ComicsUnbaggedHeaderNew

(Updated on 7/11/24 to serve as a kind of “About” page)
(Updated on 11/10/24 to add AI disclaimer)

Disclaimer: This site does not use “AI” in any way, shape, or form.

I just thought I should throw out a quick post to say welcome to the new site.

If you’re someone who’s familiar with me and OpenDoor Comics, you’ll see that I did, in fact, finally settle on a name for this new site.

What do you think?

If you’re not familiar, here’s a link to give you some idea of what this site – and OpenDoor Comics in general – is all about.

If you don’t want to click the link, here are the basics of what this site is:

  • It’s a place where I – and somewhere along the line, maybe, possibly, other people – write about comics, both new and old, that I’ve read in an informal, conversational tone
    • Along with pertinent information about the comic, I’ll likely share personal anecdotes that may or may not relate to the comic being discussed, but which will generally have some connection to comics and my history as a lover of comics
      • Unbaggings are more in-depth looks at comics, including scans of some of the pages and panels
        • I call the posts “Unbaggings,” as they generally involve taking comics out of their storage bags to read them – which is what they’re for – so I can post about them
          • Also, the posts are similar to unboxing videos in many ways, as they’re often just superficial examinations rather than full-on reviews
      • Short Box posts are more to the point, giving a quick overview, usually without any included scans
        • Perhaps paradoxically they usually tend to be about compendiums and other longer books
        • This is also a reference to comic book storage, as there are long boxes that hold a lot of comics and short boxes that, as the name implies, don’t hold as many as a long box
      • Reference posts provide explanations for some of my frequently used terms and expressions as well as a little bit of background on me and my personal history with comics
      • Rereads are Unbagging-like posts I wrote on other platforms, such as my old blog, that I’ve migrated over to this site
  • It’s a place where I show you comics and comics-adjacent things I’ve bought:
    • Comics I bought at my local comic shop show up in the Pull list
    • Things I’ve bought online via sellers or crowdfunding campaigns show up in the Mail Call
    • If I go to a con or an event like Free Comic Book Day, I’ll share what I picked up in The Haul
  • It’s a place to just generally share the love of comics, because comics are for everyone, and to try to build a community of like-minded people to help OpenDoor Comics achieve its vision

Here’s what this site is not:

  • A comics journalism site
    • This certainly isn’t a knock against comics journalism, it’s just that isn’t what this site is for, or what it strives to be
  • A formal review site
    • The posts here are meant to be like conversations, and while they may stray into review territory at times, there won’t be any sort of ratings system for the comics that are talked about, and some of the analysis may be a bit shallow
  • A place for negativity
    • It isn’t that never will be heard a discouraging – or at least critical – word, but in the main, the focus is on the positive, and the comics chosen for discussion will reflect that, as they’ll (usually) be comics I enjoyed
  • A substitute for reading the comics yourself
    • Some of the posts will contain spoilers – think of the posts as being like a friend excitedly telling you about a comic they’ve read – but there will always be plenty to be gained from actually reading the comic yourself

Anyway, I just wanted to make this quick introductory welcome post. As things progress, I’m sure there will be a lot of changes to the site and its look and feel, and there will be a lot of kinks to work out, but I hope that having this dedicated space for these posts will give the idea room to grow and allow the main site to develop a renewed focus.

The first actual post – an “Unbagging” – will appear soon, so keep an eye out for that.

Oh, and if you’re so inclined, if you look to your right, you can see some of the places where you can follow OpenDoor Comics and provide financial support, which will in turn help keep you advised of things that are happening and keep the lights on here at Comics Unbagged.


Born and raised in the sparsely populated Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Jon Maki developed an enduring love for comics at an early age.


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