Superheroes and Comic Book Club discussion

When coming up with books of the month, I've really been shooting from the hip, mainly trying to keep a diversity of books going from the Types of Books We'll Be Reading thread.

I've made an attempt to do what other book clubs do - pick a genre and allow nominations. But please let me know if you have any other ideas for how to select books of the month this year.

Natalie wrote: "Maybe we need a thread for listing upcoming books? To help people look at potential books they might not know about? Here are three prose books by Marvel listed for release in 2014..."

Cool! All adaptations - I'll add them to the "adaptation" list. Thanks, Natalie!

I did not know about these. I am sure I will try them even if I felt The Avengers Breakout novel was flat for me.

Michael wrote: "I just found a possible read for us. I don't know if it has been read of not. I love Batman so I will be reading whether we read it as a group read of not.

..."

Natalie wrote: "Wayne of Gotham has been on my to read list since it came out. I've just been waiting to get a good deal before I buy it."

That looks like a fantastic read - and it's written by Tracy Hickman (co-author of the Dragonlance series, which I loved).

I would definitely read Wayne of Gotham. I might suggest the first Wild Cards book edited by George R.R Martin. Love this series.

I am trying to learn how this club operates, so pardon if I am a little off subject. I think the action-adventure genre is something most of us could relate. A particular story arc I am interested in is the Anti Venom in the white suit.

Natalie wrote: " will be released on GraphicAudio on Jan 27, 2014.

http://www.graphicaudio.net/upcoming-...

[bookcover:It's Sup..."

I've seen these, and have been tempted to buy them - even with non-superhero books, but these look amazing! I just wish I could find a lending library, so I wouldn't have to spend $20 a pop! But Wayne of Gotham is only $15 for the CDs, so I might be tempted to do that to see how they are.

Ran wrote: "I am trying to learn how this club operates, so pardon if I am a little off subject. I think the action-adventure genre is something most of us could relate. A particular story arc I am interested ..."

I just Googled that, Ran - it looks like an interesting story! But while we talk about the comics themselves, we mostly concentrate on reading novels and non-fiction.

And welcome to the group!

That ducks about you library Natalie. If I can lend anyone a book in this group let me know.

Natalie wrote: "Steven wrote: "That ducks about you library Natalie. If I can lend anyone a book in this group let me know."
;-) Are you a telepath? I actually decided last night that I would make a shelf on g..."

If I want to borrow them, I will just snatch your Kindle. *Insert evil laughter here*

Cool and I meant to say sucks in my original post duh.

I thought it was going to be worse, so sucks is not bad.

Natalie wrote: "On the subject of upcomming releases this book is about to have it's audible release on 01-14-14


We voted on the first book of this series in June, but it got voted down as book of the month. I'd still be interested in reading it, though!

Natalie wrote: "I also saw this on audible and I'm interested in it:

Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots (Velveteen vs., #1)"

This one looks really interesting! Weird and different. I don't think we've really read a YA title, yet.

Michael wrote: "I was at B&N today and saw another possibility for us to read:



i thumbed through it and skimmed the first chapter and it looked pretty good."

This was our first book in January '13! It was pretty interesting. We discussed it here and here.

But feel free to add to these discussions if you want.

So...

We've had a lot of great suggestions for books here, but I haven't heard much on what you all think about ways to choose a book.

Any thoughts? We need to start talking about February (so that we have time to vote).

Should we just start a thread of book nominations? Should we vote on a type of book first (non-fiction, fiction about comic superheroes, fiction about non-comic superheroes, etc.)?

Or is there a better way?

Natalie wrote: "I didn't quite get this out, but my thought was that if you decide on a list of categories you could either assign them to the months of the year or vote on them each month?

The only issue with voting is that you could find that the same people are voting for only one type of book every month; so if the group wants a good rotation then once a category is used it should probably be disallowed for at least a couple of months."

I like the idea of assigning months throughout the year to get a good rotation!

Maybe I'll put out a poll on assigning the categories versus voting on the categories to see if everyone likes that idea.

Sometimes I feel these leading publishers stories will be invincible, so when I see people say how much they suck, it's a wake up call.

Michael wrote: "Jim wrote: "This was our first book in January '13! It was pretty interesting."

So sorry. I looked through the bookshelf and did not see it. Didn't even think through the discussion threads."

No worries! I probably need to make a central place to list books we've read to make them easier to see.

Natalie wrote: "Some other categories might be something like..."

What about this list?

Jan: Book written by club member
Feb: Nonfiction [with superhero tie in]
Mar: Superhero Fiction [Established DC Character]
Apr: Kindle Freebie
May: Fiction [With Comic Fandom Tie In]
Jun: Short Stories (anything superhero or comic-related)
Jul: Humor (anything superhero or comic-related)
Aug: Superhero Fiction [Original Characters]
Sep: Nonfiction [with comic book tie In]
Oct: Young Adult Superhero Fiction (or children's book)
Nov: Superhero Fiction [Established Marvel Character]
Dec: Independent Author or Self Published Work

The ones with Marvel or DC characters could be new stories or comic book adaptations.

Are there other areas that I missed that should be included? Did I include enough nonfiction (only 2 months)?

If everyone seems good with this, we'll go with this and have a good starting point.

Great idea, Natalie!

Natalie wrote: "On the subject of upcomming releases this book is about to have it's audible release on 01-14-14


It says it's book four in the series. Has anyone read this serie..."

I have the first three books in the series Natalie; I love them! I was not sure when I read about the concept (superheroes/zombies) but Clines is a very gifted writer. His action scenes are done so well and his characters grow on you. I cannot wait for the 4th book in the series and own all the paperbacks and when Ex-Purgatory comes out in paperback I will be there.

Steven wrote: "Natalie wrote: "On the subject of upcomming releases this book is about to have it's audible release on 01-14-14


It says it's book four in the series. Has anyone..."

I also really love this series! The fourth book just downloaded to my kindle yesterday, so I can't wait to get started on it!

I think we're going to go with this for 2014! I've set up nominations for February.

Jan: Book written by club member
Feb: Nonfiction [with superhero tie in]
Mar: Superhero Fiction [Established DC Character]
Apr: Kindle Freebie
May: Fiction [With Comic Fandom Tie In]
Jun: Short Stories (anything superhero or comic-related)
Jul: Humor (anything superhero or comic-related)
Aug: Superhero Fiction [Original Characters]
Sep: Nonfiction [with comic book tie In]
Oct: Young Adult Superhero Fiction (or children's book)
Nov: Superhero Fiction [Established Marvel Character]
Dec: Independent Author or Self Published Work

Steven wrote: "... have the first three books in the series Natalie; I love them! I was not sure when I read about the concept (superheroes/zombies)..."

Superheroes and zombies... Yeah. I'm going to have to check this one out. If you don't have it yet, get it, Natalie.

Natalie wrote: "While I perusing the pre-order books on Amazon I ran up on these:

I think it might be a young adult novel. It came out in January of this year.

[bookcover:Minio..."

I can't to read Wonder Woman Unbound sounds great!

Natalie wrote: "Still finding books coming out, this title is from Harper Voyager Impulse, which I believe is a digital e-book only imprint:

Superheroes Anonymous by Lexie Dunne

Publication Date: November 18, 20..."

Hmm, that sounds like an interesting choice Natalie. Might have to check it out though I am not really into e-books.