Matthew Ledrew's Blog - Posts Tagged "top-ten-tuesday"
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I almost put down, but didn't.
Well, here we are again. I used to do Top Ten Tuesday, a function of The Broke and the Bookish, over at my blog when I hosted with Wordpress. I've been enjoying the Goodreads engine lately, and decided to try it over here. Let's see how it goes.
For those new to the concept, Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme in which they post a topic every week and bloggers pick 10 books to fit that topic. By chance, this weeks topic is Top Ten Books I Almost Put Down, but Didn't
So, in no-particular order...
10.
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad: This one sat unfinished for years. I started it when I made it my quest to finish all the books on the BBC Booklist (a quest that is still in progress). I just couldn't finish it. The start of it killed me, switching from one first person narrative to another. But recently I have been forced to look at it again for school and chose to approach it via an audiobook, and have found it much more tolerable in spoken word. If you MUST read this, that is the way to do it.
9.
Marvel Masterworks: X-Men - Volume 7, Marvel Comics: The result of another such "literary quest," I chose to balance the heavy literary part of my reading with a bit of nostalgia by reading some comic book trades. I embarked on a quest to read every X-Men comic -- ever. Yes, I'm that insane. While much of the early X-Men comics were pretty insufferable, this is the worst of it. It covers a period of time in which the book had actually ceased production and the X-Men only existed in sporadic guest appearances in other titles. The Beast got his one feature in a Marvel anthology title, and while it was remarkable in turning him into his familiar blue form... it is horribly written. It was clear Marvel didn't know what to do with many of these characters, and was very ready for the all-new, all-different X-Men by the time I was done reading this.
8.
The Waste Lands, Stephen King: This one was never abandoned due to disinterest, but simply a busy schedule. I was reading it for pleasure when the need to read for work with Engen Books or the need to read for school forced me to stop, and I only recently got back to it. Upon having the opportunity, I plowed through it (starting again) and the rest of the series in a little over a week. It's an amazing series that I cannot recommend enough.
7.
Essential Dazzler, Vol. 1, Danny Fingeroth: Of my desire to read all the X-Men titles, this has been the hardest to get through by far. It is horrible, sexist, and stupid. It makes me hate... reading. Yes, it is so bad that it makes me hate the act of reading. Avoid at all costs, if you must read, take migraine pills first.
6.
Dexter in the Dark, Jeff Lindsay: This book suffered from the drawback of the digital age. Sometimes when I'm at work I cruise Wikipedia and browse topics I like. At the time I was very into the HBO adaptation of Dexter, and went from that to the article on the book series. I hated the first book and loved the second, so when I read that most people reviled the third... that didn't give me much hope. I read about three pages, decided this wasn't for me, and gave up on the series. Big mistake, because this ended up being a great book. I don't understand the negativity toward it. I ended up reading the fourth directly after. Try them out, they're okay popcorn books.
5.
The Whirlpool, Jane Urquhart: Hard to get into, with themes and a narrative that are hard to decipher at first. A book I was forced to read for school, but afterwards became one of the books I recommend the most, especially to young authors. Especially to young authors attempting to master the craft of weaving several interlocking story-threads together. In fact I would call it required reading in that respect.
4.
Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time Volume 1, Scott Tipton: I hesitate to call this a "book," or even "fiction." It is a horrible collection of short episodes that, alone, would be the worst single-issues I'd ever read but together form one of the worst trades I have ever read. The publisher, IDW, drops the ball here, as TV adaptations are a great way to get non-comic readers into comics. Anyone coming over from Doctor Who that reads this as their first comic would never pick up another.
3.
Love's Labour's Lost, William Shakespeare: I find Shakespeare very hard to read, but once I got into this one I found it an enjoyable and funny read. I suggest that anyone forced to read the dramas in high school try out the comedies before writing-off the man altogether.
2.
Defending Middle-Earth: Tolkien: Myth and Modernity, Patrick Curry: So difficult to read, as the author is less a academic than he is a flag-waving fanboy. Tolkien is great, but the people that follow him frothing at the mouth and refute any literary critique against him bother me to no end.
1.
The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien: Well really, how could it not be this? I hear so many stories of people that read this at age nine or younger. Ellen Louise Curtis reportedly read it and did a report on it in the first grade. But I just cannot get behind that. I tried reading it at a young age and couldn't. Tried again in high school, and couldn't. Finally I recently had to for a course, and was surprised to learn that it was very enjoyable. Much like Heart of Darkness though, if you have trouble reading it, try the audiobook. It makes Tolkien's language much easier to manage.
Well, that's my list. Hope everyone enjoyed it and I hope I see you next Tuesday!
Never Look Back!
Matthew Ledrew
For those new to the concept, Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme in which they post a topic every week and bloggers pick 10 books to fit that topic. By chance, this weeks topic is Top Ten Books I Almost Put Down, but Didn't
So, in no-particular order...
10.
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad: This one sat unfinished for years. I started it when I made it my quest to finish all the books on the BBC Booklist (a quest that is still in progress). I just couldn't finish it. The start of it killed me, switching from one first person narrative to another. But recently I have been forced to look at it again for school and chose to approach it via an audiobook, and have found it much more tolerable in spoken word. If you MUST read this, that is the way to do it.9.
Marvel Masterworks: X-Men - Volume 7, Marvel Comics: The result of another such "literary quest," I chose to balance the heavy literary part of my reading with a bit of nostalgia by reading some comic book trades. I embarked on a quest to read every X-Men comic -- ever. Yes, I'm that insane. While much of the early X-Men comics were pretty insufferable, this is the worst of it. It covers a period of time in which the book had actually ceased production and the X-Men only existed in sporadic guest appearances in other titles. The Beast got his one feature in a Marvel anthology title, and while it was remarkable in turning him into his familiar blue form... it is horribly written. It was clear Marvel didn't know what to do with many of these characters, and was very ready for the all-new, all-different X-Men by the time I was done reading this.8.
The Waste Lands, Stephen King: This one was never abandoned due to disinterest, but simply a busy schedule. I was reading it for pleasure when the need to read for work with Engen Books or the need to read for school forced me to stop, and I only recently got back to it. Upon having the opportunity, I plowed through it (starting again) and the rest of the series in a little over a week. It's an amazing series that I cannot recommend enough.7.
Essential Dazzler, Vol. 1, Danny Fingeroth: Of my desire to read all the X-Men titles, this has been the hardest to get through by far. It is horrible, sexist, and stupid. It makes me hate... reading. Yes, it is so bad that it makes me hate the act of reading. Avoid at all costs, if you must read, take migraine pills first.6.
Dexter in the Dark, Jeff Lindsay: This book suffered from the drawback of the digital age. Sometimes when I'm at work I cruise Wikipedia and browse topics I like. At the time I was very into the HBO adaptation of Dexter, and went from that to the article on the book series. I hated the first book and loved the second, so when I read that most people reviled the third... that didn't give me much hope. I read about three pages, decided this wasn't for me, and gave up on the series. Big mistake, because this ended up being a great book. I don't understand the negativity toward it. I ended up reading the fourth directly after. Try them out, they're okay popcorn books.5.
The Whirlpool, Jane Urquhart: Hard to get into, with themes and a narrative that are hard to decipher at first. A book I was forced to read for school, but afterwards became one of the books I recommend the most, especially to young authors. Especially to young authors attempting to master the craft of weaving several interlocking story-threads together. In fact I would call it required reading in that respect.4.
Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time Volume 1, Scott Tipton: I hesitate to call this a "book," or even "fiction." It is a horrible collection of short episodes that, alone, would be the worst single-issues I'd ever read but together form one of the worst trades I have ever read. The publisher, IDW, drops the ball here, as TV adaptations are a great way to get non-comic readers into comics. Anyone coming over from Doctor Who that reads this as their first comic would never pick up another.3.
Love's Labour's Lost, William Shakespeare: I find Shakespeare very hard to read, but once I got into this one I found it an enjoyable and funny read. I suggest that anyone forced to read the dramas in high school try out the comedies before writing-off the man altogether.2.
Defending Middle-Earth: Tolkien: Myth and Modernity, Patrick Curry: So difficult to read, as the author is less a academic than he is a flag-waving fanboy. Tolkien is great, but the people that follow him frothing at the mouth and refute any literary critique against him bother me to no end.1.
The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien: Well really, how could it not be this? I hear so many stories of people that read this at age nine or younger. Ellen Louise Curtis reportedly read it and did a report on it in the first grade. But I just cannot get behind that. I tried reading it at a young age and couldn't. Tried again in high school, and couldn't. Finally I recently had to for a course, and was surprised to learn that it was very enjoyable. Much like Heart of Darkness though, if you have trouble reading it, try the audiobook. It makes Tolkien's language much easier to manage. Well, that's my list. Hope everyone enjoyed it and I hope I see you next Tuesday!
Never Look Back!
Matthew Ledrew
Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art
I'm going to make up for lost time not posting to Top Ten Tuesday by doing the two previous weeks listed on their website. This one, from May 6, is fairly straightforward.
Here, in no particular order, are the Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art.
10.
A Winter's Tale: The Wreck of the Florizel, Cassie Brown: The Newfoundlander in my just loves this, the ship on the water being tossed about by a harsh and powerful sea. This speaks to me on that level, on the level that was born with that understanding and fear of the great, terrible, beautiful ocean. I would have this on my wall, possibly in a den above a couch.
9.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Artobiography, Kevin Eastman: Hell yes! I can't speak to this one on any artistic level, or pretend that I think this is something the majority of people would find appealing. I simply love Ninja Turtles, and the image that comprises this cover is one of my favorites. Possibly superseded only by the first video-game cover by Konami, taken from the reprint of the fourth issue. But for the purposes of this list: yes, I would put this on my wall. Proudly. Probably in a study, or whatever man-den I had to write in.
8.
Alias Omnibus, Brian Michael Bendis: One of my favorite comic book characters of all time? Yes. Favorite series? Yes. Favorite covers? Of course. Beautifully painted in abstract imagery all, the covers to Alias are magnificent works of art. But this one? The Omnibus cover? This one perfectly shows the series at its core, with the perfect clean lines of comics history being stripped away to reveal Jessica Jones underneath.
7.
Say Cheese and Die!, R.L. Stine: What can I say? I have a weird sense of humor. I would love to hang this cover in a hallway or porch of a home, in a place where a normal sweet family portrait would be. That just seems hilarious to me. I would mine that for all the double-takes and conversation starters I could.
6.
Death, Mourning, and Burial, Antonius C.G.M. Robben: The cover of the anthropological text, taken from the film "The Seventh Seal," is another awesome and dark image. I picture this stretched out in a long landscape, possibly in a hallway. This one isn't even for shock value either, I just think it's a striking and beautiful image.
5.
Facing the Sea: Lightkeepers and Their Families, Harold Chubbs: Another cover that speaks to me on that level on my home. That island in the middle of nowhere with the small, tall building on it, crashed with the waves and left steadfast and alone. It's a great image, and whoever took it is a gifted photographer. It reminds me of home.
4.
Bipolar Expeditions: Mania and Depression in American Culture, Emily Martin: This is a bit of a cheat. I mean, if you took the words away from this cover, you're left with just the painting by Van Gough, so I'm basically just saying I want a Van Gough on my wall. And I'm fine with that. Of all his work, I have to say that this is probably one of my favorites. The emotional quality it evokes is wonderful and touching. I would put this anywhere in my home, but probably most likely in the bedroom.
3.
Sci-Fi from the Rock Returns, Steve Lake: I love this cover... that's why I chose it for publication! It was taken by Ellen Louise Curtis on a trip to Topsail Beach near St. John's, Newfoundland. I love the contrast of the deep red of the strawberry and the wonderful blue of the sky behind it. It's crisp and clean and perfect, and I love it.
2.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey: I like this image. It is well crafted and ominous. I don't know where it would go, the reality is it would probably creep me out and I'd end up putting it in a closet or something, but what can you do? There's no accounting for taste I guess.
1.
Sophocles II: Ajax/Women of Trachis/Electra/Philoctetes (Complete Greek Tragedies 4), Sophocles: Nothing to say here, I just love the image. I love tree images. There is something very like this on my wall behind me now, that I got for reasons I do not recall. Perhaps it reminded me of the cover of this book, or perhaps the link is simply a coincidence of my adoration of nature imagery. Either way, I would have this on my wall as well.
There were more comic books on this list than I would have liked. :P
Never Look Back
Matthew Ledrew
Here, in no particular order, are the Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art.
10.
A Winter's Tale: The Wreck of the Florizel, Cassie Brown: The Newfoundlander in my just loves this, the ship on the water being tossed about by a harsh and powerful sea. This speaks to me on that level, on the level that was born with that understanding and fear of the great, terrible, beautiful ocean. I would have this on my wall, possibly in a den above a couch.9.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Artobiography, Kevin Eastman: Hell yes! I can't speak to this one on any artistic level, or pretend that I think this is something the majority of people would find appealing. I simply love Ninja Turtles, and the image that comprises this cover is one of my favorites. Possibly superseded only by the first video-game cover by Konami, taken from the reprint of the fourth issue. But for the purposes of this list: yes, I would put this on my wall. Proudly. Probably in a study, or whatever man-den I had to write in. 8.
Alias Omnibus, Brian Michael Bendis: One of my favorite comic book characters of all time? Yes. Favorite series? Yes. Favorite covers? Of course. Beautifully painted in abstract imagery all, the covers to Alias are magnificent works of art. But this one? The Omnibus cover? This one perfectly shows the series at its core, with the perfect clean lines of comics history being stripped away to reveal Jessica Jones underneath.7.
Say Cheese and Die!, R.L. Stine: What can I say? I have a weird sense of humor. I would love to hang this cover in a hallway or porch of a home, in a place where a normal sweet family portrait would be. That just seems hilarious to me. I would mine that for all the double-takes and conversation starters I could.6.
Death, Mourning, and Burial, Antonius C.G.M. Robben: The cover of the anthropological text, taken from the film "The Seventh Seal," is another awesome and dark image. I picture this stretched out in a long landscape, possibly in a hallway. This one isn't even for shock value either, I just think it's a striking and beautiful image.5.
Facing the Sea: Lightkeepers and Their Families, Harold Chubbs: Another cover that speaks to me on that level on my home. That island in the middle of nowhere with the small, tall building on it, crashed with the waves and left steadfast and alone. It's a great image, and whoever took it is a gifted photographer. It reminds me of home. 4.
Bipolar Expeditions: Mania and Depression in American Culture, Emily Martin: This is a bit of a cheat. I mean, if you took the words away from this cover, you're left with just the painting by Van Gough, so I'm basically just saying I want a Van Gough on my wall. And I'm fine with that. Of all his work, I have to say that this is probably one of my favorites. The emotional quality it evokes is wonderful and touching. I would put this anywhere in my home, but probably most likely in the bedroom. 3.
Sci-Fi from the Rock Returns, Steve Lake: I love this cover... that's why I chose it for publication! It was taken by Ellen Louise Curtis on a trip to Topsail Beach near St. John's, Newfoundland. I love the contrast of the deep red of the strawberry and the wonderful blue of the sky behind it. It's crisp and clean and perfect, and I love it.2.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey: I like this image. It is well crafted and ominous. I don't know where it would go, the reality is it would probably creep me out and I'd end up putting it in a closet or something, but what can you do? There's no accounting for taste I guess.1.
Sophocles II: Ajax/Women of Trachis/Electra/Philoctetes (Complete Greek Tragedies 4), Sophocles: Nothing to say here, I just love the image. I love tree images. There is something very like this on my wall behind me now, that I got for reasons I do not recall. Perhaps it reminded me of the cover of this book, or perhaps the link is simply a coincidence of my adoration of nature imagery. Either way, I would have this on my wall as well.There were more comic books on this list than I would have liked. :P
Never Look Back
Matthew Ledrew
Top Ten Books to Read if you like X-Men
So here's a rare opportunity offered by The Broke and the Bookish, as April 29's topic was Top Ten Books If You Like X tv show/movie/comic/play etc. (basically any sort of other entertainment). At first I was just going to do a straight comic-book list, hightlighting the best of each franchise from which I'd read... but then I figured, lets have some fun. I've been on my way through all of the X-Men comics, and although I'm nowhere near done, I'm going to take a moment and do my current Top-Ten favorite X-Men books. Although I'm not limiting it to comics, something tells me they'll dominate the list.
And this time, they are going in order, with #1 being my favorite.
10.
X-Men: X-Cutioner's Song, Scott Lobdell: This book really set in motion that X-Men crossovers had to happen, and had to be as confusing as possible... but you can't blame this book for that! The reason it's that way is because this book is so great! Intriguing and epic in scope and scale, this book focuses on the mysterious Cable and his relationship to Cyclops and Jean Grey! Although the mysteries don't get resolved here, there are enough hints and clues to keep any reader guessing, and the ending will leave you satisfied nonetheless.
9.
X-Men: Kitty Pryde & Wolverine, Chris Claremont: Despite a rocky first chapter, this story works exceptionally well as a sequel to the Claremont/Miller opus of a few years before, but is often overlooked. I actually like it better than the original, cementing the relationship between Pryde and Wolverine while updating her character into Shadowcat, the persona she would inhabit for the remainder of the franchise (to date).
8.
X-Men: Phoenix Rising, Roger Stern: An oddity for an X-Men book, this book features stories from Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Factor... but they all come together to tell the story of Phoenix's rebirth into the Marvel Universe, deftly written by Roger Stern. While probably not the greatest book for someone hoping to break into X-Men, its nevertheless a great tale of triumph in the face of overwhelming odds, especially when coupled with the wonderful X-Men Classics Vignettes contained within.
7.
Civil War: Wolverine, Marc Guggenheim: Sure to be one of the only post-2000 books on this list, Wolverine's Civil War arc features Logan traveling the world on quest for vengeance against Nitro, the super-villain responsible for the deaths of nearly 500 schoolchildren that sparked the start of the Marvel Civil War. As much a political thriller as it is action-packed, this comic proves Logan's place in the modern Marvel Universe, as a soul of vengeance and true avenging force.
6.
Wolverine: Not Dead Yet, Warren Ellis: this is an epic tale of survival as Logan is forced to confront a man from his past he thought he'd killed, hunted through the backwoods of New York as the killer physically and psychologically tortures Logan to try and let the beast inside out, and prove who is the better killer. Revealing, interesting stuff.
5.
X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, Chris Claremont: I'll get flack from fellow fans for putting this one so high up on the list, but while I enjoyed it there was something a little-ham fisted about it. It got points at the time for peeling away the veil of illusion behind the race-parable to X-Men, opting to outwardly claim that the word "mutie" was just like the n-word. Kitty Pryde outwardly says the word. But aside from the surreal nature of seeing the n-word in print in a Marvel comic, there's not a lot going for it. The racial message is ham-handed and is making too broad a point to be successful, and eventually they reveal the giant machine to kill the mutants and the thing because a standard beat-em-up that undercuts the root message. It gets on this list just for its ballsyness, though.
4.
X-Men: Mutant Genesis, Chris Claremont: At the time it was both the best-selling comic book of all time AND Claremont's farewall to the series he revolutionized, but it was also a great book. The X-Men's greatest foe, Magneto, has returned to threaten the Earth because he believes that the "softer" persona he's developed ever since Claremont took over the title was in fact set upon him by Professor Xavier. Outwardly renouncing the amnesty he worked so hard to achieve, Magneto comes back to villainy and we wouldn't have it any other way.
3.
Essential Wolverine, Vol. 1, Chris Claremont: Yes. Not the Frank Miller limited series, or anything else, this. These stories, which take place while the X-Men were thought dead, revolve around Logan in his alternate identity as Patch trying to manage a bar in the fictional ghetto-island of Madripor while navigating the complex political schemes of the crime families therein. It forces him not to simply pop his claws to deal with every problem as it comes up, and forced the character (and the author) to think about what they're doing. The character had never been written better and never has been since, proving why (at the time) he needed his own monthly title.
2.
Astonishing X-Men, Joss Whedon: It's popular to pour the love onto Joss Whedon these days, and why not? A cult success for years, he now helms the most profitable movie franchise in existence. But between Buffy and Avengers, Whedon did a lot of comics. One of which was this amazing run on X-Men, from which he took the main cast leftover from Grant Morrison's run on the title and gave them their own series. Wonderfully written and heartfelt, this was one of the first true modern extensions of the book we loved during the 70s and 80s. Romantic, adventurous, and filled with witty Whedon dialog.
1.
X-Men 1 Backpack Marvels, Chris Claremont: Without a doubt my favorite X-Men collection of all time, and my favorite way to view it as well. The art translates beautifully to this black-and-white collection, whereas modern artists rely so much on color that removing it is damn near impossible. This book is imaginative and epic, taking the reader from the birth of the Morlocks to Rouge joining the team, and finally to Wolverine's wedding. It, and its sequel X-Men 2 Backpack, are some of the best comic books in existence and I would recommend them to anybody.
And this time, they are going in order, with #1 being my favorite.
10.
X-Men: X-Cutioner's Song, Scott Lobdell: This book really set in motion that X-Men crossovers had to happen, and had to be as confusing as possible... but you can't blame this book for that! The reason it's that way is because this book is so great! Intriguing and epic in scope and scale, this book focuses on the mysterious Cable and his relationship to Cyclops and Jean Grey! Although the mysteries don't get resolved here, there are enough hints and clues to keep any reader guessing, and the ending will leave you satisfied nonetheless. 9.
X-Men: Kitty Pryde & Wolverine, Chris Claremont: Despite a rocky first chapter, this story works exceptionally well as a sequel to the Claremont/Miller opus of a few years before, but is often overlooked. I actually like it better than the original, cementing the relationship between Pryde and Wolverine while updating her character into Shadowcat, the persona she would inhabit for the remainder of the franchise (to date).8.
X-Men: Phoenix Rising, Roger Stern: An oddity for an X-Men book, this book features stories from Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Factor... but they all come together to tell the story of Phoenix's rebirth into the Marvel Universe, deftly written by Roger Stern. While probably not the greatest book for someone hoping to break into X-Men, its nevertheless a great tale of triumph in the face of overwhelming odds, especially when coupled with the wonderful X-Men Classics Vignettes contained within.7.
Civil War: Wolverine, Marc Guggenheim: Sure to be one of the only post-2000 books on this list, Wolverine's Civil War arc features Logan traveling the world on quest for vengeance against Nitro, the super-villain responsible for the deaths of nearly 500 schoolchildren that sparked the start of the Marvel Civil War. As much a political thriller as it is action-packed, this comic proves Logan's place in the modern Marvel Universe, as a soul of vengeance and true avenging force.6.
Wolverine: Not Dead Yet, Warren Ellis: this is an epic tale of survival as Logan is forced to confront a man from his past he thought he'd killed, hunted through the backwoods of New York as the killer physically and psychologically tortures Logan to try and let the beast inside out, and prove who is the better killer. Revealing, interesting stuff.5.
X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, Chris Claremont: I'll get flack from fellow fans for putting this one so high up on the list, but while I enjoyed it there was something a little-ham fisted about it. It got points at the time for peeling away the veil of illusion behind the race-parable to X-Men, opting to outwardly claim that the word "mutie" was just like the n-word. Kitty Pryde outwardly says the word. But aside from the surreal nature of seeing the n-word in print in a Marvel comic, there's not a lot going for it. The racial message is ham-handed and is making too broad a point to be successful, and eventually they reveal the giant machine to kill the mutants and the thing because a standard beat-em-up that undercuts the root message. It gets on this list just for its ballsyness, though. 4.
X-Men: Mutant Genesis, Chris Claremont: At the time it was both the best-selling comic book of all time AND Claremont's farewall to the series he revolutionized, but it was also a great book. The X-Men's greatest foe, Magneto, has returned to threaten the Earth because he believes that the "softer" persona he's developed ever since Claremont took over the title was in fact set upon him by Professor Xavier. Outwardly renouncing the amnesty he worked so hard to achieve, Magneto comes back to villainy and we wouldn't have it any other way. 3.
Essential Wolverine, Vol. 1, Chris Claremont: Yes. Not the Frank Miller limited series, or anything else, this. These stories, which take place while the X-Men were thought dead, revolve around Logan in his alternate identity as Patch trying to manage a bar in the fictional ghetto-island of Madripor while navigating the complex political schemes of the crime families therein. It forces him not to simply pop his claws to deal with every problem as it comes up, and forced the character (and the author) to think about what they're doing. The character had never been written better and never has been since, proving why (at the time) he needed his own monthly title.2.
Astonishing X-Men, Joss Whedon: It's popular to pour the love onto Joss Whedon these days, and why not? A cult success for years, he now helms the most profitable movie franchise in existence. But between Buffy and Avengers, Whedon did a lot of comics. One of which was this amazing run on X-Men, from which he took the main cast leftover from Grant Morrison's run on the title and gave them their own series. Wonderfully written and heartfelt, this was one of the first true modern extensions of the book we loved during the 70s and 80s. Romantic, adventurous, and filled with witty Whedon dialog. 1.
X-Men 1 Backpack Marvels, Chris Claremont: Without a doubt my favorite X-Men collection of all time, and my favorite way to view it as well. The art translates beautifully to this black-and-white collection, whereas modern artists rely so much on color that removing it is damn near impossible. This book is imaginative and epic, taking the reader from the birth of the Morlocks to Rouge joining the team, and finally to Wolverine's wedding. It, and its sequel X-Men 2 Backpack, are some of the best comic books in existence and I would recommend them to anybody.
