Just waiting for the Fall

Hello to you all,
I sit this week looking at the end of summer a bit stunned. Where did the summer go? Time is such a fluid thing. And now we are staring right into my favorite season the fall. Where I reside we have a very pretty fall season, which is damn surprising since it's a desert. But I ramble on. Just can't wait for the fall leaves. Sigh.

This was a book club Tuesday. Although I enjoyed the book gun with occasional music (review below) immensely and it's quite provocative, as a subject the book proved dissapointing. The discussion was either scattered or devolved into "this book is really good" platitudes. It's too bad because I think this book is very interesting and thought provoking. Oh well. Moderator/Head of Club/Secret superhero Zach Sampinos let me know that The Sun Also Rises will be next months book. This filled me with joy, I enjoy Hemingway. And hopefully it will draw some more people. That would be cool.

Well Onward!

Reviews
Hellboy Library Edition Vol. 1
I finally picked this up and enjoyed it a lot. Hellboy, like BPRD, is a unique mix of horror, mythology, and humor. It hits the sweet spot in combining these different aspects. But really the book is powered by the amazing art from Mignola. This library edition is a great showcase for Mignola's universe. In this world the colors are dark and moody, the only vibrant color being red. The demons are scary and formidable, and Mignola makes the action scenes crazy. I am often surprised by how epic Mignola's art is on the page. Also Byrne & Mignola never talk down to their audience. There is a fair amount of history, written text, and occult talk. The characters are very smart and engaging as well. Hellboy, as a character, is written here much more intelligent than his portrayal in the films. While he is a demon, Mignola allows for his humanity to come through. He's a unique fun character. I can't wait to read more.

Bio Info: Hellboy

BPRD vol. 7
More BPRD goodness: This time we learn more about Abe Sapien and his crazy past. I would have liked some more with the rest of the BPRD gang, but this was Abe's showcase. Some very creepy stuff.

Past Reviews: Homing Instinct of Books, City on Fire, A Serious Obsession

gun, with occasional music
I enjoyed this crazy mix of Chandler and Phillip K. Dick, as seen through the eyes of Jonathan Lethem. In this detective yarn we are dropped into an Orwellian future where everyone is controlled by either individualized drugs or The Office. Private Inquisitior Conrad Metcalf finds himself stuck in the middle of a murder when one of his former employers ends up dead. Lethem blends a good brew of noir and futurist prose like right out of Spillane. I found myself enveloped in the hard language Lethem employs. This book is also ripe with social commentary that is becoming more and more a reality. The world imagined in gun is one where existence is made trivial and superficial. Metcalf's tragedy is not unlike Orwell's Winston Smith; he can't stop asking questions. Very interesting stuff.

Other Reviews
sff | 12frogs | The Guardian

The Reading List
Books
Queen and Country Vol. 1
Superman For Tomorrow Vol. 1

Mags
Four Four Two

Comics
Green Arrow & Black Canary

Comics Pull List: Batman And Robin #3, Dark Wolverine #77, Deadpool #14, Detective Comics #856, Flash Rebirth #4, Gotham City Sirens #3, Green Lantern #45, New Avengers #56, Runaways 3 #13, Superman #691, Wednesday Comics #8, Wonder Woman #35

Check Out Count: Musical.

Have a great week!