It’s been a month since my last post here (my life is clearly too busy) but in that time I finished two more books (numbers 39 and 40 for the year) that I want to comment on briefly. The first is another graphic novel: volume one of Bloodshot from Valiant comics. Written by Duane Swierczynski… Continue reading 2 very different books
I wanted to share brief notes on two books I’ve finished recently (numbers 37 and 38 for those of you still counting). Though there are many differences between the two both paint a somewhat bleak and dystopian vision of the world we live in – and both are well worth reading if you get the… Continue reading The End of The World – two books
My 36th book for the year is one I couldn’t find images to tweet about and even had trouble grabbing a featured image for to top this blog post. That’s because the book – volume one of Sex Criminals written by Matt Fraction with art by Chip Zdarsky – is a ridiculously funny, raunchy, frequently… Continue reading Sex Criminals volume 1: One Weird Trick
In volume 3 of Kieron Gillen’s The Wicked + The Divine: Commercial Suicide, we delve into the back stories of several of the characters and begin to get some insight into the working of one particular member of the Pantheon. Before I say anything else let me say clearly SPOILERS. In case you missed that… Continue reading The Wicked + The Divine vol 3
Not the classic children’s book, this graphic novel by Alison Bechdel is my 32nd book for the year and in the end a satisfying read. A swirling, complicated, deeply involved memoir about Alison’s relationship with her mother, this is also a book about the process of writing, the process of psychoanalysis, and the value of… Continue reading Are You My Mother?
For my 31st read of the year I came back for more of the comic book phenomenon known as The Wicked + The Divine, and in volume two I must say writer Kieron Gillen and artist Jamie McKelvie (along with colorist Matt Wilson and letterer Clayton Cowles) have done it again only more so. Volume… Continue reading The Wicked + The Divine vol 2: Fandemonium
My 30th book of the year is one I gave my wife as a Valentine’s Day gift in 2013 and only now got around to reading myself. It is a memoir written jointly by Alice and Staughton Lynd about their involvement in communities promoting peace and justice over the past roughly 60 years. From involvement… Continue reading Stepping Stones: Memoir of a Life Together
Stan Lee calls Stan Sakai’s stories of Usagi, “one of the most original, innovative, well executed comics books anywhere,” and I can understand why. The book I read (my 29th for the year) tells the story of a young rabbit (all the characters in the series are anthropomorphized animals) who studies to become a samurai… Continue reading Usagi Yojimbo – Book 2: Samurai
The first volume of Baltimore by Mike Mignola is the 28th book I’ve read this year; it tells the opening chapter in the story of Lord Baltimore and his hunt for the ancient vampire Haigus. The hatred between Baltimore and this vampire is personal and their war has raged for years before the opening of… Continue reading Baltimore volume 1: The Plague Ships
My 27th book this year is the second volume in Rick Remender’s incredible graphic novel Low. Again I was astounded and delighted by the story of hope that Remender continues to weave in this futuristic and bleak setting. Greg Tocchini’s art, Dave McCaig’s colors, and Rus Wooton’s lettering all continue to be great. This volume… Continue reading Low volume 2: Before the Dawn Burns Us
InTruthItsNotThatSimple 