Thank You, Stan Lee…

…and every other comic book writer ever.

Prince Mekhi of Castle Curley has been misbehaving again, as 9-year-old boys will do. He currently is grounded from all electronics (tablet, video games, TV, etc.), his bicycle, visiting his friends, etc. The one thing that we won’t ground him from is reading.

Background: Brian and I love to read. I could read before I was in kindergarten, and I frequently took books out on the playground to read instead of play. Brian gave me a kindle for Christmas years ago, and I take it everywhere. It beats hauling around a library of books.

When Mekhi joined our family nearly two years ago, he didn’t like to read; something which is anathema to us. Being avid readers, as well as geeks, we know an excellent way to get a non-reader to read: Comic Books.

We took Mekhi to Free Comic Book Day in 2014, and Brian helped our little prince make his selections. Now he is addicted to Spider-Man. I don’t know how many times now that I’ve gotten the “Can’t talk; reading” look from our son. I love it.

This morning on the way to school, Mekhi showed me the cover of the Ultimate Spider-Man comic he is reading. “Do you know who this is?” I knew the lady to whom he was pointing was neither Gwen Stacy nor Mary Jane Watson, as neither dressed in a superhero costume. When I couldn’t come up with the answer, Mekhi informed me that she is Kitty Pryde of the X-Men, and she and Parker are dating after he broke up with Stacy. When Mekhi referred to Watson as “MJ,” a common nickname for the character by Spider-Fans, Brian was so pleased, My son reads Spider-Man Comics!

Mekhi spent the rest of the drive to school telling us what is happening in Ultimate Spider-Man, and I know that Mekhi is very familiar with the X-Men since binge-watching Wolverine and the X-Men on Netflix (I watched it, too). He frequently asks Brian for more Spider-Man comics, and when we were out, I offered my Star Wars comics to Mekhi to read. Nope. Just wants more Spider-man.

Gods bless Stan Lee and every other comic book writer/artist out there.

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

“With great power comes not being a dumbass” -from Dr. Blink Superhero Shrink by John Kovalic and Christopher Jones

 

Finally Two Stores That Get Me as a Female Shopper

I’ve been complaining for years about marketing toward women. Well, I finally found two stores that are listening:

From a recent American Science & Surplus e-mail subject, “Your Mother Wears Combats Boots.” “Which means for Mother’s Day, she’d really appreciate a nice ballistic nylon tool bag, purchased specially because it doubles as a ballistic purse. Or a Swiss army helmet. If she doesn’t wear combat boost, we can still send her something she will not see in every other mother’s mailbox this year.”

I just ordered the hardish-side fancy wallet case in red.

Another store that gets my tastes for Mother’s Day: Think Geek’s e-mail read: “Does you mom geek out over stuff as much as you do? Give her a Mother’s Day gift from her favorite fandom. Moms are fans, too. Whether it’s nature or nurture, children who are geeks often have parents who are geeks, too. Honor your mom’s fandom by getting her a gift she’d never get herself – but one that she’ll totally geek out over, in her own mom way. We’ve put together a selection of our favorites from the most popular franchises.”

I just ordered the R2-D2 Fit and Flare Dress in XXXL; I also receive a free Darth Vader vs. Luke Duel Pin, which is kewl because it’s from Empire, my favorite SW film of all.

Remember, I have a wish list on Think Geek.

Pog ma thoin!

-Lori

Emperor: “The Force is strong with him. The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi.” (I used this line as proof that Vader wasn’t Luke’s dad. Boy, was I wrong!)