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Wednesday

20240403 - The Giant's Shadow - HaikuPrajna Project Roadmap Update - 2024 Jan Feb Mar

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Darkness and snowfall, \\ transcends to walks in the park, \\ better together.

... The Giant's Shadow - HaikuPrajna

Read online https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2024/04/20240403-giants-shadow-haikuprajna.html

...

Hello reader,

Thanks for reading the first HaikuPrajna Project Roadmap Update of 2024; hope you had a good Easter weekend and enjoyed some April Fools Day jokes.

We have updated the APRILandALLEN website with new mini-zines, lyric books and stickers, along with April’s illustrated poetry book, Fright Folk! (Visit Electric Armchair for more info)

...

. Current Reads:

. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith - Matthew Stover

. 2061: Odyssey Three - Arthur C. Clarke

. Thus Spoke Zarathustra - Friedrich Nietzche

. Enneads - Plotinus

I am still reading the Star Wars novels and the Space Odyssey series while taking notes from Thus Spoke Zarathustra and Plotinus’s Enneads; am also keeping up on Spider-man comics, loving what Hickman is doing with Ultimate so far, and I was also going through my favorite parts of the Dragon Ball manga to relive and honor Akira Toriyama’s legacy.

. Finished Books:

. Attack of the Clones - R. A. Salvatore . 2024 01 10

. The Clone Wars - Karen Traviss . 2024 02 18

. Stuart Little - E.B. White . 2024 03 28

HaikuPrajna book reviews coming soon (trademark pending).

...

HaikuPrajna Project Roadmap

Upcoming Releases by Allen W. McLean:

. Together in Forever

. Collected editions of both The Wisps Book and the new The Deeper Forest series will be released as two sub-series to Together in Forever

. Together in Forever: Part IV-V

... The sleeping hero, \\ their eyes blind to injustice \\ with misplaced mercy. ... (Simmer Down - HaikuPrajna (Together in Forever: Part V)

. As part of “SM-SARA: Poetry and Other Stories”, the short story “Artemis” will receive an independent release coupled with an all-new entry in Together in Forever.

Recent Releases by Allen W. McLean:

. 2024 04 Project Roadmap 2024 Jan Feb Mar

Mini-zine print-out which features the latest from APRLandALLEN’s ABCs.

. 2024 02 Together in Forever - The Deeper Forest: The Giant's Shadow

(Darkness and snowfall, \\ transcends to walks in the park, \\ better together. ... The Giant's Shadow - HaikuPrajna)

For Valentine’s Day, April and I made mini-zines for each other; I started a new series and she illustrated her song, Love Boat.

In one of the Deeper Forest’s trees, the Overseer and Sol were chased through a snowed-in city by a Shadow while its Giant fled from the team, due to their partnership violating the trial’s solo nature.

This action-packed short-story was inspired by the sci-fi and anime that we watch and read together.

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In addition to the new APRILandALLEN Roadmap video on YouTube, and all the other changes we have been making to the website, this is just some of the stuff April and I have been up to in the past three months, and we are as excited as always to keep showing off our new projects and connecting with readers and creators alike.

Thank you for reading,

Until next time!

Allen W. McLean

...

Need more Bite-sized Insights to relieve your stress and suffering?

Leave a comment, share or subscribe, it means the world to the authors and is the easiest way to support the work you read, as your comments will reach other readers!

All readers get one of Allen's eBooks every Monday, Wednesday and Friday-- short stories rotate often.

Listen to April's music and follow via email at https://aprilandallen.square.site/social

I write mindfulness meditation scifaiku and haiku poetry on my book reviews and on previews of my metaphysical stories, such as "Escape Perennial City". Read all of my reviews at goodreads.com/HaikuPrajna

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Get your Samsara Edition of Escape Perennial City for the metaphysical sci-fi readers of your life in eBook or paperback at https://aprilandallen.square.site/product/book-Escape-Perennial-City-Samsara/7

Escape Perennial City - Samsara Edition - YouTube https://youtu.be/Jf93oSMyQDw

Support with our Handmade Art Works, Book Merch, and Clay Quirks at https://aprilandallen.square.site/

Check out April's psychedelic music videos, art and poetry on all streaming platforms; Electric Armchair - Last Halloween (Full Album) [ https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electricarmchair/last-halloween ]

Electric Armchair - In The Snowfall (Single) [ https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electricarmchair/in-the-snowfall ]

APRILandALLEN’s Project Roadmap is our photo book and video log series where subscribed Patreon readers have access to archives with photos, captions and videos which will be collected in future APRILandALLEN’s books--learn about our Patreon at patreon.com/asquaredproductions to submit to our public poetry prompt and view more free features.

24 01 03 Project Roadmap https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2024/01/20240103-infinity-begins-project.html

Support by connecting online [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/follow-on-social-media.html ]

These poems will be collected in future editions of the HaikuPrajna Collection.

20240103 - Infinity Begins (Project Roadmap Update 2023 Q4)

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The end meets its start, \\ the snake consumes their own tail, \\ beginning again.

... Infinity Begins (Project Roadmap Update 2023 Q4) ... #HaikuPrajna

Read online https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2024/01/20240103-infinity-begins-project.html [Public Post]

...

Hello reader,

Happy 2024! Time for a relaxed New Years update.

APRILandALLEN’s site has been updated with the Samsara Edition of Escape Perennial City, with April’s latest album “Last Halloween” and her new colouring book, with our 12 Clays of Christmas (which will each get their own product pages), and with a video showing off our Niagara Falls trip on our 11th Anniversary; we thank you for reading and sending us art in the mail during our holiday events in 2023!

This year, instead of pledging a Goodreads goal, I want to instead measure how much I read and strive for the goal of reading as much as I can, with the hope of being more mindful of my achievements rather than what I might have accomplished; to that end I read 20 books in 2023, which can be viewed on my Goodreads profile! Right now, I am reading the final book of Plotinus's Enneads, Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Star Wars novels with Anakin or Vader (on Revenge of the Sith now) and the Space Odyssey series, along with Spider-man comics and the Bleach manga, having thrifted a handful of volumes.

Continue below for the HaikuPrajna Project Roadmap!

https://aprilandallen.square.site/haikuprajna

....

Thank you for reading,

Until next time!

Allen W. McLean

...

Need more Bite-sized Insights to relieve your stress and suffering?

Leave a comment, share or subscribe, it means the world to the authors and is the easiest way to support the work you read, as your comments will reach other readers!

All readers get one of Allen's eBooks every Monday, Wednesday and Friday - short stories rotate often.

Listen to April's music and follow via email at https://aprilandallen.square.site/social

Email

Medium https://haikuprajna.medium.com/subscribe

LinkedIn (email) https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/haikuprajna-6917324809479610368/

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/asquaredproductions

Books2Read https://books2read.com/AllenWMclean

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0867C5D24

Follow.it https://follow.it/haikuprajna

Social media

Electric Armchair https://linktr.ee/electricarmchair

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@electricarmchair/

Instagram & Threads https://www.instagram.com/electricarmchair/

Tumblr https://electricarmchair.tumblr.com/

HaikuPrajna https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@haikuprajna

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Twitter https://twitter.com/HaikuPrajna

Escape Perennial City - Samsara Edition - YouTube https://youtu.be/Jf93oSMyQDw

Support with our Handmade Art Works, Book Merch, and Clay Quirks at https://aprilandallen.square.site/

Electric Armchair - Show Me A Sign (Single) [ https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electricarmchair/show-me-a-sign-demo-version ]

23 09 30 Project Roadmap https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2023/10/20230930-interconnected-form-project.html

Support by connecting online [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/follow-on-social-media.html ]

These poems will be collected in future editions of the HaikuPrajna Collection.

Tuesday

20230228 - Inside the Jack o' Lantern [Summond the Scarecrow Official Release]

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The scarecrow, looming, // consumes every Hallowed Eve; // dead leaves, rustling.

HAIKUPRAJNA - Inside the Jack o’ Lantern

Read online [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2023/02/20230228-inside-jack-o-lantern-summond.html ]

...

Hello readers,.

The latest and greatest Terraform story from The Wisps Book, Summond the Scarecrow is now available to read!

Download your copy now or start reading with Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon [ https://www.amazon.com/Summond-Scarecrow-Wisps-Book-IV-ebook/dp/B0BWWHW25N/ ]

Save on Goodreads [ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123158961-summond-the-scarecrow ]

Merch [ https://haikuprajna.redbubble.com ]

Trailer [ https://youtu.be/ExmNwcsetoY ]

Banner

Summond the Scarecrow is about the titular Giant consuming the patrons of the Sorauren Farm’s pumpkin parade, and was inspired by the 2022 Inktober prompt list along by a trip with April [who co-wrote this story!] to a number of parks across Toronto; April likened Summond the Scarecrow to E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, and I have taken inspiration for the Overseer from superhero characters like Marvel’s Spider-man and Doctor Strange.

Cover designed by Allen W. McLean

Intro to Summond the Scarecrow

[Blurb]

“ Summond the Scarecrow had consumed the Overseer of the Forest.

The Seer had brought the Giant jack o’ lantern head to a post-Halloween pumpkin parade.

They were forced to watch in the form of timeless spectating Shadows, while the daemon rolled through the annual Halloween event and caused people to go missing every year. But, in part of their plan to free the patrons trapped in the pumpkin, the Seer had to tempt Summond into consuming more.

The Overseer issued the Terraform a dire warning; the Scarecrow would burn unless they released those who Summond had been consumed. “

Thank you for reading.

Allen W. McLean

...

Need more Bite-sized Insights to relieve your stress and suffering?

Banner : Tomothy and the Overseer of the Forest

Connect via email or social media [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/follow-on-social-media.html ]

Readers are gifted a Kindle eBook on Fridays and Mondays--short story selection rotates every few weeks, so visit My Author Profile and follow via email [ https://www.amazon.ca/Allen-W-McLean/e/B0867C5D24 ]

I write mindfulness meditation scifaiku and haiku poetry on my book reviews and on previews of my metaphysical stories, such as "Escape Perennial City". Learn more about my reviews here [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/book-review-summary-study-notes.html ]

Read the latest Project Roadmap [ https://medium.com/haikuprajna/20221230-my-year-in-reviews-project-roadmap-2022-12-6b6c671e575 ]

Thanks to you, over ONE-THOUSAND (1000!) readers have joined us on Medium! Need to stay in the Medium Partner Program? Please follow and turn on email notifications; I will follow you back! "Ado the Owl" and "Hector Blake" are available to read, right now, on Medium. [ https://haikuprajna.medium.com/subscribe ]

April's psychedelic music videos, art and poetry is available on all streaming platforms; Electric Armchair - Mister Valentine (Official Animated Music Video) (With Lyrics) [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrJcLSsCSsQ ]

Electric Armchair - After Party (PRE-SAVE ALBUM [ https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electricarmchair/after-party ]

"Falgara the Giant" is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited! Add to Goodreads and learn more [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/falgara-giant.html ]

Support by buying a sticker [ https://haikuprajna.redbubble.com ]

Kindle ebooks can be read on any device at www.read.amazon.com

These poems will be collected in future editions of the HaikuPrajna Collection.

20230131 - BATT-LE Colosseum [ Reveal Announcement ]

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Queuing while solo, \\ waiting for the right motion, \\ capturing actions.

#HAIKUPRAJNA - BATT-LE Colosseum [Reveal Announcement]

https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2023/02/20230131-batt-le-colosseum-reveal.html

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Hello readers,

As revealed in the latest Project Roadmap [which can be read here https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/12/20221230-my-year-in-reviews-project.html ], "BATT-LE Colosseum" is the next story in the Fluke series, set after ULTRAVIOLET, although the two stories can be enjoyed without reading the other. [Check out ULTRAVIOLET here https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/ultraviolet.html ]

This story takes place within a virtual reality video game and follows the user playing as Nina, one of the avatars that players can choose to play as, while fighting others for the badges that computer controlled bosses drop in order to compete for the Champion position; I have been working on this story since April 2021 and am very excited to be sharing it at last; I was inspired by a wide variety of genres and mediums for this story, from games like the Halo franchise and the Half-life\Portal series to action comics like Spider-Man and sci-fi from authors such as Douglas Adams.

Here's the current blurb:

" Welcome, Nina, to BATT-LE Colosseum!

Here, using over one hundred unique armours such as Ian the Turtle, engage other players across the environments spread across the arena.

Use your telekinetic abilities in the game!

Secure badges and compete for the Champion position against old allies and new foes!

Score the highest today in BATT-LE Colosseum! Available only at your local MEGA Holo-Plex. "

Below, a logo mockup I designed, which I am still playing with, and a short excerpt from the story.

Logo mockup by Allen W. McLean

Intro to BATT-LE Colosseum by Allen W. McLean

BATT-LE Colosseum is looking at an early March 2023 release date and will be available to read through Kindle Unlimited; a physical paperback copy of the story may be released, and may be bundled with stories that are at the moment a digital, including stories from The Wisps Book.

Thank you for reading.

Please share your thoughts in a comment.

Allen W. McLean

...

Need more Bite-sized Insights to relieve your stress and suffering?

Banner : Tomothy and the Overseer of the Forest

Connect via email or social media [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/follow-on-social-media.html ]

Readers are gifted a Kindle eBook on Fridays and Mondays--short story selection rotates every few weeks, so follow via email or visit My Author Profile [ https://www.amazon.ca/Allen-W-McLean/e/B0867C5D24 ]

Read the latest Project Roadmap [ https://medium.com/haikuprajna/20221230-my-year-in-reviews-project-roadmap-2022-12-6b6c671e575 ]

April's psychedelic music videos, art and poetry is available on all streaming platforms; Electric Armchair - The Charlatan (Official Music Video) [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYROJsg98Xs ]

Electric Armchair - Amorphous I (FULL ALBUM) [ https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electricarmchair/amorphous-i ]

"Falgara the Giant" is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited! Add to Goodreads and learn more [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/falgara-giant.html ]

Support by buying a sticker [ https://haikuprajna.redbubble.com ]

Kindle ebooks can be read on any device at www.read.amazon.com

These poems will be collected in future editions of the HaikuPrajna Collection.

Friday

20221230 - My Year in Reviews (Project Roadmap 2022 12)

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Following threaded / passageways, choices to choose, / forming mediums.

#HAIKUPRAJNA - My Year in Reviews (Project Roadmap 2022
12)

https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/12/20221230-my-year-in-reviews-project.html

...

Hello readers,

It is the time of year where everyone is rounding up their 2022 Year in Review across the various websites that offer it, which means that it is time for a new Project Roadmap.

This year, eighty-five hundred (8.5k!) people read on the HaikuPrajna blog.

Readers are enjoying these book reviews across social media; over 900 followers have joined HaikuPrajna on Medium.com; 500 people follow on Instagram; 300 subscribers are reading on LinkedIn.

Since the last Roadmap update [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/09/20220907-forming-attractions-project.html ], these readers have been enjoying free ebooks on not only Fridays, but also every Monday as well.

Read on until the end to hear about our upcoming and recent book releases.

The Best Books Reviewed in 2022

Before we head onto new book releases, let’s check out the top five HaikuPrajna book reviews--as chosen by you, readers!

The top books on HaikuPrajna are...

.1. Seconds - Bryan Lee O’Malley [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/05/220530-review-seconds.html ]

.2. Bloodborne - Ales Kot [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/06/20220614-bloodborne-comic-book-summary.html ]

.3. Scott Pilgrim - Bryan Lee O’Malley [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/07/20220712-scott-pilgrim-comic-book.html ]

.4. Batman and Robin - Grant Morrison [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/02/20220209-review-batman-and-robin-2009.html ]

.5. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/02/20220202-review-legend-of-sleepy-hollow.html ]

.Honourable Mention. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - Philip K. Dick [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/03/20220307-review-do-androids-dream-of.html ]

The Highest Rated Books of 2022

Last, but for certain not least, here are the best books that I read during 2022, on Goodreads:

.1. The VALIS Series - Philip K. Dick [ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2449886486 ]

.2. The Epic of Gilgemesh - Unknown [ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4659102995 ]

.3. A Scanner Darkly - Philip K. Dick - [ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2449885461 ]

.4. The Enneads - Plotinus [ To be reviewed ]

.5. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll [ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2449833643 ]

Did your favorite books make the cut? Either way, let me know in the comments! Maybe your favorite book will end up here next year~

Shoutout to Goodreads for their 2022 “My Year in Books” page. Check out my stack here: [ https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2022/83965332 ].

Last year I pledged to read two books a month, and I wrangled together twenty-seven books (which composed of two comics and one of my own releases, for an even twenty-four), you can check out that reading challenge at the end of my Goodreads Year in Books (linked above).

I keep comics that I read unlisted, for the most part, to avoid inflating my reading stats, but readers are free to browse my been-read comics shelf on Goodreads: [ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/83965332-allen-mclean?order=d&ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=co-been-read&sort=rating&view=table ]

There is a Goodreads shelf for the books yet to be reviewed with a few from 2022 that I still need to do; most of the comics are probably able to be moved to my to-reread shelf. Check out the to-be-reviewed shelf here: [ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/83965332-allen-mclean?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=to-be-reviewed ]

I shake up my reading routine by rereading favourites and books that need a review, and you can view that shelf over here: [ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/83965332-allen-mclean?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=to-reread-and-review&sort=rating ]

Last year, I put together a shelf for the books that I wanted to read in 2022, and at its close I started putting together my 2023 shelf: [ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/83965332-allen-mclean?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=2023 ]

Now for some project announcements.

BATT-LE Colosseum

Blurb:

" Welcome, Nina, to BATT-LE Colosseum!

Here, using over one hundred unique armours such as Ian the Turtle, players engage each other across the different environments spread across the arena’s map.

Bring your telekinetic abilities into the game with you!

Secure all of the badges and compete for the Champion position against old allies and new foes!

Score the highest kill count today in BATT-LE Colosseum! Available at your local MEGA Holo-Plex. "

BATT-LE Colosseum is the next book in the Fluke series, set after ULTRAVIOLET. Set to release in the first quarter, expect a separate reveal post in January 2023.

Falgara the Giant

Falgara the Giant, the third story in The Wisps Book, will release on Kindle Unlimited in January 2023. Expect a release announcement soon!

Throughout 2023, readers can expect more Terraform stories on the likes of Regica the calcified calamari, Simongia the bear, Summond the jack-o-lantern, Sol the Sun, and Christmas the sheep.

The Wisps Book, when its collected physical edition is released, will serve as the fourth entry in the HaikuPrajna Collection.

Elephant in the Room

In a slight delay to ensure sufficient care and quality, before Spring 2023 the second edition of Elephant in the Room will see a wide release, just like Ado the Owl and Hector Blake.

Before autumn 2023, Two Elephants in the Room, the fifth book in the HaikuPrajna Collection, will feature all of the book reviews and poetry featured on HaikuPrajna up to the end of 2022, including the to-be-reviewed books that I had read in the year. Read about my book reviews : [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/book-review-summary-study-notes.html ]

Looking to the rest of 2023 (and beyond) for the rest of these announcements; Bucket and Train will occupy the HaikuPrajna Collection VI slot, and will feature more stories in the same vein as the bonus Halloween story “Sprouting” which can be read for free here : [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2021/10/20211031-happy-halloween-nanowrimo.html ]

There are even more projects still being developed, including Orson Tripp and more Fluke, along with projects such as “The List”, for music/movie/game reviews.

Project Roadmap

At last, the moment we have been waiting for; here is a revised HaikuPrajna Project Roadmap, featuring all the anniversary dates for each of the stories--along with a glimpse into the future.

Where We Are

. [2019 04 23 HaikuPrajna Day, first IG post] [2019 06 16 SM-SARA Kindle Edition] [2019 11 10 Patreon]

. [2020 04 04 Elephant in the Room First Edition] [2020 12 02 Blogspot]

. [2021 03 03 SM-SARA, Poems and Other Stories First Edition] [2021 06 13 Escape Perennial City] [2021 11 28 Fishing for Caribou]

. [2022 03 03 The Artifact . 2022 03 10 SM-SARA KID: A Edition . 2022 03 13 The Cannon . 2022 03 22 Hector Blake . 2022 04 01 SM-SARA, Poetry and Other Stories Second Edition] [2022 06 16 Together in Forever Pt. I . 2022 06 28 Pt II . 2022 07 25 Pt III . 2022 08 01 Physical Collection] [2022 09 30 Tomothy and the Overseer of the Forest] [2022 10 29 ULTRAVIOLET] [2022 12 03 Ado the Owl]

Upcoming Release Dates (may be subject to change)

. [2023 01 Falgara the Giant]

. [2023 02 Elephant in the Room Second Edition . BATT-LE Colosseum]

. [2023 03 Two Elephants in the Room . The Wisps Book’s Summond, Sol and Christmas stories . The Music List ]

Future Releases

. [Orson Tripp] [Fluke, Books I-III, including sequels to Hector Blake and KID: A . Book IV Together in Forever] [Sequels to Escape Perennial City] [Sequel to The Cannon] [More books in development featuring the Overseer]

And that concludes my 2022 Year in Reviews! April and I hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday Christmas season, and we wish all of our readers a Happy New Year and an exciting 2023; April and I are celebrating a decade anniversary this year, we visited the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto and will continue to celebrate well into the New Year.

Thank you for reading, I am forever thankful and grateful for you all.

Please share your thoughts in a comment.

Allen W. McLean

...

Need more Bite-sized Insights to relieve your stress and suffering?

Banner: The Cannon by Allen W. McLean

Readers are gifted a Kindle eBook on Fridays and Mondays--short story selection rotates every few weeks, so follow via email or visit My Author Profile [ https://www.amazon.ca/Allen-W-McLean/e/B0867C5D24 ]

Connect with HaikuPrajna and Electric Armchair via email [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/follow-on-social-media.html ]

Thanks to you, over 900 readers have joined us on Medium! Need to stay in the Medium Partner Program? Please follow and turn on email notifications; I'll follow you back! [ https://haikuprajna.medium.com/subscribe ]

I have free short stories available to read, right now, on Medium:

. "Ado the Owl" [ https://medium.com/haikuprajna/20221027-ado-the-owl-official-tell-a-story-day-flash-fiction-story-e4c8a8ec8563 ]

. "Hector Blake" [ https://medium.com/haikuprajna/hector-blake-second-edition-329c5c9309e7 ]

April's psychedelic music videos, art and poetry is available on all streaming platforms; Electric Armchair - Pixie Lead (Official Music Video) (Amorphous I) [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIzyLZimX_I ]

Electric Armchair - Amorphous I (FULL ALBUM) [ https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electricarmchair/amorphous-i ]

My metaphysical short story "Ado the Owl" is available as an eBook on digital bookstores! Add to Goodreads and learn more [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/ado-owl.html ]

Kindle ebooks can be read on any device at www.read.amazon.com

These poems will be collected in future editions of the HaikuPrajna Collection.

Read the latest Project Roadmap [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/12/20221230-my-year-in-reviews-project.html ]

Thursday

20221027 - Black Cat (2019) Comic Book Review Analysis and Summary

...

Felines stalk the night, \\ stealing immortal treasures, \\ thieving hearts of gold.

#HAIKUPRAJNA - Black Cat (2019)

...

Hello readers,

Black Cat's 2019 (and 2020) run by Jed MacKay was a surprise gem that I read this year. Felicia Hardy's not-so-heroic hijinks snuck in fantastic stories featuring other Marvel icons ranging from the Fantastic Four's Johnny and Sue Storm to Bats the lovable canine companion of Doctor Strange.

The best part of this series for me was the light being cast upon those closest to Felicia, including lovers, her mother, her henchmen Borris and Bruno, and her mentor Black Fox (another classic Spidey character). Her interactions with others in the Marvel universe help to solidify her place in the world as its finest well-meaning cat burglar.

Though, the Spider-Man stuff was contained to the Annual and kept out of the spotlight, as the focus stayed on what drives Felicia to do what she is best at.

The series pits Felicia’s gang against the New York Thieves Guild. The main conflict revolved around Felicia's war with Odessa Drake, the heir of the Guild. See, the Thieves were immortal, and the Black Fox enlisted Felicia's help because he wanted to steal the Guild's greatest treasure.

The Black Cat thus pulled off a variety of odd jobs to aid her mentor's heist. Each arc of issues was about collecting these pieces from their current owners. The Black Cat was forced to cross paths with a number of cameos and crossovers (like Danny Rand and Batroc) while feeling natural and unforced.

This Black Cat series touched on how her wilful manipulation of chance affected magic and technology. Through Felicia's inducing ‘bad luck’ on anyone around her, the Black Cat circumvented every circumstance that stood between her and her prizes. Her demonstration in the casino of her ability to control this manipulation was great fun and acted as a perfect example of how she can tilt the odds in the direction she desired. The overarching story between both the 2019 and the 2020 runs leans further into this magic-meets-manifestation theme in a really satisfying way.

Wade Wilson as a merc looking to score a hit on Logan and Felicia was also great. A moment of characterization for Felicia that I liked was when Wolverine was talking about Krakoa after collecting his diaries, where Felicia had only cared about the physical value versus the sentimental.

I also enjoyed the segments between the main narrative of each issue, like the scenes with Black Fox teaching deception through street trick-magic, and Felicia's mother warning her about his deceptive nature.

But, it is in improvisation when plans fail where Felicia does her best. Her ability to plan for both heists and for improv were great ways to highlight her ability to circumvent any situation.

Jed MacKay’s characterization of Felicia was fantastic, lighthearted and fun to read. His Black Cat run focused on Felicia as a character more than anything else. It was refreshing to read how loud and sure of herself she was in ways other characters falter because she knew she can get anything she worked for.

If anything, this Black Cat series is about fighting against all odds through sheer determinism and improvisation.

Issues 11 and 12 are outside of the trade paperbacks I had read, so watch out for them because they set up MacKay's later Iron Cat series; I also wholeheartedly recommend his second Black Cat volume and his Moon Knight run.

PS. Two posts in one day? What is this madness?!

Happy National Black Cat Day! Here are some Halloween themed links for you;

. Black Cat (2020) : https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/04/20220408-review-black-cat-2020.html

. Frankenstein : https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/10/20221020-frankenstein-book-review.html

. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland : https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/10/20221007-alices-adventures-in.html

. The Legend of Sleepy Hallow : https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022/02/20220202-review-legend-of-sleepy-hollow.html

. Howl's Moving Castle : https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2021/12/20211229-review-howls-moving-castle.html

. Spider-Man tag : https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/search/label/Spider-Man

Thank you for reading.

Allen W. McLean

...

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Readers can follow HaikuPrajna and Electric Armchair via our emailing lists (on Medium, Patreon, LinkedIn and more) for mindfulness meditation scifaiku and haiku poetry based on book reviews and on previews of metaphysical stories such as "Escape Perennial City" (available on Kindle Unlimited); as a free gift, all readers get an Amazon Kindle ebook short story every week on Free Fridays--selection rotates every few weeks, so follow via email to collect them all! https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/follow-on-social-media.html

Thanks to you, over 500 followers have joined us on Medium! If anyone reading this needs followers to stay in the Medium Partner Program, I am asking you to please follow me (and sign up for emails!) and I'll follow you back! My short story "Hector Blake" is available to read for FREE on Medium!

April's latest psychedelic music videos, art and poetry available on all streaming platforms.

Electric Armchair - Living Ghosts (FULL ALBUM) : distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electricarmchair/living-ghosts

"Tomothy and the Overseer of the Forest" is available as an eBook through Amazon Kindle apps and devices; read right now with Kindle Unlimited! www.haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/tomothy-and-overseer-of-forest.html

Kindle ebooks can be read on any device through one's web browser at www.read.amazon.com

These poems will be collected in future editions of the HaikuPrajna Collection.

Wednesday

20221005 - The Superior Spider-Man (2013) Comic Book Review

...

The die is cast, trapped, \\ caught in superior webs \\ woven by eight limbs.

HAIKUPRAJNA - The Superior Spider-Man (2013) Comic Book Review

...

Hello readers,

I could talk about Superior Spider-Man all day; Dan Slott understood Peter Parker and was able to define him well.

Otto Octavius, having taken control of his nemesis, set out to do everything that Peter avoided so to prove that Otto's way was Superior, from going overboard against bullies to chumming it up with Mayor J. Jonah Jameson over their mutual distaste for Spidey. The bullying cycle casting Otto being rude to his henchmen and rogues in the same sympathetic light as Peter, with Spider-Man being Otto’s insurmountable antagonist, was an interesting development. Otto was desperate to hide behind the mask. Despite seeing his classic Doc Ock persona as his true self, unlike someone other than Peter like Miles or Miguel who saw Spider-Man as their identity, Otto proved that he, too, could be Spider-Man.

Peter’s few appearances were gold, Ghost Peter was a vestige of his love for MJ and his family which all came together to force Otto to do good.

Further conflicts Otto faced pitted him against the likes of antihero Cardiac, and the original Hobgoblin who was selling villain identities as franchises (Crime Master's among others, even his own to Phil Urich, the nephew of Daily Bugle's Ben Urich) which tied in nicely with the Goblin storyline.

Enjoyed seeing Miguel O'Hara remembering Peter among the other 2099 crossovers, which include the transition to Alchemax from Horizon Labs through Liz Allan, Normie Osborn and the Spider-Man 2099 Stone family. Peter's identity and Otto's victory over him was also played around with during plots featuring Agent Venom Flash Thompson, Wraith Yuri Wantanabe, Green Goblin Norman Osborn and Carlie Cooper, some of whom realizing they are unable to account for Spider-Man’s identity following Spider-Island.

It was funny when Otto tried to explain to MJ and the Avengers that Peter was taken over by Venom, where they asked each other if anyone bought the ruse.

The best part was Otto realizing he was unable to bleed Peter and Spider-Man together like Otto and Doc Ock, understanding, while dating Anna Maria, why Peter kept his lives separate, as Otto had never before been on the other side of the equation of love-interest-in-danger. Otto was superior, but that allowed Norman Osborn to take advantage of a Spider-Man who was too reliant on this superiority (as in the gadgets instead of relying on his philosophy). The contrast between Otto’s materialism, his needing the invaluable equipment, versus Peter’s being able to go with nothing at all, including building himself up from only a few memories, was refreshing and a good reminder of what makes his comics special. What took Otto months to prepare was undone by Osborn, and took Peter less than a day to suffer and prove how he was the superior Spider-Man.

Residual effects of this run include Otto’s achievements being known as Peter's, symbolized by the rise and fall of Parker Industries.

I had read Superior Spider-Man as it was being released, and I remember the online backlash from leaked photos of the Dying Wish prelude, which featured a fantastic twist that made me reread the issue. The Ben Urich annual by Christos Gage was phenomenal. The Age of Ultron tie-in was cool, too.

The part with Peter's Horizon co-workers dealing with the chronotons, fabric of time, which acted like film strips burning away into the page’s bleed had taken some getting used to, but I appreciate the artstyle. The ending also did feel rushed, and Peter versus Norman was short, but there are future Superior stories to fill the void while the Osborn plot continued through the Amazing Spider-Man’s relaunch.

In the end, this series was about how Peter was the Superior Spider-Man compared to Otto. Everything that defined Spider-Man was met with the antithesis and described as Superior. Ghost Peter was the idea of Spider-Man, which Otto embodied, but which took back control because Otto was failing to live up to it. Otto having to recall Peter’s memories to succeed where he was failing was what brought Peter back. I thought Otto failing to remember anything outside of the skimmed portions of Peter’s highlights was an awesome flex for longtime readers from the writer, where even these seeds were shown to be enough for the idea to grow into the full and authentic hero.

Thank you for reading.

Allen W. McLean

PS. Check out more Spider-Man reviews:

https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/search/label/Spider-Man

...

Need more Bite-sized Insights to relieve your stress and suffering?

Banner: The Cannon by Allen W. McLean

April's latest psychedelic music videos, art and poetry is available on all streaming platforms.

Electric Armchair - Living Ghosts (FULL ALBUM): distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electricarmchair/living-ghosts

"Tomothy and the Overseer of the Forest" is available as an eBook through Amazon Kindle apps and devices; read right now with Kindle Unlimited! www.haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/tomothy-and-overseer-of-forest.html

Kindle ebooks can be read on any device through one's web browser at www.read.amazon.com

These poems will be collected in future editions of the HaikuPrajna Collection.

Thursday

20220915 - Amazing Fantasy Issue 1000 Comic Book Review

...

Swing by just in time, \\ relieve the worlds of burden, \\ on strands of the web.

HAIKUPRAJNA - Amazing Fantasy Issue 1000 Comic Book Review

...

Hello readers,

Amazing Fantasy issue 1000 spins nine individual stories from a variety of creative teams. I wanted to pick favorites and find something to gripe about, but the writing is solid throughout this celebratory milestone issue. Dan Slott's story choked me up, and the rest were sweet and showcased why Spider-Man's the best of the best.

Before digging deeper into the stories, will shout out the impressive job from the art and Virtual Calligraphy teams; Terry and Rachel Dodson are as awesome as always; Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer and Sonia Oback bringing Venom and Superior vibes; Olivier Coipel and Matthew Wilson brought charm to the Bugle and its employees; with everyone else that I am forgetting to mention, I believe anyone will find the work here enjoyable.

Ask anyone and they will say the best part about Spider-Man is how he never gives in and always does the right thing, despite the consequences, in the name of responsibility. Each of the nine one-shots displays a different type of conflict that Peter Parker is known for overcoming. Instead of pummeling Spidey with nine back to back enemies, readers get to see him cope with the loss of Gwen while saving others, to see him direct the wayward, and even get to see Spidey struggle to enjoy an ice cream. Fans are also treated with some cool original villain-vs-hero action scenes and the ole question "What does it mean to be Spider-man?"

Over the past sixty (60!) years, Marvel has been telling us that everyone can "be Spider-Man". All it takes is the solemn vow to use one's abilities, natural or otherwise, for the greater good. As much as some readers may complain of his relationships stagnating, Peter Parker has grown with his audience over the past six decades into a deep and relatable hero known the world-over.

(Picture: "Sinister 60th" from Amazing Fantasy 1000.)

Here are the stories in order of most enjoyed;

... Sinister 60th - Dan Slott

... Just Some Guy - Anthony Falcone and Michael Cho

... You Get It - Jonathan Hickman

... Slaves of the Witch-Queen - Kurt Busiek

... With Great Power... - Neil Gaiman

... Along Came a Rhino... - Mike Pasciullo

... Spider-Man VS. Conspiriton - Armando Iannucci

... The Kid's Got a Good Eye - Rainbow Rowell

... In The Flesh - Ho Che Anderson

Each story is top tier. Seeing Peter and MJ at sixty years old was fantastic; Spidey telling a grunt that they matter was superb; the Council of Spider-Man was amazing. The rest were just as spectacular, from the Amazing Fantasy 15 throwback to tributes to Steve Ditko and Mike Pasciullo.

Been a lifelong fan of the web-headed Avenger. April and I sleep next to a poster board of Goblin and Spidey from the first Raimi film and we collect figures (like Marvel Legends) and the trade paperbacks that we find. I always get excited when comics reach a milestone like this, it is especially exciting when one gets to live alongside the releases. Amazing Fantasy 1000 was a delightful treat for this Spider-Man fanboy; now to wait in anticipation for Amazing Spider-Man 950 and 1000!

Thank you for reading.

Allen W. McLean

...(Updated below 221003)

...

Need more Bite-sized Insights to relieve your stress and suffering?

April's latest psychedelic music videos, art and poetry is available on all streaming platforms.

Electric Armchair - Living Ghosts (FULL ALBUM): distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electricarmchair/living-ghosts

"Tomothy and the Overseer of the Forest" is available as an eBook through Amazon Kindle apps and devices; read right now with Kindle Unlimited! www.haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/tomothy-and-overseer-of-forest.html

Kindle ebooks can be read on any device through one's web browser at www.read.amazon.com

These poems will be collected in future editions of the HaikuPrajna Collection.

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Friday

Following threaded / passageways, choices to choose, / forming mediums.

#HAIKUPRAJNA - My Year in Reviews (Project Roadmap 2022 12)

The Best Books Reviewed in 2022

Top HaikuPrajna Posts of 2022

The Highest Rated Books of 2022

BATT-LE Colosseum

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Elephant in the Room

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