I visit my local comic shop just about every week. I pick up single issues, but also a number of collections and original graphic novels. I figured this year, hey, why not also post some pellet reviews of those, too?
All-Star Superman
By Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
Superman has twelve months to live. He’s taken in too much solar radiation, and his body will not hold it. This book tells of his last days, how he reaches out to his arch nemesis Lex Luthor, how he makes peace with Lois Lane, and how he saves the world one last time.
I’ve heard such good things about this story. It’s often lauded as the best Superman story.
It’s good. I really enjoyed it. That said, it feels like “a modern take on the silver age,” which isn’t my style. Not bad. Not a waste of time. The best Superman story ever? Yeah, gonna disagree on that one.
Just Roll With It
By Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lovoie
Maggie’s made it to middle school, but she probably won’t survive it. The only way she can cope is by rolling her trusty twenty-sided die to tell her how well she’s going to get through any given task. But when she rolls a natural one, she knows everything is going to go badly. Can she escape her die’s pronouncements?
Oh, man. This book communicates anxiety so, so well. It’s a fairly simple story, aimed at young middle schoolers, so it’s not insanely deep. If you want a simple tale told well, I highly recommend this one.
Teen Titans: Starfire
by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo
Kori’s a girl who doesn’t care about being popular. Not like her sister. But when Kori starts exhibiting strange powers, her sister’s jealousy takes over. She’ll do anything to get powers, no matter the price. And when a band of other strange teens show up, Kori’s torn. Should she trust her brat of her sister, or these strangers?
Garcia and Picolo’s Teen Titans books have been a delight, and this one is no exception. They probably do read far better together, rather than spread out at one a year as I’ve been reading them as they’re released, but check them out.
Catwoman: Trail of the Catwoman
By Darwyn Cooke and Ed Brubaker
The Catwoman is dead. Selina Kyle is dead. Except… maybe she’s not. Maybe she’s changed. Maybe she’s found a rundown neighborhood worth protecting. And maybe Catwoman’s old enemies won’t let her be the hero she might become.
For my money, this is the best era of Catwoman, as she turns into a wonderful hero. The art is hardboiled, the stakes are high, and Selina is just a wonderful character to know. That said, this edition includes some great stories… out of order. Had I not already known the order from reading the originals, I’d be really confused. So heads up on that!
American Vampire Book One
By Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque, and Stephen King
The New World. So droll. So savage. Vampires didn’t bother with it for a long time. They played their games in Europe. And then they started coming to the New World to set up their old games in a new place. And then one turned the first American vampire. He broke all the rules. He didn’t play the games. And he set out to destroy them all. Starting in the Wild West and running through the 1930s, American Vampire is a gritty horror story with a new kind of vampire.
I’d heard great things about this series, and when it came out in these great $10 volumes—or at least the first collection of it did—I had no reason to say no. I’m glad I got it. This thing is intricately woven across decades with multiple characters that just are delightful in their evil. It’s not for everyone, but I’ll be getting the second volume.
Star Trek: Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way
By Ryan North and Chris Fenoglio
Mariner wants to have a normal day, and you can help her! But no matter what choices you make, she winds up dead. What’s with that? The only way to save her and the crew of the Ceritos is to break the rules yourself and discover what’s wrong!
First, I love Star Trek. I’m partial to Lower Decks, the comedy set within the Star Trek universe. And then you make a choose-your-own adventure graphic novel? I’m sold! And to find the “winning” ending, you have to break the rules as the reader? Yeah. This one was made just for me, I’m pretty sure.
Wonder Woman: Earth One
By Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette
Paradise Island is a utopia. There is no crime, no sorrow, and eternal life for all. And then a man comes to Paradise Island, and with him, war and death. Diana must voyage to Man’s World and teach them the power of submissive love. Of course, men won’t appreciate the lesson much…
While I like Wonder Woman, this particular story had no interest to me. DC’s Earth One line sounded like a great idea, restarting their big properties set today, but the titles came out so sporadically I never got on board. Given the quality of this volume, I don’t feel I’m missing much. This felt just… weird. It’s very sexual and naïve at the same time, and I never quite got the vibe. It may be your thing; it wasn’t mine.
Far Sector
By N. K. Jemsin and Jamal Campbell
The City Enduring has shone in space for thousands of years. There hasn’t been a murder in five hundred years. Everything ends. Now Jo Mullein has been summoned to investigate. She’s a Green Lantern from earth, and she has attitude and creativity to spare. She’ll find the murderer, even if it means the end of the City Enduring.
This was another series I’d heard many praises for… and I agree with the praises. This is a science fiction murder mystery deliciously drawn and written. The various alien species are each unique in appearance and personality, which creates a setting that could only be done in science fiction. And even if you’ve never read Green Lantern, you could enjoy this. Jo is a space cop. There! That’s the background you need! Look, check this one out. It’s pretty awesome!
Love and Capes: Do You Want to Know a Secret?
By Thomas F. Zahler
Abby owns a bookstore. She’s looking for love. Mark seems perfect. And then he reveals that he’s the Crusader, the biggest superhero in the world. Will their love last, especially when Abby gets jealous of Mark’s ex, the amazing Amazon?
I’ve read Zahler’s work before and always loved it. I’ve searched for this particular collection for years, and now I’ve finally got it! This is hilarious and heartfelt in all the right ways. Zahler determined to never show superheroics “on screen,” and it works so well. Abby does get to know Mark’s, um, coworkers, and their interactions with the normal world is uproarious. It doesn’t matter if you like superheroes. If you like comedic romance, you will love this.
Topside
By J. N. Monk and Harry Bogosian
In the Core, everything is falling apart. Jo is one of the mechanics that keeps things running, but she knows that it can’t last forever. The only way to repair what needs repairing… is to go topside. To the place with no law, where people battle for every mouthful of food. Except maybe it’s not what she’s always been told. And maybe she doesn’t have to depend on just herself to repair what must be fixed.
Yeah yeah yeah, “oh look, the world isn’t what she was expecting!” It’s a trope, and a good one at that, and Topside tells it really well. The creativity of the topsiders’ design is great (particularly the bounty hunter shark). The story is fairly simple, but well told. I’d suggest this one as a good one to grab.
Thunderbolts: Justice, Like Lightning
By Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley
The Avengers and the Fantastic Four are dead. All that remain to protect the planet are mutants and street-level heroes. They won’t be enough. New heroes must rise. And they do in the Thunderbolts, led by the mysterious Citizen V! The new superhero group capture the trust of the public. But they bring a terrible secret. These aren’t heroes, but villains set to conquer the world… and they’ll win, too.
I read the original issues back in the day, and I remember the twist identity of the heroes being insanely shocking. These comics mostly hold up, too, from the art to the story. I’m so glad Marvel is finally collecting these comics!
Catwoman: Life Lines
By Jo Duffy and Jim Balent
Catwoman has always been an intriguing foil for Batman. Here, she steps out in her first solo stories, revealing her origin and what truly motivates her. It’s not just stealing pretty things. She strives to protect defenseless women, too!
I really, really wanted to enjoy this collection more. However, well, I didn’t. The art is mostly cheesecake, and the stories run from decent to not being worth the paper. There are great Catwoman stories. Unless you’re a completist, this isn’t worth your time.
Avengers: Acts of Vengeance
By John Byrne and Rich Buckler
I’ve heard great things about the Acts of Vengeance crossover, where villains intentionally mixed up which heroes they attacked. I love that concept, too, so when I saw this collection at a cheaper price, I snapped it up. And it was… pretty decent! It’s not great, but was enjoyable. Seeing the Avengers battle Mole Man was fun.
This is one of Marvel’s Epic Collections, which are a blast. They don’t gather up single storylines, but a couple years of stories. If you want a good feel for any given era, these are very good collections to grab.
Space Western Comics
Edited by Craig Yoe
Spurs Jackson and his Space Vigilantes protect the earth from all sorts of unsavory aliens trying to make off with the pretty women of earth! This… this is a hoot. If you’re looking for serious science fiction, you won’t find it. If you’re looking for something that’s just fun, you’ll get what you’re looking for. It’s silly silver age comics trying something different. I’m so glad I got this collection!
Jonathon Mast: Author 