Kid from Lagos

2 years ago on this very date, I got a call that would forever change my life. I still remember vividly sitting by the stairwell wondering why my dad was calling so early. The conversation was very short and his words about my mom’s passing will forever stick with me.

I remember slumping, trying to rationalize what had just happened. I can never wish such pain on anyone and for days I might as well have been dead. I lost purpose and passion for life, days before embarking on a graduate program that my mom had been very instrumental in me enrolling for.

I was unsure of how I’d cope, but cope I did. Its been two years, and I have learned a lot about myself and the world I live in. I have gone through some trials that I wish my mom were by my side to help me with. Her advice during the toughest of times has always been helpful. A mother’s role can never be replaced, and as great as my dad has and will always be, he can only do so much.

My family continues to solider on. We have made peace with her passing. Yet on days like these, we cannot ignore what she meant to us, and the gaping hole she left behind.

One of my biggest fears has always been losing sight of who she was, forgetting details as the years pile on, memories eroded by time.

Unlike my siblings, I left home early and because of that, I never spent as much time as they did with her. Yet I know each of us misses her in our own special way. I think of my father, and what it must be like to lose one’s best friend at such a defining point in their lives. I think about all the triumphs and accomplishments ahead, and how our family will have to deal with the fact that there’s no mom to celebrate with us.

For those of us who believe in life after death, there’s always the consolation that one day, we will all see again. Its not much to go by right now, I still have moments when I keep asking why did she have to go?

Said question will never be answered and we must deal with the consequences of her loss. If there’s one lesson to be learned from all this, its the fact that there are no guarantees in life. I never for one second thought my mom would die at 50. I had always imagined she’d be there at my wedding, the birth of my kids, my triumphs, at my graduation (especially since she was so instrumental at me going back for my master’s) and many more important periods in the life of me and my siblings.

Lebron’s Odyssey to greatness is the modern equivalent of old Greek heroic quests, where a character, imbibed with some great ability, has to take on odds greater than him, but due to some good fortune, sometimes aid from divine factors, ability and perseverance, said hero is able to rise to the occasion, creating his legend in the process.

By every account, the tale of Lebron James will be told for decades to come. Chances of another singular hero replicating what he has done and what he is yet to do, is very slim. Yes in the current league there are heroic characters like him, emanating from as far as Germany down to the impoverished areas of Maryland. But none of them can lay claim to being the best player in the world, not unless they are being facetious.

In the pantheon of heroes, Lebron sits atop the throne. His story sometimes reads like a modern day fable. From his humble beginnings in Akron, a town that time has forgotten, to his mammoth initial contract with Nike, launching him into myth territory, way before he even stepped on a basketball court. No one mentions that contract anymore, that’s because he has justified every penny of it. The chosen one as he was once dubbed is now in his fifth straight finals. A feat that puts him firmly amongst the greats of the game.

‘Bron is currently on a quest. To bring the greatest accolade in basketball back to the city of Cleveland. He knows doing this will not only change the fortunes of a city so used to heartbreak but it will undoubtedly cement his place in lore. In a matter of days, the king as he is fondly called, can transcend from man to immortal. His name will forever be etched on the lips of Ohioans, particularly the good residents of Cleveland. 

Make no mistake about it, the Cavaliers are the under dogs. Missing two of its stars, Lebron is leading the charge for glory with a group of unheralded stars. Yet none of this is surprising. It’s eerily reminiscent of Lebron’s first run with the Cavaliers, when he tried unsuccessfully to win the title with a group of players devoid of any major stars. We know that eventually led him to Miami, where our hero’s maturation brought him the elusive titles he so craved. But something was missing, the boy from Akron couldn’t turn his back on the city and people that embraced him before the world. He had made a promise to deliver a title to Cleveland, a promise that remains unfulfilled. Shocking as it may have been, Lebron going back to the team that drafted him made a lot of sense, at least to him, and really that’s all that matters.

Now he faces perhaps the biggest challenge of his career. No heroic quest is without some daunting task. Whilst the Cavaliers did start the season with a team featuring Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. Injuries have whittled said team down to Lebron and a bunch of cast offs from other teams. Two of their current starters weren’t even drafted. Yet, these unlikely crew has rallied around their captain. Turning into a defensive behemoth in the process. Necessary considering the foe they face is hydra like in the way it operates.

The Golden state warriors are undoubtedly the best team in basketball, boasting a squad of all stars and lottery picks. Led by the MVP, Stephen Curry, they have dazzled their way into the hearts of basketball fans around the world. Kudos to Steve Kerr, who came in at the start of the season, and implemented a system where a team that was pretty good last year, became a scarily efficient one this year. The team as a multiple headed monster, can attack you in so many different ways. Boasting a starting five of Curry, Thompson, Green, Barnes and Bogut, stopping one guy only means there are four others capable of scoring in so many ways. Not to mention the bench depth they have in the likes of former all-stars Andre Igoudala and David Lee. It’s a team built to win, and highly favored to lift this year’s O’Brien Trophy. Unfortunately for them, with every win the Cavaliers churn out, the invincibility of the multiple headed monster is challenged. As herculean a task as it is for the Cavaliers, they are spear headed by the man best suited to slay monsters. According to Bron, many have counted them out, and that’s fine with him and his team. It’s the motivation they need to get the job done.

Can they and will they?

On the eve of the inauguration, Nigerians cautiously hope that this will usher in a new era.

One devoid of corruption, where accountability is a prime and an administration that puts the country and its citizens first.

We’ve been burned far too many times. By leaders who promise us the world but use the position to enrich their pockets.

This election is symbolic. The people voted for change and will continue to do so until the one who puts their interest above all else is in place.

Come dawn, the country will hit reset. Emissaries from all over the world will journey to Abuja to watch the swearing in of a man who by all accounts is intent on returning the country to glory days.

We’ll be watching and reminding him that he promised to cure an ailing giant.

#Nigeriadecides is the hashtag compiling the events of today’s election in Africa’s most populous nation. Being a citizen of the country, the outcome of said elections is very important to me. I could probably write pages dedicated to Nigeria’s leadership and bad governance for the last 40 or so years, but I’ll leave it at this, it’s imperative Nigerians show that the true power lies with them. It’s important for our leaders to know that their antics will not be tolerated and will be booted out of office if they do not better the lives of those they are supposed to represent.

With that said, I wish I could vote. It’s a right some take for granted but for someone like me who came to the states at 17, I have never gotten a chance to vote, both abroad and at home.

I have always been caught in cycles where the option has been unavailable to me. I remember a few years back, Barack’s first time running. I will never forget the enthusiasm from my American peers and also the sheer elation and jubilation I saw when he won. That was incredible on so many fronts. To see people engage in the process and also see their candidate win. For Nigerians we are a bit more skeptical as time after time, election fraud seems to rear its ugly head whenever it’s our turn to pick elected officials.

This time around, one can only hope it’s different. A more engaged polity is one that scares unscrupulous leaders. I watch with envy as I follow the Twitter updates, knowing I can’t partake in what’s going on. My under aged sister yesterday told me she wanted to escort my sister to the polls just so she could observe the process. It hit me that these are the ones that Nigeria must ensure that they believe in a free and fair process. We haven't always done that, and skepticism will undoubtedly accompany these elections regardless of who wins.

Yet

There's a growing belief, at least amongst my peers, that a slumbering populace is finally waking up. No longer can politicians take us for granted. What used to be taken for granted, has now become a process whereby campaigning all over the electorate is mandatory. Our votes matter and politicians must justify why they need it from us.

The Rise of Apocalypse - Kavanagh, Simonson, Layton & Felder

An origins story into one of the most notorious characters in the marvel universe. From his scarred youth as the marvel’s universe’ first mutant, to his rise into becoming the notorious character that continually is a thorn in the sides of the X-men.

Michael Moorcock - Stormbringer

A befitting finale to a great series. Epic battles and a great if not tragic ending to Elric’s saga. It was somewhat expected as our anti-hero and his demonic sword had wreaked too much damage despite all the good he was able to accomplish. Great book, great series.

Warren Ellis - Avengers: Endless Wartime

An interesting character study for some of the members of the Avengers who function more or less as soldiers, constantly fighting, trying to figure out their true purpose for existing. There’s Captain America who still does not know his role in a world that has moved on without him, Thor who is still unsure of what it takes to be a god, Logan the man who does not mind getting his claws dirty at the cost of a very stained soul, Tony who in trying to better his father realizing that he himself is a very flawed man and finally the Hulk/Bruce Banner who can never find peace and continually being manipulated by either Shield or the Avengers as some sort of human/beast bomb. Its a shame the female members of the team feel like side pieces in this story, would have been interesting to see how Ellis tackled their problems. I enjoyed the book, just thought it was too short.

Warren Ellis - X-men: Age of Apocalypse Book 4

With the upcoming x-men movie coming out, I thought this would be a great way to catch up on whats to come. I wasn’t disappointed, but I felt the way the stories were arranged makes this somewhat hard to keep up with. Enjoyable though, and it depicts just how much of a threat Apocalypse is to the Marvel universe.

Sheila Akeenan - Dogs of war

Sometimes we forget that in war, there are animal participants just as well as their human counter parts. This book glorifies some of these animal heroes and pays homage to their efforts in WWII.

Christos Gage - Avengers Academy Vol. 2: Will We Use This in the Real World?

The brilliant thing about this book is that it depicts a bunch of super powered kids way over their heads as they try to figure out their role as avengers to be and what their place in a world not entirely accepting of super powered individuals will be.

Nick Spencer - Morning Glories Deluxe Edition Vol.1

Its not Hogwarts, but there’s a lot of mischief and mystery in this boarding school for gifted kids that keeps the reader hooked. This volume doesn’t clear up what it is that has drawn these kids to this said school, but it definitely grabs the reader’s attention.

Nick Spencer - Morning Glories Volume Three

The story gets a bit convoluted. There’s a lot coming at you from different angles, New characters, more flashbacks and mystery. No one seems sane in this book, and we still don’t know what all the hoopla about the school and its students is about.

Avengers Academy: Second Semester - Cristos Gage - The Avengers in training seem to have a lot of growing up to do, as they try to figure themselves out and also their place in the world. Interestingly enough, the Runaways, who would know a thing or two about what the ‘Avengers to be’ are going through make an appearance in the second half of the book.

Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido - Blacksad: A Silent Hell

I love the blacksad series. From the way it depicts race, to the brilliant noir stories, all the way down to the gorgeous artwork that depicts this animal world that could very much pass for our own. Its really one of those books that grabs from you the first page and doesn’t let go of you till the end.

Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido - Blacksdad: Red Soul

One of the fascinating things about Blacksad is the way it explores themes of race, social issues in past eras and in this particular volume, the threats of communism and the holocaust, and the lingering effects it has on those who were alive during that period. Beautifully drawn as always, Canales and Guarnido always rise up to the occasion. A well thought out book.

Nick Spencer - Morning Glories Volume Four and Five

To cut this short, nothing about these books makes sense.

Paul Tobin - Avengers Academy: Arcade Death Game

Nothing new here. A Toy master type individual tries to trick the kids, and gets his ass handed to him.

Brett Lewis - Fall Out Toy Works Vol.1

Fantastic artwork though the story about artificial intelligence and what it takes to be truly human never really hits the intended emotional note(s) with the reader.

John Ostrander - Star Wars Omnibus: Quinlan Vos - Jedi in Darkness

One of the stand alone Star Wars films I hope Disney considers is that of Quinlan Vos. Surprisingly good stories about a character who flirts dangerously on the precipice of light and dark, with a remarkable supporting cast that keeps the reader entertained from start to finish.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Lagercrantz - I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan is that rare breed of athlete who seems to constantly be embroiled in one controversy or the other, yet continues to dominate on the field of play. I have always been impressed by his skills but I had no idea he had such a fascinating life to go with all the accolades he has picked up throughout his career. If there’s one thing I take way from this book, its the fact that the big Swede does things his way, regardless of what others might think of him.

Ian Tregillis - Something More Than Night

A noir with a unique set of characters that portrays the heavens and its inhabitants in a ‘whodunit’ type scenario. Watch out for the twist, perhaps one of the better ones I have seen in a very long time.

Brian Sanderson - Steelheart

Steelheart is a book about tyranny, oppression and casualties of war disguised as a superhero epic. In other words, I love it.

Forgotten beasts of Eld - Patricia A. McKillip

Besides being a beautiful fantasy story that engages the reader from the very first word. What makes this remarkable at least to me, is the beauty of the names and the richness in the characters from main protagonist down to the simplest of details.

The Red Star Collection - Christian Gossett

The red star collection is an alternative reality version of the USSR in a time where magic and technology coexists. It does a good job of exploring war time issues, especially on the toll it leaves on those fighting. Cool artwork as well

Furies of Calderon - Jim Butcher

Jim Butcher once again proves how great of a story teller he is with this fantasy tale of war, deception and a rich cast to fuel the story. Being such a fan of the avatar/air bender series, I couldn’t help but compare fury crafting with bending. I look forward to reading the other books in the Codex Alexa series.

Sam and Twitch the Complete Edition Book 1 - Brian Michael Bendis

Before there was a true detective, these two were doing the occult sleuthing genre proud. Also worth noting is Spawn’s brief appearances in some of the stories.

Jim Butcher - Academ’s Fury

Jim Butcher flexes his world building skills by moving away from the Calderon valley to the epicenter of Alera, bringing us to the forefront of high society with all the manipulation and politics that takes place there.

It’s a very convincing society he has created, one that puts our hero Tavi constantly on his toes. Also worth mentioning is how he flips the notion of who’s a villain and who’s a hero, showing that motives are a tough thing to gauge.

Patrick Rothfuss - The name of the wind

There’s a familiarity to this book, yet the story is unlike any I have read. One is easily drawn into the world of Kvothe, and his numerous adventures as he grows from child to the man retelling his story. It started off a bit slowly, but towards the end I was fully engrossed and can’t wait to read the other books in the series.

Toby Forward - Dragonborn

A story obviously intended for children but well written to appeal to all ages. At some point we all have to find our purpose in life and the hero of this story is no different though he seems quite unaware of how vital he is to the world he inhabits.

Nnedi Okorafor - Kabu Kabu

Nnedi clearly has a vivid imagination but some of her tales end so abruptly, that one wishes she fleshed it out more. The open endedness (sp?) of some of these stories do not do them enough justice nor resolve the issue at hand completely. The beauty of her stories though is that she makes African fantasy and Sci-fi viable as compared to other fantasy genres we are accustomed to.

Tom Veitch - Dark Empire Trilogy

This book does a good job of explaining what happened after Vader’s death and how the presumed to be dead Sidious continues to haunt the empire. The foreboding sense that the dark side will swallow any and all opposition is prevalent throughout the book up until the very last page where the last of the Jedi put up a valiant effort against their oppressor(s).

Ron Marz - Darth Maul

In this short story, the Sith finally reveal themselves to an unknowing universe courtesy of Darth Maul who single handedly takes on the largest criminal empire in the galaxy.

John Ostrander - Clone wars Volume 2

In this omnibus version, various stories telling tales of the Jedi, the Sith and a galaxy torn apart by war are culled together to produce this fascinating volume that stars many of the names we have to come know in the Star Wars saga.

C.S. Lewis - Screwtape Letters

A brilliant book written from the perspective of two demons corresponding on human nature and the manipulative ways they use to steer them away from God.

Jim Butcher - Cursor’s Fury

In cursor’s fury, Jim Butcher once again shows how good he is at world building, and why its important to have characters who are not necessarily good or evil, but are required to create a functional society. Many factions that would normally be at each other’s throat have to work together to stop an uprising, and the protagonist Tavi, finds himself on the war front trying to quell the attacks of a savage enemy. Fantastic read.

Jim Butcher - Cold Days

The stakes keep getting higher for Harry and his associates. In what would possibly be called the supernatural version of 24, the winter knight formerly known as Harry Dresden must thwart a plan that could end up blowing away half of the Midwest, kill an immortal and also come to grips with the fact that being alive is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Jim Butcher - Backup

Short story that proves why Thomas deserves to have more stories about him. The Oblivion war and how he handles it, seems like a very interesting angle to the oh so rich world of Harry Dresden.

Jim Butcher - Welcome to the jungle

Dresden gets the illustrated in a tale primarily taken place in a zoo, chock full of action and the usual dose of supernatural nasties.

Warren Ellis - John Constantine: Hellblazer - Haunted Gloomy look into the twisted life of John Constantine and the other side of London most are privy to see.

Jamie Delano - John Constantine: Original Sins

Constantine is supposed to be a book about magic, yet magic often times takes a back seat to the real world occurrences which is absolutely fine with me. Constantine’s world is dark and gloomy, and yes whilst the occult is always a theme, the book is like a metaphor of life. The real demons and such are human beings who are constantly overreaching be it through greed and nefarious activities, that ends up being a portal for the nasty stuff to take place. John isn’t the sanctimonious guy trying to clean up the mess, he’ll do his best and usually that’s all it takes.

Mark Millar - Wanted

In it’s own over the top twisted way, wanted is a coming of age story about going beyond one’s limitations and exceeding expectations. Although in this case, super villains pretty much control the world.

Jim Butcher - Side Jobs

A compilation of stories, with some of the other known members of the Dresden universe taking center stage.

Brian Azzarello - John Constantine: Highwater The magic firmly takes a back seat to the nastiness that is humanity exhibited in this book. Bad people doing bad things and John Constantine plays the role of avenger meting out justice in his own unorthodox way. Darren Aronofsky - Noah This version of the Noah story has a more cinematic feel to it whilst trying to stay true to the biblical version. Some parts of it I did not recognize but Aranofsky does a good job of portraying Noah as a conflicted man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Brian K. Vaughan - SAGA Vol.3 The great thing about saga to me is how everything moves along at such a pleasant place. No hiccups, no stumbling blocks, no speed lanes either. Everything is in place to advance the story properly, ending up creating such a great story.

Warren Ellis - Planetary Omnibus

Planetary is the case of yet another protagonist with strong convictions yet elicits little to no connection with the reader.

Jim Butcher & Others - Mean Streets

An eclectic collection of supernatural characters, including the likes of Harry Dresden. Some stories were stronger than others, but all in all, decent read.

Kevin Hearne - Hounded

Hounded introduces us to Irish mythology via the oldest Druid alive. Whilst the plot line is refreshing and keeps you yearning for more, the protagonist isn’t very likable and comes off as being too smug. In fact pretty much everyone in this book comes off as a jerk most of the time. Jim Butcher: Dresden Files (Side Jobs) A compilation of stories, with some of the other known members of the Dresden universe taking center stage.

Richard Parks - Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter

I love the way this was broken down into smaller stories but all adding to the rich world of the Demon Hunter. Both Hunter and sidekick have great chemistry. Mr Parks seems to have a very good understanding of feudal Japan and the myths that define that period. Top notch work.

Robet Mckee - Story: Substance, structure, style and the principles of screenwriting

A fantastic book that breaks down the art of writing screenplays. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their screen writing skills.

Jonathan Hickman - East of West Volume 2

I love this book. The art work, the plot, the characters … Hickman is creating mythology here, and it bleeds with genius. Looking forward to the next volume eagerly.

Tom Taylor - Injustice Gods Amongst Us Vol. 1

Great accompanying book for the popular video game. Intriguing plot about what happens when Superman crosses from hero to dictator.

Dennis Bergkamp - Stillness and Speed

When one of the most technically gifted football players and a true great of the game gives you an insight into the game and his thought process, the reader/fan ends up being the true winner in the experience.

Geoff Johns - Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge

In a tale that humanizes and at the same time elevates the rogues status in DC villainy, Geoff Johns is able to portray these guys in a new light, one which makes the reader want to root for the bad guys.

Mark Waid - Spider-Man: Family Business A spy story involving the web slinger and a woman that claims to be his sister. The art work is lovely though the story is brief.

Jim Butcher - Captain’s Fury

Stellar work by Jim Butcher as usual. He has created a world that not only make sense, but the different factions vying for power makes this one of the most interesting political fictions out there. I also like the explanation of furies via Tavi who is just coming into his own abilities.

David Lapham - The Strain Vol. 1

I hate to compare it to the Walking dead, but there are some similarities. That sense of dread at every corner is very present, and I love the pace applied here. I haven’t watched the show yet, but going by what I have read, this is going to be worth it.

David Lapham - The Strain Vol. 2

Picking up where the last volume left off. The vampire plague has taken over the city and soon to be world, but a few factions including that of the supernatural kind are determined to prevent it.

David Lapham - The Strain Vol. 3

Things are heating up and the introduction of the rival vampires is a welcome addition.

Marc Guggenheim - The Flash: Full Throttle

Flash rises to the occasion in this story that has him going up against the rogues, and despite knowing that a deadly outcome is very possible, his heroic nature never comes into question.

Vince Flynn - Transfer of power

The book reads and feels like a political thriller that could very well happen in the real world. Kudos to Flynn who writes like he is truly in the thick of things and knows how Washington operates. Its a shame the movies that tried to replicate it never could pack all the details on screen.

David Gulden - The Center cannot hold

This book is absolutely gorgeous. Not enough superlatives to describe it or do it justice. Gulden not only captures these animals in their natural habitat but also in some fantastic situations. Black and white photography has never looked better.

David Lapham - Ferals Vol. 1

Thumbs up on the gore but the story was a bit too nonsensical for my liking.

David Lapham - Ferals Vol. 2

A lot of gore and a lot of sex, which has become the norm for this series which still fails to find a proper footing plot wise.

Mike Carey - The Devil You Know

It starts off on a slow boil, then begins to boil wildly, hitting a very gratifying crescendo before petering out to a nice simmer. Yes I’ve just described a story full of exorcists, demons, pimps and ghosts, but one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Kate Griffin - A Madness of Angels

Jim Butcher - Skin Game

I guess you could say this is the seven samurai version of the Dresden files, or maybe it’s the ocean eleven version considering theft is the main theme as compared to rising up and defeating a barbarian horde. This time around, Dresden has to work for the one guy who hates him the most, in trying to break into and out of arguably the scariest vault in Dresden verse.

Mike Carey - Vicious Circle

There’s something about the way Castor describes the world he lives in, that ends up making you feel sorry for him. Though I wouldn’t call him a likable character, but he’s just the right kind of being stuck at the bottom of the totem pole to actually care about his exploits. Pretty good second round from Carey this time around. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Kate Griffin - A Madness of Angels

Is a story about identity and life, wrapped in a sometimes puzzling tale of revenge and magic. I like the rich characters, and the description of the mystic aspects of this book is top notch but the reason or main driving plot point seems so flawed.

Jim Butcher - Princep’s Fury

War is finally upon Alera. Many unlikely alliances, lots of action and Tavi who seems to pick up a name or two with each volume of this series is growing not only physically, but in many intangibles as well. I love how Butcher describes the crafting abilities of the people of Alera, even the other species around it all add to what is undoubtedly a great read.

Jim Butcher - First Lord’s Fury

And so Tavi’s story comes full circle ending in the valley where it all started. Kudos to Butcher, every character gets their own moment to shine or fail in some cases. Great ending to a very good series of books.

Andrea Pirlo - I Think Therefore I Play

Just as the man plays, his book is a joy to read as well. Entertaining and witty, peeking into Pirlo’s life is so enjoyable I felt disappointed it was so short.

Michelle Kirie Hayashi - Okami Official Complete Works

A beautiful arts book chronicling the Okami saga

Richard Matheson - What Dreams May Come

A beautiful story about love, life and what happens to us after death. Richard Matheson has crafted a thoughtful book about humanity and the bonds we have both in life and after life.

James Altucher - The Power of No

There are some useful and helpful points on how to turn down the noise and distractions in our everyday life whilst focusing on being better persons. You can't go wrong with that.

Dmitry Glukhovsky - Metro 2033 A fascinating look at life when civilization collapses. Chock full of mutants, deadly rats and an interesting yet eclectic cast of characters.

Michael Avon Oeming & Brian Michael Bendis - Powers Volume 1

This is such a neat twist on the super hero genre. I was curious to see what the source material read like before the show starts on TV and I wasn't disappointed. Great characters with some very cool plots and situations to work with.

Michael Avon Oeming & Brian Michael Bendis - Powers Volume 2

This book just keeps getting better with situations that leaves one marveling at Bendis' imagination. Lovely stuff                     

Michael Avon Oeming & Brian Michael Bendis - Powers Volume 3

Finally, we get a back story for Christian Walker and what a story it is. It humanizes him but also shows how having powers comes with its own headaches and heart aches as well.

Alexander Mackendrick - On Film Making

A thorough book on what it entails to write and direct for film. It might not be for everyone, as Mackendrick continually stresses following the basics of film instead of more experimental work.

Greg Pak - World War Hulk: Damage Control

Lighthearted book about the guys that come in to fix the city after heroes and villains go on a rampage. 

Greg Pak - World War Hulk: Warbound

Hulk's warbound get a chance to shine in this book, and prove they are just as misunderstood as their former leader.

Rick Riordan - The Lost Hero

Rick Riordan introduces us to a new batch of heroes in his Olympian series, but this time around he's added an interesting twist that should keep the reader hooked for the next couple of books.

I love the way he weaves mythology with contemporary settings. Looking forward to seeing what else he has in store for the readers.

Jim Butcher - Fool Moon Volume 1 and 2

I was one of those who was sad to see the Dresden files show fail, which probably has shut the door on any type of television or movie iteration. With these comics though, one finally gets to see how these books would play out in a visual format.

Jim Butcher  - Storm Front Volume 1 and 2

The action and art work is lovely, but just like previous comic offerings, its hard to condense everything from the books into this format. Harry comes off as a reckless fire brand, when in fact there are repercussions for a lot of his actions, and those of the people involved in the world around him.

Jim Butcher - War Cry

Year end reflections

Delving right into it, this year was trying. It started off that way, thankfully it’s ending on a somewhat mellow note. A few things resolved, a lot of unanswered questions.

I am sure if you’ve followed this blog through the course of the year, you’d provably come away thinking this is a guy who struggled a lot and is still trying to find himself.

Yes. But also not the complete scope of things. I had my downs but also my ups. Learned a lot about myself, what I am capable of and also the reverse or maybe I should say the inverse.

I learned a lot about those who I consider close to me. I learned about life, I learned about the human struggle. I had a few regrets, but even regrets are teachable moments. Some lessons were harder to digest than the others.

Those moments that made my heart lighter, that made me laugh and made me want to go out and do my best I am truly grateful for, and those that bothered me, rankled my resolve and inevitably changed me, I am also thankful for. Maybe not as enthused as the initial but thankful nonetheless because I found out more about the type of life we live in and to view it differently than I normally would.

I had and I still have to look at the minute details of every day life, to realize just how grateful I am. Sometimes it’s so easy to miss the big picture when you aren’t hitting home runs out of the ball park. So easy to compare one’s life with others doing better but ignoring the millions who are worse off.

Sure I wanted certain things. Some I still reflect on till date. But those who understand life better than I, would probably tell me, if you are fastidious in your faith, your losses can turn to gains.

I already know my resolution for 2015. It’s quite simple. I intend on being more thankful and expressing more gratitude for every day life. It’s not that I don’t have other aspects of my life to work for, but just as I try to do year to year, one should build on his strengths, work on weaknesses and reflect on how to get better.

Gratitude I need. Everything else will fall into place.

I had a conversation with a dear friend of mine over various things and one part of it stands out and it involved my art. According to her, I take nice pictures but without networking and making contacts it would amount to nothing. There has to be a drive to succeed and excel. Of course she’s right, simply waiting for something to happen is folly. There has to be some movement on one’s path towards ones goal. But that conversation also highlighted how different we are, and why sometimes the only one who gets me is me.

I look at photography, writing or anything I create as an extension of me. When I put it out into the world I am putting out a part of me. I get that to some people it’s simply an image. In fact this is not to put down anyone, it simply shows that we are in fact quite different. All men are not equal if I might say.

I can’t go a day without seeing something or someone that I feel I need to capture on camera. Sometimes when I ignore it, it haunts me that I missed an opportunity.

A picture of the sun shining down on a road that I missed a few years back still haunts me till today. I regret never taking that shot. I say this because I am pretty certain most people I know don’t feel that way about photography.

When I have the lens, I feel empowered, it gives me peace when my thoughts are raging and nothing seems to make sense. It is solace from a sometimes harsh world, mind you coming up with ideas or penning my thoughts gives me said peace I described above.

I have thousands of images, most were taken for me; to placate a sometimes troubled soul. When I share, sure I’d like to be appreciated but I also feel this is something I got for free, if I put it out and it finds someone who it brightens their day or lightens their mood, then I have put some good into the world.

As of writing this, I have no clue what the future holds. My friend who I have come to realize is governed by logic, suggests that I am doing it all wrong. Which is fair enough. There’s no way she can quantify my drive. But how do I explain to her that as of writing this, I am currently working on multiple different writing projects, my photography work and of course video work. Sometimes it’s hard explaining this stuff. A few years back I wrote a post about the idealist and the man governed by logic. It was a response to how I felt a lot of my Nigerian friends looked down on those who were in the arts. It’s quite rare for me to meet people who get what ‘drives’ me. Sometimes I don’t get it either, neither do I begrudge those who don’t. My said friend is a brilliant analytical mind. When she talks about her law school homework, it’s like she’s speaking a foreign language. Perhaps that's how I would sound to her if I were to describe some of my ideas.

It may or may not be the most important lesson I have learned in my 30 or so years of living, but it sure as heck is a vital one.

After much introspection, I realize now more than ever that my voice is simply not loud enough. I am not talking about vocal tone by the way. I am talking about speaking and influencing people. Doing and galvanizing. Meaningful, impactful stuff that resonates just beyond my own little sphere.

Have you truly lived if you impact no one? Many may disagree, and of course I don’t need to influence thousands to believe I am living. But I do believe I have ideas worth sharing. Dreams worth involving others and goals that involves others.

So how does one go about making their voice resonate more. Well, I don’t think there’s any one sure way. Some get that through controversy, some through fame, others through clout. There are of course those who are exceptions, and some are just very knowledgeable in their sphere of influence. All this proves is that it’s not a one size fits all type thing.

BUT …

One thing seems to be undeniable. Excellence attracts its own crowds. As long as you are consistently putting forth great stuff, doing cool stuff, basically churning out stuff that people can’t easily dismiss, the crowds will undoubtedly follow.

The other day, someone commented on my blog, calling me one of the most prolific photographers he’s ever seen. It’s stuff like that, which pushes me to keep going. I have thousands of pictures and sometimes I balk, at putting them up because I feel like I am inundating readers and viewers of my blogs and timeline. When I receive comments or posts like that, it at least proves to me that there are people out there who appreciate what I do.

As a kid, 30 seemed so far off. Like some exotic country that was so far away, getting there seemed so unlikely. But like that oncoming train, it’s lights kept moving closer and closer, until I could basically see it peering at me.

In a few hours, I will hit that big 3-0. Family and some friends will call to congratulate me. Some will remind me how old I am now and how certain things are expected of me. As for me, I don’t know what 30 should feel like. I feel older, maybe more jaded but for the most part, it’s the same guy who woke up a day before trying to figure out my place in all this and what it is I need to do to get better.

I look back at my wake in the water, and to be honest it doesn’t feel that impressive. Wrote a few books (self published), developed a keen sense for the lens, I have a degree currently trying to add to that, been to a few countries in the world (would certainly love to increase that score), I have a car, my own place etc etc But I feel like these are things most people don’t count as triumphs, and whilst I don’t want to belittle my efforts, it’s not exactly go on the top of the building and shout out to the world type accomplishments. Not my style anyhoo.

Ironically whilst I look back at the trail I left in the water and to me it’s not that impressive, I know fully well that there are people who consider what I have done significant. There are folks who think of me and my life, and want it. Sometimes we really do need other people to tell us about what we undervalue to realize just how much we have going for.

I think about looking back at said wake, but instead of the trail and it’s size, why not focus on the distance I have covered. After seeing just how far I have come, it’s only wise I set my sights on what’s ahead. I see a lot of water, no land in sight, but that’s just fine. I have a lot to learn and some ways to go. As long as the vessel doesn’t capsize, I’ll be fine.