Hey
Here comes some reviews old-school style. It's important to note that at least 2 of the reviews here are for all new series and one's a series I discovered this year. Yep I'm willing to try new things. It's not a bad idea.
Onward!
Reviews
Storming Paradise
Here's an interesting "What if" scenario: What if the United States had invaded Japan in WW2? This is the question examined by Chuck Dixon in his new series Storming Paradise. I enjoyed the realism Dixon and artist Butch Guice employed in this mini. War is terrible. No matter where/when, the consequences are never good. Dixon draws direct parallels to Vietnam-esque slaughter and the tolls that it can take on soldiers. This was a great examination and I hope that I can see more mini's like this from Chuck Dixon.
Other Chuck Dixon Reviews: Birds of Prey
Irredeemable
So what would happen if the world's greatest hero decided to become a villian? This is Mark Waid's best work in years. I thoroughly enjoyed this trade. Waid has been stereotyped for as "the 60s silver age guy" since Kingdom Come. It's a pleasure to watch him rip loose and challenge that image. In these opening issues we watch as his former proteges try to understand why the Plutonium has gone bad. Amazingly Waid is able to capture it in one fatal scene, as Plutonium hears that one voice in the crowd that is ungrateful and mocking. That is the first step in a hero loosing his mind. Anyone who works in public service knows that feeling. Fortunately I don't have super powers or I might have lost it a long time ago. But I digress. Waid's genius is also that we hear Plutonium's story as told through others such as his fellow teammates and girlfriend. This ratchets up the mystery and suspense. Check out this new series, it's worth it.
Here's a cool Video Trailer from Boom Studios
BPRD: The Black Goddess
My journey with the BPRD continues. I was touched by the team's efforts to rescue Liz Sherman who was kidnapped in the prior volume. Also apparently there's some crazy battle going on between dragons, demon frogs, and the US military. I'm not quite sure what's going on. However I do think that this breaks the mold of being a self-contained story because if you had not read the prior volume you'd be lost. It'll be nice when this "Scorched Earth" trilogy is completed and our team can get back to doing missions. I love the fact that Lobster Johnson is back. I can't wait for the next volume to see what they'll do with this super-cool character.
Past Reviews: BPRD vol. 1 & 2 & 6, BPRD vol. 3 & 4 , BPRD Vol. 5, BPRD Vol. 7, BPRD Vol. 8
Have a great weekend! Book Slave.
Showing posts with label BPRD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BPRD. Show all posts
2009-12-11
2009-10-22
Are you ready for it? Really? Well I'm gonna give it to yeah.
Hello,
I hope you all are well. I've got a review heavy post for you today so let's get cracking! Onward!
Book Reviews
Boston Marriage
I'm reading some plays in preparation for writing on of my own. I stumbled upon this Mamet play completely by accident. I've read many Mamet works, even directed Oleanna, but I'd never heard of this one. Well I have to say that it didn't read very well. It had Mamet-esque dialogue, witty upmanship, and emotions that lie under the surface. But in the end I didn't care about any of the characters or their travails. So far as I can tell the play features 2 upper class women in the 19th century who find themselves in trouble. They are living off the artificial look of the monied, rather than having actual cash. Because of this one of the women has to bag a rich gentleman, although he's married, and keep the diamond knecklace that he has bestowed upon her. At the same time she wants to seduce his daughter (yeah you heard me!) and needs a bed to do it in. She asks her fellow not really rich friend for her house for the afternoon. Hilarity ensues. Again the subtext here is so obvious that it just makes me wish for the subtlety of Wharton. Good try Mr. Mamet but women are not your strong suit.
Bio Info: David Mamet
Catwoman: When in Rome
This book was so much fun. I could read Cat Woman/Selina Kyle running around Rome all day long. Loeb does a great job with the quippy sardonic narration. I couldn't get enough of it. Artist Tim Sale has a wonderfully retro style that is a perfect match for the tone. This is amongst Loeb & Sale's best work.
Other Reviews
IGN | Comics Bulletin | Burning Leaves
BPRD Vol. 8: Killing Ground
The adventures of the BPRD continue. This volume has a much darker tone than the others, and in the end it felt too slight. Not enough material to fit 5 issues, it probably would of worked better as 3. I still love the character of Liz Sherman and we do get more of her in this arc. Would rather have more of her story than the crazy escapades of Johan Krauss.
Past Reviews: BPRD
Lindbergh Child & Jack the Ripper from Treasury of Victorian Murder Series
The Treasury of Victorian Murder series is a wonderful tool for true crime addicts like myself. Written and Drawn by Rick Geary in each volume he covers a true story of crime. I appreciated that Geary focuses on the facts, rather than push a theory. There are a billion theories as to the identity of Jack the Ripper but Geary just wants to tell the tale. He proves that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. I found this utterly true in regards to the story of the Lindbergh kidnapping. Really you can't make this shit up. Geary explores the crazy characters involved in a quick matter of fact way. I love Alan Moore's From Hell, but sometimes I just want to know what happened and when. Geary's series is great and I heartily recommend it.
Author Page: Rick Geary
Other Reviews
Lindbergh Child: Comic Mix, Comic Book Resources
The Reading List
Books
The Boat
Daredevil Man Without Fear
Magazines
Wizard
Comics
Green Arrow Black Canary
Checkout Count: Reaching all time lows.
Comic Pull List: Amazing Spider-Man #609, Batman Streets Of Gotham #5, Blackest Night Superman #3, Dark Wolverine #79, Spider-Woman #2, Stand Soul Survivors #1
Have a great week! Book Slave.
I hope you all are well. I've got a review heavy post for you today so let's get cracking! Onward!
Book Reviews
Boston Marriage
I'm reading some plays in preparation for writing on of my own. I stumbled upon this Mamet play completely by accident. I've read many Mamet works, even directed Oleanna, but I'd never heard of this one. Well I have to say that it didn't read very well. It had Mamet-esque dialogue, witty upmanship, and emotions that lie under the surface. But in the end I didn't care about any of the characters or their travails. So far as I can tell the play features 2 upper class women in the 19th century who find themselves in trouble. They are living off the artificial look of the monied, rather than having actual cash. Because of this one of the women has to bag a rich gentleman, although he's married, and keep the diamond knecklace that he has bestowed upon her. At the same time she wants to seduce his daughter (yeah you heard me!) and needs a bed to do it in. She asks her fellow not really rich friend for her house for the afternoon. Hilarity ensues. Again the subtext here is so obvious that it just makes me wish for the subtlety of Wharton. Good try Mr. Mamet but women are not your strong suit.
Bio Info: David Mamet
Catwoman: When in Rome
This book was so much fun. I could read Cat Woman/Selina Kyle running around Rome all day long. Loeb does a great job with the quippy sardonic narration. I couldn't get enough of it. Artist Tim Sale has a wonderfully retro style that is a perfect match for the tone. This is amongst Loeb & Sale's best work.
Other Reviews
IGN | Comics Bulletin | Burning Leaves
BPRD Vol. 8: Killing Ground
The adventures of the BPRD continue. This volume has a much darker tone than the others, and in the end it felt too slight. Not enough material to fit 5 issues, it probably would of worked better as 3. I still love the character of Liz Sherman and we do get more of her in this arc. Would rather have more of her story than the crazy escapades of Johan Krauss.
Past Reviews: BPRD
Lindbergh Child & Jack the Ripper from Treasury of Victorian Murder Series
The Treasury of Victorian Murder series is a wonderful tool for true crime addicts like myself. Written and Drawn by Rick Geary in each volume he covers a true story of crime. I appreciated that Geary focuses on the facts, rather than push a theory. There are a billion theories as to the identity of Jack the Ripper but Geary just wants to tell the tale. He proves that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. I found this utterly true in regards to the story of the Lindbergh kidnapping. Really you can't make this shit up. Geary explores the crazy characters involved in a quick matter of fact way. I love Alan Moore's From Hell, but sometimes I just want to know what happened and when. Geary's series is great and I heartily recommend it.
Author Page: Rick Geary
Other Reviews
Lindbergh Child: Comic Mix, Comic Book Resources
The Reading List
Books
The Boat
Daredevil Man Without Fear
Magazines
Wizard
Comics
Green Arrow Black Canary
Checkout Count: Reaching all time lows.
Comic Pull List: Amazing Spider-Man #609, Batman Streets Of Gotham #5, Blackest Night Superman #3, Dark Wolverine #79, Spider-Woman #2, Stand Soul Survivors #1
Have a great week! Book Slave.
2009-08-25
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!
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!
2009-08-11
Homing Instinct of Books
Hello to you all,
Last week has finally seen some relief from the summer heat for us here in the city of Salt. Been able to get a fair amount done without driving myself crazy. What is beguiling is how no matter how much reading I do I'm still buried in books. Will I ever catch up? Highly unlikely. It's difficult. However I do a fair amount of paperback trading online. I also have been hardcore about refusing to buy "new" books, especially in hardback. Waiting for the trade paperback these days usually means about a 6 month wait. That I can do. No more new hardcovers, they are just too expensive. Any way blab, blab, blab. Let's get on with it eh?
Onward!
Reviews
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
This book is a delightful read. It is tailor-made for book lovers like myself. In 1946 London writer Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey Addams about Charles Lamb. Through multiple letters Juliet, and the reader, is introduced to the world of post-occupation Guernsey and it's colorful heroic characters. Writers Barrow & Shaffer deftly handle multiple character voices and move the story along at a fast clip. The use of epistolary is genius since it controls how information is doled out between characters and the reader. When the story gets a little too light in the middle the writers bring in a surprisingly amount of heft when discussing the horrors of war. Islanders begin to recount for Juliet stories of the German Occupation which are grim and realistic. The book is much more substantial than I expected. I was delighted by the wit and humor these characters exhibit. This is a must-read for bibliophiles like myself. Highly enjoyable.
Other Reviews
California Literary Review | blogcritics | London Telegraph
BPRD vol. 5
What else do I need to say? Start here, then rinse and repeat.
The Reading List
Books
Time Traveller's Wife
Back to Brooklyn
Magazine
Four Four Two
Comic
Amazing Spider-man #600
Comic Pull List: Action Comics #880, Amazing Spider-Man #602, Batman #689, Blackest Night #2, Bprd 1947 #2, Deadpool #13, Fables #87, Green Arrow Black Canary #23, Red Robin #3, Wednesday Comics #6
Check Out Count: Why do I do this to myself? *sigh*
Have a great week! Book Slave.
Last week has finally seen some relief from the summer heat for us here in the city of Salt. Been able to get a fair amount done without driving myself crazy. What is beguiling is how no matter how much reading I do I'm still buried in books. Will I ever catch up? Highly unlikely. It's difficult. However I do a fair amount of paperback trading online. I also have been hardcore about refusing to buy "new" books, especially in hardback. Waiting for the trade paperback these days usually means about a 6 month wait. That I can do. No more new hardcovers, they are just too expensive. Any way blab, blab, blab. Let's get on with it eh?
Onward!
Reviews
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
This book is a delightful read. It is tailor-made for book lovers like myself. In 1946 London writer Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey Addams about Charles Lamb. Through multiple letters Juliet, and the reader, is introduced to the world of post-occupation Guernsey and it's colorful heroic characters. Writers Barrow & Shaffer deftly handle multiple character voices and move the story along at a fast clip. The use of epistolary is genius since it controls how information is doled out between characters and the reader. When the story gets a little too light in the middle the writers bring in a surprisingly amount of heft when discussing the horrors of war. Islanders begin to recount for Juliet stories of the German Occupation which are grim and realistic. The book is much more substantial than I expected. I was delighted by the wit and humor these characters exhibit. This is a must-read for bibliophiles like myself. Highly enjoyable.
Other Reviews
California Literary Review | blogcritics | London Telegraph
BPRD vol. 5
What else do I need to say? Start here, then rinse and repeat.
The Reading List
Books
Time Traveller's Wife
Back to Brooklyn
Magazine
Four Four Two
Comic
Amazing Spider-man #600
Comic Pull List: Action Comics #880, Amazing Spider-Man #602, Batman #689, Blackest Night #2, Bprd 1947 #2, Deadpool #13, Fables #87, Green Arrow Black Canary #23, Red Robin #3, Wednesday Comics #6
Check Out Count: Why do I do this to myself? *sigh*
Have a great week! Book Slave.
2009-07-21
City on Fire!
Hello friends,
I bring this post tonight to you from the sweatlodge that is my domicile. Look I know it's summer and I live in a desert, but man some of us don't have air conditioning. Please weather gods lighten up a bit. Also at the moment I'm doing some California Dreamin' as Comic-Con begins. Someday I'll convince the library I work for to front the money so I can go. Of course it'll be for "research". Yeah researching kick ass comics baby! Well every girl has her little dream.
Well Onward we go!
Reviews
BPRD: Plague of Frogs, BPRD: The Dead
If you want to know how I feel about this series, well check out last week's review here. In it's further volumes the story begins to open up as we meet new characters. We also learn more about Abe Sapien and Roger in a very unique style. This series doesn't settle for simple exposition, they do a great job of using sequential art to get us info. The personal dynamics between different characters are wonderful. It actually reminds me of the wonderful humor for League of Extraordinary Gentleman. I love it how these characters react to each other and to the crazy events around them. Great series.
The Reading List
Books
Citizen Vince
BPRD: The Black Flame
Magazines
Four Four Two
Comics
Blackest Night #1
Check Out Count: Improving.
Comic Pull List: Amazing Spider-Man #600, Dark Wolverine #76, Gotham City Sirens #2, Green Lantern #44, Outsiders #20, Runaways 3 #12, Wednesday Comics #3
Have a great week! Book Slave.
I bring this post tonight to you from the sweatlodge that is my domicile. Look I know it's summer and I live in a desert, but man some of us don't have air conditioning. Please weather gods lighten up a bit. Also at the moment I'm doing some California Dreamin' as Comic-Con begins. Someday I'll convince the library I work for to front the money so I can go. Of course it'll be for "research". Yeah researching kick ass comics baby! Well every girl has her little dream.
Well Onward we go!
Reviews
BPRD: Plague of Frogs, BPRD: The Dead
If you want to know how I feel about this series, well check out last week's review here. In it's further volumes the story begins to open up as we meet new characters. We also learn more about Abe Sapien and Roger in a very unique style. This series doesn't settle for simple exposition, they do a great job of using sequential art to get us info. The personal dynamics between different characters are wonderful. It actually reminds me of the wonderful humor for League of Extraordinary Gentleman. I love it how these characters react to each other and to the crazy events around them. Great series.
The Reading List
Books
Citizen Vince
BPRD: The Black Flame
Magazines
Four Four Two
Comics
Blackest Night #1
Check Out Count: Improving.
Comic Pull List: Amazing Spider-Man #600, Dark Wolverine #76, Gotham City Sirens #2, Green Lantern #44, Outsiders #20, Runaways 3 #12, Wednesday Comics #3
Have a great week! Book Slave.
2009-07-14
A Serious Obsession
Hello Literary cyber-world,
How are you all? Good I hope. I've been having a great summer lately. Have you ever all of a sudden become obsessed by a certain series? This weekend I did. All of a sudden I had to read every volume I could get. I usually have more self control, but every once and awhile...Well I'm sure you can see below what I'm talking about. Luckily I have a public library at my disposal. Otherwise I'd be poor.
I also feel compelled to put out a real full hearted cheer to the literary internet community. I love to read books, talk books, and push books onto others. I always worried that reading blogs would be just too voyeuristic and banal for me to deal with. It turns out to be completely opposite. There are book blogs out there that are interesting and generate stimulating talk. Want examples? Check out these posts and realize that these blogs are so much better than mine.
*Question of the Week: Which Books Would You De-Canonize?
*Olive Kitteridge
*Dickens for dyslexics
* Don Draper = America
Also to be completely random: I just re-watched my favorite original Star Trek episode "City on the Edge of Forever." I don't know why but I had forgotten that this ep was written by Harlan Ellison. It is so effing good! Also watching it in comparison to other Star Trek eps it was so well-plotted with a distinct character arc for Kirk. Makes me think that maybe I should give Ellison a try.
Well enough prattling on. Onward!
Reviews
Escapist Vol. 1
I picked this up due to it's high acclaim. I've always wanted to get into the literary work of Michael Chabon. Of course The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay sits on my shelf. So I picked up the Escapist and while I somewhat enjoyed it I think that it only works as a supplement to Kavalier and Clay. Having not read that book I was lost on the majority of the material. I did enjoy the experimentation with multiple comic styles such as Golden Age, manga, and Modern Age. My fave stories involved the character of The Escapist himself. The last story involving the Escapist and his possible female soulmate blew me away. I think I'll revisit this again after reading Kavalier & Clay. Unfortunately this book doesn't stand on it's own.
BPRD: Soul of Venice, BPRD: Hollow Men, BPRD: 1946
As stated above I became obsessed this weekend with the series BPRD. I just needed to consume every volume. BPRD stands for the Bureau of Paranormal Research Department and is a spinoff from Mignola's Hellboy. Funded by the government, this group of homegrown agents are sent to investigate when crazy shit goes down. Each volume contains a self contained 5 issue story arc so you don't have to worry about reading it in order or facing continuity issues. This is the ideal format for this series. Writer/Artist Mike Mignola has created a dark/gothic/steampunkish world that is so immersive. Reading it I can feel the same thrill that I had watching X-Files or Lost. Anything is possible. Vampire soldiers created by Nazis, Demon living underneath Venice that can take your soul, A Bad Ass named Lobster Johnson. Yes, yes, yes. I also enjoyed the character dynamics between the different characters. There's a level of comfort between these characters because they have worked together so long. Thrown into the mix is "the new guy" who of course gets teased by the veterans. It's fun see the origins of this team in the prequel book 1946 which takes us back to the beginning. It would be so easy to just make the Nazis the villian, but in the world of Mike Mignola we get cyborg gorillas & mechanical spiders with human heads. It's wonderful fun original work. I can't stop reading it.
The Reading List
Books
BPRD: Plague of Frogs
BPRD: The Dead
(see a pattern? I need serious help. I can't stop!)
Magazines
Vanity Fair
Comics
Action Comics Annual
Comic Pull List:Action Comics #879, Blackest Night #1, Captain America #601, Deadpool #12, Fables #86, Incognito #5, Rasl #5, Wednesday Comics #2
Check Out Count: Geez.
Have a great week! Book Slave.
How are you all? Good I hope. I've been having a great summer lately. Have you ever all of a sudden become obsessed by a certain series? This weekend I did. All of a sudden I had to read every volume I could get. I usually have more self control, but every once and awhile...Well I'm sure you can see below what I'm talking about. Luckily I have a public library at my disposal. Otherwise I'd be poor.
I also feel compelled to put out a real full hearted cheer to the literary internet community. I love to read books, talk books, and push books onto others. I always worried that reading blogs would be just too voyeuristic and banal for me to deal with. It turns out to be completely opposite. There are book blogs out there that are interesting and generate stimulating talk. Want examples? Check out these posts and realize that these blogs are so much better than mine.
*Question of the Week: Which Books Would You De-Canonize?
*Olive Kitteridge
*Dickens for dyslexics
* Don Draper = America
Also to be completely random: I just re-watched my favorite original Star Trek episode "City on the Edge of Forever." I don't know why but I had forgotten that this ep was written by Harlan Ellison. It is so effing good! Also watching it in comparison to other Star Trek eps it was so well-plotted with a distinct character arc for Kirk. Makes me think that maybe I should give Ellison a try.
Well enough prattling on. Onward!
Reviews
Escapist Vol. 1
I picked this up due to it's high acclaim. I've always wanted to get into the literary work of Michael Chabon. Of course The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay sits on my shelf. So I picked up the Escapist and while I somewhat enjoyed it I think that it only works as a supplement to Kavalier and Clay. Having not read that book I was lost on the majority of the material. I did enjoy the experimentation with multiple comic styles such as Golden Age, manga, and Modern Age. My fave stories involved the character of The Escapist himself. The last story involving the Escapist and his possible female soulmate blew me away. I think I'll revisit this again after reading Kavalier & Clay. Unfortunately this book doesn't stand on it's own.
BPRD: Soul of Venice, BPRD: Hollow Men, BPRD: 1946
As stated above I became obsessed this weekend with the series BPRD. I just needed to consume every volume. BPRD stands for the Bureau of Paranormal Research Department and is a spinoff from Mignola's Hellboy. Funded by the government, this group of homegrown agents are sent to investigate when crazy shit goes down. Each volume contains a self contained 5 issue story arc so you don't have to worry about reading it in order or facing continuity issues. This is the ideal format for this series. Writer/Artist Mike Mignola has created a dark/gothic/steampunkish world that is so immersive. Reading it I can feel the same thrill that I had watching X-Files or Lost. Anything is possible. Vampire soldiers created by Nazis, Demon living underneath Venice that can take your soul, A Bad Ass named Lobster Johnson. Yes, yes, yes. I also enjoyed the character dynamics between the different characters. There's a level of comfort between these characters because they have worked together so long. Thrown into the mix is "the new guy" who of course gets teased by the veterans. It's fun see the origins of this team in the prequel book 1946 which takes us back to the beginning. It would be so easy to just make the Nazis the villian, but in the world of Mike Mignola we get cyborg gorillas & mechanical spiders with human heads. It's wonderful fun original work. I can't stop reading it.
The Reading List
Books
BPRD: Plague of Frogs
BPRD: The Dead
(see a pattern? I need serious help. I can't stop!)
Magazines
Vanity Fair
Comics
Action Comics Annual
Comic Pull List:Action Comics #879, Blackest Night #1, Captain America #601, Deadpool #12, Fables #86, Incognito #5, Rasl #5, Wednesday Comics #2
Check Out Count: Geez.
Have a great week! Book Slave.
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