Once again I have fallen behind on comics. My New Year's resolution lasted until I went away for a week, and then I got back to two weeks worth of comics, plus problems with the website and podcast posting.

However, in the last two days I have read 31 comics, and only have 12 more to read before Wednesday, when the new ones come in.

What did I like in the last two weeks? As always, Terry Moore's Echo continues to delight. I love this story, which has much more action than SIP, but maintains the characterization and relationship building of it.

The Question and Manhunter. These two strong female superheroes (who took over from male predecessors) both have good stories, with the "superhero" and "regular person" sides balancing out -- sometimes.

The Vertigo titles I have read so far this month have also been great. Sweet Tooth is a little weird, but the story is moving along well; Cinderella is cute, and House of Mystery is mysterious.

What I didn't like quite so much? Well, I was confused by Teen Titans. Connor is back, but it seems like Cassie doesn't know it. I thought she did, but this issue made it seem like she didn't. And how does this tie in with the Milestone title that just came out? I am confused.

First, I want to mention that I finally got to read the Fables novel, and I have written a little bit about it here. Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed it, and it gave a lot of back story on the characters of Peter Piper and Bo Peep. It occurs BEFORE the big war, so you could really read it any time in the course of your Fables reading.

I am also doing really good keeping up with the comics reading. There were a few things I wanted to comment on that we didn't get to in the podcast. SPOILERS AHEAD!

First, The Unwritten #9 -- Argh, Mark was right. I am really glad this is labeled for mature readers. As Mark predicted in the podcast a few weeks ago, the prison warden's kids have (apparently) been killed. I am sure Tom will be blamed for this. I really like this comic (in spite of the killing?), and think it is going into a really interesting direction.

Blackest Night: Suicide Squad is one of the those canceled titles that they are bringing back for a Blackest Night issue. To me, this seemed more like an extra issue of "Secret Six," which isn't a bad thing. If you like "Secret Six," don't miss this one!

All I can say about Echo is READ IT.

I had "House of Mystery" in my pile that I wanted to post about, but I can't remember why. Another good Vertigo title, and it seems as though this issue (21) is starting a new arc, so it might be a good time to hop in.

Argh, I haven't posted here in quite a while. But I spent the last three days reading about a month and half worth of comics. I am caught up through this past Wednesday's releases. Some comments:

There were lots of lettering "typos" in some of the Star Trek comics. That really takes me out of the moment.

Batwoman (Dectective Comics) is growing on me. I still don't love the comic, but I'm not skimming over the main story just to make it to Manhunter anymore.

Vertigo Crime -- YES!

Secret Six -- Black Alice comes for a visit. I love the Black Alice character.

Angel Annual #1: Last Angel in Hell -- a comic book adaptation of a movie that was made in a comic book that is based on a TV series. Talk about multi-media.

Blackest Night -- I think half of the comics I read in the last few days were Blackest Night related. I have to say I am a little tired of this. It is like the same thing happens in every title.

Maybe I should make a New Year's resolution to read the comics in a timely manner? So I can make timely posts? Okay. I will try to read all of the comics before the next week Wednesday's releases enter the house!

In November, Mark and I are going to do a graphic novel month. We'll both read the same graphic novel (one neither of us has read before), and talk about it during our regular podcast. I wanted to do eight books, two a week, but Mark says that is too much!

If you want to read along with us, we'll announce our books the week before we talk about them. Next week will be the first volume of 100 Bullets (chosen by Mindy!).



We're also having a contest for the podcast. As our long-time listeners know, we sometimes go to comic book conventions. We picked up a few sample issues of comics at this past summer's Wizard World Chicago comic-con. I've put together two packages, each containing the 70th anniversary Wizard magazine, a copy of Masquerade #1 (Dynamite), the Death-defying Devil #1 (Dynamite), and two other freebie comics (different in both packages).

So, what am I going to do with these? Right now, we have four reviews on iTunes. I think we should have more. So, if you leave us an iTunes review by November 15, you'll be eligible to win one of these packages. Anyone who has already left a review on our current feed will also be eligible. We'll announce the name of the winner in our November 15 podcast, so any reviews posted before we record on the 15th will be eligible.

It doesn't matter what kind of a review we get. I hope they aren't zero stars, but those reviews will still be included. I assume if you wanted to rate our podcast a zero, you wouldn't be listening...

It is Satuday, and I am completely finished reading ALL of the comics in my TBR pile. That is not, however, all of the comics. What didn't I read?

I found, at the bottom of the pile, The Amazing Spiderman #583. We don't normally read Spiderman anyway; I think this is one Mark just picked up on impulse. Mark very seldom gives in to the crossover of politics and comics, but I guess the Obama cover was an exception.

I didn't read Ex Machina. Mark has been reading this one since the first issue, but that was back before I paid attention to who was writing what, and the cover didn't catch my attention. But now I realize that Brian K. Vaughan was the writer. I loved Y: The Last Man, so I think maybe I should have Mark pull these out the old issue of Ex Machina for me to read. Or, I'll just look around for the first graphic novel. Then I don't have to tell Mark he was right, and I should have read them to begin with!

The Simpsons I generally skip, unless Mark says it is really good. (I looked for a link to Bongo Comics online, and couldn't find an official one. Hmmmmmmmmm.)

I did read the Wednesday Comics. But I am skipping the Wonder Woman strip in there. I find it was giving me a headache trying to follow the tiny little boxes! But I like the rest of the strips!

I didn't skip Final Crisis: Escape #4, or Final Crisis: Dance #4, but I wish I had. I won't be finishing out these series. Maybe these would be better read all at once, but I cannot follow the story in either of these. Which is a shame, because I am really enjoying Final Crisis: Run! and Final Crisis: Ink.

What did I read?

FC: Escape #2, #3 -- This is very confusing. I have no idea what is going on.

FC: Dance #2, #3 -- Ditto. Except I really don't even remember these people from Final Crisis.

FC: Ink #1, #2, #3 -- I like this one better. Maybe because there wasn't a long gap for me between the first issue and the others? No, because the story appears to be more contiguous.

Strange Adventures #5, #6 -- I like The Weird.

Billy Batson and Magic of Shazam #5 -- Very nice. I eally like Mary Marvel in this comic.

Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #3 -- Am I wrong, or is almost half this comic just the equivalent of a DVD commentary of a previous comic?

Astro City : The Dark Age #2, #3, #4 -- It seems like this whole Dark Age story line is longer than any previous Astro City story. I know Mark likes it, but I am getting kind of tired of it.

Beowulf #1-4 (all of the miniseries) -- I got this because it was Neil Gaiman. Yes, I know the story is based on the epic poem, but you know what I mean. But, eh. The art was nice, but the story itself seemed to be unsuited to the comic format. Maybe I’ll rent the movie.

So that was only 18 comics for yesterday, and most of those I actually read this morning. But That is pretty much the bottom of my backlog. I have five issues of Fringe, two issues of Wednesday Comics, plus 18 new ones for this week. I think I will just commit to reading five a day for the next 5 days. I should be caught up by Wednesday next.

Sunday we’ll probably be talking about the newest issues of Blackest Night, the new Adventure Comics, and, of course, WOTCOEW.

I did read my 20 comics yesterday. I finished up with:

Superman #35 -- in which, of course, Superman figures very little. We did see Steel and Chris Kent (Nightwing? NEVER!), with a page or two of Zatara and a Dr. Light/Guardian play date.

Superman: World of New Krypton #6 -- The start of Codename: Patriot.

And finally, the finally, Final Crisis Aftermath: Run #4 -- The Human Flame gets more powerful. He's finally a real villian...

You know I am getting down to the bottom of my pile if I read the Final Crisis book. I now have 2 issues of Dance, 2 issue of Ink, and 3 issues of Escape to read today. I think I really was trying to wait until these were done, but that would be another three months, and I really would like to get them out of my TBR pile. I have books to read, darn it! Real books! Plus school is starting soon.

So, in addition to those, I have three issues of Astro City: Dark City, the four issues of Beowulf, five issues of Fringe and a couple miscellaneous DC comics to read. Plus whatever Mark brings home from the comics store today. Argh. Argh. Argh.

And I'm sure I'll get the other four read, as long as I don't have to do dishes. Dishes or comics? Hmmmm.

Supergirl #34 -- I like Supergirl. In this issue, she is on New Krypton. I wonder how long New Krypton will be around.

Justice League: Cry for Justice #2 -- The group is getting together.

Justice League America #35 -- Loved the reference to Detroit!

Justice Society of America #29 -- Is this the end of Mr. Terrific?

Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson: Homecoming #2 -- I think I must have missed the end of this series. I was trying to keep this until I had all 4, but I never got them. MARK!!!!

Eureka #2 -- I am liking this story, but the art seems to be a little scattered. Not always able to identify people. All the girls look alike.

Angel: Not Fade Away #3, Angel #24, Buffy #27 -- Not much to say about these.

Fallen Angel Reborn #2 -- LOVE IT. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! Illyria is visiting Bete Noire.

I actually, I think, finished 21 comics yesterday.

Tuesday:
Solomon Grundy #6 (of 7) -- I have no idea what is going on in this miniseries. Lots of swampy explosions and flashbacks. Frankenstein? The Bride?

The Brave and the Bold #25 -- I like team ups with the Blue Beetle. I think Jaimie is one of the more interesting new heroes. His Blue Beetle (in the Teen Titans, too) always makes a story more interesting.

Power Girl #3 -- With Terra.

Doom Patrol #1 -- Killing off characters in the first issue. Oh, Nudge, you will be missed by me, if no one else.

The Last Days of Animal Man #3 (of 6) -- Oh, this is in the FUTURE! League of Titans? But Nightwing is still there! Whine about continuity.

Today is non-DC comics day for me.

Star Trek: Missions End #5 and #6 -- The story about giant bugs is over.

Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Q
Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Romulans -- Eh, if you're not human...

Star Trek: Spock Reflections -- How many Star Trek comics are there?

Star Trek: Crew -- Again, probably one of the best ST comics, taking a look at the life of "Number One" from the original Captain Pike pilot of the ST series. We still don't know her name, but she apparently did make one for herself.

So that is six for today so far. Next, on to Buffy, Angel and Fallen Angel.

Update # 2:

Not quite up to 20 for the day. I am at 15. I will finish the last five before I go to sleep!

Wonder Woman #34 -- Lots of humor between Black Canary and Wonder Woman. I like issues like this! I did wonder, though, how WW and BC changed into their disguises after jumping from the invisible plane. I didn’t see any backpack full of costumes...

Secret Six #12 -- Banshee is back! And I have to ask Mark who's in the last panel...

House of Mystery #16 -- Glad to see Cain continue his appearances. And what about the Hounds of Titus Roan? Note: Ask Mark if the hounds have appeared before. Will we see the king of the hounds appearing later, maybe? Also, that was a very weird preview!

Madame Xanadu #13 -- I love to see Dian and Wesley. I hope we see more of them.

Jack of Fables #36 -- Jack being Jack.

The Hangman #1 -- The first Red Circle (at least for me). Very nice origin story. I am looking forward to this continuing.

Bill Batson and the Magic of Shazam! #6 -- More for DC Kids. Mark really likes these.

Teen Titans #73 -- I'm still waiting for Superboy to show up. And I really like the Ravager second feature.

Doctor Who: Room with a Deja View -- I liked the story, but not the artwork so much. Some of the Doctor depictions just seemed weird.

Five more to go today.