Tag Archives: mike johnson

I’ve always maintained that comics are an unsung medium that fan-favourite franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek don’t fully appreciate. This is so true when it comes to Star Trek: Picard – Countdown #3 as it really is essential reading for the new television series. Considering it’s written by …

If a story can completely capture my attention and allow me to lose myself in it for a brief segment of time out of my day, then I consider that time well-spent, and that’s what keeps me coming back for more. The immersive factor a story can generate for me …

Ever feel like you’ve got too much to do? Yep – me too. The great thing about fiction though, is that we can love the fact that so do our heroes, but for some reason, they get it done! That’s the theme we are looking at for this week – …

Before I begin, I want to acknowledge and mourn the passing of comic artist, Tom Lyle. For me, his Scarlet Spider will always stand out as one of the most recognizable character designs in comic history. Rest in peace, Mr. Lyle, and for your work, we are thankful. The theme …

If there’s anything that brings me a sense of relief in the world, it’s a sense of trust. The knowledge that I can rely on someone who’s “got my back” fortifies my resolve to push on. I mean, we all need friends, right? But more importantly, we need to know …

It’s the end of the summer and September is often a month associated with new beginnings. For a lot of people, me included, I think the beginning of the school year has a lot to do with that. We’re looking at new beginnings this week, so without any delay, let’s get to …

In this day and age, we can be so pre-occupied with image; how we appear. Our self-conscientiousness gets in the way of just simply completing things; meeting deadlines and in essence, measuring up to our responsibilities. I can understand how the folks of my parents’ generation get so upset with …

The mission. The task. The responsibility. The measure of a successful character is the dedication to the task he has either been given or has given himself. That’s what we are looking at this time around. So, let’s get to the list for this week! IDW Publishing Star Trek vs …

The theme for this week’s curated collection of comic titles is the re-creation of decades-old properties for new audiences – or audiences who are interested in seeing new ways that their well-known heroes can be re-imagined. It’s the intention behind the reimagining that makes the quality of the project. If …

I’m into mindless, blind rage this week. It’s been a bad week at work and I’ve lost my favourite fountain pen. So, I’m hoping there will be some stories for me to sink my teeth into and vicariously enjoy as I desperately need some vicious payback. Sometimes, I’m a petty, …

After a two-week hiatus, I’m back from San Diego Comic Con! Did ya miss me? Definitely the greatest show on Earth, plus you also get to run into celebrities, comic creators as they’re moving from point A to Point B. Some aren’t as accessible as you’d like, but at least …

Hope keeps us going, but it’s a double-edged sword. While the promise of success is a tantalizing reason, it’s also frustrating because what we want, still isn’t guaranteed. I guess that’s a ‘glass-is-half-empty” approach but that’s what I’m working with this week as we go through the list of comic …

You know, I’ve always been fascinated by betrayal. Okay – it’s not like I’m actively looking to screw someone over, but the whole concept of disavowing a friend, stabbing an acquaintance in the back or even just talking crap about someone in order to minimalize their position and maximize yours …

Stories that emphasize the value of a character’s role in a story setting have always been enjoyable reads, to my mind. There’s something about the concept of an almost predestined character that is not only true to their inner-self and motivation but also to the flavour of the book they …

I have a firmly established tradition of hating that non-essential, utterly insignificant placeholder of a day called Tuesday. Save me, comics. For instance, yesterday’s morning consisted of discovering that the water bottle in my laptop bag was unsecured and flooded it along with my students’ marked work. We had a …