The old lot had stood empty for years. It used to be a surviving patch of woods between the subdivisions, but the land was eventually cleared and leveled. But nothing was ever built on it. Some of the developers had financial or legal troubles, other purchasers just felt so uncomfortable on the land that they sold it off after an on-site inspection. The lot dreamed of haunted houses with shutters that creaked in the wind and porches that sagged like a disapproving frown. It could manage a mournful wail if the wind was just right. For now, the lot waited.
When the famous spy and cryptographer passed away, they found a book of handwritten notes in his kitchen. It was his last gift to the world. Codebreakers spent years poring over the notes online and arguing with each other about cyphers in forums, but couldn’t make heads or tails of the hidden meaning that was surely left in the text somewhere. When the world’s greatest cryptographers couldn’t solve the puzzle, they declared it a hoax. In truth, there was no hidden code in the notebook. The old man had merely wanted to share his award-winning scone recipes with the world.
When we bought the beach house, I regretted it right away. Every year, a little more of the beach eroded away. The debts and taxes just too much for us. I tried to sell it, but the market had dried up. When the house fell into the sea, it was almost a relief. “At least we won’t have to pay property taxes anymore,” I said. There was a knock at the door. A strange little man with overly large eyes stood hunched on the porch. He handed me a damp business card. “I’m the property assessor from Atlantis,” he explained.
The old mystic lived in the swamp for so long that he became a legend to the villages surrounding villages, which avoided the deep swamp for fear of witches and monsters. They were no match for him. He had been a hero once, forced into hiding by the Dark Lord’s ascension. The spirits gave him a prophecy: He would train the hero would save the world, but only if he stayed hidden. The mystic felt the horrors inflicted by the Dark Lord’s armies, but told himself that it was necessary to wait. When the boy arrived, he was a disappointment.
Today is the first Saturday in May, which mean’s it’s Free Comic Book Day! Sponsored by beleaguered Comics publishing monopoly-holder Diamond Distribution, the event offers a variety of free comics to the public to bring them into local shops. Due to no longer being distributed by Diamond, it appears that DC Comics will not be taking part in the event, but there will still be plenty of books for sale, along with other events at your local shops. Here are some of the ones I’m most interested in this year:
Fantastic Four / X-Men – Marvel Comics I was never a big fan of the Fantastic Four. While I liked them alright, the pioneering family of superheroes always felt a little too stuck in the ’60s to me. But writer Ryan North and artist Humberto Ramos have been killing it in their monthly title, one of the few that I’m actually keeping up with these days. So I’m looking forward to their FCBD offering this year, especially paired with a new X-Men story from the writers of NYX, my favorite of the post-Krakoa X-Men titles. It may be marketing for upcoming MCU movies, but it’s top-shelf Big 2 comics, so I’m here for it.
Tower Dungeon & Issak – Kodansha These pair of samples from Kodansha both look really interesting. In Tower Dungeon, Sci-FI Manga creator Tsutomu Nihei turns his hand to a dungeon crawler-inspired Fantasy setting, and it looks like it will have his signature dark twist to the typical ‘Farm boy seeks his fortune’ narrative. Issak is an unusual Historical story from writer Shinji Makari and artist Double-S about a Samurai that finds himself in Europe during the Thirty Years War.
IDW Dark: Find Your New Fear – IDW IDW is launching a new horror imprint, and this FCBD sampler includes four previews of upcoming M-rated horror titles.
The event will also feature a ton of family-friendly content and tie ins for Archie, Spider-Man, Power Rangers, Star Wars, and more! The event helps bring the public to locally owned businesses, but the books aren’t free, so if you visit your local shop, be sure to support them with a purchase, too. Many stores will have special events with prizes, guest artists and writers, and more! You can find participating stores in your area, along with the list of this year’s books, at https://www.freecomicbookday.com/
The nest was high in the trees, hidden among the branches. I’d tracked the birds for weeks, and watched the birds make it. But I didn’t dare climb up for a closer look. These were no ordinary birds. I scattered black stones around the tree and said the command word. They projected an illusion of a dragon climbing the tree. Even a magical animal will run from a predator it can’t fight. I waited, eyes covered, until I heard two sets of wings taking flight. Climbing to the treetops, I found three gleaming cockatrice eggs waiting for me to sell.
Last night, the girl wrote her phone number on a napkin and stuffed it brazenly into his pants pocket before sauntering out of the bar. He couldn’t remember the reason she couldn’t just text it to him , but it had seemed like a good idea at the time, and he hadn’t been complaining. In the piercing light of day, he waited for his hangover to pass enough to read it. He spread the cheap paper out on the bedside table. ‘I poisoned your drink. Call this number within twelve hours if you want to live.’ He sighed. Every damn time.
When the cadre of Orks escaped the front line, they stole a boat and sailed until they found a place that had never heard of the Dark Lord. They set down their pikes and clubs and made a new life for themselves. It was Shorty who suggested they open up a restaurant. They hadn’t seen much cuisine in their time fighting, but they made up for their inexperience with enthusiasm and brotherhood. When Ripper hung the sign and they opened the doors, they stood looking into an uncertain future. But if nothing else, meat would always be on the menu.
The Skinny: A Gay slice-of-life cooking manga that has more romaine than romance.
Shiro and Kenji are a Gay couple in their 40s living together in Tokyo. Closeted lawyer Shiro fends off the questions about his girlfriend, while boisterous barber Kenji is much more relaxed and free-spirited. But every day Shiro cooks an amazing meal for his partner at the end of the day. Equal parts slice-of-life and cooking manga, What Did You Eat Yesterday? has very little plot to speak of, just the day to day lives of the protagonists and their emotions. Shiro is a fussy and vain, but he demonstrates the depths of his emotions in his cooking for Kenji, who can be jealous. I wish the book were a bit more, well, it has all the spice level of a cup of milk, to be frank. But for as little physical affection as the characters show, the book is a look into the daily lives of people who usually don’t get a spotlight in either manga or western comics. Yoshinaga’s art style is easy to read and balances a fashion plate-like style for the characters with gorgeous, detailed renderings for the food. It also includes clear recipes that, while being originally intended for the Japanese market, are easy to follow and recreate in the kitchen of a Western reader. The comic follows Shiro from the grocery store to plating and serving the dish for Kenji, often involving the math and planning stages, interwoven into the story. Do I wish that Shiro’s parents were more open and accepting of their son, yes. But did you see that amazing drawing of fried tofu? What Did You Eat Yesterday? also received its own live-action television series, consisting of two seasons and a movie. It also has its own accompanying fan-fiction series, which includes all of the adult content the comic doesn’t cover. I am glad that the translation includes the frank discussion of everyday life of these characters and their relationships, something that we haven’t always gotten, particularly for queer characters in larger franchises. Stares in ‘They’re Cousins’ This is a serious manga for adults, but if you are looking for spice, you’re going to find more on the plate than in the sheets. What Did You Eat Yesterday? is available in print and digital editions from the usual online retailers, or in print from your local bookstore or comics shop. You may be able to find it or ask for it at your local library!
Through everything, he maintained his garden. In the winter, while the election results were coming in, he ordered seeds. In spring, during the early days of the regime’s expansion, he planted. His neighbors asked how he would fight. In summer, during the protests, he watered and weeded. His neighbors asked why he wasn’t out protesting with them. In autumn, when the crackdowns started, he harvested vegetables. He stored what would keep and canned the rest. His neighbors hid in their basement. The next winter, when the store shelves were bare, he shared with his neighbors so they could keep fighting.
Hugh J. O'Donnell 