Christmas Arrivals

I got Rat Queens volume 2 for Christmas and DKR: Last Crusade has been on order for sometime but just happened to arrive over Christmas. Nice!

New Teen Titans Volume 3

Three volumes in and I'm getting quite into this series. This was my favourite one yet.

I will certainly continue with vol 4 and 5 in the new year and volume 6 is on my wishlist.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

So the family went to see the new Potterverse movie this week.

(Two movies in a week - oh the extravagance!)

It was odd watching this NOT knowing the story and it seemed clear to me that it was written as a film script and not a novel. There were lots more action sequences compared to HP films.

An enjoyable film and it's good to go back to the wizarding world.

The World of Edena by Moebius

This was a pretty hefty hardback collection. The story was OK especially the early chapters but the art is phenomenal. Up to this purchase I didn't own any Moebius and I am very glad to have rectified that issue regarding my collection.

Star Wars Rogue One

So Rogue One was released on Thursday and so we had to go ASAP, which was Saturday 17th.

It's very good and I could have easily have stayed in my cinema seat and watched it again immediately. I liked some of the cameos and it has added to the Episode IV story and actually made it better.

Thor Epic Collection Vol 2. When Titans Clash!

I do like these Epic Collections. Good value.

Now I have volume 2 I'll just have to wait until vol 3 comes out and I'll have a run from Thor right up to issue 253 (Nov 1976) which is collected in Masterworks vol 15 but is also an issue I actually bought on the newsstand.

Marvel seem to be publishing these collections at a reasonable rate even if you can't predict what volume they are going to publish next. So I guess it won't be too long until my collection is complete.

Giant -Size Spider-man 4 & 5

Although the aim was to read the Giant-size issues I'd bought this year, I couldn't resist continuing with the series as these two issues are good reads and issue 4 with the Punisher is a particular favourite of mine. This is because I bought this on a summer holiday in 1979 when I was 12.

I loved it. And it felt more special as it was a surprise purchase and it was a an extra long Spidey story. I think it was also the first time I'd read a reprint of Amazing Fantasy 15.

GSSM #5 is also a good story by the same creative team. It ties in well to what was going on in the main book at the time as it develops the Clone Gwen sub-plot. I personally love that story.

The New Teen Titans trade Vol 2

I'm going to crack-on with reading these collections in-between some other stuff.

NTT vol 2 was better than vol 1. I think I'm getting used to Marv Wolfman's style on the series and also, of course, the characters.

Perez's art is just astounding!

Some very nice collections

Some very sweet additions to my bookshelves.

The Dark Knight Returns deluxe slipcase edition is a straightforward reprinting of the original issues but oversized and each issue is hardcover. And all contained in a nice slipcase. Lovely.

The Doctor Strange epic collection reprints lots more issues than the trade collection I read in 2013 and in a better format with proper cover reproductions etc. I didn't have to wait until 2019 as I thought back then.

Finally, another oversized collection by Moebius. I didn't have anything my this comics master and I was keen to try him out as what I've seen of this art I've always loved. Can't wait to see what this is like.

Added to My Collection: Marvel Two-In-One

I've got a few "missing" issues of Two-In-One which, when I get them all, will mean I have 1-75.

These two issues which came in the one ebay auction leave just 2 more to get. Numbers 13 and 18. I know these won't be classics but it was sort of nagging me that they were missing.

Doctor Strange Movie

The family went to watch this on Sunday evening (the opening weekend in the UK)

The story was a bit weak as it was hampered by also being an origin story but the effects and performances were spot-on.

Enjoyable nontheless and it will be interesting to see how Doc interacts with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Giant-Size Spider-man No. 2 and 3

These are two comics from 1974 which I'd not read before. The stories are definitely not classics but they were fun. The best part was seeing "new" Ross Andru Spidey art because, as I've said on this blog before, Ross Andru  was my first Spidey artist and as a result his portrayal is one of my favourites.

The New Teen Titans

I tried out the first volume of NTT and enjoyed it especially the Perez art. So I have purchased the next 4 available trades from the Book Depository for £11 each. As each volume reprints 8 25 page issues - this is good value.

I will read these in-between the Spidey Giant-Size issues but I definitely don't want to leave it long between volumes

1974 Giant-size Marvel Comics

 These Giant-size issues were always a bit of a mystery to me growing up in the UK in the 1970s as they were just not available. I never saw one for sale - but I did see plenty of house adds for these extra-long stories.

And when reference was made to events in the regular title ( I remember the Spidey/ Man-Thing team-up in issue 5 being referenced as a "story for another day") was was really curious.

So purchasing and reading these issues is always a bit special, even if the stories themselves are very average if truth be told.

Great covers on both these books and Ross Andru artwork on Giant-Size Spider-man is always a pleasure for me.

I'll be reading these Giant-Size books in-between some New Teen Titans by DC!

Two new hardbacks

Harley Quinn Vol 5. The next volume (due in Feb 17) is the last before the DC Rebirth. Although I enjoy this series, shelf space might mean that Vol 6 is a good place to stop.

The Fade Out is the deluxe (or omnibus) edition. A very nice package and I'm pleased I've waited for this format.

Various new purchases over the last few weeks

Two DC collections to start with.

I've said before how much I like Darwyn Cooke's art and with his sad passing it's a shame we won't get any more. So I have to try and collect as much of his existing stuff as I can and this is a lovely oversized volume collecting a great deal of his DC stuff. I will still have to get "Batman: Ego" but then I have it all.

I'm also going to try out the New Teen Titans by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. This series is often mentioned or compared to the X-Men and following some recent posts on Bronze Age Babies I thought this was a good time to try the stuff out.

Unfortunately the Omnibus editions are sold out  but the series of trades collecting 8 or so issues in each are still being published with vol 6 due early next year. I'm going to start vol 1 and decide if I'll order some more.

Velvet Vol 3 is the concluding vol by Brubaker and Epting. I'll read all 3 together very soon.

Dr Strange Masterworks Vol 1

It's been some time since I posted and one of the reasons is because it has taken me some time to finish this.

Not because it wasn't any good either!

In fact, I found it both interesting and enjoyable as I'd never read any of the stories reprinted in this collection. Knowing that Lee and Ditko were producing this comic at the same time as their classic Spidey made the stories feel extra special. I can't explain why.

It was also nice to get some background knowledge of the character before the film is released at the end of the month.

More Atomic Robo and a Marvel/DC crossover??

Two new purchases to report.

Firstly, volume 3 in the softcover Atomic Robo omnibus collections. It's nice to have these but it's a shame that they are not hardcover collections like the recent Kickstarter. The postage was wayyy too expensive on that one so these will have to do.

This is the last omnibus for now and I really am looking forward to reading them.

I have read the Batman and Captain America Elseworlds crossover story by John Byrne. Set during WW2 it's a good read. I picked this up via ebay for £5 after a nice review on Bronze Age Babies as I don't usually go for this sort of thing. I'm pleased I did this time.

Concerning new Star Wars trades

I'm enjoying Marvel's new Star Wars comics.

Darth Vader volumes 1 and 2 were very good.

I like the new character Aphra and her crazy droids as they make perfect companions for Vader in his quest to identify and capture the Rebel who destroyed the Death Star,

I wonder if the old Dark Horse series Vader's Quest compares? I've got it but can't remember the plot details.

Next up in the storyline is Vader Down and I've just got Star Wars volume 3 so I think I'll be reading these a little longer.

Another book read - Peter Kay

I seem to have cracked on with a few books recently and this autobiography of Peter Kay is the latest one to be completed.

Not as many laugh out loud moments as I expected but still an enjoyable read. He's a really funny man.

More Daredevil Masterworks

I finally bought this hardback edition via ebay after seeing that a future Daredevil Epic collection continues directly from it. When I've got that I'll have issues 1-63. Which'll be nice.

That Epic collection isn't due until March 2017 and reprints DAREDEVIL (1964) 42-63.

Tales of the Batman Alan Brennert

A new purchase based on the glowing review by Greg Hatcher on CBR.

I don't have any of the stories reprinted so it looks like a good volume to own.

What I...read on my Summer Holiday

I actually got to read THREE books whilst on the family holiday to Italy. Part of the reason for that is because the Kindle is so damn easy to carry around -so you can pull of the book to read anytime. Like when my wife and son were queueing for rides in Gardaland.

I read books 4 and 5 of Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series. Number 4 "Broken Homes" wasn't that great but did have a shocking ending. Book 5 was a big improvement.

I've read "Railway Adventure" years ago but wanted to re-read this great book before I go to the Talyllyn Railway again in August. 

Pre-orders arriving at last

Some of these I've had on pre-order for months but one ot two were last minute purchases.

Most of these are continuations of series I'm already collecting but Damage Control was a 1980s series which got good reviews and sounded fun. So I've taken a chance on that when the price dropped on Amazon.

I really need to get on with reading some stuff!

Summary of 2016 so far

2016 has sucked so far in terms of the real world and the sporting world too.

But I'm pleased that my collections have grown and I'm almost up-to-date with everything and any new addtions will be new material.

I've bought some comics which have long been on my wants list.

And some lovely new hardback collections and Masterworks

And Harley Quinn of course!

So what have I bought so far this year?

Darth Vader vol 2

Giant-size Spider-man 1

Giant-size Spider-man 3

Daredevil 155

Iron Man 90

X-Men annual #7

Star Wars Vol 2

Daredevil mark Waid Vol 4

Batman Brubaker 1

atomic Robo omnibus 2

Superior foes of Spider-man

Harley Quinn

Harley & Ivy

Miracleman Book 4

Harley Quinn and Power-girl

Thor Masterworks 13

Thor masterworks 14

Daredevil masterworks 9

Vader down

Starfire

Criminal Deadly Hands

Gotham Central omnibus

Daredevil mark Waid Vol 5

Black Science 4

Thor Masterworks 9

Thor Masterworks 15

That's 13 trades, 5 Masterworks, 3 omnibus and the five original comics

I've read

Astrix and the Missing Scroll

Rat Queens 1

Star Wars vol 1

Star Wars vol 2

Superior foes

Fatale vols 1-5

Which is actually 9 trades and 1 omnibus. So I'm still buying more than I can read!

Reasons - well life really but I've spent I lot of time reading RPG material so that's my excuse.

I'm in the mood for reading at the moment and with a holiday imminent I'm hoping my "read" list will grow very soon!