Super Mega Foxy Awesome Comic Blog

I know it's coming a little late, but I figured it was time for me to write up my review of Marvel Studio's Guardians of the Galaxy starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, David Batista and the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper.

Overall, I would say that the movie was completely enjoyable. The story was intriguing, the dialogue was hilarious, and Chris Pratt's portrayal of Star-Lord was spot on. Marvel went the direction that was really necessary with a movie like this one. James Gunn made sure that the film itself embraced the silliness of the premise, pushing the witty banter and consistently funny interactions between the many characters that appear on screen. After all, the team of main characters include a loquacious rodent and a vocabulary-stunted, talking tree. For the film to go any direction but silly and fun would have ended rather badly.

However, I don't think the film was all good. There were a couple of rather glaring problems that were further highlighted by the film's complete dedication to silliness. First, the characters that make up the main team do not get the development that is rightly deserved. Comic book fans would get some of the background, but the majority of audiences that saw the movie were not familiar with the comics. As is normally the case. We get a 30 second introduction to Gamora, which also serves as the introduction to Ronan. A main character and the primary villain in 30 seconds? Much to quick Mr. Gunn. Furthermore, there is a lack of explanation on Drax and his back story, which is so great and heartbreaking and phenomenal that it deserved some exploration. It seems to me that these moments of character development that could have made the characters and premise more real and relatable often take the backseat to that witty banter and funny dialogue that dominated the film.

Finally, on a related note, in the same way that the character development suffers at the hands of the humor, so too does the plot of the film. There is a great plot that that we understand, but only to the point that we must. There is a lack of exploration in the characters, thus a lack of exploration in the plot itself. Stripping the movie of some of those one-liners might have freed up space for some of this exploration.

Not that I didn't like the humor. I did. I laughed. But there seems to be something missing from the overall experience of this film.

I would still suggest that everyone go see it, and enjoy it. After all, it is fun and enjoyable, all the same.

While I know that All-Star Superman is highly considered one of the greatest Superman stories ever written, I only just made my way around to this 12-issue limited series. All-Star Superman written by Grant Morrison with art by Frank Quitely, is the winner of at least two Eisner Awards: Best New Series in 2006 and Best Ongiong Series in 2007. With this sort of reputation, I came into this series with high expectations and high hopes for one of my favorite characters of all time. And, for the most part, Morrison and Quitely pulled through. This series, like All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder, was created to exist outside DC continuity. They wanted Morrison to be able to tell the story he wanted to tell, without having to worry about what was happening in Superman’s world in the regular series. And this is part of the reason that Morrison was able to tell the story he told.

There is a lot to love about All-Star Superman. The premise of the story, that Superman has received an overdose of radiation from the sun when he rescued Dr. Leo Quintum and his team, is much different than anything I could ever expect. Superman is dying because of overexposure to the source of all his powers. Talk about irony. But it isn’t really. Because we find out early on that certain businessman and scientist, Lex Luthor, is behind Quintum’s trip to the sun and Superman’s subsequent rescue and overexposure.

Thus, here we have a Superman story wherein the Man of Steel is staring down the barrell of the one gun he probably thought he’d never have to face: mortality. And the musings and decisions of Superman following this revelation of his constant cellular degeneration provides a great backdrop for this book. It is in the moments when Superman stares down his own mortality that it becomes evident that Earth is his home, and always will be. He faces the prospect and idea of death in much the same way that you or I would, and he becomes more human in light of that experience.

Morrison’s writing in this series, overall, is phenomenal. There were a few small places that I thought sounded a little forced. Even so, the dialogue and occasional inner monologue is what pushes this series forward, and it does so without making the whole idea seem too forced. The one set back I found arose with Superman on Bizarrotropolis. It seemed a little too much out of left field and I couldn’t really find a way to connect to the story. It was all just a little too much outside the scope for the story that was being told. At least, it felt that way to me.

Quitely’s art is phenomenal, as expected. He really is a great artist doing great work, especially in this series. I really have nothing bad to say about that aspect of the book.

For anyone out there looking for something worth reading, I have taken the time to type out the 500 essential graphic novels according to Gene Kannenberg Jr. in his book of the same title. Get this book to read plot summaries and such, but otherwise I wanted to make his list alone available. The book was published in 2008. Thus, I know it is not completely up to date. Even so, it's a good list overall. I do want to note that I didn't include the artist name here, only the writer. This is note at all an affront to artists; it just worked out that way because a list of 500 was a lot to type up and I'm lazy. Also, the list, like the book, is broken down by category. The books aren't ranked. Find a category you're into and start reading!

The List

Adventure

Top 10

The Yellow “M” by Edgar P. Jacobs

Disney’s Duck Tales Stories: Volume 1 by Carl Barks

In The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

Leave it to Chance Volume 1: Shaman’s Rain by James Robinson

Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 1: The Assassin’s Road Kazuo Koike

Orient Gateway by Vittorio Giardino

Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton

Prince Valiant Volume 20: The Pilgrimage by Hal Foster

The Towers of Bois-Maury Volume 1: Babette by Hermann Huppen

The Complete Classic Adventures of Zorro by Various

The Best of the Rest

Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures: Volume 1 by J. Torres

Blackjack: Blood and Honor by Alex Simmons

Bookhunter by Jason Shiga

Blade of the Immortal by Hiroaki Samura

James Bond: Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (adapted)

Gon: Volume 1 by Masashi Tanaka

Gunsmith Cats, Revised Edition: Volume 1 by Kenichi Sonoda

Lady Snowblood by Kazuo Koike

Mouse Guard Volume 1: Fall 1152 by David Petersen

The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck by Don Rose

Naruto: Volume 1 by Masashi Kishimoto

The Rocketeer by Dave Stevens

Skidmarks by ILYA

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 1 by Peter David

The Complete Terry and the Pirates Volume 1: 1934-1936 by Milton Caniff

Tintin in Tibet by Hergé

Tor: Volume 1 by Joe Kubert

Usagi Yojimbo: Book 1 by Stan Sakai

Non-Fiction

Top 10

Alice in Sunderland by Bryan Talbot

American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar by Harvey Pekar

Binky Brown Sampler by Justin Green

Blankets by Craig Thompson

Epileptic by David B.

Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, Volume 1 and 2 by Art Spiegelman

The Minotaur’s Tale by Al Davison

Persepolis: A Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

Pyongyang by Guy Delisle

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud

The Best of the Rest

Alex by Mark Kalesniko

Borgia: Blood for the Pope by Alejandro Jodorowsky

Buddha Volume 1: Kapilavastu by Osamu Tezuka

Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto

An Cartoon History of the Universe Volume 1 by Larry Gonick

Casanova’s Last Stand by Hunt Emerson

Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi

Dori Stories: The Complete Dori Seda by Dori Seda

Drawing Comics Is Easy (Except When It’s Hard) by Alexa Kitchen

Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi

Ethel and Ernest by Raymond Briggs

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

I Love Led Zeppelin by Ellen Forney

Indian Summer by Hugo Pratt

It’s a Bird by Steven T. Seagle

Kafka: Give It Up and Other Short Stories by Franz Kafka

King: A Comic Biography of Martin Luther King Jr. by Ho Che Anderson

Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography by Chester Brown

Laika by Nick Abadzis

Love that Bunch by Aline Kominsky Crumb

Making Comics by Scott McCloud

Malcolm X by Andrew J. Helfer

Mom’s Cancer by Brian Fies

My Troubles with Women by Robert Crumb

Need More Love by Aline Kominsky Crumb

Notes from a Defeatist by Joe Sacco

Our Cancer Year by Havey Pekar and Joyce Brabner

Pedro and Me by Judd Winick

The Playboy by Chester Brown

The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion by Will Eisner

The Salon by Nick Bertozzi

Shenzhen Guy Delisle

Spiral Cage by Al Davison

True Story, Swear to God: Chances Are by Tom Beland

Two Fisted Science: Stories about Scientists by Jim Ottaviani

The Times of Botchan by Natsuo Sekikawa

Yukiko’s Spinach by Frederic Boilet

Crime/Mystery

Top 10

100 Bullets Volume 1: First Shot, Last Call by Brian Azzarello

City of Glass by Paul Auster

The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy, Volume 1: 1931-1933 by Chester Gould

A History of Violence by John Wagner

Human Target: Final Cut by Pete Milligan

Kane Book 1: Greetings from New Eden by Paul Grist

Road to Perdition by Max Allan Collins

Sin City: The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller

The Best of the Spirit by Will Eisner

Whiteout by Greg Rucka

The Best of the Rest

After the Rain by Andre Julliard

Alias Volume 1 by Brian Michael Bendis

Brodie’s Law: Project Jameson by Alan Grant

The Chuckling Whatsit by Richard Sala

The EC Archives: Crime Suspenstories Volume 1 by Various

Criminal Volume 1: Coward by Ed Brubaker

Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery by Steve Niles

Crying Freeman by Kazuo Koike

The Drowners by Nabiel Kanan

Grendel: Devil by the Deed by Matt Wagner

Greyshirt: Indigo Sunset by Rick Veitch

Harum Scarum: The Spiffy Adventures of McConey Volume 1 by Lewis Trondheim

Ice Haven by Daniel Clowes

Kabuki: Circle of Blood by David Mack

The Loser Volume 1: Ante Up by Andy Diggle

London’s Dark by James Robinson

Lupin the Third Volume 1 (World’s Most Wanted) by Monkey Punch (Kazuhiko Kato)

Modesty Blaise: Bad Suki by Peter O’Donnell

Monster, Volume 1 by Naoki Urasawa

Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham

Outlaw Nation by Jamie Delano

Oldboy Volume 1 by Garon Tsuchiya

Queen and Country: The Definitive Edition Volume 1 by Greg Rucka

Powers Volume 1: Who Killed Retro Girl? By Brian Michael Bendis

Ring of Roses by Das Petrou

Rex Mundi Book 1: The Guardian of the Temple by Arvid Nelson

Sandman Mystery Theatre: The Tarantula by Matt Wagner

Sanctuary by Sho Fumimura

Scene of the Crime: A Little Piece of Goodnight by Ed Brubaker

Silverfish by David Lapham

The Steel Claw: The Vanishing Man by Ken Bulmer

A Treasury of Victorian Murder: The Borden Tragedy by Rick Geary

Why Are You Doing This? By Jason

Fantasy

Top 10

Bone: Volume 1 by Jeff Smith

The Chronicles of Conan Volume 1: Tower of the Elephant and Other Stories by Roy Thomas

Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham

Heart of Empire: The Legacy of Luther Arkwright by Bryan Talbot

Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay

Marie Gabrielle by Georges Pichard

The Compleat Moonshadow by J.M. DeMatteis

Promethea by Alan Moore

Sandman Volume 3 –Dream Country by Neil Gaiman

Sláine: Books of Invasions Volume 1 by Pat Mills

Best of the Rest

Abadazad: The Road to Inconceivable by J.M. DeMatteis

Asteriz and the Great Crossing by René Godcinny

Birdland by Gilbert Hernandez

The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess & Various

The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman

The Books of Magic: Bindings by John Ney Rieber

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

Cheech Wizard by Vaughn Bode

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Volume 1 by Wang Du Lu and So Man Sing

Death: The High Cost of Living by Neil Gaiman

Dungeon Volume 1: Duck Heart by Joann Sfar

Elfquest Archives Volume 1 by Richard & Wendy Pini

Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham

Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, Vol. 1: The Selfish Giant & The Star Child by Oscar Wilde

The Frank Book by Jim Woodring

Fushigi Yugi by Yuu Watase

Inuyasha Volume 1 by Rumiko Takahashi

Lenore: Noogies by Roman Dirge

Light Brigade by Peter Tomasi

Little Ego by Vittorio Giardino

Lucifer Volume 1: Devil in the Gateway by Mike Carey

Louis: Lying to Clive by Metaphrong

The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, P. Craig Russell

Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip (Vol. 1) by Tove Jansson

Oh My Goodness Volume 1 by Kosuke Fujishima

One Piece Volume 1: Romance Dawn by Eiichiro Oda

Pop Gun War by Rarel Dalrymple

Scary Godmother: The Boo Flu by Jill Thompson

Skeleton Key Volume 1: Beyond the Threshold by Andi Watson

Steampunk: Manimatron by Joe Kelly

Suckle: The Status of Basil by Dave Cooper

Thorgal: Child of the Stars by Jean Van Hamme

Three Fingers by Rich Koslowski

The Yellow Jar: Two Tales from Japanese Tradition (Vol. 1) by Patrick Atangan

General Fiction

Top 10

Bardín The Superrealist by Max

Cerebus: Church and State by Dave Sim

The Contract with God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue by Will Eisner

Ghost World by Dan Clowes

Jar of Fools by Jason Lutes

Locas: The Maggie and Hopey Stories by Jaime Hernandez

Signal to Noise by Nail Gaiman

A Small Killing by Alan Moore

Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse

The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot

Best of the Rest

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

B. Krigstein: Comics by Greg Sadowski and Various

Ballad of the Salt Sea by Hugo Pratt

Berlin: City of Stones by Jason Lutes

The Birthday Riots by Nabiel Kanan

Blue by Kiriko Nananan

Boulevard of Broken Dream by Kim Deitch

Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson

Brooklyn Dreams by J.M. DeMatteis

A Child’s Life and Other Stories by Phoebe Gloekner

Can’t Get No by Rick Veitch

Cerebus: High Society by Dave Sim

Click by Milo Manara

Clyde Fans: Book 1 by Seth

The Complete Omaha The Cat Dancer Volume 1 by Kate Worley

Corridor by Sarnath Banerjee

Couscous Express by Brian Wood

Curses by Kevin Huizenga

Dead Memory by Mar Antoine Mathieu

Demo by Brian Wood

Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel

Extended Dream of Mr. D by Max

Fagin the Jew by Will Eisner

Flood! A Novel in Pictures by Eric Drooker

The Four Immigrants Manga: The Japanese Experience in San Francisco, 1904-1924 by Yoshitaka (Henry) Kiyama

Gemme Bovery by Posy Simmonds

Get a Life by Phillipe Dupuy and Charles Berberian

The Golem’s Mighty Swing by James Sturm

Goodbye, Chunky Rick by Craig Thompson

Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks

In Search of Shirley by Cosey

It’s a Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken by Seth

The Jew of New York by Ben Katchor

Jimbo in Purgatory by Gary Panter

Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: Stories by Ben Katchor

Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid in the World by Chris Ware

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

King Lear: Graphic Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

Kings in Disguise: A Novel by James Vance

La Perdida by Jessica Abel

Lost Girls by Alan Moore

Mail Order Bride by Mark Kalesniko

Nemi by Lise Myhre

Mirror, Window: An Artbabe Collection by Jessica Abel

The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr. Punch by Neil Gaiman

The New Adventures of Jesus: The Second Coming by Frank Stack

Palomar: The Heartbreak Soup Stories by Gilbert Hernandez

Paul Has A Summer Job by Michel Rabagliati

Remembrance of Things Past: Within A Budding Grove by Marcel Proust

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Robot Dreams by Sara Varon

Same Difference and Other Stories by Derek Kirk Kim

The EC Archives: Shock Suspenstories Volume 1 by Al Feldstein

Slow News Day by Andi Watson

Smoke by Alexi De Campi

SSHHHH! By Jason

Strangers in Paradise: Pocket Book 1 by Terry Moore

Stray Tosters by Bill Sienkiewicz

Streak of Chalk by Miguelanxo Prado

Summer Blonde by Adrian Tomine

The Summer of Love by Debbie Drechsler

Tangents by Miguelanxo Prado

The Three Paradoxes by Paul Hornschemeier

Tricked by Alex Robinson

Video Girl AI Volume 1: Preproduction by Masakazu Katsura

Violent Cases by Neil Gaiman

Wet Moon Volume 1: Feeble Wanderings by Ross Campbell

Wind of the Gods Volume 1: Blood From The Moon by Patrick Cothias

Whoa, Nellie! Jaime Hernandez

Horror

Top 10

Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits by Garth Ennis

Hellboy Volume 3: The Chained Coffin and Other Stories by Mike Mignola

Hellspawn: The Ashley Wood Collection by Brian Michael Bendis and Steve Niles

Preacher: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis

The Sandman Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman

Skin Deep: Tales of Doomed Romance by Charles Burns

Strange Embrace by David Hine

Swamp Thing Volume 1: Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore

The EC Archives: Tales From the Crypt Volume 1 by Al Feldstein

The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

The Best of the Rest

30 Days of Night by Steve Niles

B.P.R.D Volume 3: Plague of Frogs by Mike Mignola

Black Hole by Charles Burns

Blood: A Tale by J.M. DeMatteis

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Collected Best, Volume 1 by Clive Barker and Various

Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh

Death Note, Volume 1 by Tsugumi Ohba

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A Graphic Novel by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Goon Volume 1: Nothin’ But Misery by Eric Powell

Fiends of the Eastern Front by Gerry Finley-Day

Hell Baby by Hino Hideshi

Black Cat (Hino Horror, Book 6) by Hino Hideshi

Hellblazer: All His Engines by Mike Carey

Collected Hook Jaw Volume 1 by Pat Mills and Ken Armstrong

Museum of Terror Volume 1 by Junji Ito

Marvel Zombies by Robert Kirkman

Nocturnals Volume 1: Black Planet by Dan Brereton

Ode to Kirihito by Osamu Tezuka

Pure Trance by Junko Mizuno

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Hoodoo Voodoo Brouhaha by Various

Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Apparitions of Killoffer by Killoffer

Swamp Thing: Dark Genesis by Len Wein

Essential Tomb of Dracula: Volume 1 by Marv Wolfman

Uzumaki by Junji Ito

Zombie World: Champion of the Worms by Mike Mignola

Humor

Top 10

Buddy Does Seattle by Peter Bagge

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

The Complete Crumb Comics: Volume 8 by Robert Crumb

The Cowboy Wally Show by Kyle Baker

Flaming Carrot Volume 3: Flaming Carrot’s Greatest Hits by Bob Burden

Groo: Library by Sergio Aragones with Mark Evanier

He Done Her Wrong by Milt Gross

Liberty Meadows Book 1: Eden by Frank Cho

Quimby the Mouse by Chris Ware

Tank Girl: Volume 1 by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin

The Best of the Rest

Action Philosophers: Volume 1 by Fred Van Lente

The Amazing Mr. Pleebus by Nick Abadzis

The Adventures of Tony Millionaire's Sock Monkey by Tony Millionaire

Amphigorey by Edward Gorey

Archie Americana Series: Best of the Fifties by Paul Castiglia

Beg the Question: Bob Fingerman

The Big Book of Hell by Matt Groening

Big Fat Little Lit by Various

The Best of Bijou Funnies by Jay Lynch

Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire

Birth of a Nation: A Comic Novel by Aaron McGruder and Reginald Hudlin

Blue Monday, Volume 1: The Kids Are Alright by Chynna Clugston-Major

Book of Leviathan by Peter Blegvad

The Book of Mr. Natural by Robert Crumb

Clumsy by Jeffrey Brown

Collected hutch Owen by Tom Hart

Dame Darcy’s Meatcake Compilation by Dame Darcy

The Complete D.R. and Quinch by Alan Moore

The Doofus Omnibus by Rick Altergott

The Collected Dork Tower Volume 1: Dork Covenant by John Kovalic

The Complete Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Volume 1 by Gilbert Shelton

Fred the Clown by Roger Langridge

Fun with Milk and Cheese by Evan Dorkin

The Greatest of Marlys by Lynda Barry

A Gregory Treasury Volume 1 by Marc Hempel

Grickle by Graham Annable

Hey Mister: Celebrity Roast by Pete Sickman-Garner

Jane’s World by Paige Braddock

Johnny the Homicidal Maniac: Director’s Cut by Jhonen Vasquez

Krazy & Ignatz 1943-1944: He Nods In Quiesscent Siesta by George Herriman

Leonard and Larry: Domesticity Isn’t Pretty by Tim Barela

Life’s a Bitch:: The Bitchy Bitch Chronicles by Roberta Gregory

L’il Santa by Thierry Robin

Little Annie Fanny: Volume 1 by Harvey Kurtzman

The Louche and Insalubrious Escapades of Art D’ecco by Andrew Langridge

A Lucky Luke Adventure: Billy the Kid by Rene Goscinny

Magic Whistle Volume 9 by Sam Henderson

Maison Ikkoku: Volume 1 by Rumiko Takahashi

Mister O by Louis Trondheim

Monkey vs. Robot by James Kochalka

Peanutbutter and Jeremy’s Best Book Ever! by James Kochalka

Peepshow: The Cartoon Diary of Joe Matt by Joe Matt

The Complete Peanuts 1950-1952 by Charles M. Shultz

Pgog: The Complete Daily & Sudnay Comic Strips Volume 1: Into the Wild Blue Wonder by Walt Kelly

Popeye Volume 1: I Yam What I Yam! by E.C. Segar

Premillennial Maakies: The First Five Years by Tony Millionaire

Ranma ½ by Rumiko Takahashi

Pussey! by Dan Clowes

The Collected Sam & Max: Surfin’ the Highway by Steve Purcell

Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life: Volume 1 by Brian Lee O’Malley

Sugar Buzz: Your Ticket to Happiness by Ian Carney

Spy Vs. Spy: The Complete Case Book by Antonio Prohias

Temptation by Glenn Dakin

Tantrum by Jules Feiffer

The Pro by Garth Ennis

Underworld Volume 5: My Little Funny by Kaz

Too Much Coffee Man: Guide for the Perplexed by Shannon Wheeler

White Flower Day by Steven Weissman

Why I Hate Saturn by Kyle Baker

Science Fiction

Top 10

Akira Volume 1 by Katsuhiro Otomo

Concrete Volume 1: Depths by Paul Chadwick

Ghost in the Shell Volume 1: Masamune Shirow

Hard Boiled by Frank Miller

The Invisibles Volume 1: Say You Want A Revolution by Grant Morrison

Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 01 by John Wagner and Various

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1 by Alan Moore

Star Wars: Dark Empire I and II by Tom Veitch

Transmetropolitan: Back on the Street by Warren Ellis

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

The Best of the Rest

2020 Visions by Jamie Delano

A.B.C. Warriors: The Black Hole by Pat Mills

Abraxas and the Earthman by Rick Veitch

A.L.I.E.E.E.N.: Archives of Lost Issues and Earthly Editions of Extraterrestrial Novelties by Lewis Trondheim

Alien Omnibus Volume 1 by Mark Verheiden

American Flagg by Howard Chaykin

Appleseed Book 1: The Promethean Challenge by Masamune Shirow

Astro Boy Volume 1 by OSamu Tezuka

Astronauts In Trouble: Love From The Moon by Larry Young

Complete Ballad of Halo Jones by Alan Moore

Battle Angel Alita Volume 1 by Yukito Kishiro

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

Billi 99 by Sarah Byam

Blackmark by Gil Kane

A Distant Soil Volume 1 by Colleen Doran

Classic Dan Dare: Voyage to Venus Part 1 by Frank Hampson

Doctor Who: The Iron Legion by Pat Mills, John Wagner, and Steve Moore

Morbus Gravis I: Druuna by Paulo Eleuteri Serpieri

Fafhrd and Gray Mouser by Howard Chaykin

The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky

Full Metal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa

Girl Genius Volume 1: Agatha Heterodyne and the Beetleburg Clank by Phil and Kaja Foglio

Glacial Period by Nicolas de Crecy

Global Frequency: Planet Ablaze by Warren Ellis

Illegal Alien by James Robinson

Judge Dredd: Origins

Kamandi Archives by Jack Kirby

Chaos: Lone Sloane by Philippe Druillet

Ministry of Space by Warren Ellis

Mister X: The Definitive Collection Volume 1 and 2 by Dean Motter and Paul Rivoche

Mars by Mark Wheatly and Marc Hempel

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wing: Volume 1 by Hayao Miyazaki

The Complete Nemesis The Warlock Volume 1 by Pat Mills

Neon Genesis Evangelion by Gainax and Hidekai Anno

Nexus Archives Volume 1 by Mike Baron

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Jim Steranko

Nikolai Dante: The Romanov Dynasty by Robbie Morrison

The Originals by Dave Gibbons

Phoenix Volume 4: Karma by Osamu Tezuka

Rocco Vargas: The Whisper Mystery by Daniel Torres

Rocketo: Journey to the Hidden Sea Volume 1 by Frank Espinosa

Ronin by Frank Miller

Scarlet Traces by Ian Edginton

Skizz by Alan Moore

Wandering Star: Volume 1 by Teri Sue Wood

Waterloo Sunset by Andrew Stephenson

We3 by Grant Morrison

The EC Archives: Weird Science Volume 1 by Various

Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan

Superheroes

Top 10

Across the Universe: The DC Universe Stories of Alan Moore by Alan Moore

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller

Batman: Hush Volume 1 and 2 by Jeph Loeb

Essential Fantastic Four Volume 3 by Stan Lee

Marvels by Kurt Busiek

Planetary Volume 1: All Over the World and Other Stories

Spawn: Collected Edition Volume 1 by Todd McFarlane

Essential Spider-Man, Volume 2 by Stan Lee

The Ultimates Volume 1 by Mark Millar

Watchmen by Alan Moore

The Best of the Rest

All Star Comics Archives, Volume 1 by Gardner Fox

All Star Superman Volume 1 by Grant Morrison

Animal Man by Grant Morrison

Astonishing X-Men Volume 1: Gifted by Joss Whedon

Astro City: Life in the Big City

The Authority: Relentless by Warren Ellis

The Avengers: The Kree-Skrull War by Roy Thomas

Batman: Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller

Birds of Prey, Volume 1: Of Like Minds by Gail Simone

Bratpack by Rick Veitch

Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Volume 1 by Stan Lee

Civil War by Mark Millar

Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman

Crisis on Multiple Earths Volume 1 by Gardner Fox

Daredevil by Frank Miller Omnibus Companion by Frank Miller

Doom Patrol, Book 1: Crawling From The Wreckage by Grant Morrison

Elektra: Assassin by Frank Miller

The Essential Doctor Strange, Volume 1 by Stan Lee

Ex Machina, Volume 1: The First Hundred Days by Brian K. Vaughan

Definitive Silver Surfer by Stan Lee and Marv Wolfman

Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Volume 1 by John Byrne

Godland Volume 1: Hello, Cosmic! by Joe Casey

Green Lantern/Green Arrow Collection Volume 1 by Dennis O’Neil

Green Arrow: Quiver by Kevin Smith

I Shall Destroy All Civilized Planets! by Fletcher Hanks

Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer

Incredible Hulk: Return of the Monster by Bruce Jones

Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Volume 1 by Robert Kirkman

Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle by David Michelinie

Jack Kirby’s New Gods by Jack Kirby

Jack Staff, Volume 1: Everything Used To Be Black and White by Paul Grist

Justice League: A New Beginning by Keith Griffen and J.M. DeMatteis

Kingdom Come by Mark Waid

Madman: The Oddity Odyssey by Michael Allred

Mage: The Hero Defined Volume 2 by Matt Wagner

Manhunter: The Special Edition by Archie Goodwin

Marshal Law: Fear and Loathing by Pat Mills

Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman

The Plastic Man Archives, Volume 1 by Jack Cole

Plastic Man: On The Lam by Kyle Baker

Shade, The Changing Man: The American Scream by Peter Milligan

Shazam! Archives, Volume 1 by Bill Parker

Spider-Girl Volume 1: Legacy by Tom DeFalco

Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt by J.M. DeMatteis

Starman: Sins of the Father by James Robinson

Superman: The Death of Superman by Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson, and Roger Stern

Superman: The Man of Steel by John Byrne

Supreme: The Story of the Year by Alan Moore

Thor Visionaries: Walter Simonson Volume 1 by Walter Simonson

Thunderbolts: Justice Like Lightening by Kurt Busiek with Peter David

Top Ten Book 1 by Alan Moore

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1: Power and Responsibility by Brian Michael Bendis

Wolverine by Chris Claremont

Wonder Woman Archives: Volume 1 by William Moulton Marston

Wonder Woman Volume 1: Gods and Mortals by George Perez, Greg Potter, and Len Wein

X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont

War

Top 10

The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson

300 by Frank Miller

Barefoot Gen Volume 1: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima by Keiji Nakazawa

Charley’s War: 2 June - 1 August 1916 by Pat Mills

The Fixer: A Story From Sarajevo by Joe Sacco

Last Day in Vietnam by Will Eisner

Palestine by Joe Sacco

Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan

When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs

Yossel by Joe Kubert

Best of the Rest

Adolf Volume 1 by Osamu Tezuka

Adventures in the Rifle Brigade by Garth Ennis

Age of Bronze Volume 1: A Thousand Ships by Eric Shanower

Artesia: Book of Doom by Mark S. Smylie

Battle Hymn: Farewell to the First Golden Age by B. Clay Moore

Crecy by Warren Ellis

DMZ Volume 1: On The Ground by Brian Wood

Golgo 13 Volume 1: Supergun by Takao Saito

In The Shadow of No Towers by Art Spiegelman

The Life and Times of Martha Washington in the 21st Century by Frank Miller

Notes for a War Story by Gipi

Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992-1995 by Joe Sacco

Marvel Masterworks: Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos, Volume 1 by Stan Lee

The Sgt. Rock Archives, Volume 1 by Bob Kanigher and Bob Haney

To Afghanistan and Back: A Graphic Travelogue by Ted Rall

The EC Archives: Two-Fisted Tales Volume 1 by Harvey Kurtzman and Various

War Stories Volume 2 by Garth Ennis

As is probably evident, I've been on a real "origins of Superman" kick lately. I found a site that counts down the 30 best retellings of the Man of Steel's origin, so I'm working my way through some of the things on that list. Here's the link to that article.

My second step in this journey led me to the 6-issue limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Gary Frank in 2009 and 2010. This series has some good, a lot of bad, and some things in between.

Let's start with The Good:

First, I think Gary Frank's art in this series, for the most part, is enjoyable to look at. There are a few panels that fall short, but overall his art is strong. I also enjoy the short snippet we get in issue 2 of Superman as a teenager still trying to figure out what his idea of helping people is actually going to look like. Finally, I think Geoff Johns did a fabulous job writing the character of Lex Luthor. He's evil, scheming, and ultimately, extremely insecure. His dialogue really captures these facets of Luthor's personality.

But there is still plenty in this series that were in between.

For example, I am still not really sure how I feel about the characterizations of the Kents. They are both super helpful and extremely supportive from the beginning when it comes to Clark's idea to help people. There's no tension. It seems to simple. His parents wouldn't be that gung-ho about him consistently putting his life in danger, right? It just seems a little unrealistic. Also, I wasn't very impressed with the villains in the series (outside of Luthor). Parasite and Metallo just kind of fell flat for me. There was no motivation, or there was minimal motivation at least. They were merely there to give Superman something to overcome physically, but I don't think that was the best choice. Finally, this story borrowed a lot of ideas from Superman: Birthright. I'm not saying this is good or bad, but it seems that without Birthright the beginning of this story wouldn't exist. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but thought it was worth noting.

And, sadly, we must discuss the Bad in this series:

First, there was nearly zero character development for Luthor. We see him as an outcast who either kills or is at least glad his father is dead. Then we see him in the next issue operating as a multi-million dollar businessman and the proclaimed "savior" of Metropolis. How did he get there? What led him to that point? The most we really get is him talking about his inventions, but it's not enough. If we are going to operate under the assumptions that Lex built Luthor Inc. and did not inherit it, then something has to show us what led to the construction of that company. To tell an appropriate origin of Superman, one must also tell an adequate origin of Luthor, but this one is very far below adequate. Finally, the ending of this series bothered me a lot because the dialogue became overly cheesy and sentimental. I was especially let down by this speech of Superman's: "I want you to stop looking for a great Savior. Lex Luthor isn't it. I'm not it. You are. All of you are. I do what I do because I was given a gift, but all of you were given gifts, too. Use them to make each other's lives better. Show the world that Metropolis has a heart." I think the idea behind the speech is good, but the dialogue itself is almost laughable. Nothing in the series has quite sounded this way, so it is really out of place and doesn't quite belong here.

I finished Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu's Superman: Birthright today. I went into this book with the same idea that I'm sure most people had: haven't I heard/read about the origins of Superman enough? It seems that they are constantly reworking his origin, but each time the most important things remain the same. Why do we keep coming back to this story? What is it doing for us that we want to have it told and retold time and time again?

While I don't actually have an answer to those questions, I do think that this retelling of "The Origin of the Man of Steel" is one of the best I've ever come across. Waid's story is new, fresh, and exciting, while also maintaining those basic characteristics of the origin of one of the oldest comic book superheroes in existence. It is in this story that we see the farm-boy Clark Kent struggle with his identity and powers. Clark, with help and encouragement from Ma and Pa Kent, soon comes up with the idea of Superman - the alter ego. Yet, after Superman meets the sinister Lex Luthor, Luthor decides that Superman cannot be trusted. Thus, Luthor begins to discredit the name of Superman by using Superman's own race - Kryptonians - and his past as a member of the world of Krypton against him.

The best part about this rendition of the origin story of Superman is that, much like the television show Smallville, Clark Kent and Lex Luthor know each other as adolescents. Through this back story Waid is able to humanize the villainy of Lex Luthor. Playing on the image of Luthor as a lonely outcast who just want someone "to talk to," Waid locates the evil schemes of Luthor within his own insecurities. And this is what makes Superman and Luthor both so similar and so different. Kent has always had insecurities, but he must escape those insecurities (with the help of Ma and Pa Kent and Lois Lane) in order to become the hero that Metropolis needs. Luthor, on the other hand, is unable to escape the insecurities that have plagued him since childhood. Thus, Luthor becomes a villain because he is steeped in insecurity, and Superman becomes the hero because he is able to leave his insecurities behind. In this version of the story, it's all about choices and one's point-of-view.

I recently finished the undertaking that is Brian Vaughan and Pia Guerra's epic-length comic story, Y: The Last Man. After 60 issues (10 TPBs), which I devoured in about 10-12 days, there is so much that I want to say about this story. And yet, I'm left without words. Nothing that I write here could truly begin to unpack the complex ideas and musings that this story evoked in me. This saga (wink wink to all you Vaughan fans) is a critique of "normal" gender roles; it is a critique of the expectations we have of a specifically gendered body; it is a critique of community. But it is also a portrait of beautiful relationships (both platonic and non-platonic); it is a sprawling history of the individual psyche and the effects of trauma; it is a heartwarming and heart-wrenching tale of love, in all its forms. All in all, Vaughan and Guerra have produced a tale of the complexities contained within each of us, what we often call the human condition. And it is spectacular. But one interesting fact still remains: in order to get to these real emotions and stories, Vaughan and Guerra had to first engineer a semi-apocolypse. Thus we get to the story itself. Y: The Last Man chronicles the adventures of Yorick Brown (pictured above) as the last surviving male on the planet. An unknown plague has killed every known living male on the planet (human and otherwise), and only Yorick and his pet Capuchin monkey, Ampersand, were saved. Why? (Thus the title, which echoes in the question "why?", in the beginning of Yorick's name, and within the Y chromosome, which the plague nearly exterminated). Yorick's adventure leads him through many different continents and across the paths of many individuals, both for his good and his ill. Yet it is both the relationships that he builds with those around him and the hope of the love of his girlfriend Beth that keeps him going.

Anyone who loves dystopic fiction, adventure fiction, graphic novels, comic books, comedic writing, or even just beautiful art will no doubt enjoy this series. I give the entire series a 5/5, and unreservedly recommend you give it your time. It will return so much more to you.

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW. Please do not continue with this post if you have not yet read Y: The Last Man.

Yet, for me, the whole story rides on that final image. That final page.

Here are snippet reviews of a few books from the past two weeks. Time got away from me and I fell behind on reviews. I'll get back at it with the books released today.

Batman Eternal #8. This issue started to bring the stories together in a much more cohesive way. Seeing more of all of the characters really helped this issue. I give it a 4/5.

Trees #1. This book is really interesting. While this first issue I think maybe introduces a few too many questions, I am still extremely intrigued by the idea overall and I want to keep reading. I give this book a 4/5.

Ms. Marvel #4. This title is easily one of my top five books being written currently from any company. The story so far is great and I love the incorporation of a Muslim-American family dynamic. It adds something really nice to the comic. I give this issue a 5/5.

Woods #2. I loved the first issue of this book, but this issue was much less interesting for me. I found the story repetitive and the plot lacking. I think the series overall is going in a very interesting direction, but this issue leaves me wanting, and not in an entirely positive way. I give this issue a 2.5/5.

Batman Eternal #9. This book continually fluctuates. This issue is right there in the middle. The story is good, though it is a little too straightforward in the way it gives us information. The art is also strong for the most part, but there are panels here and there that look rushed and much less thought out. Overall, the story remains intriguing, but the book overall is still juggling too many stories I think. I give this issue a 3/5.

Nailbiter #2. This book is one thing - weird. But even so, it is expertly written and drawn. The layout of the panels and the things Mike Henderson chooses to focus on really makes the book even more creepy. Really fun, creepy, and gruesome read thus far. Joshua Williamson's writing is really quite good as well. I give this book a 4.5/5.

Cyclops #2. This issue was much stronger than the first in my opinion. The art was great and the story was extremely fun. This swashbuckling style of space pirates set up in this issue is really fun and interesting. Rucka also does a nice job of including just enough little things so that we have questions that push into the next issue, but he doesn't overdo that. Nice balance. I give this issue a 4/5.

I was really excited to get into this series this month because of the sheer magic that is Cullen Bunn's writing on Magneto's solo series for Marvel. Perhaps my background to Cullen's writing there was not a great thing for me to have. It has definitely dictated my experience of this book more than it should. Just the same, I do think that Bunn's approach to Sinestro is extremely intriguing. Bunn seems to be able to write these villain solo titles unlike anyone else. The art is also very impressive. There were a few panels that threw me for a loop, but it the following panels cleared up any confusions.

I really love the approach to this book. That is, I think framing this book in terms of legends and stories, which Sinestro hopes his life becomes, allows for an approach to this villain that allows for some relatablity with the reader. Sinestro's consistent interest in stories and legends points to the way in which he views his own life and his own importance. I'm interested to see where some things in this story goes: the motif of stories and legends, the relationship between Sinestro and his daughter, and the "church of anti-emotion" story. There is a lot that Bunn has in play here, and he is doing a nice job so far of balancing it all and telling the story.

I’m actually really glad that we’re seeing more of the crime boss battles in this book. Eternal #4, 5, and 6 were all really jumpy, but this seems to be continuing on that crime war story a little more. I do wish we were getting something about Gordon here, but I also understand some of the reasons why it is being withheld at the moment. There are a lot of threads to this story in the seven issues, and I’m not sure that they’re being held together very well. We have the crime war, the story with Gordon, Vicki Vale’s reporting, and the sick children Red Robin is trying to take care of. These are all starting to strain on the title as a whole I think. Thus, it makes each issue seem more taxing when we’re not hearing about each of those issues. At the same moment, it seems that if you brought up all of those stories in one issue it would be too much. I guess, all in all, this issue was decent as a stand alone, but given the series as a whole, it is lacking and was doomed to have flaws because of the multiple stories set up thus far. I feel like all of these stories have potential, but the overlap is too much for the audience.

I don’t even really know what to say about this book. It continually exceeds my wildest expectations. Cullen Bunn’s writing is so phenomenal. His interior monologue of Magneto brings us face to face with the harsh reality of Magneto’s history. We are forced to confront the same pain as Magneto. Thus, Bunn, without explicitly stating it, creates tension in the reader as he or she faces the actions of Magneto in the face of the scars of his past. Bunn is almost daring us to disagree with Magneto’s actions, and much of the time I’m not sure that I want to do so. This issue I think has some of the most quotable lines and really starts to help us understand the bigger picture for Magneto at this moment. The art, this time by Javier Fernandez, is still superb, but the real character and feeling of this book comes from the talent of Jordie Bellaire as Color Artist. Bellaire absolutely sets the tone for the book, providing a path that Bunn’s writing can fallow and push further. This is still easily my favorite title being printed right now. Not much else comes close.