I was a Kite Man fan before it was cool, thanks to Jenny.
So it finally happened, for the first time since 2009…I was actually on a podcast to specifically talk about comics! The show “Let’s Talk Shop,” part of the Comic Book Yeti empire, had me on to chat with host Byron about my many, many years in comics retail. We talk about how I got started, Diamond Comics’ current travails, how to get kids reading comics, and, yes, POGs. It only takes an hour of your life, which surely you can spare, so tune in why don’t you.
If you want to hear me blather away on even more podcasts, hie thee hither to mikesterling.com and look for “PODCASTS!”
A big congrats to Jenny Blake Isabella (formerly Tony) for taking the big step in making the transition to her true self. It’s a hard thing to do, especially in the current environment, but I’m glad to hear she received an enormous amount of support from her fans and friends.
(And before anything thinks I just did something rude there…she makes it clear in that linked post that “Tony” isn’t a dead name far as she’s concerned, so I included it here for clarity.)
Jenny has been a longtime online pal, supportive of this silly blog I’ve been doing for probably too many years, and very supportive (as a former retailer herself) when I opened my own shop, finally. I consider her a friend in the weird online semi-parasocial way we all make friends over the internet nowadays, and I swear, someday I’m going to meet her in person and have her sign my favorite thing she ever wrote.
Best of luck to you, Jenny, and I hope everything continues to go well.
So my discussion of the comics in that 1985 Bud Plant catalog from the last couple of weeks isn’t quite done yet. I still have a few words to say about that Marvel Saga series, so come back next week when I hopefully will remember to grab an issue or two from the store for scanning purposes. Somebody remind me.
Not trying to be a smart-ass or ask an insulting question, but I am curious as to after transitioning, how would she autograph something she wrote in her old life?
From what I’ve read, she’s going to continue using “Tony Isabella” as a pen name, so I assume she’d sign it that way. But that’s just my guess.
I’m a writer and date my signings, plus if I have time, the location. Not OCD. In the 80s, you often saw that.
Obviously it would be up to Jenny as to how to sign it, but putting the date might help collectors, particularly with the two signatures.
If you read horror, Poppy Z. Brite is now Billy Martin for years, and she signs PZB below Billy Martin because publishers still publisher some books and anthologies he’s edited under his birth name. Name recognition and money for the publishers, not Billy.
According to the Beat story about her transition, she’s publicly stated that she gave some issues to friends signed with one or both names, just so no sleazy speculator could go round claiming to have the last/first item signed with that name. Sad she had to do it, but I’m sure there are people around with that lack of class.
One of my favorite Isabella reads is the writer’s run on Justice Machine published by Comico in the ’80s. I felt that a lot of depth was brought to the characters under Isabella’s pen. I highly recommend reading that run.
‘Isa Bella’ was right there as a new name!
You should really educate yourself, Mike. It’s sad to see you pushing such a misogynistic religion on your blog :(