Attempting to go back to the "once every three months" format I used when I first started these posts.
Living Hell by Caitlin Yarsky
Hiding on Earth as a lowly bartender, Jerome Jameel tries to to provide for his family while avoiding those seeking to return him to Hell. Defending himself from one who discovered his identity, he is forced to take on the job of Shepherd and return other escapees back to Hell. When his daughter's name comes up though, he will be forced into an impossible choice.
Another book I'd never heard of until I saw it on the pre-order list and thought, "Yeah, that looks interesting." This collection lays an interesting groundwork for a possible larger, deeper story which could touch on themes of religion to immigration to mental health. It's got a little bit of each subject but never really gets into any of them too heavily. The story instead focuses on Jameel's family and his relationship with his daughter and wife after they discover his secret. We also see his struggle with his new role hunting down other escapees from Hell (including old friends), a place he himself escaped from years ago. I still don't understand the meaning of the ending except that it provides a giant-monster climax and places his burden upon a new character. What I really would've liked to explore is who classified these old gods and folklores as "demons," or more about these "demons'" struggles trying to stay under the radar as they attempt to scrape together a living on Earth after escaping their imprisonment. There's a lot of potential that just isn't touched upon in these four issues.
Night Club Vol. 2 by Mark Millar
While Danny and Amy, now officially a couple, continue their superheroics for views on their Youtube channel, a jealous Sam goes his own way - making friends with the jocks and popular kids who once bullied him. Tricked into giving his new "friends" the same vampiric abilities, the three will need to reunite and rely on each other to put an end to the fledgling vampires' crime spree.
Continuing after the events of both "Night Club Vol. 1" and the "Big Game" event, Sam has split from the group thanks to his jealousy while Danny and Amy fight crime for Youtube views and profit. There's your classic teenage drama, up until Sam passes along the group's supernatural powers to those who would abuse it. To fix his mistake, the team will need to reunite to fight against a group much more comfortable with their new abilities. The ending sets up the Night Club to take on a new threat much worse than the last.
Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #1 - 5 by Deniz Camp and Cody Ziglar
When The Maker escaped his imprisonment, he offered Miles Morales a chance to come with him to his new universe. When Miles' baby sister is accidentally teleported to Earth 6160, Miles sets out to rescue her. Along the way, he'll meet with a lot of the new characters introduced in the new Ultimate series, and even make a decision which will have consequences for both the new Earth 6160 and his adoptive home, Earth 616.
Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion is a fun romp through the new Ultimate Universe as Miles meets with the new characters on his quest to find his missing sister. With the new Ultimate series already in full-swing, I was a little skeptical about this late-comer, expecting just a fun, throw-away series simply exploring the new universe from an outsider's perspective. Being fully invested in the series though, I still decided to pick-up the series (and luckily, the comic shop added it to my pull-list without me even requesting it). I really enjoyed Miles' interaction with the new Peter and Richard Parker Spider-Men, as well as the new Ultimate X-Men, who are closer in age. Surprisingly, the story does have actual consequences as Miles removes The Maker's remaining Origin Boxes from Earth 6160 and takes them with him to Earth 616, and even provides The Ultimates with a vital piece of information - The Maker's origins.
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
"Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."
"I didn't put you in a prison, Evey. I just showed you the bars."
After a great war, England finds itself under a fascist-authoritarian rule: the "undesirable" purged while the rest of society lives under constant surveillance by the governing body and their "Fate" computer system. From the ashes of their long-forgotten experiments comes the mysterious terrorist known simply as "V" who begins striking at the unprepared government. What follows is a year-long campaign to release the government's grasp on the people - toppling infrastructure, assassinating officials, and planting the seeds of resistance in the minds of the populace. What will remain of England and it's people once V's war has concluded?
Although known as a classic graphic novel, V For Vendettawas never on my "To Read" List. Then, I saw it for sale at a comic shop as part of their "Graphic Novel Book Club" reading list, so I figured, why not? At least that way I can bother other people with the things I've read and leave the civilian population alone (you know, like the people that for some reason read these lists).
As I've noticed when reading older comic books of this time period, this one also reads a lot longer than most modern comics of the same length, in this case thanks to the amount of dialogue, exposition, and the boxing style. I can usually get through a standard graphic novel in a week, a week and a half max. The only reason I finished this one in time for the Book Club meeting was thanks to a nail in my tire trapping me at Lex Brodie's for two hours with nothing else to do.
V For Vendetta is filled with some pretty heavy themes of Anarchy, Fascism, Authoritarianism, Freedom, and Revolution that I understand the need for its length to explore all of these topics, but there were also subplots and characters that simply could've been cut out of the story. The medium, as well, could've been harnessed better to show the reader images of what Moore is trying to convey rather than relying on blocks and blocks of text. I haven't read a lot of Alan Moore's work (and it's been over a decade since I read The Watchmen), but someone in the group pointed out the length of the work might simply be due to Moore's writing style - that what he writes could be described more as manifestos instead of stories.
Upon completing the story, I think of V For Vendetta as Moore's version of George Orwell's 1984 - a fascist, authoritarian Britain ruled by a single group - except Moore inserts a protagonist willing to do the grim deeds to succeed in his revolution. One in the group likened the story to a British version of The Watchmen - what life would be like under the ultra-conservative rule of Margaret Thatcher - but I know shit about history and politics, so I can't be sure. I definitely did not like the "Make Britain Great Again" slogan as that just hit too close to home ("art imitating life imitating art imitating life..."). The Leader's speech about his twisted love of fascism was also disturbing, not because I agreed, but simply because I understood the logic of it, and that's just as unsettling.
Alan Moore's Writing for Comics by Alan Moore
"... what I'd like to attempt is something that tackles the broader issue of how we might actually think about the craft of comic writing, rather than a list of detailed specifics."
"Given sufficient intelligence on the part of the creators involved there's no reason why the comic-strip work shouldn't have all the depth and complexity of the book, and the visual flow and appeal of the film, and at the same time be read and appreciated at whatever pace the reader finds most appropriate."
Published originally in 1985, this collection of four essays reflects Alan Moore's thoughts on the comic industry and how to write comics from start to finish. Split into four sections, the series presents a theory that takes an idea and turns it into a finished product. "Chapter One: The Basic Idea; Thinking About Comics", focuses on establishing the "IDEA" of your story, how your Idea differs from the Plot of the story, and what to look for when establishing your Idea. Still in the "pre-writing" phase, "Chapter Two: Reaching the Reader; Structure, Pacing, Story Telling" encourages writers to write their story, not to worry about offending certain readers and instead focus on what it means to be human and human experiences, and, if you're good enough, your readers will find you. In "Chapter Three: World Building; Place and Personality", we finally get to the writing phase with establishing the world of your story and the people that live in it, encouraging the writer to fully realize their world before they begin. Finally, "Chapter Four: The Details; Plot and Script" starts the task of writing the plot, formatting the story to fit the number of panels and pages, and ensuring the writing doesn't stop the reader from turning the page. Moore also comments upon his own advice in a reflection almost 20 years later, and even provides some new writing advice, this time for those who have already established themselves.
I picked up this pamphlet a while back, and, after finishing V For Vendetta decided it was also time to read what I thought might be Moore's writing process. Though the book appears fairly thin, the book itself is quite dense, packed with information, insight, and advice to new, up-and-coming writers. It literally took me a month to get through it all, reading it in small sections and trying to take my own notes as if I was going to be quizzed later. Though I don't plan to write for comics (I can't draw, and don't know anyone willing to draw my trash ideas), I still treated the book as more of a textbook rather than a book I'd typically read for pleasure, hoping to turn Moore's advice to my own writing. Each section of the book had a piece of advice I'm hoping will stick with me throughout my writing:
1) The idea is what brings a reader to your story, not necessarily the plot.
2) Don't waste your time trying to "not offend" anyone. Instead, focus on genuine human experiences, and, if your story is good, the readers will find you.
3) Think about and create a fully-realized world before writing.
4) "Plot" (which can be thought of as "situation + time") isn't the main idea of your story, it is there to enhance your idea.
Afterward) Don't allow yourself to stagnate, keep trying new things.
All in all, it was a very informative read, and I can see how Moore wrote works like The Watchmen and V For Vendetta.
The Autumn Kingdom Vol. 1 Through the Blight by Cullen Bunn
While on vacation in the Swedish countryside, Sommer and Winter discover a nearby clearing filled with forgotten statues of trolls, goblins, and other supernatural creatures - including a warrior queen with a broken-off hand. Later that night, a horde of fae creatures break into their cabin and kidnap their parents, taking them away to be sacrificed to The Autumn Kingdom. Evading capture, Sommer and Winter find a giant magical sword which allows them to fight back against the monsters hunting them. The two sisters will cut their way through waves of fae to save their parents - and discover how centuries of conflict have led them to this point.
I'm honestly not sure how I even got a copy of the first issue of The Autumn Kingdom as Oni Press isn't a major publisher and its books are rarely carried in either of the shops I frequent. I can tell you, I didn't get any of the subsequent issues only because they neither shop brought them, so I waited until the trade paperback was released. I'm a sucker for a "journey into a hidden world" story, so naturally I picked his up. I really liked the teamwork between the sisters as they set out to rescue their parents from The Fae. Though I did enjoy the inset story of The Wraithbound Queen (a dark and vicious story of revenge), the sisters' father's story, I don't quite understand its relation to the main storyline, if it is at all. This volume ends both stories on cliffhangers, and I'm entertained and curious enough to want to pick-up volume 2, which I just found out the individual issues are coming out soon, so it might be a bit of a wait for the collected trade paperback release.
The Cold Witch: A Tale of The Shrouded College #1 - 5 by Charles Soule
Her lover taken from her, Violetta sets out on a path of revenge against those he was forced to serve - The Shrouded College. To do so, she will need to uncover the secret he took with him to his grave: the prison of The Cold Witch, a creature of legend capable of granting nearly any boon for a price. On her trail, The Shrouded College sends its own team to foil her plot. Will Violletta get what she wants? How many more secrets is The Shrouded College hiding?
The third installment of "The Shrouded College" series follows a new protagonist, one looking for revenge against The Shrouded College. It's a new dynamic as we follow a character not beholden to the seemingly all-powerful magical entity. What I really enjoyed about this chapter was not only the revenge angle, but also that we finally got more background on The Shrouded College and the war they're fighting against the other magical entities. Also, that ending - The College always wins.
Die Vol. #1 - 4 by Kieron Gillen
"... it's a game of choices. Anything is possible. What are you going to do? Whatever you want."
"You were adventure and glamour when life was dull. You were a place to explore the worst parts of ourselves. And the best. You were a place where some of us hid from real life for a lifetime. You were a place to learn lessons and their costs ... You are for all of that ... and we've had enough."
In 1991, Ash and his friends disappeared into a fantasy role-playing game, one created by his best friend, Sol, for Ash's birthday. Two years later, all but one returned, the survivors unable to tell anyone what happened. Twenty-five years later, the five tormented adults are pulled back into the world of Die once more. Transformed into their Paragons, they will they will fight and scheme their way across the vast world, discovering its dark secrets and history all to get back home - if that is what they truly want.
I finally did it! If you recall, I picked up the first volume of Die long ago, and I loved the premise and set-up, and the short essays so much that I bought the rest of the books toward the middle of 2024. Then, they just sat. Yeah, I don't know. My stack of books and comics and graphic novels just kept growing, and I picked up new hobbies, and I just didn't make time to read everything I bought. Then, I saw Gillen and Stephanie Hans were again collaborating on a sequel, and knew it was finally time to give these books a read.
Of course, these characters being transported to a role-playing game is gonna require them to take on unique character classes to survive. These four volumes feature six unique character classes, each with their own special abilities. While each class feels similar to the standard classes you'd find in other RPG's like "Dungeons and Dragons", each of them have their own traits allowing them to stand apart from what one would usually expect. After playing a little bit of D&D, I actually gained an appreciation for Chuck's "Fool" class which appears to be invincible as long as he doesn't overthink his actions and just does whatever feels right in the moment. It's a truly selfish class, but, after playing with others that may overthink their actions and stall the game, I understand the need for a playing willing to drive the story forward. I also liked, in story-lore, that Sol came up with these classes based on how his friends filled out their character sheets. Usually, Players choose a Character Class based on how they want to play. Instead, Sol is able to do the reverse and generate a whole new class based on how his fiends wanted to play the game. I just thought that was really cool and needed to be mentioned.
Initially, I didn't really care for the reveal that the world of Die was created by the collective imagination of famous writers such as Tolkien, Bronte, Wells, Lovecraft, etc. I don't know, maybe because I've fallen into the isekai trap of main characters pulled into a game-like world almost too perfect for them. Maybe I was hanging on too much to the idea that Sol created all of this for Ash's birthday rather than finding it like some "Jumanji - D&D." Then I got to the end, and the answer to the question, "What am I for?" and I fell in love with the story all over again. Because [SPOILER] this is what games (and fantasy, in general) is for - a place to explore ourselves, to escape ... but the game eventually ends. Though we haven't played in a while, I've still been reading, learning about RPGs and their community appeal which has got me thinking more about the characters I've created - what they mean to me, how to roleplay them, etc - and now just how they play mechanically. I feel like I'm a horrible actor/roleplayer, but maybe that's something that needs not only practice, but a better connection or more understanding of the characters I've created, and why.
As with my first read through of volume 1, each volume contained a series of essays in the book which were also a lot of fun and insightful to read. Of course, the series ends with an interview with Matt Mercer and his journey in the RPG world, which is a true highlight. I also really liked the interview with Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk on the curation of the TTRPG Safety Toolset which provided not only a lot of insight on how to implement safety tools, but also why you should have these tools to begin with. Of course, we also got several essays by Gillen on the creation of Die (both the story and the TTRPG): the development of the characters, the world, and how the story related to him personally. It's something that I hope to keep imitating in my own writing.
Die: Loaded #1 and Die RPG Quickstart Game Guide by Kieron Gillen
They may have finished the game but the game isn't finished with them yet. In this next installment of the "Die" series, Die: Loaded. Sophie, Ash's wife is given a magical die and sent off to the world of Die. Who also from our world were chosen to become The Paragons this time? And what new trials will they need to complete to return home, if they even want to return home?
As I already mentioned, the reason for finally finishing the Die series I've been holding for over a year is because of the release of Die: Loaded. I pre-ordered issue one's Peach Momoko cover variant (I really like her art!) thinking the series should be popular enough that I could find the main cover in one of the two shops I frequent. I did not. Either it was so popular that all of the issue one's walked out the door before I got there, or they were ordered in a low volume, but either way, I didn't get it. I've also held off on buying any of the subsequent issues, deciding to wait on the trade paperback version which is how I bought the other books (hooray, consistency!).
I really liked this start as it sets up a two-protagonist story with one storyline following Sophie in the world of Die, and the other being Ash in the real world. I'm interested to see a brand new person experience Die for the first time - to learn about the world, about her new powers, about herself. With what I know from my brief stint playing D&D, I'm also curious to see how Sophie handles her power as a Godbinder, and, especially, how she'll differ from Isabelle. I also want to see how Ash handles the separation, and if he can survive and thrive in the real world. It's a good opening and I'm really happy I recently finished the first 20 issues of Die before starting this one.
Also released at the same time was a Quickstart RPG Guide introducing people to the Die RPG. I was so excited for this that not only did I pre-order the guide, but when I saw it still in-stock in stores, I just said, "Fuck it" and bought it just so I could look at it a month earlier. And I tried. I got really invested in the concept of the Players creating those all-too-real "broken adult personas" and the rules/mechanics for each of the different Paragons/Classes that I completely skipped over the mechanics of the game. One day, seeing my co-worker who also DM's D&D games was bored, I gave him the guide book to skim through. Then, in literally the time it took me to take a shit and return to the office, he had already figured the whole thing out and even offered to run a game if I could show up to the office early - to which I laughed in his face (sorry, there's no way I'm getting to work at 5am to play before I start work at 7:30am). Also, I was very surprised he'd never heard of this comic as I also caught him reading I Hate Fairyland. This series feels like a must-read for all tabletop players.
The guide itself isn't too long and is a good introduction to the game. It provides the basic premise of the game, a quick character creator, the core mechanics of the game, a one-shot dungeon, and a brief description of the different classes. That's really all there is to it. Just remember to provide your own dice. After reading through it ... most of it ... okay, I focused mostly on the end of the book, of course my favorite section was going to be the last bit featuring the different Paragons. As much as I loved Ash's Dictator and Isabelle's Godbinder classes, I think if I were to play, I'd take The Fool. I really just like the mechanic that allows the character to instantly succeed or fail a task, usually in spectacular fashion. Plus, every group needs that one player willing to make the decision that drives the story forward.
The Keeper's Six by Kate Elliott
"Someone had once compared the Beyond to the mortar between bricks, if bricks were material Realms like Earth and mortar was a trackless poisonous infinitely branching and changing dimension inhabited by ravenous monsters, venomous plants, and clouds of amnesia - or psychosis-inducing bugs commonly called antics."
"But she knew how to hold on as life assaulted her. Death, loss, reversals, these plunges into a pit out of which a person had to climb as against a stiff wind or a sharp wall or else lie in the ditch until the flooding waters drowned you."
Esther Green awakens in the middle of the night into a nightmare - her son has been taken. Gathering her supernatural Hex, the magical team will travel into The Beyond - the treacherous space between realities - to find the culprit. In order to get him back, she'll be forced to trek across a void where nothing from our reality is meant to survive, make amends with the only friends she has left, and confront the crimes of her past that have once again revealed its cruel head.
It's witch-y Taken as Esther Green brings together her coven to rescue her kidnapped son. I don't remember how I heard about this book - if it was through a recommendation list or just happened upon it on the shelves - but I liked the premise of an older protagonist setting out on an adventure once more (as I too am an older adult). It kinda reminds me of an interview someone gave about reading The Dark Knight Returns and relating to a Batman that was no longer the familiar 20-30 year old, but instead older and grizzled. So, onto the To Read list it went. Though it wasn't high on my list, I didn't find a lot of the higher listed books during my last search. Then, as you may have noticed, I haven't read many books recently, so I pulled this one out of the stack being of my shorter ones just to get myself back into book-reading (especially since some of the others in my pile are pretty hefty tomes).
Though I said, "Magical Taken", of course it doesn't read like a magical action movie as that would be stupid (at least, I think it would be - have you seen old people run?). Being a more mature and experienced character, I liked that Esther wasn't prone to simply running headfirst into danger as a younger character might. Instead, she is methodical and patient, trying to piece together all the clues before she acts. That isn't to say she doesn't have her own powers as her Hex's Lantern, her Light Magic being the most powerful force in The Beyond. In fact, each member of the Hex has a specific role on the team to help the group survive and carry-out their mission. The setting is an interesting ... umm, I want to say "multiversal fantasy" as Dragons connect different universes to The Beyond, creating trade and travel across realms which enable them to build their hordes. After discovering her son was taken by one such dragon as blackmail for her interference in its dealings with another group, Esther and her Hex set off across The Beyond to see if they can rectify the situation with an exchange or words, goods, or violence. The story is unlike other fantasy I've read recently, thoroughly enjoyable in a different kind of way from the spell-slinging I usually find in Urban Fantasy or the elaborate world-building of High Fantasy.
Eight Billion Genies by Charles Soule
"Wishing is an art. It brings us joy to see it practiced well."
"Every wish we grant is the same wish. 'I wish I had enough.'"
When the Earth's population reaches eight billion people - that's eight billion individuals with wants and needs rubbing against each other - each person receives a genie capable of granting them the one wish they always desired. Over the next eight centuries, we'll follow the lives of several individuals as they attempt to survive and find happiness in this new and ever-changing world where reality could shift at a whim. And, in the end, what will the last wish be that will reshape humanity's future?
I pulled these issues out from a a literal drawer (I'm running out of space) to re-read thanks to it being the Graphic Novel Book Club's monthly read (I guess because the trade paperback version was finally available). I'm writing part of this after finishing the series for a second time, but before the meeting just to get my own thoughts on it, and then I plan to write another part after discussing the work (or I'll get lazy and cut out everything I just said - how are you going to know?).
How did I like reading it the second time through? Actually, did I talk about this the first time? I loved the premise of every person on Earth getting a single wish and what would unfold. Originally, I didn't like how the story progressed, hoping instead for a more, I guess, "philosophical" study. Older now, and knowing what to expect, I believe this book actually gave me that experience. Comparing the narrative arc of the story to Will William's time on Earth to even my own life, there does seem to be a pattern emerging in humanity's desires. Of course, first comes our own immediate wants, usually pretty selfish for instant gratification. Then, comes a desire for power for a multitude of reasons. We start to get grand ideas on how we'd like to remake the world. Ultimately, though, we're just looking for a sense of peace, to have enough. I felt like I connected much more with the story now than compared to my first read through.
Of course, the big question is "What would you wish for?" I'm sorry to say it, but I would be one of those to use their wish immediately. As selfish as it is, the big one would be to bring Candy back to life, except I've seen way too many "They always come back changed/different" movies, so that might rule out that wish. I really liked William's wish to create a Haven to protect the folks in the bar from the wishes of everyone else outside, but that would depend upon where I am when the genies appear. Likely, I would waste it on some sort of superpower like teleportation, flight, or telekinesis, just something to make my life easier before I get wiped out by someone else's mass extinction wish.
Author's Note: I got sick and missed Book Club.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Naruto by Caleb Goellner
Team 7 is sent on a mission to escort reporter April O'Neil back to Big Apple Village. When they're attacked by The Foot Clan seeking to steal the information April protects, Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto meet Master Splinter, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo. The two ninja teams team-up to get April back home. The Foot isn't one to quit, however, as Shredder himself kidnaps April and Splinter to finally unlock the secret of the ooze which mutated Splinter and the Turtles. The two ninja groups will join forces to rescue their friends, leading to an epic ninja-crossover showdown!
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Naruto crossover event I didn't even know was in the works. I was too hesitant and missed out picking up the first issue when it surprised me at the store. When I saw a second printing of the first issue though, I decided to give it a read. At first, I thought it would be just a terrible crossover for a quick cash grab. I mean, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Naruto, who would even think to put both of these properties together? Well, the simple premise peaked my interest, and the artwork was actually pretty cool, so I bought the trade paperback when it was finally released. I liked the quick merger of the two properties as Kakashi recognizes the Turtles' ninja techniques, making both groups fast friends. Of course, there is a brief dual between the two sides which, as cool as it was, could've been dragged on pointlessly longer than needed. Also, no crossover would be complete without an ultimate team-up combo against the Big Bad. A quick, 4-issue read complete with the ninja antics readers familiar with both titles would expect, as well as a few "Cowabunga"s and "Believe it"s thrown in.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
"She knew she should be experiencing pity and despair for her feline friend - and she was - but she had to acknowledge something else. As she started at Voltaire's still and peaceful expression - that total absence of pain - there was an inescapable feeling brewing in the darkness.
Envy."
"'Because, Nora, sometimes the only way to learn is to live.'
'Sounds hard.'"
Nora Seed wants to die. During a suicide attempt, she finds herself in a mysterious library with shelves of books detailing every possible life Nora could have led. With time stopped at midnight, she will be given the chance to choose any of these other lives to live - a rockstar, a scientist, an Olympian, a professor. In her search, she will discover that which her life lacked, and what she needs to be truly happy. Can she find a life worth living before time starts again and The Library disappears forever with Nora trapped within its endless shelves?
Added to my To Read List a while back (that thing is long, now) probably due to the whole MCU Multiverse craze. I liked the concept of living multiple different lives to see what you could've become. The turn-off that kept it low on the List though was in how ... pedestrian the story felt. I liked the idea of living a completely different life based on a single choice, but its still a life here, on Earth, in the reality which we all exist, not as flashy as the fantasy stories I typically read. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy "Groundhog Day", but it would've been a book I'd normally buy (you've seen my reading list, right?). I had actually spotted it on the shelves of Skull-Face Books months before I eventually bought it as it was never really near the top of The List. This time though I spotted a used copy for less than half the cover price (which makes sense as it was already falling apart) and not finding anything else I wanted, I bought it. Then, with as with a lot of my books, it sat in my To Read pile until I finally got back into reading books again and wanted something not only a little different but also shorter than the rest to ensure I finished it before the end of the year.
I was hooked from the start! I'd started catching the train to work, so, just to pass the time, I decided to crack it open, maybe get through a couple pages. I don't know if it is just what I'm going through personally as I near 40 years old, but everything about Nora just felt instantly relatable. I'm not saying she is a great character - she definitely needs help - I'm just saying that I understand (I quite possibly also need help). Just seeing her world crumble inch by inch, until the moment she decides to kill herself - I just want to say I understand the hopelessness she is feeling just trying to hang on, being adrift without a direction. The Library itself is truly magical, allowing Nora to not only find happiness and joy and comfort in other lives she could have lived, but also realize each of those other lives have their own regrets and pains - that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I want to say I was 100% sure how the story would end, but there were a few twists along the way that made me doubt my guess (would she find another life to live? would she still die?) but in the end, like the classics before (i.e. "It's a Wonderful Life, "Groundhog Day", and "Bedazzled") it is about accepting the life you're lived as you're the only one who has lived it, and finding some happiness in that. I'm pretty happy that I picked this up despite it not being my typical genre as it really was something I needed to read. I may even venture out to by a much better copy than the used version I bought that is already falling apart.
Predator Vs. Spider-Man by Benjamin Percy
As the temperature rises in New York City, tempers flare and violence spreads. The heatwave leads to a city-wide blackout putting its panicked citizens in the dark. Taking advantage of the confusion is a rogue Yautja known simply as Skinner as he hunts without honor, slaughtering everyday citizens rather than the more dangerous game as his brethren are trained to do. Stumbling upon Skinner's depravities is Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, who begins his own investigation to protect the people of his city. Soon enough, the hunt is underway, but while the two stalk the city, a few more hunters enter the fray.
I need to stop buying every single cool-sounding crossover book. Not that I haven't read some decent ones (see earlier review of "TMNT X Naruto"), but most just feel like cash grabs. There apparently were a few other "Predator Vs" books where a Yautja took on a Marvel superhero, so I thought maybe this would be a good one if they've done it twice before. Meh, it was okay. As much as I wanted to see Spider-Man challenge the serial killer Yautja - enhanced strength and speed and his spider-senses would make this a great match-up - he never gets the chance to do so. Instead, the best part of the book is Kraven entering the fray, hunting down Skinner himself and earning the respect of the Yautja team also hunting Skinner. If this was the focus of the book, it would've been so much better - I simply didn't care about the Spider-Man scenes once I realized he wouldn't be facing off against the book's antagonist. Kraven is a hunter seeking to hunt the deadliest game. It makes sense that once he learned of the Yautja's existence, he would stop at nothing to kill his new prey. Meh, another one for the trade-in stack.
Godzilla Vs The Marvel Universe by Various Authors
Collecting the six-part crossover event, Godzilla challenges a variety of Marvel Superheroes. After the Fantastic Four stop a rampaging Godzilla, they discover the King of Monsters only awakened to fight another threat - Galactus' new herald, King Ghidorah! General Ross and his Thunderbolts plan to stop the Kaiju threat once and for all leads to the discovery of an even deadlier monster. The arrival of Spider-Man's new black suit to Earth brings Godzilla to New York City to fight this new invader. When the X-Men find a Japanese robotics firm teamed with Trask to develop a brand new type of Sentinel robot, they decide to team-up with Godzilla against the mutual threat. When Fin Fang Foom declares itself King of Monsters, the New Avengers set out to keep casualties and damages to a minimum in the ensuring fight between the two titans. In its search for a King of Killers, The Hand resurrects a nearly destroyed Godzilla, bringing the giant into an epic battle with Thor, the god of thunder.
Another crossover book I got because A) sounded cool and B) got a pre-order discount. I really liked the "vs Fantastic Four" story and the "vs Spider-Man" story just to see Godzilla challenging new invaders to Earth. The ending of "vs X-Men" story highlighted the fear we have of those that are different, those with power over us, in the creation of a brand new type of Sentinel. All in all, it was a fun read and at least better than some of the other crossover stories I've come across recently.
Absolute Batman #10 - 15 by Scott Snyder and Absolute Batman Annual #1 by Meredith McClaren, James Harren, and Daniel Warren Johnson
"The kid revels in it, the bringing forth of blood from those who deserve it. The blood of people who never see their own in the open air. People so powerful they've almost forgotten what courses through their own veins. Until Batman shows them in red, spraying arcs."
In the next chapter of Absolute Batman, Bane begins his experiments on a captured Batman in the confines of Ark M. Batman is stripped of his suit and weapons, and his body and mind set upon by the same scientists that made Bane the powerhouse he has become. Through it all, Wayne's spirit remains unbroken which allows him to escape his imprisonment. Faced with the near hopelessness of escape, Bruce recalls his friend Waylan's own fight against an unbeatable opponent backed by the mob and how the fighter still overcame the odds to win the match. After some prep time, Batman returns, invigorated, and challenges Bane to another match. Exhausting all of his tricks and gadgets, with the help of his friends and allies, and through his own strength, The Batman is victorious. Unfortunately, his victory catches the eye of the mysterious man Alfred Pennyworth has been pursuing since issue one - Jack Grimm V, aka The Joker!
Absolute Batman continues to be the best series to come out of DC's new Absolute Universe. The story, the artwork, the dialogue - everything is just so good! Despite being set in an alternate universe, Snyder still serves the cliches a reader would expect from a Batman story - the assorted gadgets, the brilliant tricks and schemes, and, of course, the classic "Prep Time." In this chapter, we once again see The Batman take on overwhelming odds and, as his hope dwindles, it is Bruce's spirit and resolve that push him to victory. Simultaneously, we get a story about Waylan "The Croc" Jones' match against a fighter with all of the odds in his favor, and a win even Bruce didn't see coming. In terms of plot, both the main story and Waylan's side story enhance this idea of overcoming odds through sheer will power. Although Bruce Wayne is our protagonist, I really like that the narration comes from Pennyworth instead. Being older and more seasoned, he knows more about this hidden world of monsters Wayne is stepping into when he takes on the mantle of Batman. Being an outsider, we also are allowed to retain the sense of surprise when Batman pulls off stunts like his desperate escape from Ark M, and dropping an entire building on Bane.
When I also really like about his new reality is still the introductions to familiar yet changed characters. While imprisoned, Bruce runs into a terrifying, mutated version of Poison Ivy, now more flora than human. After Bane's experiments, Wayne finds his friend Jones has been transformed into a monstrous crocodile still capable of thought and speech. The rest of Bruce's childhood friends are also brutally broken into twisted versions of their classic selves. Coming to help Bruce is this reality's version of Catwoman equipped with gear stolen from The Black Mask and his Party Animals. Finally, similar to his classic DC version, an entire issue is dedicated to explaining the unknowable origin of The Joker. It's one of the things I'm really enjoying about this new reality.
DC Comics also released Absolute Batman Annual #1 earlier this year. Separated from the main storyline, this issue features 3 short stories involving the Absolute Universe's Dark Knight. The first story focuses on not only The Batman's brutality, but also Bruce Wayne's compassion as he takes down an emerging group of Neo Nazi's. In the second, The Batman plays a secondary part as the main focus is on the relationship between a father and son who has fallen in with the Party Animal gang. Finally, a simple two-page cartoon providing bits of information about bats with sightings of The Batman. It's a fun, oversized issue to give readers just a bit more of this new character with stories that may not fit with the current plot line. Despite being a behemoth of a man, these stories showcase Bruce's compassion and restraint, showing that, ultimately, he is simply trying to help people in the only way he can.
Absolute Superman #10 - 14 by Jason Aaron
"Out here in the redlands, there are always tough decisions Kal. But we must never lose sight of what constitutes cruelty and inhumanity. Especially when we're the ones being cruel."
Kal-El sets out to a Lazarus facility along with the Omega Men to rescue Jimmy Olsen from Peacekeeper hands. Revealing herself to be Talia al Ghul, the leader of the Omega Men betrays Kal-El, leading to the Kryptonian's capture. Under the orders of Lazarus's Ra's al Ghul, the alien Brainiac attempts to mentally break the Superman and bring him onto al Ghul's side. Escaping confinement, Lois Lane, Olsen, and Kal-El are transported by Sol to Smallville, Kansas where they and the townsfolk wage an unprecedented war against The Lazarus Corporation. Finally, The Demon Ra's al Ghul and the Last Son of Krypton Kal-El meet on the battlefield. What follows is not just a duel of strength and power, but of ideologies and the future of mankind. Kal-El emerges victorious to not only see al Ghul charged with the crimes he ordered his people to commit, but also inspiring hope amongst both sides of the battle.
Finishing the second arc of the Absolute Superman series, Kal-El and Ra's al Ghul finally come face-to-face. Though usually a villain associated with Batman, I really like Ra's al Ghul used in this series as he provides a stark contrast to this universe's Kal-El. Orphaned on Earth, Kal-El turned to honest, hard, physical labor to scrape together a meager life just as his parents had on Krypton. In contrast, Ra's uses his centuries of accumulated wealth to exploit the labor of those without the means to stand against him. Despite many opportunities to do so, Kal (like his classic counterpart) refuses to kill, instead either seeking to dissuade his opponents from further violence with his words or restraining them so they can no longer fight with his hands. Despite losing everything, Kal still fights to stand-up for those that can't fight for themselves, a symbol of hope for the downtrodden;.
Absolute Wonder Woman #11 - 14 by Kelly Thompson
"'You were a monster in this maze ... but are you a monster outside it? I'm willing to take the chance and find out. But you will find me less accommodating if I see you are still a monster when given your freedom, Clea.'"
Trapped in a US government-controlled labyrinth, Diana finds herself pitted against the prison's ruler, Clea, an Atlantean impersonating an Amazonian. Deep within her domain, however, Diana discovers one of her lost sisters, along with a number of other denizens in hiding. Diana manages to not only free them from the confines of the labyrinth, but also Clea as well, hoping to diffuse the madness that has consumed her due to being away from the ocean for so long. While attempting to learn more about her people, a new threat emerges - one that moves like lightning and bringing darkness into the minds of those close to it. Realizing it to be the counterpoint to the hope she sought to encourage in mankind, Diana appeals to Gaia, Grandmother of the Gods, to help her balance this imbalanced world.
Diana continues her quest to not only protect humanity from monsters, but also to find her lost sisters. I don't really know much about classic Wonder Woman lore, so I don't have a lot to compare this Absolute Universe version to. This version does not have the benefit of being raised by The Amazonians, with a community to care for her, nurture her, guide her. Instead, Diana was cast into Hell to never know of her lost kin or birthright. Despite being raised in the harshest, cruelest environment, Diana is still able to show compassion and care for her foes rather than simply cutting them down. Though armed with a number of intimidating and deadly weapons, they are always a last resort especially if she knows she can defeat her opponents with reason and understanding. Though raised alone with power that raises her above the average person, she doesn't seek isolation, but rather still seeks to form a community seen in the people she surrounds herself with on Earth.
Note: Not relevant to the story, but if you're curious why this review only goes to Issue #14, I didn't pick up Issue #15 when it was released in December because, well, they were all sold out at EVERY SINGLE shop I contacted. Yeah, who knew the first Absolute Universe crossover issue featuring Wonder Woman and Batman would be so popular?! Currently, there are a few issues for sale online going for over double the cover price, and no confirmation yet of a second printing. I just don't want to read Absolute Batman #16 or Absolute Wonder Woman #15 thinking I missed something important from the missing issue. Ugh, am I really going to spend over $10 on a comic book?!
Quick Stops Vol. 3 #1 - 4 by Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith presents a tribute and homage to his previous works and the amazing people he has worked with. Issue One focuses on the budding friendship and romance between comic artists Holden McNeil and Alyssa Jones from Smith's Chasing Amy film and how Holden learns something about himself. Smith writes a tribute to Shannon Doherty - the actor and her Mall Rats character, Rene - in Issue Two with a beautiful memory of the two's early meetings and their last meeting, as well as a scene from the possible Mall Rats sequel. Still mourning Dante Hicks, Jay and Silent Bob attempt to resurrect the deceased clerk in Issue Three. Instead, The Metatron answers their call to offer some comfort to the two prophets as Smith honors the memory of the late Alan Rickman. Finally, Issue Four puts the spotlight on two lesser known characters, Rick and Heather from Clerks, reminding us that even those who may simply play smaller, fleeting roles in our lives are still people with their own lives, too. It's a perfect collection for fans of Kevin Smith's work over the years (I should really get around to watching Chasing Amy and Mall Rats one day).
Solo-Leveling #111 - 139 by Chugong
"'I would like to ask one question to everyone gathered here today. An assault team comprising of 20 A-Rank Hunters or a team comprising of just one person, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo. If you were to accompany one of these teams on a dungeon break, which team will you choose?'"
Having revealed himself to the world as an S-Rank Hunter and helped to take back Jeju Island from the monsters, Sung Jinwoo decides to form his own guild. As the Ahjin Guild's one-man army, Jinwoo continues to grow stronger and stronger, clearing not only his guild's own dungeons but also assisting in other's as well. As the number of gates appearing increases, they soon realize there aren't enough Hunters to seal them all before a dungeon break occurs. One such break occurs at Jinwoo's younger sister's school, resulting in the deaths of many students before Jinwoo arrives to handle the situation in brutal fashion. Looking for answers to his powers, Jinwoo returns to the Double Dungeon to confront The Architect. There, he learns of not only an ancient battle between two powerful sides, but also slays The Architect to ensure that the powers he has earned belongs to only himself. Not only is the number of incidents increasing but so too is their strength, and when a new S-Rank Dungeon Break occurs in Tokyo, Japan, Jinwoo and other S-Rank Hunters are called upon to save the country and deal the dungeon. Before it closes, however, Jinwoo learns the true reason for the dungeons, and of a war coming that no one on Earth is prepared to face.
So, I put this on the back burner while I focused on catching up on other books and comics (then I forgot about reading it). The power fantasy continues as Jinwoo keeps getting stronger and stronger with no limit to the power he could accumulate, and no enemy that presents a real threat to him in sight. That's probably one of the reasons I put off reading the series for a while - there just doesn't seem to be any real stakes yet. Watching Jinwoo get beat early on justified the power he received later, but that time has now passed. Not only is he stronger than everyone else, but he also seems to be drawing romantic interests into his orbit as well with little to no effort. It's just getting to be too much. This new introduction of other powers secretly at play may make the story more interesting (though it seems like just another way to describe angels and demons), although, from a plot standpoint, it feels a little late to introduce new bad guys. As much as I complain about this power fantasy, of course, there are still times when I just want to see the main character overpower their enemies (who doesn't love the "John Wick" series?!). Thus, the standout scene for me of these chapters was Jinwoo saving his sister (on a fucking dragon!) and how he simply tears through the orcs with his own hands instead of with his summons as he usually would. It was just so satisfying to witness.
Spider-Gwen The Ghost Spider Volume 3: Uncharted by Stephanie Phillips
With the arrival of King Loki, the secret to Gwen Stacy's move to Earth-616 is revealed - she has bonded herself with a cosmic cube! Loki pulls Gwen out to the cosmos to show her the tragedies of the universe in an effort to submit her new reality-shaping powers to him. After a devastating psychic event, Gwen is met by a traveling Jean Grey, aka The Phoenix, who teaches Gwen how to control her new cosmic powers. Gwen discovers Loki's true plan when the two come across a planet of monsters created by Loki simply to serve his whims. With control over her new powers, she escapes his clutches and turns him over to the TVA's authority. With her new powers under her control, she rewrites reality, inserting herself (and her father) into Earth-616!
So, I don't understand this. I liked the first two volumes as Gwen tries to navigate life on a completely different universe. Spider-Gwen is a popular character, so it is only logical to introduce her temporarily to the main universe. Then, this volume started with Gwen being pulled out to outer space and I just thought, "well, that's weird," as I'd expected the series to remain grounded in New York City. And, I always expected her to eventually return to her own Earth eventually. Instead, the current plot-line is derailed as the secret to Gwen's presence on Earth-616 is revealed. The rest of the book is simply Loki and Gwen hopping from situation to situation as Gwen gains control of her new power until the finale when she remakes the universe which should lead to a ton more questions. However, this is the end of the Ghost Spider series, though a new series also launched right after which I'm assuming continues the series. Will that one deal with the questions I have like "How does introducing a brand new Gwen Stacy to this timeline affect the memory of the previous Gwen Stacy?" and "How does this affect Peter Parker who witnessed his first girlfriend die at the hands of The Goblin?" and "How will her absence affect those left behind on Earth-65?" or will they simply gloss over all those questions and pretend everything is the same as it has always been? But, the biggest question I have is, "Do I care enough to find out?"
I switched to the "once a month" posts because I was reading too much for the quarterly posts to handle. When a friend pointed out that this entire thing had become just book reviews, I realized doing these posts every month may be one of the things taking away from me actually writing stories, which was the whole point of this blog (obviously, the other thing is simply me not writing). So, let's see if this helps get me back to story writing in the future.
