X-O Manowar Vol. 1: By the Sword

This book is utterly awesome in every sense of the word.  Aric Dacia is a warrior trapped out of his own time with an alien weapon at his disposal.  So far Valiant Comics is two for two in what I have read.  I am eagerly looking forward to the next volume of this book if you are board with Marvel or DC Comics, Valiant is a great alternative.  The Vine is a formidable collective enemy for Aric to go up against.  I really like how condensed this book was like Archer & Armstrong any longer & it might have lost its momentum.  I hope Aric is able to find some connection with this present world that he has returned to.  

Archer & Armstrong Vol. 1: The Michelangelo Code

Valiant Comics is like a clean slate that hasn't been bogged down in history & convoluted storylines.  Now I know this is a comic company that has risen from the ashes of the their demise in the late 90s, but for me as a reader this is fresh & new.  I have been hearing great things about Valiant for years & I am just now getting around to reading some of the titles.  Archer & Armstrong is a title that's part Lethal Weapon meets Indiana Jones meets The Da Vinci Code, which they even make fun of.  I really like the fact that Valiant is doing short story-arcs in single volumes if it had been longer I am sure it would still have been enjoyable but at the same time it could slowed & become monotonous.  One things that suffers with this method though is characterization not of the main characters but of secondary or tertiary characters & even villains.  Overall this was a good opening arc but I can see how some people would be turned off by this especially those offended by The Da Vinci Code.

Aquaman Vol. 2: The Others

This second volume of Geoff Johns Aquaman is one of the shining stars of the New 52.  Johns has deepened the mythos that surrounds this laughable character in recent years.  I was glued to this title from the moment I flip open the cover.  This volume takes us back to Arthur's early years of crime fighting & what truly makes Black Manta such a dangerous adversary.  I like the team of The Others, I just wish they had more screen time than just this one volume.

Wolverine: Three Months to Die Vol. 2

This final volume of the sixth series of the Wolverine title is little lack luster in climax of this complete arc that was started back in the first volume of the previous series.  I do like the fact that James is a double agent playing a criminal organization, forsaking the X-Men & the Avengers all while undercover with S.H.I.E.L.D.  Touted as the final Wolverine story simply doesn't make sense when there is still the Death of Wolverine story to get through.  I really liked the annual story titled Wolf & Cub which showcases Wolverine & Jubilee camping in the wilderness this one issue is a better read than most of Paul Cornell's run in my opinion.  This annual perfectly characterizes Logan's relationship with Jubilee & is truly a work of art to see how it matured over the years through all they have been through.  Don't get me wrong I feel that Cornell hit some truly wonderful character moments in his four volumes that he has had on the character, but compared with the unevenness of his writing throughout the series his run is still below the bar set by either Jason Aaron or Mark Millar.  The one thing I really loved about Cornell's run is using Creed as this big kingpin of crime & his downfall is such a shame because is seems that Sabretooth is truely his own worst enemy.  It stays true the character but falls short of the growth that I wanted to see in him.  I now eagerly await the release of the Death of Wolverine.

Wolverine: Three Months to Die Vol. 1

Marvel decided to start the Wolverine title over for a sixth time just to do one thirteen chapter story-arc.  Personally I don't see the point, Paul Cornell is still writing the book which is getting better the more issues I read.  I like the fact that Logan is vulnerable it adds another layer to the character that is refreshing in a way.  One of the scenes in this book that is truly unbelievable & know matter how many times I read it, it still seems out of character is the confrontation between Logan & Kitty.  This is the first half of the Three Months to Die arc that leads directly into the Death of Wolverine.  This is a good start but the second half will tell if it is truly great.

Shazam!

The reintroduction of Captain Marvel, I mean Shazam to the DC Universe via the New 52.  Billy Batson is your typical teenage he's rude, obnoxious & just a plain brat.  Through it all though Billy has the right end in sight even if the means are less than desirable.  The art is fantastic it works really well for this updated version of such a classic character.  I'm not sure how I feel about DC changing the name of the character, sure it makes sense for Billy to be Shazam instead of Captain Marvel but what about the rest of the Marvels.  One thing this book does really well is establish from the get go that Black Adam is one seriously powerful BAMF.  DC spent a lot of time building him up in the Pre-New 52 Universe.  I look forward to see where this leads since this is a character I know practically nothing about.

Saga Vol. 4

For some reason this book seemed a little off compared to previous volumes, maybe it was the slight time jump or that it has just been so long since I last picked up Saga.  I really liked how Brian & Fiona have taken the main couple of the story & separated them for a brief time.  It brings out this real world aspect to the book that many stories about young couples with a baby seem to glaze over.  It is such a trying time & when there is only one bread winner it creates a lot of stress in that family unit especially when the roles are reversed.  The conflict on the robots home world I have to say is the biggest surprise of this volume for me because it throws such a monkey wrench into Landfalls plans & the plans of the robot royal family.  One of the things I would have liked to see more of is The Will & his band in this book but alas one chapter is all  we got.  Brian & Fiona have created a universe full of magic & wonder but it is easily becoming apparent that it is almost too big for this medium to handle.  I found myself wanting more of characters previously introduced like the reporters,  Lying Cat & The Brand; also is Stalk still alive?  They were able to get all of these characters in but how long will it be before a character won't show up for an entire volume?

Captain Atom Vol. 2: Genesis

The second volume of Captain Atom seems a little to ambitious for the writer J.T. Krul & artist Freddie Williams II to pull off.  In other hands this could have been a true masterpiece of puzzle making leading to the explanation of the disappearance of the Post-Crisis Universe.  With great power comes great consequences this is a lesson that Captain Atom struggles with this entire volume & for an instance he even sees himself become the villain.  Captain Atom like Dr. Manhattan of Watchmen fame is a man given godlike powers because of an accident but unlike Dr. Manhattan, Nathaniel doesn't embrace his disconnection with humanity.  Instead he tries to reclaim it with disastrous results.  This book has a lot of self loathing with very little redemption.  I feel that these two volumes were a nice reintroduction to this somewhat obscure DC character but it would have been nice if DC comics would give this character another push with a different creative team.

 

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Where do I begin, this is truly one of the great epic tales of the 20th century.  If you are a fan of the movies you should give this book a try, I understand that Tolkien's writing is not for everybody but if you can make it through his trilogy then you will have a much deeper understanding of the world & characters he has created.  One of the biggest differences between the book & the movie is the overall sense of time, the events in the book span decades.  One of the great things about The Lord of the Rings trilogy is that it has songs spread throughout the story which Tolkien has taken the time to flesh out completely for the readers enjoyment.  These are mostly skipped over in the movies.  One of Tolkien's most unique & baffling characters plays a rather important role in this first part of the The Lord of the Rings, Tom Bombadil.  This is a character that has no basis in the land of Middle Earth but at the same time embodies all of its aspects.  If it was not for Tom Bombadil the Hobbits wouldn't even have made it to Bree.  This first book ends slightly before the final events of the first movie.  To say more would only spoil the surprises that await new readers of this classic.  I feel that just with this first book Tolkien is writing this for himself or his children & the idea that anybody else will read it was just an afterthought.

 

WE3

Horrifying & beautiful at the same time, even if your not a fan of Grant Morrison this is one of his best works.  In just this three issue mini-series Morrison & Quietly pull out all the stops to give us a truly heart wrenching tale.  WE3 is Weapon X meets The Incredible Journey,  it is a story about humanity's inhumanity to nature.  Using animals as commodities to save human lives by sacrificing the animals in the name of science & the greater good.  What happens when one of the scientist has a bout of guilt about what they've done; what happens when the animals escape.  Morrison's script is actually pretty straight forward with a nice ironic ending but the real gem of the book is Frank Quietly's art.  His art is horrific & hauntingly beautiful at the same time.  For anybody that is an animal lover this is short & tough read but the ending will satisfy.

Thanos: Redemption

This is the prologue to the prologue of the start of Marvel Comics new galactic saga by Dan Abbnett & Andy Lanning.  There cosmic stories revitalized & entire section of the Marvel Universe if you don't know what I mean stop by your nearest theater & watch Guardians of the Galaxy.  Before we can get to their opening story we need to start with the Thanos maxi-series by Jim Starlin & Kieth Giffen these two stories in this series feel separate until you get to the last two issues & it brings everything full circle.  First up is a Jim Starlin story in which Thanos is contemplating his role in the universe; Starlin's writing is definitely not for the beginning comic reader his stories are wording but in a good way.  Also seeing the way Starlin plays Thanos & Adam Warlock off each other is just great.  This first story also gives readers a look at what a showdown between Thanos & Galactus would look like, talk about epic battle.  The second story sees Thanos going on a pilgrimage to the Crunch & the Kiln.  While at the Kiln he meets up with Galadiator & Peter Quill aka Star-Lord.  After a confrontation with a mortal Beyonder & the release of the first herald of Galactus, Thanos returns to his ship witness the fallout between Galactus & his first herald.  The second story is a slower read than the first but overall if you are a fan of Thanos this is definitely a book you should pick up; it gives you some insight into what makes the Mad Titan tick.  Next up is Annihilation the beginning of a new cosmic saga.

Wolverine Vol. 2: Killable

The second volume by Paul Cornell on Wolverine is the end to the fifth series but this is just the halfway point before we get to The Death of Wolverine.  I must say I really liked this volume compared to the previous one.  This book takes Logan back to his childhood home to face his greatest enemy.  I like the fact that Logan is disturbed by his mortality but still feels the need to rush into situations without regard to his own safety.  I like the way everybody is treating Wolverine with kid gloves; its like he just found out he has cancer only its different.  I wish the symbolism of the sword played out differently.  Sabretooth's team is bad-ass there is no other way to put it & I hope they become a bigger force to be reckoned with.  I really like smart mastermind Sabretooth & I am really looking forward to what is done with him once Wolverine dies.  Who will he go up against similar to the way Norman Osborn went from being a Spider-Man villain to an Avengers villain.  This book is also a time team up between Logan & Kitty Pryde.  It showcases how their mentoring relationship has changed over time.  I also like the pairing of Storm & Wolverine as a couple, she is a great rock for him to cling to as he goes through this trial.  I think it would have been really cool if Sabretooth or Mystique were responsible for bringing the virus out of the micro-verse that took Wolverine's healing factor instead of them utilizing the opportunity for their own gains.  It would have made them even more diabolical & brought them up to big bad status for the whole Marvel Universe

Wolverine Vol. 1: Hunting Season

This is the first volume of the fifth Wolverine series to be put out by Marvel.  This is also a new jumping on point for the character after the Age of Ultron event & the first volume of Paul Cornell's run on the character.  This story is kind of bland for an opening arc of a new series but it does have a great cliff hanger ending, that sets up for the next story arc.  Which is great but this volume as a stand alone leaves a lot to be desired.  First of all the reader is kind of thrown into the middle of the everything from the opening page.  I kind of wish there was a little bit of build up to the department store hostage situation.  The team-up of Wolverine & Nick Fury Jr. seems a little forced & awkward in its execution.  Maybe its the fact that Fury Jr. is so new; that the character hasn't really found a voice yet.  I did like the fact that the big bad of this story arc was from the micro-verse but the lead up to it was kind of clunky.  Overall this isn't a great Wolverine story but I have high expectations for what this story will lead to.  Paul Cornell's entire run is leading up to the Charles Soule written Wolverine story arc entitled The Death of Wolverine.

Sheltered Vol. 2

The shit has hit the fan & Lucas is losing is control over Safe Haven.  A group of delivery men arrive with solar panels that Lucas's father had ordered prior the children's coup.  Tensions are high from the first page on throughout the book.  Kids with itchy trigger fingers equals a lot of bad decisions several kids die in this volume.  One of the kids to by the farm in this volume was Curtis, finally that little shite got what he had coming to him.  It is a shame though this volume ends on even more of a cliff hanger than the previous one, I would like to think that the third delivery man who ran through the woods & killed to survive is still alive.  Judging by how quickly the pace picked up in this volume I have a feeling this is not going to be a long series.  By the end of this volume both Lucas & Victoria have lost something & someone.

Superman, Action Comics Vol. 4: Hybrid

I heard the story of how Andy Diggle was taking over Action Comics after Grant Morrison's run.  Diggle would be partnering with artist Tony Daniel for his upcoming run.  This was promoted by DC heavily for months prior to their actual first issue launch.  Shortly after the first issue came out Andy Diggle left the book.  Reasons for Diggle's departure are still unclear probably something to do with editorial since DC has been having lots of those as of late.  Tony Daniel took over writing responsibilities for the rest of the Hybrid arc using Diggle's notes.  Now on to the story the Hybrid arc at the beginning of this volume was actually really cool Tony Daniels art is top notch, his writing however is still clunky.  The first issue by Andy Diggle is a nice throwback to the characterization of Superman from Pre-New 52  The arc overall is a great Luther vs. Superman story that I would love to built upon the characterization of Lex Luther in this story is above any & all expectations,  The second arc in this book is not as good as the first it is by Scott Lobdell building into his run on the Superman title.  Lobdell's arc's in this volume are somewhat confusing unless you have been reading his run.  The final issue in this volume is part of the Psi War story arc which taking place in the other Superman title.  I think Lobdell was put on Action Comics after Diggle's departure as an emergency writer but also to bring some uniformity to the Superman line of titles for DC.  This is really a stand alone volume because of the Hybrid arc but other than that it is a cluster frak of stories.  DC really needs to change up how they create their collected editions because compared to Marvel & Image comics, they are severely lacking in cohesion.

Neverwhere

This is probably one of Neil Gaiman's greatest works outside of Sandman.  Neverwhere is very similar to another story by Gaiman, Stardust.  The difference is that in Stardust Tristran Thorn embraces that word that he has ventured into where Richard Mayhew can't wait to get home to London above.  It is only when he returns to London above that he realizes everything he could have ever wanted was beneath his feet in London below.  The story is your basic group quest adventure in which Richard Mayhew is kind of just tagging along for the ride until he meets the black friars & goes through the ordeal.  Telling anymore would spoil the story for those who are not already familiar with the tale.  I really wish Gaiman would follow up this story in some way preferably with more books.  It seems that this is just a taste of what awaits in London below.  If anything this makes me want to pick up more of Neil Gaiman's prose work.

Manifest Destiny Vol. 1: Flora & Fauna

Everyone knows the story of Lewis & Clark,  it is one of the great tales of American history.  But for the majority of knowing public they only know of the story in the broadest sense.  They know that Lewis & Clark traveled with Sacagawea from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean, but the rest is sort of a mystery unless you go digging for the info.  Such is the premise of Manifest Destiny, in which the general knowledge is known about Lewis & Clark but that just serves as the foundation for this new tale by Chris Dingess & Matthew Roberts.  Chris Dingess has crafted a scary almost alien frontier for Lewis & Clark's expedition to travel through but hes has also given them a secondary assignment to mapping out & exploring the region.  Matthew Roberts art is phenomenal not in characters per-say but in the way he creates the landscape I really love the way the scenery is rendered.  This is another awesome book from Image Comics, the place to go for something different.

Sheltered Vol. 1

Children are chaotic & unpredictable in times of strife.  Sheltered a pre-apocalyptic story that is in the vein of Lord of the Flies.  Imagine if you can that the Governor from The Walking Dead is a teenager & that he is one of your best friends.  Then imagine what would happen if all of your friends & their families got together to build a community that would live off grid in case disaster struck.  Now imagine what your best friend would do in that situation.  Lucas is not the blonde haired blue eyed spoiled boy king that Joffrey was but he is dang close.  This story is allegorical in a way by showcasing what happens if children were in charge with guns.  Like the movie I Declare War which takes a childhood game & turns it into a harsh reality.  In fact part of me hopes that he is vindicated in is belief that the volcano will blow up but that it leads to his death as well because just by his actions alone he deserves to die.  Victoria is shaping up to be a bad-ass & I hope that continues.  This first volume was all set up but it is shaping up nicely I look forward to picking up the next title in this series.

2 Guns

Occasionally there are those rare moments when movies are made from books or comic books in this case that surpass & improve upon the source material.  Just a few that come to mind are Red, Kick-Ass & L.A. Confidential.  I really enjoyed the 2 Guns movie but the book was a little wordy & the big show down at the end is a little anti climactic.  That's not to say that it didn't have its good points like Deb being the Commander's daughter was a nice touch.  However the book just didn't have the comradery develop that the movie did.  If you want to see what inspired the movie pick this up, but if your just interested in a good story to kill some time the movie is good enough.

Superman, Action Comics Vol. 3: At the End of Days

Like most if not all of Grant Morrison's work this is best read as a collection or in this case a group of collections.  I can see why people reading this in single issues would be confused beyond belief it is a serious fraking mess when you look at any single issue especially the later ones.  By the end of this third volume I have to say Morrison crafted one hell of a story that is full of twist and mind fraks at every turn.  By the time you get to the third volume you begin to realize that Morrison's entire New 52 Superman run is one big Mxyzptlk story.  Except this time Mxyzptlk isn't a villain instead he is a hero of some sort, the true villain of this encounter is Vyndktvx another magician from the 5th Dimension.  Overall Morrison has crafted a Superman story of biblical proportions the only thing I wish had been left out was the references to the "Death & Return of Superman" story arc.  If that had not been referenced then it would have made this story feel like a complete reboot.  Another gem of Grant Morrison's Superman run are the back up stories written by Sholly Fisch.  Her back ups have brought this sense of wonder & awe that reminds me of the Superman I grew up with in contrast to the Superman that Morrison is crafting.  In the future I hope DC giving her full creative control of character to craft & broaden the fan-base.  I would love to see what Grant Morrison could do if DC planned a reboot where he had the ability to craft every character as he sees fit.  Morrison's true gift as a writer is in mining the material & creating something entirely out of left field.  I would really like to see a grand epic from Morrison in which he crafts a universe of characters similar to what Brian K. Vaughan & Mark Millar do on a regular basis.  If he could do that I think he would truly be on his way to being considered one of the great comic book scribes of all time up there with the likes of Alan Moore, Stan Lee & Jack Kirby.

Superman, Action Comics Vol. 2: Bulletproof

The second volume of Grant Morrison's Superman Epic is here & I must say things are beginning to get a little clearer & I am becoming more invested in this new interpretation of Clark Kent / Superman.  One of the high points for me in this collection is the revelation that Clark's landlady is Mr. Mxyzptlk's wife I thought that was such an awesome nod to such an old adversary.  I hope that this leads to a story with Mr. Mxyzptlk in the near future.  This book also saw the origin of a parrallel earth Superman, another super-human for Kansas & the origin of the Kryptonite Man.  Clark Kent does do what I feel is such a mistake when he fakes his own death because he felt that his alter-ego had outlived its usefulness; thankfully Batman & his landlady set him straight.  I really like the zero issue in this collection for its main story The Boy Who Stole Superman's Cape it brings back a sense of awe that causes kids to idolized characters like Superman.  I like were this is going but it still feels strange & unusual but its definitely getting better.

Superman, Action Comics Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel

This is the first volume of the New 52 Action Comics starting Grant Morrison's Superman epic.  Over the years Superman has had his origin told & retold.  In every retelling some of the facts are changed & enemies or specific events are changed.  When DC Comics rebooted there continuity they gave the reigns of Superman's origin to Grant Morrison to shape for a new generation.  This first volume shows us a cockier Superman in a t-shirt & jeans looking more like the Smallville version or Superboy.  Throughout the book Superman discovers his own origin about who he is, where he came from.  This story puts a new spin on who or what Brainiac is.  Several members of Superman's supporting cast are present throughout this story Sam Lane the primary antagonist of The World of New Krypton story-arc is here in a similar fashion.  Metallo's origin appears in this book along with Clark Kent's first meeting with the Legion of Super-Heroes.  Steel also makes his triumphant New 52 origin in this title & I have to say his parts of the book are some of my favorite throughout the story  In this book Clark Kent & Lois Lane work for rival newspapers.  The art is this book is some the best I have seen in a lately Rags Morales & Andy Kubert should be applauded even if you are not a fan of Grant Morrison's writing the art alone is worth giving this a look.  Overall this is a good start but since I am a product of the Post-Crisis continuity that broke onto the market back in 1985 with Crisis on Infinite Earths this is going to take some time to grow on me.  In time I'm sure Grant Morrison's origin will stand up to those of Geoff John's Superman: Secret Origin, Mark Waid's Superman: Birthright, John Byrne's Superman: Man of Steel Vol. 1 or even Jerry Siegel's Action Comics #1.  For now it is just another entry in line of Superman origins, but I will definitely be checking out part two.

  

Idolized

Thank you Watchmen even now twenty nine years later creators are still influenced & inspired by Alan Moore's take on the superhero.  Idolized embraces that influence from the first issue.  Idolized is a comic set in a world where probably about fifty percent of the population have super powers.  It also draws inspiration from reality television like American Idol,  The Voice, Tough Enough & even The Hunger Games.  Many comics today are set in the post 9/11 paranoia world but Idolized takes that & builds it into a reality scenario as part of the plot for the characters to deal with which is ingenious & a little unsettling.  Overall this is a great little mini-series if this the end for these characters so be it.  If David Schwartz decides to make a second volume then I welcome it because I was pleasantly surprised by this introduction to these characters.   

  

Saga Vol. 3

So much happens in this third volume of Brian K Vaughan's Star Wars / Final Fantasy esque Saga.  New characters are introduced while old friends grow by leaps & bounds.  Marko, Alana & their family pretty much stay in one place throughout this entire volume but all of them grow so much through personal interactions with each other.  Its like meeting up with a bunch of long lost family members after years of not seeing each other.  Like each of the preceding volumes death looms in the back ground & by the end of this volume three major characters that readers have grown to love since the beginning of the series will be dead.  Like the Song of Ice & Fire series by George R.R. Martin you'll be screaming at the book when a character that you have grown to love is killed off; Ned Stark anybody?  Like many of Brian's works this ends on a great cliff-hanger that is full of hope for the future of this series.  In this day & age where comic book movies are a dime a dozen Brian K. Vaughan is one of the only superstar creators out there that hasn't had any of his work turned into a movie or a television show.  As much as I wish this was optioned for the silver screen, I am glad that Brian & Fiona have said multiple times in interviews that Saga was made for the page & only the page.  That way it will always remain true to their vision & no one else's.  I can't wait till Saga, Book One the Deluxe Ed. is released this December.  It will contain all the issues in the first three volumes of the series, this is definitely one of the title out there on the stands that deserves to be owned in the hardcover format.

Saga Vol. 2

The second volume pulls on your heart strings like no other comic book out there.  Also who said comics were just for kids has  never seen or read this or a myriad of other titles like Watchmen, 100 Bullets or Kick-Ass just to name a few.  Those are not your kids comics they are heady titles that have deep meaning & even adult content within the pages, yes even Kick-Ass (I know your rolling your eyes but just wait for it).  This second volume pulls no punches flips so many standard things you thought you knew about science fiction out the window its baffling & cool at the same time.  Also this volume has firmly established Fiona Staples as one of my all time favorite artist.  I loved Lying Cat in this book & all I can say is I want one of my own.  Brian's writing makes you care deeply for a character even if they are only there for a few panels like the mouse medic in the final chapter of this volume his brief story had you rooting for him & broke your heart when he died.  Izabel reminds me of one of the female characters from Runaways also done by Brian K. Vaughan.  I am really looking forward to the showdown between The Will & Prince Robot IV. 

Saga Vol. 1

I literally just finished this like a half hour ago & I must say this book solidifies for me why Brian K. Vaughan is one of the best writers out there.  From the end of the first chapter in the book I was hooked I can’t wait for the next volume.  This is by far one of my favorite books out on the market right now.  Anything that I could say about this title is potentially a spoiler all I can say is grab a copy and read the first dozen pages if your not hooked I’ll be shocked.  Also if you like this check out Brian K. Vaughan's digital series The Private Eye I've skimmed through the first two chapters of that, I can't wait for the collected ed. 

Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror

If you love creature feature films & love to read then this is the book for you.  I've read Jaws & this is just as good as Peter Benchley's classic.  What sets this book apart from Jaws is that its not about elimination but about preservation & study of the beast.  Jonas Taylor is the main character of the book & is completely down on his luck after just the first couple chapters of the book, but he is vindicated through the existence of the Megalodon.  The Megalodon has survived at the bottom of the Mariana Trench living in complete darkness.  When something man made disturbs the Megalodon's habitat it finds way to disturb ours with deadly results.  The death toll in this book is much higher than that of Jaws or Jurassic Park it is probably equal to that of the film Piranha 3-D.  Whales & people are the main victims in this story.  Unlike the finality of Jaws this story does set up for more stories, even though that didn't stop studios from milking Jaws for several sequals.  Which is a good thing since this is the start of a series in which four books have already been released.  The story switches between the humans point of view & the sharks point o view.  The book is pretty formulaic in plot & outcome, but it is a quick easy summer read that is hard to put down once you've started.

The Nobody

Writer & artist Jeff Lemire has crafted a fantastic story of endearing characters in small town USA.  This story is reminiscent of a classic H.G. Wells story but done with a new twist.  This is a very easy & quick read, I read it in one sitting.  One of the things that really stands out is the artwork & the color pallet.  I really can't say anything about this title for fear of giving away some of the plot & the mystery that the cover portrays.  The art on the cover is the exactly what you will find inside with a similar color pallet.  By the end of this story you get the idea that something amazing has just happened but you just don't know how to explain it.  If you have ever lived in a small town then you'll love this tale about how a stranger is received in this rural american town.

Starship Troopers

First off if you were expecting this to be as action packed as the movie you will be disappointed, this book reads like a journal of a soldier from boot camp through first tour of duty.   Robert A. Heinlein has crafted a science fiction novel that works better as a war story reflecting the idea of military mentality in a post WWII world.  Overall I understand why this is such great novel but for me, I would rather watch the movie over reading this again.  Heinlein does a great job describing the chain of command & the events of battle.  There is even to an extent the brotherhood that is crafted by soldiers fighting along side each other.  I wish this sense of comradery was explored a little more but instead Heinlein kills off characters so quickly.  You can see why it would be easy to try & distance yourself from your peers so has to harden your emotions to loss.   The story is told through the character of Rico whose is similar to the same character of the movie  One of my biggest complaints with this book you don't get any of the bug war action until you're already two thirds of the way through the book.  If you are in the military or have just recently signed up for the military this is a title you should definitely sit down & read it puts somethings into perspective about what it means to be a soldier.

Daken, Dark Wolverine Vol. 4: No More Heroes

Finally Daken's true colors have come to the forefront.  He has always been a villain & now the whole world knows it.  This volume was just as good as the previous one & shows how cruel & deceptive Daken can be to Wolverine & the heroes of New York City.  Daken is dying due to his over exposure to the drug heat, so this final volume is his swan song before he disappears.  I am pretty sure he is not dead by the end of this but it is a great ending to the series.  Daken's relationship with Donna Kiel sends sets him to do this one last vengeful attach at those he used throughout the series.  In a way this series is about self discovery much in the same way X-23's series was.  The difference however is the Larua embraces the discovery of who she is & what she can be while Daken refuses to embrace who he is.  In a way both of these series have had a "Of Mice & Men" quality about them.  This series went a little longer then X-23's & helped ramp up the tension going into Avengers vs. X-Men.

X-23 Vol. 3: Don't Look Back

This is the final volume of the latest X-23 series in a way it ends on a perfect note with the Nuff Said issue.  I really liked this volume it is on par with the previous one.  As a whole Laura has been on a journey to find herself ever since she left X-Force.  Its nice to see Jubilee return in this volume even if it was only for an issue but the real gem of the final book is the babysitting story.  This is due in part to who the sitter is & who the children are, what could possibly go wrong.  The real surprise of that story is The Collector.  If he acts anywhere close to that in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy movie then we are in for a real treat.  This has been at great journey of the self discovery for Laura the only problem is that the first book feels out of place compared to the rest of the series in art as well as writing.  I hope X comes back to the forefront of stories in the near future.  

Daken, Dark Wolverine Vol. 3: The Pride Comes Before the Fall

Rob Williams just kicked it up a notch with the third volume of Daken, Dark Wolverine.  All of the build up from the previous volume came to fruition in this one.  Someone is manipulating Daken like a puppet & the revelation is somewhat expected.  Moon Knight shows up in this book & has a throw down with Daken before he teams up with him to search for the claws killer.  Marcus Roston plays an even bigger role in this volume than in the previous one & there are even some revelations that he is related to the Runaways which brings them into mix teaming up with Daken.  Their team up gave me one of favorite scenes of this entire series so far; Molly Hayes walks up to the villain & says "You bad man. Me bad ass." while upper cutting him farther down the street.  This book rejuvenated the Daken, Dark Wolverine series for me I look forward to the next volume.   

X-23 Vol. 2: Chaos Theory

This is the X-23 story I've wanted to read since this series started.  Laura & Remy arrive in Paris to meet up with some old friends while tracking down the trigger scent from the Collision story-arc.  Seeing the reunion between Logan & Laura is touching because it gives you a sense of how much he cares for her; at the same time this story shows the contrast between X-23 & Jubilee.  Over the years Wolverine has adopted several young mutants.  Jubilee is probably the one that is portrayed as the closest thing to have a true daughter / father relationship with Wolverine.  X-23 & Jubilee couldn't be more different but the common factor is their relationship with Logan.  Probably the greatest thing about this story is how Laura and Jubilee become friends Jubilee brings out the girl in Laura & introduces her to world she has never known.  Laura also breaks down what it means to live with a killer instinct.  This story takes place after the Curse of the Mutants story-arc in which Jubilee became a vampire.  The second story in this book introduces Laura to the Future Foundation which broadens her friend circle in the Marvel Universe.  Showing Laura interact with the Storm's children is enlightening & deepens her character.  I know this is the penultimate book of the series but this is so far the strongest entry in Laura's latest series.  

Daken, Dark Wolverine Vol. 2: Big Break

This new volume of Daken, Dark Wolverine sees the character return to Los Angeles to broaden his criminal empire.  I didn't find this volume as interesting as the previous one or his showdown with X-23.  This volume also marks the the first entry of a new writer to the series, Rob Williams.  One of the unique plot points this story are these heat pills that have shown up in L.A. which can nullify Daken's healing factor it will be interesting to see where this leads, but overall I am not as impressed with this series as much anymore.

Daken, Dark Wolverine vs. X-23: Collision

This is the second book in both the Daken, Dark Wolverine & X-23 series.  This is a great read & displays both the of the lead characters in top form.  In all fairness though this feels more like a Daken story than an X-23 story.  The previous X-23 volume just didn't provide enough of of a lead in to this particular story.  The previous volume of Daken, Dark Wolverine connects flawlessly to this story.  I have to say I am rapidly becoming a Daken Akihiro fan.  Another plus to this story is that X-23 has shown some real character growth in this story-arc so much so that it makes me look forward to her next volume.  The two lead characters weren't the only characters to shine in this story Gambit & Tyger Tiger who both of whom stood out as great supporting characters.  Gambit's showdown with Daken is awesome on par with the two title characters showdown.  Tyger is a really complex supporting character which would make a great addition to future Wolverine-Family related stories.

Daken, Dark Wolverine Vol. 1: Empire

Daken is an intriguing character in that he is like a younger version of Logan but with an ambitious drive that Logan doesn't have do to his age & experience.  Whereas Wolverine is trying to atone for his past, everything he does is to in some way make up for something he regrets.  Daken is still young & willing to do anything to get what he feels is his in this world.  Laura on the other hand is trying to find her place in the world since leaving X-Force.  She knows that her life experiences have made her an outcast in the eyes of many of the X-Men similar to the way Wolverine probably felt when he first joined Alpha Flight.  However she wants to be in control of her future instead of having someone make her decisions for her like when she was an assassin.  Unlike X-23 Daken is not a clone of Wolverine but his actual son this makes her the closest thing he has to a sibling.  Daken is filled with rage & vengeance which makes for a great read but this first volume like that of X-23 is all set up in the Heroic Age & tying into the Wolverine Goes to Hell story arc.  I actually liked this better than the first volume of X-23 because there was more characterization with Daken than with Laura.  He is a character that you know is up to no good yet you still want to read it because he draws you in similar to the pheromone part of his mutation it can be used to manipulate people.  Just seeing how he interacted with Mystique was proof that there is more to him than he lets on.  This volume did a great job setting up the Collision story arc unlike X-23's first volume; bring on Collision.

  

X-23 Vol. 1: The Killing Dream

This is the first volume of the X-23 series that started with the Heroic Age alongside Jason Aaron's Wolverine series.  The first story-arc in this book ties in with the Wolverine goes to Hell arc.  X-23 is one of my favorite mutants in the X-Men ever since she was introduced in X-Men: Evolution.  I really liked how this book started out but the second story-arc was only OK.  I don't know if it is just me or did the artist Will Conrad model his interpretation of Laura Kinney off of writer Marjorie Liu.  This series is a perfect jumping on point for fans of the character it takes place after X-Men: Second Coming which puts an end-cap on her X-Force activities.  One of the redeeming things about the second story in this is origin of the relationship between Laura & Gambit but also the return of Mr. Sinister who supposedly died back in X-Men: Messiah Complex.  Marjorie Liu is kinda like Marvel's answer to Gail Simone over at DC, however that title may soon be given to Kelly Sue DeConnick for her Captain Marvel series.  I know this is a short series since it only lasted for a little of twenty issues,  but I'll enjoy every bit of it.

  

Thief of Thieves Vol. 3: Venice

This is it the Venice job Conrad has been planning for three years; the plan he has been working on when he up & quit.  Conrad has played almost everybody in this book so far & this is only the third volume.  Andy Diggle jumps on for this arc which is awesome because this kind of heist is right up is alley.  There is definitely going to be some major fallout from this volume especially where Arno is concerned.  I really want to see Agent Cohen shine at some point, it seems they keep building to her big moment & then she gets played for such a fool.  I mean she seems to be smarter than the rest of the agents in her division & she even knows she got played at the end of this book.  The Venice job is similar to something from Oceans 11 mixed with the Italian Job.  Its simplistic on paper but the attention to detail makes it seem so complicated.  Again this is were the art & the layout shine, it perfectly complements the story were the writing leaves off.  By the end of this volume the look on Conrad's face says it all.  I still don't know as a reader if everything went the way he planned, but it seems that it did.  I really want to know what is going to happen next.

Thief of Thieves Vol. 2: Help Me

Robert Kirkman's  Thief of Thieves is certainly becoming one of my new favorite titles out there on the market today.  This volume he co-writes with James Asmus, the only other book I've read by Asmus was Gambit which I can say was OK but not stellar.  This volume is not as good as its predecessor but it does have one hell of a cliffhanger.  This volume is all about Conrad & Augustus working together but its primary goal is to set up future story arcs by leaving a lot of loose ends.  The first volume on the other hand was just supposed to set the tone for the entire series.  But once you reach the end of this volume you will immediately want to pick up the next one.  

Thief of Thieves Vol. 1: I Quit

If Neal Caffrey & Daniel Ocean were the same person they would be Conrad Paulson.  This is an awesome book in terms of writing, art & story.  Robert Kirkman the creator of The Walking Dead is co-writing this book with Nick Spencer.  If you love heist movies or stories this is a title for you.  This is a story that really relies on the artwork to move the story along there pages of panels without text that tell an essential part of the story without the work of Shawn Martinbrough this series would not have been as effective.  This is how you write a heist book compared to the previous title I read Supercrooks; this was the superior read.  I like how conflicted Conrad is about his life but I like that he has a plan to make sure life plays by his rules.  Elizabeth Cohen seems to be a fairly competent F.B.I. agent but in the end is just stuck with a bad hand that she was dealt.  I like where this is going, I really hope this turns into a television show it would definitely give White Collar a run for its money.       

Mouse Guard: The Black Axe

David Petersen has crafted a rich & profound history for the Black Axe.  In this tale the reader discovers more about the world beyond the mouse territories.  Most of this story takes place in the past revolving around three characters Em, Celanawe & Conrad.  This is a great quest story about how Celanawe became the Black Axe & his lineage.  The greatest part of this story is the building of the legend that would make one hell of a bedtime story for any child.  Em introduces the reader to this history of the Axe which brings more depth to the world as a whole.  Celanawe like many of the guards mice in the previous two volumes goes through a life changing series of events to bring him to the place to were he is currently.  This story also sheds light on Conrad who dies in the Fall 1152.  Again like all of the previous books in this series David Petersen's art work speaks volumes & in most cases convey more than the text.  I really like the last page of were Lieam is reading Em's book which Celanawe has augmented to Kenzie & Saxon.  If David Petersen's tale of the mouse territories comes to an end here it would be a fulfilling & satisfying ending.  That being said the last page really could be the forward to whole new set of adventures with the guards mice.   

Mouse Guard: Winter 1152

This volume picks up shortly after the events of the previous volume, the guards mice are on a quest for Gwendolyn.  By the second chapter the story takes a new twist from quest to exploration & self discovery, David Petersen has done some great characterization in this title in making the reader care about these characters that have each had only a little screen time.  Again this title shows shades of Lord of the Rings with the Kenzie, Saxon & Sadie's discovery of Darkheather.  Meanwhile Celanawe & Lieam continue the journey back to Lockhaven during which they become mentor & student similar to the likes of Al'Lan Mandragoran & Rand Al'Thor from the Wheel of Time series, Henry Ducard & Bruce Wayne from Batman or even Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi of Star Wars fame.  I am really looking forward to a continuation of the story because the end of this volume feels like the calm before the storm like the worst is still to come. I am also interested to see how the revelations & the new status quo for the main characters affects the next entry into the series.   

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

This is a cross between a comic book & a children's picture book.  On the one hand if you are a fan of Lord of the Rings or any other fantasy, medieval works this is a title for you. If you are wanting to introduce your children to that type of literary work then this is a great introduction.  Unlike many of the graphic novels put forth by the mainstream publishers like Marvel, DC, Darkhorse & Image this is an all ages title where as you can see that most titles by the others publishers are for teens & up.  Overall I thought this was a great read it reminded me of the Church Mice series by Graham Oakley that my parents read to me as a child.  I did feel that there were some time jumps in which the reader had to infer what happened in between chapters but overall it was still great.  I also kind of wished that the reveal of the traitor had taken longer to figure out, it would have built more suspense for the reader.     

Wolverine Vol. 8: Covenant

This is the final volume of this incarnation of Wolverine stories.  Cullen Bunn is back to write Logan into the sunset but this finale of a story is weak compared to Bunn's previous volume.  The Covenant is a cross between the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen & the Illuminati.  However they are just pitiful individually as villains & Wolverine moves through them rather quickly.  I would have liked to see this story fleshed out some more because it jumped around a lot there were more than a few parts that just didn't make any sense.  I would like to think that the dreaming maiden is a herald of Galactus but that doesn't make any sense either so overall this is a Wolverine story that can be skipped in the long run.  The only real high point of this story is that Seraph's Angels get a good chunk of panel time.

Wolverine Vol. 7: Sabretooth Reborn

This volume kind of disrupts Cullen Bunn's short run on the character.  It is however a chance for Jeph Loeb to tell a sequel to his previous Wolverine story. I have not read the previous Jeph Loeb story Wolverine: Evolution which came out in the previous Wolverine series shortly after Civil War.  Really the only thing you need to know from that story is that Wolverine finally killed Sabretooth.  Like much of Jeph Loeb's Marvel work this is a hit or miss story writing wise the art however is awesome.  Simone Bianchi art brings everything to life in this book & sets more of tone than the writing does.  There were parts of this series that were good like how did Sabretooth come back from the dead.  Which now that I think about it this title raises more questions about that than it answers.  For someone who is unfamiliar with Wolverine's villain Romulus this was a nice introduction.  He comes off as Wolverine if he embraced Magento's ideology with a little bit of Ras Al Ghul thrown in for good measure.  I frankly was just starting to like Bunn's work on Wolverine & this volume just broke that stride to tell a back story that is set prior to any of the events currently going on.  Frankly when it comes to Loeb's work the only time I've really been super impressed with him is when he collaborates with Tim Sale.  Their color series for Marvel is some of the best character work out there.  Another good series of titles by them is the Batman quartet starting with Batman: The Long Halloween.  

Wolverine Vol. 6: Rot

Well this is the next volume in this Wolverine series but its the debut of a new writer in Cullen Bunn.  I am not familiar with Dr. Rot so I really wasn't liking this book at first but by the end I came to realize that he is one of the deadliest villains that Wolverine has.  This title continues to mine Logan's past but changes in tone from fantastic in an exotic Asian setting to the a straight up horror story in the great American south.  This is not a book for kids by any means, this is probably the goriest Wolverine book that I have seen.  Bunn is a decent writer but you have to know what you are getting into ahead of time especially if you were used to Jason Aaron's style this was a bit jarring.  One of the great things about Wolverine's rogues gallery is that there is a balance between villains who focus on brute strength & villains that rely on there intelligence.  This provides Wolverine with a bunch of different challenges even though he tries to solve each of them the same way; stab it first then stab it again.  By the end of this story I was wanting more; I want to know where Dr. Rot will wind up next.  I like that Marvel has found a way to return the gaps to Logan's memory ever since he regained all of his memories post M-Day fans knew it was only a matter of time before that would be retconned.  

Wolverine Vol. 5: Back in Japan

This is the final volume of Jason Aaron's run but it it not the end of this current Wolverine series.  This was an OK volume the writing is awesome but the art in this book is so scattered that it distracts from the tone of the story.  I like that Jason Aaron wrapped up his run on Wolverine but that he also left some threads for the next writer to jump on with like who is Dr. Rot?  There were several things I liked about this volume one thing in particular that Lady Deathstrike & Lord Deathstrike are related I would like some more back story to that.  I like that Sabretooth & Mystique are back from the dead but it doesn't show or discuss how that happened.  I also like that Aaron has turned Creed into more of crime lord instead of just a mindless thug.  I am not a fan of Yukio in a wheelchair if she is to remain in one I hope she becomes a bigger character in some future Wolverine series that takes place solely in Asia.  Amiko has kinda picked up the torch & become the new Yukio like character, this is kinda cool but Yukio was the best part of The Wolverine.  The new Silver Samurai is going to have to prove himself, right now this was essentially just an origin story for him.  I really liked the way Mystique has started screwing with Wolverine by literally screwing him.  This is great foreshadowing for the future mutant from X-Men: Battle of the Atom.  I like the idea of Seraph's Angels & I would like to see a future story arc with them reviving Silver Fox or an espionage mini-series.    

Wolverine Vol. 4: Goodbye Chinatown

Wolverine post X-Men: Schism is a different animal due to the events in that book & the previous volumes of this series.  I like where he is at currently in the Marvel Universe it seems like the right & natural progression of his character over the last couple of years.  This volume was a fun read because it brings about a fantastical element that is usually missing in some of the comic titles today; this book had dragons, ninjas, a tunnel from the United States to China & an underground drug cartel.  If you aren't a Wolverine fan Jason Aaron will turn you into this series has been a riot & the big reveal in the final issue of this series brings a classic villain back to the center of Logan's world.  

Wolverine Vol. 3: Wolverine's Revenge

This is Wolverine doing what he does best,  this volume reads like like a typical Mark Millar story except its not written by Mark Millar.  Jason Aaron has done a great job in tearing away the layers of Wolverine's character to by turning his revenge against him.  On the surface the Red Right Hand is a pathetic group of people obsessed with revenge but unable to act on it.  But due to their mysterious benefactor they are able to exact a vengeance on Logan that is devastating on every level.  I particularly love seeing how Logan wronged all of these people which in some cases their loved ones might have deserved what happened to them.  Its the little boy though that brings everything home for me as a reader because his mothers death happened in Wolverine: Enemy of the State.  Finally when the Red Right Hand's revenge is taken it is the boy who is not reunited with his mother.  Ironic isn't it, while all of the other members are reunited with their loved ones in the afterlife.  This volume & the two previous ones are meant to bring Wolverine back to a base line & set him up for his new role post X-Men: Schism also by Jason Aaron.

Wolverine Vol. 2: Wolverine vs. The X-Men

The second volume of Jason Aaron's Wolverine series is even more entertaining than the first.  I really liked the final issue of where Logan finally hunts down Raven Darkholme fans have been waiting for that to happen for a long time.  However that hunt should have been dragged out several issues but it was still satisfying to see. I really liked the dark humor that ensued when the X-Girls join Logan in is mind to help fight the demons I felt that the it would have been even more interesting if Armor and X-23 were there, it's understandable that Laura is missing because she has her own solo series but Armor was probably on Utopia at the time.  I think this is the first time I have really been interested in reading a Wolverine series since Mark Millar's two part story Wolverine: Enemy of the State.  I really liked how Cyclops has built in all of these safe guards and precautions you can already see that he is closer to Magneto than he ever was to Charles Xavier.  It shows just how paranoid Scott Summers is of some of his teammates similar to that of Batman on the Justice League.