Superman 2025 IMAX movie theater — Photo by me, taken at AMC Town Square

A Super-fangirl from Cleveland loved the new Superman movie (shocker!)

July 17, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

I knew from the moment this James Gunn’s Superman was announced that I was going to have work hard on not being biased when I eventually did my review. And I feel like I nailed that. Now I want to react like a fan, like a person who has been obsessed with Superman since she was a child.

This movie was a breath of fresh air. Just a complete joy to witness, even with some of its questionable choices. I was gagged a bit when we just get dropped right into Superman getting his ass beat. I’m not going to lie, I really don’t like seeing my fave superhero get wrecked either in the comics or in live action. I eventually got over though because it definitely served a larger point.

It was also incredible seeing the city I grew up in get demolished by Lex Luthor’s insane envy. I was kicking my feet and giggling when the Arcade/Clois kiss scene happen. I would like to recreate that ASAP.

Our new Superman is so much more human and touchable than any other we’ve had in the films or in TV. I’m genuinely thrilled we have someone like David Corenswet playing Clark Kent/Kal-El. More men should aspire to be like this. A kind, wholesome, lovable goof who helps people is the standard.

Seeing it by myself, with press, with friends, or with my husband, the feeling continues. The joy, the relief, the genuine happiness that we finally have a universe worthy of the books they came out of. This is a Superman I can share with my daughter and my niblings. I don’t care how many people call it silly or stupid. THAT’S WHAT COMIC BOOKS ARE.

It’s okay for things to be silly and campy and goofy. When did we lose our sense of fun? 2016? 2020? We need to find some balance. Everything can’t be doom and gloom or rainbows and sunshine. This new DC universe genuinely gives me hope. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Vegas Files: Girlypop brunch and the state of queerness in America

July 05, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Writing, The Politics, The Life

Woof, heavy title, yeah? It’s been a heavy (somewhat terrifying) year for a lot of people. It’s nice to pull away from the increasingly disturbed headlines to enjoy some good drag that celebrates being a girl. I went to “GirlyPop” Drag Brunch at The Front Yard in Ellis Island on the last Saturday of Pride Month with my bestie and I had such a good, pure, wholesome time.

I think I talked about this when I went to the Megan concert last summer. There’s something magical about being in a space that caters to feminine energy. A drag brunch that features Chappelle Roan and Sabrina Carpenter queens is a top tier way to achieve that. It’s not just feminine energy, its a welcoming, soft, cheerful, supportive vibe too. It makes me feel good inside.

Also, I debated on whether to bring my 2.5 year old daughter to this, because it ended up being all ages, but I wanted a mom day out, which I deserve. On that note, I DID see two little girls there with their moms and aunties and uncles, one was celebrating her 4th birthday. Both were older than my kid, but I definitely see a distant future where I could enjoy this with my lil clone.

I’m not the biggest Roan fan but I enjoy some of her music, I definitely get more thrill out of Carpenter’s brand of coquettish, coy, satirical silliness, but both draw fun fandoms that clearly appreciate the art of drag.

I can’t stop thinking about how much drag, queer culture, and LGBTQ+ people are under attack more and more each day. Especially trans people. It’s disheartening as hell to see certain cis gays turn their backs on our trans siblings to curry favor with bigots who will come for them next. They always do. It’s hard not to worry when gay bar after gay bar keeps closing, lessening our queer gathering spaces, making it harder to find community. This along with our neighbors being snatched up in the streets if they happened to look “illegal.”

We have to do more than just hold onto and support our queer spaces, we have to fight for them. We have to speak up for people who can’t do it themselves. But it also feels so daunting, when the Supreme Court can just be like, yeah, no you can pretend LGBTQ+ people don’t exist in books. It’s a slippery slope to ensuring people don’t exist at all.

It’s refreshing to see drag bust out if its usual spaces. As poisonous and toxic as social media and online fandom can be, it has been really dope watching the growth of some of my fave queens. Bob the Drag Queen has been thriving almost in spite of the bullshit that is being heaped on drag performers.

Even with everything going on, I pray sunshine continues to peek through the cracks.

Survived the 4-city travel blitz with a smile

May 28, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

Okay, shoutout to Providence, Rhode Island. What an adorably cute and friendly city. I went for like a day and a half for a work retreat, got to meet my co-workers in person and explore an area I’d strongly consider living in one day.

Then I had to make my way to Ohio for a wedding celebration and squeeze in some much-needed family and friend time. I’m always grateful to my mom for being on board to help us whenever we travel with the kid. I miss the East Coast/Midwest a lot. I say this every time we go back though.

Mother’s Day 2025. Photo by the husband.

Every Mother's Day gets sweeter each year

May 22, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

All I wanted was a pool day and my favorite dinner for Mother’s Day this year and my husband delivered.

It’s unreal that this was my THIRD Mother’s Day. One day, it’ll feel normal but I’m still in complete awe at motherhood. My kid mimics everything I do, which has me editing, in real time, what I do and say.

She’s changing me into a kinder, patient, more thoughtful person. Couldn’t have asked for a better daughter.

Obodo Urban Farm and an impromptu baseball game

April 22, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

You really have to make an effort to be bored in Las Vegas. There’s always something random to do, something new to check out, somewhere new to eat, etc. We ended up at Obodo Urban Farm and a Las Vegas Aviators game because it was Blippi night! If you don’t know who that is, consider yourself blessed.

If only every Saturday was this chill

April 16, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

Spring is so pleasant in Vegas, when it’s not skyrocketing to 90 degrees.

CinemaCon 2025, a Delight from Start to Finish

April 06, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

Another year down at CinemaCon and I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more. I loved all the cool clips and peeks we got, but more importantly, loved getting to bond with my people.