Monday, November 12, 2007

Amy Reads the Week (of November 11th, 2007)

Apologies for the lateness of this column, Gentle Reader, as the Internet Reads was down yesterday evening.

I feel like I have spent much of my past four months apologizing for the General Hecticness of My Life, and Gentle Reader, I have owed you the Lion’s Share of those apologies. Yes, You, the Gen Pop of a Comic Book Collective of Fans. You, my Friends, who listen, willingly, patiently, intelligently, to my babblings about Television, or Comic Books, or Novels. You, my Friends, who send care packages and discs of television series (gratitude, Mr. Fanboy), comics and necklaces (gratitude, Rachel), who listen, cyber-wise, in-real-life-wise (gratitude, Friends Reads). This I am so thankful for.

And yet I persist in General Malaise, Malingering, Busy-work, any number of things that keep me from filling the days of Arrogant Self-Reliance's Constant Readers with High Prose of the Popular Culture Variety. For this, I apologize, slightly teasingly, but in most sincerity.

Slightly teasing, of course, Friends, but I am teasing myself for my persistence in the busy-ness of my life. And to prove this, I glanced recently through my ever-increasingly-tall stack of Unread Comics and bemoaned to Mr. Reads that I would never, ever catch up. I am barely afloat in DC comics, enough to understand Wally’s frustration when Bruce chastises him on Child Safety. I am so far behind in the Marvel Universe that I still don’t know why Elektra was a Skrull. As for Dark Horse, I manage to keep abreast of Buffy, but my plan to begin reading BPRD has fallen to the wayside. Add in Vertigo and Image and Wildstorm, and you have one Very Grumpy, one Very Frustrated Ms. Reads.

That is not to say that I have not been reading, or viewing, or working through other comics, or books, or television series. I have. But Thanksgiving holiday looms near, and with it, I plan to finish—yes, Friends, finally!—that pesky dissertation chapter that has haunted me for so long, and I plan to sit and read several months’ worth of comics.

Many of you have recommended new series to me (Shelly, if I recall correctly, recommends Criminal), or old favorites (Matthew ever recommends Legion), or urge new characters into the fold (Sally, Ragnell, and Kalinara and the Green Lantern Love). Mr. Reads is pushing me towards back issues of JSA, Teen Titans, and the recently-read Watchmen.

So I ask you, Gentle Reader, to help me choose the material for my Thanksgiving Reading Extravaganza. I plan to catch up on current pull lists, but I also plan to work through old issues of one of the following:

Justice Society of America
Several Elseworlds series in the backlog
Ms. Marvel
Teen Titans

If we take it to a vote, which would you recommend for my upcoming reading marathon? Reviews promised, of course!

8 comments:

SallyP said...

Have you tried the new Blue Beetle book? I adore Ted Kord, but Jaime Reyes is rather on the charming side, and his supporting cast is superb. Plus it's funny.

I also recommend the new Booster Gold book for roughly the same reason. Watching Sinestro actually twirl his mustache was the highlight of my day.

Unknown said...

I second Blue Beetle.

But from your list, I would like to hear aboutthe Elseworlds, because I don't know mch about them and would like to learn aboutthem through your viewpoint.

Eric Kimberly said...

That's funny you should mention JSA, I just decided to drop that comic this week. I highly recommend Criminal, Ed Brubakers masterpiece. It is one of my favorites if not my favorite current ongoing series. Seeing as how you read Daredevil, the other Brubaker comic Iron Fist is also quite good.

Amy Reads said...

Hi Sally,
Have you tried the new Blue Beetle book? I adore Ted Kord, but Jaime Reyes is rather on the charming side, and his supporting cast is superb. Plus it's funny.

I haven't, actually, but I remember that Loren Javier quite enjoyed it, too. I will definitely give it a look!

I also recommend the new Booster Gold book for roughly the same reason. Watching Sinestro actually twirl his mustache was the highlight of my day.

I am reading Booster, and I do think it's just about the best thing in DC today. Wonderful stuff!
Ciao,
Amy

Amy Reads said...

Hi Blake,
I second Blue Beetle.

It seems to be the consensus, sort of the same when everyone kept insisting that I read Manhunter. I finally (!!) listened then, so I should now, no?

But from your list, I would like to hear aboutthe Elseworlds, because I don't know mch about them and would like to learn aboutthem through your viewpoint.

Thanks for considering my viewpoint something to read! I Very Much Appreciate the compliment. I adored Gotham by Gaslight, so I believe that the Elseworlds should be considered more in depth.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Ciao,
Amy

Amy Reads said...

Hi Eric,
That's funny you should mention JSA, I just decided to drop that comic this week.

Why, if you don't mind me asking?

I highly recommend Criminal, Ed Brubakers masterpiece. It is one of my favorites if not my favorite current ongoing series.

Mr. Reads does, as well. I think I need to give in and read it, no?

Seeing as how you read Daredevil, the other Brubaker comic Iron Fist is also quite good.

Thanks for the recommendation! I adore Brubaker, and I think Iron Fist to be Quite the Fascinating Character. I've very much enjoyed him in New Avengers. Do you read it?
Ciao,
Amy

Eric Kimberly said...

Hi happy to help.

I dropped JSA because it was a super hero comic. Although an above average super hero comic, it was a still a super hero comic. JSA doesn't cut it when compared to the gems of the genre such as All-Star Superman and Astonishing X-Men.

I see that All-Star Superman isn't on your pull list. I highly recommend it reading it if you haven't already. It just an amazing comic month in and month out.

Lastly, I do not read New Avengers. NA is with Skrulls right, not really sure if I'd be into it.

Amy Reads said...

Hi Eric,
Hi happy to help.
I dropped JSA because it was a super hero comic. Although an above average super hero comic, it was a still a super hero comic. JSA doesn't cut it when compared to the gems of the genre such as All-Star Superman and Astonishing X-Men.


Two titles I adore myself, actually!

I see that All-Star Superman isn't on your pull list. I highly recommend it reading it if you haven't already. It just an amazing comic month in and month out.

Mr. Reads and I collect it in graphic novel form, so I do read it, just not serially. It is quite lovely. The scene with Superman and Jonathan broke my heart into a million pieces.

Lastly, I do not read New Avengers. NA is with Skrulls right, not really sure if I'd be into it.

I find it utterly fascinating, and the art has been superb recently. Very dirty and gritty. Very interesting. But if you're looking Avengers, I'd recommend The Ultimates more.
Ciao,
Amy