english isn't for cowards. if you're not saying 'torpify,' that's a skill issue. there's no Académie Française telling you what to do. if you try to type 'pallific' and freak out when you see a little red underline, maybe you're not ready to roll with the big dogs.

Didn’t get a chance to share this yesterday: I wrote about a recent wrestling match that transcended the ridiculousness inherent in the genre and became the stuff of excellent drama. The Magic of Wrestling: El Grande Americano Mask vs. Mask Match open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the horror novel Model Home, which I thought was very good, even if it was disturbing. Model Home: The most upsetting horrors are all too realistic open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I forgot to share this the other day, but I wrote about the new Boots Riley movie, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I Love Boosters: Anti-capitalist messages can come in delightful forms open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the graphic novel Fustuk, which I found to be a delightful, engaging, and moving look at Armenian food and culture through the lens of fantasy. Fustuk: Delectable food + generational trauma = quality comics storytelling open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My Blaxploitation review for this week covers Adios Amigo, a very silly comedy Western that is only minimally coherent. Blaxploitation Education: Adiós Amigo open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My Blaxploitation review for the week looks at a dumb horror movie that missed a great opportunity to explore some racial symbolism. Blaxploitation Education: Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I didn’t get a chance to share this yesterday, but I wrote about Absolute Wonder Woman, which I thought was a pretty darn good comic. Absolute Wonder Woman, Volume 1-2: Princesses can be powerful open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My Blaxploitation review for the week covers Bad, Black and Beautiful, a charmingly terrible movie about a lawyer who would be a really cool character if she had any personality. Blaxploitation Education: Bad, Black and Beautiful open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I forgot to share this, but earlier this week, I wrote about a fantasy novel that would have been pretty fun if it had not included a pretty insidious message. Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World: Some protagonists are accidentally loathsome open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

For this week’s Blaxploitation review, I looked at Lady Cocoa, a low-budget movie that provides an enjoyable showcase for actress Lola Falana and was much better than expected. Blaxploitation Education: Lady Cocoa open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the latest volume of Mike Mignola’s Lands Unknown series, which I’m still finding to be highly enjoyable. Uri Tupka and the Gods: Following Mike Mignola down his latest rabbit hole is a treat open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about a set of good foreign films that I watched recently and the insights I took away from them. Recent Foreign Film Roundup: Sentimental Value, It Was Just an Accident, Sirāt open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My latest Blaxploitation review covers Aaron Loves Angela, a teen love story that’s supposedly based on Romeo and Juliet, but not really. Blaxploitation Education: Aaron Loves Angela open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I put together a long (probably too long!) look at this weekend’s WrestleMania, so check it out if you’re interested in my opinions on the current state of WWE. WrestleMania 42 Preview: Back in the saddle again open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My latest Blaxploitation review covers Fred Williamson’s directorial debut, and it’s…kind of terrible. Blaxploitation Education: Mean Johnny Barrows open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My latest Blaxploitation review covers Friday Foster, Pam Grier’s last starring role of the 1970s. It’s a fun one. Blaxploitation Education: Friday Foster open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about another of DC’s attempts to reboot their most recognizable superheroes, and this one turned out to be pretty good. Absolute Superman, Volume 1-2: At least this one is somewhat different open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My Blaxploitation review for this week looks at Mahogany, which I found to be a tiresome example of the genre of stories in which women are punished for wanting to be successful. Blaxploitation Education: Mahogany open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

Since Project Hail Mary is opening in theaters today, here’s the review I wrote of the book. I thought it was great, and I hope the movie manages to replicate at least some of what made it so enjoyable. Feeling Bookish: Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My Blaxploitation review for this week covers Mandingo, which does a good job of depicting the horrors of slavery, but focuses too much on the white characters to be a satisfying Blaxploitation film. Blaxploitation Education: Mandingo open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the excellent sci-fi horror novel There Is No Antimimetics Division, which is one of the best books I’ve read recently. There Is No Antimimetics Division: You don't want to know about █████████ open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I reviewed Splitsville, which is the funniest movie I’ve seen in a while. Splitsville: Relationships are hard, especially when you're an idiot open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My latest Blaxploitation review covers the Western Take a Hard Ride, which was disappointing due to its failure to fulfill the expectations it set. Blaxploitation Education: Take a Hard Ride open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about a new book that covers the tumultuous period that the movie industry experienced during the 1970s. It’s pretty great reading. The Last Kings of Hollywood: Some are more regal than others open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the latest issue of Jonathan Baylis’ autobiographical comic So Buttons. Support it on Kickstarter! So Buttons #15: Fathers and movies open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My Blaxploitation review for this week covers Together Brothers, which provides a realistic depiction of life in the inner city, but loses points for ugly depictions of queer characters. Blaxploitation Education: Together Brothers open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

For this week’s Blaxploitation review, I went back to 1970 to look at an early attempt to capitalize on the trend that failed due to its insistence on approaching racism from the white perspective. Blaxploitation Education: The Liberation of L.B. Jones open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the adventures of thicc Batman, and I’m confused about what people seem to find so great about it. Absolute Batman, Volume 1-2: It's the same old story, even with cosmetic differences open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My latest Blaxploitation review covers Let’s Do It Again, which has some pretty funny bits if you can find it in yourself to laugh at Bill Cosby. Blaxploitation Education: Let's Do It Again open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the final volume in the manga series Search and Destroy, which was a highly enjoyable example of violent action involving rage against injustice. Search and Destroy, Volume 3: Cyberpunk violence never needs to end open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My latest Blaxploitation review covers Darktown Strutters, a very strange musical comedy that ended up being pretty bad, even if it did provide some food for thought: Blaxploitation Education: Darktown Strutters open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about Angel Down, a horror novel set during World War I that I found to be a pretty incredible experience. Angel Down: Literary gimmickry can sometimes be effective open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My Blaxploitation review for this week covers the second Cleopatra Jones movie, which is enjoyable in terms of action but offers little else. Blaxploitation Education: Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the horror novel When the Wolf Comes Home, which I liked quite a bit, even if it wasn’t the scariest thing I’ve ever read. When the Wolf Comes Home: Fear is different for everyone open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I reviewed the recent adaptation of The Running Man, and I did not like it very much: The Running Man (2025): Schwarzenegger > Wright + Powell, surprisingly open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My Blaxploitation review for this week covers Bucktown, a Fred Williamson/Pam Grier joint that’s an unfortunate example of white filmmakers struggling to find the right focus for these types of stories. Blaxploitation Education: Bucktown open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I’m continuing to work my way through the Murderbot books, and the novel Network Effect is another excellent entry in the series: Network Effect, a Murderbot Novel: Robotic relationships can be confusing open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I forgot to share this yesterday: my latest Blaxploitation review covers the pimp-centric action movie The Candy Tangerine Man: Blaxploitation Education: The Candy Tangerine Man open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I’m finally back to writing about Blaxploitation movies, and I’m going to try to pick up the pace. Here’s my look at Cooley High, a teen comedy/drama that has proven to be pretty influential: Blaxploitation Education: Cooley High open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about Joe Hill’s latest novel, King Sorrow, looking at how his work compares to his father (Stephen King). King Sorrow: Sometimes, father/son comparisons are unavoidable open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the season finale of Pluribus. It was a super-fun show, both in terms of its exploration of a thought provoking concept and the way it gave Rhea Seehorn the opportunity to be awesome. Next season, please! Gettin' My Eps In: Pluribus S1E9 open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the movie Wake Up Dead Man, which gave me the opportunity to expound on religion in general and modern American Christianity in particular. Wake Up Dead Man: Religion is good, actually? open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My latest TV review covers the last couple of episodes of Pluribus before the season finale. We’ll see if the show can stick the landing, but I expect it will have me wanting to come back for future seasons. Gettin' My Eps In: Pluribus S1E7-8 open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about a couple of episodes of Pluribus. I’m several weeks behind on the show, so we’ll have to see if I can catch up. Gettin' My Eps In: Pluribus S1E3-4 open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I recorded an episode of a podcast looking at the 1930 movie King of Jazz. It was a fun conversation! open.substack.com/pub/theoscar...

I’m continuing to read and enjoy the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Here’s my look at how the series is like junk food that’s very enjoyable to consume even if it’s not very “nutritious:” Dungeon Crawler Carl, books 2-4: RPGs can be addictive open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

My Blaxploitation review for this week covers Force Four, a very cheap martial arts movie that is objectively terrible but still fun for sickos like me. Blaxploitation Education: Force Four open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I wrote about the Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk, which I found to be pretty moving, with some great performances and plenty of horrific moments. The Long Walk: A story that I wish wasn't perpetually timely open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...

I reviewed The Last Hour Between Worlds, a fantasy novel that was pretty fun, even if its constant stream of fantastical concepts was kind of overwhelming. The Last Hour Between Worlds: Get ready for some (well-crafted) fantasy nonsense open.substack.com/pub/matthewb...