The 2015 Reading Thread - December
Torchsong
Posts: 2,794
Okay let's wrap this sucker up! I've got a ton of trades coming my way (Thanks Black Friday Sales!) so let's kick this last month out in style!
Link to January 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3220/the-2015-reading-thread-january#latest
Link to Februarry 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3278/the-2015-reading-thread-february#latest
Link to March 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3331/the-2015-reading-thread-march#latest
Link to April 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3370/the-2015-reading-thread-april#latest
Link to May 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3428/the-2015-reading-thread-may#latest
Link to June 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3478/the-2015-reading-thread-june#latest
Link to July 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3521/the-2015-reading-thread-july#latest
Link to August 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3557/the-2015-reading-thread-august#latest
Link to September 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3585/the-2015-reading-thread-september#latest
Link to October 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3618/the-2015-reading-thread-october#latest
Link to November 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3640/the-2015-reading-thread-november#latest
As always - no real rules, rhyme, or reason...just post what you read this month worth mentioning.
Link to January 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3220/the-2015-reading-thread-january#latest
Link to Februarry 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3278/the-2015-reading-thread-february#latest
Link to March 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3331/the-2015-reading-thread-march#latest
Link to April 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3370/the-2015-reading-thread-april#latest
Link to May 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3428/the-2015-reading-thread-may#latest
Link to June 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3478/the-2015-reading-thread-june#latest
Link to July 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3521/the-2015-reading-thread-july#latest
Link to August 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3557/the-2015-reading-thread-august#latest
Link to September 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3585/the-2015-reading-thread-september#latest
Link to October 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3618/the-2015-reading-thread-october#latest
Link to November 2015: http://thecomicforums.com/discussion/3640/the-2015-reading-thread-november#latest
As always - no real rules, rhyme, or reason...just post what you read this month worth mentioning.
Comments
January Winner: My Love Story Vol. 1 (Viz)
February Winner: Akame ga Kill! (Yen Press)
March Winner: The Sculptor (01 Publishing)
April Winner: Copperhead Vol. 1 (Image)
May Winner: Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman TP Vol. 1 (DC)
June Winner: A Silent Voice (Kodansha)
July Winner: Ms. Marvel Vol. 3 (Marvel)
August Winner: Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn (Seven Seas)
September Winner: Princess Ugg vol. 2 (Oni)
October Winner: Vampirella Archives Vol. 2 (Dynamite)
November Winner: Tokyo ESP (Vertical)
November Books:
Mind MGMT Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
Astro City: Local Heroes HC
A Silent Voice Vol. 4 (Kodansha)
Livingstone (Kodansha)
My Neighbor Seki Vol. 5 (Vertical)
The Sacred Blacksmith Vol. 8 (Seven Seas)
Mind MGMT Vol. 2 (Dark Horse)
Mind MGMT Vol. 3 (Dark Horse)
Widow Archives Vol. 1 (MW Press)
The three Ghostbusters Volumes are up there too.
February Winner: Nailbiter vol.1
March Winner: Swamp Thing #40
April Winner: Swamp Thing By Brian K. Vaughan vols 1&2
May Winner: Convergence Shazam
June Winner: Locke and Key - the whole series
July Winner: DC Comics Presents #85: Superman & Swamp Thing
August Winner: Ghostbusters/TMNT tpb
September Winner: Book of Death #3
October Winner: Paper Girls #1
November Winner: Trillium tpb
December Winner: Doctor Strange #3
December Books:
Saga #31
Invincible Iron Man #2
DC Bombshells #5
Howling Commandoes of SHIELD #2
Doctor Strange #3
JLA (Morrison run) vol.2 - issues #10-17
Rage of Ultron ogn (curtesy of @fredzilla)
Paper Girls #3
All New All Different Avengers #2
Archie #1
DC Bombshells #6
Ninjak #10
Secret Wars #8
We Stand On Guard #6
Constantine #7
The Mighty Thor #2
Eternal Warrior #2
Justice League #46
It's the time of year to sit back relax and take in the wonderful joys of life. We get to unwrap and reflect on the past year with all its ups and downs. So from all of us on this side of the screen, to all of you on that side of the internet have an awesome December.
Big Trouble Little China #13-16
The Goon #6-8
Astro City Local Heroes #1-5
The Sixith Gun vol. 4
Space Riders #1-4
Cyborg 009 volume 1
Southern Bastards #1-4
BPRD 1945 #1-6
Tokyo Ghost #1-4
Assassination Classroom vol 1
Turiko vol 1
The Goddamned #1-2
Rumble #1-4
Southern Bastards #5-8
DK3 #2
February Winner: TIE - Star Wars #1 / The Multiversity: Guidebook
March Winner: The City on the Edge of Forever HC
April Winner: The Sculptor HC
May Winner: Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #4
June Winner: Wild's End #1-6
July Winner: Batman: Year 100 #1-4
August Winner: This One Summer OGN
September Winner: Age of Reptiles Omnibus vol. 1 (digital)
October Winner: Wild's End: The Enemy Within #1
November Winner: Paper Girls #1
December Winner: My Friend Dahmer
December List:
Single Issues/Digital:
Amazing Spider-Man #3
Back to the Future #2
Birthright #11
I Hate Fairyland #2
Munchkin #11
Paper Girls #2
Saga #31
Star Trek Green Lantern #5
Chewbacca #3-4
Darth Vader #12-13
Star Wars #11-12
Doctor Strange #2
Edward Scissorhands #1 (digital)
Extraordinary X-Men #1
Fight Club 2 #1 (digital)
Secret Wars #7
Silver Surfer #15
Spider-Man 2099 #3
Spider-Gwen #2
Airboy #1-3 (digital)
The Walking Dead #139-147 (digital)
Southern Bastards #11 (digital)
Collected HC/TPB/Digital
My Friend Dahmer
Avengers: Time Runs Out vol. 4 (digital)
Avengers & X-Men: Axis (digital)
What is the best comic you've read this year? Can be a single issue, trade, series, arc, ogn, crossover, or whatever, but what was the best thing you read?
What comic did you like most (see above rules)?
What comic were you suprised that you liked?
What was the worst comic you read?
Finally what is the one comic you read this year that you would reccommend for members of the forums to read?
Best Comic: Strangers in Paradise Omnibus vol 1
Liked the Most: Multiversity: Thunderworld
Most Surprised I liked: Action Philosophers 10 year anniversay edition.
Worst: DC Showcase Presents: Aquaman vol 1
Recommended: Multiversity: Thunderworld
A Silent Voice (Kodansha) - a manga about a kid who bullied a deaf girl when they were both kids and is pretty much spending the rest of his life atoning for it. The dictionary definition of "heartwarming" needs an image of this book next to it.
What comic did you like most (see above rules)?
Princess Ugg Vol. 2 - Just like Volume 1, this book is how you do all-ages. It's a great story with fun art and writing that knows when to be funny, when to make a point, and when to deliver the action.
What comic were you suprised that you liked?
DC Comics Bombshells - I figured it for the cash-in that it was on the popularity of the statue line, but for all that it was really well written and thought-out. Trade is officially ordered.
What was the worst comic you read?
Codename:Baboushka. Horrible art. Horrible writing. Gives a nice counter to the argument that Image is publishing amazing stuff these days (which they are...just not this particular title) :)
Finally what is the one comic you read this year that you would recommend for members of the forums to read?
Tokyo ESP (Vertical) - it has every formulaic shonen manga trope I can think of (plus a few I'd never thought of) but the artwork is among the best I've seen in a manga, the writing is whip-smart and self aware (if you can't catch all the X-Men references, I can't help you), the overall plot is something we're all familiar with (superheroes vs. superbaddies) but with a sense of humor and great action sequences. I'm reading vol. 2 right now and loving it.
February Winner: Roy Thomas Presents The Phantom Lady vol 1
March Winner: Strangers In Paradise Omnibus book 1
April Winner: Classic G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol 1 tpb
May Winner: DC Showcase Presents: Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew
June Winner: The Complete Peanuts vol 1 1950-52
July Winner: Scarlett Couture #1-3
August Winner: Justice League of America Omnibus
September Winner: The Complete Calvin & Hobbes Book One 1985-87
October Winner: Action Philosphers 10th Annversary edition HC
November Winner: (Tie) Astro City: Life in the Big City & The Complete Calvin & Hobbes Book Two: 1987-89.
December List:
Fantastic Four Omnibus (Lee & Kirby) vol 1.
DC Showcase Presents Batgirl
Jupiter's Legacy vol 1
DC Archives Golden Age Flash vol 2
Marvel Masterworks Capt America vol one
I got my copy.
When starting this book my main concern was that it would get overly preachy, and I was surprised when it really didn't (I'm on the fourth volume). The main character doesn't get forgiven immediately when he begins to try to make things right, nor does the bullied girl exist in a perfect bubble. Equally compelling is how the characters who surround the main two interact with each other and deal with the whole situation.
It won't be for everyone, but I was really impressed with how it doesn't allow itself to get overly sweet/saccharine given the nature of the topic. And there's no giant robots, fanservice, or any of the usual manga trappings to be found.
Harrow County #8: The first issue I've tried of this book and I think I'll stick with it for at least a couple of more. At first I was thinking it might be something better read in trades (if at all) but it grabbed me in the last few pages so I'm going to stick with it. I really like the art which gives it a nursery rhyme feeling.
Howling Commandos of Shield #2: I want to like this book more than I really do. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just sort of blah right now. Still, it's the Marvel monsters so I'll stick with it.
Providence #6: This is Alan Moore's current book. It's fine but was disturbing towards the end so I'm dropping it. Nothing wrong with it, I might have just picked up the wrong issue. Didn't have anything that made me want to return.
Silver Surfer #15: I'm glad they're exiting from the storyline where SS and Dawn get to create their own universe as I think it dragged on a little long and we all knew what the result would be. Will be excited for them to get back to exploring the universe.
Titans Hunt #2: I missed issue 1 so I was dropped into this one without knowing what was going on. Something weird is happening with Roy Harper in this one. I just had a hard time following. It has an interesting premise though, so I'm going to stick with it.
Seduction of The Innocent #1: Not what I was expecting at all. It was October and I wanted some guilty pleasure horror but this has the making of a really interesting mystery book. Excited to read #2.
Omega Men #6: Things need to start happening with this book soon. The mystery has gone on long enough.
James Bond #2: I'm having a ball with this one. Good ole spy action. This one is creeping up towards the top of my reading pile every month.
Fight Club 2 #7: I like this a lot more than I expected. I didn't love the movie (never read the first book) and generally I don't care for political commentary fiction, but the story itself is hooking me in this sequel. That and the art is fantastic (reminds me of Hawkeye a little bit).
I'm read even more than this, but these are the ones I thought worth mentioning.
PS I'll try to have my survey done on Friday.
Best Comic - the whole Locke & Key series. Just sublime.
Most Liked Comic - The Shazam books from Convergence.
Most Surprised I liked - Archie. Never read an issue of this before. But really enjoyed the first issue.
Worst Comic - JLA from Hitch. Rubbish... No it was rubbish!
Recommended - the BKV Swamp Thing series. Early work from BKV but still some great Swampy.
Wild's End #1-6 - I got this series at Denver Comic Con for 50% off cover. I missed ordering it from DCBS and decided I would just wait for the trade, but too good to pass up the floppies for half off. It feels like an amalgamation of War of the Worlds and Watership Down.
What comic did you like most (see above rules)?
TIE: Star Wars #1 and Paper Girls #1 - Star Wars, because it's the original trilogy cast in a continuing adventure. I loved the recent DH series by Brian Wood, and this was just a continuation of that. Paper Girls has a very Super 8/E.T. by way of Stand By Me vibe that I really enjoyed. I can't think of a single bad comic BKV has written that I didn't enjoy.
What comic were you suprised that you liked?
Batman: Year 100 - I got this on a comiXology sale. I recently read Battling Boy by Paul Pope and really enjoyed it. His art style was a little rough to accept at first, but I ended up falling in love with it and really enjoy his style now. I hadn't heard much about the series, so I was caught off guard with how good it was. I new I would like it, but I didn't think I would like it as much as I did.
What was the worst comic you read?
Convergence #0-8 - Maybe some of you liked it, but I'm not a big DC guy. I started looking more into the company's books (beyond Superman and Batman) just before the New52 began. Then got thrown out of whack with Flashpoint and the New52. I liked some things, but found I was reading less and less. This sounded like a fun series that DC was trying to fill the summer with as they moved offices. I just... I didn't like the original series. I didn't read any of the ancillary books (I got other things I'd like to spend my money on). I thought the series was so bad I didn't even record issues #5-8.
Finally what is the one comic you read this year that you would reccommend for members of the forums to read?
Rust Vol. 1-3 - Although I didn't put it down on my list, I re-read Vol. 1 again. It has a great middle America, steampunk, WWII-era feel that is all ages. I picked these up for 50% off at Denver Comic Con. If you got kids, and I think many forum members do, this is a great book series. I think they're going to publish them in TPB soon (from November's PREVIEWS?). Only one volume left for the series that has yet to be published.
What is the best comic you've read this year? Can be a single issue, trade, series, arc, ogn, crossover, or whatever, but what was the best thing you read?
The March Book 2 I read both volumes this year, and both are excellent. The second volume was powerful and hard to read at times. It's not an easy read, but it's an important read.
What comic did you like most (see above rules)?
Wayward I'll fully admit I'm a Jim Zub fan, but this series is awesome. What happens when the demons of Japan start making trouble? The first arc is a little Buffy in Tokyo; the second things go bananas. It's great.
What comic were you suprised that you liked?
Big Trouble in Little China - I thought the series would be okay. Maybe even get a few chuckles out of me, but how was I supposed to know it would be at the "top of my stack" (I read it digitally) every month?
What was the worst comic you read?
This is a hard one; I read a lot of comics I enjoyed. It could go to the terrible Moon Knight (2006) series, or the bad Crying Freeman volume 2.
But the worst thing I read was The Island. I did not have expectations for the other series, but with The Island I knew it would be great or at least interesting. The first handful of issues just were not that good. Maybe it gets better, I hope it gets better, I want it to get better. It's really hard to stick with an expensive book (even though you know there will be new stories by new creators) when the opening stories were not good.
Finally what is the one comic you read this year that you would reccommend for members of the forums to read?
Another hard one. I wish I wouldn't have added this question, but I think it's the best question on the list.
The one comic I would recommend: Jason Aaron's Thor God of Thunder. Jason Aaron is my favorite writer in comics (since Scalped). I thought about putting Southern Bastards here, and the The Goddamned only had 2 issues in 2015.
Aaron does something magical when he writes superheroes he loves (best Ghost Rider writer ever). Thor is like a heavy metal album/comic come to Marvel, and unlike SB or The GDed you can let your kids read how awesome comics should be. My gushing over Jason shortchanges how incredible the art was. This is one of the rare books where the pictures and words are equally great. It was my favorite tights and capes book that I read last year.