This is the twenty sixth edition of The Voice In Your Head Is Mine. The date is December 15th, 2020. If you're receiving this email and have no idea what's going on, well, fuck. I guess I blew it. Or maybe you blew it. Either way, you're here and this is Zac Thompson's weekly newsletter.
It’s early Tuesday morning. This is the final newsletter of the year. I can barely remember most of 2020 but starting this newsletter is a highlight. I’m pleased to have a space to collect my thoughts outside the raging river of traditional social media. I’m thankful for everyone who reads this every week and those of you who’ve been kind enough to send a message my way about it. I read everything. I see all of you. And I’m so damn thankful.
2020 has been the busiest year of my life and 2021 is already shaping up to be even more intense. I feel incredibly fortunate to lead the life I do. It was always a dream to write for a living and most of the time it feels sincerely unbelievable that I’m able to create comics for a living. It never gets old.
This newsletter is going to be a little different. Since it’s the end of the year. I’m going to run through some of my favorite films, comics, television and books from this year. I’m also going to do a full rundown on my new comic series I BREATHED A BODY. If that’s not your thing, no worries. Thanks for stopping by during 2020. The next newsletter will go out Jan 12th, 2021.
I BREATHED A BODY
🍄 A weird fungal nightmare about the voyerism of violence on social media. 🍄
My new series I Breathed A Body launches January 20th, 2021 from Aftershock Comics. Much like Lonely Receiver, I would call this a “weird horror” book. Which is to say, it takes place in a world that’s just left of reality. A world where the internet as we know it has completely fallen to ruin. The social networks of today are ash. In their wake, a new decentralized FUNGAL network takes its place. But like all good technological breakthroughs, this new internet harbors a dark secret.
The Characters
The book follows Anne Stewart. The social media manager for the world’s biggest influencer, Mylo Caliban. Anne is a headstrong business woman who’s only motivation in life is money. She’s driven by making more money for her boss and more of it for herself. This job in Silicon Valley was always supposed to be a temporary thing. She’s planned her escape from the world of Big Tech for years and she’s just trying to inch toward a magic number, so she can cut her losses and run. But it’s not that simple.
Anne’s lying to herself. She’s lying to everyone around her. She’s hiding in plain sight and she’s running from something. She’s not perfect, far from it, and she’s trying her best to keep her shit together. Like Catrin, she’s messy, she fucks up, and she’s in way over her head.
In managing Mylo Caliban, Anne’s had to wrangle this entitled asshole kid for years. Mylo is a loose cannon and he has little respect for those who consume his content. He was raised wealthy and born into a world where he hasn’t really had to work for the empire he’s created. Though he’s amassed 400 million subscribers, he doesn’t give a fuck about anything or anyone. He’s more interested in being an entitled asshole.
Beside Anne is Dalton Strauss, he’s a company man through and through. He’s been working for Mylo’s family for years and currently serves as Mylo’s videographer and editor. Don’t be fooled by his massive stature, Dalton is a deflated, defeated man. If he ever possessed such virility to fill his form, it’s now gone.
And behind everything stands Bramwell Caliban. He’s the billionaire patriarch of Mycena Biotechnology. He’s the man who remade the world in creating the fungal network that has changed the way humanity lives. He’s the head of a enormous social network MyCee which allows users to upload, monetize, and distribute content without a fixed identity. There is virtually nothing he won’t allow on those pages. Bramwell is also responsible for innovating bio-technology phones into little sentient creatures that can fly, respond to voice commands, and give users complete control on how they interface with his suite of open source apps. But one man could never be so brilliant. Perhaps Bramwell’s limitless knowledge is stolen?
There’s two more characters in the book. But they’re spoilers. So for know, that’s all you’re getting.
The Plot
I Breathed A Body kicks into high gear on the day where Mylo reaches a coveted 400 million subscriber milestone. He’s the first influencer in history to reach such a number and the entire team comes together to celebrate this massive achievement. But as the night of celebration progresses, more perverse appetites emerge. Mylo uploads a shocking video direct to his page for his near half billion followers to see. What he does is horrifying… and the world changes in an instant.
So what begins as a dissection of Big Tech in Silicon Valley quickly spirals out of control into a look at the voyerism of violence on social media. Over the past year, we’ve seen countless acts of horrific violence uploaded and distributed around the world. Despite this type of content being “prohibited”, it spreads like wildfire, becoming almost impossible to avoid.
I Breathed A Body slowly unravels into a despicable behind-the-scenes look at those who control what types of content start trending. It’s a commentary on the trauma of the last decade. It’s about the giant tech monopolies who engineer patterns of fear in our society. And that’s not even addressing the Fungal God who’s cropping up in the background...
Preview Pages
Here’s a look at the incredible art by Andy MacDonald (who drew one of my favorite Marvel books in the last decade - Multiple Man). The entire book is colored by Triona Farrell, who happens to be one of the best colorists in comics right now. And it’s lettered by my frequent collaborator Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, who brings his own level of sickly, infectious energy to the letters.
The book is easily the goriest, more visceral thing I’ve ever done. It’s a love letter to Clive Barker first and foremost. A celebration of the primal things that drive life and death. If you love HELLRAISER, DEVS, ENEMY, VIDEODROME, THE BROOD or really anything by CLIVE BARKER - this is for you.
Final Appeal
The book launches in January with two incredible covers. This is a tough month to launch a new book and is going to require strong word of mouth in order to succeed. So please, if you like what you see - place an order with your local comic book store today! There are two incredible covers:
That’s it!
Please pre-order. It makes all the difference.
2020 Wrap Up!
So, as promised. Here I’m going to get into my favorite movies, television, books, and comics of the year. These are not in any order and don’t adhere to any sort of ranking system. I’m also too lazy to put photos in. So you’re just getting lists.
Don’t like it? Too bad.
My Favorite Movies of 2020
Possessor - What a surprise that Brandon Cronenberg’s body horror tech-thriller makes my favorite films of the year. Raw, unflinching, and oozing with intensity. Visceral and thoughtful but punctured by explosive violence throughout. Cronenberg’s harsh examination of the self in a world of rapidly evolving technology can’t be missed.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things - I’m an easy mark for Kaufman. But this film is dense, beautiful, and unsettling in very subtle ways. It pushes you to think about the media we’ve been consuming over the last two decades, while also asking important questions about white male fantasy and manic pixie dreamgirls.
His House - A horror film about gentrification, loss, and generational trauma. Filled with unique and original scares but also telling a powerfully human story. This one surprised me but has lingered in my mind long after the credits rolled.
Black Bear - A strange deconstruction of what it means to put too much of yourself into your art. Moody, surreal, and utterly unique in a year where it didn’t take much to stand out, Black Bear is truly unlike anything I’ve seen in 2020. It’s not perfect but I can’t help but admire the structure and way it played with my expectations. Go in knowing nothing.
Feels Good Man - A powerful documentary about Pepe the Frog and his creator Matt Furie. It’s perhaps the best dissection of our new “consensus reality” that’s emerged and an alarming look at protecting your copyright in a world where many people have stopped caring about art or artists. Hard to watch in places but utterly vital in the face of the 2020 shitstorm.
Palm Springs - A groundhog day riff that’s uniquely its own thing. Effortlessly funny and sweet. It came at the right time this year and I think it’ll be worth revisiting in the years to come.
She Dies Tomorrow - Minimal horror that captures the sense of lingering anxiety and how it can quickly boil over into dread. Anchored by powerful performances that feel slightly detached and dreamy, there’s really nothing else like it right now. Seek it out and prepare to feel uncomfortable.
That’s it. It was a weak year for new films. Still a few more I want to see before the year ends: Relic, Tenet, Kajillionaire, The Dark and The Wicked, & The Nest.
My Favorite Television of 2020
I May Destroy You - An agonizing television show that both feels like a battle cry and mournful reflection. It’s a raw and unflinching look at the sexual politics of 2020. It’s about reclaiming your power and controlling your narrative. I can’t recommend it enough. Tightly written, utterly incredible editing, and an unrivaled storytelling structure. It’s the single best piece of television I watched this year.
Better Call Saul - While many think of this show as Breaking Bad’s lesser spinoff, this year kicked the saga of Saul Goodman into high gear. There’s a single episode, Bagman, in this new season that’s easily the best hour of television in 2020. Tense, unpredictable, hilarious, and a masterclass in character acting. If you slept on Better Call Saul, fix that right away.
The Third Day - This strange folk horror series was made by the creator of the UK’s Utopia. Tense, beautifully shot, and woven around a strange 6 episode structure that follows two protagonists over two different seasonal timeframes. Some of the final beats didn’t really fit together for me but the journey was well worth it.
What We Do In The Shadows - The second season of this mockumentary about vampire roommates kicked things into high gear. Effortlessly funny and featuring some of the best comedy put to screen this year. It was a real highlight of 2020 to watch this insane genre mashup. Matt Berry alone makes the entire series worth a watch.
How To With John Wilson - What more can I say about this show. Poignant, informative, and uniquely funny. It’s the funniest show on television, even if it doesn’t intend to be. Each half hour says something profound about human nature. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you fucking cringe.
Devs - I’m an Alex Garland diehard. I know many people didn’t enjoy this musing on Big Tech and determinism. But it represents a singular vision, made with careful attention to detail. It says more about us and the cycles we’re stuck in than I’ve got space for here. But I reckon we’ll look back on this show with a profound sense of unease, as it scratches at many key issues staring down humanity as we enter this new decade.
Beef House - Tim and Eric made a spoof of the classic 90’s family sitcoms I grew up with. It’s a pitch perfect skewering. Disgusting, weird, and uncompromising like all their best work. It shouldn’t be missed.
My Favorite Comics of 2020
Black Stars Above - A lovecraftian trek into an icy wilderness. Made with the utmost craft and care, this is a horror book that pushes all readers to stand and take notice. It’s chilling, experimental, and features some of the best art of any book released this year. If you love literary horror, this is something you can’t miss.
Blue In Green - A free-flowing horror story that captures the nature of jazz perfectly. A book that feels like a throwback to the old days of Vertigo comics, where each page is a stunning object in and of itself. The whole team works effortlessly together to weave a narrative that will linger with you long after you finish.
Redfork - Small town Appalachian horror that gets to the heart of small town bullshit - the fear, the talking behind backs, and the community that comes with it. Stunning art and deft characterization make this almost impossible to put down.
The Department of Truth - A horror comic for our modern moment. An indictment of conspiracy theories and the culture that creates them. It’s necessary and chilling read that can’t be missed.
Immortal Hulk - The incredible hulk has been completely reinvented and every time I think I know where the story is headed, I’m completely taken by surprise. The best superhero book out right now. It stands alone and needs no further reading to be understood or appreciated.
A Map To The Sun - A gorgeous neon-soaked story about two girls who struggle to maintain a friendship in spite of what they shared as children. Powerful, evocative and utterly beautiful. I read it in one sitting
Blood Root - Creepy and atmospheric. It’s about new lives, and things that might exist only in your head. I’m an easy mark for the pastel hues but the incredible character work lingered with me long after I finished the two available issues.
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen - Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber have created a radically different type of superhero book that gives a literal avalanche of stories over the course of its run. Absurd, filled with gags, and pushing the comics medium to new places. It’s a goddamn masterpiece.
Wonder Woman: Dead Earth - Daniel Warren Johnson is one of the best living cartoonists. The action on display in this book is big and bombastic. It’s engaging and exciting in a way that feels unique. Reminds me of Otomo’s Akira in terms of the scope and detail on every page.
Hedra - The cartooning in this book is unlike anything I’ve experienced this year. I return to the pages almost every day, finding new things to unpack and enjoy. If you love comics as an artform or just appreciate creators like Chris Ware - you don’t want to miss this.
My Favorite Novels of 2020
The Seventh Mansion - Like I’ve mentioned before, this book is unlike anything I read this year. Urgent and eerie with a hard edge that makes you feel like you’re reading it from arm’s length. I’ve found myself revisiting entire passages over and over. It’s the one book I’ll be forcing onto friends throughout 2021.
Tender Is The Flesh - A dystopian cannibal odyssey that kept me guessing to the very last page. It leaves you feeling sick, like someone slipped poison into your food and it’s now polluting your thoughts. Sometimes its good to confront the uncomfortable.
Uncanny Valley - A insider’s look at Silicon Valley and the insanity of the big corporations that now control the world. Sickening, oddly funny, and told without remorse. If you want to understand more about the culture of our modern “gold rush” - look no further.
Children of the Fang and Other Genealogies - John Langen is a modern master of horror and this new collection of short stories cements it. In many ways this collection reminds me of Barker’s Books of Blood but it’s entirely its own thing.
Entangled Life - Merlin Sheldrake’s non-fiction book about fungi actually changed me in drastic ways. It made me see the third kingdom of life that exists between plants and animals. It’s made me a forager, and pushed me to write about mushrooms in my own work. Profound and utterly ahead of its time. Mushrooms will change the world.
Tiny Scabs
As a recovering journalist, I found this article on how to practise ethical journalism about vastly complicated social issues a refreshing and necessary read. Read Apocalypse Then and Now - here.
This video of Colin Stetson playing his insane saxophone in a tunnel is one of my favorite musical experiences of the year, despite it being seven years old…
Buy some comics from Peow Studio for Christmas. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
This week’s playlist:
Goodbye
It’s been a long year. Thank you to everyone who read my work, shared this newsletter, and reached out over the last 12 months. It’s been a wild ride, but it looks like there’s hope on the horizon. Be good to one another.
See you in 2021,
Z