Belated Happy Valentine’s Day and welcome to the tedi.substack.com weekly newsletter! At the beginning of each week*, this newsletter will touch on any number of entertaining, informative, or (possibly) useful topics.
One section will feature any combination of VOTW (Video of the Week), MOTW (Movie of the Week), NetSOTW (Netflix Show of the Week), and (a personal favorite in) BOTM (Book/Comic Book of the Month). Quite recently, it has come to my attention that Substack has had a podcast feature for quite some time now. The possibilities! So keep an eye out for the (10-minutes or less) pods that I will be dropping from time-to-time.
As we move further into 2021, your comments and feedback will also be of immense help in shaping the direction of the newsletter. Till then, the newsletter will utilize this free flowing format.
Thank you in advance for your time and constructive feedback. Read away!
* - Unless something exciting comes up that necessitates an additional entry.
The value of a minute.
As part of my efforts to release a self-help eBook by the end of August 2021, I was hoping to get the pulse of the public (so to speak) on the topics that they would like me to touch on. The general question is this: If you had an opportunity to talk to a counseling and/or sport psychologist for an hour, what would the session focus on?
The button below will redirect you to the survey.
My buymecoffee.com page is up and running!
Thank you for your time.
Tedi
Questions?
Click on the email button below to send me a question** for the upcoming free webinar entitled, “How to take care of your Mental Health: In conversation with Dr. Tedi Villasor.”
** - Due to time constraints, we will attempt to address as many questions as we can.
Are you in need of therapy? As a counseling and sport psychologist, I am here to help! For more information on scheduling a Zoom Teleconsult with me, kindly click on the schedule a session today button below.
The CGC Chris Evans Private Signing Event
As part of my inaugural Substack podcast (which I have decided—in the interim—to simply call the “10 Minutes or Less Podcast”), I delve into the intricacies that go into investing in private signing events and comic book grading.
You can find the 10 Minutes of Less Podcast at the top of the newsletter.
The Distinct Art Style of Yuko Shimizu
Yuko Shimizu, 55, is a Japanese illustrator and comic book cover artist that is based in New York City. Yuko spent the early part of her career in a corporate setting before deciding to take up further studies. She completed the School of Visual Arts (SVA) MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program in 2003 and her work has been featured on a number of products (e.g., Apple, Microsoft, Nike, etc.) and publications.
I first saw Yuko’s distinct style on the covers of The Unwritten—a Harry Potter/Christopher Robin inspired story that follows its protagonist Tom Taylor as he attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding his long-lost famous father.
Recently, several cover studies were made available to the public. Among them were the three studies of the first issue of The Unwritten—one of the most recognizable comic book covers in the last 15 years (IMHO***).
Here is the initial cover study. Based on Yuko’s notes, there seems to be a desire on the part of the creative team to see more of Tom Taylor’s face.
*** - In my humble opinion.
Here is the third (and last?) study. Less text in this one. Tom’s right hand and right leg can be seen emerging from the text clouds. Although not pictured here, I have seen the 1B cover study: In that one, Tom’s head and most of his right arm have extended out to the text clouds.
Here is the final cover art.
Don’t you find the creative process fascinating? Which one did you like best?
National Pizza Day 2021 (February 9, 2021)
It completely slipped my mind that February 9 was National Pizza Day! But thanks to the generosity of my brother, I was able to join in on the festivities with two slices of Papa John’s pepperoni pizza. How did you celebrate National Pizza Day this year?
To be honest, I can’t remember that last time I had a slice of Papa John’s Pizza. Pre-pandemic for sure. |Photographed February 9, 2021 | ©Tedi Gustilo Villasor
Valentine’s Day 2021 (February 14, 2021)
My better half surprised me this Valentine with a 64oz classic silver steel AquaFlash insulated bottle (When converted, that’s almost two whole liters of any tasty beverage! (Well, 1.893 liters to be exact). The possibilities are endless!
Comes in Arctic White, Cherry Red, Marine Blue, Silver Steel (mine!), and Space Black. |Photographed February 14, 2021 | ©Tedi Gustilo Villasor
Movie(s) of the Week (MOTW)
Batman vs. Robin (2015)
I have never been a big fan of reboots. Whenever the big two comic book companies decide to 86 their present continuity in lieu of a new one (Sadly, #1 issues do tend to sell more copies), I stop collecting cold turkey. I mean, why bother? By the time that emotional investment takes hold of the new character, their comic book run will end. Then it’s back to issue #1.
Wash, rinse, repeat as the old saying goes.
However, there few instances wherein I have been able to look beyond my personal bias and actually give a comic book reboot a chance. They are: The Ultimates (and by extension The Ultimates 2), The Superior Spider-Man, and Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s New 52 run on Batman—specifically, The Court of Owls.
With the Court of Owls featured prominently in this animated movie, there was a lot of incentive going it and it certainly did not disappoint.
I highly recommend it.
During one of my many trips to Greenhills, I happened to luck out and find this elusive DC Collectibles figure (To this day, I have yet to see another in the local market). | Watching Batman versus Robin (2015) also gave Talon a voice—which only made me appreciate the character more. |Photographed February 14, 2021 | ©Tedi Gustilo Villasor | Villasor Collection
Superman: Red Son (2020)
Based on the 2004 Eisner Award nominated comic book mini-series of the same name, the premise of Superman: Red Son is a simple yet intriguing one: What if the rocket carrying the last son of Krypton landed in the USSR instead of a farm in Kansas, USA?
It has been several years since I’ve read the Mark Millar and Dave Johnson graphic novel, but it seems that the animated adaptation has done justice and honored its source material.
Batman vs. Robin and Superman: Red Son are available on iTunes Philippines.
About
Tedi Gustilo Villasor, Ph.D. is a former columnist for Baby Magazine (Philippines) as well as a past contributor to NBA.com/Philippines. His other works include the indie comic books Lindol and OBIsessions.
Click here for more information on his work as a psychologist.
Official Website | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook
Click here to order Lindol (with artist and co-creator Randy Valiente) from our online partner Secret HQ.
Click here to order OBIsessions (with artist and co-creator Jann Galino) from our online partner Secret HQ.
Click on the following links to order Issue #1, Issue #2, and Issue #3 of Lindol (with artist and co-creator Randy Valiente) from our online partner Mervstore.com.
If you happen to drop by Comic Odyssey’s Robinson’s Galleria, the branch is stocked with copies of Lindol #1.
tedi.substack.com is a weekly newsletter—published every Monday*—that touches on a variety of events and interests—namely mine. Should you happen to find the newsletter entertaining, informative, or (possibly) useful, kindly consider on supporting my work so that I could invest more into the future of the newsletter. Truly, every little bit helps.
At the moment, the best way to support tedi.substack.com is via buy me a coffee.
* - Unless something exciting comes up that necessitates an additional entry.
Would you happen to know somebody who maybe interested in tedi.substack.com? If so, kindly share away!
Subscribe to tedi.substack.com below!
№7: The CGC Chris Evans Private Signing Event | The Distinct Art Style of Yuko Shimizu | National Pizza Day 2021 | Valentine’s Day 2021 | Movies of the Week