Ink and Riffs: Sharing some new stories

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to and why I think it’s awesome. Feel free to send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com. 

“Influencer” (Audiobook)
An Audible Original, “Influencer” is a thriller following Aaron Fortin and Crystal Giordano.

“Aaron is new in town. He drives a brand-new Acura—a gift from his parents for uprooting him in the middle of senior year. Showing up on his first day at the local public school in that nice of a car? He knows he’ll never blend in, and he doesn’t care to try. The car, the new kid mystique, he can use all that....

Crystal carpools to the same school in her friend Trevor’s beat-up van. In the van along with Crystal and Trevor are Paul, Harmony, and Gayle. When Aaron Fortin sits at their lunch table, Crystal can see he’s not who he says he is. But how big of a fraud is Aaron Fortin? Crystal clumsily exposes Aaron and becomes his target, falling victim to his insidious campaign to erase her. Only then does she discover who he truly is—and it’s so much worse than she thought.”

This story was one I picked up from the intriguing cover and the story has really drawn me in. Aaron is a Jim Jones, Charles Manson-style personality, using his influence as The Speaker to draw people in and brainwash them to serve his ends. He’s smart, devious and cares nothing for who he might hurt. A truly insidious villain. Crystal, by contrast, is the opposite—she wants to be invisible, and seems helpless to stop Aaron. But like Aaron, Crystal is more than she seems.

The voice talent Isabela Merced (Alien, Superman Legacy) and Christopher Briney (The Summer I Turned Pretty) really dive into their characters. Briney brilliantly portrays the manipulative Aaron Fortin and I gotta say, it’s pretty unnerving how well he voices this character. Merced is equally perfect for the role of Crystal and shows the character’s hidden strength. They use a light touch with the other characters, and I liked this approach and had no issues following the story.

All told, this is a really addictive story and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

It’s Storytime with Wil Wheaton (podcast)
I checked out the debut episode of this new podcast, in which Wil Wheaton, who’s an award-winning audiobook narrator, takes up the mantle of Levar Burton’s “Levar Burton Reads” podcast. And I must say, he does an amazing job doing so.

In Wheaton’s first episode, he reads “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Love, Death” by Caroline M. Yoachim. It’s story about love, time travel, and the lengths we go to to save those dearest to us. It’s a great story, heartfelt, creative and it keeps you hooked.

Wheaton’s reading, well, it’s really engaging. He’s done a ton of audiobooks, but I am embarrassed to say that I’ve never heard them. That’ll change soon, I promise. He’s an excellent narrator and you can tell he loves the story he’s sharing. He has a lot of heart, and his reading is well-articulated, full of emotion and he takes care with each word.

So yeah, I’ll be keeping my ears open for the next episode.

“Ghost Box” (comic)
I’ve just begun reading “Ghost Box,” but I am already hooked on it. Written by Mike Carey and art by Pablo Raimondi, this new Comixology series is witty, sharp and has a really engaging story.

Chloe and Jan come into an unexpected inheritance when their uncle passes away, and it couldn’t come at a better time for Chloe, who’s just lost her job and is desperate for cash. She advertises her late uncle’s possessions online, and gets a very motivated buyer. But what is the ghost box, and just what does it do?

The first issue is a great combination of giving us enough without giving us everything. We’re introduced to Chloe and Jan and given enough of a look into their lives to show who they are, and shown what the ghost box is, but still leaving a lot of questions. It’s a great storytelling pace and I’ve heard to much about what an excellent writer Mike Carey is, I’ll be looking for more of his work.

The art is really great, and Pablo paints a really detailed scene on each page, giving added depth to the story and giving us a lot to see. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Ink and Riffs: Vampires, ghosts and debut albums, oh my!

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to. Send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com. 

“Impact Winter” (Audiobook)
I came across this audiobook series one day and thought “Why the hell not?” And damn, am I glad I did.

From executive producers of The Walking Dead and Travis Beacham, the writer of Pacific Rim, this Audible Original is set in the near future and seven years since a comet hit the earth and blotted out the sun. The world is a dark, frozen landscape. And then, beastly creatures emerge and take over. Can they really be vampires?

This series includes an absolutely amazing cast, plus great music and sound effects. The voice cast is really good, and clearly experienced. They really dive into their roles and owned them right from the beginning. The music, which includes full songs from different bands, sets the scenes perfectly and the sound effects paint a very complete picture.

The story is very well-written and the twists and turns keep you hooked. I’ve finished the first two volumes and am currently on the third one now, and really looking forward to how the story ends.


“Say Something” by Ashley Elle (Music)
Ashley Elle’s first EP, released last December, came to my attention through my Blackout Collection playlist. “Conditions” was on the playlist and I decided to check out the rest of the album.

Ashley has such a great voice and it really flows through songs like “They Always Come Back” and the title track. This folk/pop artist has released a number of singles since 2021 and “Say Something” is her first album release, so I suppose it’s fair to say she’s still in the early stages of her music career. If this album is any indication, she’s got a bright future ahead of her.

This seven-track album showcases a lot of Ashley’s versatility within the genres. “Falling” has a pretty upbeat sound while “Save Us” is more mellow. “October” is one of my favorites. This has a very layered folk sound that drew me right in. That’s something I really like about this album—the music really varies song to song, and we see the range that Ashley works with.

Overall, this album has a lot to offer, and I hope there’s a lot more to come.


“Grammaton Punch” (Comic)
I’ve talked about this comic before in a previous Citywide Blackout episode, back when it was first released. Written by Miles Gunter, with art by Briane Andan, colors by Lee Loughridge and letters by Taylor Esposito, this limited series is available on ComiXology and definitely worth reading. Here’s a look at the story.

“Born on an eclipse, Van Nguyen has the ability to see ghosts that feed off the energy of unsuspecting adults. Unfortunately being "extra" makes him a target for these evil spirits but what he soon realizes is- Van can fight back.”

This series is sharp, witty and very human in its delivery. Van is a great hero, not because he’s always winning, but because he has plenty of challenges that he has difficulty overcoming. You feel a lot for the guy, especially in one part that you need to see for yourself.

The art is just brilliant, with a wide range of colors, varied and unique designs for all the characters and detailed scenes that are worth a second look. I loved all the designs for the ghosts and each one stood well on its own.

“Grammaton Punch” is a great—and often dark—ride into a world where punching ghosts in the face is just plain awesome.

Being in front of and behind the camera with Tonya Todd

For my next guest, between all she does on set, behind the camera and behind the mic, I’m glad she found the time to talk with me. This episode features Las Vegas-based actress, podcaster and writer Tonya Todd.

Tonya and I dive into her various projects, starting with her work on the series “Dark Ops,” which is on Knight TV+. Dark Ops follows the inner workings of the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit 2 whose mission is to hunt down and dismantle ransomware crime syndicates global and we take a close look at Tonya’s character Senator Anne. This is a part she had little time to prepare for, and we talk about how she got into character, as well as the ways that she made Senator Anne her own.

Tonya is also working on the short film “Mourning Sacrifice,” wherein a detective helps a woman find her missing husband. This film is Tonya’s directorial debut, and it’s also based on a short story she wrote. She shares the casting process, how the characters changed the story, as well as being in the big chair for the first time.

Comic Spotlight: Erma

Creator: Brandon Santiago

Publisher: Webtoon and Tapas


To be honest, I’m a little surprised it took me this long to write about this comic. I mean, it’s only one of my favorite comics of all time! Anyway….

Written and drawn by Outcast Comics, “Erma” is centered around the adventures of, well, Erma. She’s a young child, has a lot of friends and a mom and dad that think the world of her. Nothing else. Nope. Nothing more to it.

Oh, and she’s a half human/half yokai. And her mom’s a yokai. And her mom’s entire family are supernatural beings as well. Oh, and Erma can fly, phase through walls, has telekinesis and her hair can take on all kinds of shapes. Yep, just a normal, everyday kid.

What drew me to this comic in the first place was the humor. It’s incredibly hilarious, woven well into the story, and balanced well by the more dramatic moments. The comic’s been around for some time and there are a slew of story arc, from the time Erma and friends found a race of talking rat-people (one of whom is among said friends) to the time she met her demonic family and her dark side was awakened. Yeah, there’s a lot to see and the pacing is such that each episode has a lot to discover.

The rest of the cast brings a lot to the table. Sam and Emiko Williams, her parents, help guide Erma through this wild thing called life in a world that isn’t quite ready for her. Felicia, Erma’s babysitter, is in my opinion part of some of the best storylines, and I love how she isn’t phased in the slightest that the kid she watches over is more of less the ghost from The Ring. Then there’s Siris, Erma's undead pet dog who is the reincarnation of Osiris. Really, we’re just scratching the surface here. Like I said, there’s a lot to the series.


The art here is amazing. Well-detailed, Brandon puts a lot into each scene, whether that’s the sights around their hometown, the varied members of the family, or the incredibly horrifying scenes when Erma lets loose. Trust me, it’s not something to miss.

All in all, this one gets the highest marks from me. It’s a lot to read, but after a few episodes, I doubt you’ll complain.

Citywide Comic Spotlight: The Dummy’s Dummy

Series Creator: Mochamura

Published on: Webtoon 

Without a doubt, “The Dummy’s Dummy” has become my favorite horror comic, both for the captivating art and amazing story. It centers on a psychic girl named Yumi, an eerie living puppet named Paris, and the strange, deadly monsters they have to take down.

Art-wise, this is what really nailed it for me when I began reading. It’s absolutely beautiful, and bringing that skill set to a horror title—let’s just say it’s hard not to jump at the sound when my heater kicks on. The colors are a great blend of light and dark shades and the style flows like a living thing.

But it’s not just the art that sold me on it. Paris and Yumi’s mission to stop the her grandfather’s creations from committing wholesale slaughter brings a depth that goes beyond a normal horror tale. It’s not another ‘monster of the week’ kind of story. Each encounter brings something different, whether it’s Yumi coming to terms with her role or helping the spirit inhabit a haunted camera make peace with their past. There’s a lot of heart in this, which to me makes it stand apart from a lot of other stories.

You can check out The Dummy’s Dummy on both Webtoon and Tapas, and trust me, it’s a great read—just make sure the lights are on.

What's that sound? Explore the haunted house of “Something Stirs”

If you're the type to wonder if that creaking sound is a restless soul, best to skip this episode. For all you horror fans, welcome! Author Thomas Smith joins me to talk about his book, “Something Stirs,” out on Oct. 13 through our friends at Cemetery Dance Publications. Here's a look at what lies within these pages:

Ben Chalmers is a successful novelist. His wife, Rachel, is a fledgling artist with a promising career, and their daughter Stacy is the joy of their life. His novels have made enough money for him to provide a dream home for his family. But there is a force at work in their lives. A dark, chilling, ruthless force that has become part of the very fabric of their new home.

A malevolent entity becomes trapped in the wood and stone of the house and it will do whatever it takes, to find a way to complete its bloody transference to our world.

Local Sheriff Elizabeth Cantrell, and former pastor-turned-cabinetmaker Jim Perry are drawn into the family's life as the entity manipulates the house with devastating results. And it won't stop until it gets what it wants. Even if it costs them their faith, their sanity, and their lives.

This is actually a re-release, since the book was originally published in 2011 through a different company. Thomas and I talk about what readers can expect in this updated version, as well as how he came work with the fine folks at CDP.

We dive deep into the story behind the book and how Thomas created the menacing presence within the Chalmers' home. This is a Christian horror novel, and if that's a new term for you, you're not alone. We look into what that genre is all about and what can—and cannot—be done in this kind of book.