2012 - End of Week 17 - Books.

Greetings Friends,

As part of my 2012 challenge for myself, I'm attempting to read 20 Graphic Novels and 12 other books. This week I finished one more book. Check it out.

Book #10 (of 12) The R. Crumb Handbook.

This book (written by R. Crumb and Peter Poplaski) is basically a life and times book. It starts off with Crumb reflecting on his childhood: growing up in the fifties as a nerdish kid, how his older brother encouraged him to make comics with him, collecting vintage vinyl and moving with his family from city to city. As the book continues, Crumb focus' on his art and how the new form of Under Ground Comix  made him famous. Crumb's new celebrity status allows him to live out his weird sexual desires. Throughout the course of the book Crumb meets and marries three different women and moves to the south of France. This book continues through Crumb's life up to his 60's.

At 440 pages, this book is packed with hundreds of pieces of Crumb art including complete comics. Also included is the bonus CD: R. Crumb's Music Sampler.

This book is a nice look into R. Crumb's life and is recommended for any Crumb fan.

Keep Reading Comic (Comix).

D.L.   

2012: Week 17 - Comics

Greetings Friends,

I did a little more reading this week. Check it out.

#188. Justice League #8.

#189. Exile on the Planet of the Apes #2.

#190. The New Avengers #25.

#192. Captain America #10.

#193. Road Rage - (Duel p.1) #3. Great Art!

#194. A Game of Thrones #7.

#195. All Star Western #8.

#196. Super Crooks #2.

#197. Li'l Depressed Boy #10.

#198. Spaceman #6.

#199. Batman - The Dark Knight #8.

#200. B.P.R.D. - Hell on Earth - The Pickens County Horror #2.

#201. SpongeBob Comics #8.

#202. Toy Story #2.

#203. Peanuts #3.

#204. Peanuts #4.

#205. Adventure Time #2.

#206. Adventure Time #3.

That's it. Eighteen comics read this week.

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.

2012: Week 16 - Comics

Greetings Friends,

I had a better comic book reading experience this week as I read 17 comics. Check them out.

#171. 3 Story - Secret Files of the Giant Man (one-shot).

#172. The Manhattan Projects #2. Not as good as the first issue, but this series has a lot of promise.

#173. Lobster Johnson - The Burning Hand #4.

#174. The Bionic Woman #1.

#175. The New Avengers #24.

#176. Batman #8.

#177. Avengers #25.

#178. Planet of the Apes #13.

#179. Rocketter Adventures 2 #2.

#180. Steed and Mrs. Peel #4.

#181. Batman Beyond Unlimited #3. Three separate stories. 40 pages of comic content. And a very cool start to a Superman Beyond tale. Great issue at the $3.99 price point. Maybe my favorite DC book.

#182. Batman Odyssey #7 (really #13). Finally the end. I'm glad it's over.

#183. B.P.R.D. - Hell on Earth - The Long Death #3. Spoiler! A major character dies here.

#184. The Punisher #10. Boo Marvel! This is the second part of a three part story that started in Avenging Spider-Man #6 and concludes in Daredevil #11. I will not buy those books.

#185. Ragemoor #2. Very cool Richard Corben art.

#186. Next Men Aftermath #42. Confusing story. Short cuts on the art. Word balloons hooked to the wrong mouth. And misspelled words. A real mess of a comic book.

#187. Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Free Special Edition Preview.

That's it for now.

K.R.C.

D.L.

2012: Week 15 - Comics

Greetings Friends,

I (once again) read very few comics this week. Eight total. Check 'em out.

#163. The Bionic Man #8.

#164. Secret #1.

#165. Saga #2.

#166. Winter Soldier #4.

#167. Batwoman #8.

#168. The Secret Service #1.

#169. America's Got Powers #1.

#170. Creepy #8.

That's it.

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.

2012 - End of Week 14 - Books.

Greetings Friends,

I've read two more books in my quest.

Book #8 (of 12) Solstice by Steven T. Seagle and Justin Norman.

This story is told through flash backs of Hugh Waterhouse. Hugh is the teenage son of Russell Waterhouse, an over bearing adventurer who will stop at nothing to find the Fountain of Youth. His pursuit of the fountain has drove away his wife, splinter his relationship with his son and ended many of friendships. Do they find the fountain? Maybe. But at what cost?

I picked up Solstice from writer Steven T. Seagle at Planet Comic Con in Kansas City. I didn't know anything about the book before buying it. I just bought it because I liked Mr. Seagle's work on Sandman Mystery Theater. Was it a good purchase? Yes and no. While the story is okay, the black and white artwork is very nice. Mr. Norman's inks bring a lot of depth to the story and at times creates a nice suspenseful, creepy atmosphere.

Book #9 (of 12) Ed The Happy Clown by Chester Brown.

What is this? I first heard about this book on a podcast I listen to. The pod caster raved about how good this Chester Brown book is. So when I saw it at Planet Comic Con I thought I'd give it a shot. Man am I happy I did.

Chester Brown's indie style artwork may not be the best around. But meshed with this crazy story it works very well. I don't know if I could explain what this book is about. Let's just say it involves Ed (the clown), a man who couldn't stop (shitting), a dismembered hand, some killings, some scientists, a penis with a head that talks, a resurrection or two, nudity, sex, violence, a pocket universe, some imps and President Ronald Reagan. All those components wove into a really funny, fast moving, page turning story. Very good. My Highest Recommendation!

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.

2012: Week 14 - Comics

Greetings Friends,

I read a (very) few comics this week. Check them out.

#155. Detective Comics #8.

#156. New Avengers #23.

#157. Brilliant #3.

#158. Fanboy vs. Zombies #1.

#159. Omac #8.

#160. Hell Yeah #2.

#161. Fear Itself - The Fearless #12.

#162. Fatale #4.

Eight? Just eight? Can that even be right? 'Fraid so.

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.