hello Sunshine (2025) by Yeezy Young LGBTQ

- Alice Ever After (2022) by Giorgio Spalletta and Dan Panosian 

- Angelica and the Bear Prince (2025) by Trung Le Nguyen LGBTQ

DECEMBER 2025

- Baby Bear: I Am Glad I Am Homosexual (Mostly) (2025) by Luke Healy LGBTQ

Books

 FEBRUARY 2025

- The Fairy Faith in History, Tradition, and Modern Pagan Practice (2021) by Lora O'Brien

MAY 2025

- Planetfall (2015) by Emma Newman (AUDIO - read by Emma Newman) LGBTQ

JUNE 2025

- After Atlas (2016) by Emma Newman (AUDIO - read by Andrew Kingston) LGBTQ

-The Lathe of Heaven (1971) by Ursula K. Le Guin  (AUDIO - read by Adam Sims)

- Before Mars (2018) by Emma Newman (AUDIO - read by Emma Newman) 

- The Waking Of Willie Ryan (1965) by John Broderick (AUDIO - read by Naoise Dunbar) LGBTQ

JULY 2025

- Atlas Alone (2019) by Emma Newman (AUDIO - read by Emma Newman) LGBTQ

- True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee (2021) by Abraham Josephine Riesman (AUDIO - read by Vikas Adam)

- The Golden Apples Of The Sun (1953) by Ray Bradbury (AUDIO - read by MacLeod Andrews)

- Queer As Folklore (2024) by Sacha Coward (AUDIO - read by Will Watt) LGBTQ

AUGUST 2025

- Before, After, Alone: A Planetfall Universe short story collection (2023) by Emma Newman (AUDIO - read by Emma Newman) LGBTQ

- The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020) by TJ Klune (AUDIO - read by Daniel Henning) LGBTQ

- Somewhere Across The Sea (2024) by TJ Klune (AUDIO - read by Daniel Henning) LGBTQ

- Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948) by Truman Capote (AUDIO - read by Cody Roberts) LGBTQ

SEPTEMBER 2025

- The Philosophy of Modern Song (2022) by Bob Dylan (AUDIO - read by Bob Dylan, Jeff Bridges, Oscar Isaac, Rita Moreno, Jeffrey Wright, Sissy Spacek, John Goodman, Alfre Woodard, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, and Renée Zellweger)

- The Left Hand Of Darkness (1969) by Ursula K. Le Guin (AUDIO - read by George Guidal) LGBTQ

- A Scanner Darkly (1977) by Philip K. Dick (AUDIO - read by Paul Giamatti)

- A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959) by Walter M. Miller Jr (AUDIO - read by Tom Weiner) 

- Death In Venice (1912) by Thomas Mann (AUDIO - read by Peter Noble) LGBTQ

- Box Hill (2020) by Adam Mars-Jones (AUDIO - read by Malcolm Sinclair) LGBTQ

OCTOBER 2025

- The Swimming Pool Library (1988) by Allan Hollinghurst (AUDIO - read by Samuel West) LGBTQ 

- Martian Time-Slip (1964) by Philip K. Dick (AUDIO - read by Edoardo Ballerini 

-  The Ministry for the Future (2020) by Kim Stanley Robinson (AUDIO - read by Jennifer Fitzgerald ,Fajer Al-Kaisi, Ramon de Ocampo, Gary Bennett, Raphael Corkhill, Barrie Kreinik, Natasha Soudek, Nikki Massoud, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Inés del Castillo and Vikas Adam)

NOVEMBER 2025

- A Stitch In Time (2000) by Andrew J. Robinson (AUDIO - read by Andrew J. Robinson)

- Mythago Woods (1984) by Robert Holdstock (AUDIO - read by Rupert Degas)

DECEMBER 2025

- A Memory Called Empire (2019) by Arkady Martine (AUDIO - read by Amy Landon) LGBTQ

- Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon (2025) by Brian R. Solomon (AUDIO - read by Brian R. Solomon)

- Under The Whispering Door (2021) by TJ Klune (AUDIO - read by Kirt Graves) LGBTQ

- The Metamorphosis (1915) by Frank Kafka (AUDIO - read by Ralph Cosham)

- Breakfast At Tiffany's (1958) by Truman Capote (AUDIO- read by Michael C. Hall) LGBTQ

- Childhood's End (1953) by Arthur C. Clarke (AUDIO - read by Greg Waglnad)

Films

 JANUARY 2025

- Unicorns (2024) LGBTQ

- Spoiler Alert (2022) LGBTQ

- Bird (2024)

- Weekend (2011) LGBTQ

- All Of Us Strangers (2023) LGBTQ

- Eraserhead (1977) 

- The Elephant Man (1980)

- Shelter (2007) LGBTQ

- Alien: Romulus (2024)

- Peter Pan (2003)

- Tangerine (2015) LGBTQ

- The Crying Game (1992) LGBTQ

FEBRUARY 2025

- Wonder Boys (2000) LGBTQ

- Pink Moon (2015) LGBTQ short film

-  How to Get from Here to There (2019) LGBTQ

- Supernova (2020) LGBTQ

- Victim (1961) LGBTQ

- Different From the Others (1919) LGBTQ

- Good Boy (2022) short film

- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2011)

MARCH 2025

- Another Country (1984) LGBTQ

- The Answers (2015) short film

- Topless (2023) LGBTQ short film

- The Delusion of Pisces (2023) LGBTQ short film

- Chicken (2001) LGBTQ short film

- A Ferret Called Mickey (2003) LGBTQ short film

- James (2008) LGBTQ short film

- No Strings (2015) LGBTQ short film

- Me First (2015) LGBTQ short film

- Hold On Tight (2011) LGBTQ short film

- Stand Up for Your Friends (2015) LGBTQ short film

- Coming Out Of The West (2014) LGBTQ short film

- I Am (2014) LGBTQ short film

- Novena (2013) LGBTQ short film

- Dream Kitchen (1997) LGBTQ short film

- Specimens (1982) short film

- The Lost Language of Cranes (1992) LGBTQ

- Yossi & Jagger (2002) LGBTQ

- Yossi (2012) LGBTQ

- Dating Amber (2020) LGBTQ

- History of Queer Animation (2022) LGBTQ

- The Lettermen (2022) LGBTQ short film

- Boldly Go (2019) LGBTQ short film

- Cloudburst (2011) LGBTQ

- The Summer With Carmen (2024) LGBTQ

APRIL 2025

- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) LGBTQ

- The Wind Rises (2013)

- Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

MAY 2025

- Sublet (2020) LGBTQ

- Remembering The Man (2015) LGBTQ

- Cabaret (1972) LGBTQ

- William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010) LGBTQ

- Late Night with the Devil (2023)

- Primal Fear (1996)

- We Live In Time (2024)

- Mickey 17 (2025)

- Okja (2017)

- Yellow Door: '90s Lo-fi Film Club (2023)

JUNE 2025

- Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street (2019)

- Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)

- Intermission (2003)

JULY 2025

- The Secret of Kells (2009)

- The Celluloid Closet (1996) LGBTQ

- Christopher and His Kind (2011) LGBTQ

- Superman (2025) Lighthouse

- Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) Lighthouse

AUGUST 2025

- The Happy Prince (2018) LGBTQ

- My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) LGBTQ

- Lost In Starlight (2025)

SEPTEMBER 2025

- My Dad Works the Night Shift (2018) LGBTQ

- Jekyll & Hyde (1931)

- Tales from Earthsea (2006)

- Battle Beyond The Stars (1980)

OCTOBER 2025

- A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 (1985) LGBTQ

- Plainclothes (2025) LGBTQ

- Oranges (2004) LGBTQ short film

- Twinless (2025) LGBTQ

- The Mummy (1999)

NOVEMBER 2025

- Practical Magic (1998)

- Labyrinth (1986)

- The History Of Sound (2025) LGBTQ

- Godzilla Minus One (2023)

- Ghost World (2001)

- How To Tell A Secret (2022) LGBTQ

TV Series

JANUARY 2025

- Doctor Who Season 13 (2021)

- The Silent Sea (2021)

MAY 2025

- Bojack Season One (2014)

- Eternaut (2025)

- Love Death + Robots Season 4 (2025)

- Altered Carbon Season One (2020)

- Andor Season 2 (2025) LGBTQ

- Star Wars: Tales of the Underground (2025)

- Black Mirror Season 7 (2025) LGBTQ episode

- Dark Of The Side Season 7 (2025)

- Doctor Who Season 2 (2025) LGBTQ

JULY 2025

- Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)

- This is the Zodiac Speaking (2024)

- Murderbot (2025) LGBTQ

AUGUST 2025

- Sandman Season Two (2025)

OCTOBER 2025

- Marvel Zombies (2025)

DECEMBER 2025

- Boots (2025) LGBTQ

Keeping Track 2024

 Graphic Novels / Collections

 FEBRUARY 2024

- Monster Volume 1 (2008) by Naoki Urasawa

- Horny &High Volume 2 (2020) by Ed Firth LGBTQ

MARCH 2024

- Death Note: Short Stories (2022) by Takeshi Obata andTsugumi Ohba

MAY 2024

- Decorum (2022) by Mike Huddleston and Jonathan Hickman

- Midlands (2023) by Debbie Jenkinson

- Are You My Mother (2012) by Alison Bechdel LGBTQ

JUNE 2024

- Self-Esteem and the End of the World (2024) by Luke Healy LGBTQ

- Forbidden Altars (2024) by Clare Foley LGBTQ

NOVEMBER 2024

- Gender Queer A Memoir Deluxe Edition (2022) by Maia Kobabe LGBTQ

- Thundercats: Omens (2024) by Drew Moss, Declan Shalvey and Stephen Mooney

- Queer In Asia (2021) by Seven LGBTQ

- War Wounds (2024) by Colin Craker

- Threshold (2021) by Anke Gladnick (LGBTQ)

- Other Ever Afters (2022) by Melanie Gillman (LGBTQ) 

- Roaming (2023) by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki (LGBTQ)

- Alien Heart Volume 2 (2023) by Anna Fitzpatrick (LGBTQ)

- Pax Romana (2012) by Jonathan Hickman 

- Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me (2019) by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell and Mariko Tamaki

DECEMBER 2024

New Warriors (2005) by Skottie Young and Zeb Wells

Books

 JANUARY 2024

- The Great Gatsby (1925) by F. Scott Fitzgerald 

FEBRUARY 2024

- The Professor In Erin (1918) by L. McManus

- Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said (1974) by Philip K. Dick

SEPTEMBER 2024

- Bad Gays: A Homosexual History (2022) by Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller LGBTQ

- The Third Policeman (1967) by Flann O'Brien

- The Wild Boys (1969) by William S. Burroughs LGBTQ

OCTOBER 2024

- Fever Spores: The Queer Reclamation of William S. Burroughs (2020) edited by by Brian Alessandro and Tom Cardamone LGBTQ

- Irish Science Fiction (2014) by Jack Fennell

- At Swim-Two-Birds (1939) by Flann O'Brien 

- The Six Pack: On the Open Road in Search of Wrestlemania (2024) - Brad Balukjian

Films

 JANUARY 2024

- Passages (2023) LGBTQ

- Saltburn (2023)

FEBRUARY 2024

- Nuovo Olimpo (2023) LGBTQ

- Zone of Interest (2023) Lighthouse

- Madame Web (2024) Savoy

- The Promised Land (2023) Lighthouse

MARCH 2024

- The Marvels (2023)

- Femme (2023) LGBTQ

- Dune 2 (2024) Lighthouse

APRIL 2024

- Poor Things (2023)

- Stigmata (1999)

- Monkey Man (2024) Savoy

MAY 2024

- Fall Guy (2024) Lighthouse

- The Iron Claw (2023)

- Isle of Dogs (2018)

- Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) LGBTQ

JULY 2024

- Superman (1978)

- Superman II (1980)

- Inside Out 2 (2024) Lighthouse

- Tremors (1990) Lighthouse

- Transformers (1986)

- Bugsy Malone (1976)

- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) Lighthouse

AUGUST 2024

- They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

SEPTEMBER 2024

- Star Wars (1977) 

- The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Lighthouse

- The Return of the Jedi (1983) Lighthouse

- Uglies (2024)

OCTOBER 2024

- The Substance (2024)

- Song of the Sea (2014)

- Death Becomes Her (1992) Lighthouse

NOVEMBER 2024

- The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

- The Wild Robot (2024)

- Howard (2018)

- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

- The Morning Patrol (1987)

DECEMBER 2024

- Rope (1948) LGBTQ

- When Marnie Was There (2014)

- The Stranger by the Beach (2020) LGBTQ

- Garden State (2004)

- Appleseed Alpha (2014)

- The Red Turtle (2016)

- Fuchsia Libre (2024) LGBTQ

TV Series

JANUARY 2024

- I Cannot Reach You (2023) LGBTQ

- Bodies (2023) LGBTQ

FEBRUARY 2024

- Watchmen (2019)

MAY 2024

- Over The Garden Wall (2014)

- X-men '97 (2024)

JULY 2024

- Deadboy Detectives (2024) LGBTQ

- Vicious (2014) LGBTQ

AUGUST 2024

- The Acolyte (2024) LGBTQ

- Tales of the Empire (2024)

-Ahsoka (2023)

- Terminator Zero (2024)

SEPTEMBER 2024

- Baby Reindeer (2024) LGBTQ

- Mr. McMahon (2024)

OCTOBER 2024

- Scavenger's Reign (2023)

- The English Teacher (2024) LGBTQ

- Doctor Who Season One (2024) LGBTQ

- Agatha All Along (2024) LGBTQ

NOVEMBER 2024

- Bridget & Eamon Series 1 (2016)

- Bridget & Eamon Series 2 (2016)

DECEMBER 2024

- Pantheon (2022)

- Bridget & Eamon Series 3 (2017)

- Tomorrow and I (2024) LGBTQ

- 1983 (2018)

- What If? Season 3 (2024)

Keeping Track 2023

Graphic Novels / Collections

 JANUARY 2023

- Arrowsmith: So Smart In Their Fine Uniforms HC (2022) - Witten by Kurt Busiek, Art by Carlos Pacheco

- The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel (2019) - Written by Margaret Atwood, Art and Adaptation by Renée Nault 

- American Gods, Vol. 1: Shadows (2018) - Art by Scott Hampton, Story and Words by Neil Gaiman, Scripts and Layouts by P. Craig Russell  

- Cover (2019) - Created by David Mack and Brian Michael Bendis with additional art by Bill Sienkiewicz and Michael Avon Oeming

FEBRUARY 2023

- Rogues (2022) - Art by Leomacs, Written by Joshua Williamson

- American Gods, Vol. 2: My Ainsell (2019) - Art by Scott Hampton, Story and Words by Neil Gaiman, Scripts and Layouts by P. Craig Russell  

- American Gods, Vol. 3: The Moment of the Storm (2020) - Art by Scott Hampton, Story and Words by Neil Gaiman, Scripts and Layouts by P. Craig Russell  

JUNE 2023

- Invasion 1984 (1983) - Art by Eric Bradbury, Written by John Wagner and Alan Grant

- The Agency Case Files Declassified - Created by Colin Craker

AUGUST 2023

- Mikel (2016, English 2019) - Art by Judith Vanistendael, Written by Mark Bellido. Translated by Erica Mena

- When David Lost His Voice (2012) - Created by Judith Vanistendael. Translated by Nora Mahony.

- The Adventures of Tintin: Tintin In The Congo (2006) - Created by Hergé. Translated by Leslie Lionsdale-Cooper and Michael Turner

- Permanent Press (2018) - Created by Luke Healy

OCTOBER 2023

- The Human Target Volume 2 (2023) - Art by Greg Smallwood, Written by Tom King

NOVEMBER 2023

- The Department of Truth Volume One (2021) - Art by Martin Simmons, Written by James Tynion IV

- Horny & High (2020) - Created by Ed Firth

DECEMBER 2023

- Heartstopper Volume 5 (2023) - Created by Alice Oseman LGBTQ

- Dorohedoro Volume 1 (2002) - Created by Q Hayashida

Books

MARCH 2023

- Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling’s Original Sheik (2022) - Brian R. Solomon

- Is It Hot in Here? (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth (2023) - Zach Zimmerman LGBTQ

MAY 2023

- Dumb Luck (1936) - Vũ Trọng Phụng, translated by Nguyệt Cà̂m Nguyẽ̂n

- Answered Prayers (1986) - Truman Capote

JULY 2023

- Peter Pan (2011) - J.M. Barrie

SEPTEMBER 2023

- Good Omens (1990) - Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

OCTOBER 2023

- The Sorrow of War (1991) - Bảo Ninh, translated by Phan Thanh Hao, adapted by Frank Palmos.

Academic Papers / Articles / Essays

MARCH 2023

- Gay Outlaws: The Alpine County Project Reconsidered (2017) by Jacob D. Carter, University of Massachusetts Boston

Films

 JANUARY 2023

- Wings (1927)

- Superman: Red Son (2020)

- Batman: Hush (2019)

- Son Of Batman (2014)

- Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)

- Rashomon (1950)

- Nerys Man (2022) - IFI

- Predestination (2014)

- The Fabelmans (2022) Light House

FEBRUARY 2023

- Jung_E (2023)

- Wakanda Forever (2022)

- The Giver (2014)

- Protect Me From What I Want (2009)

MARCH 2023

- Broker (2022) IFI

- Cocaine Bear (2023) Cineworld

- La Noveau Moi (2020)

- Poison (1991)

- Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)

- A Bigger Splash (1973)

APRIL 2023

- John Wick Chapter 4 (2023) Cineworld

- Shazam: Fury of the Gods (2023) Cineworld

- Super Mario Bros. (2023) Cineworld

- Suzume (2022) Lighthouse 

- In From The Side (2022)

- In The Shadow Of The Moon (2019)

- Credence (2015)

MAY 2023

- Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

JUNE 2023

- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

- Eldorado: Everything the Nazis Hate (2023) LGBTQ

JULY 2023

- Asteroid City (2023)

- WHAM! (2023) LGBTQ

- High Life (2018)

- Barbie (2023) Cineworld

AUGUST 2023

- Oppenheimer (2023) Lighthouse

- Cruising (1980)

- Marry My Dead Body (2023) LGBTQ

- They Live (1988) Lighthouse

- Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

- The Cat Returns (2002)

- Whisper Of The Heart (1995)

- Tales From Earthsea (2006)

- T.I.M. (2023)

- Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

SEPTEMBER 2023

- The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

- The Swan (2023)

- The Rat Catcher (2023)

- Past Lives (2023) Lighthouse

- Poison (2023)

OCTOBER 2023

- Alien Vs Predator: Requiem (2007)

- Crossing Rachmaninoff (2015) 

- Closet Monster (2015)

- The Creator (2023) Cineworld

NOVEMBER 2023

- V for Vendetta (2006)

- Doi Boy (2023) LGBTQ

DECEMBER 2023

- Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway (2021)

- Godzilla Minus One (2023)

- Red, White & Royal Blue (2023) LGBTQ

TV Series

JANUARY 2023

- 1899 (2022)

MARCH 2023

- Bojack Horseman Series 1 to 5 (2014 - 2018)

APRIL 2023

- African Folktales Reimagined (2023)

- Bojack Horseman Series 6 (2019 - 2020)

JUNE 2023

- Muted (2023)

- Black Mirror Season 6 (2023)

- Guardians of Justice (2022)

JULY 2023

- A Very British Scandal (2018) LGBTQ

AUGUST 2023

- Osmosis (2019)

SEPTEMBER 2023

- One Piece (2023)

- Heartbreakers Season 2 (2023) LGBTQ

NOVEMBER 2023

- Tore (2023) LGBTQ

- Pluto (2023)

DECEMBER 2023

-  Squid Game: The Challenge (2023)

- Fellow Travelers (2023) LGBTQ

Personal Picks Episode Twenty One - Don Your Gay Apparel

I've already shared this one on GCN but, seeing as I'm obsessive compulsive in many ways, I'm gonna share it here as well. It's my third Christmas playlist but this one is a little different as every song features an LGBTQ artist.

The playlist  (You can check out this playlist on Spotify).

1) Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who’d Be A Turkey At Christmas) - Elton John

2) Thank God It's Christmas - Queen

3) Last Christmas - Wham

4) It Doesn't Often Show At Christmas - Pet Shop Boys

5) Little Drummer Boy - Ronan Keating ft Stephen Gately

6) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Sam Smith

7) Happy X-mas (War Is Over) - Miley Cyrus ft Sean Ono Lennon

8) Thank You - Pentatonix

9) O Holy Night - Kat Kunning

10) Glittery - Kacey Musgraves and Troye Sivan.

Personal Picks Episode Twenty - Bob In The Basement (1967)

 

Welcome to a long overdue new episode of Personal Picks. As with episode ten, this is going to be Bob Dylan centric but we're focusing on one album, the Basement Tapes, which was released in 1975 but was recorded largely in 1967 in Bob's basement. As with my last episode, we'll have five songs from Bob and five people covering him. To make it a bit more fun, I've taken five covers that Bob did for his selections.

The Songs

As I mentioned Bob's songs are all covers and really show his musical interests with folk ballads from around the world and some other interesting picks. For the covers, I looked up a few of my favourite Basement Tape songs and ended up getting a version of Wheels On Fire by Kylie Minogue! There are a few selections from the excellent soundtrack of I'm Not There. I also discovered an entire album of covers of Basement Tape songs from, a previously unknown to me, band called Famous Horses. 

The playlist  (You can check out this playlist on Spotify).

1) Big River - Take 2 - Bob Dylan, The Band

2) Apple Suckling Tree - Famous Horses

3) The Auld Triangle - Bob Dylan, The Band

4) Goin' To Acapulco - Jim James, Clexico

5) Four Strong Winds - Bob Dylan, The Band

6) This Wheels On Fire - Kylie Minogue

7) The French Girl - Take 2 - Bob Dylan, The Band

8) You Ain't Going Nowhere - Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová

9) A Fool Such As I - Bob Dylan, The Band 

10) I'm Not There - Sonic Youth

Girl From The North Country

 

I am still recovering from the impact of seeing Girl from the North Country. For those that don't know, the show is a musical based on the music of Bob Dylan. The title comes from a Dylan song from 1965, the earliest song used, albeit without vocals. The story was written by Irishman Conor McPherson and, as other people have noted, is not dissimilar to the works of John Steinbeck. It is set in a boarding house in Dylan's hometown of Duluth, Minnesota in the winter of 1934 when America is in the grip of the Great Depression. The plot is deceptively simple but what makes it great, at least when it came to the performance I saw, was the skills of the actors involved. Indeed they won over my three companions and they were largely unfamiliar with Dylan's work and so their responses were due to the actors skills in word and song. (I think one aspect of my enjoyment was the wonderful interpretations and performances of songs I was largely familiar with). All of us agreed that Frances McNamee was a standout as Elizabeth Laine. She created a believable character and gave us wonderful performances of Like A Rolling Stone and Forever Young amongst others. A bit unfair as there were a number of times where each main actor shone but she was the one we were discussing when it was over. 

To be a Dylan guy for a second, I found the song choices interesting as McPherson largely stayed away from the big names and big albums. There was only one song each from the celebrated albums Blood on the Tacks (1975) and Desire (1976) whereas less favourably reviewed albums Street Legal (1978) and Infidels (1983) supplied three songs each. I personally find Street Legal to be an underrated album and grew up listening to Infidels so was delighted with the choices. Also included is a personal favourite I Want You (beautifully performed as a duet by Gregor Milne and Katherine Draper). All in all, McPherson has chosen songs that fit the narrative and create an atmosphere that got an emotional reaction out of me. Oddly, for me as a Dylan fan, one of the performance that resonated with me, and my husband, was of the relatively new song, and newest one used, Duquesne Whistle (performed by Ross Carswell). One of the more lively songs. You Ain't Going Nowhere equally picked up the mood. Other interesting aspects are the medleys created (with such smooth transitions) and how all the songs conform to the overall style and mood.

Here's a summary of some of the songs that feature in the show in general (with albums included as I can't help myself):

• Sign on the Window (New Morning, 1970)
• Went to See the Gypsy (New Morning, 1970)
• Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love) (Empire Burlesque, 1985)
• Slow Train (Slow Train Coming, 1979)
• License to Kill (Infidels, 1983)
• I Want You (Blonde on Blonde, 1966)
• Like a Rolling Stone (Highway 61 Revisited, 1965)
• What Can I Do For You? (Saved, 1980)
• Make You Feel My Love (Time Out of Mind, 1997)
• You Ain't Going Nowhere (Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II, 1971, original recording 1967 recording with The Band released in the Basement Tapes, 1975)
• Jokerman (Infidels, 1983)
• Sweetheart Like You (Infidels, 1983)
• True Love Tends to Forget (Street Legal, 1978)
• Girl from the North Country (Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1965) (Acoustic)
• Ballad of a Thin Man (Highway 61 Revisited, 1965)
• Hurricane (Desire, 1976)
• All Along the Watchtower (John Wesley Harding, 1976)
• Idiot Wind (Blood on the Tracks, 1975)
• Duquesne Whistle (Tempest, 2012)
• Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) (Street Legal, 1978)
• Is Your Love in Vain? (Street Legal, 1978)
• Forever Young (Planet Waves, 1974)

As a Dylan fan, I think I was hardwired to either love this or hate the show and I am happy to say it was the former. In fact, my reaction was pretty much summed up by Dylan's own reaction: "Sure, I've seen it, and it affected me. I saw it as an anonymous spectator, not as someone who had anything to do with it. I just let it happen. The play had me crying at the end. I can't even say why. When the curtain came down, I was stunned. I really was. Too bad Broadway shut down because I wanted to see it again." (Taken from a New York Times interview with historian, Douglas Brinkley). I want to see it again too and I highly recommend it.

Five Villains I'd Like To See Face The Batman

After seeing Barry Keoghan become the fifth or so person (depending on whether you count the 1960s films) to portray the Joker on the big screen, I was kind of disappointed. I think the character needs a rest. Who knows when he will actually show up again though. Anyway, it got me thinking about Batman's rogues gallery, and DC's rogues gallery in general, and at who might be a potential alternative choice to more of the Clown Prince of Crime. Also, some comic book recommendations!

KILLER CROC

Art by Jim Lee

Created By: Gerry Conway (writer) and Gene Colan (artist) with his first full appearance in Detective Comics # 524 (1983).

Character Bio: Waylon Jones was originally a side-show wrestler who suffers from a condition that eventually gave him a crocodile-like appearance. This drove him insane and he adopted the name "Killer Croc" and turned to a life of crime. He has gradually gotten more savage over time

My Opinion: I'm actually pretty surprised that he hasn't shown up in a Batman movie before now even as a secondary villain. Maybe some other villain is using him. I'm thinking of something similar to Batman: Hush. You could use Jim Lee's roided up version from that storyline or maybe Penguin has the trench-coat version as a bouncer or muscle. Or with Poison Ivy (more on her later) as there's the nature connection. The character has potential whatever way you use him. I liked Suicide Squad (yeah I was one of the people) but didn't really that version of Croc. They got some parts right though.

Recommended Reading: Batman #608 - 619 (Batman: Hush), Batman: Reptilian #1 - 6

THE MAD HATTER

Created By: Bill Finger (writer) and Lew Sayre Schwartz (artist) with his first appearance being in Batman # 49 (1948).

Character Bio: Inspired by the Alice In Wonderland character, Jervis Tetch is a scientist who invents and uses mind control devices to influence and manipulate the minds of his victims.

My Opinion: I know some people may consider this is a strange choice and I must admit it is entirely inspired by one mini-series Secret Six: Six Degrees of Devastation, written by Gail Simone, with Bradley Walker, Karl Kerschl and Jimmy Palmiotti on art. Gail works magic on minor villains so when she gets one of the better known ones it is very often a sight to behold. In the story, she goes into why he is the way he is and in doing so makes him even creepier and shows that he is possibly the MOST underrated Bat Villain. 

Recommended Reading: Secret Six (vol.2)  #1 - 6 (Six Degrees of Devastation), Secret Six (vol. 3) # 1 - 7.

POISON IVY

Art by Jim Lee

Created by: Robert Kanigher (writer) and Sheldon Moldoff (artist) with her first appearance being in Batman #181 (1966).

Character Bio: Dr. Pamela Isleyis a botanist and biochemist who possesses a poisonous touch, enhanced physical abilities, and a supernatural control over plant life. She uses for the purposes of ecoterrorism. 

My Opinion: Cheating with this one but Batman has a pretty low number of female villains to choose from. Catwoman has been done a lot with four (?) different actresses on the big screen. Talia Al Ghul has appeared recently enough. The obvious choice, to me, is Pamela Isley. Her last appearance was 25 years ago in 1997's Batman & Robin. Ugh. Even before even researching this, I thought of that appearance and that I kind of wanted to see a new version of Ivy. Her status an ecoterrorist is timely with Climate Change being a hot topic. Plus there's her romantic relationship with Harley Quinn in the comics and animated appearances.

Recommended Reading: Batman #608 - 619 (Batman: Hush), Gotham Sirens, any book that has Harley and Ivy in the title lol.

PROFESSOR PYG

Art by Mitch Gerard

Created by: Grant Morrison (writer) and Andy Kubert (artist) with his first appearance being in Batman #666 (2007).

Character bio: Pyg is Lazlo Valentin, a scientist who suffered a schizophrenic breakdown that led him to become a supervillain that wears a pig mask.

My Opinion: I wanted to look at some "newer" villains and, actually, this guy would be a very good replacement for the Joker. He even has a gang of underlings called the Circus of Crime. He's also a favourite of mine. Morrison intended Pyg to seem disconnected from reality, seeing him as the "weirdest, most insane" characters in Batman's rogue gallery.

Recommended Reading: Batman and Robin # 1 -3, Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes!, Batman (vol. 3) # 62.

CHESHIRE

Art by J.G. Jones

Created By: Marv Wolfman (writer) and George Pérez (artist) with her first appearance being in New Teen Titans Annual #2 (1983).

Character Bio: Jade Nguyen is a French-Vietnamese mercenary, expert fighter and is known for her knowledge of poisons. 

My Opinion: I decided to go for a villain outside of Batman's rogues gallery for my final choice. At first, I thought of using Lex Luthor but he is as over-exposed as the Joker in my opinion. So, once again, Secret Six influences my choice as I first became aware of the Cheshire character in Villains United as part of that team. (Gail Simone had previously used her in Birds of Prey but I read that after). She's an expert at deception and she has a name that makes you think of a cat (so brings to mind Catwoman). Also, she could probably take Batman in a fight or at least give him a good one. It's a bonus that she, being a woman, fills a gap I pointed out in Batman's villain list. It'd also be nice to see an Asian villain on screen.

Recommended Reading: New Teen Titans Annual #2, Birds of Prey #63 - 67, Villains United #1 - 6

Five DC Black Label Books I'd Like To See

 I've been a big fan of a number of the DC Black Label books. They remind me of Marvel MAX. Creators can take beloved characters and do different things with them as they are not (at least I don't think) set in the DC proper. This means they don't break one of the rules, which I think creators should largely follow, with rare exceptions, in that they should put the toys back the way they found them. Someone can remind me who to attribute the quote, I'm paraphrasing, to. Anyway, one of things I enjoy doing is "fantasy booking" so I've decided to come up with 5 Black Label books I'd like to see.

SECRET SIX / JOKER'S SIX / RIDDLER'S SIX

Declan Shalvey (a) Gail Simone (w)

Yeah I know Gail has done a long run on Secret Six but I LOVE that series SO much. Also, I kind of want to see what she would do if she could pick a new Six from any villain on the DC books. She did wonders with Bane so I'd like to see her work on say Riddler's Six or Joker's Six and what crazy reason they have for creating a team. Also, if you read Gail's creator-owned books like Leaving Megalopolis (with Jim Calafiore) and Clean Room (with John-Davis Hunt), you know she can go to a darker place.

I picked Declan Shalvey as I love his work. I know he is busy with creator-owned work like Time Before Time and Old Dog but I'd hope he could fit in a short series or one-shot. Also, he can draw some creepy stuff. I think of some of the things in his Moon Knight run and a particularly creepy villain from his Venom run.

THE HAUNTED TANK

PJ Holden (a) Jimmy Palmiotti (w)

PJ Holden may hate me for wanting him to do another war book but nobody can deny that he is very good at them. I'd hope that the "haunted" aspect would allow him to go in a bit of a different direction or maybe the angle would intrigue him.

Jimmy Palmiotti has moved into doing a lot of Kickstarters as it allows him (and his co-creators) the freedom to go in a more adult direction as he believes that there is an audience for that (the success of his campaigns seems to bear that out and I've backed a lot of them). The title of his book Sex & Violence sort of says it all. The Haunted Tank seems like the quirky kind of book that Jimmy could do some fun stuff with. If I was the editor, I would just say "Have at it!"

HELLBLAZER / CONSTANTINE

Donna A. Black (a) Maura McHugh (w)

Donna A. Black has a style that screams emotion and darkness and horror to me. There's a psychology to it that feels like would suit the world of John Constantine. I can only imagine that physical horrors she could create for him to face or how she could show the things the haunt his mind.

Maura McHugh is known for her horror writing and she has done some great stuff with Judge Anderson. I feel there is some crossover with these characters in what they face in their lives. Also, with two Irish creatives involved, could we see John face the Sidhe or some Irish horror? It would be fun to see something authentically Irish go after him. The titles "Irish Eyes" just popped into my head.

HAWKMAN / HAWKWORLD / HAWKUNIVERSE

Cian Tormey (a) Michael Carroll (w)

Michael Carroll's writing experience on Judge Dredd and more recently on Proteus Vex means that he suitably qualified to take this book in a several directions: the cop / detective style of Hawkworld series I love or a grand space opera. Indeed, his superhero book series, the New Heroes / Quantum Prophecy series, shows he how well he does superhero stories too. All these works also show he can go in a darker direction too. I'd be interested to see what Hawkman he would want to do.

Cian Tormey has really made his name for himself and he recently signed an exclusive with DC Comics. Everyone can see his superhero skills quite plainly on Superman but he has also done some darker stories with the likes of Doctor Doom in The Darkhold. I'd be curious to see what he would do with Hawkman and what he and Mike would come up with together.

THE DEMON / BLOOD OF THE DEMON

John McCrea (a) Garth Ennis (w)

I know we've seen this before but, in my experience, if you let Garth Ennis be Garth Ennis (e.g. Punisher MAX and Batman: Reptilian), you get some really dark, interesting and entertaining books. Pushing the Demon into darker areas seems like a way to make that happen. Being Garth Ennis, I'd imagine he might pull in some quirky, obscure characters from the darker side of the DC Universe.

John McCrea did some great work on The Demon but I think it would be cool to see what he would do with the gloves off. His many collaborations with Ennis show that his art really meshes with Garth Ennis' dark sense of human and I can only imagine the kind of characters they could cook up. Or who else might show up from their previous collaborations. 

Big Finish Favourites: Historical Figures

 I have been wanting to do some pieces about Big Finish audios as such a big fan of their work. This one was inspired by my listening to a recent audio Harry Houdini's War and looking at some of my favourite audios featuring historical figures. I had fun looking back through my downloads to find some appropriate audio stories. I remembered the Mary Shelley stories but had forgotten about 100 which features my favourite audio companion. Anyway, here are my three picks:

100

Publisher's Summary:

Times, dates, numbers, anniversaries... They are all essential ingredients of the Doctor's seemingly infinite travels. Here, he emerges from the TARDIS to embark upon four separate adventures, all of them fundamentally connected by the concept of '100'. He meets Mozart, visits ancient Rome, goes to a funeral and spies on himself.

Sometimes, a Time Lord's life can be quite hectic.

Four one-part stories:

1. 100 BC by Jacqueline Rayner

The Doctor and Evelyn arrive in Rome, 101 BC, approximately, October. They meet a young lady of 19, Aurelia. She mentions her husband - Julius Caesar. Evelyn is excited, but her excitement soon turns to confusion. Surely you can't heal a wound in time with just a bit of sticking plaster?

2. My Own Private Wolfgang by Robert Shearman

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Born in 1756, a veritable wunderkind - playing music for the crowned heads of Europe as an infant, composing by the time he was five years old. But it's tempting to wonder whether his amazing longevity has overshadowed his creative genius - would Mozart's music be better respected, maybe, if he'd died as a young man? Would he be a legend of music, rather than of scientific curiosity, if he'd never lived to compose the film score for the remake of The Italian Job?

3. Bedtime Story by Joseph Lidster

Once upon a time...

Jacob Williams is going to tell the tale of Sleeping Beauty but he realises he has told that one too many times so, instead, tells of how he once met this man called the Doctor...

It's a tale of love and death and a family with a terrifying secret...

4. The 100 Days of the Doctor By Paul Cornell

Someone has assassinated the Doctor.

And he only has 100 days to find out who did it.

My Review:

This anthology (as mentioned) is full of stories based on number 100 to celebrate the 100th story in the Doctor Who Main Range. All feature the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) and my favourite audio companion, Dr. Evelyn Smythe (Maggie Stables), For the purpose of this theme, we should look at the first two stories. The first one, 100 BC, is a fun story with Evelyn and the Doctor going to meet Julius Caesar. Kind of. It shows how Evelyn is willing to stand up to and overrule The Doctor and, in my opinion, establishes their relationship enough that you don't need prior knowledge (but I would recommend listening to all her stories). The one I really enjoy is My Own Private Wolfgang. It is just a fun, silly concept. How a long lived Mozart has ruined his legacy by doing things like film scores. I also like the title. 

The Silver Turk

Publisher's Summary:

Roll up! Roll up! To the great Viennese Exposition, where showman Stahlbaum will show you his most wonderful creation, the Silver Turk — a mechanical marvel that will not only play for you the fortepiano, the spinet and the flute, it will play you at the gaming table too!

But when the Doctor brings his new travelling companion Mary Shelley to nineteenth-century Vienna, he soon identifies the incredible Turk as one of his deadliest enemies — a part-machine Cyberman.

And that's not even the worst of the horrors at large in the city...

My Review:

Of all the Doctors who could have could have Mary Shelley (Julie Cox) as a companion, I think the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) is the best suited. Especially early in his adventures. She joined him in the audio Mary's Story (not necessary to listen to to enjoy this one) and goes on some adventures (we get to hear three of them). The Silver Turk is the first one and I enjoyed it as it has elements that are similar to Frankenstein and it stars one of Doctor Who's best villains a Cyberman. All of the adventures have an appropriate tone for a story starring Mary Shelley and are worth listening to. I don't think you need any prior Eighth Doctor experience to enjoy them either.

Harry Houdini's War

Publisher's Summary:

The world is at war, and Harry Houdini wants to fight for his adoptive country. He might get the chance, when an old friend crashes his New York show.

The Doctor is on the trail of a Central Powers spy ring, which has somehow acquired unearthly technology. But he is also keeping a dangerous secret…

Finding himself on the run behind enemy lines, the world’s greatest escape artist has to work out who he can trust – and fast.

My Review:

I wanted to listen this one ever since I first saw the title. Houdini (John Schwab) is such an interesting person and, as established fans would know, has been referenced a number of times by the Doctor on the TV show. This is a Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) so is easy to pick up from the TV show. The Doctor needs Houdini's help with a Central Powers spy ring but, as is common with the Doctor, he's keeping something to himself. I think John Schwab does a great job. You instantly feel that Houdini has a rapport with the Doctor (they've met before). Some fun references for fans.

Not The Music One, Looking At X-Factor

I had thought about tackling the X-men books for my latest volume analysis. However, even sticking with the main team books, looks like a pretty big task. What even constitutes a main X-men book? Does Uncanny Avengers count? Anyway, I was reminded recently how much I like books that are off in their own little corner. So I decided to do an analysis on one of those: X-Factor. It started off as a main book with the original X-men reuniting after the return of Jean Grey. Once it got to the government team (starting with Peter David, in my opinion, the best X-Factor writer), it started mostly doing its own thing.

• X-Factor, vol. 1, #1-149, Annual 1 - 9 (February 1986 - September 1998). #1 - 70 is the original X-men (Angel (later Archangel), Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl), #71 onwards is the government team (starts with Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Valerie Cooper and Wolfsbane). The book took a four month break in 1995 (between issues #111 and #112) for the Age Of Apocalypse crossover book "Factor X". Issue #-1 was published between issues #135 and #136

• Mutant X #1-32, Annual 1999 - 2001 (October 1998 - June 2001). Continues Havok's story from X-Factor as he gets thrown into an alternate reality where he joins the Six: Fallen (a version of Angel), Brute (a version of Beast), Marvel Woman (Madelyne Pryor), Bloodstorm (a version of Storm), and Ice-Man.

• X-Factor, vol. 2, #1-4 (June 2002 - October 2002). Mini-series. 

• X-Factor, vol. 3 #1-50, 200 - 262 (January 2006 - November 2013). Coming after the events of House Of M. X-Factor Investigates agency led by Jamie Maddox. Peter David puts a noir spin on the series. Starts with Multiple Man, Strong Guy, M, Wolfsbane, Rictor, Siryn and Layla Miller.

• All-New X-Factor, #1-20 (March 2014 - March 2015). All-New Marvel NOW! Peter David again. Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico. A corporate-sponsored team. Polaris, Quicksilver, Gambit, Danger, Cypher and Warlock. 

• X-Factor, vol. 4, #1-10 (July 2020 - June 2021). Part of Dawn of X. Leah Williams writes it. They investigate all mutant deaths. The initial cast comprised Daken, Eye-Boy, Northstar, Polaris, Prestige, and Prodigy.

• X-men Legends, #5-6 (July 2021 - August 2021). Peter David and Todd Nuack revisit X-Factor for a story that takes place between X-Factor, vol. 1 #75 and #76. 

As a general rule, Peter David's stuff is what to look at. Both his original run and the newer stuff. The newer noir stuff did great things with some new cast members. In addition to older members Guido, Wolfsbane and Multiple Man (as team leader), the series did great things with Siryn, M and Rictor. Along with the intriguing new character Layla Miller.

The exception to the Peter David rule is Howard Mackie's Mutant X which is a fun alternative timeline romp.  Havok gets blasted into a reality where he leads a team called The Six. The team is made up of Marvel Woman (Madeline Prior), a vampire Storm called Bloodstorm, a nastier Angel called the Fallen, an Ice-man still affected by Loki's curse and a more deformed Beast called Brute.

Personal Picks Episode Nineteen - Selection Box

So the last playlist is basically a bunch of different songs that I like that I will probably not be able to find a subject to fit into. As it is the festive season and your house may still have some, I'm calling it "Selection Box". For the topic I'm going to go for my 2021 picks in a few different areas.

Theme: 2021 Selections

TV: I'm going to have to go with It's A Sin. It took me several months to work up to watching it. I knew it was going to be a tear jerker and it was. Great acting and an important reminder about a terrible time in history that needs to be remembered. Also:

• Doctor Who: The Flux

• Special Season 2

• Doom Patrol Season 3

• Squid Game

Movies: From pure emotional reaction, I'm gonna have to go with Spider-man: No Way Home. No spoilers. It just hit my geek buttons.

• The Suicide Squad

• Shame // Less

• No Straight Lines

• The French Dispatch

Comics: The one series that really impacted my brain was Crossover. I'll say this: comic book fans will get so much out of it.

• Someone Robbed My Private Parts 
• Strange Adventures
• Marauders
• Doctor Who

The Songs

We start off with an Indy group from Dublin that you probably haven't heard of (they are no longer together but check out their stuff on Spotify and the music video for this song on YouTube). I picked a Dusty Springfield tune from the era where she was working with the Pet Shop Boys. I believe it was used for a TV show. The Amy Winehouse song feels like the cover of an older song. That's why I like it. I picked my favourite Arcade Fire song. One of my favourite Gorillaz songs is next. My favourite one is not on Spotify. In fact, the entire album is missing. They made it while they were on tour. An 80s band I somehow missed in the 80s is Alphaville. (Superfan and superfriend of mine, Michael Carroll, introduced me to their music) I picked my favourite of theirs. My Dylan favourite changes a lot but Abandoned Love is usually up there. In typical Dylan fashion, this gem was left off Desire so never appeared on a proper album. It appears on the excellent Side Tracks collection. A sad one next. One of Stephen Gately's last contributions to Boyzone (the video is quite emotional). The lyrics are quite poignant. I'm a big fan of soundtracks and the Scott Pilgrim movie so had to pick a song from that. I'm gonna cheat and add another Dylan song. One of his great longer songs. It is influenced by the movie The Gunfighter. Appropriately enough, the star Gregory Peck presented Dylan with an award years later and referenced the song.

The playlist  (You can check out this playlist on Spotify).

1. Sad Song - Junah

2. In Private - Dusty Springfield

3. Love Is A Losing Game - Amy Winehouse

4. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) - Arcade Fire

5. To Binge - Gorillaz, Little Dragon

6. Sounds Like A Melody - Alphaville

7. Abandoned Love - Bob Dylan

8. Gave It All Away - Boyzone

9. It's Getting Boring By The Sea - Blood Red Shoes

10. Brownsville Girl - Bob Dylan

Bonus: My favourite Gorillaz tune

Personal Picks Episode Eighteen - Just One More Thing

Columbo with his dog. Art by Bill Sienkiewicz.

 

Another playlist so soon?! I know. I thought I'd fit one between the Chrimbo one and a new New Year's one I'm working on now. As in all honesty, I've had some of these playlists created ages ago and have just been too lazy to work up a post. Also, as I said in my previous post, I wanted there to be more to the posts.

The Theme: Questions

Some of you might have noticed that the playlist name references an oft used phrase of Lieutenant Columbo . I chose that because the playlist are songs that all have a question for a title (inspired, as I often am, by an episode of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour) and who asks a lot of questions? 

So I thought I'd give you my top 5 TV detectives as my discussion for this playlist. 

The definitive Miss Marple (Joan Hickson) meets the definitive Poirot (David Suchet)

1) Hercule Poirot (David Suchet)

There's a lot to like about Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989 - 2013) but it all centres around David Suchet's wonderful performance as the Belgian detective. The series ended up adapting all the major literary works, ending with an adaptation of Curtain, the final Poirot novel.

2) Lieutenant Frank Columbo (Peter Falk)

The unique storytelling structure (seeing the crime and the perpetrator at the beginning) is a unique selling point but Peter Falk's Columbo often irritating the offender and playing the buffoon before hitting them with a "Just One More Thing" is what entertains me. It actually reminds more of Crime and Punishment, a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. The offenders aren't racked with guilt so much as worried they'll get caught. He's outsmarted famous folk from Leonard Nimoy to Billy Connolly. 

3) Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury)

Probably the one I've watched the most. Angela Lansbury is a wonderful actress from Academy Award nominated roles in The Manchurian Candidate (she was robbed) to Disney movies like Beauty and the Beast. She will probably be most remembered for Murder, She Wrote. The crime writer turned detective comes across as an amiable older relative but is razor sharp and is a tough cookie to boot. Another one where you'll spot some stars including likes of the future Captain Janeway, Kate Mulgrew, and Leslie Nielson. Not just as the villains though.

4) Jane Marple (Joan Hickson)

From 1984 to 1992, the BBC adapted all the original Agatha Christie novels with Joan Hickson in the title role. She is seen by many, myself included, as the definitive Marple. Indeed, Agatha Christie, having seen her perform in one of her plays in 1940, wrote her a note saying "I hope one day you will play my dear Miss Marple"

5) Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe (Richard Griffiths)

I watched a lot of these detective shows with my mum. Another thing we used to watch was cooking shows. Pie In The Sky mixes these two together a bit. All DI Henry Crabbe wants to do is retire to cook in his restaurant but his superior wants to keep him around to make him look good. Richard Griffiths plays another likeable detective who tries to fit some cooking in and the food looks wonderful. 

The Songs

I used the Google machine to find question songs to help the "little grey cells" remember some favourites. The playlist features some personal favourite artists. Pet Shop Boys are joined by Dusty Springfield on a song that helped revive her career. Former Beautiful South members Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott reunite and remind you of the old days. R.E.M.'s song with a title inspired by someone beating up journalist Dan Rather. ABBA 's song appeared in the Mamma Mia movie sequel so I may have picked that up from there. An 80s classic from Culture Club is included. The remainder are ones that are mostly tunes that I discovered through my life that I enjoy. One is from a gas advert featuring a dog, a cat and a mouse. See if you recall that after listening. Speaking of mice, there's a little bit of cheese included. 

The playlist  (You can check out this playlist on Spotify).

1. What Have I Done To Deserve This? - Pet Shop Boys, Dusty Springfield 

2. What Have We Become - Paul Heaton, Jacqui Abbott

3. What's The Frequency, Kenneth? - R.E.M.

4. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin

5. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles

6. Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes

7. Where Do You Go To (My Lovely) - Peter Sarstedt

8. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club

9. What's Up? - 4 Non Blondes

10. Why Did It Have To Be Me? - ABBA

Recommendations:

Maybe a nice detective show or House. I count House as a detective show of sorts.