Tag: wil wheaton

Command Centre Update

The Journey Evolves

Mell D'Clute
SuperMell sits at her glowing Command Centre desk, writing on a digital journal as soft holographic echoes of past adventures fade behind her. Diana, her black cat, sits nearby with golden eyes, nodding approvingly as if acknowledging this new chapter in the journey.

SuperMell’s Log: Time for a Change

I’m going to be changing the direction of this blog. Instead of writing every day, I’ll be writing when inspiration strikes. Lately, I’ve started to feel like this blog is more ChatGPT’s than mine. While it’s been an incredible creative partner — and some posts turned out beautifully — the process has begun to feel repetitive. I want this space to reflect my journey, not just a rhythm. It’s time to recalibrate.

What Changes?!!

Instead of weekly and daily themes, my posts will have categories. These categories are, in no particular order:

I think it’s necessary to change things so they make more sense, rather than writing posts for the sake of making sure there are posts. I want this site to be a labour of love from me to anyone who actually reads this site, rather than an AI-generated blog post.

My Personal AI Assistant

I’ve loved using ChatGPT to help shape this blog. The changes ahead are about direction, not disconnection. I’ll still use it to refine SEO, readability, and my usual visuals — including those SuperMell and Diana images that have become part of this blog’s identity. And when I hit a creative wall, I might still ask it for a spark — just as any writer bounces ideas off a trusted collaborator.

Changes?!! We Don’t Need No Stinking Changes!

Kidding, of course. There are personal reasons why I am making these changes. For that, I wish to tell you about what inspired me to do blogging in the first place: Wil Wheaton and his blog.

I was always a fan of his as an actor, but more so when I discovered his blog on the early days of the internet. It has served as the inspiration behind my own personal blog. I loved how open he was about his story and his troubles with mental health. It was extremely helpful to a shy and insecure person like myself, who had a huge history of being bullied as a kid, that someone as famous as him shared some of the same struggles I did. In a way, it made me feel less alone in this world.

These changes aren’t about walking away — they’re about coming home to my own voice. I’ve at time struggled with my own issues. I used blogging early on to try to sort out my emotions and thoughts and my healing journey. While some of those posts really resonated with some people, I found them to be a little too negative. So it was easy for me to come up with the concept of this blog, with the help of ChatGPT to help keep the narrative positive and superhero-inspired. It has just gotten to the point that it no longer feels like it’s my blog anymore, so I needed to change things up a bit.

Will Anything Be the Same?

Absolutely! I love the SuperMell persona — she’s become a symbol of strength and creativity for me. Someday I will learn how to sew and make my own costume so I can wear it proudly at Fan Expos and Comicons, and of course Halloween. And of course my sidekick, Diana the cat, will continue to have a prominent role here on these pages. I do love the geek culture posts and love the general message of this blog.

The whole purpose of my website was to try to make a web presence for myself in the hopes it helps market me to potential job hunters looking for an experienced and quirky graphic designer. But since the blog started, it has evolved more so into a whole other personal journey.

I have found some of the posts that were written by AI were quite great and it has indeed helped me to deal with some very important issues. It helped me get out of working for a toxic company owned by people who shouldn’t be running a business. It has helped me deal with some personal issues and I often turn to it for advice. So it’s not like I will be completely giving up my ChatGPT.

Diana’s Insight

As much as Diana loves consistency, she also loves authenticity. Sometimes I would look at her as I was copying and pasting the stories, and she’d be giving me this look like she was saying, “What are you actually doing?” She reminded me to find my own voice again. She’s purr-fection!

Final Thought

I hope you all will enjoy the changes moving forward. I don’t know how often I will be posting, but it definitely won’t be a daily thing anymore. It’s proving to be taking up too much of my time as it is, so the posts will be two or three a week, or whenever I feel inspired to write something. If you don’t miss a post, remember to subscribe to my blog. I will continue to share these posts on social media when I do post.

Thank you for following along on this journey — and for giving me a reason to keep growing, creating, and sharing. I don’t know how often I’ll post, but when I do, I promise it’ll be authentic and from the heart.

Live long and prosper. 🖖

FunDay Friday

Fandom Made Me a Creator: A Geek’s Origin Tale

Mell D'Clute
Comic-style illustration of SuperMell, dressed in a Nightwing-inspired black suit with a purple “M” emblem and purple glasses, sitting cross-legged on a bedroom floor surrounded by comic books. She gazes upward thoughtfully at five glowing thought bubbles showing childhood inspirations: Robin, a chalkboard drawing of Hordak, Teen Titans and Flash comic covers, the TNG crew, and Wil Wheaton writing at a desk. Her black cat, Diana—with golden eyes and a small white chest patch—playfully reaches toward one of the bubbles. The cozy room features nostalgic toys and a glowing lava lamp.

A Cape, a Chalkboard, and a Crush

Since before I knew what creativity really meant, I was already swimming in it.

I fell in love with superheroes before I could even pronounce the word. My very first crush? Robin, the Boy Wonder. Specifically the version from reruns of the 1960s Batman show (Burt Ward) and the Super Friends cartoon. As a kid, I honestly thought they were the same person—live action and animation? No difference! Robin’s enthusiastic “Holy [whatever], Batman!” didn’t sound like a catchphrase to me—it sounded like swearing. Serious rebel energy. I was smitten.

But my creative awakening didn’t come from comic books alone.

It came one day when I picked up a piece of chalk.

Drawing Hordak and the Power of Imagination

When I was about eight, I drew Hordak—the villain from She-Ra—on a small chalkboard. And in that moment, something clicked. To this day I have no idea if it actually looked like Hordak, but in my memory, it was perfect. That tiny moment became huge. I remember thinking: I want to do this forever. I want to create. That was the beginning of my artistic origin story.

A Comic Book Catalyst

When I was 13, I had my first seizure. I was diagnosed with epilepsy and spent some time in the hospital—scared, confused, and unsure of what the future would hold. While there, I was given two comic books that would change my life: Secret Origins Annual #3 (1989) featuring the Teen Titans—specifically Robin’s journey as Dick Grayson—and The Flash Annual #3 (1989), which centred on Wally West’s evolving legacy as The Flash.

Up until then, I’d enjoyed superheroes casually. But something about those comics struck a chord. These weren’t just colourful costumes and flashy fights—they were origin stories, full of character growth, resilience, and transformation. These characters were evolving through struggle, much like I was starting to.

From that moment on, I became a collector. I started frequenting comic stores, saving up for issues, and trying my best to draw the heroes I admired. My creative spark—something I’d felt flickering before—suddenly roared to life. And that moment in the hospital became the true beginning of my journey as a creator.

From Star Wars to Star Trek: My Sci-Fi Evolution

I was always a huge Star Wars fan. But Star Trek: The Original Series? Not so much. As a kid, I found it boring and hard to get into. I actively disliked it, actually. But everything changed when I gave Star Trek: The Next Generation a chance. I started watching in Season 3 because Wil Wheaton was in it—and I had a bit of a crush on him thanks to Stand By Me. What started as fangirling turned into something deeper: I was hooked.

The characters, their camaraderie, their ethics, and that beautiful feeling of family in space—that’s when I truly became a Trekker. Since then, I’ve loved every series that followed. (Yes, even Enterprise. Yes, even Discovery. And I will defend Lower Decks to the end.)

The Influence of Wil Wheaton (And Why I Blog)

Years later, I discovered Wil Wheaton’s blog, and it hit me like a warp core breach. He was honest, vulnerable, thoughtful, and unflinchingly human. Reading his words made me feel less alone in the universe. It inspired me to blog, too—not for attention, but for connection.

I’ve had blogs before—many were heavy, full of venting and pain—but they helped me process. Most are probably long gone now. Still, I carry that spirit with me here. What you’re reading now is part of that same journey. Because for me, being creative and being honest go hand in hand.

Enter: SuperMell

Everything I create now—the blog, the branding, the adventures of SuperMell—comes from this core truth:

I am a creator because I am a fan.

Superheroes made me feel powerful at times when I felt anything but. Sci-fi taught me to think beyond the possible. Fantasy helped me believe in magic when reality felt bleak. Conventions let me be around people who love what I love. And being a creator means carrying that joy forward.

SuperMell is my tribute to it all—a superhero persona that’s really just me, channeling the strength, silliness, and spirit of all the stories that shaped me. She’s not perfect. But she keeps showing up.

Diana’s Corner: Vigilance (and Naps)

Diana’s not into Star Trek or Star Wars. She doesn’t even care about superheroes (unless there’s string involved). But she is my sidekick in real life. She guards my creative energy by curling up near me when I write, leaping onto my chest when I need to rest, and keeping me grounded with her quiet strength.

Also, if there’s a Fandom CatCon, she should be the guest of honour.

Final Thought: Never Underestimate the Power of Fandom

Fandom isn’t frivolous. It’s not “just for kids” or something we grow out of. For many of us, it’s a lifeline. A spark. Sanctuary. And sometimes, it’s the thing that gets us drawing, writing, coding, designing, costuming, podcasting, or storytelling.

Fandom made me a creator. And I’m still creating, still learning, still loving every minute of it.

🦸‍♀️💫

How has your fandom shaped your creativity? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Uncategorized

What Keeps Me Going: Heroes, Strength, and Showing Up Anyway

Mell D'Clute

When I think about the kind of professional I strive to be—resilient, thoughtful, creatively grounded—it’s hard not to think about the people and characters who helped shape that vision.

Like many of us, I grew up inspired by stories and the people who told them. But not all heroes wear capes—some wear armor, some lead rebellions, and some just keep showing up, writing openly about their lives, hoping to make someone else feel less alone.

Here are a few of mine:

💭 Wil Wheaton: For Honesty and Humanity

I’ve followed Wil Wheaton’s blog for years—not just as a fan of his acting, but as someone who deeply respects how open he’s been about his own struggles with mental health.

His writing has been a reminder that vulnerability can coexist with strength, and that sharing your story is sometimes the most courageous thing you can do. He helped me understand that it’s okay to be open about your experiences—even in professional spaces. Especially in professional spaces.

In fact, it’s part of why I started writing this blog. Because navigating a creative career with neurodivergence, anxiety, or any kind of internal battle deserves to be part of the conversation. It doesn’t disqualify us—it informs us.

🛡️ Princess Leia and Wonder Woman: For Leadership and Strength

When I was a kid, I didn’t have many real-life role models who looked like me or felt like me. But I had two characters who showed me something powerful.

Princess Leia wasn’t just a “damsel”—she took charge of her own rescue. She was smart, strategic, and decisive. She didn’t wait to be saved; she led.

And Wonder Woman! She was strength and compassion rolled into one. She didn’t just fight—she believed in something. That stuck with me.

Those two figures told little-kid-me: You can be strong. You can take up space. You can lead.

That message never really left me.

✨ And Then—There’s Me

I wasn’t always someone who believed I could lead anything.

Like a lot of creative kids, I was bullied. I was called ugly. I was too quiet. Too weird. Too sensitive. I spent years hearing I wasn’t good enough—and somehow still pushed forward.

I’ve built a career from scratch, changed directions more than once, and kept learning even when the path wasn’t clear. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve started over. I’m still here. Still trying.

That, to me, is a kind of heroism too. I can be the hero of my own story… That is very empowering to me.

🚀 Why This Matters in a Career

This blog isn’t about idolizing celebrities or fictional characters—it’s about understanding where your own perseverance comes from.

It’s about taking the values they represented—honesty, leadership, strength—and applying them to your own messy, evolving path.

We don’t talk enough about the emotional side of career growth: about what keeps us going when motivation is low, rejection is high, or self-doubt creeps in. For me, my heroes—real, imagined, and internal—remind me that resilience is a muscle, and showing up is its daily workout.

So I keep showing up. I keep learning. I keep building.

And if you’re reading this? I hope you do too.

✍️ Call to Action:

Have you thought about who your own professional heroes are? What do they remind you of when you need it most?

I’d love to hear about them—leave a comment or connect with me.

—

Mell