Martha Thomases Is…
It’s a new year with 52 opportunities to find great new comics. There’s a whole slew of comic book properties on various screens, now and scheduled for the near future. The convention calendar is crammed with more and more opportunities to socialize with other fans, and discover cool new fandoms.
I’m exhausted.
Every week, when I sit down to write this column for you, Constant Reader, I try to think of a subject that is dynamic and engaging enough to encourage conversation. What do we, as a group, care about? What do we value? What do we love? Are these different feelings (I’d say yes)?
I’m exhausted.
Every week, there is likely to be a new outrage or injustice that demeans our collective humanity. These issues are important, and should be discussed, ideally with the goal of finding a solution, not just blame.
But I just can’t.
It’s cold here in the Northeast, at least when it’s not unseasonably warm. I never know how to get dressed so that I’m a) comfortable and b) not always removing or adding garments in a heap at my feet.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s the perfect climate for a cozy chair, a mug of something soothing, and a big old stack of books. Or maybe a full DVR and a pile of knitting would better suit the mood (although keep that mug!).
That’s why we’re here, isn’t it? Because we love the graphic story medium and all the entertainment it brings us, whether in the original form or in interpretations by other artists. Because reading something written and drawn by others is the closest we can get to telepathy. Because a good story in any form both transports us to a new universe and, at the same time, gives us a fuller understanding of our own.
There’s a lot to be said for simple enjoyment. I just don’t feel like saying any of it this week.