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So I Watched James Gunn’s Superman and Honestly? I’m Kind of in Love

By Roger Hyttinen / July 20, 2025

image of Superman

Okay, so listen. I just got back from watching Superman—yes, the shiny new 2025 reboot directed by James Gunn—and I’m still buzzing. Like, I was not expecting to feel this giddy about a superhero movie, especially one about a guy who wears his underwear over his tights and saves cats from trees. But here we are. I loved it. I mean, loved it.

You know when you watch something and you’re like, “Oh no, this is gonna live in my head for a while”? Yeah, that was me about twenty minutes in, when David Corenswet soared across the sky for the first time. That man is Superman. Like, not in a cosplay kind of way. I mean, if Superman were real and had impeccable hair and smoldery eyes that make you question everything about your allegiance to Batman—yeah, that’s David.

Plot Stuff (Because Apparently That Matters)

So, the film sets us in a world that’s kind of tired of superheroes. Like, “oh great, another flying dude with laser eyes” kind of tired. But Clark Kent, fresh out of Smallville and new to Metropolis, still believes in truth and justice and helping people because it’s the right thing to do. I know, radical, right?

We get a peek into his early days at the Daily Planet, where Lois Lane (played by Rachel Brosnahan, who was absolutely magnetic, by the way) is already deep in conspiracy theory land about something sketchy going on at LexCorp. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor—cue Nicholas Hoult doing his best “menace in a tailored suit” energy—is rolling out a new AI-powered defense system that’s totally not evil. (Spoiler: it’s evil.)

And then bam! Everything goes full-on chaos when Lex’s “security bots” turn on the city, and Superman has to decide whether being good is enough when people are afraid of what you can do. It’s kind of philosophical in that James Gunn way—like, here’s a guy who could crush a tank like it’s a soda can, but he’s still out here second-guessing whether saving people is even welcome anymore.

The Cast (AKA: Let’s Talk About That Bald Brilliance)

Can we just take a second to talk about Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor? I wasn’t sold at first, to be honest. I had flashbacks of his Beast makeup from X-Men: First Class and couldn’t unsee it. But he absolutely ate this role. He’s cold, calculated, weirdly charming in a “this guy absolutely has a cryogenic chamber for his skincare routine” kind of way. And the dude’s got this crew of Gen Z tech bros sitting behind massive gaming monitors, fist-pumping and meme-ing every time Superman gets knocked down. I had to laugh. Like, I get what Gunn was going for—corporate villainy meets Silicon Valley absurdity—but it was a little much. Funny, but maybe turned up to 11 when 8 would’ve done the job.

Still, Hoult nailed it. There’s this one scene where he’s just quietly watching the city fall apart outside his skyscraper window, sipping coffee like he’s watching Succession. No evil monologue, no shouting—just vibes. Chilling, in the best way.

And let’s circle back to David Corenswet, because yes. The dude has the wholesome charm down pat. He’s got the dorky Clark Kent shrug and the “I could lift a mountain but would rather help you carry groceries” sincerity. There’s this scene with Ma Kent back at the farm (yes, it’s still in Kansas, yes, I cried), and it’s like, this is why Superman works. It’s not just the flying or the lasers—it’s the heart. And David brings it.

Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois is smart, fierce, and somehow not just a side character. She’s doing things. She’s chasing leads, pushing Clark to think harder, and holding her own without falling into that tired “damsel in distress” trap. And I loved that they didn’t try to force the romance too hard—there’s chemistry, but it’s slow burn. My favorite kind.

Now Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Red Cape

Superman Immigrant

So the film has gotten some flak online. Certain corners of the internet (read: right-wing pundits with too much free time) have been calling for a boycott because of how the movie leans into Superman’s identity as—brace yourself—an immigrant. Groundbreaking, right?

I mean, Superman has always been the original immigrant story. The guy literally crash-landed from another planet, was raised in Kansas, and grew up wanting to do good in a world that didn’t fully understand him. That’s not new. That’s baked into the mythos. If that makes you uncomfortable, maybe superheroes just aren’t your thing?

James Gunn didn’t sugarcoat it either. The movie draws some pretty clear parallels to current political tensions—fear of outsiders, media manipulation, weaponizing “national security,” all that fun stuff. Watching Lex whip up public paranoia with sleek soundbites and AI surveillance while Superman’s just trying to be the good guy? Yeah, it felt real. A little too real, honestly.

There’s this scene where Superman saves a group of refugees and then gets accused of interfering in “sovereign affairs” by some snaky government mouthpiece. That hit hard. Like, it wasn’t even subtle. But that’s kind of the point. Good science fiction—and superhero films, when they’re brave—hold up a mirror. And this one doesn’t flinch.

I only hope we get the same hopeful outcome in real life. Because if Clark Kent can still believe in the goodness of people after all that, maybe there’s still hope for us too.

So, Yeah…

This wasn’t just a “good Superman movie.” It was a good movie, period. Like, I went in expecting popcorn fun and walked out with a slight identity crisis about morality, immigration, and AI surveillance. Thanks, James Gunn. I guess I needed that?

If you’ve been on the fence, hop off and go see it. It’s smart, heartfelt, funny, a little chaotic—and it gives Superman his soul back without making it corny.

Can’t wait to see what’s next. Also, if Nicholas Hoult ever plays a Bond villain, just take my money now.

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Spellbound & Fabulous — Queer Icons Who Deserve Supernatural Roles

By Roger Hyttinen / July 3, 2025

So, I’ve been thinking (always a dangerous start, right?): What if we could pick our favorite queer actors and bless them with supernatural roles? Like, how amazing would it be to see some of the most talented LGBTQ+ folks playing witches, warlocks, vampires, shapeshifters, or whatever other magical beings are lurking out there? I mean, supernatural stories thrive on drama, with all the brooding and epic battles, and who does high drama better than queer folks?? Answer: No one, honestly. The casting universe needs to get with the program and give us more of this.

Okay, let’s dive in.

First on my list—and this might be influenced by my low-key obsession with him—Billy Porter. We already know Billy brings flair, elegance, and power to pretty much everything he does (like, POSE anyone? Have you seen that wardrobe?). Now, imagine him as the most extra, fashion-forward warlock, living in some chic urban magical headquarters. He’d be the kind of warlock who’s ten steps ahead of everyone else, raises an eyebrow and—bam—summons a dragon. And don’t even get me started on the outfits. He’d slaughter in those sweeping ceremonial robes. Plus, his voice alone could literally enchant an entire council of elders into agreeing with whatever scheme he’s cooking up.

Now, let’s talk Indya Moore. If Indya wasn’t already a real-life goddess, I’d say it’s time for them to enter the supernatural world. Indya would make an incredible vampire queen—like, picture it. Regal, ancient, and incredibly fierce. The kind of vampire that doesn’t just sip tea (uh, blood) in a castle, but…stalks the night in designer heels. There’s something in their quiet intensity that screams “ancient power in a very modern world.” Plus, those eyes? Hypnotic. Probably doesn’t even need vamp powers to get you under their thrall (I mean, don’t pretend you’d resist).

I feel like Elliot Page would be such a phenomenal shapeshifter. Hear me out. Elliot has this really grounded, subtle approach to acting—you totally believe him in whatever he’s doing—with the ability to make you care about his character’s journey. A department store shapeshifter, living among ordinary humans while secretly bouncing between identities for fun? Honestly, his dry humor would make those interactions so relatable and hilarious. One second, he’s a sassy cat refusing to get off a random stranger’s car, the next, he’s casually rescuing people without anyone noticing. He’d definitely be chaotic neutral.

And uh, speaking of chaos—Laverne Cox as a kickass witch. So we already know Laverne has this incredible, commanding screen presence, right? Well, imagine her character as this stunning, highly powerful witch who walks into a magical council meeting and just takes over with perfect composure. Everyone else is fumbling around with their spell books, and Laverne’s already untangling interdimensional knots with a snap of her fingers and a perfectly arched eyebrow. I bet she’d have snarky, layered spells where the magic’s elegant, but deadly—and that’s exactly what we need in a world that doesn’t take magical queens seriously. Trust Laverne to shut that down.

Also, I’m going to sneak in Dan Levy for a role as some chaotic, ethereal fae king. Come on, you know it works. The man was born to be a snarky magical creature. I envision him leading a band of misfit fae, being salty about literally everything but also very on top of an ancient war over enchanted forests or whatever it is fae squabble about. There’s such an “I don’t have time for humanity’s shenanigans” look in his eye that he’d wear the crown without even trying. And don’t you just know David Rose believes in magic? No one who owns that many scarves doesn’t believe there’s a magical manatee somewhere out there.

Next up for hero vamp status: Tessa Thompson. Look, we’ve already seen some insane action from Tessa in Thor: Ragnarok as Valkyrie (she literally showed up on a spaceship, casually, while flipping off all kinds of danger). Imagine that energy as a rogue vampire, equal parts conviction, rebellion, and stunning. The blade work alone would be freaking epic. I just want her dressed in leather, owning the night with a cool smirk and her swanky vampiric underground headquarters. Honestly, she could take down a whole council of ancient vampires while sipping a cocktail and not look even mildly stressed. And I’d be lining up for that battle scene.

Last, but nowhere near least, Janelle Monáe needs to play a goddess—preferably one who shifts between realms like it’s just… brunch plans. I mean, have you seen her entire aesthetic? I’m imagining a goddess of chaos and cosmic justice, one who’s got one foot in the real world and the other in something totally otherworldly. She’d wear those super sleek, futuristic outfits from her music videos, but in a divine way, and her powers would just be unstoppable. Oh, and music would definitely bend to her will—so calling on different dimensions with a different style of music every time? Yeah, that.

Okay, I realize I could go on for hours—Sara Ramirez would make a gnarly werewolf leader who’s actually balancing classes at law school, and don’t get me started on Ezra Miller—but we don’t have all day. So, if you’re feeling any of these picks, let me know, and we can totally start drafting some petitions to send to Hollywood. They’re way overdue on queer magical representation. 😉

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The Lost Art of Cursive… AKA My Chicken-Scratch Future!

By Roger Hyttinen / March 24, 2025

Okay, so here’s something that genuinely blew my mind recently. Apparently, there is an entire generation of young people walking around totally incapable of reading (let alone writing) in cursive. I know, right? It’s like discovering the secret underground world of, well… people who will never know the pain of perfecting a capital “Q” (seriously, HOW was that considered a “Q”? It’s literally a curly number 2).

Now, I’ll be the first to admit, my cursive isn’t exactly a work of art. My chicken-scratch handwriting has definitely seen better days, thanks to a combination of speed, laziness, and, well, being me. But still, every single notebook I own is filled with cursive scribbles from top to bottom. Side note: I’m talking actual notebooks, guys. Not the notes app on my phone (which is reserved for my random 3 AM thoughts like, “Do ghosts wear pants?”). Cursive, for me, is just faster, messier, and – believe it or not – easier for my brain to churn out ideas without hitting the ol’ mental speed bump every 10 seconds.

I’ve tried printing, mainly because a small part of me hopes it’ll make my handwriting less of an aesthetic disaster. But, honestly, going from the nice flowy loops of cursive to blocky, rigid printing? It’s SO much slower, and I end up feeling like I’m writing with a crayon while wearing 20 pairs of mittens. I don’t have the patience to plod along like that! Although, to be fair, I’ve been swimming in cursive for so long, maybe I just haven’t given printing a proper chance. (Let’s be real though, if I can’t even “properly” brush my hair in the morning, I doubt I have the discipline to completely re-learn how I write.)

But what really messes me up is this: can you imagine 20, 30, 40 years down the line when my grandkids (or whoever) find my old notebooks? They’ll probably open them and think I wrote them in Wingdings font. Future generations won’t have a clue how to decipher what is, to me, just regular-old cursive. Like, “Grandma’s got some weird hieroglyphic code going on.” I’m already dreading the day someone looks at my notebooks like they’re staring at the Rosetta Stone, furrowing their eyebrows, probably using some futuristic auto-translate app just to figure out I was jotting down some random grocery list for lasagna.

In all seriousness though, it’s wild how cursive writing is gradually… disappearing? Who would’ve thought? I mean, I get that typing is way quicker, and kids today are typing almost as soon as they can walk. But cursive being on the “endangered species” list of skills just seems… bizarre?

And listen, I’m not saying everyone needs to be out here perfecting their penmanship like we’re all channeling our inner calligraphers. But it’s strange to think that something I grew up doing daily — without thinking twice — is becoming this relic of ancient adulting. It’s like cursive is turning into its own secret code. That, or my terrible handwriting is just doing an excellent job of future-proofing my journals from prying eyes.

Oh, by the way, random fact that’s kind of cool and relevant: Back in the day, a lot of important documents (like the Declaration of Independence) were written in cursive by people with serious pen game! Imagine John Hancock tossing out his signature in Times New Roman. No thanks. (Source: National Archives)

Anyway, just some thoughts about the slow, unnoticed death of cursive writing. Maybe it’s time I start teaching the younger generation how to write in cursive – ya know, for historical purposes… and for when they eventually need to decode my terrible handwriting.

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Queer Magic & Monster Madness: My Favorite LGBTQ+ Paranormal Shows & Movies

By Roger Hyttinen / March 18, 2025

Okay, so, like, you know how much I’m obsessed with all things spooky and queer, right? It’s like peanut butter and jelly, or maybe more like, um, vampires and werewolves? Anyway, I’ve been binge-watching a ton of LGBTQ+ paranormal shows and movies lately, and I just had to share my absolute faves with you guys. These are the ones that keep me up binge-watching at 3 a.m. when I’m whispering, “Just one more episode” (and probably making questionable life choices). Don’t judge—you’ve been there! There’s something extra satisfying about watching queer characters battle demons, bend magic, or straight-up punch a vampire in the face. Here are my top magical and spooky picks that feature LGBTQ+ characters. You can watch these while ignoring your texts like a true fan.

Let’s kick this off with The Magicians. If you haven’t seen this show yet… where have you been?! Trust me. This one’s not your basic “Oh I’m a wizard, I guess?” story. You’ve got sexy magic, inter-dimensional travel, talking animals, and—best of all—some stellar bi and queer representation. Quentin Coldwater and Eliot Waugh’s relationship? Ugh, I loved their dynamic. There’s actual emotional depth beneath the sass and spells. And that scene in Season 1 where Eliot says, “I love you,” and Quentin’s just standing there, all confused and feels-y. Yes, give me more. Add tons of sarcasm and a bit of trauma, and this show just cracks me open every time. Magic in this universe has consequences—and so does love.

Okay, moving on to something darker, Cemetery Boys! So, technically this is a book, but I couldn’t not mention it. It’s about a trans boy, Yadriel, who accidentally summons a very cute (and very dead) boy’s ghost. Cue all kinds of paranormal hijinks. Ya’ll, if this doesn’t scream “Netflix, please adapt me right now,” then I don’t know what does. I mean, I’m just here waiting with popcorn and high expectations. If we do get a TV adaptation, it’s going to be the kind of show that lands smack dab on your rewatch list. Until then, just say it with me: GIVE US A CEMETERY BOYS SHOW.

Now, we can’t skip over the absolute pillar that is Buffy the Vampire Slayer—specifically, Willow and Tara. Do you remember when Tara showed up and Willow’s super shy “just friends” energy turned into “My goddess, I’m in love”? Besides the apocalypse-of-the-week format that never got old (giant snakes, Hellmouths, casual chaos?), their relationship felt groundbreaking at the time. Two witches falling in love while fighting the forces of darkness… like, what could be better? Not to mention Willow’s huge coming-out arc hit a lot of emotional beats, balancing Buffy’s epic battles with something much more intimate. Plus, Tara was just a cinnamon roll in witch form, and we deserved more of her. Let’s not talk about “Seeing Red.” Nope. Not today.

Alright, onto Teen Wolf. If you missed this cultural phenomenon back in the day, I’m both sad and… also jealous, because you get to experience it with fresh eyes. Stiles Stilinski, let’s be real, carried about 90% of the show with his personality alone. Then there’s Danny Mahealani, openly gay and casually awesome, hacking the plot forward while being, you know, cool about it. Is the plot a chaotic mess drenched in werewolf drama? Absolutely. But it’s fun wolf drama. More wolves, more gay characters—that should always be the goal moving forward.

Also, y’all, we’ve gotta talk about Shadowhunters. A bisexual warlock named Magnus Bane, played by the ridiculously charismatic Harry Shum Jr.? Say less. I don’t need any more convincing. Mix in Alec Lightwood, who’s super awkward yet emotionally intense when he comes around to fully owning who he is, and bam—you’ve got one of the most well-loved queer relationships in the genre. I still get feelings about Malec. They’re soft, but also deadly powerful. Magnus casually saving the world while wearing perfect eyeliner and fabulous jackets. Honestly, I aspire to be this extra in every aspect of life.

And if you’re into comics, you HAVE to check out ”Dead Boy Detectives.” It’s based on the DC comic book series, and it’s got this quirky, dark humor that I just adore. Plus, the two main characters, Edwin and Charles, are ghosts who solve crimes together. How cool is that? Unfortunately, the show was canceled after only one season. Typical Netflix.

And, while it might not be everyone’s usual cup of (blood? soul essence?), Hemlock Grove sticks with me too, because that show was a whole vibe. You’ve got vampires, werewolves, and a bunch of weird small-town magic sprinkled in, all wrapped up in horror. It’s a big yes from me, and I’ll never forget the vibe Famke Janssen threw down. There’s something about all that supernatural angst and subtle queer undertones that gave it… an edge.

Some other must-watch LGBTQ+ paranormal faves include:
– Legacies (hello, Hope Mikaelson, can we talk about queer witches?)
– The Old Guard (immortal warriors with soft but tough gay romance!)
– Sense8 (magic sci-fi vibes with a beautifully diverse queer cast)
– Supernatural (oh, the queerness in this show is subtle but there, especially with Cas and Dean moments – Plus, it’s got some seriously awesome queer characters, like Charlie Bradbury.)
– Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (I mean, the witchy queer representation was super fun.)
– Wynonna Earp (#WayHaught anyone? A bisexual cowgirl meets police officer dynamic. I love.)

Also adding quick nods to: The Haunting of Bly Manor, Constantine (queer vibes in both the show and movie), True Blood (was there any character not a little bisexual?), The L Word: Generation Q (because, ghosts?), American Horror Story (Coven, specifically for the witches), Interview with the Vampire, What We Do in the Shadows (quirky but gay vampires? Always yes), Torchwood, Being Human, Midnight, Texas, and Penny Dreadful.

Anyway, that’s my list. If you’re not already drowning in queer paranormal content, you’re welcome. Grab some popcorn or whatever your go-to binge snack is and dive right in. Monsters, magic, and queer romance? A winning combo!

Nick Michelson is 16 and he:

👻 Can see ghosts
🃏 Reads Tarot cards
💭 Gets visions of the future
🏃‍♂️May or may not have a crush on his best friend.
🔥 And ghosts come to him for help
☠️..and some, for revenge

Read the book that began it all…

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