May Staff Picks

Inanna Carter

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Okay, I’m a little late to the party. I bought Mass Effect Legendary Edition sometime last year during a huge sale. It was practically free, and there were romance options. What more could a girl want? I started playing it a few weeks ago, and I regret not starting it sooner. Mass Effect explores a massive world in space, with an attention-grabbing main storyline and plenty of side quests to keep you on your toes. You play as Commander Shepard making decisions that will affect you, your squad, and maybe even the world. I’ve never been into science fiction, but I have to say this game is one of a kind.

While I’m only on the first of the trilogy, I’ve played enough to know this is a game I won’t be putting down any time soon. It’s been a while since I’ve started a game that made me think, “Wow, I have to see this to the end.” If you’re like me and you haven’t played this masterpiece yet, I highly recommend it.

And no, I’m not just saying that ‘cause I can date the pretty Turian.

Dominic Loise

DEADWEIGHTS

Tyrone Finch currently has a comic miniseries out from Ahoy Comics called DEADWEIGHTS, and the spirit he brings to friendship is the DNA of this book. DEADWEIGHTS is about two former supervillains finding their way after one is kicked off the team and the other decides to stand by their friend’s side. Finch writes about sticking by someone through hard times from a place of truth. This comic is not the manufactured bromance we usually see in comic book, but a friendship of heart backed up in the blood, sweat, and fears of the characters actions and the repercussions of those actions. 

These actions are smashingly portrayed by artist Sebastian Piriz. The artwork of Piriz also captures the tight, pulled-in moments as the characters wrestle internally and celebrate their support of one another. He is an artist I admire and recently have found myself checking out any project he is working on. 

The DEADWEIGHTS miniseries is coming out monthly from Ahoy Comics.

Kaitlin Lounsberry

The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Before anyone get’s mad at me, I have been a major Chappell Roan fan since she released “Pink Pony Club” as a single in 2020. So, when her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, was initially released in September 2023, it was no surprise that I had it on repeat for weeks and weeks and weeks. I thought I’d eventually move onto another pop princess as new music was released and return to this album from time to time. But, as we move into warmer months and everything gets a fresh breath of life, the more Roan’s debut album cements itself as a constant in my musical rotation. I don’t just come back to The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, I’m comparing everything I hear to the album. And nothing satiates me in the same way.

Roan’s album features songs you can’t get out of your head, songs that compel you to grab a friend and sway with tears in your eyes under a disco ball, songs that you want to sing in a crowd of people covered in glitter, and much more. Quite plainly, there’s life injected into this album and Roan herself. It’s a feel I wish I could bottle and carry with me everywhere I go. Whatever magic is in this album, it’s something rare and incredibly authentic in today’s age of music and consumption. I’m eager to see how Roan’s career grows from this debut, which already feels larger than life. That’s all to say, if you’re on the hunt for an album of the summer…look no further!