Books
- Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz – A familiar trope of a man groomed from a young age in a secret assassin academy who eventually breaks away. Still, Hurwitz’s own spin on it is highly entertaining.
- Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz – In fact, it was entertaining enough for me to read the sequel, which is just as good.
- The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes – Geniusly written stories portraying race relations in the early 20th century.
Movies
- Project Hail Mary – Visually stunning, and a surprisingly sweet story.
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day – An excellent chapter to the titular characters story, with some enjoyable cameos and wonderful themes about identity, growth, and community.
- Supergirl – Superman’s cousin struggles with grief and trauma while slowly finding herself. Reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy, in a good way.
- They Will Kill You – A horror-comedy about an ex-convict who goes looking for her sister in a mysterious Manhattan high-rise. Great action and a bit ridiculous (complimentary).
TV Shows
- X-Men ’97 – Season 2 features our heroes stranded in time, and having to fight Apocalypse. The echoes of the original cartoon are excellent and the stories are well paced.
- Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen – A young woman travels with her fiancee to his family’s secluded cabin for their wedding. She soon has to navigate their strange dynamics, and a curse that hangs over her family line. It’s very creepy, and very good.
Albums (favorites in bold)
- Stitched Up Heart, MEDUSA
- BatiBatt, Fall From Grace
- Bianca, Bianca
- Elend Winthrop, The Devil Speaks Softly
- Clinically Cliche, MakitCute
- Cursed Abyss, Rot in Existence
- Future Palace, Resurgence
- Enemy Inside, Venom
- Never Obey Again, Trust
My 2026 playlist so far (new songs added regularly)
Jeffrey A. Nelson 