January 06, 2010
The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 3
by Neil Gaiman
As with the previous volumes, loooooved it. I am going to be so sad when I get the next volume and finish it and there aren't any new Sandman issues to read (yes, this is my first time reading most of them. I'm a latecomer). The whole collection is awesome. I really liked "Ramadan" and the series of stories bookended in the End of the World inn, between realities. SO AWESOME. Plus, a spiffy retelling of the Orpheus myth! A winner all-round.
April 17, 2009
The Dark Knight Returns
By Frank Miller
This was a really interesting book. I'd heard a lot about it in Batman fandom, and so was psyched when I got it for my birthday. The art is a bit peculiar, but I dug the story and was immensely pleased that Robin is female in this story. Good times.
Book 12 in 2009.
Watchmen
By Alan Moore
I've read this a couple of times now, and I always seem to find new things each time I reread it. I still love Rorschach, even though I'm more painfully aware of his hypocrisy than ever. I actively dislike Adrian now, which is funny as my dear friend Annie adores him and we usually fangirl the same people. He may be the fiercest bitch in Watchmanland and the smartest man in the world, but his vagina-squid plot just gets stupider each time I read it. Utterly in character, mind you (the reasons it wouldn't work tie into human nature, of which he has a rather skewed view), but still. BAH. Dan is still awesome, though. I'm not sure I forgive him for just shutting his eyes to the shit that goes down at the end, but otherwise I adore him.
Great book, full of characters who suck to varying degrees. Gotta love it.
Book 11 in 2009.
January 14, 2009
The Absolute Sandman: Volume 2
By Neil Gaiman, et al
Wow. I loved the first volume, and I loved the second even more. This is pretty much the same setup as the first volume, though apparently the colors weren't fixed as much, if at all. Still, I like it. Great art, great stories (including a long, complicated, political tale about what happens when Lucifer closes up Hell, kicks out all the demons and damned souls, and gives Dream the key), and an interesting look behind the scenes at Neil's script (with lots of comments about what things look like -- interesting reading) with the associated sketches from the artist.
Book 2 in 2009.
December 01, 2008
Sandman: The Dream Hunters
By Neil Gaiman
This is a stunningly beautiful book. Gaiman's text is (as always) haunting and evocative and wonderful, and Amano's illustrations are strikingly gorgeous. It's interesting to read a Sandman story that's basically a short story with big illustrations, rather than a standard comic-book-style graphic novel. Good stuff.
Book 14 in 2008.
May 04, 2008
The Adventures of Dr. McNinja, Vol 1
By These Guys
Man, I love Dr. McNinja. Having the comics in hardcopy was an added bonus, but when I saw that the graphic novel had bonus features and preserved the alt-text commentary from the site (plus added commentary for the first adventure), I had to have it. I'm glad I made the investment, and will be picking up Vol. 2 as soon as I can.
If you don't already read Dr. McNinja, I can't really do it justice here. Short version: He's a doctor who is also a ninja. He fights zombies, boys who have turned into giant lumberjacks, pirates, and banditos on dinosaurs. If that sounds like your cup of tea, it almost certainly is and you should go read.
Book 8 in 2008! Unread books: 201 (21 to go til I can buy new books)