Mandy J Watson
@mandyjwatson.bsky.social
Tech-culture journalist. Copy editor. Game dev. Hire me!
World expert in South African comics (#sacomics) published after 2000.
Words: https://brainwavez.org/
Tiny games: https://mandyjwatson.itch.io/
Masked up in Cape Town, South Africa.
World expert in South African comics (#sacomics) published after 2000.
Words: https://brainwavez.org/
Tiny games: https://mandyjwatson.itch.io/
Masked up in Cape Town, South Africa.
Pinned
The Mischievous Thievery Of Jessica The Cat by Mandy J Watson
Jessica the cat has been stealing people's things! A GGJ2021 narrative-puzzle prototype that's now a full game! Play in your browser
mandyjwatson.itch.io
To get the anxiety inducing first post out of the way:
something of mine you can read: https://www.brainwavez.org/screen/film/features/2019/20191128001-01.html
something I made for you to play (dev is ongoing - more to come):
https://mandyjwatson.itch.io/the-mischievous-thievery-of-jessica-the-cat
something of mine you can read: https://www.brainwavez.org/screen/film/features/2019/20191128001-01.html
something I made for you to play (dev is ongoing - more to come):
https://mandyjwatson.itch.io/the-mischievous-thievery-of-jessica-the-cat
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
COVID isn’t acting like the viruses most of us grew up with, and treating it like “just a cold” is putting people at real risk. David Brasure breaks down why SARS-CoV-2 is fundamentally different, how it causes long-term damage, and what we can do to protect ourselves.
December 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
COVID isn’t acting like the viruses most of us grew up with, and treating it like “just a cold” is putting people at real risk. David Brasure breaks down why SARS-CoV-2 is fundamentally different, how it causes long-term damage, and what we can do to protect ourselves.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
December 1, 2019 : the first known case of COVID-19.
More than six years later, SARS-CoV-2 is still circulating. Its long-term effects are not “in the past.” They accumulate, quietly and often invisibly.
More than six years later, SARS-CoV-2 is still circulating. Its long-term effects are not “in the past.” They accumulate, quietly and often invisibly.
December 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
December 1, 2019 : the first known case of COVID-19.
More than six years later, SARS-CoV-2 is still circulating. Its long-term effects are not “in the past.” They accumulate, quietly and often invisibly.
More than six years later, SARS-CoV-2 is still circulating. Its long-term effects are not “in the past.” They accumulate, quietly and often invisibly.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Please marvel at my opening graphic collage art!
(Ons Klyntji illustration by Octavia Roodt; Comic Jam illustration by Warren Raysdorf; Bitterkomix illustration by Anton Kannemeyer)
(Ons Klyntji illustration by Octavia Roodt; Comic Jam illustration by Warren Raysdorf; Bitterkomix illustration by Anton Kannemeyer)
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In December 2025
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
December 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Please marvel at my opening graphic collage art!
(Ons Klyntji illustration by Octavia Roodt; Comic Jam illustration by Warren Raysdorf; Bitterkomix illustration by Anton Kannemeyer)
(Ons Klyntji illustration by Octavia Roodt; Comic Jam illustration by Warren Raysdorf; Bitterkomix illustration by Anton Kannemeyer)
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
An elephant near the Harpoor Dam in the Addo Elepahant National Park.
December 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM
An elephant near the Harpoor Dam in the Addo Elepahant National Park.
Please marvel at my opening graphic collage art!
(Ons Klyntji illustration by Octavia Roodt; Comic Jam illustration by Warren Raysdorf; Bitterkomix illustration by Anton Kannemeyer)
(Ons Klyntji illustration by Octavia Roodt; Comic Jam illustration by Warren Raysdorf; Bitterkomix illustration by Anton Kannemeyer)
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In December 2025
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
December 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Please marvel at my opening graphic collage art!
(Ons Klyntji illustration by Octavia Roodt; Comic Jam illustration by Warren Raysdorf; Bitterkomix illustration by Anton Kannemeyer)
(Ons Klyntji illustration by Octavia Roodt; Comic Jam illustration by Warren Raysdorf; Bitterkomix illustration by Anton Kannemeyer)
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
The first #SAComics event for December is happening right now at The Book Lounge in Cape Town until this evening: the store, which supports local comics, zines, and self-publishers, is celebrating its 18th birthday with an 18% discount on everything (so: buy comics!).
Also: free party tonight!
Also: free party tonight!
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In December 2025
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
December 1, 2025 at 1:49 PM
The first #SAComics event for December is happening right now at The Book Lounge in Cape Town until this evening: the store, which supports local comics, zines, and self-publishers, is celebrating its 18th birthday with an 18% discount on everything (so: buy comics!).
Also: free party tonight!
Also: free party tonight!
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In December 2025
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
December 1, 2025 at 1:46 PM
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In December 2025
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
#SAComics
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
breaking up big tech, enforcing regulation, and building alternative open-source infrastructure has never been more urgent
Normal and great
> Microsoft triggered a viral furor when it revealed a Teams update to tell your company when you’re not at work. Now Google has done the same. Forget end-to-end encryption. A new Android update means your RCS and SMS texts are no longer private.
www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...
> Microsoft triggered a viral furor when it revealed a Teams update to tell your company when you’re not at work. Now Google has done the same. Forget end-to-end encryption. A new Android update means your RCS and SMS texts are no longer private.
www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...
Google Starts Sharing All Your Text Messages With Your Employer
Warning — what happens on your Android phone, doesn’t stay on your Android phone.
www.forbes.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
breaking up big tech, enforcing regulation, and building alternative open-source infrastructure has never been more urgent
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Our 3-yr-old pulled a Halt and Catch Fire press kit out of a shelf and it opened up—
—realized I’d stashed this card inside from our writers room board.
Characters were color-coded thru 4 seasons: Donna = purple, Gordon = green, Joe = blue, Cam = red, Boz = brown.
This beat ended up in S3 Ep5.
—realized I’d stashed this card inside from our writers room board.
Characters were color-coded thru 4 seasons: Donna = purple, Gordon = green, Joe = blue, Cam = red, Boz = brown.
This beat ended up in S3 Ep5.
November 30, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Our 3-yr-old pulled a Halt and Catch Fire press kit out of a shelf and it opened up—
—realized I’d stashed this card inside from our writers room board.
Characters were color-coded thru 4 seasons: Donna = purple, Gordon = green, Joe = blue, Cam = red, Boz = brown.
This beat ended up in S3 Ep5.
—realized I’d stashed this card inside from our writers room board.
Characters were color-coded thru 4 seasons: Donna = purple, Gordon = green, Joe = blue, Cam = red, Boz = brown.
This beat ended up in S3 Ep5.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Winona Ryder is older than Rue McClanahan was when Golden Girls first aired
November 30, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Winona Ryder is older than Rue McClanahan was when Golden Girls first aired
In South Africa we pronounce our "Buiten"s as "BEY-tin" because of Afrikaans.
We've received some questions about how to pronounce "bow" in #Buitenhof "BOW-tun-hoff"
There is no "ui" in English. "Bow" can be pronounced in two ways: youtu.be/rR_7l7czhho?...
It's the closest it can get. The woman from Google comes closest, listen here:
There is no "ui" in English. "Bow" can be pronounced in two ways: youtu.be/rR_7l7czhho?...
It's the closest it can get. The woman from Google comes closest, listen here:
November 30, 2025 at 11:35 AM
In South Africa we pronounce our "Buiten"s as "BEY-tin" because of Afrikaans.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
🔭 The Surface of Titan from Huygens
Image Credit: ESA, NASA, JPL, U. Arizona, Huygens Lander
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25113...
Image Credit: ESA, NASA, JPL, U. Arizona, Huygens Lander
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25113...
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🔭 The Surface of Titan from Huygens
Image Credit: ESA, NASA, JPL, U. Arizona, Huygens Lander
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25113...
Image Credit: ESA, NASA, JPL, U. Arizona, Huygens Lander
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25113...
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
You know how billionaires end up with severe cognitive deficits as a result of becoming surrounded by yes men who constantly tell them their every idea is genius? What if we made a bot that just does that to everyone. I think that would be a good idea.
October 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM
You know how billionaires end up with severe cognitive deficits as a result of becoming surrounded by yes men who constantly tell them their every idea is genius? What if we made a bot that just does that to everyone. I think that would be a good idea.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
And I don't know if the answer is: everyone is too traumatized to do work and we need to reinvent society. Or if it's more like: generations are losing their cognitive abilities and willpower due to destructive technologies. Or: we all have post-viral brain damage. Or: all of the above.
November 28, 2025 at 11:34 PM
And I don't know if the answer is: everyone is too traumatized to do work and we need to reinvent society. Or if it's more like: generations are losing their cognitive abilities and willpower due to destructive technologies. Or: we all have post-viral brain damage. Or: all of the above.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
This is not a "students today" post--it's more "this is a new form of dysfunction" that doesn't look exactly like it's been in previous decades. It's more than just "first-year chaos." It's an across-the-board inability to process instructions, engage with longer texts, and *connect* with others.
November 28, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This is not a "students today" post--it's more "this is a new form of dysfunction" that doesn't look exactly like it's been in previous decades. It's more than just "first-year chaos." It's an across-the-board inability to process instructions, engage with longer texts, and *connect* with others.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Nov 28th 1996 - Special Forces kidnapped scientists in South Africa. They were double crossed on extraction and Special Agent Jackie Chan (yes that's his name in the film), fell from a helicopter, losing his memory.
📽️📅 Who Am I? (1998)
📽️📅 Who Am I? (1998)
November 28, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Nov 28th 1996 - Special Forces kidnapped scientists in South Africa. They were double crossed on extraction and Special Agent Jackie Chan (yes that's his name in the film), fell from a helicopter, losing his memory.
📽️📅 Who Am I? (1998)
📽️📅 Who Am I? (1998)
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
I'm delighted to see that the #Creatives4Sudan has now raised over 7 grand! We're raising money for people escaping genocide in El-Fasher, Sudan, and every bid helps the Emergency Response Rooms there do their work. Bid here on mentoring from comics supremo! @nickabadzis.bsky.social bit.ly/4pxHBK7
November 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
I'm delighted to see that the #Creatives4Sudan has now raised over 7 grand! We're raising money for people escaping genocide in El-Fasher, Sudan, and every bid helps the Emergency Response Rooms there do their work. Bid here on mentoring from comics supremo! @nickabadzis.bsky.social bit.ly/4pxHBK7
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
BLACK FRIDAY #ZINE DEAL?
THE SHOP IS BACK OPEN!
But listen, my zines are already hella cheap, sooooo, let's say if you buy any zines or zine bundle I'll throw in at least one extra mystery zine for free!
Etsy.me/3Ya6bXa
THE SHOP IS BACK OPEN!
But listen, my zines are already hella cheap, sooooo, let's say if you buy any zines or zine bundle I'll throw in at least one extra mystery zine for free!
Etsy.me/3Ya6bXa
a man wearing a hat and a black shirt is standing on a city street .
Alt: mike myers dressed as wayne campbell from wayne's world wearing a hat and a black shirt is standing on a city street with the words SOUNDS GOOD underneath.
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:41 PM
BLACK FRIDAY #ZINE DEAL?
THE SHOP IS BACK OPEN!
But listen, my zines are already hella cheap, sooooo, let's say if you buy any zines or zine bundle I'll throw in at least one extra mystery zine for free!
Etsy.me/3Ya6bXa
THE SHOP IS BACK OPEN!
But listen, my zines are already hella cheap, sooooo, let's say if you buy any zines or zine bundle I'll throw in at least one extra mystery zine for free!
Etsy.me/3Ya6bXa
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
It's creator day on itch! If you would like to give me money for games fonts or music there has never been a better time as 100% goes to me today :)
itch.io/s/167828/bla...
itch.io/s/167828/bla...
November 28, 2025 at 12:52 PM
It's creator day on itch! If you would like to give me money for games fonts or music there has never been a better time as 100% goes to me today :)
itch.io/s/167828/bla...
itch.io/s/167828/bla...
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
November 28, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Mud Ghost Estate is a spooky tumbling block tower-based TTRPG inspired by the urban legends and folklore of Hong Kong. 👻
The Redux edition is now crowdfunding on Kickstarter!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/wha...
The Redux edition is now crowdfunding on Kickstarter!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/wha...
November 28, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Mud Ghost Estate is a spooky tumbling block tower-based TTRPG inspired by the urban legends and folklore of Hong Kong. 👻
The Redux edition is now crowdfunding on Kickstarter!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/wha...
The Redux edition is now crowdfunding on Kickstarter!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/wha...
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
i know WHY this is but that just makes it even more of a kick in the pants lmao
November 28, 2025 at 3:28 AM
i know WHY this is but that just makes it even more of a kick in the pants lmao
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
#SaveSpeech
with Black Friday being this Friday the 28th, this is the time to maximize the impact we can have via call campaigns
If you plan to participate in this call campaign, imo you should heavily prioritize calling Visa/MC as heavily as possible between the 27th and the 1st of dec
with Black Friday being this Friday the 28th, this is the time to maximize the impact we can have via call campaigns
If you plan to participate in this call campaign, imo you should heavily prioritize calling Visa/MC as heavily as possible between the 27th and the 1st of dec
Spoke to my source familiar with internal workings at Mastercard. The holiday call campaign re payment processor censorship is working, there is a lot of pressure being felt from your calls. This is resulting in increased response times at a core moment for Mastercard due to the holiday season
November 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
#SaveSpeech
with Black Friday being this Friday the 28th, this is the time to maximize the impact we can have via call campaigns
If you plan to participate in this call campaign, imo you should heavily prioritize calling Visa/MC as heavily as possible between the 27th and the 1st of dec
with Black Friday being this Friday the 28th, this is the time to maximize the impact we can have via call campaigns
If you plan to participate in this call campaign, imo you should heavily prioritize calling Visa/MC as heavily as possible between the 27th and the 1st of dec
I've updated the post - www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20... - with info about who will be participating in the Mini Geek Market at Readers Den Comic Shop Wynberg in Cape Town.
Readers Den has also personally confirmed to me that the event will be taking place (the weather forecast has been wild!)
Readers Den has also personally confirmed to me that the event will be taking place (the weather forecast has been wild!)
SATURDAY: Local Comic Shop Day at both Readers Den stores in Cape Town, with massive giveaways for shoppers and a free comic for browsers, plus Mini Geek Market at the Wynberg store. (Post updated with info.)
Ending soon: Sales at Cosmic Comics in Johannesburg and Smallville Comics in Johannesburg.
Ending soon: Sales at Cosmic Comics in Johannesburg and Smallville Comics in Johannesburg.
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In November 2025
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
November 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I've updated the post - www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20... - with info about who will be participating in the Mini Geek Market at Readers Den Comic Shop Wynberg in Cape Town.
Readers Den has also personally confirmed to me that the event will be taking place (the weather forecast has been wild!)
Readers Den has also personally confirmed to me that the event will be taking place (the weather forecast has been wild!)