Nostalgic and August Book Haul!

 Greetings Fellow Readers!

This August I've acquired one novel and one graphic novel.  I won't be purchasing any more books in August, as I'm quickly running out of shelf space and will probably buy a couple of books in Derby at Edge-Lit in September.

I bought Birdman and Chicken by Trevor Metcalfe because when I was younger it was a comic strip in quite a few comics I bought including Whizzer and Chips. 

The strip started in a comic called Krazy in 1976, so what I read was probably repeats of the strip and also newer adventures drawn and written by other people.  Trevor mainly drew the strips after getting scripts from other writers.

I loved it as it was very funny.  Being a parody of super heroes especially the 1960s Batman TV show with Adam West.

I also bought the final book in The Raven Trilogy by Giles Kristian. Odin's Wolves.

I now have the full trilogy to enjoy although I've so many books to read before them.

Best get reading I guess!

What books have you purchased recently?

Neil x

Fantastic Four - First Steps - Film Review

 

Hey Nerds!

Went to see the new offering from Marvel at the weekend. Took the daughter and we were hoping this new take on the Fantastic Four would be better than the last few films from Marvel.

Luckily it was but only just!

The film is set on an alternative world to the usual main Marvel films.  This was a refreshing take and I loved the retro sixties future world and technology.

The origin of the Fantastic Four isn't shown but we get hints and also action shots of the Fantastic Four defeating their main enemies including Mole Man.

The main story starts 3 years into their role of heroes and Sue Storm (the gorgeous Vanessa Kirby), discovers she's pregnant with Reed Richard's (Pedro Pascal) baby.

They announce this to The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and the Human Torch (Joseph Quinn).

The film fast forwards to Sue Storm in her late stage of pregnancy when the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) shows up saying the planet will be destroyed by Galactus (Ralph Ineson).

The Fantastic Four follow the Silver Surfer to speak to Galactus to bargain to save Earth, but he knows there's something special about Sue's baby and will leave the Earth alone if they give him the baby.

They don't and escape to Earth.  Sue has had baby Franklin on the trip back home but Galactus soon arrives for a final showdown.

Overall - this is a visually great film and a different fresh theme on the Marvel world we're used to.  Some of the technology is great.

The acting of the main cast is solid too and the main team have a good spark.  The problem is the emotions are a bit flat, which I think is how the characters were written.

The action set pieces are solid and it takes a sci-fi turn when they go to space.

It's a fun film but there was something lacking. A spark it needed.  Maybe it needed more humour although luckily there wasn't so much of the usual Marvel cheesy humour.

Bels Score -  7/10

My Score   -  8/10

Has anyone else seen it? What are your thoughts?

Neil x

August 2025 Update!

 

Greetings Creatives!

Yep. We're in August. Has time speeded up? Or have the years always gone so fast?

July was another quick month.  Sadly another month of procrastination for me.

July Review -

Continued on my journey reading Best Served Cold. A journey I hope will come to an end in the first week of August.

Still didn't write any stories!

Job going well and now work from home a couple of times a week, which is great and the cat loves it.

Still not started my health kick and got my fat arse to the gym.

In July did have some good times with daughter and my Mum.  This included a meal out and walks.

Had a good unexpected day out in Leeds.  This included visiting my favourite Waterstones.

Also hauled some good books in July.  One from Waterstones.  The other 2 from Amazon. But needs must!

In August - 

I definitely want to get writing again especially for Edge-Lit in September.  Every year I go I say I'm going to write and never do.  Hopefully by September I will have got something down.

In August 2 women that are important in my life have their birthdays.

One being by Mum, who will be 82.  

The other being my girlfriend Jane who sadly passed away in January.  Hope she's celebrating wherever she is.

This is the month I finish Best Served Cold. In July I realised one of the reasons why I hadn't read much in the last year - I need new glasses.  This includes reading glasses.  So in August I've to see the opticians and get new glasses.  Once I have those I'll be reading loads of books.

I also hope to carry on doing well in my job which I'm liking a lot.

Lastly I need to get healthy and exercise and lose some weight before Edge-Lit and beyond as I'm more out of shape now I'm in an office job again.

What's your plans for August?

Neil x