PRIDE & MORE
By Alex Ness
June 4, 2025
The Month is June, and we celebrate many cultural groups through the year, and June is the month we celebrate the LGBTIQ communities. I've been blessed by various members of that community. I am grateful to have known Jeffrey Catherine Jones, who as you might perceive by her name, was known as a male artist, primarily but late in life transitioned to reflect what she had felt most of her existence. Her talents as a painter was immense, and I was a fan since I first saw her work. I got to know her in the late 2000s, and she enjoyed my poems that I shared by email, even suggesting she'd love illustrate a poem I'd given her to read. That never happened, she died prior to that, but her kindness, honest spoken views, and appreciation of the works of others, made me hold of her in the highest esteem.
Pride is a time to see members of the LGBTIQ and appreciate their presence, their works, and the community. I wish them all celebratory month, and beyond.
Jeffrey Catherine Jones sadly passed away in May of 2011. It was especially sad, as they were someone who was kind, bright, talented, and had only started understanding her being, inside and out. I will never forget her, the thought of such a talented person painting to accompany a poem of my own, was a way to light my fire in inspiration and bold hope.
FOUR TPB CANDIDATES
I received a number of emails giving suggestions for future TPB works from the large number of series left uncollected. The large number of suggestions gave me reason to continue in mentioning works I think ought to be collected.
DEFENDERS 1-12
Volume 2, 2001
MARVEL COMICS
Writer Kurt Busiek
Artist Erik Larsen
I loved this series, and it came before my greater involvement in comic book fan press and fandom. The series was responded to with a less than an excited embrace. It was about the tone, the overall story told and more. But the series had a meaning that embraced the original series, and showed it in ways that were more modern. I enjoyed it, found it humorous, and would like to have it collected for a new audience to read.
FREAK FORCE 1-20
Volume 1, 1993
IMAGE COMICS
Keith Giffen Plots and layouts
Erik Larsen Writer
Vic Bridges Pencils
The Freak Force began its existence as a group of oddly talented people, working for the Chicago police department. They were meant to defeat the powered beings who were not upon the good side, and who were trying to take down every day society. The group finds itself abandoned by the authorities who hired them, and eventually try to fight crime and mutant weirdo's for the reason of doing the right thing. They do better in this, but find it difficult to do so without support and approval. I'd argue this is a work similar to few others, because it is one thing to gather bad guys to fight worse bad guys... and another in gathering good guys who don't win every fight. It was fun, way more than most books of the time.
SPECTRE 1-31
Volume 2, 1987
DC Comics
Writer Doug Moench
Artist Gene Colan
I did buy most of the run of this work, and I found it good, but not great. I think Doug Moench is a fine writer, having written a favorite work of mine, Master of Kung Fu, and I think Gene Colan was a great in the comics world. But if it was not my favorite book, it provided solid stories, and characters who were well constructed. It isn't the Spectre of John Ostrander, which was a brilliant run, but it is a more human character, and had different means of addressing the story. It was worth reading, and a collection would be worth considering.
ELECTRIC WARRIOR 1-18
Volume 1, 1986
DC Comics
Writer Doug Moench
Artist Jim Baikie
As I've a great fear of AI, the future, and cybernetic alteration of the human body, this work should be one that instills fear in me. I liked it, and think it should be collected, as nothing really is similar on the shelves. It is a work that is unique, with a dystopia of the future, on an earthlike world, on fire between the occupants, all seem to be utilizing cybernetic enhancement and AI. The ability to succeed is largely divided with the wealthy of course able to buy their way into being dominant. The Electric Warrior is someone who resembles a robot wearing a headdress, evoking a Native American. Fighting for communities left out of the benefits of high tech, as well as being against the aliens, gangs, and elites, his role is both as a lone source of justice, and a being who is honorable for honor's sake. Collecting this offers a world and characters that you can't find elsewhere.
TO LIVE IN THE FICTIONAL SETTING you just read and loved
In the past I've mentioned Robert Adams' Horseclans, Conan by Robert E. Howard, and the Humanx universe of Alan Dean Foster, for their excellence and fun, Steve Jackson Games offers other ways to enjoy them. Utilizing GURPS, an rpg system that allows all sorts of role play gaming, each of these settings offer wonderful play, in worlds the books have introduced. They also allow solitaire format, and truly capture the flavor of each other's settings. Conan is more than a hack and slash RPG, it uses the works of REH to offer adventure with a purpose, showing that Conan is much more than a dullard with muscles and a sword. I realize that not everyone digs Conan, but I do, and I enjoyed these modules and uses of the character. The only thing I am not a fan of, is the need for someone to either time travel and buy them new, or find them on EBAY or a similar market. Find them at SJGAMES
In the meantime, for all your printing needs, Matt at Speed Print Inc. is amazing.
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