Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Home Blog Page 814

5 Epic Comic Book Bromances You Need To Know About

Let’s face it: A foundational aspect of comic books is a budding, blossoming bromance. From the X-Men to the Avengers to the Justice League and beyond, every superhero team boasts at least a few. Mostly they serve as comedic relief, but a close platonic bond between two dudes—or ladies, bromances aren’t dude-exclusive—underscores the human relationships beneath the costumes.

It’s why when stories feature heroes fight amongst each other (Batman v. Superman; Civil War), it carries such dramatic weight. You know these two dudes—or ladies—really just love each other and want to bro out.

In honor of that spirit, we’re presenting the five bromances in comics you absolutely need to know.

Honorable Mentions

Not everyone can make this short list of quality bromances, but here are several still worth checking out and could’ve very easily made the list, depending on my mood.

– Hercules and Amadeus Cho
– Barry Allen and Hal Jordan
– Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen (Hal Jordan is rich with Bros)
– Superman and Batman
– Luke Cage and Iron Fist
– Tony Stark and Dr. Strange (Facial Hair Bros!)

5) Spider-Man and Deadpool

Deadpool, in many ways, is the ultimate bromance target. He loves pop culture like Hello Kitty, always delivers a sarcastic quip, and more interested in bro-ing down than saving the world. So it’s no surprise Deadpool has loads of bros—including the iconic “Cable and Deadpool” pairing. But with Spider-Man and Deadpool, Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness have broken the mold with this one.

Initially Deadpool receives a contract to kill Peter Parker, which leads him to investigate Peter’s “bodyguard” Spider-Man. But in true Deadpool fashion, he develops a huge bro-crush on Spidey, causing complications since Peter Parker is Spider-Man.

Cover art courtesy of Marvel
Cover art courtesy of Marvel

It leads to wacky adventures, disastrous double dates, and Deadpool killing Peter and bringing him back to life… twice. The bromance really stand out as it forces the usually wise-cracking Spidey into the straight man of the duo. That unique reversal and relationship explains why this bromance gets my pick over others.

4) Swamp Thing and John Constantine

Swamp Thing may disagree, but he and The Hellblazer John Constantine are total bros. When they first meet, Constantine teaches Swamp Thing the ropes of dealing with mystical and occult problems. This was training to prepare him for a fight against the Brujería and primordial “Great Darkness.”

Later when Swamp Thing returns from space, Constantine lets Swamp Thing possess his body so that he could get his wife Abby Arcane pregnant with their “daughter” Tefé. From the outside looking in, they might appear to have an almost antagonistic relationship, but in reality, these two are bros to the end. At one point Swamps even grows some “elemental” grade green for Constantine.

3) Hyperion and Thor

One of the standout threads of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers/New Avengers run was watching a bromance birthed from two of the team’s heaviest hitters. Hyperion coming from another universe that was destroyed by an incursion sought friendship from what he saw as possibly his only peer, a literal god. Thor and Hyperion went on to experience many great adventures which were followed by many barrels of ale—that’s barrels, not pints. Finally, in the coldness of deep space, they even faced death together.

2) Captain Marvel and Spider-Woman

Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) and Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) are BFF. They’ve fought dinosaurs, aliens and even experienced pregnancy together. That’s right, when Jessica was pregnant, Carol invited her to stay in Alpha Flight’s maternity ward, nestled safely in a black hole where no one could do them harm.

Cover art by DC Comics
Cover art by DC Comics

That is until Skrulls attacked. But this is just one example of many, proving these two are bros, and would do anything for each other. I think what separates these two from the rest on this list is how they absolutely frustrate each other, but still adore one another at the same time. That’s what gets me excited when one is in the other’s book—oh what are they going to fight or fight about next?

1) Blue Beetle and Booster Gold

Although the bromances on this list aren’t really in any kind of order, Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) and Booster Gold (Michael Jon Carter) definitely rank No. 1. This is like the original superhero bromance. Meeting as members of the Justice League International, the pair of C-List superheroes become instant best friends. Their misadventures include becoming superhero repo men, opening a casino/resort called Club JLI on the living island of Kooey Kooey Kooey, and stealing Martian Manhunter’s cookies.


This wisecracking duo is always game for get-rich quick schemes and practical jokes and that’s why they’re my favorite. Things just haven’t been the same since Ted Kord’s death, but his reappearance in DC’s Rebirth has me hoping for the return of “Blue and Gold!”

10 Instagram Accounts To Boost Your Mental Health

Social media probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words ‘good mental health’. Often times, this type of platform has the exact opposite effect, making us feel subpar in a world where everyone seems to lead better lives than us; Instagram and Facebook especially can put unrealistic expectations on us. But the good news is that there are social media accounts that are actually interested in provoking the reverse reaction.

The following accounts feature doodles, musings, cute dogs, and all sorts of things that are good and relaxing. It’s okay to follow dozens of social media accounts that only revolve around making you feel better and more valid. They can make you smile in times when the world and social media appear overwhelming. Check out 10 of the coolest Instagram accounts that can improve your mental health.

@makedaisychains:

@thelatestkate

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#anxiety #rest #mentalhealth #fox

A post shared by @ thelatestkate on

@bymariandrew

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mari Andrew (@bymariandrew) on

@dogsofinstagram

@thedogist

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Osi, Pomeranian (1 y/o), Spring & West Broadway, New York, NY • “He once ate my birth control. He was fine.”

A post shared by The Dogist (@thedogist) on

@theofficialsadghostclub

@introvertdoodles

@frizzkidart

@sadgirlsclub

@bethdrawsthings

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Beth Evans (@bethdrawsthings) on

5 Weedtastic Collabs That Yielded Essential Works Of Popular Culture

Great things can be accomplished when like-minded creatives come together over really good marijuana. We’re  dubbing this phenomenon “weedtastic.”

Whether it’s music, movies, television, art, or science, countless works of popular culture have been sculpted as a result of collaborations or interactions between fellow pot smokers.

Take a look at just a few examples below and let us know your favorite cannabis-smoking duos.

Bob Dylan and the Beatles

On August 28, 1964 rock icon Bob Dylan introduced the Fab Four to the wonders of smoking cannabis for the first time in a historic and hilariously well-documented meeting at the Delmonico Hotel in New York.

Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and others from their crew were immediately entranced by the wonders of the plant beginning a relationship with pot that would affect their music to come … including the RIAA gold certified “Got to Get You Into My Life” (above).

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones

There are few bands quite as quintessentially rock and roll as The Rolling Stones and despite the fact that their pot use brought heat and threats of jail time from the police in the 1960s for Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the band members continued to use the herb to inspire some of their greatest hits.

Richards, in fact, continues to enjoy early morning joints to this day.

Carl Sagan and Dr. Lester Grinspoon

As the story goes, Dr. Lester Grinspoon’s original interest in marijuana was aimed at finding the evidence necessary to prohibit the plant, but what he found out instead was that his original assumptions about the plant were all wrong. Grinspoon’s good friend, astronomer Carl Sagan, was an avid pot smoker and encouraged him to give it a try, which he ultimately did. As the two grew closer, their smoke sessions grew more and more frequent.

Grinspoon would, of course, write “Marihuana Reconsidered,” while Sagan went on to host “Cosmos.”

Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan

via GIPHY

Ticking off successes in television, film, and comedy Dave Chappelle and his writing partner Neal Brennan first garnered a cult following with the 1998 classic film “Half Baked” before captivating audiences with the sketch comedy masterpiece that was “Chappelle’s Show” and there is no doubt that the two passed the pipe during the writing sessions that developed the likes of “Tyrone Biggums” and “A Moment in the Life of Lil Jon.”

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have amassed a writing and production resume that is impressive by any standards in the industry. The childhood friends have put together a string of hilarious films that has included titles like “Superbad,” “Pineapple Express,” “This Is The End,” “The Interview,” “Sausage Party,” and more, all while battling rumors that their old office on the Sony lot stank so much of marijuana that film exec Amy Pascal had to delay moving into the space while swapping rooms with them … a rumor they claim is totally false by the way.

Green Market Report: Marijuana Money Nov. 2

Curaleaf began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange on October 29 with the symbol CURA. The stock fell almost 20% on the first day of trading but quickly began to rebound. The company had an initial valuation of $4 billion.

The New York Stock Exchange listed Aphria Inc. and then delisted India Globalization Corp. Aphria stock will begin trading on the NYSE on November 2, while IGC shares have been suspended immediately. Diego Pellicer did a 20 to 1 reverse split and received a temporary stock symbol from the OTC Markets of DPWWD until November 30, when it will revert to DPPW.

Arizona is hot this week and not just temperature wise.

MedMen acquired Arizona-based Level Up in a cash and stock deal valued at $33 million. It includes licenses for 2 vertically integrated operations with retail stores in Scottsdale and Tempe. In addition, MedMen gets a 40% stake in K.I.N.D. concentrates and will get to put its locally made MedMen products in the Arizona stores.

Cresco Labs has acquired Arizona Facilities Supply for an undisclosed amount. It includes 2 cultivation facilities, a processing facility, and a dispensary.

Separately Sugarmade acquired the hydroponic supply company Sky Unlimited in a $40 million deal.

Lots of capital raises to go over.

Hydrofarm raised $55 million and said it is planning a 2019 IPO.

Tiger Global and Casa Verde combined to invest $50 million into seed-to-sale software company Metrc.

Wayland Group Raised $50 million, Indus Holding company raised $46 million. and Jane Technologies raised $6 million.

And finally, the Nevada Dispensary Association issued a report on the effect of legal cannabis sales to the economy. Currently, adult use cannabis sales account for 63% of all cannabis sales in the states, while medical sales make up the remaining 37%. Between 2018 and 2024, the state’s adult use cannabis industry is expected to generate an estimated $8 billion of economic activity.

Additionally, the industry is expected to support approximately 67,000 jobs in the same period. Cannabis regulations are also forecasted generate roughly $3.6 billion in direct, indirect, and induced labor income.

Direct spending in the cannabis industry is also projected during this period to have a multiplier effect of 1.63; which means that for every $1 spent on retail cannabis, another $0.63 will be generated throughout the state economy.

This article was originally posted on Green Market Report.

Best Low-Dose Marijuana Edibles

Are you a little distrustful of cannabis edibles? Did you have the “one time I ate a pot cookie and thought I was dying” experience, and now you steer clear of THC-infused treats? Sure, it can be an uncomfortable experience if you consume too much marijuana—but in this brave new age of lab-tested, low-dose marijuana edibles, there are all sorts of safely medicated munchies to try out. When consuming cannabis, always “go low and slow.” Start with 5-10 mg of THC and wait a full two hours to determine its effects on you. Here are the best low-dose edibles available in states with legal recreational and medical cannabis.

1 Lord Jones Natural Fruit Gumdrops And Chocolates

https://www.instagram.com/p/BncP3ctlnxR/

This California company has a most winning design aesthetic—its gumdrops and artisanal chocolates come sumptuously packaged “For Your Royal Highness.” The gumdrops are hand-crafted using five simple ingredients: fruit essences, sugar, gelatin, citric acid and cannabis extract. The Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Caramels are enrobed in Ecuadorian dark chocolate infused with cannabis extract. Reliable, delicious doses are available in 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg (for experienced individuals). Available in locations throughout California.

2 KIVA Terra Bites

Crafted from micro-roasted Tanzanian coffee beans and coated in dark chocolate, KIVA Terra Bites are just 5mg of THC per piece. That’s some convenient low dosing! The re-closable tin makes it easy to enjoy a little now, and then pop it in your pocket for a little later, too. Available in California.

3 The Original Cannabis Coffee

This low-dose drink provides the perfect balance of energy and cannabis medicine. All-natural, cannabis-infused bottled coffee is roasted from high-quality Guatemalan beans. With 110mg of caffeine and 10mg of THC per serving, this cannabis coffee will help you start your day out right! Available in Colorado.

RELATED: 8 Ways to Enjoy Marijuana Without Smoking It

4 Oakor Breath Strips

These THC-infused breath strips were developed in Seattle, and are all-natural, vegan, and gluten-free. Each peppermint-flavored slip is infused with 10 mg of THC. Slips are available in Indica, Sativa, Hybrid, and CBD + THC versions. Freshen your breath and get lifted at the same time! Available in Washington.

5 Mellows

Every box of Mellows contains twelve gourmet marshmallows, each one gently dosed with 5 mg of THC. These artisanal treats are designed to deliver pleasure and relief in each scrumptious bite. Flavors include brown butter sage, birthday cake, cookies + cream, orange dreamsicle, and raspberry rose lychee. Mellows are a real treat that novices can safely enjoy. Available in California.

7 The Crescendo Collection

A lovely six-piece collection of 10 mg THC truffles in three flavors: white chocolate with fresh lemon and a hint of juniper berries, milk chocolate steeped with Earl Grey tea leaves and sweetened with Colorado honey, and luscious caramel spiked with Maldon salt crystals. The set is niftily packaged for a perfectly elevated indulging experience. Available in locations throughout Colorado.

5 Stretches If You’re Not Flexible

0

It’s a common sight to see people leave an expensive boxing or crossfit class early, just because they want to avoid stretching. It’s completely understandable; stretching is a boring and painful activity, even for people who are active and workout several times a week. Here are 5 stretches if you’re not flexible and it will change your body.

Even though stretching is the blandest part about working out, it’s still an important aspect of it that helps you out in the long run, making you more flexible, stronger, and preventing injuries. LifeHacker compiled a list of tips and suggestions from experts and physical therapists that’ll help you stretch without knowing you’re stretching, thus making the most of your time and your sanity.

Stretch while you’re doing something else

https://giphy.com/gifs/we41EsnhQZ1Be

Related: Jogging Or Meditating: What’s The Best Way To Boost Your Brain?

Like when you trick kids into eating veggies by hiding them in their food, the key here is to sneak in stretches as your mind is busy doing other things, such as waiting in line at the grocery store or riding a bus. While these stretches have to be simple, you can still do calf stretches, hamstring stretches, and squeezing your glutes for intervals of time in order to strengthen your core.

Do something entertaining as you stretch

https://giphy.com/gifs/lifetimetv-dance-dancing-3ohzdT2LZbSorXj90A

You can turn on the TV, listen to a podcast or to a new album as you stretch or start to use the foam-roller, making time pass by faster. Yoga teacher Lauren McCabe suggests creating a relaxing playlist for your stretches and timing your exercises according to the songs.

Try yoga

https://giphy.com/gifs/rhony-therapy-the-imperfect-therapist-boyOHGDDQV8ze

Yoga is a great practice for developing your flexibility and toning your body, but it’s also a great way to stretch. Yoga is entertaining and beloved by many people, stretching out limbs and muscles without making you feel like you’re bored. You can find basic yoga workouts in all sorts apps, classes, and websites.

Do it with a group of people

https://giphy.com/gifs/season-14-the-simpsons-14×12-l2JejwuQrikdUQ5nq

There are all sorts of classes that focus on deep stretch workouts, such as Pilates and restorative yoga. These activities are great because they’re lead by an expert who guides you, pushes you to work hard, and corrects you when you’re doing something wrong.

You can also go to the gym with a friend and help each other out while stretching, making the activity a little bit more fun.

Think of the big picture

https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-the-tonight-show-xUOwGlX0dlYV3mQIzS

 

Try to think of stretching as a necessary evil, providing tons of benefits for your body that’ll improve your workouts, tone your muscles, and make you look and feel better. The more you stretch, the easier it becomes, and the further you’ll be able to go on all of your work outs.

This National Seattle-Based Marijuana Company Is All Heart

Have a Heart  is best described as a local mom and pop cannabis shop turned national success story. What started as a single medicinal marijuana shop in Seattle in 2011, grew exponentially into a vast, cooperative network of successful retail shops within a few short years. Have a Heart is quickly becoming one of the cannabis space’s most heartwarming and well-deserved success stories.

Although Have a Heart operates in a recreational environment, it maintains a wellness approach to all of its retail storefronts.

“No matter how large Have a Heart becomes, we will always be hyper-focused on providing our guests with a small company/local feel,” says Have a Heart’s CEO and Founder, Ryan Kunkel.

The decor inside the flagship store located in the tiny Belltown neighborhood was crafted by former Disney Imagineer Mike Dillon of Dillon Works. It stands out in an industry where many retailers, such as Columbia Care, have a sterile atmosphere, similar to other pharmacies (Walgreens, Duane Reade).

While MedMen’s flagship is often compared to the Apple store, Have a Heart correlates to Best Buy. The atmosphere is playful and fun. The space was formerly occupied by the nightclub See Sound Lounge, providing the retail store with a decent amount of space.

Photos courtesy of Have a Heart

The immersive environment is reminiscent of its Canadian counterpart The Friendly Stranger cannabis culture shop in trendy Queen Street West.

The outlet’s extensive product selection is divided easily into departments containing flower, edibles, vapes and cartridges. Knowledgeable staff are always on hand to describe the experience a user will have with any product. The staff are subject to quarterly pop-quizzes to ensure they are up to date with their knowledge of product selection and qualified to make appropriate recommendations to customers, who the company refers to as “guests.”

“Because we are so retail focused, and because we are so passionate about product assortment and availability, our guests have rewarded us with their loyalty. Therefore, we are experiencing exceptional growth in every market we serve,” says Kunkel proudly.

Have a Heart currently operates five locations in Washington, and a medical-only shop in Kauai, Hawaii. They recently opened the first and only recreational/medical shop in Fresno County in the city of Coalinga, California, with two more stores opening soon in Oakland, and three additional locations in San Francisco.

By the end of 2018, Have a Heart plans to expand to 18 operational stores. A whopping 55 shops are projected across the country by the end of 2019, including medical marijuana shops in the Iowa areas of Davenport and Council Bluffs.

The company takes corporate social responsibility seriously. They claim they are on a mission to “Do Good.”  Their social justice mandate is an organizational commitment to invest 2 percent of the net income from each and every store, directly into local community causes and initiatives.

As COO Ed Mitchell points out, “City council members like Have a Heart because we are not sticking all of our stores in the heart of downtown areas. Our stores have a delivery service, so that isn’t necessary. We aren’t luring in teenagers. We are giving back to the communities in which we serve.”

While the cannabis space is evolving daily into a more corporate and sterile environment, it is comforting to know that this aptly named cannabis company still has a heart.

This Week’s Music: Carly Rae Jepsen, Cardi B, Boygenius Release New Songs

This Week’s Music is a weekly column that discusses the weeks’ best, worst, and most interesting songs. We try to select songs of different artists and genres to keep things interesting and to please a variety of music fans.

This week’s music column is all about the ladies, marking the comeback of the amazing Carly Rae Jepsen, Cardi B’s new single, and the first EP from the all-women band “boygenius”. Check them out:

Pop

Carly Rae Jepsen – Party For One

“Party For One” operates from Carly Rae Jepsen’s comfort zone; a pop song that makes you smile and that treats you like an adult. The single follows “Cut To The Feeling,” a bracing and honest anthem that’s catchy and uplifting in equal parts. Jepsen’s songs often deal with simple matters such as one sided love and break ups, never encouraging drama and instead forcing you to face your feelings and maybe get something out of your sadness. Jepsen is the queen of the loveliest type of heartache, and even though “Party For One” breaks no new ground I’m still glad she’s back.

Rap

Cardi B – Money

Cardi B is no stranger to songs that discuss the wonders of making big checks and cash. Just this year she released “Dinero”, a mishmash of styles that features J-Lo and DJ Khaled. It seems like the second time around Cardi got things right, producing a song that’s honest, fun, and unapologetic. Unlike “Dinero”, this song is concerned with making something that’s good instead of creating a product that appeals to all ethnicities and marketable groups. Like the best Cardi B songs “Money” is personal and has her name signed all over it. Where else are you gonna find someone who mentions her baby and the wonders of morning sex in the span of 3 minutes?

Rock

boygenius – Bite The Hand

Boygenius is the brain child of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, three reputable musicians who banded together to create one kick ass EP. “Bite The Hand” is a simple song, one that makes you long for three-piece bands, landing emotion with the use of lovely harmonies and instruments that are easy to locate. The song can at times be angry, sad, and melancholic, with weighty and complex lyrics. The full EP comes out November 9 and it’s one of the most exciting musical ventures of the month.

Meme Of The Week: Henry Cavill In ‘The Witcher’ Looks Hilariously Bad

Henry Cavill is often maligned on film sets. In 2017 he became the most memorable part of Justice League with his awkward lip, which was photoshopped in order to remove a mustache that he had to keep for his role in Mission Impossible. Now, The Witcher is back at it, putting a wig on Cavill that makes him look like a greeter from Party City.

The Witcher is a successful book and video game franchise that tells the story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who’s kind of handsome in a video game sort of way. His cool scars and long mane of white hair are not an easy look to translate on film. But the directors of the film had a trick up their sleeves: a wig.

Netflix, who’ll be adapting the series into a TV show, uploaded a camera test of Cavill sporting Rivia’s look. Fans and Twitter users just made fun of him, drawing comparisons between Cavill and other embarrassing men, such Mark Zuckerberg dressed as an archer, Jon Snow with a wig, a cheap knock off of Legolas, and more. Check out some of our favorite responses:

FDA Got Flooded With Comments After Asking For Public Opinion On Marijuana

Next month, the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence will meet in Geneva to discuss the classification of cannabis and other substances. Ahead of that meeting, the Federal Drug Administration asked for the people’s opinions and comments on the drugs listed and specifically cannabis.

Over 20,000 people responded in the timeframe, which ended Wednesday. Around half of all the comments submitted were hand delivered by NORML, which had a form on their site to easily submit a comment to the FDA. Over 10,000 were also submitted through the federal portal.

The comments were gathered with the intention to inform the U.S.’s stance on scheduling requirements that fan out to international treaties prohibiting member countries from legalizing marijuana themselves. Cannabis is at the moment in the most restrictive category possible under international treaties, akin to its Schedule I status in the U.S..

The scheduling of cannabis has impact on every corner of the U.S. and is also crucial globally. Cannabis has been proven medicinal via science, anecdotal evidence and the ability to witness its properties working on someone going through chemotherapy, an arthritic flare or anxiety attack. Its current scheduling denies its healing properties and puts it in a category reserved for drugs with a high potential for abuse.

Cannabis is a global issue at this point and all signs point to prohibition going by the wayside. Canada recently became the second nation to legalize cannabis across the board and Mexico has been paving the way to legalization as of late. Germany is figuring out its medical marijuana program as the UK welcomes cannabis into their own pharmacopoeia. It’s a green tidal wave and it’s a fair bet that a majority of those 20K+ comments were in favor of furthering the green wash.

It will be beyond interesting to see what comes out of the Geneva meeting of drug dependence experts. If prejudice prevails it won’t matter what the comments read, but there is the hope that people’s pleas to reschedule cannabis, globally even, will reach compassionate minds, open to the possibility that the War on Drugs was the wrong route to public safety.

Don't Miss Your Weekly Dose of The Fresh Toast.

Stay informed with exclusive news briefs delivered directly to your inbox every Friday.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.