Between the Panels

If you have been around me as a fellow anime fan, you'll likely hear my adoration of the anime series Bleach (available to binge watch on Disney+).  In summary, Bleach features this teenager (Ichigo) who becomes a Soul Reaper that fights off bad spirit beings (hollows) to keep the world of the living safe.  What makes this series amazing is not just the epic fights Ichigo gets into, or the rocking, cheesy 90's theme music during those scenes, but the heart behind what Ichigo is fighting for.  When he is given this power/role of being a Soul Reaper, it was to defend his family from a hollow.  Whenever Ichigo picks up his massive sword (zanpakto), he doesn't swing it for himself; he is always swinging it for the aid of those around him.  He is the defender of those who can't defend themselves.  What makes it even more amazing is that when he faces a foe that is seemingly impossible to fight, he goes to work and pushes himself even further to be able to fight ...

What if I asked you to join me in an adventure? An adventure that would give you lots of opportunities to see amazing wonders, meet a variety of people, would challenge you at your core, but would change your life for the better. Sounds pretty intense right! Nerds have this drive for adventure in a plethora of platforms: novels, graphic novels, RPGs, video games, board games, movies, tv series, etc. It is really a part of who we are; wanting to venture into something big and unknown, but also able to share in it with a group of friends to help along the way.  Whether you are a hobbit, a teen in a galaxy far far away, or a hero trying to find the path to true justice, adventure calls out in your heart.  I think this is something we can all relate to in some way or another; that there is something we feel a draw to pursue that is bigger than ourselves. I would say the first example of an adventurer would be Abraham.  When you meet Abraham in Genesis 12 (Abram at this point)...

What's not to love about a character like Reinhardt (Overwatch tank hero)? He is a giant, older man who dives into the fray to protect his team in the middle of the fight.  This epic, German hero not only has a ginormous rocket hammer and massive armour, but also sports an immensely huge energy shield.  An energy shield that acts as both protection and a mobile fortress for the team to advance their ground.  However, this all pails in comparison to the enthusiastic battle cry from this mythically large brute, "Ich bin euer schild!" Translated from German to English (varified by our own German International Staff) "I am your shield!" As a player in the game I have seen this shield in action and it definitely offers a sense of peace as well as a drive to advance forward in competitive game play. I know in my life I have been in what feels like a battlefield.  A battlefield in my mind of what I think of myself or the worry of what others think about me.  The battle...