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Booking Through Thursday: Any New Year’s reading resolutions?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Walt

bookingthroughthursdaybutton Any New Year’s reading resolutions?

Now, there’s a fairly easy one…and I actually already answered it at the turn of the year, for the most part.

1. Taking the “To Be Read” Challenge, to read at least 12 books from my to-be-read list. Books determined BEFORE 2011 started. There is a list of “alternates” that may be substituted for any of the 12.

  • The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson
  • The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
  • The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
  • Dragons of the Highlord Skies by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
  • Dragons of the Hourglass Mage by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
  • The Wastelands by Stephen King
  • Wizard and Glass by Stephen King
  • The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
  • Ancestor by Scott Sigler
  • Vampire a Go-Go by Victor Gischler
  • Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse by Victor Gischler
  • Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

2. Adopt-a-Character 2011…adopting Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai. I’ve already obtained and read vol. 1, and look forward to continuing in the series. I’d have to obtain/read at least 2 per month all year to get through the ENTIRE series. While that would be awesome in its own way…it’s not likely to happen. Still, I’d love to be at least halfway through the series by the end of the year.

3. Catching up on some graphic novel reading. I’d like to finish reading Preacher (Vertigo), Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest (Marvel), Transmet (Vertigo), Monster (Naoki Urasawa, Viz), and Ron Marz’ Witchblade (Top Cow) run.

Plus, of course, keeping up with some comics in general, and reviewing. Along with reading, I’m going to make a go at 3 1/2 seasons of Psych, as well as see how far I can get into the entire run of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

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Marvel.1 Checklist

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Walt

February 2011
Amazing Spider-Man #654.1
Invincible Iron Man #500.1
Wolverine #5.1

March 2011
Captain America #615.1
Deadpool #32.1
Hulk #30.1
Thor #620.1
Uncanny X-Force #5.1

April 2011
Avengers #12.1
Secret Avengers #11.1
Uncanny X-Men #534.1

marvel.1amarvel.1b

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Change, potential change…fiction vs. real life

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Walt

multiverseinfiniteearths One of the great things about comics is the ability to follow these characters through short OR long periods of their lives. We’re always following them through all these huge changes. Loss of loved ones, of jobs, of homes, of lives. They’re in constant upheaval.

People come and go in their lives. Peter loses a wife or a girlfriend or a best friend. Clark faces the fact that a childhood friend wants more of him than he can give. Bruce sees his son grow up and leave his shadow. Hal loses an entire city.  So many others.

But life–real life–doesn’t move so quickly. We can follow a person’s life for years, generations even, in the realm of fiction. "Here comes tomorrow." Stories of time travel–to the past or future. Glimpses of what may be–or what might have been.

Real life–that can only be experienced in real-time. Now-time.

I’ve read comics for most of my life–and all of my adult life.

But for all outward appearances–whether it’s really me, myself…or a front I may (or may not) subconsciously put forth…

There’s no denying the difference, that which is found between fiction and reality.

Sure, one could lose one’s self within the realms of fiction–outright abandoning of reality. Or one can marvel in it, find a great deal within the realms of fiction–and in so doing, learn more about one’s self, that which is truly real.

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$3.99: a lingering effect?

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Walt

I’ll be curious about any comic shops with anecdotes about the rollback to $2.99 that DC’s doing.

I just found myself not even CONSIDERING several books that I’ve either known or assumed to be $3.99…as I continue to do with Marvel.

When one is shopping by list, planning ahead of time to budget for the week…how many people may continue to pass on books that have been $3.99? How long until people “realize” that the things are back down to (or still only) $2.99?

And what of relatively new series–such as Emerald Warriors–that practically just started, but people like me passed on it due in large part to the price? For something with so few issues…on the one hand, it’d be tempted to go ahead and track down those few earlier issues. But when they were avoided in the first place for not wanting to pay $3.99 (or more, if they’re already off the shelves as back issues)…tough call.

I suppose time will tell.

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Another comic I won’t be buying due to pricing

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Walt

Preview: The Thanos Imperative: Devastation #1 – Comic Book Resources.

This preview is up over at CBR. And y’know…I kinda want to catch up on the Marvel Cosmic stuff. I’d even be willing to dive in at this late point in things, post-Annihilation.

But, Marvel…c’mon.

I’m so incredibly sick of $3.99!

And so…yet again…I’ll wait and maybe–eventually, someday–obtain the collected volume.

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Comics stuff I want to read this year

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Walt

I’ve decided to attempt a “To Be Read” challenge for 2011 (see earlier posting and the link at the top of this blog). But in addition to having a list of books I want to read this year, I have a number of comics and collected editions I want to try to read this year.

Back in 2004, I’d picked up the first volume of Preacher, and figured maybe it’d take a few months to a year to go through the entire series. Nearly 7 years later, I’ve only read to vol. 6 or vol. 7. I’d like to finish the series this year.

I’ve read the first couple volumes of Transmet, and it’d be cool to get through that entire series this year.

Recently reading some of Ron Marz‘ work on Witchblade, I’d like to catch up on his run and keep up for 2011 at least.

I’d like to finish reading Naoki Urasawa‘s Monster series. I’ve read 14 vols so far…only 4 to go.

I’d like to Acquire the hardcover to Annihilation: Conquest vol. 2, and finish reading the Annihilation volumes. Also find the Heroes Reborn: Avengers tpb and Heroes Reborn: The Return tpb (with that mini, and the 5th-week even from 2000 or so). Complete my collection of the Devil’s Due GI Joe run. Find the hardcover of the Devil’s Due Dragons of Autumn Twilight for a reasonable price and acquire it.

I’d also like to–in some format–read the original Spider-Man vs. Wolverine issue from the late-1980s. I’ve been aware of its existence since 1992, but I still have not ever read it.

I’m planning on revisiting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures series, at least in part, for a series of blog entries. Ditto the Ultraverse Prime series and perhaps Rune. Also attempt to make my way through the “Brand New Day” era of Spider-Man, as provided by a friend since I refuse to purchase Amazing Spider-Man (or any Spider-Man title) in the main Marvel Universe with an unmarried Peter/MJ.

But as always…we’ll see what happens. And maybe I’ll remember to revisit this post in about 12 months and see what I actually managed to follow through with.

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The To-Be-Read Challenge of 2011

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Walt

To Be Read Challenge 2011 – from readerchallenges.wordpress.com

My List:

  1. The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson
  2. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
  3. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
  4. Dragons of the Highlord Skies by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
  5. Dragons of the Hourglass Mage by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
  6. The Wastelands by Stephen King
  7. Wizard and Glass by Stephen King
  8. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
  9. Ancestor by Scott Sigler
  10. Vampire a Go-Go by Victor Gischler
  11. Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse by Victor Gischler
  12. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Alternates:

  1. Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King
  2. Song of Susannah by Stephen King
  3. The Dark Tower by Stephen King
  4. The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
  5. The Innocent Man by John Grisham
  6. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham
  7. Under the Dome by Stephen King
  8. The Brethren by John Grisham
  9. The Summons by John Grisham
  10. World Without End by Ken Follett
  11. The Ultimate Cat Lover
  12. Expiration Date

 

This challenge will be tracked on the 2011 Reading Challenge Page in the navigation of this blog, rather than on this post itself.

The rules:

  • the challenge is to read 12 TBR books in 12 months — you can read those all in one month if you want, or one a month, or however you wanna do it.
  • you should have a list posted somewhere for others to see
  • you CANNOT change your list after January 1st, of the current year!!!
  • you can create an Alternates list of MAXIMUM 12 books, if you want, in order to have options to choose from (you can read these in place of books on your original list).
  • audiobooks and e-books ARE allowed
  • re-reads are NOT allowed, as they aren’t TRUE “TBRs”
  • you CAN overlap with other challenges
  • OPTIONAL: you can join the Yahoo! Group created for participants of the TBR Challenge, if you want to have a place to
  • keep your list, or just to share with others about how you’re doing!

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Christmas as a comic person

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Walt

This is my 23rd Christmas since being introduced to comics.

supermanchristmas1992 And yet, comics have been a pretty rare “gift thing” for me. Which is quite understandable for a number of reasons (I’m resistant toward birthdays, and gifts, when they’re mine and I’m on the receiving end) and of course…when someone owns tens of thousands of comics…unless they’re vocal about some certain (probably highly expensive) issue they’re missing…what CAN you really get them that they don’t likely already own?

So, I don’t have very many comics-associated Christmas memories. But there are a few.

wolverine77 Christmas 1993, I remember Dad taking me to Capp’s Comics in Mentor, OH on Christmas Eve. In addition to the “usual” comics that week (whatever the new Superman issue was, among others), he bought me a number of other comics I had my eyes on. And then we “qualified” for some “free” comics the store owner had behind the counter. (For every so many dollars spent, one would (cumulatively) “qualify” for certain “free” comics—I remember the silvery and black Magnus: Robot Fighter #25 from Valiant, and other such overstocked “collector’s item” issues.)

And for some reason, I have this strong memory of Wolverine #77 from that year. Can’t forget to mention the “Christmas issue” of Superman that year, part of the “Funeral for a Friend” storyline.

sandmandreamcountry I’m pretty sure one year, my parents gave me a gift card to Capp’s; and though I don’t recall specifics, I am pretty certain they gave me a few comics one year.

Probably the most significant comics-related gift, though, was in 2001. For my birthday that year, my parents gave me The Sandman vols. 3 and 7 (Dream Country and Fables & Reflections). For Christmas, they gave me the other 8 volumes.

On a slightly different note: I recall back in 2006 or so, DC Comics solicited an “Infinite Christmas” one-shot/holiday special…something I found amusing enough, playing off the “recently”-concluded Infinite Crisis event’s title. infinitechristmasspecial However, when the book shipped, they changed the title from “Infinite Christmas” to “Infinite Holiday,” which I didn’t catch til I got home and went to read it. (Which, being incensed at the title change, I opted to NOT read, and have not bought/read any DC “holiday special” since.)

Of course…it should be noted that while this is all materialistic and self-indulgent…

Gifts do not—to me—represent Christmas. Even with the gifts of comics and such I’ve received…I associate them more with the time of year, and stuff going on—personal memories and feelings and such—at the time.

But I’m not going to get into my feelings over the perversion of the true meaning of Christmas in contemporary society, here.

I hope you’re having—or had—a very merry Christmas…comics or no!

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Two decades since ‘Infinity Gauntlet’…

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Walt

Well…2011 IS the 20-year mark since the original Infinity Gauntlet event. I’ve been wondering what (if anything) would be done to ‘celebrate’. Lo ‘n behold, I look at the Marvel solicits for March and find a solicit for Avengers #11 and a story involving it.

I just wish the title wasn’t $3.99/issue. I’ll keep an eye out for the inevitable collected edition, though.

AVENGERS #11

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Captain America 70th Anniversary
Variant Cover by ALAN DAVIS

The Infinity Gauntlet is in the hands of the most dangerous human being on the planet. But what can the Avengers do against a power greater than anything known on Earth? Another explosive chapter in this epic Avengers event by Bendis and Romita Jr. featuring the debut of a brand-new cosmic character that you won’t want to miss!! Plus: another illustrated chapter of the oral history of the Avengers!

32 PGS./Rated A…$3.99

via Newsarama.com : Marvel Comics’ MARCH 2011 SOLICITATIONS.

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Another reason to “wait for the trade.”

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Walt

Twenty-Seven #2 coverLately, I tend to “wait for the trade” on mini-series. After all, it’s not an ongoing series, so I might as well wait for the version of the story I’d prefer for a finite story.

Of course, for the times I might consider otherwise, any chance of an “impulse buy” are shot if the single issue(s) aren’t even available FOR said “impulse purchase.”

If I have to wait til issue 3 to get issue 2, even if I can get a (later) print of issue 1…I’m not even gonna READ the thing until I’m reading 3/4 chapters in one go…so why not wait the extra couple months, and read all 4/4 in one go, in one volume? (Or maybe by then I won’t have any interest, and will give the thing a pass as a whole).

Granted, if they already did an “overprint” and still sold out (in this case, on the 27 series), there’s less fault on the publisher. Doesn’t change the fact that this was a series I was kinda interested in checking out–and would have tried the first issue…but no one HAD the first issue, of the 5 or 6 comic shops I visited the week it was to have come out (and even the online purchase I attempted was canceled/refunded for not getting in what they’d ordered).

via Now 27 #2 Sells Out Weeks Before Shipping – And Gets A Second Printing [Bleeding Cool].

Looks like it was no one-off. Weeks before the second issue of 27 by Charles Soule and Renzo Podesta is set to ship, it has already sold out its overprint at distributor level and a second printing approved. Just as the second printing of 27 #1 is set to ship with 27 #2, so the second printing of 27 #2 will now ship with 27 #3.

So if you missed out of the first print of the first issue… yeah, looks like you’re going to miss out on the first print of the second issue too.

Ho ho ho.

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