My favourites of 2022!

In honesty, the idea of sharing my best comics of the year isn't really something I focus on.

This is usually because with Pipedream Comics always doing a top 50 Comics of (insert year here), the idea of me doing the same or similar has always felt somewhat redundant.

However, as this year there is no 'top 50 comics' and, given that there might not be again going forward, I figured I'd take some time and just talk about my favourite Comics through the year.

So, here we go ...

Favourite Comic: Do A Powerbomb! - I've yet to read the final issue as I write this, so there is a chance that the finale has totally ruined it. However, after six issues, I think it's fair to say that Daniel Warren Johnson's wrestling epic is my favourite Comic this year. It has been truly captivating, heartfelt and the artwork is just truly fitting in its kinetic-ness. I dunno if I expected anything this good when I picked it up, but am I glad I did.

Most surprising comic: X-Terminators - I remember when I first saw X-Terminators in the solicits, its concept jumped out at me. However, with more and more opinions going against it, I found myself going back on my initial enthusiasm. Therefore, three issues in Leah Williams had surprised me with just how much hilarity and fun this mini series is. True, it took time for me to ease into it, but this is a series which doesn't mind not taking itself too seriously and, for that, I'm glad I stuck with my initial Instincts.

Favourite cover: Jen Bartel's She-Hulk #7 (although all of them could easily be roped in there) - Rainbow Rowell's She-Hulk series is a good series for the most part (I wont lie, some issues dip below the quality line in my eyes) but, I must confess, when I look at those Jen Bartel covers every month, I'm filled with enthusiasm for the upcoming issue, regardless of what happened last time. Of all of them so far  issue 7, with it's eighties noir-ish aesthetic, has captivated me the most, although I do wonder if the covers further down the line will simply be better still.

Favourite story arc: The Taking of Baxter 1.2.3.4. (Fantastic Four#47-48) - While Dan Slott's run was ... interesting, probably the best story arc of 2022 was what came after it. I'm a big fan of David Pepose's work (Spencer and Locke and Scout's Honor in particular) and so when I saw he was doing a two issue tie-in to Judgement Day, I was already excited beyond belief. However, even that excitement level couldn't compare to how good this superhero homage to Die Hard was. I thought Pepose produced a blinder of a story that focused on the most underutilised FF member Sue Storm, while artist Juann Cabal's style was so slick that I couldn't help but be mesmerized. Now, the second issue didn't quite hold up to the first but, between them, this was undoubtedly my favourite story of the year and a great prelude to whet my appetite for Ryan North's run.

Favourite trade: Superman Red and Blue - I read a lot of trades during 2022, although almost none of them were released this year. However, out of everything I did read, it was all the way back at the beginning of the year and Superman Red and Blue and its hopeful selection of two tone stories which continued to stick in my mind. In a year of ups and downs for the Man of Steel, I never forget how much this trade reminded of how great a character Superman is.

And with that, 2022 is done (well, except for my December comics, which I hope to pick up next week).

Now, roll on 2023 and all the new comics it brings.

DCeased

The last week or so has been a tough week, as I tried to find time to read all of my outstanding comics in a timely fashion.

Christmas prep is the main culprit, which first of all put me behind in my own schedule when I read my November Pull List comics. Then, as a side effect to this, my plan to read one of my new birthday trades was put back a little (aptly assisted by work troubles).

However, despite the delays, I'm finding myself getting back into reading (something I had lost lustre for earlier in 2022) and my next read didn't damage this new found enthusiasm.

Choosing the larger of the two, I checked out Tom Taylor's DCeased, which saw Taylor and a bevy of artists create DC's answer to Marvel Zombies when the DC universe is attacked by a Techno-organic variant of the Anti-Life equation, causing all who look upon it through their electronic devices to lose control and become mindless, rage-filled zombie-like creatures, eager to extinguish life wherever they can find it. Now, as this virus takes a hold of the population of Earth, as well as Heroes and Villains alike, the survivors must come together to find a way of either containing this contagion, or escaping it.

I'm a big fan of Tom Taylor's DC work in the past. I loved his turn on the Earth 2 series during the New 52 as well as his work on Injustice (I've yet to read Son of Kal-El, where he (hopefully) has finally written a 'good' Superman). Therefore, the knowledge that he had written this series, coupled with so many recommendations for it throughout time, really had me intrigued about it.

Well, I've read it now and, I've got to admit, if speed at which you read a book is an indicator of it's quality, then DCeased is a truly awesome series. Over the course of the weekend just gone, I've found myself absolutely devouring (pun intended) this 'zombie' comic at every given opportunity. What I loved about it was, in a similar fashion to the Walking Dead, Taylor really ramps things up to eleven, not allowing any character, regardless of fame (or infamy) or obscurity a possibility of safety. Everyone was at risk in this series.

However, unlike TWD and even Marvel Zombies, I think what really helped me connect to this series was the origin of the 'virus', something rarely (if at all) referenced in those other titles. Because of this, it helps give the story a sense of grounding (well, as much as you can get in a superhero/zombie comic). Otherwise, this story feels fast paced (probably why I read it so fast), giving a sense of (legitimate) urgency to circumstances as well as a real brutality as Taylor gives characters some really drawn out deaths and powerful revelations.

Meanwhile, the art throughout the series from Trevor Hairsine, Stefano Gaudiano and the entire art team reminds me of a very Rags Morales look, specifically from the Identity Crisis mini-series. However, while the art here has this look, making it quintessentially DC, there is also something 'off' about it, with every panel after the initial 'infection' looking almost warped in a way. In a sense, it's like I'm looking at a regular DC comic through a cracked or warped window, enhancing the sense of horror and unease.

Now, the story wasn't entirely neat, as it left me with a couple of questions, particularly the beginning (the aspect of this new Anti-Life virus compared to what I remember seeing in Final Crisis) as well as the finale.

However, these do little to change the fact that this was a riveting and deeply engrossing story. That said, it was pretty heavy going. I mean, it felt like the '12 Years a Slave' of comics. It was good, but I'm not sure I could read it again due to it's brutality.

In the end though, this was a phenomenal comic series, that I'm glad I was given the chance to read.

Hopefully it doesn't make Scarenthood pale in comparison.

From the Pipedream Archives: Review - Damsels from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. #2-3 & Bete Noir #2-3 (The Andrew Clemson Double Bill)

I've got time to kill so I figured I'd post another write up from the Archives. This time, it's something of a double bill on a pair of comics from one man (well three, there are two great artists too) as I re-post my thoughts on Damsels from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. and Bete Noir.

Enjoy!!

"Andrew Clemson is a rare sort of creator within small press circles. While most opt to focus on one project at a time, Clemson currently has two series being released almost simultaneously, with Kickstarters for both of his titles, Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. and Bete Noir, always running one to two months after the other. Now, having previously reviewed the first issues for both and with campaigns for new issues undoubtedly just around the corner, I have decided to do a round up and catch up for both series to see if they still hold the magic further into their stories.

Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. #2-3 picks up where issue one left off, as Bec and her accidental squire Dave picking up Bec's mission to rescue a Dwarven princess, despite the hesitancy of the Dwarven King in Bec's ability in the recovery. However, aided by the Princess' shieldmaiden, Brunhilde, Bec's mission leads her to the border between life and death, and a reunion with a man she long thought the latter.

Much like its opening installment, Damsel 2 and 3 continues to be a fun and charming adventure, which feels very much like a cross between the Moore James Bond and Beast Hunting Battle Badgers in its lightness. This is best exemplified by the characters, with Bec portraying a bubbly confidence during her mission and, particularly new cast member Brunhilde whose forwardness and charm is so wonderful she reminds me of the Legend of Wonder Woman's rendition of Etta Candy. Straight away she is my favourite character.

Mauricio Mora's art continues to maintain the same page popping vibrancy of the first issue, giving the series a look which reminds me of Jim Cheung. That said, the opening pages, while having the same pencils, lack the same colour, utilising a more faded colour scheme which gives it a very dreamlike feel. This leads into my only complaint as, while the art is still nice, the scene it depicts is confusing as it offers very little evidence to confirm if its set in the past or present, implying a lack of consistency in the story if it's the latter. As such a little clarity is all that was needed here, but it's a minor flaw.

Andrew Clemson's fantasy spy series is pure, unfiltered fun, not taking itself too seriously and coming across as highly enjoyable because of it. By the end of the third series, Damsel left me with plenty of questions and intrigue, as well as a cliffhanger that'll definitely bring me back for more.

Betê Noir #2-3 follows on from its opening instalment with the prior events causing the remnants of the former heroes to reappear out of the shadows as the mysterious hooded man sets about putting his plan into action. As flashbacks of the events causing the present day actions are revealed, questions begin to arise as to who in the world are the real heroes and who are the villains?

Andrew Clemson's story continues to maintain the gritty, noir feel here as it did within the first issue. However, the plot seems to take a much more complex turn here as more of the players are revealed as well as the catalyst behind the mysterious Bete Noir's plans are revealed. As a result of this twist, Clemson's tale gives me a reminiscent feel of Waid's Irredeemable, Millar's Jupiter's Legacy and even a sense of Miller's Dark Knight thanks to its ominous and ambiguous atmosphere as the lines between the heroes and villains are seemingly blurred. However, this ramping up of the intrigue does have a negative side-effect in that very few of the characters are named. While this does help to the mystery as it keeps me guessing what was going on, the fact that characters' (known) identities are seldom revealed to me made it difficult to keep up when they may be referred to in the third person.

Meanwhile, I continue to enjoy Kriswantowhy's gritty style and cold tone for the present day scenes within the artwork, as it maintains the harsh, noirish vibe of the story. However, the subtle change in both the pencils to something a little softer and the colours to something a little warmer for the flashback scenes is a welcome addition as it not only gives a noticable difference between time frames but also paints the story's past in a more hopeful, optimistic light.

While Bete Noir lacks certain elements which do not help fix it's momentary confusion in the story, Andrew Clemson has taken an interesting story in the first issue to something vastly more engrossing and captivating by the third. Coupled with an atmospherically dark and fitting artwork, Bete Noir is certainly shaping up to be a gripping tale which I need to see the end of."

My Pull List: November (2022)'s comics

This post has taken a lot longer to get out on the feed than was planned.

The reasons behind the delay have been twofold. 1 - Christmas prep has started to occupy a lot more of my time than I would like (Hell, my Warhammer painting has all but dried up for the moment) and 2 - November gave me a couple more comics than I was expecting thanks to a double bill of She-Hulk as well as a Star Trek one-shot that snuck into my draw.

So, rather than beat around the bush, let's get to it!

Do a Powerbomb #6 - In my opinion, Do A Powerbomb is a truly phenomenal series and issue six is no exception. Partly focusing on the backstory of Cobrasun, this issue gives the Steel and Sun a 2nd chance at victory, but only by defeating someone I didn't expect to be a wrestling fan. Like all the other issues, this one has so much heart, is so captivating and looks so kinetic that it kills me I have to wait a month for the next issue. It'll break my heart when I realise there is no more to come.

Fantastic Four #1 - A new start with a new creative team for the First Family as we get an easy going start with the Grimms (well, Ben and Alicia) going on a road trip, only to find themselves experiencing Groundhog Day in a town (literally) stuck in the 40's. I liked this issue, with it feeling like a nice and easy way of reintroducing the series, it was fun seeing more of the Alicia/Ben dynamic away from the usual madness. The art was also gorgeous, reminding me of the Isaakze/Medina/etc run of issues we got under Slott's tenure. Of course, the end pages have me intrigued about what is going on in the larger world, but this issue really didn't need a hook have me back after this good start.

Star Trek #2 - Picking up from last issue's 'shattering' conclusion, Sisko and the crew of Thessius attempt to discover more about the weapon being used to kill Gods, leading them to meet up with an old friend. I felt that the first issue was a really good start which had me all in. Unfortunately, this second instalment left me a little put off as the story dived into a very different Klingon political culture than I was either used to or expecting (it also contradicted some prior references). Also, the rendition of the Klingons seemed a little off to me. Hopefully, it is just a little bit of starting problems and it'll pick back up next time. For now, the concept still has me hooked enough to come back next time.

X-Terminators #3 - The saga of Dazzler, Jubilee and Boom-Boom's night out continues as this trio (along with Wolverine Laura Kinney) continue to make their escape from Dazzler's vampire ex, although it may prove more difficult when they discover they are a little further from home than expected. Issue 3 had been planned for further down the pecking order but, after listening to an opinion on it during a Talking Comics episode, I must admit, my appreciation has once again increased. This issue seemed a lot more fun as I think I've gotten a handle on the humour and the art. I think this may end up being a series I read as a whole to find its overall greatness, but this instalment has certainly better captured my attention.

She-Hulk #7 & #8 - As Jen Walters' life falls a little more into place before encountering the big bads of this series (along with the reasons for their being both 'Big' and 'Bad'), this double bill of the series felt like a much more enjoyable read than many of the issues Rainbow Rowell has given me before. I think the reason for this is simply my getting more comfortable in the world and the writing as I don't believe there is much different that occurs than has already (to an extent). Also, while the artist on board has changed, the style brought to these adventures doesn't appear to have. It seems just down to my emotional vibe as I read these that both issues were really good reads, from the gorgeous covers (if nothing else, I'm really loving the covers) and beyond. I'm certainly engrossed and eager for the next issue.

Star Trek: Trill - A One-shot which wasn't originally on my pull list, Star Trek: Trill follows a Vanah, a member of the eponymous race who is given an opportunity she thought had passed her by when she is joined with one of her people's few symbiotes. However, when Vanah discovers a repression of the memories from her past lives, she comes to discover that there is a greater danger to being joined with this particular symbiote than anyone could have realised. Despite this book finding its way into my file at my LCS' assumption, and my deciding to give it a shot, I wasn't expecting great things from this comic.

However, Jody Houser totally turned me around on this with a story that is equal parts introspective essay and crime thriller. I really loved the change around to what you assumed was a 'life and times of a joined Trill' and into something more sinister. Meanwhile, the art had a kind of Rags Morales/Action Comics' Superman vibe to it which really worked well. All in all, I was worried that I was wasting a great deal of money here ($8 price tag had me questioning) but, honestly, This One-Shot was actually a really good read and I'm sad there isn't a guarantee of more at this quality.

So, that's all of the comics from my Pull list for November. Now, I don't know what I was expecting from this selection, but I know that I wasn't expecting so many really enjoyable reads. However, after a week of reading all of these comics, I'm looking forward to 2023 and the opportunity to pick up all of the next issues for most of these series.

In the meantime though, I'm moving onto some new comics as my recent birthday gained me copies of Tom Taylor's DCeased and Nick Roche's Scarenthood.

So now I just need to decide which one I'm going to read first.

From the Pipedream Archives: Review - Journee #1

Purely by coincidence, I went to check out an old review I had written for Pipedream Comics. Unfortunately, upon entering the site, I discovered that the whole website appeared to have been corrupted. With Pipedream now on indefinite hiatus, I was unsure what to do.

However, rather than take the risk that the problem may never be corrected, I thought that I would re-post everything I still had copies of here.

Therefore, to start things off, I thought I'd post a relatively recent review about Adam Hodge and Luke Horsman's first issue of their comic series Journee.

"Like many forms of media, comics transport us all to worlds of the unbelievable. Superheroes, Vampires, aliens, the stories people dream up allow us to meet these otherwise impossible entities. Unfortunately, when they end, we all know (or are at least pretty sure) that such things don’t exist in the real world. However, what if the impossible did exist? Would they be real? Or are they just making things up? Well, Adam Hodge and Luke Horsman delve into that question with Journee #1, which sees a former cop encounter someone who claims to have extraordinary talents.

Publisher: The Nobody Archives

Writer: Adam Hodge

Artist: Luke Horsman

Price: Available through COMICS | Nobodyarchives and Amazon

Journee tells the story of Lyssa, a former cop and SWAT team member who arrives at a mysterious house for a security job. However, upon her arrival and meeting the mysterious supervisor of the security team, Lyssa is introduced to her main charge: Girl. Discovering that her job is to watch, protect and control this house’s young ward, Lyssa is both uneasy and disgruntled, fearing the role was hers due to her gender. However, Girl then shares with her a secret; that she is super smart and capable of Time Travel.

Journee's opening instalment was an intriguing read as writer Adam Hodge creates a story which came across as a mystery reminiscent of the Jeff Bridges film K-Pax. However, while that film is about the notion that an instituted man may be an alien, the similarity in this comic comes at the idea of whether what Girl tells Lyssa about her 'talents' is indeed true. Thankfully, the writer creates a world where either scenario could be true, with a lead seemingly conflicted as she finds herself trapped between her desire to make a difference and her wish to make her partner, Jamie, happy.

Meanwhile, artist Luke Horsman's work on this issue is a solid, if not entirely consistent, effort with a few pages here and there lapsing in quality compared to the book's majority. That said, Horsman's style, which has a vibe similar to Rob Ahmad's work on the Show, is nonetheless a fantastically fitting one to this story. What really makes this work great is not just the pencils, which seem to be made up of a really thick line (making them perfect for the monochrome look) but also the colours. Horsman seems to have taken a page out of Black Magick’s book as Journee is predominantly black and white but for a single appearance of colour which lends greater credence to Girl’s specialness. In fact, this idea of colour hinting at something bigger is a constant in the issue as the lettering contains small, coloured speech bubbles which, while containing no words, imply an unseen aide to Girl’s plans.

Journee’s first issue is a slow burn issue, which is predominantly there for set up. However, don’t let that fool you as Adam Hodge and Luke Horsman have teased a deeply intriguing story and character with this first entry as it leaves me eager to know what comes next. Therefore, while it may not be to everyone’s tastes, Journee is certainly something to try."

Re-Reading ... House of M: Fantastic Four #1-3

When I first jumped into comics (20 years ago ... wow!), I jumped in pretty hard. What started with watching the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man and picking up one or two trades quickly evolved into picking up a new trade or two every week and devouring them both at the same sort of speed.

Amongst my early reads was the Brian Michael Bendis-led event, House of M. With this (the first of the now standard 'yearly event'), I remember picking up not just the main run but also every tie-in, collecting myself the entire story stuffed into seven trades (and later nine when House of M: Avengers and Civil War were released).

Since then, I've cut the wheat from the chaff as all the ancillary books have been sold on, leaving me with just the main event. However, there has since been one which I loved above all others and regretted parting with.

While attending the May MCM Comic Con I was lucky enough to find all three issues of House of M: Fantastic Four, the FF inspired tie-in to the House of M (although it wasn't actually part of the main FF run, but a series all on its own) and that one story I truly adored. This set of 3 issues told a sort of What If tales whereby Dr Doom was the leader of the 'Fearsome Four' along with his wife Valeria's 'Invincible Woman', son Kristoff's 'Inhuman Torch' and Ben Grimm's 'the It' and saw the world from his eyes as he served as both the leader of Latveria as well as an unwilling servant to the ruling House of M.

Created by John Layman, Scott Eaton, Don Hillsman and Dean White, I remember how much I enjoyed reading this short story back when it first came out as it became one of more regular re-occurring reads over the years. Now, re-reading it after a large time without, I'm reminded all over again how just how enjoyable I find these three issues.

I think what I enjoy most is the ... 'almostness' of it as the background to the story is laid out to make me think that how close it could have come from traditional continuity to have actually happened. In fact, if you took away from story the whole 'House of M' background, I certainly would have been forgiven for thinking it was actually a story from the archives of What If.

Regardless, despite the major change of Doom acquiring the FF's cosmic powers for him and his, it really feels that Layman paints a picture of Doom which is all round traditional. However, the added wrinkle that his ego is fuelled by his mother is something I've never noticed in issues past, although it certainly makes sense when looking at some of his origin stories (like in Books of Doom). That said, Layman also cements the idea that, compared to his nemesis 'Richards', Doom still comes up short thanks to both the finale as well as the rather dark and bitter relationship with Ben Grimm's 'It'.

Speaking of dark, Scott Eaton and Don Hillsman turn out a trio of gorgeous looking issues, with each page looking rather dull and dirty. In fact, it makes me think that I'm looking at the story through a dirty, broken and mirror as the pages just seem to imbue a darkness which contrasts against the brighter, more hopeful vibe the main Fantastic Four series always emits (certainly from my perspective).In fact, this whole story has this kind of 'Star Trek Mirror Universe' vibe to it, especially thanks to the character designs, where each member of the 'Fearsome' Four looks truly terrifying.

As I think back to 2005 and the various tie-ins which came along thanks to House of M, I must admit I'm at a loss to think of one which has stuck with me like this one has. House of M: Fantastic Four is a really enjoyable Elseworlds style tale for me that feels like a great choice if you want to fill a gap in your reading schedule.

I'm glad I took the effort to buy it this past May (although I do wish I'd read it sooner than late November).

Death of a Necromancer #1-4

I've starting storing up Kickstarter rewards of late. While I've been continuing to pickup the more mainstream comics in print from my LCS or as trades, I have to admit that with Kickstarters I always buy digitally. The main reason for this is to save a little cash, although it also means saving a little space (why I can't get this to apply to all the other books I don't know).

However, while I thought it was a good idea at the time, my lack of desire to read has hit these digital/pdf comics really hard, as I constantly seem to forget about them when I finally want to read.

Therefore, this weekend past, with some spare time on my hands, I resolved to read one and that one was all four issues of Nick Bryan (Writer, Fairyfare), Robert Ahmad (Artist, Devil in Disguise), David Cooper (Colourist, Face Down in the Mud) and D.C. Hopkins (Letterer, ... too many titles to just choose one)'s Death of a Necromancer. This series brings horror to the small town setting of Tibbin as local prankster Ralph goes for a job at a new Chicken restaurant. However, all goes awry when he ignores the signs leading to his untimely demise. Fortunately for Ralph though (and many other local denizens), his new boss, Victoria, is a Necromancer and resolves to bring them back to life.

However, this is all prep for the good Doctor Hedgewood as she plans to separate herself from her death in order to live forever. Unfortunately, when Ralph's conscience gets the better of him, all Hell (quite literally) breaks loose as He and Victoria's death, Tori, are chased down by Tori's former body, an overseeing Reaper and the entirety of Tibbin's formerly dead residents as hilarity ensues.

Now, back when the Kickstarter was underway, two things about this series convinced me to give a shot; the artwork of the always incredible Robert Ahmad and how the title, concept and cover gave me the vibe that this was going to be a story in the vein of Shaun of the Dead. After reading it, however, I was please to see that neither of my expectations were misplaced.

I enjoyed Death of a Necromancer. It was very much the quirky comic that the entire Kickstarter campaign (the visuals, the sales pitch, the whole kit and caboodle) really sold me on. In fact, as I read through it, I got the feeling that it was on a similar vein to Samuel George London's Milford Green (although with a more supernatural take) crossed with the B Movie Cockneys vs. Zombies (which you can find on Netflix ... or at least you could).

Of course (and it really goes without saying at this), what I really love about this series is Rob Ahmad's art (because I'm a big fan and, I'm convince he'll be Darwyn Cooke's successor one day). While I did think it looked a little less sharp than what I've seen of his stuff in prior works, this style actually works really well as it conveys the more humorous tone Death of a Necromancer seems to imbue in its vibe, especially when coupled with David Cooper's perfectly fitting colour palette.

Then there is the writing, or more specifically the journey that main character Ralph goes on through this series. Nick Bryan really seem not only wrote a series filled with some humorous, very British, jokes, but the best part was watching our undead, chicken-dish preparing protagonist have a character arc which went from hapless to more hapless hero and beyond as the finale hits.

The series isn't perfect as its opening feels a little more directionless than I was expecting, but this doesn't last long as the wheels align as the story progresses. In fact, once I reached the end, this is but a distant memory compared to feeling engrossed in the events as they transpired.

In short, Death of a Necromancer was a fun little read and an enjoyable use of my time. It's also a reminder to have more faith in comics (something I've maybe been losing of late) and make more time for them ... especially the Kickstarter comics on my Google Drive.

Review:- We Ride Titans

While in reality it’s probably been over the last twenty (two) years, it certainly feels like Kaiju, the humongous city destroying monsters from Japanese folklore and media, have only just made a ‘massive’ (pun intended) invasion to Western shores. From films like Pacific Rim and the Kong/Godzilla universe, to comics like Kaijumax, it certainly does feel like there isn’t anywhere I can turn without seeing a giant reptile and a super-size robot battling it out.

Well, never ones to miss out on this, Vault Comics has just released the collected edition of We Ride Titans, the five issue mini series from Tres Dean (Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth), Sebastian Piriz (Black Beacon) and Dee Cunniffe (Friendo) and Jim Campbell (Wasted Space) which sees the protection of a city from the giant monsters fall to a Titan (see super-size robot) controlled and operated by the most recent and dysfunctional generation of a family of Titan operators. However, when Dej, the current pilot is forced out of the pilot’s chair, it is up to his sister Kit to return to the fold and their overbearing father to uphold family tradition and ‘be the wall’.

After previously reviewing issue one I knew that this is a series I would need to read in its entirety at some point down the road. Now that it is here, it makes me happy knowing that my initial views continued to be justified after the other four issues.

We Ride Titans, for all its destructive extravagance, is first and foremost an emotional story about family and the actions which can rip it apart (not even Dom Torretto can help this one). Tres Dean writes this story entirely from Kit’s perspective as every interaction with said family members (her mother, her father and her brother) really give off vibes which helps paint the picture of her relationship with each one. Kit is a wonderfully written protagonist, damaged and in no way faultless, but fiercely independent and unwilling to give in to her father’s ‘parenting methods’ a second time. This makes her very much a mirror image to her brother Dej, whose more internalised suffering has allowed him to take the abuse, leading to a difficult reunion between the siblings in this story as he initially places the blame on Kit for refusing to share the problems he faced.

Of course, how I’ve summarised the children implies their father is a monster when the opposite is true (or certainly could be). Like many parents who push their children in order to succeed (Tennis Coach Richard Williams springs to mind as an analogy), Kit and Dej’s father is a man trapped in the past, here attempting to maintain a legacy that is generations in the making, whether it be fighting off others who would wrest control or ensuring that his progeny are strong enough to take over in the long run.

I could probably go on with where this story has taken my head (I did ponder if Kit’s shunning by her father in favour of his son was to do with more than ability such as her gender or sexuality or even her obvious independence) but this would only go on to display at the skill in which Dean has layered this story with tremendous minutiae and depth that the backstory of Kaiju and Titans feels almost superfluous.

 Of course, Tres Dean’s writing and story building are only half of what makes this series great as artist Sebastian Piriz and colourist Dee Cunniffe create some truly gorgeous artwork. Piriz’s style here has a real Jonathan Luna vibe to it with such clean pencils and sharp facial features while Cunniffe’s warm colours contrast that with a hot, almost wild west tone which works nicely given how cowboy-esque the Hobbs family feel as they control the city’s Titan. The result of this combination gives We Ride Titans a distinct look as it very much feels like East meets West.

That said, Piriz and Cunniffe do mix this look up a bit, particularly during the massive (literally) fight scenes. All of the battles between Titan and Kaiju feel chaotic in both their looks and shades. However, I do feel that maybe this is by design as it implies a sense of inexperience or struggle in controlling the Titan during its primary task.

We Ride Titans is not a perfect series as it does seem to display a few problems. These include the mother of the family unit feeling incredibly underused and underdeveloped compared to the rest of her kin, the somewhat shoe-horned in Ash the Mechanic whose appearance feels superfluous at best and the 11th hour inclusion of the main villain who, while providing a degree of closure to the Hobbs’ family’s problems, does seem to come out of nowhere.

Still, these are in no way enough to ruin an otherwise beautiful story about the struggles of one family as they try to find their purpose, both separately and together. Messrs Dean, Piriz, Cunniffe and Campbell have crafted a terrific story from an intriguing beginning to a touching and sweet final scene. We Ride Titans is a terrific reminder to everyone that no matter what monsters you are facing (even the skyscraper sized ones), your family will always have your back (and if you are lucky, they’ll be in a giant mech suit).

October (2022)'s pull list comics

As I try to get back into the writing groove, it's been about three weeks since I last posted something.

Not exactly the gap I had planned, but certainly an improvement on the 3 month hiatus which came before.

Now, would it have been longer? Maybe. But fortunately, it wasn't as October came to an end and I was finally able to to get in to my Local Comic Shop and pick up the outstanding comics from my pull list.

So, here they are. The Comics for my October pull list, in reading order, were:

• Fantastic Four #48 - The first half of David Pepose's 2-part Judgement Day tie-in really had me simultaneously hooked in and blown away. As a result, I couldn't wait the month (well three) between me picking up issues 47 and 48. Unfortunately, I think the overhype I gave the first instalment ruined the second because, issue 48 didn't hold up to what ha come before it. That's not to say that it wasn't good, because it was; the writing, focus on Sue and Cabal's art were all still great. However, after what issue 47 gave us, this felt like a slight let down. Of course, I've only read it once and, maybe when looked at in conjunction to the first part, that might change my point of view.

• Do a Powerbomb #5 - This series continues to knock me down at every issue and the fifth part is certainly no exception (or, more specifically, an entry with a harder punch). I wasn't expecting the issue to end the way it did, especially given that there are still two more to go. However, the way that the cliff-hanger went from one twist to another in such a short order really got my jaw hitting the floor. Otherwise, this series continues to consistently wow me with all the other aspects of it and leaving shouting out from the crowds for more.

• X-Terminators #2 - After reading the first issue a second time I discovered a bit more of an appreciation to this book and found myself intrigued and looking forward to part two. The second issue however, doesn't quite keep up with the opening instalment, but the revelation that the story is now a recap of sorts and the quick scenes of the present certainly has me more intrigued about where X-Terminators is going. I do hope that the third issue doesn't degrade in the same manner as this one but maybe a re-read here will bring its quality up like it did last time.

• Star Trek #1 - I picked up this comic because, after all of this time we were promised a 'what happened next' for Sisko after his finale at the end of DS9. That said, while I've had an up and down relationship with Trek comics in the past, I don't think I was quite prepared for how good a read I would find this opening issue. I absolutely loved this issue, from the great art to the tremendous connections across all of the Trek shows (minus Discovery, Picard and Lower Decks ... that I could tell). Now it isn't perfect and it has some niggles about it (mainly to do with continuity), but I am so pumped after reading this and am really looking forward to the future issues.

• New Fantastic Four #5 - The final instalment of this mini series and it went to the bottom of my pile simply because I wasn't looking forward to it. Well, in a sort of pre-ordainment, this issue was much like its predecessors in that it just wasn't my thing. The story felt clunky and, while the art was ok, it wasn't enough to turn me around. I might give this a second chance and re-read the series as a whole but otherwise I might avoid any future trips to this concept ... including the also Peter David created Symbiote Spider-Man.

A slightly smaller month than September but a good quality one regardless. The big surprise for me though was Star Trek, which even now has me thinking on things that would have taken more than a single paragraph to write about (had I done so).

Maybe I'll do another post focusing on just that issue.

September (2022) Comics

It's been nearly three months since I have written anything here. The simple reason behind this is that I kind of lost my mojo when it came to writing.

As a result, I decided to scale back and focus on the reading and enjoy of the comics I read.

And this has gone rather well as, slowly but surely, my enjoyment of reading has returned.

Anyway, having spent (a little over) the last week reading through my September pull list (my new job means that I only pick them up once a month now), I thought I'd try and 'get back on the horse' as it were, and try writing a little something about them all and how I felt about each one.

Therefore, in the order of reading, my single comics for September were:

• New Fantastic Four #4 - Having been convinced of this series by the guys at my LCS, I did have high hopes for this mini given that Peter David is writing it. However, four issues in and I'm still struggling to get invested, with the story only just holding me on one issue at a time. The art is ok, giving me this JRJR vibe, but as the end draws near, I seriously think that this series just wasn't for me.

• Star Trek #400 - I was drawn to this anthology issue simply due to the prelude for the upcoming new Star Trek series which was contained within its pages. However, I found this issue a lot more filling, with a really lovely collection of stories and art which were definitely a love letter to the (Strange New) worlds of Trek. This issue also contained a bunch of pages displaying all of the fantastic variant covers for this issue which really helps make this a worthy read, although with a price tag of a tenner, I'm ultimately unsure if it was that worthy.

• She-Hulk #6 - I'm a really big fan of She-Hulk as a concept, but I've struggled to find a series focusing on her which (I think) does the character real credit. So far, this run from Rainbow Rowell has been a little hit and miss, but this issue was another nice entry which displays the adorability of Jennifer Walters. More and more, I'm getting comfortable in the world and characters surrounding Jen and the art really matches the elegance and beauty of the character. Thus far, I've been uncertain, but this issue has certainly confirmed my return to the next.

• Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi #5 - Presumably riding the wave of the Disney Plus series back when it was released, I was intrigued due to the subject matter as well as Chris Cantwell writing it. However, as the series wore on, it's been another hit and miss run, making me doubt its worth. Fortunately, this final issue was a nice coda to the series and Kenobi's story which, while being very quiet and subdued, was still an engaging read, one which intrigued me about the Stormtrooper who made an appearance and his future. I may need to re-read the whole series and see things from a different point of view.

• Star Trek: The Mirror War - Troi #1 - With the conclusion of the Mirror War series proper, I had completely forgotten about this issue and picked it up with some trepidation (these one-shots have been hit and miss). This insight into Inquisitor Troi (as well as being something of a Coda to the mini) occupied a sort of middle ground to me. While it gave me an idea as to how Troi had found her way into the Empire's service, I don't think it impacted me greatly.

• Do a Powerbomb #4 - I've been loving this series so far, with the first three issues blowing me away with either equal or increasing measure. Issue 4, however, felt like it was a quieter affair, as though it was simply filling the pages until the next issue. Of course, that's not to say it still wasn't good, made so primarily by the awesomely kinetic art, but it felt more like a breath between breathtaking moments, something that is seemingly confirmed by the final page cliffhanger's hint at more breathtaking moments to come.

• Fantastic Four #47 - I've been looking forward to this issue for quite some time now, with it being a predominantly Invisible Woman focused issue (something I haven't seen in a while) as well as being written by David Pepose. Well, the opening half of  'the Taking of Baxter 1-2-3-4' has not disappointed me. This was a Fantastic (pardon the pun) read with some seriously gorgeous art and fast paced, captivating action story. I'm already eager for the second half as soon as I'd read this book.

• Lazarus: Risen #7 - It's been a VERY long time coming, but after who knows how long of a wait, Lazarus is back. Surprisingly, while I feared that it's quality would be hindered by the long absence, I really enjoyed this issue, with it being a seriously engrossing chapter as it answered many questions surrounding the Carlyle family. What I found equally surprising though was that a lot of the revelations we received seemed to mimic a lot of current real world events (whether deliberately or not). It's a nice reminder how much I love Lazarus, and another kick in the teeth to learn the next issue might not be seen for a year.

• X-Terminators #1 - X-Terminators is a comic which has continued to intrigue me more and more as time has gone on. The synopsis in previews, the cover, a fair bit of criticism levelled against it online, all of this pushed me to really want to check out this series. Well, one issue later and my opinion is ... uncertain. The art is phenomenally stylish, kind of reminding me of the Domino series from few years back, but with the plot not fully explained to me as well as a little excessive 'cheesecake' ness throughout has me umming and arring it. Still, it's earned itself a second issue read with me.

So, after reading all of this, Fantastic Four, Lazarus Risen and Do A Powerbomb occupied the top slots while New Fantastic Four, X-Terminators and Star Trek 400 occupied the bottom. Of course, that's not to say that those at the bottom were bad (or rather all bad) because, while those at the top certainly earned their place as the best for September, everything else offered up some potential in my eyes.

Hopefully, with fewer comics on my pull list in October, hopefully those closer to the bottom can really show me their stuff.

#464 - Three Pull List Comics and an Invisible Lady

My plans this didn't turn out quite as I had anticipated.

For weeks now, after listening to the Shortbox podcast's spotlight episode on them, I had been planning to read the Illuminati mini-series from Brian Bendis and Jim Cheung. Unfortunately, other reads kept catching my eye but I did finally think that this week was going to be the week.

And then the announcement that Dan Slott's run on Fantastic Four is officially coming to an end.

Hearing this threw me a little and not only did it make me consider re-reading the entire Slott run in some sort of retrospective, but it also gave me the itch to reading something First Family-esque.

So, with that, I opted to move away from the Illuminati this week and picked up Invisible Woman, the Sue Storm-centric mini-series by Mark Waid and Mattia De Lulis which delved into the idea that during her costumed crime-fighting career, Sue Storm/Richards moonlighted as a secret agent for SHIELD. However, when her partner from all of those spy missions goes missing, Sue takes it upon herself to find and rescue friend.

Ever since this series has been released, I've heard incredible things about it. As such, this good word of mouth, coupled with the fact that Mark Waid was writing it, was more than enough to sell to me that I would have to buy this series (although it's just a shame it took me until MCM to do so). Unfortunately, the first two issues of this series felt a little underwhelming, almost like the story was very monotonous and, as a result, struggled to hold me. That said, once the third issue began, I really thought the pace began to pick up steam and came across as much more captivating. I think that the key to this was the characterisation of Sue herself. Waid, a veteran of the character thanks to his tenure on the Fantastic Four, really seemed to portray the character as I always think of her. However, what really impressed me was how he evolved Sue's power set in such interesting ways.

Meanwhile, although the story struggled to grab me for the first two issues, Mattia De Lulis' art seemed to have no such qualms. I thought the artwork in this series was absolutely gorgeous from the word go, with a style that made me think of Adi Granov's work mixed with the colour scheme of the covers by Artgerm. Much like the story, De Lulis' depiction of Sue's powers are what really stuck out with me, from Sue making parts of a house invisible to using her powers to subtly change her appearance, the entire series was beautiful from start to finish.

This was another good Marvel read from Mark Waid after having read Ant-Man and the Wasp earlier in the year. While it too didn't feel like it blew me away like with Daredevil, Kingdom Come and a lot of his other work, I enjoyed seeing the Invisible Woman get some time in the spotlight and wouldn't say no if a follow up was made. 

So, that was my big read of the week. However, in a bit of a surprise to the system, I managed to make the time to read it in just a few days. This left me both the time and opportunity to read some pull list comics which I had picked up this past Wednesday.

The first of those was Star Trek: The Mirror War - Sisko #1, which gave some focus on another player to appear in the main Mirror War story as we were re-introduced to Captain Benjamin Sisko, dark reflection of the once and future Emissary we know as well as a loyal soldier to Intendant Kira Nerys, as he completes a mission to remove one of her enemies.

Now, while the mini-series proper has been a bit of a slow burn in regards to getting on my good side, the one-shots that have accompanied it have been pretty good fun. Unfortunately, this one shot just wasn't my thing as the story seemed to lack captivating story, focusing more on the good Captain's views of his place in the galaxy (which did t really connect with me either. The art, was pretty cool and vibrant and something I did enjoy about the issue but it did confuse with scenes of Starfleet officers and Defiant class starship in places. The final page advertises a Troi one-shot and hopefully that can compare more to the prior two. Sadly, Sisko just didn't do that for me.

Next up was Fantastic Four #44, the (seemingly) penultimate issue of Dan Slott's Reckoning War event as the various Fantastic Four continue their respective missions as they begin to come together to face down the Reckoning in a final battle ... one which the Universe's deadliest weapon may be the only way to ensure victory.

Now, I thought this was a good read, although I did feel that, like many of the many issues so far, this story seemed rather truncated. What I mean by this is that, unlike other events or seemingly universe affecting stories, this one continues to almost lack a sense of 'savouring' (for want of a better word) what happens. Still, it does continue to be fun enough with a good moment or two for each member of the Four.

I continue to love the art for Fantastic Four. While, this isn't the same style from Izaakse, Medina or Silva that I adored and seemed to seamlessly flow from one to the next, the work from the three artists on this issue is still so colourful and crazy and totally in keeping with Marvel cosmic trotting First Family. By the end of this issue, the explosive cliffhanger certainly will bring me back. While I'm looking forward to David Pepose getting onto this series, I can't lie that I'm intrigued how Dan Slott will leave everything.

Finally I read, Do A Powerbomb #1, the first issue of a new series by Daniel Warren Johnson about a young, down on her luck would-be wrestler who is given the opportunity to bring back to life the mother she lost in the squared circle 10 years earlier.

Despite having read nothing by him, I've heard so much great praise about Daniel Warren Johnson's comics. Therefore, when I heard about this on a podcast (Blake's Buzz I think), it felt like something I should check out. Thankfully I wasn't disappointed because while this opener was essentially a set up issue, I really felt that it had so much heart and emotion to it that I couldn't help but be drawn into it.

The art is ... unusual, but that wasn't a bad thing in my mind. It was chaotic and dark but with some really trippy colours that really made it an enjoyable thing to look at, as well as really helping get across the emotional beats of the story. All in all, this was a good read but I think that may downplay the series as a whole because I'm confident it'll be an awesome read in its entirety. I'm now really eager for next month.

Alas, that's still a way away and I've got a few more weeks before then and plenty still to read. Next week I might actually (finally) get around to Illuminati, although knowing me something else will catch my eye first.

Good

#463 - Back in Print

It's been a bit of a dull week, as life has once again occupied the majority of my time.

That said, I did manage to read a few small comics (even if they weren't the ones I wanted to read).

Of my collection, this consisted primarily of The Magnificent Ms Marvel Annual #1, the Acts of Evil tie in from a couple of years back where Magdalene Visaggio, Jon Lam and Msassyk pit Kamala Khan against classic FF foe the Super-Skrull, as he attempts to absorb her shape-shifting powers in order to use them to kick start the rebuilding of the Skrull Homeworld.

No, I bought this back when it was first released, as my appreciation of the Super-Skrull had me wanting to check it out, but I recall this being a comic that just wasn't my thing. This time round, however, I took to the issue a little better as I found it more interesting. Overall, it was an ok title because both the art and the story were just that. I mean, the art looked a little rough for my liking and the story was a little 'cartoony' (for want of a better word. However, the latter certainly did manage to entertain me sufficiently and I guess that is all that's needed.

Everything else I read this week found its way to me via my need to review. The first of these was Savant, a Giant-Size one-shot comic about an alien artificial life-form which attempts to help a planet on the verge of extinction.

Unfortunately, this wasn't really for me. It was an interesting concept and it's art had a cool end of the world look like Canopus and Bountiful Garden (which I've also previously reviewed). However, it's problem with me was that it didn't set things up sufficiently in that I felt like the landscape and characters were not properly set up. As a result, this comic just wasn't for me and I couldn't find the words to do a review justice.

The same could be said for Fox and Hare #1, a recent Vault Comics which told the story of two child orphans who grew up to become vigilantes and champions of the downtrodden in a technological future city of Mazu Bay. However, when a new mission brings them in contact with a young hacker, they find themselves targeted by all the worst the city has to offer.

I'm a big Vault fan and pretty much anything they release seems like gold. With this though, I thought it was more a rusty nail than a gold nugget. I liked the art, which made me think of Superman Smashes the Klan in it's Manga-esque vibe. However, while the story and the background was better provided here, I just found that Fox and Hare really wasn't my thing.

My final read of the week was actually a physical comic as I checked out Daughters of Albion #1, which I had picked up at MCM last week. Now, this one has a proper review coming up as I could better find the words to describe it but, to put it simply, this was an interesting comic. While the story took a bit of time to get going and maybe didn't offer enough exposition to start with, the artwork was absolutely gorgeous and, by the end, the plot had me intrigued enough to want to go back for the next issue.

And so that's been my week, very light as I said but it has given me time to think and realise something through the comics I've read.

What I've realised is, as I was reading the three digital comics (Ms Marvel, Savant, Fox and Hare), is that digital no longer appeals to me.

It's been six years since I last thought on the topic and felt like I was going to go completely digital. However, after this week's reads along with my recent collection of pull list comics and the Other History of the DC Universe, I've come to realise that the reading of physical comics is still the more superior method to consume (and they smell better too!!).

Also, given all of the issues surrounding Comixology and their app/company's gutting by Amazon (capped off by the recent news that you can't buy direct through the app), I just feel as if buying and/or reading digitally (well, through Amazon) is just so incredibly tiresome.

Therefore, with a great number of unread trades piled up, I think I'll be taking some time to read (and maybe re-read) those print copies for the next few weeks.

Hopefully, I can make the time to do just that next week. 

#462 - A (physical) comic heavy week. (The Other History of the DC Universe)

What a week the last seven days have been!!

It's been long week but, more accurately, it's also been a hard one. This is down to the fact that I've spent almost the entire time recovery from Saturday and my attendance to MCM Comic Con in London.

Now, I've written a piece on my thoughts about the day which will appear on Pipedream Comics in the near future, but to personalise the occasion a little, I absolutely loved the day. Sure, by the end my legs were exhausted and I could really have done with being a whole extra day (or two), but I got to see and meet a whole bunch of awesome people and witness some really excellent coaplayer as well as pick up a bunch of trades and comics that I just couldn't help but buy.

Unfortunately, I since then haven't been able to crack open any of these comics because I've still ve working through (and, in fact, finishing) John Ridley's The Other History of the DC Universe. This series, written by Ridley while the art was created by Giuseppe Gamuncoli, Andrea Gucchi and José Villarrubia, tells the history of the DC Universe (as the title implies) but from the perspective of Heroes from disenfranchised groups. Black Lightning, Renee Montoya, Katana, Mal and Karen Duncan and Thunder, all heroes who are not the white, straight male stereotype of superheroics, each spend an issue describe the trials and tribulations of their respective superhero journey against a backdrop of various historical and political events.

Ever since it was announced, this was a series which I seriously wanted, a fact which kicked into overdrive once this Black Label comic was released in its collected format. However, despite receiving the collection as a Christmas gift during the last festive period, I've continued to push this book further an further down river and instead opted for other (predominantly digital) comics on my to read list. The reason for this was, like many comics I REALLY wanted to read, I feared that it's content wouldn't live up to my expectation.

Thankfully, my fears proved unwarranted because after nearly two weeks burning through the Other History of the DC Universe, I discovered by the end how much I loved this book. I wasn't sure what to expect when i first read, at least not beyond the assumption that it was going to be a hard hitting read (because I expect nothing less than from the director of 12 Years A Slave). However, Other History had this very expose feel to it as I went through the issues, like I was reading multiple autobiographies or a sort of Panorama-esue exposure. Ridley certainly must have done an absolute tonne of research for this series as he really shone a light on events and situations which, while maybe innocuous from one perspective, when told through a these different lenses, it really gave a heartbreaking feel.

That said, while Other History gave centre stage to characters the superhero stereotype might usually ignore, it also gave focus to some great storylines throughout DC's history. From the Judas Contract to the formation of the Outsiders to the events of 52, this series touched on so many events which seeing them here in just a few references gave me greater interest in those stories. This is further helped by the art, which is consistently gorgeous throughout and helps provide the feel of the specific time period in each issue. That said, I did find it difficult to determine whether the art was original or simply utilised from the comic issues past. This is all because of a single image in which saw Renee Montoya dressed as the Question, which I'm sure was ripped direct from 52. Of course, it would certainly make sense if the images were taken from comics of the specific story/time period and it doesn't change how amazing it works.

Unfortunately, if the Other History of the DC Universe had one flaw for me it was simply the fact that this comic series was just so dense. Now normally, I would read a 24-30 page comic in 15-20 minutes. However, with the issues of the Other History, it felt like getting through a single issue was taking hours. This is maybe because the collected edition readore like a prose book with illustrations rather than a comix book, the out of text was that large. Also, while Other History was a captivating and engrossing read, it was a lot like 12 Years A Slave in that it's heavy subject matter made me think I might not return to reading it again (at least for a good while).

Still, despite its emotionally heavy content, the Other History of the DC Universe was, to me, an exceptional read that i kind of wish I'd checked out sooner (although  glad I did it now after my recent break). And although I have just said I might not read it again for a while, it's definitely going on my shelf in the hope that I will return to it again one day.

Oh, and before I forget ...

While I didn't exactly read it in the last seven days, this week saw a review I had written a few weeks back get put up over at Pipedream Comics. Journee #1, as I hope my review attests, is a really interesting comic. I thought that it struggled from all of those things first issue's have, you know ... set-upitis. However, the concept and the cliffhanger at the end, makes me intrigued about where this comic goes next.

I also thought the art was solid work, if a little inconsistent in places. That said, I still found it to be a lovely style and the rare inclusion of colour enhances the questions I have, thus making me want to return all the more.

So, if it this short statement (and the review) doesn't make it obvious, I really want to come back to this comic. I'm not sure if I can class it as good (although it can't be by much), but it certainly leaves me interested and very much wanting to see how it all plays out.

And so that brings the comics part of my week to an end, although I also filled my time with (like everyone else) the first three episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi. At this point, it feels I'm just preaching to the converted but I have absolutely loved the first half of the series so far. There has been so much great stuff, from episode two's very noir vibe, the casting of young Leia, a cameo in episode 2 and even the fact the Obi-Wan knows Aikido.

Of course, I like everyone else does have one story niggle, but it doesn't change the fact that I found this awesome series so far, with such a brutal end to episode 3 reallyaking me regret this weekly release schedule of Disney's.

Anyway, thats now officially the week done. A very physical comic heavy week what with what I read and all I bought. To be honest, this was a nice change of pace as I found myself drawn back to print comics (with help of Comixology, who recently announced that their comics could no longer be purchased through their app due to Google Play Store's high in app charge. Funny the same doesn't apply to the Amazon proper app). As such, I'll probably try and read plenty of print comics in the next few weeks.

Although, my planned read for next week might be some physical comics that have been out for quite a while.