What I read - February 2020 (Part 1)

We're only halfway through February but after a bit (requested) feedback about the last time the January post detailing everything i read, i thought I'd break it in two halves to make it shorter.

So, rather that stand on ceremony, I'm just gonna dive in.

 

Vessels #1-3 - Another title I read for a review (while also being my January mandate for a Comichaus read), Vessels turned out to be a tough one to review as I focused only on issue 3, which felt like a mid-series issue, whereby it simply was filler as it moved the story from beginning to end (if that makes sense). That said, having read all three issues, I really enjoyed this series. Dave Cook put together a very addictive, interesting epic which looks absolutely gorgeous and has the characters which feel as though they are actually growing in to stronger versions of themselves from the prior issues. I am a little confused by some things and would like answers sooner rather than later, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a strong, visually stunning read. I seriously look forward to future issues.

Motorcycle Samurai: A Very White Bolt Christmas - I recently (as in before Christmas) read the 0 issue of this series and absolutely loved it. Therefore, I recently downloaded three one shots, this being one of them which saw the titular heroine chase off Nasty Saint Niq and his 8 strong Reindeer gang as they rumble into town to steal everyone's Christmas gifts. With issue 0 I felt that this was a fun read, something that didn't need to be taken too seriously, and that was a sense I got with this Christmas special. I think that Chris Sheridan writes one hell of a entertaining comic here, with the Motorcycle Samurai coming off a little like Deadpool but far more tolerable (I really feel that Wade Wilson is just too over the top), while the art has this quirky, almost childlike look which doubles down on the feel that this isn't meant to be anything more than good, in the moment entertainment.

Motorcycle Samurai: Variable - Variable was another Motorcycle Samurai one-shot which, this shifted the focus towards the eponymous character's origin, as it is retold but with a twist. However, unlike White Bolt Christmas, I struggled to get as invested in this story as I did that last story. Of course, that's not to say it's a bad story as I still enjoy the art and the subverted storytelling method was a cool twist, it's just that, overall, it didn't feel as strong to me. However, this 'bump in the road' doesn't turn me off of the series, although it might make me a little wary.

Galactic Guardians #1 - Galactic Guardians was a free issue offered by Comixology which told the origin story of a futuristic Guardians of the Galaxy-like team, I think. I say 'I think' because even after reading the issue I struggle to fully understand what exactly was going on. For me, this comic was all kinds of chaotic and I'm not sure if it's indicative of a 90's comic but, if it is, I can understand now why the period gets such a bad rap. In the here and now though, this really wasn't my thing and it's safe to say I wouldn't go back.

X4 #1 - A comic I've been excited for since it was announced, X4 sees Chip Zdarsky return to writing the FF (which I think should have been for the series proper but I digress) with art from the Dodsons as we see the beginning of a battle between the first family and the X-men (in their new status quo) over Franklin Richards. I'll be honest, I feel that I may have hyped this comic up in my own head too much because I felt that this first issue was very reserved, holding back from what it could be. That said, the four were written how I feel they should be, the X-Men were intriguingly suspect and every page was a joy to look at. In the end, while it seems like its holding back, I'm in to the end and am confident the series as a whole will deliver.

Morbius the Living Vampire #1 - Another comic which Comixology offered for free, this issue of Morbius came from the series which spun out of events just prior to Superior Spider-Man. This issue saw the living vampire, attempting to lie low, attract unwanted attention in the guise of local thugs and vampire hunters. A bit of a simplistic explanation, it is a simple story (apart from the beginnings of the overall arc plot) but I found it to be so engaging in how it was written and with such a nice horror-like artwork that I've already added the entire run to my wishlist. A recommendation for its quality if I could ever there was one.

Torch #1 - Yet another free comic (they are kind of being used to plug gaps in my reading schedule), Torch tells the story of Toro, the original Human Torch's sidekick, having recently (at the time) been brought back from the dead, tries to find his place amongst the land of the living. He feels that the best place to start is by finding and killing the man who killed him: the Mad Thinker. Based on the Alex Ross cover alone I felt I was going to enjoy this, believing it would imbue a lot of what made Marvels great. And despite the art not looking like Ross' (I'd have said it looks more like Lark's work from Captain America). That said, I found the idea an the way it played out interesting enough (I'm also curious who the vision is because he should be teen-vision) that I'd be happy to see how the rest of the story plays out sometime.

The Show - Another Pipedream review (and my February Comichaus read), the Show is (simply put) an absolutely phenomenal comic!!! In fact,  I read this in 30 minutes (My standard is 15 minutes per issue) it was THAT good!!! Now, this series had some issues, such as a couple of plot holes and relatively 2D characters, however, I found the concept fascinating, the way the story progresses captivating, and the final reveal stunning. Meanwhile, though the art is a little inconsistent given that the artists changed over after one issue, both of them do amazing work on their respective issues which actually doesn't look too different from each other in the end and the story even make the changeover feel deliberate given the twist at the first issue's end. Overall, I'd say this is a real diamond in the rough kind of comic and would might say it's one of my top for the year (although 2020 is still young).

Batman Ego and Other Tails - A comic I picked up during a Comixology sale after reading the awesomeness that is New Frontier. Batman Ego is a collection of Darwyn Cooke's best Batman related stories, including the eponymous Ego, Selina's Big Score and an eclectic array of shot stories with other great talents. I have to confess, I spent the whole read subconsciously comparing it to New Frontier. However, while I didn't feel it was as good, Ego was a fantastic read, with almost all of the stories contained within absolutely entertaining. But, as expected, the Cooke art made it all worth the price of purchase, it was that glorious a visual treat for me. So while I said it can't compare, it was still a phenomenal read and I must read for a Cooke fan like myself.

Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft - The beginning of a re-read to lead into new reads (I've read the first two volumes and bought the last four since), the first volume shows the Locke family's move to their familial home of Keyhouse after their father's murder to find a world of mystery and magic within. I could probably be less vague but after reading the first volume I'm convinced this is in the top five comic series I've ever read. The art is gorgeous beyond belief and the story is not only brutal and emotional but addictive as hell. I almost dont want to read until the end for fear that it wont live up to the hype but I will (after a small break of other comics) because I think it is THAT good.

Comic reading Count: 29

And there you have it, the first half of February read!!

In truth, I could easily stop now because I've reached 29 (one a day in February). My novels would sure appreciate it because I've got a few to read (such as Leviathans Wake). However, I'm not because this is a perfect opportunity to get ahead in my one a day numbers.

And also, I've got reviews needing doing, Locke and Key needing reading and the finale of Superman Smashes the Klan out on Wednesday.

What I read - January 2020

So, January is over and, boy, what a month!!

With a return to the daily grind that is my day job, making and implementing family related plans and trying to stick to my recently made resolutions, I have to confess January has been an overwhelming month.

This is before we get into the comics which I've read in the first 31 days because, in trying to stick to the whole '1 comic a day (or equivalent)', that has made things just a little bit more stressful (although, contradictionally, it's also made it more enjoyable).

But anyway, I figured I'd do something different to accommodate this new reading plan and so, behold, a few thoughts on EVERY comic read in January.

Heist (or How to Steal a Planet) #1 - The first comic I read for the year as well as the first review for Pipedream Comics, I found myself in two minds with Heist. From a truly objective point of view it's a good book. I enjoy the art, which has this the grimy, overcrowded look which (I think) really helps to sell the issue. Meanwhile, The character of Glane feels well written and I think his story is more of a redemption story than a heist story. However, the problem I had with this comic was that it felt like nothing more than set up, moving a bit slow and making little progress. Overall, I'm intrigued by Heist and am tempted to check out the next issue, but for the whole series I'd have to see how it went.
 

Superman Smashes the Klan #2 - The second issue of a three issue series (which was actually released in 2019 but I didn't get chance to read it last year whereas I succeeded with #1) which sees the Man of Steel helps the Lee family, newly arrived in Metropolis, tackle the local chapter of the Klan of the Fiery Kross. Presumably based on a radio episode of the same name, I have to say that I absolutely adored this issue and series so far as Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru provide an inspirational, stylised, incredibly golden age-esque look at Superman. I'm now a little tempted to talk further on this series once the third issue comes out but, for now, this was a terrific read and I'm counting the days until I can pick up that final instalment.

Black Stars Above #1 - Another read for review purposes, I found Black Stars Above to be something of a struggle. Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with it, but it felt very slow in the first half as it set the story's foundations. However, once the mid-way point hit, it was easier to stay engaged as it got underway. Meanwhile, I struggled to read the lettering used, although I enjoyed the art which reminded me of Ghost of the Gulag. All in all, this was an ok book, but I'm not entirely sure this is my thing (although a horror fan might dig it).

Breaks Vol. 1 - Read as part of my great re-read as well as for review purposes, I'm not really sure there's much I can add that I haven't said before. I will admit that the first issue read a little slow, making me think I'd outgrown this series. However, by the end I'd remembered why it was so great, with it's gorgeous art and fantastic writing. It also reminds me about how I need to catch up on where I left off.
 

Star Wars: Princess Leia - Another title that I have already previously read, but felt the need to re-read. Princess Leia by Mark Waid and the Dodsons tells the story of everyone's favourite Princess as she travels the galaxy to rebuild her home of Alderaan, in its people if not the actual planet. I'm a big fan of Marvel's Star Wars series to varying degrees but until now, while I enjoyed this series, I never realised how much I enjoyed it. I feel Waid tells a beautiful story befitting the character while the Dodsons visualise this with equal style. In fact it solidifies Waid's place as one of my favourite writers and makes me more excited in seeing the Dodsons work in next month's Fantastic Four/X-Men mini series opener.

Ancient Noise #1-4 - Another Pipedream review and possibly the most frustrating of the month. This was a fun adventure story and I liked both the concept and the art, which enhanced that fun vibe. However, I did feel that this series was riddled with niggles like lack of character development, limited exposition and confusing scientific explanation that just bothered me a bit and stopped me from fully appreciating this story. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this series and would be interested in seeing how the last issue wraps things up.
 

The Seven Sagas of Silverbeard - Now this was a title Alex suggested I look at (though not necessarily review) and, I must confess, I rather liked it. Supposedly based on an old Silver-Age character now in the public domain (P.S. It isn't, more like the Sentry), The Seven Sagas of Silverbeard delivers a couple of stories from the eclectic history of Descended God-turned-Gorilla Silverbeard. This was a really fun comic to read, looking like vintage silver age in terms of how its pages were drawn but reading with a real British humour that was nice and easy going. I don't know what I expected from this comic, but I'm glad I got the chance to read it and hope I get the chance to read more.

Spider-Man: Life Story - Probably the only new trade that I read this month. Spider-Man: Life Story was a fun enough title, with a good concept and gorgeous art, but I'm not sure if it was as terrific as the internet implied. I wrote a full post about this series in more detail but, suffice to say, I'm still glad I got the chance to read it as it was still a lot of fun, if not the greatest read in the world.

Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme #1 - A free issue on Comixology, Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme was a Marvel Now series which saw Doc Strange team up with past and future Sorcerers Supreme to beat an ancient evil at original Wizard, Merlin's, behest. Unfortunately, this comic just wasn't my thing because, while the art looked nice enough I just really struggled to get into the story and find it at all interesting. Thankfully, this issue cost me nothing because I don't think I'd return to pay for the rest of the series.

Smacks & Guzzlers #1 - I might have struggled with the review of this one, but not because it's a bad comic. I actually think that it's a really good comic, funny, beautiful looking. Annoyingly,  I just has very little to say on it beyond that. However, with the main review I've tried to be a little more in depth but at the end of the day, it's a nice, simple comic that I think everyone should read once.

The Rose Society #1 - Another review and this one I really, REALLY enjoyed. I felt that Rose Society, as a story, was really engrossing and it feels much more layered than other comics I've read which tell the same story thanks to the relationship of its main characters Adam and Marcus and the early emotional nature of Adam in particular. Meanwhile, the art is different (it took me a few minutes to think of an example it was similar to) but it looks really good thanks to the work of the colorist Jimmy Greenhalgh, whose work gives so many different but fitting looks at various parts of this issue. I'd be seriously interested in seeing where the next issue leads, and the one after that and so on.

Fear Itself: Youths in Revolt #1 - Another freebie from Comixology, Youths in Revolt was a mini series opener about c-list superheroes coming together during the events of Fear Itself. Funnily enough, while I'm not a great fan of event tie in's (and had little to do with this event), I certainly found Youths in Revolt intriguing and not once getting bored as I read it. The art, meanwhile was solid but the story appealed to me and the ending with it has me pondering about getting the whole run.

Fantastic Four #18 - The penultimate issue of the current Point of Origin arc saw the consequences of the last issues big reveal as chaos ensued and the Thing sought revenge. Unfortunately, probably due to the 11th hour retcon of the FF's origin at the end of the previous issue, I struggled to get invested in this. I've stated/ranted and complained about a lot of Dan Slott's run before, but, while there didn't appear to be anything terribly wrong with this issue, I just didn't enjoy it. I think it's time to let go of my hope on this run turning around but I'll talk about that more another time. For now, I'll simply say that this issue was a non starter for me.

Odyssey #1 - Another review-related read (try saying that three times fast), Odyssey was a zombie-esque sci-fi story that reminded me so much of various zombie/end of the world tv/films I'd recently seen. That said, that didn't make it a bad thing, in fact this was such a captivating read with art that perfectly matched what was being written that I'm kind of glad I got to be the one to review it. I hope I'll get a chance to see more issues in the future.

Final read count: 31

So, that's the first month of 2020 finished and, I've got to admit, I found it a bit of a tough achievement (given that I also read a book about aspergers called Living in a Bubble). However, regardless of its difficulty, I'm happy that I managed a comic a day, leaving me already on track for the entire year (as far away as that is).

For the more immediate future though, I'm looking forward to February's reading selection with a larger pull list not to mention a nice haul from True Believers and the a large unread pile to choose from.

I do wonder if it'll give me an opportunity to 'get ahead of the curve' in future months.

After True Believers 2020

I'm amazed about how life changes. I remember how, the morning after True Believers 2016, I wrote a post about that con while my car was being repaired. This year, however, it's taken me a whole day and a half extra before I could make the time.

The joys of parenthood I guess.

Anyway, so True Believers return to our lives this past Saturday (the 1st) and, for me, it was a return after skipping out on last year due to an upcoming birth of my second child. But, while I was initially unsure that I would return again this year, a ticket for my birthday from my darling wife meant that, like the Rock, I was finally coming back to the first convention of the year (even if it wasn't at the same location), with funds for comics, a bag to carry them and my kids in tow (more on that in a bit).

Jack Kirby, this years' lanyard, joining my others from Cons
gone by.

I have to confess, as I drove to the Cheltenham Jurys Inn (TBCF's new home), I found myself a tad concerned about what I was walking into. While Troobs has never let me down before but I've had mixed experiences with Cons in Hotels (almost always involving Bristol).

Fortunately, I have to confess that I was glad to see my fears were unfounded. As soon as I got there I felt very much at home with friends aplenty scattered throughout a room which (I felt anyway) was very nicely spread out (apart from the one aisle at the back) to give all the patrons plenty of room.

That said, the day for me was a mixed bag, not because of the event itself but for how I handled it. As I've already mentioned above, I brought my children along for this rather colourful ride (mostly just to show off that which I'm most proud of. My reviews, my comics, this blog, can all burn down for all I care next to my boys!!!), with my wife electing not to join me inside, we split the load as my youngest went shopping with her and my eldest came with me before swapping for the afternoon shift.

Unfortunately, I overestimated the amount I thought I would get done in their presence as I momentarily forgot that they are my priority. That said, while the hello's were short and the purchases were minimal in the presence of my eldest, he was still good as gold (mostly) and his brother certainly made up for this by sleeping, allowing me to have some fairly in depth conversations, with Kev Brett and his incredibly talented nephew, Sam, Dave from FutureQuake Press, David Broughton of Shaman Kane fame, a number of Sarah's in the form of Millman, Dunkerton and Gordon about their respective titles, the standard Big Punch convo and a catch up with Disconnected Press and J.P. Kamath, who I haven't seen since Kapow many moons ago.

I also, had a nice wrestling based convo with Pipedream boss Alex and two-thirds of the ACP.

Therefore, in hindsight, I did actually manage a lot of conversations (I also spoke with Sam London, Sam Roads, Nick Bryan, Emily Owens and Gavin Mitchell, Grayham Puttock and Russell Mark Olsen briefly), and so I can't really complain that I didn't. I think the mistake was that I'm not sure I spoke in great detail asking about any of their future projects, but that was squarely my fault and probably down to rust from not being here last year.

Of course, I did manage to do one thing right and pick up a whole host of comics in my last 15 minutes:

The TBCF haul 2020!!

• Vanguard Vol's 1, 2 and 3 - This was one of two mandatory purchases for the day and I'm glad that I could pick up all three (thanks to Dan's generosity) and I'll have to ramble my thoughts when I get to them.
• Gateway City - This one from Russell Mark Olsen was a last minute decision given a lot of titles I gained interest in. However, the crime noir-esque cover piqued my interest enough that it made it to the top of the list.
• Beast Hunting Battle Badgers #'s 4 and 5 - The second of my mandatory purchases for the day, Steve Sims comic series is equal parts gorgeous and hilarious. The only downside to it is that issue 6 wasn't available on the day (as it was in production).
• Time and Vine - A lucky, cheap bin purchase from Proud Lion's stall. Time and Vine was a comic I heard about on the Creator Talks podcast and its concept, about using Wine to time travel, was such an interesting one that I couldn't resist taking this off my wish list.

Of course, there were plenty of other comics which I really wanted to look at but just couldn't afford it by the end. However, here they are noted for future interest:

• NPC Tea Trade Kickstarter by Sarah Millman is currently underway and while I read issue 1 way back when, Sarah's revelation that the story ends at eight, makes me tempted to pledge once the coffers are replenished.
• Closely by Grayham Puttock, part of the Red Rocket Comet/Glass Hood creative team, had this creepy horror/crime looking title (based on the cover) that I really should have picked up. Maybe next time!!!
• FutureQuake Press titles also intrigued me after a conversation with Dave, the man behind the table. I've provided the Pipedream email so we can check out his comics, but I may also have to do that independently.
• Extraversal by Big Punch Studios is maybe the last of the gang's comics which I don't own and, based on how it looked on the table makes it something to consider for next time.
• Silicon Hearts by Sam Roads is one I've eyed up for years, but the recent reading of Kristos, bumped it up my ladder, just missing out this year. But I need to make more effort to purchase next time.
• The Seven Sagas of Silverbeard is a comic I had the opportunity to read during January and, wow, was it a fantastic read. While only the issue I read was available, I do need to keep an eye out for new content.
• The Vicious Creatures Collection by Sarah Gordon was an unusually looking collection of comics, but again ones which caught my eye (along with her other comic strip, well... Strip). This, like NPC Tea is becoming a collected edition and so I might have to look in to that.
• Mulp #2-5 by Sara Dunkerton is the last and one I wish I'd got issue 2 for. The first issue was one I enjoyed unexpectedly and so I need to make a better effort to pick up in future.

Finally, while walking around, I was also Reminded about a load of comics I owned but were yet to read:

• Samuel London's Milford Green - I pledged to the kickstarter but have yet to read the pdf. I need to get on that.
• Vince Hunt's Stalkerville - I picked up when he was in Swindon.
• Nick Prolix's Slang Pictorial Comics - Also picked up in Swindon.
• Disconnected Press' The Story of Luis Aguado - This title I've had since the 2018 True Believers. It needs to be read pronto!!
• Nick Bryan's The Catalyst - A high entry on the Pipedream Top 50, I need to get on Comichaus and really check this out.
• J.P. Kamath's London Horror Comics - Not a title I haven't read (I read them long ago), but I think they deserve a re-read since J.P. and I's reconnection.
• David Broughton's Shaman Kane - This has a fourth issue. Like Catalyst, I need to get on Comichaus and check it out.

I'm running out of lunch and so I'm gonna wrap this up. I really thought that going to True Believers, the only con near me, was a thing of the past after having kids as well as something I wouldn't terribly miss. However, the funny thing is that, despite the rushing around and the struggling to talk about anything substantial (from my point of view), going this year was a great experience and reminded me how much I love going and meeting people who are just like me.

 

It kind of does make me hope I can return next year (ideally with a bit more of a strategy in how I manage my time better).