What I'm Doing When I'm Not Blogging

It's Saturday afternoon, and I've been in the midst of writing and editing (and finishing up freelance work).

I've also been dating. On a frequent basis.

But since another month has come and gone, I thought I would do what I usually do - my semi-regular blogaround with a variety of posts, podcasts, and online mentions...all in the name of keeping my online reputation clean.

(As if my personal website, my consulting site, and my Amazon AuthorCentral site weren't enough....)

First, since you may have heard that Comic Related  is closing its doors, you might want to read my thoughts on the subject before the site vanishes....(and yes, I've copied all of my old posts....and I'm seriously considering assembling an ebook. Your thoughts in the comments below).

Speaking of all things Comic Related, Zone 4 is undergoing some changes as well....feel free to give it a view and listen on YouTube.

You know, I never thanked pal Roger for linking to my Christopher Lee tribute. Thanks, Roger!

Finally, via Chicago Now, a post that combines technology and nostalgia.....

We Are ALL Batman: LEGENDS OF THE KNIGHT

(Dedicated with great affection and admiration to Chuck Moore, Brant Fowler, and John Wilson)

As a blogger, I always receive press releases around products, movies, etc - many of which I either ignore or forward to others. So when I received an e-mail announcing that the Legends of the Knight would arrive on Hulu, I filed it away for July's Comic Related column. However, since the site's closing...I sure as heck wasn't going to let this opportunity pass me by, so consider this my final column.

Growing up, I played Batman incessantly .Yes, Poplar Street in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood was protected by a young, chubby boy wearing a DePaul Blue Demons t-shirt, hand-sewn cowl, and towel wrapped around my neck. (Insert "that explains a lot" reference here). Although I was crazy for superheroes....I loved Batman. He was, in a weird way, an aspirational character - I wasn't lucky enough to have been rocketed from another planet (trust me, I asked Mom. Multiple times), but I could, if I applied myself, aspire to become Batman.

That's the premise of Legends of the Knight, a 2013 documentary that is a must-watch.

As I'm writing this, San Diego ComicCon 2015 has come and gone, with a plethora of moments, trailers, and all sorts of talk. I've also been witness to a bit of a back-and-forth in another fandom, leading me to wonder what my place is in fandom. Thankfully, Legends of the Knight was a great wake-up call for me, reminding me that at its core, fandom is about sharing common values, as well as a great love for a character.

Make no mistake - I'm not being cynical or snarky when I tell you that this is the most heartwarming movie about Batman that you will ever watch. (And I've embedded the video so you can watch at your heart's content).

Many of the stories focus on how the character of Batman - most ironically - is one of the more compassionate characters in popular culture. Legends of the Knight focuses on many such stories: the man who dresses up like Batman and visits sick children; the writer who uses Batman as a role model for facing her own challenges; and even a prison chaplan who describes Batman as a powerful metaphor for a unique cultural experience.

(Even the talking head segments focus as much on psychological and emotional aspects to Batman than on the usual comic/pop cultural bits.)

But my favorite part of the movie - Petaluma Batman. An anonymous college student decided to dress up like Batman and bring a positive attitude to a small California community. Unlike the HBO documentary Superheroes, this isn't a case of a damaged person trying to bring order: just a regular person deciding to be a beacon of hope. (Sadly, he has since given up being Petaluma Batman...but this movie is a fine tribute to that spirit).

And ultimately, that's what makes this movie a must-watch: one of the biggest items from San Diego was the Batman Vs. Superman trailer, which put superheroes in almost god-like positions. One of the great arguments that Legends of the Knight makes is that Batman - perhaps more than any other hero - reminds us that we have our own challenges. As we face and overcome those challenges, we find something deeper, even more heroic than we could expect....and in those small moments of heroism, we find the strands of humanity that connect us all.

As the movie puts it very succinctly, "We are Batman" 

Farewell to An Old Friend: Comic Related

You may have read the news elsewhere, and I'm almost afraid that typing this out will make it even more true....

After eleven years, Comic Related will be closing shop.

I have written my own farewell to the site, and I've posted my reaction on Facebook, but here I feel safe in exploring my feelings about its ending.

On the one hand, Comic Related was my first "professional" gig, of sorts - having a regular deadline, working with others "in the industry", and having a larger audience for my writing - those were always enjoyable. I have some great friendships that have resulted (and yes, the Zone 4 podcast will still go on), but I also have some very mixed feelings about the climate in which it's folding.

One thing I loved about Comic Related was its sheer love of comics as an art form, and its focus on smaller, more independent creators. That gave me a freedom to have opinions about books and creators that might not have been popular, as well as a platform to shout out more obscure creators and media that deserved attention. I can honestly say that I was never censored by Chuck, Brant, or John (most of the censorship came from myself), and that I always felt that we were a great voice that deserved to be heard....

....but in this current online media climate, it's a voice that needs to be asserted. Many comics/media sites either focus on being PR machines for the Big Two or second-guessing creators in order to pursue their own agenda. With the comic industry now "big business" and driving much spin-off media, it has become more difficult for smaller voices to be heard. In our current comic-saturated (and I will dare to say, "oversaturated") media culture, it's becoming increasingly difficult to remain independent.

But on the other hand, Comic Related is ending on its own terms, and for that I will respect the decision to close the site. Many of my fellow contributors are part of my "family by choice" (rather than "family by chance"), and I'll still remain connected with them through various online channels....

....and this is also the shot-in-the-arm I've needed for the blog. My creative writing commitments have led me away from the blog (being in terminal job search mode also hasn't helped), but I believe that once I let go of anything, there's space for something new to come in. In that spirit, if you're interested in having me review your book, no matter how small, you can reach out to me via this convenient Contact Me form. (Yes, it's from my personal site; although this blog has a contact form, I'll need to switch that in the next few days). I'll also download my past columns as PDFs; I'm thinking of possibly reprinting them in ebook form (please let me know in the comments your thoughts).

I'm going to miss Comic Related - it was a great site to be a contributor. I'm grateful to Chuck for taking me on, and for Brant and John for putting up with me. I'll miss it, and the next few days will be a bit rough....but much of my current creative "renaissance" was due to that column.

I'm proud to have been part of the Comic Related family. I'm also not ashamed to say that publicly.

Patrick Macnee: A Tribute

To say that Patrick Macnee had a significant effect on my life would be....an understatement. 

Like many of my peers, I was a tv/movie brat who spent numerous hours late at night scanning for obscure things to watch on a small, portable black & white television.

(Yes, I lived during a time when tv sets were available in black and white. And there were only three networks - four including PBS. Don't be so ageist!)

One night, eight years old, I came across something called Murdersville late on a Friday night. That was my introduction to a show called The Avengers (which I knew automatically had no connection to the Marvel comic)....and to a man who was a kind of masculine role model.

Most boys idolized sports stars, action heroes, and GI Joe. My role models growing up were Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Macnee...and Macnee was the most influential.

See, most of the men in my family....OK, my father loved four things: Sherlock Holmes, war movies (especially World War II), westerns, and mafia dramas. Most of the other men in my family....well, let's just say that I was deemed as "strange" because I could sew. And didn't date up a storm in high school (low self-esteem will do that to a man, but that's a blog post for another day).

But Macnee as Steed was not only attainable - he was ideal. Witty, urbane, well-read, intelligent - I could be all of those things. His dress sense was something I could also reflect (my father had plenty of nice suits - after all, he was an attorney), and there was a confidence about him that never seemed overdone.

But the thing that really impressed me was how he related to Emma Peel. It was friendly, flirtatious, and yet with a strong sense of equality. There wasn't the kind of will-they-won't-they that permeated many shows that came after (I'm looking at you, Moonlighting), nor was it the application of easy "action babe/sidekick" tropes prevalent in modern shows (I'm looking at you, collective works of Joss Whedon). You knew that Steed liked Mrs. Peel - even if only professionally - and there was always an undercurrent of class about the man.

(Watching the very early episodes of The Avengers, Steed started as a harder-edged character and grew into an Edwardian gentleman. Ironically, only two months ago I wrote about The Avengers for Comic Related. As I noted on Facebook, I might want to reconsider what I write about for the site).

In fact, he's one of the few "role models" I have met in real life - years ago, when Macnee released his autobiography Blind In One Ear , I attended a signing at a downtown bookstore. Cutting class, I was one of the first in line to purchase and have it signed. Waited about half an hour before Macnee came - on time - wearing (if memory serves) an impeccably tailored white suit (which was never advised in Chicago back then - we were a rather dingy, dirty city).

Moving towards the front of the line, I handed my book to Macnee eagerly. He asked my name, and as he signed the book, I mentioned how much of an influence he had on me...in that eager, earnest way that many do when meeting "celebrities." Flashing a smile, he handed me the book and simply said, "Thank you - you're too kind."

He was every bit as charming, urbane, and self-assured as I expected. And yes, he will be missed.

A Month Of My Online Shenanigans

It's that time once again - time to look at various other writing and mentions of me online.

Why? Because it provides a great excuse for me to get with the linking....and to build my search presence.

First, I served as election judge last Tuesday....and you can read all about the experience via Chicago Now. (As well as an update)

Although I didn't write this post, I am very happy to see my photo used in this article on the Chicago police. (And to the author - no problem. Use away - that's what the Flickr stream's for).

Yes, it's that time - time once again for a Comic Related column!

(And also another entry for I Hear of Sherlock)

Hey, look - another Flickr photo used!

Want to check out where I crank this stuff out? Yes, Sean Taylor posted a photo of my writing/work space (and I also am launching my own business!)

Finally, for your listening pleasure, the Zone 4 podcast.

Tuesday Blogaround

Things have been progressing at a pretty fast pace - writing assignments (two in process), current freelance work (things are gearing up, and I'm always eager for professional referrals. So today, just a bit of summary of my various writings and shenanigans online.

First, on the Comic Related tip: I not only have a new column up and running (and yes, I am aware of a misspelling), but there's a new edition of Zone 4. I think that either way, you'll get some enjoyment out of either one.

I was also fortunate enough to participate in a writer's roundtable about using visceral language. You definitely want to check out Sean Taylor's blog for more details.


If you're a member of the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup, you'll definitely want to help support our pledge drive. It pays for our hosting costs and allows members to help keep us moving along.

Writing, Writing Everywhere....

You know, things have been busy for me on both the work and the writing front. Not only do I have a story in Tall Pulp (which you should really buy and read, not just because I'm in it), but here's my writing/publishing schedule:

• A hard-boiled urban fantasy story to be published in an anthology in April;
• A tale with a classic pulp character to be published at some point in the future (there's editorial stuff that needs to be done);
• A private eye tale I'm revising for submission, to be published at a later date; and
• Organizing and writing two other tales for another publisher for future publication.

So you may understand why I may have neglected the blog for a bit, as well as why I tend to rely on editors to catch typos. (So if you've reached out to me on social media for any oops on my part, well....I've read it, but it may be out of my hands)

But all's well - part of my focus on writing is that I'll be writing about writing for the Chicago Now blog. In a strange way, my life is paralleling that blog's content - I just wrote about a book focusing on freelancing.

As usual, I've also spent much less time watching television and more on reading. (Although you'll see by my recent column for Comic Related, as well as a review for I Hear of Sherlock, that I am managing to fit both activities into my already busy life)

So in other words, things are the same as they usually are, except with a greater push for more paid freelance work in order to pay the bills. (If you know someone interested in hiring me, just send them my Linked In profile). And I promise, after ten plus years of blogging, there's still more to come.

Last Random Appearances of 2014

Yes, for one final time in 2014, it's the monthly blogaround - in which I post a variety of mentions, writings, and other random appearances. Think of it as one stop search optimization/reputation management, as well as a good way to kill time until New Year's Eve.
And so, with Jake the dog as your unofficial host, let's begin our exploration of the Internet....

• Let's begin with episode 300 of Zone 4 - it's a great, celebrity-filled reminiscence through 45 years of entertainment and laughter. Or, more accurately, it's a few hours of fun, laughter, and comic/pop culture mirth.
• Also on the Comic Related tip, there's my review of Doctor Who Series 8 on DVD. Special thanks to BBC Home Entertainment for the review copy - and yes, I'll be catching the DVD of Last Christmas in February, why do you ask?
• On the Chicago Now blog, I've put together some New Year's Resolutions for 2015...and I probably should follow them for this blog, shouldn't I?
• Finally, a guest appearance about Chicago TARDIS on another Doctor Who podcast. 

And so, another year is almost over....and here's looking forward to the next one!

A Month of Me

As all of you know, every once in awhile I Google my own name, and then - in an effort to improve my search results (as well as have a nice, convenient excuse to link dump on the blog) - I post them online.
Is it helpful? Possibly only to me, but at the very least, it provides a great opportunity for you to catch up on other online writing that I do as well.

(Especially with the fact that I've just learned that another publishing effort is coming to completion....meaning that I now have another "soon-to-be-released" story. And I will get royalties from all sales)

So without further adieu, feel free to jump on in and enjoy the link dumping:

You definitely want to put this week's Zone 4 episode on your playlist - it's two comic reviews of two characters I really enjoy. Plus, you get to hear my voice crack due to illness, so enjoy!

Speaking of comics, check out this month's column for Comic Related, in which I attempt to make up for lost time by featuring four super hero shows. I think you'll be surprised by my thoughts.....

Although I rarely make it on Pinterest, one of my early pins....keeps popping up. Don't ask me why.

Wow, almost no online shenanigans? Must mean I'm rather busy.....

My Online Shenanigans - August Edition

Yes, just in time for August to begin - my semi-regular update on a variety of online shenanigans, mostly to provide some fodder for the blog, as well as improve search results on my name.

And as always, here we go.....

• Although submitted in July, my latest Comic Related column just hit the Net, and I'm focusing on Orphan Black: Season 2. Thanks to BBC Home Entertainment, I was able to acquire a DVD set for review, and the results....well, just go ahead and read the column, won't you?
• In other news, back when I was proofing for Radio Archives, I really found myself enjoying a great novel of the Spider (and no, that's not a typo - you're supposed to italicize the character's name) called Volunteer Corpse Brigade. Thankfully, it's now available as an ebook via Radio Archives. Trust me, it's a really good read.
• On the business front, I had an opportunity a few months ago to discuss social entrepreneurship & social enterprise on Brian's podcast. Let's just say that yes, I have made some definite progress on plans since then, and that's been taking up a lot of my professional effort. And it's worth it.
• As always, be sure to purchase Pro Se Productions' Tall Pulp  (which features my story Crossing McCausland)  as well as Airship 27 Productions' Hitwolf (which I was lucky enough to edit). Both are really good reads and in the case of Tall Pulp , something I'm very proud of. (If you ask nicely, I'll even do interviews about it....but let's keep Tommy of Pro Se in the loop, OK?)

My Weekly Shenanigans

One of the drawbacks to having a busy job search is that....well, it takes away from writing and blogging. (I've also picked up some freelance copyediting work as well). But I'm here to let you know about some really cool things that happened this week....as well as some great efforts to bring my various online appearances together, because strengthening my search results is always a good thing.

If you're interested in a good read, let me announce my latest completed editing project for Airship 27 Productions. If you're thinking that The Masked Rider (now appearing in a second volume of brand new stories ) is merely a Lone Ranger pastiche....you would be wrong. He's a bit more harder-edged, much more of a masked avenger type than a friendly, yet stern, moral crusader. There are some really good stories in this volume, and it's available as both a softcover and on Kindle for your reading pleasure.

You also want to check out this month's column on Comic Related about Man of Steel. It's not a very glowing review, and I've already had people disagree with me....but quite honestly, I think it's worth saying out loud. Plus, I think it's a really good column.

I was also fortunate enough to participate in a day-long Q & A With a Blogger initiative for Chicago Now. Not only was I able to interview one of my fellow bloggers....but was interviewed by another Chicago Now blogger. It's a pretty interesting series of reads, so I strongly encourage you to visit....and you're always welcome back here.

And finally, don't forget Doctor Who 101 in July (and thanks to pal JB for the reminder)

The Week of Busy: A Review

Admittedly, this has been a very busy week, filled with plenty of job search activities, networking, etc....and much of it has been spontaneous. (Meaning - more people are reaching out to me via my Linked In profile than I've been reaching out. This is not a complaint). However, I've been also popping up online in a variety of venues....and so, in an effort to improve my search optimization mojo, here are my various online activities:

• As part of my monthly column for Comic Related, I've integrated some content from Chicago Nerd Social Club and have written a dual review of Doctor Who: The Web of Fear and Doctor Who: The Enemy of the World. (And yes, I'll be writing a smaller review for CNSC)
• On my Chicago Now blog, I've posted some advice for new graduates who are seeking work in social benefit.
• I'm just....uh, I'm going to leave this here and let you judge for yourself.

C2E2: The Verdict....

After a busy time at C2E2, I have to admit that heading to a local pulp show actually served as a kind of palate cleanser. Although I had a great time at C2E2 hanging with my Comic Related pals (as well as Chicago Nerd Social Club)....I have to admit that I wasn't all that crazy about the show this year. In fact....I actually felt that there were some really disappointing and frustrating aspects. (One of which was....well, my own darn fault).

• First, on the positive front - both of the Chicago Nerd Social Club panels went exceedingly well. (Saturday's panel on sexism was standing-room only). Despite all of the back-and-forth on the Janelle Asselin controversy (and yes, more on that later on in thie blog), it's heartening to see a segment of fandom willing to discuss these issues openly.
• Guest-wise....I have to say that I felt many complaints about the lack of media guests was rather out of line. (After all, it's a comic convention - focusing on that might not be such a bad idea). I did think that there could have been slightly more diversity....and I did think the comments about the increasing number of wrestlers with booths was a bit out of line. (At the risk of gatekeeping, wrestling might not be so much a "nerdy" thing as a "comic" thing....and it was worth an effort.
• Saturday...was probably the worst day. It didn't help that one shuttle bus pulled up, was full (but announced another was coming), a second one drove straight by, and a third pulled up to take in a large crowd. Although more regular, this is...not good.
• My big complaint about Saturday morning - despite holding a press pass and having a 10 am appointment, I was herded into large line, and was kep waiting. (I had arrived at approximately 9:55 am). As the third line, I watched as two larger ones were let in around 10:00 am, and we were kept waiting for 10 minutes. As our line progressed, I could see that we were being recorded by a staff member with a video camera at the head of the line...walking backwards. I don't mind waiting until officially opening....but delaying a large group to "get the shot right"? Not cool.
• Not being allowed in early (despite having Press credentials) had a knock-on effect, meaning that I missed two scheduled appointments, was late for my Doctor Who panel (which had a bumpy start due to my lack of preparation), and ended up missing one of my Comic Related pals entirely. Yes, I am whining and claiming privilege for a complimentary press pass, but if I wanted to be herded like cattle, I would have attended Wizard World
• Yes, bags were checked, and I realize the need for heightened security. However, I question that strategy when several vendors sell prop and real weapons (including swords and guns) for cosplayers. (This is not anti-cosplay; I realize safety is an issue, but it seems like C2E2 is sending a very mixed mesage).
• Note to self and to fellow CNSC board members: we should do a bit more planning when having our booth manned. Working two booths is a bit tiring on my part, and I'm willing to spearhead that effort.

Admittedly, my experience at C2E2 was overall....OK. Unfortunately, I think the show this year was hampered by a bit of misscheduling due to Easter (having this and Windy City on the same weekend meant that one effectively "stole" attendees from another - I'll write more on Windy City Pulp tomorrow). I will say this - I was very disappointed in C2E2 this year. In talking with a fellow blogger, he mentioned that C2E2 was started because they could be an altenative to Wizard World
Although it provides a much healthier fan experience, C2E2 needs to work harder on providing value, because just claiming "We're Not Wizard World" is no longer enough.

Guess What Movie I Saw Last Week...

After a great, productive meeting about a potential business venture - and with four potential freelance gigs in the hopper - I decided to play hooky last Friday afternoon and saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Of course, this has had a knock-on effect on my writing, mostly because I want to gain some SEO juice when people search for Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

For a much more detailed review, please check out the write-up on Comic Related. It does infinitely more that I could on the blog.

(Not that this blog's anything to sneeze at, mind you)

Since part of this effort is to clean up from (essentially) an online harassment campaign two weeks ago (without pointing fingers - someone decided to discredit me, posting a very nasty press release in my name and claiming that I love spam. Although the second thing is true, the first isn't, and thankfully, I was able to get that nasty stuff removed). However, using Tuesday's new episode of Agents of SHIELD as a basis, I wrote about online resources for checking out non-profits for Chicago Now.

Also, the Zone 4 podcast is celebrating its fifth anniversary, and we're putting out a call for a female co-host. (And for the ladies - I apologize for some of the rather, well, inappropriate comments. I didn't have my morning coffee, and I apologize).

Finally, I'm gearing up for both C2E2 and Joss Whedon: A Celebration in May - scroll down on the Facebook evite for the Whedon event and read what Paul Booth wrote about me. Really cool.

Until next time, stay out of trouble, kids.

This Week In Online Content

This has been an incredibly busy - and slightly stressful - week, dealing with online attacks (I hope I've proven that I'm no spammer); losing a freelance contract while maintaining my professional efforts; and feeling a bit shagged out. But that hasn't stopped me from my writing efforts, and this week sees quite a bit that's been "in the hopper" for awhile, including

• This review of Thomas Goetz's The Remedy for I Hear of Sherlock. Not coincidentally, if you're a writer looking for books to review, you might want to check out NetGalley;
• Pal Michi has a cool write-up of my Doctor Who-themed session for C2E2;
• A rewrite of a Comic Related column for your consideration at Chicago Nerd Social Club;
• And, of course, the latest Chicago Now One Cause At a Time post

Have fun, stay warm....and I'm going to go see Captain America: Winter Solder...because I need a bit of fun.

What DAN CON 2014 Taught Me About Life

To say that 2013 was a pretty low year for me would be....well, understatement. Drama. Grief. Isolation.

In other words, typical day-to-day stuff for the geek/nerd lifestyle.

So this year, I had resolved to be more social - to actually force myself to interact with others. (Thankfully, a pal's New Year's Eve invitation sweetened the deal). So it was in that spirit that I headed into Dan Con 2014, hoping for a reunion with some Comic Related (and other Chicago) pals that I kept at arm's length through 2013.

Admittedly, it was a bit tough - I've been attempting to reconnect with the things that I enjoy doing, to find the time to follow through. (This blog, in particular, suffered through the emotional sturm in drang of 2013).  Perhaps now that I'm seeing increased activity on the work front (both in terms of a current gig and requests for my time for potential future work), and with a nascent writing career budding, my time has been....well, at a premium.

But ironically....well, this is kind of a bit convoluted, but here goes. In many groups that share my interest, there's this belief that yes, we're all inclusive....but that often leads to groupthink. And groupthink leads to being unmutual.

And quite frankly, I think The Prisoner handled those themes extremely well.

OK, let me see if I can articulate it differently....I had a lot of irons in the fire. Some of them threatened to drag me down, and this year...I made a concerted effort to give up those things which weren't bringing me joy. There was some resistance - not on my part, but when you're leaving a group, sometimes the group feels like you're necessary, when you may not be. And sometimes, you need to ask forgiveness rather than permission.

I've been culling through and paring my life down to the most essential...and sometimes, I wondered if the kind of belonging I craved wasn't within my immediate reach. That the price of being part of a particular group meant feeling that ache of not quite fitting in...that somehow, belonging meant hiding what I truly felt.

Thankfully, Dan Con taught me that acceptance is within reach....and that sometimes, I forget that the people who care about me are not always within my line of sight.

And that maybe, if I'm feeling excluded from some groups - when I should feel included - that might be a sign.....

Enough ranting for today. More fun and joy in the future. I promise.

Optimize THIS, Pal!

Right now, my life is getting "crazy busy", as the teenager say - between handling a part time freelance gig, calls for potential future work, organizing for some upcoming events, and potential C2E2 news (don't worry, I'll make an announcement when details are conformed)....things have been happening.

However, in an effort to maintain the high quality of blog writing, and to work my search engine optimization mojo for "Gordon Dymowski" and "blog this pal" (because there's a cybersquatting blog with a similar domain - seriously - but more on that later), here are some recent writings in various other outlets that you might enjoy.

• Knowing how many of my fellow fans like to complain about works that they don't like, I decided to look in-depth at two of them for Comic Related - two works which, in retrospect, contain a very heavy emotional charge for me. This past month, I focused on reviewing Star Trek: Into Darkness (as well as two fan productions), and in February, I took on the task of examining Sherlock Series Three and Elementary. (Special thanks to BBC Home Entertainment for providing a complimentary copy of Sherlock for review). And speaking of Holmes & Watson....
• For I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, I wrote a really strong review of Fight Card: Sherlock Holmes. If you like Victorian-era Holmes, this one's a must-read. Seriously.
• A few weeks ago, I volunteered with some fellow Chicago Nerd Social Club members for Chiditarod, a "mobile food drive." Thankfully, fellow CNSC board member/pal Michi did a really cool write-up (with shout-out!) on Geek Melange. And there's nothing I can add except "Superman underwear"....and no, you don't want to know the context. 
• Prepping for some potential rewriting/editing on some soon-to-be projects; and
• Various and sundry other networking opportunities.

So if the devil truly makes work for idle hands....OK, Satan, I get it. Now, can I have some time off? 

Is Blogging About Blogging a Sin?

When you're working freelance, especially when it comes to writing (and like near-twin Roger, I consider myself a writer), things can often get you busy. Thankfully, this means not just further appearance of my name online, but better search optimization.

For example, you all know about the work I'm doing on Chicago Now around social good and tech, but I was fortunate enough to get a review posted on I Hear of Sherlock.

In a strange case of unintentional synergy, a recent episode of Zone 4 (focusing on Spider-Man) appeared soon before my review of The Amazing Spider-Man.

(Oh, and if you haven't already, please like us on Facebook. We'll shout you out, and I promise we'll only say nice things about you. Honest)

Finally, probably the coolest, most obscure shout-out I've ever received (please scroll down to December 2nd, 2013. You'll thank me later)

Surviving Snowmageddon: DOCTOR WHO - PRISONERS OF TIME Hardcover

Thanks to Comic Related/Zone 4 pal Brant, I was able to grab some complimentary copies of IDW's Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time miniseries for review. (You can read it here). Now that Brant was able to provide (thanks to IDW Publishing) a complimentary electronic copy of the collected series (out in hardcover), I was able to sit and read the series in its entirety.

And kudos to Scott Tipton, who managed to write a really strong multi-Doctor story...ironically, by focusing on the companions.

The plot is simple - some force is plucking the Doctor's companions at various points in time, and gradually, the Doctor comes to realize that there is some other force afoot....

...but to say more would be spoiling. Tipton manages to skillfully balance done-in-one tales from each Doctor, reflecting his era, while simultaneously keeping the main plot going. Elements are handled in such a way that even when you anticipate a plot twist...something happens that makes it seem less likely. And there's a great willingness to play within Doctor Who's history, making this the 50th anniversary equivalent of Doctor Who: The Forgotten.

A variety of artists illustrate each tale, and thankfully, each one brings a unique style and perspective (I loved the fact that the artist drawing the Fifth Doctor's issue makes Adric and Nyssa look like kids - something that may not have been apparent during their appearances on the show).  Calling this a "romp" may be something of a misnomer, as this is a really strong series....and deserves to be released as a hardcover.

Both this and Doctor Who: The Forgotten deserve to be on any Who fan's bookshelves. They're that good.

More NaBloPoMo Blogging Content Goodness!

OK, so you're thinking, "Gee, Gordon, keeping up a post per day for NaBloPoMo might be a bit wearing, isn't it?"

Well, no, especially since I seem to be cranking out a ton of really cool posts about a variety of issues. Whether it's in front of my desktop or with Harvey, my Ubuntu-powered Toughbook in a place with wi-fi, I'm still managing to keep up on the writing and job seeking.

For example, my latest piece for I Hear of Sherlock focuses on an upcoming PBS special focusing on Holmes' influence on criminal investigation.

If you're into non-profits and tech, or just want a really great post, I'm glad I was solicited to write this post for Chicago Now's One Cause At A Time, focusing on prostate health. A must-read. 

With the recent brouhaha over the recovery of lost Doctor Who stories, my most recent Comic Related column focuses on both episodes....and I've never been so grateful to have to post a retraction, or have my information become out of date.

A special thanks to Barry Reese, who responded to my blog post about The Adventures of Lazarus Gray. And Barry, as a side note - soon, I'll be reading the third Shadow novel after reading the first two. Although I grew up on the radio Shadow, I am learning to love the pulp Shadow as well.

But don't worry - I'm still committed to one post per day over November, because as much as the job search eats my time....being creative is always worth it.