It’s a new year for me as a freelance contributor and January was a busy month for me. Not only did I write pieces for the websites Into More, Popverse, and Comics XF, but I also started a new freelance gig as a press release writer for indie music artists. The latter has no byline, but it’s an enjoyable non-journalism freelance gig that is gaining me valuable experience and allowing me to use the skills I honed as a former indie music critic.

Without further ado, here are my freelance pop culture features, reviews, and essays that were published in January 2023.

Popverse

Who Is Silk? Diving Into The Web Of The Spider-Man Spin Off Character– When I heard that my favorite Korean American female Spider-Hero character Cindy Moon was finally getting her own tv show in production, I had to write about her yet again. She already has a lesser known appearance in the Marvel Comics films, but I’m hoping the tv series will let her shine as brightly as she has in the comics.

How To Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender And The Legend Of Korra– The animated franchise inspired by Asian culture still lingers in minds more than a decade after each series ended. I hope this watch guide will help newcomers get into the series and enjoy watching it.

Into More

How Strange World’s Gay Lead Finds His Own Path Despite Generational Trauma– The Disney animated film Strange World is notable for having the first gay lead in an animated film but it is about so much more than that. Like Atlantis The Lost Empire and Treasure Planet before it, the film tackles family and interpersonal bonds in a poignant manner.

COMICS XF

Photon Issue 2 Review– I have been reviewing the new solo series of Marvel superhero Monica Rambeau aka Spectrum (the name I prefer for her) aka Photon since its debut in December. Issue 2 gets ridiculous AF but it was still pretty entertaining.

Midnight Suns Issue 4 Review– Things just got real in Marvel’s Midnight Suns mini series and this issue heats things up even more. By the end of the comic, I was looking forward to seeing how this series concludes.