The 2016 Reading Thread - January
Torchsong
Posts: 2,794
The masses...okay about four people...have spoken, and they want to do another year of keeping track of what we read.
The "rules" are simple: Keep a post/log of everything you read and list it on here. At the end of each month pick a "winner" (ie. the book you enjoyed the most for that month) and post it in the next month's thread. Refer to the 2015 or 2014 versions creeping around here for a solid example. I tend to focus on trades, but if you want to log your single issues, go for it. Don't start a new post each time you want to add something - simply edit your existing post. I tend to bold the issues/books that really stood out each month.
New This Year: Just to mix things up...the list seems to focus on quantity, so let's add quality into the mix. If you read a book that really knocked your socks off - put a sentence or two out from it that clues the rest of us in that this might be a book worth checking out. You don't have to do it for every book, and it's probably a good idea just to keep it to a sentence or two, but I think this'll add some fun to it and maybe generate a discussion or three. I put an example with my first entry, below.
Happy 2016 Reading Everyone!
The "rules" are simple: Keep a post/log of everything you read and list it on here. At the end of each month pick a "winner" (ie. the book you enjoyed the most for that month) and post it in the next month's thread. Refer to the 2015 or 2014 versions creeping around here for a solid example. I tend to focus on trades, but if you want to log your single issues, go for it. Don't start a new post each time you want to add something - simply edit your existing post. I tend to bold the issues/books that really stood out each month.
New This Year: Just to mix things up...the list seems to focus on quantity, so let's add quality into the mix. If you read a book that really knocked your socks off - put a sentence or two out from it that clues the rest of us in that this might be a book worth checking out. You don't have to do it for every book, and it's probably a good idea just to keep it to a sentence or two, but I think this'll add some fun to it and maybe generate a discussion or three. I put an example with my first entry, below.
Happy 2016 Reading Everyone!
Comments
Fables #150 - Kind of a weak ending for an otherwise stellar series. It was probably the ending it needed to have, but it just seemed too pat and simple for me.
Sherbet Vol. 1 (Kickstarter) - Got this one via crowdsourcing but if you find a copy out and about or at a convention it's worth picking up. Sherbet Lock (aka Sherlock) is a female occult/weird happenings detective in a pseudo-future Victorian society. A bunch of short stories but with a longer narrative and some definite plot twists toward the end.
Suicide Squad Vol 2: Nightshade (DC) - Love me some Nightshade and the inclusion of her origin story from Secret Origins helped fill out this trade collection nicely.
Green Arrow (Grell version) Vol. 4: Blood of the Dragon (DC)
Batman 66 HC Vol. 4 (DC) - Worth it for the inclusion of the Two-Face story originally pitched by Harlan Ellison before the series got cancelled. Would have been a fun episode.
A Clockwork Apple (Digital Manga)(Kickstarter) - A collection of Tezuka short stories that would give the Twilight Zone a run for its money.
Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker (Angels & Airwaves) - For some reason I'm drawn to comics based on albums or concepts from bands (see Coheed & Cambrias Amory Wars series). This book has some amazing artwork, a fun story reminiscent of the old Bakshi movies I used to love, and hey, comes with an instrumental track CD. Helps that I love A&A, which was the main push for getting this in the first place. Looking forward to the animated film.
Revival Vol. 6: Our Loyal Sons & Daughters (Image)
Dorohedoro Vol....? (Viz) - It's whatever the latest volume is. We're in the teens somewhere. It was another good'un, I can tell you that much. :)
Brave Dan (Digital Manga) (Kickstarter) - more great fun from the Tezuka library. A story about a tiger, the kid he befriends, and a hidden treasure. Much more involved than I'm letting on here...
Barbara (Digital Manga) (Kickstarter) - Every Single Artist Needs To Read and Own This Book. Easily the best book I've read about the artistic journey in a looooong time.
January books:
American Vampire vol. 7 - such a great series. This collects the first few issues of the Second Cycle series. The high standards have continued. Vampire stories done right!
Justice League Dark vol. 6
Saga #32
Bloodshot Reborn #9
DC Bombshells #7
Howling Commandos of Shield #3
Doctor Strange #4
Aquaman vol. 5
Aquaman vol. 6 - I'm really enjoying Aquaman at the moment. This finishes up Jeff Parkersburg run on the book. It was a great ride.
The Mighty Thor #3
Swamp Thing #1
Justice League #46
Batman: Gates of Gotham tpb
Swamp Thing by Scott Snyder Deluxe Edition
Monstress #1
I Hate Fairyland #1
Lady Snowblood vol. 1 (digital)
Toriko vol 2 (digital)
Lumberjanes vol 1 (digital) - I'm going to have to buy this series in trade. Holy Cat why didn't you guys tell me how great of an all ages book is? It is an awesome book for girls.
Cable & Deadpool #1-6 (Omnibus) - I've always felt this was a very underrated series by Marvel. I'm not a Deadpool fan, but I love the interaction between Cable-Jesus and Deadpool.
All New Ghost Rider #1-5 (issues) - I love this first arc, and I wish this series had stuck. The art is great, the story is solid, and GR fights a very cool Mr. Hyde. It's a good origin story with lots of intentional callbacks to and similar energy/excitement of the really good first year of the Ketch series.
Toriko vol 3
Gotham Central - #11-15 (digital) - This includes a single story and the 4 part Soft Targets. Soft Targets is the storyline where Gotham PD have to battle the Joker, or as it should be renamed Batman is a terrible superhero
February Winner:
March Winner:
April Winner:
May Winner:
June Winner:
July Winner:
August Winner:
September Winner:
October Winner:
November Winner:
December Winner:
January List:
Single Issues/Digital:
Chewbacca #5
Daredevil #1 - 2
Dearth Vader #14
Star Wars # 13
Doctor Strange #3
Extraordinary X-Men #3 - 4
Ultimate End #5
Saga #32
Paper Girls #3
Ragnarök #7
Birthright #12
Munchkin #12
Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War #6
Spider-Man 2099 #4
Spider-Gwen #3
Star Wars: Vader Down #1
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #1 - Good first issue. Not sure if I'll pick anymore up. I don't feel I'm the demographic.
Spidey #1 - Another modern retelling (yeah, I know). But Nick Bradshaw's art made this awesome. I would love to see him on ASM with Slott writing.
The Amazing Spider-Man #1.1, 4-5
Secret Wars #8-9
Collected HC/TPB/Digital
All-New Captain America Vol. 1: Hydra Ascendant (digital)
Superior Iron Man Vol. 1: Infamous (digital) - I would recommend that you read Avengers and X-Men: AXIS before jumping into this. Tony Stark is acting strangely and it is explained why in AXIS
Superior Iron Man Vol. 2: Stark Contrast (digital)
Green River Killer OGN (digital) - Put this up there with Capote in Kansas and My Friend Dahmer. I heard about this on the Radiolab podcast over the holidays and since I liked those other two titles, real-life crime dramas, I thought I would enjoy this. I was right. This was amazing. 250 pages and I blasted through it in about a day. Highly recommended.
Teen Titans: Earth One Vol. 1 (digital)
I've been plowing through some books. I've read alot of comics for me.
DC Archives Adam Strange vol 1
DC Archives All Star Comics vol 1
Rasputin vol 1
Injustice Gods Among Us Y4 Annual
Injustice Gods Among Us Y5 #1
DC Archives Adam Strange vol 2
Secret Six vol 2: Money For Murder
DC Showcase Presents Haunted Tank vol 2 - This is the early front runner for my worst book of the year.