Norrin_Radd

Read The Broken Ear (1935-7 - 62 pgs) wherein Tintin gets embroiled in a mystery around a theft of a South American idol. He travels to Latin America (full of corruption and revolution) and has many misadventures and near-death experiences trying to unravel the mystery. He is harried by two murderous villains all along the way, but our hero triumphs in the end. The two villains get their unearthly reward.

How have I never heard of this song until now?!?!

Batgirl

My first golden age comic purchase in five years. Happy birthday to me.

Read The Blue Lotus (1934 - 62 pgs). A continuation from Cigars of the Pharaoh, Tintin is still hanging out with the maharaja in India when he is called away to China. He is targeted by the Japanese (who had invaded China) and has many narrow escapes uncovering a plot by them. He befriends and is helped by several Chinese people along the way. Thomson & Thompson show up near the end to begrudgingly arrest their friend, but are easily outwitted by Tintin. Mr. Rastapopoulous (who had a cameo at a dinner party in Chicago and had some interaction with Tintin in Cigars) makes an appearance at the end of the story and reveals he is the criminal mastermind behind a organization smuggling opium. But Tintin prevails in the end with help from his Chinese friends.

I had my first Comiclink submissions in a long time in late October/November. Three key books and all fetched terrible prices. Very disappointed and apparently terrible timing. 😵

1 in the census https://www.cgccomics.com/census/grades_standard.asp?title=Sigil&issue=1&publisher=CrossGen+Comics&year=2000&issuedate=7/00

Read Cigars of the Pharaoh (1932 - 62 pgs). A classic Tintin adventure as Hergé was getting the formula down. This story introduces detectives Thomson & Thompson (or Dupont & Dupond as they were called in the original Belgian comics). This story is also the first appearance of the recurring villain Allan whom @chromium was named after. Tintin stumbles upon an international drug smuggling ring that he ends up foiling. Along the way he saves the life of a local maharaja and his son and is hailed as a hero once again by story's end.

Just read Tintin in America (1931 - 62 pgs). Non-stop action as our intrepid reporter is on a mission to clean up gangsters in Chicago. Many narrow escapes from being kidnapped, killed by indians, lynched, run over by a train, chopped into corned beef in a canning factory, and thrown into Lake Michigan. But luck is with him and he succeeds in bringing down three mob bosses and their gang before departing again for Europe.

For 2023, my first reading goal is to read Tintin from the beginning. First volume is Tintin and the Land of the Soviets (1929 - 139 pgs). Needless to say Tintin finds a lot of corruption in communist Russia and is targeted with many narrow escapes. Next, is Tintin in the Congo (1930 - 110 pgs). The obviously controversial Tintin story with crude depictions of native Africans and Tintin is rather belittling of them. But is does lead into the next story of gangsters in Chicago with Al Capone being referenced in the story.

Buy a select few Batman/Batgirl comics and maybe a piece of original art.

Unflattering photo. She's actually aged pretty well.

I did sell a lot of comics, TPBs, magazines all year long but a bit short of my goal. It was good to go through my collection and see what I actually had. It wasn't easy to let go of some of my comics but it feels good to thin out my collection. What's left are my favorites (or comics nobody wants). Didn't pull the trigger on an original art purchase this year but I've narrowed down what I might buy. Waiting to see if prices tumble during the recession next year.

Thanks to @jlouque for the Batman/Joker comics.

My secret Santa gift just got delivered.

Every winter when we're snowed in we have a family tradition to watch The Day After Tomorrow. Today's the day.

I first heard about this series from advertisements on the Amazon trucks that are always in my suburban neighborhood. It was good to enjoy some more Tolkien adaptation. Overall, I was pleased with it and looking forward to next season.

It's ridiculously cold (and windy) here in the Midwest. 🥶 The dog doesn't want to go outside to do her business unless she's bundled up in a coat and booties.

Nothing yet here either.