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

[valance_the_hunter]

Is that the one with the acetate color overlays? I really need to get that one of these days.

Yea, that's the one. 

[Egon2814]

re-read my two favorite arcs from Bendis' DD run "Hardcore" and "The King Of Hells Kitchen" so damn good. also trying to catch up on The Sixth Gun thanks to that comixology sale they had a while back.

[mguy1977]

Uncanny X-Men issues 289, 292, 293 & 298 (I dug out of my Christmas regina gift pile).  The art is the strong suit of the issues as for the story, WELL!!!

Matthew

[Jon O]

Karma for a well expressed thoughts on the book. It did not resonate with me at all, and I really expected to enjoy it.

I read Superman this past week which was great, but I'm not sure that I'll keep reading with Perez off the writing duties.  I thought this arc was really strong and I'm sorry to see him go.  Every issue felt like a huge chunk of story, and they still all worked together and built toward a massive threat.

Flash was ok, I'm not sure if I like Captain Cold losing the guns, but the characterization of everyone.  The art is still firing on all cylinders.

[MarcusQ]

Just Finished X-men: Second Coming and really enjoyed it.

[David]

Just Finished X-men: Second Coming and really enjoyed it.

 

[mguy1977]

6 months in:

Perez Superman The best read by issue 6 of all the new 52 comics that I read for me personally 5 rating.  Yeah it is controversial choice, but that is way I call it.  I will see what the new writing/art team has in store.
Batman The perfect marriage of words & art w/o the Morrison meta-textual BS just a fun & interesting Batman story 5 rating
Catwoman One word, YUM! (Getting in trade) 5 rating
Batwoman Where art does 90% of the lifting & does it convincingly Thank you JHIII & now Amy Reader also 5 rating
Action Comics Morrison surprised me at how good he could do a regular monthly 4.5 rating
Batman & Robin it is a good mystery by issue 6 but I will be dropping after the 1st arc (#8) 3 rating GONE
JLI Well it isn't 80s JLI but it scratches the old itch pretty good 5
JL The story was meh in parts but the art was good 3.5
Batgirl I was on the fence of dropping this but issue 6 really turned it around (moving to trades now) 5 rating
All Star Western It isn't Jonah Hex but it ties too much into Gotham City's history for me to care so I am dropping it on issue 7 2 rating GONE
Swamp Thing I am dropping this by issue 8 to focus on other books (ie getting American Vampire in HC) 3.5 rating GONE

I am getting very soon/already got
Fables Fairest
Superman Family Adventures
Smallville Season 11

So DC looses me on a few titles but I still want to try what is coming up next from them & indie comic companies to fulfill my enjoyment of comics.

Matthew

[KeithS]

pulled out Sandman Mystery Theatre for the first time since the series ended.  Issue one came out in 1993, and I was 19.  I gave myself a little bit of credit for actually picking this book up as a teenager when Image/Valiant were all the rage. 

Anyway, the first issue was awesome.  Great Guy Davis art.  Matt Wagner really sets you in the time period by putting the reader in a nightclub at the time, casually adding celebrity references, etc. 

If you are into mystery/period pieces, or amazing comics, this title should be on your list. 

[Sean M.]

Batman The perfect marriage of words & art w/o the Morrison meta-textual BS just a fun & interesting Batman story 5 rating

There's no meta-textuality to Morrison's Batman- this implies some sort of internal commentary or criticism of of the text occurring within the text itself (breaking the fourth wall and addressing the reader Deadpool-style would be a example). What Morrison is doing is delivering hyper-textuality, which provides links to texts that exist outside of the work itself (the Black Glove casebook TPB making explicit these connections). It's exactly the same thing Morrison is doing with Action Comics (ie referring to the golden age origins of Superman in the first few issues and then using silver age tropes in the last few issues). In fact all superhero comics to some extent are hyper-textual with readers deriving pleasure (or not) from hypertexual links (this is probably better known as continuity). You are well within your rights to consider Morrison's Batman BS but it's more likely that you simply didn't like the stories, which has nothing to do with meta or hyper-textually.

[mguy1977]

There's no meta-textuality to Morrison's Batman- this implies some sort of internal commentary or criticism of of the text occurring within the text itself (breaking the fourth wall and addressing the reader Deadpool-style would be a example). What Morrison is doing is delivering hyper-textuality, which provides links to texts that exist outside of the work itself (the Black Glove casebook TPB making explicit these connections). It's exactly the same thing Morrison is doing with Action Comics (ie referring to the golden age origins of Superman in the first few issues and then using silver age tropes in the last few issues). In fact all superhero comics to some extent are hyper-textual with readers deriving pleasure (or not) from hypertexual links (this is probably better known as continuity). You are well within your rights to consider Morrison's Batman BS but it's more likely that you simply didn't like the stories, which has nothing to do with meta or hyper-textually.

Well I am not going down the rabbit hole of Morrison & Batman again by his supporters/defenders/fans too deep.  It was complex of having to know stuff that I had little or no knowledge of Batman's history 1950 & 60s stuff excluding that I knew of Batman & Talia being lovers for a short time in Mike W. Barr & Jerry Bingham's Son of the Demon OGN.  I read the bulk of his Batman run & didn't enjoy has it drew from this or that & I just stopped enjoying the book.  In contrast, All Star Superman & his Action Comics run is really fun since I have read Superman comics for many MANY years (pre-COIE era) & read earlier versions of Superman in addition to what was on the stands at the time.  So it depends on what you personally enjoy.  I will leave it at that.  

Matthew

[Sean M.]

Well I am not going down the rabbit hole of Morrison & Batman again by his supporters/defenders/fans too deep.  It was complex of having to know stuff that I had little or no knowledge of Batman's history 1950 & 60s stuff excluding that I knew of Batman & Talia being lovers for a short time in Mike W. Barr & Jerry Bingham's Son of the Demon OGN.  I read the bulk of his Batman run & didn't enjoy has it drew from this or that & I just stopped enjoying the book.  In contrast, All Star Superman & his Action Comics run is really fun since I have read Superman comics for many MANY years (pre-COIE era) & read earlier versions of Superman in addition to what was on the stands at the time.  So it depends on what you personally enjoy.  I will leave it at that.  

Matthew

Nicely put. I'm the exact opposite- reading Batman for many years but not much experience reading Superman. This isn't to say I'm not enjoying Action but I'm sure you're getting more from them than me.

[Jeff B.]

Uncanny X-Force The Dark Angel Saga.  This book is awesome. Not much more to say.

[Jon O]

Queen Crab by Jimmy Palmiotti and Artiz Eiguren

I thought this was a great little hardcover.  I didn't know what to expect and the story always kept me guessing.  He's set himself up with the ability to tell more stories with the characters but I really like how this concluded in a way that was satisfying without giving you all the answers. The art is nice, really open with a few spotted blacks here and there.  The art gallery in the back is super sweet.  Makes me want to go find work by Paul Mounts.  I really enjoyed this a lot, and it was a quick read without feeling slight at all.

[Dave Faust]

[Sean M.]

The Comics Journal's 1987 interview with Moebius (at www.tcj.com)
Assorted Moebius short stories
Reamde by Neal Stephenson

[Thermite (Iz Wilkison)]

Very first line:

"I stand between human and supernature, with fire at my hand and death in my smile.
I walk beside horror, with red kisses from murderous gods blistering my priestly flesh.
I am the Druid.
Take a walk with me."

C'mon. That's good stuff.

[bean6344]

Reamde by Neal Stephenson

 
Bean

[Jon O]

Daredevil: Born Again

Better with every reread.

Superman: For Tomorrow 1

Mostly meh.

[Brennok]

Finally finished Infinite Crisis...didn't enjoy as much as Identity Crisis and it took me a while to get through it.

Currently reading 52 vol 1 now and enjoying it much more than Infinite Crisis.

I also have a stack from the library to read. Some I requested and others were just random shelf picks where I recognized the name from the past podcasts.

52 Vol 2
Ex Machina
Green Arrow: Quiver
Runaways: Pride and Joy
Welcome to the Jungle
Y the Last Man

[Gordie]

...I know, I know, it's not THE Man Thing, but I'm digging it. I got 1-4 from the Holiday exchange and am just now getting around to reading it.