Author Archives: Allyn Gibson

Seeing the Signs in Retrospect

One of the most frustrating things about Diamond’s bankruptcy is that I learn everything about the bankruptcy, Diamond’s financial situation, the future, etc., not through work but through the media. Case in point. Bleeding Cool: Diamond Comics Was Already Looking For A New Owner Back In 2023. And while learning that Diamond was looking forContinue reading “Seeing the Signs in Retrospect”

Tolstoy on the Three Great Stories

The great Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy before he died imparted some wisdom on the three great stories, which are the building blocks of all narrative. “All great literature is one of three stories,” writes Tolstoy. “A man goes on a journey, a stranger comes to town, and Godzilla vs Megashark.” How does this apply toContinue reading “Tolstoy on the Three Great Stories”

The Piano at the Dumpsters

There have been a great many strange things that have appeared at my apartment complex’s dumpsters over the years. Such as the grandfather clock that now sits in my living room. This weekend’s find, however, tops even that. A century-old player piano. It is, unfortunately, missing the “player” part of the piano — namely, theContinue reading “The Piano at the Dumpsters”

The First Week

On Tuesday, my employment with Diamond Comic Distributors came to an end. After the sale of the company’s assets to Universal and Ad Populum closed in May, those of us at Diamond who were not let go were employed by Diamond under a Transition Services Agreement (TSA) through June 30th. It was unclear whether ourContinue reading “The First Week”

A Hobbit You Didn’t Know

Here’s an animated Hobbit I didn’t know about. From the YouTube page: “In the early 1960’s, animation producer William L. Snyder (founder of Rembrandt Films) told his director and collaborator, Gene Deitch, that he had purchased the rights to an unknown 1937 children’s novel, THE HOBBIT. In order to hold his option, Snyder had toContinue reading “A Hobbit You Didn’t Know”

Some Thoughts on Politics

I don’t talk as much about politics as I used to on this here site, but today I must. The Republican “Big, Beautiful Bill” — aka, the budget reconciliation bill — amounts to civilizational suicide. I’ve been thinking in terms of Sid Meier’s Civilization games. The United States has basically been sitting a few turnsContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Politics”

A Saturday Potpourri

A quick update about work. For those coming in late, Diamond Comic Distributors, my employer for the past eighteen years, filed for bankruptcy in mid-January. For the past month, since mid-May, I have been working for Diamond under a Transition Services Agreement (or TSA); the company was bought by Ad Populum, but I remained employedContinue reading “A Saturday Potpourri”

They Say It’s Your Birthday

This was an unexpected surprise — the University of Richmond sent me a cute little video for my grumble-grumble birthday. The second building (the international center) and the fourth building (the football stadium) weren’t there when I was there a quarter century ago, so I have no emotional attachment to them. Nevertheless, the idea wasContinue reading “They Say It’s Your Birthday”