In the comments to these weekly posts (and only these posts), it's your chance to go as off topic as you like.

Talk about non-comics stuff, thread derail, and just generally chat among yourselves.

The intent of these posts is to chat and have some fun and, sure, vent a little as required. Reasoned debate is fine, as always, but if you have to ask if something is going over the line, think carefully before posting please.

Normal board rules about conduct and behaviour still apply, of course.

It's been suggested that, if discussing spoilers for recent media events, it might be advisable to consider using the rot13 method to prevent other members seeing spoilers in passing.

The world situation is the world situation. If you're following the news, you know it as much as I do, if you're not, then there are better sources than scans_daily. But please, no doomscrolling, for your own sake.

For anyone in the path of Storm Melissa, please stay safe!

In the US the wannabe King in the White House clearly thinks Louis XVI should be his role model, with his own Versailles (sans the actual magnificence), breaking off trade negotations with, and slapping tariffs on, Canada, for airing an ad he didn't like and

In Britain our actual King unveiled a memorial to LGBT+ soldiers of the past and present, finally acknowledging their contribution to history, 25 years after the formal ban on them serving came to an end.

MCM in London not only showcased the upcoming Marvel Legends Target Exclusive Diamond Form Emma Frost, but from her packaging, confirmed that we are (pause whilst Icon_UK hyperventilates) getting a Marvel Legends Cypher! It seems likely it'll be like the female New Mutant figure from a few years back where we got one body and swappable heads for Mirage, Karma and Wolfsbane, so we get one male body figure and heads for Doug and Sam. Which New Mutants costume it'll be is unknown, classic )Like the recent X-Men 97 Sunspot) or 2009 run (like the Dani/Rahne/Xu'an figure), or how they will address the fact that Sam should be a head taller than Doug. But still.... MARVEL LEGENDS CYPHER!!!

A Happy Hallowe'en to those who celebrate it!

In that light, it seems apt to report this week that the resting place of Elsa lanchester, the Bride of Frankenstein herself has been located and a plaque will be erected, after years of people assuming she'd had her ashes scattered instead of interred.

I just found a delightful horror based podcast, Monstrous Agonies, which are ten minute segments from the advice section for a late night radio station in the UK, offering advice on any number of social and personal issues within the Creature Community.

Anyone got interesting plans for Hallowe'en?