I Read Comic Books discussion
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2019 Recommended Reading Challenge - Master Thread
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Tom wrote: "I would suggest giving the library a try. The text in the book is pretty basic, and google translate can help with the rest. Would be much cheaper than the alternative."Thanks! Yeah, I'll probably do that.
Apart from the not yet released Plate Tectonics (now Nov 2019 apparently), I've read all of the challenge books.
Tom wrote: "Apart from the not yet released Plate Tectonics (now Nov 2019 apparently), I've read all of the challenge books."Yeah, I think that needs to be changed to something that's already been released.
Chad wrote: "Tom wrote: "Apart from the not yet released Plate Tectonics (now Nov 2019 apparently), I've read all of the challenge books."Yeah, I think that needs to be changed to something that's already bee..."
I was rather hoping the same because it's coming out so late in the year and having to pay a premium for it.
Tom wrote: "I was rather hoping the same because it's coming out so late in the year and having to pay a premium for it. "I doubt I read it. It's too hard to find time to read around the holidays.
Guys, Plate Tectonics has been pushed to December 3rd :(
Would it be possible to replace Place Tectonics with something that's actually out and available now?
Tom wrote: "Would it be possible to replace Place Tectonics with something that's actually out and available now?"I concur. I can tell you right now I won't be rushing out Dec 3rd to get this book just so I can finish this list before the end of the year.
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Kara wrote: "Aaaaah! I'm so sorry they moved the schedule, I'll update my pick to something available now!"Thanks Kara!
Kara wrote: "Aaaaah! I'm so sorry they moved the schedule, I'll update my pick to something available now!"Thanks! I think it possible that it gets delayed even further into 2020, so making a change is a great idea.
Kara wrote: "Aaaaah! I'm so sorry they moved the schedule, I'll update my pick to something available now!"Any word about picking something else out Kara?
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The goodreads page is here.
I can't update Mike's original post, but it's on his radar to do that.
Kait wrote: "Kara's new pick is Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Other Stories. It's technically published as volume 3, but it's an anthology.The goodreads page is here.
I can't update Mike's original post, b..."
Something I already own! yay!
Kait wrote: "Kara's new pick is Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Other Stories. It's technically published as volume 3, but it's an anthology.
The goodreads page is here.
I can't update Mike's original post, but it's on his radar to do that."
Awesome! Thanks Kait. And I just read it last month!
Kait wrote: "I can't update Mike's original post, but it's on his radar to do that."Mike's getting married. This can wait until his life settles down.
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This is officially the third collected edition of Hellboy, however, the early collections were less linear, more 'collections of one-shots', as that's how they were being published at the time. In fact, the stories collected in The Chained Coffin were the first stories that Mignola was publishing with an eye to make Hellboy an ongoing concern, so if you're familiar with the character you may see some threads of continuity begin here. I am particularly partial to The Baba Yaga story, as it's a glimpse to the wider world of the paranormal Hellboy inhabits.
And once you're done with The Chained Coffin, if you like what you read, I do recommend going on to The Right Hand of Doom (I wrestled between the two, but ultimately settled on Chained Coffin for this thread), for it includes both the exceptional story "Pancakes" and the first hints we get to Hellboy's destiny.
Kara wrote: "Hooray! I chose Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others because as we approach Halloween, I wanted to add something ~spooky~. I don't like horror generally, but Hellboy's "just punch it" approach is..."I started it today, and I think I'd describe it as horror-adjacent, which, as suggested above, is great for this time of year. I also like the intros to the stories, and the use of folklore in them (the stories). Good choice!
Has anyone else had trouble tracking down Judge Dredd: America? I couldn't find it on hoopla, comixology or my local library. Is it per chance collected in another Judge Dredd book? All of these Judge Dredd collections over the years are impossible to figure out a reading order or even what's in the collection.
Tom wrote: "I found the digital version on Amazon."It's weird that it would be on Amazon but not Comixology as Amazon owns Comixology.
Chad wrote: "Tom wrote: "I found the digital version on Amazon."It's weird that it would be on Amazon but not Comixology as Amazon owns Comixology."
I thought the same. A few of the challenge books are like that - like All the Answers and Tetris. I can access them via Comixology once purchased though.
Finished the challenge. I found a few favorites, and got exposed to many new to me works, all of which at the very least entertaining reads.Favorite book: Tetris: The Games People Play
Runners up: Judge Dredd: America, Clara, A Contract with God
Favorite Collected Volume: Kill or be Killed (I actually picked up the rest of the series and binged it after reading the first volume.
Biggest Surprise: Megahex - for all the ridiculousness that preceded it, the ending was poignant and satisfying.
Series I plan on following up with:
Ultimate Spider-Man, Rachel Rising, Descender and The Massive
Edited to add - Sex Criminals
Tom wrote: "I thought the same. A few of the challenge books are like that - like All the Answers and Tetris. I can access them via Comixology once purchased though."That's good to know. I'd rather use comixology's app than the kindle app on my ipad.
Congrats on finishing the challenge, Tom! Oh man, I really need to pick up pace - I'm only half way done and I have less than half a year left! It's funny how different our tastes are, thought - America, A Contract with God and Megahex are my three least favorite books of the challenge :D (I still haven't finished Megahex and I have the last story of America left).
Chad wrote: "Has anyone else had trouble tracking down Judge Dredd: America? I couldn't find it on hoopla, comixology or my local library. Is it per chance collected in another Judge Dredd book? All of these Ju..."I found a physical copy on my favorite collected edition website:
https://www.instocktrades.com/TP/2000...
No idea if this helps...?
I only just joined the challenge, so I might finish, but I'm just hoping to read as many as possible. Will there be a new challenge at the beginning of next year?
Holly wrote: "I only just joined the challenge, so I might finish, but I'm just hoping to read as many as possible. Will there be a new challenge at the beginning of next year?"We typically do one every year.
Holly wrote: "I found a physical copy on my favorite collected edition website:https://www.instocktrades.com/TP/2000...
No idea if this helps...?"
I'm not familiar with that site so thank you!
Chad wrote: "Holly wrote: "I found a physical copy on my favorite collected edition website:https://www.instocktrades.com/TP/2000...
No idea if this helps...?"
I'm not familiar with that site so thank you!"
You are so welcome! I buy a lot of books from them and they always have sales on!
Almost there. One more book left. I do have a request for next year. Can we make sure all the books on the list are published and in print? Maybe even just that they are on Comixology or something like that? A few of the books on this year's list were really difficult to find. I had to track down used copies to read them.
Congrats! I'm not gonna make it this year, though, but that's ok. I enjoyed the challenge nonetheless.
I linked to all my reviews on the star ratings, if anyone cares what I thought about all the recommendations. IRCB Podcast Team Recommendations:
[X] Mike - Tetris: The Games People Play ★★★
[X] Brian - Heavy Vinyl, Vol. 1 ★★★★★
[X] Tia - Megahex ★★
[X] Kara - Hellboy, Vol. 3: The Chained Coffin and Others ★★★★★
[X] Nick - The Massive, Vol. 1: Black Pacific ★★★★
[X] Paul - All The Answers ★★★
[X] Rene - Dr.STONE 1 ★★
[X] Kait - A Contract With God and Other Tenement Stories ★★★★
[X] Kate - Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars ★★★★★
[X] Zander - Fence Vol. 1 ★★
Goodread Folks Picks:
[X] Robert - Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick ★★★
[X] Erin - Heathen Volume 1 ★★★★
[X] Danny - Mech Cadet Yu, Vol. 1 ★★★★
[X] Devon - Last Sons of America ★★★
[X] Aaron - A Walk Through Hell Volume 1 ★
[X] 47Time - Kill or be Killed, Vol. 1 ★★★★
[X] Francis - Judge Dredd: America ★
[X] Geoff - Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 1: The Assassin's Road ★★★★
[X] Jakub - Alone ★★
[X] Oneirosophos - Clara ★★★★★
[X] Stephanie - Jem and the Holograms Vol. 1: Showtime ★★
[X] Philip - Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 1: Power and Responsibility ★★★★★
[X] Craig - Judas ★★★★
[X] James - I Am a Hero Omnibus, Volume 1 ★★★★
[X] Brittney - Rachel Rising, Volume 1: The Shadow of Death ★★★★
Definitely NOT gonna finish this haha (FAILURE!!)but here are a few of my Highlights
Tetris: The Games People Play
Heavy Vinyl, Vol. 1
Fence Vol. 1
Heathen Volume 1
Mech Cadet Yu, Vol. 1
Kill or be Killed, Vol. 1
Judas
Looking forward to the Next year so many more COMICS
I’ve not managed to read everything this year either. It’s my intention to read the books I have remaining in the new year, and hopefully I can participate in next years list too. I love the chance to expand my comics reading his way, so thanks everyone who contributed a book to the list, it made for an interesting year.
Chad wrote: "I linked to all my reviews on the star ratings, if anyone cares what I thought about all the recommendations. IRCB Podcast Team Recommendations:
[X] Mike - [book:Tetris: The Games People Play|274..."
I am so happy to see someone else didn't like Judge Dredd: America. It has so much praise, but it's a terrible book!
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I loved almost everything I read though, and binged Rachel Rising in about a week. I was so surprised that I got so into it! I agree with Chad above about books that are able to be found for next year - I appreciate getting to read things I wouldn't normally, but some of these were difficult to track down!
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I'm glad so many people liked A Contract with God! It was a long read but I think it's a very valuable book to read in terms of what it contributed to comics as a medium and also as historical representation of the American Jewish community. Some of those stories have really stuck with me.
I was the most surprised by Dr. Stone. Based on the cover I was expecting a Fight Boy manga, but it was surprisingly tender. I may pick up volume 2 for that series. I also really enjoyed my first experiences with Hellboy (in comic form) and Rachel Rising.
I don't comment much, but I love seeing how everyone responds to these challenges. I know they really widen my reading base every year.
Kait wrote: "I was so determined to finish this and then ran out of time! I even bought Tetris way back in March and it's just chillin' unread on my bookshelf.I'm glad so many people liked A Contract with God..."
It was good to actually see/experience Eisner's work rather than just seeing a name on an award.
A Contract with God was one of my least favorite books, actually o.o I loved the art, but I could barely stand the stories themselves... I do agree with Tom, on the other hand - it was good to actually read an Eisner book. The way he draws his comics and arranges his pages is absolutely fantastic.
I Read Comic Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Heavy Vinyl, Vol. 1: Riot on the Radio (other topics)Mech Cadet Yu, Vol. 1 (other topics)
Fence, Vol. 1 (other topics)
Heathen, Vol. 1 (other topics)
Judas (other topics)
More...
Thanks! The shipping to Europe is gonna cost me as much as the book itself :c Although I've just checked Abe Bo..."
I would suggest giving the library a try. The text in the book is pretty basic, and google translate can help with the rest. Would be much cheaper than the alternative.