To Clutch a Razor – Veronica Roth

This is the second novella in a series, actually, although I found it leagues better than the first and worth reading even as a standalone story. The romance angle felt natural, where it seemed forced in the first book. The Polish connection drew me in, of course, but the characters and their emotional interweaving kept me engaged. The family drama was more compelling in this one, and the intrigue of multiple, conflicting interactions was complex but also tight. Centering the action on one house, with all of the family and surround characters convening for a funeral was a fantastic touch.

Absolute Martian Manhunter, Volume 1: Martian Vision - Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez (DC)

DC appears to have caught lightning in a bottle for the Absolute series of comic books, stories told in alternate universes featuring all of their main characters. I saw numerous of these volumes on best-of lists at the end of last year, so I checked them out. I found the big three—Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman—to be decent, but the Absolute universe take on Martian Manhunter is exceptional. My assumption is this speaks more to the popularity of the first three, which makes Martian Manhunter more of a blank canvas for readers who aren’t deeply immersed in DC. John Jones is a detective with the FBI, but the Martian alter-ego manifests itself throughout his investigations in ways that come across to the reader as psychedelic. Jones ability, or lack thereof, to maintain a grip on reality is more compelling then the actual cases and crimes he is attempting to discern. Phenomenal, inventive reading, and I eagerly look forward to the next volume.

10,000 Pesos Match (RIOT, 5/29/2026)

Like many viewers of this match, I’m sure, I knew none of the competitors and had never heard of the promotion before watching. Apparently, it somehow wound up in the WON round of reviews this week, and it seems to have captivated the internet wrestling community. Even knowing none of the specifics, any of the moves would be recognizable by anyone familiar with lucha. This was a chaotic spotfest, plain and simple, with every athlete given a handful of seconds to perform a move before it was onto the next. What made this match so special, though, was the crowd. Named a “10,000 Pesos match” for the amount fans throw in the ring to show appreciation, and it showed. The crowd was white hot the entire time and the seemingly small gym was out of control. This is the match I would show an eight-year old to make them a fan for life.

Mega Man 2 (NES)

The Mega Man franchise has long been a blind spot for me. I found them too difficult and quickly became frustrated. It wasn’t until the Switch Online service added the five versions for the original Game Boy that I played through any game in the series, and it started to click with me. After these few successes, I decided I should play the one commonly held up as one of the best games ever made. I can honestly say I now understand. It may be the most perfectly paced games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. I ran through the eight bosses and their respective levels in one sitting, then journeyed through Wiley’s castle a few days later. This time around, I did not encounter anything so aggravating I had to put it down. It sounds obvious, but the game gives you all the tools in the first half to be able to get through the second, an excellent warm-up for the eventual conclusion. The rising and falling action makes for a delightfully satisfactory experience. You don’t need another person to tell you, but this game is a gem.

Five Easy Pieces (1970)

To be honest, I did not connect with the majority of this film, well over the first half. I saw a nihilistic character going through life, mostly unsatisfactorily, towards no real end. Things turned, however, when that character had a conversation with his dying father, one-sided because the father was unable to communicate back and even the listening was in question. In the span of this conversation, Nicholson explains his whole life, how he never amounted to anything because he was always moving on. It is an incredibly moving performance, which is essentially a monologue, and it makes the ending decision that much more powerful. His companion, while portrayed as unnecessarily dumb, is left alone, and we have to wonder what will become of her. Unlike him, though, she presents as optimistic and will probably come out okay. On the other hand, Nicholson seems doomed to repeat his constant cycle.