And Then I Read: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARTHA WASHINGTON

Images © Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons.

I put off reading this massive volume for over a year only because it's so large and heavy. It measures about 12 by 8 inches, is just over two inches thick, and weighs over seven pounds. Try juggling that with a cat on your lap! But last week I did manage to read it all, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd read most of the contents before in individual issues as they were published over the last 20 years or so, but I'd forgotten a lot of the details, so it was largely a new read, except for the recent final chapter.

I should preface this by saying both Frank and Dave are friends, so keep that in mind. The most recent thing I've read by Frank was his ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN series from DC, which was highly over-the-top in every way. MARTHA is a good place to find a much broader range of writing from him. Sure, there's lots of violence and black humor as well as social satire, but there are also subtle character moments, introspective interludes, and knowing insights into human minds and hearts largely missing from Frank's more recent superhero efforts. It made me appreciate Frank as a writer all over again.

As for the art, Dave Gibbons has never looked better than he does on this thick, glossy paper with top-notch printing and some early sections recolored. MARTHA is a testament to Dave's skill in portraying a very human but heroic character, flawed but determined, trying hard to do the right thing in a very wrong world. Dave captures all that in his facial expressions and body language. And if you like action, this volume is full of it, essentially about six action movies rolled into one satisfying story. And, if I may, nearly all lettered by hand by Dave, one of my favorite letterers! There are some bits of digital type, as on the computer balloons above. Dave draws terrific sound effects, too! The coloring by Robin Smith, Angus McKie and Alan Craddock, with some by Dave as well, all looks fabulous, the printing really makes it glow. And there's a large scrapbook/gallery section with mostly unseen extras.

Expensive? Yes. But for your money you'll get hours of reading and viewing enjoyment. Highly recommended!