Monday, May 30, 2011

A Few Books

  1. Hitman vol. 3: Local Heroes by Garth Ennis & John McCrea. Somehow I missed this volume when DC first collected this series.
  2. 20th Century Boys, vol. 14: A Boy and a Dream by Naoki Urasawa.

    I had been considering no longer buying the volumes in this series and just completing it by checking them out of the library, but this volume changed my mind. The twists in this volume were interesting enough to recapture my enthusiasm for the series.
  3. Hitman vol. 4: Ace of Killers by Garth Ennis & John McCrea. This is as far as I got before. Volume 5 is coming in a few months. Looking forward to it.
  4. Bayou, vol. 1 by Jeremy Love. (Borrowed from Teena.)
  5. Bayou, vol. 2 by Jeremy Love.

    More of this fantasy version of the South in the 30s. The story isn't done yet, so I hope it continues in at least one more volume. (Borrowed from Teena.)
  6. Untold Tales of the New Universe by various. New stories set in Marvel's 80s attempt to create a new line of comics.
  7. Starman Omnibus, vol. 6 by James Robinson, Peter Snejbjerg, et al. The final volume of this series collecting one of the best super-hero comics of the 90s. Beautiful presentation, and it is so nice to see a complete collection, including side-stories and an associated mini-series. I'd like to see other worthy series get similar treatment.
  8. Empire State: A Love Story (or Not) by Jason Shiga. This is a well-done graphic novel by someone with an impressive command of the medium. I just didn't like the story. The main character is too passive and doesn't seem to change. I wish I could recommend this, but I can't.
  9. Superman Vs. Lex Luthor by various. Stories featuring Superman's arch-enemy, starting with his very first appearance.

Just one movie this week:
  • Notting Hill. Great romantic comedy.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Memorial Day

3 day weekend means I will post on Monday.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Not Much This Week

  1. The Viking Prince by Bob Haney, Joe Kubert, et al.

    The stories collected here blend together, but the real draw is Kubert's art, which is pretty fantastic. (Checked out of the library.)
  2. The Boys, vol. 6: Self-Preservation Society by Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, et al. More of Ennis's brutal exploration of super-heroes. (Library.)
  3. DC Comics Presents: Son of Superman by Howard Chaykin, David Tischman, and J.H. Williams III. Not as cynical as I had expected, given that it was co-written by Chaykin.
  4. The Bulletproof Coffin by David Hine & Shaky Kane.

    Bizarre take on comics and nostalgia. Wonderfully strange and brain-bending.
  5. DC Comics Presents: The Legion of Super-Heroes by Dan Abnett, Andy Lannning, & Olivier Copiel. Not sure why DC chose to reprint these 4 issues, but it's a pretty good LSH story.
  6. Hitman, vol. 1 by Garth Ennis & John McCrea. DC has been reprinting Hitman, and so I decided to re-read the volumes I already had to prepare for when they get to the gaps in my collection.
  7. Hitman, vol. 2: 10,000 Bullets by Garth Ennis & John McCrea. Over the top violence.

No movies this week, but I did run the fourth session of In Nomine today. We nearly finished up the adventure. The next time we play will be the denouement.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Some More Books

  1. Fantastic Four, vol. 2: Unified Field Theory by Jonathan Hickman ^ Dale Eaglesham. More super-heroics and fantastic science. (Checked out of the library.)
  2. Thunderbolts Classic, vol. 1 by Kurt Busiek & Mark Bagley. A great take on super-heroes finally collected. I hope further volumes are coming.
  3. Powers, vol. 13: Z by Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Avon Oeming. (Library.)
  4. A Sickness in the Family by Denise Mina & Antonio Fuso. Family dysfunction comics. (Library.)
  5. DC Comics Presents Night Force by Marv Wolfman & Gene Colan. Cheap collection of the first four issues of a horror series from the creators that brought us a fantastic run in Tomb of Dracula.
  6. The Sensational She-Hulk, vol. 1 by John Byrne. Light-hearted and fourth-wall-breaking super-heroics. Can't decide if the cheesecake in this book is fan service or Byrne indulging himself (possibly both).
  7. Stephen King's The Stand: Hardcases by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Mike Perkins.

    Continuing the adaptation. (Borrowed from Teena.)
  8. Marvel Adventures Avengers, vol. 9: The Times They Are A-Changin' by Paul Tobin, Matteo Lolli, et al. More fun all-ages comics.
  9. Showcase Presents, vol. 3: Green Lantern by John Broome, Gardner Fox, & Gil Kane.

    I love DC's Showcase Presents and Marvel's Essentials collections. They are a cheap way to read tons of old comics.
  10. Marvel Adventures Avengers: Iron Man by Paul Tobin & Ronan Cliquet. Tobin really does write some fun comics.
  11. Essential Defenders, vol. 3 by various. The first third or so of this volume (the issues written by Steve Gerber) are filled with wild & interesting ideas. Bizarre and absurd stories that really work for me. The rest of the book isn't quite so good.

A couple of movies this week:

Sunday, May 08, 2011

Many Borrowed Books

  1. Detroit Metal City, vol. 8 by Kiminori Wakasugi. More death metal silliness. (Checked out of the library.)
  2. Annihilation: Conquest, bk. 2 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Tom Raney, et al. Science fiction super-heroes in the Marvel universe. (Library.)
  3. Battler Britton by Garth Ennis & Colin Wilson. WWII pilots in north Africa.
  4. Guardians of the Galaxy, vol 1: Legacy by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, & Paul Pelletier. More cosmic Marvel stuff. (Library.)
  5. George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight by Ben Avery & Mike S. Miller. Adaptation of a novella set in the world of A Game of Thrones. (Borrowed from Teena.)
  6. Daytripper by Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba.

    Amazing set of stories about the life of a Brazilian writer, with the catch that each chapter ends with his death. Moon & Ba are fantastic artists, but I did not realize they could also write. I had bought the first issue when it came out. And while I enjoyed that, it didn't impress me enough to keep getting the issues. The story reads better collected all together. (Borrowed from Teena.)
  7. George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword by Ben Avery & Mike S. Miller.

    Martin has a wonderful feel for characterization. Great story. (Borrowed from Teena.)

Only one movie this week:

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Late in the Day Update

  1. The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec, vol. 1: Pterror of Paris & The Eiffel Tower Demon by Jacques Tardi.

    Strange goings on in turn of the century Paris. (Checked out of the library.)
  2. Gotham Central, bk. 4: Corrigan by Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker, Kano, et al. The final volume of a great police procedural comic set in Batman's home town. I wish the series had lasted longer.
  3. Spider-Man: Grim Hunt by Joe Kelly, J.M. DeMatteis, Michael Lark, Max Fiumara, et al. Sequel to DeMatteis' & Zeck's Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt. (Library.)
  4. The Thing Classic, vol. 1 by John Byrne & Ron Wilson. Thing solo series that followed Marvel Two-in-One.
  5. Axe Cop by Malachi & Ethan Nicolle. Collection of the web comic written by a 5-year-old and drawn by his 29-year-old brother. Wacky stuff, but best in small doses. (Library.)
  6. Thor: Godstorm by Kurt Busiek & Steve Rude. Good story and gorgeous art (which should be obvious, given the creative team). (Library.)
  7. Superman Adventures, vol 4: The Man of Steel by Mark Millar & Aliur Amancio.
  8. Dominic Fortune: It Can Happen Here and Now by Howard Chaykin. Swashbuckling adventure set in the 30s. This came from Marvel's "Max" imprint, so there is nudity & swearing.
Also this week I listened to an audio version of the first book in the Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning. Each character is voiced by a different actor, and Tim Curry (who is perfectly cast) provides the narration.

Just a few movies:
Also this week, I finished playing Dragon Age IIWhile it never engrossed me as much as the first game, it grew on me as I played. And at the end, I had to make an absolutely brutal decision which really adds some depth to the game. If you've played the first game, I definitely recommend this.