Summer reading
So in the beginning of summer I bought this pile of comic book trades (18 of them), and I've been reading my way through them and almost finished actually. There's three I bought mostly because I wanted to own the whole Superman death and return arc butdidn't feel like re-reading so close to having read it for the first time. Anyway, at the time of writing this I have finished reading ten of them so I'm gonna talk about them.
The finished pile:
New 52
Gotham Academy
I love this! I love this! I love this! It's about bunch of kids at a school in Gotham, and it has mysteries! It's a book with a female protagonist. It's so charming, and lovely and there's mysteries, did I mention that already? Batman skulks around occasionally, but there's not a lot of him. It's a book about Gotham without Batman. I am doing such a bad job of writing about it. It's just, it's ¨got depth and emotion without going into too much of angst, while still having drama and feels! All the feels. It's so good. I recommend everyone read this.
Batgirl of Burnside
Okay, so here's the thing. I can't read Simone's run on N52 Batgirl. I'm not even going to try. 1. I connect her writing far too much to Oracle for me to be able to read a new 52 Barbara Gordon. It wouldn't work for me. 2. I've heard that there were a shit ton of editorial mandates, and that she wasn't ever allowed to have any fun, it was just all angst and horrible stuff happening. Which, I just didn't want. 3. I saw enough of the next team's run to figure out that there was going to be a big creatie difference that I figured it would just clash for me. And I liked the pretty, bright and colorful art from this run instead, plus I could jump on it right away with the first volume.
Here's another thing. I love Oracle, Oracle is awesome and amazing and Barbara preboot is an amazing character and complex and fascinating and great in all ways... I think it's a shame that all of that is gone. At the same time I am enjoying this as well. I am entertained, it's fun, comics should be fun. Also, they are introducing a new POC Oracle. And the creatie team actually listen tovalid criticism and try to better themselves. I just, I really enjoyed the first volume and I will continue to read it.
I've already talked about Justice League 3000 before the summer and I have no new thoughts about it after reading the trades. Well, okay, I'm a bit disappointed that they only collect the first 13 issues because that leaves out the two last issues before Convergence.
Pre-reboot
Batman and Superman vs. Vampires and Werewolves
I bught this simply because WEREWOLVES. It wasn't really what I expected, but still, it was sort of enjoyable and entertaining. Not the mot memorable, but I don't regret reading it. Not enough scenes of Batman and Superman together though.
Superman: Birthright
This is a preboot origin story and it is so good. It has lots of Clark, and there's Superman. And there's an awesome Lois Lane. Lex Luthor is Lex Luthor. I really, really enjoyed it. This is the Superman I want to read. This is the Lois Lane I want. Such an enjoyable read. I don't care that it's not in continuity anymore, read it anyway because it is great.
I really want more of Waid's take on Superman.
Nightwing
The 90's Nightwing run is being released in trade paperbacks now. The first two volumes are out and are the ones I got Together they collect a four issue mini before the ongoing, and then issues #1-18 of the ongoing plus the first annual.
I read this whle run years ago the first time I tried reading comic books, but I don't remember much of it. Well, I remember the art being better... But maybe that was just because I was still new to it? Or was I comparing it to something even worse? IDK. Or maybe the art improved later? Whatever. I am being reminded that I love, love, love Dick Grayson and I think that's the important thing here.
The first of the volumes has a guest appearance from Tim, and it's still early days in their relationship. But BROTHERS! Them being brothers is so important to me. I love their relationship.
Also, Bruce shows up, and Dick andBrucce's relationship. Oh, it's glorious too. I just...I really love the dynamic between all three of them during the 90's, Bruce, Dick and Tim. It's an interesting period of time for them.
Oh, and I like that Dick is based in Blüdhaven, and that it's being built up, so that we have mostly brand new characters being introduced. Yes, there's Blockbuster who isn't a new character, but the most of the rest are brand new, with some guest apperances by Deathstroke and Lady Vic among others.
With the exception of the art, I'm really glad to be reading these again. I hope the 90's Robin series will start being released in trades as well because I will need it too! Tiny, dorky Tim! <3
Don't have to talk about Secret Six again (It's awesome. Read it).
What I have left now is The Green Lantern Omnibus, I have started to work my way through it, its only the Sinestro Corps War portion left now. Also three volumes of the new 52 Green Lantern Corps, as well as Saga. Might not finish all of it before the summer is over. Also I really shouldn't have read Nightwing before I finished the omnibus, because now I have to read Saga before reboot GLC because I need some sort of buffer of completely different between the lantern stuff.
The finished pile:
New 52
Gotham Academy
I love this! I love this! I love this! It's about bunch of kids at a school in Gotham, and it has mysteries! It's a book with a female protagonist. It's so charming, and lovely and there's mysteries, did I mention that already? Batman skulks around occasionally, but there's not a lot of him. It's a book about Gotham without Batman. I am doing such a bad job of writing about it. It's just, it's ¨got depth and emotion without going into too much of angst, while still having drama and feels! All the feels. It's so good. I recommend everyone read this.
Batgirl of Burnside
Okay, so here's the thing. I can't read Simone's run on N52 Batgirl. I'm not even going to try. 1. I connect her writing far too much to Oracle for me to be able to read a new 52 Barbara Gordon. It wouldn't work for me. 2. I've heard that there were a shit ton of editorial mandates, and that she wasn't ever allowed to have any fun, it was just all angst and horrible stuff happening. Which, I just didn't want. 3. I saw enough of the next team's run to figure out that there was going to be a big creatie difference that I figured it would just clash for me. And I liked the pretty, bright and colorful art from this run instead, plus I could jump on it right away with the first volume.
Here's another thing. I love Oracle, Oracle is awesome and amazing and Barbara preboot is an amazing character and complex and fascinating and great in all ways... I think it's a shame that all of that is gone. At the same time I am enjoying this as well. I am entertained, it's fun, comics should be fun. Also, they are introducing a new POC Oracle. And the creatie team actually listen tovalid criticism and try to better themselves. I just, I really enjoyed the first volume and I will continue to read it.
I've already talked about Justice League 3000 before the summer and I have no new thoughts about it after reading the trades. Well, okay, I'm a bit disappointed that they only collect the first 13 issues because that leaves out the two last issues before Convergence.
Pre-reboot
Batman and Superman vs. Vampires and Werewolves
I bught this simply because WEREWOLVES. It wasn't really what I expected, but still, it was sort of enjoyable and entertaining. Not the mot memorable, but I don't regret reading it. Not enough scenes of Batman and Superman together though.
Superman: Birthright
This is a preboot origin story and it is so good. It has lots of Clark, and there's Superman. And there's an awesome Lois Lane. Lex Luthor is Lex Luthor. I really, really enjoyed it. This is the Superman I want to read. This is the Lois Lane I want. Such an enjoyable read. I don't care that it's not in continuity anymore, read it anyway because it is great.
I really want more of Waid's take on Superman.
Nightwing
The 90's Nightwing run is being released in trade paperbacks now. The first two volumes are out and are the ones I got Together they collect a four issue mini before the ongoing, and then issues #1-18 of the ongoing plus the first annual.
I read this whle run years ago the first time I tried reading comic books, but I don't remember much of it. Well, I remember the art being better... But maybe that was just because I was still new to it? Or was I comparing it to something even worse? IDK. Or maybe the art improved later? Whatever. I am being reminded that I love, love, love Dick Grayson and I think that's the important thing here.
The first of the volumes has a guest appearance from Tim, and it's still early days in their relationship. But BROTHERS! Them being brothers is so important to me. I love their relationship.
Also, Bruce shows up, and Dick andBrucce's relationship. Oh, it's glorious too. I just...I really love the dynamic between all three of them during the 90's, Bruce, Dick and Tim. It's an interesting period of time for them.
Oh, and I like that Dick is based in Blüdhaven, and that it's being built up, so that we have mostly brand new characters being introduced. Yes, there's Blockbuster who isn't a new character, but the most of the rest are brand new, with some guest apperances by Deathstroke and Lady Vic among others.
With the exception of the art, I'm really glad to be reading these again. I hope the 90's Robin series will start being released in trades as well because I will need it too! Tiny, dorky Tim! <3
Don't have to talk about Secret Six again (It's awesome. Read it).
What I have left now is The Green Lantern Omnibus, I have started to work my way through it, its only the Sinestro Corps War portion left now. Also three volumes of the new 52 Green Lantern Corps, as well as Saga. Might not finish all of it before the summer is over. Also I really shouldn't have read Nightwing before I finished the omnibus, because now I have to read Saga before reboot GLC because I need some sort of buffer of completely different between the lantern stuff.