Comic Book Resolutions 2012

With a little over two months until the end of the year it seems like an appropriate time to start thinking about comic book resolutions. The biggest resolution I made at the beginning of this year was to read more and buy less. Specifically I wanted by "to be read pile to shrink" and avoid buying things that I just ain't going to read.

Aside from that my only other resolution was to read more Batman comic books, specifically some of the classic Batman story lines. Prior to 2012 the only big Batman stories I had read were

- The Dark Knight Returns
- The Cult
- Hush
- The Long Halloween

So far this year I have read

- Year One
- The Untold Legend of Batman (3-part mini-series)
- Rules of Engagement (Batman Confidential 1-6)
- A New Dawn (Batman Confidential 26-28)

I also read books 3 and 4 of Gotham Central. Strictly speaking it is not a Batman book but it is a Batman family book.

At the moment I am reading Year Three (Batman 436-439) and also have Ghosts (Batman Confidential 40-43) sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.

There are a few other books that I want to read before the end of 2012:

Martian Manhunter: American Secrets - For almost 10 years I only had the first issue of this 3-part mini-series. A couple years ago I found the third one in a bargain bin at Baltimore Comic Con. A couple months ago I found the second one on Comic Collectors Live, for a reasonable price. Now that I have assembled the entire story it seems like an appropriate thing to push to the top of my reading pile. I hope it lives up to my expectations.

The Spectre 9-12 - by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake - I bought the first 35 issues of this series a few years ago. I started to read it, was enjoying it but didn't get far into it before putting it down to read something else. I need to get back on that horse and start reading this series again. Based on my usual reading habits four issues seems like a reasonable number to try read over the next couple months.

The Mice Templar volume 2.2: Destiny

I will read other things aside from those I just listed above before year's end but as far as targeted reading goes I think this list will suffice for now.

I am working on a list of what I want to read in 2013. It won't be a comprehensive list of everything on my TBR shelf or of anything and everything that I would like to read. It will be a manageable goal which includes books from various types of writers, artists, and publishers.

Heroes Con 2012

Jun 22-24, 2012
Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, North Carolina

I had lots of fun at this year's Heroes Con.

Commissions

I'm very happy with all the art I bought at the show. See pictures of them all of them in my Heroes Con 2012 photo set. Here's a preview:

Juggernaut by Joey Weiser

Panels

Friday

Titans Tower - Marv Wolfman, George Perez, Romeo Tanghal, Michael Eury - the best part of this panel was the interaction between the audience members and the panelists

Coloring Presentation - Laura Martin, Val Staples - unfortunately, due to technical difficulties the demonstration never happened; instead they talked about and took questions from the audience on coloring comic books

Saturday

Twomorrows Panel - Roy Thomas, Michael Eury - not as exciting as I hoped it would be; basically just a preview of things to come from Twomorrows, along with some stories of stuff that has happened in the course of assembling issues of Back Issue, Alter Ego, etc

Echoes of '82 - Ben Towle, Craig Fischer, Jaime Hernandez, Louise Simonson, Stergios Botzakis, Toney Frazier, Heidi MacDonald, Andrew Mansell - 2 hours of awesome; the focus was on independent comic books and indie creators

Webcomics #1 - Dustin Harbin, Rich Barrett, Tom Scioli, Danielle Corsetto, Rich Tommaso - cast a wide net over all sorts of web comics

Sunday

Comic Twart - Francesco Francavilla, Mitch Gerads, Andy Kuhn, Dan Panosian, Ramón Pérez, Ron Salas, Chris Sims - This one was a little weird because there were more panelists than there were people in the audience

The Immonens - Kathryn and Stuart Immonen - slide show and overview of their collaborations, most of which were not for the "big 2"

Comic Books

Zegas #2 by Michel Fiffe - a trippy little series with an interesting visual style; I picked up the first issue at the Baltimore Comic Con last year

The Mice Templar v2.2 - for the 3rd year in a row I bought a hard cover edition of Mice Templar from the writer, Brian J.L. Glass; I can't think of enough good things to say about this series; it is a great read and very intelligently written; there is a ton of back matter that really helps to flesh out the origins of the story

Raw Nerve #1,2,3 by Mitch Rogers - I bought the first issue on Friday. I read it, liked it so I went back and bought the other two on Sunday. This is a horror comic.

Dustin Harbin had a box of old stuff sitting on his table that he was selling for 1/2 cover price. I bought two: Rio by Doug Wildey and Bookhunter by Jason Shiga.

Dealers

I was amazed at how poorly organized most dealers' long boxes were. For the most part it seemed as if they weren't selling high grade golden, silver, or bronze age comics they didn't bother to organize their boxes. I found a few that were organized and those are the ones from whom I bought back issues. It's not like I was looking for or bought a lot of comic books from dealers but still. For the most part the books that I bought were all from the late 70s to early 80s and filled in holes in my collection.

Action Comics 535 - early appearance of the Omega Men

Falcon 3 - the only issue I was missing from this 4-part limited series from the early 1980s

Green Lantern 161 - early appearance of the Omega Men

Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe 5, 8, 10, 11, 13 - all the issues I needed to fill out my collection of the original run of OHOTMU

Star Spangled War Stories 182 - Unknown Soldier, Enemy Ace

Sgt Rock 311

Other

You can find my pictures of original art, comic books, panels, and more in my Heroes Con 2012 photo set.

The Mice Templar: Destiny #5

Chapter Five: An Order Divided

by Brian JL Glass (writer), Michael Avon Oeming and Victor Santos (artists), and Veronica Gandini (colors)


For the first time since leaving the great tree and the Readers of the Wheat, Karic and Cassius encounter other mice, Templars. Though they were once Cassius' brothers they are not pleased to see him.

This is an intermediate chapter. Although the volume ends with this chapter the story does not. The chapter feels a bit rushed. As with some of the previous chapters there are two segments. The first is about their arrival in the Templar camp or community. The second is about the events that lead to Karic's acceptance of Ronan's (inevitable) challenge. Unlike the previous couple chapters that told more than one tale, in this case both stories revolve around Karic.

The Mice Templar: Destiny #4

Chapter Four: A Measure of Justice

by Brian JL Glass (writer), Michael Avon Oeming and Victor Santos (artists), and Veronica Gandini (colors)


The story continues to roll forward on two fronts with more action and more flashbacks. Karic continues to develop under Cassius tutelage as he is challenged by his mentor and the world around him. After an unsuccessful escape attempt some, but not all, of the mice live to fight another day.

Victor Santos does a beautiful job on this issue. He draws in a style that is similar to but not identical to that of Michael Avon Oeming. The use of a rougher approach and a different color palette for the flashback sequences is both effective and a thing of beauty.

The Mice Templar: Destiny #3

Chapter Three: The Bright Realm

by Brian JL Glass (writer), Michael Avon Oeming and Victor Santos (artists), and Veronica Gandini (colors)

This chapter reads much faster than its predecessors. There are some flashbacks but for the most part the story moves forward with exciting moments in two different settings. Karic's tutelage continues as he and Cassius encounter beauty and danger when they cross into the Bright Realm. While to the north, led by Leito, imprisoned mice fight for their lives in a bid to escape the dungeons of Dealrach Ard-Vale.

The Mice Templar: Destiny #2

Chapter Two: In the Bowels of the Earth

by Brian JL Glass (writer), Michael Avon Oeming and Victor Santos (artists), and Veronica Gandini (colors)


Karic and Cassius, captured by mole goblins, descend beneath the Haunted Wood. In Dealrach Ard-Vale mice of varying stripes fight amongst themselves while the rat Druids scheme to overthrow King Icarus.

This chapter seems much busier than the previous one. Much happens as the bigger story starts to take shape.

The Mice Templar: Destiny #1

Chapter One: The Haunted Wood

By Brian JL Glass (writer), Michael Avon Oeming and Victor Santos (artists), and Veronica Gandini (colors)


Karic and Cassius first approach and then cross into the Haunted Wood, Efrahan Forest. The visual storytelling is this chapter feels haphazard. The panels are arranged in very non traditional patterns. The transitions between the panels are rough at times. In the dream sequences the panels have rough edges. All this could lead a reader to feel they are reading a sloppily constructed chapter. That is not the case. This is just one segment of a much longer story. It is doesn't move the story forward as much as it re-examines the past. There will be a pay off it just isn't in this chapter.

The Mice Templar: Destiny #0

Prologue

by Brian JL Glass (writer), Michael Avon Oeming and Victor Santos (artists), and Veronica Gandini (colors)


Chronicles of the Templar

A brief recap of the the first volume (The Prophecy).


The Sacrifice

Picks up where the first volume left off, immediately after Karic's knighting. Things take a contentious turn in the tree as a split emerges over the role Karic's is to play going forward.

CGSSS 2011:1a

Comic Geek Speak Super Show 2011
Apr 30 & May 1
Reading, PA

Part 1a: Loot: Books

I was very good and for the most part restrained myself from buying books at Super Show. I already have far too many sitting around my apartment that I have yet to read. That said, I didn't abstain completely from my book-buying ways and here's what I got:

- Back in the Day by Dave Dwonch and Daniel J. Logan - a graphic novel, written by one of the Geek Savants

- The Mice Templar: Destiny (Part One) by Brian J.L. Glass, Michael Avon Oeming, and Victor Santos - this is the first part of act 2 (of 4). I bought act 1 which was shorter, last year at CGSSS. Once again I bought the book directly from the writer, Brian JL Glass, and took some time to ask him some questions about the series and tell him what worked for me in the first act.

- Identity Crisis #1-7 - 2004 DC Comics mini-series that I've been meaning to read for years but never have. It was one of many door prizes that were given away on the first day of the show. Of all the door prizes it was probably the best one for me to win. I was so pleased with it that I didn't even bother to attend the door prize drawing on the second day.

- Dutchy Digest #5 - I couldn't resist getting another issue of Dutchy Digest. I bought my first issue last year at CGSSS. It only cost $1, the guys who produce it are very nice, and they had free shoofly pie at their table.

What I Read - The Mice Templar Vol. 1: The Prophecy #7

#7 The Symbol - I'm not satisfied with the way in which Pilot seems to have been swept under the carpet. Given the important role he played in the last few chapters I hope that he (at least in flashback) will return and his origin be revealed.

I get the sense that certain things in this story are supposed to be accepted at face value. Pilot's role thus far may be one such thing. I am not dismissing him as dead just yet. He was carried off by a bat, presumably to his death, but having not actually seen his death I'm open to the possibilty that he may return.

I'm eager to read book 2.

The Mice Templar by Brian J.L. Glass, Michael Avon Oeming, and Will Quintana

What I Read - The Mice Templar Vol. 1: The Prophecy #6

#6 Truth Behind Lies - Karic's life seemed to be stabilizing since the second chapter. That all changed in the previous chapter, with the formal introduction of Cassius. Karic is trying piece it all together, make sense of it all and is receiving conflicting messages from different sources, all of whom claim to spreak the truth. His age and inexperience don't work in his favor.

In stories like this it is often difficult to determine what or whom to believe before the story has run its course. Sometimes the author intentionally muddies the water, sometimes steers the reader in one direction for dramatic purposes, and sometimes it just it seems complicated when it is actually very clear.

The Mice Templar by Brian J.L. Glass, Michael Avon Oeming, and Will Quintana

What I Read - The Mice Templar Vol. 1: The Prophecy #5

#5 Readers of the Wheat - A couple things are becoming clear to me about this series. First, I think I was wrong when I said that the story moves very fast it. It doesn't. It is told in short bursts.

My mistake was to assume that each chapter was a single unit. I no longer believe that to be the case. Each chapter can be divided into three or more segments. In this way each chapter moves the story ahead by leaps and bounds but should be read not as a single unit but as a collection of them.

Second, I'm able to appreciate the artwork, in particular the facial expressions much more at this point in the story. I'm not sure exactly why. My first thought was that it took me time to get used to the faces of the mice. It also occurs to me that it might just be that Mike Oeming's artwork has evolved, become more subtle. I'm leaning towards the former explanation but the latter may have also contributed to my ability to appreciate the visual nuances of the storytelling.

The Mice Templar by Brian J.L. Glass, Michael Avon Oeming, and Will Quintana

What I Read - The Mice Templar Vol. 1: The Prophecy #4

#4: Black Anaius - Its weird how the story is unfolding. It seems both fast and slow. Karic and Pilot's journey progresses slowly, but there is a lot of back story. That information, knowledge is being dispensed in little pieces. It doesn't feel like it is coming at me too quickly but there is a lot of it and for the most part it is background material. It does not relate directly to the unfolding story for the most part, so it is somewhat disjointed and doesn't seem as vital.

Of course the artwork is gorgeous.

I'm not sure why I wasn't as moved by the battle with the giant, red ants as I was by the sacking of Cricket's Glen, in the second chapter. Maybe because the ants didn't talk. Maybe because I never felt like Karic and Pilot were in any real danger. I'm not sure.

The Mice Templar by Brian J.L. Glass, Michael Avon Oeming, and Will Quintana

What I Read - The Mice Templar Vol. 1: The Prophecy #3

#3 In the Beginning... - Karic and Pilot flee Karic's hometown. Pilot aims to train Karic. Meanwhile another Templar is on their trail.

The story continues to unfold. Karic has dreams that help to explain some more of the world he lives in and its past. Pilot starts to teach him how to be a Templar.

This is a slowly evolving story, with a lot of exposition. The first chapter focused on the present and gave the story a point of departure from which it launched in the second chapter. The third chapter focused on the past, started painting the bigger, broader picture.

I get the impression that not everything is at it seems or has been presented. Karic and Pilot are being pusued by an unnamed mouse, presumably another Templar. The text implies that this is a rogue Templar, at least at first it does, but later there is a hint that maybe it isn't. I'm starting to wonder if Pilot isn't the one that Karic should be wary of.

The Mice Templar by Brian J.L. Glass, Michael Avon Oeming, and Will Quintana

What I Read - The Mice Templar Vol. 1: The Prophecy #2

#2: The Calling - This chapter flowed quickly, like the first one, but unlike the previous one it wasn't weighed down with exposition. It was all action. Michael Avon Oeming's art was gorgeous. Will Quintana's colors were stunning. I dunno if they were holding back last chapter or if there was a conscious reason for taking things and slowly as they did.

The story seems to be shaping up to be a standard quest type story with Karic as the hero in training.

The Mice Templar by Brian J.L. Glass, Michael Avon Oeming, and Will Quintana

What I Read - The Mice Templar Vol. 1: The Prophecy #1

#1 The Dark Lands - So far I'm not wildly impressed. There's a lot of exposition in the first chapter; too much in my opinion. In general I think the story flows a little too quickly, I do like the way the chapter ends, with Karic becoming the more serious one and Leito the more playful one, which is a reversal of the roles they played through out the chapter up to that point.

I some had trouble keeping track of all the characters. There aren't that many of them but they are all mice and to my eyes they all looked fairly similar, at first. I got about halfway through the chapter before I had to go back and reread what I had just read (a couple times) before I was able to more easily identify all of the names, faces and personalities.

What drew me to this series is Michael Avon Oeming's artwork. I love the look of it. The coloring by Will Quintana only intensifies the job Oeming did penciling the story. So far no complaints here.

The Mice Templar by Brian J.L. Glass, Michael Avon Oeming, and Will Quintana