Follow Taste

I never thought I’d say this out loud — let alone post it online — but here we are: I’m genuinely more excited for the new Superman movie than I am for Fantastic Four.

That’s tough to admit. I’ve been a Marvel zombie most of my life. I grew up on X-Men, lived for the early MCU, and I still have a soft spot for anything pre-Endgame. But lately? That spark’s faded. The movies feel less like events and more like scheduled content drops. It’s not because they’re “too woke” — I hate that take. I’m all for meaningful stories and progress, but the heart’s missing. When everything feels like it was written by committee, you don’t get stories. You get slop.

On the flip side, Superman — the symbol of everything I once dismissed as too clean, too perfect — suddenly feels fresh. Watching the trailer, I felt something I haven’t in a while: hope for superhero-related storytelling.

If a franchise or a trend doesn’t spark anything in me, I don’t force it. That mindset has served me well in my writing, too. I write my books word by painstaking word, but I also use ethical, contributor-paid AI tools to help me build the world around them. Not to cut corners or replace anyone — but to push my ideas further, faster, and on my own. It works for me. I love art. I love artists. And they’re not going anywhere.

Some people hate AI, and I get it — it threatens their work, their craft, their sense of ownership. But I don’t want to live in the shadow of someone else’s fear. I don’t use shady tools that rip-off real creators, and I’m not going to stop using the ones that help me create responsibly just because the internet is against it.

Same goes for the stories I consume. I’m not loyal to a logo. If something doesn’t inspire me anymore, I move on quietly. That’s not betrayal — that’s just taste. Nostalgia is great, but it can also trap you in autopilot.

Support what excites you. Step away from what doesn’t. Be honest about what you love — and give your time and energy to what deserves it. I hope I don't hurt myself stepping off my soapbox.

I do value your opinion, however. What do you think? Am I an out-of-touch old man yelling at clouds? Are you excited for these new movies? I love these discussions, but keep it respectful, no opinions are wrong.