Summer Holiday reading

We've been away for 4.5 weeks on  a massive trip to New Zealand and this has given me the opportunity to read some books and digital comics on my Kindle.

I've read quite a bit of the stuff I've picked-up in the Amazon sales recently. I've read

Amazing Spider-man Mastworks vol 14 and vol 15
Black Widow by Mark Waid Vol 1 and Vol 2
The Irredeemable Ant-Man Vol 1and Vol 2
Star Wars Vol 4
"The Hanging Tree" by Ben Aaronovitch

and I'm 60% of the way through "Tarkin" by James Luceno

Maybe not as much as I thought I might, considering we were away for a month, but still a reasonable amount.

The digital comics, both old and new, were great. I am so happy reading stuff in this format. That's something I didn't think I'd be saying 12 months ago. I will happily get more when the price is right. I wish DC comics were as cheap! I'd be able to get more.

Nevertheless, it's so nice having time to read....

Amazon Digital bargains

A crazy sale of Marvel comics on Amazon Kindle has meant I've purchased loads of stuff at dirt-cheap prices.

I've bought

Daredevil Masterworks vols 6,7,8,10 &11 (£14.40 total)
Dr Stange Masterworks vol 2 (£2.88)
Iron Fist Masterworks Vol 1 (£2.88)
Amazing Spider-man Masterworks Vols 14 &15 (£5.76)
Avengers vs Thanos collection (£4.67)
Irredeemable Ant-man Vol 1 (£0.99)
Wolverine:Logan (£0.72)
X-Men: God Loves: Man Kills Graphic Novel (£0.60)
Black Widow by Mark Waid Vols 1 &2 (£4.32)

An unbelievable amount of stuff. Some I already own but it'll hopefully be in a format where my son will enjoy reading it.

I only got into digital comics recently and this is a fantastic way of reading stuff I never would have got

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 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.

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!

More Thor Masterworks

It's not actually been that long since I last bought two volumes of Thor Masterworks but here I am buying two more, And these will be my last ones.

Vol 9 fits the gap between the Thor Epic collection vol 4 which I've had since March 15 and, what was up to then, the earliest Thor Masterwork collection I had which was volume 10.

Volume 15 is the latest volume to be published and it reprints the first US edition Thor comic I ever bought (not that I bought many). That was issue 253 and my copy is getting a bit shabby now. Great Kirby cover on this one!

I've pre-ordered volume 2 of the Thor Epic collection series and so when that arrives I will have the majority of the Silver and Bronze Age runs.

Masterworks Bonaza

For some reason I've had a bit of a splurge and bought 3 new masterworks volumes.

More John Buscema Thor and Gene Colan Daredeveil. Nice.

Warlock Masterworks Vol 1

There aren't many Masterworks volumes that I still want (had to stop myself typing "need" then) and in fact there's not much room on my shelves any more.

But I had to get this one despite the fact that I've already got some of the stories it contains including the Incredible Hulk issues. Good value from the Book Depository too. This is a significant Bronze-Age series which I haven't read so it's lovely to finally own it.

One last point. This is the last softcover masterworks. It seems the epic collections will replace both these and Essentials as the softcover reprints from now on. It's a shame though as I did have my eye on the next Hulk one.

Wolverine and the X-Men Omnibus

Another Omnibus, this time collecting the complete Jason Aaron penned run. Reviews were excellent and it was always predicted that an Omnibus edition would appear at some point. Well it didn't take long with the final trade only just going on sale I believe. Sweet.

Looks a nice well put together collection. Another massive book at 950+ pages.

X-Men Masterworks and Epic Cap

With this purchase I've completed my (somewhat eclectic) collection of X-Men Masterworks. Just really DD to concentrate on now to have the silver age runs that I want. I would like Doc Strange, vol 4 of Hulk and maybe Warlock and Captain Marvel if the opportunity arises.

The Epic Collection format  is a really nice package. Better than Essentials as it's in colour but still with plenty of pages. This one I've just bought was just shy of 500 pages and collected
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) 247-266, ANNUAL 5, (CAPTAIN AMERICA EPIC COLLECTION VOL. 9) so is nearly as packed as an Essential volume.

Now of course I've already got most of the material in these collections but for title like Cap or Thor this is an excellent way to get stuff I've not got at an affordable price.

Saying all that, some of comics in this particular one I did have! This volume reprints comics I already had in the "War and Remembrance" trade by Stern and Byrne. Those are brilliant comics and that old trade could make a good gift or an introduction to Cap for my 10 year old.

May the Force be with You

As it is Star Wars Day I thought I'd post that I've recently bought Star Wars by Brian Wood Vol 2.

Also have bought The X-Men Masterworks Vol 1 and Vol 4 is on it's way to complete my collection of the X-Men series.

Two More Masterworks - Cap and X-Men

My Masterwork collection has now spilled onto two shelves of my bookcase. But it's nearly complete.

The Cap Masterworks means I've completed that run and I "need" Vols 1 and 4 to complete the X-Men.

Then it's Daredevil and the first vol of Doc Strange and I'm done. Or at least until the next Hulk (July 2015 by my calculation)

Two Massive Marvel Omnibus

Well I've been coveting these two massive collections for some time and finally gave in and treated myself.

I'm pleased I did as they look great.

Spider-man omnibus is 1088 pages (approx 40 issues) reprinting the earliest adventures by Lee and Ditko.

X-Static omnibus is even bigger at 1200 reprinting loads of issues from 10 years ago. But it's the whole run and I'm quickly becoming a fan of Mike Allred's art.

God knows when I'll get stuck into these but when I do, I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

Now considering selling some of my old Lee/ Ditko issues as the omnibus does the stories justice and I'll probably not really "read" the originals again. Oh, what to do!?

Marvel Masterworks Captain America Vol 3

This hardcover volume (purchased for £14.99 incl P&P) fills the gap in my Cap Masterworks. When I get vol 7 I'll be almost up to my first original comics in the series.

This volume includes the 3 Jim Steranko issues which are just amazing.

Another Marvel Masterwork and Powers

Two nice new additions added to my Collection today.

The Cap Masterworks Vol 6 was a good ebay purchase of £20. The stories look very interesting with some lovely Romita artwork.

Powers Bureau is the first trade of the new series. I plan to re-read all of Powers very soon and this and the forthcoming vol 2 will be a nice finish to that run.

Captain America Masterworks Vol 5

I've continued to add to my Masterwork collection with the addition of Cap Vol 5.

It's building up nicely. A couple more Cap volumes ( 3 & 6) are lined up, then maybe some X-Men and finally Daredevil.

The Cap stuff looks great and as I've not got any of this in originals or read much either I'm excited to read it when the time comes.

X-Men Masterworks Vol 2

This is quite hard to get (and hence expensive) in paperback but I've managed to pick up an early hardback version of the Masterwork vol for £15.

It's probably not the greatest comics and the early Masterworks editions were not quite as well put together as later ones but for the price, I'm satisfied.

Marvel Masterworks Thor Vol 12

I wan't this but wasn't going to pay £32.50 or more just yet for it as there are were other things (like Christmas) I needed to save my cash for.

But when it came down to £17.45 in the new year that was an opportunity too good to miss! I've no idea what these issues are like as I've never read them but a collection full of John Buscema artwork...I'll take that!

More Marvel Masterworks and a Classic Graphic Novel

 Incredible Hulk Masterworks vol 3softcover

 Iron Man Masterworks Vol 8

Dr Strange & Dr Doom Triumph and Torment Graphic Novel

All 3 arrived on the same day courtesy of the Book Depository who are often significantly cheaper than Amazon.

This means I've completed my Iron Man run.

Captain America Masterworks Vol 4

This hard back edition of Marvel Masterworks is vol 93 in the masterworks line but also Vol 4 reprinting Cap's adventures. Vol 3 will be out in paperback in approx a year but this volume and subsequent ones are many years away from the softcover treatment. Although I would have liked to get the official vol 4 I haven't spotted it available in this country and anyway £25 for a masterworks volume is about standard.

The stories in this look great. I recognise some of the artwork from old British reprints but it will be a treat to read these in colour and in their entirety.