Books of 2023: Quarter 2

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Kinch Na Shannack owes a large debt to the Taker's Guild for training him in all manner of thievery and even a small amount of magic. Leaving his debt unpaid for too long though has very disastrous consequences, which is how Kinch finds himself robbing travelers for petty cash along a lonely road. When their small gang comes against a lone but very dangerous woman, they get more than they bargained for, and Kinch makes a mistake that changes the course of his life. Knowing the importance of the mysterious woman's quest, the Guild tasks Kinch with accompanying her on the journey, or fall further into the debt still owed. The quest will take Kinch outside his comforts of small-time pick-pocketing and burglary to forests where bandits lie in wait, to cities and towns still reeling from their war against goblins, to encounters with creatures long-believed driven from the realms of mankind.

A perfect rogue's journey! Now that Skynet (aka "the algorithm") knows I've been playing Dungeons & Dragons, I've been getting book recommendations like "The Top __ Books for Each D&D Character" and other lists like that, and that's probably how I found this book. Staying with the D&D reference, my favorite thing about this book is the pacing as each chapter felt like its own session of D&D (or, well, a session of D&D played by folks who know what they're doing and not simply stopping because I'm too old to be staying up this late anymore). Each chapter would start with a little quip or story, just something to give the reader a taste of the particular flavor of this chapter, and would end pretty neatly - not in a final way but more like the way a TV episode ends - which also drives the reader into the next chapter.

Kinch, being more of a roguish character than your traditional hero-fighter archtype, makes the action sequences less about pure brawn strength than you'd find in the Jack Reacher novels I've been obsessed with. He's sneakier and more likely to shoot the enemy with a bow from far off, or stab them in the back with a dagger, than engage in your standard swordplay. That said, fights and battles are inevitable in these High Fantasy stories, so luckily he's joined by a couple of individuals that know their way around a blade.

Magic, another staple of High Fantasy, is also prevalent, operating more like the traditional D&D magic system that readers are probably more familiar with. Not everyone has access to spells, and those that do are treated with a bit more reverence. No crazy new magic systems for the reader to learn, just a standard "mutter a few magic words," or "combine a particular set of ingredients." Perhaps most exotic and interesting were the magical tattoos which can hold a spell for the person upon which the tattoo is placed to use at a later time.

The Terminal List by Jack Carr

His most recent mission ends in disaster with the deaths of everyone in his entire. Returning home, Lt. Commander James Reece finds his good friend dead, his family murdered, and a mysterious tumor growing inside his head. As the tragedies add-up, Reece realizes he's being targeted not by foreign operatives he's spent a career as a Navy SEAL hunting abroad, but by a larger conspiracy right here at home in the United States of America. With skills honed through years of combat and nothing left to lose, Reece begins a one-man war against greedy businessmen, corrupt and overly-ambitious politicians, and even his own command. The hunted becomes the hunter in this fast-placed thriller.

So, yeah, I finally got around to this one after watching Amazon's "The Terminal List" show based on this book. Having loved the show (and also being obsessed with the Jack Reacher book series Amazon based the "Reacher" tv show off of), I was excited to read this story. Right off the bat, I'm going to say, I liked the show more than the book. Gunfights are much more thrilling visually than when put into words on a page - that's just a fact. Besides, give any finished story back to its writer and I'm sure they'll find something to tweak to make the new product better than the original. Plot-wise, the thing the show did better than the book was to make the bad guys ... well, a threat. Yes, I understand that they're just supposed to be these entitled suits who've found a way to rig the system in their favor. Obviously, they shouldn't be as strong or combat-honed as Reece, but they could still be a threat with their smarts, which the show does better to build tension. The book counterparts, meanwhile, are simply fellows who use their money and status to get what they want, while seemingly possessing no real skills.

 The story is quite simply a straight-forward revenge thriller. Once Reece finds his direction and purpose, his mission for revenge begins. Maybe more to the credit of Reece's effectiveness and training as a student-of-war, I felt Reece's hunt in the book lacks the same kind of tension that it did in the TV show version. Without much difficulty, Reece takes down everyone involved in the conspiracy and eliminates them efficiently. With perhaps one small hiccup and a twist which (if you've seen the show) you already know what it is, Reece's revenge proceeds as planned as he's aided by a few friends, his years of training and real-world combat experience, and the over-confidence of his targets. The pages are easily devourable as I practically sprinted through Reece's spree. That's really not a joke. My computer at work crashed so while I waited a few hours for the IT folks to fix the issue I must've run though over a hundred pages. It's captivating to watch Reece eliminate each target one by one as he makes his way through the list. As Reece is depicted as vastly superior to his targets in the context of eliminating another human being (because, well, just because he is), and so the story sailed smoothly once he finds his targets.

One thing I do want to note is the story itself leans right-of-center politically. If you're easily triggered by those kinds of things well either grow-up and accept that other folks have different points-of-view, or just don't read this book. Carr, being a former SEAL, uses Reece as a mouthpiece to express his own views of the state of American government and society, which, while not being constantly in your face, at least makes itself known here and there.

14 by Peter Clines

Nate Tucker doesn't have a lot going for him - he hates his boring, mindless minimum-wage job, he's having poor luck with women, and now he's in search of a new affordable place to live in Los Angeles. Luckily for him, he finds a new place not only with a shorter commute but where the rent is actually very low, too - as long as he's willing to not ask a lot of questions. Unfortunately for Nate, curiosity gets the better of him when he starts to notice small oddities with his apartment, and his neighbor's apartment, and other tenants' apartments through the rest of the building. As he and other tenants unravel the building's secrets, they find that the answers have consequences that threaten the entire world.

Such a great supernatural-mystery story. The back cover teases it as a "Lost"-style mystery, and though I've never seen the show, I'd like to think I understand enough about the show to agree. As Nate and the group find clue after clue, each one leads to another mystery until it transforms into an otherworldly, Lovecraftian-horror story. And, for just a small bit of personal reading history, surprisingly this book, I think, was my first encounter with an eldritch, Cthulhu-like being. I think I'd heard the term before but this would be the first time reading it in print. Another great aspect is the variety in the characters living in the building itself. Obviously, like in any apartment complex, no two tenants are going to be the same, and Clines does a good job giving enough information about each that they are all not only unique but the reader can distinguish each character in the scene from just a small bit of detail.

While on the topic of characters, Nate Tucker even after all these years, still feels relatable. Lost, bored, and disconnected, Nate is just looking for his place in the world, and when he gets a hold of this mystery he latches on tight to the excitement and intrigue it brings into this life. I don't know if that's just revealing more of myself or maybe a testament to how timeless the character archtype is (as I read ... somewhere, happy and content people don't go on quests).

On an even more personal note, I've actually had this book for a while, a long while, I think even before I read Clines' superhero/zombie "Ex-Heroes" series. This though might be my first time re-reading it (or at least for a long time). One of the reasons for finally digging it out from under my bed (one day I'll get a bookshelf, maybe) was that it's finally time to accept I wasn't going to re-read it as often, so best to pass it along ... you know, to make room for more books. Also, I'm not sure if it's because of the publishing company choices or just the time I bought it, but the book isn't in what I consider "mass-market paperback"-type so it is a little cumbersome to carry around if you're reading on the go.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

 Humanity has conquered disease, famine, hunger - even death itself. An advanced AI known simply as the Thunderhead unites the entire human population under one government where it is able to effectively and benevolently respond to their needs. Though humans are now able to live indefinitely as well as revert their bodies back to a younger age, the need for population control still exists - a task humanity decided should still lie in the hands of humans. From this need, Scythes were established: humans tasked to kill a certain quota of the population each year. Though neither were aspiring to the life-long profession, Citra and Rowan are taken on as apprentice Scythes. During their training, the two teenagers learn not only the various and plentiful methods of taking a life, but also the philosophy of why it must be done and the manner with which it should be conducted. Though appearing all-powerful and celebrity-like in a world of near-immortals, the apprentices will also uncover a growing corruption within the ranks of the Scythes, and will need to use all their training to survive falling victim to it.

Though I like to think it should fall secondary to the characters in the story, this futuristic setting was really captivating. The story sets itself in a future where technology is able to satisfy almost all of humanity's needs, from basic medicine to food production to transportation. People no longer become ill, and if they decide to grow old, they can simply revert themselves back to a younger age when the mood strikes. Though people may still die, as some characters choose to do - over and over again - they can easily be revived usually in no less than a week. It's amazing and (to my 21st century brain) a little unnerving. If everything is provided for you, is there any reason for you to work, or do anything for that matter? Can society truly function in that type of environment? The setting of the story alone is worth analyzing, gaining insight into a possible future that may come to pass.

Citra and Rowan serve as the main protagonists of the story. Though neither of the two aspired to Scythehood, they'll become pieces in a larger game between factions amongst the Scythes themselves as they vie for control of the whole organization. During their apprenticeship, they'll learn not only the methods with which a Scythe may "glean" a person but also the philosophy behind ending a person's life. Citra's headstrong nature will be tempered by the patient and meticulous training, while Rowan's analytical nature will be tested by his training and the charisma of his mentor. The story also pushes different philosophies behind the gleaning through the different Scythes introduced in the story - from Scythe Faraday's meticulously researched method, to Scythe Currie's almost random technique for picking targets, to the mass slaughters carried out by Scythe Goddard.

Of course, the most interesting thing about the story (written as concisely as possible on the back cover) is the idea that those main characters will need to kill people - "Thou Shalt Kill." That those kids are being trained (and it has to be kids as the other apprentices do not appear to be older than twenty or so) to end life - not to protect people or land or establishments but to simply end the lives of people over and over and over again, until they themselves decide to die (as no one else may end the life of a Scythe). The moral dilemma addressed constantly through the story had me questioning if this book really should be marketed toward Young Adults. Jeez, it's just so heavy and ALL sides present valid arguments for their methods - yeah, I even felt at times swayed by Scythe Goddard's arguments toward gleaning (I mean, why shouldn't people enjoy their jobs?). Then there are even the common people just going about their lives in a world where not only are all of their basic necessities met, but everyone is also nearly immortal while being able to rest their bodies to a more desirable age. At that point, when humanity has reached its peak, what is it you are supposed to do? Is work even necessary? There's also questions about the way the Scythedom functions above the law, as Scythes are accountable to no one except their own people in regards to their gleaning choices and methods; the absence of religion and belief caused by everyone's nigh immortality; the surveillance state placed on the global population by the Thunderhead; and so many more.. As I said, Jeez, I still can't believe this is marketed as a Young Adult novel. 

I forgot where I first heard about this book and it's plot but I immediately liked it for its concept of human beings inhabiting the role of Death (kind of like Piers Anthony's "On a Pale Horse"), though it is marketed for Young Adults. So, I put it on a "To Read" list (an ever-growing list). Then, after having sold off a bunch of books to Book-Off, I spent all my gains at once (a whole $7!) for a used copy I found wandering the aisles. Though there are two more books in the trilogy, I'm not sure when I'll get to them as I'm already sitting on a couple other unread books. Despite its ending promising a sequel, I felt pretty satisfied with the ending which also keeps me from rushing out to purchase the next book.

Strange Academy Vol. 1: First Class (Issues 1-6) by Skottie Young

To assist and train these youngsters to harness their talents and abilities, Dr. Stephen Strange and other seasoned magic users of the Marvel Universe have opened The Strange Academy. Emily Bright is one such student, her emerging powers showing great potential also making her a target to other supernatural entities. At the Academy, she'll meet other students gifted with magic, not only from Earth but across the universe including a couple of Asgardians and even the Dark Dimension. And though the class will advance quickly in their studies, they'll still find themselves outclassed against the threats outside the school grounds.

Strange Academy Vol. 2: Bright Side (Issues 7-12) by Skottie Young

Following the class's encounter with a dangerous magic-wielding cult in the swamps of New Orleans, Headmaster Dr. Strange as well as Emily Bright both risk a part of themselves to save their fellow students. The class more or less back together, it is back to the daily school grind of lectures, studying, and tests. To break the monotony of the school days, the Academy hosts a Parent's Day on campus much to the chagrin of Doyle, son of Dormamu of the Dark Dimension, and Calvin Morse, whose last set of foster parents barely qualified as "decent" (they are assholes). The class also attends a field trip to Asgard, where a secret is uncovered and teenage romance blooms. Finally, one of their own is mysteriously killed and the teachers bring in a detective to discover if any of the kids are to blame.

Strange Academy Vol. 3: Wish-Craft (Issues 13-18) by Skottie Young

As one dark force is put down, others begin to pop-up amongst the Strange Academy class. The students decide to spend a night out roaming the streets of New Orleans only to discover Zoe's family secret sitting in a graveyard. As the school year progresses and Calvin falls further behind his peers now that his jacket is gone, he'll turn to a dangerous wishmaster to get his powers back. An erroneous trip with time magic lets Doyle see a possible future war amongst the students. And, of course, what school year would be complete without a school dance, and the resulting chaos after words are said and feelings are hurt.

I've said before that I typically avoid the Big 2 comics (Marvel and DC) because of how much backstory one needs before jumping into the story. Though I don't know a lot about the Marvel Universe and its characters, these kids feel like they're brand new characters and the teachers are ones I'm at least familiar with. Definitely a positive since I don't have to do a bunch of research I'd rather not do in the middle of reading. Side note: I did some research and it looks like, for the most part, all of the students at least are brand new characters to the Marvel Universe so this provides a nice entry point for anyone not familiar with the material. Plus, I mean, it's a story about a magic academy, of course my Harry Potter-brainwashed self is going to be interested in that.

Like a lot of magic school stories, there's the weird, occult classes, assignments, and even games; individuals who come from other worlds and realms, and travel to other lands and times - as well as your typical coming-of-age moments: school crushes, first kisses, and discovering more about yourself. Although not all the characters may play a big role in every chapter, we receive nice, little adventures with the characters we do follow, all while the story alludes to a darker future. We watch as the students search for connections amongst themselves as well as seek to distinguish themselves from not only their classmates but their own history, while those without those bonds seek for forge new ones with their classmates. As we get further into the series, and the kids have gotten a taste of the pain that can result when magic isn't used properly, Young's gloves come off when it comes to seeing how much more he can put the children through. Toward the end, we'll see a darker side to the students manifest itself as Calvin struggles with fitting-in amongst his peers, Doyle reveals just how strong he actually is, and Emily's pride drives her to take drastic actions.

Why pick-up this series in the first-place though? I know I mentioned before that I tend to avoid Marvel and DC comics because I don't like how much I feel I already have to know before jumping in. One of those things is that a lot of the characters were created specifically for this series, so you know, not a lot of backstory to be found. Another thing was seeing Skottie Young's name on the cover. If you're a reader of this blog (you're not so I'm still not sure why you're even here), you know how much I love the "I Hate Fairyland" series. Any downsides though? Well, that would be the price as each collected volume costs about $14 while individual issues can range from $4-6 each, which is a bit more expensive than my typical mass-market paperbacks. Luckily, I found Volume 1 used at Skull-Face, a new bookstore in downtown. It was pretty fun, too, wandering around a new bookstore. I really didn't mean to buy Volumes 2 and 3 so soon but I was looking to pad my comic purchase one week (it felt weird only buying one or two issues that day) so I bought them. And yes, I know there are a bunch of other books still tucked away to be read but I really liked this story. Once Strange Academy: Finals releases a collected volume, that should conclude this story.

Nemesis: Reloaded (Issues 1 - 5 *completed) by Mark Millar

Matthew Anderson's, aka Nemesis, crusade of terror against the city of Los Angeles and the LAPD comes to an end as the city's mayor sits strapped to a nuclear bomb. At the same time, Anderson also discovers the truth behind the US president everyone forgot existed.

Issue 5 finishes up this arc of "Nemesis: Reloaded" as well as sets the stage of Millar's ambitious Millarworld crossover event, "Big Game." Keeping with the last four issues, the story climaxes with a big, revealing twist and unabashed violence the story has been known for. His revenge now complete, Anderson answers the question of the forgotten US president posed by his mysterious master who is revealed to be none other than Wesley Gibson, the protagonist of Millar's "Wanted" and now one of the secret masters of The Fraternity. Though it is yet unclear what Gibson's and The Fraternity's motives are, seeing Nemesis accept an invitation to join the group sets up an exciting start to the event.

Hell to Pay (#1 - 6 *completed)  by Charles Soule

Maia Stone sets out to find her kidnapped husband, Sebastian, and recover the last of the qurrakh for the Shrouded College to free the two of them from their bonds.

Concluding the first volume of the "Hell to Pay" series, The Poor Man as finally gathered enough cursed qurrakh coins to call upon the Devil himself, of course only to find that his wish of overthrowing capitalism isn't as simple as he thought (I mean, if you really think about it, why else could Hell operate on a gold coin system?). Though their debt to the Shrouded College is paid, the Stones make another bargain due to the trauma sustained, and it's hinted they may make appearances in future issues. Surprisingly (especially coming from not one of the Big Two comic publishers), the creators already have an entire seven arcs planned for the series, each focusing on a deadly sin (this first one being Greed). Surprising, because I can't see a smaller press agreeing to that type of advance, especially if this first arc didn't sell well. This first arc was really enjoyable though to me as I guess I'm a sucker for stories about magic and good vs evil and deals with the devil and characters with debts to pay.

Carnage Reigns (6 issue crossover event *completed)

Cletus Kasady, aka Carnage, is on the loose again and deadlier than ever seeing as he has armed himself with not only a symbiote but Stark technology. While Marvel's most infamous serial killer stalks the streets of New York City once again, it'll be up to Mile Morales to end the mad-man's killing spree.

It's fucking Carnage! So yes, I decided to simply jump into this event without reading any of the prior "Carnage" comic issues, mostly because I heard that the series doesn't necessarily focus on Cletus Kasady but the symbiote instead. Kasady, I would argue, is the best part of Carnage - not the symbiote but the irredeemable serial killer it had bonded with. So when I read that this event would star Kasady, I jumped into it - and it didn't disappoint. As violent as ever, Kasady starts his rampage murdering a diner full of patrons before impersonating all of them using the symbiote. He's stronger and more cunning than I remember from the "Maximum Carnage" collection where he faced off against Spiderman/Peter Parker I read years and years ago. The story introduces some familiar faces in the Marvel universe, enough that I don't feel too far out of my depth while reading it. I don't quite understand what Kasady has bonded with to make him so dangerous, but that doesn't really matter as long as he is as terrifying as he should be. The only disappointment I had with the short event is that it didn't put Morales in the same dilemma I remember Parker facing when he stopped Carnage, which was deciding if it was right to stop Carnage by killing him (because Spiderman doesn't kill). It was mentioned that Morales previously faced Carnage and the symbiote got into his head and traumatized him, so I guess Morales has already faced that kind of psychological horror and the writers didn't want to reuse that plot.

Quested (Issues #1 - 6 *completed) by Michael Calero and Thomas Parson

 
The son of a famous hero, Jinx spends his days trying to emulate his father's heroics - or at least pretends to. Along with his two sidekicks, the trio scam unsuspecting kingdoms through fake kidnapping schemes and collect the treasure of the realm as payment. That is, until an actual quest presents itself to Jinx and he has no choice but to accept.

According to the reviews I read, it looks like Issues 1-6 wrap up the first arc of the story with the next part hopefully in the making (I've never heard of Whatnot Publishing). As an introduction goes, the story definitely does a good job introducing who all the characters are and what they are about. I'm not sure if it was because I let too much time pass before reading each issue, but I felt like I was lost toward the middle issues in terms of storyline (I had thought we were going in the direction of the Big Bad but then we shifted to a side quest and then there was a sort-of timeskip). The protagonist, Jinx, is really what kept me wanting to read the comic (more on that later). Many of these types of stories are supposed to feature a strong-willed warrior set on a path of righteousness. Though Jinx is a skilled fighter, his main feature is that he's a con-man, living off the name of his father to further his own ends which is simply to get rich.

Though the story features quests and wizards and monsters and swordplay, I'd hesitate to call it High Fantasy. Perhaps, more accurately, it may be a parody of the genre. The story itself it definitely a take on video games like "The Legend of Zelda" and Dungeons and Dragons (there's even a magical D20!). That particular element added to the comedic side of the story, although, to be hones, the whole story was pretty funny throughout.

I guess I'd also like to talk about how I got these issues in the first place. By the time I heard of this series, they had already released the first two issues and issue three just came out. At the time, Otherrealms had sold out of the first two issues, so I figured there wasn't a point to picking up issue 3. Then, I found another comic shop, and they had a larger back-stock of comics, including those first two issues. So, I picked up those two but by the time I got back to Otherrealms, they'd sold out of issue 3. Whatnot Publishing (which I'd never heard of until then) surprisingly does allow ordering of individual issues as other publishers I've looked into only give you a list of comic book sellers in the area or downloads for an eReader (which, yes, I should probably look into). So, I held out until issue 5 (to make the shipping costs worth it) and then ordered 3, 4, and 5 all at the same time as I bought issue 6 from the store. No, I still don't know why more publishers don't offer this (maybe because comics can be a collector's item) but I do admit, for me anyways, it might just take away the thrill of going to a shop and hoping they have something for you.

Godfell (#1 - 4 *ongoing) by Chris Sebela

Zanzi is a soldier, fighting her way across the continent for her kingdom, excelling at the brutality with which she dispatches her enemies and dreaming of the day she may return home. When she realizes her superiors' conquests will never end, she deserts the army and begins her journey home. The trek home across foreign lands becomes even more treacherous when the corpse of a man - miles upon miles long - falls from the sky and lands right in the middle of Zanzi's path. Unwilling to make the trek around the body, Zanzi decides to carve a path through, finding that other factions and nations have also decided to lay their own claims to sections of the dead god as well. Along the way, she'll partner with a mysterious companion, and together they'll navigate through the giant corpse claimed by murderous death cults and hedonistic fanatics.

Teaming a fighter and a rogue together on a fantastic journey may not seem like a new idea (I mean, I literally just read a book like that earlier this year) but what is interesting is the journey they take in this story. The story itself is set inside what appears to be simply the body of a very, very large man (although theories have been put forth about what it truly is - a god, a monster, or both). As they'll seek out an exit on the other side of the body, they'll encounter a variety of others that have also entered the body - some mere travelers like themselves, others seeking to claim the entirety of the body for their own, and others simply deciding to migrate to a particular section they decree holy They'll also encounter new species native to the body itself, still surviving although its host has died. Although the two protagonists may start off at odds with each other, they'll soon find what the other is trying to hide, even from themselves.

The Ambassadors (#1 - 6 *completed) by Mark Millar

Choon-He Chung has cracked the code on superheroes, and is now looking for just the right people to give those powers to and make them Ambassadors for good. Unfortunately, choosing the "right" person isn't so simple as she and her team scour through the entire population to find them. At the same time, hiding in the shadows, another group with superpowers is looking to topple her global experiment.

Dammit! Yeah, by now you probably realize I'm something of a Mark Millar fanboy. I don't know, but he just does such a good job with superhero stories. After cracking the code to give people abilities, Chung sets out to find the best people from each country to act as Ambassadors and protect the planet. Sort of a Willy Wonka - like story, each issue until the last focuses upon an individual chosen to be part of Chung's team. Of course, in the last issue, we're given a big, superpowered brawl between Chung's Ambassadors and her ex-husband's group of wealthy ... assholes able to buy their powers from him. And, since the story falls into Millarworld, we can probably expect to be seeing them in Millar's "Big Game" crossover event (spoiler: yeah, they're in there).

Let's talk about the powers first. Initially, each Ambassador receives a physical upgrade so their bodies can utilize their new abilities. Most of the powers featured so far are your standard fare - super-strength, super-speed, etc. What's really cool is the way The Ambassadors access their powers from a shared bank of superpowers, each character able to hold up to three abilities at a time with only a limited number to be shared amongst the group. 

Each issue of "The Ambassadors" looks into the backstory of one of the characters, what sets them apart from the other applicants and makes them worthy of becoming a superhero. Of course, there are the usual heroic actions like self-sacrifice, but some of them are simply good people or are striving to become better people. Seeing as how most superheroes seem to be either born from a tragedy or just hurled into the gig, this Willy-Wonka style selection process makes the choices a lot more interesting, not to mention focuses the story more on the people behind the powers rather than the powers themselves.

Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones (#1 - 5 *completed) by Emily Kim

School. Work. Band practice. Super-heroics. Gwen Stacy has enough to deal with on a daily basis. Then, mysterious clones begin popping up around the city, each one a combination of herself and one of her evil villains. Ghost-Spider soon discovers each clone is being controlled by a hidden mastermind with plans far bigger than simply destroying her in this universe.

I know, I've said that I try to avoid getting into the established Big Two (DC and Marvel) because of the time it takes to get to know who the characters are and what may have happened in previous story lines. Luckily, Spider-Gwen (from a reality where Gwen Stacy was bitten by a radioactive spider and her best friend Peter Parker was killed) is a relatively new character to the Marvel Universe, and I'm sorta familiar with a lot of the Spiderman lore so it wasn't too hard to jump into. Plus, the first issue comes with a little "all you need to know" set-up making it even easier to read.

Um, it's a comic book. If you're looking for superhero action, then this has what you're looking for. Evil clones are nothing new but I guess merging them with the hero's enemies is a sort of new concept which doesn't get played with too much as most clones appear to be taken off the board rather quickly. Personally, I guess because of the popular multi-verse thing happening now, I was hoping these would be Gwen Stacys from other realities who become these villains instead of Ghost-Spider (or, you know, just ending up dead). Also, (because I'm lazy) the last issue was released in July so I'll just add that in to complete the set.

Torrent (#1 - 5 *completed) by Marc Guggenheim

 Crackerjack is just another superhero focused on stopping criminals and keeping her city and its citizens safe. Then, her secret identity is discovered. After an attack on her home injures her son and kills her husband, Crackerjack breaks. Setting aside her mission as a superhero, Michelle Metcalf focuses all of her abilities and skills on revenge. Her path won't be so straight-forward though with the obstacles set between her and her target, not to mention the justice system and her own superpowered allies.

A great action comic with a concept I haven't seen in comics (or at least I'm unfamiliar if it has been done) but I'm pretty familiar with since it used to pop-up on R/Writing Prompts at least once a week. Though it may be read like a simple straight-action comic like a mid-level TV show you can follow while still completing tasks around the house, the story does present some interesting issues and situations I'd like to see handled within the bigger Marvel or DC universes. I don't know if that's really how law enforcement works, but because Michelle is a vigilante, she can't technically report a crime as she would need to file the report under her real identity. With the amount of superheroes within the Marvel and DC universes that work under false names, are thy also beholden to that rule? If so, then how are criminals prosecuted in those universes? The universe "Torrent" is se tin also appears to lack anyone as powerful as a Superman or ... Thor (I don't know the equivalent in Marvel) to deter Metcalf from her revenge. If this happened in one of those universes, how would this situation be handled? And or course, besides this, it's still entertaining to read a superpowered ... maybe closer to Liam Neeson's "Taken" character than Keanu Reeves' "John Wick" character get her revenge.

The Mighty Barbarians (#1 - 3 *ongoing) by 

 A great evil has set itself upon not just one realm but all of them, spreading and killing like a plague. To combat this horror, Morgan LaFay will need a team of strong warriors pulled from different worlds. Initially reluctant to work together, the group sets aside their differences and harness their own individual strengths to defeat the evil before it can conquer all their lands.

So, I probably wouldn't have picked this up if it weren't for my new interest in Dungeons and Dragons (and yes, the Barbarian class as well). Sometimes it's hard to read High Fantasy books (they just take me so much longer to read for some reason), so I figured I could get a fix through comic books which wouldn't take as long to read. to sum up the first three issues so far, it's kind of like an old-school hack-and-slash type story as the Barbarians set about their quest. One of the tag lines is something along the lines of "Before there were superheroes, there were Barbarians," so I'm guessing that each of the characters may be not only a hero but an established literary figure as well (I'm just too lazy to go and look).

The Harrower (Issues 1 - 4 *completed) by Justin Jordan

In this small town, a supernatural stalker known simply as "The Harrower" appears once a year to cull the impure though many believe it to be just a town legend or urban myth. In an act of teenage defiance, the high schoolers mockingly throw a "Harrower Party," only for an unexpected guest to arrive. Will the kids survive the night? Will secrets of this small town be revealed by one that knows too much? It's a diffrent type of horror story with a surprise twist.

A short, slasher/horror comic set in a small town where, once a year, a killer is set to terrorize the teenagers and cull the impure from their ranks. Meh, it was okay. I was excited for it at the end of the first issue, when it is revealed that some in the town consider The Harrower a savior-type figure. The brutality and ingenuity of The Harrower to hunt down and terrorize its victims was on par with your standard "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th" movies. Like other slasher movies from that time, the protagonists felt a little bland, very much your standard teenager, horror-movie cast of characters. Though it billed itself as a "unique" horror story, the twist at the end made it feel more like an extremer version of "Hot Fuzz" - not only do the adults of the town know the truth, they are the ones encouraging and perpetuating the killings. The last twist though, seeing one of the hunted take on the mantle of The Harrower, that is the part of the story I'm more interested in exploring. Will she continue the killings? Will she strike down the ones who carried them out for decades under the belief that it could bring good fortune to their town? That feels like a story I'd be more interested in, especially with the cults confirmation that most current Harrowers are drugged and brainwashed to make them more effective killers.

Deadboy Detectives (Issues 1 - 6 *completed)

Edwin and Charles solve the case, discover the man conducting the ritual, set free a bound witch, and restore the world as it was, sort of.

To be honest, part way through this series, I kinda stopped caring about the case. I just started to feel like this wasn't a story I was interested in. I knew it was going to be a short run (maybe just ten issues max) so I kept buying them until this arc concluded. I don't know, I like Neil Gaiman's work on "The Sandman" but this one was just kind of "meh" to me. Maybe I just didn't invest enough into the story? After finishing it though, it does feel like I should've learned some sort of lesson on when to stop reading a story, especially considering how expensive comics can get if I simply keep buying them every week with no regard as to what I'm buying.