What Are You Reading?

[Avaitor]

I've been going through a bunch of the Barks collections, and I have a couple more, plus a Rosa, to go through. After those, I have a few more GNs to read. The comic book shop had its annual geek trivia event, and my team tied for second, so I'm using my gift card to pick up volume 4 of Fraction's Hawkeye and volume 2 of Rat Queens, both of which I remembered that I'm behind on. And I also won a copy of volume 1 of Whedon's Astonishing X-Men, which I've been wanting to read again.

Excited to hit these up soon.

[gunswordfist]

I love Astonishing X-Men so much. Congratulations! I want to read Fraction's Hawkeye.

[Avaitor]

Fraction's Hawkeye is quite good. He does a good job of making Clint and Kate equally likable as leads, right as they split apart and get more solo time.

I'm also thinking of giving Slott's Silver Surfer a shot. I found the first volume for a good price, and I also have his 50th anniversary special from last year. But I don't want to be too reliant on Marvel's stuff. I should give other comics a shot, as well.

[Dr. Insomniac]

While Marvel's recent... decisions with the X-Men have proven controversial to say the least, I'm wondering how exactly can the X-Men progress as a narrative in a way that's not stupid? It just seems like Claremont, Morrison, Whedon, Gillen, etc. have pushed the franchise to its limits that it's hard for a writer to innovate the X-Men brand.

[Avaitor]

I really have a spending problem.

Since my last post, I ordered the first volume of Slott's Silver Surfer and the second of Whedon's Astonishing X-Men... and I also have a couple of different Conan books in my cart, along with an Archie collection, and the first volumes of JJBA, Death Note, and Astro Boy. At least with the last one, I have a copy of the second that I got for cheap a while ago to go with it. And I've also been thinking of rereading Sandman and Y: The Last Man, as well as continuing DMZ and Slam Dunk.

Plus I'm still neck deep in my go-through of Barks and Rosa's duckverse. Ah well, at least I'm being entertained.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

The first two Astro Boy stories which I would recommend would be "The Greatest Robot On Earth" (contained in Omnibus volume 1) and "Once Upon A Time" (contained in Omnibi volumes 2 and 3). The latter is a rather lengthy affair, but it's totally worth it. Easily one of the best pieces of so-called "children's fiction" that I've ever read (as in, it can get pretty fucked up and dark for a children's manga).

There are other good stories to be sure, but those two are essential reading.

[Dr. Insomniac]

I'm baffled by Marvel's decision for this. Having the Inhumans essentially gas Mutants to death with Terrigen Mist, while portraying the Inhumans as if we're supposed to like them. And that's not even getting to the part where Cyclops tries to stop his race from being gassed to death, but civilians start acting like he's Hitler for doing something the exact opposite of what the real Hitler would have done. Of all the options they had to introduce Inhumans to a new audience, they chose the absolute worst path.

[gunswordfist]

Ugh...just ugh. I

[Dr. Insomniac]

My favorite part is when the writer tried to justify his pet characters essentially committing genocide by saying the deadly mist is more like a peanut allergy.

[Foggle]

Everything Marvel's done with the Inhumans has been completely unintelligible from both a commercial and literary standpoint. They want to introduce new mutant-like characters to use in the MCU because Fox owns the X-Men rights - that makes sense. But they introduce them by having them genocide an entire race filled with beloved superheroes dating back over 50 years? A race that's traditionally been used as an allegory for oppressed minorities? How are we supposed to think that's interesting or cool? It's baffling.

[Dr. Insomniac]

I realize if Marvel couldn't negotiate with Sony to co-opt the Spider-Man film rights, Spidey would probably be given the same treatment in the comics X-Men and Fantastic Four are dealing with right now.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

It's one thing for corporate higher-ups to phase out the production of properties that Marvel Studios doesn't hold the film-rights to. I can understand that even if I don't agree with it. However, to have actual comic book writers so blatantly have them just killed off like its nothing, and to have another group of characters which Marvel is trying to promote be the ones to do it just produces the opposite effect of what they intend. Fans will be enraged by how badly the X-Men property has been bastardized and disposed of, and all the while the Inhumans are certainly living up to their namesake. I can't tell whether it's more hilarious or sad that we're actually meant to perceive them as good guys and sympathize with them after shit like that.

[Dr. Insomniac]

I know Marvel says they want to make amends by announcing some new X-titles, but it just feels like a hollow courtesy considering all the issues their recent comics have had even beyond throwing the mutants to the back of the bus. Issues that seem to contradict what the films want to do despite all this talk of MCU synergy. Like when a new Captain America movie is released and the public is latching onto and embracing Chris Evans for his political stances and genuinely loving his role? Turn Cap into a Nazi in a series of arcs that have still yet to resolve while the writer keeps digging himself deeper by claiming his idea is original and too radical for someone like DC. Or when the MCU needs to hype people into liking Captain Marvel when her movie comes out? Turn her into a war criminal who murders or imprisons long-time friends all because a psychic told her to, while blurting out plans to build a planetary wall to keep alien invaders out because Marvel's favorite superheroine also needs to be a Trump analogue for whatever reason. And the worst part? Those are only the tip of the iceberg in many, many mistakes that have made Marvel's recent comics a trainwreck I can't just take my eyes off of. All of this at the same time DC fixes themselves from all of that New 52 garbage and make some entertaining comics.

[Markness]

Read the first Yen Press edition of Murciélago. Fun read and I am glad it was licensed. Kuro looks like Hellsing's Rip van Winkle reincarnated in another manga! 

Also bought the first two Fire Force volumes as well as the latest Viz volume of Boku no Hero Academia and I have some unread Soul Eater volumes. I have quite a few goodies to mentally munch on.

[Pharass]

Comixology had a sale on Warren Ellis comics recently and I took the opportunity to by vol. 1 of Desolation Jones, a comic which have been on my to-read list for some time. The first volume, which revolves around the ex-spy turned private investigator main character being hired to recover a stolen porn-film, directed by Adolf Hitler, was a terrific read and I can't help but feel bummed out knowing that the comic was abandoned after only eight issues.

I've also read the first volume of Wild's End by Dan Abnett & I.N.J. Culbard. Alien-invasion stories isn't usually something I seek out, but I had heard a lot of good things about Wild's End and thought I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did, this was another great read. Wild's End has been described as The War of the Worlds meets The Wind In the Willows and that's fairly accurate. I really liked the cast of characters, particularly Clive and Susan and am interested to see what will happen to them next.