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

[JohnnyM]

Finally found The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.  Looking forward to getting into that.

[Jo-El]

I finished GI-Joe Cobra yesterday.  I don't care if you are a Joe fan or not, this series was Really Great.  It was a quick 4-issue series that wrapped up a full story that was compelling and dark, and stuck with me.  The art was perfect for the tone of the writing.

Also, anyone not reading Rick Remender's punisher is just being silly.  If anyone read Captain America 319, you are going to love what he's doing in this book.

[clever_username]

I finished GI-Joe Origins yesterday.  I don't care if you are a Joe fan or not, this series was Really Great.  It was a quick 4-issue series that wrapped up a full story that was compelling and dark, and stuck with me.  The art was perfect for the tone of the writing.

Do you mean GI Joe-Cobra? Because Origins isn't done yet. Actually I think they said that Origins was going to be an ongoing series now. Either way it doesn't matter. Both are awesome.

Now that I'm at work I can dive into the books I picked up yesterday:
GI Joe 6
Vikings 2
Guardians of the Galaxy 15

[Spooky]

Wolverine #73 and #72:
Man, was that a great read! First off, Aaron's story was the shit and had me laughin' a couple of times, then there was Way's and the phenomenal Lee Edwards on the second story. And let me tell ya, that Edward can draw an awesome Wolverine! so, I though about who drew a Wolverine akin to his and thought of John Paul Leon, which leads me to the question: Does Leon still do comic work?
Nevertheless, if everytime when a book is too late we get something like this, then I'm condoning the lateness of Wolverine for a while!
I just loved part seven of "Old Man Logan". It had a nice beats in the story and overall was a consumate comic.


Black Panther:
Okay, I have to take back my preconceptions about the former CEO of BET. This guy can write a comic and a good one too. As for now the story is still in the exposition, but like other good series, it doesn't bother me, and that because he's nailing the characters. T'Challa talks like a king and I buy for once that Storm loves him. The cameo's of Panther's dad, Death and the panther god makes the book just an entertaining read. Ah, I forgot, could it be that they trying the whole legacy thing now with BP?


Batman and Robin #1:
Easily the best book of the bunch, it was exhilarating, exciting and a perfect start for this new series. I hoped of something similiar and even got something even better. I just hope both will stay on the book for some while.

Gigantic #4:
The pacing of the story is allright with me, but the art is just falling apart with every issue. It's sad, because I really liked the premise and hoped for some awesome Kajius but it seems it won't happen. Again, it's sad.

Billy Bat:
Oh my fucking jeebus! I read both, 20th Century Boys and Pluto, and loved them. After completing Pluto, I thought Urasawa would take a break from the monthlies. However, he shortly announced "Billy Bat"! Well I would like go in-depth into the various highlights of the story so far, but I noticed the current Urusawa love and will never ruin that for you (as long the money keeps purring in my bank *shady*). The art is just stunning! Everyone who skimmed through 20th Century Boys, and loves his decisive inks over his pencils, won't be dissapointed. It's my Kirby Crackle!

Still 107 comics to go! Catching up is tough...

Artbooks:
(I skimmed through some of the artbooks I got and thought of sharing my thoughts =) )

Bitch's Life:

Oh my god! Naked characters drawn by Akira Toriyama, and I thought he wouldn't do that shit! Awesome. And believe me this is only the first pages of this, completely written in japanese, Opus to a bitch's life. It's crude, intensive and imaginitive, but also a little extreme and thus might not appeal to most of people. For me, personally, was this an interesting insight into some of artists "adult" works, even though I knew most of the more famous artists works in this book. That's why was the look at the more indie creators painting & comics an broadening experience. I recommend it for lovers of adult work. (Btw, if you don't like sex in your comics, then you should consider that most of the famous artist did pornographic comics like Tezuka and Ditko. Chew on that!

Takehiko Inoue - Water:

The artist and writer of the samurai opus "Vagabond" released an artbook that is pretty much just the same of his work in his comic series. Not that I don't like the watercolored paintings, but I expected something different. At the start he gives us a guy in a suit in front of a white background and I think: "Aww yeah, finally some modern designs!". Yeah, didn't happen, instead I got a collection of Musashi Miyamoto sitting, standing and looking pissed at me. Thanks, but I would like to have my money back, then I could at least buy Vagabond and get some story to it.

U-1 Kumakura Works 1995 - 2001:

I love King of Bandit Jing. That's a fact. So, how can I hate an artbook from the creator of this stellar series? It's easy, just collect your works, that I already seen because I follow your ass on every turn, and release it. And I know that the title basically told me that, but I wished to see some new material, sketches dammit atleast some discarded designs. Nothing just a collection of covers, monsters and colored promo. Get the series instead of this collection.

[Jo-El]

Do you mean GI Joe-Cobra?

yup, I meant GI-Joe Cobra... great book.

[Farrell]

Spooky: Karma for sharing your thoughts.  And for the heads-up on Billy Bat 

[Adam]

Just finished Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond and I'm half way through The Fairtax Book by Boortz and Linder.

[Spooky]

Spooky: Karma for sharing your thoughts.  And for the heads-up on Billy Bat 

If you want I can show ya some pages.

[ja$#b w*&ch]

If you want I can show ya some pages.

Some Billy Bat pages would earn some serious Karma from me.  Love to see it.

[Sean M.]

20th Century Boys Vol 1- Late to the party I know but I wanted to get it from my LCS rather than giving my money to Amazon- they got it in today. And, no surprises, its fantastic.

Proof #21- continues to be wonderful, the art gets better and better and the character keeps me coming back for more.

[Spooky]

Here ya go!
[btw, does anyone else having this weird problem with photobucket, where you try to enter you password and it doesn't recognizes it after multiple tries?]
I apologize, I just realized those pics are a little too big, but you can just open them in a new tab or save them, and then look at them. It's probably a lot more comfortable.

[Jeff B.]

Read the second arc of the Punisher vol 1 deluxe HC: Kitchen Irish last night.  Boy was Ennis born to write this character, he moved him into a darker place but he seems to fit what Ennis does and does well.  There are lots of dispicable characters, blood, violence and the Punisher is right in the middle of all of it. 

About halfway through the tome that is Superman Our Worlds at War.  Vince talked about this book a while back and it piqued my interest as I have not been a big fan of Superman comics and I vowed this year to read more of them.  This books runs the gambit in writers and artists with a ton of each, can't say that I love McGuinness' Superman, while his style definitely lends itself to a book like Hulk, there is just something about his Superman I don't really care for.  But aside from that the story rocks and I am being exposed to some DC events/characters I am not too familiar with so I am enjoying the book a lot.

[clever_username]

Almost done with Static vol. 1. I forgot how good this book is. McDuffie and Washington write a good wise-cracking teenage superhero.

You know a comic is from the early 90s when they bust out a Shabba Ranks reference.

Mr. Lover Man-SHABBA!

[ja$#b w*&ch]

Here ya go!

KARMA!  Awesome.

[ja$#b w*&ch]

Just finished Dragon Head Volume 2.  The clausterphobic creepyness continues.  Intrigued to see how this continues through another 8 volumes.

[NeverWanderer (Joey Cruz)]

I'm intrigued by the Dragonhead manga, but goddamn was that a disappointing movie...

[Taylor]

I read a glut of comics last night.

The new Detective comics which I have gushed about elsewhere on this board.

Secret Warriors 5, which was solid but was more about setting up issue 6. I'm really enjoying Hickmans Marvel work so far, not as much as the nightly news but its still very fun.

1985 HC, which I liked a whole lot more than I thought I would. It would work perfect as a movie as it has a real cinematic quality to it.

NYX:Wannabe HC, Which I really, really enjoyed and I didnt think I would. Not a lot happened but the characterization was perfect. My only complaint is I wish Joshua Middleton did the art on the whole book, but, you know.

[clever_username]

Just finished Scalped vol. 4.

Goddamn.


Red Crow is the star of this book now. Probably one of the best characters created in years.

[VinceB]

Just finished Dragon Head Volume 2.  The clausterphobic creepyness continues.  Intrigued to see how this continues through another 8 volumes.

I read the first volume and loved it, but our Borders never had any of the others in stock. One of these days I'm going to scoop up the remaining volumes on Amazon or eBay. Creepy, claustrophobic fun!

[whirlwindx]

Just finished Dragon Head Volume 2.  The clausterphobic creepyness continues.  Intrigued to see how this continues through another 8 volumes.

I wondered the same thing when I read volume 2. Can this sustain itself for 8 volumes? But it gets more interesting and crazy as the series goes on and it becomes clearer what it's going to be about. That reminds me I have to get vol.5, it's not the easiest series to find. Only seen at finer comic shops or big cons.