Been using my Kindle Unlimited sub to read a few comicsb that I wouldn't have the chance to otherwise. So far:

Year Zero v1: Zombie apocalypse series that claims (via the cover blurb) to do something different with the genre. It doesn't, but it was pretty decent nonetheless with the usual cast of archetypes (Yakuza hitman, American survivalist, Afghan translator, polar scientist etc) surviving the initial outbreak and collapse of society shown from a global perspective.

Flashpoint: Epic alternative reality tale with Barry Allens Flash trying to get back to his world that has been changed by his time traveling nemesis. This is the kind of comic that I love DC for.

Avengers Disassembled: The Avengers fall apart as a mysterious force causes mayhem across New York and the deaths of several key members. Not great. Clichéd writing, so-so art and just a bit shit.

House of M: Halfway through this and loving it. As a follow up to the above Avengers title it couldn't be more different in terms of writing quality and art.

Just finished seven to eternity. Looks a treat. Big 70s fantasy vibes to the art style. Typical Rick remender story. Father trying to solve everything and failing. Black science in 4 volumes instead of 8.

Very enjoyable. Trying not to be mean about Rick. Have dug both things I've read of his, but damn, he has his shtick.

Also just finished volume 7 of Saga. Have 8 and 9 ready to go. Gonna hammer em tonight and tomorrow and then polish off 4 and 5 of ex machina.

Holiday reading time is go.

Saga is really freakin amazing. So memorable, that even if it's been a year between reading a volume nearly everything comea straight back.

Proof that they're out of ideas at DC? Jurassic League, a "what if the Justice League were dinosaurs?" book.

"monkey” wrote:

It's terrible, ridiculous, but BatSaur actually looks pretty great.

It’s a cool piece of art, but I don’t know if they can stretch it to an entire book series.

I’m reading Rusty Brown (possibly because someone here mentioned it) and have been thoroughly enjoying it but the Jordan Lint section just absolutely floored me. There are a couple of other high points earlier in the book but JL is on another level.

I had to stop at that point because it was quite draining but hopefully finish it tomorrow. I can safely say now though, it’s an absolute must read.

A great way of describing the Lint story. It's the first of Ware's work I've read but will certainly be looking for more. His use of the medium is some of the best I've seen.

Cheers, Tin. Will check that out.

A bit delayed but went back and read the Joanne Cole chapter to finish Rusty Brown today. Wow. Powerful stuff again and I was desperately hoping for some kind of redemption by the end. It wasn’t quite that but certainly a relief and I’ll admit to shedding a tear.

I suspect I’ll be quite insufferable telling anyone who’ll listen to read this. Already ordered Jimmy Corrigan too.

I had a pleasant hour reading through "The Many Deaths of Laila Starr" at the weekend.  It's a fairly short, self contained (5 issue) comic, in which Death/Kali finds herself suddenly unemployed following the birth of a human destined to find the secret of immortality. Brahma decides she's no longer needed for reasons known only to himself, and so, ironically, casts her down to Earth as a mortal woman (the titular Laila).

If that all sounds a bit Gaimanesque, well, yes, I guess it is.  Though this is a very different Death - her first instinct on being banished to Earth is to track down the baby destined to render her unemployed and kill it there and then.  As the title says, she's also incredibly bad at staying alive, with each issue showing another incarnation.

Like I say, it was an enjoyable read, though if I'm honest I'm not sure it has anything to say that hasn't been explored better elsewhere. (The real work to compare this to is probably Moon and Ba's Daytripper, which covers similar ground in a more powerful and elliptical fashion.) What does set it apart is the decision to base most of the action in Mumbai, and ground it in Hindu mythology, giving a new setting for an admittedly familiar tale.

Blue Swirl wrote:

Talking of Gaiman, I loved Lucifer but couldn't get into Sandman. Which series is Many Deaths closer to?

Hmm, I guess Lucifer (in that it's the adventures of a once powerful deity walking the Earth), but in truth not really either.  The  closest is probably the Sandman spin off "Death: The High Cost of Living".  Both use the idea of Death hanging out on Earth as a way to explore themes around what it is to be alive - though Gaiman's Death is not only sweet, but gives the impression of having everything pretty much all worked out - whereas Laila has a bit of work to do on both counts.

Just finished reading Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton.

Beaton's probably best known for her Hark! A Vagrant! webcomic, which consists of lots of historical/literary gags. It's light, slightly eccentric and very funny.

Ducks is, at times, also light eccentric and funny. In other places though it's very serious indeed.

As the subtitle explains, it's an autobiographical piece, detailing her time in the Oil Sands of Alberta Canada where she worked for 2 years in an attempt to pay of her student debt. Some themes are very specific to the place - what's it like as a woman to work in a place where you're outnumbered by men 50:1?  How do you reconcile working for an industry that you're gradually and increasingly aware might be Really Very Bad Indeed?  Others are perhaps more broadly recognisible to everyone - loneliness, isolation, and the horror of being trapped in a job you hate because what else can you do?

Despite the weight of some of its themes, "Ducks" takes its time. Structurally it is almost a series of brief anecdotes, some funny, some mundane, some utterly crushing. It never feels remotely like hard work. As a whole though, it's incredibly effective. If you're looking for a last minute comics tome for your Christmas list it comes recommended.

I’ve heard Spider-Man really went downhill after Dan Slott left.

Been re-reading some Batman stuff from the recent Metal series. It's absolutely bonkers, in the best way. Really leans into the fact that it's a ludicrous story featuring ridiculous characters doing impossible shit. Read Dark Nights: Metal and The Batman Who Laughs in preparation for part 2 of Dark Nights. I love Scott Snyder's Batman stories but you can see the hand of Grant Morrison all over the more esoteric apocalyptic parts of the story. However, it's the best of both worlds as they manage to stick the ending, which I can only imagine is down to Snyder. Great stuff.

Dig the art. Very Sable.