Writer's Block, So Here Is What I'm Reading

The writer’s block is heavy these days. I don’t know if it is work or a sports lull. Maybe it’s the anticipation of warmer weather. Who knows? I don’t have anything to focus on, so I will share what I’m reading. I don’t plan to go too deep; I’m just going to share what I like or don’t like.

The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin by Jaleigh Johnson

Yeah, this is pure brain candy fun. It is part of the new Dungeons and Dragons novels that I have completely enjoyed. I really like the adventuring crew that Johnson has created for us. Like most D&D games, it is a collection of eclectic characters trying to make their way along the Sword Coast. They visit Baldur’s Gate, Candlekeep, and Waterdeep, where they go to the Yawning Portal to dive deep into the Undermountain. Oh, all the while being chased by a lich. This has been a complete indulgence of the mind.

Duke Volume 1 and The Transformers Volume 1 in The Energon Universe

Yep, that is Duke of G.I. Joe, and yep, that is the Transformers, as in the robots that turn into cars, trucks, jets, etc. These two volumes are collections of the first six issues of these story runs by Image Comics. Wondering why I mention them together? These stories tie in together as part of the Energon Universe, which also includes the title Void Rivals. This series is a ton of fun!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The characters are a range of interesting to compelling, the story is good with some nice twists, but the world-building is amazing! The story primarily takes place in one area of the world, but the characters are from all over the world, and those areas and backgrounds are well-developed. This world is fleshed out in the series Shadow and Bone and continues in the duology Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. I have to lean on my students' recommendations, as they say the duology is the best, and Shadow and Bone is not quite as good as Six of Crows. This is actually a non-Star Wars and non-Forgotten Realms series which I may actually read.

The Amazing Spider-Man

Really brief here, but I have been enjoying this story where Peter Parker is swept (or punched as it may be) into intergalactic adventures to learn how to defeat Hellscape. Norman Osborne takes on the Spider-Man mantle while he rediscovers who he is. The Spider-Team (Miles, Gwen, Spider-Boy, Silk, and others) try to hold down the fort in New York City. 

The Flat Soda Bombers Basketball Club Fantasy Basketball Weeks 14 - 20 (updated 3/2/26)

The Flat Soda Bombers Basketball Club is a Fantasy Basketball team in The Library basketball league. This is the inaugural season of both the Bombers and the league, which lives on the Yahoo Sports NBA Fantasy platform.

Reflection of Weeks 1-13:

The inaugural season for the Flat Soda Bombers fantasy basketball club is a season of learning, for sure. Injuries would be the theme of the first 10 weeks and the aimless direction from the front office has led to a near the bottom of the league dwelling team. The owner of the Bombers is an experienced fantasy manager with several titles and top three finishes but has never curated a basketball team. This is a learning year.

There were some positives at the end of the first 13 weeks as the Flat Soda Bombers won two of the last three weeks. In those two wins, the team put up numbers that would have been competitive with most of the teams in the league. Now, the Bombers are looking for consistency to squeak into the playoffs.

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Weekly Results:

Week 14: Flat Soda Bombers (57-117-8) vs. Siddy’s Neat Team (94-82-6) 10-4  "Bombers are 3-1 in the Last Four Weeks!"  

Week 15: Flat Soda Bombers (67-121-8) vs. 67 Dino Nuggets (137-55-4)  4-10  "67 Too Much for the Bombers" 

Week 16: Flat Soda Bombers vs. Forum Blue and Gold  3-10  "Bombers Let this One Slip Away...And Slip Away...And Slip Away"

Week 17: Flat Soda Bombers (74-141-9) vs. Mello Ballerz (73-138-13)  5-8  "Bombers Let This One Slip Away: Making the Playoffs Looking Bleak"

Week 18: Flat Soda Bombers vs. Less Than Lucky  11-2  "Bombers Come Alive to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive"  

Week 19: Flat Soda Bombers (90-151-11) vs. D's Dominate Dunkers (151-92-9) 

The current (1/19/26) Flat Soda Bombers Roster

PG: Dyson Daniels - Atlanta Hawks

SG: Julian Champagnie - San Antonio Spurs

G: Ausar Thompson - Detroit Pistons

SF: Jaden McDaniels - Minnesota Timberwolves

PF: Kyshawn George - Washington Wizards

F: Onyeka Okongwu - Atlanta Hawks

C: Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks

C: Zion Williamson - New Orleans Pelicans

U: CJ McCollum - Atlanta Hawks

U: De’Aaron Fox - San Antonio Spurs

Bench:

C: Nikola Vucevic - Chicago Bulls

G/F: Zach LaVine - Sacramento Kings

G: Coby White - Chicago Bulls

IL: Anthony Davis - Dallas Mavericks

IL: Devin Vassell - San Antonio Spurs

The Flat Soda Bombers Basketball Club Fantasy Basketball (updated 1/12/26)

I needed another fantasy sports team like I need a sharp rock in my shoe when running a marathon, but here I am taking the reigns of a new Fantasy Basketball franchise in the newly formed league, The Library.  Allow me to introduce the newest franchise of mine from the sport of NBA basketball: Flat Soda Bombers

Yep, you might think does this have anything to do with my library?  You bet!  This league is made up from employees in the library including myself, Benjamin the library clerk, Heidi and Ryan (league commish) from the IT department, Dan and son Mason (English Dept), Nate (World Languages), Brian (Social Studies) and someone who I think is Ryan's friend.  

Confession: since the Jordan era, I can probably name about as many players as I have fingers and toes.  I can pronounce even fewer of them, and that last item (about names), only shows my own cultural ignorance.  I have really come to lean on saying, "that guy from Milwaukee."   Anyhow, we did a live draft and I actually drafted this team shown below.  I feel like it is a good collection of players, but the first week didn't go so well.  The Bombers dropped the first week to a team named by my youngest daughter (14 yrs) for Heidi a self proclaimed team owner who only joined because we couldn't find anyone else to even the league out and has no idea who she drafted.  Yeah, the Flat Soda Bombers lost to them.  That feels real good.  Oh, their name you ask?  67 Dino Nuggets (of course!).   Anyone who has a teen in the house or works in a middle or high school can appreciate that name.  Well, here is the Flat Soda Bombers.  

Week 1: Flat Soda Bombers vs. 67 Dino Nuggets 5-8-1"Flat Soda is a Good Description of Week 1" (5th in League) 

Week 2: Flat Soda Bombers (5-8-1) vs. Forum Blue and Gold ( 9-4-1)  3-10  "The Bombers Forgot the Season Started"  (6th in League) 

Week 3: Flat Soda Bombers (8-18-2) vs. Mello Ballerz (6-21-1)  8-5  "Bombers Win Battle of the Bottom"  (6th in League)

Week 4:  Flat Soda Bombers (16-23-3)  vs. Less than Lucky (10-30-2)  2-11 "Bombers Banged Up...But is that the Excuse?"  (7th in League)

Week 5: Flat Soda Bombers (18-34-4) vs. D's Dominate Dunkers (34-21-1)  2-11 "Flat Soda Bombers = Embarrassing"  

Week 6: Flat Soda Bombers vs. Ryan's Gametime Nachos 2-12  "Bombers Consistent with Three Weeks Scoring only 2 Points: Well, That's Something"  (7th in League)

Week 7: Flat Soda Bombers (22-57-5) vs. Siddy's Neat Team (53-30-1) 5-9 "Bombers Take a 9-4 Lead into Sunday and Go, well, Flat" 

Week 8: Flat Soda Bombers (27-66-5) vs. 67 Dino Nuggets (69-27-2)  5-9  "Bombers Still Looking to Take Control"  (7th in League)

Week 9: Flat Soda Bombers (32-75-5) vs. Forum Blue and Gold (57-49-6) 2-12 "Bomber's Coach says, "Something Just Isn't Clicking"  

Week 10: Flat Soda Bombers vs. Mello Ballerz  2-10  "Bomber's Team Captain says, We Are Still Playing Basketball"  

Week 11: Flat Soda Bombers (36-97-7) vs. Less Than Lucky (40-93-7)  10-4 "Bombers Shock the World with a 10-4 Win...Look Out Below!" 

Week 12: Flat Soda Bombers vs. D's Dominate Dunkers 8-6 "Kids Beat First Over .500 Team!" 

Week 13: Flat Soda Bombers (54-107-7) vs. Ryan's Gametime Nachos (96-63-7) 

Here is the line-up and roster of the Flat Soda Bombers (updated 12/1/25): 

PG:  De'Aaron Fox (Spurs)

SG: Zach LaVine (Kings)

G:  Devin Vassell (Spurs)

SF: Jerami Grant (Trail Blazers)

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)

F: Anthony Davis (Mavericks)

C: Nikola Vucevic (Bulls)

C: Myles Turner (Bucks)

UTIL: Zion Williamson (Pelicans)

UTIL: Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves)

Bench: 

PG/SG: Dyson Daniels (Hawks)

PG/SG: Ausar Thompson (Pistons)

PG/SG: Coby White (Bulls)

IR:  Ja Morant (Grizzlies)

Dropped: 

Jalen Suggs (Magic) 

Cam Thomas (Nets)

Tari Eason (Rockets)

Keon Ellis (Kings)

Jalen Green (Suns)

Brandon Miller (Hornets)

Okay basketball fans, the Flat Soda Bombers could use some advice.  Who do I pick up and who do I drop.  Leave a comment and help the Flat Soda Bombers get a little fizz going.  

This post will update each week until further notice. 

Review of Broken Bear by Frankee White and Adam Markiewicz

I enjoy attending small, local comic conventions because it gives me the opportunity to meet and talk with

local authors, artists, and vendors.  I recently had the opportunity to meet with Frankee White, an author from the Chicagoland area, and we talked about his debut graphic novel, Broken Bear.  He very quickly sold me on the book when he told me there were lots of monsters in the story.  I like monsters. 
The story is about a girl, Selm, who is squire to a legendary hero.  As they enter a swamp, Selm becomes tempted to power by a swamp hag.  When Selm takes the bait to a fast rise to power, she discovers that sometimes choices like these, lead to a longer path.  She goes on a fantastical but lonely journey and discovers who she has become.
Frankee White did not disappoint when he said there would be monsters!  There are a lot of monsters both good and bad and some in between.  The story moves along quickly while giving the necessary detail.  The art and story match up well to make for a really solid fantasy read.  This is a fun book that I recommend for any reader who enjoys a good adventure which includes monsters and pretty cool fantasy settings.  And the last page (seen right) sets up what appears to be even more "fun" creatures.  Broken Bear is told by Frankee White and Adam Markiewicz, colors by A.H.G. logo and design by DC Hopkins, cover by Adam Markiewicz with color assists by Melanie Darling.  Broken Bear is published by Caliber Comics. 
I also might note that Frankee White has a comic series, 20 Fists, that issues #2 and 3 are currently on Kickstarter.  Check out 20 Fists, a comic "about fistfights and bad romance" written by White, art by Kat Baumann and lettering by DC Hopkins.