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2018 Recommended Reading Challenge - Master Thread
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Kara, what's your pitch for Sailor Moon? Is this typical of the manga genre in terms of plot, dialog, art, story-flow? I've never read any manga. What made you put it on the list?
Mod
Hi Robert! I added Sailor Moon because of its personal importance to me when I read it as a teenager and its continuing resonance as an adult, but there are more objective reasons, too:
It is part of the shojo subgenre of manga, which is aimed at a young female audience and usually emphasizes personal relationships. It was one of the most popular manga of the 90s, and I think it is a good introduction to shojo manga in general, and worth reading now because so many female comics creators today have cited it as a strong influence on their work.
Kara wrote: "Hi Robert! I added Sailor Moon because of its personal importance to me when I read it as a teenager and its continuing resonance as an adult, but there are more objective reasons, too"..."Thanks for sharing your story with Sailor Moon. I read it last week and it didn't have the same sort of resonance for me. But aside from not being my style of story or art, I was surprised by what I saw as constant negative message about the importance of being pretty, as well as other condescending stereotypes toward girls.
In one panel a male characters says he's so surprised a girl could do so well on a video game. In another, Sailor Moon gets off the bus to "chase" (stalk?) another girl, because "She's so pretty." She also says, "When it's a pretty girl, I'm willing to forgive just about anything." When she transforms into Sailor Moon she shouts "Makeup!" Seriously?
What messages is this communicating to young women who read this? I understand there is a positive side about a girl being a superhero and saving the world. But the emphasis on being pretty, wearing makeup, etc. seems terribly out of sync with today's sensibilities. As a father of a 12 yr old girl, I would cringe for her to read these.
I hate to be critical of something so important to you, Kara. I just couldn't get past the shallow body image messaging in this book. Please forgive me, even if I'm not pretty. ;-)
Mod
Oh, I totally agree that the (literally) narrow view of what "beauty" is is perhaps one of the weakest parts of Sailor Moon. But....I do have some counter arguments to the examples you included:
1) I think the dude revealing his surprise that Usagi is so good at a video game only reveals his own narrow-mindedness and is no reflection of her actual talents, since she's crushing that game
2) Usagi talking about following a girl because she's pretty only lends to the read that she's queer/bisexual, which gains greater support as the series progresses, so I view this as a point in the series' favor re: LGBTQIA+ representation, and am willing to overlook the objectivity of the initial moment
3) Shouting "Makeup!" to transform always made sense to me, because makeup is a transformative thing in and of itself--the assumption that makeup is only there so women can use it to make themselves more superficially appealing to mates should be examined, because makeup is used to change someone's look, whether to be more conventionally sexually appealing or not, so I think it does make sense that the Sailor Senshi transformations happen when they yell "Makeup!" They are changing their look, and that is what makeup does.
I never really noticed an emphasis on being pretty while reading the Sailor series, and it's possible that that's because as a woman I've been told my whole life to look and act and be a certain way, and hearing it from one more source wasn't going to cause a huge impact.
For me, the message in the Sailor books is that women can be powerful in a way that doesn't conform to ideals of masculine power--this is reinforced by traditionally feminine totems like tiaras and makeup compacts being turned into weapons, or the Senshi uniforms being a sleek upgrade of their existing school uniforms, as opposed again to something masculine. There are very few men in the story overall, and in a media landscape that is usually dominated by superhero/powerful teams that are mostly men except there's one girl, I always found Sailor Moon to be a refuge where there were many women who were each different and were celebrated for their different strengths, whether that was a superpower or a hobby or a school subject.
I completely see and understand your criticisms, and I'm glad you brought them up so I could hear another opinion! It's rare I hear anything negative about the series because the people I usually talk to about it are women like me who found it to be engaging and important to them.
And of course, thank you for reading the book and trying something new!
Mod
Overall, I liked this book. There are four different guides who are all known characters in the DC universe (admittedly, I had to look a few up). They teach a kid about magic and take him all over the place to do so. There are different art styles for the four different issues contained in the book, which I thought worked well for the organization and travel theme of the book. I really liked the joke about the Trenchcoat Brigade, which I learned was picked up years later as an actual title for a miniseries.
I really like the inclusion of characters from some of Nail Gaiman's other books, but I also liked that they were quick side characters. Their inclusion felt a little like Gaiman patting himself on the back, so I'm glad the involvement of those characters was brief.
There is a different expanded version on Hoopla as well. I plan to read that version, as I want to know what happens to the characters after the close of the book.
Good recommendation, Wayland!
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This was actually the first Gaiman comic I ever read. I stumbled upon it at the library when I first started checking out trades, and picked it up because I loved the art. It is really beautiful.
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My biggest struggle with this list is that I'll go into the library to pick up a title or two, and end up checking out like eight other graphic novels also. I love what I am picking up, but it's making progress with this list more difficult.
Anyway, a few updates:
- I loved Secret Weapons. I think this is getting a second arc? I am definitely going to keep an eye out. This reminded me of Runaways, but everyone's powers kind of match their personalities. I also plan to track down Secret Weapons #0 and Harbinger, Volume 1: Omega Rising.
- I also really liked Dream Thief Volume 1. I added the second volume to my to-read list. I'm wondering how the remaining secret (to avoid spoilers) is going to play out.
- Vader Down was also pretty good. I liked seeing the droids, Chewy, Leia, Luke, and Han together. The other minis recently have not had them all together. I liked this addition to Aphra's background, and now I understand her "fear" of Vader much better (I have been reading Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Vol. 1: Aphra).
- Essex County was heart-wrenching. It's also a brick, and yet I read it in one sitting. It doesn't seem like the different stories connect together until the second half, but the end wraps things up very nicely.
- Asterios Polyp was intense. I was overwhelmed by the main character's dialogue and the variation of art styles at first. However, there is a second timeline and a number of dream(?) sequences to break that up. By end end of the book I loved it.
Kait wrote: "I am very thankful to my library for carrying most of the books on this list. My library is also part of a start-wide network that a ton of other libraries are a part of. Right now, I have a few bo..."Nice progress. The library is a fantastic resource for checking out comics. I understand the struggle of walking out with too many books. It's a great problem to have.
Harbinger, Volume 1: Omega Rising is good, but I felt that Harbinger, Volume 2: Renegades was much better. I only mention this because if you're planning to pick up volume one, you should probably check out volume two as well. It's a very character driven arc and packs in a ton of stuff. Definitely my favorite Harbinger arc so far although I have a couple more that I need to read.
Just finished Vader Down after tackling Darth Vader Omnibus Vol. 1.This story of the dark lord of the Sith is much better than I expected. I was worried that knowing his ultimate end would sour any sense of tension in a Darth Vader story. But I found that rather then thinking "I already know he gets away and doesn't die here" became a compelling, "I wonder how he's going to get out of this one."
Definitely the best "villain" solo title I've ever read.
I love the Doctor Aphra character. Hope she stays around for a long time. Would be great to see her in a Star Wars movie someday. Seeing Vader reluctantly partnering with a spunky associate is fantastic.
Robert wrote: "Just finished Vader Down after tackling Darth Vader Omnibus Vol. 1.This story of the dark lord of the Sith is much better than I expected. I was worried that knowi..."
I enjoyed this book too. The Darth Vader series is good and really delves into the character as an individual, but I kind of want to see him shift to wielding the power of the Empire in a more useful way. It may not be as effective to tell a story where he isn't taking a hands on approach though. I think it would tie better to his portrayal in the films.
Mod
This story of the dark lord of the Sith is much better than I expected. I was worried that knowi..."
I couldn't agree more. Have you read Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Vol. 1: Aphra?
Kate wrote: "I couldn't agree more. Have you read Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Vol. 1: Aphra?"."
I have all the single copies and the first volume in trade. I'm planning to reread Vol 1 as soon as I finish the Darth Vader story preceding it. Aphra is so cool.
Mod
Right?! I love her! I also love her droids. I read vol 1, but had to wait to catch up on the main Star Wars title so that I could read Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel before going on to vol 2. Cross over events can be a pain sometimes...
Paul, what's your pitch for "Asterios Polyp?" I'm about half way through and having a tough time getting "the point."
Regarding "Asterios Polyp," can someone tell me the significance of his head shape? It's a weird, almost light bulb shape in every single panel of this book. All the other characters have more "natural" looking head and hair. Asterios has a hard line shape that never changes. I can imagine that is part of the motif - hard, unchanging - but, is there significance to the actual shape. It seems deliberate.
Robert wrote: "Regarding "Asterios Polyp," can someone tell me the significance of his head shape? It's a weird, almost light bulb shape in every single panel of this book. All the other characters have more "nat..."Hey Robert! Personally, I think the appeal of Asterios Polyp is purely visual: David Mazzucchelli is best know for Batman: Year One and Daredevil: Born Again, so seeing him work in a looser style is really interesting. In terms of his cartooning style, he uses color, shapes, and even text to show the different ways each character views the world.
As far as "the point", I think Mazzucchelli is trying to explore various dichotomies: free will vs determinism, reason vs emotion, nature vs nurture. I think he is using his artwork to illustrate those themes. Literally.
The book is also seems to be loosely based on Homer's The Odyssey as it follows Asterios' journey of self-discovery.
Paul wrote: "Personally, I think the appeal of Asterios Polyp is purely visual:..."Paul, I totally agree. When I finally finished last week I had the same impression. In fact, I suspect the story/plot was just a vehicle for Mazzucchelli to explore what he wanted to do with the art.
Paul wrote: "Personally, I think the appeal of Asterios Polyp is purely visual:s..."Do you have any thought about the specific meaning of the shape of Asterios' head? It NEVER changes from that weird light bulb shape.
Mod
I had a hard time with this one too! Do you think it was worth the read by the end? I was very pleased with the end of the book, but it was quite the undertaking to get there.
Not sure it was worth it, for me. I can see the art value in the book. But that's not my thing. Seems like the people who would get the most out of it are other artists, especially in the graphic arts. It feels like a deconstructionist study of story-telling. What I mean, is that the author was more interested in making images tell a subtext story than in telling a compelling story overall. Glad I read it, but wouldn't recommend it. (Anyone need a copy?)
Mod
Erin wrote: "Is there a book I should be reading before Star Wars: Vader Down? I've only seen like 2 or 3 Star Wars movies so I don't have a ton of background info."It takes place after the original Star Wars movie (A New Hope) so that's all you need awareness of. Vader Down is a crossover between 2 different Star Wars series, Star Wars: Darth Vader and Star Wars. There are 2 volumes of each series prior to this story. I would say though if you aren't a hardcore Star Wars fan, you could skip them. Although both series are pretty great.
Mod
Thank you, Chad! I went ahead and read it on its own, and OMG I enjoyed it so much! My husband was reading over my shoulder so was explaining some of the stuff to me that I didn't know, but I think anyone with the most basic of Star Wars knowledge (Luke, Leia, Han, Vader) can understand and enjoy the book. I may just go ahead and read some more of it or even -gasp- watch some more of the movies! I love all the droids, so R2D2 is my fave - need to find a comic with BB8 in it, he is so cute!
And with that I finished the challenge in exactly 2 months! It was great - I read so many things I never would have looked at twice before. My favorites were Essex County and We Stand on Guard, and least favorites were Books of Magic and Dream Thief.
Excited for next year!
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Erin wrote: "I love all the droids, so R2D2 is my fave - need to find a comic with BB8 in it, he is so cute!"Check out the Poe Dameron comics to find some BB-8 action.
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Aww, thank you, Kait! I'm glad I joined too - this is the best Goodreads group!
Chad wrote: "Check out the Poe Dameron comics to find some BB-8 action."
I just might have to! He is too precious. Thank you for the recommendation!
I'm trying to find a way to do this reading challenge now that I've found it at the end of the year. I have read a variety of these books already, but there are many that I haven't. It's super exciting!Nick, I just finished Secret Weapons and I absolutely loved it. The character development, the exciting new space of different pseudo-super humans, the art, everything was just so well done.
I have very little experience in the Valiant universe. After reading this (and I read Secret Weapons #0 right afterward), do you have other recommendations for me to continue on?
Thanks for making this recommendation!
Geoff wrote: "I have very little experience in the Valiant universe. After reading this (and I read Secret Weapons #0 right afterward), do you have other recommendations for me to continue on?"Live Wire is from Harbinger. You might want to start there if you want to go backwards. Or forwards would be Harbinger Wars 2 and then the new Livewire series that starts next week.
X-O Manowar is a good place to start for the Valiant universe in general.
Humble Bundle has had quite a few Valiant digital bundle offers if you're willing to wait a few months for the next one. They're a steal of a deal.
Chad wrote: "Live Wire is from Harbinger. You might want to start there if you want to go backwards. Or forwards would be Harbinger Wars 2 and then the new Livewire series that starts next week..."Thanks, Chad! I've already put Livewire on my pull list, mainly due to the hype from the show. I'm especially looking forward to it after reading Secret Weapons!
Comixology has a bunch of the Harbinger in their unlimited library. I took a look at Harbinger (1992-1995) #0, which is from their Classic line. So far I've enjoyed it. I'll also keep an eye out for the Humble Bundle deals, too.
I'll give X-O Manowar a look, as well!
Geoff wrote: "I'm trying to find a way to do this reading challenge now that I've found it at the end of the year. I have read a variety of these books already, but there are many that I haven't. It's super exci..."Hey Geoff, really glad to hear that you enjoyed Secret Weapons! As a Valiant entry point that largely relies on new characters, and features one of my favorite artist pairings in Raul Allen and Patricia Martin, it's certainly one of my top reads.
Here's the good news: there's actually two one-shots that build on Secret Weapons. You came upon the first one, that has Adam Pollina on art, and surrounds Nikki Finch. But another followed that: Secret Weapons #0: Owen's Story. Even better (even though I thought Pollina did an amazing job imitating Allen/Martin), this issue brings back the original art team.
Chad was absolutely right, if you specifically wanted to follow these characters, Harbinger Wars 2 would be the next place. If I recall properly, the events of Secret Weapons really set the scene for the events of HW2. That being said, HW2 will throw a lot of characters at you without really any introduction.
And, as Chad correctly pointed out again, if you really wanted to try to get on on the ground floor of Valiant's 2012 reboot, X-O Manowar would be the place (think Visigoth abducted by aliens becomes Iron Man). Equally, you could also start with any of the titles launched at the same time: Archer and Armstrong, Bloodshot, and Harbinger.
Personally, I'd at least encourage you to try The Valiant. This rolled out a few years after the reboot, and was specifically engineered to be a jumping-on point for the Valiant Universe (or the Valiantverse, as I call it). If anything else, you've got Matt Kindt and Jeff Lemire writing it, and the absolutely stellar art team of Paolo Rivera and his dad Joe Rivera on pencil and ink duties, respectively. I find The Valiant gives you a sampling of a whole bunch of different characters, which you can then go and explore.
For the most part, you can just let personal interest drive your reading order, with some exceptions (for example, you should read "Archer and Armstrong" before "Archer & Armstrong," "Ninjak" before "Ninja-K," "Bloodshot before "Bloodshot Reborn," "Eternal Warrior" before "Wrath of the Eternal Warrior"). Valiant likes to do this funky name variation thing to differentiate runs.
Of the initial quartet of titles, I personally like "Archer and Armstrong." "Bloodshot" is largely unadulterated action, which is fine, but it's mostly worth reading to get to Jeff Lemire's "Bloodshot Reborn." I guess what I'm trying to say is that a lot of my favorite Valiant offerings didn't exactly stem from the launch runs, so don't feel obligated to start there.
I hope this helped, and I'm super glad you enjoyed SW!
I'll second Archer and Armstrong. It's a blast. And if you like that, Armstrong's brother was in Ivar the Timewalker which is fantastic. It's time travel done right You can rarely go wrong with the Valiant universe but it can be difficult to navigate if you are trying to read it in the proper order.
Nick/Chad, this is absolutely fantastic! Thank you for the terrific reading recommendations, and getting supplied a reading order to boot! It looks as though I have a bunch of great new reading ahead. Thank you again!
Geoff wrote: "Nick/Chad, this is absolutely fantastic! Thank you for the terrific reading recommendations, and getting supplied a reading order to boot! It looks as though I have a bunch of great new reading ahe..."I'm a Valiant fanboy (of both the current universe and the O.G. 90's version). Feel free to hit me up with any questions.
I am 2 books away from finishing!!! I can do this lol
Whooooo finished right on time Some surprise stand outs
4 kids walk into a Bank
Secret Weapons
We Stand on Guard
Mod
Some surprise stand outs
4 kids walk into a Bank
Secret Weapons
We Stand on Guard"
I Read Comic Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Secret Weapons: Owen's Story #0 (other topics)Harbinger Wars 2 (other topics)
The Valiant (other topics)
Harbinger (1992-1995) #0 (other topics)
Secret Weapons (other topics)
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Those who finish the challenge by December 31st, 2018 will get a personal shout-out on the podcast, and will get to pick our January 2019 Book of the Month!
ALSO SEE:
Progress Thread: for tracking your progress
Official Tracking Widget
RULES:
- You can join in at any point
- Books you have already read count towards the challenge
MASTER LIST:
IRCB Podcast Team Recommendations:
[ ] Mike: Buzz!
[ ] Kate: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
[ ] Zander: Out from Boneville
[ ] Nick: Secret Weapons
[ ] Tia: 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank
[ ] Paul: Asterios Polyp
[ ] Brian: Vader Down
[ ] Kara: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon vol. 1: New edition
[ ] Jeff: We Stand On Guard
[ ] René: Dream Thief Volume 1
[ } Kait: [book:Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy|22554204]
IRCB Group Members Recommendations:
[ ] Daniel: Batman: Arkham Asylum - A Serious House on Serious Earth
[ ] Phillip: Essex County
[ ] Wayland: The Books of Magic
[ ] 47Time: Scars
To see why the podcast team and group members recommend these titles, check out what they wrote here.