Universal Transitive Headcanon (UTH): A Metafiction Framework Proposal

written by David Steffen I would like to propose some terminology for a particular type of headcanon that can be applied across many media, though centered around actor-based media like movies and TV based on actor-transitivity and character-transitivity: the Universal Transitive Headcanon (UTH). This proposal will be the basis of a series of posts that … Continue reading Universal Transitive Headcanon (UTH): A Metafiction Framework Proposal

BOOK REVIEW: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

written by David Steffen Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is a 2011 contemporary fantasy novel, the first in a series of three books by Ransom Riggs depicting children with unusual abilities. The protagonist of the book is Jacob Portman, who as a child was enamored by his grandfather Abe’s stories of fleeing from Nazi … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Untitled Goose Game

written by David Steffen Untitled Goose Game is a 2019 puzzle stealth game developed by House House in which you are a goose generally making a nuisance of yourself in a small village. “It’s a lovely morning in the village, and you are a terrible goose” is the line that starts the game. You are … Continue reading VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Untitled Goose Game

BOOK REVIEW: Dog Man: Fetch-22

written by David Steffen Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls is a 2019 graphic novel for kids, the eighth in the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey (creator of Captain Underpants). The series so far has been reviewed here. The villain Petey the cat is trying to turn over a new life and be … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: Dog Man: Fetch-22

BOOK REVIEW: The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua

written by David Steffen In case you haven’t heard of the names, Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace (the most common way she was referred to, though it was never quite her name she did answer to it) were real historical figures that worked together on the early theory of computing before the first calculating machines … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua

GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Locke and Key Volume 5: Clockworks, by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez

written by David Steffen Locke and Key Volume 5: Clockworks is a collected group of comics written by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez and published by IDW publishing. The individual issues that make up the collection were published between July 2011-May 2012. Previous volumes were reviewed here, here, here, and here. As told … Continue reading GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Locke and Key Volume 5: Clockworks, by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez

MOVIE REVIEW: Black Panther

written by David Steffen Black Panther is a 2018 science fiction superhero film by Marvel Studios, based on Marvel’s Black Panther character established in 1966. This is the first film starring the Marvel hero, who has gone on to be featured in other Marvel films. The story is rooted in the fictional African nation of … Continue reading MOVIE REVIEW: Black Panther

GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Locke and Key Volume 4: Keys to the Kingdom, written by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez

written by David Steffen Locke and Key Volume 4: Keys to the Kingdom is a collected group of comics written by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez and published by IDW publishing. The individual issues that make up the collection were published between August 2010-April 2011. Volume 1 was previously reviewed here, and Volume … Continue reading GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Locke and Key Volume 4: Keys to the Kingdom, written by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez

MUSIC VIDEO DRILLDOWN #12: Take Your Mama by Scissor Sisters

written by David Steffen This is one of a series of articles wherein I examine a music video as a short film, focusing on the story rather than the music, trying to identify the story arcs and characters motivations, and consider the larger implication of events. The film this week is the 2004 film Take … Continue reading MUSIC VIDEO DRILLDOWN #12: Take Your Mama by Scissor Sisters

BOOK REVIEW: Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls

written by David Steffen Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls is a 2019 graphic novel for kids, the seventh in the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey (creator of Captain Underpants). The series so far has been reviewed here. Our hero Dog Man (half dog, half policeman) is a hero and a very good … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls