2025

Rujinu

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Jinu and Rumi, in all their patterned glory, stopped by the booth. I love that it’s post-acceptance of herself Rumi with the colourful patterns. (Although I just noticed her contacts, so maybe it’s right before What it Sounds Like?)

Couch Mira

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KPop Demon Hunter cosplays were the ones I was looking forward to seeing the most this weekend, and I wasn’t disappointed! I wasn’t able to grab a Bobby cosplayer, much to my disappointment, or a Baby Saja, but I got the rest of the main characters, starting with the awesome @princessofthenorth as Mira ready for the “couch couch couch!” And yes, she made all those delicious treats from scratch. No, you may not eat them, they’re not actually food!

Beautiful (Belle) helper

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If you came to see us at Ottawa Comic Con 2025, you were probably assisted by our Belle helper (if you were looking at the books). She read them all (other than the pen name stuff) this summer, and is enthusiastic about getting more people to read them. Living up to her costume!

(Also it’s her birthday this week, so I had to post her first!)

Thunderbolts* – JenEric Movie Review

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How This Works – Read Other Reviews

Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Thunderbolts*.

Story

A strong story about mental health, found family, and trying to be better, dressed up in superhero tights. The movie is both touching and one of Marvel’s funniest.

Score: 1

Characters

‘All the most forgettable MCU characters team up with the Winter Soldier’ doesn’t sound all that great, but each character received development, humanizing, and some time to shine.

It was well acted and believable despite the wild and ridiculous scenes.

Score: 1

Dialogue

This movie has all the quippiness needed for a Marvel superhero movie and throws in some road trip and found family jokes along the way.

The more serious parts tackled feelings of loneliness and nihilism in a way that was comforting without being condescending.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The use of shadow throughout the movie is beautiful and works so well with the themes. Every camera movement feels thought out and I really appreciate the way they shot the fight scenes. It was chaotic without being overwhelming or nauseating.

Score: 1

Fun

I wasn’t sure I’d like this one but I really enjoyed it and hope to see more of the characters. The entire family also seemed to like it.

Score: 1

Overall

One of Marvel’s strongest recent films that doesn’t shy away from serious topic but still knows how to laugh and have some fun.

Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*

*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.

Thank You Ottawa ComicCon

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Hello Friends, Family, and Fans;

This past weekend was Ottawa ComicCon, and it was a busy one. We saw lots of people, sold a lot of coffee, and somehow survived.

Every year while i prep, I wonder why I do it. It’s weeks of set-up, roasting, packaging, planning, and packing. I get all grumpy and introverted and worried.

But every year, the people make it worth it! In no particular order, I’d like to thank:

  • Our close friends that vend next to us
  • All the other amazing vendors
  • The con goers that are both enthusiastic and genuinely happy
  • The organizers, and
  • The amazing volunteers that not only keep the whole thing running but are also some of our best clients.

Special shout-out to my family for being amazing. We couldn’t do this without you!

Another special thanks to Dragon and Pegasus, who were amazingly well-behaved and made us proud all weekend.

We feel loved, appreciated, and maybe a little more hopeful.

Stay safe and be kind,

Éric

Superman (2025) – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Superman.

Story

The least believable part of the story was its dated and naive premise that people can be swayed by the media. Lex had literal mind controlled monkeys manipulating the internet and yet didn’t have a plan for meddling newspaper reporters?

Beyond that part, the movie paints the most depressing picture of the human race I have seen outside of the news.

Everyone keeps talking about how hopeful the movie is and I only saw darkness. Superman may have been a beacon of hope but he was ridiculed for it, called foolish, made the butt of the joke, and even at the end of the movie, the other heroes do the most brutal acts in his name.

Score: 0

Characters

This Superman is wonderful. He’s human, believable, flawed, and impulsive. His acts of kindness, with one exception, are met with brutal retribution, mockery, and derision. However, the actor did a splendid job. Lex, Lois, and the Kents were wonderful.

The awkward misogyny of Jimmy and Tess was eye-rollingly bad.

The other metas were mostly jerks with large egos. Mr. Terrific lived up to his name however.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Any part with Lois or the Kents was fantastic.

Superman’s speeches and Lex’s rants were equally well delivered.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The visuals were okay but relied on shaky-cam more than my migraine-addled brain would like. The large set pieces often felt superfluous to the plot. Style over story.

The music had homages to Reeves movies but the theme was played at odd times. Like they had to convince us that he was doing something heroic. It also never hits the clarity or strength of brass as the original.

Score: 0.5

Fun

I REALLY wanted to like this. I loved the new Superman but despite being named after him it was mostly “things that happen around Superman.”

Too much time was used fighting random monsters that could have been used on character development and interactions. We see Clark for one scene, there are three with Lois and him, and only two with the parents.

When I said I wanted a more human Superman, I didn’t mean I wanted to see him get beat up and bleed. I meant I wanted to see him as himself not just the icon.

I’m also annoyed that at the end he decided to start killing. I get why he needed to kill his clone but the flying soldiers at the end were fried with no chance or compassion.

Score: 0

Overall

This is a hopeful Superman in a world that believes the news and where billionaires can get their comeuppance. The movie’s message of hope is lost in the mocking and brutality, and in the fact that Superman did almost nothing except survive.

The movie spends more screen time with gags (like Krypto being poorly behaved) or pointless fights than it does developing characters or plot.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5

KPop Demon Hunters – JenEric Movie Review

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How This Works – Read Other Reviews

Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film KPop Demon Hunters.

Story

The story, like everything in this movie, is a clever combination of tropes, story structures, and character archetypes. It does something that most animation targeting children doesn’t: it creates a world with loose ends that can be explored later or just by the fans.

Score: 1

Characters

The characters take a lot of influence from Kpop personalities with a dash of fantasy archetypes and some mythological references. The design, the costumes, the movements, everything is intentional and recognizable to multiple different audiences.

I do wish we’d found out a little more about the other boys in the band, but I understand that would have bogged down the story.

Score: 1

Dialogue

So quipy and irreverent it was great. The dialogue that is said for drama purposes hits so much harder because of the humour in the rest of the movie.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

Seen as a whole, the movie was stunning. There were a few times where they went lower resolution and the characters looked like claymation from adult swim. I’m not a fan of that style, but the rest of it is absolutely gorgeous.

The music was spectacular and is playing on repeat in our house.

Score: 1

Fun

My first time watching it, I was stressed for the characters and loved all the little twists. It’s a movie with a lot of layers. The second watch really showed how much detail they put into everything.

Jen and the kids are obsessed (as are a lot of other people). It’s a fun and heartwarming movie that doesn’t shy away from the dark.

Score: 1

Overall

Every detail matters and the movie has rich storytelling and fantastic music. The worst part of the movie is how epic a world they built and how we have to wait for more.

Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*

*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.

Éric’s 2025 Resolution Mid-Year Review

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Hello Friends, Family, and Fans;

It’s been half a year since I made my resolutions, and wow has a lot happened in the world. Things are mostly okay for me minus a few health issues. Let’s see how I’m doing with my resolutions.

Fair warning, I chose the cartoon before I tallied my score.

1. Write The Hounds of Bakerville (Succeeding)

I’ve written the first three chapters and I have a good plot. I just need time to write. I lost over a month and a half to my tendonitis.

2. Write a serial story (Succeeding)

I’m loving this year’s serial story. It’s a lot of fun. Read it here: The Scarlet Thread Irregulars

3. Master 1 song on the ukulele and record it. (Failing)

Until I get the all clear from my doctor, I’m a little terrified of playing. I tried and it really hurt. Not sure how this one’s going to go.

4. Read at least 12 books (Succeeding)

So far, I’m at 10 books for the year. I think I’ll make it.

5. Build my new book nook and lego (Succeeding)

I built the book nook and loved it. The magical cafe was obviously out of my comfort zone. I might try again but I’m not sure. As for the Lego, I plan on doing that while I’m on summer vacation.

6. Feel less guilty (Neutral)

I was feeling better, and working from home is helping a lot, but the past month has been rough on me. Between the tendonitis and really bad allergies, I’m needing more time to do anything. I am trying hard to do some things that are just for me. I started a new Skyrim playthrough and I’m loving it.

7. Design and deploy a new coffee flavour for Ottawa Comic Con in September (Succeeding)

This one is easy. I know the theme and I know the flavour. I’m looking forward to having some time to design it.

8. Plan and plot out the first in a cozy mystery series (Succeeding)

I’ve planned the series, I’ve planned the setting, and I have a basic template outline for each book. I’m still super excited for this one.

9. Organize a massive birthday party and book release (Succeeded)

This is happening. Our publishers took point but I’m looking forward to doing this. I hope I’ll see you all there. Sign up on Eventbrite or Facebook.

*More details in a future post.

10. Keep fighting to learn more about myself and how to make my life easier (Succeeding)

I’m still on a journey of self-discovery (which has a significant lack of wizards) but I think I’m starting to understand how the ADHD, Autism, and health issues are affecting me.

Wow, that’s way better than I expected. 8 out of 10 is damn good. Now I just have to keep it up. You know what they say, “It’s not over until we ceremoniously slaughter the personification of the year.”

Stay safe and be kind,

Éric