Staying at home is the norm... What are you reading?

[Ezekiel]

Started reading Gunsmith Cats Omnibus 2 of 3 today. The child-like faces and proportions bother me again, even more coming off another Ghost in the Shell read (whose protagonist is drawn generically sometimes, but is shapelier and more adult overall). I enjoy it, but won't get over this and know it will never be one of my favorites because of it.

It's right to left, but I wish the sound effect translations were beside the panels, like in that Ghost in the Shell Deluxe, rather than written over the drawings.

 

[BrawlMan]

The Sound of One Hand Clapping (Fan-Made DC Comic Adaptation) Superman Vs Joker

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[Drathnoxis]

Finished The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Show me another well regarded novel that ends with an old dying man sucking on a young girls tits. I dare you.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I've been catching up to lot of post-Goscinny Asterix lately: The Magic Carpet, The Actress and The Falling Sky.

The Magic Carpet is easily the best. I tend to favor stories where Asterix and Obelix go on a quest instead of the only other plot these comics do, which is to insert a stranger in the village and get everyone mad at each other (see: The Soothsayer, The Roman Agent, The Secret Weapon, The Residence of the Gods). Uderzo usually introduces elements that are a little too silly or fantastic by Asterix standards but I liked The Magic Carpet despite, you know, the Magic Carpet (cue as many jokes about the inconveniences of airline travel as possible). It's nice to have Cacophonix join in the adventure for a change, and the three have a really funny dynamic going.

The Actress is a so-so entry that doesn't have any fantasy elements to it but borders on ridiculous due to how contrived the plot is: that Asterix and Obelix suddenly share a birthday (news to me), that their moms visit from Condatum/Rennes with gifts that belonged to Pompey and were pawned earlier at their husbands' shop by some wino, that Cesar wants them back and decides to send over a Roman actress who's a dead ringer for Panacea to seduce Asterix and Obelix into handing over the gifts (how would anybody be aware of Panacea or her relationship to A&O?), etc. It was enjoyable enough, but every aspect of the story felt like a tired retread.

The Falling Sky is by far the worst of the three and probably all of Asterix comics. It's about an intergalactic invasion that pits two alien races that are supposed to represent American superhero comics and Japanese manga in a deluded old-man sense of commentary on the industry. The alien designs are ugly as sin and the sci-fi conceit clashes horribly with the Asterix ethos, who has a relationship to history and humorous anachronisms that is more or less comparable to Monkey Island and the Golden Age of piracy, though definitely lighter and more earnest. The spaceship thing does not work, looks hideous, and it is not worth the commentary.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

A Boy and His Dog

Harlan Ellison's 1969 story. Haven't seen the movie. The novella is one of science fiction's founding stories of sex, violence and survival in the post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland, centered on the vitriolic relationship between a morally turbid boy and the telepathic dog that sniffs out girls for him to rape in exchange for food. Ellison paints a concise yet deeply evocative landscape around them, from the city ruins that have been quartered by gangs to the canned 'downunders' where the decrepit middle class has holed up. Too many books, movies and videogames have been inspired by this mutant cross section of society. And in the middle we have a disturbing push-and-pull of id and ego between a barely literate boy and a manipulative beast that need (love?) and resent each other.

 

[Ezekiel]

Pausing "Complete Adventures of Conan" for "Batman Archives Volume 1."

Batman Archives Vol 1 (Collected)

This hardcover is the first collection to reprint all Batman stories from the issues of Detective Comics, in chronological order. This first collection reprints stories from May, 1939 to April, 1941. This hardcover collects stories from the following comic books: Detective Comics #27 (The Case...

dc.fandom.com

My notes:

Batman kills pages

13
15 bottom
26 bottom
27
40 bottom
74
77

Yeah, the hard violence of the games makes the pacifism theme muddled and really dumb. Not much better in the movies. Tim Burton movies did the right thing. He killed.

 

[Ezekiel]

So Dick Grayson's 1940 origin story is the same as in the animated series. Bruce Timm and Paul Dini made a big deal about the fall of his parents being more effective without showing it (because the network wouldn't let them), but the original barely showed anything either. Not like you see their bodies. Hard to tell that they're falling.

Batman told the young boy that his life's mission is to "exterminate" the criminals, and shortly thereafter Robin kicked a man from a girder to his death far below.

 

[Ezekiel]

Also, Batman wasn't so brooding and serious originally. He got a kick out of beating up criminals. He sometimes mocked them as he did it. One would have to do what he does for the thrill to actually go through with it. The thing with his parents isn't enough justification. Conroy delivered that in the animated series to an extent. Keaton smiled sometimes. The first story described him as "bored."

 

[Gergar12]

You Canadians are very lucky to have this guy as your governor.

Value(s): Building a Better World for All

A bold, urgent argument on the misplacement of value in…

www.goodreads.com

 

[Worgen]

You Canadians are very lucky to have this guy as your governor.

Ugh, we would be in such a better place if the supreme court hadn't given the 2000 election to Bush.

 

[Worgen]

Found out that Girl Genius finally had new books come out so I've been reading those, waiting on another thats coming next week.

It also exists in webcomic form... which is probably how most people who aren't collecting the hardbacks read it.

Girl Genius Online Comics

www.girlgeniusonline.com

 

[BrawlMan]

I have been reading a hard copy of The Long Halloween. I've seen the animated movies. I know there are differences but I still wanted to check out.The source material with fresh eyes. This is a wonderful murder mystery book with great artwork. I can see why somebody would be disappointed that the art style was adapted into any animation, but that's fine by me since I always have the source material to go back to. I'm still in the middle of the story, but as soon as i'm done with this one, I'll pick up the sequel, Dark Victory. They have it up for free for amazon membership. Though I will still buy a hard copy when I finish it.

I can see why this story is considered one of the best Batman stories ever made. I love the use of coloring, inking, shading contrasts, etc. There's definitely some Frank Millerisms, but better than he ever could when it comes to the art style and character designs. Even in his prime.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream

Original "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?".

 

[Worgen]

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream

Original "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?".

 

[BrawlMan]

I finished a Long Halloween. I can see why it's considered one of the best batman stories of it. Concerning how often this story has been adapted in different forms.I more than believe it. Pretty good murder mystery. I know certain things were changed and the adaption, but I honestly didn't have a problem with that. I do prefer the comic, but the animated two part movie I more than enjoy as well.

 

[Mister Mumbler]

Absolute Martian Manhunter fucking rules

Spoiler: EDIT: Remembered this is a little bit of a spoiler, lol

 

[Ezekiel]

Gonna use these the next time someone tells me that Batman has to wear armor because of how many high-powered guns are in circulation. Previously I only said that it takes away from the theatricality of the character and conceals the athletic physique that makes him appear extraordinary. But I know what would happen if I started firing off a gun in the middle of my sketchy activity.

 

[Drathnoxis]

Just finished re-reading the first Mistborn trilogy. This has to be one of the best plotted series I've ever read. All the twists and turns fit together perfectly, while being hard to predict early on. Re-reading, I'm amazed at how subtly Sanderson lays down important pieces of the puzzle and draws your attention to them, but in a way that you don't comprehend their true meaning until everything starts to come together. The ending is just fantastic.The magic systems are also very well thought out and creatively used.

If anybody ever has a desire to read some non-tolkienesque fantasy I cannot recommend Mistborn highly enough.

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream

Original "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?".

I read this recently as well. I was kind of disappointed how short it was. It was very atmospheric and depressing though.

 

[BrawlMan]

I just finished up Far Sector. My first ever read of a Green Lantern comic book. It's a 12 issue mini series I got all as one book in DC Compact Comics line up. It's a good murder mystery mixed with film noir and Afro Futurism. Sojourner "Jo" Mullein is the newest Green Lantern, and she's a treat. Though she clearly works best for this story and her own character growth. Considering she's policing in a far off spot in the galaxy of a city with 20 billion people, made up of three different alien species. The fact she's a lovable nerd and is not afraid to admit this, speaks to me.

The mystery itself works but you might figure out who started the chain of events, if you either pay attention enough at the halfway point, or just before the last 2/3 of the story.

The artwork is amazing, Whoever they are, I hope they go paid extra for the effort they put in.

 

[BrawlMan]

My brother delivered this for me as a christmas gift, but I have not opened it up yet.

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