Disney+ Update

I have been subscribed to the streaming service, Disney+, or Disney Plus, since July this year. I never planned to - I didn't want to financially support Disney in any way if I could help it - but one day my mobile phone service company offered me three months free subscription, in an email with a code, for being such a gosh darn good customer. I thought, hey, why not? No point in passing up a chance for free viewing of movies and TV.

I've watched hundreds of films since, and have viewed seven series'. Even when my first free three months were up, I stayed on Disney+. I've decided I'm going to continue using it until The Owl House reaches its end. Then after that streaming service cancelation, I may go back to Netflix, because I'm a cheapskate like that.

For my final blogpost of 2022, I will talk about the TV shows I saw on Disney+, in the order I subsequently viewed them. It would take far too long to list the films watched, even my favourites. So an easy, breezy TV discussion it is, to close the year out.

Disney+ Shows

Ms. Marvel - This, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and the Black Panther movies are the most diverse the MCU has to offer. I hadn't seen any of the other MCU series' before Ms. Marvel (it's all too much, and I want to have a life), but thankfully I didn't need to. It helped that I was already familiar with everything to do with it from the comics.

It is a fun little miniseries about Pakistani Muslim American teenager Kamala Khan, who is a major superhero dork (Marvel heroes are a real fact of life in the universe this fanfic writer and artist inhabits, making everything doubly fun, doubly nerdy, doubly pop culture heavy), and who gains superpowers herself. It's cute, as well as diverse and educational - that's the takeaway from Ms. Marvel.

I also like that Kamala's parents are more likeable and less stereotypical than in the comics. They're real, three-dimensional people, and slight spoiler but I don't care, they learn of Kamala's identity as a superhero, and they accept and support her! They keep their memories, to boot! Suck it, Marvel comics!

However, the miniseries is rushed and a little nonsensical towards the end, and it is too short at six episodes. The dealbreaker: it ends on a massive cliffhanger, and you are expected to watch another, separate MCU series in the future for the continuation of Ms.Marvel's storyline. Yeah, no thanks.

I know your game, Marvel Studios, and I am done with you.

Runaways, season 1 - Very meh.

I wanted to see Runaways for Nico Minoru, and while she and the other Runaway kids are good, in reality they're barely in their own show! Far too much time is spent on the villain parents.

I understand: it is done to make the audience sympathise more with them than what is given to them in the comics, and it gives them further development and characterisation in the first season before the shit hits the fan.

However, I think that the main reason it is done is because the writers were more comfortable writing adults than teenagers, and because the adults were better and more experienced actors and so were easier to work with. But it's not what the audience wants from Runaways!

I wanted to see cool superpowered kids; I don't care about the evil, been-there-done-that TV adult characters. Some of them don't deserve sympathy. The kids don't even run away - they don't become the titular Runaways - until the last episode - that's ten episodes in!

I was done at season 1, I'm afraid, being both bored and frustrated with the show. I also didn't like where they were going with an LBGTQ character, and the main (and only) LBGTQ couple.

Gravity Falls - A fun, creative and immersive spooky mystery cartoon. It is easy to see why it is so popular and influential. It's charming, and never fails to be entertaining, with an unforgettable cast of characters.

Not one of my personal favourites, for a few reasons - actually more than that; for a 2012 product it contains its problematic elements and head tilting moments - but I still recommend anyone seeing Gravity Falls at least once; see if they don't find it addictive and rewatchable. I wouldn't say no to rewatching it.

Amphibia - It starts off directionless, unfocused and slow - the first season is 80% filler, and is very episodic and slice-of-life - but I kept going, and my word, Amphibia has to be one of THE most bingeable shows ever made. I was hooked and excited to find out more with each episode.

The characters are so endearingly flawed and well developed - the character development is the key to this cartoon's success; as well as its magical worldbuilding and boundless creativity. Its storylines are surprising and unpredictable, even shocking. The first season's finale, up to the third and final season and the entire series finale, is an emotional roller coaster. It's a breathtaking journey. The second season is the best.

It really goes to show how far animation "for kids" has come in our modern era. It's not just about comedy anymore: story and characters are prioritised first. Animation creators' passion and care are being put forward, placed front and center, and their shows are shining as a result.

Sure, a few things in Amphibia annoy me and make me want to tear my hair out, but in general, I kind of love Amphibia; and as many people know by now, I am not easy to please. In fact I love it so much I bought the companion book, Marcy's Journal - A Guide to Amphibia, my review of which can be read here.

At the heart of everything in the series is the complicated, growing friendship bond between Anne Boonchuy, Sasha Waybright, and Marcy Wu. They are very flawed characters, coming to terms with their individual issues and insecurities, and how those affect others, but they are only thirteen, and they have a lot more growing to do. Heck, Anne, the protagonist and who-cares-if-she's-a-Mary-Sue-that-does-not-actually-apply-here-shut-up-and-have-fun-watching-her ultimate heroine, is like a Thai teenage girl Homer Simpson, and I mean that in the best way possible.

Amphibia is also one of the few pieces of media I've seen which is aware of the existence of, and explicitly deals with, toxic friendships. Despite this, all three young girls end up coming out on top, and I adore each of them equally, for their (mostly) careful growth and development. In this sense, they are realistic, because of their flaws: all this is in spite of the Isekai fantasy setting, the action heroics, and the Magical Girl/Super Saiyan homage (yeah, it moves on from the froggy slice-of-life show it was for the majority of its first season).

A Super Saiyan homage and action with young teen girls! It's everything I've ever wanted in a cartoon! 

Anne, Sasha and Marcy are not to be dismissed as merely cartoon characters. I love everyone in Amphibia, and I love the people who made it. Hm. Maybe I will rewatch it soon, and drink up its bingey, addictive flavour again.

Epic fantasy and complex female friendships FTW!

Phineas and Ferb - Something I missed during the dark era of animation (the mid-to-late 2000s) in every channel, not just Disney, and which I did not bother with (I was well into my anime phase by then).

Girl am I glad to have finally caught up with it. Not only do I now understand the memes surrounding Phineas and Ferb, but I got to binge it and experience it whole (movies and specials included) as the fun, creative, and hugely funny series it is.

It is also reason no. 2467 why I don't trust anyone who says they don't like musicals - every eleven-minute episode contains two or more musical numbers, and practically every one of them is a bop. So creative and enjoyable, and the passion put into it by the creators is loud and clear.

Additionally, Phineas and Ferb utilises celebrity voices - both regular and cameo -  far better than The Simpsons ever did.

Recommended? Certainly.

The Owl House - Still great. Still a favourite.

Beautiful, tantalising, wondrously creative, emotional, subversive, self-aware, sensitive, kind, lovely, delightful, and very, very funny. Luz Noceda and Amity Blight are currently the best, and cutest, LBGTQ+ couple on TV.

The Legend of Korra walked (so did Amphibia, to an extent, even when it wasn't explicit) so The Owl House could run. LBGTQ+ goodness - enbies included - yes, enbies, plural - regardless of Disney's overall intent, and despite its shifting and failing reluctance and drawbacks (mainly in making the series too short and releasing episodes and seasons in parts, and sporadically). You can't stop progress, Disney.

I can't wait for the ending, the completion of The Owl House.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - Yeah, no.

While I understand what it was trying to do - pay homage to John Byrne's fourth wall breaking era of She-Hulk comics in the eighties and early nineties - She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is a mess.

You may never find a more ardent defender and champion of female-led media than me, no matter how generally shat upon by the internet it very often is, mostly because of typical misogyny. But as much as I loathe to agree with popular consensus in a world which still desperately needs more female-led films and TV, even I can't defend the She-Hulk TV series. In this area, I suck as a lawyer as much as Shulkie in the series does.

It is almost depressingly bad, with how unfunny, random, and just plain packed it is with wasted potential. I was cringing hard from the first episode, and it doesn't get any better from there. It is not a feminist superheroine show - hard to believe it came out this year! - for it actually posits that the absolute worst thing a woman can be is single in her thirties.

Wow. Thanks, Marvel Studios. I feel so seen. And respected.

And of course straight women are the default and center of attention; it is the MCU, after all.

It's like a sitcom, an especially bad sitcom, and I hate most sitcoms anyway, so it was doomed from the start for me. It doesn't only fail at comedy, but action, as well, which barely exists. Hell, the title is only, like, 30% true: there is hardly any lawyering and courtroom scenes in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. SO MUCH TIME IS SPENT ON JENNIFER WALTERS' BORING LOVE LIFE. TO THE POINT WHERE AN ENTIRE EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO HER DOING NOTHING BUT CONSTANTLY CHECKING HER PHONE AFTER SHE IS GHOSTED! YOU'RE A LAWYER AND A HULK - GET SOME DIGNITY, WOMAN! NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR DATING AND SEXCAPADES!

She and others are always drinking and getting drunk, too. How thrilling. How exciting. I am so engaged. 

There is no structure, no plan, no real ending!

She-Hulk is the cheapest thing the MCU has ever done (I can tell even though I have seen two out of eight+ of its series', it is that bad), which is madness - insanity I say! - when the MCU is the most financially successful media franchise globally, dammit (rivalled only by video game companies). That a studio raking in billions and billions in profit would put out a product this stingy and insultingly crap just goes to show how much of a fucked up con and a load of bollocks capitalism is.

Even though She-Hulk: Attorney at Law was, as far as I can tell, mostly if not wholly written by women, it nonetheless feels like it was manned by focus group tested thirteen-year-old boys in the early 2010s.

On top of it all, while the show is nine episodes long, upon thinking back and reflecting on it, it feels like it only contains three episodes. So utterly devoid of substance it is.

I want to forget about it, now and forever. What a waste of time and potential.

I adore She-Hulk! She's one of my favourite superheroines in Marvel comics. Why was she treated in such a demeaning, undermining, sexist, stupid, childish and humdrum manner by the MCU?!

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law made me be officially done with the MCU, and Marvel as a whole. I. Am. Done. I quit. Sayonara. Auf Wiedersehen. Bye.

Happy New Year, everyone. I love you all.

For a further send off to cap off 2022, here are the links to my Worst Books list, and my Best Books list.

I also just remembered that next year - January, unless I'm mistaken - marks the tenth anniversary of my Artemis Crescent - Fantasy Feminist blog! Ten years since I started book blogging!

Wonder how I'll celebrate it...

Best Books of 2022

Link to my Worst Books of 2022 here.

Like with my previous list, no rereads will be included.

Okay, let's go!:

Top 12 Guilty Pleasures of 2022

Something I've never done before - a guilty pleasure read list, as I've had a surprising number of them in 2022. Be they enjoyably bad or merely enjoyable yet obviously flawed in many ways, these are my sweet loves, warts and all. Starting from my least guilty to my guiltiest read, here they are:

12. She-Hulk: Jen, Again by Rainbow Rowell (Writer), Roge Antonio (Artist), Luca Maresca (Artist), Rico Renzi (Colourist) - Review link here.

11. Long Live the Pumpkin Queen (Disney's Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas) by Shea Ernshaw - Review link here.

10. The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 1: Doom Maidens by Cullen Bunn (Writer), Will Sliney (Artist), Veronica Gandini (Colourist) - Review link here.

9. Star: Birth of a Dragon by Kelly Thompson (Writer), Javier Pina (Artist), Filipe Andrade (Artist), Jay Leisten (Artist), Jesus Aburtov (Colour Artist), Chris O'Halloran (Colour Artist) - Review link here.

8. She-Hulk by Peter David Omnibus by Various - Review link here.

7. Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo - Review link here.

6. Batgirls Vol. 1: One Way or Another by Becky Cloonan (Writer), Michael W. Conrad (Writer), Jorge Corona (Artist), Sarah Stern (Colourist), Ivan Plascencia (Colourist) - Review link here.

5. The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 2: The Most Fabulous Fighting Team of All by Cullen Bunn (Writer), Stephanie Hans (Artist), Will Sliney (Artist) - Review link here.

4. Shazam Family Giant: Make Mine Mary Marvel by Mini Komix - Review link here.

3. Astonishing X-Men: Kitty Pryde - Shadow & Flame by Akira Yoshida (Writer), Paul Smith (Artist), Joe Rubenstein (Inker), Chris Walker (Colourist), Christina Strain (Colourist) - Review link here.

2. Crush & Lobo by Mariko Tamaki (Writer), Amancay Nahuelpan (Artist), Tamra Bonvillain (Colour Artist), Nick Filardi (Colour Artist), Ariana Maher (Letterer) - Review link here.

1. X-Men Vol. 1: Primer by Brian Wood (Writer), Olivier Coipel (Artist), David López (Artist), Various Inkers and Colourists - Review link here.

Onto the very best of the best; the books that made me the happiest and most hopeful this year:

Top 24 Best Books of 2022

24. The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll, Lauren Child (Illustrator) - Review link here.

23. Creepy Cat, Vol. 1 by Cotton Valent - Review link here.

22. Flamer by Mike Curato - Review link here.

21. Sweetie Vol. 1 by Sean Dillon (Writer/Artist), Steven Petrivelli (Cowriter) - Review link here.

20. Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable (Writer), Stephanie Yue (Artist), Braden Lamb (Colourist) - Review link here.

19. Harley Quinn Black + White + Red by Various - Review link here.

18. Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser (Writer), Robyn Smith (Artist) - Review link here.

17. The Mighty Thor: Goddess of Thunder! (Little Golden Book) (Marvel) by Courtney Carbone (Writer), Hollie Mengert (Illustrator) - Review link here.

16. She-Hulk Omnibus (She-Hulk (2004) #1-12) by Dan Slott (Writer), Juan Bobillo (Artist), Paul Pelletier (Artist), Various - Review link here.

15. Living with Viola by Rosena Fung - Review link here.

14. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree - Review link here.

13. Doughnuts and Doom by Balazs Lorinczi - Review link here.

12. Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola (Writer), Emily Carroll (Artist) - Review link here.

11. The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld - Review link here.

10. Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms by Rey Terciero (Writer), Megan Kearney (Artist) - Review link here.

9. Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth - Review link here.

8. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston - Review link here.

7. Captain Marvel (Little Golden Book) (Marvel) by John Sazaklis (Writer), Penelope R. Gaylord (Illustrator) - Review link here.

6. The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman - Review link here.

5. Barb the Brave by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson - Review link here.

4. Marcy's Journal - A Guide to Amphibia by Adam Colás (Writer), Matthew Braly (Writer, Creator), Catharina Sukiman (Illustrator), Tokyopop (Producer) - Review link here.

3. Wolfwalkers: The Graphic Novel by Tomm Moore (Creator), Ross Stewart (Creator), Sam Sattin (Adaptation) - Review link here.

2. Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh - Review link here.

1. Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho (Writer), Dung Ho (Illustrator) - Review link here.

So that's my 2022 year of reading, ending on a positive note. I'm sure I will read plenty more in 2023. I've already got loads and loads of comics I plan to buy. I am a reader at heart, after all. I can't escape or deny who I am.

Happy New Year everyone, and I mean it. Keep hoping and caring. Keep trying. It will get better.

Worst Books of 2022

Time for a reflection on my reading year, as I make my worst books and my best books lists. I'll be getting the worst out of the way first.

It's been a shit year, both in general and for me personally. I've suffered a lot of bad luck, and failures; many of life's blows. I've had a bereavement period, and together with such a static and unchanging life of going through the same, soul-crushingly dull motions nearly every day, I've been pretty depressed. I'm still not feeling good, nor am I happy, to be honest. A very bad to mediocre reading year hasn't helped my mood. This list in particular will be a long one.

I read 155 books this year. Sure, most of them are graphic novels, and rereads, and then there's the skimming. But I'd say I did fairly well.

I've also done a lot of clear-outs and have given away many of the books I liked or loved in the past. I've reevaluated my old favourites, thanks to rereading. Incidentally, here's my rereview of Fruits Basket.

Things are only getting worse, and I sincerely hope that next year, if I can't make the world a better place, I can at least get out of my funk and be more brave and assertive; make big changes in my life, and not be in such a slump.

But first, my opinionated Worst Books of 2022 awaits, for anyone to read if they want to. No rereads will be included, nor DNFs.

Hated Three Star Books of 2022

Before I get to the worst of the worst, there are a couple of books from 2022 that are, er, special, and I would like to mention them. They could be considered dishonourable mentions, except I did rate them three stars instead of two or one for a reason. They are overall good books containing very high points, but unfortunately, to me at least, one major aspect to them has caused me to not love them, even hate them, for how disappointing they are. For they are disappointing, considering how bafflingly critically acclaimed they are.

Welp, no use putting it off any longer, here are my Hated Three Star Books:

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

This book may have ruined my life. It is the reason I now hate The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali. It is the reason I will never read another coming-out YA novel ever again. I cannot stand any form of the Bury Your Gays trope, done to further a homophobe's "redemption". I loathe how the homophobic adults in these stories have the maturity of two-year-olds; they have no fucking business being parents, let alone civilised members of society. They see their children only as objects; as a means to an end. They have no love for their children, queer or not, not even conditionally. I don't care how "realistic" they are: they are abusers, there is no getting around that, nor excusing them. RELIGION IS NEVER AN EXCUSE FOR CHILD ABUSE - I will say this at the top of my lungs and to the heavens every chance I get. And most damning of all, I loathe how these monster parents keep being easily forgiven at the rushed end of the story, when they did nothing to earn it, beyond saying they're sorry (it takes the death or almost death of a queer person they know for them to "see the error of their ways" - they are not good people if it takes THAT for them to suddenly realise how wrong they were! They're still being self-centered about it!) - and everything is fine and dandy and happy and forgotten. This isn't realistic.

Sorry, it's just, when it comes to Lesbiana's... I hate Yamilet's mother. I hate her so fucking much. What a cunt.

Link here to my review of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School for more.

Galaxy: The Prettiest Star by Jadzia Axelrod (Writer), Jess Taylor (Artist)

Same sort of thing applies. This DC comic, while it is clearly trying to be progressive, is trans torture porn. It is misguided, miserable and meanspirited. There is victim blaming and shaming, just for the allegorical trans person existing. Bigots don't deserve the time of day. They don't deserve sympathy. It's especially disheartening when they are not punished in any way in the story.

A tip for all writers everywhere: Stop having your LBGTQ protagonists apologise to their abusers. Stop it. It's victim blaming and gaslighting.

Also, if your LBGTQA+ work contains such sensitive subject matters and is so meanspirited, hateful and partial to bigot/abuser sympathy/apologia and victim blaming that LBGTQA+ audiences can't read or watch it without being triggered - if there are many trigger warnings with no relief, no catharsis - it's a sign you should start all over again. Consult sensitivity readers.

Link here to my review of Galaxy: The Prettiest Star for more.

Now that that's out of the way, here is the list proper:

Top 30 Worst Books of 2022

30. The Haunting of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes

29. Lily by Rose Tremain

28. Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson

27. A Witch's Love at the End of the World, Vol. 1 by Kujira

26. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan - Review link here.

25. I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

24. Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu

23. 5 Seconds Before a Witch Falls in Love by Zeniko Sumiya

22. Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey

21. Crumbs by Danie Sterling

20. The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl - Review link here.

19. Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys (Writer), Andrew Weiner (Writer), Brittney Williams (Artist)

18. Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup by Andy Sagar

17. Far Sector (Far Sector #1-12) by N.K. Jemisin (Writer), Jamal Campbell (Artist)

16. Rainbow Brite, Volume 01 by Jeremy Whitley (Writer), Brittney Williams (Artist), Xenia Pamfil

 (Artist), Christine Hipp (Artist), Valentina Pinto (Colourist), Taylor Esposito (Letterer)

15. Life of Melody by Mari Costa - Review link here.

14. Hedgewitch by Skye McKenna

13. Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom by Kelly Thompson (Writer), Jenn St. Onge (Artist), Triona Farrell (Colourist), Ariana Maher (Letterer) - Review link here.

12. Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega

11. Scarlet Witch: The Complete Collection by James Robinson (Writer), Various Artists

10. Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend by Alys Arden (Witer), Jacquelin De Leon (Artist), Sam Lotfi (Artist), Wes Abbott (Letterer) - Review link here.

9. Youngblood by Sasha Laurens - Review link here.

8. The Last Witch: Fear & Fire by Conor McCreery (Writer), V.V. Glass (Artist), Natalia Nesterenko (Colour Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer) - Review link here.

7. Mina and the Undead by Amy McCaw

6. Wilder than Midnight by Cerrie Burnell

5. Salt Magic by Hope Larson (Writer), Rebecca Mock (Artist) - Review link here.

4. Impossible Jones, Vol. One by Karl Kesel (Writer/Inker), David Hahn (Penciller)

3. Stargirl (Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #1-2) by Geoff Johns (Writer), Lee Moder (Artist), Various Artists

2. Hooky (Volume 1) by Míriam Bonastre Tur

1. Sky Doll: Decade 00>10 (Sky Doll #0-3) by Alessandro Barbucci (Creator, Writer, Drawings), Barbara Canepa (Creator, Writer, Colours)

Next is the positives: My Top 24 Best Books of 2022!

An Ally's Top 22 LBGTQA+ Films (2022)

Here's something I've been meaning to do before the year is out - make a list of my favourite LBGTQA+ movies!

Below are what I think are the best, most positive, most sincere, most respectful, most entertaining, and most hopeful of queer content in films. Most of them have explicitly queer protagonists - no stereotypical "gay best accessories friends", no token queer side characters who barely do anything and are not much of a presence, no queerbaiting; none of that nonsense is present. Neither is any exploitation and toxicity, and Bury Your Gays is not welcome. This list is legitimate.

Even though I don't belong in any queer groups myself, I will forever support the queer and trans community. I will forever support and celebrate progress, inclusivity, and love and humanity in all forms.

So here is an ally's list of Top LGBTQA+ Films. (Not all of the inclusions are followed by my comments.) Judge me and critique them (and the order they're in) if you want from what you will find on this personal favourites list.

22. Barbie & the Diamond Castle (2008) - Oh it totally counts! Barbie movies are pretty gay overall, but Diamond Castle, a 2008 animated feature length toy commercial, is the gayest of them all. It's about two women who live alone in the woods together, who sing about how much they love each other, who make love heart necklaces for each other, who have more chemistry and a meaningful connection together than with their male "love interests", and they once get away from said love interests by riding on a rainbow. COME ON! "Friendship". Sure, and I'm a sea monkey.

21. The Half of It (2020)

20. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) - Valkyrie. And same sex rock people's consummation. Nuff said. Impressive, considering the MCU's notorious queerbaiting. Shiny, rainbow coloured fun.

19. D.E.B.S. (2004) - It looks and acts cheap. But darn it if it's not love-filled lesbian entertainment. That it got made and released at all is a glorious triumph.

18. Some Like It Hot (1959) - A classic for a reason. The film that extremely likely helped kill the Hays Code. One of Marilyn Monroe's best.

17. Saving Face (2004) - Proto-The Half of It (same director, Alice Wu), and in my opinion, it is oddly superior. A deeply personal movie. Sad, tender, funny, and satisfying.

16. But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) - Cult classic (as are many on this list, inevitably). A funny yet terrifyingly true, reflective and effective satire, with a bubble gum aesthetic to highlight the absurdity of conversion therapy, as well as conservative gender roles. Plus it stars Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Cathy Moriarty, RuPaul, Melanie Lynskey, Michelle Williams, and Dante Basco. You can't go wrong with a cast like that.

15. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) - If you haven't seen it already, do yourself a favour and get to it. You won't regret it.

14. A Fantastic Woman (2017)

13. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) - An example of a lesbian historical drama - an independent film period piece - that isn't boring as hell or gimmicky or Oscar-baity. It's not so tragic at the end, either. It's raw, honest, touching, and beautifully and spectacularly made. Rewatchable art.

12. The Handmaiden (2016) - A miracle of a film. An Asian lesbian historical thriller (and how thrilling and raw it is!), and one of the best anti-patriarchy films ever made. Epic in scope. Based on the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, only set in Japanese-occupied Korea.

11. Booksmart (2019) - Such a funny, warm, nice and unforgettable "woke" teen comedy. Female friendships and coming-of-age queer explorations go hand in hand. A unique experience, like Thelma & Louise, Bridesmaids, and A Simple Favor - because just like those movies, despite how hugely successful they were, not another like them has been made afterwards (though Bridesmaids has had a few imitators that only pick up on the worst of that film, meaning the gross-out "humour". Typical). Because fuck Hollywood and its cowardice, and its passive-aggressive misogyny and homophobia.

10. Love, Simon (2018) - Based on the lovely book, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Almost-as-lovely adaptation. A coming-of-age teen popcorn flick.

9. Pride (2014) - Educational, uplifting and brilliant.

8. Colette (2018) - Keira Knightley's best film, hands down.

7. Battle of the Sexes (2017) - No queer erasure in this biopic. A wonderful, entertaining, emotional, life affirming, heartwrenching and heart-soaring feature, about amazing, iconic idols like Billie Jean King.

6. Happiest Season (2020) - One of my favourite Christmas movies. Such a sweet, hopeful thing. Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis are absolute queens.

5. The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018) - Now onto my all time favourite films. Chloë Grace Moretz's best in anything she's ever done. One of the best LGBTQA+ and friendship films ever made.

4. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021) - The protagonist Katie is queer - it isn't subtext - and she's in one of the greatest animated films in recent years, if not ever. I love this family gem to atoms.

3. The Watermelon Woman (1996) - Can you name another film like this Black sapphic shoestring-budget mockumentary? Trick question - you can't. It is 26 years old, and is like no other thing on the planet. How incredibly sad and telling.

2. Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017) - Not just for Wonder Woman fans. An LBGTQ creative masterpiece. An ethereal historical magnum opus. Nothing conventional or conservative about it.

1. Bound (1996) - A classic and always will be, and it's made by two transgender sisters in their directorial debut. One of the greatest films in all of cinema, that can easily be made into a play. Why hasn't it been adapted to stage yet?!

Happy Pride all year round.

Happy Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy Yuletide! 2022

My room. My tree. My Christmas 🎄🤶⛄❅❄

Very Happy Holidays, everyone  🍵🥰

One of the surprises at my county mall 🤣🤣🤣   

💝💝💝  💗💗💗  🥰🥰🥰

Book Review - 'Marcy's Journal - A Guide to Amphibia' by Adam Colás (Writer), Matthew Braly (Writer, Creator), Catharina Sukiman (Illustrator), Tokyopop (Producer)

Wow. Amazing. Wonderful.

'Marcy's Journal - A Guide to Amphibia' truly is a must for any 'Amphibia' fan. A few things - like extra details and thoughts - included in this companion book are even better than what the show gives us. The drawings, the sketches, the legit, authentic voices given to the character(s) writing as they record their adventures and growing pains and emotional journeys and reflections; everything is a blast. An abundant flow of personality, characteristics, and features, even subtle ones - THAT is 'Marcy's Journal'.

Real effort was put into the creation of this "journal". It is all so much fun, and thoughtful, sensitive and emotional. It is just as funny, exciting, suspenseful, intense, heartbreaking, and hopeful as the cartoon.

And like the cartoon, at the heart of all the Isekai-ing, magical worldbuilding, and Magical Girl-ing is the complicated, trialling, growing friendship between the three young girls - Anne Boonchuy, Sasha Waybright, and Marcy Wu. They are like real people with a history together, and they're great individually, too - so different from each other, with so many issues to work through, and yet their bond, their love, is there. They complete one another, separated or not. They are not to be easily dismissed as cartoon characters. Female friendships in ambitious epic fantasy animation for kids, I am here for it!

'Marcy's Journal - A Guide to Amphibia' - one of THE geekiest, most passionate things I've ever read, and I love it.

Two warnings: don't be fooled by the cute, kiddie and cartoony aesthetic - be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster; and be sure to watch the Disney animated series in its entirety first before reading it. It's not for casual fans (though it may well win them over to become hardcore fans, it is that good), and there are spoilers for the whole show. It's a completionist's treasure.

Official and passionate, thy name is Disney's 'Amphibia's 'Marcy's Journal'.

Final Score: 4.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 2: The Most Fabulous Fighting Team of All' by Cullen Bunn (Writer), Stephanie Hans (Artist), Will Sliney (Artist)

'The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 2: The Most Fabulous Fighting Team of All' is a mess. It's jumpy and rushed, with important details and storylines missing from it (I shouldn't have to read twenty other comics to fully get what's going on in this one!); also missing are some character arcs and development from the previous volume. Some characters are not used to their most basic potential (Misty Knight and Dani Moonstar are just kinda there, with no arc to them whatsoever), and there are implications to a couple of certain characters' "development" - I won't reveal who and what here due to spoilers - which are not explored and are outright ignored; worse, they're played for laughs. The book is so simple, and it suddenly takes a comedic approach overall, compared to volume 1. It's like a slapdash retooling by meddling executives for the second season of a TV series.

And yet... I kind of adore it anyway.

'The Fearless Defenders' is still about arsekicking super ladies saving the day, saving the world. The action, while it does take over and is prioritised above everything else, is very good, and the women look so cool and awesome doing their thing.

Volume 2 is bizarre and insane in the way that makes superhero comic books so entertaining. The art is amazing and gorgeous in every issue. The first couple of said issues are more focused than the rest. I still like the characters, especially Annabelle Riggs. New inclusions to the Defenders are Clea, Elsa Bloodstone, Ren Kimura, and Frankie Raye, aka Nova.

Sheesh, Marvel has far too many characters, and superheroes and villains to deal with, use, or merely chuck out and forget about for the time being. Even over ten years ago, it was impossible to keep tack of everyone and every event in this universe. And now the MCU has taken over freaking everything, to the point where Marvel comics are currently planning out their storylines and characters for the sole purpose of wanting to be adapted into the films' universe, and it is all spiralling out of control and Marvel Studios is hurtling towards a black hole of its own making, and practically everyone - hardcore nerd or fan or casual viewer or whoever - is starting to be burnt out and fed up with its continuous existence and inevitable downfall and "phase" rot due to the business's hubris and growing greed despite owning billions and billions and billions of dollars and ruling the entertainment world with an iron, stifling grip...

*ahem*

Anyway, back to the review of the comic:

There is strong, positive LBGTQ content as well as positive female content in 'The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 2'. There are LOADS of female villains, to boot: Zheng Bao Yu, the Enchantress, Quicksand, Ruby Thursday (hey, I know her from that one classic 'She-Hulk' comic!), Titania, Scorpia, Shriek, Mindblast, and others. Caroline LeFay, the unimpressive big bad behind everything in the last volume, remains present and important as the big bad. And she's the illegitimate child of Morgan LeFay and Doctor Doom now.

Wait, WHAT!?

Since when? And HOW? Was this established in another comic, one I haven't read and have absolute zero interest in picking up?

Well, whatever. Caroline is more interesting this time round, regardless of parentage, so there's a plus.

Talking of interesting, did I forget to mention 'The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 2: The Most Fabulous Fighting Team of All' contains a talking female alien bug creature called a brood who may or may not become a Defender? How about Molly Fitzgerald, aka Shamrock (who sadly doesn't really do anything but be a barmaid)? Then there's Thanos' soldiers, ordinary people who are in cocoons for some reason, Hippolyta's Amazons, a Medusa Amazon called Delphyne Gorgon, Aradnea the "gothy Atlantean witch", Echidna the mermaid mother of all monsters, and giant lobsters and sharks.

Venom, Hercules, Iron Fist, Doctor Strange, and Jack Russell the freaking Werewolf are in this too. Whatever. They're purposefully made unimportant.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnd then it's cancelled. Typical.

Heroic women - heroic LGBTQ women - are rarely ever given the chance to really shine. For that shine to last and have an impact. Got to snuff it out before there's a revolution and change to pop culture, societal culture, and global business culture!

Inclusion and representation matters. It always has, and it still does.

This might be the last Marvel comic I'll ever read. Anything is possible in the future, of course, but I seriously have no interest in this universe and company anymore. Like my stance and feelings on the MCU, it's too much, and I'm burnt out. I miss stories that tell their own single, individual, focused and 

complete stories, without interrupting side plots and characters, and the need for dozens of additional material in order to understand one story.

I'm happy that my final comic from this company turned out to be a fun one, despite its many flaws. I won't be leaving on bitter terms.

As a whole, it isn't good for me anymore. It is time we part ways. For me to grow and move on.

Farewell, and thanks for the good memories, Marvel.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Over My Dead Body' by Sweeney Boo

'Over My Dead Body'

I have been looking forward to getting my hands on this beautiful piece of graphic novel goodness for months. It sounded so right for me, it was like a miracle.

Now that I finally own a copy and have devoured it, I will start by saying:

The further I read on, towards its end, 'Over My Dead Body' is quite a confusing comic. There are some holes in its plotting, mystery, pacing, structure, characterisation, and panelling. A few points, elements, creatures and characters get forgotten about - a kind of first draft, first-ideas-put-in syndrome is evident. As are the obvious edits and surely-deleted scenes left on the cutting room floor. I still don't fully understand the title; without revealing any spoilers, it is an odd little thing to refer to and emphasise in the grand scheme of its own context. And is it meant to be defiant, or subversive, or ironic?

But on the other side of the wand, it is an emotional, heavy, heartfelt gothic mystery story about friendship and found family, set in a witches' world, within a witches' boarding school. Magic, spells, animal familiars, demons, ghosts, amulets, pendulums, herbs, lilies of the valley, are abound. There is horrific imagery, too - this comic is not for children.

The characters are also human, passionate, headstrong, likeable, memorable, distinct, and rather well developed, even with the ending that's like a hodgepodge quilt with tears in it. LBGTQA+ elements include a nonbinary main character, and a slow-building side biracial w/w romance - one of the positives about the ending, of which there are many, I assure you, despite its flaws, is the girls' kiss! It is the only explicit romance in the comic, to boot. Women and girls love, and LBGTQA+ love, are everywhere here, in different shades in the light and dark spectrum. There are POC characters - people who are important, respected, and never forgotten about.

As well as magic, there is genuine love, passion and hard work to be found in 'Over My Dead Body'. Its heart is in it. In the right place. Warts and all. And I can't fault it for that.

It's an updated 'The Worst Witch' and other stories like it. 'The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' also comes to mind. Its imperfections are almost charming. Regardless, it is an immersive, absorbing, exciting and spell-rific feminist, witch boarding school mystery graphic novel, which may or may not have a sequel planned. I probably won't bother to read it, but 'Over My Dead Body' on its own contains a substantial amount of things I love, and I am happy enough with it.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Book Review - 'The Little Match Girl Strikes Back' by Emma Carroll, Lauren Child (Illustrator)

A sweet, wonderful, educational and relevant little subversive fairy tale retelling for kids and adults to read in winter, at Christmas, at any holiday. At any time really. It's a history lesson about workers' rights - and women's rights - that's framed within the perspective of a poor child who has read the original Hans Christian Andersen tale, who can easily identify with the Little Match Girl, being one herself, and who has experienced some fantastical phenomena and dreams too.

But she won't let her story end tragically.

Bridie Sweeney isn't a saintly, too-good-for-this-earth tragic heroine. She is proactive. She is determined. A survivor urchin. Her life won't be for the rich and well-off to feel sadness and pity for her, and then forget about and move on with their privileged existence, comforted in the knowledge that the status quo is intact. She doesn't want to die, quietly, in a fantasy, and out of everyone else's way. She wants to take action.

Match girls - match people - were real people. They actually existed, not just in the fairy tale. They had names and voices.

Bridie has a name, and a voice.

She wants to help others, including her mother and little brother, who also work in matches in some capacity, and are suffering for it under cruel and inhumane working conditions, and company abuse. She wants to help the impoverished women working in the literally poisonous match factory in London. She wants to take a stand, and fight for a better life for herself, her family, and other people like her.

She wishes to strike back.

By doing things like organising a protest...

'The Little Match Girl Strikes Back' is a quick day-read, with nice symbolic black-and-grey-and-red illustrations by Lauren Child, inspired by real photographs of the London match factory worker protests in the late 1800s. A lot of these photos are of poor children. The ending is pretty much a history account, moving swiftly alongside Bridie's story. The last few pages are another "dream" or "fantasy" or "vision" of hers, in the flame of a match. It shows a future, a happier time in her life, that she helped to make happen, and how much she can still do for others, for the world, right then. It is beautiful and almost perfect.

I do not like how the book very briefly gives us a sympathetic policeman - not a character, just a copper who whispers he secretly agrees with the women workers and wants them to be treated better. No police or similar authority figures in positions of power want to stop them, nor harm them. In a book about human rights and protests and driving change for the marginalised and disadvantaged and downtrodden. In a book published in this day and age. It is dishonest, disheartening, disappointing, especially in a children's book.

However, it is the only real flaw I can legit give 'The Little Match Girl Strikes Back'. It also has animals in it, including a cute puppy, so, softie that I am, anything to do with those, anything happening around them, I can forgive.

SPEAK UP!

UNIONISE!

TAKE DOWN CAPITALISM!

For a fast, educational, appealing, engaging, inspiring, hopeful and life affirming read to lift your spirits and faith in humanity at the end of the year, go ahead with 'The Little Match Girl Strikes Back'. I'm surprised the idea hasn't been done years ago.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 1: Doom Maidens' by Cullen Bunn (Writer), Will Sliney (Artist), Veronica Gandini (Colourist)

'The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 1: Doom Maidens' can be considered an excellent and glorious start to those who are looking for female-led superhero comics, particularly in Marvel. It came out in 2013, so it is fairly old at this point (ten years!), but it is nonetheless an effective introduction to the prominent leading ladies featured here; not to mention entertaining as all hell. This is the most I've seen and understood of Valkyrie/Brunnhilde in the Marvel comics, and it marks the first time I've seen Misty Knight in anything, other than the book, 'Fearless and Fantastic!'.

'Doom Maidens' also stars Dani Moonstar (X-Man and Native American archer who is somehow no longer a mutant, and is somehow Hel's Valkyrie), Hippolyta, aka Warrior Woman (not related to DC comics, and is as far removed from that iteration as you can get), and Dr. Annabelle Riggs, an ordinary archaeologist who is swept up in the apocalyptic, earth-and-Asgard-and-the-Nine-Realms-and-the-universe-saving superheroine plot and action, and who also has the hots for Valkyrie. Cameos include the All-Mother, who are Freyja, Gaea, and Idunn, Hela, and brought in for the big climactic fight are: She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Storm, Black Widow, Hellcat, Spider-Woman, Electra, Black Cat, Tigra, Thundra, Tarantula, and Colleen Wing! It is awesome.

The ending, not so much. In fact, the ending is a downer. There is girl power, but significantly less girl success and girl support; women supporting women, and saving women. It is the reason why I kind of both love and hate 'Doom Maidens', but I won't elaborate due to spoilers. I hear it gets better in the subsequent issues, anyway, and it can't diminish the quality of an otherwise bloody brilliant and near-flawless book.

There is very good humour and banter as well as action and drama. The dynamics are so well written and well paced. The only real flaw throughout the comic up to the ending is the weak, undistinguished and unmemorable villains, who want to control ancient armies of the dead. They are a couple of non-powered, rich, power-hungry, nihilistic, trigger-happy, ruthless, sadistic and murderous nobodies named Caroline LeFay and Mr. Raven, who just want to watch the world burn.

But there is high fun, high stakes and high emotional peaks to be had. The Marvel universe really is ginormous, ample and messy. And there is LBGTQ rep, with a w/w kiss in the first issue.

'The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 1: Doom Maidens' comes recommended by me, despite the downer ending. I've already ordered the second volume. I have to know what happens next. Can't wait.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Star: Birth of a Dragon' by Kelly Thompson (Writer), Javier Pina (Artist), Filipe Andrade (Artist), Jay Leisten (Artist), Jesus Aburtov (Colour Artist), Chris O'Halloran (Colour Artist)

Ripley Ryan is an ordinary and severely traumatised woman, and a former fake superhero, and an abuse victim, who after her "death" is inexplicably bonded to an Infinity Stone that's somehow lodged in her chest. She hates superheroes, hates the kind of world she lives in, and her morals and how she goes about things are very questionable; this combined with the power to control reality however she wants it, which she is still new and amateurish at, makes her a threat to the entire Marvel universe.

But despite, for all intents and purposes, being a villain, can this abuse and trauma survivor ever be bought back from the brink, to not be the destructive, deadly dragon of limitless and endless power she is sorely tempted to be, out of fear, and a yearning for freedom from that fear and suffering and helplessness?

In this short comic there is also Captain Marvel, who Ripley, aka Star, hates and fears the most for understandable reasons (and not just because Carol punched a hole through her chest and apparently killed her to stop her from killing all of New York - I mean, yikes!); Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, another reality warper who's had her own share of deep trauma throughout her whole life, and who sees herself in Ripley and wants to save her from herself; Jessica Jones; and the Black Order, including Black Swan and Proxima Midnight, who are Thanos's former lackeys. Loki and Titania cameo in the beginning, too.

'Star: Birth of a Dragon' is an entertaining read overall, full of action and emotion. I and many others are intrigued by Star's character. The horror she went through was no fault of her own, of course, but it doesn't excuse her current actions, nor her choice to be destructive - externally, to allegedly help herself internally - even though you know where she is coming from with that. She merely wants freedom, and to protect herself, to not be afraid anymore. I hope this victim-turned-villain receives the help, care and support she needs in the future, so she can truly heal and save herself, and not want to destroy anything and anyone.

I wish Carol had been more compassionate towards Star/Ripley, and not so gung ho about beating her up, when she is clearly afraid and traumatised, because of Carol, no matter Ripley's past crimes and the current threat she is while she has the Reality Stone. I haven't read the preceding comics about Captain Marvel and Star, but Carol Danvers, while I get everything she's gone through in recent years (thanks, Marvel), nevertheless needs less anger and more thought and heart again. Her issues are making her almost as much of a danger as Star at this point. Carol, and everyone else, definitely needs therapy.

In a comic filled with potent female characters, displaying varying degrees of trauma and understanding of others' trauma, Jessica Jones sadly doesn't get to do much, and she is at best an extended cameo.

At least 'Star' manages to achieve one momentous thing I didn't think was possible before: it made me care about the Scarlet Witch. Her big, expanded role, and the understanding of her character (as a good guy, and a good person) are a huge plus. I might finally read a comic starring her - a solo comic, starring the Scarlet Witch, but not Vision. I'm all for ultimate power couples and iconic, unconventional romances, but sheesh, let Wanda, who is one of if not the most powerful woman in all of Marvel, define herself for a change, without the too-many men in her life.

The art is very good, if iffy and crooked in the faces and facial expressions a few times.

For a quick, action-packed read about complex, damaged women, with an unorthodox ending, give 'Star: Birth of a Dragon' a go.

Final Score: 3.5/5