Happy holiday season dear readers! How has this year flown by? It seems like just yesterday that we were setting off fireworks and headed to the beach. But now the air is getting colder and if you’re like Lorelei Gilmore, you just might smell snow in the air. However, before we completely dive into the holiday season which comes with December, we have another holiday in which to eat tons of food, and more importantly, give thanks for what’s important in your life. The true reason for Thanksgiving!
The Cosmic Circus crew has so much to be thankful for, both among our fellow writers and in the larger world of nerdom, so we thought it was the perfect time to gather our thoughts and give our thanks to our passions and our people. We wanted to share with you the highlights of 2023 and why we have so much love in our hearts in this community. So without further ado, we present our thanks as we enter the holiday season once again.
Alex
I am thankful for The Cosmic Circus team. The wonderful family of nerds and the common knowledge that we all share amongst each other, opening us to new things that we could all share and love
Anthony
I’m grateful for the recent successes of things in CBMs (and beyond) that aren’t the two big properties. This year Invincible, Gen V, and Rick and Morty were great, and I truly enjoyed the Super Mario Bros Movie/The Last of Us/Twisted Metal as video game-to-screen adaptations.
Brian
There are so many things in film and television to celebrate. However, the biggest change for me, and therefore the biggest thanks I can give, is the push for LGBTQ+ representation that we’ve seen this year. For a period of time, it felt like the world was taken by storm by Red, White, & Royal Blue, followed by the second season of Heartstopper. However, those aren’t the only two pieces of media that have come out that featured queer characters, which feels exciting and invigorating in a way that I haven’t felt in years. I cannot wait to see how we continue with better representation for the LGBTQ+ population and all other minorities who are under-represented.
Cam
This year I’m feeling super thankful for the wonderful world of Star Wars and its amazing fandom! Attending Celebration this year in London was nothing short of amazing and getting not only to witness all the amazing panels and news but also to help host an official panel at the event in front of over 500 people was phenomenal! Not only that, but the chance to write reviews of Star Wars books for The Cosmic Circus is something I can’t believe has happened this year and I am very thankful! Being a part of the fandom can be amazing and long do I hope it continues.
Drew
I’m thankful for the return of Loki, my favorite Disney Plus show, along with seeing the Rebels finally come to live action in the Ahsoka series. I’m also grateful we got the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker this year as Revenge of the Sith was a defining movie of my childhood. Overall thankful for a year of good movies and TV shows.
Izzy
I’m thankful first and foremost for being able to join The Cosmic Circus this year. I’m happy to be here! On a media front, I’m thankful we’ve had such a great year for film and TV, with hopefully more to come. I’ve loved geeking out over all the great anime this year that I already need a next season for. Excited to continue to be a part of The Cosmic Circus!
Jacob
I am thankful for the cinematic marvels that graced the screens this year, courtesy of Marvel Studios. From the breathtaking visuals to the compelling storytelling, each film and show brought its own unique charm. In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania we looked out for the little guy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 showcased the continuation of one of the best Marvel franchises to grace the silver screen, The Marvels was a fun cosmic adventure, and Secret Invasion and Loki saw the return of many of our favorite characters. These features not only entertained but also fostered a sense of community among fans worldwide, uniting us in our appreciation for these superhero sagas. As the credits rolled, gratitude filled my cinematic heart for the spectacular journey Marvel delivered in 2023.
John
Since my time as a film writer and pundit, I’ve worked with various outlets and loved each one for different reasons. There have also been one or two that I was grateful for the departure. It’s been the most challenging couple of years I’ve experienced personally. But I’m thankful I found this team of writers. The Cosmic Crew reminds me of The Guardians of the Galaxy. We come from so many worlds and diverse backgrounds, and each has our song to add to the playlist. It’s a fantastic team, and everyone feels accepted. As Rocket might say, I’m grateful to be right here… “Bunch of jacka**es standing in a circle.”
Luna
I’m thankful for all the great fantasy books I’ve read that have featured strong female leads actually doing something instead of waiting for a white knight to save them.
Uday
I’m thankful for the return of the greatest franchise this earth has ever seen, The Hunger Games. But I’m also thankful large corporations like Disney/Marvel are diversifying because it was very refreshing to see Kamala’s family go on part of her adventure with her and see a family dynamic in a Marvel movie that’s very different from what we usually see in the MCU and more similar to my own experiences
Vin
This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for another wonderful year at The Cosmic Circus. We’ve published over 50 reading guides, with Spider-Man Miles Morales quickly becoming our biggest guide of all time. This spring, we also launched our DC Showcases Comic Review series, where our writers can spotlight DC comics they absolutely adore. Each review has come with a deeply personal touch, making this series one of my proudest accomplishments for the site.
On the media front, I’m ecstatic that Blade has a new ongoing comic series, for the first time in 15 years! And the Midnight Sons are back with a brand new comic revival and a critically acclaimed video game. I’ve also enjoyed a lot of new TV series, especially The Last of Us, Poker Face, Loki season two, and SO MUCH SUPERMAN (I binged My Adventures with Superman, Superman the Animated Series and Superman & Lois in just three weeks ?).
2023 has been a fantastic year, and I’m so happy I’ve gotten the privilege to share it with all of our readers and the crazy Cosmic Crew too. See you next year!
Last, but not least, Editor-In-Chief Lizzie Hill gives thanks
This year, and always, I am thankful for this wonderful group of people who have been writing for me, supporting The Cosmic Circus, and who have become good friends. I’m delighted to be able to support my friends and writers here; To watch them grow, improve, and be given opportunities through this website that bring them joy. I’m grateful for the opportunity here to do something I love, with people I care about, and to have some growing success at it as well.
Final thoughts on the season of Thanksgiving
We’re having so much fun writing for The Cosmic Circus, we couldn’t ask for a greater place to write. However, the most thanks we can give has to be to you readers, who are there for us day in and day out. Without you, we wouldn’t be here. So thank you for trusting us on this crazy journey.
What are you thankful for this year? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or in The Cosmic Circus Discord.
Holiday Specials Reading Guide
Review: Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special “The Star Beast”
Cosmic Crew: Star Wars Memories
