Jo is Afraid
@bywayofjosiah.bsky.social
I’m a disability attorney and guy who does writing stuff in Portland, OR. I love horror movies because they tell the truth. Opinions not endorsed by employer.
My 4-year-old girl has hipped me to the most nuanced and character-driven show about teen superheroes since YOUNG JUSTICE. I am not kidding about this.
November 22, 2025 at 12:58 AM
My 4-year-old girl has hipped me to the most nuanced and character-driven show about teen superheroes since YOUNG JUSTICE. I am not kidding about this.
Some might say that the auditory output of Japanese harsh noise legend Merzbow is low-effort. I don’t agree, but I won’t defend him as long as he’s using AI slop cover art.
November 13, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Some might say that the auditory output of Japanese harsh noise legend Merzbow is low-effort. I don’t agree, but I won’t defend him as long as he’s using AI slop cover art.
Yo buddy, this movie is real good on a big screen. Luckily I have a 4-year-old so I can pretend I wouldn’t have just gone by myself anyway.
November 2, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Yo buddy, this movie is real good on a big screen. Luckily I have a 4-year-old so I can pretend I wouldn’t have just gone by myself anyway.
28. Favorite Stan Lee Cameo:
My favorite MCU film is GUARDIANS Vol. 2. The know-it-all Watcher’s Informant is the role Stan Lee was born to play.
My favorite MCU film is GUARDIANS Vol. 2. The know-it-all Watcher’s Informant is the role Stan Lee was born to play.
October 26, 2025 at 5:36 AM
28. Favorite Stan Lee Cameo:
My favorite MCU film is GUARDIANS Vol. 2. The know-it-all Watcher’s Informant is the role Stan Lee was born to play.
My favorite MCU film is GUARDIANS Vol. 2. The know-it-all Watcher’s Informant is the role Stan Lee was born to play.
Throwing on my comfiest weighted blanket of noise today.
October 24, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Throwing on my comfiest weighted blanket of noise today.
25. Saddest Moment
Just all of the everything with Rocket in GUARDIANS Vol. 3.
Just all of the everything with Rocket in GUARDIANS Vol. 3.
October 24, 2025 at 6:27 AM
25. Saddest Moment
Just all of the everything with Rocket in GUARDIANS Vol. 3.
Just all of the everything with Rocket in GUARDIANS Vol. 3.
[SPOILERS FOR WATCHMEN]
October 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM
[SPOILERS FOR WATCHMEN]
22. Least Favorite AVENGERS Film:
It’s AGE OF ULTRON. I don’t have a unique perspective on why this movie is kind of blah, so I’ll just see you tomorrow with my 23rd entry.
It’s AGE OF ULTRON. I don’t have a unique perspective on why this movie is kind of blah, so I’ll just see you tomorrow with my 23rd entry.
October 20, 2025 at 12:59 AM
22. Least Favorite AVENGERS Film:
It’s AGE OF ULTRON. I don’t have a unique perspective on why this movie is kind of blah, so I’ll just see you tomorrow with my 23rd entry.
It’s AGE OF ULTRON. I don’t have a unique perspective on why this movie is kind of blah, so I’ll just see you tomorrow with my 23rd entry.
I don’t agree with “Best Horror Movie of the Year,” but TOGETHER might be the one that actually scared me the most. Really tight script with better dialogue than most in its class.
October 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I don’t agree with “Best Horror Movie of the Year,” but TOGETHER might be the one that actually scared me the most. Really tight script with better dialogue than most in its class.
21. Favorite AVENGERS Film:
INFINITY WAR. For about ten minutes, I let myself pretend the consequences were gonna stick, and that made these movies feel more substantial than they really are. Also, it’s effectively GUARDIANS, vol. 2.5, which I both love and hate about it.
INFINITY WAR. For about ten minutes, I let myself pretend the consequences were gonna stick, and that made these movies feel more substantial than they really are. Also, it’s effectively GUARDIANS, vol. 2.5, which I both love and hate about it.
October 18, 2025 at 6:44 PM
21. Favorite AVENGERS Film:
INFINITY WAR. For about ten minutes, I let myself pretend the consequences were gonna stick, and that made these movies feel more substantial than they really are. Also, it’s effectively GUARDIANS, vol. 2.5, which I both love and hate about it.
INFINITY WAR. For about ten minutes, I let myself pretend the consequences were gonna stick, and that made these movies feel more substantial than they really are. Also, it’s effectively GUARDIANS, vol. 2.5, which I both love and hate about it.
15. Favorite Couple:
I like how honestly the Gamora 2 / Starlord relationship plays out in GUARDIANS Vol. 3, but I don’t generally care for romance in the MCU.
That said, I enjoy the running meta-gag where TV Loki’s narcissism is literalized after he meets Sylvie.
I like how honestly the Gamora 2 / Starlord relationship plays out in GUARDIANS Vol. 3, but I don’t generally care for romance in the MCU.
That said, I enjoy the running meta-gag where TV Loki’s narcissism is literalized after he meets Sylvie.
October 12, 2025 at 10:13 PM
15. Favorite Couple:
I like how honestly the Gamora 2 / Starlord relationship plays out in GUARDIANS Vol. 3, but I don’t generally care for romance in the MCU.
That said, I enjoy the running meta-gag where TV Loki’s narcissism is literalized after he meets Sylvie.
I like how honestly the Gamora 2 / Starlord relationship plays out in GUARDIANS Vol. 3, but I don’t generally care for romance in the MCU.
That said, I enjoy the running meta-gag where TV Loki’s narcissism is literalized after he meets Sylvie.
14. Favorite Relationship:
Yelena and Red Guardian. Their dynamic in THUNDERBOLTS was incredible (and unexpected) payoff for stuff that was set up years ago in BLACK WIDOW.
This is the caliber of comics-accurate, iterative storytelling that the MCU should be doing all the time.
Yelena and Red Guardian. Their dynamic in THUNDERBOLTS was incredible (and unexpected) payoff for stuff that was set up years ago in BLACK WIDOW.
This is the caliber of comics-accurate, iterative storytelling that the MCU should be doing all the time.
October 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM
14. Favorite Relationship:
Yelena and Red Guardian. Their dynamic in THUNDERBOLTS was incredible (and unexpected) payoff for stuff that was set up years ago in BLACK WIDOW.
This is the caliber of comics-accurate, iterative storytelling that the MCU should be doing all the time.
Yelena and Red Guardian. Their dynamic in THUNDERBOLTS was incredible (and unexpected) payoff for stuff that was set up years ago in BLACK WIDOW.
This is the caliber of comics-accurate, iterative storytelling that the MCU should be doing all the time.
Finally saw WEAPONS and it rules. It’s the new AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE, where if someone tells you what horror subgenre it belongs to, that’s a huge spoiler and they should be jailed.
October 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Finally saw WEAPONS and it rules. It’s the new AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE, where if someone tells you what horror subgenre it belongs to, that’s a huge spoiler and they should be jailed.
13. Favorite quote.
Falcon in CIVIL WAR:
“I don’t know if you’ve been in a fight before, but there’s usually not this much talking.”
My guy has no idea what franchise he belongs to.
Falcon in CIVIL WAR:
“I don’t know if you’ve been in a fight before, but there’s usually not this much talking.”
My guy has no idea what franchise he belongs to.
October 10, 2025 at 10:42 PM
13. Favorite quote.
Falcon in CIVIL WAR:
“I don’t know if you’ve been in a fight before, but there’s usually not this much talking.”
My guy has no idea what franchise he belongs to.
Falcon in CIVIL WAR:
“I don’t know if you’ve been in a fight before, but there’s usually not this much talking.”
My guy has no idea what franchise he belongs to.
9. Favorite soundtrack:
I gotta go with GUARDIANS Vol. 2 on this one. “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac sums up the ferocious loyalty of the core found family, and the use of “Brandy” as a Disney villain song is fucking inspired.
I gotta go with GUARDIANS Vol. 2 on this one. “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac sums up the ferocious loyalty of the core found family, and the use of “Brandy” as a Disney villain song is fucking inspired.
October 7, 2025 at 1:19 AM
9. Favorite soundtrack:
I gotta go with GUARDIANS Vol. 2 on this one. “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac sums up the ferocious loyalty of the core found family, and the use of “Brandy” as a Disney villain song is fucking inspired.
I gotta go with GUARDIANS Vol. 2 on this one. “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac sums up the ferocious loyalty of the core found family, and the use of “Brandy” as a Disney villain song is fucking inspired.
8. Least favorite MCU movie:
Black Widow’s status as the perennial bridesmaid of the franchise was taken over by Sam Wilson, who ended up with a much worse movie than she did.
There’s one scene where they attempt an MCU riff on TOP GUN: MAVERICK, when that should have been the whole goddamn film.
Black Widow’s status as the perennial bridesmaid of the franchise was taken over by Sam Wilson, who ended up with a much worse movie than she did.
There’s one scene where they attempt an MCU riff on TOP GUN: MAVERICK, when that should have been the whole goddamn film.
October 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
8. Least favorite MCU movie:
Black Widow’s status as the perennial bridesmaid of the franchise was taken over by Sam Wilson, who ended up with a much worse movie than she did.
There’s one scene where they attempt an MCU riff on TOP GUN: MAVERICK, when that should have been the whole goddamn film.
Black Widow’s status as the perennial bridesmaid of the franchise was taken over by Sam Wilson, who ended up with a much worse movie than she did.
There’s one scene where they attempt an MCU riff on TOP GUN: MAVERICK, when that should have been the whole goddamn film.
7. Favorite MCU movie:
Hard not to say THUNDERBOLTS, but my GOAT best-in-franchise is still GUARDIANS, Vol. 2.
Peter’s arc works for me; the reconciliation of Gamora & Nebula is lovely; and Ego is a great villain with no redeeming qualities, which most MCU films are too chickenshit to give you.
Hard not to say THUNDERBOLTS, but my GOAT best-in-franchise is still GUARDIANS, Vol. 2.
Peter’s arc works for me; the reconciliation of Gamora & Nebula is lovely; and Ego is a great villain with no redeeming qualities, which most MCU films are too chickenshit to give you.
October 4, 2025 at 8:27 PM
7. Favorite MCU movie:
Hard not to say THUNDERBOLTS, but my GOAT best-in-franchise is still GUARDIANS, Vol. 2.
Peter’s arc works for me; the reconciliation of Gamora & Nebula is lovely; and Ego is a great villain with no redeeming qualities, which most MCU films are too chickenshit to give you.
Hard not to say THUNDERBOLTS, but my GOAT best-in-franchise is still GUARDIANS, Vol. 2.
Peter’s arc works for me; the reconciliation of Gamora & Nebula is lovely; and Ego is a great villain with no redeeming qualities, which most MCU films are too chickenshit to give you.
I kicked off October 2025 with a first viewing of the nihilistic bad dream road movie that is DEAD END. The story makes so many decisions that I’d have shot down in the brainstorm phase, but Ray Wise and Lynn Shea kinda brute force the movie into something that works, mostly.
October 3, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I kicked off October 2025 with a first viewing of the nihilistic bad dream road movie that is DEAD END. The story makes so many decisions that I’d have shot down in the brainstorm phase, but Ray Wise and Lynn Shea kinda brute force the movie into something that works, mostly.
5. Favorite superhero costume:
For sheer wow factor, I gotta go with the original 2011 Thor. I still can’t believe how (relatively) Kirby-accurate they were willing to make it. Chris Hemsworth is also one of my (mostly) straight boy hall passes, so there was that too.
For sheer wow factor, I gotta go with the original 2011 Thor. I still can’t believe how (relatively) Kirby-accurate they were willing to make it. Chris Hemsworth is also one of my (mostly) straight boy hall passes, so there was that too.
October 3, 2025 at 2:19 AM
5. Favorite superhero costume:
For sheer wow factor, I gotta go with the original 2011 Thor. I still can’t believe how (relatively) Kirby-accurate they were willing to make it. Chris Hemsworth is also one of my (mostly) straight boy hall passes, so there was that too.
For sheer wow factor, I gotta go with the original 2011 Thor. I still can’t believe how (relatively) Kirby-accurate they were willing to make it. Chris Hemsworth is also one of my (mostly) straight boy hall passes, so there was that too.
4. Least favorite female superhero:
I almost picked Sprite from THE ETERNALS because her 180 twist comes out of nowhere and is resolved too quickly, but then I thought about Wasp and I don’t remember anything of consequence that she ever said or did. I find her boring.
I almost picked Sprite from THE ETERNALS because her 180 twist comes out of nowhere and is resolved too quickly, but then I thought about Wasp and I don’t remember anything of consequence that she ever said or did. I find her boring.
October 1, 2025 at 9:59 PM
4. Least favorite female superhero:
I almost picked Sprite from THE ETERNALS because her 180 twist comes out of nowhere and is resolved too quickly, but then I thought about Wasp and I don’t remember anything of consequence that she ever said or did. I find her boring.
I almost picked Sprite from THE ETERNALS because her 180 twist comes out of nowhere and is resolved too quickly, but then I thought about Wasp and I don’t remember anything of consequence that she ever said or did. I find her boring.
3. Favorite female superhero:
After THUNDERBOLTS, Yelena “White Widow” Belova became my overall fave MCU character of the post-GUARDIANS era. I was going through some heavy ish when that movie came out, and seeing how Yelena could project so much power *and* vulnerability was a healing experience.
After THUNDERBOLTS, Yelena “White Widow” Belova became my overall fave MCU character of the post-GUARDIANS era. I was going through some heavy ish when that movie came out, and seeing how Yelena could project so much power *and* vulnerability was a healing experience.
September 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
3. Favorite female superhero:
After THUNDERBOLTS, Yelena “White Widow” Belova became my overall fave MCU character of the post-GUARDIANS era. I was going through some heavy ish when that movie came out, and seeing how Yelena could project so much power *and* vulnerability was a healing experience.
After THUNDERBOLTS, Yelena “White Widow” Belova became my overall fave MCU character of the post-GUARDIANS era. I was going through some heavy ish when that movie came out, and seeing how Yelena could project so much power *and* vulnerability was a healing experience.
2. Least favorite male superhero:
First comic I ever bought was PUNISHER #51, where he mercs a bunch of Chinese-American gangsters. 34 years later, I can’t be more bored with a funnybook riff on Charles Bronson from DEATH WISH. Also, the Netflix shows gave Frank a catchphrase, which annoyed me.
First comic I ever bought was PUNISHER #51, where he mercs a bunch of Chinese-American gangsters. 34 years later, I can’t be more bored with a funnybook riff on Charles Bronson from DEATH WISH. Also, the Netflix shows gave Frank a catchphrase, which annoyed me.
September 29, 2025 at 7:05 PM
2. Least favorite male superhero:
First comic I ever bought was PUNISHER #51, where he mercs a bunch of Chinese-American gangsters. 34 years later, I can’t be more bored with a funnybook riff on Charles Bronson from DEATH WISH. Also, the Netflix shows gave Frank a catchphrase, which annoyed me.
First comic I ever bought was PUNISHER #51, where he mercs a bunch of Chinese-American gangsters. 34 years later, I can’t be more bored with a funnybook riff on Charles Bronson from DEATH WISH. Also, the Netflix shows gave Frank a catchphrase, which annoyed me.
Finally doing this. Disney’s a problematic company, and my relationship with the MCU is kinda love/hate, but when I see other people’s posts about this my feelings are strong.
September 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Finally doing this. Disney’s a problematic company, and my relationship with the MCU is kinda love/hate, but when I see other people’s posts about this my feelings are strong.
Goddamn, this is a live one.
September 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Goddamn, this is a live one.
I don’t talk about this kinda stuff here usually, but I just watched SUPERMAN, and I wish I could talk about it with my brother who took his own life a few months back. Would have loved it.
July 12, 2025 at 6:36 AM
I don’t talk about this kinda stuff here usually, but I just watched SUPERMAN, and I wish I could talk about it with my brother who took his own life a few months back. Would have loved it.