Outcast,Vol.1-3

Don't know how the Netflix series is doing, but I really LOVE the comic series that it's based on! As usual, before I read the new Trade, i had to go back and re-read the first two books to refresh my memory of the storyline....

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol.30: Thieves and Spies

Just finished reading the 30th trade paperback in the LONG running Stan Sakai series of the lone wandering Rabbit Bodyguard Ronin Usagi Yojimbo. Like the others before these books are great to read on a relaxing afternoon. Can't believe I've been reading Usagi for well over 20 years now, and still going strong!

Ivar, Timewalker, Vol.2: Breaking History

 Just finished the second installment of the fun title IVAR,TIMEWALKER, the story of a woman named Seela Nethi who discovers Time Travel...and becomes the target of a bunch of Time-traveling villains including her own future self! Fortunately she has the help of the titular Ivar and his two similarly invincible brothers to guide her along....

Also re-read the first trade, "Making History" to brush up on the story...been so long since I read it!

Ghost World

Funny, though I've been a big fan of both Daniel Clowes (Lloyd Llewllyn is a fave) and the Thora Birch/Scarlett Johansson movie, I've never read the original GHOST WORLD Graphic Novel til now! Excellent Book, amazed how much they were able to recreate in the movie!!!

Plutona

I had my eye on Plutona from its very first issue, but after skimming through the intro in issue 1, I decided to wait until the trade paperback came out so I could read it all at once. MAN, what a wait that was!!!! But finally the trade did indeed come out and it was quite worth it!
The story of a group of troubled highschoolers (middle -schoolers?) who come across the seemingly dead body of their town's resident super-heroine Plutona changes their lives and creates a divide between the friends in a way they can never come back from!
As shown in Sweet Tooth, Jeff Lemire certainly knows how to write from the mind of youngsterws, and with Emi Lenox's wonderful storybook art, create a very surreal fantasy story.

Snotgirl #1

When I went in to pick up the Plutona Trade Paperback and the latest Usagi Yojimbo Collection, I saw the first issue of Snotgirl with artwork by Bryan Lee O'Malley.  Though the story line (of a girl who is a Dazzling Fashion Blogger online but a Hay-Fevered Runny-Nosed Insecure girl in real life) intrigued me, I'm not a big fan of O'malley's art, and so passed it up. Only when I got home I found out O'Malley wasn't the interior artist, and the girl they got to do inside illustrations was Leslie Hung, someone who absolutely EXCELS in drawing beautiful gals!!! I also found that the O'Malley cover I saw was a variant, and that the real cover was done by Hung herserf, and so I made a mad rush BACK to the comic store to pick it up!!! As you can see, it.is.freaking.beautiful!!!
Interesting story so far, we'll see if this one goes anywhere...

Rat Queens, Vol.1: Sass and Sorcery

My friend Gerg is responsible for introducing me to more comic titles than I can count, some I loved and some I really didn't like, but there were a handful of comics that he personally collected but didn't bother trying to get me to read them as he felt they "weren't your type of comics", and one of his very favorites was Kurtis J. Weibe and Roc Uphurch's RAT QUEENS, a sword and sorcery tale concerning four kick-butt fantasy maidens and their loves and battles in the time of middle-earth...
Normally I wouldn't have bothered checking this out, but it was part of the half-off sale at the local comic store so I took a chance...and i'm glad I did, this comic is GREAT fun! Now, to look for the rest!

iZombie, Vol.1: Dead to The World

My first exposure to iZombie was an issue where Gilbert Hernandez had done a guest spot. I love Los Bros Hernandez and so my comic shop held an issue for me in case I was interested. I bought it and read it but didn't get around to really readin ti til i saw a used copy of the first Trade Paperback "Dead to the World" on sale.
WOW, was it  Good!!! Interesting storylines, characters , and artwork: Michael Allred looks like he's channeling Charles Burns or Chris "Coop" Cooper with his illustartions and wierd charicature characters. And is it just me or does main character Gwen. the titular "zombie" of the strip look not just a little like Blondie's Debbie Harry?

Morning Glories, Vol.1: For A Better Future

When I strolled into the comic store in town, I was thrilled to find that they had all of their graphic novels on sale for half price(!) and with that in mind, i grabbed a bunch of 'em that i was curious about but didn't have the funds to go exploring. And among the haul I took was the Nick Spencer/Joe Eisma strip "Morning Glories" about a mysterious school and its equally mysterious students.
Was an OK read for the first time, but I'll have to grab at least a couple more books before I can see exactly where this comic is heading...

We Stand On Guard

Just started reading the awesome Brian K Vaughan/Steve Skroce Graphic Novel WE STAND ON GUARD and Holy CRAP am I LOVING it! Cool Characters and situations in a post-apocalyptic future where the United States is in Battle against Canada with hi-tech weaponry and giant freaking robots. Funnily enough, my friend tried to dissuade me from reading this, saying it was “meh”, but after reading just ONE chapter at Barnes and Nobles, I HAD to pick it up! Superb art and storytelling!!!

East Of West, Vol.1: The Promise

Finally took everyone’s advice and began reading EAST of WEST, the Sci-Fi/Western Tale of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the factions set to do battle with them, and so far so good- wonderful art and intriguing characters… I picked the first book at a used bookstore in town, they also had vol.4, I’d better go see if they still have it!

Unfollow, Vol.1: 140 Charaters

Just finished reading the DC/VERTIGO Graphic Novel UNFOLLOW:140 CHARACTERS, about 140 random people who are chosen to inherit a billionaire's fortune, with the knowledge that if any of them die, the deceased reward will be distributed among the survivors. Cue Battle Royale Homage!!

Archie

As a huge, huge fan of artist Fiona Staples, i knew I had to get this one, but I'm REALLY not a fan of these new Archie reboots, as you may recall in my entry on "Afterlife With Archie"...Somehow in these new versions,  they forget how all the characters were basically good and likeable people. Veronica and Reggie are always portrayed in these new ones as 100% bad and Mr. Lodge as a cranky old tyrant, even Jughead, the most laid-back and mellow dude ever, is portrayed as more of a condescending and arrogant guy. And sadly, this new series is just like the others: despite its' awesome art, these reboots, though probably great for the kids of today, just don't do it for me.