Ryan Thomas LaBee

About Ryan Thomas LaBee

Ryan Thomas LaBee is an entertainment and culture writer for Military.com, where he covers film, television, gaming, streaming, and pop culture through the lens of military life and veteran experience. His work helps bridge the gap between service and storytelling, spotlighting how military themes, values, and representation show up across today’s media landscape.

A U.S. Air Force veteran with a decade of service, Ryan brings a unique perspective to his writing, combining firsthand military experience with years of professional work in arts journalism and creative media.

Ryan’s writing has appeared in major outlets such as CinemaBlend, Fast Flesh Literary Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, and Night Picnic Journal, as well as across creative publications he’s founded and edited, including Pyre Magazine.

Beyond journalism, Ryan is a photographer, filmmaker, and fiction writer with a focus on Southern Gothic and horror storytelling. He lives in southwest Missouri with his family and a lively mix of pets.

Expertise

Entertainment and streaming coverage for audiences (2023–present)
U.S. Air Force veteran with 10 years of service (2007–2017)
Arts, culture, and genre journalism (2019–present)
Creative writing and horror fiction (2015–present)

Professional Roles

Writer and contributor, Military.com
Freelance features writer, CinemaBlend
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Pyre Magazine
Contributor, Fast Flesh Literary Magazine, Night Picnic Journal, and Flash Fiction Magazine

Education

MFA in Creative Writing, Lasell University (in progress; expected 2026)
BA in English & Creative Writing, Missouri State University

Achievements

Published author of the horror novella Killing My Flesh Without You and The Halloween Party: and Other Tales of All Hallows’ Eve Terror
Developed and led community-based creative writing workshops focused on horror and genre fiction

Publications

Featured in CinemaBlend
Featured in Fast Flesh Literary Magazine
Featured in Five on the Fifth
Featured in Micro Fiction Monday Magazine
Founder and editor of Pyre Magazine

Connect with Ryan

Email: ryan.l@military.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-labee/

Latest Articles

A person dangles from a helicopter hoist above rubble and fire

Coast Guard Aircrews Grade Hollywood’s Biggest Helicopter Missions

Hollywood loves helicopter rescues that look heroic. Real Coast Guard aviation runs on checklists, limits, and hard calls. We...

A young Elle Woods sits at a classroom desk in a pink outfit in the Legally Blonde prequel series Elle. Photo credit: Prime Video

Studios Are Betting Big on Familiar TV Brands in 2026: Here’s What’s Coming

TV’s 2026 slate is stacked with familiar names. From Scrubs and Malcolm in the Middle to Game of Thrones and Yellowstone...

A Barnes & Noble bookstore sign on the exterior of a retail building. Photo Credit: Screenshot from PBS Hour.

The Bookstore Boom Is Real: Why Physical Media Is Making a Comeback in 2026

Barnes & Noble is expanding again as physical media makes a comeback: indie bookstores are booming, vinyl leads U.S. music...

A Big Daddy stands in flooded corridors of Rapture while a Little Sister peers over his shoulder. Photo credit: Irrational Games / 2K Games

BioShock 4 Is Finally Coming: What’s Confirmed, What’s Leaked, and What’s Gone Wrong

BioShock is coming back after a 13-year gap, but BioShock 4’s return hasn’t been smooth. Here’s what’s actually been...

Keanu Reeves as John Wick surrounded by gunmen in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

The Best Movies Hitting Streaming in January 2026

January used to be streaming’s quiet month. January 2026 isn’t playing that game. Instead of a post-holiday slowdown, Netflix...

John Krasinski as CIA analyst Jack Ryan stands against a backdrop of a city and military helicopter in Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video’s Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. Photo Credit: Amazon Studios

‘Jack Ryan’ Venezuela Clip Goes Viral After US Captures Nicolás Maduro

In the aftermath of the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a familiar figure from streaming TV...

A soldier holding a rifle as jets fly overhead in Battlefield 6 promotional imagery. (Image: EA / Battlefield Studios)

Battlefield 6 Players Are Furious Over ‘Wacky Skins’ and AI Art Claims

Battlefield 6 cosmetic backlash grows as players cite “wacky skins,” AI art concerns, and quiet changes, fearing a shift...

Chevy Chase sits for an on-camera interview in CNN’s documentary I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not. Courtesy of CNN. Fair use.

CNN’s Chevy Chase Documentary: Everything to Know

Once one of the most powerful stars in American comedy, Chevy Chase helped define an era of television and film. Now, a new...

A group of friends playing a board game together at a table with drinks.

The Best Tabletop Games to Play in 2026, According to A Veteran Who Uses Game Night to Decompress

A veteran’s shortlist of tabletop games for real decompression: structured play that quiets the mind, rebuilds connection...

Wanda Maximoff and Vision smiling together in a black-and-white sitcom-style scene from WandaVision. Source: Disney+ / Marvel Studios.

8 Shows That Slowly Change Genre Without You Noticing

These TV shows start as comedies or crime dramas, then quietly turn darker—rewriting their genre before you realize what you...

Buzz Lightyear carrying Woody as they fly through the air in Pixar’s Toy Story (1995).

The Biggest 1995 Pop Culture Moments That Turned 30 in 2025, From Toy Story to Homer

From Toy Story to The Simpsons’ Homer, 1995 redefined pop culture through animation, tech, and imagination. Thirty years...

Donald Trump and Melania Trump walk the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The Comedian Behind the “Trump Kennedy Center” Domain Names Has Run Political Parody Sites for Years

Before President Donald Trump’s name went up at the Kennedy Center, a former South Park writer had already bought the...

Actor Ryan Gosling strapped into a spacecraft cockpit in a scene from Project Hail Mary (2026).

Every Book-to-Screen Adaptation Coming in 2026 Military and Veterans Should Be Excited About

Breaking down the most anticipated 2026 book-to-screen adaptations, from Crime 101, Project Hail Mary, The Dog Stars, The...

talian-born Rose, immigrant, showgirl, and Ziegfeld Follies

A Rose for the Doughboys: Melissa Errico Brings World War I to New York

World War I rarely gets center stage, but for one night in January, it takes over New York. In The Story of a Rose, Tony...

Three World War I officers in winter uniforms walk through a snowy landscape while groups of soldiers gather in the background.

The 1914 Christmas Truce on Screen: Every Movie and TV Project That Recreates the WWI Ceasefire

The 1914 Christmas Truce wasn’t universal, and it didn’t last, but it’s become one of war’s most retold on-screen moments...

Military News

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At 50, He Survived Marine Boot Camp — Then Fought at Peleliu and Okinawa

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