Canavan’s Comments (group member since Dec 09, 2021)

Canavan’s comments from the I Read Comic Books group.

Chad said: The good thing is by waiting there's a couple more things you can read.

Thanks, Chad, for the original recommendation and for this update. Much appreciated!

As I recall, last year I fell just short of completing the IRCB reading challenge, but this year — success! Here are a few thoughts on the annual challenge and some of what I read (and didn’t read).

I finally got around to reading... I was able through this challenge to make at least a infinitesimal dent in my graphic novel to-be-read pile. I’ve long wanted to read Craig Thompson’s autobiographical Blankets , an account of his early spiritual and sexual yearnings. It turned out to be worth the wait.

This is going to date me, but I read the first part of Art Spiegelman’s Maus back when it was originally released in book form. When some years later the concluding volume was published, I felt that in order to do it justice I needed to go back and re-read the first part...but, perhaps because the subject matter is so dark, I never managed to do so. Until now. While I didn’t find that the second volume quite measured up to the first (perhaps because of the increased focus on the relationship between the author and his father), taken as a whole Maus is a tremendous achievement.

A ton of things still remain on my to-be-read pile. For example, someone here (sorry, I don’t remember who) recommended Joe Hill’s Locke & Key. I fully intended to read the series during the month of October, but simply failed to carve out sufficient time. Maybe next October!

The best thing I read for the challenge... I wanted to call out a recommendation from one of IRCB’s Patreon members, Tom: Lynda Barry’s semi-autobiographical One! Hundred! Demons! Most of those here reporting on their challenge experiences had a kind of luke warm response to this book, but I absolutely loved it. That’s perhaps not surprising since I’ve been an admirer of Barry dating back to the days when Ernie Pook’s Comeek appeared in alternative weeklies. Barry has a unique way of treading the line between the absurd and the poignant that often resonates with me.

Thanks... Speaking of recommendations, I wanted to thank everyone — the podcast crew, Patreon members, and others — for passing along their graphic novel endorsements. I appreciated them all — even those for books that, due no doubt to my personal quirks, failed to quite click with me. I wanted to specifically mention recommendations by Erin ( Ballad for Sophie by Filipe Melo), Kait L. ( The Arrival by Shaun Tan), Kate S. ( Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton), Paul G. (Darwyn Cooke’s Parker books), and Evilblacksheep ( Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol).

Thanks again to all and see you in the New Year...or, maybe not.

 

Canavan’s 2023 Recommended Reading Challenge

«Theme of the Month Selections, December»

[x] December: Comics set in space.

• The EC Archives: Weird Science, Volume 2, Chris Warner (Collection Ed.) & William M. Gaines (Original Ed.) (1952-1953/2023) ✭✭✭
• Objectif Lune (Destination Moon), Georges Prosper Remi (as by Hergé) (1950/1953/trans. 1959) ✭✭✭
• On a marché sur la Lune (Explorers on the Moon), Georges Prosper Remi (as by Hergé) (1952-1953/1954/trans. 1959) ✭✭✭
• Serenity: Those Left Behind, Joss Whedon (Story Author), Brett Matthews (Story & Script Author), Will Conrad (Artist), & Laura Martin (Colorist) (2005/2006/2012 ed.) ✭✭✭½

Anurag said: This is a sweet short melancholic tale exploring the life of an officer stationed in a lunar colony
Mooncop by Tom Gauld

Second this recommendation.

Evilblacksheep wrote: I also read Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? and that was a really good one, either for this month or the next.

I picked this one up more or less on a whim last year and really enjoyed it.

 

Canavan’s 2023 Recommended Reading Challenge

«Theme of the Month Selections, July - November»

[x] July: Comics that have been adapted for the screen.

• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1, Alan Moore (Author) & Kevin O’Neill (Artist) (1999-2000/2000) ✭✭✭✭½
• La Mort de Staline (The Death of Stalin), Fabien Nury (Author) & Thierry Robin (Artist) (2010–2012/2017 trans.) ✭✭✭✭
• Wilson, Daniel Clowes (2010) ✭✭✭✭
• Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander, Frank Miller (Author & Artist) & Alex Sinclair (Colorist) (2018/2019) ✭

[x] August: Comics set in/around school.

• Tom Brown’s School Days, Thomas Hughes, Alfred Sundel (Adaptor), & John Tartaglione (Artist) (1952) ✭✭✭
• Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Giorgio Cambriotti (Penciller) & Mario Pedrazzi (Inker) (1970) ✭
• New Kid, Jerry Craft (Author & Artist) & Jim Callahan (Colorist) (2019) ✭✭✭✭
• Class Act, Jerry Craft (Author & Artist) & Jim Callahan (Colorist) (2020) ✭✭✭½
• School Trip, Jerry Craft (Author & Artist) & Jim Callahan (Colorist) (2023). ✭✭✭

[x] September: Comics/individuals who were recipients of an Eisner Award in 2023.

• Doonesbury: The Original Yale Cartoons, G. B. Trudeau (1968-1970?/1971/1973 ed.) ✭✭
• Still a Few Bugs in the System, G. B. Trudeau (1970-1971/1972) ✭✭½
• The President Is a Lot Smarter Than You Think, G. B. Trudeau (1971/1973) ✭✭✭ [Trudeau was a 2023 inductee into the Eisners Awards’ Hall of Fame.]
• Fall Out Laughing, Beetle Bailey, Mort Walker (?/1969) ✭✭
• Hi and Lois in Darkest Suburbia, Mort Walker & Dik Browne (1969-1971?/1971) ✭✭
• Hi and Lois: Beware, Children at Play, Mort Walker & Dik Browne (1971/1979) ✭✭
• I'll Flip You For It, Beetle Bailey, Mort Walker (1972-1976/1977) ✭✭½ [Walker was a 2023 inductee into the Eisners Awards’ Hall of Fame.]
• Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary, Justin Green (1972) ✭✭✭✭ [Green was a 2023 inductee into the Eisners Awards’ Hall of Fame.]
• The World of Metropolis, Nos. 1-4, John Byrne (Writer), Win Mortimer (Penciller), Frank McLaughlin (Inker), Dick Giordano (Inker), Sal Trapani (Inker), & Tom Ziuko (Colorist) (August-November 1988) ✭✭ [Mortimer was a 2023 inductee into the Eisners Awards’ Hall of Fame.]
• Self Loathing Comics, No. 1, Aline Kominsky-Crumb & Robert Crumb (as by R. Crumb) (February 1995) ✭✭✭ [Kominsky-Crumb was a 2023 inductee into the Eisners Awards’ Hall of Fame.]
• Chivalry, Neil Gaiman (Author) & Colleen Doran (Adaptor & Artist) (2022) ✭✭✭½ [Best Adaptation from Another Medium.]
• Revenge of the Librarians, Tom Gauld (2022) ✭✭✭✭½ [Best Humor Publication.]
• Batman: One Bad Day: The Riddler, Tom King (Writer) & Mitch Gerads (Artist) (2022) ✭✭ [Best Single Issue/One-Shot.]

[x] October: Horror comics.

• The EC Archives: Tales from the Crypt, Volume 2, Daniel Chabon (Collection Ed.) & William M. Gaines (Original Ed.) (1951-1952/2016) ✭✭✭½
• The EC Archives: The Vault of Horror, Volume 2, Daniel Chabon (Collection Ed.) & William M. Gaines (Original Ed.) (1951-1952/2022) ✭✭✭½
• Hellboy: Seed of Destruction, Mike Mignola (Plot Author & Artist), John Byrne (Script Author), Mark Chiarello (Colorist), & Matthew Hollingsworth (Colorist) (1993, 1994/1994) ✭✭✭½
• Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others, Mike Mignola (Author & Artist), James Sinclair (Colorist), Matthew Hollingsworth (Colorist), & James Sinclair (Colorist) (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998/1998) ✭✭✭½
• Hellboy: Wake the Devil, Mike Mignola (Author & Artist) & James Sinclair (Colorist) (1996/1997) ✭✭✭½
• ZombieWorld: Champion of the Worms, Mike Mignola (Author), Pat McEown (Artist), & Pamela Rambo (Colorist) (1997/1998/2005 ed.) ✭✭½
• B.P.R.D.: Hollow Earth & Other Stories, Mike Mignola (Author & Artist), Christopher Golden (Author), Tom Sniegoski(Author), Brian McDonald (Author), Ryan Sook (Artist), Curtis P. Arnold (Artist), Matt Smith (Artist), Derek Thompson (Artist), James Sinclair (Colorist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (1998, 1999, 2001-2002/2003) ✭✭✭
• Hellboy: The Right Hand of Doom, Mike Mignola (Author & Artist) & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (1998, 1999, 2000/2000) ✭✭✭
• Hellboy: Conqueror Worm, Mike Mignola (Author & Artist) & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2001/2002) ✭✭✭½
• B.P.R.D.: The Soul of Venice & Other Stories, Miles Gunter (Author), Michael Avon Oeming (Author & Artist), Brian Augustyn (Author), Geoff Johns (Author), Joe Harris (Author), Mike Mignola (Author), Scott Kolins (Author & Artist), Cameron Stewart (Artist), Guy Davis (Artist), Adam Polina (Penciller), Guillermo Zubiaga (Inker), Michelle Madsen (Colorist), Lee Loughridge (Colorist), & Dave Stewart (Artist & Colorist) (2003, 2004/2004). ✭✭
• B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs, Mike Mignola (Author), Guy Davis (Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2004/2005) ✭✭✭✭
• B.P.R.D.: The Dead, Mike Mignola (Author), John Arcudi (Author), Guy Davis (Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2004-2005/2005) ✭✭✭½
• B.P.R.D.: The Black Flame, Mike Mignola (Author), John Arcudi (Author), Guy Davis (Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2005-2006/2006) ✭✭✭✭✭ ❤️
• B.P.R.D.: The Universal Machine, Mike Mignola (Author & Artist), John Arcudi (Author), Guy Davis (Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2006/2007) ✭✭✭✭
• B.P.R.D.: Garden of Souls, Mike Mignola (Author), John Arcudi (Author), Guy Davis (Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2007/2008) ✭✭✭✭
• B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground, Mike Mignola (Author), John Arcudi (Author), Guy Davis (Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2007/2008) ✭✭✭✭
• The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch, Neil Gaiman (Author), Michael Zulli (Artist), & Todd Klein (Adaptor) (2008) ✭✭✭½
• B.P.R.D.: The Warning, Mike Mignola (Author), John Arcudi (Author), Guy Davis (Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2008/2009) ✭✭✭½
• B.P.R.D.: War on Frogs, Mike Mignola (Author), John Arcudi (Author), Herb Trimpe (Artist), John Severin (Artist), Karl Moline (Artist), Peter Snejbjerg (Artist), Dave Stewart (Colorist), & Bjarne Hansen (Colorist) (2008-2009/2010) ✭✭
• Stephen King’s N., No. 1, Stephen King (Creative & Executive Director), Marc Guggenheim (Script Writer), & Alex Maleev (Artist) (May 2010) ✭✭✭✭
• Stephen King’s N., No. 2, Stephen King (Creative & Executive Director), Marc Guggenheim (Script Writer), & Alex Maleev (Artist) (June 2010) ✭✭✭½
• Stephen King’s N., No. 3, Stephen King (Creative & Executive Director), Marc Guggenheim (Script Writer), & Alex Maleev (Artist) (July 2010) ✭✭✭✭
• Stephen King’s N., No. 4, Stephen King (Creative & Executive Director), Marc Guggenheim (Script Writer), & Alex Maleev (Artist) (August 2010) ✭✭✭✭
• B.P.R.D.: King of Fear, Mike Mignola (Author & Artist), John Arcudi (Author), Guy Davis (Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2010/2010) ✭✭✭½
• Neonomicon, No. 1, Alan Moore (Author), Jacen Burrows (Artist), & Juanmar (Colorist) (July 2010) ✭✭½
• Neonomicon, No. 2, Alan Moore (Author), Jacen Burrows (Artist), & Juanmar (Colorist) (August 2010) ✭½
• Neonomicon, No. 3, Alan Moore (Author), Jacen Burrows (Artist), & Juanmar (Colorist) (October 2010) ✭½
• Neonomicon, No. 4, Alan Moore (Author), Jacen Burrows (Artist), & Juanmar (Colorist) (February 2011) ✭✭
• Little Green God of Agony, Stephen King (Author) & Dennis Calero (Adaptor & Artist) (2012), in: StephenKing.com, retrieved 9/29/2023 from https://stephenking.com/promo/little_... ✭✭✭
• Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea, Mike Mignola (Author), Gary Gianni (Author & Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2017) ✭✭½
• Basketful of Heads, Joe Hill (Writer), Massimiliano Leonardo (as by Leomacs) (Artist), & Dave Stewart (Colorist) (2019-2020/2020) ✭✭✭✭½
• Friday, Book Two: On a Cold Winter’s Night, Ed Brubaker (Author), Marcos Martín (Artist), & Muntsa Vicente (Colorist) (2021-2022/2022) ✭✭✭✭

[x] November: Crime comics.

• The True Death of Billy the Kid, Rick Geary (2014) ✭✭½
• Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, No. 1, Mickey Spillane (Author), Max Allan Collins (Author), Marcelo Salaza (Artist), & Marcio Freire (Artist) (July 2018) ✭✭
• Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, No. 2, Mickey Spillane (Author), Max Allan Collins (Author), Marcelo Salaza (Artist), & Marcio Freire (Artist) (August 2018) ✭✭½
• Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, No. 3, Mickey Spillane (Author), Max Allan Collins (Author), Marcelo Salaza (Artist), & Marcio Freire (Artist) (September 2018) ✭✭½
• Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, No. 4, Mickey Spillane (Author), Max Allan Collins (Author), Marcelo Salaza (Artist), & Marcio Freire (Artist) (October 2018) ✭✭
• Al Capone, S. Meralli (Author) & P. F. Radice (Artist) (2022) ✭✭✭½

 

Canavan’s 2023 Recommended Reading Challenge

«Theme of the Month Selections, January - June»

[x] January: Comic selected by finishers of the 2022 challenge.

• Nuclear Winter, Volume One , Caroline Breault (as by Cab) (2018) ✭✭½

[x] February: Comics where one or more creators is a person of color.

• Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story, David Alexander Robertson (Author), Scott B. Henderson (Illustrator), & Donovan Yaciuk (Colorist) (2012/2021 ed.) ✭✭✭½
• Your Black Friend and Other Strangers, Ben Passmore (2018) ✭✭✭✭½
• They Called Us Enemy, George Takei (Author), Justin Eisinger (Author), Steven Scott (Author), & Harmony Becker (Artist) (2019) ✭✭✭✭
• Superman Smashes the Klan, Gene Luen Yang (Author), Chifuyu Sasaki (Penciler & Inker), & Naoko Kawano (Colorist) (Sasaki & Kawano jointly as by Gurihiru) (2019-2020/2020) ✭✭✭✭

[x] March: Comics that teach a moral lesson.

• When the Wind Blows, Raymond Briggs (1982) ✭✭✭✭½
• Goliath, Tom Gauld (2012) ✭✭✭✭
• Mooncop, Tom Gauld (2016) ✭✭✭✭
• Dawn and the Impossible Three, Gale Galligan (Adaptor & Illustrator) & Braden Lamb (Colorist) (2017) ✭✭✭½
• Kristy's Big Day, Gale Galligan (Adaptor & Illustrator) & Braden Lamb (Colorist) (2018) ✭✭✭½
• Boy-Crazy Stacey, Gale Galligan (Adaptor & Illustrator) & Braden Lamb (Colorist) (2019) ✭✭✭½
• Bloom, Kevin Panetta (Author) & Savanna Ganucheau (Artist) (2019) ✭✭✭

[x] April: Comics with monochromatic art (including black and white).

• Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse: “Race to Death Valley”, Floyd Gottfredson, David Gerstein (Series Ed.), & Gary Groth (Series Ed.) (1930-1931/2011) ✭✭✭✭
• Cannon, Wallace Wood (1970-1973/2001/2014 ed.) ✭
• The Complete Peanuts: 1979 to 1980 , Charles M. Schulz (1979-1980/2011) ✭✭✭✭
• Maus: A Survivor's Tale, Art Spiegelman (1980-1985/1986) ✭✭✭✭✭ ❤️
• Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, II: And Here My Troubles Began , Art Spiegelman (1986-1991/1991) ✭✭✭✭½
• Tales of Error, Thomas Ott (1989) ✭✭
• Greetings from Hellville, Thomas Ott (1995) ✭✭✭½
• Batman Black and White, Vol. 1, Mark Chiarello & Scott Peterson (Original Eds.) & Dale Crain (Collection Ed.) (1996/1998/2007 ed.) ✭✭✭½
• Dead End, Thomas Ott (1996) ✭✭✭½
• La bête à cinq doigts (The Beast with Five Fingers), Thomas Ott (1996) ✭✭✭
• La Douane (Customs), Thomas Ott (1996) ✭✭✭
• Exit, Thomas Ott (1997) ✭✭✭½
• Vent litt... (Hey, Wait...), John Arne Sæterøy (as by Jason) (1998-1999/2001 trans.) ✭✭✭✭
• Recuerdos de México (Souvenirs from Mexico), Thomas Ott (2000) ✭✭✭
• Blankets, Craig Thompson (2003) ✭✭✭✭✭ ❤️
• Cinema Panopticum, Thomas Ott (2005) ✭✭✭✭
• The Number 73304-23-4153-6-96-8, Thomas Ott (2008) ✭✭✭
• Dark Country, Thomas Ott (Illustrator) & Tab Murphy (Author) (2012) ✭✭✭
• On the Ropes, James Vance (Author) & Dan Burr (Artist) (2013) ✭✭✭✭½
• Fangs, Sarah Andersen (2020) ✭✭✭✭
• La forêt (The Forest) , Thomas Ott (2020/2022 ed.) ✭✭✭✭

[x] May: Comics (DC or Marvel) in which a now-established character first appears.

• “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate”, Bill Finger (Author) & Bob Kane (Artist), in: Detective Comics, Vol. 1, No. 27 , Vincent A. Sullivan (Ed.) (May 1939) ✭✭ [The first appearance of the Batman.]
• “Origin of the Flash”, Gardner Fox (Author) & Harry Lampert (Artist), in: Flash Comics, Vol. 1, No. 1, Sheldon Mayer (Ed.) (January 1940) ✭½ [The first appearance of the first Flash, Jay Garrick.]
• “The Cat”, Bill Finger (Author), Bob Kane (Penciller), & Sheldon Moldoff (Inker), in: Batman, Vol. 1, No. 1, Whitney Ellsworth (Ed.) (March 1940) ✭✭½ [The first appearance of the Cat, later rechristened Catwoman.]

[x] June: Favorite comic read in 2022.

• Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter, Darwyn Cooke (2009) ✭✭✭✭½ [Recommendation from Paul Goracke.]
• Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit, Darwyn Cooke (2010) ✭✭✭✭ [Recommendation from Paul Goracke.]
• Be Prepared, Vera Brosgol (Author & Artist) & Alec Longstreth (Colorist) (2018) ✭✭✭✭½ [Recommendation from Evilblacksheep.]
• Incredible Doom, Vol. 2, Matthew Bogart (Author & Illustrator) & Jesse Holden (Author) (2022) ✭✭✭✭ [Recommendation from Paul Goracke.]

 

Canavan’s 2023 Recommended Reading Challenge

«Podcast Crew and Patreon Selections»

««Podcast Crew Selections»»

[x] Danny - Batman: One Dark Knight , Mark Simpson (as by Jock) (2022/2022) ✭✭½
[x] Erin - Balada para Sophie (Ballad for Sophie) , Filipe Melo (Author) & Juan Cavia (Illustrator) (2020/2021 trans.) ✭✭✭✭½
[x] Kait L - The Arrival , Shaun Tan (2006) ✭✭✭✭
[x] Kate S - Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands , Kate Beaton (2022) ✭✭✭✭½
[x] Mike - Aquaman: Andromeda , Ramnarayan Venkatesan (as by Ram V) (Author) & Christian Ward (Artist) (2022/2023) ✭✭✭½
[x] Nick - Kaya, Vol. 1 , Wes Craig (Author & Artist) & Jason Wordie (Colorist) (2022-2023/2023) ✭✭✭½
[x] Paloma - Friday, Book One: The First Day of Christmas , Ed Brubaker (Author), Marcos Martín (Artist), & Muntsa Vicente (Colorist) (2020-2021/2021) ✭✭✭✭
[x] Paul - Glen Ganges in: The River at Night , Kevin Huizenga (2006-2016/2019) ✭✭
[x] Tia - Dracula, Motherf**ker! , Alex de Campi (Author) & Erica Henderson (Illustrator) (2020) ✭½

««Patreon Selections»»

[x] Tom - One! Hundred! Demons! , Lynda Barry (2002) ✭✭✭✭✭ ❤️
[x] Stephanie - Broken Frontier: Anthology , Frederik Hautain & Tyler Chin-Tanner (Eds.) (2016) ✭½
[x] CK - Promethea, Book 1 , Alan Moore (Writer), J. H. Williams III (Penciller), & Mick Gray (Inker) (1999-2000/2000) ✭✭✭
[x] Paul G - Through a Life , Tom Haugomat (2018) ✭✭✭✭½
[x] Matt - Stray Dogs , Tony Fleecs (Writer), Trish Forstner (Artist), & Brad Simpson (Colorist) (2021/2021) ✭✭✭
[x] Geoff - プルートウ (Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Volume 1), Naoki Urasawa (Author & Illustrator) & Takashi Nagasaki (Author) (2004/2009 trans.) ✭✭✭✭

 

Canavan’s 2023 Recommended Reading Challenge

Because of the ridiculously compulsive way that I detailed my challenge entries this year, I’m embarrassed to say that I wound up breaking the Goodreads per-comment character limit. To get around this problem I’ve opted to break my list into parts.

«Links to Canavan’s 2023 entries»

• Podcast Crew and Patreon Selections
• Theme of the Month Selections, January - June
• Theme of the Month Selections, July - November
• Theme of the Month Selections, December

Discussing them in this thread may be cheating a bit, but I was looking at the 2023 inductees into the Eisners Awards’ Hall of Fame. A number caught my eye, two in particular. One was Jerry Bails (1933-2006), who I remember meeting once. Bails has been described by many as the “father of comic book fandom”. He was a particularly big fan of DC’s Justice Society of America (later refashioned as the Justice League). In 1961, Bails, along with co-editor Roy Thomas, launched one of the earliest comic-centric fanzines, Alter Ego and I read through the short inaugural issue. It’s the usual mixture of news, articles, fiction, and art. Objectively, it showcases some pretty awful stuff, but it’s hard not to kinda admire the amateurish enthusiasm on display.

Another of the inductees was Justin Green (1945-2022). Green, not particularly prolific, is best known for his 1972 underground classic, Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary , which I re-read this morning. It’s a brutally honest autobiographical account of Green’s early life in which he describes a stew of compulsions and intrusive thoughts involving sex and religion. (Green would eventually be disgnosed as OCD.) Other underground comics artists, including Art Spiegelman and Robert Crumb, have cited Binky as a seminal influence on their own work.

I was introduced earlier this year to Tom Gauld, reading Goliath (2012) and Mooncop (2016). I enjoyed those to the extent that I had been looking for an excuse to read some of Gauld’s other work, so it was fortuitous that Revenge of the Librarians won the Eisner for Best Humor Publication. Published by Drawn & Quarterly, Revenge is a collection of single strips originally appearing in The Guardian. As the title indicates, the contents are designed to appeal primarily to the bibliophile. I like Gauld’s precise and rather minimalistic art style. Not every strip is a hit, but most elicited a wry smile and at least a handful a genuine guffaw.

I’m not much of a Big 2 reader, but opted to give Batman: One Bad Day: The Riddler a try because it was just a one-shot, i.e., winning the Eisner in the Best Single Issue category. I realize others will probably disagree, but in the aftermath of reading this story, the more I thought about it, the less I liked it. The art by Mitch Gerads is fine. In fact, maybe better than just fine. Tom King’s dialog is okay, as well. It’s the overall themes that I found disappointing. Twenty years ago I might have found the ideas expressed gritty and edgy. Now they strike me as uninspired and banal. (view spoiler)[In essence, by building on a plot that doesn't really make a lot of sense, King pays homage to the reactionary notion that a certain class of criminals aren’t really entitled to due process and that the only rational course of action in such cases is summary execution. (hide spoiler)]

Evilblacksheep wrote: I remembered I have this one in my to-read list that I think would fit the theme:
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story

I read this biography for our 2023 March theme. I can certainly recommend it, but my one major complaint was that the treatment felt a bit cursory; it struck me that the story would have greatly benefited by being longer.

Gwen said: I always recommend Captain America Vol. 5, which ran from 2005 to 2009, written by Ed Brubaker and was adapted as the second Cap film Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). I still think it's the best Cap run, and nothing has come close.

I haven’t read that particular run, but for my money The Winter Soldier was by far the best of the Cap films, and perhaps the best MCU movie period.

I’ve looked at a few things over the past couple of days. Maybe the best of the lot is The Death of Stalin . Originally released in two volumes (2010 and 2012) by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin, it was translated from the original French into English in 2017. It was also the basis of critically well-received English language film of the same name, directed by Armando Iannucci and released in 2017. Both graphic novel and movie are pseudo-historical dark comedies that trace the power struggle in the Kremlin in the wake of Joseph Stalin’s death.

Evilblacksheep said: I recommend also Sweet Tooth, Locke & Key and The Umbrella Academy for those who haven't read them yet.

I’ve tried twice to get through Joe Hill’s Locke & Key series, and both times I got bogged down about two volumes in. Maybe third time is the charm.

My favorite comic read last year was Derf Backderf’s excellent account of the 1970 Kent State shootings, Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio (2020). However, since that read was itself a re-read, I kinda felt that yet another re-read coming so soon on heels of the last wasn’t going to repay the effort.

I’m opting instead to pick up something based on someone else’s recommendation. Paul Goracke has thoughtfully made available on the IRCB Discord channel a link to his personal best of 2022. From that list I am picking Incredible Doom: Volume 2 . I read (and liked) the first volume back in early 2022.

Paul said: For my pick, I’m trying to not fall back to artists I’m already a fan of, and stretch a bit. Think I’m going with Your Black Friend and Other Strangers.

I followed your recommendation, Paul, and was not disappointed. I sometimes found Passmore’s didacticism grating, and some of the later selections seemed so narrowly focused that I found them inaccessible, but on the whole this was a very worthwhile and thought-provoking collection.

Unfortuantely, I seem not to have appreciated this selection as much as others. Pleasant, but not particlarly engaging. I probably will not continue with the series. (view spoiler)[The premise: As the result of some very hazily-described accident at a nuclear power plant, Montreal has been subjected to a nuclear winter. The basic feel of the plot is reminescent of those books/films that recount life on the home front during the time of war. Great external forces have radically altered the status quo, but yet life goes on, and people struggle with many of the same problems they have always struggled with — crappy jobs, problematic personal relationships, etc., etc. That’s a fine basis for a book, but it only works if the author can fashion an interesting narrative with interesting characters, and I personally never grew to understand or care about Flavie over the course of this first volume. My other criticism (maybe more of a quibble): It’s no doubt churlish to expect scientific accuracy in this kind of a book, but the ideas presented here on topics ranging from meteorology to mutation are nonsensical.

✭✭½
(hide spoiler)]

Okay to air.

Paul said: I recommend Trashed as a break from the unsettling some of his books can be.

I would second this recommendation.