Thursday, December 30, 2021

Best of 2021 - Graphic Novels

I bought 31 graphic novels this year and I've read 20 of them so far, so I'm doing the same as I did last year keeping up. I still have 16 left unread from 2019-2020. All in all, I read about 42 graphic novels this year, most of them bigger hardcovers. I'm going to try to read more in the next year, but I read less this year, so I don't know how realistic that is.

If you wanted to get a sense of what I think was the best of 2021, and you're only buying graphic novels, here are my recommendations, broken down by creative team a bit:
  1. Tom Taylor: DCeased (Available in two trades and two hardcovers), Nightwing Leaping Into Light Vol 1 HC, Suicide Squad Bad Blood HC, Seven Secrets (2 trades)
  2. Ed Brubaker (Reckless by Brubaker & Phillips (two volumes out this year, plus the one that came out last year, crime fiction at its finest)
  3. Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky (One more volume came out this year, for 6 trades, and two hardcovers, with more on the way)
  4. James Tynion (Batman (3 trades or hardcovers, with the last two coming in hardcover and maybe trade next year), The Joker (1 hardcover), Something Is Killing the Children (3 trades or 1 hardcover)
  5. Savage Avengers (A couple more trades, with the final one coming in 2022)
  6. Immortal Hulk (Almost done, with 10 trades out and 4 hardcovers, final volumes of both should come out in 2022)
  7. Shadecraft (1 trade, but if you haven't read their other work, Skyward, I recommend that too, either in one hardcover or three trades)
  8. Junji Ito (This year's were Lovesickness, Sensor, and Deserter)
  9. Stray Dogs (1 trade from Image)
My Favorite Graphic Novels of 2021:
(Published in 2021)
  1. Nightwing Vol 1: Leaping Into Light HC
  2. Reckless: Destroy All Monsters HC
  3. Reckless: Friend of the Devil HC
  4. DCeased Hope at World's End HC
  5. DCeased Unkillables HC
  6. DCeased Dead Planet HC
  7. Friday Vol 1 TP
  8. Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Vol 1 HC
  9. Immortal Hulk Vol 3-4 HC
  10. Skyward HC
  11. Something is Killing the Children Vol 1 HC
  12. Gideon Falls Vol 1 HC
  13. Lovesickeness HC
  14. Grendel Devil's Odyssey HC
  15. Fantastic Four Fate of the Four HC
  16. Magic Vol 1 HC
  17. Swing Vol 4 GN
  18. The Good Asian Vol 1 TP
  19. The Silver Coin Vol 1 TP
                                    Graphic Novels I Read This Year:
                                    All My Little Demons HC
                                    Alpha Flight by John Byrne Omnibus HC
                                    Analog Vol 2-4 TP
                                    DCeased Dead Planet HC
                                    DCeased Hope at World's End HC
                                    DCeased Unkillables HC
                                    Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Vol 1 HC
                                    Family Tree Vol 1-2 TP
                                    Fantastic Four Fate of the Four HC
                                    Friday Vol 1 TP
                                    Gideon Falls Vol 1 HC
                                    Grendel Devil's Odyssey HC
                                    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 The Final Gauntlet
                                    Immortal Hulk Vol 3-4 HC
                                    Klaus Life & Times of Santa Claus HC
                                    Lovesickeness HC
                                    Magic Vol 1 HC
                                    Marvels Snapshots HC
                                    Middlewest Book 1 TP
                                    Nightwing Vol 1: Leaping Into Light HC
                                    Once and Future Vol 1 HC
                                    Rat Queens Vol 8 TP
                                    Reckless: Destroy All Monsters HC
                                    Reckless: Friend of the Devil
                                    Royalboiler Art of Brandon Graham TP
                                    SFSX Vol 1 TP
                                    Seven Secrets Vol 1-2 TP
                                    Sex Criminals Vol 3 HC
                                    Skyward HC
                                    Something is Killing the Children Vol 1 HC
                                    Suicide Squad Bad Blood HC
                                    Swing Vol 4 GN
                                    The Good Asian Vol 1 TP
                                    The Silver Coin Vol 1 TP
                                    We Only Find Them When They're Dead Vol 1 TP
                                    Wonder Woman Earth One Vol 1-3 HC
                                    World of Black Hammer Library Vol 1 HC
                                    Write It In Blood TP

                                    Best of 2021 Movies

                                    Last year, thanks to the pandemic, I saw 80 movies that were new to me, and 31 of them were new releases. This year, I watched 126 movies, 58 of which were rewatches, 23 of which were new to me, and 46 of which were new releasees.

                                    Top 15 New Movies This Year:
                                    1. Spider-Man No Way Home
                                    2. The Harder They Fall
                                    3. Free Guy
                                    4. In the Heights
                                    5. Mitchells vs The Machines
                                    6. Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas
                                    7. Werewolves Within
                                    8. Cruella
                                    9. French Dispatch
                                    10. Raya and the Last Dragon
                                    11. Space Sweepers
                                    12. Judas and the Black Messiah
                                    13. Dune
                                    14. F9 The Fast Saga
                                    15. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings
                                                                          New Movies I Saw This Year: 
                                                                          1. Spider-Man No Way Home
                                                                          2. The Harder They Fall
                                                                          3. Free Guy
                                                                          4. In the Heights
                                                                          5. Mitchells vs The Machines
                                                                          6. Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas
                                                                          7. Werewolves Within
                                                                          8. Cruella
                                                                          9. French Dispatch
                                                                          10. Raya and the Last Dragon
                                                                          11. Space Sweepers
                                                                          12. Judas and the Black Messiah
                                                                          13. Dune
                                                                          14. F9 The Fast Saga
                                                                          15. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings
                                                                          16. Black Widow
                                                                          17. West Side Story
                                                                          18. Encanto
                                                                          19. Coming 2 America
                                                                          20. Come From Away
                                                                          21. America The Motion Picture
                                                                          22. Red Notice
                                                                          23. Last Night in Soho
                                                                          24. The Eternals
                                                                          25. Queenpins
                                                                          26. The Little Things
                                                                          27. No One Gets Out Alive
                                                                          28. No Time To Die
                                                                          29. The Suicide Squad
                                                                          30. No Sudden Move
                                                                          31. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
                                                                          32. One Night in Miami
                                                                          33. Godzilla vs. Kong
                                                                          34. Outside the Wire
                                                                          35. Hysterical
                                                                          36. Map of Tiny Perfect Things
                                                                          37. Ghostbusters Afterlife
                                                                          38. Many Saints of Newark
                                                                          39. Boss Level
                                                                          40. Malignant
                                                                          41. Tomorrow War
                                                                          42. The Matrix Resurrections
                                                                          43. Those Who Wish Me Dead
                                                                          44. Cherry
                                                                          45. Bliss
                                                                          46. Locked Down
                                                                          Movies That I Saw For the First Time This Year:
                                                                          1. Citizen Kane
                                                                          2. Lone and Monsters
                                                                          3. Dolemite is My Name
                                                                          4. Booksmart
                                                                          5. Psycho Goreman
                                                                          6. Ouija Origin of Evil
                                                                          7. The Ritual
                                                                          8. The Quick & The Dead
                                                                          9. 48 Hours
                                                                          10. Wreck-It Ralph Breaks the Internet
                                                                          11. Spontaneous
                                                                          12. King Arthur Legend of the Sword
                                                                          13. Underwater
                                                                          14. Edward Scissorhands
                                                                          15. Taking of Pelham 123
                                                                          16. Professor Marston and the Wonder Women
                                                                          17. Muppets Most Wanted
                                                                          18. Guardians
                                                                          19. Ed and His Dead Mother
                                                                          20. Muppet Treasure Island
                                                                          21. Antebellum
                                                                          22. Jungle Cruise
                                                                          23. Cowboys & Aliens

                                                                                                                    Wednesday, December 29, 2021

                                                                                                                    Best of 2021 - Comics

                                                                                                                    Ongoing Comics:

                                                                                                                    Last year I read between 250-300 comics, in part because of the pandemic. This year there were a lot more comics, and I read about 400. 

                                                                                                                    Last year I could only manage a Top 8 ongoing and new and a Top 7 miniseries. This year I had a harder time cutting it down to a Top 10 ongoing and miniseries, and got to Top 10 new series, but mostly by cheating a few miniseries that will span into 2022.

                                                                                                                    There were three more ongoings that didn't make the cut (Venom, Thor, and Chu, two of which were on my Best Of new last year, which is an indication of how many really great ongoing series there are right now) and three more miniseries too (Beasts of Burder Occupied Territory, MODOK Head Games, Justice League The Last Ride). Seven Secrets, one of my best new series last year, didn't make the cut because I switched over to reading it in trades, and Fire Power moved to reading in hardcovers, but it's still great, Getting It Together ended, 

                                                                                                                    Last year five of my top 8 were on last year's list. This year, nine of the ten were on one of the three lists (new, ongoing, miniseries).

                                                                                                                    1. Daredevil #26-36, Devil's Reign #1-2 (Last year #1)
                                                                                                                    Like the previous occupant of my #1 spot, Ms. Marvel, this one stuck around for a few years. Chip Zdarsky's Daredevil hit #1 on my list in 2019 and stayed there up until it ended this year, and I'm fairly certain the follow-up, Devil's Reign, will wind up in my top minis of 2021 if the first issue is any indication. Zdarsky did some really interesting stuff with Daredevil in prison (as Daredevil, not Matt Murdock, this time), Elektra trying to be Daredevil, and Kingpin as Mayor of New York, which lead into one of my favorite miniseries of the year and also into the premise for Devil's Reign, which looks so far like Civil War done right.

                                                                                                                    2. Savage Avengers #17-27 (Last Year #5)
                                                                                                                    This series got better and better as it went along, and even though it started off with a Conan/Deadpool team-up during King in Black, it recovered nicely with a story of Conan joining Rhino on a heist, a Ghost Rider and Shuma Gorath story, and then finally a vision of Kulan Gath controlling the Earth that was like a post-apocalyptic version of the classic Kulan Gath X-Men story, which clearly informed a lot of what Duggan was doing here. It also features Conan in Doctor Doom's armor, which is all kinds of fun.

                                                                                                                    3. Black Cat #2-10, Giant Size #1 (Last year #2)
                                                                                                                    Last year this moved up a notch, this year it moves back to #3, bumped by Savage Avengers. But Jed MacKay's second go at Black Cat, taking place first as a King in Black tie-in, worked really well, even as he kept the scope of things pretty big, from stealing infinity gems to getting involved with the supernatural thanks to her old mentor The Black Fox. It was a niche series, so I think a hardcover omnibus is unlikely, but if they make one, I'll buy one.

                                                                                                                    4. Batman #106-118, Fear State Alpha & Omega 
                                                                                                                    I didn't expect James Tynion IV to sweep in and become my favorite writer in 2021, but that definitely happened. The post Infinite Frontier DC gained a bunch of spots in my favorites this year, and this was a big one, as he built up a story about Batman a little lower on resources, working with an interesting anarchist collective called The Unsanity Collective to take on a corrupt fascist quasi law-enforcement agency, The Magistrate and the Peacemakers. It's a lot better than beating up street thugs, and I appreciate the new take on Batman. Also, the artwork, most of it by Jorge Jimenez, was spectacular.

                                                                                                                    5. Shang-Chi #1-6 (Last year #4 on Mini-Series)
                                                                                                                    I don't know how much Gene Yang had seen of the movie, but he introduced the Five Weapons society and Shang's sister in his previous miniseries, and this return miniseries, with art by Dike Ruan, pitting Shang up against a series of Marvel heavy hitters, was a whole lot of fun.

                                                                                                                    6. Amazing Spider-Man #75-81, #79.Beyond, #80.Beyond) (Last Year #7)
                                                                                                                    Nick Spencer grabbed my attention with Sins Rising but lost it again with his finale, but when he left and we got the new Spider-Man Beyond more or less weekly, I got interested again. It's got a variety of writers, from solid to great, a variety of artists the same, and while I'm not a huge Ben Reilly fan, the notion of the Beyond Corporation making him the new Spider-Man, as a tragic accident takes Peter off the board, turns out to work really well. It feels more like a continuation of Dan Slott's run than a refutation of it, which Spencer's run kind of felt like. And the use of Misty Knight and Colleen Wing is particularly great. 

                                                                                                                    7. Crossover #3-10 (Last year #2 New)
                                                                                                                    As Crossover rolls on, it's getting increasingly ambitious but also increasingly uneven. I love a lot of it, particularly the meta gags, and I loved the swerve with Madman, but it also feels super self-indulgent, and not as focused as Cates and Shaw's God Country. But what it does well, it does really well, and sits high on my favorite books list.

                                                                                                                    8. Stillwater #5-11 (Last year #6 New)
                                                                                                                    Reminiscent of what I liked about Revival, a zombie book that's not about zombies, and something about the sociological implications of not being able to die and what that does to a society, Stillwater adds in the notion of what happens when you have to keep a really big secret. It also has stunning artwork by Ramon Perez, and it's another reason why Chip Zdarsky is on my top writers list this year.

                                                                                                                    9. Immortal Hulk #42-50, Gamma Flight #1-5 (Last Year: #6)
                                                                                                                    This series slid a bit down just as it has in previous years, but it still ended strong, and with a nice companion miniseries focusing on Gamma Flight to boot. This was an ambitious and different take on the Hulk, and I last remember Bruce Jones being the guy to do that, but while Jones really dropped the ball on his development and ending, Al Ewing really brought it home. There was spectacular art throughout, but unfortunately a lot of it was by Joe Bennett, who turns out to be kind of an anti-semitic jackass, and that's going to color the legacy of this book, the same way it colored my final opinions. Which is a shame, because Ewing and everyone else involved did phenomenal work here.

                                                                                                                    10. Department of Truth #5-14 (Last Year #1 New)
                                                                                                                    Like Crossover, this one is uneven at times, but it's so ambitious and so different from everything out there that it remains high on my best of list, and is one of those books I recommend to everyone. I think it's the least of Tynion's work, not as good as Something Is Killing the Children, Batman, or Nice House on the Lake, but it's still pretty great.

                                                                                                                    Best New Series:

                                                                                                                    1. Nightwing #76-86, 2021 Annual #1
                                                                                                                    2. Superman Son of Kal-El #1-5, 2021 Annual #1
                                                                                                                    3. The Joker #1-10, 2021 Annual #1
                                                                                                                    4. Dark Ages #1-3
                                                                                                                    5. Dark Knights of Steel #1-2
                                                                                                                    6. The Nice House on the Lake #1-6
                                                                                                                    7. Robin #1-8, 2021 Annual #1
                                                                                                                    8. Moon Knight #1-6
                                                                                                                    9. Star Trek Mirror War #0-3
                                                                                                                    10. The Death of Doctor Strange #1-4, Amazing Spider-Man, White Fox

                                                                                                                    Miniseries:

                                                                                                                    1. Shadecraft #1-5
                                                                                                                    2. The Me You Love in the Dark #1-5
                                                                                                                    3. Batman The Detective #1-6
                                                                                                                    4. Mazebook #1-5
                                                                                                                    5. King in Black Thunderbolts #1-4
                                                                                                                    6. Transformers Back to the Future #1-4
                                                                                                                    7. Stray Dogs #1-5, Dog Days #1
                                                                                                                    8. Beta Ray Bill #1-5
                                                                                                                    9. Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow #1-5
                                                                                                                    10. Taskmaster #1-5

                                                                                                                    First Issues:
                                                                                                                    In general, this is a list of single issues that started off strong but led to series that fell off for me, or single issues where I can't judge enough of the series yet. Last year there were 25, this year there are 18.

                                                                                                                    Alien #1
                                                                                                                    Catwoman Lonely City #1
                                                                                                                    DC vs. Vampires #1
                                                                                                                    Hawkeye Kate Bishop #1
                                                                                                                    House of Slaughter #1
                                                                                                                    Hulk #1
                                                                                                                    King in Black Amazing Spider-Man #1
                                                                                                                    King in Black Wiccan and Hulkling #1
                                                                                                                    Last Flight Out #1
                                                                                                                    The Last Session #1
                                                                                                                    Magic #1
                                                                                                                    The Many Deaths of Laila Starr #1
                                                                                                                    My Bad #1
                                                                                                                    Newburn #1
                                                                                                                    Robin & Batman #1
                                                                                                                    The Silver Coin #1
                                                                                                                    Spider-Man Life Story Annual #1
                                                                                                                    Stargirl Spring Break Special #1

                                                                                                                    Saturday, December 25, 2021

                                                                                                                    Best of 2021 - TV

                                                                                                                    2020 was a great year. For television. Last I year I watched 79 shows and had 6 that I didn't finish. This year I had 73 and 21 that I didn't finish. 

                                                                                                                    Of the shows in my Top 10 new last year, High Fidelity, Lovecraft Country, and Utopia were canceled and Queen's Gambit and Haunting of Bly Manor were one season shows. The Mandalorian, The Boys, Umbrella Academy, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Politician, and Star Trek Picard didn't have a new season, and Dave had a second season drop in quality when it came back, so I never got around to finishing it. And The Good Place ended.

                                                                                                                    In the Top 20 (which is actually a Top 26 because I'm a dirty cheater), 9 came form Disney+, 6 came from Netflix (1 less than last year), 5 from networks and Hulu, 2 from Apple+, and 1 from HBO Max. So in pure math terms, Netflix and Hulu are still the best streaming services for me, especially since I watched 23 shows on Hulu and 21 on Netflix. Disney+, as predicted last year, Prime still is mostly unremarkable, with Modern Love Season 2 being good but not as good as season 1, and no new episodes of The Boys or Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Apple+ continues to be worth $5 a month just for Ted Lasso and Mythic Quest alone, and I quite liked Physical too. Paramount+ and Showtime didn't have anything in my Top 20, but they do have shows I enjoy from time to time.

                                                                                                                    As with last year, I think it's HBO Max that is not worth the $15/month. I think in 2022 I'll be cutting that subscription off from time to time. Their hits aren't bad, they've got Hacks and Sex Lives of College Girls, and of course Last Week Tonight, but it doesn't feel worth the monthly fee.

                                                                                                                    1. Disney+
                                                                                                                    2. Netflix
                                                                                                                    3. Hulu
                                                                                                                    4. Peacock
                                                                                                                    5. Apple+
                                                                                                                    6. HBO Max

                                                                                                                    Top 10 Ongoing Shows:

                                                                                                                    1. Ted Lasso (Apple+) (Last Year #1 New)
                                                                                                                    2. What We Do In The Shadows (HULU) (Last Year #4)
                                                                                                                    3. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (HULU) (Last Year #25 Overall)
                                                                                                                    4. Cobra Kai (NETFLIX) (Last Year #8)
                                                                                                                    5. Mythic Quest (Apple+) (Last Year #6 New)
                                                                                                                    6. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (HULU) (Last Year #9)
                                                                                                                    7. Atypical (NETFLIX) (No season last year)
                                                                                                                    8. A.P. Bio (Peacock) (No season last year)
                                                                                                                    9. Sex Education (NETFLIX) (Last year #27 Overall)
                                                                                                                    10. Never Have I Ever (NETFLIX) (Last year #5 New)
                                                                                                                                                    Top 10 New Shows:
                                                                                                                                                    1. Only Murders in the Building (HULU)
                                                                                                                                                    2. Marvel Shows (Hawkeye, Falcon & Winter Soldier, Loki, WandaVision, What If?)
                                                                                                                                                    3. Midnight Mass (NETFLIX)
                                                                                                                                                    4. Cowboy Bebop (NETFLIX)
                                                                                                                                                    5. Resident Alien (Syfy)
                                                                                                                                                    6. Rutherford Falls (Peacock)
                                                                                                                                                    7. Top Chef Family Style (Peacock)
                                                                                                                                                    8. Sex Lives of College Girls (HBO Max)
                                                                                                                                                    9. Physical
                                                                                                                                                    10. Star Wars (Bad Batch, Visions) (Disney+)
                                                                                                                                                                    Complete List of Shows:
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Ted Lasso
                                                                                                                                                                    2. Only Murders in the Building
                                                                                                                                                                    3. What We Do In The Shadows
                                                                                                                                                                    4. Hawkeye
                                                                                                                                                                    5. Falcon & Winter Soldier
                                                                                                                                                                    6. Loki
                                                                                                                                                                    7. WandaVision
                                                                                                                                                                    8. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
                                                                                                                                                                    9. Cobra Kai
                                                                                                                                                                    10. Mythic Quest
                                                                                                                                                                    11. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
                                                                                                                                                                    12. Atypical
                                                                                                                                                                    13. A.P. Bio
                                                                                                                                                                    14. Sex Education
                                                                                                                                                                    15. Never Have I Ever
                                                                                                                                                                    16. Midnight Mass
                                                                                                                                                                    17. What If?
                                                                                                                                                                    18. Cowboy Bebop
                                                                                                                                                                    19. Resident Alien
                                                                                                                                                                    20. Rutherford Falls
                                                                                                                                                                    21. Top Chef Family Style
                                                                                                                                                                    22. The Great
                                                                                                                                                                    23. Love Life
                                                                                                                                                                    24. Sex Lives of College Girls
                                                                                                                                                                    25. Modern Love
                                                                                                                                                                    26. Physical
                                                                                                                                                                    27. Star Wars The Bad Batch
                                                                                                                                                                    28. Star Wars Visions
                                                                                                                                                                    29. Big Shot
                                                                                                                                                                    30. Mighty Ducks Gamechangers
                                                                                                                                                                    31. Superman & Lois
                                                                                                                                                                    32. Hacks
                                                                                                                                                                    33. Star Trek Discovery
                                                                                                                                                                    34. Star Trek Lower Decks
                                                                                                                                                                    35. Evil
                                                                                                                                                                    36. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
                                                                                                                                                                    37. Stargirl
                                                                                                                                                                    38. The Good Fight
                                                                                                                                                                    39. The Chair
                                                                                                                                                                    40. Girls5Eva
                                                                                                                                                                    41. Maya and the Three
                                                                                                                                                                    42. Shadow & Bone
                                                                                                                                                                    43. Masters of the Universe Revelation
                                                                                                                                                                    44. Young Justice
                                                                                                                                                                    45. Doom Patrol
                                                                                                                                                                    46. Sweet Tooth
                                                                                                                                                                    47. Marvel's MODOK
                                                                                                                                                                    48. Letterkenny
                                                                                                                                                                    49. The Unicorn
                                                                                                                                                                    50. History of Swear Words
                                                                                                                                                                    51. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
                                                                                                                                                                    52. Mandalorian Gallery
                                                                                                                                                                    53. The Expanse
                                                                                                                                                                    54. Shrill
                                                                                                                                                                    55. Made for Love
                                                                                                                                                                    56. American Horror Story
                                                                                                                                                                    57. Ghosts
                                                                                                                                                                    58. Wheel of Time
                                                                                                                                                                    59. Flack
                                                                                                                                                                    60. Fresh Fried Crispy
                                                                                                                                                                    61. The Hustler
                                                                                                                                                                    62. Inside Job
                                                                                                                                                                    63. Marvel's Hit-Monkey
                                                                                                                                                                    64. Titans
                                                                                                                                                                    65. The Nevers
                                                                                                                                                                    66. The Sister
                                                                                                                                                                    67. Best Leftovers Ever
                                                                                                                                                                    68. The Chase
                                                                                                                                                                    69. Invincible
                                                                                                                                                                    70. Transformers War for Cybertron Kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                    71. Transformers War for Cybertron Earthrise
                                                                                                                                                                    72. Jupiter's Legacy
                                                                                                                                                                    73. Pacific Rim The Black
                                                                                                                                                                    74. The Head
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Shows I Didn't Finish:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. American Horror Stories
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Wonder Years
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Mysterious Benedict Society
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Archer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Reservation Dogs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Dave
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Kevin Can Fuck Himself
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. LEGO Masters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Lisey's Story
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. The Equalizer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Rebel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Acapulco
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                13. The 4400
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                14. Wellington Paranormal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                15. White Lotus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                16. Clarice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                17. Master of None
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                18. Mr. Corman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                19. Young Rock
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                20. Love, Death & Robots
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                21. Housebroken

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Sunday, December 19, 2021

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Best of 2021 - Food

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The last couple years, whether dine-in or takeout, I ate out a little less than 300 times. This year, combining takeout and dine-in both, I hit just over 300.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      These are my top 20 favorites, the ones that are accessible, affordable *and* delicious enough that I went there numerous times during the year. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Favorites:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Jewboy Burgers (my new favorite burger place, if it was closer to me I'd eat there every week, as is it's at least one a month on average)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Julie's Noodles (new favorite soup dumplings place)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Ziggy's Kielbasa (if this was closer, I'd eat there more, but I still manage a trip at least once a month on average)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Tumble 22 (now that this is closer, I eat there every month at least)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Jack Allen's Kitchen (really delicious local southern comfort food)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Texas Roadhouse (best affordable steak, great sides, delicious bread)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Hopdoddy (pricey but always good)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Tarka (surprisingly good fast casual Indian food)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Torchy's Tacos (doesn't travel well, but I still like it in-restaurant, especially the queso)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Mod Pizza (build your own pizzas, a favorite of my son)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Chuy's (Yes, I'm a basic bitch for tex-mex)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Chi'Lantro (really good Korean/Mexican fusion)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13. Wiseguys (Chili dogs and beef sandwiches, Chicago style)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      14. Mikey V's Tacos (my Georgetown go-to for Birria tacos)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      15. Carabao Express (fast casual Filipino food and decent Birria tacos)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      16. Mighty Fine Burgers (solid fast casual burgers, local chain)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      17. Snooze A.M. (not close to me, only open until mid-afternoon, or I'd go there a lot more)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      18. Smokin Beauty (pretty good Vietnamese/BBQ mash-up, close to the house, I should eat here more often)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      19. Pinthouse Pizza (close to the store and really good, I'm surprised I don't go here more)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      20. Michi Ramen (I really love this place, but they're only to-go post-pandemic, and it's just not as good that way)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        I also kept track of where I ate lunch this year, and these are my favorites, based on how often I ate there. It's not just quality of food, here, but also closeness to work, where I'm usually eating lunch. My plan for this year was to avoid major fast food chains as much as possible, by which I mean McDonald's, Burger King, and Subway. I had KFC and Wendy's one or two times, but otherwise I mostly managed. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Lunch Favorites:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. P. Terry's (my favorite quick burger place, and it's a local chain)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Raising Cane's (just chicken strips and delicious sauce)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Popeye's (my favorite fast food fried chicken by a mile, and I love their sides)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Whataburger (I don't *love* Whataburger, but it's in the parking lot of my store, so...)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Smokey Mo's (see above about Whataburger, it's in the same complex for lunch)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Culver's (good burgers, good cheese curds)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Arby's (curly fries. That is all)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Vera Cruz (really good tacos, near the store, lunch only)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Juarez Mexican Bakery (good, cheap tex-mex, located near the store, but closes early)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Then there were the places that I ate at once or twice, due to either it's location (downtown especially) or price, or because it's too new to have tried many times. This list is purely down to my favorites, where I'd eat if location and price were no object. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Last year this list included Charm Korean BBQ and Gus's Fried Chicken, both of which I didn't get to this year, the former because price/time, the latter because of terrible parking downtown. And Luna's Tacos and Lechuza Birria both dropped off, the former because I kind of soured on it, the later because I found Birria much closer to me. I still didn't manage Texas Chili Parlor again, but I did get back to Kemuri Tatsu-Ya and Estancia.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Rare Treats:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Kemuri Tatsu-Ya (my favorite restaurant in Austin)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Franklin BBQ (my parents get it for Christmas, and sometimes I'll put together an outing with a group of friends, order ahead of time, and we eat at my place. The line is for tourists or special occasions only)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Estancia Churrascaria (Brazilian all you can eat meat parade, with a killer salad bar)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Cork & Barrel (upscale Irish pub food in Round Rock, pricey but delicious)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Cosa Costa (delicious Brazilian bakery in Leander)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. French Quarter Grille (super good Cajun food)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Peached Tortilla (Great Korean/Tex-Mex fusion, wish it was closer to me)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Valentina's Tex-Mex (so far south, sells out often, but when I can manage it, it's always amazing)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Hopfield's (really good French lunch place, I get a Jambon-Beurre from here once or twice a year because it's south of me and has little to no parking)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Kenney Fort Irish Pub (really good pub food in Round Rock)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Liberty Barbecue (maybe my favorite chicken fried steak, only on Thursdays)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. Mouton's (really good Cajun place, but way up in Leander)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            13. Salty Sow (fantastic happy hour)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            14. Stiles Switch BBQ (good BBQ, maybe best sides)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Best of 2021 - Boardgames

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Last year I played  12 games that were new to me. This year, I didn't get to do as much playing as I'd like (thanks to the pandemic, again) but I did get to go to BGG Con and so over the course of the year I played 60 times, 46 different games, 20 of which were new to me.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    New Games:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Dune Imperium
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Dinosaur Island Rawr n' Write
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Ten
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. MicroMacro: Crime City
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Kingdomino Origins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Parks Nightfall
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Super Skill Pinball: 4Cade
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. So Clover
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Horrified: American Monsters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Scott Pilgrim Miniatures The World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Suspects
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Finishing Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. Welcome to the Moon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14. Mandala Stones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    15. Moon Adventure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16. Cloud City
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    17. Cindr
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    18. The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    19. Kombo Klash
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    20. Space Dragons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        There were a few games on my "to play" list that are still there:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Architects of the West Kingdom (and various expansions)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Beez
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Inner Compass
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Mariposas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Rival Restaurants
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Santa Monica
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Sonora
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        I also added a bunch more games to the list I want to play in 2022:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Alice is Missing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Canopy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Cascadia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Cubitos
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Cultivate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Dice Throne Adventures
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Dragon Prince Battlecharged
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Galaxy Trucker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. The Initiative
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Machi Koro 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Pandemic Legacy Season 0
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Roll Player Adventures

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Wednesday, December 01, 2021

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Monthly Update - November 2021

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Comics I Read This Month (Last Year 230): (319+33=352)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Amazing Spider-Man #78-79
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Amazing Spider-Man #78.Bey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Batman #116-117
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Crossover #9
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • DC vs. Vampires #2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Dark Ages #3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Dark Knights of Steel #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Death of Doctor Strange #3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Hawkeye Kate Bishop #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • House of Slaughter #2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Hulk #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Justice League Last Ride #7
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Moon Knight #5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • My Bad #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Newburn #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Nice House on the Lake #6
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Nightwing #86
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Primordial #2-3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Robin #8
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Robin & Batman #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Robins #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Savage Avengers #26
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Shang-Chi #6
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Star Trek Mirror War #2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Superman Son of Kal-El #5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Heathens #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Human Target #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Joker #9
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Me You Love in the Dark #4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Silver Coin #6
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Thing #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Thor #19
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Venom #1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Favorite Comics This Year:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Nightwing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Shadecraft
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Superman Son of Kal-El
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Spider-Man Life Story
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. The Me You Love in the Dark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Daredevil
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Dark Ages
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Dark Knights of Steel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. The Joker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Savage Avengers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. The Nice House on the Lake
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Catwoman Lonely City
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Batman The Detective
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Black Cat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Robin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. Mazebook
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. House of Slaughter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. Batman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. King in Black Thunderbolts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20. Transformers Back to the Future
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        21. Shang Chi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        22. Crossover
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        23. Stillwater
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        24. Department of Truth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        25. Moon Knight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        26. Black Hammer Visions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        27. Black Hammer Reborn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        28. Chu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        29. The Death of Doctor Strange
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        30. Milestone Returns
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        31. Immortal Hulk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        32. Gamma Flight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        33. Beta Ray Bill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        34. Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        35. Batman Urban Legends
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        36. Stray Dogs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        37. Radiant Black
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        38. Primordial
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        39. Last Flight Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        40. Thor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        41. Venom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        42. Taskmaster
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        43. Beasts of Burden Occupied Territory
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        44. MODOK Head Games
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        45. King in Black Amazing Spider-Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        46. Justice League The Last Ride
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        47. Defenders
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        48. Marauders
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        49. Barbaric
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        50. Sinister War
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        51. Guardians of the Galaxy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        52. Warhammer 40K Marneus Calgar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        53. Batman '89
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        54. Ordinary Gods
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        55. The Many Deaths of Laila Starr
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        56. The Good Asian
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        57. Blue Flame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        58. King in Black Wiccan and Hulkling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        59. Star Wars War of the Bounty Hunters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        60. Kang the Conqueror
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        61. Magic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        62. Eat the Rich
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        63. X-Men
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        64. X-Corp
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        65. Basilisk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        66. Superman and the Authority
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        67. The United States of Captain America
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        68. The Unbelievable Unteens
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        69. Not All Robots
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        70. Maw
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        71. I Am Batman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        72. Silk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        73. Alien
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        74. Detective Comics
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        75. Fantastic Four Life Story
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        76. Time Before Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        77. The Old Guard Tales Through Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        78. Teen Titans Academy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        79. Suicide Squad
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        80. Harley Quinn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        81. Alice in Leatherland
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        82. Orphan and the Five Beasts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        83. Out of Body
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        84. Eden
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        85. The Marvels
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        86. DC Infinite Frontier
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        87. America Chavez Made in the USA
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        88. Thor & Loki Double Trouble
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        89. Superman/Action Comics
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        90. The Silver Coin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        91. Geiger
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        92. Jenny Zero
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        93. Project Patron
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        94. Eternals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        95. Fear Case
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        96. Nocterra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        97. Amazing Spider-Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        98. Star Wars
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        99. The Union
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        100. Scout's Honor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        101. Avengers Mech Strike
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        102. Brzrkr
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        103. Swamp Thing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        104. James Bond Agent of SPECTRE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        105. King in Black Gwenom vs. Carnage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        106. Haha
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        107. Demon Days X-Men
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TV I Watched This Month:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The 4400 "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Acapulco "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Beatles: Get Back "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Cowboy Bebop "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Doom Patrol "Season 3"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Ghosts "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Great "Season 2"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Hawkeye "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Invasion "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver "Season 8"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Love Life "Season 2"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Marvel's Hit-Monkey "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Maya and the Three "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Stargirl "Season 2"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Star Trek Discovery "Season 4"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Taste the Nation "Season 2"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Top Chef Family Style "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Wonder Years "Season 1"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Young Justice "Season 4"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Top TV This Year So Far:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Ted Lasso
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Only Murders in the Building
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. What We Do In The Shadows
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Hawkeye
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Falcon & Winter Soldier
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Loki
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. WandaVision
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Cobra Kai
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Mythic Quest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Atypical
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. A.P. Bio
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Sex Education
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Never Have I Ever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. Midnight Mass
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. What If?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. Cowboy Bebop
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. Resident Alien
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20. Rutherford Falls
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        21. Top Chef Family Style
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        22. Love Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        23. Modern Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        24. Star Wars The Bad Batch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        25. Star Wars Visions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        26. Big Shot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        27. Mighty Ducks Gamechangers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        28. Superman & Lois
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        29. Hacks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        30. Star Trek Discovery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        31. Star Trek Lower Decks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        32. Evil
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        33. Stargirl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        34. The Good Fight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        35. The Chair
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        36. Girls5Eva
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        37. Maya and the Three
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        38. Shadow & Bone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        39. Masters of the Universe Revelation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        40. Young Justice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        41. Doom Patrol
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        42. Sweet Tooth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        43. Marvel's Hit-Monkey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        44. Marvel's MODOK
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        45. Letterkenny
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        46. The Unicorn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        47. History of Swear Words
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        48. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        49. Mandalorian Gallery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        50. The Expanse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        51. Shrill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        52. Made for Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        53. American Horror Story
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        54. Ghosts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        55. American Horror Stories
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        56. Flack
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        57. Fresh Fried Crispy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        58. Inside Job
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        59. Wonder Years
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        60. Mysterious Benedict Society
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        61. Archer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        62. Reservation Dogs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        63. The Hustler
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        64. Dave
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        65. Titans
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        66. The Nevers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        67. The Sister
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        68. Kevin Can Fuck Himself
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        69. Best Leftovers Ever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        70. The Chase
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        71. LEGO Masters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        72. Lisey's Story
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        73. The Equalizer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        74. Rebel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        75. Wellington Paranormal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        76. White Lotus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        77. Invincible
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        78. Transformers War for Cybertron Kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        79. Transformers War for Cybertron Earthrise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        80. Jupiter's Legacy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        81. Clarice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        82. Master of None
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        83. Mr. Corman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        84. Young Rock
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        85. Pacific Rim The Black
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        86. The Head
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        87. Love, Death & Robots
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        88. Housebroken
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Movies I Watched This Month:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Last Night in Soho
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Muppets Most Wanted
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Eternals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Mummy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Harder They Fall
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • No Time To Die
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Jungle Cruise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Red Notice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Favorite New Movies This Year So Far:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. The Harder They Fall
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Free Guy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. In the Heights
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Mitchells vs The Machines
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Werewolves Within
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Cruella
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Raya and the Last Dragon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Space Sweepers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Judas and the Black Messiah
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Dune
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Last Night in Soho
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. F9 The Fast Saga
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Black Widow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Come From Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. Coming 2 America
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. The Eternals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. America The Motion Picture
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. Red Notice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20. Queenpins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        21. The Little Things
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        22. No One Gets Out Alive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        23. No Time To Die
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        24. The Suicide Squad
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        25. No Sudden Move
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        26. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        27. One Night in Miami
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        28. Godzilla vs. Kong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        29. Outside the Wire
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        30. Hysterical
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        31. Map of Tiny Perfect Things
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        32. Many Saints of Newark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        33. Boss Level
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        34. Malignant
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        35. Tomorrow War
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        36. Those Who Wish Me Dead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        37. Cherry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        38. Bliss
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        39. Locked Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Places I Ate This Month (Last Year 260): (272+26=298)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Chi'lantro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Cotton Patch Cafe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Hopdoddy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Jack Allen's Kitchen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Jewboy Burgers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Julie's Noodles (x3)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Liberty Barbecue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • P. Terry's
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Pinthouse Pizza
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Razzoo's
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Red Robin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Rodeo Goat (x2)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Samosa Hut (x2)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Smokey Mo's
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Tumble 22 (x2)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Whataburger (x3)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Xian Sushi & Noodles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Wendy's
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Ziggy's Kielbasa