Powers v9: Psychotic

Powers v9: Psychotic - by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming; Collects # 7 - 12 of the Marvel/Icon run.

Unlike some of the earlier trade paperback collections this feels like more than one story; three stories to be precise. Two of them take place in the foreground and one in the background. The two foreground stories are related. In the first (Act I) a superhero is killed by a cop. Turns out the dead superhero, the man behind the mask, isn't the same person who he was thought to be. The investigation by Detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim leads in an unexpected direction and eventually taking them back to the person who originally wore the mask.

In act II, the extremely powerful gem that gave the hero his powers, both incarnations, goes missing. With the FBI threatening to step into the matter Walker and Pilgrim launch an investigation to figure out how it disappeared from the evidence room in Police HQ.

Meanwhile, throughout these six chapters, Deena is with a pesky ex-boyfriend. She is determined that the relationship is over but he doesn't want to let it go. Her refusal to even talk it over with him leads him, in an act of desperation to do something very stupid. There is some resolution this storyline but I get the feeling that it will continue in the next collection or possibly the one after.

Good plot developments in this collection but overall it feels like an "inbetweener": there are character and plot developments without resolution. The Act I and II story lines felt a bit like filler material. Filler for what? For the Deena's Boyfriend storyline which isn't really resolved in this collection. So I liked it but don't think it would be a good place to start reading Powers. You really should start at the beginning. I do plan to continue reading this series.

Hercules/Hot Gimmick

The Incredible Hercules: Against the World - This wasn't bad. I liked the team of Hercules and Amadeus Cho. I liked watching them interact. The art work was okay. I did like how they wove in the different myths about Hercules. Aside from that the story wasn't anything too special. Part of what holds it back IMO is the fact that it is tied to the aftermath of World War Hulk. I don't read the big event books so I felt like I was missing something; or maybe it was just ill will for the big events getting in my way of enjoying what is (arguably) a well written and decently drawn comic book. There were parts where I was really digging it and other parts where I felt my attention waning. I doubt I'll pick up the next collection. Its worth trying, if you like superhero comic books, but its just not for everyone. From what I've been told future issues tie into other big crossover events. *sigh*

Hot Gimmick v6 - I'm not sure how I got this far into this series. I'm not that wild about it. I don't really like any of the characters. I do appreciate the craftsmanship of the writer/artist, Miki Aihara. I think she does a great job with visual story-telling. Love how the action flows and the facial expressions of her characters. If only the characters themselves were a little deeper. I can't see myself reading anymore of this 12-volume series.

2008: Manga

Manga I finished reading in 2008:

Classic - Tezuka
Buddha vol. 5, 6, 7
Phoenix vol. 7, 8, 9

Shoujo
Fruits Basket vol. 1, 2
Hot Gimmick vol. 5
Kare Kano vol. 12, 13

Shonen/Seinen/Other
Bleach vol. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
Kekkaishi vol. 2
Monster vol. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Yotsuba&! vol. 2, 3, 4

2008: Graphic Novels

I've made a list of the "Graphic Novels" I read in 2008. Note that I use the term "graphic novel" to include anything that I usually think of as sequential art. I use the term "graphic novel" because I think it is probably more commonly recognized than sequential art. I put quotes around the term because I don't like using it this way even though it serves a purpose.

Superheroes (23)

DC Comics
All-Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder vol. 1
Catwoman: When in Rome
Crisis on Earth Prime
Doom Patrol Archive vol. 1
Hitman vol. 1
Legion of Superheroes: An Eye for an Eye
Starman Omnibus vol. 1

Marvel Comics
Daredevil: The Devil Inside and Out vol. 1, 2
Exiles vol. 14
Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four vol. 6
Nextwave vol. 1, 2
Punisher War Journal vol. 1
Punisher: Circle of Blood
She-Hulk vol. 3, 4
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus vol. 1
Wolverine (mini-series by Chris Claremont & Frank Miller)
X-Men: God Loves Man Kills
Young Avengers vol. 2

Image Comics
Invincible vol. 6
Powers vol. 7

Other (12)
Some of these books contain elements of science-fiction or the supernatural but I don't consider any of them to be superhero books.

A Contract with God
Blue Monday: The Kids Are Alright
DMZ vol. 3
Queen & Country vol. 7
Strangers in Paradise vol. 1, 2
Team Zero
Y: The Last Man vol. 8, 9, 10
Camelot 3000
Nevermen

Stats

Superheroes - DC Comics (7)
2000s: 2
1990s: 2
1980s: 2
1970s: 0
1960s: 1

Superheroes - Marvel Comics (14)
2000s: 9
1990s: 0
1980s: 3
1970s: 1
1960s: 1

Hmmm, seems like I read many more Marvel than DC superhero books, and that I seem to be more interested in current Marvel titles rather than well aged ones. Also worth noting is that four out of five of the Marvel books from the 20th century are X-Men related titles, and none of the 21st century Marvel titles are X-Men related.

December Reading

Reading, reading, reading...

Bleach v19 - Pretty awesome. I normally don't dig the fight scenes but even the fight scenes in this one, especially between Ichigo and Byakuya were especially good. That's a good thing since the fight between those two took up at least half the book. Looks like the Soul Society Arc is just about over with.

Hitman v1 - I'd heard a lot about this book and finally got my hands on it. Its good but not great. I liked the artwork. It has a feel un-DCU feel to it. The writing is ok, just not my thing or not what I'm looking for. As I indicated I was reading this more because I'd heard so many good things about it rather than because it sounded like it was something I would love. I might have appreciated it more if I had discovered it when I was younger and without all the fanfare it has received. Given that I obtained it through paperbackswap it was worth my money. Not so sure if I would be equally satisfied if I had paid say $20 for it.

Powers v8: Legends - Simply awesome. I've only read the first three chapters of this collection but I am loving it. Its great how Bendis and Oeming dig back into the history of this series in this storyline, as in others. In this story Callista returns, with powers. Callista was the orphaned girl from the very first story arc. Years have passed since Retro Girl was killed and Callista was orphaned. Callista is now in her late mid-teens, I'm guessing. The confrontation between her and Walker in chapter 3 is great. Its great because I could just feel the emotions leaping off the page.

Fruits Basket v3 - I'm taking my time with this book. Its not my favorite series but there are things about it that I like. Maybe I'll give up on it eventually, dunno, but for now I'm gonna keep reading.

I went to Barbarian today. I couldn't find everything I was looking for. I did buy Daredevil: Hell to Pay v1, Bleach v20, and The Building by Will Eisner.

Earlier this week I ordered Negation v4: Shock & Awe over the internet. I'm planning on rereading the series over the next couple months, now that I have almost the entire series in trade format.

Kare Kano, Blue Mondays, Batman

Has it really been six weeks? Since I last posted? Geeze.

Kare Kano v13 - I dropped this series after the whole Tsubasa/boy band arc. It was just a little too much of the wrong thing for me. I wasn't sure if/when I would ever read it again but last weekend at the comic shop I heard it calling my name so I bought it. I'm I've read the first two (of five acts) and so far I'm enjoying it again.

I've gotten this deep into the series because I really enjoy/love the main story: Yukino and Arima's relationship. I really like both characters. I'm glad to see that they are back in the spotlight, where they belong. I also enjoy reading about Tsubaki and Tonami.

While at Barbarian I also bought Fruits Basket v3, Bleach v19, and Monster v17 but I have yet to start reading any of them.

All-Star Batman and Robin v1 - I'm a little more than half-way through this collection: I've read 5 of 9 chapters. So far I like. Its not for everyone and not my favorite book of the year but its different and I like it for that. It is also slowly developing. At this point I'm not sure if/when I'll buy v2 but then again I have no clue when said volume will be released given the erratic release schedule of the individual issues.

So far the story seems to be be about the development of young Dick Grayson into robin; five chapters in and he has yet to put on the uniform or accompany Batman on a mission.

It probably isn't for everyone but so far this series is entertaining me enough to keep reading and not believe everthing I read about how Frank Miller has lost it.

Blue Mondays v1: The Kids Are Alright - One of the first trades I got through paperbackswap. Its very shoujo and also very manga even though it really isn't either since it isn't Japanese but American. Still I like how Chynna Clugston-Majors, the writer/artist/creator, varies the art style to reflect the mood of the different panels. Sometimes the faces are very detailed and other times they are drawn in a very rudimentary fashion. I like the mix of styles. It definelty works in this book. I also like some of the cute little drawings that occasionally adorn the the edges of the pages.

She-Hulk, Bleach

She-Hulk v4: Laws of Attraction - Just started reading it. So far I've only read the first two chapters, # 6 & 7. These chapters/issues cover the story in which She-Hulk is serving as Eros/Starfox' defense attorney in a sexual assault case. Lots of humor here. I liked the writing. I liked how the writer (Dan Slott) used Starfox power of persuasion first for comedic effect and then later took it more seriously. What I wasn't so wild about was the artwork. It worked but it wasn't anything special. I'd rather see either Juan Bobillo or Paul Pelletier draw this book. Unfortunately, neither of them draws any of the remaining chapters in this collection.

Bleach v18 - For the first time in a while I'm excited about this series. The story has been building and building, for at least the past 100 chapters to Rukia's execution and Ichigo's attempt to save her. Finally the moment arrived and of course the execution did not go off as planned. Ichigo's entrance was flashy but not too exciting. What got me giddy was the infighting amongst the captain's of the Gotei 13. At least 4 of them have chosen to side with Ichigo at this point. This really seems to be mucking things up in the Soul Society. I like that because up to now the story has been fairly predictable. Now I'm not sure what is going to happen. I've only read half of v18, still have 5 chapters to go but I am psyched to see how this turns out.