About

A few people have asked me about the title of my blog and the header image, so I thought I’d do a bit of explaining.  I happen to have an arch enemy, you see, and his name…

… is Captain Couch.

Almost every night, Captain Couch and I throw down.  He’s a difficult adversary, sometimes knocking me out within minutes of our battle; a cunning adversary, always finding new ways with which to beat through my defenses and lull me to … well … sleep.

Yes, that’s right.  My living room sofa, otherwise known as Captain Couch, is my biggest enemy, and our hatred for one another began just as most adversarial relationships do—we were friends first.  There were nights, long ago, when I loved the good Captain—nights where I longed to return to his presence and comforting embrace.  Nights when nothing could heal the scars of a bad day, save for his soft and loving arms.  I would nestle into him with a smile on my face, particularly in the winter months, like a bear in hibernation, completely immovable.  And there was nothing like the Captain when he had a good blanket at hand.

But then I got into comics.  And then things changed.

Comic books meant that instead of taking evening naps in the Captain’s arms, I was staying awake late at night, catching up on the X-Men’s latest adventure and seeking comfort and relatability in books instead of Captain Couch’s enormous, all-encompassing form.  Jealousy brewed.  Hurtful things were said.  Our relationship felt the strain of who was soon to become my trusty sidekick—the Book Worm.  Little did I know, I would be fighting with Captain Couch for a while to come.

At first, I had been an unconquerable champion, armed with dangerously exciting and stimulating source material for battle, making the Captain no match for me at all.  Strangers in Paradise, Scott Pilgrim, Blankets (oh the irony), and many other texts provided by the Book Worm fueled me in my battles, and their power was truly glorious.  As of late, however, I’m ashamed to say the Captain has been defeating me fairly consistently, and it hasn’t been a pretty sight.  Just yesterday evening, our tussle ended with me sprawled out atop him, unconscious and drooling, covered in comics after being pummeled by his giant restful arms.  It seems that nothing can bring him down these days, not even my gargantuan, intimidating piles of reading material.  In fact, the slapdash Captain somehow continues to find new ways to drag me down, and it’s getting to the point where I don’t put up much of a fight.  I read a comic or two (if I actually make it through two, that’s nearly victory), and then surrender myself to his shackles.  If a week goes by where this blog is not updated with some reviews, it may behoove you, dear reader, to send out a search party.  Lack of updates most likely means I’m being held as the Captain’s comatose captive (he just loves alliteration).

And so it currently goes, our war still rages, and until something changes, I (attempt to) read, I (mostly) sleep, I (sometimes) blog.  Covers to Sleep Under:  because nothing makes a better blanket than a good story.

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Melissa K., otherwise known as Ravenhaired, is in the employ of a Boston area university, and sometimes (wo)mans the counter of her wonderful LCS.  She recently began writing for Comic Book Resources’ Comics Should Be Good, and occasionally contributes to Nerd Caliber.  When she’s not procrastinating working or writing, Melissa enjoys art museums, destroying her friends in fantasy basketball, and practicing archery in her back yard.  (It’s not as dangerous as it sounds).

You may contact her at fangirlreviews[at]hotmail[dot]com or follow Melissa on Twitter at @coverstosleep.

With thanks to the super cool Dave Gordon for the CtSU header banner!  Check out Dave’s book and website at Being Gordy.