1000 books in 2018

[Mister Mets]

Strange Tales #31-39: Solid sci-fi stories, even if the creative teams are largely forgotten.

Batman Incorporated Volume 1 #1-8/ Leviathan Strikes (Counting as Two Issues): Decent exploration of the theme of Batman going worldwide/ taking on new apprentices/ challenges.

Northlanders #9-10, 17-20, 29 Mostly decent shorter pieces about the Vikings.

Wolverine Manifest Destiny #1-4: Okay early Jason Aaron Wolverine project about fixing an earlier screw-up/ getting involved in a turf war.

Since I want my top ten Stan Lee stories list to be one I don't regret, I'm rereading some work that I haven't been as familiar with.

Silver Surfer: Parable #1-2: Might be Stan Lee's best "modern age" work, a collaboration with Moebius that tackles religious extremism and opportunism

Fantastic Four #82-87: A two-parter with the Inhumans has some strong visuals, but the highlight is a clash with Doom in Latveria, his best Silver Age saga, which reveals a lot about the character while tackling the issue of totalitarianism.

Journey Into Mystery #113-125/ Thor #126-130: These issues get a bit repetitive with Loki's scheming, and some sexist treatment of Jane Foster, but they do include astounding visuals and characters with staying power (Hercules, the Destroyer, the Absorbing Man.) I could definitely see why this was Marvel's third-biggest book of the 60s, after Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four.

Speaking of Spidey...

Amazing Spider-Man #24, 82: Some of the best single-issue Stan Lee stories.

Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #2: It might be a bit padded, but the confrontation between Osborn and Peter are intense, and it is an excuse for some of the best visuals of Romita Sr's career, which means it's some of the best ever in Spidey comics. (Counting as two issues)

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #61-71: Mantlo's second run on the title is heavily influenced by Miller's Daredevil (especially with Ed Hannigan's art), although there are some solid contributions to the mythos with Cloak and Dagger, and a somewhat incompetent Boomerang.

Spectacular Spider-Man #158-160, Web of Spider-Man #61-63, Amazing Spider-Man #326-329: The Cosmic Spider-Man saga has some flaws (the beats are repeated, some of the storytelling is melodramatic, I'm not sure I buy the characterizations of guest-starr villains) but it has an interesting crisis for Spidey (what does he do with sudden power?) as well as a litany of single issue challenges that make for an accessible crossover, where transitions between creative teams are handled smoothly.

Total So Far: 1665 Issues, 42 from the Golden Age, 29 from the 1950s, 100 from the 1960s complete, 100 from the 1970s complete, 100 from the 1980s, 100 from the 1990s complete, 100 from the 2000s complete, 100 from the 2010s complete

Best of the batch: "The Hercules Saga" from Thor. It includes some excellent challenges for Thor, and a great dynamic with Hercules, a more arrogant hero with power on Thor's level, as a rival.

[awayne83]

I would definitely encourage you to keep going with both Motor Crush and Curse Words

Hmmm. Since you insist. Just be aware your reputation is on the line...

[Enigma]

Hmmm. Since you insist. Just be aware your reputation is on the line...

It's ok, I'm already considered a disgrace

[docgru]

2018 Week 46

Bakuman 7-11 (208 pages, 45 issues)
Dragon Ball Ultimate Edition 11-13 (228 pages, 30 issues)
Platinum End 7 (208 pages, 9 issues)
Shin Mazinger Zero 1 (200 pages, 9 issues)
Corto Maltese 4 Les Celtiques (152 pages, 7 issues)

Total for the week: 100
Total for the year: 1552

[OldManBrian]

It's ok, I'm already considered a disgrace

I grabbed the first volumes of Curse Words and Motor Crush with an IST order today. If they're bad that's a whole $5 I'll never get back . As a side note, I love these clearance deals they've been doing. I grabbed Redneck v1 on my last order, I liked it and it got me to get volume 2 today at normal discount price. I probably would have never tried these otherwise.

[Enigma]

Well, I'm skint and postage for IST would cancel out the deals for me :P We have good sales here, but never quite to that level

[docgru]

2018 Week 47

Bakuman 12-20 (208 pages, 81 issues)

Total for the week: 81
Total for the year: 1633

[Enigma]

Evidently, I won't be reaching my comic target, but there is a small chance that I might just make the standard '1000'. Can I read 333 issues in December? A little over 10 issues per day - unlikely :P


Goals
Comics - 1500 NOT A SNOWBALL'S CHANCE IN A CAT SCANNER
Books - 30 COMPLETE


This Month

Comics - 157
Akira: Tetsuo - 16
Akira: Akira I - 14
Akira: Akira II - 13
Akira: Kei I - 18
Akira: Kei II - 19
Akira: Kaneda - 20
All You Need is Kill - 19
James Bond: Case Files - 4
Accidental Salad - 2
The Listening Agent - 2
I’m Never Going Back - 6
Silverfish - 7
IDW TMNT Collection V1 - 17





Books - 2
87th Precinct: Cop Hater
HP Illustrated Edition: The Prisoner of Azkaban




Overall

Comics - 667
January: 94
February: 75
March: 46
April: 40
May: 67
June: 50
July: 76
August: 62
September: 0 (What?!)
October: 0 (Again?!)
November: 157
December:


Books - 38
January: 4
February: 2
March: 1
April: 2
May: 3
June: 2
July: 9
August: 8
September: 3
October: 2
November: 2
December:

[Mister Mets]

Thunderbolts #110-121: Interesting Ultimate-style take on people who should not be superheroes. Peters out a bit since there isn't much of an end.

Corto Maltese: The Golden House of Samarkand (13 Issues Worth): The first Corto Maltese comic I've read has a lot of twists, but some exceptional storytelling.

Tales to Astonish #1-7: Solid sci-fi stories by some of the giants of Marvel.

Mister Miracle #1-12: One of the most interesting comic books of the last few years. Works on a few levels, as a homage to the fourth world, a tale of a man struggling with depression, and a cosmic epic.

Journey Into Mystery #1-10: These sci-fi stories have some predictable trends, and are largely by talent I'm unfamiliar with, but it's fun.

Extra! #1-5: A bit of a departure for EC in that it's got recurring characters with action stories of journalists getting in trouble. Good twists for stories that top at 8 pages, and fantastic art by the likes of John Severin and Johnny Craig.

Black Bolt #7-12: I could see why Ahmed and Ward have become so sought after. The second volume is less cosmic, but still quite good.

Daredevil #609-612: Beautifully illustrated by Noto. Soule's finale has a controversial swerve, but is a solid statement on the character.

Thor #131-136, Annual #2: High fantasy by Kirby.

Batman Incorporated Volume 2 #0, 1-12: The conclusion to Morrison's run is more interesting than exceptional. Good but doesn't match the best of his Batman run, or the inventive Batman and Robin.

I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets (6 Issues Worth): Weird but inventive golden age stories, with an interesting coda by a fan of the artist who learns some dark truths.

And some Spider-Man....

Amazing Spider-Man #132-140, Giant-Sized Superheroes #2
Conway/ Andru's run does have some growth and development for Spidey, even if the quality of the A-plot varies.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #72-83
Mantlo's very-Miller influenced run includes the exceptional Owl/ Octopus war.

Total So Far: 1779 Issues, 48 from the Golden Age, 53 from the 1950s, 100 from the 1960s complete, 100 from the 1970s complete, 100 from the 1980s, 100 from the 1990s complete, 100 from the 2000s complete, 100 from the 2010s complete

Best of the batch: "I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets Afterword by Paul Kasarik"- A complex coda in which Kasarik encounters the son of the great artist, and learns the truth about a man whose talent he respected. In one meeting, he learns his hero's age, failings, poetic death, and hints about complex secrets in his stories.

I'm on pace to hit my goals (2018 issues total/ 100 from before 1949/ the 1950s/ the 1960s/ the 1970s/ the 1980s/ the 1990s/ the 2000s/ the 2010s) though I will have to focus a bit more on the golden age stuff.

[ArkhamJamie]

November update:

Batman: The Long Halloween TPB (13)

- Only book I read this month and it was absolutely fantastic. Very deserving of all the praise it gets as being one of the essential Batman stories. What begins as a family simple murder mystery quickly turns into a quintessential Batman story that encompasses all of his lore and rich cast of characters. Really well told story, I love how each issue is framed by a holiday. Intriguing ending that keeps you thinking about the book for long after you read it. The art and writing work hand-in-hand, too. Overall, a wonderful book.


Monthly Total: 13 books
Yearly Total: 726 books

[MagpieMad]

November
Deathnote 3-12: (90 issues) After an amazing start, this really dragged. Good ending, but took much too long to get there.
Batman White Knight: (8 issues) Had some great aspects, such as the dynamic between Jack and Harley, but it didn't live up to the hype for me unfortunately.
Scarlet Spider TP 4: (5 issues) I should have gone with my first instinct and given up on this after the first TP. The worst comic I've read this year.
Superman: Brainiac: (5 issues) After a run of comics that were pretty hit-or-miss, this was a breath of fresh air. I may have a new favourite Superman story!
Spider-Man Omnibus by Michelinie & McFarlane: (35 issues) I'd read a lot of these issues when I was a child of about 10, but that was 25 years ago. It was a fun trip down memory lane and the newly-wed interactions were very different to read as an adult!
Superman: Whatever happened to the man of tomorrow?: (4 issues) The only pre-crisis Superman I've ever read. It was a lot of fun. although I was annoyed that the climax of the main story was actually shown in the introduction!
Spider-Man Michelinie & Larsen Omnibus: (27 issues) I'd never read any of these stories before. It was still quite enjoyable for the most part, though I preferred the previous omnibus. Also the stories written by Larsen came across as ridiculously dated and a bit mindless.
Transformers: Time Wars TP (5 issues) After just hearing the IDW reprints of the British comic were cancelled I picked this up. A satisfying read, as my local newsagent stopped stocking the comic in the middle of this storyline and I've literally waited decades to read the conclusion.
My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies: (3 issues) God, I love Brubaker & Phillips!
Usagi Yojimbo book 1-7 (42 issues) Enjoyed it so much I ordered the rest of the Dark Horse volumes.

Total for month: 224 issues
Total so far: 2016 issues

[Enigma]

Your view of Deathnote seems to be almost universal :P

[Gotham Thrasher]

Action Comics # 1004 Astonishing X-Men (Vol 4)(2018)
#16-17 (2 issues )
Asgardians of the Galaxy # 1
Aquaman (Vol. 8)(2016) #s 39 - 40
Suicide Squad (Vol. 5)(2016) #s 45 -46 (2 issues )
Iron Maiden :Legacy of the Beast (2017) #''s 1 - 5 (5 issues)
Cosmic Ghost Rider (2018) # 's 3 - 5 (3 issues)
Batman (Vol. 3) (2016) # 21- 22 (2
issues)
Green Lantern (Vol. 3) (1990) #1
Daredevil (Vol. 5)(2016) # 1 - 23 & Annual # 1 (25 issues)
Daredevil / Punisher seventh circle # 1 - 4 (4 ussues)
Death of the inhuman 's #s 3 - 5 (3 issues)
The Flash (Vol. 5) (2016) # 21- 22 (2 issues)
The Sentry (Vol. 3) (2018) #s 4 - 5 (2 issues)
Batman Secret Files (2018) # 1 (2 issues)
Batman (Vol. 3) (2016) #s 25 - 32 (8 issues)
Justice League (Vol.4)(2018) #s 9-10 (2 issues)
The Green Lantern (2018) # 1
Mister Miracle (Vol. 4) (2017) #s 1 - 12 (12 issues)
Mister Miracle ( Vol. 2) (1989) # 8
Wonder Woman (Vol. 5) (2016) # 58
Electric Warriors (2018) # 1
Return of Wolverine #s 1-3 (3 issues)
Superman (Vol. 5) (2018) #s 4 - 5 ( 2 issues)
Supergirl (Vol. 6) (2016) # 23 - 24 (2 issues)
The New Mutants : Dead Souls (2018) # 's 1 - 6 (6 Issues)
Multiple Man (2018) # 1 - 5 (5 issues)
Venom (Vol. 4) (2018) # 6
X-Men Blue (2017) #'s 29 - 36 (8 issues)

TOTAL ISSUES THIS TIME : 110
TOTAL ISSUES SO FAR THIS YEAR : 893

[Bloodbones]

Here are my reads for November. Slow month, again! Too much Red Dead Redemption 2 so less time to read lol.


Amazing Spider-Man Vol.5 #8-9 (2)
Bully Wars #2 (1)
Cold Spots #3 (1)
Cosmic Ghost Rider #4 (1)
Deadpool #6 (1)
Deadpool by Posehn & Duggan #1-3 (3)
Dead Rabbit #2 (1)
Farmhand #5 (1)
Gideon Falls #8 (1)
Jimmy's Bastards #1 (1)
Middlewest #1 (1)
Murder Falcon #1-2 (2)
My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies GN (3)
New Mutants #98 (1)
Return of Wolverine #2-3 (2)
Teether #1 (1)
The Immortal Hulk #7-9 (3)
The Weatherman #5 (1)
Ultimate Spider-Man #9-10 (2)
Venom #7 (1)
X-23 Target X #3-6 (4)
X-23/Captain Universe #1 (1)
X-23: Women of Marvel #1 (1)
X-23 (2010) #1-3 (3)
X-23 Vol.4 #6 (1)


TOTAL: 40


January: 62
February: 42
March: 50
April: 47
May: 36
June: 78
July: 94
August: 85
September: 46
October: 32
Novembre: 40


Total 2018: 612

[JPAR]

January: 149
February: 108
March: 69
April: 111
May/June: 179
July: 172
August: 188
September: 98
October: 31
November:

Usagi Yojimbo saga 7 (17)
B.P.R.D. Hell on earth 3 (15)
Green Lantern omnibus by GJ 2 (45)

Total 2018: 1184