Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

Elden Ring is an absolute masterpiece. As more games have added bloat and pointless mission markers all over the map, losing the sense of discovery, From Software have trusted the intelligence of their audience and created a true open-world experience (at least for the first 90% of the game before it becomes more mainline). As a result, we have the most awe inspiring open‑world game where exploration is encouraged and the story is slowly unearthed. I’m 140 hours into the game and am still not finished yet, currently bashing my head against Malekith, The Black Blade, however I am loving the experience. Check out my screenshots so far!

Nosferatu- Film and Live Score Review

I have been a film aficionado for a long time. My father brought me up on classics like David Lean's adaptations of Oliver Twist and Great Expectations as well as the various black and white classic comedies of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy. However, I became interested in cult TV series and films whilst attending University. Our campus was media-centered and as a result it had a huge catalogue of videos to rent, free of charge; I ploughed through many often taking the maximum 8 out at a time and consumed them voraciously.

As a result, I believe I am quite literate in films and TV but Nosferatu, the German Expressionist masterpiece is like the Rosetta Stone. Over 100 years old and nearly obliterated from history, this masterpiece still haunts my dreams with its otherworldly imagery. I've seen it on film and DVD at home lots of times but never on the big screen. A chance to see it on the big screen at my local theatre was too good to pass up. Throw in a live score and it was a must watch for me, so I quickly booked a ticket for just myself... this was a bit too niche for even my wife who still hadn't forgiven me dragging her to the Werner Herzog documentary, Cave of Forgotten Dreams over 10 years ago in Cambodia.

So, on a cold, dark Monday night I descended on the Teignmouth Pavilion, wondering what the audience would be like. I picked up my ticket and saw that there was a small group of about 30 people with the average age of 60. I was one of the youngest member in the audience apart from a couple of teenagers who came along with their elders.

The film itself is a masterpiece of early cinema, mixing humour like, 'She has a beautiful neck,' when Orlok sees a picture of Ellen (a Mina Harker-a-like) or when we see Orlok using his powers to carry the coffins onto a carriage before using his powers to get the horses to gallop, to full on dread like when Orlok rises from the coffin in the ship and the crew are slowly picked off. When the title card read, ‘The ship of death had a new captain,’ and I saw Orlok on the ship, which was slowly moving forward under his evil influence, it sent shivers down my spine.

All through this, the music by Chris Green enhanced the experience and offered a new way to appreciate the hundred year old movie. As the blueish tint gave way to a yellow hue it felt ethereal on the big screen. I have had a copy of the dvd at home since the late 90s but that had a different musical track so seeing this new soundtracked version certainly was a boon.

Overall, I loved the experience and hope that many more events like this come to our local pavilion theatre; it's a way for people to appreciate old classics and brings the media to a new audience.

Magnetic Rose (Otomo's Memories)- Cult Film Review

Katsuhiro Otomo is a manga legend, rising to prominence with his seminal masterpiece Akira. It was the first real breakthrough worldwide manga hit, spread initially by word of mouth and then gaining a cult fandom until it broke through to the mainstream thanks to the terrific but confusing film.

For his follow up work, Otomo went a little more left field, creating a comic anthology series of which 3 were turned into an animated film called Memories. I knew of the film due to the soundtrack that I purchased at Forbidden Planet for a then-princely sum of £25. I was intrigued by the cover and when I saw that one of the composers was Yoko Kanno, whose work I'd loved in 'Macross Plus, I bought it. The music was mesmerising, bringing together Puccini's Madame Butterfly with Kanno's wending jazzy brassiness. It is a hauntingly beautiful score and I played it for years before ever seeing the film.

In the late 90s, the emergence of the internet made buying, selling and trading anime much easier and so, after striking an friendship with a fellow manga and anime fan, I received a copied VHS of Memories.

Now, all three short films are worthy of attention but for this review I specifically want to shine a light on the first, Magnetic Rose. I only read one comic from the anthology series and that was Magnetic Rose, but that was after having watched the 50 minute enthralling sci-fi horror/ psychological film

I only recently found out that Magnetic Rose was written by the late, great, gone-too-soon Satoshi Kon who made Paprika, Perfect Blue, Millenium Actress, Paranoia Agent and Tokyo Godfathers, and looking at those works, the psychological angle is obvious. The storyline is about a salvage ship on their way home receiving a distress signal. Following protocol, they go to provide assistance only to find a graveyard of ships all merged together in the shape of a rose. As the crew explore the interior they encounter a facsimile of a baroque world but there seems to be a presence within which means harm.

I won't spoil it but the atmosphere created, enhances by the evocative operatic soundtrack, is second to none and the film will linger in your mind long after the denouement. The animation is sublime and has some of the most technically impressive multi-plane shots seen at the time, lending the film a lived-in free movement which is appropriate for space.

I've been into manga and anime for over 30 years and this particular film is one of my all-time favourites. Even after all these years, the film haunts me.

Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark- Audiobook Review

If you grew up in America in the 80s, Cassandra Peterson's alter ego Elvira was a fixture in the horror world whether through her hosting performances, movies or TV appearances, she would be there cracking wise. Growing up in England, Elvira was not so prominent here but seeped into the cult viewing consciousness through cameos and references in a myriad of shows. I knew of Elvira in my teens but didn't know how or why- she was just there.

The audiobook is read by Elvira herself and contains her usual sass and cheesy jokes.

So, when the autobiography of Elvira came out, I decided to take the plunge and find out more about the life of Ms. Peterson. I bought the audiobook as Peterson read that herself and I felt it would be interesting to hear the words read by the author. What comes through is the wisdom that comes with age and experience but also a heartfelt survivors account of the early abuse, unwanted attention in her teens and the toxic masculinity that pervaded much of the world at the time and world and how much this was normalised. The most interesting elements for me were her accounts of her run in with celebrities, some of who were kind and polite, whilst others were predatory and hurtful. I'm not one for Hollywood celebrity stories but these recounts show the dark side of Hollywood and the entertainment industry as a whole was used as a way by those in power to leverage their authority on whoever they wanted. The names dropped come thick and fast including Elvis, Robert De Niro, Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, Freddie Mercury, Tom Jones, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and so many more icons and A-listers.

Peterson is candid and discusses her highs and lows with honesty. She owns the decisions she has made but also explains how many of her life choices and chances were limited by those in authority; when she didn't put out on the casting couch there were repercussions but she doesn't regret her choices. In light of #MeToo, Peterson says she is not surprised and that this moment of reckoning was well overdue.
She ends on a note of hope and opens up about her recent personal life and bisexuality.

I really enjoyed this audiobook and Peterson's enthusiasm and candour make this a worthwhile autobiography to listen to.

Hag- Audible Series Review

I love fairy and folk tales because they offer a window into the past where society had collectively agreed that the messages and morals were important enough to keep alive through the generations. I'm sure we all have personal feelings and experiences with fairy tales and what we take away from them rings true for different people for different reasons. Lots of these fairy tales have been Disney-fied, which often altered the moralizing through its retelling. For some, Disney's is a shallow style of retelling which tries to apply a formula or an agenda. I don't agree with this point of view per se, but I do think the essence of these stories has been altered.

Luckily, there are plenty of modern interpretations of fairy and folk tales that keep to the core message and one of these is Hag, a free Audible series, where a variety of writers each undertake retellings adding something personal and relatable. The stories are from across the UK and the interview with the writers and Professor Carolyne Larrington, a specialist in Old Norse and British fairy tales at St John's College, Oxford, offers provenance into the tales. As an old anthropology student, it's great to hear different takes and angles and to explore old and new meaning.

For a society that has taken the edge away from many of these tales of otherness, identity, faith, religion, gender and sexual trauma, this production is like a breath of fresh air. It's like a modern version of Angela Carter's ouvre, which looked at the power dynamics of females and their potency, or Neil Jordan's classic Company of Wolves, which looked at the often misogynistic or sexist moralising intended to keep the female power in its place and subverts them.

As the cold, dark nights close in, Hag is a welcoming chair near a crackling warm fire - Lovely unsettling stuff!

Koko Be Good- Graphic Novel Review

I bought this graphic novel upon release in 2010 and remember quite liking it at the time but not thinking it was anything special. So, after about 12 years, it's nice to revisit it.

This is a handsome book with good quality paper stock.

The book is a coming of age/ existential crisis tale that was popular during this period in time. It has a slacker comedy vibe but also some of the elements of mumblecore movies where young adults are trying to figure things out. In this story we follow Jon, a young college graduate who is leaving his American home to travel to work in an orphanage with his Peruvian girlfriend in South America. He had his doubts but as he is directionless, feels its a good thing to do. He collides with Koko, a narcissist who is in it for herself and together their friendship grows and they learn about what it means to be good people and function in a society. There is a b-story about Faron, a young boy looking for a safe home and future, but his story is sidelined for the most part.

The ochre colours are beautiful and bring the art to life.

Whilst the story is perfunctory and the dialogue a little too earnest and Dawson's Creek-ish in its navel gazing, the art is a real standout and the ochre water colours are lush and expressive. The silent moments, the moments when the tale is told purely through images, is often stronger than the narrative unfolding through dialogue. It reminds me of Reality Bites, the early 90s film about finding your true self. It sounds great but some of the dialogue was clunky and didn’t aged well and it doesn't here either. However, the comic is an interesting read and, whilst not essential, worth the hour or so required of your time.

Love, Death + Robots- Season 1 Review

Love, Death + Robots is a Netflix backed anthology series of sci-fi stories that mixes cutting-edge animation styles with quick fire storylines. Each episode is stand-alone and with the longest episode clocking in at just over 15 minutes, you’re never too far away from a new world and new ideas. Obviously, this means that some episodes will chime more than others depending upon your tastes but they are all uniformly solid. I have written a brief synopsis and my views of those episodes briefly.

Three Robots- This follows 3 robots as they go on a tour of a post apocalyptic world sans humans. It's very dark with some great humour thrown in.

There is a great homage to the Terminator with the opening shot of a robot foot crushing a skull but from this the tale of 3 robot tourists taking in our crumbling ruins is great fun, more so with the interesting ending.

Beyond the Aquila Rift- When a ship suffers a catastrophic routing error, it is flung thousands of light years away from Earth but luckily a friendly face is on hand...

A great hard sci-fi story with stunning animation.

Ice Age- When a young couple move into a new apartment they find an old time fridge which contains a civilisation in there, but when the society evolves at a fast pace they see how adaptable humans can be.

Mary Elizabeth Winsted stars in this episode and, whilst hokey and a little cheesy, it is a cute episode with human actors.

Sonnie's Edge- When a beastie cage fighter (think mature Pokemon) is tasked to throw a fight she declines but a client is very insistent.

This is an edgy and interesting story with some great stylised animation. The creature designs are quite generic but the revenge story is told well enough.

When the Yoghurt Took Over- Sentient yoghurt solves all of mankind's problems but at what cost to freedom?

A cutely animated but well observed short animation on the fallibility of human nature and our disturbing ability to look for a man (or yoghurt) of destiny that offers easy solutions.

The Secret War- A gritty World War 2 tale of Soviet soldiers fighting an occult enemy they helped create.

A powerhouse of cgi animation with amazing lighting and a tense Alien-esque atmosphere. It culminates in a spectacular gunfight and a heck of a finale.

Sucker of Souls- When Dracula is revived, an aversion to cats saves a motley crew of scientists and mercenaries. But how do they make their way out?

The animation is a scratchy cel shaded style and is cool and whilst the story is interesting, the dialogue is a bit edge-lordy and cringy at times.

The Witness- When a woman witnessed a murder she goes on the run from the assailant.

The cyberpunk style city scape is gorgeous and the frenetic cgi is stunning with hues of pinks and purples adding vibrancy to the place.

Suits- When an infestation threatens the valley and lifestock of a local farm, the local farmers grab their mechs and fight to the death.

This is a gorgeous animation and very tense, at times reminding me of Telltales' Walking Death game in terms of the animation style and art. It's a clever story and exciting as well.

Good Hunting- The Huli Jing are changelings and are hunted as bewitchers but as the world is changing, a Huli Jing and a hunter become friends, looking out for each other and adapting to their environment. When the Huli Jing is abused by men in a rapidly changing world, she adapts and takes bloody revenge.

This is a dark tale about the power of the male gaze and the damage done to women. It's another sumptuously cel animated episode and one of the highlights. The steampunk aesthetic is suitably cool and imaginative. The dialogue is spot on and doesn't try to be too edgy.

The Dump- When a city planner pays a visit to the local dump to evict the tenant he gears an old yarn, but is it true?

A dark comedic piece with a slice of bitterness against capitalism and consumerism.

Shape-Shifters- When a team of American soldiers in Afghanistan are supported by a couple of ware wolves, it seems like they have the advantage. However, the Taliban may have their own dog soldiers and when an American warewolf is killed, its up to the remaining warewolf to find out the truth.

A beautifully animated shirt film and interesting choice of perspective as there are first person shooter angles.

Fish Night- When their car breaks down in the middle of the American desert, two travelling door to door salesmen have an amazing experience with the fantastical creatures of the night.

With rotoscoped style animation, this is a gorgeous animated film that is an audio-visual delight. Definitely one of the highlights from the series which has heart and says something about the human condition without trying to be too edgy or outrageous.

Helping Hand- When an astronaut is out on a spacewalk to fix a satellite but a piece of debris compromises a suit, a sacrifice has to be made.

This is a claustrophobic short film and suitably dramatic. I liked the main protagonist and the quieter moments as she gets used to the idea of dying.

Alternate Histories- A thoroughly original idea based on a not original one, we see 6 different scenarios where Hitler is killed and the resulting aftereffects of these.

Thoroughly creative and quirky, this is a strange but great short looking at causality and it's consequences.

Lucky 13- In the future, a space marine is assigned a ship, Unlucky 13. As she bonds with the AI it becomes lucky 13, but will its luck hold out?

A solid story about the relationships between man and machine and the power of AI.

Blindspot- In a cyberpunk future, when a gang try to steal some CPUs from a convoy there's a powerful machine standing in their way. Will they get it and at what cost?

The animation on this one is a mixture of CGI and more traditional cel animation mix which gives it an impressive look but the dialogue is circa 90s cringey in places.

Zima Blue- When a reclusive yet intergalactic ally famous artist provides an interview to a journalist she seeks what motivates him. His answer is... not what you'd expect.

This is a uniquely stylish production with an art style reminiscent of The Hollow. Like that, this look at the relationship between technology and humans and the search for truth. This is quite a philosophical episode and quite beautiful.

So, after what hung the complete series what did I make of it? Well, I love short-form animation so a series like this is a real boon however the edge-lordiness of some of the episodes, as well as it's gratuitous nudity and violence, made it seem sometimes juvenile and silly. Don't get me wrong, I'm no prude and watched lots of anime and manga back in the 90s, which was peak edgelord with Urotsokidoji, Ninja Scroll, Wicked City and Cyber City 808 being edgy/sexy, but in the 2020s it seems.... misplaced. A few of the episodes are interesting and worth a look like Three Robots, Alternate History, When the Yoghurt Took Over and Zima Blue but too many felt try-hard and almost like fanfic I would have written in my teens in the 90s after watching too much anime- not bad per se but when given a canvas like this, it's really an opportunity to really tell a unique and awesome story.

Overall, the series was worth a watch but I hope the newer series took what was good about the series (the interesting ideas, different animation styles and great sound work) and built it into a more refined experience with a clearer focus.

Ojingogo- Graphic Novel Review

Utterly surreal and slightly abstract with elements of Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Gulliver's Travels and much from the world of manga, Ojingogo is a not your average graphic novel tale. The story is about a young girl, her pet chibi-octopus and her sentient camera, which is stolen by a malevolent octopus/humanoid creature. At least, that's what I think happened as the book had very little to no text and is presented with a surrealist bent. As a fan of David Lynch and Jodorowsky, I'm used to art that challenged and confounds but even this didn't help in understanding the story too well. I think, author and illustrator Matthew Forsythe, like Lynch, is all about creating a mood and evoking feelings of wonder and bewilderment so you strap in and enjoy the absurdist journey.

The illustrations are beautifully drawn with fine lines and lots of use of blank space to let the characters pop. The drawings seemed to be inspired by South Korean and manga art; cute big eyes and some interesting creature designs. There were a couple I thought that could be turned in plushie toys so you get an idea of the aesthetic.

This One Summer- Graphic Novel Review

This graphic novel is like an ode to those everlong summers of the past, where the holidays seemed to stretch on forever and the possibilities and promises of the future seemed endless. The power of nostalgia is strong in this comic as writing and art team Jillian and Mariko Tamaki create a believable scenario where
Rose and her family head to the beach for the summer, as they always do, but things are tense in the family as Rose's mum is suffering from deep depression whilst her father is feeling the strain of keeping the household positive. Meanwhile, Rose and her regular holiday friend Windy, get involved with a teen pregnancy drama whilst watching horror films.

It is poignant and wistful, carrying the memories of summer beach holidays when everything was possible, nothing much actually happened and time seemed to stand still. The artwork is incredible- beautiful blue washes and an amazing mix of the detailed and the impressionistic- and the story is sad and realistic. The story and the art go together perfectly.

The demographic for the book is hard to pinpoint as it uses words like slut, rape, abortion, blow job, porn, boobs etc so it's quite fruity with its language but I know, from working at a couple of youth centre for over 10 years, that actually many tweens do talk like this so it is lifelike.

Overall, I'd recommend the book as it captures the fleeting moment we have all had our lives so well. Additionally, the gorgeous blue brushlike art flows, stunningly capturing the spirit of the summer; it make you *feel* the place you've never been to. The Germans calls this fernweh which means farsickness and it’s the concept of feeling homesick for a place you’ve never been or could never go. This book made me feel that and it captures the mood so well.

Knights and Bikes- Audiobook Review

Knights and Bikes was a 2019 videogame, developed by Foam Sword and published by Double Fine. I played the game near release time and loved the picture book aesthetic and the compelling story of adventure on the tiny island of Penfurzy had me gripped from the start. I played the game to completion and loved the world created and thought at the time that there was a whole world of potential storylines.

For the uninitiated, on the peaceful island of Penfurzy, Demelza Penrose, a young girl with a very active imagination, daydreams of grand adventures amongst the legends of yore that surround her on her island home. Living with her father, the owner of a dilapidated mini-golf course, she lives a boring life missing her mother who died in a tragic accident. One night, Nessa, a young runaway with tall tales of daring-do, enters her life and they become firm friends. Along the way, the pals halt the sale of the mini-gold land and destroy landmarks following clues contained in Demelza's mother's journal, the clues of which lead to the long lost castle and the treasure of the legendary Penfurzy Knights. Can the treasure offer Demelza a way to save her home?

The first book is very closely based off of the videogame and translates well to the written word. I got the audiobook so the West Country accents and the sound effects were especially wonderful to hear. The actors and actresses relished their roles and delivered the dialogue in suitably dramatic ways.

The second book, The Rebel Bicycle Club, is a new adventure and is more like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as it deals with a magic chalice, not belonging to Christ but rather King Pendragon of the Penfurzy Knights.

The third and final book, Wheels of Legend, revolves around a mysterious travelling fayre that seems to be searching for something in the local quarry. Joining Demelza and Nessa is Jack, a young boy from the fayre who seems to have something to hide. Throw in giants, mystery men and a mermaid's soporific tune and you've got a cracking adventure.

This series of books has it all- an intriguing land full of mystery, great characters that are thoughtfully written and a cohesive through-line that offers a world of possibility. The stories are presented in a humorous manner but they have a truth to them that contains heart. Central to it all is the relationship between lonely Demelza, dealing with her grief, and mythomaniac Nessa who struggles with change and building friendship. The stories show the growing bond between these two characters and how friendship is an important part of your youth where the Summers seemed to stretch on forever. The books are full of 1980s references including the Nintendo Power Glove, arcade machines, bikes, frisbees and many iconic films.

Knights and Bikes is a thoroughly creative series and one I would have loved to have read back in the day as a youth. As an early 40s adult, I loved it and appreciated it for what it was but I know my 7 and 4 year old daughters, the target demographic for these books, will appreciate it much more than I do.

Overall, the Knights and Bike book series is well worth a listen or read whilst the videogame is well worth a play.

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.

LINK- An English Geek in Saudi

LINK- Battle Angel Alita: And So It Ends

LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- Akira Soundtrack Vinyl Review

The Good Place and Philosophy- Book Review (and self-reflection)

We live in peculiar times, one where we have had relative peace for the longest duration in modern history, are more connected more than ever before but also seem to be separated; in this morally ambiguous time we have strangely stratified society where the loudest voices are from the extreme of the left and right wings.

A short while ago, I read How To Be Perfect: The Answer To Every Moral Question by Mike Schur, the creator of The Good Place, Parks and Rec and The Office (American version). I liked how he presented moral quandaries we often faced in everyday lives and his philosophical playthrough of each of these situations using different forms of ethics. It was a highly enjoyable read and it got me thinking deeply about how I could be a positive agent for change in the world.

In a little slice of heaven, Sharm El Sheikh, I read this book and thought about moral philosophy.

I wanted to delve deeper into some of the questions and moral thought experiments raised by The Good Place and the philosophy books I had read after it. The Good Place and Philosophy, which is edited by Kimberly S. Engels, breaks down some of the major themes from the show into 25 essays written by a wide range of authors, philosophers and academics covering 9 themes set against the backdrop of the 3 major ethical theories: Virtue theory, consequentialism and deontology.

Now, the titles of the chapters aren't useful if you haven't watched the show but they are quotes from it and make sense in that regard. However, broadly speaking these cover different aspects of philosophy and the brackets are my additions to explain what each chapter covers:

I just ethic'd you in the face (Ethics and it's application in the modern world)
Virtuous for virtues sake (Can ethics make you a better person?)
All those ethics lessons paid off (Morality is difficult and decision-making is tough)
Help is other people (We are at our best when we build each other up)
Absurdity needs to be confronted (Existentialism and why no God isn't necessary that bad)
Searching for meaning is philosophical suicide (Be better and do better)
The Dalai Lama texted me that (World religions and the idea of 'self')
Sometimes a flaw can make something even more beautiful (Everyone is different and unique)
Oh cool, more Philosophy! That will help us (Free will, the idea of the soul and the future of AI)

Each of the essays investigates and further expands issues raised from the show, all the while citing the many philosophers and texts mentioned. Overall, the essays turn out to be a very good introduction to these concepts and is more engaging than some of the heavier and difficult philosophical texts. I particularly enjoyed James Lawler's Beyond Good and Evil: Eternal Return of the Superhuman, Michael McGowen's Conceptions of the Afterlife: The Good Place and Religious Traditions and Dane Sawyer's Who Are Chidi and Eleanor in a Past-(After) Life? The Buddhist Notion of No-Self.

I walked away with a few thoughts after reading the book and am still processing these ideas so humour me as I go through a stream of consciousness of some of the ideas I've stepped away with.

The idea that all there is the silent indifference of the empty universe is one that worries many people and leads often to existential crises but this is where philosophy (and religion) can be useful. Both offer meaning to a seemingly meaningless life and the idea that there are 'projects' that will live on after you can be a soothing balm; they can offer an ethical transformation. What we do and the choices we make are acts of free will and we can use these to be transformative and have transformational ecstacy rather than descend into nihilism.

There is a truth that relationships are transformative, even relationships that run their course are not necessarily failures; another person can change your life without remaining a permanent part of it. People can leave an imprint on is, acting as a catalyst for (re) discovering something about ourselves. This is the power of our freewill, we can change the world in wonderful incremental ways. Just think back on the people in your life who had a profound and deep effect on you. This 'affective group', people who you feel connected with and bond with over some mutual appreciation of something, have a long - lasting effect on you and change you in profound ways.

T. M. Scanlon's Contractualism (We should act upon rules that others could not reasonably refuse i.e. create and follow reasonable rules that are built on interpersonal relationships) is a good way to think about society. Generally, people need people and especially at a time when religion is on the wane across much of the world, Ernest Becker's conclusion that modern relationships are all we have after the "death of God" struck a chord. However, even with friendship and love, "No human relationship can bear the burden of godhood." It's like Michael said when paraphrasing Eleanor, "Everyone human is a little bit sad all the time, because you know you're going to die but that's what gives life meaning."

The idea of religious luck or salvific luck (being born into the 'right' religion where out of all the choices you have the correct one is an interesting idea. What if you're a good person that does good things and behaved impeccably but we're just born into or selected the 'wrong' religion, what happens to you? In Islam, it doesn't matter as your deeds and intentions are considered, if you're people of the book that is great, but not all religions have that flexibility. What then? It may seem bleak for atheists as everything will end; no more family and friends, experiences, travels, appreciation of art and music. Nada. However, it doesn't have to be so bleak as your pain will also end; errors, regrets, sadness, a sense of ennui will all be gone. It’s the circle of life, just as you consumed from the world, so you will be consumed and add to the new life that will come after your death. You are never truly gone, you will remain in some way. For some, this will offer peace and solace and for others it might fill then with existential dread.

As a Muslim, and an eternal optimist, I've realised that I have never really needed to grapple with ideas of existential nihilism or whether I am living my best life, simply because of my belief in a higher power. It provides me with a foundation where meaning and order are maintained. Yes, with modern freedoms and the breaking down of social constructs, there can sometimes be a feeling of powerlessness, emptiness or ennui. And yes, with the old norms crumbling, we can feel overwhelmed by the choices and possibilities. We can become slaves to the swipe right/ Sliding Doors multi-verse (Wow, that’s the second mention of this Gwennie vehicle in as many month- Ed.). I know these feeling all too well, but the structure of my religion provides me with the strong underpinning and understanding that there’s a higher power who's intimately aware of me and this gives me something firm to hold onto when things get unpredictable.

I'm not saying it's always easy but the act of trusting something above and outside yourself is comforting and profound. It doesn't mean I'm an automoton or a Doug Fawcett-type 'happiness pump' because I choose which actions to take, which decisions to make and these actions and the intentions decide if I move closer or further away from Allah. I know I'm only responsible for what is within my power so I don't need to care about everything, even a multiverse, because it's up to me to decide what I want to be and do- I decide my moral imperative and the 'projects' I feel compelled to undertake and support. This doesn't automatically stave off the effects of the Internet, the overexposure to toxic social media and fractious opinions, I am a Millenial after all, but it does give me the tools to filter out the nonsense and keep a sense of self. I'm going to continue my search for knowledge and, as the Prophet said, I will go 'All the way, even to China' to find the truth and build my knowledge.

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review

LINK- On, And On And Colston (or, 'How We Learned To Talk About The Legacy Of Colonialism In GB')

LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

Lucky Penny- Graphic Novel Review

I got Lucky Penny in 2016, which means I was 5 years into my marriage, had moved to Kent and had recently become a father to my first daughter. I'm not sure what attracted me to this graphic novel comic but I'm guessing it was during one of my nostalgic 'ahhh, my 20s were great' phases as I'd officially hit the mid-30s so was in the higher 35-49 years old insurance bracket. Maybe I was going through a premature midlife/ existential crisis and this was a comfort purchase. Whatever the case, I remember liking the book as it had a sweet goof all character but I couldn't remember much else so it seemed like now was a great time to dive in once again into the work of Ananth Hirsh and Yuko Ota.

This is a beautifully presented book.

Lucky Penny is the tale of young Penny Brighton, an unlucky girl who leaves disaster in her wake but has a heart of gold. The graphic novel follows Penny as she tries to figure out where to go, what to do and how to cope in the real world. The story is similar to Scott Pilgrim and Giant Days and also mumblecore movies like Frances Ha and similar works by Greta Gerwig, where charmingly clueless, young, main characters try to deal with all that life throws at them. In this case, Penny is wonderfully optimistic and chirpy whilst living in a storage unit (garage) and trying to get a job and maintain her relationship with a prospective boyfriend.

Lucky Penny is a quick read with relatable characters; Ota’s art is bold and solid throughout the whole book and Hirsh's storytelling gentle yet interesting enough to keep you reading. The ending of the book is very bombastic and out of pace with the rest of the book but I liked it as it goes big.

Overall, Lucky Penny is well worth your time as it has a quirky central character and an interesting coming-of-age slacker vibe.

Celeste- Graphic Novel Review

I remember buying this book upon its release in 2014 as I was a bit of a fan of I. N. J. Culbard due to his excellent work on bringing the tales of H. P. Lovecraft to life in graphic novel form. I do remember reading it at the time and feeling a bit blank, the graphic novel hadn't impressed me and I didn't know why. So, 8 years after the fact, I decided to revisit and re-evaluate it

Narratively, it's a difficult book to summarise as so much is to do with the mood and tone of the book, rather than the actual plot. However, I'll try my best; after a floating blossom from space enters the Earth, most of the people in the world vanish without reason. The few people who interacted with the blossom are left behind and try to figure out what is going on as well as establish a new purpose in life. The three characters, a girl with albinism in London, a businessman in California and a Tokyo cartoonist all lead their now consequence-free life, but is it really living?

Much like other great sci-fi stories, Celeste asks many questions without providing any answers. Rather, the author leaves it up to the reader to formulate their own meaning. Is this all actually happening or are the three characters sharing a collective dream brought about by their isolation in the real world or mental health? It reminds me of the work of David Lynch, John Boorman or David Lowery, dreamlike logic applies to real world scenarios where tone is king.

Visually, Culbard is a master craftsman, creating beautiful imagery that creates a vibe which is meditative and reflective. I read the book in about 25 minutes, so it's a quick read as it is a very visual story, but the questions it asks about the lives we lead and our sense of isolation definitely make it a worthwhile pick-up.

This One Summer- Graphic Novel Review

This graphic novel is like an ode to those everlong summers of the past, where the holidays seemed to stretch on forever and the possibilities and promises of the future seemed endless. The power of nostalgia is strong in this comic as writing and art team Jillian and Mariko Tamaki create a believable scenario where
Rose and her family head to the beach for the summer, as they always do, but things are tense in the family as Rose's mum is suffering from deep depression whilst her father is feeling the strain of keeping the household positive. Meanwhile, Rose and her regular holiday friend Windy, get involved with a teen pregnancy drama whilst watching horror films.

The book is beautifully presented with a blue brush-stroke style.

The demographic for the book is hard to pinpoint as it uses words like slut, rape, abortion, blow job, porn, boobs etc so it's quite fruity with its language but I know, from working at a couple of youth centre for over 10 years, that actually many tweens do talk like this so it is lifelike.

The book captures the fleeting moments we have all had on our lives so well. The gorgeous blue brush-like art flows and stunningly capturing the spirit of the summer; it make you *feel* the place you've never been to. The Germans calls this fernweh which means far-sickness and it’s the concept of feeling homesick for a place you’ve never been or could never go. This book made me feel that as it captures the mood so well; it is a definite recommend.

LINK- The Offworld Collection

LINK- Three Shadows- Graphic Novel Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.

LINK- An English Geek in Saudi

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review

Three Shadows- Graphic Novel Review

I got this graphic novel way back in 2008, I remember as it was in the 'new releases' section of a comic book shop that no longer exists. I remember the owner was upset due to the landlord putting the rent up extortionately and so the shop was replaced by another faceless 'touristy crap' shop that exist everywhere in the city.

The book is beautifully presented on good quality stock paper.

Anywho, from the time I vaguely remember the graphic novel being beautiful; the art sketchily drawn and the story affecting but now it hits much harder due to where I am in my life. I have a young family now and have two young daughters and the possibility of something bad happening to them haunts me, as I'm sure it does to every parent and so once again, I delved back into the work of Cyril Pedrosa.

Three Shadows plays almost like a faerytale, a mother, father and young son like an idyll life in the woods when, one day, the boy sees three dark riders watching him from the distance. At first, they simply seem to ride off, and the threat is waved off but, upon their subsequent return, the family grow concerned about their presence and what it portents. Lise, the mother, is petrified and seeks guidance from a wise old woman whilst Louis, a strong man, does not want these figures near his son. And so, one foggy night father and son try to escape under the cover of darkness and the story descends into a thrilling game of survival. As the book reaches its powerful denouement, it delves into magical-realism, where the mission to save his son from the shadows is an existential crisis for the father.

Three Shadows is an exploration of how parents might react to knowing a dreadful truth about their child's impending death and the extent to which they will go to to protect them at all costs. As I said earlier, as a father this story hit harder this time round. There is a high probability that my daughters will live a full and happy life yet, at the back of my mind, there is a nagging thought that this could be the last day I get to enjoy my children. Don't get me wrong, the thought is only fleeting and I don't spend my days weighed down in existential gloom but the fear is real enough to assert its presence; the black dog is indeed over my shoulder.

Overall, Three Shadows is a powerful story and it's allegorical qualities are memorable as they concern the human condition and the knowledge we all have that everybody we know and live will die. However, its ending is one of hope in its poignancy. This graphic novel is well worth a read.

Hell Baby- Graphic Novel Review

To start my inaugural retro graphic novel reviews, I thought I’d revisit one of my first ever if not the first graphic novel I ever owned. I may be misremembering but I believe I got this for free with a copy of Manga Mania. It was in a sealed poly bag alongside the comic and at the time I remember being very excited. That would place it around the time I was about 11 years old and boy, at the time did I find it disturbing and edgy.

Hell Baby by Hideshi Hino

The cover is pretty horrific but wait until you see the art inside. The black and white images really pop.

This one-and-done horror story tells the simple tale of a demonic baby, who is abandoned by her father at birth due to her horrific appearance and lust for blood. She is forced to grow up in the Junkyard of the World, struggling against other scavengers. When she dies soon after, a mysterious force resurrects her and guides her on a path of vengeance. Upon reaching the age of seven, she makes her way back into the bright lights of the big city to cause terror and mayhem.

The story is slight, but in a world of never ending manga its quite nice to have a complete story told as a one shot. The entire tale reminds me of The Simpsons Tree House of Horror VII where Bart discovers he had an evil twin, Hugo, living in the attic as his parents realised that he was the 'evil' twin.

Having grown up a bit since its first reading, I have to say that I really like the simplicity of the story. Hideshi Hino's art is simple but this is powerful as the tale of revenge and redemption is vividly brought to life with the gushes of geyser like blood spray interspersed with the innocence of the 'good' twin. Re-reading this after nearly 30 years I was transported to when I first read it in my home in Barking all those years ago, shocked yet thrilled by the emotive, bittersweet tale.

Whilst not a masterpiece by any means, Hino's Hell Baby is a worthwhile read for the tale it tells in a quick bitesize way; some of the images will stick with you for a long time and isn't that the mark of a horror story?

Surveying My Kingdom (Of Graphic Novels).

I'm a longtime comic book collector and I first started collecting when I was 7 which was way back in 1988. Iron Man and Spiderman were my first loves as certain aspects of the comic book worlds I could identify with; Peter Parker struggling with the travails of High School and striving to achieve against all odds like Tony Stark often did, but then this is a common comic book trope. However, I think a huge part of why comics appealed to me was because of the sheer imagination and creativity on show. Comics were an escape as they spoke a universal language that could appeal to anyone, a fantasy world that you could project yourself in to.

Surveying My Kingdom (Of Graphic Novels).

I have quite an extensive collection of graphic novels.

Now don't get me wrong, not all comics and graphic novels are created equal. In fact, some of the manga I was reading was not always relatable but just plain awesome. Often, the stories had elements of truth and heart, like Alita finding her humanity just as she collapses after saving the scrapyard, Soichiro revealing his true self and breaking free of the cycle of abuse in Kare Kano (His and Her Circumstances) and Onizuka doing his all for the student who he comes to mentor and love (GTO).

Art is of its time but it can have a long-lasting cultural and societal impact and comics are an excellent medium for showing or even introducing that change. I remember that I wanted to go to parties, go out clubbing and have relationships. Usually I'd go to indie comics to find this sense of identity and so I gravitated towards these as I grew older. In mainstream comics this was covered but it was only when Kamala Khan and the Ms. Marvel series came out in 2014 that the issues she had in balancing her home and life outside rang true for me; I found myself really represented on the page. It was the first time that a mainstream, popular comic had truly spoken to me, not by proxy but actually really spoke to me and my cultural heritage.

I have quite an extensive collection of comics and graphic novels from the past 35 years of my life and, when my wife ask I get rid of many of them, I baulked at the idea; these comics and graphic novels were like my personal tree rings showing my growth a evolution over the years. Some of these graphic novels are of their time and may prove to be problematic now- I’m looking at you various ‘harem manga’- but I thought I’d revisit them now as the time seemed good as my collection is all set up on the Billy bookcases.

So when my wife asked, 'When are you going to read them ever again?' I thought I'd endeavour to read them all again to see how they speak to me now, many years after purchase and after the life I've lead. Maybe they'd speak to me in new or different ways.

So why not join me as I journey thought my graphic novel collection?

Ms. Marvel- TV Series Review (and Some Personal Reflections)

Ms. Marvel has become a pop culture icon and a voice for hope since her debut in 2013. Her status as the first Muslim character to headline a Marvel series was shared enthusiastically by some whilst others thought it tokenistic and ‘woke’. Irrespective of these divergent views, the comic series quickly became one of the industry’s bestselling titles because it was, quite simply, an excellent superhero comic book which was written with wit, pathos and heart.

I have all the graphic novels from the first series as well as the next.

Superhero stories featuring teenage characters are notoriously difficult to write for but to create a monthly comic with a teenage girl of faith was something nearly unheard of in mainstream comics, let alone the religion in focus being Islam. Islam features quite prominently in the comic series as Ms. Marvel, Kamala, is Muslim and as such it forms a major part of her narrative; it greatly influences her behavior and decision-making, adding tension to her life that doesn’t come from the more traditional sources like romantic interests or the masked super villain of the current story arc.

In a medium that has been pretty hegemonic in portraying powerful white heroes, the wave of real world representation in mainstream comics was exciting. The concept was explained well in the very first Ms. Marvel comic when Kamala first meets Captain America, Iron Man and Captain Marvel. She is surprised to hear them speak Urdu, but Captain Marvel replies,

"We are faith. We speak all languages of beauty and hardship."

This really struck me as powerful when I first read it.

This is a real nice touch that speaks to the universal humanity in us all, with the underrepresented now being represented in a medium supported by the diverse community invested in these characters.

And so, it was with quiet nervousness that I approached the Ms. Marvel television series shown on Disney+. I was excited but also had some trepidation about the series as there was media speculation that they had changed her origin story and altered her powers somewhat. Usually, when that happens you end up with a diluted dud product that pleases neither old fans or newbies. However, I needn't have worried; the 6 part series was excellent. The writing throughout the series felt grounded and relatable and there were very few moments that felt written by committee or by olds trying to sound hip and young. The cinematography was kinetic without being obnoxious and the Scott Pilgrim style animation flourished brought an energy and vibrancy to the show.

The actors were all clearly relishing their roles and brought their A-game to the party. Special mention must go to Iman Vellani who embodies the nerdy-goof-with-heart well. The rest of the cast are solid but Kamala's parents are worthy of special mention in their roles- bringing warmth and empathy into their respective roles.

The way the show handled the cultural aspects of the show was superb; some scenes were reminiscent of conversations that I had had with friends and family in my life. Integrating themes such as the Partition, Jinn, the "Illumin-"Aunties and life around the Mosque; these are things I've personally grown up around and something my parents and grandparents were heavily shaped by. Reading this you might think the show is grim-dark but it's a positive show which rails against the current media obsession with violence done in Islam's name. In much of Hollywood and mainstream Western media, the portrayal of Muslims is not usually positive; usually people in the faith are reduced to crazed terrorists, clownish thugs or menacing threats with no redeeming qualities. This is the first popular mainstream Western show that shows a Muslim family with integrity, respect and, most importantly, nuance. They're not angry, militant or suspicious but merely... people, with all the flaws and foibles entails with being part of the human race.

Living in South Devon, I am in the minority here and, on occasion I feel like the standard bearer for Muslims. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a role-model Muslim but I do my best to represent my religion and beliefs in the best possible light. This is my personal jihad, my struggle, which I hope to improve and get better each day and this is what Ms. Marvel television show encapsulates so well, being respectful of your cultural heritage but also living in the environment and society you were born into. Kamala has these struggles to balance her duties and her desires and the series shows this quite honestly. I feel a connection to the character of Ms. Marvel in the same way that Miles Morales speaks for another, often underrepresented or unfairly represented demographic.

Ms. Marvel and me.

Ms. Marvel and me.

The show deals with the suspicion Muslims are often treated with and the fact that the authorities are often monitoring them. The Department of Damage Control are antagonistic and seem to be wary of these new superheroes, not because they have great power but because they're the 'wrong’ type of people. It reminds me of a scene in the Ms. Marvel graphic novel 'Mecca' where Kamala's brother, Aamir, placed in detention after being accused of not conforming to 'societal norms'. It's a powerful scene as he explains how, just because he is brown and wears traditional dress, he isn't to blame for all the ills in the world but because he stands out, it’s easy to target people like him. This storyline was in direct response to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency's policy of separating children form their parents at the border, an extremely controversial policy.

I'm thankful that Marvel Studios have creating a comic character that speaks truth to power, something I'd normally have to go to indie comics to find. The fact that such subjects have been broached by the biggest comic company and in one of the most popular series in the world is heartening. The fact that they translated this emotive topic onto a mainstream show is astonishing and brave; there is a sea change in the representation of people of colour and that has been long overdue.

Art is of its time but it can have a long-lasting cultural and societal impact on the world. By encouraging a sense of community and a forum for discussion change can occur. The Ms. Marvel television series and comics are an excellent medium for showing or even introducing that change. The show is aimed at tweens and teens but hey, as a man in my early 40s, I enjoyed the show and I think many of you will too. Don't sleep on this show guys, it's marvellous!

Anyways, below are the thoughts I noted down as I watched the shows weekly. Be aware, there are spoilers henceforth:

Episode 1

When Kamala wants to go to Avengercon and her mum says "There'll be a lot of haraam there" it reminded me of when I wanted to go clubbing in my late teens, because I truly loved trance and dance music, and knew this would be the response I'd get. Also, when Kamala brought up the unfairness between the ways her Muslim brother is given more freedom than her and she questions it I remember conversations with my family about the rights of my sister to choose her own destiny.
The shopping scene was hilarious as I remember from my youth, travelling to numerous shops to get the groceries and getting a Mr. Juicy carton of drink if we were good at the end of it from a shop.

Episode 2
When Kamala is trying out her powers and she is eating out at a halal van with the sign outside it rang true from experiences I've had.
The rush with Nakia to get to the mosque, hurriedly do wudu and pray hit hard as I remember doing that for Friday Jummah prayers during the holidays.
When the prayer starts and the Imam starts the recitation I had tingles down my spine as this is the Islam I know and love, not the one most commonly shown in media with violence and atrocities with shouts of 'Allahuakhbar' that tarnish that beautiful word.
When Kamala is in the car with Kamran and they name drop Baazigar, DDLJ and SRK I knew they weren't simplifying the series for the mass audience, if you knew you knew and if you didn't you could always Google it.
The dinner conversation about Partition rang true as I know it affected my family who live in the Pakistani Punjab, an area near the Indian border.
The Eid Mela celebrations were cool and even though I didn't go to many at all, I know they were a huge part of many of my Muslim friends' celebrations, which usually happened in Barking Park.
I loved the 'Illumin-aunties' gag and died at the idea that they gossip and know everything.

Episode 3
When the djinn are mentioned I had shivers down my spine as they are known as tricksters and spirits with often unknowable intent.
The self-seveil of the Islamic community by law enforcement rang true and brought up some anger as it led to toxic conversations online when it became a discussed thing years ago.
The bit where Sheikh Abdullah drops the "Good is not a thing you are. It's a thing you do' line I just about lost it. It's so powerful yet so true.
When Kamala's mum discusses the dream she and her husband have of coming to America and then the hardships they faced, it was so honest. I know my dad spoke of the hardships he and his father faced when they came to England in the 70s to start a life and bring their family over.
The choreographed Bollywood dance was cute and, whilst my family weddings were usually a lot more staid, I know a couple of friends who had attended more raucous ones (including mine which was a bit rave-y with old school 90s trance and dance).
The Kamala vs. Djinn battle scene in the kitchen reminded me of the Jurassic Park kitchen scene and was proper tense.
When 'Allahu Akhbar' is said in praise at the end of a wedding it was heartening as the phrase most often been associated with terrible acts of terrorism and criminality in much of the news here in England recently.

Episode 4
The passengers on the plane ignoring the stewardesses appeals to sit back down as the plane lands is exactly what I've experienced travelling into Asian hubs.
The way they portrayed the modern and past history of Pakistan was fascinating as you saw the posh eateries and the busy streets of Karachi, it really showed the juxtaposition of the country.
The 'Come with me if you want to love' quote was hilarious.
The Partition train station scene was heartbreaking as you see the chaos sewn by the Mountbatten Plan.

Episode 5
The vintage Marvel opening was mwah *Chef's kiss*
The opening news footage from the time showing the bloody consequences of the Partition are shocking to watch as it really humanises what is usually glossed over on the history books her in England.
The love story between the great grandmother and great grandfather was sweet and had the usual Bollywood tropes; beautiful cinematography, poems, roses and wah oh wah, kya dialogue!
The drama at the train station was intense and proper emotional.
The wibbly wobbly time wimey stuff was great but the lost kid part gave me palpitations; as a father of two young girls it's one of my worst nightmares.
The three generations of the Khan women bonding after the truth is out is amazing. It warmed the heart and got a big whoop of joy from me.

Episode 6
The 'classic Khan gossip train' bit was awesome as we know that the Pakistani community gossip spreads faster than the Internet.
The part where the family join together to tell Kamala how proud they are of her having powers and doing good is awesome-really heartwarming.
I love that her mum made the Ms. Marvel costume, it reminds me of the old ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ clip where the granny states 'I can make it cheaper.'
Speaking of the costume, I know some hate it but I thought it was cool as it speaks to Kamala's heritage and the deepening of her bond with her mum. Also the logo is from the broken necklace from the episode before... Tres cool.
Nakia's (probably correct perception) that every mosque in America was under surveillance from every security agency (as well as the sanitation department) rang oh so true.
The 'halal' and 'haram' hats were funny as heck.
I love the A-Team style plan to escape from the Feds as it means a team-up with all of Kamala's friends and family.
The Home Alone-ing of the feds was fun.
Embiggen- that is all.
The X-men 97 theme song was amazing and opens up a whole new would.... Potentially.

The Midnight Library and the Idea That You Can't Go Home Again.

This Easter I went back to Barking, my hometown, to spend some time with my parents, siblings, family and friends. It was a long old drive from South Devon to East London so I thought I'd listen to an audio book using my Audible subscription. I listened to The Midnight Library by Mike Haig, a modern version of It’s a Wonderful Life or, to be a little more modern, Sliding Doors (That was over 20 years ago and hardly constitutes 'modern'. Also, with was before Paltrow went all 'Earth mother' and Goop eggs on us so quite a while ago- Ed.)

Anyways, The Midnight Library is all about the various choices and opportunities we face and the paths we take. It seemed apt as I was staying with my family in the family home for the first time in 11 years. I've changed a lot in that time; married, learned to drive, had 2 kids, travelled and worked across the world and come back to Britain again. I've also gained a few pounds around the belly, lost a little more off top but I’m content really.

Arriving in Barking and parking up outside the family house, things didn't seem to have changed that much; the house had had a recent lick of paint but the streets seemed same old, same old. After seeing my parents briefly, I went into town with my dad and saw the scale of change; Barking had really become developed. So much of the old local council estate (the infamous Gascoigne Estate) was now low rise apartments and building sites of riverside abodes. The shops mainly constituted barbers, hairdressers, fast food places and mobile phone shops but also there was a Costa and Starbucks so obviously this town was changing with some city types moving in.

Barking has changed a lot over the past 10 years or so.

The library, which had been a formative part of my childhood and teenage years, was nearly unrecognisable to me as it had turned into one of those hybrid book lending/ study areas mixed with council functions such as PIP processing and police station mixes... A weird combo to be sure. It was busy but had the soulless strip lighting and jagged brightly coloured furniture of an office block. I had been living in Barking when it had changed but over the past 10 years the library seemed to have shrunk and the building seemed to be a veritable Swiss-Army knife of functions and rooms.

I then walked down Barking Road, past East Ham and Upton Park and, again, the sheer number of flats and apartments that had been knocked down with new ones going up was astonishing. So much was being built but the town itself had changed little with Queen’s Market given a coat of paint but looking generally the same as usual.

Walking back to Barking, I was reflecting on my walk and the Midnight Library about how we have life choices and chances and whether we would change anything if given the opportunity. Thinking about this multiverse of possibilities I'd say that, even though things haven't always worked out, I don't think I'd change anything as our journey leads us to where we are now and with that comes challenges but also the realisation that personal growth and life choices and chances gave us the potential ability to alter our future path.

I walked past the ghosts of my youth- shops, streets and houses- and thought of my old friends. I hadn't thought about some of them for so long because, well, life gets in the way. I speak to some but many others, well, we drifted away. I think this walk underlined a deep truth; relationships that run their course are not necessarily failures, another person can change your life without remaining a permanent part of it. People can leave an imprint on us, acting as a catalyst for (re) discovering something about ourselves. That's what makes life so interesting and powerful; our evolution as people.

Rise of the Videogame Zinesters : How Freaks, Normals, Amateurs, Artists, Dreamers, Drop-outs, Queers, Housewives Are Taking Back an Art Form by Anna Anthropy- Book Review

I started this website in 2013 for a couple of reason; to show my passion for video games and share my thought but also to move the conversation forward on gaming culture. I found that often there was a culture of insularity among many gaming sites, often only covering the big AAA titles. I wanted to cover the weird, quirky, strange and fringe games from the point of view of an educationalist, a teacher, as well as an enthusiast and gamer. I thought, and still think, that some games can be used as a contextual hub for learning. There were a few sites and books that I have found along the way that I feel move the conversation forward and allow the marginalised and non-mainstream to share their views but for the most part these were under-represented. Now it is much easier to find diverse, personal and insightful writing about video games from the perspective of an often underrepresented audience. I have found many articles that have spoken to me and pieces that have made me think about games and gaming culture at a higher level.

Books about videogames

I love reading about videogames.

Games can deliver sophisticated social and political commentary and many game makers are acutely aware of this, creating forums, website and safe spaces for these conversations and flow of ideas to occur.

I recently read the much lauded ‘Rise of the Videogame Zinesters : How Freaks, Normals, Amateurs, Artists, Dreamers, Drop-outs, Queers, Housewives Are Taking Back an Art Form’ by Anna Anthropy and even though it is nearly a decade old, some of the topics and issues it covers are still relevant.

Even though it is over a decade old, this book still covers quite a lot of still relevant themes and ideas.

It's book is a quick journey through the videogame timeline as well as a manifesto for inspiring DIY game-making. The main thrust of the book is that videogames are easier to make than ever and that they are great way to share your ideas in a dynamic way. Through her own personal journey, she recounts the issues she’s had along the way and the barriers often put up by the bigger companies who often play it safe with the iterative games they often make.

The book was a great read, highlighting issues that still persist nearly 10 years after the book was made; lack of positive representation of the LGBTQ+ community, lack of diversity in appointments in the upper echelons of the big AAA companies and generally the abundance of violence in the most popular franchises. She also presciently discusses toxic workplace environments with abuse and mismanagement, crunch and the lack of security within the industry. All this was before the #Gamergate and #MeToo movement and Anthropy called it before it reached mainstream.

I’m glad that much of what she discusses has moved on with the Indie boom allowing more exciting and innovative games with a wider voice being carried but some of the more toxic elements covered still remains.

Overall, the book is well worth a read and might inspire you to make that one great game you always dreamed of. Also, it might inspire you to try new games and genres and engage with things you don’t know about or understand. Videogames have the power to open our minds to new experiences and change the way we see the world.

LINK- The Offworld Collection

LINK- Nintendo: My One True Gaming Constant

LINK- The Unofficial NES/ Famicom Compendium

LINK- Twin Peaks: The Return Series Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)