So...Whatcha reading? [From comics to tea leaves and everything in between.]

[Finn5fel]

Comic books: I just finished reading the first trade of The Sword, by the Luna brothers, and it was great. Now I have the Harley Quinn trade by Dodson and the X23: Target X trade by Mike Choi waiting for me on my To-Read Shelf, and I'm looking into buying some IDW Transformers, as I just saw The War Within omnibus and the first All Hail Megatron trade at Books-A-Million. Any suggestions regarding Transformers books? I haven't read any Transformers since the first series from Marvel back in the 80's. Ah, the memories...

As for novels, I just finished Proven Guilty, the eighth book in The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, and I'm seventy pages into Victory of Eagles, the fifth book in the amazing Temeraire series by Naomi Novik.

[Ryan 'gobo' C.]

My wife suggested I read Edith Hamilton's "Mythology"  Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes.  So I am going to jump into that at lunch today.

I had to read that for a mythology class in college, it was really well done

[ja$#b w*&ch]

Read Battlefields: Dear Billy last night.  Holy shit the was spectacular and rough!  I stayed up late reading it which might be why I am in such a special mood this morning.   

[Jeff B.]

Comic books: I just finished reading the first trade of The Sword, by the Luna brothers, and it was great. Now I have the Harley Quinn trade by Dodson and the X23: Target X trade by Mike Choi waiting for me on my To-Read Shelf, and I'm looking into buying some IDW Transformers, as I just saw The War Within omnibus and the first All Hail Megatron trade at Books-A-Million. Any suggestions regarding Transformers books? I haven't read any Transformers since the first series from Marvel back in the 80's. Ah, the memories...

As for novels, I just finished Proven Guilty, the eighth book in The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, and I'm seventy pages into Victory of Eagles, the fifth book in the amazing Temeraire series by Naomi Novik.

Tranformers AHM is great, I highly recommend it, the last couple of issues have really ramped up and been especially good, the art is spectacular.

[Papercut]

… and I'm looking into buying some IDW Transformers, as I just saw The War Within omnibus and the first All Hail Megatron trade at Books-A-Million. Any suggestions regarding Transformers books? I haven't read any Transformers since the first series from Marvel back in the 80's. Ah, the memories...
 

If you’re getting into the IDW TRANSFORMERS series, I would almost recommend that you start at the beginning of the “reboot.”  If not (since that’s a hefty commitment) then reading ALL HAIL MEGATRON is a fantastic place to start.

But if you were interested to start at the beginning of the current continuity, this is what you need to know, besides the fact that the entire run and story is very compelling. To begin with, when IDW got the license, they handed the reigns over to long-time Transformer writer Simon Furman to basically reshape the entire universe. The IDW series diverges from the continuity that came in the both the Marvel and Dreamwave runs and created a unique Transformers mythology to act as the corner stone to the stories he wanted to tell. Even though there are several miniseries, they are all strung together in a fairly linear narrative.

These are the series & volumes that have been released so far (with a few releases forthcoming) in the order that they were started by IDW:


TRANSFORMERS: INFILTRATION
 
TRANSFORMERS: STORMBRINGER

TRANSFORMERS: ESCALATION

TRANSFORMERS: MEGATRON: ORIGIN

TRANSFORMERS: DEVASTATION

TRANSFORMERS: REVELATION (which are actually 4 interconnected issues of TRANSFORMERS: SPOTLIGHT)

TRANSFORMERS: ALL HAIL MEGATRON VOL 1
TRANSFORMERS: ALL HAIL MEGATRON VOL 2

TRANSFORMERS: MAXIMUM DINOBOTS


And I mentioned the TRANSFORMERS: SPOTLIGHT series. These are one shots that focuses on an individual Transformer and tend to bound around in the continuity timeline.

TRANSFORMERS: SPOTLIGHT VOL 1
TRANSFORMERS: SPOTLIGHT VOL 2
TRANSFORMERS: SPOTLIGHT VOL 3
TRANSFORMERS: SPOTLIGHT VOL 4 (See TRANSFORMERS: REVELATION)
TRANSFORMERS: SPOTLIGHT VOL 5



And finally, if you wanted to read these in the actual chronological order (based on the timing of the events in the comics), Wikipedia had this run-down. Most of the insertions are placing SPOTLIGHT issues around the events of the main series. It’s not really necessary to read in this order, and in some cases it’s a tad confusing as you jump between series (especially since the trades are self-contained based on the title), but it does provide some context to those events.

1-4. Megatron Origin #1-4
5. Spotlight - Blurr
6. Spotlight - Shockwave
7. Spotlight - Soundwave
8. Spotlight - Wheelie
9. Spotlight - Jazz
10. Spotlight - Cosmos (unpublished)
11. Spotlight - Hot Rod
12. Spotlight - Sixshot
13. Spotlight - Ultra Magnus
14-17. Infiltration #0-3
18-20. Stormbringer #1-3
21-22. Infiltration #4-5
23. Stormbringer #4
24. Infiltration #6
25. Spotlight - Kup
26-29. New Avengers/Transformers #1-4
30-31. Escalation #1-2
32. Spotlight - Nightbeat
33-36. Escalation #3-6
37. Spotlight - Ramjet
38. Spotlight - Optimus Prime
39. Spotlight - Galvatron
40-43. Devastation #1-4
44. Spotlight - Blaster
45. Spotlight - Arcee
46-47. Devastation #5-6
48. Spotlight - Mirage
49. Spotlight - Grimlock
50-53. Spotlight - Revelation #1-4
54-58. Maximum Dinobots #1-5
59. Spotlight - Drift
60-75. All Hail Megatron #1-16 (5 unpublished)
76. Spotlight - Cliffjumper (unpublished)
77. Spotlight - Metroplex (unpublished)
78. Transformers (unpublished)


Have fun!

[Papercut]

My wife suggested I read Edith Hamilton's "Mythology"  Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes.  So I am going to jump into that at lunch today.

Ahhh -- that brings back memories. We read that in jr high and I loved it. Haven't read it in a while so I'm wondering how it holds up. 

[VinceB]

59. Spotlight - Drift
60-75. All Hail Megatron #1-16 (5 unpublished)

Not to be nitpicky in light if your fantastic work but, since the the Drift Spotlight issue reveals a bit of the character's backstory, it should fall after AHM #5, which I believe is his first appearance. If not, then #6.

Jeez, Lousie, Dan droppin' the Transformers science! HEAVEN, that's what it is! 

[Papercut]

Not to be nitpicky in light if your fantastic work but, since the the Drift Spotlight issue reveals a bit of the character's backstory, it should fall after AHM #5, which I believe is his first appearance. If not, then #6.

Well that's okay -- I didn't make the Wiki continuity list -- just cut and pasted that part. 

 

And I don't think they've broke out the AHM series yet or there's probably a few issues of SPOTLIGHT that would fall in there. But I wonder if they're placing those SPOTLIGHT issues along the timeline solely on then the "flashbacks" occur or when the framing device takes place (if they have one)? 

[Jeff B.]

Ahhh -- that brings back memories. We read that in jr high and I loved it. Haven't read it in a while so I'm wondering how it holds up. 

One of my first loves. It's sanitized, but still a classic. 

I had to read that for a mythology class in college, it was really well done

My wife is an English teacher so she comes home with the books she is teaching and I get to reread some classics and good stuff I missed the first time around.  I read some mythology books before but don't remember reading this one so I am looking forward to it.  Its all worn in and scuffed up, I just love old books for some reason.

<tangent> in one of her classes this year she had her students make a graphic novel, she raided my collection and brought in some books including Watchmen, Essex County vol 1, Fables vol 1 so the kids would have some stuff to read and use as a reference.  Several of them took them home to read them and their OGNs turned out pretty good.  I was surprised how many kids got into it.  One was very beanworld-esque about a rainbow colored inchworm. I went to the local B&N and saw Bone on the summer reading list for one of the area middle schools.  I love hearing and seeing stuff like this  </tangent>

[Finn5fel]

Thank you, Nemesis. And Papercut, impressive list, thank you very much. I think I'll have to give Infiltration a try.

[Dave Faust]

Faust haven't read it in forever

Goethe, Marlowe or the blood guts 'n fuckin' comics version?

[ja$#b w*&ch]

I just finished Ikigami #1.  I was not as instantly blown away by it as 20th Century Boys, but liked it enough to pick up the second volume and see where it goes. 

[Jeff B.]

I just finished Ikigami #1.  I was not as instantly blown away by it as 20th Century Boys, but liked it enough to pick up the second volume and see where it goes. 

what is Ikigami about?

[ja$#b w*&ch]

what is Ikigami about?

It is set in an alternate Japan, where the government decided to give every child an injection to help fight disease, but for a small percentage there is a pellet included that will kill you on a predetermined date somewhere between the ages of 18 to 24.  The shots are given out at random, so everyone is equally at risk.  The reason for this program is it forces young people to study hard and make the most of their opportunities because they do not know how long they have.  The story also implies that those who commit crimes or go against the program receive the pellet as punishment and are executed.

Those that receive the pellet as children are told 24 hours before their death of the exact time of their death.  This notice is called an Ikigami.  The protagonist of the story is a person who is responsible for distributing the Ikigami and so far there are individual stories about how people react to receiving the Ikigami and what they choose to do with their last 24 hours.


The series really relies on the individual's stories and for me it will take another volume or two to decide if the writer can keep this up long term.  I am also hoping that there is a long term arc for the protagonist within the series.

[ja$#b w*&ch]

Just finished Scary Book Volume 1 by Umezu



The two stories in the first one were very much of the "Scary" vein more than Horror or Creepy.  If I had not read Junji Ito's work first I might have been more taken with this, but alas Ito's work has raised the bar.

[whirlwindx]

Just finished Scary Book Volume 1 by Umezu



The two stories in the first one were very much of the "Scary" vein more than Horror or Creepy.  If I had not read Junji Ito's work first I might have been more taken with this, but alas Ito's work has raised the bar.

I was wondering how good this was since I enjoyed Drifting Classroom by Umezu. I hope everyone is always screaming every word in this one    I was thinking of the comparison, isn't that like comparing a modern comic against a silver age one?

[ja$#b w*&ch]

I was wondering how good this was since I enjoyed Drifting Classroom by Umezu. I hope everyone is always screaming every word in this one    I was thinking of the comparison, isn't that like comparing a modern comic against a silver age one?

The comparison is a little unfair, but since Umezu was one of Ito's influences I was hoping for a more direct stylistic link.  There was a melodrama to the Umezu material that was a little off-putting. 

[whirlwindx]

The comparison is a little unfair, but since Umezu was one of Ito's influences I was hoping for a more direct stylistic link.  There was a melodrama to the Umezu material that was a little off-putting. 

Ah, Alright, I think I can understand that.

[ja$#b w*&ch]

Just finished The Four Immigrants Manga: A Japanese Experience In San Francisco, 1904-1924 by Hoshitaka Kiyama.  It is the stories of four Japanese immigrants trying to survive, learn the culture, and acclimate to life in America.  The stories are from that time and based on real experiences.  Great historical comics with annotations on the historical events in the back of the book.

[Farrell]

I just finished Ikigami #1.  I was not as instantly blown away by it as 20th Century Boys, but liked it enough to pick up the second volume and see where it goes. 

Your description of this makes it sound very interesting.  I'm going to try a volume.

Sherlock Holmes#2:  Not quite as enamored of this issue as I was of the first.  I'm not sure if there was an artist change from the first issue to this one, but it seemed rougher and uglier.  I'm pretty bewildered as to how Holmes duped the guards using the drunkard and escaped the jail cell.  Did it make any logical sense?    There also seemed to be a lot more proofreading issues all of a sudden.  I'm still interested in the mystery, but this needs to make a comeback.  Tad disappointing.

Dead Romeo#3:  Another down issue.  Mostly because nothing happens: this issue felt like padding, as we have Romeo and Whisper's escape (in the most obvious way possible, if you keep in mind we're talking about vampires here), and then 18 pages of not much at all.  There were still a number of good lines of dialogue, and the characters continue to be sympathetic, so I'm not ready to give up.  The art was pretty good, but Whisper can look wildly different from panel to panel.

Love and Capes FCBD:  This was fun.  Light and breezy, with great "chemistry" between the characters, and a "good sitcom" level of dialogue, then a decent, if predictable, poignant moment toward the end.  I can't say I was excited about a superhero romance book, but I had enough fun that this is almost certainly not my last issue. 

Mail Vol. 1: I got this in TFAW's 80% sale recently, so if I say it was worth the money, that would be damning with faint praise.  Truthfully, it's much better than that, although I'm not sure I would feel it was worth full price.  There are some wonderfully creepy moments, usually involving ghostly children crawling around corners.   I also like the different variations on the exorcists' chant: "With my gun I admonish you.  Dead soul, risen more corrupt than flesh.  I see you and I sight you.  From Heaven.  To Earth.  To Hell."  It's different every time, but follows that pattern.  The main character is a cypher so far, kind of nerdy, but highly competent when he needs to be.  There are too many instances of characters saying things to themselves just to explain things to us, old comic book style.  A lot of manga makes extensive use of sound effects, written in Kanji (or Kana; I don't read Japanese), and this book is no exception.  It's chock full of them, and it's hard to get the atmosphere that the author is going for from pages full of Japanese characters.  There are lots of suspenseful moments and cool ghost stories, and the author does seem to be getting better as he goes, so I'm sure I'll at least enjoy the other two volumes I bought.