I won't lie, February has been a tough month. With lots of plans put in place at the beginning of this year, real life has certainly made it difficult to put those into effect, mainly on my plans to write.
Reviews of comics have had to be put on hold, blog posts analysing other comics have had to be postponed and my own creation ideas have gone nowhere.
Don't let anyone tell you that adulting is easy.
Fortunately, while writing has had to take a back seat, my reading is still going strong. I've figured out how to deal with reading even a single page at a time and so, I've managed to use every spare second (no matter how small that second is) to move a little closer to my goal of 366 comic issues in the year.
So, with half of February down, here is the rest:
Reviews of comics have had to be put on hold, blog posts analysing other comics have had to be postponed and my own creation ideas have gone nowhere.
Don't let anyone tell you that adulting is easy.
Fortunately, while writing has had to take a back seat, my reading is still going strong. I've figured out how to deal with reading even a single page at a time and so, I've managed to use every spare second (no matter how small that second is) to move a little closer to my goal of 366 comic issues in the year.
So, with half of February down, here is the rest:
America #1 - Another free comic from Comixology, America saw America Chavez of Young Avengers and Ultimates fame giving up on the whole super heroing game to enter a multi-versal university. Unfortunately, despite how gorgeous and intriguing the cover the looked, I felt what lie beneath failed to match. The art was solid, reminding me of Jamis McKelvie's work on Young Avengers, albeit with a more muted colour scheme. However, the story similarly reminded me of that same Young Avengers series in that I really struggled to follow it, to the point I fell asleep a few times while reading this issue. I've had a conflicted history with America Chavez (I feel that she usurped Patriot's place on the YA team) but, upon hearing good things about this series, I was hopeful that would change here. Sadly, her solo outing just wasn't the book for me (although I do now have more respect for the character).
Spring-Heeled Jack #1 - A review comic for Pipedream Comics, this was actually REALLY hard to review. However that's not because it was bad but because it is a truly fun, funny and just awesome comic, but I struggled to really find much to say about it. That said SHJ looks amazing with its cartoony look and the plot and dialogue is such that it had me letting out a laugh or two as I read it (which I feel is never appropriate on the bus). Meanwhile, despite their relative short appearances, almost all of the characters felt unique to each other. In truth, there is very little I could find to say about this book which was bad, beyond struggle to find anything noteworthy to say about its good points. That said, if I'm honest with myself, I'm really glad I got to read this as it was a fun use of my time.
Superman Smashes the Klan #3 - The final issue of Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru's three part adaptation of the Superman Radio serial from 1946 sees Superman and the Lee children continue their fight to take down the Klan of the Fiery Kross as all sides continue to learn new things about themselves which will forever change their lives. A truly phenomenal end to an incredibly amazing series, this was a fantastic read which is only ruined by the fact that it has ended. Yang and Gurihiru have found truly incredible voices and looks for almost all of the characters; from Superman and Lois to the Lee kids, of which I absolutely love Roberta and hope she returns in comics. The eleventh hour twist was a bit unexpected but it didn't hinder what I'm tempted to say is the best mini-series of 2020 (yeah I know, we are in February). I might try and delve deeper into my thoughts on this run in the near future but, for now, I'm gonna say that I hope this team and universe returns in some capacity very soon!
Fantastic Four #19 - The final issue of the 'Point of Origin' arc, which saw the FF face off against the people of Spyre one final time after the revelations from the past issue, specifically a heated battle between the Overseer and Mr Fantastic. Meanwhile, Wyatt Wingfoot returns to his reservation to mediate a disagreement (to put it mildly) over oil drilling and makes a worrying Subterranean encounter that most likely sets up the next arc. Throughout this story arc (and, to a larger degree, this current run as a whole), I've had serious problems with where the FF seems to be heading, especially with an obvious origin retcon. However, while the retcon does still happen (despite what I prayed for), I felt Slott actually handled the finale of this arc really well, with the team really feeling more like themselves than most of them have for most of this series. Couple this with Isaakze's ever gorgeous art and I could believe this comic could again deserve that moniker of 'Greatest Superhero Comic'. That said, I've been burned plenty before to be weary but, the setup for a Mole Man centric next arc has me convinced to stay with this comic just a little while longer.
Locke and Key Vol. 2: Head Games - The second volume of Locke and Key continued the story of the Locke children and their adventure in keyhouse as Dodge starts making his move for the keys, Duncan's life gets caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile Bode makes a discovery which opens his and his siblings minds. As with the first volume, I absolutely adored this volume of the series. The art is fantastic and the story is deeply (and darkly) engrossing. As I read through this volume I noticed just how disturbed and insidious the character of Dodge is, to the point that I found myself feeling uncomfortable as I saw his every action. I also find myself intrigued over the part Rufus will play in all of this by the end. I'd started reading this volume just as I started watching the Netflix adaptation and, I'll be honest, the latter doesn't hold a candle to the comic series. While I once again have other commitments, I'm eager to move onto the next volume.
Locke and Key Vol. 3: Crown of Shadows - The third volume of the truly awesome series, this arc sees more keys being discovered, leading to Dodge going dark in an effort to find them as Tyler grows up. As with the prior two volumes, I found myself completely hooked from start to finish as Hill delved further still into what has now got to be in the top five comic series I've ever read. I really enjoyed this volume as it appeared to delve deeper into the minds of the characters (even without the head key), particularly the Matriarch, Nina. Meanwhile, I found it a joy as we watch the kids evolve into the smart, fearless people they need to be to defeat Dodge. I can't say much more about the art beyond the fact that it is still spectacular and matches the story perfectly. Now are the halfway point, I'm pretty much all in hence why, next up was.....
Locke and Key Vol. 4: Keys to the Kingdom - Getting on a roll, I moved on to Locke and Key's third volume, Keys to the Kingdom straight after Volumes 2 and 3 respectively. This volume saw Dodge step up with efforts to acquire the keys from the Locke children, as Tyler and Kinsey's actions regarding those keys come home to roost for their various relationships. Meanwhile, Sam makes and unexpected ally. Now, I'll admit that this arc felt like the weakest of the series thus far, mainly due to the fact it seemed to just rush through much of the action. However, that has little impact for me because it was still incredibly engrossing and look absolutely phenomenal and having a climax which just blew me away and made up for any shortcomings I may have felt were included prior. I'm now equal parts excited and nervous for what comes next but I'll be going there (after a short detour).
Fantastic Four #527-532 - A re-read due to the need to do some research in order to fill some gaps in my knowledge, the first arc of the Stracynski/McKone run sees the FF recovering from some bad PR and a lack of money. However, when a consulting job leads to a revelation about their origins, Reed must take his friends back into space to experience yet another cosmic storm. Now, in truth, while I always praise the Waid/Wienigo, ⁸ and McDuffie/Pelletier runs I'd forgotten how much I'd enjoyed this run in the series as JMS wrote a funny, yet quintessentially FF story which I thought got right all the elements that make the FF great. Meanwhile, the art is equally solid and colourful and I love how between that, Wienigo before it and Pelletier after it, McKone's style helps bind the two together, making it seem like one long art run. Of course, it's not perfect as Sue read to me like a bit of a damsel or even wasted potential. However, despite this it was a great arc and makes me more determined to read all FF books in order one day.
X4 #2 - This second issue continued the battle between X and F for the soul of Franklin Richards as he, sister Valeria and the crew of the Marauder become guests to Doctor Doom, the (not so) good Doctor makes Franklin his dream offer, but at what cost? Meanwhile, unaware of what is really going on the Fantastic Four arrive at Krakoa for their children. Now, this issue was a lot more of what I was expected, both in terms of action and personality. Zdarsky totally gets the personalities of the Four as both Reed and Sue act exactly how I feel they would, as do Ben and Johnny to a lesser extent. He also, writes such great ambiguously 'bad' guys in the X-Men, who I felt were the real villains of this series given their (specifically Xavier's) shady actions. Of course, there are a few niggles, such as what Doom wants (it seems weird that he's been placed in here) as well as some moments which contradict those set up over the history of the FF. That said, they are easily ignored as I fall in love with the Dodson's ever awesome art work and as the story has really gotten going, I now find myself eager to see the resolution (shame its going to one issue a month from here on out).
Fantastic Four: Grimm Noir #1 - Another of the quarterly (or there abouts) one-shots that Marvel have been releasing since the team returned, this issue takes a bit of a Philip Marlowe bent as the Thing plays detective as he tries to find a singing neighbour while also trying to understand who (or what) is the monster invading his nightmares. Much like all of the FF titles in general of late, these one-shots have been a mixed bag. Negative Zone was fun, Yancy Street less so. Grimm Noir, however, was a really fantastic (pardon the pun) and engrossing read which made me wonder why Ben was never portrayed as a gumshoe before? Meanwhile Garney's terrific art is perfect for this issue, able to jump from Noir to horror and back again without even one bit of change in style, I loved it. This is, without doubt, the best one-shot yet and I will keep picking those up if they all read as good as this.
Locke and Key Vol. 5: Clockworks and Vol. 6: Alpha and Omega - The final volumes of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodrigues' epic provides us with the origins of the keys as well as how the current story came to be before moving into the endgame and showing if Dodge finally succeeds or if the Locke's come out on top. Locke and Key has been an amazing series to read all throughout February but these final two arcs were truly spectacular. Volume five gave me a lot of unanswered questions as to the history of the Locke family and Keyhouse and even Dodge while volume 6 was an amazingly brutal finale which not only felt tragic but also satisfactory as it ended the journey these characters made with such a real punch that I actually felt myself welling up as I read it. I won't lie, there were a few niggles, such as Bode's final journey in these arcs, not to mention the deaths of characters I really hadn't expected. That said, the latter of these was more my own preference given how much I loved every character in this series, from main to supporting, while the former was more my response given the events of volume 4 which (as I said) felt like it took some of the series innocence and magic. In the end though, these are minor quibbles for me as Locke and Key is, without a doubt, amongst my top five comics ever read.
Total reading count - 42
Like I said at the beginning, I've managed to utilize ever spare second and make sure I read even just a page. Of course, given how much I enjoyed the majority of this selection (mainly Locke and Key which was as addictive and engrossing as any drug ... I assume) it was actually pretty easy to do this.
Now, as I move into March, my total reading count is 102 which I think is pretty good given I should only be at 60. Therefore, I'm two months ahead in my reading.
Of course, this works out well for me as March is my last month on the bus to work before I return to the bike, meaning a significant reduction in reading time.
Hopefully though, whatever trick I utilized in the last four weeks I can keep putting to good use.
Like I said at the beginning, I've managed to utilize ever spare second and make sure I read even just a page. Of course, given how much I enjoyed the majority of this selection (mainly Locke and Key which was as addictive and engrossing as any drug ... I assume) it was actually pretty easy to do this.
Now, as I move into March, my total reading count is 102 which I think is pretty good given I should only be at 60. Therefore, I'm two months ahead in my reading.
Of course, this works out well for me as March is my last month on the bus to work before I return to the bike, meaning a significant reduction in reading time.
Hopefully though, whatever trick I utilized in the last four weeks I can keep putting to good use.
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