2022 sounds fake but okay

Goodbye 2021, I feel like we barely knew you. Probably because time is fake and we’ve all been inside for too long, but who am I to say?

First of all — thanks for hanging out with me this year. I fully appreciate that despite time being fake, there never seems to be enough of it, and so you choosing to spend some of yours with me is very cool.

Second — I figured this would be a great mini round up of work from the past year you have may have missed, and some teases of what’s to come in the new year.

BOOKS

Yesterday Marvel announced a Women of Marvel issue that’s coming out in March 2022. It’s got a kickass array of creators involved, and I am very pleased to say I wrote a Black Cat short for it (and it will include artists Jen Bartel & Marguerite Sauvage!!). Here’s the official mini-synopsis:

· A fun-filled page-flipper of Black Cat’s greatest failures and latest triumphs by novelist Preeti Chhibber and superstar artists Jen Bartel, Marguerite Sauvage and more!

My first original Spidey novel, Spider-Man’s Social Dilemma, is officially available for preorder — I’m linking out to one of my favorite indie bookstores, Print Bookstore out in Portland, ME, but you should be able to find it at any bookstore of your choosing.

I also had a few short stories pub this year. “Once (Them) & Future (Us)” in the incredible Sword Stone Table, edited by Jenn Northington and Swapna Krishna. It’s a story about Merlin and Arthur and the ages between them. There’s also the story called “Merch To Do About Nothing” in the very fun Battle of the Bands edited by Eric Smith and Lauren Gibaldi. In it, two kids find a potential connection while selling merch for their friends’ bands during, well, a battle of the bands. Both books received a some starred reviews and I am so proud to have been a part of them.

Plus, my first weekly comic issue came out over the summer. I wrote a one shot for Zatanna called “Dream a Little Dream” for DC Comics.

In 2022, I’ll have more comics and more books! I just turned in the manuscript for Spider-Man Book 2, currently untitled — though what I can tell you is that Peter is definitely getting into a spot of trouble in this one. [Insert that eyeballs emoji here]

I’m a part of an amazing anthology full of fellow South Asian voices, edited by Sona Charaipotra and Samira Ahmed. It’s called Magic Has No Borders and if you are currently an unpublished author who identifies as being part of the South Asian diaspora, there is a contest you should check out! Sona and Samira are looking for a short story by a new voice to round out the collection. You can click here for more information.

WRITINGS

A few months ago I wrote a piece for Elle Magazine about Dev Patel, The Green Knight, and writing inclusive retellings of Arthurian mythology.

Lowery’s version of the story is simultaneously one we know and one we don’t, but through it all, Patel’s Gawain is centered, and it’s his story. Putting Patel in that position—in the middle of the narrative we are experiencing and relating to—adds a layer of surprising connection that I’m still not sure how to articulate. There’s an unexpected ease to watching it.

In November I reviewed The Wheel of Time for Polygon.

The Wheel of Time is a very strong start to a much-awaited series and created by someone who has a clear understanding of how adaptations can soar when complementing their source material rather than just copying it.

Back in May I wrote about Pavitr Prabhaker for Marvel’s Voices and how much I love the people behind the Spider-Man mask.

Spider-Man is our everyman. We see ourselves in him, in his shortcomings, and in his desire to do good despite those flaws. And when we make that everyman as inclusive as possible — by truly allowing anyone to pull on that mask and be a hero? It makes heroes of us all, and every part of us a hero.

(Also how about those hints of Pavitr in the new Spider-Verse trailer???)

PODCASTS

On Tar Valon or Bust, we’ve just wrapped up The Shadow Rising, and Jenn and I will be digging into A New Spring once January rolls around. I had a few very delightful interviews with Rosamund Pike and Hammed Animashaun — if you’re a fan of the show, definitely check these out.

On Desi Geek Girls, I had a great interview with Director Maureen Bharoocha, and this past week Swapna and I dropped our episode about Hawkeye and the Wheel of Time. I absolutely cannot believe it, but February of next year makes the fifth anniversary of DGG, so we’ll be brainstorming fun for that month. If there’s anything you want to see, let us know!

GET REC’D

Here are two random recommendations for you based on how much of my time they have taken up:

Young Justice (HBOMax) I’ve gone on at great length on how much I love this show, but across its four seasons it is a master class in short form television writing. The half-hour episodes building up into season long arcs are great lessons in everything from building blocks to character development. Highly recommend.

Mythic Quest (AppleTV) which is maybe one of the best television series I’ve ever experienced that is at its heart about the creative process. The writing is thoughtful and smart and so, so goddamn funny. The second season is somehow even better than the first, and has a sequence of two episodes that are a one-two-punch of A+ work.

And that’s it for me — hope you all have a restful and lovely last week of 2021. See you all in the new year for fun and anxiety! (I assume that is the tagline of 2022, tbh. 20-fun and anxiety-22.)

<3,