I Read Comic Books discussion

What are you reading this month? Got a new manga series you're diving into? A new #1 comic that simply blew your mind? How about an OGN that took your breath away?

And don't forget to checkout what the IRCB folks are reading every week on our public Top of My Pile posts!

This month’s principal plan is to devour Saga vol 7, 8 & 9.
There is lot to enjoy about the art and the storytelljng technique that makes you linger on the panels for very long time!

Currently enjoying Mike Grell’s “Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters”! The emerald archer’s stories have always intrigued me.

Rest of the compelling jewels on the plate are: Inside Moebius part 3, Daniel Clowes’s “Patience” and Jillian Tamaki’s “Boundless”.

It is going to be a very exciting month!

Stumptown, Vol. 1: The Case of the Girl Who Took Her Shampoo - Comic Book Club!

Naomi: Season One - wow this was really good

Anurag, enjoy catching up on Saga!

I made it through Plate Tectonics: An Illustrated Memoir for the 2020 challenge. Lovely art but presents challenges when the author keeps major details private. My full review is on the book page.

Looking forward to starting Black Bolt, it's been on my list for a while, and I'm also loving rereading Atomic Robo in the new collected edition that's been sitting on my shelf; thank you Chad for inspiring that!

Lenny wrote: "...I'm also loving rereading Atomic Robo in the new collected edition that's been sitting on my shelf; thank you Chad for inspiring that!"

Yay for the Atomic Robo love! It's so much damn fun.

My reading week:

-Dorohedoro, vols. 5 & 6
-Hajime no Ippo, vol. 76
-Joker: Killer Smile #3
-Monster (omnibus), vol. 5 - 7
-Oblivion Song #24
-Undiscovered Country #4
-Star Wars: Darth Vader, vols. 3 & 4
-Star Wars: Darth Vader: Dark Visions
-Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Dark Temple

Anurag- I have the same exact goal to finish V 7-9 of Saga! Afterward, I will join everyone eagerly waiting for the next volume to drop!

A couple things I've been enjoying:

Mr. Higgins Comes Home and Our Encounters with Evil: Adventures of Professor J.T. Meinhardt and His Assistant Mr. Knox are both lots of fun, with my preference going to the second volume, where artist Warwick Johnson Cadwell takes the writing reins from Mike Mignola and crafts some seriously fun, silly, and spooky tales.

Three issues in on Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy and teally enjoying it, super clean and propulsive storytelling. Connected to Jeff Lemire's Black Hammer universe but I haven't read that and had no problems just dropping right into this story.

François wrote: "A couple things I've been enjoying:..."

I'm so excited for the Skulldigger trade. I haven't read any singles but I'll snap up just about anything Black Hammer related - glad to hear it's good!

Strange Adventure #1 comes out today and I cannot wait to pick it up.

So this was a fantastic Wednesday for me:

Picked up King of Nowhere #1 and am so obsessed - the art is pure heaven for me.

Spider-Man Noir #1 was tons of fun and a fabulous departure from previous Spider-Man Noir books (which I maintain are awful and I cannot be swayed from this opinion).

Marvel #1 was also really cool - I love the idea of this micro-anthology series and I adored the Spider-Man story in it (though the Hulk one was a little eh for me).

And also picked up (and immediately devoured) Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1 and will be counting down the days until Volume 2.

Chad wrote: "Lenny wrote: "...I'm also loving rereading Atomic Robo in the new collected edition that's been sitting on my shelf; thank you Chad for inspiring that!"

Yay for the Atomic Robo love! It's so much ..."

I just picked up 2 volumes of Real Science Adventures. I'm looking forward to it. I think I'm all the way up to date on Robo but haven't ever tried Real Science.

I just spent too much money on the Comixology Image flash sale and I'm looking forward to getting caught up on some of the latest volumes of Gideon Falls, Rat Queens, Pretty Deadly, Manifest Destiny, and some others I just added to my already way too long TBR list.

Adam wrote: "Strange Adventure #1 comes out today and I cannot wait to pick it up."

Thanks for the reminder. Just got back from the LCS with my copy ( and a half-dozen other books.)

Kyle wrote: I just picked up 2 volumes of Real Science Adventures. I'm looking forward to it. I think I'm all the way up to date on Robo but haven't ever tried Real Science.

I personally liked the main series better but that might have just been me at the time.

I've finished Black Bolt and might pause Robo so that I can get to our BOTM, Batgirl and the Birds of Prey, Volume 1: Who Is Oracle?!

Forthencho Pacino wrote: "I'm making a list of game lore comics. Till now, I have Halo, Prototype, Life is Strange, Dead Space....
I have a LOT of game lore. I need to sort out the comics from the non-comics.
Any more sugge..."

Assassin's Creed, Legend of Zelda, and Mass Effect are a few more.

Forthencho Pacino wrote: "I'm making a list of game lore comics. Till now, I have Halo, Prototype, Life is Strange, Dead Space....
I have a LOT of game lore. I need to sort out the comics from the non-comics.
Any more sugge..."

Call of Duty

Forthencho Pacino wrote: "Hold on a minute.
COD and AC have comics??"

Yep dark horse has put out both cod and cod zombies series. I think titan publishes AC.

My reading week:
-Archie #711
-Archie 1955 #1-5
-Birthright #42
-Buffy #12 & 13
-Buffy: Hellmouth #5
-Fire Punch, vols. 1-8 - very philosophical, excellently graphic
-Ikigami, vols. 1 & 2 - love this concept. An employee gets 2 cases per book and we get to see the person's last day alive
-Lucy Claire #1-3 - really enjoyed this one, art is gorgeous
-Mercy #1
-Monster (omnibus), vols. 8 & 9 - hands down a top 10 fav
-Redneck #26
-Sex Criminals #27
-Star Wars: Becket #1
-Star Wars: Lando Double or Nothing, vol. 1 - so sick of this repetitive plot, might quit my Star Wars run
-Vampironica: New Blood #3

Catching up on Valiant Comics, with the « Valiant Next » 2015 soft relaunch. Some Matt Kindt and Jeff Lemire goodness.

The Valiant : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Bloodshot Reborn Vol. 1 : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sat down and read Mooncakes today which was cute and witchy.

Also decided to dig into Hickman’s new book: Decorum #1 which had some incredible art by Mike Huddleston. The comic is wild and very Hickman-future and I can’t get enough of that.

Right now, I’m sitting down to read The Way of the Househusband vol. 1. Two chapters in and it’s hilarious.

Great! I finished Chapter 203 the other night. I’m hoping to get through another 50 chapters (or more) this weekend!

A Walk Through Hell : The Complete Series. Pure Garth Ennis. Pure genius.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A Walk Through Hell : The Complete Series. Pure Garth Ennis. Pure genius.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Bog Bodies by Declan Shavey. An Irish noir crime graphic novel.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Xavier wrote: "A Walk Through Hell : The Complete Series. Pure Garth Ennis. Pure genius.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I couldn't get that one to download from Edelweiss. It always crashed Adobe Digital Editions. Any suggestions?

I read Batgirl and the Birds of Prey and the third volume of The Unbelievable Gwenpool, and they were both severely disappointing. Looking for something new and good, and our libraries just closed due to the pandemic. :[ So I'm hunting around for something on ComiXology Unlimited. Maybe I'll start Warren Ellis' Trees.

Xavier wrote: "Bog Bodies by Declan Shavey. An Irish noir crime graphic novel.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Oh snap. Is this out?

Once & Future vol. 1 by Kieron Gillen. What if Buffy had eliminated all vampires and, later, voluntarily entered a retirement home, before having to face a new menace with her grandson ? Another great story from a great author.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Something is killing the Children Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV. Fantastic start to a great horror series.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Xavier wrote: "Something is killing the Children Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV. Fantastic start to a great horror series. "

I loved this one - I can't wait for Volume 2!

Raï (2019) vol. 1 from Valiant. A meh soft reboot of the series.

It’s not a title in the bold new direction Valiant took from 2014-2015. It’s old school Valiant, even remindful of comics from the nineties. If is your thing, go for it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Xavier wrote: "Raï (2019) vol. 1 from Valiant. A meh soft reboot of the series.

It’s not a title in the bold new direction Valiant took from 2014-2015. It’s old school Valiant, even remindful of comics from the ..."

Valiant has been kind of meh since DMG took over. They used to be my favorite publisher.

Currently working my way through Mike Mignola's Baltimore series. . . it's amazing!

My recent readings:

Black Science Vol. 1&2
Concrete Park Vol. 1
Black Widow (2014-2015) 1-20

Currently i started Ghost Rider (2019-) series, and continue Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson.

I read 300: not impressed.
And Three: impressed.

Spartans were assholes.

I can't find any "30" that I want to read to complete the theme.

My reading week(s):
-Archie #712
-Dorohedoro, vol. 7
-Gon, vols. 1 - 7
-Ikigami, vols. 3 - 10
-Undiscovered Country #5

Ed wrote: "I read 300: not impressed.
And Three: impressed.

Spartans were assholes.

I can't find any "30" that I want to read to complete the theme."

30 days of night?

Mike wrote: "30 days of night?"

I've considered 30 Days of Night. The story doesn't sound interesting to me, but I generally like Templesmith's art.

If I want to continue in the other direction, there is always Mystery Science Theater 3000.

R.I.P. Albert Uderzo.

(Not covid related.)

Ed wrote: "R.I.P. Albert Uderzo.

(Not covid related.)"

R.I.P

Decided to split some time between chapters of One Piece with chapters of Haikyuu!! I stopped reading this in 2018 for no reason around volume 14, and I am KICKING myself for it. This series is so good!!!

Also, read the latest chapter of Dragon Ball Super... It's good.

This past weekend, I read the final issue of Black Stars Above. Creepy. Unsettling. Very good.

All the books I read while on the beach in Mexico.

Oz: Heart of Magic★★
Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Vol. 2: Bring on the Bad Guys★★★
Doctor Mirage★★★
Doctor Strange, Vol. 3: Herald★★
Misfit City Vol. 1★★★★
Misfit City Vol. 2★★★
Tyler Cross: Black Rock★★★
Tyler Cross: Angola★★★
Immortal Hulk, Volume 5: Breaker of Worlds★★★★
Xena: Warrior Princess: Road Warrior★★★
Spider-Man/Deadpool, Vol. 9: Eventpool★★★★
Captain America: Evolutions of a Living Legend★★★
Marvel Monograph: The Art of Humberto Ramos - Spider-Man★★★
The Art of War of the Realms★★★★
Aliens Vs Parker★★
Cheshire Crossing★★★★
Smedley★★★★
Berserker Unbound Volume 1★★★
The Family Trade, Vol. 1★★
Manor Black★★★
Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 2: Otto-Matic★★★★
Stumptown, Vol. 4: The Case of a Cup of Joe★★★★
Defenders: The Best Defense★★
Swamp Thing: Tales from the Bayou★★★★
Fax from Sarajevo★★★★★
Blackhawks: Blood & Iron★★★★
Justice League: Corporate Maneuvers★★★★
Gamayun Tales I★★★★
Angel: Blood and Trenches★★
Effigy, Vol. 1: Idle Worship★★
Roku★★
The Muse★★★★
A Love For The Ages★★★
Object Lesson★★
Star Wars, Vol. 12: Rebels and Rogues★★★
The Great Outdoors★
Arsenal FC★★
Back to Basics (Real life, #1)★★
Bagdad Inc.★★★★★
Desert Star - Volume 1 (L'Etoile du Désert)★★★★
Perfect Victims (Incognito, #1)★★
Agrippina and the ancestor★
Kinderland★★
Black Water Lilies★★★★★

And everything I've reviewed since I've been stuck at home due to COVID-19.

Blackout: Into the Dark★★
Blood Brothers★★★★★
Cut★★★★
Dark Matter: Rebirth★★★★
Champions, Volume 5: Weird War One★★★
Batman, Volume 11: The Fall and the Fallen★★★
Cell Block Earth and Other Stories★★★★★
Black Hammer '45★★
Broken World★★★
The Occultist Omnibus★★★★★
Mr. Higgins Comes Home★★★
Our Encounters with Evil: Adventures of Professor J.T. Meinhardt and His Assistant Mr. Knox★★★
Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam!: Family Affair★★★
Astro City, Vol. 9: Through Open Doors★★★★
Astro City, Vol. 10: Victory★★★★
Astro City, Vol. 11: Private Lives★★★
Invincible Universe, Volume 1: On Deadly Ground★★★★
Science Dog★★★★
Stone Star Season One (comiXology Originals)★★★
Planet of the Apes, Vol. 1: The Long War★★★★
Wyrd★★
Afterlift (comiXology Originals)★★★
Starcraft: Survivors★★★★
The Flash by Mark Waid: Book Six★★★
Ask For Mercy Season One: The Key To Forever (comiXology Originals)★★★
The Nixie of the Mill-Pond and Other European Stories★★★★
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Volume 2: Hostile Takeovers★★★★★
Vampironica, Vol. 1★★★★
Camp Spirit★★★
Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime★★★★

To add to the above pile, finished this over lunch.

Knights Temporal★★

Wow, Chad. That's a lot!

Many of you have probably heard already that Diamond Comics is stopping deliveries due to the you-know-what. That is really going to hurt comic stores.

My local store was already planning to move to a smaller location due to increasing rent and decreasing sales. They were going to have a big sale in March and move in April. But like many other stores, they had to shut down temporarily. I don't know whether they will recover.

Ed wrote: "My local store was already planning to move to a smaller location due to increasing rent and decreasing sales. They were going to have a big sale in March and move in April. But like many other stores, they had to shut down temporarily. I don't know whether they will recover."

My local store is shipping the regulars this week's comics today. After today, no more new comics until Diamond and the printers reopen. According to my LCS, when Diamond starts shipping again, it will be with the comics that were supposed to come out next week. Basically, everything will just be in pause until things reopen. I haven't heard if new books are still going to be released digitally in the interim. I really hope not so as not to drive away business from physical comic book stores.

My LCS will be "open" for online sales and home shipping. I plan to keep buying other comics that have already been released that aren't on my pull and graphic novels from the LCS to keep them going. I'll probably buy some gift cards as well. Whatever I can do to help them stay afloat, I plan on doing. If you don't support your LCS, they will soon no longer exist.

This applies to other local businesses as well. We've stopped buying food from any chains, shifting our business to local restaurants and butchers. Local businesses are the ones offering to feed food insecure children for free, not chains. It's in our best interests to support local businesses, the same way they support our communities. In a time where we are physically required to maintain our distance from one another, it's time for us to tighten the bonds in our communities.

Well done Chad!

My LCS also closed up for a couple weeks. I splurged on some trades beforehand to stockpile for my own quarantine reading, and also to help support my shop in the interim. (I'll probably do the same when they reopen, since I don't read individual issues that's how I can best help support.) They are wonderful people and even put up a Kickstarter for staff that aren't making other income.

So after I finish the first Atomic Robo omnibus (hopefully tonight), I'll start the second one, along with Gene Luen Yang's new graphic novel Dragon Hoops, which I'm really excited for. A lot of fun things in the queue.

Fire Power by Kirkman & Samnee Volume 1: Prelude★★★★
Rai: Book 1★★★★★

Family Tree Vol. 1: Sapling★★★★★