Saturday, December 28, 2013
The Year in Reading: Comics
There are two types of comics here: the traditional comics complied into a graphic novel, and web comics, compiled into a collection of stories, and one book that doesn’t fit either category.
Graphic Novels
Madame Mirage (2008) Paul Dini and Kenneth Rocafort (9/10)
This may say volume one, but as best I can tell, there isn’t a volume two, which is too bad, because I really liked this.
And don’t let the cover fool you. This isn’t one of those types of characters.
Fairest Vol 1: Fairest In All the Land (2013) Bill Willingham (8/10)
Fairest Vol. 2: Hidden Kingdom (2013) Lauren Beukes, Bill Willingham, Inaki Miranda (8/10)
Although I love Fables, I’ve been less fond of the spin-offs, Cinderella and Jack of Fables. So it was with a bit of trepidation that I started this series. Never fear, it was actually very good and I really enjoyed it.
Fables Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland (2013) Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Gene Ha (8/10)
Warning, this is not one of the happier comics. This series hasn’t hesitate to kill of characters (like Stinky, I’m still waiting for Boy Blue to return) and there’s a death here. You’ll know it’s coming, but you won’t know who. This is also a comic where I missed a lot because I tend to gloss over the art for the story, forgetting that the two are integrated.
Web Comics
Walking Your Octopus: A Guidebook to the Domesticated Cephalopod (2013) Brian Kesinger (9/10)
This isn’t a web comic, but a collection of gorgeous drawings. I gave this as a gift to a friend, and she took her copy to work, where visitors are constantly delighted by it. It’s gorgeous and marvelous and wonderful.
Erstwhile: Untold Tales From the Brothers Grimm (2012) Gina Biggs, Louisa Roy, Elle Skinner (8/10)
I’ve been reading Erstwhile for awhile, and so wanted to support them when the published a paper book. In my opinion it was well worth it.
Evil Diva Anthology Volume 1 (2013) Peter Menotti, Joe Cashman, Stephen Hood, Team Diva (8/10)
Sadly, I don’t think this is being published anymore, which is too bad, because I really enjoyed it.
And that’s 2013 in comics.