1.15.2018

2018 Here We Go

I will confess that I actually enjoyed logging and mini-reviewing everything I read last year.  Sure, sometimes it felt like a chore when I would let the books build up before finding time to log them here, but overall, it was a lot of fun.  I learned that I read way more than I thought I did.  I read 184 books last year.  If you asked me last January what my total would be, I may have guessed it would be 80.  Let's see how far I can get this year.

One of the things that made me happiest about this little experiment is that it's influenced others to track what they're reading this year.  My ex-sister-in-law posted on Facebook that I have inspired her to both track what she's reading this year, but to also read more.  I find that awesome.  Also, my friend George introduced me to some of his comic nerd friends and invited me to a little chat group with them.  I told them about this blog and what I actually read last year, which inspired George to create a spreadsheet for us to log what we're reading this year.  It's eye opening when you realize exactly what you've read over the course of a year.

I doubt I will update this more often this year than I did last year, but I will still post about all the stuff I read.  Feel free to comment on any of the posts.  Tell me if you read what I did and if you liked it or not.


12.31.2017

184 A Very DC Rebirth Holiday


A fun collection of recent DC Christmas stories.  It's all throw away stuff, but still a fun book to read this time of the year.

A Very DC Rebirth Holiday
Writer: A Whole Bunch of People
Artist: Another Whole Bunch of People
DC Comics

183 The Fall And Rise Of Captain Atom


Though technically not a Rebirth title, DC is trying to fix the damage they did to Captain Atom during the disastrous New 52 era.  It's a step in the right direction.  This definitely isn't the pre-Flashpoint Captain, but it's as close as we're going to get.

The Fall And Rise Of Captain Atom
Writer: Cary Bates, Greg Weisman
Artist: Will Conrad
DC Comics

182 Shazam!: The New Beginning 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition


I was a big Roy Thomas fan back in the day.  But reading this, either my tastes have changed or his stuff was crap.  This is not a great series.  Maybe the cards were stacked against him going into this series, or maybe his work just does not hold up.  Either way, I'm so glad he didn't get an on-going Shazam series like he was supposed to.  It would have been quarter box stuff all the way.

Shazam!: The New Beginning 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Writer: Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas
Artist: Tom Mandrake, Rick Stasi, Rick Magyar, Jan Duursema
DC Comics

181 X-Men Blue Vol 2: Toil And Trouble


Still my favorite of the Blue & Gold X-Men books.  Cullen Bunn seems like he's having a ton of fun with this.  I wasn't happy with the direction he was taking the Beast, but it appears to be resolved and hopefully he can get him back on track.

X-Men Blue Vol 2: Toil And Trouble
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Cory Smith, Joey Vazquez, Thony Silas, Terry Pallot, Giovanni Valletta, Scott Hanna, Douglas Franchin
Marvel Comics

180 The DC Universe By John Byrne


This is a fun, if uneven, collection of John Byrne stories that were not part of the regular series he did for DC.  It's a nice overview of some of the stuff he did and highly enjoyable.  If you're a Byrne fan, that is.

The DC Universe By John Byrne
Writer: John Byrne, Marv Wolfman, Mike W Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Roger Stern, Paul Dini, Josh Siegal, Cary Bates, Keith Champagne
Artist: John Byrne, Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, Kurt Schaffenberger, Keith Wilson, Andy Kubert, Rick Burchett, Lary Stucker, Keith Champagne
DC Comics

179 Midnighter: The Complete Wildstorm Series


One of my favorite characters, especially when he's written correctly.  This book was mostly fun, but then we came to the Keith Giffen era.  His stories were fine, but they were NOT Midnighter stories.  He doesn't get the character and it shows.  Garth Ennis GETS the character and that's why his stories more than make up for the Giffen stuff.

Midnighter: The Complete Wildstorm Series
Writer: Garth Ennis, Keith Giffen, Christos Gage, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Brian K Vaughan
Artist: Chris Sprouse, Lee Garrett, Karl Story, Rick Burchett, others
DC Comics

178 Planet Of The Apes/Green Lantern


Two properties that I adore.  One story that is definitely not canon for either series.  A lot of fun to read.  I want more PotA/DC Comics crossovers. 

Planet Of The Apes/Green Lantern
Writer: Robbie Thompson, Justin Jordan
Artist: Barnaby Bagenda
Boom Studios/DC Comics

177 Justice League Vol 4: Endless


This felt more like a collection of inventory stories than anything.  Not sure what's going on with this series.  Hopefully it was just a stop gap so they can settle the schedules of whomever is taking over the series.

Justice League Vol 4: Endless
Writer: Bryan Hitch, Shea Fontana, Tom DeFalco, Dan Abnett
Artist: Bryan Hitch, Tom Derenick, Philippe Briones, Ian Churchill, Daniel Henriques, Andy Owens, Scott Hanna, Trevor Scott, Andrew Currie, Paul Neary, Tony Kordos, Batt
DC Comics

176 Wonder Woman Vol 4: Godwatch


One of the better books being published today.  Solid, consistent and a joy to read.

Wonder Woman Vol 4: Godwatch
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Bilquis Evely, Mirka Andolfo, Nicola Scott, Scott Hanna, Mark Morales, Andrew Hennessy, Raul Fernandez
DC Comics