Comic Book Reading Session One
/I’m featuring a series of guest posts from a comics fan. Basically it’s one enthusiast’s experience with the love of reading comics. If you like it, we may continue it. We’ll base it on the comments on each post. The series is by Alic Reader. By the way, if you’d like to submit something, let me know. ^Ben
I hand Ben money. Ben gives me books and a question. He asks, "What did you read this week?"
It works. He knows that my reading piles up.
I wonder if he does the same for his other clients. It doesn't matter, though. The question gets me reading.
So now I'm reading--for two reasons. One: Because the next time he asks me, I want to be able to rattle off a few titles. Two: Because I love reading comics.
But why is it so hard to do this thing I know I love? I'll save that question for the therapist I might get one day. Maybe Ben would start asking me, "How'd it go with your therapist?" instead of "What did you read this week?"
Regardless, here's my guest post for reading session 1.
The Reading Jump Start
First, know this: I'm a moody reader. I pick a book I think I want to read. I read a few lines. Not in the mood for that. I close it and put it back in its bag and board. I try again. I pick a new book. Maybe it works out. Also, I like reading #1s.
Is it like this for everyone or just me?
Good. Now I'm reading. Ben would be proud. One book leads to another. The hours pass. My Notes app is open and I type quick reminders about what I'm reading, moments that stand out, thoughts about something. It's for my book report--for this book report.
This Session's Best Comic Book Moments
Young Bruce trains under a master thief…
,,,on the path to becoming the World’s Greatest Detective
Bruce Wayne gets shut down. A young, handsome, albeit, inexperienced Bruce Wayne makes a pass at the older woman who is training him (Chip Zdarsky's Batman: The Knight), and he gets shut down. I cringed, and then laughed.
"Northing stops The Wall," that is, Amanda Waller. She's out to take over Earth-3. At least two of Suicide Squad's LOL moments show up in issue 11. Ambush Bug (and the book's writer-artist team) poke fun at two Marvel teams, who incidentally get their butt's whooped. It’s teased on the front cover, but Ambush Bug’s commentary on each single-page spread brings home the laughs. Excelsior!
Reading Tom King
I hadn't realized how much Tom King I've been reading. I have my favorite writers, and I think Tom is trying to be one of them. Looking back at his catalogue, I see I read Grayson in 2014, and then, staring in 2015, Vision and Robin War. It only took me 9 years to realize.
Currently I'm reading Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and The Human Target, both by Tom. Ben posted that King's Supergirl was the best thing he'd read in a long time. I'm looking forward to comparing notes with him.
Tom's wrIting seems very different between these two book. In Supergirl, his exposition is Starlinesque (i.e., lengthy), but in The Human Target, he's terse. It fits. I understand why. Yet, between the two, I'm enjoying The Human Target more.
Christoper Chance, the Human Target, has been poisoned. Ice—of JLI fame—teams up with Chance to solve the mystery. Then Guy Gardner turns up in issue #4. He's Ice’s ex-boyfriend and harasses Chance. Guy's being a jerk, naturally, but Chance puts Guy in his place a couple times--and not without consequence. The book is gritty, comedic, and plain sorrowful.
It makes no sense, but reading Tom is making me miss reading Brian Michael Bendis. That seems weird. Is it?
Reading Brian Michael Bendis
Bendis and I go way back, all the way back to his early black and white stuff, before his name recognition started.
So, now I'm reading Joy Operations by Bendis. I'm trying to enjoy it, but it's not hitting the spot. Reading indie-Bendis differs from reading mainstream-Bendis.
Joy Operations' first issue keeps the reader guessing about what's going on. That might be ok in his indie book but not at Marvel or DC, not the way it's done here, I think. That first issue should have been a double-issue.
By Joy Operations' third issue, things are clear: the world is divided into corporate-owned city states, each with a distinct culture. The leader of one of those city-states will bring the end of the world unless she's stopped. Ok, I think, let's see where this goes.
Good Feeling... Just A Little Longer
Sitting down to read comics may begin with fits and starts, but finishing my reading session is simple: Finish with dessert, that good feeling that comes from reading a book that lights up your senses. When I find it, I quit there for fear the next book might rob me of it.
For this session, it was Firefly.
Firefly: Brand New 'Verse has finished, and a new story began in All New Firefly. The characters have matured. Some have children. They're always in one scrape or another and always seem to find a way to come out, more or less, on top.
Best of all? Finishing reading these issues, a back-page ad highlights a series of Firefly novels. Already downloaded the first one. Already started reading it.
