I’ve had an on again/off again/on again/off again/on again love affair with comic books over the course of my life starting back in elementary school when I was reading Batman and Justice Society of America after which gave them up for more mature pursuits (ie. girls), then resumed my passion for reading with titles like The Avengers, Spiderman, and The X-Men only to eventually lose interest, then have that interest rekindled in college only to have it fade and then return and then fade and then return again and then fade again. And so on. Certain titles manage to transcend the hot and cold routine, books like The Walking Dead, Chew, Sweet Tooth, and Scalped which have made the jump from single issue pick-ups to heavily anticipated trade paperback purchases.
When it comes to deciding what to get, I cast a very wide net. I’ll pick up the first couple of issues of almost every title out there and see what appeals. If a comic impresses in those first two issues, I’ll pick up the third – and then fourth, and fifth, and sixth, and so on. As long as I’m enjoying what I’m reading, I’ll keep reading. Once I lose interest in a title, I’ll move on. Understand, my reasons for dropping a title usually have less to do with quality and more to do with personal tastes.
And so, most recently, after months of working my through a veritable mountain of comic books, the list of titles I’m still reading stands at a modest seven. Maybe eight!
BATMAN
I’ve always been drawn to Batman for its darker tone. Presently, no one does darker better than American Vampire writer Scott Snyder. A delightfully grim read.
BATMAN AND ROBIN
To be honest, I was on the fence after the first issue, mainly owing to the new Robin, Damian, who I found altogether annoying. I soon realized – yeah, that’s the point and, in time, the little brat has grown on me, as has the terrific personal/professional dynamic at the heart of this book.
DAREDEVIL
I loved Mark Waid’s run on The Flash and its testament to his wide-ranging talent that he is able to tackle a completely different hero in a complete different universe with a completely different sensibility and still hit it out of the park. This title offers a nice mix of noir, humor, and superheroics with an inescapable classic Marvel feel.
DARK HORSE PRESENTS
Here we’re offered a collection of mostly serialized stories ranging from the interesting to the fantastic. In the latter category is Howard Chaykin’s Marked Man, the tale of a past-his-prime hitman whose professional and personal lives converge in dramatic fashion. I’ve also enjoyed the hell out of Peter Hogan’s Resident Alien and Filipe Melo’s The Adventures of Dog Mendonca and Pizzaboy. Check it out. You’re sure to find something to like.
PUNISHER
Not three months ago I complained about the fact that I’ve always found the Punisher a frustratingly one-note character. Well, my opinion has changed now that long-time Batman scribe, Greg Rucka, has assumed the creative reins. Frank Castle is well-rounded, his world grounded, and the violence that permeates this book brutal but never silly or visceral.
ULTIMATE SPIDERMAN
The world of superheroes as seen through the eyes of a young boy. I’ll admit, I was leery about this one before I’d even picked it up but, after checking out the first issue, I was hooked. Bendis has a gift for writing engaging characters and the young Miles Morales makes a perfect new Spiderman.
THE ULTIMATES
From the small world of a young, inexperienced hero to the big world of Earth’s Mightiest – and then some. Hickman’s narrative is vast, multi-layered, and altogether brilliant.
Looking forward to:
ASTONISHING X-MEN
Marjorie M. Liu takes over writing duties on Astonishing X-Men soon and I, for one, can’t wait.
Speaking of comic books, some of the reviews for Dark Matter #3 have started popping up:
” Issue 3 is one of those rare turning points where you really need to read the story to appreciate how quickly they whip development into shape and setup the stage for a showdown.” – Review – Dark Matter #3 – Rebirth 3 of 4 | BAMFAS.com …
“Mallozzi and Mullie have quite a nice little book going here.” – Dark Horse Reviews: Dark Matter #3
” If you’re still not into Sci-fi then really it’s your loss, the rest of us will continue to enjoy these memorable characters with bad ass skills and one-liners.” – COMIC BASTARDS: Review: Dark Matter #3
” This book is riveting and tells a Whedon-esque space story that keeps you moved when the brawling occurs and attached…when revelations are made. I can ask for no more in a title.” – wizard is Oz: Renaldo’s Reviews: Saga #1, Dark Matter #3, Exile …
“Overall, I highly recommend the Dark Matter Series. I do not recommend picking up this mini-series from the middle, but rather starting from the beginning and seeing it all the way through.” – Dark Matter #3 Review – imad_khan: Blog – IGN
Did you pick up your copy?
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