{"id":4525,"date":"2026-02-24T11:40:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T16:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/?p=4525"},"modified":"2026-02-24T14:45:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T19:45:02","slug":"mail-call-for-2-23-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/2026\/02\/24\/mail-call-for-2-23-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Mail Call For 2.23.26"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There was a recent variant cover that I forgot to look for on New Comic Book Day, and the next week when I remembered to look for it, it wasn&#8217;t at the shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69de29d4a8fd7&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69de29d4a8fd7\" class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized wp-lightbox-container\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2026\/02\/20260224_1128071.jpg?resize=640%2C960&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4527\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2026\/02\/20260224_1128071.jpg?w=1393&amp;ssl=1 1393w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2026\/02\/20260224_1128071.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2026\/02\/20260224_1128071.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2026\/02\/20260224_1128071.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2026\/02\/20260224_1128071.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2026\/02\/20260224_1128071.jpg?resize=1366%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1366w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2026\/02\/20260224_1128071.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Absolute Wonder Woman<\/em> #16C<br>Guillem March Variant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As much as I&#8217;ve been a nearly lifelong fan of comics, there are many aspects of fandom and being a fan that are kind of foreign to me. To be clear, I&#8217;m not finding fault, I just find it kind of puzzling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For an example relevant to the cover above, a lot of fans &#8211; and this happens in other fandoms as well &#8211; will see a single image, with little or no additional context, of a new character and make that their entire personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I saw a lot of that in the months leading up to the debut of Absolute Zatanna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While my reaction to the announcement of the character was, &#8220;Huh. Neat. Interesting design.&#8221; a lot of fans completely lost their minds, instantly getting to work on fan art, fics, and cosplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, a lot of that was due to the specifics of the design, and there was a lot of &#8220;Mother&#8221; involved in it, which is a whole other thing that I don&#8217;t really understand, and with this cover in particular a lot of people eagerly volunteered to get stepped on&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9581540985996689\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Unbagged -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9581540985996689\" data-ad-slot=\"5626726652\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>I don&#8217;t really have a point, and I don&#8217;t mean to seem judgmental, and I do at least kind of get it in this particular case of a new take on an existing beloved character, but that sudden &#8220;I am all-in on this&#8221; response to a single image always takes me aback as someone who needs to see a bit more before getting too invested in something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last time I responded to a new character in this way was way back when I was twelve, with Buckaroo Banzai. I was definitely all-in on him, but even that didn&#8217;t happen until I&#8217;d read the Marvel adaptation of the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I guess my enthusiasm for a new character always remains tempered until I get more than just a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And for the record, Absolute Zatanna has actually proven to be an interesting new character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyway, cool cover featuring an interesting new character, so I bought it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More stuff will be showing up, so check back soon for the next Mail Call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"518\" height=\"516\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2022\/11\/selfportrait.jpg?resize=518%2C516&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-43 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2022\/11\/selfportrait.jpg?w=518&amp;ssl=1 518w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2022\/11\/selfportrait.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/97\/2022\/11\/selfportrait.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Born and raised in the sparsely populated Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Jon Maki developed an enduring love for comics at an early age.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9581540985996689\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Unbagged -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9581540985996689\" data-ad-slot=\"5626726652\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There was a recent variant cover that I forgot to look for on New Comic&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Mail Call For 2.23.26\n\n#MailCall #comics #AbsoluteZatanna","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15],"tags":[3],"class_list":["post-4525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mail-call","tag-dc"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/peoZaI-1aZ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4525"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4525\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4528,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4525\/revisions\/4528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoor-comics.com\/unbagged\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}