MEDIA DIET
By:
May 19, 2026
A weekly series exploring the media “input” of a group of people — HILOBROW’s friends and contributors — whose “output” we admire.
Gary has been a valued HILOBROW contributor since 2011. His first post was on the topic of THE THING THAT SCREAMS. His most recent contributions to this publication include: STACK OF COMICS | THE ANGRY RED PLANET | the series BUNNY CITY.
Sulphur Springs…
HILOBROW: How do you use social media, these days?
GARY PANTER: As a typical geezer I spend too much time on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. I don’t use any others.
HILOBROW: What’s the best TV series you’ve seen recently?
GARY PANTER: I don’t own a TV. I don’t watch shows or series. YouTube suffices for short bursts of info.
HILOBROW: What’s the best movie you’ve seen recently?
GARY PANTER: The movie Godzilla Minus One was excellent.
HILOBROW: What forms of media do you “take in” the most regularly/frequently, during a typical day or week?
GARY PANTER: Electric books are not for me nor music file downloads. I buy paper books and vinyl LP from eBay but no auctions. EBay is the only place I order goods from.
I read reprints of old comics from the early 20th Century. For instance Segar’s Popeye, Little Lulu, Krazy Kat, and I recommend the Fletcher Hanks collection from Fantagraphics.
HILOBROW: What work of nonfiction (old or new) would you recommend to someone trying to make sense of today’s world?
GARY PANTER: Almost done with Greg Grandin’s America America. I read quite a few US history books. Recently I read The Devil’s Triangle by Smallwood, Howell and Taylor about post civil War ‘lost cause’ outlaws in North East Texas — out of control lunacy that survives today in MAGA.
I make art, play guitar, read books, and have extremely vivid dreams beyond my understanding and intelligence.
MEDIA DIET series: MATTHEW BATTLES | ADRIENNE CREW | HOLLY INTERLANDI | CAROLYN KELLOGG | MARK KINGWELL | ADAM McGOVERN | CHARLIE MITCHELL | TOM NEALON | ANNIE NOCENTI | GARY PANTER | LYNN PERIL | JONATHAN PINCHERA | HEATHER QUINLAN | NICHOLAS ROMBES | CARLO ROTELLA | LUCY SANTE | SETH | MIKE WATT | JUDITH ZISSMAN | & more to come! Visit the SERIES INDEX.