Driving into work this morning, I began to think about the comics I’ve bought for my son over the past year. He’s got the whole color Bone series which we are constantly reading from. We’ve read the series from beginning to end about twice but he loves to randomly grab a book and read his bedtime stories from it for about a week or so. I’ve also gotten him a bunch of the Marvel Adventures digests which are well worn because he stays up at night flipping through them until he falls asleep as well as a couple of Star Wars Clone War digests. He’s also got some individual books like a couple of issues of the new The Brave and the Bold cartoon series, a handful of Transformers books and even the recent Boom Studios Incredibles and Cars offerings (from two movies that he absolutely loves.)
This morning I realized that we haven’t read the Incredibles or Cars books since they came out and I don’t remember the last time we’ve read one of the Transformers comics. He still likes the Brave and the Bold but those are his newest comics so they’re still fresh to him. But those Bone and Star Wars and Marvel books are constantly on his bed, downstairs on the couch, or going on trips with him to his grandparents.
Then it hit me– I’ve turned my son into a trade waiter.
So, anyway… onto what I’m getting this week.
- Umbrella Academy Dallas #6 (lcs)– Dallas has been even better than the first series, actually doing something with the characters rather than just setting them up. The Umbrela Academy is one of the best new superhero comics around right now because it feels fresh and lively, something that most of the Marvel and DC books can’t say.
- Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 8 Vol 4 Time Of Your Life TP (dcbs)– I’m enjoying this series but it still hasn’t connected with me the same way that the series ever did. When the television series was on, I was immersed in the life of Buffy, Xander, Willow and the whole crew. Now (and maybe because of the trade-waiting I’m doing on this series,) it feels like getting together with old friends a few times a year, rehashing the good times we had together, saying goodbye and forgetting about them as I get on the highway back home. BtVS offers momentary thrills but it’s all about the times we had together 10 years ago rather than what we’re all doing today.
- Creepy Archives Vol 3 HC (Amazon)– I’ve still got to pick up the Eerie Archive but, for my money, I love these more than the EC stories that Warren used as inspiration. I connect with the Warren era artwork more than I do with the EC era. Al Williamson, John Severin, Alex Toth and Grey Morrowamaze me with each and every story that’s appeared in these archives.
- Green Lantern Corps Vol 2 #36 (lcs)– Here’s my current superhero thrill book, along with the main Green Lantern title and Marvel’s Amazing Spider-Man right now.
- Elephantmen #19 (lcs)– Parts of the last issue felt like “a very special episode of Elephantmen” to me and kind of killed my enjoyment a bit but this issue spotlight Sahara, a character who is caught up in the middle of everything. While she has been more of a supporting character throughout this series and the Hip Flask mini, she is a key player in everything that has happened and will happen. She’s the connecting point of so many characters in this book and I can’t wait to see this story about her.
- I Kill Giants TP (dcbs)– I’ve heard almost nothing but great stuff about this miniseries and this is one of the first things I’ll read when I get my DCBS box this weekend.
- League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol 3 Century #1 1910 (lcs)– Written by some bloke named Alan Moore. It’ll be good, I guess.
- Luba HC (Amazon)– I’ll probably get this sooner or later but I’ve never found the Luba stories as engaging as the Palomar stories. Taken out of the small town, the character of Luba isn’t very likeable and neither is her family and friends. These stories have a completely different vibe than the Palomar stories.