What Are You Reading in October 2011

I'm reading The Complete Ballad of Halo Jones by Alan Moore and Ian Gibson. Sci-fi-ish, with a mainly female cast of characters that are well done.

Going through a Fables collection right now. can't get enough...

I have read Area 10 by Christos N. Gage and Chris Samnee. The book is a perfect script for a great crime movie, but it misses in some points by not exploring better the original proposal regarding trepanation. It is really Hollywoodian, what is good, but I expedted for a more Vertigo thing.

Chris Samnee's artwork is great and reminded a lot of David Lloyd's work in V for Vendetta.

Mixed feeling but a good read.

Inhumans vol. 1 - Not bad for nothing but conversation & an exceptionally far fetched premise (yes, even for a comic book).

Vagabond vol. 1 - Seems cool so far.

I'm about to read the graphic adaptation of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies as well.

> 4 I'm glad Vagabond is cool so far. I love that series. What great artwork.

The Complete Ballad of Halo Jones was well-written sci-fi, very satisfying.

Now I'm 1/2 way through Blankets by Craig Thompson, and enjoying it a lot more than I expected to.

Blankets lived up to the high regard it enjoys. At some point I'm sure I'll read his new one, Habibi, which also is getting a lot of positive comments.

Not sure where to post about this one, but Hurricane Story is an inventive memoir of surviving Katrina, illustrated with photos of dolls. Very unusual. For those who know LT member richardderus, his recommendation is what got me to read it.

I just started True Story Swear to God by Tom Beland, which is a bit corny so far but fun.

Didn't read any of them yet but New York ComicCon was this weekend so I picked up Sweets: A New Orleans Crime Story and Valentine Reloaded & Valentine the Killing Moon - they look promising!

How was the ComicCon?

I was only there one day, but I enjoyed it. A TON of people were there so some places were harder to walk around in than others. Because of my personal interests, I spent most of my time in the "artists alley" rather than in the main showroom with all the exhibitors. I don't know how it is in Chicago, but in New York, Comic Con is also concurrent with the Anime Festival so I also checked out their artists alley. There also seemed to be a lot of interesting panels, screenings, etc. but I didn't plan ahead to go to any of them.

Thanks. Yes, I've been reading about the combination with the Anime Festival. That hasn't happened in Chicago, although the artists alley here is fun. I'd like to make the NY one some day, and the San Diego one. I don't go to the panels either.

The Pride and Prejudice and Zombies graphic novel is just as boring as Pride and Prejudice. I just don't care about the characters. Lame.

@#9 sweetie --> I've never been to a Comic Con before, but I'm going to the New Orleans one in January. Any advice? I'm going to dress up as Kitana from the Mortal Kombat games. Did you dress up?

I recently reread Elfquest, in graphic novel form. At this time I have about 8 of them, and they're always a good read: lots of interesting characters, situations, and the ARTWORK....oh, it makes me almost jealous. Wendy Pini has so much talent.

> 10 This my second year going and I've enjoyed it both times, but I haven't been to any other to make a comparison. It might not be worth the trip just for NY ComicCon if it isn't terribly different from Chicago. Although I suppose even if the set-up is similar, you'll probably find different writers, artists, etc. at different locales because they might only make appearances at the con nearest to where they live. Like I said though, I don't really know.

> 12 I didn't dress up, but a ton of people do. One of my friends dressed up as Storm and she said her feet were killing her from wearing heels all day, so that's something to consider. Also, people kept stopping her and asking to take her picture, so keep that in mind if you don't want to spend the whole time at the convention posing for pictures.

You might want to check out the schedule in advance (I forgot to do this both years in a row) if you have specific writers, illustrators, publishers, events, etc. that you'd like to check out. The first year I went, I went with two other people who had never been before so we are all unsure what we got ourselves into so we pretty much went with the serendipitous route. We just started wandering and we discovered we were all really into the artists alley section the most and spent hours there. So this year we started out there knowing that we'd like it the most and spend the most time there. Long story short, you can go in with a plan or you can go in without one, depending on what you prefer, and you'll have fun either way.

Final piece of advice: Don't be shy. 99% of the people there are super friendly so don't hesitate to strike up a conversation or ask questions. Oh, and most of the exhibitors, etc. are trying to sell you something so you might want to work on your graceful thanks but no thanks response.

> 12 By the way, I saw that you were reading The Bell Jar - such a great book!

13 - LOVED Elfquest, still have some of my original comics.

@ 14 Sweetie,

Thanks for all of your advice. Even though it's a smaller Con, I'm pretty sure I'll still feel overwhelmed. I did do a game plan ahead of time though, and I'm looking forward to it.

I did love The Bell Jar, and it's great bc I'm currently in the mental health field too. That Sweets: A New Orleans Crime Story looks intriguing and hits pretty close to home.

> 17 You're welcome, I hope you have fun! :)

I recently re-read The Bell Jar and it was just as good - if not better - the second time around. Can't say that about a lot of books!

Yeah, Sweets sounds interesting but I'm working on a few other things that have been on the TBR pile for longer before I get to it. The writer/illustrator was there and explained the story to me and that's what convinced me to buy it. :) Apparently it's set right before Hurricane Katrina so the detectives on the case have the extra burden of needing to find all the evidence, etc. before the storm comes. Do you live in/near New Orleans? I've never been....

Enjoyed the few monthlies I've been following: Batwoman #2, Buffy Season 9 #2, and Dollhouse: Epitaphs #4.

Also discovered a nice black & white indie comic, Pope Hats #2, by Ethan Rilly. It follows a young law clerk and her friends as they navigate their twenty-something lives. I'll look for #1.

I'm looking forward to the final volume (6) of FreakAngels, out tomorrow. It's been an odd & engaging series, and I've developed an affection for the characters, especially Arkady.

I love FreakAngels.

Chikkinz!

Just received my brand new (published this month) hardback omnibus of The Incal by Jodorowsky and Moebius. Drool.

(16) Moomin_Mama wrote "LOVED Elfquest, still have some of my original comics."

Which ones, the Warp Graphics or the Marvel?

I have most, if not all of the original Warp (large) comics, but I don't read them: that's what the anthologies are for!

I'm still waiting for the Elfquest movie....:tick tick tick:

I'm reading the second volume of Locke and Key and am still enjoying the story and the art. Since I read the first one a year ago, however, I could have used one those who's who at the front.

comeon soesnt anybody read Spider Man comics? they are the best!

ooh inuyasha is sooo awesome! lucky!

> 18

I lived in LA all my life and moved to New Orleans the year after Katrina. (my graduating class for undergrad was known as "The Class After Katrina") If you have any questions about the city I'll be glad to answer them. :)

> 26 I probably will have questions if I ever visit, but unfortunately that's not in my near-future plans. Thanks for the offer though! :)

I finally got around to reading the one-shot freebies I picked up on Free Comic Book Day back in May: Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse, Green Lantern: Special Edition, The Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers, and Pep Comics featuring Betty & Veronica. They were all fairly disappointing, except the Mickey Mouse one, which I was surprised to find quite delightful.

edited to fix touchstones

I finished reading 12 Reasons Why I Love Her by Jamie Rich & Joelle Jones. Was a little wary of reading a romance comic as I'm not usually a fan of romances in any fashion, but this was short & sweet.

@ 29

Aww that sounds nice. :) Have you seen the trailer for The Avengers?

My cousin sent me Batman #2 and Wonder Woman #2. I am looking forward to receiving them.

> 30 No, does it look any good?

Demo Volume 2 by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan was a good collection of his short stories about teens with paranormal and super talents that came close to the level of the terrific first one.

Next is Hark! a Vagrant by Katie Beaton.

I am reading The Boys right now. Not for that faint of heart.

I read Darwyn Cooke's DC: The New Frontier, Vol. 1, and look forward to reading Vol. 2. I love his neo-retro artwork, and the engaging Cold War scenarios. The scene with Wonder Woman in French Indochina was especially chilling.

It was illuminating to read this alongside The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America, which also covers post-WW II cultural panics & prejudices.

In current comics, I liked Angel & Faith #3.

>34 edgewood: Ten-cent Plague sounds interesting, was it good?

35> I enjoyed it. It covers the rise of the US comic book industry, leading to the post-war excesses of horror & crime comics, railed against by churches, local, state & federal government, opportunistic politicians, and pseudo-authorities like Frederick Wertham. The self-censorship of the Comics Code decimated much of the industry, driving hundreds of artists & writers out of the business for good. The book is thoroughly researched, with lots of interviews from surviving artists. I especially liked reading about the rise & fall of EC comics, which survived to have the last laugh with Mad magazine. I only wish the book had been more fully illustrated--there are just a handful of photos & examples.

Reading Book 2 of Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series.

http://www.librarything.com/series/Dean+Koontz%27s+Frankenstein

> 36 I've read books that touched upon that era within comic book history, but none that focused exclusively on it. I think I'll check The Ten-Centh Plague; it sounds good.

I just started Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. I'm not crazy about Superman in general so I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet.

Been trying to catch up on my comics TBR pile lately. Finished Lex Luthor: Man of Steel and just felt "eh" about it. Also read Adventures of Unemployed Man and thought it was great and gave many much-needed laughs.

I have been reading the 1st The Flash Omnibus by Geoff Johns. It collects The Flash Vol. 0: Wonderland, The Flash Vol.1: Blood will Run, The Flash: Iron Heights , The Flash Secret Files #3, and The Flash: Our Worlds at War #1.
Vol. 0 is Mark Waidian story-like but good. From vol. 1 on, you will be acquainted to stories that made the Johns' run famous.
The Rogues become darkier, grin and grit, even more if compared to the 60's stories.
The low point of the edition is that you don't have a prolog, epilogue or introdution, what is very poor, mainly for the price paid. But the claims are more editorial related.
Great stories and a start point for beginners

I have bought Testament by Jim Krueger. Looks good.