FITS OF NOSTALGIA

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BEWARE, THE SNOWMAN

January 29, 2024

Goosebumps #51: Beware, the Snowman did an excellent job at building an atmosphere, but it relied too heavily on faulty character logic and delivered an unsatisfying twist at the end.

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BEWARE, THE SNOWMAN

BEWARE, THE SNOWMAN

Goosebumps #51: Beware, the Snowman did an excellent job at building an atmosphere, but it relied too heavily on faulty character logic and delivered an unsatisfying twist at the end. Read More

THE NEW YEAR’S PARTY

THE NEW YEAR’S PARTY

Fear Street Super Chiller #9: The New Years Party was the first Fear Street book I ever read as a kid. I was given a copy as a birthday gift. So it seemed appropriate to review it on my actual almost-New-Year's birthday. Read More

FAVORITE MOVIES 2023

FAVORITE MOVIES 2023

I didn't watch a ton of movies this year, but I did track them all and we rebooted our movie club at long last. It should come as no surprise to anyone that this list is mostly gay and mostly horror. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2023

FAVORITE BOOKS 2023

My list of favorite books of the year is here. I even ranked them even though it seems kinda feudal. I loved everything that made the list. I hope it helps some you find your next favorite book. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2023

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2023

Favorite Albums 2023 - It seems that my tastes are getting heavier as I get older, and I'm very OK with that. Bring on the metal and keep it brutal. Read More

CALLING ALL CREEPS

CALLING ALL CREEPS

Goosebumps #50: Calling All Creeps was dark and weird in all of the best ways. Yes, it had it's flaws, but it delivered on so many of the things I look for in a Goosebumps book. Read More

VAMPIRE BREATH

VAMPIRE BREATH

Goosebumps #49: Vampire Breath was a mixed bag. On one hand I loved how it embraced it's own silliness, but it unfortunately lost the plot for a significant chunk in the middle of the book. Read More

THE BABYSITTER IV

THE BABYSITTER IV

RL Stine's The Babysitter IV closes out the quadrilogy on a high note. It rushed the ending a bit too much for my liking, but I enjoyed this more than any of the other sequels. Read More

ATTACK OF THE JACK-O’-LANTERNS

ATTACK OF THE JACK-O’-LANTERNS

Goosebumps #48: Attack of the Jack-O'-Lanterns was a pretty solid entry into the Goosebumps series. It had it's messy moments, but I still found it fun and original. RL Stine is always at his best when he leans into the weird, and this is a good example. Read More

LEGEND OF THE LOST LEGEND

LEGEND OF THE LOST LEGEND

Goosebumps #47: Legend of the Lost Legend was a mixed bag. There were some parts I really enjoyed, and others that left me frustrated. I got a really great Ermahgerd photo for it, though. Read More

THE DEADLY FIRE

THE DEADLY FIRE

The Cataluna Chronicles #3: The Deadly Fire surprised me in that it was better than the second book. It managed to deliver an entertaining and (mostly) satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, even though it did leave a few frustrations in its wake. Read More

THE DARK SECRET

THE DARK SECRET

The Cataluna Chronicles #2: The Dark Secret delivers some truly memorable moments, but fails to live up to the story that started in the first book. Read More

THE EVIL MOON

THE EVIL MOON

The Cataluna Chronicles #1: The Evil Moon I read these as a kid but I did not recall a lot from them other than the fact that I named our family puppy after Misty. The book itself isn’t perfect but it was still a solid kick off for a trilogy and I enjoyed reading it. Read More

HOW TO KILL A MONSTER

HOW TO KILL A MONSTER

Goosebumps #46: How to Kill a Monster was a bit of a mess. If you thought the last book had bad parenting, this book features the worst grandparenting I have come across in this project. I did like how gross the monster was, though. Read More

GHOST CAMP

GHOST CAMP

Goosebumps #45: Ghost Camp was almost great but ultimately fell short. I was left with lots of questions about ghost culture and parental logic. Read More

THE BEAST 2

THE BEAST 2

RL Stine's The Beast 2 was better than some of Stine's sequels, but that's not saying much. I found myself wishing it made one pivotal distinction from the first book. Read More

SAY CHEESE AND DIE — AGAIN!

SAY CHEESE AND DIE — AGAIN!

Goosebumps #44: Say Cheese and Die — Again! was a lackluster sequel with some problematic body horror and a very unsatisfying twist ending. Read More

ONE EVIL SUMMER

ONE EVIL SUMMER

Fear Street #25: One Evil Summer was a really fun book. It was unhinged in all the best ways, and it checked off all the things that I have grown to love about Fear Street. Read More

AMSTERDAM 2019

AMSTERDAM 2019

I was in Berlin for a long and stressful work trip, and I decided to tack on a trip to Amsterdam to the end of it. Four years later, I finally got around to recapping it. Read More

BEAST FROM THE EAST

BEAST FROM THE EAST

Goosebumps #43: Beast from the East was unapologetically weird, and a better book for it. It was the most fun I've had with a Goosebumps book in awhile. Read More

STRANGER WITH MY FACE

STRANGER WITH MY FACE

Lois Duncan's Stranger with My Face was deceptively long, but I’m a sucker for a good slow-burn thriller. Also I found out there is a Lifetime Original movie adapted from it. I watched it and included my bullet review. Read More

EGG MONSTERS FROM MARS

EGG MONSTERS FROM MARS

Goosebumps #42: Egg Monsters from Mars was an exceptionally weird one. There were some significant weaknesses, but I found myself thoroughly entertained. It's also got the most fucked up Goosebumps ending I've read so far. Read More

THE PROM QUEEN

THE PROM QUEEN

Fear Street #15: The Prom Queen followed a familiar Fear Street formula, but I believe it did so better than most. Read More

THE FACE

THE FACE

Fear Street #35: The Face managed to be an enjoyable read in spite of some serious flaws. Moral of the story is never trust a psychiatrist from Shadyside. Read More

BAD HARE DAY

BAD HARE DAY

Goosebumps #41: Bad Hare Day lives up to its reputation as one of the worst books in the series. But I at least had more fun dunking on it than the last few Monster Blood books. Read More

WITCH

WITCH

Christopher Pike's Witch was one of the five other books adapted for Christopher Pike's Midnight Club. It was also the blandest book I've read of his. Read More

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY III

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY III

Goosebumps #40: Night of the Living Dummy III marks my 100th review on this blog! While the book didn't completely reinvent itself, it managed to be a pleasant surprise. It was easily my favorite of the Living Dummy books so far. Read More

SWITCHED

SWITCHED

Fear Street #31: Switched started out with such a unique and exciting premise that I felt extremely let down by its over-used and predictable twist ending. Read More

HOW I GOT MY SHRUNKEN HEAD

HOW I GOT MY SHRUNKEN HEAD

Goosebumps #39: How I Got My Shrunken Head had all the makings of a good book, but a combination of confusing characters and uninspired magic made for a very forgettable adventure. Read More

THE ETERNAL ENEMY

THE ETERNAL ENEMY

Christopher Pike's The Eternal Enemy had some truly wild ideas, but the plotting was a bit of a mess. I think with a few revisions this could have been a strong one. I can't wait to see how it was adapted for The Midnight Club... Read More

THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN OF PASADENA

THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN OF PASADENA

Goosebumps #38: The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena is a bit of a mess. It's got some enjoyable elements, but the plotting was disjointed. This one deserves notable accolades for terrible parenting in a Goosebumps book. Read More

FAVORITE MOVIES 2022

FAVORITE MOVIES 2022

I made another favorite movies list! Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2022

FAVORITE BOOKS 2022

Lots of good reading this year. This was a tough list to narrow down. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2022

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2022

Another year, more music. Lots of doom metal, a few dance jams, and a playlist to confuse all the algorithms trying to recommend me new shit. Read More

THE CHRISTMAS KILLER

THE CHRISTMAS KILLER

Patricia Windsor's The Christmas Killer is a perfect blend of atmospheric horror and twisted murder mystery. It's also some of the best writing I've seen in a Point horror paperback. Read More

THE HEADLESS GHOST

THE HEADLESS GHOST

Goosebumps #37: The Headless Ghost is one of the stronger books in the original series. I appreciated the slight format changes and quick pace, even though it left some Read More

THE WRONG NUMBER 2

THE WRONG NUMBER 2

Fear Street #27: The Wrong Number 2 was a sequel in search of a story. Let's just say I'm glad there is not a third. Read More

BALTIMORE COMIC CON 2022

BALTIMORE COMIC CON 2022

Baltimore Con was my last show of 2022 and the foreseeable future. I split my table with my friend Lindsay and we made a weekend road trip out of it. Read More

THE HAUNTERD MASK II

THE HAUNTERD MASK II

Goosebumps #36: The Haunted Mask II won't blow anyone away, but it manages to hold its own as a sequel to one of the better books in the series. Read More

THE LAST VAMPIRE 3: RED DICE

THE LAST VAMPIRE 3: RED DICE

Christopher Pike's The Last Vampire 3: Red Dice continues to be thrilling and action-packed, which makes it enjoyable in spite of many flaws. Read More

THE LAST VAMPIRE 2: BLACK BLOOD

THE LAST VAMPIRE 2: BLACK BLOOD

Christopher Pike's The Last Vampire 2: Black Blood mostly succeeds as a sequel in spite of some very dated and problematic representations of race in the opening chapter. Read More

THE LAST VAMPIRE

THE LAST VAMPIRE

Christopher Pike's The Last Vampire was a fun take on the subgenre. It had some glaring flaws, but I still think it would make for an excellent series adaptation. Read More

A SHOCKER ON SHOCK STREET

A SHOCKER ON SHOCK STREET

Goosebumps #35: A Shocker on Shock Street was a rough, forgettable slog with a fantastic twist ending. It's a shame the best part of the book was in the last couple of pages. Read More

THE BABYSITTER III

THE BABYSITTER III

RL Stine's The Babysitter III felt like a sequel in search of a story. This was a significant downgrade from the very strong first book in the series. Read More

THE BEAST

THE BEAST

RL Stine's The Beast is sort of like the lost Goosebumps book (because it was with a different publisher). It's a shame it gets left out because it ranks right up there with the best books in the original series. I had a lot of fun reading this one. Read More

FLAME CON 2022

FLAME CON 2022

Flame Con is back! It was nice to see this wonderful show return after the pandemic through a wrench in everything. It will always be one of my favorite shows. Read More

SUNBURN

SUNBURN

Fear Street #19: Sunburn was one of the better books in the series, but it fell short of being one of the greats for me. I still had a lot of fun reading it, and that counts for something. Read More

REVENGE OF THE LAWN GNOMES

REVENGE OF THE LAWN GNOMES

Goosebumps #34: Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes was almost good. It had solid characters and all the right elements, but it ultimately got lost in the weeds. See what I did there? Read More

BAD MOONLIGHT

BAD MOONLIGHT

Fear Street Super Chiller #8: Bad Moonlight was a messy affair but still managed to be really fun. It read more like a rough draft than a finished book. Read More

THE HORROR AT CAMP JELLYJAM

THE HORROR AT CAMP JELLYJAM

Goosebumps #33: The Horror at Camp Jellyjam was about as weird as these books get and I was living for it. I only wish it had been a bit more cohesive in the end. Read More

NYC QUEER COMIC FAIR 2022

NYC QUEER COMIC FAIR 2022

I returned to the NYC Queeer Comic Fair after booking my table way back in early 2020. It was a good show overall even if I felt a bit overwhelmed being back in the thick of things. Read More

APRIL FOOLS

APRIL FOOLS

Richie Tankersley Cusick's April Fools is probably my least favorite of Cusick's point horror books so far, but it's still a solid read. It features a protagonist that desperately needs to find better friends. Read More

THE BARKING GHOST

THE BARKING GHOST

Goosebumps #32: The Barking Ghost is known for being one of Stine's least favorite in the series, and I can't disagree. What started out as a promising premise quickly got lost in the woods. It's one of the few examples where the TV show made significant improvements to the book. Read More

THE SURPRISE PARTY

THE SURPRISE PARTY

Fear Street #2: The Surprise Party was a fun and twisted mystery. It might not have been the most plausible story, but it maintained a foreboding atmosphere and succeeded in ways that a lot of later Fear Street books did not. Read More

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB

Christopher Pike's The Midnight Club is a surprisingly powerful book that I found really moving. It easily ranks among Pike's best work. Read More

THE THRILL CLUB

THE THRILL CLUB

Fear Street #24: The Thrill Club is the lone book in the main Fear Street series to have a confirmed ghostwriter, which is one of the most interesting things about the book. Unfortunately, the strong central ideas of it are undone by its problematic and outdated notions of race. Read More

DREAM DATE

DREAM DATE

Sinclair Smith's Dream Date was stronger in concept than it was in execution. It was still an enjoyable read. I just wish the dream sequences had been weirder. Read More

BAD DREAMS

BAD DREAMS

Fear Street #22: Bad Dreams held the promise of a good nightmare-fueled, supernatural thriller. Instead what we got was safe, boring, and forgettable. Stine has done this all before and he's done it better. Read More

VULNERABILITY, VALIDATION, &  RAGE

VULNERABILITY, VALIDATION, & RAGE

I wrote a new essay reflecting on validation, vulnerability, and shame. I explored the ways I have sought validation from an indifferent world before I learned how to love my authentic self. Read More

FAVORITE MOVIES 2021

FAVORITE MOVIES 2021

For the first time ever I have tracked the movies I watched throughout the year and watched enough of them to actually make a year-end list! Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2021

FAVORITE BOOKS 2021

Another year-end collection of my favorite books, somehow narrowed down to 10 with some honorable mentions. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2021

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2021

My favorite albums of the year, plus a playlist and some rediscovered gems. Read More

CHEERLEADERS: THE NEW EVIL

CHEERLEADERS: THE NEW EVIL

Fear Street Super Chiller #7: Cheerleaders: The New Evil is one of those sequels we didn't really need. It delivered a few fun and horrific moments, but it mostly got lost in its repetitive and ridiculous plot. Read More

THE CHEATER

THE CHEATER

Fear Street #18: The Cheater started out strong but lost steam about halfway through. This is a shame because it had all of the right elements for a great read but it ultimately fell short. Read More

THE BEST FRIEND

THE BEST FRIEND

Fear Street #17: The Best Friend has a reputation for being the most controversial Fear Street book back in its day, but I thought it was one of the series best. I love me a complex and nuanced villain. Read More

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY II

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY II

Goosebumps #31: Night of the Living Dummy II was a fun read and a significant improvement on the first book. It still suffers from a lack of depth for the living dummy itself, but it was all-around a more enjoyable read. Read More

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2021

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2021

My first big convention since 2019, and my eighth return to NYCC. I didn't have a table, but I reconnected with friends, bought too many books, fought off imposter syndrome, and made it home with some new ideas. Read More

TRICK OR TREAT

TRICK OR TREAT

Richie Tankersley Cusick's Trick or Treat builds a creepy atmosphere from the first page and never relents. It follows familiar patterns and doesn't quite sell the twist ending, but it's still a really fun and spooky read. Read More

99 FEAR STREET: THE THIRD HORROR

99 FEAR STREET: THE THIRD HORROR

99 Fear Street #3: The Third Horror brings the trilogy to an explosive conclusion. While I appreciated its different approach, it still left behind a lot of questions and suspicious motives. Read More

99 FEAR STREET: THE SECOND HORROR

99 FEAR STREET: THE SECOND HORROR

99 Fear Street #2: The Second Horror was saved from mediocrity by an out-of-left-filed twist ending, but that didn't do enough to make up for the largely uninspired plot. Read More

99 FEAR STREET: THE FIRST HORROR

99 FEAR STREET: THE FIRST HORROR

99 Fear Street #1: The First Horror kicks off the trilogy on a strong note. It's nothing new so far as haunted houses go, but it's a solid story and pushes the envelope for scares we might expect in a typical Fear Street novel. It also works fairly well as a stand-alone. Read More

REMEMBER ME 2: THE RETURN

REMEMBER ME 2: THE RETURN

Christopher Pike's Remember Me 2 was a problematic mess. It's an argument for avoiding sequels altogether unless you're James Cameron. On the plus side, it gave me a lot to write about. Read More

IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SINK

IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SINK

Goosebumps #30: It Came From Beneath the Sink was a great title with all of the elements needed to make a great Goosebumps book, but it failed to raise the stakes high enough and ended up being forgettable. Read More

MEET ME IN OUTER SPACE

MEET ME IN OUTER SPACE

I've been making Blair a new mix every year since 2014. What started as a means of processing my grief has become a tradition I look forward to. Today would have been his 54th birthday. Read More

THE BABYSITTER II

THE BABYSITTER II

R.L Stine's The Babysitter II is a competent but uninspired sequel. I guessed the twist early and got bored with the dream sequences. The only thing that saved it was its cast of characters. Read More

MONSTER BLOOD III

MONSTER BLOOD III

Goosebumps #29: Monster Blood III is a case of diminishing returns. At three books in, we still haven't seen any bleeding monsters or a monster blood bank. I feel cheated by the promise of the title. Read More

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER

Lois Duncan's I Know What You Did Last Summer is a much better book than the movie that it inspired. It holds up really well, even as we approach 50 years since its publication. Read More

I’LL NEVER BE READY

I’LL NEVER BE READY

A week after Coeus died, I poured my raw grief into this essay and put it aside. This past weekend we spread Coy's ashes in Oneonta, and so it feels appropriate now to dust it off and share it. Read More

THE CUCKOO CLOCK OF DOOM

THE CUCKOO CLOCK OF DOOM

Goosebumps #28: The Cuckoo Clock of Doom is one of the sillier Goosebumps books with an incredibly dark ending. I had some real issues with its time travel mechanics, but I found myself having fun in spite of them. Read More

THE SECRET BEDROOM

THE SECRET BEDROOM

Fear Street #13: The Secret Bedroom is a creepy slow burn of a book, which is exactly my sort of thing. There were a few glaring plot holes that I found mostly forgivable, but it made up for that with some good scares and a foreboding atmosphere. Read More

FEAR STREET: 1666

FEAR STREET: 1666

The final installment of the trilogy is here, and it's the conclusion to the story that we needed. Click through here to find my review on the Geeks OUT Blog. Read More

FEAR STREET INTERVIEW

FEAR STREET INTERVIEW

I got to interview Leigh Janiak and Phil Graziadei, the director and one of the writers of the new Fear Street trilogy, on behalf of Geeks OUT! Read More

THE DEAD LIFEGUARD

THE DEAD LIFEGUARD

Fear Street Super Chiller #6: The Dead Lifeguard comes close but doesn't quite succeed in standing out from the pack. It was a great setup, but the ending didn't hold up well to scrutiny. Read More

FEAR STREET: 1978

FEAR STREET: 1978

My review for Fear Street: 1978 is up! It was tighter and more focused than the first movie. It expands the story and delivers plenty of blood and camp. I'm really liking this trilogy. Click through here to find my review on the Geeks OUT Blog. Read More

LIGHTS OUT

LIGHTS OUT

Fear Street #12: Lights Out gave us the setting for the Fear Street: 1978 movie, but thankfully little else. Suffice to say it was not my favorite book in the series. Read More

FEAR STREET: 1994

FEAR STREET: 1994

I got to watch an early screener of Fear Street: 1994. I really like what they did with it, and can't wait for the rest. Click through here to find my review on the Geeks OUT Blog. Read More

BROOKLYN PRIDE COMIC BOOK FAIR 2021

BROOKLYN PRIDE COMIC BOOK FAIR 2021

I tabled at my first comic show in almost two years, and it was exactly the experience I'd hoped it would be. Read More

A NIGHT IN TERROR TOWER

A NIGHT IN TERROR TOWER

Goosebumps #27: A Night in Terror Tower was the first Goosebumps book I ever read, and it has remained one of my favorites ever since. Technically, it is responsible for this blog. I'm happy to say that it largely holds up and holds its own as one of the stronger books in the series. Read More

MIRROR, MIRROR

MIRROR, MIRROR

D.E. Athkin's Mirror, Mirror was an interesting take on an Oscar Wilde classic, but it fell short of the book it could have been. Read More

CURRENCY OF CYNICS

CURRENCY OF CYNICS

A new essay in which I reflect on the toxic nature of cynicism and the need for skepticism in our age of misinformation. Read More

PROM DRESS

PROM DRESS

Lael Littke's Prom Dress was certainly not what I expected, and ended up being one of the better Point Horror books I’ve read so far. Read More

FAVORITE INDIE COMICS 2021

FAVORITE INDIE COMICS 2021

I'm trying something new and make thing first (of hopefully many) posts about some of my favorite self-published indie comics. Read More

MY HAIRIEST ADVENTURE

MY HAIRIEST ADVENTURE

Goosebumps #26: My Hairiest Adventure was a mess of ideas that never really added up to a coherent story, which was too bad because it had some really enjoyable weird moments. Read More

ROAD TO NOWHERE

ROAD TO NOWHERE

Christopher Pike's Road to Nowhere is a slow burn read with a powerful message and all the twisted creepiness you could want. Easily one of his best books. Read More

ATTACK OF THE MUTANT

ATTACK OF THE MUTANT

Goosebumps #25: Attack of the Mutant was really creative and a whole lot of fun, but all of that was almost undone by the sloppy third act. Read More

WANTED

WANTED

Caroline B. Cooney's Wanted was one of my all-time childhood favorites. Thankfully it still holds up as an edge-of-your-seat thriller, even if there are a few glaring plot holes along the way. Read More

SKI WEEKEND

SKI WEEKEND

Fear Street #10: Ski Weekend was a solid thriller that made good use of its characters and setting. One of the better books in the Fear Street series so far. Read More

PUERTO PLATA 2019

PUERTO PLATA 2019

In early 2019, Dierre and I really needed a break. Between me travelling for work and multiple comic book conventions, and Dierre working multiple jobs while starting grad school, we finally blocked out a week fo us to do exactly one thing: relax. Read More

PHANTOM OF THE AUDITORIUM

PHANTOM OF THE AUDITORIUM

Goosebumps #24: Phantom of the Auditorium was an enjoyable mystery with some serious flaws, making it a slightly better-than-average book in the series. Read More

THE STEPSISTER

THE STEPSISTER

Fear Street #9: The Stepsister is a tightly-woven psychological horror. Even though I figured out the big twist early on, I still enjoyed seeing how it all unraveled. Read More

RETURN OF THE MUMMY

RETURN OF THE MUMMY

Goosebumps #23 Return of the Mummy doesn't live up to its predecessor but still had some good scares. I just wish Goosebumps villains would consistently have better motivations than vague notions of world domination. Read More

STAY YOUNG

STAY YOUNG

It is the time of year for resolutions and aspirations. It is also an opportunity to name the ways in which we hope to become the best versions of ourselves. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2020

FAVORITE BOOKS 2020

My list of favorite books and comics from 2020 is here. I had to leave out a lot of good ones this year. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2020

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2020

I made another list of my favorite albums of the year! And some of them actually came out in 2020! Read More

SILENT NIGHT 2

SILENT NIGHT 2

Fear Street Super Chiller #5: Silent Night 2 is this years Christmas Horror special. It doesn't quite live up to the first book, but there's plenty of stupid criminals, mean girls, and holiday cheer to go around. Read More

GHOST BEACH

GHOST BEACH

Goosebumps #22: Ghost Beach was almost as creepy as I remembered it being. It got more right than it got wrong, but it fell frustratingly short of its potential. Read More

LEANING INTO MY FEARS

LEANING INTO MY FEARS

When something scares the shit out of me, my reaction is to learn everything I can about it. It’s my way of bringing the monsters out of the dark scary closet and into the light. Read More

THE LOCKER

THE LOCKER

Richie Tankersley Cusick's The Locker is a creepy, atmospheric teen horror novel that hit all of the right notes for me. While not the most original, it's easily the best I've read in the Point Horror series so far. Read More

GO EAT WORMS

GO EAT WORMS

Goosebumps #21 Go Eat Worms really earns its reputation as one of the worst books in the series. The main character is the most horrifying part of the story. Read More

ROLL ME AWAY

ROLL ME AWAY

Back in the late spring of 2020, I realized that the ongoing quarantine was really taking a toll on my mental health. Then I came across an old revelation: few things can bring me joy the way biking does. Read More

THE HALLOWEEN PARTY

THE HALLOWEEN PARTY

Fear Street Saga #8: The Halloween Party is one of the best-rated books in the series, but I found it to be a convoluted mess. Check out my full review of this year's Halloween Special. Read More

FEAR STREET SAGA: THE BURNING

FEAR STREET SAGA: THE BURNING

Fear Street Saga #3: The Burning is a twisted, bloody, and ultimately satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I had a lot of fun with this one. Read More

FEAR STREET SAGA: THE SECRET

FEAR STREET SAGA: THE SECRET

Fear Street Saga #2: The Secret suffers from a lot of classic "middle book" problems, but still manages some good scares and sets up the third book nicely. Read More

FEAR STREET SAGA: THE BETRAYAL

FEAR STREET SAGA: THE BETRAYAL

Fear Street Saga #1: The Betrayal kicks off the most popular trilogy in the franchise with a bang. 25 years after it's release, it holds up really well. Read More

THE BABYSITTER

THE BABYSITTER

R.L. Stine's The Babysitter is one of his first teen horror novels, and certainly his most popular outside of the Fear Street and Goosebumps franchises. I'm happy to say that it's largely withstood the test of time. Read More

THE SCARECROW WALKS AT MIDNIGHT

THE SCARECROW WALKS AT MIDNIGHT

Goosebumps #20 The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight had some great atmospheric horror but it fell short of becoming one of the stronger books in the series. It left me with a lot of questions about scarecrow logic. Read More

FALL INTO DARKNESS

FALL INTO DARKNESS

Christopher Pike's Fall Into Darkness is the only one of his YA books to ever get a movie adaptation. It was as twisted as I have come to expect, but definitely not my favorite of his. Read More

DEEP TROUBLE

DEEP TROUBLE

Goosebumps #19: Deep Trouble is a fun read but it doesn't stand out from the pack. I appreciate how the book cover implies Jaws, even though the story turned out to be something else entirely. Read More

FLIGHT 116 IS DOWN

FLIGHT 116 IS DOWN

Caroline B. Cooney wrote a bunch of popular teen horror and mystery books back in the 90s. I was drawn to Flight 116 is Down because plane crashes terrify me. It did not disappoint. Read More

MONSTER BLOOD II

MONSTER BLOOD II

Goosebumps #18: Monster Blood II was the first sequel in the series and it features one of the most iconic Goosebumps covers. If only that could have made the book more interesting. Read More

WHY I’M AFRAID OF BEES

WHY I’M AFRAID OF BEES

Goosebumps #17: Why I'm Afraid of Bees is one of the worst-rated in the series, but I didn't find it to be quite that bad. Read More

EUPHORIA

EUPHORIA

Last year I wrote and produced a short comic called "Euphoria" with artist Eleonora Kortsarz and letterer Frank Cvetkovic. The LGBTQIA+anthology it was intended for never went to print, but I wanted to share the comic we worked really hard on. Read More

HAUNTED

HAUNTED

Fear Street #7 is a creepy redemption ghost story that I liked in spite of it's more problematic elements. One of the more solid books in the series so far. Read More

WHISPER OF DEATH

WHISPER OF DEATH

Christopher Pike knows how to write a twisted horror story. Whisper of Death was a wild one, even by his standards. For me, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Read More

FENCE

FENCE

In my latest review for Geeks OUT, I took a look at the first three volumes of the heartwarming YA comic series Fence. Read More

THE BEAST WITHIN

THE BEAST WITHIN

There's a new chapter of Dream Crasher out, and I wanted to shed some light on what goes on behind-the-scenes in my creative process. Read More

ONE DAY AT HORRORLAND

ONE DAY AT HORRORLAND

Goosebumps #16: One Day at Horrorland is for the fan-favorite and one of the most iconic books in the series. I'm happy to say that this one lives up to its hype. Read More

BUDAPEST 2016

BUDAPEST 2016

Since we're all cooped up inside under quarantine, I thought it would be a good time to revisit some past trips, starting with Budapest, exactly four years ago this week. The world has changed a lot since then. Read More

THE ACCIDENT

THE ACCIDENT

Diane Hoh is my first attempt at diversifying my reading selections for the Pulp Horror series. I can't let R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike have all of the glory, it just so happens that most of the Point Horror writers were women. Read More

YOU CAN’T SCARE ME!

YOU CAN’T SCARE ME!

Goosebumps #15: You' Can't Scare was... tedious. I came for the mud monsters but all I got was a series of failed pranks. Read More

THE WHITE TREES

THE WHITE TREES

My latest review for Geeks OUT takes a look at fantasy miniseries The White Trees by Chip Zdarsky, Kris Anka, and Matt Wilson. Read More

MONTGOMERY 2019

MONTGOMERY 2019

As Black History Month comes to a close, I have found myself reflecting on my trip last year to Montgomery, Alabama. I thought it was finally time to write about it. Read More

BROKEN HEARTS

BROKEN HEARTS

Fear Street Super Chiller #4: Broken Hearts is an extra twisted Valentine's Day extravaganza. I hope you're ready lots of murder, petty drama, and bad poetry! Read More

THE WEREWOLF OF FEVER SWAMP

THE WEREWOLF OF FEVER SWAMP

Goosebumps #14: The Werewolf of Fever Swamp started out strong, but then got lost in the woods. It's still worthy of its status as one of the fan favorites, even if it did fall short of what it could have been. Read More

THE SLEEPWALKER

THE SLEEPWALKER

Fear Street #6: The Sleepwalker was exactly the sort of creepy atmospheric horror story that I live for; the kind that sticks around for awhile long after you’ve finished the book. Read More

COMING INTO FOCUS

COMING INTO FOCUS

Or: How I Quit Procrastinating and Learned to Love the Morning. Read More

DESIGN OF A DECADE

DESIGN OF A DECADE

I did an Instagram series looking back at the 2010s and choosing a photo to represent each year. I've collected them all on here. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2019

FAVORITE BOOKS 2019

A list of my favorite books and comics in 2019. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2019

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2019

A list of my favorite albums from 2019. Read More

PIANO LESSONS CAN BE MURDER

PIANO LESSONS CAN BE MURDER

Goosebumps #13: Piano Lessons Can Be Murder is a weird one. Like, I thought I knew where it was going until I hit the last twenty pages and the book took a nosedive into WTF territory. The ending felt less like a plot twist and more like a fever dream. Read More

MONSTER

MONSTER

Christopher Pike really surprised me with it's brutal and unflinching nature of this book. It was easily my favorite nostalgia read since I started doing this crazy project. Read More

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR…

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR…

Goosebumps #12: Be Careful What You Wish For... is a messy one. It's got everything from unoriginal tropes to confusing character motives. I was even inspired to write a motivational pep talk for the protagonist, who proved incapable of learning anything over the course of the story. Read More

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2019

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2019

I didn't have a table at NYCC this year, but I still went! It was a four day whirlwind that left me with lots to unpack. Read More

THE HAUNTED MASK

THE HAUNTED MASK

Goosebumps #11: The Haunted Mask is one of the best-remembered books from the series, and it holds up pretty well. And my review is here just in time for Halloween. Read More

CHEERLEADERS: THE THIRD EVIL

CHEERLEADERS: THE THIRD EVIL

Fear Street Cheerleaders #3 is here to finish what The Evil started. I hope you're ready to read about the horrors of cheerleading camp and the shortcomings of demon logic. Read More

CHEERLEADERS: THE SECOND EVIL

CHEERLEADERS: THE SECOND EVIL

Fear Street Cheerleaders #2 is here, which means The Evil is back! Things are about to get bloody repetitive in here. GO TEAM! Read More

CHEERLEADERS: THE FIRST EVIL

CHEERLEADERS: THE FIRST EVIL

Fear Street Cheerleaders #1 kicked off the first of the infamous Fear Street trilogies. It's got teen spirit, a notorious Evil spirit, and plenty of Razzmatazz. Read More

A LOOK BACK AT SINA GRACE’S RUN ON ICEMAN

A LOOK BACK AT SINA GRACE’S RUN ON ICEMAN

For my latest article for Geeks OUT, I decided to take a look back at Sina Grace's acclaimed run on Iceman with some new context in mind. Read More

THE WRONG NUMBER

THE WRONG NUMBER

Fear Street #5: The Wrong Number is easily one of my favorite book covers in this series. Even though I didn't find this one all that scary, I still really enjoyed it. Read More

FLAME CON 2019

FLAME CON 2019

I had another great year at Flame Con, selling some books and catching up with some of my favorite comic creators out there. Read More

THE GHOST NEXT DOOR

THE GHOST NEXT DOOR

Goosebumps #10: The Ghost Next Door scared the shit out of me as a kid. It still holds up as one of the creepiest and most unsettling books in the series. Read More

ELECTRIC CITY COMIC CON 2019

ELECTRIC CITY COMIC CON 2019

A new post detailing my adventures in tabling, this time at the magnificent Electric City Comic Con. This little one-day show in upstate New York has been my favorite so far this year. Read More

GOODNIGHT KISS

GOODNIGHT KISS

Fear Street Super Chiller #3: Goodnight Kiss is perhaps best known for its vampires that refer to blood as "nectar." It made me think of hummingbirds instead of bats. Read More

FORTUNATE BEASTS

FORTUNATE BEASTS

In my latest review for Geeks OUT, I take a look at Letters for Lucardo: Fortunate Beasts. It is the second book of the acclaimed Iron Circus graphic novel series by Otava Heikkila. Read More

HUDSON VALLEY COMIC CON 2019

HUDSON VALLEY COMIC CON 2019

A brief write-up of my tabling experience at Hudson Valley Comic Con in May 2019. Read More

WELCOME TO CAMP NIGHTMARE

WELCOME TO CAMP NIGHTMARE

Goosebumps #9: Welcome to Camp Nightmare is the first book in the series I’m giving a perfect score to. It's well-constructed, unpredictable, and isn't afraid to get weird. Read More

MY BROTHER’S HUSBAND

MY BROTHER’S HUSBAND

My latest review for Geeks OUT. My Brother's Husband is an all-ages manga series that tells a powerful and heartwarming story of grief, family, homophobia, and forgiveness. Read More

THE GIRL WHO CRIED MONSTER

THE GIRL WHO CRIED MONSTER

Goosebumps #8: The Girl Who Cried Monster is about a monster librarian who likes to remove his human face and eat flies after the library closes. Unfortunately for him, Lucy is dead set on snitching exposing him. One of the wilder twist endings in the series. Read More

THE NEW GIRL

THE NEW GIRL

Fear Street #1: The New Girl is the book that first introduced us to Shadyside back in 1989. The ghostly cover and the creepy prologue had me hoping for something better, but this review is for the book that I got. Read More

NYC QUEER COMIC FAIR 2019

NYC QUEER COMIC FAIR 2019

This was a fun little show in the BGSQD store. I saw some familiar faces and met some new ones. Read More

IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

One of the most disgusting feelings I have experienced is the fear of being late for a job that I hated. Being in a hurry to get to a place that made me miserable was a part of my routine for three years. I’m still untying the knots it left in my stomach. Read More

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY

Goosebumps #7: Night of the Living Dummy is probably the most iconic book in the original series. It's really a shame that it doesn't come close to living up to its hype. Read More

LET’S GET INVISIBLE!

LET’S GET INVISIBLE!

Goosebumps #6: Let's Get Invisible was a bit slow-moving for a Goosebumps book, but it paid off with one of the creepiest endings in the series. It should surprise no one that the creepy endings were always my favorite. Read More

THE DREAMER’S PARASITE

THE DREAMER’S PARASITE

Dream Crasher #5 is here and I couldn't be more excited about starting the second arc of the story. I wrote up a little post on what went into making this particular chapter. Read More

THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY’S TOMB

THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY’S TOMB

Goosebumps #5: Curse of the Mummy's Tomb is probably my favorite Goosebumps book so far, even though I have no memory of reading it as a kid. It's got adventure, a fast-moving plot, and some really legitimate scares. Read More

KENYA PART III: KISUMU

KENYA PART III: KISUMU

The last part of my Kenya trip took us to the shore of Lake Victoria in the Southwestern corner of the country. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2018

FAVORITE BOOKS 2018

These are my favorite books and comics that I read this year, not necessarily books that were released this year. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2018

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2018

My Top 10 favorite (not necessarily new) albums from 2018, plus some rediscovered gems. Read More

SILENT NIGHT

SILENT NIGHT

Fear Street Super Chiller #2: Silent Night is sort of like Mean Girls but with more murder. I usually prefer the supernatural books in this series, but this one really delivered. Just in time for Christmas. Read More

KENYA PART II: MOMBASA

KENYA PART II: MOMBASA

The second part of my Kenya trip took us to Mombasa, along the East African coast. Read More

REMEMBER ME

REMEMBER ME

Christopher Pike was right up there with RL Stine in terms of writing books that terrified me as a kid. Remember Me seemed like the perfect book to kick off this Pulp Horror subseries with. Read More

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2018

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2018

I tabled for the first time at New York Comic Con and had a hell of a weekend. I put together some of the highlights with some pictures and observations. This was a great way to close out my cons for the year. Read More

SAY CHEESE AND DIE

SAY CHEESE AND DIE

Goosebumps #4: Say Cheese and Die is hands down one of the best titles and covers in the original series. I only wish the story was equally as good. Read More

KENYA PART I: NAIROBI

KENYA PART I: NAIROBI

I recently went on a 10 day trip to Kenya. It was a remarkable experience and I am still processing it. For the first post I will focus on my time in Nairobi. Read More

MONSTER BLOOD

MONSTER BLOOD

Goosebumps #3: Monster Blood is the only book in the original series to get 3 sequels... which is kinda perplexing given that the first installment is a bit of a mess, and not just in the way that the cover implies. Read More

SOME LIKE IT HOT

SOME LIKE IT HOT

Living in the moment takes a lot of work for me. Sometimes it takes balancing on one leg for standing bow with sweat dripping from every pore in order to actually feel present. Read More

PARTY SUMMER

PARTY SUMMER

Fear Street Super Chiller #1: Party Summer was the book that launched the Super Chillers; my favorite Fear Street subset when I was a kid. It had some good characters and setup, but the execution was disappointing. Don't tease supernatural and give me an over-used trope. Read More

THE APOLLO MIXES

THE APOLLO MIXES

For the last five years, I have been channeling my grief into making mixes. Read More

STAY OUT OF THE BASEMENT

STAY OUT OF THE BASEMENT

Goosebumps #2: Stay Out of the Basement had some great ideas but wasted a lot of time with fake scares. Margaret was an incredibly dull protagonist, even by Goosebumps standards. Read More

WELCOME TO DEAD HOUSE

WELCOME TO DEAD HOUSE

Goosebumps #1: Welcome to Dead House is where it all started. It still holds up as one of the more solid and genuinely creepy books in the series. Read More

FLAME CON 2018

FLAME CON 2018

Flame Con has moved to Times Square. I had a ton of fun tabling with Lindsay and Dierre helping out. Read More

FITS OF NOSTALGIA

FITS OF NOSTALGIA

I go through these fits of nostalgia every couple of years, and this time I decided to start reading all 62 original Goosebumps books and blog about it. Read More

KICKSTARTER & THE ANXIETY FACTOR

KICKSTARTER & THE ANXIETY FACTOR

Thoughts on Pursuing Your Dreams Without Sacrificing Your Own Well Being. Read More

THE RED THREADS OF FORTUNE

THE RED THREADS OF FORTUNE

The Red Threads of Fortune by nonbinary queer Singaporean author JY Yang picks up four years after the events of The Black Tides of Heaven and centers on the prophetic twin Mokoya. Read More

BARCELONA 2018

BARCELONA 2018

I tacked a little vacation on to the end of a work trip, and ended up falling in love with Barcelona. Read More

LONDON 2018

LONDON 2018

Just because it's a work trip doesn't mean I can't maximize my time off the clock. London is always a good time. I came home with lots of tea and candy. Read More

3 RIVERS COMIC CON 2018

3 RIVERS COMIC CON 2018

This was a fun comics-focused show staged in an old shopping mall. I also had a lot of fun hanging with my friend Tom in Pittsburgh. Read More

X CON 2018

X CON 2018

This was a nice little show in a school gymnasium. I love me a local one-day show. Read More

THE BLACK TIDES OF HEAVEN

THE BLACK TIDES OF HEAVEN

The Black Tides of Heaven by nonbinary queer Singaporean writer JY Yang is an impressive feat of both subtly and depth. While fantasy isn’t usually known for its brevity, Yang manages to deliver a richly textured world packed with fascinating characters in a single 236-page novella. Thankfully, Read More

SARATOGA COMIC CON 2018

SARATOGA COMIC CON 2018

My return to Saratoga Comic Con! This was my first show with print copies of Dream Crasher Volume One! Read More

EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES

EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES

For my latest Geeks OUT Review, I take a look at the first issue of the new Snagglepus miniseries. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2017

FAVORITE BOOKS 2017

A list of my favorite books and comics in 2017. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2017

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2017

My Top 10 favorite (not necessarily new) albums from 2017, plus some rediscovered gems. Read More

EXTRACTING BEAUTY FROM THE DARKEST OF PLACES

EXTRACTING BEAUTY FROM THE DARKEST OF PLACES

Thoughts on grief, growth, and and the cathartic aspects of making art. Originally posted on the GeeksOUT Blog. Read More

THE DYNAMIC QUEER CHARACTERS OF BONE STREET RUMBA

THE DYNAMIC QUEER CHARACTERS OF BONE STREET RUMBA

My review of the Bone Street Rumba trilogy for the Geeks OUT blog. Read More

LETTERS FOR LUCARDO

LETTERS FOR LUCARDO

In my latest review for Geeks OUT I take a look at the latest Iron Circus Comics graphic novel series, Letters For Lucardo by writer and artist Noora Heikkila. It tells the story of an interracial, inter-generational queer Vampire/Human couple, and does so with the tenderness its subjects deserve. Read More

SOLARPUNK: FIGHTING THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR DYSTOPIAN FUTURE

SOLARPUNK: FIGHTING THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR DYSTOPIAN FUTURE

In my latest article for Geeks OUT I take a look at the growing solarpunk movement, which aims to envision a sustainable and more equitable future. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2016

FAVORITE BOOKS 2016

My favorite books and comics that I read in 2016. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2016

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2016

My favorite albums from 2016, ported over from my old tumblr. Read More

REFLECTIONS ON NANOWRIMO

REFLECTIONS ON NANOWRIMO

I took part in NaNoWriMo again, and completed a whole bunch of work for Dream Crasher. It was nice to have a highlight during the month that America somehow elected Trump as president. Read More

THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF DIGGER

THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF DIGGER

In my latest article for Geeks OUT, I did an exposé on the eccentric characters of my favorite webcomic: Digger. Read More

NULL SPACE: LGBT REPRESENTATION IN THE FINAL FRONTIER

NULL SPACE: LGBT REPRESENTATION IN THE FINAL FRONTIER

In my second article for Geeks OUT, I took a closer look at the infamous "gay" episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Read More

SCI-FI ALIEN(ATION): DIVERSITY AND BIGOTRY IN SCI-FI FANTASY

SCI-FI ALIEN(ATION): DIVERSITY AND BIGOTRY IN SCI-FI FANTASY

In my first blog for Geeks OUT, I wrote about a panel discussion I attended on diversity and alienation in the world of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2015

FAVORITE BOOKS 2015

My favorite books that I read in 2015, are collected here on this fine list. Originally posted to my Tumblr. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2015

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2015

My favorite albums of 2015, originally posted to tumblr. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2014

FAVORITE BOOKS 2014

My favorite books of 2014. Originally posted to my tumblr. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2014

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2014

My favorite albums from 2014, originally posted on Tumblr. Read More

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2014

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2014

NYCC Day 1! Let the chaos begin. My Dream Crasher post cards arrived just in time. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2013

FAVORITE BOOKS 2013

My favorite books of 2013, originally posted 2013. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2013

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2013

My favorite albums of 2013, originally posted to my tumblr. Read More

SOMETIMES I DON’T MIND

SOMETIMES I DON’T MIND

Reflections on love, dogs, grief, and the long process of healing. Read More

WHAT STARTED AS A WHISPER SLOWLY TURNED INTO A SCREAM

WHAT STARTED AS A WHISPER SLOWLY TURNED INTO A SCREAM

Three years later, a first hand account of the worst day of my life. Read More

FAVORITE BOOKS 2012

FAVORITE BOOKS 2012

My favorite books of 2012, originally posted to my tumblr. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2012

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2012

My favortie albums of 2012, originally posted to my tumblr. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2011

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2011

This list was constructed retroactively using my Last.FM data because the end of 2011 was a really shitty time for me and lists were not a priority. Read More

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2010

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2010

My favorite albums of 2010, originally posted to my tumblr. Read More