The Nightly News

The Nightly News is getting better. I'm reading a chapter a week, usually on Saturdays and I read chapter 4 today. Prior to this it felt a bit predictable. Sure it looks different but in this case that wasn't enough for me. I'm glad I've stuck with it. I've got two more chapters to go. I'm interested to see where it ends up. Will it go back to being predictable or continue on the dynamic course it seems to be on?

FCBD 2009

I went to Barbarian for Free Comic Book Day. I didn't get any of the free comic books but they were having a sale: 20% off all trades. I picked up Powers v11 and Daredevil: Cruel & Unusual. and saved roughly $7.50 (including tax).


I have yet to read v10 of Powers but I've already got 11 and 12, now. I ordered v10 and asked about 20th Century Boys v2, even though I have yet to read v1. I think they understood that I want them to order it for me.

April roundup

Bleach 21 - My original plan called for me to drop Bleach after the Soul Society arc ended, which it did, but all intents and purposes, in v20. The first few chapters of v21 wrap up a couple of loose ends but it is more or less epilogue. Now that I've finished v21 and read the beginning of the new arc I want more, so I bought v22. The story is good in this series but the art is better.

Blue Mondays v2: Absolute Beginners - I liked this collection as much, possibly more than the previous one. It certainly made me want more. I like the manga influences on this book, even though it doesn't look manga. The writer/artist definitely has her own style. Lots of gals cursing in this book, I like it. Not always my cup o' tea but since I don't see or read comics like this too much I like it. Ok, some of the twists and turns seem a little ridiculous but once again this isn't one of many teen romance comics that I read.

Negation v3: Hounded - Loved this the first time around, when it was first released in individual issues. It isn't quite the same rereading it in a collection. Its easier to avoid the cliffhanger endings and I have a (somewhat faded) recollection of what is going to happen. Still it was a fun read. I've got v4, the last of the series and plan on reading it in the near future.

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.