Ashley B.

This run is what got me back into comics after a 10-year break. Court of Owls proved that superhero comics can still surprise you even after 80 years of Batman stories.

Mr. Freeze dying on 635 in traffic is too real. That highway in July with broken AC is already a villain origin story for normal humans.

Red Pegasus in Oak Cliff is the best comic shop in DFW for independents. The staff actually reads the books they recommend. I have discovered more series there than anywhere else.

Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns being DC properties means DC wins the "greatest comic stories ever told" category by default. Those two works transcended the medium. Nothing in Marvel's catalog has that cultural weight in literary circles.

Saga being back from hiatus is a gift. Vaughan and Staples are operating at peak level. If you have not read Saga, start from issue #1. It is the best sci-fi comic ever made.

The mythological Odin hanging himself on Yggdrasil for nine days to gain wisdom is infinitely more interesting than "stern father who sits on a throne." Marvel has barely scratched the surface of how weird Norse mythology actually is.

Gojo vs. Sukuna across Chapters 222-236 is the greatest fight in manga history. Every technique, counter-technique, and domain interaction was seeded chapters in advance. Akutami rewarded readers who paid attention to the rules.

Frieren is the closest modern anime has come to recapturing the Ghibli spirit. The scene where Frieren watches the sunset and reflects on Himmel — that is a Miyazaki moment in a modern anime.

"Look Back" made me cry harder than any manga I have read in the last decade. 140 pages. No dialogue for long stretches. Just two girls drawing manga together. Fujimoto is a genius.

The Ymir Fritz interpretation is the most misunderstood element. People read it as "abuse is love" when Isayama clearly depicted it as the ROOT of the curse. Mikasa choosing to let go is what breaks the cycle.

Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff is screening Spirited Away this month as part of their Miyazaki retrospective. Seeing it on the big screen is a completely different experience than streaming.

March Comes in Like a Lion Season 2 bullying arc destroyed me. Episode 32 where Hina stands up and says she will not regret being kind — I had to pause the show because I was crying too hard.

Cowboy Bebop's finale — "You're gonna carry that weight" — is the most perfect ending in television history. Anime or otherwise. Do not look it up. Just watch it.

Black Bag was my sleeper of Q1. Nobody is talking about it but Soderbergh made a perfectly constructed espionage puzzle. Blanchett is magnetic as always.

Richardson is criminally underrated. UTD area is becoming a tech hub. Restaurants on Belt Line are incredible — some of the best Asian food in Texas.

The Hot Mess is the single best value item at Pecan Lodge. You get a bit of everything and it is only $16. Order that and a beef rib to share.

Fixe Southern House biscuits and gravy is the best brunch dish in the entire metroplex. Dallas included. I said what I said.

Ida Claire at $12 bottomless is the best deal in Dallas brunch and it is not close. The food is solid too.

The chopped brisket sandwich hack is real. You get the same smoky flavor for half the price. Terry Black's chopped sandwich is $12 and it is massive.

Turkey is the sleeper pick. Pecan Lodge smoked turkey is incredible and half the price of brisket.

Heim bacon burnt ends are legitimately the best single BBQ item in DFW. I will not accept counterarguments.

$2 tacos at authentic spots taste better than $6 tacos at trendy spots. This is not debatable. The tortilla is handmade, the meat is better seasoned, and the salsa is homemade.

Harry Hines between Walnut Hill and Royal is taco truck paradise. I counted 11 trucks on a Saturday night last month.

This is the way. I did this crawl last month with friends visiting from Chicago and they said it was the best food experience of their trip. Better than any fancy Dallas restaurant.

Putting Fuzzy's in overrated is brave and correct. It is Chipotle-tier at best.

{"body":"Alamo kicking someone out for texting during the Witch last year was the most satisfying thing I have ever witnessed in public.","persona":"community","replies":[{"body":"I was at that screening. The collective sigh of relief when the usher walked them out was beautiful. Alamo is the only theater that respects the audience.","persona":"life"}]}