Molly Jackson: Happy, Cheery Me
October was kind of a wasteland for me. The constant waves of political discourse were a downer. And now that the election is in a week, it is only getting worse. It’s not that I don’t want to stay tuned to the political scene, it’s just that I need some balance in my life. Right now, everywhere you look is filled with political drama. The country is teetering on the precipice of this election and it’s taking a toll on the country’s mood. So rather than give into the election-induced fatigue that has seeped in the tone of the country, I’m looking for some fun ways to keep upbeat and sane. And since this is ComicMix and all, you can probably guess where I am heading.
No, I am not going to tell you to watch Star Trek. Granted, pretty much every holodeck episode is easy, lighthearted fare. Still, the show has got a lot of critical issues covered in some episodes that even I need a break from now and again.
I did catch a screening of Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders during New York Comic Con. It felt so refreshing to watch a superhero film that doesn’t get dark. It was filled with laughs, brightly colored subtitled sounds, and actors who sound like they haven’t aged a day despite playing the same characters before I was born. I’ve even rewatched the original Adam West Batman movie recently and this new animated flick works with it so well. You can read Bob’s entire ComicMix review, but since Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders came out on Nov. 1st, it is definitely on my must watch again list.
But in case you don’t want to watch something, why not sit down a read! I’m not suggesting read anything though. I went and perused my own bookshelf for some suggestions. My first go-to for a fun story is Fred Chao’s Johnny Hiro volumes 1 and 2. Johnny Hiro is just an ordinary guy struggling to make ends meet in New York City. Along that seemingly serious journey though, he battles ninjas, monsters, and judgments from Alton Brown. Volume 2 takes a bit more of a serious tone but still light enough to help anyone’s election fatigue.
I’m also going to suggest the series Very Near Mint by Justin Peterson. It’s the story of a local comic shop and the owners, with all the exaggerated characters included. They get into a battle with a bigger comic shop and hilarious battling ensues. This is one of the funniest comics out there. Great character development and well-placed use of classic tropes make it an entertaining read.
So, if the country’s issues are getting you down, take a break from social media. Watch something fun or read something even funnier. Take the time to enrich and invigorate your mind and soul now. After this election, we are going to need everyone to help bring this country back together.
